A camping weekend at Thornton's Holt

This year we decided to invest in a proper tent. As a family of three, we were ready for something big enough to stand up in, and with room to move if we got rained in and had to spend time entertaining a toddler ‘inside’. This roomy tent, complete with ground sheet, carpet and actual rooms, has reignited our love of camping, and we’ve been using it regularly throughout the summer, come rain or shine! In August we decided to try a site closer to home, and booked in for a weekend at Thornton’s Holt campsite near Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire, with some friends of ours who also had a few little people in tow. Thornton’s Holt is a spacious camping site over 14 acres with 155 pitches for both tents and campervans/caravans, and it has some fantastic facilities. We arrived on a drizzling Friday evening and quickly pitched our tents, but awoke to glorious sunshine on Saturday morning, ready to explore. With two toddlers and a baby, it was great to have so much to do onsite – with free range chickens, a large children’s playground and even an indoor heated pool, available for use daily but with a small payment and booking as it is so popular. In addition to the toilet and shower block and washing up areas there is also a lovely campsite shop, selling all the essentials plus great outdoor toys for the kids. The boys loved the playground, and Thornton’s Holt is clearly a popular choice for families, as there were constantly children playing and riding their bikes around the site when we there, all making for a magical summer-holiday feeling to the weekend. From the site we explored the local area, visiting Naturescape Wildflower Farm and the pretty village of Langar. On Saturday afternoon we relaxed over a barbeque and enjoyed the glorious weather, and on Sunday we headed to a pretty spot on the River Trent at Gunthorpe, where we enjoyed a riverside walk and alfresco dining in the sunshine, as well as an obligatory ice cream! I’d recommend Thornton’s Holt to anyone looking for a camping weekend in Nottinghamshire. Whether you want to just relax and enjoy the facilities, or use it as a base to explore the local area with attractions such as the National Water Sports Centre and the centre of Nottingham city just 20 minutes away. Find out more and book your stay at: http://www.thorntons-holt.co.uk/