"Carry" on camping (and cooking!)

annaangeluk_2

I know other questions have been posted on here regarding camping so I apologise for duplicating but i just have a couple of questions!!

i'm planning on taking my 5yr old DD camping for a weekend in early September (for my birthday!) It's the first time we've ever done it so I'm a bit worried!

I don't drive but there is a Haven site quite near to us so we'll be going by coach. I have a proper camping rucksack that comes up to my waist so that should fit in wellies, fleeces etc!!

I was thinking we would need: tent (obviously!) ground/sleeping mats x2, sleeping bags x 2, torches, camping stove, saucepan, thermos flask. Majority of stuff will be borrowed in case i hate it!!!!

Is it feasible to think I will be able to manage with just the above mentioned stuff? Anymore than that and i won't be able to carry the rucksack!

Now on to cooking! I'd be grateful for any cooking tips and recipes. please bear in mind i will only have one saucepan, no freezer (unless haven have facilities to freeze ice packs?) and no knowledge of camp cooking!!

Sorry its a long post but I am not going camping until I've done plenty of research!!!:o

Thanks in advance!

Stacey

P.S At the risk of sounding a bit daft, will there be anywhere to plug in my mobile charger?! I can obviously manage a few dayswithout my mobile but I'd feel happier having it with me for security reasons!! If push comes to shove, I'll have to buy a spare battery and take it charged but that's not very MSE!!!!

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, Stacey! We've been taking ours camping for the last 10 years (since they were about the age of your DD) and we all love it.

For just a weekend, you should be fine. We like pasta - you can make a simple veg sauce very quickly. You can also add some preserved meat (such as salami or pepperoni), or cheese, as the vac packs keep unrefrigerated for ages. You could also use a jar of pasta sauce (made more interesting with some meat, cheese or fresh veg).

Will there be a shop on site, or a chippie nearby? I'd advise you to spend as little time as possible cooking - spend the time with your DD, as it may not be easy to keep her safely occupied while you're busy.

As for phone charging, IME, camp sites will charge them for you for a small charge, or donation to charity.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

HTH, Penny. x

soappie

The most important essential on a camping holiday in my experience is - and I'll say it loudly:

NEVER FORGET TO TAKE YOUR OWN SUPPLY OF LOO ROLL

Campsite loo roll is a beast of its own - if there's actually any there!

And take a chamberpot or similar for those night calls when you don't want to trek halfway across a dark field in your nightie to the loos because nature's called unexpectedly.

As to the cooking, practice one pan cooking at home using tinned stuff.
Potatoes and onions will keep out of the fridge so use them well and often. Make a 'stew' out of a tin of corned beef, some onion, potato, a stock cube, water and a tin of peas.

Do the pasta stuff. Cook up some pasta, drain it, put it to one side. Fry up an onion in a little oil or butter in the saucepan, when cooked, add a jar of Dolmio or similar sauce, once heated through, put the pasta back into the saucepan with the sauce until all's heated through.

One important thing I've found when doing camping stuff is that because you're out in the 'fresh' air all the time you tend to be far hungrier than normal so bear that in mind when planning portions

You might like to consider taking a frying pan as well as the saucepan. That way you can have fried eggs for breakfast (eggs don't need refridgerating either)

Good luck!

fsdss

one thing i miss when camping is taking a hot water bottle for the cold nights.

we usually survive on cooked breakfasts / pasta etc and chips from the chip shop

nickyhutch

Go to www.ukcampsite.co.uk, they're very friendly and helpful on there and they know everything!

sticher

Hi, I would say make sure your sleeping bags are proper warm ones and not just cheapies as it does get very cold at night in a tent.

You can get a torch that can be wound up to charge it and that will also charge your mobile phone. I have seen them but haven't bought one so don't know what they are like.

I also recommend Uk campsite.

Oh and by the way, as has been said, something to go to the loo in at night as I found that it was not practical at all to go out in your PJs in the pouring rain and for some reason I had to go very frequently! Also you wouldn't want to leave LO in tent alone if you needed to go.

Sallys_Savings

I always charge my phone battery up in the laundry if they have one or where there are plugs to dry your hair. Just keep it topped up and I have normally found it to be fine.

The most important things I find is to make sure you're warm and dry enough and a bucket for the loo in the middle of the night.

