The Best Camping Locations in the UK

With the beautiful weather we have been having recently in the UK, and another bank holiday coming up, why not opt for a weekend away and go camping with the family.  The UK is full of fantastic camping locations, so no matter whether you fancy going on a strenuous hike or just chilling out with a box of beers and a camp fire there is sure to be something for you.  Here is a list of some camping locations, recommended by Sporty McGinn!

Derbyshire

With stunning hills, running rivers and picturesque scenery, Derbyshire is one of the top locations for camping in the UK.  With over 100 campsites to choose from, you are spoilt for choice when deciding on a camping weekend in this county.  Derbyshire’s Barn Farm is one of the top campsite choices for families.  Full of wildlife, it is also the perfect place to have a go at bird watching.  With various indoor and outdoor facilities this is one of the top camping spots in the UK.

Cornwall

Cornwall is known for being one of the warmer locations in the UK, and is a perfect place for couples, friends and families.  The most southerly county in the UK, Cornwall is full of beautiful countryside and a number of campsites to suit all different types of campers.  Camping in Cornwall is also a cheap way to explore the surrounding areas when you compare the cost of a campsite with the cost of hotels and caravans in the area.  Ruthern Valley in the county is a perfect place for fishing and beach enthusiasts.  With a cycling track and an outside play area for children – this could be the perfect bank holiday getaway!

Devon

Like Cornwall, Devon is the perfect place for beach lovers, and is one of the best places in the UK for a beach holiday.  Devon’s Coombe Farm is one fantastic location for a family camping holiday this weekend.  Surrounded by exciting woods and large fields you can be sure that the kids will have the time of their lives exploring the areas around this campsite.  The camp site also has an old style cricket pitch – perfect for a boys camping holiday… and if this isn’t enough, the local pub is just down the road so you can enjoy a lazy afternoon drinking with your camping partner if this is more your style.

Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire in Wales is a beautiful area to spend a bank holiday camping weekend.  With beautiful beaches, orange tinged cliffs, numerous places for children and stunning scenery, this may be just the thing that you are looking for.  Tir Bach Farm is Sporty McGinn’s preferred choice when opting for a camping weekend in Pembrokeshire.  Surrounded by castles and beaches this place is sure to keep everyone entertained – no matter what your age!  With a river also running through the site, you can have a delicious picnic whilst enjoying the beautiful location.

Camping is a cheap way to spend a bank holiday weekend with most sites charging between £10 and £25 a night.  If you are looking for any camping equipment, why not take a look at some of Sporty McGinn’s preferred accessories:

Tips for Buying a Cricket Bat

So… you’ve decided you want to buy a cricket bat?  If you haven’t bought one before, where do you start?  What are the best brands?  How much should you expect to pay?  If you do a quick search on the internet you will be bombarded with advertisements everywhere, trying to persuade you to buy a specific bat – this is not only unhelpful but it can also waste your money if you are drawn in by them.  Here at Sporty McGinn’s we are here to help so read on!

How to Choose a Cricket Bat

1. The first thing you really should do is try to analyse what style of batter you are.  A cricket coach or teacher may be able to help you with this, as may a cricket fan who knows what they are talking about.  The type of batter you are will help you decide what type of bat is best for you as most cricket bats are designed for certain batting styles.
2. The next step is to choose the correct size and weight of bat.  This will depend on your build and on the way you play cricket.  This varies from player to player but it is advisable to start off with a lighter weighted bat if you are a beginner.  You can always gradually upgrade the weight of your bat, as you become more experienced in the sport.
3. Don’t choose a bat just because it is used by your favourite cricket batsman.  Just because it works for him, does not mean it will work for you.  You need to find a bat that feels good to the touch, recognise your particular batting style and select your bat accordingly.

Buying the Bat

You should now have a pretty good idea about a few specific bats that are suited to you and your game.  The next step is to log onto the internet and search for the specific models.  You need to be looking at the prices offered by a number of different stores and then the delivery costs.  Your time spent in a local sports shop should have given you an idea about which bat to choose so now is the time to find it online and buy it.  Remember that if you maintain your bat well, it will last for a long time, and will save you from needing to spend extra money in just a few months time.

Below are a few bats recommended by Sporty McGinn:

Image courtesy of the Daily Telegraph

The Browning Big Gun 110 ti Squash Racket

So you’ve chanced upon the Sporty McGinn Sports Review Blog – Congratulations!!!  Here at Sporty McGinn’s we aim to review the best in sporting equipment, clothing, footwear, dvd’s and books.  In fact anything that can be considered to be sporty we will review it!  You can also find links to the products we review at the bottom of each blog post.  Our first review is on the fabulous Browning Big Gun 110 ti Squash Racket… and we are reviewing it purely because of the fantastic price tag that is has on Amazon - £29.99, reduced from £200.  Wow, what a saving that is!  If you are looking for a top of the range squash racket, this could be the product for you!

Specifications

This squash racket is perfect for intermediate to advanced squash players who play on a regular basis.  It is light (only 120g) in weight and made out of carbon titanium.  The quality of the strings make this perfect for any long reach shots and the airtech grip on the handle provides a comfy place for your hand.  Many people who have bought this racket have found it to be in a class of its own.  And, more than the above the manufacturer of these rackets has ceased production so if you really want a squash racket made by Browning this may be the last time to purchase one… why not buy two?!

Is it Worth the Money?

£200 for a squash racket is not too expensive when you consider the make and the average price for a professional racket… however at the reduced price of just £29.99 this is so cheap that we can DEFINITELY say it is worth the money.  After scouring the internet for bad reviews we have found just one, whilst more than 99% of the people who have bought this item have praised it A LOT!  We doubt we’ll be shouting about many bargains here at Sporty McGinns, but this is one that is just too good to miss.

So if you are a squash player, and looking for that amazing new racket, what are you waiting for?  This item can be purchased directly from Amazon for UK citizens by clicking the link above.  Happy Easter everyone!