Am I mad to consider camping in the easter holidays?

[Lordofthebutterfloofs]

It feels like the cold will never end. Am I crazy to be looking for a cheap camping getaway in april? Normally reserved for much warmer months in this house 🥶

No, we've done it before. 5 days in the Lakes, 2019.

In a tent? Bloody hell no, it's miserable to be constantly freezing.

We did it in 2019 but it was very cold. This was south coast of England too.

Can you stretch at least to a caravan type place?

It was wet on and off, but sunny enough for the brats to swim in Buttermere.

Any non-campers will say you’re mad!

Seasonal campers will say oooh risky.

Anyone not in those categories will say go for it!

I’m in the go for it group. Just be prepared for whatever the weather throws at you and take plenty of layers for night time.

We did it once. It snowed.

ThoughtNot · Today 15:58

We did it once. It snowed.

I've had that at midsummer, in the Shetlands! And minus 9° - most of the tent zips were frozen!

Go for electric hook up and take a heated blanket. I'm seriously considering this for August.

Mixed bag right from the off 😂 the weather in the UK can be such a long shot. If I remember right we had a scorching couple of weeks in April during lockdown? Who could have predicted that!

I am just gagging to get away from this bloody house I WFH, it's cold and horrid, it's not nice to spend the day out, if you do you spend shitloads on indoor actives or spend the time shivering in a park.

Holidays are now so expensive we are going to have to camp more going forward. Sigh.

I've camped in March before at -5, but that was only for 4 nights. Woke up each morning to a very solid tent. However we were only sleeping in it and were in the warm during the day.
But then I've known it baking hot at Easter before so it could also be perfect camping weather. Depends on what your plans are during the days as well.

I think it would be uncomfortably cold. Are you considering camping to save money? There are lots of deals about on holidays cottages at the moment, you might get something last minute?

Not for £100 for 3 nights 😕

I’ll be wild camping by the loch. In a camper van but still not that much warmer. Kids love it hats for night time lots of blankets and wear a onesie. Not terribly far from home though so we’d just head back if it was awful.

Well it's a gamble. We camped for the first weekend in May for many years. Some years we needed sunscreen, some years the campsite flooded, one year it went down to minus 4 and the washing up liquid froze in the bottle.

Could you leave it until the last minute and decide based on the weather? I doubt you would have any problem getting a space.

I've been away at Easter & it's snowed!
Personally I only camp from end of May-sept as the temps really drop at night.
Could you leave it until the last min & book the week before when the forecast is clearer or maybe book somewhere with a low deposit so that if you decide the weather is awful you can cancel?

We’ve done it at Easter. I wouldn’t now - I’m too old! Spent evenings in the pub having put hot water bottles in the sleeping bags before we went! It was really variable though. Some years great and others not so!

We are glamping on Isle of Wight at Easter. Thinking it could be lovely or could be freezing and/or wet but they have electric blankets and stuff so much more comfortable if it’s freezing! Not cheap but cheaper than a cottage.

Untitledsquatboulder · Today 16:14

...one year it went down to minus 4 and the washing up liquid froze in the bottle.

Blinkety flip!

We've got two nights booked over Easter, sleeping in a (not converted) van and it's an eco site so no electric hook up. Am relying on dry weather and our thermals/hot water bottle combo.

The key question for me is where you would go. A quick squint at the Met Office says that temperatures are expected to be cooler than average with significant rainfall in the south.

Hoseasons have 3 night breaks for £119 (chalet or caravan) over Easter. It's worth shopping around as the average campsite with electric hookup is going for £30 per night on Pitchup.

I went camping in February this year!
I've been colder on some summer trips.
Go prepared and don't go too far in case you decide to come home early.

We were up in Scotland last April but in a tent box on top of the car - I wouldn’t want to be on the ground. We took lots of layers, thermals and snuggly pjs and just went to bed early to keep warm.

Do you already have warm things? If you have to factor that into the cost of going then I really wouldn’t bother.

It really depends on April. Some years it will be fine others horrendous!

We once did May day in minus 2.

Ground conditions can be bad. Are you going with electric hook up?

Sites with pea gravel might be better than grass.

I'd probably consider a more commercial site than I would in the summer. Something with a games room or even a bar. The nights get dark early and it gives you some options away from the tent.

Wrapping up for night time is easier especially if you can insulate well from below but it is the sitting about where you get cold and once you do it is harder to warm up again.