Calling the Campers - Autumn camping with kids.

[bluebear]

We are thinking about camping for a long weekend over the Half term holiday with a 4yr old and a 2 year old who we've never taken camping before. We camped a lot in life before children (dh is happy in a snowhole) and I'm pretty sure my dad took me camping in the autumn when I was young - seem to remember camping every holiday time.

So, the question is....are we really mad to consider this? Anyone else this mad?

And...we are looking to upgrade the pre-kids tent to a family one, so any recommendations (at the moment the Vango Diablo 600 is top of our list).

TIA

Never been brave enough

Tips from those that know. Make sure that you are well insulated in bed. This means having insulation under as well as over you. Layers are vital, so make sure you have rugs under your sleeping bag as well as over it. Take a hot water bottle, have a wooly hat....most heat loss is through the head. A warm drink before going to sleep helps to. Lots of layers is the key.

Lots of warm and waterproof clothes

As for the tent, I've got an Outwell Colorado and it is great*

mmmm well dh is out there this weekend with ss aged 7, dh will also be camping next weekend, although by himself next time! (bar his mates!) I have decided not to go, because dd is only two, and she's been happily camping all summer, but only in a growbag (the heaviest tog they do) and blankets chucked over her when it got cold at night....and its the cold at night that worries me with her being so small, we did check out kiddy sleeping bags, but have so far only found 1-2 season ones, which IMO will be too cold at night in this current weather...hence ss is also in my 4 season bag this weekend and I'm not! Also dd has just outgrown the travel cot, so really need to get her an airbed! and figure waiting until next year is better...
So that's my reasoning for not going for you!

Re tents, we have a 6 man (bump also on way) Khyam Tourer 600 khyam which is good in that the middle goes up very quickly if its raining, then you just have to contend with the outer bedrooms asap, one person can put it up, but its quicker and easier with two!

Electric hook up and a fan heater! oh and good luck! Not brave enough here either

Like the name hmb.... sorry martianbishop

Always go away at end of September but its been glorious weather the past 2 years.

I'd say take LOADS of layers and go for it.

As for tent - we have a Kyham XXL bought off ebay last year. Definately goes up quickly and we managed it last month with me nearly 8 months pregnant so it must be easy!

From my pre-kids camping days we used to take a couple of old duvets and put one under us and the other on top of us - my sleeping bag is a cruddy 1/2 season.

OK - so I've told dh that we'll go, but we have to go and upgrade/buy sleeping bags tomorrow - Vango sell a pretty good baby bag (up to 100cm long)....and I'm now battling to get him to agree to a site not more than 1 hour's drive away, just in case we have freezing kids at 2am.

(I'm started to get excited now )

Hope you can build a fire on the site? enjoy yourselves and let us know how you get on!

have a great time and report back!