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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Camping people

87 replies

MrsDoolittle · 14/03/2006 13:00

Okay we have the \link{http://www.wildday.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?productID=2168\tent}, we haven't put it up yet but assuming that that's no problem I need stuff to put in it. We have nothing. But! We have booked a campsite for 5 days in June.
So where to start? Any tips, ideas? Where is the best place to get stuff?
There is dh, a toddler and a newborn to think of.

Isn't it time I started getting excited?

OP posts:
bubblerock · 22/03/2006 10:24

They are nice little sleeping bags, quite padded and soft, not shiny crinkly stuff.

What do you mean, get wet??? It's going to be sunny and dry when I camp! Grin

Laura032004 · 22/03/2006 10:37

My tips for camping are:

take your normal kitchen knives

dustpan and brush for sweeping out

strong garden rubbish binliners for putting the wet tent in when you take it down (I can never get it back in the bag!)

We have a giant foam groundsheet which goes under the entire tent. Also the sleeping pods are self contained, and there is a seperate groundsheet for the middle section. This means the tent bits stay nice and clean.

We've got an 8 man tent, but you can lift the flaps between the pods, so we use two of the 'bedrooms' for DH and I. Means we can fit in our triple decker air bed.

Take coolbag or box with frozen burgers etc in, and they'll stay frozen for most of a weekend, and keep other stuff cool.

Flash wipes and baby wipes are godsends!

Thick grobags and fleecy sleepsuits for little ones.

Take those cheap plastic storage boxes with holes in sides to use as drying racks. Remember washing up liquid, t-towels and sponge.

We've got a fantastic fold up BBQ from B&Q which goes away to nothing, but will easily hold 6 peoples food.

Try and go away with other people - then you can all take bits of essential equipment. We go with 3 or 4 couples - one takes a cooker, one a BBQ, one all the utensils and pots and pans....

Make a list of what you pack. You can add to it each time, and hopefully forget less and less each time.

Haven't been for a year now, and probably won't make it this year (baby due end of June) so jealous of all you lucky campers! :)

pootlepod · 22/03/2006 10:42

Agree about the washbag, but take one for each 'sex' unless you kow the campsite has family bathrooms. Nothing more frustrating than getting there and discovering the toothpaste is in DH's bag.

Also attach toys to the guylines for a makeshift baby gym.

pootlepod · 22/03/2006 10:44

And a bucket can be useful for transporting the washing up to the sinks instead of a washing up bowl.

Kathy1972 · 22/03/2006 11:26

Laura, our baby was born on June 10th last year and we were camping in the Lakes at the end of July. We put the Moses basket on the airbed with me and the temp. never went down below 12, which our baby thermometer classifies as 'cool' rather than 'too cold', so we reckoned it was fine. She woke up a couple of times in the night but we didn't feel we were making enough noise to disturb anyone - some people have dogs, others have radios, we had a baby Smile

So you might get out in late Aug - depends on the weather!

Am loving reading all these brilliant tips!

Laura032004 · 22/03/2006 11:52

Kathy - I think you're braver than me! :) DS was born start of April, and we didn't take him until the August bank holiday (although he had been in a caravan twice by then). This baby is due end of June, so I suppose we could manage end of August if it's warm (we're in Cornwall anyway).

fennel · 22/03/2006 11:55

my top tip for enjoying camping with small children rather than enduring it is to watch the weather forecast and only go if the weather is going to be good.

bubblerock · 22/03/2006 13:36

These tips are great for us virgin campers, thank you Grin

Skribble · 22/03/2006 16:54

My MIL takes a big plastic tub for the kids toys which get chucked in a small cheap 2 man tent beside the caravan or tent and the tub then got used as a bath tub, needs less water than a paddling pool.

I have seen quite a few campers with normal sized tents use a gazebo in front of the tent as a cooking and sitting area. Makes sense to me as I wouldn't fancy cooking in the rain and its not very safe to put cooking equipment in the main tent. Plus it means you can stand up straight too. Putting sides on it would make it even more luxurious Grin.

Skribble · 22/03/2006 17:01

\link{http://www.telusplanet.net/public/rlmccul/seti/camping.jpg\Hope it doesn't end up like this}

bubblerock · 22/03/2006 19:57

Sod that! Shock

MoonLady · 22/03/2006 20:25

Bubblerock...we haven't got a lawn so sneaked to local park & tried it out before first venture, to amusement of dog walkers!
Kathy1972...you'll be amazed at some of the sounds that come from some tents.....and when they emerge the next morning you are going 'who'd have thought it'!!!!Wink

bubblerock · 03/04/2006 16:41

Tent came today - first one got lost in the post from Holland! I managed to put it up in the garden as we demolished the shed last week, it was still too big to put up properly but I got the idea and it was soooo easy and I did it on my own - it even fitted back in the bag again afterwards!! Very pleased with it and would recommend the company for price and service! Can't wait to go camping now!!!Grin

\link{http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8780453893\Here's} a link to the tent again incase anyone's looking for one similar.

Blandmum · 03/04/2006 16:59

looks great bubble. We were camping next to some dutch people year before last and they had a similar looking tent, it looked fab.

I can't wait until whitsun, when we get our first outing of the year!

Kathy1972 · 03/04/2006 17:01
Grin Hurrah for tents! Was getting really fed up feeding dd this morning - it was porridge and she kept grabbing the spoon and banging it and making it go all over nice clean kitchen table, floor etc. I kept thinking - I wish we were camping, it would make much more sense to be doing this outside.... Smile
Lucycat · 03/04/2006 17:02

ooh well done! Have you got any sites booked yet?

Looks like a nice tent too!

Blandmum · 03/04/2006 17:05

a forestry comission site in north wales for whisun.

South wales and france for the summer!

Can't wait!

bubblerock · 03/04/2006 17:10

I haven't booked anything yet, I might have a look this evening and see where I fancy. Grin

Lucycat · 03/04/2006 17:12

ooh let us know where you're thinking of and we'll track down some fabbo sites for you! Grin

Blandmum · 03/04/2006 17:22

Where do you fancy going????

bubblerock · 03/04/2006 17:31

I think for our first time it will need to be close to home (Blackpool) and just for a couple of nights to ease us in gently. DH is seriously sceptical about camping so I need a good first trip - he thinks we're going to be in the middle of a field somewhere surrounded by cows Grin

Lucycat · 03/04/2006 17:45

Ok, so the ones really close to you don't look fantastic but \link{http://www.wyresidelakes.co.uk/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/this one} looke nice a little further away near Lancaster.

What are you looking for in site? all action / very peaceful or something inbetween? Grin

Lucycat · 03/04/2006 17:45

bugger \link{http://www.wyresidelakes.co.uk/\try this!}

Blandmum · 03/04/2006 17:48

that looks nice!

bubblerock · 03/04/2006 18:08

That does look nice! It might be a bit too tranquil for my two (2&7) can just imagine them running between those people trying to enjoy their meal Blush.

Where have you all booked so far?