Outdoor holidays to keep teenagers entertained

While young families and retirees are a common sight on camping and caravanning sites, outdoor holiday specialist Pitchup.com says more teenagers should take up this traditional style of holiday and try their hand at a range of activities and new skills provided at a variety of sites around the UK.

Pitchup.com founder Dan Yates commented: "The government has set a policy* to aim to reduce obesity by 2020, following results of a survey which shows 30% of children are obese.  An annual active outdoor holiday is the perfect way to introduce children to a healthier lifestyle."

The team at Pitchup.com recommends four UK sites that will appeal to even the most demanding teenager.

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Village, Devon:  This large site is set just off the beach with spectacular views. There are endless activities to keep every family member entertained, especially teens.  Activities include a free extreme teens club with Wii wars, choreography workshops, sports tournaments, DJ training and a circus school. Additionally, guests will find a fantastic pool complex with indoor and outdoor pools and water slides.  In the evenings there is an equally lively programme of entertainment ranging from discos, bingo and talent shows to cabaret and stage shows. The site welcomes tents, tourers and motorhomes and is dog friendly. Pitches cost from just £21 per night.

Tattershall Lakes Country Park, Lincolnshire: This upmarket site offers a taste of camping combined with luxury facilities and adrenaline activities.  For teens the fun can be found taking part in zorbing, banana rides, jet-skiiing and sea battles or for the more contemplative teens there are opportunities to golf and fish or spend a day in the spa and sauna.  Evenings offer a chance to go dancing, sing on a karaoke and enjoy a cabaret performance.  During the summer months Sundays are film days and guests are invited to enjoy a picnic overlooking the bay for a firelit outdoor cinema screening at sunset.  Barbecue, popcorn and free marshmallow tasting is also available.  Sleeping arrangements range from traditional grass pitches through to the Canvas Village: luxury styled tents with beds, TV, fridge, cooking facilities and fairy lights.  Tent pitches start from as little as £7.50 while the Canvas Village costs from £200 based on 4 nights.

Okehampton Youth Hostel and Adventure Camping in Devon both offer fantastic activities for teens who like to test themselves and push boundaries.  The choices range from mountain boarding, gorge scrambling and coasteering through to kayaking, surfing and archery.  Both sites offer affordable camping from as little as £14.40 per night and are more rustic than some others featured with the focus being more on the great outdoors and enjoying a peaceful break.  Definitely a place for a digital detox!

Grannie’s Heilan’ Hame Holiday Park, Scottish Highlands: High up in the Scottish Highlands in Dornoch, north of Inverness, lies this picturesque site, with a beachfront setting and beautiful white sands.  Teens and their parents could be forgiven for just wanting to take in the views and keep an eye out for the often-spotted bottlenose dolphins, however the Freestyle Club for 10 – 15 year olds is sure to grab their attention.  Teens can try their hand at making an animated movie or learn to become a DJ, and if they need something to burn off additional energy there is an adventure playground with zipwire, swings, slides and crazy golf.  Other activities include mini ten-pin bowling, tennis and swimming in the indoor pool, which also has a Jacuzzi and sauna.  There is a bar, lounge and restaurant to keep everyone entertained in the evenings.  Standard non-electric pitches for tents cost from £14 per night. 

For more ideas about camping with teenagers visit the Pitchup.com blog and learn about other sites and activities at http://www.pitchup.com/blog/2013/aug/06/yoof-today-camping-teenagers/.

* https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/reducing-obesity-and-improving-diet

For more information visit www.pitchup.com.

ends

Media information:

Cass Helstrip or Samantha Marsh at White Tiger PR

Cass.helstrip@whitetigerpr.com 07968 255464

Samantha.marsh@whitetigerpr.com 07711 265666

Notes to editors

Founded in 2009 by former lastminute.com man, Dan Yates, multi-award winning Pitchup.com is a free guide to all types of camping and caravanning in the UK, Ireland and France.  The site provides users with a simple platform in which they can search and book a camping or caravanning holiday with total ease.  The customer experience from landing on the home page through to booking a holiday can be completed in as little as four pages.  The site also goes beyond traditional searches by allowing users to search for a site based on more than 80 criteria, such as adults only and campfires allowed, and view nearby events, Good Pub Guide pubs and VisitBritain attractions.  Users can also search on the offers page to find the best deals available.  Pitchup.com features over 5,000 camping and caravanning sites/parks throughout UK & Ireland with France recently added into the equation.  It enables users to search for all types of parks and sites from the major brands right through to one off campsites which may not have previously had a web presence.