When going on a basic camping hol and only have one saucepan on a gas ring we have had:
1. the packets of batchelors pasta or rice and add raw bits to them...i.e. chopped toms, cheese, peppers, ham, sliced carrots etc.

2. Veg cas using tinned vegetables.

3. Baked beans, tinned potatoes, cannoli beans, kidney beans with a little chilli powder.

Have fun!!!

stefejb

as its a haven site you are going to you will find it not all that basic and there will be a shop there but it will be pricey. Depending on where you are going to there may be a supermarket nearby.

Dd and I usually take a trangia which is like a russian doll with all it's bits and peices fitted snugly together. We use greenheat fuel which costs about £4 for two cells and is a lot less scary than gas or meths. One cell has just done us for a whole weekend.
if you are going to do proper cooking then you will need a little chopping board and a knife but we usually live on beanfeasts and noodles, pasta pesto, pasta with tinned soup and plenty of sachets of porridge. We also take sachets of instant hot chocolate. We make sure that we eat plenty of fruit to make up for the lack of vitamins

I have stayed at a haven but can't remember if the showers are free or not - check it out and if not then make sure you have plenty of change. there will be a dishwashing area - I take a scouring sponge, a tea towel and a handful of soapnuts tied up in a pop sock. like you I don't drive so need to keep the weight down. practice putting the tent up before you go and maybe have a night out in the back garden to see how your dd likes it.
Just thought of something else - when we went to Haven the toilet blocks and water points were pretty few and far between. You might be tempted to pitch up near them but the convenience is offset by the hordes of other people using the facilities at all hours. if you get stuck when you're there then do ask for help - campers are usually very very helpful
have fun

donny-gal

If you are carrying everything, then look for packets which can be cooked in a pan, rather than tins, but take a can opener/bottle opener with you for if you get any there. There should be some electric points in the loos for a hairdryer where you could charge up your phone, there are some wind up chargers which could be handy again. Look in £1 shops for plastic plates/utensils dont take good ones in case they get lost. Warm PJ's and spare socks. They do sets of camping pans which all fit inside each other together with plates which are only about 6" dia. Dried milk for hot drinks as milk wont keep. Above all if you forget anything don't sit there managing or doing without ask, as said before campers muck in with each other very sociable, and admit you are a novice at it.
DG

Hardup_Hester

If you find your DD gets really cold, zip your 2 sleeping bags together to make 1 double one & sleep together & make sure you have a pad to lie on as the ground is very cold & hard.
Hester

dolly_day_dream

I am part of that happy bunch that goes to Glastonbury each year.:j I don't drive so understand about keeping what you carry to a minimum.

I usually carry a 100ltre backpack. The tent gets strapped to the bottom but there is a line of thought that it should be strapped to the top. I also insist on taking an airbed these days cos I am getting old and it makes it soo much more comfortable but of course the trade off is that it a lot heavier than a mat.

I echo the advice of trying out the sleeping bags before you go but in any case always take some space blankets with you. Poundland has had two for £1 just recently. If it gets cold put one underneath you and one over the top - you will toast nicely. BTW if it is too hot you can tie one over the top of your tent to reflect the sun away. We have a small camping stove and an ex German army billy can. Our water carrier is just an empty large water bottle - drunk on the journey.

I always take a roll of duct tape - it is waterproof and just about everything else proof and has saved many a tent/rainmac/backpack etc etc. Cut down on the clothes cos no one died from wearing the same trousers more than once

Once you have packed in all the things that you just cannot live without put the backpack on and see how it is. You may well find that you don't have too much room for heavy veg such as potatoes/onions or canned goods. We tend to take food that can be re-hydrated to cut down on the weight. We also used the packets of rice/pasta that just have to be re-heated in the microwave this year - just add a little water and then re-heat on the stove. BTW I don't pack food in the backpack - it does into a separate bag limited by how much I can carry.

Is your daughter able to carry anything? She may enjoy the responsibility of carrying things that while not necessarily heavy (I worry about damaging young bones) will add to your enjoyment while you are there.

I have just thought if you are going to a Haven site then the pathways etc should be pretty good. In that case you might consider using a shopping trolly (wally trolly) to carry any extra things. If you saw the pics of Glasto this year you will realise that is just not an option for myself:o

Have a wonderful time - I do