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 🥶

Easter weather can be very different year on year. Hope OP you get one with milder nights.

Not mad. I've done it but when the weather has been really hot!

I'd think it nuts if wet and windy and cold!

Not much help I realise!

We went camping in May last year & it was sub zero at night. Glorious during the day though!

We’d taken a small heater that we’ve used a lot for camping but so had everyone else & the campsite electrics kept tripping out! We bought electric blankets the next day & they made a big difference. If you have enough layers, hot water bottles/electric blankets then you’ll be fine. Bit don’t underestimate how many layers is enough!

I camp a lot, May - September, and don’t feel the cold.

But Easter is too early for me. The ground is still cold, the tent comes home damp, the evenings get dark early.

I camp without EHU and have nowhere to dry my tent.

By the way, did you know there is a MN Camping board? Under holidays / travel 🙂

Don’t burn the tent down trying to keep warm. Always have an exit strategy.

Yes.
Better to wait until the May half term.

If it's cold and rainy and you go camping, aren't you going to be spending loads on indoor activities or shivering outdoors in the daytime anyway?

We went at the beginning of may a couple of years ago and it was FREEZING, I have genuinely never been so cold and miserable. We had hot water bottles, layers, decent sleeping bags etc but It was still bone chillingly cold so I vowed never ever again!

Devon, middle of an August, in a low laying area (ie, not on moorland). Woke up at 3.51am and it had dropped to 3 Celsius from a daytime high of 31. Not even the all seasons sleeping bags, extra fleece blankets, hat, thermal base layers, multiple outer layers, gloves and thick insulating floor pad could keep us warm.

Just book a BnB.

Go for it. Take plenty extra blankets and enjoy the camp site being nice and quiet.

The Easter we camped it snowed.

One year we booked 4 days camping for May half term... the day before we were due to go snow was forecast (Scotland) and we bailed!

I don’t blame you!

I would but I'd be taking hot water bottles , hats for sleeping in and lots of extra layers plus a plug in heater. I would not go without an electric hook up. We have camped in June and had ice on the inside of the tent so as we coped fine with that I know we can cope with anything.

It will be too cold, book a caravan with heating.

We are doing it as other accommodation just too expensive. We are not booking anywhere though, we will just see where is vaguely warm and not raining and go there at the last minute.

Dear God! I would rather die! 😂

I've camped several times already this year (scout leader), it so nice at this time of year BUT you need the right gear and everyone has to be up for it. Also camp somewhere you can have a fire. If you don't have lots of warm layers, or a reliable tent, or some people in your group will complain the whole time then don't do it to yourself. I haven't taken my own kids camping yet this year. They are coming at Easter though.

I have done this many times, so much cheaper! Tips -

• get a pitch with electric hook up. So much easier to boil a kettle, fill hot water bottles etc
• the cold can make things in the tent feel damp, bring lots of clothes and keep some in the car in a case
• hot water bottles! This is so cosy in your sleeping bag. When it's really cold, layers alone don't cut it!
• it's too cold to sit out at night. Bear this in mind - is there a bar that is open in the evening? If not then you'll be in bed in your sleeping bag at 8pm!

I love camping in the spring, it's lovely waking up when it's so fresh, I get up first and make a load of hot chocolates and the kids have them in their sleeping bags, most sites have good facilities, hot showers, tumble driers. Just come prepared with lots of spare clothes and blankets !