We
arrived at Cheddar Camp slightly dubious about out ability to find a dry patch
after checking the weather and seeing that it had been raining non stop for two
days before we arrived.
Tim
jumped out at reception and we were led up to the top field by the owner and
she pointed us in the direction of what she thought was a dry patch. It wasn’t.
Although did manage to get one on the top of the hill which meant we had a
beautiful view out over the Cheddar countryside.
CheddarCamp is a lovely site which comprises of two fields and a toilet block. There
are no showers but they do allow camp fires, which seemed to us to be far more
important than having a shower for the three nights that we were there.
There
is a bridleway running through the centre of the two fields, cordoned off by
fences and not too busy at the weekend (photos below from a sunnier day!)
The
toilets are basic and there is no hot running water but this is explained when
you book in. The only problem with the loos is my mortal fear of moths and the
fact people kept leaving the lights on and the doors open. Pretty much my worst
nightmare right there!
Do you think the electric box looks like a boo from Mario or is it just me?
The
owners are friendly and helpful and at £5 per person per night you can’t
complain. Logs for the campfires can be purchased for £3.50 per bag from
reception.
We
had the tent set up within half an hour (Tim’s first time of putting it up) and
everything else we up and inside in the grand total of an hour.
Our friends
showed up a little later and set up their tent, and then we decided to go down
to Cheddar and have a wander about the gorge. Unfortunately we got there too
late to go into the caves but we did have a wander up the road until it started
throwing it down so we diverted to the local scrumpy shop and decided to fill
up for what was going to be a very wet and windy evening.
We thought
fish and chips would be good idea and picked some up before heading back to the
camp.
Why is there always a one off scary child's shoe in these places?
By
the time we got back the camp site was buzzing with life, a school trip and a
fathers and toddlers group had taken up the majority of the back field and ours
had a few more additions to it. The rain came down, more and more until the
ground was ridiculously boggy but we were smugly in our tent all dry and with
the heater on and scrumpy in hand.
The
wind howled and the rain poured down and
unfortunately for our friends their tent didn’t stand up to it, so one slept in
the car, the other came and slept in our tent (after a lot of re-jigging…I did
say we don’t pack light right?). It was a disturbed night’s sleep with the rain
lashing at the side of the tent and it didn’t let up all night, but we were
safe and sound in our super tent with the steel poles (I really did make the
right choice!). It really was a case of
go-to-sleep-as-fast-as-you-can-this-will-all-be-over-in-the-morning thoughts as
I lay my head down and drifted off.
