Is it possible to go camping without a car?

[ScummyMummy]

Um, like the title says. Really fancy a few days camping during the summer holidays but have no car. Have a fantasy of jumping on a train with boys, bikes and lightweight tent then pedelling to an idyllic nearby campsite. Is this unrealistic?

Thank you Mercy- Rye would be nice, I think. Sally- that sounds fab too. And my little sister has just moved to Cardiff so at least if it all went horribly wrong I could decant to her house and cry over her! Ace washing up bowl, btw! Argos is fab, isn't it?

Well, I'm feeling like it could just be possible with careful planning and a bike trailer.:) Will have a look at UK Campsite too. Thank you very much for the advice, everyone.

Id say go for it Scummymummy
I will be attempting the same when mine are older!

Pack very lightly
Plan well
Agree certain things with the kids in advance - rules and regs!

Dh and I camped for 3 weeks years ago - It was incredibly primitive - more like sleeping rough than camping - but I loved it and would definitely do it again!!!!!!!

In fact I wouldnt consider camping with a car - Id prefer proper back to nature stuff like Ray Mears! :)

I think camping in Cardiff could be really great actually, Sally. I never thought about camping in a city but it would be much safer as a first trip and we could spend some time with my sis into the bargain. And if it rained a lot we could do city stuff to take our minds off it. Really top idea- thank you so much.:)

too And thanks busybusybee. It's v nice to have someone reassurring me that I am not certifiable for even thinking about it.:)

It looks great, Sally. I am sold.

If you go for a site with good facilities you won't even need things like basins, as they should have showers, sinks and dish washing sinks.

If going for bikes get a good set of panniers and load as much of the heavier stuff down low, the awkward bits are the tent and the rool mats everything else should fit easy enough. If the boys are old enough they should mange a bit in a good pannier but don't go for back packs as they tend to unbalance you, small back pack yourself perhaps if not too far to go.

We did a lot of cycling holidays when I was a kid but we used Youth Hostels. Would you consider them? I mean proper assosiation ones not the ones with 20 bed mixed dorms and 24 hr cafes. My favourites were the really small isolated ones with no TV,s and a big fire in the commen room, met people from all over the world. They do have big huge ones with loads of beds and cafeterias etc but the small ones still exsist.

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We've just come back from Ashurst in the New Forest. The camp site is about 5 minutes from the railway station.

You could also go to Hollands Wood camp site in the new Forest which is about 10 minutes from Brockenhurst station. We looked at coming down to Brockenhurst for a day's cycling from London and it would have taken about 2 hours in the train. In the end we thought it was madness to go all that way for 1 day so why don't we camp and ended up taking everything by hired car.

Both have hotshowers/hot water/laundry facilites and are near to shops and supermarkets. Buy your food when you get there.
I was thinking of recommending these campsites to friends who would be walking. A bike would make it even easier.

you might need to think about the train journey.
train operators are becoming less and less bike-friendly. our local service (Southern) has no guards vans, they are all sliding door carriages, with max space for 2 bikes on the whole train (unless you are lucky and there are 2 bike-carrying carriages). there is no way at all that a trailer would fit on them. Panniers would be the only option.

you are so resourceful sallystrawberry!