Camp Bestival

This year's appalling summer has been the blight of many fixtures in the festival calendar leading to washouts all round.

Not so at Lulworth Castle, where Rob and Josie Da Bank must have struck a pact with the almighty to guarantee the glorious weather.

It's a wholesome, family-friendly affair with a vast array of activities to keep munchkins occupied and a varied selection of music, DJs, theatre and even ballet to keep the yummy mummies and tipsy dads entertained.

That was typified by one of the longest queues seen over the whole weekend - for face painting. This is a far cry from the boozy tent-burning of Reading or the E-crazed hysteria of Global Gathering.

It's more like the best village fete you've ever been to, only with Keith Allen knocking around.

The music was a spot-on mix of familiar names, a few edgy newer acts and lots of reliable favourites.

Adam Ant and The Good Mad And Ugly Posse are the first of many highlights on the Castle Stage as 10,000 mums, all aquiver, do the steps to Prince Charming with Ant - Napoleon hat and all - and band on rollocking form.

Bellowhead canter through a fine set with the ease of a band who are now established as one of the best live acts out there and a solid festival booking. Not bad for an 11-piece folk-brass orchestra.

Saturday sees reggae legend Jimmy Cliff draw a massive crowd to the Castle Stage for a fine performance of the great man's back catalogue.

There wasn't a dry eye in the park as the opening bars of Many Rivers To Cross echoed across the fields. Irie indeed.

Saturday evening's disco trio of Earth Wind And Fire Experience, Chic and Kool And The Gang are a little scant on original members.

But when Nile Rogers is on stage, all is forgiven. His catalogue is staggering and the disco-loving crowd lap up selections from David Bowie, Duran Duran and of course the genius of Le Freak.

Mesmerising, as indeed are King Creosote and John Hopkins on Sunday - Kenny Anderson's gorgeous brogue and the beguiling charm of the songs from Diamond Mine proving that simplicity can be a wonderful thing.

The Happy Mondays close proceedings with Shaun Ryder in cantankerous form, goading Grandad Bez, who leads the crowd through a magnificent set of Madchester classics.

The opening bars of Step On led to freaky dancing as far as the eye can see.

Best festival of the summer?

Da Bank on it.