Preparing for post-lockdown camping?

[RomaineCalm]

This may be wildly optimistic but we are hoping that we will be able to camp again next month albeit with some restrictions.

I've been trying to think about what we might need in addition to our usual kit. So far I have...

Spray bleach
Anti-bac wipes
Hand gel (although I always have plenty in the camping box)
Baby wipes (in case shower facilities are limited)
Plenty of kitchen roll for drying hands, washing up
Additional washing up bowl for washing/rinsing in case pot-wash facilities are limited
Face coverings for visiting showers/toilets
Travel Johns to reduce number of trips to toilet

Have also started to think about meals that are less 'messy' to reduce the amount of washing up. We are only likely to be camping for a few nights.

What are other campers thinking?

We already had a loo which we used for night wees.
We have added a loo tent and shower, in case we can't us facility blocks, and I have also got a collapsible dish drainer so we can wash up at the tent.

I will buy a bottle of dettol, and we'll have an extra wash up bowl on the go by the tent so that we can wash hands before leaving the tent and when we return.

Can't bloody wait! It's the only thing keeping me going at the moment.

I was thinking we'd use the showers and toilets as normal but hand gel afterwards due to touching door handles etc.

I was thinking we'd use the showers and toilets as normal but hand gel afterwards due to touching door handles etc.

Some campsites seem to be broadly saying this. Wash hands before entering toilet block, wear a face covering and only use the sinks for hand washing (so clean teeth using a mug of water back at the tent for example).

I can't wait either, will just be happy to sit outside my tent somewhere different.

If the facilities are open, we will be more than happy to use them, and will wash hands at the tent before and afterwards (as well as at the loo).

I'm always wary of hygiene around campsite loos anyway, more so due to tummy bugs.

I can't see how face coverings would be helpful in a shower block, as they are not supposed to get wet, and surely you'd have to fiddle with them more than you are supposed to if having a shower. So long as there's a lot of hot water and soap, I think camp showers wold be reasonably safe.

The campsites we go too the showers are pretty drafty affairs at the best of times, so at least the air exchange is good.

Yes, I'll be happy to just to be sat on my camping chair with a cup of tea watching the Forth flow by and the wildlife. I never thought we'd be going anywhere this summer!

We have a booking and they have emailed saying we will be assigned a numbered sink and toilet just for our use. And a scheduled slot for showers in the morning.

I think I actually do all that already?!

I meticulously plan meals before I go, so there is barely any waste and minimal packaging.

Paper bowls for everything!

Also hoping for post lockdown camping. We're backpackers rather than car campers and think wild camping (Dartmoor or Scotland) for a long weekend will be the best option. Lots of antibac and reduced contact with people.

I saw a post by some campsite owners on a few camping Facebook Groups - they said steady on with the panic buying of toilets and showers because on their site they have no chemical disposal point for toilets, and would not allow people to use pop up showers on the grass because of the mud.

A lot of places I go to have compost toilets - I did think of getting one of those little portable loos, but you can't put the chemicals in a compost toilet.

Back to a bucket with cat litter for the night time, then!

We have bought a toilet, portable shower and tent (and the site have disposal points and suggested that this might be necessary) - we were thinking of getting them anyway.
For the week in July we have booked, if it goes ahead, we plan to take all the food with us, apart from what we can buy on site from their honesty shop, and won't be going out and about as we would normally

Can I jump on please? We’re booked for end of July over a big birthday for me and I want to make the whole thing easy for myself. I’m an experienced (guide) camper, been cooking over a fire for years for 20+ people but never really done it as a family. Can I please ask for tips on really easy food over a fire that doesn’t require a fridge or freezer? I can’t be bothered to think about it too much as it’s supposed to be my trip so hoping kind mumsnetters might do my thinking for me..... Obviously take aways/cafe offerings through windows, but need breakfasts and easy teas in particular. Four of us, DDs are 3 and 6. So far I have instant porridge and vacuum packed hot dogs . Obviously need to be able to source stuff sensibly in current circumstances.

Taking my son (hopefully if open) end of July - taking a chemical toilet for the tent, even if toilet blocks open we are prepared to use it (he is very happy and tested it the day it was deliver) to take. pressure off other users - bit nervous about It!

There was a thread or two back in time with camp cooking ideas @Orangedaisy. I took note of the ideas I found useful and recently dug it out. I'll come back and pots some when I track it down.

