Camping

[Cautiontothewind]

Hi.
I really wanted to try camping this year as we've never been and I really feel my kids aged 4 and 6 will enjoy it. I've bought a tent second hand, an ullswater 6 man one just for us to give it a go before shelling out hundreds potentially!
My husband isn't quite so keen (actually not keen at all) so I was wondering what necessary things I should buy to make it as comfortable and nice as it can be please! We'd be looking at going April/May time so it's warm.

April / May - where? It will be cold at night in most of the UK, potentially very cold!

If you are on Facebook there is a group called UK camping with kids (or similar) which might be useful.

We went camping one May Bank Holiday. So cold I actually cried....
Yabu to expect warmth op...

There's a group called Camping with Children/family camping UK. I think the one I mentioned before must have closed.

Camping at campsites where you'll be pitching next to your car? Or wild camping where you'll be parking up then hiking with all your gear?

If you're parking up next to your pitch site then you can br as comfortable as you like. Get nice camping beds, top with a self inflating mat and have pillows and sheets and duvet.
If you're hiking then you can maybe manage a SIM but might have to make do with a roll mat and your sleeping bad. It isnt comfortable but you get used to it.
I've been wild camping with my kids since they were 5 and 6 and could carry their own sleeping bags and mats. I carry everything else and we hike for an hour or 2 before pitching. Never stay for more than one night without returning to the car because I cant carry enough water or food for more than that! It's too heavy.

Blooyd hell. What's all the complaining about the cold? My kids and I go in the highlands and it's fine. It is cold, but you wear thermals and bring the appropriate type of sleeping bag. As long as it isnt raining then it's great. Light a fire, have a nice night then tuck inside and stay warm.

First thing is make sure you can pitch your tent properly. There will be loads of YouTube videos.

I would recommend eating out if possible for a first trip. Fish and chips and pizza is fine.

Good sleeping mats and sleeping bags. At that time of year I would take duvets and hot water bottles.

Some type of lighting and camping chairs.

Do you know anyone who camps? Most of them have equipment they would be happy to lend or give you. I've a cupboard full of stuff I couldn't bear to throw out when I upgraded.

Avid camper here. You will be cold in April/May! We have a tent with built in ground sheet (vital), we use air beds, to make it warmer we have a camping carpet (foil at one side) under the bed, a heater and numerous blankets! We use a porch to store footwear and sit out while raining. Comfy chairs, electric hookup. You need to think about how you want to cook, store food, clothing etc? Military mission ha

First borrow equipment if you can. Don,t take too much because you will struggle for room. Do you want Electric. (costs more handy for longer hols but not necessery for the odd wkend.)

Have you been camping before? It sounds like you haven’t....let me tell you a story,

July 2011- hottest day of the year, so beautiful, come nighttime.....it was like a winters day!!! There is no warm nights when camping....not in the uk anyway.

Quilts, quilts and more quilts!

Also DO NOT stand up straight in the night....when your face hits the top of the tent and you discover it’s made your face all wet.....that’s condensation from peoples breath!!! Yh! 🤮

Kids loved it though.

Camped one year in May... Heatwave
Next year, same weekend... Hailstorms.

If you have the right kit, it can be warm. My DDs and DH happily camp in December... They have proper 3/4 season sleeping bags. Thick pjs. Hats, gloves and warm socks. Insulated sleep mats. You probably won't need all that in May... But you will need camping sleeping bags (and pjs). Not the thin things sold for kids sleepovers etc. Probably 2/3season ones.

Its probably cheating but we take an electric hook-up. Means we can take a heater, kettle, cooker thing without having to worry about gas. Buy decent self-inflating mattresses and sleeping bags, though pricey if its just a trial. Also wait till its warmer!

