Riva di Ugento is less of a campsite, more of a gigantissimo camping village. Nestled
away from the peacock-blue Ionian sea in 79 acres of pine woods and Mediterranean
scrub, it’s so big you may feel the urge to
pick up a map at reception and even perhaps
make use of that boy scout’s compass.
But don’t let that put you off; the site’s so
roomy there’s plenty of space for all, with
many a cone-studded lane to jog down or
dunes and woods that are perfect for family
treasure hunts. Visit the playground after a scrumptious breakfast in the yurt-style
cafeteria, or hire bikes and go cruising.
Another idea is to hire a catamaran or kayak;
the shallow water suits all ages and the
powder-fine beach goes on forever.
The mini-mart here spills over with fresh
local farm produce, so no need to worry
about finding good, healthy nosh. And should
boring old work come a-calling there’s handy internet access and Wi-Fi. In the evening the
restaurant is a cheerful chaos of bambinos
and swiftly devoured pizzas.
Outside they
show films for the kids every night, which is
great for them and a boon if you want a little
me-time at the end of a hard day’s family
holiday. In short, this wooded haven is the
kind of place you can really kick back and
breathe in the rugged air without worrying
too much about anything – the site might be big enough for your kids to get a bit lost
sometimes, but it’s small enough for them to
find their way back again.