After last year’s washout of a camping trip, which was made even worse by my coming down with the flu and then suffering a tyre blowout on the journey home, I was hoping this year’s adventure would be a significant improvement.

As always, we are at Quarry Lodge Camping. This time, there were just three of us on the first night, gradually building up to the full five over the weekend, with a few friends and family members dropping by throughout the week. I had been looking forward to this trip for months.

In preparation, I completely reorganised my Wallop Tuff Boxx storage system. One box was dedicated to pots, pans, plates, and cutlery, while another was packed with all the overflow cooking equipment that somehow seems to multiply every year. Looking at the amount of gear I was taking, it became obvious that a camping kit reduction programme was long overdue.

The weather forecast was predicting temperatures well over 30°C. Normally, that would fill me with dread, but after the long, cold winter we’d endured, I was actually looking forward to some proper sunshine. I also knew my Fox Tarps would earn their keep. They are just as useful for camping as they are for fishing, providing much-needed shade during the hottest parts of the day.

As always, we travelled up early on Friday morning. Years of camping together have refined our routine, and by midday, the pitch was fully set up and looking like home for the week. We then headed out for lunch and picked up our Click & Collect order. I absolutely love doing this when we’re away; it saves so much time and hassle. The setup seemed to go exceptionally smoothly this year. Whether it was because there were only three of us initially or simply because everyone knew exactly what needed to be done, everything just clicked into place.

By Sunday, the heat had really arrived. I’m certainly not going to complain too much after the winter we’ve had, but anything above 25°C is pushing my limits. While everyone else was enjoying the blazing sunshine, I spent much of my time seeking out shade wherever I could find it.

One of the highlights of the week was the arrival of two long-term camping friends who rode in on their Harley-Davidson for a three-night stay. We hadn’t seen them for several years, so it was fantastic to catch up. The evenings were filled with laughter as we reminisced about old camping trips, shared stories, and remembered some of the adventures—and mishaps—we’d experienced over the years.

We made our usual visits to Llansteffan and Carmarthen, but this year we also explored Narberth for the first time. What a lovely little town that turned out to be. While there, we discovered the excellent Fire & Ice ice cream parlour, which quickly became a favourite stop. I also had to exercise considerable self-control to stop myself from buying yet another bottle of Penderyn whisky. My collection certainly doesn’t need any help growing larger.

That evening brought one of the most spectacular thunderstorms I have witnessed in years. The sky lit up continuously with flashes of lightning, accompanied by rolling thunder that seemed to shake the campsite. My wife eventually retreated to the safety of the car for a couple of hours, while the rest of us stood outside filming it and enjoying the incredible display. It was one of those moments that you’ll remember long after the holiday itself has ended.

Thankfully, the weather became much cooler afterwards, which suited me perfectly. My daughters and the eldest’s boyfriend took advantage of the conditions and enjoyed a swim in the River Towy before the temperatures dropped further. My wife was also visited by an old school friend and her children, which made for a lovely afternoon.

That evening, we gathered around the fire pit once again. With the temperatures finally manageable, I was able to get back to cooking over an open fire for the first time in a couple of days. During the extreme heat, I simply couldn’t face standing over the flames. Fortunately, I always bring along my Weber gas barbecue, which is an absolutely brilliant piece of kit and makes cooking much easier during the hottest weather.

On our final full day, we spent several hours exploring Llansteffan Castle and relaxing on the beach before heading back to the campsite. Later that evening, a friend of my eldest arrived to stay overnight. Being a student at Cardiff University, she wasn’t far away, so it was wonderful to have her join us before we packed up and headed home.

Looking back, we all had an amazing week. The weather may have been a little too hot at times, but we made the most of it with great company, plenty of laughs, beautiful scenery, and some wonderful memories. Even my wife may have enjoyed the camping experience this year, although she would probably prefer to forget the thunderstorms.

We’ll certainly be returning next year.

Until then,

Richard