Camping without a car! Is it possible? And if so, how?

davetrousers

Greyhound Buses do £1 fares to Southampton. You could then get the train to somewhere in The New Forest.

fluffygrue

onlineid wrote: »

I've taken my son to Italy via the train camping but you may not want to go that far! There are sites also in south of France and on Lake Geneva (Swiss side) which are accessible by public transport and you can hire all the equipment (thats what I did in Italy, including bedding) so can travel light.

I don't suppose you can give us any more information about hiring camping equipment in Europe, please? I had a hunt around the Internet last year and couldn't find much in the way of links or prices.. would really be helpful!

Ta

CandyB101_2

A few years back we hired a 'eurotent', in Cornwall.
http://www.trevornick.co.uk/staying-at-trevornick/super-eurotents-overview.html
We have camped there many times, but turning up with everything there already (apart from your bedding) was just brilliant and having a full sized fridge was just heaven.
We are off there again this year .... but unfortunately due to the price will be taking our own tent this time, can't wait to be sitting on the beach again with my cornish pasty and cup of tea (note the icecream van!!).
There were many people that turned up with just suitcases, maybe there are some other eurotents around ... at a better price.

magpiecottage

Be wary of the New Forest. The ponies will try to get in to the tent and pinch food if you leave any in it and you will not have a car to put it in.

Also think about what stove you might want to take. If you can get over the psychological issues surrounding them, petrol pressure stoves produce a lot of heat for relatively little weight and you can buy the fuel at the local garage when you get there.

Whatever kit you buy, learn to use it before you go, not on a dark windy wet evening on a bleak spot at the end of a long day's travelling.

eamon

Whilst I appreciate the technology behind "pop-ups" I wouldn't have one. They are single skins and hence the inside can be a sodden mess in the morning (condensation). Aslo difficult to repack.

Try and get to one of the big outdoor stores such as
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/
They will usually have a range of tents already set up that you can crawl into etc. Useful for gauging dimensions and weights etc.

angie_baby

Ok guys, ive bought one of these (i can get a bit carried away)

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Quechua-2-Seconds-III/629

I know its going to be an awkward shape to carry but if we have rucksacks it should be too bad, its just going to be a bit hassel getting on and off trains and possibly putting it back in its case. It should be here by tomorrow so will have a go then. Its got quite good reviews and its not as heavy as some. But i have seen some lighter ones which are around the £20 price.

Since ive been searching the web i really want to take our bikes. Not possible with this tent but maybe if we enjoy this summer its something to think about for next year.

I paid £29.99 from Decathlon, its a size bigger than we need but at least we will have a bit of extra space. Im planning a proper test in late May / early June for a 2 night stay near / around the Swanage area. And ive still got to decide on where we will be staying though.

:j:j:j

Ponkle22

If its wet this weekend and you still try the tent out remember to spread it out indoors (garage/room in house....) to fully dry before you pack it away.
Likewise even damp ground/condensation underneath the tent needs drying first. On holiday you could use a fluffy teatowel to rub down the worst of any damp or wet.

Also (thinking of rain) when I used to climb in and out of my little 2 man tent and the ground was really wet, I used to use a spread out bin liner to kneel on as I went in and out. Also use another bag to put any muddy or wet shoes into - else everything gets covered in wet/mud in the tent.

I sound like a Scout leader here!

Shelldean

eamon wrote: »

Whilst I appreciate the technology behind "pop-ups" I wouldn't have one. They are single skins and hence the inside can be a sodden mess in the morning (condensation). Aslo difficult to repack.

Try and get to one of the big outdoor stores such as
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/
They will usually have a range of tents already set up that you can crawl into etc. Useful for gauging dimensions and weights etc.

Not all pop ups are single skin ours isn't.

Shelldean

angie_baby wrote: »

Ok guys, ive bought one of these (i can get a bit carried away)

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Quechua-2-Seconds-III/629

I know its going to be an awkward shape to carry but if we have rucksacks it should be too bad, its just going to be a bit hassel getting on and off trains and possibly putting it back in its case. It should be here by tomorrow so will have a go then. Its got quite good reviews and its not as heavy as some. But i have seen some lighter ones which are around the £20 price.

Since ive been searching the web i really want to take our bikes. Not possible with this tent but maybe if we enjoy this summer its something to think about for next year.

I paid £29.99 from Decathlon, its a size bigger than we need but at least we will have a bit of extra space. Im planning a proper test in late May / early June for a 2 night stay near / around the Swanage area. And ive still got to decide on where we will be staying though.

:j:j:j

we've got one of those and you feel and look like a mutant ninja turtle with it on your back LMAO


don;t know if you've loked round UKCS but HERE is a debte about camping w/o a car
with some others HERE

bluebag

Ponkle22 wrote: »

ps: I find those rolled up mats REALLY uncomfortable to sleep on. I wonder if you could borrow an extra sleeping bag (and of course lug it with you) and lay it out as extra padding (and extra warmth) for the pair of you?

You obviously haven't had enough of the 'night medicine' from the pub then have you?:rotfl:
It's very uncomfortable for the first night, after that you're past caring. I used to get in me bag and think god I'll never sleep on this, next thing... it's morning.