With Father’s Day coming up on June 19th, here’s a great selection from Pitchup.com of outdoor holidays where travellers can indulge in what used to be deemed ‘manly pursuits’. But as we’ve all evolved in the last decade or five, these are great locations where not just father and son can bond, but the whole family can get out there and be a bit rugged!
Gone Fishing in Wales
Yet Y Gors is a beautiful site, near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire. Coasteering, kayaking, surfing and bodyboarding options are available nearby, or in more contemplative moments enjoy the 17-acre site with its four lakes set up for fishing. Everything’s on hand for beginners to experts, plus a tackle shop with bait and tackle and rods for hire. Come the evening, this is the place to enjoy sunsets and star-gazing, as there’s very little light pollution and wide open skies. Add to that comfortable and affordable static caravans, capable and friendly owners and it’s the perfect recipe for a relaxing break. Two-bedroom caravans sleeping up to six are available from just £35 per night.
Natural Heaven in Devon
Go back to nature at Old Mine House, where there’s forest school, bushcraft and tree-climbing to bring out the inner Bear Grylls. Here the amenities are kept deliberately simple (so there’s a shower and loos of course, but no electric hook-ups or wifi). And for the fully rounded father who cultivates mind as well as body, there are reasonably priced activities like yoga and reflexology to indulge in. Located in the Dartmoor National Park, Old Mine House is the ideal site to escape city life: there are bike routes and beaches galore to enjoy nearby. Enjoy the gypsy caravan from £50 per night (sleeps two) or the family size one bedroom cabin from £60 per night (sleeps up to six).
Make like a Mountain Goat in Spain
As far as impressive locations go, Camping Peña Montañesa scores highly: it’s by the River Cinca and at the foot of the Pyrenees, with highly special vistas all around. The site is perfectly placed for exploring the Pyrenees and for the hiking, birdwatching, and rock climbing of the nearby Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. And after a hard day’s clambering or exploring, it’s great to return to indoor and outdoor pools, a hot tub and a sauna. For the truly energetic there’s a multi-sports area for tennis, football and basketball on site too! Pitches are available from £21.01 per night based on two sharing, and there is a range of holiday homes too sleeping from two to four that start at £36.98 per night.
Easy Riding in France
Now here’s a camp that’s touch on the wild side: bikers of the world unite at Camping Rendez-Vous Moto, just inland from Montpellier in the south of France. Here there are no children to disturb the peace, so one for the older boys (and girls), who love the thrill of the open road. The site is a great base from which to explore the scenery of the Languedoc, and back at base there’s a friendly bar and restaurant, a pool and pétanque to help unwind (as well as a comprehensive set of tools to sort any bike issues!). Pitches start at £16.84 per night for two and there are also pre-erected tents and cabins on site (for £24.71 and £31.16, both per night for two).
