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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping

Camp Bestival 2011.

468 replies

QueeferSutherland · 25/04/2011 21:56

Has anyone been?
Going?
Is there a festival thread somewhere?

DH booked tickets today. I haven't been to a festival in an age, and DH has only been camping once. We are taking the 3 DC who will be 1, 3, & 9.

Any tips/reassurance?

OP posts:

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TheFowlAndThePussycat · 25/04/2011 22:03

We're going, with 2 dds, 2.3 & 3.9 (at the time). I'm really excited, haven't got a clue what we're doing, never been before & haven't camped since the kids were born (but were pretty seasoned campers before that). Would also welcome any tips!

QueeferSutherland · 25/04/2011 22:27

What sort of tent are you taking, TFATP?

I'm thinking of getting a Bell Tent, if they don't sell out. Will it be too big d'ya think? (5m)

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TheFowlAndThePussycat · 25/04/2011 23:27

Call me Fowl . Our tent is the source of argument debate at the moment. We put our pre-kids tent up this weekend (which we remembered as huge) and I realised that it is not even remotely big enough. DH (inevitably) thinks it is. Probably we will have to take it away for a weekend before Camp Bestival so that DH can try to sleep with the girls kicking him & snoring in his ear before he agrees to getting another one! A Bell Tent would be brilliant I think. Have you got one of the camping plus tickets because that gives you an extra big pitch?

QueeferSutherland · 26/04/2011 08:06

Nooo, they'd sold out.

Are you going to partake in a spot of fancy dress, Fowl? It's Medieval this year IIRC. Not sure how practical that'll be.

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DontCallMeBaby · 26/04/2011 08:21

I'm going - with DD (7), friend and her DDs (7 & 4). One car, two tents (mine used once for our only camping trip in living memory, hers never put up YET), and a wing and a prayer. ;)

QueeferSutherland · 26/04/2011 14:10

Have you got camp+ tickets baby?

OP posts:

DontCallMeBaby · 26/04/2011 18:53

No, just normal ... I hope that's going to be okay, we might be in one car but we have two separate bookings and are two families, so need space for two tents - but next to each other! Eep, I hope we haven't cocked up.

QueeferSutherland · 26/04/2011 21:51

Is it a bun-fight for pitches, d'ya think? DH thinks it will be.

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DontCallMeBaby · 27/04/2011 00:22

I'll try to remember to ask my friend who went last year (she isn't the best person to ask for advice, as she and her husband and kids managed to find the only bit of NON-family camping on-site, but she should at least know how it's managed).

TheFowlAndThePussycat · 27/04/2011 18:59

We are going on Thursday, so hoping not to have too much of a scrap for pitches, but never having been before we'll probably choose a rubbish spot because it's quiet, & then discover that it's 4 miles from anywhere we need to be!

I think we will most definitely dress up, if I get organised. Well, the dds & I will. I don't think I'll get dh in a pair of hose . Anyone got any advice about festival essentials, someone mentioned kids ear defenders on another thread? Is that just for sleeping or is the music too loud in any case? I can't imagine them keeping them on tbh.

QueenLaQueefer · 19/05/2011 22:17

Ear defenders!

Good call, especially for DS1 who can't bear too much noise.

Lovecat · 20/05/2011 10:36

Fowl, I had the same worry about DD last year at Latitude, she normally hates any kind of hat or earmuff arrangement, so I didn't think she'd keep them on - however, when she saw all the other kids wearing them, she was very happy to keep them on.

I'm going to try and link to a photo of her rocking out to Mumford and Sons... hope it works!

Katyathegringa · 20/05/2011 14:51

I'm taking my 3 year old, will be her first festival...am v v v excited. Got the ear defenders and medieval costume at the ready.

TheFowlAndThePussycat · 21/05/2011 08:16

Oh fab lovecat did she need them at night too? Where did you get them from? I am currently watching 3 Outwell Montana tents on ebay but I don't suppose I'll bid

What do people do with their kids at night when there are bands you want to see? Do you just take it in turns to stay with them?

Lovecat · 21/05/2011 09:50

I got mine from Peltons direct online as last year they seemed to be the only stockist, but I've seen they now sell them via amazon as well. If you google Ear Defenders then you should get a link or three.

