Am stupidly excited about camping this year. come talk to me :)

[tookoolforskool]

Ive not camped properly since i was a guide. Done lots of Duke of edinburgh and festival camping, but its not quite the same and actually put me off for about 12 years.

Sept i went a bit crazy in all the sales and got a fantastic tent, airbeds, sleeping bags, stove, pots and pans, headtorch ( that flashes!!) Folding table and chairs, and a small metal table for the stove.

i know i still need to get
lanterns
mallet
spare tent pegs

Im trying to find somewhere for witsun weekend, 3 nights. am bloody excitied and just wanted to share that with someone ;)

have found a site that seems to have a lot on it, fishing, play area, pool etc. dont intend to leave the site.. just spend a couple of days just chilling out.

will it be freeziing end of may? are a couple of fleece blankets on top of sleeping bags a good idea?

am im missing anything?

A good sturdy cool box and ice blocks. Most camp sites will refreeze them for you for a small charge. Label them well and trust other people!! We have learned from experience.
I know you will not be going away for too long but is useful for milk,cheese,margarine, yogurts and anything else that needs to be kept cool.
A must for a longer holiday.

will a cool bag do?
ive got several of those
and ive got a ton of ice blocks.... will get labelling.
So, things like that, in a cool box/bag, with what, two ice blocks.. will be fine?

also, and this may sound like a silly question... but in the shower blocks is there somewhere for hairdryers?

( tis my only home comfort.. the rest i dont mind)

I suppose a bag will do but I like a box because things ie milk/juice stand up better.
I used to take quite a few and add extra if room. Don't forget you will have a certain amount refreezing.
Also if it's warm they will melt quicker!

Not sure about the hairdryer as I never use one. I'm sure there will be somewhere.

You may also need a clock. radio with batteries, a small mirror, pegs(use guy ropes for drying swimwear) tin opener (most important!)

ah. see, would not have thought of those things. well done!

anything else?

A container for water. You usually have to fill up at a tap or standpipe and you will need a decent sized container for this. The bigger the heavier when full and it also takes up space in the car.

For your first trip you can always get a 5 litre water bottle & recycle at the and of the weekend. Yes do take fleece blankets & hot water bottles for the end of May- the days may be glorious like last year but the nights were v chilly!

I'm stupidly excited too! I haven't camped since I was pregnant and am taking my now 3yo DS away for his first camping trip in mid May.

I still need to buy a few things - airbed/coolbox/bedding. I'm planning on a big snuggly duvet instead of sleeping bags. I'll just wash out a big coke bottle to use for water I think.

I've also booked a few nights away in June and am hoping to go away July, August and September too, but will see how DS gets on in May before I go mad booking stuff

Put some plastic backed picnic blankets on top of the airbed, then the sleeping bag, then something over the top. the cold seems to come up through the airbed as the air in there gets very cold.

I hope you have a lovely time.

You can take cutlery from home and I would get some cheap plastic plates from poundshop or similar. Don't forget tin opener. I would also take most of my food with me so that you get to spend more time doing other things rather than food shopping.

I would put your fleece blankets in between your sleeping bag and airbed, or one under and one over. The cold comes from the floor so put picnic blankets under everything.

I am really looking forward to the camping season to and am debating a couple of nights for the wedding bank hol.

Take a wooly hat to wear in bed if its chilly.

Happy camping.

thanks. have just brought a whole lot of picnic blankets :)

Washing up bowl is essential for washing plates, people etc, and for storage. And you need somewhere to chuck dirty pots when you've finished meals. Take a stove top kettle too. And fairy lights and bunting, essential :o

Corkscrew, obv