Camping at Sykeside, Brothers' Water

When a friend from Buckinghamshire said they were coming up to the Lakes this summer I knew it was a good opportunity to show off my adopted county. I suggested camping for the night and then sent a few potential sites to her from pitchup.com. From these she chose Sykeside near Brothers Water. It was a wet and misty drive up into the mountains from Kendal and I was beginning to think camping had been a bad option! Then as we descended Kirkstone Pass the vista opened up and it just looked stunning:

Before pitching our tent we fortified ourselves with chips at the Brotherswater Inn. It was a good job we did as pitching the big tent in strong winds and drizzles was a testing experience... probably didn't help that I hadn't remembered to bring all the pegs so I had to buy more. The ones from the shop were more up to scratch for the hard ground any way! It was worth it for a view like this:

Once we were set up we headed across the fields for the short walk to Brothers Water:

Recipe: Hot Dogaghetti (Hot Dogs and Spaghetti)

Sometimes you see an idea on Pinterest and you think hmm I could do that. Sometimes it can go wrong (see here) but this time it went well so I thought I would show you my version. This is perfect for either lazy home cooking or for camping as you just need one saucepan to cook it in. So here are the instructions for Hot Dogaghetti:

1) Ingredients

Enough hot dogs and spaghetti for your diners (in this case my 10 year old on his own!):

2) Preparation

Put a big enough pan of water on to boil and then divide up the hot dogs to chunks and the spaghetti in half:

Careful insert 5 or 6 strands of spaghetti into each chunk of hot dog: 

#CountryKids with Single With Kids camping at Wicksteed Park #WhateverTheWeather

Over the bank holiday we were down in Kettering on another Single With Kids camp. We had heard it was one of the best camps and so had been looking forward to it since booking in May! That may have had something to do with the fact that there is a small theme park on the site. After a horrendous bank holiday Friday drive we arrived to bright sunshine and pitched our tent in the rally field with the other families:

On the first night there were only about 30 families in the camp and most of us joined in the campfire fun after dark. This was my daughter topping the human pyramid:

Saturday morning dawned rather grey and with a rubbish forecast. We made sure everything was all secure before we set off to use our discounted wristbands in the theme park:

#CountryKids Single with Kids camp at Stourport on Severn

Last weekend we took a drive of over 3 hours on the Friday night to Stourport on Severn for another camping weekend with Single with Kids. In the rain it took us a while to pitch everything but by 9:45 we were all set up:

We were then able to go over to the party tent for company and marshmallows around the fire:

There was a campsite noise curfew after 11 PM but the children were able to still have fun with glow sticks:

#CountryKids A weekend camping in Dent, Cumbria

This Bank Holiday I was invited to sell Usborne books in Dent and so I turned it into a mini camping break with my children. We arrived at Millbeck Farm on a hot and sunny afternoon:

We had booked into the basic camp site which was only £9 a night! There were portaloos in the field plus a water tap. At the farm up the track were real loos and showers. Luckily the campsite was nice and quiet as we were putting up our new tent for the first time... this was a stressful experience eventually we were able to check out our spacious new tent with our own sleeping compartments (just enough room for our new camp beds):

Then we needed to recover from our exertions so headed up the road into the village itself which was somewhere we had never bin. Its a beautiful, little village with lots of things to spot:

We were hungry and thirsty so checked out the two pubs in the village (amazing there are 2 in such a small place!). The George and Dragon didn't appear to have a beer garden so we didn't stop in there:

Reasons to be cheerful: Camping and Proud Mum #R2BC

Thanks once again to Michelle for hosting this week. Here are the reasons for me to be smiling this week:
1) Camping fun
We have had an amazing weekend camping in Derbyshire with Single with Kids. It put smiles on all our faces. (If you want to know more I have blogged about it): 

2) Proud mum #1

My son did a school fun run this week and clocked up an impressive 9 km in an hour!! An amazing achievement at 9 years old:

3) Photos

#CountryKids Camping at Callow Top with Single With Kids

This weekend we finally got back around to going camping again after 2 years! Last year with moving house and poor weather we hadn't managed to go. So we dug out the kit, borrowed some of my parents' camping gear and headed off to Callow Top near Ashbourne for a Single With Kids camping weekend. An easy drive down meant that by 8 PM we had the tent and gazebo all set up (with a little help from some other campers) and ready for the weekend:

Eagle eyed readers will spot what it is that is missing from the above shot? I had to do a mad dash to the camp shop and plead with them not to lock up so I could by a regulator! A very helpful man used the photograph so that I could buy the right one and cook our tea (hot dogs in buns).

My son had been playing with some of the other children and my daughter had been off exploring when we were invited to the party tent to sit around the fire and the children were given marshmallows to toast:

At about 11 my son and I decided we were too tired to stay up and retired to our tent. My daughter stayed up a bit longer with some of the older children. The next morning I was up rather early as the sound of birds and sheep seemed really loud! It all looked very peaceful in our part of the camp:

Reasons to be Cheerful: Sunshine and Showers #R2BC

I am really pleased that the original founder of Reasons to be Cheerful is back to co-host with me again. Welcome back Michelle! Here my reasons for this week:
1) Little victories
My children both had friends over this weekend to camp out in the garden to test out the tent before our first camping trip later this month. Afterwards for the first time since I bought the tent 2 years ago I got ALL yes ALL of it back in the bag from which it came. It was a good feeling!

