Great value, term-time glamping breaks for under fives

Camping is an adventure like no other for under fives. But is it any fun for the family tent-builders, boot-packers, and general all-round organisers, AKA parents?

You bet it is, if you take the Ready Camp approach and swap camping for glamping.

UK experts in the art of cocooning you under canvas, Ready Camp have your luxury tent built before you arrive, and packed with lots of little home comforts (including real beds and your very own kitchen).

As an offspring of the Camping & Caravanning Club (C&CC), their campsites are exceptional, all in the loveliest UK locations, and surrounded by fun attractions to keep boredom at bay. Plus, you can travel as light as you like: all you need bring is bedding and holiday essentials (don’t forget the wine for the fridge!).

Ready to put Ready Camp to the test? Why not take advantage of their mid-week breaks, ideal for those that are Too Cool For School; families with pre-school kids. The term-time savings are sensational, everything’s as luxe and easy as it sounds, and you can take your pick of astonishing campsites from Cornwall to the Highlands.

Have a look at Ready Camp’s top 10 term-time holidays, and see how tempting it is to take your under-fives this year.

1/10 Clent Hills, Birmingham

Only 30 minutes drive from Birmingham, Ready Camp Clent Hills’ site is heart of the country enough to guarantee lovely, wide-eyed-with-wonder moments every morning. It’s a great area for outdoorsy adventuring around country parks. Local walks and trails are fun even for the littlest legs (and buggies). Plus you can easily fit a bit of urban excitement into the mix too.

Perfect for under fives

• Less than 25 minutes drive away, Lickey Country Park is packed with nature trails, great for spotting wildlife, and a favourite haunt for kite-flying.
• During term-time, the National Sea Life Centre Birmingham has great savings on Big Fish, Little Fish tickets for parents and under fives.
• West Midlands Safari Park, half-an-hour west of Clent Hills, is where younger kids can meet Boj from CBeebies at the multi-sensory Giggly Park.
• Nearby Hanbury Hall has enormous stretches of wild parkland for little trekkers, and fabulous afternoon teas too.
• Chaddesley Woods Nature Reserve is another near neighbour for butterfly and bird packed woodland walks – most trails are buggy-friendly.

2/10 Bude, Cornwall

Cornwall’s west coast is bucket and spade territory, land of huge beaches, cute seaside towns and mighty castles, that seem perfect for under 5’s. Ready Camp’s Bude site is just a tiny stroll from the sands at Crackington Haven and a short drive to historic Bude . You can pop on your history hat and explore legendary Tintagel in minutes or head to Padstow for that other great Cornwall tradition: fish and chips by the sea.

Perfect for under fives

• Beautiful Prideaux Place estate just outside Padstow, is seen in BBC’s Poldark, but under fives will probably be more impressed by the fabulous Deer Park. Go for feeding time, and look out for ‘snowflake’, the pure white doe.
• Hire bikes with kid trailers in Padstow and cycle the traffic-free 5.5 mile stretch of the famous Camel Trail from Padstow to Wadebridge.
• Crackington Haven Beach is just 10 minutes drive from Bude. Popular at weekends, it’s peaceful for paddling, picnics and playing, mid-week.
• You know you’re on a favoured stretch of North Cornwall’s coast when magnificent, Arthurian legend-steeped, Tintagel Castle is only 20 minutes drive away.
• Padstow Harbour is a crabbing hotspot. Local shops sell fishing lines (and bait, if you forget to bring a bit of bacon). Then, all you need is a bit of patience and a fascinated under five for company. It’s catch and release, of course.

3/10 California Cross, South Devon

Tucked between wild and wonderful Dartmoor and beachy fun on the south Devon coast, Ready Camps’ California Cross site is heaven for little paddlers and hikers-in-training. If tiny toes get tired of testing acres of sand, lively Plymouth is just half-an-hour’s drive west. Or head to Dartmouth, about the same distance east, for cute coves by the dozen, fortresses to ramble round, and cosy refuelling in kid-friendly country inns.

Perfect for under fives

• Half-an-hour west of California Cross, Dartmoor Zoo is a fun day out for young animal lovers, and under threes visit free.
• Dartmoor Otters and Buckfast Butterflies is another local must-do, just 15 minutes from the campsite. Plan your visit right, and lively otter feeding time could well be the highlight of the entire holiday.
• Catch the ferry at Dartmouth Harbour and sail to Dartmouth Castle. It’s a short crossing that feels like a sea voyage to little sailors, and the castle itself is great to ramble around, even for little legs.
• Beautiful Bantham Beach is only 20 minutes drive from the campsite. One of the best loved in South Hams, it’s enormous, always busy at weekends, but delightfully deserted mid-week.
• If the 4000 underwater creatures at the National Marine Aquarium Plymouth aren’t exciting enough, visit at shark feeding time or catch one of the fantastic daily dive shows.

