Calling all non-hardy campers

[Caligula]

Or wimps.

I'm too scared to go camping a) because I haven't the faintest idea how to put a tent up and am sure I wouldn't be able to do it and b) because I'm scared of being murdered by an axe man - the idea of sleeping somewhere where the doors don't lock freaks me out.

Can someone tell me how and where to do it where I won't be scared?

isn't there some method of camping in big proper forests om the uk with lakes etc but everything laid out? Or am I talking rubbish? Anyone know what I'm talking about?

here

What freaks me out about camping is all the dogs running about.

Keycamp's website says you can fly to the nearest airport and they will arrange transfers to the campsite with holiday taxis.....?

A good campsite will stipulate that dogs must be kept on leads - I am not a dog lover at all either. Some sites on the Forest Holidays website are dog-free sites too.

I've realised that luxury camping on the continent costs more than a package holiday to the Algarve I took a while ago.

Unless I drive there, but I really don't think I could handle that.

Although I'm not scared of the axeman, I am also scared of driving on the continent!

Do you actually want to go camping but are too scared Caligula or are you trying to convince yourself it might be fun?

love your post sally!

coffee drunk outside while saying 'mornin' to all and sundry on their way to the toilet block - can't beat it!

Roll on the Mumsnet meet up!

I think half and half kbear. I don't think it would be much fun for me, but of course the kids would love it, and it is incredibly cheap if you do the basic basic form of it.

Having said that, I would not want to wake up cold and I hadn't considered that as an option. Waking up freezing cold would not be a holiday, it would be hell.

I think the sort of people who go camping will be the sort of people who are responsible enough not to leave poo around. I don't know why I think that, but I bet there's a correlation.

good grief I've landed on a porn link.

Anyway Caligula, I'm relatively new to mumsnet, so not sure of the form here..... but ....if you're interested I'm also from Kent, and me & a couple of friends are planning a 'mums & kids' only long weekend camping somewhere not too far from the south-east(probably somewhere between Brighton & Weymouth). Won't be for absolutely ages as we want to wait till its' warm and kids can play on beach. The plan is non-stop kids stuff during the day and chardonnay & girly gossip when the sun goes down. We each have a toddler boy. I can give you the dates if you want to come at same time - at least that way we give the axeman some decent choice of victim

whiffy - I might take you up on that! (Like the idea of being fair to Axeman )

Watch out caligula - dh and ds have been sucked into a camping enthusiasm vortex by a similar dads and kids weekend last summer
I think going in a group is a brilliant idea!
If you need a venue whiffy, there is a superb Scouts camp in the Ashdown Forest with outdoor swimming pool and lovely facilities - it is also a secure play environment for children. BUT they don't take individual camping families, you have to be a named group.
If you are interested I will get the details from dh. They were both camping wusses and had a super time. Ds went feral and he is normally such a jessie

I've just re-discovered the YHA...

Weeeellll, I was going to post about them but I have had off-board mailed accusations of being on a retainer because I go on about them so much.

I will be YHAing solo from this summer with the kids because my work patterns give me much more time off over the schools than dh can manage. I have no qualms about that but would never camp solo. Tigermoth is also a hostelleer. Loads of good ones within short walks of stations/buses etc.

Caligula, youth hostelling works out really well for us. I like to take my boys away to a youth hostel for a few nights 2 or 3 times a year - just me and them. We stay in a family room. I find the hostels really safe, spacious and friendly places. There are few things children can damage, and there's usually a nice big garden is attached. My sons normally find other children to pal up with and the parents (many come with just a mum or a dad) are almost always nice people.

If you are on a budget Youth Hostels work really well:
They do not charge more in high season. And they may offer discounts if they have lots of spare rooms. This is a great plus in the summer holidays. The three of us had a family room at the Broadstairs Youth Hostel for £25.00 a night during mid August last year.

OK, I know a Travelodge can be about as cheap, but with a YHA you also get the use of self catering facilities, so you do not have to eat out all the time, and for me (two growing boys with big appetites) this is a Very Good Thing.

The locations (near city centres and places of interest, not just off the motorway) are a real plus as well.

This year, I am considering taking my sons youth hostelling in Europe. Looking at the internatial youth hostel website, European prices do not go up in the summer either, so there could be some real bargain holidays out there.