2) The route less travelled

In memory of a friend's daughter who tragically died as a baby I am attempting to walk a mile every day this month. My friend is raising money for the Lullaby Trust in her daughter's name. We are trying to mix up where we walk and at the weekend took the other side of the river route home after a trip to the cinema. Its great to have time to chat and contemplate as well as discover new things such as the T'crack in Kirkland.

3) Running away

Reasons to be Cheerful: Autumnal edition #R2BC

Thanks everyone for joining in last week I hope I have visited you all!. I find that sharing little happy things can really lift the mood whatever may have happened in the week. Here are my reasons this week's:
1) Autumnal walks
This is my favourite time of year and until today its been fabulous to walk or run around in the sunshine and enjoy the almost magical look that autumn brings the trees:

2) 2000 Blips

My blipfoto journal racked up its 2000th photograph this week. I used the photograph from Fell Foot Parkrun's birthday celebrations and received so many stars and hearts I hit the popular page:

The Parkrun is even using my shot as its Facebook profile pic!

3) Birthday camp out sleepover

My daughter and 4 of her friends successfully camped out in the garden for her 12th birthday celebrations! Not much sleep had but a lot of fun:

We want to share people's happy posts so please link your posts and grab the badge...

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Reasons to be Cheerful Week 20 - 2014 #R2BC

So pleased to see even more lovely bloggers joining in last week! It makes me smile to read about all the the things that are making other people smile. There is definitely something contagious about happiness. Here are the things that made me cheerful this week:

1) Weekend away

We had a super time camping in Derbyshire at the weekend. There were so many smily moments like this:

I've already written about what we got up to on the Heights of Abraham and in Buxton. Camping for us is definitely a reason to smile even if the weather was horrendous!

2) Blue Skies

We briefly had some blue sky yesterday morning:

and today was almost wall to wall blue sky which enabled us to have a picnic tea in the park! Definitely smiles all round there.

3) Running

Today I achieved my longest ever workout of just over 11km including walking intervals with a total of 9km of running. Makes me feel that I am really getting back on form

What is making you smile this week? Post your links and grab the badge if you would like:



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#CountryKids Camping in Derbyshire

After last week's trial run this weekend we headed to Callow Top Holiday Park near Ashbourne for our first ever single parent camping weekend with Single With Kids. On arrival it looked surprisingly familiar and I realised that I had been there 8 years ago with my then husband, his eldest 3 and my daughter! This time we were in a group of about 30 families in a field on our own at the top of the site. We were the last ones to arrive after our 2.5 hour drive and just managed to get the tent up before the sun set:

My children very quickly made friends with the 6 and 7 year old boys in the nearest tents and played games whilst I rustled up a very late BBQ. Then we went to the communal area to toast marshmallows and get to know the other families:

#CountryKids Camping Out

One of the fun things I can remember as a child was camping in our back garden. Nothing fancy just a tent, sleeping bag and air bed on the grass. It seemed like such an adventure though not to be in my own bed.

Now my children are old enough they are enjoying camping out themselves. This year we have bought a slightly bigger tent as we are going away for at least one weekend as a family. Of course the children wanted to try it out in our garden:

It was good practice for our first proper camping adventure as all new tents go up differently. This one seems fairly simple as it is just one compartment with an over layer and porch. We are able to make it extra cosy with our old medieval sheepskins:

It is a nice little tent and just right for our little family and it just fits into our garden:

My kids wrapped up snug in their onesies and took lots of bedding:

As it was a chilly night I had put in one of their duvets so provide extra warmth:

Apparently it was ace to sleep in and very snug. Hopefully when I share it with them there will be room for me as the cuddly toys will stay at home!

Reasons to be Cheerful: Wales edition ( #R2BC )

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It is with great pleasure that I am hosting this week's Reasons to be Cheerful whilst Michelle has some well earned family time. Next week the host will be Angie so don't forget to go there! And now here are my reasons to be cheerful this week:

1) Family Holidays

I have had a lovely week away camping with my children and my parents at a campsite at Cim near Abersoch on the Lleyn Peninsula in north Wales. It was wonderful to be on a quiet little tucked away campsite with my family. Camping has to be the best way to spend a relaxing family holiday (apart from putting up and taking down the tent!). The campsite was about a 20 minute walk from a very quiet and beautiful beach:

2) My Children

They can be such a delight to be with when we are having a holiday together. Sharing the pleasures of new and exciting experiences with them really puts a smile on my face.

3) Welsh Family History

For the first time I got to visit the place (Trefriw) where my great grandfather Owen Evan Jones was born in 1875. Walking down the roads and seeing the church where he may have worshipped as a child was a wonderful feeling. Not enough time to try and find any of the homes he or his ancestors lived in but at least I have a feel for where he spent his early days:

So what is making you cheerful this week? Please join in!