4/10 Norman’s Bay, East Sussex

Unless you manage to arrange Christmas every day, nothing’s more exciting for younger kids than waking up to the sight of the sea. Ready Camp at Norman’s Bay sits right on the East Sussex coast, minutes from big, beautiful beaches and less than half-an-hour’s drive from Hastings. Under fives might like paddling and sandcastle building better than ancient history, but balancing grown-up fun with playtime is just one of the many reasons this site is a perfect intro to glamping for under fives.

Perfect for under fives

• Hop aboard the East Hill Cliff Railway up to Hastings Country Park. It’s the steepest funicular in the UK, and the views over Hastings and the East Sussex coast are spectacular.
• From the traditional pleasure pier to its great, golden beaches, Eastbourne is good, old fashioned seaside fun, just 15 minutes east of Norman’s Bay.
• Between the zoo, play zones, carnival rides, animal encounters, mini-waterpark and maze, Drusillas Park is hours of fun for under fives, less than 20 minutes from the campsite. Visit mid-week for ‘purple day’ savings.
• Pevensey Bay is where William the Conqueror landed in 1066, kids may be more interested in its string of pretty beaches; starting with Norman’s Bay Beach, a few minutes walk from the campsite.
• Pint-size trains are only perfect for tiny rail travellers, and you’ll find plenty tootling round the gardens and lake at Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Park.

5/10 Lynton Campsite, Exmoor National Park

Best of all worlds doesn’t come much better for little glampers than Ready Camp’s Lynton site. Not only is it on the edge of hauntingly lovely Exmoor National Park (the one with the ponies), it’s less than a mile from North Devon’s Heritage Coast, and spoils you completely for seaside towns, with both pretty Lynton and Lynmouth vying for attention, right next door to each other, and only 10 minutes drive from your canvas cocoon.

Perfect for under fives

• Don’t miss the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway, not only is it the best way to see both twin seaside towns, it’s also the steepest, water-powered funicular in the entire world, and less than 10 minutes drive from the campsite.
• From stroking fleecy alpaca to handling creepy crawlies, Exmoor Zoo lets kids handle, feed and help with animals, an approach that’s clearly popular, since the zoo was recently named, ‘Devon’s Best Small Attraction’.
• Charming Ilfracombe is just 30 minutes drive from the campsite, and home to the famous Tunnels Beaches and tidal pools, which you can pretty much have to yourself mid-week.
• From the start of spring right through until early autumn, kids can see Exmoor Ponies wandering free round Exmoor National Park. Not strictly ‘wild’, the breeding herds are carefully managed, so there’s a high chance of spotting cute foals in early summer.
• Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park, 20 minutes west of Lynton, is where little palaeontologists get to eyeball dozens of amazing animatronic monsters, and young zoologists can meet real wildlife from meerkats to monkeys.

6/10 Crowden Campsite, Peak District

Ready Camp’s Crowden Campsite sits on the northern edge of the Peak District National Park, perfect for mini-hikers in the making to stretch their legs. Manchester is less than an hour’s drive west for glittery city fun, or you can stick with the country and pack a picnic for Swallow’s Wood, or soothe all stately home cravings with a day at Chatsworth: the petting farm and adventure playground keep it heritage-light for under fives.

Perfect for under fives

• Chatsworth House is less than an hour south of Crowden, looks spectacular, and entertains kids no end with daily farm activities, animal encounters, and playground adventures.
• The north of Peak District National Park isn’t short on wild drama, but there are plenty of easy walking trails designed just for little legs.
• If LEGO has a UK home, it’s Legoland Discovery Centre ‘the ultimate indoor playground’, just west of Manchester and under an hour’s drive from Crowden.
• Bluebell heaven in spring, pretty Swallow’s Wood is wildlife-rich and walking fun all year round, and only 10 minutes from the campsite.
• Visit family-friendly Manchester Museum for regular Baby Explorer mornings, packed with fun learning activities just for under fives.

7/10 Drayton Manor, Tamworth

If Drayton Manor rings a bell, it’s probably because of Drayton Manor Theme Park; one of the biggest and best in the UK, and within the grounds of Drayton Manor site. Under fives might not be up for white-knuckle terror just yet, but they’ll definitely approve of Thomas Land, teacup rides and traditional carousels. Gorgeous Staffordshire countryside all around is excitement of a gentler sort, and the National Trust comes good on everything from stately homes to enormous estates in this lovely part of the world.

