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Eager for next summer to arrive, I am planning next yrs hol & considering Freshwater, Dorset. 

I have read many reviews but have a few questions.....

Is the beach sandy & safe for toddlers & small children ( my boys will be 5 & almost 2).

Is it an easy walk to Burton Bradstock?

Any suggestions for a particular pitch?  Tent with EHU, not too far from loos but not too close either;).  Maybe somewhere around the edge of the site where not too many people wandering past.  Not too close to bars or childrens play area. Ideas please?

Hi, the beach is not to safe either, it shelves deeply, but everyone plays in the stream that runs into the sea, which my children love, the walk to burton bradstock is quite short but to burton beach it might be too far for little ones,

Lisa

Hi, I agree the beach is made up of pebbles so those rubber beach shoes are a must. There is also a steep shingle bank to get over so not pushchair friendly. The stream is an excellent place for children to get wet or why not use the kiddies pool. The walk to Burton Bradstock itself is across flat fields although walking in the village can be quite dangerous as there are no pavements in a few places and in the summer the road can be quite busy. You can walk along the cliffs to Burton Bradstock beach. After the initial steep part the rest is fairly flat until you get to the beach. With a 2 year old in tow it would probably take about 40 mins although I think if your youngest is in a buggy by then he will have to get out as to get down there are steps. You can also walk to West Bay along the beach which is more sandy that way and if you walk past the statics to the right of the beach you don't have to get over the shingle bank. As for pitches we where on area M which is away from the play area and club and close to the very clean toilet/shower block. I would say any pitch in areas K to N would be OK as they are flat. If you phone the site I am sure they will help you out on which pitch to choose after all they want the bussiness.

May I make a suggestion. If you are looking for a good child friendly site and you don't have a dog then I would highly reccomend Pentewan Sands http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=2595  it is between St Austell & Mevagissey. The only reason we do not go there any more is we now have a dog which are not allowed there. Although more expensive and further for you to travel I think you would find it well worth the extra.

If you want a beachside site which has good sand is and is very child Friendly, have a look at pentewan sands. It's near Mevagissey in cornwall & while you do get the odd attitude filled person who will not adhere to the 5mph limit it is a lovely safe place to holiday with kids.

www.pentewan.co.uk

BB    

Well, I took the family camping at Burton Bradstock a few years ago ...... my wife and child threatened to leave me if I ever suggested going there again!

Luckily we only stayed 4 nights so the damage wasn't that bad .....

Personally, I didn't find it bad at all - I enjoy fishing and its a good beach for that. The River flowing into the sea seems to changes its direction over the beach each day.

The Beach is not for a childrens bucket 'n' spade holiday.

Also, the traffic is really awful around that area .... if you are staying put, then OK - but - if you want to travel to BEER or West Bay or elsewhere, be ready for long long traffic jams.

We live not far away, in Weymouth.  It wouldn't take too long to walk to Burton Bradstock from the campsite although not sure if there's a path through the fields as the road is busy, windy and has not pavement most of the way.

There's no way I would let my kids swim in the sea there.  It shelves very quickly and the undertow from the water is really strong.  There have been drownings there last year and the year before - unfortunately people who were unaware of the dangers.  The beach is very pebbly so sandcastles would be difficult to build.  Why not try further along the coast either towards Weymouth or Devon if you want good beaches?

Thanks for all the info

definately reconsidering options now.  I have considered Pentewan as, after spending many yrs there as a child, I know how lovely it is.  We may still go there but thought we might try somewhere different.

Looking for something in Cornwall, Devon or Dorset in an area away from mass tourism.  Something quieter possibly with good facilities for the little ones but if its close to nice beach what else do they need?

Pentewan still on my shortlist but am open to suggestions?