Tents moments (From Living Northeast)

Tents moments

12:48pm Tuesday 20th April 2010 in

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Camping has become more popular of late, with designer-print tents and glampsites with four-poster beds and chandeliers. But the essential appeal of camping – getting out into the fresh air and under the skin of a beautiful part of the country – remains unchanged. Here is a selection of unique and quirky places to camp on our doorstep…

HIGHSIDE FARM

Rare sheep, fresh sausages and flapping lapwings

THE green, rolling uplands of Teesdale – part of the North Pennines designed Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – stretch for miles in every direction around Highside Farm. Nestling on the side of Lunedale valley and sheltered from the bleakest of the weather that can suddenly sweep over the tops, spacious pitches are arranged on neatly manicured grass.

Gentle isolation is guaranteed; the nearest pub is two miles away in Mickleton and only eight campers can stay and enjoy the solitude at any one time.

The vibe among the families, walkers, cyclists and birdwatchers here is relaxed and sociable. Many are drawn by the spectacular countryside, while the farm’s special brand of gastro-hospitality is also in high demand, with exquisite, home-produced meat available to buy and cook on site, or to take home and relish later.

Highside is a small working stock farm specialising in rare breeds such as Teeswater sheep and Shorthorn cattle.

Owners Richard and Stephanie Proud took over the site 12 years ago to promote ethical food production and are evangelical about the preservation of native breeds and the natural landscape. They’ll happily share their experiences of creating the farm with campers. As well as being devoted to their cause, they’re exceptionally attentive hosts, welcoming new arrivals with cups of tea and biscuits, as well as offers of home-cooked breakfasts made – according to season – using their own sausages, eggs and bacon.

Highside Farm, Bowbank, Middleton-in-Teesdale, DL12 ONT.

Tel: 01833-640136. Website: highsidefarm.co.uk

Pitches and price: Eight people max staying on site. £7.50 per person; under-threes £3.75. Two hook-up.

Facilities: Basic, clean male/female amenities block with one shower and loo in each. Washing up area. Seasonal farm produce, including wool, sold on site.

Breakfasts should be booked in advance.

Restrictions: No arrivals before 1pm. Depart by noon. No visitors. No campfires. Dogs welcome but must be kept under control on the farm.

Open: Easter to end September.

BUDLE BAY

Twitching on the mudflats

NESTLING among leafy trees, clumps of pampas grass and the odd dovecote, tents and caravans at Budle Bay overlook a babbling, freshwater stream bordered by soft, lush banks. Peace and quiet reigns here – except when children, or adults, shriek with delight from the sturdy tree swings. There’s also a dinky little log cabin to hire, in case you don’t fancy a night under canvas.

The campsite is in Waren Mill, a charming workaday hamlet in the top north-east corner of Northumberland, which peers over the vast mudflaps of Budle Bay itself; the bay is a sanctuary for sea and land birds, from chattering kittiwakes and guillemots to honking brent geese and chestnut-coloured common shelducks – bird-watchers will be transfixed for hours.

The loyal camping fan base here is a mix of fishermen, walkers, cyclists, sailors and families, all keen to explore the coastal delights of Northumberland. The imposing 11th Century castle at Bamburgh, only four miles away, and the beautiful tidal island of Holy Island – a quick boat ride from the village of Seahouses (six miles) – are also well worth a visit. At the end of a long day, cosy up with a cup of tea and a slice of fruit loaf at the Copper Kettle Tearooms, copperkettletearooms.com or tuck into hearty meals at Blacketts, in the heart of Bamburgh.

Budle Bay Campsite, Waren Mill, Bamburgh, Northumberland, NE70 7EE.

Tel: 01688-214598.

Website: budlebaycampsite.co.uk

Pitches and price: 250 pitches; 170 for tents, 90 hook-ups, £2.50. Medium-sized tents (sleep three) £3, caravan £4, log cabin (sleeps two), £7.

