Disclosure: I was an official Camp Bestival blogger for 2015. My family and I were given tickets in return for our coverage and honest opinions of the festival. As ever, all thoughts, words and pictures are my own.
So there we are.
All the excitement, planning, packing and anticipation has been and gone.
And my head is full to bursting with memories made at Camp Bestival 2015.
It’s the second festival we’ve taken our littles to. The first was Shambala last year . And I *think* we can safely say that the apples haven’t fallen very far from the tree, in this instance ;)
They LOVED it.
As did we :)
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Our 2015 Camp Bestival Review
It was the first time my boy and I have been to Camp Bestival.
We’ve been to it’s (much) bigger sister ‘Bestival’ — on the Isle Of Wight.
But to be honest I didn’t really draw many parallels; apart from the fact that I had a ball at each.
Although there were people there with no kids; Camp Bestival is definitely the festival to go to if you have children.
It’s set on such a beautiful site; nestled in the grounds of Lulworth Castle in Dorset. And there are so many different areas to explore.
It was clean — very little litter. And the loos were some of the very best I’ve ever come across at a festival.
Even on the Sunday each toilet I visited had loo roll and antibac gel.
That is unheard of at a festival!
Very impressed.
Some Negatives
I’ve spoken to a few people, who’d been before. Who voiced their disappointment that this year the festival seems to have outgrown its home.
Speaking as someone who’s never been before, I didn’t feel that at all.
Granted, the amount of festival wagons was a little overwhelming at times.
Trying to navigate through a large crowd when you’re pulling two toddlers in a ridiculously unresponsive vehicle.
Past countless other vehicles of a similar size, is hard work. But until you have kids who are able to keep themselves upright until bedtime; pushchairs or trolleys are a necessary evil.
My only negative (and it’s a very minor one) was that the lanyards — which contained maps and line-ups — had run out fairly early on.
Happily, some kind soul in the Press Office found one for me. But if I hadn’t been there as an official blogger, we would have been stuck.
A map and line-up is vital bit of kit to ensure you don’t miss anything at a festival. And adding a few quid onto the ticket price and giving everyone a lanyard with their wrist-bands, as standard, would the best solution to prevent this from happening.
And Some Positives
As my last festival experience was Glastonbury, back in June, I thought that Camp Bestival was a lovely size. Not too big — or crowded. And not so small that you felt that you’d seen everything after one circuit of the site.
Quite the contrary in fact! I think we saw probably 10% of what was on offer. If that. There was SO much to see and do.
I wish we’d be able to go down on the Thursday and have another day there.
I felt that there was room to breathe; OK the area around the main stage was hectic. It was also difficult to pass through, when the bands were on.
But in all of the other areas you definitely maintained your personal space.
We sat on the grass on Sunday and had a picnic, with a 10ft radius around us. I’ve been to other festivals where other revellers would have been walking over the picnic rug; and trampling over our legs!
Camp Bestival; Fun for All The Family
Depending on the age group of your child, one family’s experience would be quite different to another’s.
I guess, as your child grows, Mr Tumble would be replaced by an animal demonstration with Steve Backshall.
Soft play would be ditched in favour of learning circus skills.
Whatever age — and that goes for adults too — I’m pretty sure Camp Bestival would have something on offer; to tickle your fancy.
A Video Of Our Camp Bestival Experience
I think this film shows that we had SUCH an awesome weekend.
We were treated to beautiful weather. And whilst that was certainly a contributory factor, to our glowing report; there’s simply not enough room in one post, to wax lyrical about everything I loved about Camp Bestival 2015.
It was the perfect mix of hanging out with old friends, meeting new friends. Eating good food — courtesy of The Feast Collective — and being entertained on every level.
It was a treat for all the senses.
Caro Davies is a former art-director turned writer and content-creator, and editor behind UK lifestyle blog The Listed Home. She writes about home-related topics, from interiors and DIY to food and craft. The Listed Home has been featured in various publications, including Ideal Home, Grazia, and Homes & Antiques magazines.
This looks like such a fun festival, I really like the idea of taking Aria (and any future siblings) when she is a bit older, we will definitely consider this one. You had me at decent toilets!
#TwinklyTuesday
Aaah so happy to have inspired to to go!! I promise — you won’t regret it! :)
Super tempted to try this out next year! Lovely :) #twinklytuesday
Aaah do it!! Honestly — you really won’t regret it :)
We went to our first festival this year and lost bed every minute!!
Camp Bestival is top of my wish list for next year #twinklytuesdays
It’s a fab environment for littles isn’t it? What a fabulous thing to be taken to as a kid!! I wish they’d been around when I was little — we got taken to air shows!!! ;)
Sounds like an amazing time! I’m glad it was kept so clean. It looks like a nice, sunny day for it with a dry ground which helps so much. Lovely that you all enjoyed it! Thank you for hosting #TwinklyTuesday x
The whole weekend was lovely and sunny — Friday to Sunday was wall to wall sunshine and blue sky, then a little bit of rain when we left on the Monday!! So lucky :)
Looks amazing and sounds perfect!! Hopefully we’ll get there next year..best start saving!! :-) xx #twinklytuesday
It was SO much fun. Really well worth the money — fingers crossed I’ll see you there next year! :)
Caro, this review is brilliant and your little video is AMAZING! Seriously, I am sitting here wishing I’d have been there and I will definitely look into going next year. Your boys, god your boys are just divine I want to eat them! As for Dickie’s shiny helmet…well there are no words haha! Well done darling, I’m so glad you had a wonderful time :) Welcome back to our lovely little (big) linky, thanks for being super awesome :) xx
Thanks so much gorgeous!! Aaah we had SUCH an amazing time — we really did. It was awesome — can’t wait to do it all over again next year!!! ;)
Looks brilliant, I am going to send an email round now to see if I can get any takers :) lovely photos and I love the crash helmets!! xx #TwinklyTuesdays
This looks amazing. I know it’s a weird point to pick up on, but clean toilets with loo roll and handwash sold me on it! You’re pictures are amazing, looks like you all had a lovely time. Thanks for hosting #TwinklyTuesday
Debbie
http://www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com
Do you know? I’ve lost count of the amount of people who are fearful about festival loos so it’s not weird at all! :) You’re in the majority!! :) xx
This looks and sounds amazing. I love camping and festivals but never attended a child friendly one. It’s so great to know you can introduce your child to such an awesome experience at an early age. I really want to go next year or the year after – can we come with you oh festival veteran? Amazing review and I love your video too. Has made me want to go even more. xxxx
Aaah I would LOVE for us all to go to a festival together!!!! YES!!!!! Definitely. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s such a beautiful, happy environment. Kids — and adults — get so much out of it. I wish I could go to one every other weekend!! ;)
This is so useful and I’m so glad I’ve read it. I am now thinking “mmm I wonder who in the mummy group will be up for this next year”! Look forward to the next blogs.
Thanks for hosting #twinklytuesday, Nicky
Thanks so much Nicky!! :) I really, really, highly recommend it. I’m a huge festival lover — so I’m *slightly* biased — but a few of my friends who have never been to a festival before came too and they LOVED it!! It;s just a fab weekend :) xx