With summer quickly approaching, you’re probably trying to think of places and locations that you and your loved one can enjoy. And as travelling hasn’t been the easiest thing to do over the past couple of years, you might be looking for a quick, simple and tried and tested way to enjoy time with your loved ones. So what a better way to spend time with your family than going on a family camping holiday. Hitting the open road and soaking up the fresh air and countryside views couldn’t be better. However, if you have yet to experience a family camping holiday you may be wondering what the benefits are, so hopefully this post will help.

Home Comforts

One of the best things about going camping is the fact that you can pack most of your home comforts and belongings into one space without any restrictions. If your little ones have a favorite pillow, or they will only eat a certain type of cereal, you can load up your campervan with everything they could possibly need. With modern hybrid campers you can also enjoy a durable and comfortable environment with a whole host of amenities and features that will truly feel like a home away from home!

Time Away from Technology

How many times have you tried to tear your children away from their devices in the past couple of weeks? If it seems as though games consoles, mobile phones and other electronic devices are taking over your household, then camping is a great way to get a break from the constant screens. There will be fewer opportunities for your child to log into their favourite digital games without easy internet access for a start Instead you can toast marshmallows around the campfire, play a good old fashioned game of cards together, and just enjoy being outside in the fresh air together.

More Choices of Location

With a campervan at your disposal you can truly choose from a whole host of locations that you may not have even thought of before. Of course you'll need to plan and book a campsite before you set off, but there are so many sites to choose from all over the UK, so the world really is your oyster. Plus there's nothing stopping you from travelling and stopping at a number of locations over a few weeks - make a road trip out of your holiday!

More Flexibility

Going on trips in your family camper van can be much more spontaneous and enjoyable compared to catching flights and trains. You aren’t restricted to any timings and you can’t be 'late' for anything, so you can make your drive as quick or slow as you like. Want to stop at a few places along the way, why not? Plus if you hire a bigger caravan or camper, you can expand who you bring along on the trip too.

As you can see, there are a number of benefits that go hand in hand with camping. Your next family holiday could be filled with fun, enjoyment and a whole host of memories if you take the leap and invest in a campervan for your family this year. Start planning your trip on the open road today and have a fun-filled summer!

This is a collaborative post.

Family Fun at Bewl Water - Paddleboarding, Adventure Play + More!

We love spending time with family over the Bank Holidays, so last Monday we all decided to head to Bewl Water for some family fun. Bewl Water is located near Lamberhurst on the outskirts of Kent, and is the perfect place to visit for all kinds of indoor and outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. If you're in to walking you can enjoy the 12.5 miles around the reservoir - or you can just enjoy a leisurely wander and turn back whenever if this suits you more. You can bring bikes (or you can hire them there too), book on to the laser challenge or aqua park, and for younger ones there's a decent sized soft play. There are two fab adventure play areas located close to the car park too - one of which features a fab pirate ship and a giant slide. 

The main reason for our visit this time though, was for Jack and my two brother-in-laws to enjoy some water sports. There are plenty of options to enjoy including sailing, windsurfing, canoes, rowing and sailing. But they decided to give stand up paddleboarding a try! They booked a 1 hour session for £20, which included the paddleboard and paddle, leash, a wetsuit and a buoyancy aid. Although they didn't really get much instruction with what to do (you can book actual lessons but these are more expensive), they still managed to have a great time. I can imagine it was really relaxing just being out on the water within Bewl's beautiful surroundings.

Myself and my sister's stayed firmly on dry land during our visit though, keeping all of the cousins entertained with a walk along the reservoir bank, water sport spotting, and of course playing in the play areas. We managed to spot the boys on their boards too, although I think the children were more interested in trying to throw pebbles as close to them as possible... children huh? It was so lovely to see all of them playing and laughing together though, and it was especially lovely watching them helping each other on the big slide. Just a note if you are going to visit, the slide isn't the slipperiest so it's worth getting them to sit on a coat or something shiny so they slide better!

Despite it being the May Bank Holiday, it still was a little grey and chilly during our day. The Littles were super excited though as it meant they got to wear their new raincoats! We worked with Lighthouse Clothing a few years ago (and I bought my pink coat of dreams from them last year), so of course when they got in touch again I couldn't say no. Now Indiana is that little bit older I decided to pick a more 'grown up' design for her, so she has the Olivia Jacket in Parma Stripe. We love Parker in bright colours so he has the Anchor Jacket in Orange Navy, and with Lilah being 4 and obsessed with bright colours and designs, I had to get her the Olivia Jacket in the Sweet Pea Farm print. All three jackets and fully waterproof, windproof, have soft jersey linings, and most importantly they can be machine washed! All three have commented on how cosy and comfortable they are, and I've had numerous compliments on their designs too. So thank you Lighthouse Clothing for working with us again.

We had a lovely morning at Bewl Water, and if you bring a picnic (or there's food available at the cafe) you could stay for the whole day. There's so much to do to keep everyone in the family entertained whether you want a big adventure or not. Parking is £6 for the whole day, so it can be a relatively cheap day out if you just take advantage of the parks and walks too!

We received items from Lighthouse Clothing in exchange for a mention in a post. All opinions are honest and my own, and I wasn't compensated for this post.