Camping, advice needed

Agapanthus

I saw one of those cheap tents in Tesco. It was single-skinned. They're not good in wet or cold weather - good enough for the kids to camp in the garden, but I wouldn't want to go to a campsite in one. Better to get a tent with a flysheet that's been reduced. There should be plenty of those around after this awful weather.

I'd second the idea of getting one bigger tent rather than small ones. You'll need somewhere to cook under cover, eat together, play games or whatever if it rains.

Take wellies and waterproofs for everyone!

rosekitten

mine loved camping when they were young


we have never bought a water bottle we just
buy a large bottle of mineral water localy
use it up and then just refill it when needed
then at the end of the holiday just pop the empty
bottle in the bin or recycling bin if theres one on
site.

Dont bother with designer clothes shorts
t shirts jeans wellies seem to be worn by just
about all the kids.We always make sure we
have a fleece for each of them as if these get wet
or damp they can be dryed quicker than most other types
of jackets or sweatshirt.if it gets cold in the night
they warm them up and hold the body heat better.
As well as weighing in a lot lighter than similar clothes
items of this type

the UK camping site is excellent and they also
have rallies that are very reasonably priced

do go for a larger single tent you will be able
to keep a better eye to the kids if your all in one
tent together

FrankieM

Look out for farms that have a field that they use for camping. They usually end being just a set price per night for everyone.
Having 4 children myself, when going to a 'proper' campsite you pay extra for everything, can sometimes end up being close to £30 a night!!
I also take some ready cooked meals. One defrosted foe the evening we get there and a couple frozen for the following evenings. I then just have to cook the pasta, rice etc that goes with it.

moanymoany

Take games, books, jigsaws as evenings without tele can seem long. Trays to do it all on are also useful.

A kettle is essential for reasons already given, a pan is not the same! We also have single burner cookers with canisters that fit in. Years ago we got one of those tables that fold up to a flat carryable shape. Godsend!

If you go locally, you can keep an eye on the weather forecast and if they say a few days fine - off you go. Also, you can check it out beforehand. You could also chat to the owner and maybe 'cut a deal' as the weather must have meant a lot of lost business....just a thought!

Chipps

I agree with those who say one larger tent is better.
Apart from anything else, if the weather is rough there is nothing worse than not being able to sit upright! (Don't forget camping chairs - they can be got quite cheaply if you don't have some)

And do check out freecycle. We gave our large 6 berth tent away earlier this year, and had a lovely email later from the lady who had it, saying what a good holiday they had enjoyed in it!

A cool box is essential, with freezer blocks (at least 2, so one can be in the campsite's freezer overnight) to keep milk etc in.

I also tend to buy the sort of food I wouldn't normally - such as those packets of dried pasta in sauce (Aldi do a good one) or tinned stews/curries etc that take very litttle fuel to cook as all you have to do is heat them through.

Actually, I love camping exhibitions & all the gadgets & gizmos available! But the first time my family went camping when I was a child (dad was made redundant & we had no money, but my parents didn't want us to miss out on a holiday) we had a really old fashioned green scout tent, a groundsheet, sleeping bags and 5 buckets - large paint buckets with lids! These we used for chairs, storage, one was used as the washing up bowl - and one was used for my youngest sister for night time emergencies!!!!! One enamel plate & mug each, enough cutlery each & a spirit stove & dad's billy cans (from his national service days) for cooking! (and a kettle of course!)
We must have looked like a group of ragamuffins! but we had a great holiday!!!
We loved camping so much that the next year we had a "proper" tent & equipment, but when I was 15 we stayed at a campsite in the Lake District & we saw a family that were even more basic than we had been on our first trip. They had about 5 children, and no car. They arrived by bus, with shopping trolleys for all who were big enough to pull them, and proceeded to unpack 2 small tents & a large sheet of plastic. This was fixed between the 2 tents to provide a kind of living/cooking area. It can't have been much of a holiday for the mum, as there was a baby in nappies (terry nappies in those days of course!) and very few clothes, so she had to do the washing every day. But the kids had a great holiday, and at the end of the week everything got packed back in the trolleys and they walked off back to the bus station to go home.

johnmc

Davetrousers

I think Air beds are rubbish, I really don't like them I think they are too bouncy! I prefer the mats and a comfy sleeping bag.

Don't fully inflate them. If you kneel on them you should be able to feel the ground.

I have a collection of mats and sleeping bags for various purposes. I find an air bed and double duvet do the job better than a thin foam mat and a 4+ season bag that you you have to fight yourself into / out of. And you can regulate the temperature more easily and quickly.

Camping a couple of months back and was out of my pit very quickly when, at 4am, I heard an eight YO say "the grass is alight. Run!".

Warm jacket and Jumper, you can't rust the British weather!

Might be a typo, but HOW TRUE this year :-)

Beer! A Beer coat will keep you warm and help you sleep, lol. Trouble is if you have to much you have to get up to go the toilet in the middle of the night, not fun!

One "camper" I know nicks his OH's empty bottle of fabric conditioner. He reckons the neck is just the right size for the Comfort bottle to live up to it's name .............