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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.

Original poster

OK campers, I need your advice, I have never camped before, if I camped on my own with my 6 yrd old, would I want to kill her (or me) by day 2? Convince me it's fun, please!!

58 replies

Aimsmum · 01/03/2007 21:41

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OP posts:
giraffeski · 02/03/2007 23:12

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miljee · 03/03/2007 11:55

I'd take the tent to a park or rec and put it up as a trial run, if I were you! And scribble notes if the instructions are a bit tricky. Be ready to enlist help at the campsite- there'll always be someone who will give you a hand. See if the site has a cold-block freezing service. It's a help not having to buy fresh milk etc everyday if you can keep it cold (and of course, your wine!) in an- um- esky? What do they call those insulated cold box thingies here? Or get an electric hook up and borrow/hire a camp fridge. We've never done that but I can see it'd be a help!

Try to store clothes off the floor or make sure there are no holes in the plastic binliners they're in! Those black and grey collapsible crates are a great help that you can buy in Tesco or Robert Dyas. You can stack them up sideways to make a little shelf unit.

Have fun!

Blu · 03/03/2007 12:03

The pleasure of camping is sitting outdoors in the warm light evenings with a bottle of wine while the kids play with the trest of the tribe on the site. I think huddling in the dark with battery lanterns costing £8 per day is much less fun.
Wait until the weather is more summmery.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 03/03/2007 14:29

I am so hoping when I go to Eweleaze this summer that some kind person comes and helps me put the tent up

Original poster
Aimsmum · 03/03/2007 16:37

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robbosmum · 03/03/2007 16:42

cards for card games? i love camping, openair lovely night sky, the way the tent smells, even when it rains yuo cant beat it,, oh and thebest, best thing,,open air bacon sarnies and cups of tea from platic mugs

Original poster
Aimsmum · 03/03/2007 16:47

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Aefondkiss · 03/03/2007 23:24

nothing to add, but good luck and well done, I hope it is fun, think I would miss my dh too much if I camped alone.

I camped in Scotland in June, before dc, and I remember it being -4, we were just so cold, only had little thin foam mats, there was frost everywhere in the morning, we wore all our clothes, but somehow I don't regret ever camping

Original poster
Aimsmum · 04/03/2007 11:47

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wheresthevalium · 04/03/2007 11:58

Hey if I can do it (which I did last summer) with DDs aged 3 and 4 on my own and smile throughout then you should have a blast.

Echo everyone elses advice, pillows, carrier bags, everything excpet the kitchen sink really.

Also you can now get wind up lanterns as opposed to the battery operated ones, which go through the batteries really quickly, fab idea.

Cant wait to go again with my 2 this summer

Aefondkiss · 04/03/2007 21:40

aimsmum, it was very dry, lovely weather, warm during the day, if you weren't camping(frozen), it was the NE we were camping in Keith, so a nippy bit of the world, we were not very well equipped, which I am sure you will be.

the weather has been so mild so far this year, I remember swimming in rivers at easter time when I was young, so if you are used to the weather here at least you will be psychologically prepared

tigi · 04/03/2007 21:57

wellies and lots of spare clothes for when they play and get grubby - it's awful to think you are down to your last dry clean pair trousers!
It's great to let them play out with no tele!
We take a toaster and kettle for the electric hook up - far quicker than gas, but use a gas camp stove for all else - always have a fry up in the mornings! For the first night we take a pre made spagbol/chilli to just warm up in the pan.
It gets so cold sitting out at night, even in summer, take loads coats hats gloves etc.
First time we went, we did one night, and the kids were mad- in and out of tent. When they woke in the morn, they were so much more chilled, so we wished we had got another night. Now we always to do 3, perfect, easy time!

Zin · 04/03/2007 22:47

Hi Aimsmum!
Just wanted to say good luck and have fun!

I will also be camping in the north east of Scotland at Easter with my ds, although...it will be in my folks' garden

It will be my first pitch of my new tent (bought after much helpful advice from mumsnetters) and I haven't camped for 10 years, so thought a trial run would be a good idea.

This thread has been very useful for me too, since I will now be packing lots of blankets woolly hats etc which I hadn't previously considered!

