Here’s a great place in the Snowdonia National Park. Not sure why it took me so long to find (thanks Nick Payne!). The camp is a Camping and Caravanning Listed Site and is just a few minutes from Lake Bala. Best of all it’s right on the banks of the River Tryweryn beside the National White Water Centre. Canoeing and white water rafting are available. For more details click here

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The River Nar adjoins the farm. Tents and camping, golf, table tennis, fishing on the river bank,
Stabling for horses, with an indoor barn available. B&B in the main farmhouse.

John talks here about growing up with boats, paddling on Loch Lomond, winter camping and why England’s access laws need to change.

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Where did you get your passion for the outdoors?

I grew up in Glasgow. My parents had a boat on the Clyde. We sailed a lot at weekends.  When I was three years old the boat sank and we got a caravan instead.  It was at Rowardenan on the banks of Loch Lomond. We were there most weeks.  In the summer holidays my brother and I used to run wild.

We also had a speed boat and my big brother and my dad went water skiing.

And canoes?

I must have been seven or eight. I was in the caravan. The water was calm and clear and this canoe came round the corner. He had camping stuff and a dog up front.

I can remember watching as he slowly paddled up the loch and thinking, ‘I want to do that.’

But I didn’t get round to it for years.

So what changed?

I started a bit of wild life photography as an excuse to get outdoors. That led me to thinking about bushcraft; and then canoes because you can carry a lot of stuff with you.

Have you got a favourite overnight spot?

Loch Lomond.

During the summer the loch is heaving with people in power boats. But there are two or three islands you can have all to yourself, where you can get a campfire going and just relax.

Sometimes I’ll finish work on a Friday, load the canoe up, go to Loch Lomond and paddle out to an island for a relaxing night.

It’s very convenient. Only half an hour away from home.

What is the essential gear you take?

Tarpaulin to keep the rain and sun off. A hammock and under-blanket. A mat. Sleeping bag. Knife. Saw.

A pot. It’s a thing you would sell your soul for if you forget it.  Cooking or boiling water is almost impossible without it.

I can go without a stove. I take a stove on every trip and it rarely gets lit. I cook over the fire almost all the time.

Even when it’s wet?

Yeah, because I’ve got the tarp up.

Clothing?

Muck boots because they are warm and comfy. Lightweight, polycotton trousers that won’t hold the water. Merino tops and a Merino t-shirt.  I layer up to keep warm. And a windproof waterproof.

Gore-Tex?

Yeah. Occasionally I have the full waterproof trousers and jacket. I don’t mind paddling in the rain as long as I’ve got the right clothes.

Do you canoe and camp in the winter?

More than I do in the summer. I get two weeks off over Christmas and New Year. I enjoy doing stuff when it’s snowing and frozen. I’ve been out in -10 to -11 and have been cosy and warm.

I usually get one or two trips in between Christmas and the New Year. The water is quieter at that time of year.

Do you wear a wetsuit?

No. My plan is very much not to fall in. I do have a change of clothes with me though.

Favourite camp meal?

I quite like Jerky, but I have an almost set menu for two-day trips.

Lunch on the first day will be soft baked bars. Dinner is always a proper haggis, a vegetarian haggis and instant mash that we mix together in a Crusader Mug.  That’s pretty filling. Then we have a Heather Cream Liqueur.

Day two?

In the morning we have square sausage or black pudding in a tortilla wrap.  After that we will make pancakes with maple syrup.

So you take flour with you?

Yes. And I’ve got hens in the back garden so I take eggs along too.

For lunch on the second day we might end up with soft baked bars again.

Dinner time it can be handmade pizza.  And the next morning we will have a black pudding or sausage again.

Top tips for beating the summer midges?

Find midge free areas. Other than that, pick sites with a bit of a breeze. We’ve got head nets and things like that. It helps keep them off your face and I have an insect net that hangs with the hammock.

Have you canoed in England and Wales?

I’ve paddled in Ullswater.  I would like to paddle the Norfolk Broads. It looks fantastic.

But the laws preventing access are absolutely insane. If I lived in England and Wales I would paddle anywhere I bloody wanted, I would be almost desperate for someone to try and sue me for it.

How different is it in Scotland?

You see a piece of water, and you know you can paddle on it. A loch, a lake, a ditch.

Any thoughts on the boom in sea fishing and kayaking?

There’s quite a big forum for that, and they seem to be big and successful. Again, it allows you to get to places others can’t easily access.

You like that?

Castle Semple Loch is 200 yards from my house. One side is always busy with people. A third of a kilometre across the other side is just trees. There’s no footpath and nobody can get there. It’s no distance at all on that other side, but you are in a different world.

How often do you get on the Loch?

I try to make Tuesday night a regular thing, with three or four friends.

Have you tried canoe sailing?

At the most basic level. I’ve got a downwind sail and I’ll use it if the wind is at my back.

I fought against it for a while as I felt it was cheating, but now I always carry a pop sail on the canoe.

Pick five paddling companions living or dead?

The first is Russell Kennedy He’s a good friend.  There’s no machine on earth that can gather firewood and split it like Russell. He will light a fire in any conditions.  Russell and me, we gel well that way.

Bill Bryson the author because he would write a good blog.

From a sentimental point of view – my dad.  He died when I was 10. So as much as we got to hang around Loch Lomond, it would be good to let dad see how I’ve turned out, and then go do some more outdoor stuff with him.

And of course my two daughters. It’s always good to spend time with the family. That’s one of the great things I like about canoeing. The fact that it gives you time to spend with your family in a relaxing way.  You will just always end up talking, joking and laughing.

