Our First Family Camping Trip To River Dart Country Park

Last week heralded a new beginning in our family, and if I’m entirely honest it’s not something that I ever in a million years thought would happen. A camping holiday is what happened.

You may ask why? Well, I have never been camping in my life, not even as a child and yes, I do love the all-inclusive holiday abroad.

However, on this occasion I was slightly outnumbered by my wife and seven year old twin girls haha! So there was no turning back! I had agreed to a camping holiday and I was totally scared witless of staying outdoors overnight, and of course putting up the tent in amongst a field of professional campers! This could be fun, or not!

We decided on a recommendation to go to River Dart Country Park in Devon because there are plenty of activities to occupy the girls and, as you will find out we were not disappointed.

It’s about a two hour drive to River Dart so we set off with the intention of arriving around 1pm which was when we would be able to pitch our tent.

Day 1

We arrived and drove down to the Picnic Meadow which was going to be our home for the next four days. As it was a bank holiday. the area was very busy with lots of families that had pitched up.

Now it was our turn to pitch up and the first thing to do was get the tent and everything else out of the car. The girls and my wife went off to the toilet which gave me the opportunity to put the ground sheet down. Once my wife was back it was time to get the tent up. Amazingly just 30 minutes later the tent was up. Yes we looked like professional campers, I think!

We organised everything, hooked up the electric and we had our new home for the next four days and the weather I have to say was beautiful.

Off to start our camping adventure and find out what River Dart Country Park had to offer.

I was genuinely surprised at how much was going on at the campsite. From adventure parks to canoeing and it even has a lake which you are able to swim in and much more to keep the girls occupied.

The first night was all about settling in and yes, cooking on our brand new camping stove which between me and my wife we managed to do, although I will add it was a very basic omelette for the girls and similar for my wife and I.

Before I knew it, it was actually bedtime and this was going to be a big test! How well would we sleep in our tent? Well I needn’t have been bothered! We all slept like logs until about 8am the following morning!

Day 2

We were awake as the sun was rising above the trees and it really was beautiful. The first job was to cook breakfast, which was something I was actually beginning to enjoy! It was bacon and eggs and there really is nothing like the smell of bacon sizzling on a stove out in the open while camping.

Once we had sorted ourselves out we went off to try some of the activities on the campsite. The girls tried water zorbing which looked like fun and I’m sure the girls enjoyed it. This was quickly followed by canoeing in the lake. It was actually only for 30 minutes, but it was exhausting haha! Or least I was knackered at the end of it, but it was loads of fun. We then had ice cream and why not! We are on holidays.

We then went over to the adventure park which had climbing frames and numerous other fun things for the girls to do. We actually had to drag them away so we could go back to our tent for lunch and a little rest.

The afternoon was already planned out. It was time to go swimming in the lake. It was a relatively warm day, but my goodness the water was freezing! After what seemed like hours your body did eventually adjust to the cold! There is a pirate ship in the lake and a climbing bridge to cross for the girls. It was fantastic fun and the girls simply didn’t want to leave! Me on the other hand, well, I was frozen and wanted to go and get warm!

We thought in the evening we would try out the restaurant as it was pizza and pasta night. The food was excellent and was very reasonable in cost and it was as much as you could eat.

We went back to the tent after the girls had a play in the little park near the restaurant and it was actually straight to bed exhausted after a very full, but fun day.

Day 3

Among many of the activities at River Dart Country Park there are High Ropes and a zip wire. My wife decided today it was time to do the zip wire and yes, she did. Check it out below!

We then made our way to the rope ladders where the girls could do some climbing because unfortunately they are not old enough for the high ropes. The Rope Ladders are perfect for the girls giving them the thrill of climbing, but in a very safe way, because they are not that high off the ground and I even had a go myself.

We then went for a walk along a a pathway that led us to Mount Sinai which is a lookout point that gave you beautiful views of Devon.

We then made our way back over to the adventure park where the girls got to go on the obstacle courses and a massive spiders web which I actually climbed to the very top of! Probably because I’m a big kid at heart! Saying that R also climbed to the top as well! She is fearless when it comes to climbing.

After lunch we went back to the lake for a swim and it also has a little beach area where M loved making sandcastles.

We went to the restaurant again for tea and had an early night because the weather was on the turn and rain was forecast and we had an early start for a day trip the following day.

Day 4

The weather had turned to rain and our day trip was to the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth . It was a fantastic visit and you can read all about our visit here.

When we got back to the campsite we started packing things away as we would be leaving before 11am the following morning.

It’s been an interesting experience, camping. It’s the first time I have camped and although I had my doubts before we went, after a few hours I actually started to love it!

There is a freedom that you can do what you want, when you want. It also gives you a sense of well-being being outdoors and at one with nature.

I will of course say that having the right equipment is vital and we were lucky enough to have been gifted a EuroHike Hampton 6 tent as well some other camping equipment from Millets to help our first ever camping trip go well.

The big question is, would I go camping again?

100% I would!

It was brilliant fun! River Dart Country Park was a spectacular setting and had so much in the way of activities for my twin girls as well as my wife and myself getting involved.

I am sure that before the year is out we will have one more camping trip to where, well who knows! You had better ask my wife, haha!

The camping life is definitely something that I am hooked on and I can’t wait to pitch our tent again!