To keep warm when it's v cold (this kit was essential for August bank holiday weekend in Snowdonia)

Raised camp beds (you can get these v cheap from go outdoors or second hand) with a foil mat underneath
3 season sleeping bag
Thermals for under pyjamas
Two burner hob for cooking breakfasts and heating hot chocolate for by the fire
Cheap fleecy blankets from Primark or similar for over knees when sitting by the fire

For entertaining kids of that age - camping in itself is an adventure! Choose somewhere where you can park your car nearby to charge iPad for movies at bedtime. Geocaching is fun too!

It gets cold at night. Very cold.

Lying on the ground without adequate insulation beneath you will make you even colder very fast. Even if you have mountains of blankets on top of you. What do you plan to sleep on?

Camp beds/air mattresses can be really cold even though you're not lying directly on the ground unless you put insulation underneath (because without insulation you're lying on a cushion of cold cold air).

April/May will not be warm in a tent, although warmer than today.

Your kids won't enjoy it if they're cold. So do your research. As long as you're adequately prepared it should be fun.

Maybe do a night in the garden first? Better to realise you don't have enough layers of clothing when you're still within reach of your wardrobe!

Also 100% get a proper height table and some comfy camping chairs. You'd be amazed how many turn up without somewhere to sit! Bring proper coffee for you and OH. Garden clogs are good for changing into for inside the tent if it's muddy.

Don't cook inside the tent (or tent porch) if you take a stove. Carbon monoxide poisoning is not a good way to die and definitely undesirable on your family adventure.

Oh, and don't forget grass gets wet overnight even if it doesn't rain so you will all have wet shoes at least once a day and you do need a plan for keeping your feet dry and not bringing wet/grassy/muddy shoes into your living/sleeping space.

You definitely need some insulation between the ground and your air beds, I’ve camped on and off for 30 odd years, but forgot this when camping in the garden with DD last summer, i was flipping freezing
And this was in July
Hot water bottles are good. Layers and getting into nightwear before it gets cold.
Decent sleeping bags and blankets
(And if it’s rainy, store some clothes in the car, in case everything gets damp)

Wrap up warmer to go to bed than you think you will need, you can always take a layer off but it's miserable being cold overnight. It's not warm at night at Easter.

Get rollmats or self-inflating mats to sleep on.

Battery fairy lights are good for night time.

Impress on the kids they MUST NOT push out on the inner lining or they may find it starts raining inside

Windbreaks are good to put round the front to give you a small amount of privacy (and keep flying footballs out of your patch).

Earplugs if you're a light sleeper- be mentally prepared that even on a quiet site it will not be quiet at night. You will hear voices, movement, snuffling about, there may be music until well past your bedtime, people turn up and pitch up late at night. Can you tell this really pissed me off the first time I went camping

The cold air is why people are recommending a self inflating mat instead of an air bed. SIMs have foam in them, which provides insulation, and also inflate with air so they feel more padded and comfortable. They help keep the chill away. I place them on top of roll mats as well.

We camped in the back garden for two nights last June (taster session for DS, who loved it). It was flippin' cold overnight.

In love camping but wouldn't go in April/may. Even if it's gloriously sunny in the day, it's freezing at night.

Hats in bed

Choose a campsite with a cafe for breakfast... no need to beg borrow or buy cooking gear and somewhere to sit/warm up if needed

I can only admire those who like camping. I did it when I was younger and hated it, but was a group thing at the time for the "fun" of it ugh.

It's bloody miserable most of the time in our weather. Might not be as bad in hotter countries.

I'm shivering here at the thought of cold damp tents.

How big is your car? Good camp bed with camping mattress on top, wool blanket that can go between you and the camping mat, decent down sleeping bag and then fling rest of wool blanket over you should keep you warmer enough in April. Camping stove so you can make a brew and basic food, and away you go. If you have more space you can take a table and chairs.
I used to do minimal camping with just a good tent, mat and sleeping bag, but I'm too old now and get too stiff😂 so have moved into 'Luxy' camping, but I'd love a camping trailer for Uber lux!