By Amy Britton
Camping can be a fun and more affordable way to go on a trip over the summer holidays with your family. If you are looking for a quaint campsite with a few activities nearby in Cambridgeshire, check out the Waterclose Meadows Campsite.
Found next to the National Trust site, Houghton Mill, the campsite has spaces for tents, caravans, motorhomes, and there are even a few pods that you can book if you fancy camping in style. The campsite overlooks the River Great Ouse and is only a short walk away from the village of Houghton.
The site has two kinds of pods, a simple furnished pod with a bed, chairs, and small kitchenette, and pods with a small en suite shower room. The pods are an option for people who want to enjoy all of the benefits of camping with a few home comforts thrown in.
During your trip, there are several walking trails you can follow to get around the area and visit the neighbouring towns and villages. These include Huntingdon and Hemingford Grey. You can also take a long bike ride through the countryside to get some fresh air.
If you prefer to get around by boat, you can hire a canoe, rowing boat, or punt to travel on the River Great Ouse. You can take the two hour canoeing trail from Houghton Mill to St Ives to have a shopping day around its many antique shops and enjoy the local pubs and caf茅s.
You can also get to a lot of the towns by taking a bus from Houghton village. During your visit, you get free entry to all National Trust places including Anglesey Abbey and Wimpole Home Farm, which are easy to reach by car.
If you want to stay closer to the campsite, you can visit Houghton Mill and take a guided tour to learn about how flour was milled in the 18th century. You can even buy some flour made at the mill to take some with you as a souvenir.
In terms of food, there are a few places to try out close to the campsite. Houghton Mill has its own riverside tea room that serves up sausage rolls, pasties, and savoury snacks, as well as scones and homemade cakes to enjoy.
There are two pubs in Houghton, the Three Horseshoes and the Three Jolly Butchers, that both serve up pub food and have ample outdoor seating to soak up the sun in.
Raised barbecues are allowed on the campsite so you can bring some food from home to cook a meal or visit the Houghton and Wyton Community Shop for anything extra you need.
Waterclose Meadows can be found on Mill Street in Houghton, which is a 39-minute drive away from Cambridge via the A14. You can pitch up a tent on the site for 拢34 a night and a motorhome for 拢39 a night, while pods cost 拢182 for the normal pod for two nights.