Torchlight Festival of camping

Anyone booking after the 5^th August will be required to collect their tickets at the entrance gate of the event.

We request that you arrive before 11pm as there is no vehicle movement permitted on site after this time.

Arrivals after 8.30pm may be allocated a temporary pitch if for health and safety reasons it’s not appropriate to access the main campsite.

Pitches are allocated on arrival, if you want to camp with a friends you must arrive together.

Groups of over 8 units can book and camp together using the Torchlight festival of Camping booking form. Group bookings must all have the same pitch type, i.e., all with electric or all without.

There will be limited toilet and shower facilities primarily for campers that do not have their own sanitation, such as tent campers and campervans.

If you have your own sanitation we encourage you to use it.

Yes, electric hook-up can be booked for the duration of your stay for £39.99.

It is recommended you bring an additional hook-up lead to extend a standard 25 metre electric cable.

We welcome well behaved pets on site and hope they enjoy their stay as much as you do, but in the interest of safety and comfort we ask that pets are kept on a lead of no more than 2m when outside.

Walesby Forest is known to have Ticks, which can put your dog at risk for Lyme disease, take precautions to avoid the heather and wooded areas.

With the exception of assistance dogs, pets are not allowed in the toilet block.

For everybody's comfort on site, pet owners are respectfully asked to ensure any mess is cleaned up and noise is kept to a minimum.

You can book online or by calling our Service Centre for individual pitches. Please be aware that full payment will be required at the time of booking.

For groups of over 8 units that want to camp together please complete the Torchlight Festival of Camping booking form.

Please only use proprietary portable barbecues, not disposable barbecues or fire pits and ensure they're raised off the ground sufficiently to prevent damage.

In 1921 the Club launched the National Feast of Lanterns, the members end of season camping festival. As an event organised by member for members, its founding figures had a clear vision of what this promising new event should be. Plans were set for an uplifting celebration of the camping season and the chance to share memories and experiences of the great outdoors – the one place they all loved to be.

Every member was invited and asked to bring their voices and their instruments. Each was encouraged to decorate their tent with brightly coloured, handmade lanterns. The collective effect was spectacular and a new tradition had begun.

Now, a hundred years later, it is time for a new generation to carry the torch. And for The Club to take the opportunity to reinvigorate this special festival. To breathe new life into its line up and inspire more members to make memories of their own. 

As with its earliest staging, and keeping the Club’s values at its heart, all who attend should feel wanted and welcome. From die-hard DA member to wide-eyed young explorer, this new event will offer everyone the chance to meet, camp, eat, dance and play in an enchanting woodland setting. 

All members are invited to join us at Walesby Forest on 19th August 2022 to celebrate the centenary of the original NFOL and the launch of the future Torchlight Festival of Camping. This celebration will include a live music stage, forest light trail, festival food, outdoor activities and convivial campfire.

Torchlight will have a family festival vibe and we encourage you to keep the NFOL tradition alive by illuminating and decorating you camping unit for all to enjoy.

Torchlight will give everyone at Walesby the opportunity to enjoy the full festival experience, all included in a three-night camping and entertainment ticket:

The show
The main music stage will be headlined by established festival performers, such as Squeeze, Gabrielle and Craig Charles, as well as a host of crowd-pleasing tribute acts. Torchlight will also entertain and delight with a separate outdoor event arena, vintage funfair, family tipi, trade area and a calming wellness sanctuary in a hidden glade.

The light

At the spiritual heart of Torchlight and unique to the event, will be a magical light trail through the forest, celebrating the history of the club and the significance of its local groups and associations. It will wind its way through the trees, to an illuminated vintage camping display. And just as in 1921, attendees will be encouraged to decorate their own units with lights, making their own personal contribution to a wonderfully memorable weekend.

The fire

The campfire has always been a symbol of togetherness. At Torchlight, it will be a genuine focal point, hosting singsongs for all and creating a captivating and convivial meeting place for adults to share their tales of the day after dark.

The feast

Torchlight will be a foodie haven, with a world of flavours on offer from independent street food vendors in the catering village. A fully covered Festival Pub and a Quiet Bar will provide further options for families and friends to enjoy their time together.

Located in the heart of Sherwood Forest, Walesby Forest is easily accessed by the A614.

Address: Walesby Forest, Brake Road, Walesby, Newark, NG22 9NG

https://www.walesbyforest.org.uk/

The access route for the event will be provided in your event paperwork.

Ticks and Lyme disease

Walesby Forest is known to have Ticks, we recommend you bring insect repellent.

The Walesby Forest Activity Pass

From its very inception, The Club has promoted a healthy, active lifestyle. Torchlight visitors will be able to purchase an activity pass, giving them the chance to enjoy a huge range of fun activities in the forest, including archery, climbing, bushcraft and ziplining.

A pass can be purchase on site for £17.50 per person per day. This gives you unlimited access to all the activities.