Here’s an admission. Two of my children have never gone camping. Never slept under canvas in a field. They’ve reached the grand ages of 9 and 11 and not woken up in a place miles from anywhere. I’m not sure how this has happened.
Before you feel too sorry for them and declare me the worst parent ever, they have been away in our caravan, when we had it, to isolated farm sites. They have camped in the tent in our garden many times. They have made a wigwam and slept several nights in it. Again in our garden. (They’ve also been on lots of other holidays, too)
The lack of further flung camping in a tent does seem an oversight. Before children, we used to take our 2 man tent out on a regular basis. We upgraded to a family tent when Eldest arrived. She’s been camping. In fact the last time we went camping in a tent, I was 6 months pregnant with Middle child, so technically I’m sure we can call that a camping trip for her too.
OK. Maybe not. She would indeed agree with you.
(my view while drinking the first coffee of the day)
Last week, we put it right and took them camping in Devon. Wild camping. No electrics. No flushing loos. Water from a stand pipe. Canvas above their heads. More stars to see than they have ever seen in their lives.
They were a little concerned by the concept of compost loos before we arrived at the site. I soothed their concerns by telling them how one of my first camping trips, we were supplied with a trowel and pointed in the direction of the woods. This didn’t seem to comfort the children much. It seems that sometimes only reality can help. By the end of our holiday, they had no problem with the idea. Trowel jokes were greeted by groans.
(collecting water)
They soon got into the rhythm of camping. They enjoyed collecting water, walking up to the small farm shop and taking the dogs for a walk. By themselves. There was a tyre swing in a tree which proved the perfect fun and a great way to meet other children. We watched a barn owl swoop around the field in a hunting pattern at night. We admired the Milky Way and a sky filled with stars. We flew kites in the day. Simple (non-screen) fun.
We took them for a walk to one of our favourite places – Start Point. Partly to see Cirl Buntings which can be spotted flying in small flocks along this part of the coast line.
The view of the sea is irresistible. As we sat, looking out at the sea, I realised that there were seals bobbing up and down below us. Diving for food. 
Kicking myself for not bringing my longer lens, but I just managed to capture one head of a seal in the photo above.
What, you can’t tell?
If you look past the dog, who was thoroughly unimpressed by spotting wild seals, and look to the far right, half way down. Yes, the black speck, that you probably mistook for a spot of dirt on my lens, is in fact a seal. Small, I know, but you’ll have to take my word for it.
Hmm. Unconvincing I admit. Next time, I promise to carry my long lens, whenever we go on a walk.
Linking up with Fiona’s inspirational #CountryKids linky.
Oh that looks such a gorgeous spot !
It was great to be back in Devon.
What a wonderful campsite! Your photos are wonderful, a longer lens is heavy to carry!
That is why I don’t lug it around. It is a quandary.
Camping is a great adventure for kids and when you choose a sunny week as you have here you can’t fail to love being at one with nature, and even tolerate compost loos! Looks like such a beautiful site you choose and stunning views. The stars at night in the South West are amazing, I still love to sit our late at night here and star gaze, the lack of street lighting makes such a difference. I have a feeling this won’t be the last camping trip for you, now to book the good weather for your next adventure!
Thank you for linking up and sharing at #CountryKids
We were lucky with the weather. It was blowing a hooley. The stars were amazing. I forget how much light pollution we have, even in our country spot. Milky Way was so clear. I envy your star gazing. And no, this will not be our last camping trip.
I forgot to say I spotted the seal before reading the details on where he was – trained eye!
You certainly must have had a lot of practise. I really didn’t think anyone would spot it!
Great they’ve all had the chance to camp further afield. That’s the great thing isn’t is, kids just enjoying the time for what it is and being able to go off and do things on their own that they wouldn’t at home. I’ve taken N camping twice, but with amazing toilets and showers, and with lots of mum friends and their kids. We’re doing it as an annual thing. He loves it as do the other 16+ kids who go. I feel for my sister in law’s kids – they’ve never been camping even in the garden (maybe I need to get the youngest cousin over to camp in the garden with N one day before the holdiays are out. She’d never go camping (one is 14 so already unlikely to want to go with our big crowd anyway, the other is 7). Neither have been in cubs or scouts, so unless a school friend takes them, they’ll miss out on that experience because she’ll never camp out. It’s something I think every child should experience.
I totally agree with you that every child should have at least one camping trip under their belt before they reach adulthood. I know we loved it as young adults and gave us freedom. I’m so grateful to Guides and school for taking me. It is the whole experience. Not just the sleeping, but putting up the tent, cooking and being taken out of your comfort zone. I hope you manage to take N’s cousins one day, even if it is just in the garden.
