OMDB and other minimalists, please come and make encouraging noises that all will be well.

[Slubberdegullion]

I'm going to do it. I'm going to be a minimalist(ish) camper this weekend. I did it before dc and I can do it again. I CAN do it again. I do not need all the stuff, do I?

We have found a great site near our favorite beach on the Lleyn and all I want to do is spend 2 days on the beach and just a light casual night of camping in between.

Here is my mental list

2 tiny small pop up tents
Self inflating mats
Sleeping bags
Pillows (I know I can do a rolled up jumper but I just don't think I'm ready to take that step yet)
Single burner stove + 1 saucepan
4 spoons
2 mugs
Tea bags & instant hot choc
Instant porridge
2 water bottles
Toothpaste and toothbrushes & a flannel
4 pairs of pants
2 headtorches

I may take the tarp if the weather is looking a bit rubbish.

Is this looking ok? I am not going to take any of the boxes with any of my gubbins in.
THIS IS VERY HARD FOR ME

Please note omdb I have not listed a washing up bowl

[millenniumfalcon]

if there's 4 of you for hot choc at once you'll need 4 mugs (we found this out last trip )

eating out for dinner i presume? or having porridge ? all eating out of pan?

[Tortington]

t-towel

[deepdarkwood]

towels? Needed for beach surely, and annoyingly bulky
washing up liquid is allowed I presume

[FlamingoBingo]

microfibre towels from dunelm - 99p!

[Slubberdegullion]

Can we just not share a mug with a dd? They are quite small (4 & 5) and generally a bit pants with keeping mugs in an upright position.

I had a vision of us all eating porridge out of the same pan (a la WW1 in the trenches) and giggling at the adventure and radicalness of it all.

Yes, absolutely for eating out for dinner. Beach has a great cafe, as does the site now I come to think of it....hmm, I may scrap the saucepan and porridge idea.

[millenniumfalcon]

fair enough, my dds are clearly more territorial than yours

[Slubberdegullion]

I have the microfibre 99p towels . OK they can go in with the beach stuff.

Oh yes there is a bag of beach stuff (spades etc) but that is beach stuff and not camping stuff and it therefore exempt from the list.

Washing up liquid...hmm I was going to go with water and um, oh hell, I can't wash porridge off with my fingers can I? Maybe a twig.



custy I think OMDB will scowl at a tea towel. I think I have to shake this stuff dry.

[Slubberdegullion]

I have the microfibre 99p towels . OK they can go in with the beach stuff.

Oh yes there is a bag of beach stuff (spades etc) but that is beach stuff and not camping stuff and it therefore exempt from the list.

Washing up liquid...hmm I was going to go with water and um, oh hell, I can't wash porridge off with my fingers can I? Maybe a twig.



custy I think OMDB will scowl at a tea towel. I think I have to shake this stuff dry.

[Slubberdegullion]

oops

[Slubberdegullion]

As an aside this will make you laugh omdb.

[ShauntheSheep]

Take one of those squeezy sponges with hte green bits on one side. they pack up small and yes you will need washing up liquid but decant into small bottle so takes up less room. Do the washing up in sausepan and then the saucepan will be easy to clean as will have been soaking

[MollieO]

Looks a lot like my list. Although we are taking a small washing up bowl and a couple of plates too.

Minimalist camping through necessity as everything has to fit in the boot of a sports car! We are off tomorrow for ds's first camping ever and my first camping in the UK in nearly 35 years!

[MollieO]

Just looked at that link Slubber. Wow! I wonder how long they were camping for - a couple of months?

[nikkid21]

If you are coming home on the same day that you eat the porridge I wouldn't bother with washing up. Just bung it all in a carrier bag, tie the handle and stick it in the dishwasher when you get home.

Only thing I can see missing from the list is
deodorant and possibly a packet of wet wipes. Suncream!

[troutpout]

small first aid kit

Just bagging the washing up is a brill idea.
I would make sure you have enough clothes and can keep warm...the rest is doable as long as you are warm and comfortable i reckon.

I would love to do this slubber (also did it before i had dc...but am bit of a wimp now).Please report back and tell how it went won't you.

[Slubberdegullion]

Yes we are returning on the same day as breakfast so the bagging up of the porridgey saucepan is an excellent idea. Thanks for that nikki.

troutpout, as a Guider I always carry a small first aid kit with me (in the car) so - tick

Deodorant not required as do not sweat [lie]
Wipes and suncream in the beach bag.

Good luck with your camp Mollie, the link is amazing isn't it? I've never seen such a large area windbreaked off in my life.

[bramblebooks]

toilet roll?

I am currently trying to pack minimally for a few days in sussex. I am wondering whether to buy the special offer pop up tent from blacks to be able to go a night or two early and to go somewhere en route (can't get onto site until Sunday). However, am pretty cabbaged after drive from St Ives, so will probably just attempt to get through current amount of washing and go Sun.

Am going to Casey's tomorrow... All in the interests of minimalism, of course.

And I do need to know the name of fab campite. Yes I really really do.

[Slubberdegullion]

Hi bramble

I'm hoping they already have loo roll. I haven't been to a site in the uk yet where is wasn't already supplied.

Here is the site. Nothing fancy, but looked small and friendly and the cafe very useful. Best bit was great views.

I had my splurge at Casey's yesterday on the popups.

[bramblebooks]

oooh - what are they charging for them there? Might save another run into town!

That is a pretty site. We're camping on the Lleyn with friends at the end of August and haven't booked anywhere yet. As long as we can go to Hell's Mouth for the surf, we'll be happy!

Have just been doing the 'titties' - will explain when I see you!!

Can anyone tell me how sleeping in a pop up compares?

[bramblebooks]

... oh and I bought my bargain £9.99 single burner in a 'bag' yesterday in the millets sale!

Would it be 'wrong' to pack two tents for one holiday?

[FlamingoBingo]

Washing up in a saucepan is a fab idea - going to pinch it for our next trip!

I'm looking out for lots of space-saving tips to make room in our car for our bell tent and awning thing and bedroom

[Slubberdegullion]

I can't even bring myself to tell you how much they cost. I'm sure I have been overcharged but I wanted either the Outwell Jerseys or the Quechua pop ups (having spent about 4 hours researching them on ukcs)...and as we don't live just down the road from Stockport I had a final splurge on the Outwells.
I don't mind paying more at Casey's anyway, the service is excellent and the lovely bloke gave me 4 folding down demonstrations.



yes I am now an owner of 2 plastic tents.

They are bloody brilliant though to be fair. I spent most of yesterday popping them up and then folding them down so I don't look like a giant wally come sunday morning. Oh and they have little pockets and vents that stay open with a doohickey and velcro ties to tidy your guys up with.

Lucycat alwyas takes her big Norfolk lake and then a couple of pop ups for overnight stop overs when she is going far afield. Jolly good idea imo (and part of my cunning plan to get dh to drive to France next year....maybe)

[bramblebooks]

Ooh you've sold me there slubber. I now have pop up tent envy. This will bring a whole new dimension to the order of packing for unloading

[Slubberdegullion]

I've just read on ukcs that Yeoman's are selling the Jersey M for £45 and now I feel quite ill.

[bramblebooks]

But they are very beautiful. And they are yours ready for the weekend. So forget the price and think about the fun you'll have for many years folding them up camping in them.