Untitled

[cardy]

We have been thinking about going camping with 2dds (5 and 3). I haven't been camping for about 15 years and even then it was around europe back-packing with friend/boyfriend etc. I am a bit uncertain of what it will be like with as a family children. I have to admit in recent years I am a bit of a fair-weather outdoor person.

I am wondering if it is going to a lot of hard work only to get cold wet and having children saying they are bored! On the other hand I think we cold have loads on fun in a simple way.

Have you recently been converted to camping? What were your reservations and did they go unfounded?

I am also a bit concerned about spending a couple of hundred pounds on a tent/equipment and only using it once. Any advice on tents/necessary equipment would be useful.

[tiredemma]

We went recently for the first time ( two weekends ago) we had a fantastic time. My children are very similiar in age to yours ( my eldest is just a yr older than your eldest)

We got a 6 man tent that you can stand up in ( only because it was £10 more expensive than a 4 man one- so we thought if we get the bigger one- at least we have extra room to store our clothes etc)

we went to a lovely small campsite in the Forest Of Dean - the first day was lovely and sunny- boys had a whale of a time just running around playing frisbe / football etc- we had a BBQ on te afternoon and then went to local pub with a playground on the night for a meal.

It rained through the night and we got soaked packing away the nexy day but it was such an adeventure for the kids!!

We are going away again Spring bank holiday for two nights to a site 1 mile away from Alton towers- going to the park on the sunday.

We bought most of our stuff from here-towsure
our tent was a bargain at £95.99 - it is good value for money- to stay on most campsites is about £6 per adult and about £2/3 for kids.

do it- you will love it!

[dustystar]

Try and borrow a tent etc for your first trip so you don't end up out of pocket if its not for you. You'll also get an idea of what sort of tent etc will suit you - have a look around the tent shows or store which have a display of tents for you to look at. Dome tents are good if you have large families and need lots of bedrooms. Tunnel tents are excellent for space and tend to be easier to put up. Take plenty of activites for the children - out door and indoor in case it rains. Hope that helps.

[cardy]

I like the idea of a tent that you can stand up in. From my point of view I think the weather would make a big difference. We don't even have waterproofs.

Other than sleeping bags and mats are there any other essentials? The only person I know with a tent is my SIL and she lives too far away to get it, although it would be good to borrow one.

Silly questions - did your ds sleep OK? did they go too bed without too much fuss? what did you do when they went to bed?

[ekra]

We love it. We have 2 DDs also and find it a relaxing way to get away for a weekend.

When you go camping with with children, you'll be amazed by how many other families there are and ones with young children and babies too.

I'm not a fair-weather camper myself but it can be a bit problematic if you're camping with very young children and it rains all the time. We have a dreadful two days in Dorset 2 summers ago where the weather was stormy and we were stuck inside the tent with DD1, aged 2, for a few hours. But we have a bigger tent now, so hopefully amusing the childrne 'indoors' will be easier.

You could start out with a small cheap tent and then upgrade if you enjoy it. Perhaps start out with a 3 night trip.

My children sleep so well on campsites. It must be all the fresh air.

[cardy]

We can only give it a go and if the weather is bad we'll have to find some indoor things to go to - swimming etc. I guess it's the expense of getting started then the possibilty of nobody enjoying it.

[dustystar]

You could always go for rent-a-tent. A few parks do this and it is a good way to find out if you like camping as they supply pretty much all the gear.

[Lucycat]

Something like Eurotents might be worth considering.

[mosschops30]

I went for the first time recently with dd (10) and ds (2). We shared a massive tent with another couple (their ds 2), and it was great fun.

The kids just loved being outdoors and being able to run around with a ball, they enjoyed eating dinner on their laps and being allowed to eat lots of crap.

It rained pretty much the whole time we were away but it didnt matter, we had a large living area in the tent, kids played nicely, we went to the pub and beach.

I am sooooo not a camping person but I'm gonna do it again in the summer, it was great fun

[cardy]

Love all these positive reports. The idea of renting a tent really appeals. I know that you can do this with Eurocamp, Keycamp etc. however can you do it in this country? I worked for Eurocamp in France and lived in a tent for 7 months - that's going back quite sometime though!

We are going to Devon in August and have accommodation already sorted out however we might go down to Cornwall for a few days and camp - will August in Cornwall be a mightmare? Can anybody recommend a good location or site?

[RubberDuck]

Good tip for wet weather we discovered last year in Wales.

Take raincoats AND baseball cap style sunhats and if it's one of those continual rainy days, you wear the baseball hat UNDER the raincoat hood - keeps the rain off your face (especially handy if you wear glasses).

If you're warm and your face isn't wet then being out in the rain is actually quite fun and most of the tourist attractions are empty - we had LOADS of fun exploring the gardens of a stately home, we pretty much had the entire place to ourselves.

Back to camp then a hot drink. Rain on holiday holds no fear now

[ekra]

I've bought my girls waterproof trousers so that i can still throw them out of the tent in the rain

[cardy]

I know, I just think we need to be better prepared. I don't even have a coat with a hood, dds do though. Where can I get cheap (ish) waterproofs from?

[dustystar]

It depends on what you want cardy. You can go for the into a pocket style gagoole which you can get for less than £10 in some places or you can get the three in one style jackets that you can use as a raincoat, fleece or together in the winter. They cost about £20. Waterproof trousers are a good idea too.

[dustystar]

Just had a look at your childrens ages and I'd recommend the all-in-one style waterproofs that you can but. Oswald Bailey's sell some for about £10. Get the size up from the one your child needs then it will fit over warm clothes.

[cardy]

Thanks DS. DDs to have cagouls however they aren't exactly waterproof more like shower proof. I haven't got anything. Not heard of Oswald Baily, is it a shop? online? Links to useful websites anybody?

[dustystar]

Look here