She didn't need them at night, tbh there was so much activity and fresh air during the day she was out like a light as soon as her head touched the sleeping bag! I borrowed them, though (note to self, buy ear plugs this year)!

wrt the evening shows, we were 'fortunate' in that only 2 of the nights had headliners we wanted to see, so one night was an early one. Also we went in a group and she had her 2 cousins to play with, which made a huge difference. We set out a blanket on the edge of the arena (where we could still see the stage), opened up the winebox, gave them some glowstick bracelets and those illoom ballons (cannot recommend glowy things highly enough at festivals!) and they were so excited at being up after dark that they ran around us quite happily playing until it was all over.

We had one late night with DD on her own as the others didn't like the headline act, she was actually fine and again loved being out late at night, but a little grumpy/sleepy on the way back to the tent, wanting to be carried all the time. Now that we have a ridiculously heavy bell tent, I have invested in one of those wheeled garden carts to lug stuff from the car, and, as I saw a lot of people doing, am going to line it with her sleeping bag to take her back to the tent if we do another late one (which as Suede are headlining, is almost definite!).

I think you have to accept that your moshing days are over at that sort of thing and just make the best of being 'civilised' on the fringes. I found Latitude very laid back and child-friendly - no-one minded that there were children running about at all hours! I would imagine that Bestival is even more that way inclined...

QueenLaQueefer · 21/05/2011 11:35

Cute! What a fab picture, Lovecat!

I was thinking of getting a fold-up wheelbarrow for the tat, but we might bring the pushcair instead. DS is a big 3 though and I'm worried mumsnetters people would judge if I put him in it!

StillSquiffy · 23/05/2011 12:52

There must be more MNs going than this? I imagine there will be enough to fill up the WI tea tent in a heartbeat.

I'm going with friends and between us we have six DCs between 3 and 7 YO. We have just done a bulk order of 'travel johns'

sfxmum · 23/05/2011 12:59

I am going, have posted on a couple of other threads about this over the last few months, it is our 2nd time
dd will be 6 although she has been going to festivals since she was little toddler

it is super family orientated, you just have to look at the relative size of the kids field
what I would hope is that they have a proper shop in the camping area this time, we were in need of fresh basics of bacon and eggs as it it traditional perk of camping food at festivals

I hear the farm side with the animals is no more, that is sad, fantastic area.

get there early, at least this year they are opening on Thursday, last year half the people were arriving while the entertainment was already going

also they have very nice food on site (festival prices) but yummy

sfxmum · 23/05/2011 13:01

Lovecat we went to Latitude 3 years running and CampB is even more child friendly if that seems possible to you
imo music is better at latitude by miles but Camp manages to have enough variety for adults and full on kids experience

Curlybrunette · 24/05/2011 13:41

I'm going with dh and ds's 5.4 and 3.8. We've never been before but it looks so ace I am so excited. We're going on the Thursday too, I've got the boys outfits but not sure if we will yet. Do a lot of parents dress up?

Oakmaiden · 24/05/2011 13:50

I wanna go. I went year before last, and it was fab. But my not-so-dh doesn't want to go again - because "we have been already" and because we didn't get to see many bands.

Who cares about seeing the bands, anyway???

Katyathegringa · 26/05/2011 10:09

umm....me!

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TheFowlAndThePussycat · 26/05/2011 19:51

I really want to see Blondie, I'm very excited about that. You do all sound very organised though, I can see that my last minute scramble for a pointy hat with veil might not be the best plan. I have persuaded Dh to go to a camping warehouse this weekend so I can woo him with a bigger tent

I think I read somewhere that you aren't supposed to cook, or am I making that up? Does that mean that you have to buy the on-site food? Mind you if the WI are there with a tea tent that's me sorted!

sfxmum · 26/05/2011 19:57

of course you can go but not on a bonfire BBQ only on restricted site on account of fire risk
most people have little stoves, we have a Trangia for basic stuff as it is only the 3 of us and we eat the main mean on site, mostly because we are lazy

sfxmum · 26/05/2011 19:59

there are many cake/tea coffee places for all tastes
I love piemister too yummy pies and mash
the fish is great there too and we are not talking in batter only
the river cottage place is yum too

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