Camping at Easter? Am I mad and where should I go???

[hels71]

Ok, DH has a few days holiday that he has to take before the end of April. Lack of cash means that camping is the only way we will get away (and we could do with a break away as things have been rather stressful here recently..)

Anyway, is it mad to camp in the first week of April? We have a folding camper with EHU so we can have a little heater but will it just be too cold overnight? DD is 4. HAve never camped earlier than MAy before..

Also having looked at various campsites am slightly unimpressed by how many seem to be charging peak rates for the EAster weekened despite the fact that it's early April (yes, I do know it's the school hols though)

So anyone got any suggestions as to where we could go assuming it is not a totallt bonkers idea please? We are based in West Wiltshire (sort of between BAth and Salisbury) and would not really want to travel much more than 2 hours, but could stretch to three for the perfect affordable site! We need EHU, decent included showers and loos and ideally a playground.....(and it would be nice to be near the beach!!) I have looked on UK campsite and feel I am just going round in circles.......

Monkton Wyld in Somerset? The camping field is quite cheap.

www.monktonwyld.co.uk/camping-field.html

I'm also camping at Easter with a 4 year old and wondering if we'll be uncomfortably cold. I'm going to take as many blankets and throws as I can squeeze into the car.

Actually I've just seen that that price is per person so maybe not so cheap.

We went camping on the may day bank holiday in Derbyshire a few years ago and i have honestly never been so cold as that first night. We had every item of clothing on and piles of blankets, coats etc on top of our sleeping bags but I was still so cold. We only had cheap sleeping bags initially though. The next day we went to a camping shop and bought all wearther ones and that was a bit better but still cold. I would take heaters if ever did it again (wouldn't). Oh had hit water bottles as well and still freezing.

So it would seem I may be mad, but not the only one! We have decent sleeping bags and also use duvets and blankets. DD wears countless layers too. Have looked at that campsite...think will still work out at about £30 or more a night...just feels a lot for April even if it is the school hols....

I think you'll be fine, we did our last family camp of the year on 14th oct and it was cold but we were fine and so was DS, who is nearly 2 now, he slept in a travel cot with blankets under and over his sleeping bag a vest a sleepsuit and a fleece sleepsuit tho so he was well wrapped up!

DH and I did our last camp of the year in Nov and we weren't cold at all, just kept lots of layers on and made sure our feet stayed warm.....

we went to York last Easter holidays - well before Easter, because the silly authority had decided to give us the first fortnight of April off. It was fine apart from the ice on the tent we have 4 season sleeping kit and loads of fleecy blankets (hats, gloves, you name it lol)
Would recommend you go south of the midlands, fwiw and not vale of York

Ive been the first week of April a couple of times with young a children and a normal tent. It can be very variable at that time of year. I'm happy to go down to 3 or 5 degrees at night with them if they're dressed well. For me it's the day time temps that count early in the year. If its sunny, or not too cold, during the day, then we can cope with the cold once the sun goes down. If the day time weather interferes with what you do in the day then it's not worth it for us.

With a folding camper and ehu I would def go that early but would make sure that there were enough things to do around the area. With a young one & possible crap weather, you're not going to spend too much time chilling out at the site. Even of its just local villages and tea shops to potter around.

Is North Devon too far? I went to a large camping / holiday park there last year. It was close to the beach, indoor pool, evening clubhouse. Because it was low season and hardly any campers it was a great mix of lowmprice, peace and facilities. It was one of those places I'd avoid in high season.

We'd be at the clubhouse, pool, trashy disco, chips, and warmth. Open for the mobile home renters and owners. Walk down to huge block of empty, heated toilets. Then down to our tent, few neighbours, stars and bleating sheep.

North Devon may be ok....which site was it please???

I'm thinking about, although it will be v weather dependant and close to home. Going on the last couple of easters i think it could well be as warm as some nights in late sept.

not mad at all! we're going to camp at easter, because it's been warmer at easter than may half term for the last couple of years

we camped in october half term too and it was fine!

no reccs i'm afraid but it's def do-able

we always go to Longthorns and is really wonderful.

Right next door to Monkey world and near seaside / Poole / Bournemouth for plenty to do.

A really relaxed site and you can have a campfire to keep toasty !!

Well I know of some people who were camping last weekend in the thick frost. Kids were taken along too, they all had a whale of a time!

Ok I think we will deinately give it a go. Now to decide where......

We've just booked Ty Croes farm in Anglesey for Easter - £20 pn inc ehu :)

Can't bloomin wait!

We camped last Easter and were almost unbearably hot! We were colder camping at the end of August tbh; but even then just took spare sleeping bags so we could double up if needed - and on the coldest night unzipped the dividers and all bundled in together.

I agree that last year was fabulously warm- I posted from our pitch in Anglesey last Easter and although the nights were cool ( well it was April!) the days were gorgeous

Well fingers crossed for warm this year too! Think Anglesey is a bit far for us much as i would like to go back that way........