Perfect for under fives

• Thomas Land is all Drayton Manor’s fun of the fair, specially sized for under fives, and with brand new rides for 2018.
• Award winning Twycross Zoo is home to over 500 animals across 100 species, and it’s less than half an hour’s drive from Drayton Manor.
• Monster mad kids adore Drayton Manor’s Dino Trail, more fun than fearsome, and a completely awesome adventure for under fives.
• Head out on the Calke Abbey wildlife trail and see what kids can spot. It’s as well marked as you’d expect from the National Trust and just over 40 minutes from Drayton Manor.
• Named the ‘Best Children’s Farm in the West Midlands, Ash End is less than 10 minutes from the campsite, has cute creatures galore, and a giant Play Barn for wet weather fun.

8/10 Cannock Chase, Staffordshire

For tiny fairy tale fiends and junior explorers, nothing is more enchanting than a forest. All you need for complete captivation is a cute canvas home and that’s exactly what you have at Ready Camp’s Cannock Chase site; set in woodland, and made for young imaginations to run wild. If you can tear them away from home-grown adventuring, this is the area for child-size wildlife walks around Shugborough Estate, mini-hiking in local nature reserves, and cool train rides on Chasewater Railway’s steam locomotives.

Perfect for under fives

• Fun woodland trails along with adventure playgrounds, and fun activities, are just a few reasons kids love days out in Cannock Chase Forest.
• Go Ape are famous for their daring treetop courses, but Go Ape Junior in Cannock Chase Forest lets little aerialists, as young as four, get in on the action.
• From the mansion house to the stable block, Shugborough Estate is an amazing National Trust property just 30 minutes from Cannock Chase. Unimpressed by history under-fives can romp around the enormous grounds.
• Find out about the local area at the fascinating Museum of Cannock Chase, it’s only five minutes from the campsite, and while you’re heritage hunting, kids have a fun play area to explore.
• You don’t have to be a steam locomotive buff to love Chasewater Railway, the scenic journeys alone are a thrill. Catch a historic train for various delightful destinations, just 20 minutes south of Cannock Chase.

9/10 Conkers, Derbyshire

Right at the heart of the National Forest, Conkers is another Ready Camp woodland wonder on a mission to wear out under fives, in a good way. Conkers Visitor Centre is the site’s next door neighbour, with 120 acres of incredible activity trails, play areas, rope courses and lakes to adventure round. There is heritage fun with a playful side at Moira Furnace Industrial Museum, 500 plus wild residents to meet at nearby Twycross Zoo, and don’t miss Calke Abbey; one of the National Trust’s most curious country houses, and a surprise hit with younger visitors.

Perfect for under fives

• Conkers Visitor Centre is gateway to acre upon acre of exciting outdoor fun, plenty of it perfect for under fives, and only minutes from the campsite.
• Moira Furnace Museum & Country Park is another near Conkers’ near neighbour, fascinating industrial history for grown-ups, and everything from narrowboat sails to woodland walks for kids.
• 18^th century Calke Abbey, just 20 minutes drive from Conkers, is almost entirely unchanged since the National Trust took it over 30 years ago. You’ll like the curiosity factor, and kids love the toy-stuffed school rooms and nurseries.
• Award winning Twycross Zoo is home to over 500 animals from 100 species, and 20 minutes drive from the campsite.
• From fluffy guinea pig encounters to Maize Maze puzzling, the National Forest Adventure Farm is just fantastic, and half an hour north of Conkers.

10/10 Milarrochy Bay, Loch Lomond

Pitch up at Ready Camp’s Milarrochy Bay site, on the south eastern banks of bonny Loch Lomond, and take your little one roaming the hills, glens and general gorgeousness of Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. When you need more outdoorsy action, you’re right on the edge of immense Queen Elizabeth Forest Park too. And if you don’t spot enough wildlife on your wild walks and rambles, have a day out at nearby Blair Drummond Safari Park, or go meet the residents at Sea Life Aquarium Loch Lomond.

Perfect for under fives

• Just five minutes drive from the campsite, Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve is great for woodland walks, osprey spotting, loch paddling and all-round outdoorsy fun. The short sail there is an adventure in itself.
• Loch Lomond’s award winning Sea Life Aquarium is less than half-an-hour from Milarrochy Bay, and good value Toddler and Parent Tickets can be booked online.
• Board the Maid of the Loch at Balloch and sail for a few hours in style, on Loch Lomond’s legendary 1920’s paddle steamer.
• Brilliant Blair Drummond Safari Park has been a family favourite for generations. As exciting today as ever, it’s just under an hour’s drive from Milarrochy Bay.
• Lake of Monteith is Scotland’s only freshwater lake, kids love a short sail here to visit Inchmahome Priory. The ancient ruin, on its own island, has an incredible history, and it’s top territory for rambling around.

If you don’t see your Too Cool For School break here, take a look at dozens of other fabulous Ready Camp term-time glamping holidays for under-fives, at campsites all over the UK.