Three Half Terms at Fforest Fields

We have a particular fondness for all three.

October: A Change in the Air

By October, the hills have begun to turn. The bracken is copper and brown, the trees are yellowing, and on a sunny afternoon the light seems to bring out every colour in the landscape.

There is plenty going on in the natural world. Birds are feeding, seeds are falling, squirrels are busy, and the hedgerows are full of berries. The countryside is settling into autumn, though there's still a surprising amount of activity if you stop to look.

October can be wonderfully gentle. Clear skies, warm sunshine, and long walks through leaves that have only just fallen. Equally, it can be wet and blustery, with rain blowing across the fields and everyone retreating to their tents for a while.

It is a quieter time here. The evenings draw in, fires are lit earlier, and there is something very pleasant about cooking supper outside as the light fades. A barbecue is still an excellent idea, provided you keep an umbrella handy.

February: The Great Outdoors

February is probably our most unpredictable half term, and certainly our muddiest.

The hills are bare, the trees are dark against the sky, and the ground is wet underfoot. There are cold nights, frosty mornings, and occasionally a good covering of snow. Sometimes the rain seems never-ending, and the drying room earns its keep many times over.

But February has some of the clearest, freshest days of the year. When the clouds lift, the views are extraordinary. The winter light picks out every ridge and hollow, and the air has that sharp, clean quality you only really notice after spending a few hours outdoors.

Wildlife is less obvious, but there is still plenty to find. Winter birds in the hedgerows, tracks in the soft ground, and the earliest signs of spring beginning to appear.

February is a good month for wrapping up, getting outside and returning thoroughly ready for something warm to eat. Soup, hot chocolate, a good supper and dry socks take on considerable importance.

It isn't always comfortable, but that's part of its appeal. The weather gives you something to contend with, and a good day outdoors feels all the better for it.

May: Everything Comes Alive

By May, the change is remarkable.

The trees are in leaf, the hedges are thickening, and the fields are full of fresh green growth. Birds are busy from early morning, and there seems to be something singing, flowering or fluttering everywhere you look.

It's a lively time at Fforest Fields. Friends arrive for a few days together, children head off to explore, and the longer evenings mean there's no great hurry to finish whatever you're doing.

There are walks across the hills, afternoons beside the lakes, and the first proper swims of the season. Barbecues are lit, chairs are pulled together, and people sit outside well into the evening.

May can still be wet, of course, and occasionally surprisingly cold. But even after a day of rain the countryside seems brighter, greener and fuller than it was before.

It is a lovely time to be here, with summer just beginning to make itself felt.

The Pleasure of Coming Back

One of the nicest things about camping through the year is seeing a familiar place in different seasons.

The path you walked in October looks quite different in February, and almost unrecognisable by May. The same trees, the same lake, the same view across the hills, but always something new to notice.

October brings colour and quieter days. February brings fresh air, muddy boots and the satisfaction of being outdoors in winter. May brings birdsong, long evenings and the pleasure of spending time together outside.

There's no need to choose a favourite. Each has something worth coming for. And whatever the season, there is still the simple pleasure of waking up at Fforest Fields, putting the kettle on, and seeing what sort of day it is.