I love this… You honesty is fabulous and your chosen spot is stunning. You’ve inspired me! #CountryKids
The views are great. The sort that you need to get out of the car and walk to see.
Have to admit i only camp with flushing loos!!! Looks idyllic though
Ha! It really wasn’t bad. Once you get used to it. It certainly is a step up from my early experiences!
Love this, I have never been camping although I am slowly coming around to the idea of taking the children, I am not too sure about the loo situation though 😯 😆
What an amazing view and sounds like a lovely break #countrykids
I hope you do organize a camping trip. I’m sure the experience will win you over, and your children will love it. The compost loos really aren’t as bad as they might sound. Sawdust is put in each time and these ones were changed every day. They were nicer loos than I’ve seen at other sites, and those ones flushed!
Looks so beautiful there, I spotted seals near John O Groats years ago and had a similar issue with lens. Your kids are fine, I’m considerably older than them and have still not been camping! #CountryKids
Ha! It’s never too late. Maybe a glamping experience would be a good place to start, rather than wild camping. 🙂
It looks absolutely beautiful, and I do love outdoor family fun of the wildlife spotting and kite-flying variety! I must admit though, I’ve never taken my kids camping. I’m too much of a running water/flushing toilets fan myself! Well done for trying it. #CountryKids
There are campsites to suit everyone. This one did have a basic sink and shower, which we didn’t use. Other sites have flushing loos too. It is a wonderful way to get that little bit closer to nature.
Looks like a beautiful place to camp. I am always amazed at how bright the stars are when we get away from the city lights. #countrykids
I know what you mean. I always forget how bright the stars are.
Awwww I miss camping! I want to go too. And this looks like a perfect place to go.
I always wanted to see seals outside the zoo. And when I squnt my eye I saw that speck =)
#countrykids
It was the first time my children have seen seals outside the zoo. They loved watching its progress up the shore line. Oh for my long lens.
Oh my gosh it looks beautiful there, the views are so picturesque too! Sound like the camp trip was a big hit in the end. Oh and I managed to spot the seal’s head too. Xx #countrykids
Really was a great break. Just enought to make everyone want to go again.
I can see it! I love seal spotting, and that location is just stunning! I really want to take my children camping! #CountryKids
I’m glad you spotted it. 🙂 Hope you make it on a camping trip, sometime soon.
What a beautiful spot to camp! My children have never been camping properly-although we did stay in my mother in laws trailer tent in her garden this year!! That’s probably as close as I’ll get to camping 😉
#countrykids
I love camping in our garden, so I can quite see your point. I do love camping in sites that are away from it all. My children want to go again, which means I can tick another parenting job off the list.
I’ve been moving away from taking photos on holiday and trying to take advantage of the special moments while we were there, rather than through a lens, so even if you didn’t get the perfect seal shot, at least you managed to see them and create special memories, which is what really counts 🙂 #countrykids
I would have loved the challenge though. I forget my long lens far too often.
Would love to go away in a caravan too, since I’ve never been. I wonder how much is it to rent one? Beautiful photos! I’m glad you guys had good weather too and that the kids finally got to go camping 🙂 #countrkids
We did rent a caravan one holiday. I don’t think it was too bad. I know my husband prefers pulling the trailer rather than the caravan through the narrow lanes.
I’m on my phone!! Totally can’t see the black dot! we took our don camping at 9 months, our only child so far, I imagine it’s more difficult with more when really small!! #countrykids
It is a very small speck! Yes. Camping with more little ones certainly adds to the fun.
Oh my goodness, what a wonderful, wonderful post and photos! My children get very anxious about ‘noises in the night’ so haven’t slept away in a tent yet either – plenty of caravans and other experiences. I really want them to find out the magic of it. Before we had children my hubby and I used to camp out heaps (but then he has awful hay fever, as does my oldest, so we have to time it right!).
I can quite understand not liking the noises in the night. Hopefully that will pass. The hayfever is a different ball game. Hope you manage it one day.
What a gorgeous spot to go camping. Neither of my girls have been camping before but maybe one day we’ll rectify that! It’s frustrating when you don’t have your long lens though isn’t it? Glad you managed to spot some seals even if you couldn’t quite capture them clearly on camera! 🙂 #countrykids
A lovely spot indeed. Nothing like camping to bring you closer to nature. Hope you can take your two, one day.
Aaah what a lovely camping spot. We just did our first family camping and my daughter and I did not want to leave the camp site hehe. 🙂
#countrykids
So glad you made it. I saw your original trip was called off. it sounds like a success.