The absolute essentials of camping

[Loonytoonie]

We've been camping squatters for years, so have our own air beds (complete with puncture and sleeping bags. And that's it. We just doss in our friends mansion spacious tent.

DH has booked for us to go camping in the summer. In France.

We don't yet own a tent.

Erm.... help?

Hello. This thread is a little old - for more up-to-date tips, take a look at our round-up of Mumsnetters’ top camping advice or check out this list of their 10 favourite UK campsites. MNHQ.

Oh fB was going to post this thread and then found this

My only question is what is the current thinking on what to sleep on?

We have a variety of self-inflating mats, ranging from a £55 one, to a £12 aldi one. And I have to say they are all very comfy. I wouldn't go back to a blow-up bed now.

Bump!

We've always used a fan heater to heat as long as we've had EHU.

Fussbucket, thanks for posting that! I'm gearing up for our first camp of the year (and almost our first camp as a family) this bank holiday, and my mind's gone sludgy.

But if you don't mind my asking, what do you drive to fit all that in? I would dearly love to lug a trailer along, but DH, he says no.

I use a roof box. You can get really big ones.

Reshape - see my last post. Towing a trailer isn't difficult, although I hate reversing it.
loonytuney I personally think those halogen heaters are useless. Fan def better.
Seashells thanks for the extras. Had I really missed off binbags?
I've got a load of little glass ramekins in the bottom of the kitchen box and lots of tealights, the ramekins are ex-Bonne Maman desserts and really tough, I've also got several candle hanging lanterns with painted glass, dds and I had a lovely time doing them with glass paint from the handicraft shop, there are dolphins, flowers, stars and moons...
Last time I brought bunting DP sulked with embarrassment, but I like the way it stops him blundering into the guy ropes after last drunken pee trip so will keep smuggling it along.

fussbucket I would love to see a pic of your camp, fully up and running.

Sounds like something of my dreams

I'm bumping this because I need to pack for my Summer (God please let it be dry in Cornwall for at least the first two weeks of the school holidays) holiday and am compiling my packing list. I need to be able to find this thread again.