This will never fit, I thought, as I stared at the chaos taking over our living room. Last summer I found myself face to face with an inflatable tent still in its bag (somehow even larger than our coffee table), two sleeping bags, a double duvet, air beds for the whole family, three rucksacks, a large weekend bag, plus a cool box and enough food to keep us going for days.
Then came my two under-10s that needed to fit in the back of the car as well. Much to my surprise, we squeezed everything in and set off down the A3, Dorset-bound, for four nights of family adventure.
This wasn’t our first trip to Lulworth Castle for Camp Bestival, the award-winning family festival that marks the start of the summer holidays against the dramatic backdrop of the Jurassic Coast. But every time we go, the amount of stuff required feels like a military operation before the fun can begin. With the festival season now in full swing, it felt like the perfect time to look back at the unforgettable family adventure.
In previous years, we’ve extended our stay in neighbouring counties, using the festival as a launchpad into our summer break. Last year, we were more focused on maximising our time on site while honing our camping skills.
