Help with camping plan?!

[Lubballoo]

Hoping the Mumsnet hive mind can help me where Google and my own brain haven't had any luck!

For ages, DD (age 11) and I have been talking about doing a 2 day walk with a night of camping in the middle; I was thinking we'd take a train from London, maybe to somewhere on the South Downs Way, walk 8-10 miles, camp over night, walk a similar distance the next day and get a train home. Last summer I was diagnosed with breast cancer so this has been off limits for a while. I'm much better now but I do have mild lymphoedema which is going to make carrying all our kit in a normal backpack a bit of a no-go. I've thought of three ways round this but haven't yet found a way to sort any of them! Any help much appreciated!!

1. Camp somewhere that would provide a tent so we don't have to carry one, which would make our bags lighter - I've not found anywhere suitable, ideas welcomed!

1. Use a rucksack like these specially modified ones: womansback.com/en/collections/mochilas

Unfortunately they don't ship to the UK and also are now shut for the summer, but has anyone seen anything similar available in the UK?

1. Get a normal rucksack adapted so it's like one of the ones linked above if I can find somewhere that might do this for me, has anyone ever come across a service that could be suitable?

Of course another option is to get DD to carry everything but after reflecting on this I've decided I'm not that mean

Have you looked for glamping sites?

@joopy79 Not specifically, but that's a really good idea, thank you - i think I'd assumed they might be much larger tents and therefore too pricey but definitely a good avenue to explore. And DD would love to glamp!

can you get the train + taxi to your campsite, leave stuff there & do a good circular walk, then camp overnight & same again next day?

I did the kind of walk + camp you suggest for DoE many years ago, and we carried a lot of stuff. The camp stove & pots & pans & tent poles etc were divided between 5 people to make the loads lighter but it was still a lot. So with just 2 of you, you will have heavy backpacks.

Or find somewhere that does glamping? if you haven't camped before, you'll need to get a lot of stuff to be fully self-sufficient even for 1 night.

If you don't already own pretty lightweight camping kit this could be an expensive trip. Fun, but expensive! Cheep tents and gear are fine for camping with a car, but weight really adds up fast when you're having to carry it all.

Maybe look at youth hostels or camping barns, that would really reduce what you need to carry. Youth hostels often allow you to book a meal too and a packed lunch for the next day so you don't even have yo carry your food.

The other option on a lot of the popular log walks is a sherpa service where they take your bags onto the next overnight stop for you.

Of if the camping is the bit she's really looking forward to, could you do a bike trip? All your kit would be in panniers so no rucksack issues.

Like gruffalo said, I think a Sherpa service is what you're looking for. I know there is a company who operates along the South West Coast Path for about £15 a trip.

Have you looked at Housedean campsite?

www.housedean.co.uk/

Following

Do you drive?

For example;

Drive to High Sands Creek Stiffkey, or the little site in Morston, Gallu Farm at Blakeney or Pinewoods in Wells, for example, on the N Norfolk Coast. Pitch your tent, leave your car alongside. Take the coast hopper bus (an excellent service that goes all along the N Norfolk coast) to your chosen starting point, walk the N Norfolk coast path to the campsite. Next morning, continue on the path and then go back by Coast Hopper and collect your car and gear.

There are similar options along the Thames Path and doubtless other places.

Or

Look at Cuckmere Haven campsite / camping pods. Train to Eastbourne, walk over Beachy Head and 7 Sisters to Cuckmere, next day walk to Seaford (shorter walk, spend time in the beach) train back from Seaford station.

Try doing a search on www.pitchup.com
You can set lots of criteria on there. Camping in a camping pod might be a good option, you would only have to carry a sleeping bag. You could get fish and chips or something to eat in the evening to void having to take a camping stove.

On the west highland way (Scotland!) there are services that transport your baggage and deliver it to a prearranged camping site each night so you only carry a day bag. Might there be something like that on your route?
Or yes a wigwam /camping pod

Yes, look for a place with pods.

Exmouth Country Lodge do Bell tents which have a groundsheet and four mattresses and they have a cade/bar with good food options and nearish a beach. Sorry I don't know about walks in the area
www.exmouthcountrylodge.com/

Btw I know its the wrong area but gives an idea of what to look for

We have stayed in wooden pods twice (near kings lynn and suffolk) bedding etc was included, it had a fridge and microwave and was £50 a night I think. I wanted to try 'proper' camping (grew up on caravan holidays - partner used to 5* hotels so we had to compromise...! it was perfect for two or three nights

You can get a taxi to take your kit from your start point to your next sleeping point - some companies do this for long distance walking routes as an entire business, some will just be regular taxi companies (so, what toolate said)

Can you carry a day sac?
We went camping recently about 6 miles from home. We did have our car and DD and I went to a pub for dinner in the car but you could try and camp near a pub, or we got pizza to collect the second night but I bet you could get something like that delivered to many campsites.

Thank you all so much for the brilliant ideas. I want to do them all

I found an issue with glamping sites is that they generally have a 2 night minimum stay over the summer (fair enough) however I've been able to book a camping pod in a youth hostel so problem solved! The location means we will probably end up doing a circular walk rather than a linear walk but that's no problem.

We are regular campers and we do have a light weight 2 man tent that we were originally going to use, but I was going to get us light sleeping bags too and I don't need to now as bedding is provided. As is breakfast and I'm going to call them to see if dinner is an option - but if not we'll be happy with super noodles and a Mars bar! I should be able to manage a light day pack as should DD.

The idea of cycling and using panniers is an excellent idea for a future trip. Might even mean I can persuade my DS (aged 9) on a future adventure.

Our trip is booked for nearly the end of the summer hols, so we'll have this trip together just before she starts secondary school (with a few days rest beforehand!) so, especially after the year we've had, the timing should be really lovely. Thank you all again!

If you don't have one, I highly recommend a Trangia (I have meths but I think the solid fuel would be lighter, I'm aiming to get that) - boils up water for a pot noodle really nicely and very light to carry.

@Lubballoo Find your way to the MN camping board - under Travel.

Most youth hostels sell dinner now unless they’re tiny.

This has been a quiet board for the last 18 months but does have some knowledgeable people on it.

www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_forum_topics.asp?ForumID=40&PagePosition=1

Sounds like a great trip. Fingers crossed for good walking weather.