A weekend of wild camping

So we usually camp at fully serviced camp sites with modern shower blocks and toilets but this time the other half booked with The Secret Campsite (Beech Estate).

I can’t say I was thrilled at this prospect. Of course a setting in which we go back to nature sounds idyllic with wildlife adorning our (tent) doorstep and toasting marshmallows over an open fire BUT we need basic amenities such as toilets and showers, right? Well yes and The Secret Campsite offer these as well as the more rustic options (bucket showers and eco-toilets complete with sawdust).

On this occasion we were holidaying with my sister in law and her family, so all in all there were 6 children (ages ranged from 3-15) and 4 adults (ages ranged from uh, best not go there). It was the sister in law family’s first camping trip so they opted to hire out a bell tent which came furnished with beds and a coffee table. The pitch also included a grill for the fire pit, fire wood, kindling, chairs, a picnic bench, washing up equipment and plates, cutlery and cups.

Our pitch was next door and was furnished with mud, trees and brambles (there was a fire pit too with the option to purchase fire wood and kindling but as we were eating with the others we didn’t use it). Sarcasm aside, the pitches were very big and secluded with bushes and trees sheltering the pitches and offering privacy from other campers.

Toilet and showering facilities

As mentioned previously there were flushable toilets and electric showers on site but it was located a fair walk from the pitches which was fine in daylight but a lot more of a mission come sun down.

There were also eco-toilets and bucket showers which were located just behind our pitches (there were a few stationed around the site). I can’t say the eco toilets are particularly pleasant but they weren’t horrific. Translation: only to be used as a last resort.

As it turned out, the bucket showers were much nicer than the electric shower which looked a bit dark and dingy. I opted for bucket showers and really enjoyed them. A bucket shower is exactly what it sounds like, a bucket filled with (hot) water from the nearby tap, winched above your head with water funneling out of the bottom. My little one wasn’t keen at first but after much hysterical shouting and flapping she soon enjoyed the experience.

Packing list

So we would normally take the bare essentials but as we were holidaying with another family we thought we’d pack extras to make their stay a bit more comfortable. So the following is a list of the extras we took with us:

• An extra pop up tent (the car was parked a good 15 minute trek away from our pitch so we used the spare tent as storage for our luggage).
• A camping stove (for hot water, cooking on)
• A kettle
• Mugs
• Tea
• Coffee
• Long life milk
• Sugar
• Super noodles to go pots
• Instant porridge pots
• Swingball
• Balls/bats/skipping ropes
• Frying pan and sauce pan (I didn’t bring these but they were included with the bell tent but if wanting to cook on the camping stove then obviously these are essential).

Would I recommend wild camping?

I would definitely recommend wild camping providing there is the option of a flushable toilet block. I guess the outdoor bucket showers wouldn’t have been particularly enjoyable in the wind or rain but then I’m not sure camping would be particularly enjoyable in the wind and rain anyway.

The Secret Campsite was a great campsite with lots of walks and woodlands to explore. The kids certainly enjoyed building a den and playing on the rope swings.

I (surprisingly) highly enjoyed the bucket showers and the peacefulness and darkness at night. We saw a few glimpses of the wildlife which is probably more than we’ve seen at other campsites which was a treat.