More Top 10 Campsites (by category)

Certificated Sites, care of the Camping and Caravanning Club (C&CC), are for me what camping is all about. Back to nature, back to basics and a chance to explore a tiny envelope of Britain in beautiful peace.

The number 1 in this list represents all of that. But don’t get hung up on it. The C&CC has more than 1,400 of these little sister sites to explore, with more being added each month.

A list of the 95 waterside CS camps I like best is here. They took a while to compile. By the time you read this some of them will have vanished. That’s the magic. If you go discover some new ones for yourself, let me know and I’ll add them.

I’ve also listed what I consider C&CC’s 20+ best full service pitches here. My top 10 faves from that list is here.

What follows is my top 10 favourite Camping and Caravanning Club Certified Sites in 2012. Hope you like them.

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1) Sunk Island, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, East Yorkshire

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Until now, the best kept secret in UK camping – but here it is! Sail on the Humber Estuary from the campsite entrance, canoe on the canals to the rear. more info

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2) River Tame, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Staffordshire

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Fishing, walking and cycling beside river and lake, as well a great base for Drayton Manor. If you can get the right pitch, enjoy views across the river or lake. more info

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3) River Avon, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Worcestershire

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A private members social club on the River Avon, with camping, canoeing, sailing and overlooking the Avon valley and Bredon Hill. more info.

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4)    Loch Lomond, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Argyll

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Scenery that will take your breath away. The Number 1 site for many campers. Shops are a short walk. Bring the kayaks and fishing rods. more info

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5)    River Frome, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Wiltshire

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Traditional camping on the River Frome, next to the UK’s last official river swimming club. New members are always welcome, so why not take a plunge into the unknown. more info

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6)    River Ivel, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Northamptonshire

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Riverside walks, lakes and footpaths. A site for anglers, with an onsite tackle shop, combine camping, fishing, walking and conservation. more info

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7)  River Trent, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Staffordshire

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No sailing or canoes allowed here, but this is a place for walkers. Take a 45 minutes ramble around the lake that sits in front of the campsite or head off along the adjoining River Trent. more info

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 River Cleddau, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, New Shipping Farm, Pembrokeshire

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Bring canoes, kayaks and fishing rods to camp riverside. The River Cleddau provided a great opportunity to launch, but check the wind and tides. more info

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9) Thorn House Lakes, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Lincolnshire

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Lakeside next to Boston Golf Club. more info

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10) River Twrch, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Gwynedd

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Free fishing on the River Twrch and close to Lake Bala. more info

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On the shores of Loch Lomond and overlooking Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Boats can be launched directly from the site towards the loch’s small islands, some of which are privately owned. Two pubs are nearby. An onsite shop includes a coffee shop. web link

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A campsite on the banks of the River Thet, that’s can be used as a base to explore the Norfolk Broads. web link

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More Top 10 Campsites (by category)

The Camping and Caravanning Club is the oldest camping organisation in the world.

With almost 500,000 members, and hundreds of wardens and volunteers, The Camping and Caravanning Club manages more than 100 main sites and 1,400 smaller ones, known as Certificated Sites (CSs).

Like its main rival the Caravan Club, The Camping and Caravanning Club has hundreds of  pitches beside beaches, rivers, lakes, fish ponds and canals. There are also 20 sites in Forestry Commission woodland – five of them I’ve listed here.

What I consider to be the club’s 15+ best full service pitches are here. I’ve also visited many of the privately owned CSs. A list of 95 waterside CS camps I like is here and my Top 10 is here. Please let me know if you have a favourite of your own. Visit the Club website if your want to join.

My Top 10 Camping and Caravanning Club favourites for 2012 features an unusual geographic mix – three from Scotland and three from Surrey. Here they are (not including CSs):

1)  Loch Lomond, Cashel Caravan Park and Campsite, Rowardennan

By mike138

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It’s possible here to launch a small boat, to explore one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs, from waterside pitches. more info

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2)  Loch Long , Ardgarton Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Arrochar, Dunbartonshire

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CHOICE: Fish or canoe (by mike138)

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Catch sea trout or take to your kayaks directly from the camp. more info

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3)  Folkestone Camping and Caravanning Club, The Warren, Kent

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CHANNEL: A cliff-top site (by Between a Rock)

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A cliff-top site that’s the perfect stop over en route to the either the Channel Tunnel or ferries, and mainland Europe. more info

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4)  River Ure, Boroughbridge Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Roecliffe, North Yorkshire

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By Sheffield Tiger

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Fish for roach, perch, dace, pike, chub, trout and grayling from this riverside site. more info

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5)  Derwentwater, Keswick Camping and Caravanning Site, Crow Park Road, Cumbria

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CUMBRIA: Camp by the water in the Lake District (by BinaryApe)

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Pitch beside Derwentwater, within a short walk away of the town centre. more info

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6)  Loch Greshornish, Skye Camping and Caravanning Site, Portree, Isle Of Skye

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By HBarrison

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A working croft on the shore of Loch Greshornish. more info

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7)  The Great Ouse, St Neots Camping and Caravanning Club, Eynesbury, Cambridgeshire

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By jon smith 'una nos lucror'

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On the banks of the Great Ouse. The town of St Neots is less than two miles away. more info

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 River Thames, Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Fieldcommon Lane, Surrey

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by Maxwell Hamilton

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Fifteen minutes from London, on the banks of the Thames. more info

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9)  Horsley Lake, Horsley Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Ockham Road, Surrey

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By Dimitry B

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Lakeside on the edge of the North Downs, with fishing available. more info

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10)  River Thames, Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Surrey

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Launch canoes and boats next to the Thames Path National Trail. more info