I wanna learn how to go camping!

Miró

Can't afford much of a holiday this year so a friend and I have suddenly decided we would like to give camping a go. However, neither of us have ever done anything like this before and haven't a clue where to start, (we are outdoorsy/walking type people tho').

For, say, a long week-end to start with, what would be the minimum requirements in the way of equipment? Not sure if we will be able to borrow...may have to request on Freecycle or buy if necessary.

Also, how do you go about finding somewhere to pitch your tent? Presumably you can't just plonk down anywhere We fancy either The Lake District or Yorkshire Dales.....anyone know any really good locations? We will have use of a car.

Sorry if this sounds rather naive . Any tips and hints would be very gratefully received. :j

Badger_Lady

What sort of camping do you want to do? If you want to stay in one spot, find a friendly campsite and load up whatever you fancy into the car. But are you tempted to do a weekend's hiking, since you are outdoorsy?

If so, you obviously can't dump your tent on private property, but I'm pretty sure you can still pitch on public land (my Dad and I did a 55 mile hike round Cornwall once and found plenty of appropriate spots overnight).

Equipment depends on the above, but basics:
- tent (normally includes pegs, poles, canvas and guide lines)
- something to sleep on (roll mats, airbeds, sleeping bags as preferred)
- cooking equipment (camping stove, fuel, pans / kettle, dishes and cutlery, lighter)
- water container
- torches (and batteries!)

...and pick your choice from the below:
- mallet / peg extractor (depends on the ground, sometimes a shoe is OK!)
- pump for airbeds
- towels - you can get camping towels that are very thin and take little room
- food - army surplus ration packs are a fave of mine!
- water bottles for day hiking (something you can hitch onto your belt)
- decent rucksacks for hiking (brand new packs at least £100 but you often see them come up on eBay etc)
- proper walking boots - you probably have these already!
- waterproof gear if you're hiking in the rain (trousers & jackets with hoods)
- GPS for walking (if you're novice), or map and compass (if you're confident) and a carefully pre-planned route

So, which do you fancy???

C_Ronaldo

If you search for camping sites on google you will find this site http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/ and others, i think haven do tent pitches but you mentioned about lake distrct so i dont think haven do tent piches there,

Miró

Ooops...didn't realise that there were different 'sorts' of camping! :think:

Don't fancy the idea of 'sites' much...would prefer some solitude and erm...wildness..! Ideally would like to pitch and stay and toddle off for walks during the day.

Having done lots of long distance walks, using youth hostels, we have all the waterproofs/rucsack/footwear/compassy/map stuff and probably wouldn't bother with cooking, (thinking picnic/pub-type meals).

How do you know which is public and which is private land??

saxy1

I would go to a site if at all possible, or you could end up in all sorts of trouble! My ex bro in law and his GF pitched their tent in the dark in the New Forest once, when they woke up the next morning they were at the bottom of someones garden and had to beat a hasty retreat! lol

Hotspur

I went to Castlerigg Farm http://www.castleriggfarm.com/map.htm over last bank hol for a few days. It's no booking just turn up and pitch so you have to get there early at busy times w/e's. Reasonable price as well compared to other sites. They have a strict no noise after 10.30 rule which they enforce and kick people off the next day if they don't comply.

Great views and walks from the doorstep or withing a few miles (Skiddaw and Cat Bells). An ok pub/bar is available just over the road or others in Keswick 20 min walk away.

Put "lake district camping" in google to find more sites.

arabellacatpig_2

Try the YHA web site.A lot of the hostels have camping facilities.If you prefer
the wilder side of life you should be able to find something to your taste

Bokkens

http://www.yha.org.uk/
This is the page you are looking for.
highly reconmended,you don't have to be a "Youth" you can join on arrival,there are stacks of places to choose from some allow camping within the grounds i.e. Ogwen (North Wales) and you are then able to use the facilities withing the building ,showers,kitchen etc.
A good place to start as you get the best of both indoor and outdoor worlds.
Try and pick one with a resturant and a bar,you can buy your meals instead of carrying all your supplies with you.Gradually build up as you become more experienced.YHA also do short courses so have a look at one of those to boost your skills.
Enjoy
If you are a willing but unsure beginner visit W H Smiths and get some magazines,Trail is one of the best as it covers a wide variety of subject as well as providing ideas and some routes to follow.DO NOT use the map in the magazine!
Purchase a full size ordanance survey map or similar from a good outdoor shop/bookstore.
Last year I had to allow a group of six people to tag along with me and my son as they were trying to map reading across the Glyders(North Wales with a ripped out page from Trail).Unbelievable!They were definately lost when we came across them.
They were all very embarassed as my 12 year old showed them how to navigate using compass and map the four miles back to the road.

alice's_mum

Take yourself over to www.ukcampsites.co.uk there is loads of information on there and lots of helpful advice about sites and types of tent. And they're a really friendly helpful bunch - just like us MSE'rs

Andy_Hamilton

The biggest turn off for most people is sleeping on the floor. Buy air beds!
There is no room in the small 2 men tents and you will not get a double air bed in them. With a small tent, when your awake you normally have to be out of them due to them being cramped.
I have 3 tents. A "disposable" 2 man tent for events. A brand new 3 man tent (currently £20 at halfords and £15 in asda) for when I go somewhere by my self and need some slight storage space - it fits a double airbed and has a foot spare at the side. I also have a 6 man tent which fits 2 double airbeds and has standing space for when it's raining.

If you have a car I would buy something like the 4 man deluxe kit which includes a reasonable size tent, sleeping bags, air beds and a torch for £70 at halfords.
You can buy a brilliant little gas stove in it's own box for under £15. This works aswell as a house hob.

I stayed at a farm near scarbourgh 2 weeks ago, this was not a camp site but the farmer gets a bit of extra money. The fresh water was a spring (pipe in the side of a hill) and nothing else there (no mobile reception). It was great and only cost us £5 each. PM me if you want location details as it was brilliant for the dales (for a day out we went to Go Ape http://www.goape.co.uk/ContentArticle.aspx?Id=99 ) we stayed at langdale end

As long as you have got some clean dry clothes and a bit of money you don't need much more.

I have been camping with tent, single duvet and tube of pringles when there was frost on the ground.:mad:

Bokkens

Andy_Hamilton wrote: »

The biggest turn off for most people is sleeping on the floor. Buy air beds!

Air beds!!!
I thought you said camping not a home from home.
Check out the tesco's web page or the in store catalogue in the camping section there are self inflating ground mats for £15.
They are light tough and cheap and insulate you from the ground they are also light enough to carry if you wanna go camping over the next mountain out of sight.They are the same area as your body so no need to buy a marque to sleep in.