Please post again after your trip as it will be great to here how it went.

bowtyjim · 05/03/2007 07:06

Hi, the first time we went camping was with the the first two of our five children, when they were 2 and 1. We went to France and drove to the south and then 10 days later back to the Dordogne. I drove overnight which I was used to, plenty of black coffee - NO sugar and regular breaks every two hours. The children went to sleep while it was still light and awoke in glorious sunshine when we were nearing Orange. No special preparations except that we took plenty of UK tinned meat with us for economic reasons. Kept to the normal routine except that the children were allowed to stay up much later and went to bed about the same time as the French children. The following year we took our second son with us as well, he was aged three months and we camped four more times before we bought a caravan. The reason for the change was that with by then five children, keeping everything dry in a tent in wet conditions was near impossible. A few years ago our eldest daughter took her three children caravanning to France against the wishes of her husband because she told us she had so much enjoyed camping when she was a child.

earlgrey · 05/03/2007 07:11

You would want to kill. With or without a 6 yo.

newgirl · 05/03/2007 13:13

did you say you were being dropped off? I think you need your car in case it rains eg to go to the cinema or to get back to the campsite after dark

Louise2004 · 05/03/2007 15:31

I'm inspired!

Can any of you recommend any campsites and/or websites in the UK (and France) suitable for children aged 5-8ish? Doesn't matter where, as we're happy to drive around anywhere from Cornwall to Scotland!

Also, is it possible to hire a caravan?

Thanks

MorocconOil · 05/03/2007 15:52

Scotland, camping at easter, sounds a bit cold!!!!!

Lucycat · 05/03/2007 16:39

Louise, do you prefer coastal sites or inland with trees?

You do realise that asking the campers a question like this, you are going to get flooded with questions first, then everyone trying to convince you that their site is the best?

glad you've been inspired - your lo's will love it!

tigi · 05/03/2007 17:31

have a look on here -

www.ukcampsite.co.uk

divamumplus · 05/03/2007 17:32

Defo wait till May, June, otherwise it will put you off camping again. Its ok caravaning at Easter, but camping needs more experinece.
6 yr old will call camping, thats for sure. It great experience, very simple life with limited stuff. Enjoy it

fridascruffs · 06/03/2007 09:23

I lived in a tent for years (long story). If you have folding chairs, like deck chairs, it's worth taking them, as it's cold sitting on the ground. Take a torch. Toilet paper. Scrubby and a bit of washing up liquid. Lots of snacks. You don't really need much but you'll be more comfortable if you have the extras. Agree about the compressed foam camping mats, they're hard and miserable; a proper piece of foam, like you get inside furniture, at least a couple of inches thick is the best thing. I find blow-up mattresses a nightmare to inflate, and they're uncomfortable cos they rock and roll every time you move.
Have fun!

ForeverBlowingBubbles · 06/03/2007 09:50

Echoing everyone else's advice, but also....when you arrive, if you are planning to let your dc run off and play with the other kids, do set firm boundaries with her as to how far from the tent she is allowed to go - just general safety rules really. And make sure she can remember what your tent looks like!

We have a lamp that you charge up from the car's cigarette lighter and it lasted such a long time (ie several nights), really good. I think it was from Argos.

If you're camping on the coast, don't forget all your beach gear!

A windbreak or two is a fab idea too as we discovered last year, to put around your tent so you've got a bit of privacy and shelter if it's windy.

Oooh! Don't forget a mallet for knocking the tent pegs in!! Very important that one

You'll have a great time, it's loads of fun

Louise2004 · 06/03/2007 12:27

Thanks for all the handy hints and help!

tigi, thanks for the link and Lucycat, I think I'd prefer coastal. I'll check out the website first - I like to keep an open mind, and I'll have to ask the rest of the clan as well

okeydokeygirl · 07/03/2007 14:41

Remember that the earlier in the year you go, the earlier it gets dark as well as being cold. It's not much fun for you in the evening if it is dark really early as there won't be much for you to do. There is a limit to what you can do by torchlight. At least if it is in the summer, you can sit and watch the world go by until 10 or 11pm. I would also suggest going somewhere fairly close to home so you don't have a long journey either end. That way, if you absolutely hate it, or the weather is foul, you can just go home and camp in your living room. If you can get friends to go with you then all the better. I take absolutely EVERYTHING with me when I go camping. I have done the rough camping bit when I was younger and now I like creature comforts such as pillows and a duvet and a nice cup of tea (not to mention gin and tonic WITH ice and lemon). have fun