atherfield bay holiday camp. isle of wight - derelict site

[mulemanism]

My freind worked there in the late 70,s as a dancer and loved it. would love to see some 70's or 80's pics

[theurbanexplorers1]

filmed here last week was even worst than in your photos

[TheCottager10]

Dean....You were mates with my son Stuart (Fulham supporter now 25)....I remember one year your parents went to somewhere exotic like Mexico but you still wanted to go to Atherfield Bay...we went there about 6 times in the end.

Neil Alexander

[TheCottager10]

Heartbreaking to see it like this...my children had their first taste of freedom at this site.......the alexander family

[hllb]

i use to come here as a child with all 10 of my family and we use to have a great time so many great video clips its a sham to see it like this but i can see times have changed now :(

[frewnch]

I am so sad to see Atherfield Bay Holiday Camp in such a condition. I have lots of fond memories from the holidays I spent there with my family. My Mother has photos taken in about 1970 - 1974, and I still have a photo in a key ring fob which was taken by the camp photographer. I remember swimming in the out door pool riding the horses and bikes, seeing the shows in the main hall and the singers in the red bar. Happy days.

[MrWilliestrokes]

@frewnch tthanks for your happy memories of atherfield bay.would love to see the photos of it in its heyday.i have some very brief cinefilm of the camp from the early 1960`s i might put on youtube later

[ukchrisp]

My mum stayed there during the 60's and I have 3 old black and white photo postcards of it, one is an arial view and the other two are of the resident dogs that they had called Flint and Peter standing in front of the chalets, one was a black Great Dane and the other was what looked like a white Whippet type dog

[axomoxia]

I went there for a couple of years till 2007 - the gurt gallybaggers motorcycle rally. The site was tidy but rather shabby and threadbare. They seemed to be making some progress is renovating the site, does anyone know why it closed?

[axomoxia]

They used to hold the Gurt Gallybaggers motorcycle rally here on the may bank holiday weekend from 2002 (I think) to 2007. The site was a little bit shabby and threadbare, but pretty much clean. The owners appeared to be doing it up. What happened to them?

[deano7835]

I have some of my fondest childhood memories from holidays in the summer here. I used to go every year.

My Grandparents have a bench placed on the field with the goal posts in memory of them - they went here every year without fail for about 20-30 years.

Used to be a lovely holiday camp for families - basic, but you made the most of it and had a great laugh.

Its heartbreaking seeing it like this... If I ever won the lottery I'd buy it and do it up again.

[MrWilliestrokes]

@deano7835 thanks for sharing your memories of this camp.id love to know excactly why it closed.i think it was owned by the same family throughout its life,but dont quote me on that.i saw the bench that is in memory of your grandparents in a few old photos , but sadly i think it has been pinched by local scavengers.

[coolkitten86]

me too, if i won the lottery, i will prob join you on that lol. What i dont get this was used for channel 4's wakey wakey campers right. They could see that people enjoyed it. Why hasnt someone with a lot of money and heart see the potential in this camp.

And make this into a 60s/70s themed holiday camp?? Cant they see there are holiday makers out there, that miss these places or like me never got the chance to go to one??

[Buondelmonte123]

@deano7835 I have memories, good ones, too. Mine are of being there in the early 1950s.

[MrSandyback]

I worked there in 1982/1984 in the kitchens and was the happiest time of my life and have many fond memories. Was there last year and it was heartbreaking to see this onetime happy place end up like this.

[MrWilliestrokes]

@MrSandyback its a shame because a lot of people had happy times there on holiday.not sure why it closed down.probably health & safety or similar.unfortunately this 1960`s camp has had all the usual mindless vandalism & arson done to it. i`d love to see some pictures of this place in its heyday.thanks for your comments

[Tezskip]

I worked there in the 1980

[MrWilliestrokes]

@Tezskip what did you do there ? i can`t find any info on this place when it was in its prime.i`d love to see some photos of it before it when it was a functioning holiday camp.

[Tezskip]

@MrWilliestrokes I worked as a barman around 1981/1982,I only have two pics of me working behind the bar.It was a nice family holiday camp.Always intended to revisit it but looks like Im too late

[MrWilliestrokes]

@MrWilliestrokes thanks for your reply,not sure what will become of this place,its one of many camps closed and now left to rot on the isle of wight. if anyones got a copy of wakey,wakey campers ( channel 4 series 2005 ) it was filmed here and would love a copy.

[heyxkid]

i went there about a month ago and it's extremely run down. was quite scary with the wind banging the doors and windows! possibly think some of the newer (i use that word lightly!) chalets are used by squatters.

[Mr83Legacy]

where exactly is this plase please?

[melonman2000]

@Mr83Legacy its on the isle of wight, military road you can still find it on google earth looks alot worse now im sorry to say

[heyxkid]

i think it was closed in 2007, and wakey wakey campers was shot in 2005 (: