So now the days are greeting longer, is it to early to start a calming thread!

[Pimpf]

Has anyone booked anywhere yet? Any new must have camping toys?

[professorpoopsnagle]

I have booked 10 days at Easter, as it's a late one I'm hoping for good weather (but have site with fires and EHU)! Think we've pretty much decided on where to go in summer too (Brittany and Normandy) but need to get that organised soonish for the ferries.

No idea for May half term though We did 33 nights last year so want to beat that total.

Want to buy another mondoking mat, but can't think of anything else we need (we do have an entire camping shop already)

[Pimpf]

33 nights! That's impressive!

[attheendoftheday]

Lovely Dp got me a beautiful hand forged fire bowl for Xmas. It's got me all excited for camping this year. Torn between north wales and Glen Nevis for our main break. We live in Northumberland and will try for a weekend or two to the coast.

I've been googling tent storage this evening. I have a dream of having a beautiful and ordered tent rather than the tip we normally have after the first five minutes . Seriously how does everyone else manage it?

[attheendoftheday]

Lovely Dp got me a beautiful hand forged fire bowl for Xmas. It's got me all excited for camping this year. Torn between north wales and Glen Nevis for our main break. We live in Northumberland and will try for a weekend or two to the coast.

I've been googling tent storage this evening. I have a dream of having a beautiful and ordered tent rather than the tip we normally have after the first five minutes . Seriously how does everyone else manage it?

[hillbilly]

We have booked 12 nights at Les Valades and am looking for somewhere to go for the preceding week. Needs to be coastal France, West or South if anyone has any recommendations

[professorpoopsnagle]

Hillbilly I love the look of Les Valades and wanted to go but DH felt the drive was too far. How are you getting there?

I'm liking the look of here which is also near to this place which I think the kids (and us) will like

[KnappShappeyShipwright]

My best present from Santa was a front canopy for my little tent . I'm not sure we'll get a full fortnight away this year as the large car with the towbar is about to die so I may have to settle for smaller weekend trips with my car and the roofbox if we can't get the cash together to replace it. Quite like the look of the Peak District or Lake District if we can do a long stay.

attheendoftheday - I have finally got organised inside the tent. It involves folding crates, two Kampa folding cupboards and a bargain Beanstalk kitchen unit from ebay. This means the trailer is stuffed full and is only worth doing for long stays. For short stays, I embrace the chaos.

[hillbilly]

Professor - we went last year too and it was our first foray into driving and camping abroad. We did the drive with one stopover - on the way down we stayed at this lovely place near Sancerre www.sawdays.co.uk/france/loire-valley/cher/moulin-guillard and on the way back we took a different route and stayed near Tours.

The campsite is amazing if you like the simpler life! It's huge and not over populated. Great pool and lake. You can have fires and BBQs. Only criticism would be that the restaurant menu could be better and more varied.

[hillbilly]

attheendoftheday - can we see you firebowl?

[attheendoftheday]

The fire bowl is here at the bottom right. There's a tripod that fits into it too. The pictures don't really do it justice, it's a really nice thing!

Knapp thank you. We need a trailer, I think.

[professorpoopsnagle]

Hillbilly, I have managed to change DH's mind and we are now booked at Les Valades for 9 nights! Stopping over in Poitiers on the way down. I really am very excited now, we really don't like mega big sites but still want a variety on site for children to do, so think this really will tick almost all the boxes. Also booked the ferries, just awaiting email confirmation for the second campsite and then summer is (almost) organised! Just the May half term to plan now......

[hz]

Would it be wrong to just blatantly steal your holiday Hillbilly? It would fit us perfectly!

[MsInterpret]

We did our first camping trips with 2 kids last year. We Didnt venture far from home (oxon) so really just practising! This year they'll be more like 18mths and 4.5 so getting excited about possibilities.

And new camping-y things to stock up on. Off to look up kampa folding cupboards...!

[hillbilly]

Professor - that's brilliant! When are you going? We are there from 15-27 August.

hz - you would love it I'm sure. Come along!

Now I'm trying to plan a week for before Les Valades - thinking Oleron over Med coast although I have found a very quaint and rustic place near Marseilles. Anyway going to have a chat with DH tonight and get it booked.

[hillbilly]

Attheendoftheday - last year I bought these www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50226271/ and used them as cases for our journey and clothes storage in the tent. Along with lots of hooks and hangers, we had a fairly tidy tent. I went completely overboard and bought a Lakeland tripod clothes hanger thingy but got a grip just in time and sent it back

[professorpoopsnagle]

Hillbilly we are 5th -14th, going onto another site for a week after. I shall have to leave a secret MN symbol geocaching style for you to find!

[motherofluvlies]

First time camping for us last year with 5 yr old triplets.we drove down to Spain,stopping over at orleans(due to severe traffic jams) Stayed at Playa de Bara which was amazing ,then back up to Annecy.we decided when we got there that we dint want to stay so drove into Switzerland(camping jungfrau which was fab but bring your food as VERY expensive)stopped at Chalons on the way home.
I used fold up crates and packed all kitchen/camping items into 3 big plastic lidded stackable boxes as recommended by mumsnetters here.even hubby was impressed by how it worked.
We had a Dutch oven with paella pan which was great fun
Gazebo & BBQ outside every night.
Not quite sure we can match the excitement this year...

[HairyMaclary]

Hillbilly-are you going back? I'd love to but we have a commitment to holiday with friends in Italy this year that has been planned for 18 months. The DCs keep asking if / when we can go back to Les Valades, they loved it! We won't camp for our main holiday this year, I'm very disappointed, especially as DH's study means we can't do may half term either. Will have to hope for nice weather and short weekend trips!

[hillbilly]

Hi Hairy! Yes we are going back for 12 nights. We loved it so much last year but didn't feel we made the most of the area. Hoping to perhaps have a week elsewhere first, possible Ile D'Oleron. Italy sounds great though I'm sure you'll have a lovely time. If you are going to Valades again in the future, I would recommend that you book early especially if you want the pitches down by the pool and lake. I booked in December and there were only a couple of pitches left.

[thewalrus]

So many exciting plans! We are relatively novice campers - only done local weekend trips so far - but this year we are thinking of taking the tent on our annual France trip. And we are going camping on the Isles of Scilly in May half term!!!!!! (Can you tell I'm a bit excited?)

[hillbilly]

DH may be going away over Easter and since he would definitely not camp at that time of year, I'm seeing an opportunity! If the weather is dry I may take the kids away for a couple of night

[professorpoopsnagle]

As Easter is pretty late this year we are camping then for 10 days. (Earliest we have done so with kids, eventually I will persuade DH to camp one Christmas!). Site allows fires and we will have EHU so hoping the (possible) cold won't be too much of a problem.

[hillbilly]

Where are you going at Easter Professor?

[professorpoopsnagle]

The hideaway in Yorkshire. Been before and really like it.

[hz]

ooh, thewalrus very jealous about Isles of Scilly. Another place I really want to go. The UK has so many amazing places. So little time, so many places to camp!