With summer fast approaching, you'll need to get your skates on to book a lush campsite stay with the family. Ideally, you want a campsite with glorious views, activities and top-notch facilities. Luckily there's a brilliant campsite just over an hour and twenty minutes away from Cardiff. Mendip Basecamp is an award-winning, off-grid family adventure camp in the Mendip Hills National Landscape with an activity centre just 5 minutes away. This is the ultimate adventure holiday for the whole family, with free daily activities and over 20 exciting adventures to book, from canoeing and archery to tobogganing. It's also been announced as a national finalist in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2025 in the coveted category of Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year. The annual awards celebrate the very best of England’s tourism industry, recognising quality, innovation, and outstanding customer service. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Mendip Basecamp is one of just three finalists in its category, selected from over 1,800 initial entries submitted through 21 local competitions across the country. David Eddins, Managing Director of Mendip Adventure, said: “Being named a finalist in the VisitEngland Awards is a huge honour and a proud moment for our team. Mendip Basecamp started as a bold idea during lockdown—to give people a place to feel free and reconnect with each other and nature. We’ve grown it into something special. Our mission is simple but powerful: to inspire everyone, everywhere, to make time for adventure. This recognition tells us we’re doing just that—and we’re only getting started.” Here's why you should visit this award-winning campsite for wholesome family fun in Somerset. Camping at Mendip basecamp This family-friendly campsite spans three fields, offering non-electric grass pitches for tents and campervans under 2.7m tall. You can choose your camp spot, with shared facilities nearby. Friendly, quiet dogs are also welcome to join the camping fun and are charged £5 per dog. If assembling a tent sounds like too much effort, the site’s Nomadic Bell Tents come pre-pitched with camp mattresses, so all you'll need is a sleeping bag, midnight snacks and a cosy onesie. For something more swish, the Glamphouse safari tents add a touch of luxury to the camping experience—spacious, stylish, and ideal for families or small groups looking for a more relaxed setup. Camping in the middle of the countryside doesn’t mean roughing it! You’ll find plenty of facilities, including toilet and shower blocks with individual cubicles and spacious, family-friendly options. No need to resort to bucket baths here! Crackling campfires, gooey toasted marshmallows, and singalongs under the stars are also part of the wholesome camping experience here. Fire pits are available to hire, or you can use provided bricks to safely raise your own off the ground. Forgot firewood or charcoal? No worries—you can grab some onsite, making settling in for a toasty evening easy. While there are no electric hook-ups, handy USB charge points are available—just enough to keep your phone juiced up for snapping those unforgettable moments! Basecamp Activities The biggest draw of Basecamp is the sheer variety of activities on offer. As one of the largest independently owned outdoor activity centres in the South West, this popular outdoor hub has delivered adrenaline-fuelled adventures for nearly 40 years. Whether rock climbing, canoeing, axe throwing, or testing your aim at frisbee golf, fully qualified instructors will show you the ropes. Here, you can learn to ski on a dry slope in the morning and paddle across a lake in the afternoon. Fancy watersports? Mendip’s private watersports venue in Hewish near Weston-super-Mare offers canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding. Feeling competitive? Tackle the assault course or put your teamwork to the test by building a raft and paddling it down the river. If you want to scale new heights, outdoor climbing sessions occur on a limestone rock face—no experience is necessary. Once you’re kitted out with safety gear, you’ll learn how to tie into the rope and master belaying, the essential technique that keeps climbers secure. With expert guidance from highly qualified instructors, you’ll take turns belaying and climbing, conquering up to six thrilling routes at Sandford Quarry, a private limestone quarry near the activity centre. If target sports are more your thing, get ready to take aim and fire! Archery, axe throwing, air rifles, and frisbee shooting are available year-round. For a more laid-back adventure, challenge yourself on the 18-hole Frisbee Golf Course, set in the picturesque Mendip Hills National Landscape. This self-led 2km course winds through rolling hilltops and woodland trails, offering glorious views. Pavilion Camp Café The reception, camp shop, and pop-up café are open daily, serving barista coffee, lush breakfast rolls, pizza, and fries—perfect for fuelling a day of adventure. The shop is packed with all the essentials (and a few treats!), including locally sourced burgers, sausages, bread, milk, and cheese, plus a great selection of beer and cider from nearby breweries. Forgot something? No problem; you'll find plenty of camping must-haves, snacks, and last-minute bits to pick up. The fridges and freezers are fully stocked with ice cream, ice-cold drinks, and all sorts of sweet and savoury goodies to keep everyone happy. Evenings at Basecamp Evenings at Basecamp have a feel-good vibe with a decent mix of live music, storytelling, and circus skills that bring the whole family together. The live music sessions offer a laid-back, family-friendly festival vibe, with local artists like Sam Evans, Chloe Hawkins, and Martin Radford setting the tone for a memorable evening. For the kids, magical storytelling sessions from groups like Kid Hyena and the Solstice Storytelling Circle spark imagination with a blend of humour, suspense, and creativity. And if you’re looking to keep the energy high, the circus skills workshops let children try their hand at spinning hula hoops, mastering the diablo, and more—perfect for rounding off an action-packed weekend with the kiddos. Need to Know and Prices Here’s everything you need to know before your trip to Basecamp, from check-in times to what to bring. Plus, find the latest pricing details for a hassle-free stay. When is it open? The campsite is open at weekends and school holidays from 17th May 2025 to 7th September 2025. No Electric Hook-Ups: Bring battery-powered lanterns and power packs for extra charging. Shop on Site: The shop covers the basics, but bringing your own cooking equipment or using the café for a proper meal is recommended. Booking: Highly recommended, especially for weekends and school holidays when the site fills up quickly. Freedom to Camp (Tents & Campervans up to 2.7m high):Sunday to Thursday Nights: Adult: £11 Child (4-15): £7 Infant (0-3): Free Friday & Saturday Nights: Adult: £18 Child (4-15): £10 Infant (0-3): Free Rental Tents:Nomadic Bell Tents: Sleeps up to 6 people on foam mattresses, with a picnic bench outside. Sleeping bags/bedding not included. Off-Peak Night: £75 Peak Night: £85 Minimum booking: 2 nights Glamphouse Tents: Sleeps up to 6 people on foam mattresses with an indoor picnic bench. Sleeping bags/bedding not included. Off-Peak Night: £80 Peak Night: £95 Minimum booking: 2 nights Book your camping stay here