Real Campers Meet Real Campsites!
27 January 2012 : Written by Katie Astbury
Leith Hill - nr Etherley Farm
At Campingninja HQ we are very excited to announce our brand new campaign for 2012 that connects Real Campers with Real Campsites! We are passionate about camping and the outdoors and we know that our Campingninja fans are too, so we want to make your camping experiences even better!
Real Campsites offer fantastic green spaces to camp, in picturesque and interesting locations. You maybe an outdoor enthusiast, a family or a couple looking for a great place to relax, but the things that stay the same are...you love the rituals of camping and the chance to enjoy a range of outdoor activities such as; hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, surfing, swimming or simply getting out into the countryside.
With this in mind we are looking for more Real Campsites across the UK that can offer these things and we want you to get involved too! If you know of a great Real Campsite that is not already on Campingninja, then we would love to hear about it. Whether your favourite site is tucked away in a secluded valley, clinging to the side of a mountain, nestled in woodlands or over-looking a stunning coastline, get in touch by either commenting on this blog, or on our
facebook page!
P.S. Don't forget to start planning your 2012 camping trips now, bank holidays are always super busy
It's time to start thinking about your 2012 camping trips....!!
20 January 2012 : Written by Katie Astbury
Llechrwd Riverside Campsite
Yes it's that time of year again, the one we love the most, when you can forget about the January blues and start planning your 2012 camping trips! This year we are bringing you even more great campsites with amazing outdoor spaces and accessibility to a whole host of activities that will make your camping adventure one to remember!
So what are the first things you should consider when booking your 2012 camping trip?
1. Plan a week/weekend when you want to head out with your tent and get the date in your diary. Remember camping is becoming more and more popular and Bank holidays are always super busy, also some sites are subject to a minimum stay so once you have a date in mind it's better to book early! Also this year we have an extra Bank Holiday -
The Diamond Jubilee, the usual last May Bank Holiday is being pushed out until the first weekend of June and we are getting an extra day, so the weekend will last from, Saturday 2nd - Tuesday 5th and there is lots happening to mark the celebration up and down the country!
2. Think about the type of experience you want from your camping trip...maybe you want access to some great bike trails or maybe you just want plenty of outdoor space that the whole family can enjoy! Either way once you have decided what sort of trip you would like and how far you are prepared to travel then you can find a selection of sites that will fit the bill using our really easy search function on the home page!
3. Now that you have a weekend in the diary and a choice of places to go, do a bit of research on the area to find out what's happening when you're there, pick a site and book! It's easy and you will have a tailor-made weekend that you can look forward to..so what are you waiting for, get started!
We will be back later in the year with details on what to do next....
The race is on...bookings for our London 2012 campsites are now open to all!
13 January 2012 : Written by Katie Astbury
Reading RFC Summer Bash
Just a quick update form ninja HQ, bookings for our London 2012 Campsites are now officially open to all, so if you are an Olympic or Paralympic ticket holder or volunteer and want to combine your love of camping with this summers games, now is the time to secure your spot! Bookings have already been open for one week to those who have pre-registered and campers are flying in, so take a look on Camping at the Games to find a site that's right for you!
So far we have Blackheath Rugby, Reading RFC and Wodson Park all on board to provide temporary camping accommodation during the Olympics and Paralympics and what's great about these sites is that between them they cover each of the main Olympic venues, so wherever you may be heading one of our sites will be in close proximity! We have even made choosing a site easy for you, click here to find out where each of the main venues are in relation to our sites, and if you are not actually sure where you are heading click here to find out where your sport is being held!
Booking is really easy, just like Campingninja everything is done online, is secure and just takes a few minutes, only this time it's done through Camping at the Games. We will be introducing three more sites over the coming weeks as we are expecting a huge demand from ticket holders and volunteers, however each of the sites we have so far are all unique and we hope there is something to tickle your fancy!
Please feel free to sgare any questions with us, we are happy to help!
Camping at the London 2012 Olympics hits the news!
10 January 2012 : Written by Katie Astbury
BBC London features Olympic camping 2012
Following the announcement that we have opened bookings for our first three temporary campsites; Reading RFC, Blackheath RFC and Wodson Park during the Olympic and Paralympic games, we have received an incredible response from ticket holders and volunteers across the globe who will be heading to London this summer!
The media soon caught wind of the story and we are delighted to have been featured on BBC Berkshire and BBC London radio (1hr,15mins and 15 secs into the show to be precise)!We had a great chat will Paul Ross and Gabby Roslyn about the project and there is a real interest in a few things...