Here we go:

M&S tins with rice e.g. chicken in white sauce, nice veggie curries. Can do with microwave packet rice. If cooking rice separately then add a drop of water to it in the pan.
Quesadillas (cut each up and share out, cheese, tinned re-fried beans and sweetcorn)
Pasta and pesto/other pasta sauce. Some places do stuffed pasta that doesn't need to be kept in a fridge.
Day one - take a frozen meal that defrost en route and as you set up and then just needs heated through e.g. a nice spag bol. This will help keep other stuff cool.
Bacon and eggs for breakfast. Bacon can be frozen.
Rice - one cup rice to two cups water, bring to boil and simmer with lid on for 8 mins (level of water should be just below level of rice, might take longer depending on your stove) then take off the heat but leave lid on for 8 mins. I haven't tried this method, I saw it on MN.
Wraps keep fresher than bread or rolls. Can have with packs of falafels, heat in frying pan, in wrap with hummus and salad.
Tinned chicken or ham goes well in sandwiches too.
Couscous.
NB - Check whether campsite has communal fridge or freezer, if so take a permanent marker and label your stuff. Even if they don't, it's worth asking if they'll re-freeze your freezer block things. Name escapes me.
Instant noodles (flavoured ones) with a fried egg on top for a quick lunch. Or even not flavoured ones are easy to cook, more or less put thgem in boiling water and leave for a few minutes, like cous cous.
Packs of ready-made pancakes heated in a frying pan.
Halloumi for veg BBQ.
French toast for brekkie done in the pan. Cook a rasher or 2 first, and then the French toast in the bacon-y pan.
Sausages cooked in pan, chuck in beans and tinned potatoes.
Bread , cheese, ham etc~ everyone make their own. If you come across a nice deli or farm shop on your travels (day trippy destinations often have) can stock up on picnic type bits and they'll do us for a meal or two.
Packet mash (Mr Mash is good)
Buy some tins of stew and just heat through in a pan.
If you track it down, that long life smoked sausage in a "U" shape that doesn't need a fridge, bunged into beans or tomato sauce or pasta.
Hard cheese will be okay for a few days.
Someone said Aldi packet risotto, especially mushroom and garlic flavour apparently.
I take the likes of a tinned rice pudding tinned fruit, custard to fill people up if tea was light. Feels like a treat (well it does for us, anyway).
Hot dogs in a jar. Don't forget your ketchup.
I froze a big Cravendale milk last time and found it was fine for a days in a chill bag. Again, helps keep other stuff cool.
I also freeze water bottles before departure if it the weather is good.

We have a two burner camping stove that we use for bacon and tea in the morning, but we always bbq for dinner. Meat or fish (or both!) with salad or bbq veggies and flatbread/ciabatta warmed on the bbq or a baguette. Minimal prep and waiting time! I'm so hoping we get some camping in this year.

@AssangesCat you’re a star, thank you. Time to buy tinned stew and see what the kids like so we can have a tantrum free trip.

We've been out looking at new tents today in anticipation... Really hoping we get to go somewhere!

We are hoping to go at end of July with my parents (in separate units). I hope the toilets are open as we dont have a travel toilet and I dont want to buy one, so if the loos arent available we won't be going.

The campsite we are going to is attached to a country park. In normal times they have play areas, a petting farm, a little train etc and it would be lovely if they are open.

Good point @ComeBy if you do use your own loo, you can't empty it into a regular loo, it does need to be a chemical one to cope with the amount of liquid and paper! I use Elsan organic fluid but I wouldn't put that in a compost loo.

@ILoveAnOwl I'm jealous, tent shopping is the best. It's almost a disappointment if you get one and know that you will have no excuse for tent shopping for a number of years.

Caravan owners here. Really hoping we can get away to Dorset ASAP.

ProfPoop I didn’t know you couldn’t empty a portable loo into a normal loo! So all these people who take Kampa Khazis and the like, what do they do if there is no disposal point?

Well, in theory you could empty it into a normal loo, it's just that it's more likely to block it, if there's a lot of solids in it.

And I believe that some toilet chemical fluids (the stuff you out in to stop it smelling as much) aren't great for septic tanks, but the chemical is fine to go into normal sewerage. I don't know too much as we have always used Elsan organic and are still on out first bottle!

A lot of camping places do have a chemical disposal point, they aren't fancy. Essentially, it's just another entry point into the sewage system, so it might have a wider pipe to cope with the solids/paper and is designed to stop people using it like a loo. Most sites I have been on have them, sometimes, you lift a trap door in the ground, other times it looks more like a loo and has a flush and hosepipe to help wash down your camping loo.