Facilities: Basic, unheated male/female amenities block with basins, loos and five mixed showers. Laundry. On-site café serves snacks and meals at the weekend.

Restrictions: Gates locked at 11pm, quiet after 11pm. Dogs welcome (£1) but must be kept on a lead in the camping area. No campfires.

HADRIAN’S WALL

Camp with the Romans

ONE of the greatest testimonies to the power of their mighty Empire, Hadrian’s Wall, begun in AD122, was raised in an impressively speedy six years by Roman legions.

Acting broadly as a border customs control, it kept an eye on the population flow between the north and south of Britain, and provided a fearsome obstacle to marauding Pictish tribes from Scotland.

Less then half a mile from some of the best-preserved sections near Haltwhistle village is this quiet campsite nestled in a valley of rolling green hills, which are dotted with fluffy white sheep and the occasional, energetic walker.

Run by an enthusiastic team of two, the site is familyand animal-friendly – in fact, it’s a little working farm, complete with cats, ducks, chickens and a small pond filled with fish.

There’s a relaxed atmosphere here that focuses on the natural side of life: tents can be pitched on levels named after mountains – Annapurna, Everest or K2, for example; low-energy, solar lighting ensures that the stars shine brilliantly at night; and recycling is encouraged, with food waste often going to the chickens.

After a long day in the fresh air, campers can put their feet up in front of a roaring fire and tuck into hearty meals at a couple of the nearby country pubs; within a few minutes’ walk of the site are the snug Milecastle Inn, website: milecastle-inn.co.uk, which serves delicious homemade pies, and the homely Twice Brewed Inn, website: twicebrewedinn.co.uk

Hadrian’s Wall Camping and Caravan Site, Melkridge Tilery, near Haltwhistle, Northumberland, NE49 9PG.

Tel: 01434-320496.

Website: romanwallcamping.co.uk

Pitches and price: 35 pitches for tents and caravans; £6 per tent, £10 per caravan. 24 hook-ups. £2.50, £2 charge to use all facilities.

Self-catering bunk barn for up to 12 people available by the bunk or as a whole for longer periods, £10 per person per night.

Facilities: Separate male/female heated amenities block with six loos and six showers, sauna, hairdryers, laundry (washing machine and tumble dryer), small library. One disabled toilet.

Electric pumps available for air beds.

Hot running water all day.

Horse livery available.

Full English breakfast on request.

Restrictions: No campfires. Dogs welcome, free.

Open: Year round.

DEMESNE FARM

STARTING out as a welcoming haven for weary Pennine Way hikers back in 1972, Demesne Farm has since established itself as a popular campsite, which caters for a more diverse range of visitors. For families, the thrill of being able to stay on a working farm – where children often have the chance to help the owner with tending to his cows, sheep and chickens – entices regulars back time after time. From the site’s amenities blocks – redeveloped in traditional outbuildings and set around a characterful cobbled courtyard – to the potbellied wood-burning stove that warms the drying room, this place exudes rustic charm. The on-site bunkhouse offers year round accommodation.

Demesne Farm, Bellingham, Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 2BS.

Tel: 01434-220258.

Website: demesnefarmcampsite.co.uk

Pitches and price: 24 pitches for tents, six for caravans; ten with hookups, £3. About £5 per adult, children 11-15yrs £3, 3-10yrs £2, under 3s free.

Three-bedroom bunkhouse (sleeps eight, four and three) available by the bunk or as a whole, £15 per adult, under-18s, £12.

Facilities: Basic, clean separate amenities blocks.

Restrictions: Dogs welcome but must be kept under control. No campfires. No more than two family groups staying together. No loud music.

■From The Rough Guide to Camping in Britain: Over 300 of Britain’s Best Campsites (Rough Guides, £16.99).

This beautifully illustrated book offers all the advice you need to pitch up and enjoy the great outdoors, whether you want stunning locations, top-of-the-range facilities, a party vibe or blissful isolation.