1. Where the proceeds go? The revenue generated will go back into these sports clubs for reinvestment, providing greater funding and resources for grass roots sport, enabling them to benefit from the Olympic legacy!
2. How much does it cost? £10 per night for adults and £5 for children - and there is no membership fee required or extras to pay out for on arrival!
3. Do you offer pre-erected tents? Yes we offer pre erected four man tents, these can be booked through the website
4. Are these sites really close to the venues? Yes, all of our venues are less than 30 minutes from the nearest Olympic venue and in some cases are accessible on foot or bike. If it's the Olympic Park that you are after both Blackheath RFC and Wodson Park are less than 1 hour door to door to this venue and we have deliberately picked sites with low cost train fares, or in the case of Blackheath RFC, travel from here will be included in your Olympic ticket!
5. Are the sites secure? Yes for urban sites we have taken extra provisions to ensure that theses sites are safe and tents can remain erected throughout the day!
6. How do I book? Booking is really easy and just like Campingninja everything is done online, only this time through Camping at the Games, so what are you waiting for!
We will also be announcing more details shortly on our special volunteer packages that will enable volunteers to amend their bookings free of charge, so keep a close eye on the website!
Just In Time For The 2012 Olympic Ticket Resale!!!
06 January 2012 : Written by Katie Astbury
Reading RFC
Happy New Year to all campingninja fans, and as 2012 arrives Campingninja delivers!...Just in time for the Olympic ticket resale we are delighted to announce the first 3 sports clubs on board to provide temporary campsite during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games - Reading RFC, Blackheath RFC and Wodson Park, all great sites in close proximity to the major Olympic venues!
The demand for affordable accommodation during the games has reached new heights and booking couldn't be easier! The payment process we have used for Camping At The Games is exactly the same as Campingninja so it's also secure and reliable! And if you are an Olympic or Paralympic volunteer who is unsure what shifts you are working and require a bit more flexibility, we can accommodate you with our flexi-camp deal!
For those of you who may be unsure about booking at a temporary campsite do not fear, we are the camping experts and can assure you that all the required provisions are in place. Each of these three sports clubs has something unique to offer its visitors, so there really is something to suit everybody!
- Reading RFC is based less than 10 miles from Eton Dorney, where the rowing takes place and offers a thriving club house and green space just outside Sonning On Thames, perfect for groups of friends and families
- Wodson Park in Ware, is only an eight mile cycle ride along the Lee Valley Pathway to the Olympic Canoe Slalom and approximately 45 minutes by train to all the East London venues; it also boasts incredible facilities for sports enthusiasts and families.
- Blackheath RFC, one of the country’s oldest rugby clubs is based at the heart of the Games, and is a great spot for anybody looking to soak up the Olympic fever.
Craig Hunter, chairman of Reading Rugby Club, is delighted to be part of the project; “We’re not a big premiership club with big sponsors or big money coming in from the gate and so most of our rugby club development and funds come from our own members, some sponsorship and lots of fundraising. This is a great opportunity for raising funds for us to put straight back into developing rugby within our community. It will also be a great way to raise our profile in the community and in the wider world, which will hopefully encourage more membership and potentially sponsorship too. Lastly, it will just be great fun to get the whole club involved in such a huge sporting event, Holme Park has a fantastic atmosphere and we are keen to share it with our visitors!”
You can keep up to date with what's happening at Camping at the Games by becoming a facebook fan or by following us on Twitter! So what are you waiting for, book your camping for the Olympic and Paralympics now!
The Secret Diary of a Camping Ninja: Raisins
03 January 2012 : Written by A Camping Ninja
After a week of begging, ‘‘Please, no more raisins!’’ at the seemingly endless hoards of mince pies, mini stollen, slices of Christmas cake and helpings of Christmas pudding coming my way throughout the Christmas festivities – much to my delight (and relief!), raisin season had finally ended and a happy New Year had begun. And with just 2 days to go until the Camping At The Games priority booking opens, I simply could not wait to find out what campsites would be on offer during the Olympics. The excitement was almost too much to bear. In fact, to say I was excited was an understatement. I ninjatastically just couldn’t wait!
But until Thursday 5th January, all I could do was to wait. And sadly, there was only one thing for a waiting Camping Ninja to do to take my mind off it – eat more raisins!
Raisins in January was without a doubt, wrong, but I was sure it would be worth it, as then on Thursday, my 2012 Christmas would be sure to come early. Happy really early Christmas and Happy New Year! Here’s to a fantastic 2012 of camping, the Olympics and the following months less-raisined!