On Saturday night after a nearly full on Matt Spesh we went camping. It’s getting harder to find a campsite that fulfils my exacting standards these days but I enjoy the hunt. One that allows fire is an absolute must for me. I’ve banged on about this so much before, I’ll spare you the rhetoric but lets just say it’s a must. Another important factor is the place its in. Water is good. Forests / woods are good. Rocks are good. Roads are bad. crammed in regimented plots are bad. Somewhere that I’ve never been to before is good.  In my quest to find campsites that ticks the above boxes (the latter is getting harder and harder) I’d previously earmarked Rough Hey Wood Campsite and clocked a write up on The Happy Campers website.

Arriving at Rough Hey was a bit fiddly for our long wheel base van but we got there without too much bother. Slightly worried caretaker type people living in an on site teepee were unsure about letting me on in the van as it had been raining and as they and I knew,  big front wheel drive vans are rubbish in the mud. After a bit of persuading and noting the clement forecast they let me on. It was really quiet (to be expected for the time of year). Geographically odd place – a flat field with a gorge on one side and an old disused railway track on the other. No end of interesting tracks and walks. It’s a really peaceful safe-and-secure feeling spot surrounded by a sycamore and birch wood. A single portion of dog poo position directly under Eirene’s foot glummed us for a bit – so we moved the van a bit and all was well again. It wasnt long before our friends D & G turned up, and with an hour or so’s light to go we headed out into the woods to gather some wood. The kids loved that. Getting involved with a proper grown up mission. Obviously, years of campers had had the idea before us and we had to treck quite a way in to find a few dead limbs, but we found them and dragged them back so I could saw them up. Luckily, I’d brought a couple of bags of log with us so this was just a luxury top up. They were selling bags for (the going rate of) £5 a bag, but I always prefer free over costs money.

As we were getting back we noticed J&H and their kids and pip the perma pup had turned up. A lovely evening ensued, involving drinking, laughing, stories, catching up and attempted sky lantern launching (we were asked not to launch any more after the first one). Woke up the next morning with a rather thick head but cups of tea and saussage sandwiches soon sorted that out. Spent the morning chilling and chatting whilst the boys whittled sticks and went bear hunting.

A lovely spot – proper bargain price of £10 per van or tent considering it has decent showers and toilets (I’m not sure if that’s the off season price or not though). I’d defiantly stay there again and would  recommend it to anyone that liked proper camping in places that are not purpose built caravan farms.