Can anyone advise me on what a family of 5 needs to start camping?

[ENormaSnob]

We have decided we would like to go camping, in this country to start with then possibly France and Spain in the future.

What equipment will we need?

What tent can you recommend?

There is me, dh, ds11, dd6 and ds1.

Thanks.

Tent!!!

I only started camping 2 years ago with my family. First couple of times we borrow tent and equipment.

We decided we liked it so brought our own tent, airbeds, 1 ring burner., light. did a couple of trips and we decided we LOVED it.

We have now invested in a electric hook up. 2 ring stove / griddle. electric coolbox and a luxury queen size full height airbed.

My DB has a go outdoors tent, the Hi-Gear Voyager 6. It's on offer at £130 instore at the moment. It's a lovely tent, big enough that you won't have to buy another one when your three DC get bigger.

To start with, I would camp near home for the first night. You can take quite a bit from home. You don't need to buy everything.

Stove + gas
Matches/lighter
Lights
Table/chairs (maybe £30 stools attached sets from Argos)
Sleeping gear (duvets from home if you've got room in the car?) and pillows
Saucepans (from home?)
Something to put the stove on (folding table or camp kitchen)
Cutlery (from home)
Picnic plates/mugs/bowls
Airbeds/roll mats.

I would make a list, camp for the first weekend as I said, near home. Then you can go back for/buy whatever else you think you need.

Go on the ukcampsite website. I think they have lists for beginners.

Have fun!

Thanks for the replies.

Our first weekend will be spent at a site 1 hour from home! Just in case

we have a 4x4 with a decent boot so quite a bit of room for luggage. Plus will look into a roof box if needed.

Not sure of budget, would prefer to get the right stuff first time iyswim. Don't want to scrimp only to have to replace things.

I would prefer seperate bedrooms so I can hide from the kids

am not sure that I'm a minimal person really as I always tend to overpack for holidays.

I am in the northwest if anyone can recommend a tent shop, camp sites etc.

I really appreciate the help, thank you.

Not sure how "in the North West" you are but Camperlands in Northernden is great. There's also an on-line shop.

There are tons of camping threads with some brilliant advice. Would second the UKcampsite site for looking at sites.

I only started last year and I've bored everyone stupid with my enthusiasm about it!

Enjoy.

When camping, my minimum is:

2 ring burner with grill, fresh gas bottle - make sure you check the connector before you buy
2 saucepans, a frying pan and a whistling kettle
A spatula, a wooden spoon, tongs, sharp knife, tin opener bottle opener chopping board
Tin or Melamine plates, normal cutlery, tin or melamine mugs and plastic cups
Cool box
Cardboard or plastic box for storing crockery etc when not in use
Washing up bowl and sponge, tea towels
Tent and plenty of pegs
Sleeping bag, pillow and airbed each plus at least one spare blanket (and don't forget the pump)

Food for two nights:
First night: Just-add-water pasta mixes plus tinned veg/tuna - make the kids cook for you if they're over about 6yo
Second night: Takeaway
Breakfast: Porridge/cereal
Lunch: Sausage and fried egg sandwiches (Veggie sausages don't mind being sat in a cool box for a couple of days) with ketchup/brown sauce. Baked beans on toast. Or go out for lunch as well.
Also take: biscuits (not chocolate, it melts) tea, coffee, hot chocolate, sugar, milk, fruit like bananas, apples, oranges that don't squish too easily!

HTH

Don't really want to spend any more than an hour setting up.

We already have cooking stuff as dh goes on weekend fishing trips and lives in a bivvy.

Does a cool box keep things for a weekend?

Is there such thing as a camping fridge?

What airbeds/mats do you recommend?

This is a nice tent if you want 3 bedrooms. We have the 6 person version which has 2 bedrooms (one for the DC and one for us) and is very spacious.