The retro UK campsite with its own swimming pool, sauna and nearby pub
FROM our quiet cricket pitch, we watched as groups of campers and caravanners piled on to the ouffield to join the afternoon football game - everyone was welcome, it seemed.
Overhead, frisbees and Nerf balls were whistling through the air, while the surrounding ping-pong tables were mobbed by energetic youngsters.
Just when the scene felt almost too poetic, the howl of a steam engine would echo over all the laughter and a plume of smoke would pierce the clear blue sky.
My family and I were at , a rural holiday retreat with camping pitches, pods and lodges that sits in the charming town of Lydney, Gloucestershire, right on the bank of the River Severn.
There was not an iPad, hoverboard or vape in sight, just nature trails, ice-cream cones and gratefully exhausted parents.
We were staying in a Pondside No11 log cabin which featured two bedrooms, a lounge/kitchen and a veranda overlooking lush Savannah-like scenes.
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Sadly the torrential rain that preceded our arrival meant the archery and football classes we had planned for day one were rained off.
But the classes we did squeeze in - Sea Scooters, Water Walkerz and Slime Making - went down a storm.
And even if shelling out extra for activities doesn't suit your budget, there is enough open space and local wildlife to keep everyone entertained, as well as a swimming pool, steam room and sauna, which are open from 9am to 8pm and free of charge for guests.
The on-site food served at the Foresters Bar looked fairly priced and well received but our pristine kitchen - complete with quality appliances and utensils - meant the oiks demanded breakfast and lunch served on their decking, where crusts could be hurled out to the neighbourhood ducks and squirrels.
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On Saturday night we did take in the entertainment at The Venue, and both tykes vanished into the throng for musical statues, dance classes and then kids' bingo.
It feels like most camping and caravan sites these days pile all of their vast income into lucrative and tacky arcades, but Whitemead remains loyal to its rich roots and - barring a couple of vintage machines - families are offered old-school entertainment or the space and facilities to create their own.
The new 12-hole adventure golf course had a discount on during our stay and, despite being a compact little compound, caused all the right sorts of sporting controversies and celebrations among a family of four.
We were only lured away on our final afternoon, to local pub a 15-minute walk away.
It's a perfect little spot, with a brook babbling along two sides of the garden, which also features a chicken coop and climbing frame.
Although our trip to Whitemead Forest Park was only fleeting, the children are still arguing today over who saw the first lamb in the middle of the road, dived the deepest in the pool or lied about their golf handicap.
The polite suggestion that mobile phone reception might be sketchy is actually a stark warning that it's a total blackout zone.
But that ends up being a huge part of what makes this rustic haven so special.
GO: WHITEMEAD FOREST PARK
A three-night weekend break at Whitemead Forest Park in a Woodland Lodge is from £538.
Those who book by October 8 can take advantage of the early booking sale and bag 30 per cent off all 2024 breaks, including school holidays.
Holidays can be secured with a 10 per cent deposit and costs can be spread with a payment plan.
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