
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
In the summer of 2013 we tried a very new style of camping for us: Eco-camping.
The Kingsmead Centre on the Somerset / Devon border is the kind of camp site you go to if you want to get away from the crowd, far, far away from the crowd.
There are no heated swimming pools, disco’s, on-site restaurants, kid’s club, television room or children’s playground.
Actually I take that back: the children’s playground is Mother Nature and consists of grass, trees, and things like fishing, walking and mucking round outdoors.
There are basic amenities: toilet, shower, laundry, as well as recycling facilities and high-speed internet, but for the rest it’s the kind of place you come to if peace and quiet are your thing, far from the madding crowd.
After our rather messy arrival, via what seemed every narrow side lane in the area, we are pleased to have arrived. The owner tells us that there is a pub a very short walk further down the lane, so we walk there to see if we can stake out and easy dinner. Technically it’s not far but I’m more than disappointed to find that the pub is closed tonight and instead of a nice sit down, I have to walk back.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Himself asks if he should go an fetch he camper and I say “No”, something I deeply regret by the time we get back to the camp site. There is a public walkway next to the lane, Himself dares the kids to walk alongside us through the trees, but the forest is too creepy for our children to brave, even if Himself and I remain within view.
I think they are right, these trees look downright spooky.
My foot injury is not in good shape after pushing myself to do so much walking this trip and it’s here at the Kingsmead Centre that it starts to dawn on me that the increased pain I’m experiencing is getting increasingly out of hand.
I’m not actually up to walking anywhere any more and even though it’s later afternoon, retreat to bed with as many painkillers as I’m allowed, having lost my appetite for dinner.
Himself takes the kids on a ramble around the camp so that I can get a decent nap and hopefully sleep off the worst of the pain. Whilst I sleep, the rest of the family run into the owner of the camp-site and they chat about using the facilities etc. During the conversation Himself mentions my situation and wonders if there is a shop or takeaway within cycling distance where he and the kids can go to get dinner for themselves without disturbing me. There isn’t, but the owner has a brainwave: his wife works in one of the towns some distance away and he can ring her and ask if as she leaves work she could please pop into a fish and chip shop and bring our family some dinner and Himself can pay her on delivery.
It’s a generous and kind solution which we appreciate. During my nap Himself and the kids also make a few new friends and when some hours later Himself comes in to check on me, finds me awake, fills me in on the news about how they managed to get dinner and announces he has another nice surprise…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Kingsmead Centre,
- Clayhidon, Cullompton, Devon, England, EX15 3TR, United Kingdom.