We went to Bracelands on the first Bank holiday in May. The site was ABSOLUTELY packed, but we had a great time.

If you're thinking of going to Bracelands, there's a good chance it's because (like us) you've read about it in the well known 'Cool Camping' books. We're new to camping, so we haven't got much to compare it to, however we weren't disappointed. On the positive side, the location is superb - it's set completely surrounded by forest, not woods, true, deep forest. At night you will hear cuckoos, owls and various assorted birds we couldn't identify. The walks in the area are beautiful. Contrary to what you might read on other forums the bathrooms are clean and adequate - with plenty of hot water. The block at the top of the site (near the entrance) is centrally heated, but is amongst the caravans.

On some reviews people have said the shop is basic - we didn't find that at all. There's a huge range of quality ready meals, basic food stuffs, gas, ice block exchange, papers, drinks etc. I'm not sure what some people expect from a small shop in the middle of a forest. On the downside, it's a big site, and as with all big sites you are likely to have some obnoxious noisy people within earshot (we did). But of course it is so big you can always move if you want to. It's also on a slope. There are very few flat pitches. Do not pitch at the very bottom of the slope. When it rains you will struggle to get your cars out and I guess your tent will get wet (we saw some people towed out by mini-tractor). Also, the whole site is sat on top a very very big hill. All the walks start from the top of the hill. It's a beautiful walk down to the river, but if you go for long walks, don't forget the walk back up again(!). You can't have camp fires which is a real shame. There's loads to do near by, but it's got to be worth a visit to Symond's Yat - we climbed the Symond's Yat rock, well worth the view, but there's no 'rock' to see. In the village of Symond's Yat there's a great pub (the Saracen's head). If you want to get take-out food, the nearby village of Coleford has 4 chinese takeaways, fish and chip shop etc, plus Tesco, Somerfield and Co-op. Take our advice, Co-op is (unusually) the best option of the three. If you can't handle these options there's a Waitrose in Monmouth (about 5 miles away). Tips - don't forget to take a spare £10 note for your entry key (the sites have a barrier system). You get the money back when you leave. Overall we absolutely loved it. All the downsides were minor, and we'd recommend it to anyone. Enjoy

We'd definitely recommend this site. But get there early to get a good, flattish pitch.