Now this is budget - sites that won't break the bank
perAs you’ll know if you’ve ever had one of those rows with your other half, ‘budget’ means different stuff to different folk. To some, it’s knowing their money down to the last penny, bringing a flask to work instead of buying a latte, and queuing overnight before the sales start. For others, it’s buying two crates of beer on a Buy One Get One Free.
And lo, so it is with camping. We’ve got glampers, wild campers and everyone in between. Generally though, camping and caravanning is seen as a good budget option for a holiday, whether your definition of budget is strapping a tent to your bike and taking off into the forest, or bringing your own food to cook outside your luxury yurt for the weekend. But prices still do vary, so we thought it was high time for a look at some properly budget sites for those who are counting the pennies. That’ll be most of us then.
To find budget campsites and caravan parks on Pitchup.com, just enter your search details on the left for the number of people going and how long you want to stay. Then use the price sort option (low – high) at the top right. Here are five sites that shouldn’t break the bank:
Summer Lodge Holiday Park : This family site in Newquay, Cornwall, has a heated outdoor pool, adventure play area, games room, shop, bar, clubhouse, fish and chip shop and laundry room, with live entertainment laid on in peak season too. A one night midweek in July for two adults on a non-electric grass pitch is £5-7, with a two night weekend stay over 13-14 July costing £10 (car included for both). The rate for two adults and two children on the same pitch and weekend is £20, although there’s an extra £2.50 per night charge if you’re bringing your dog.
Numphra Downs Farm : Also in Cornwall, the Numphra Downs site has non-electric pitches for caravans and motorhomes as well as small and family-sized non-electric tent pitches. A two night midweek stay in July is £20 for the caravan pitch taking up to six adults, £16 for the large tent pitch and £11 for the small (car parking included). Prices are the same at weekends for all three types of pitch, and for two adults and two children. The only extra charge made is £3 per night for a second car.
Tattershall Lakes Country Park : This Lincolnshire site has its own jetski lake, a golf course, three fishing lakes and loads of outdoorsy stuff to try. There are serviced pitches for tents, motorhomes and caravans taking up to six people – a two night midweek stay in July for two people is £12 for the serviced pitch and £20 for the ‘serviced plus’ pitch. Prices are the same for two adults and two children, and parking for two cars is included. There’s a wide variation on weekend bookings – ranging from £12-46 for a basic pitch – so it’s probably best to be flexible on dates. Dogs are welcome at a charge of £1 per night.
Kingsmead Centre : Kingsmead in Devon has two coarse fishing lakes and free guides to all the cycling and walking trails nearby. The cheapest option for two adults staying two nights midweek is £15 for the budget non-electric grass pitch for tents, tourers and motorhomes – these take up to six people and have parking for unlimited cars included. These are in the field adjoining the campsite, but there are similar non-electric pitches on the main site for £20, while electric pitches for up to six people are £30. There’s no extra charge at weekends or for two adults and two children. Well-behaved pets are also welcome and there are no other charges.
Withernsea Sands Holiday Park : This Park Resorts site in East Yorkshire is a good option for families, with heated indoor pool, children’s splash pool, kids’ club and sports activities. Two adults staying midweek in July can pay £16 for two nights on a non-electric grass pitch, with car included. For an electric pitch, it’s £26 for two nights for up to six people and one car, and this also includes four entertainment passes giving you access to the park facilities and entertainment. The prices are the same for two adults and two children. At weekends, prices vary from between £16-28 for the non-electric pitch and £26-42 for the electric one, so it’s worth being flexible on dates. Dogs are welcome and there’s a charge of £1 per night in low season and £3 in peak.
If you just want a general overview of campsites and caravan parks that won’t leave your wallet empty, you can also use our filters to search for budget and backpacker sites – and then filter these any way you want. We have budget sites that are family friendly , or motorcycle friendly , or even naturist . And if you want to wring as much value out of your pitch price as you can, filter for sites according to facilities or events on site – like an indoor swimming pool or evening entertainment .
Going wild camping on a budget, or want to find out about cheap and free things to do near a campsite? Your thrifty tips to camping on a shoestring are here .
And yes, it’s also possible to glamp while broke – here’s your guide to luxury camping on a budget . Pass the piggybank, we’re going in.