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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.

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Original poster

New to Camping. All advice welcome please!

69 replies

Bookaholic73 · 28/04/2021 10:37

I'm in my early 40's and have never been camping before. My husband has been nagging for years to get a tent and go camping, so I've finally given in.

We've bought a 6 man tent, a gas stove, camping chairs, air beds and already have the pots and pans etc.

It'll just be the 2 of us and our 2 dogs.

So, I'm looking for any tips you can give me at all. How to cope if it rains, how ro get the dogs used to camping, the best campsites for couples (adults only would be a bonus), things we still need to buy etc.

Any and all tips/advice are welcome (and needed!).

OP posts:

Original poster

Bookaholic73 · 29/04/2021 20:46

Thank you, so many amazing helpful tips and advice.

We will get some sleeping bags and make sure to take bin bags and plenty of towels.

I’m thinking I’ll make a big batch of chilli to take with us, then just reheat it on the gas on the 1st night.
The other nights it’ll be baked potatoes, noodles etc

I’m a bit nervous about how the dogs will be, any tips for that?

OP posts:

Aprilshowersandhail · 29/04/2021 21:31

Basic ID tag with campsite address and your phone number. May not get signal to ring you but could bring ddog back!! We have holiday collars and tags for ours!
Mull has rubbish signal!

MrsMoastyToasty · 29/04/2021 21:42

Take your 1st night's meal ready prepared before you go. Freeze it in advance and let it defrost in the cool box, which will help cool everything else.
Don't be a martyr. If the weather is crap, pack up and go home.

ToooOldForThis · 29/04/2021 21:47

Check with the campsite if they can be off lead. Ours is v well behaved and just lies at the front of the tent. Occasionally wanders in and out but would never wander off (and I'd never let him).
One site we go to insists on having him tethered which is a huge pain.

Aprilshowersandhail · 29/04/2021 21:47

We take made up pancake batter in a milk carton.
With melted Nutella.
And keep some back for toasted marshmallows!

Heyha · 29/04/2021 21:54

Our old lad is a bit thick so he has a tether for times when one of us can't be eyes on. Be good to put the tent up beforehand so they can get used to it, he doesn't really like the lip on the front door nor the crinkly sound it makes but he gets over it once he's remembered how it works. They might well feel the cold more than you would expect as well. But our lad loves being off somewhere new so puts up with these inconveniences 😂

Etulosba · 29/04/2021 22:01

You will freeze on airbeds, even with something underneath.

We have never had a problem with air bed and a couple of duvets. I'm assuming the OP isn't intending to camp on the north face of the Eiger in winter.

PragmaticWench · 29/04/2021 22:25

Screw in pegs to attach long dog leads to. Most campsites that allow dogs insist they're on a lead.

Put a blanket or foil blanket under the dogs' bed and another to go over them. Our lab loves snuggling under a towel on her bed!

I'd tie a carrier bag or black bag up high for rubbish, so the dogs can't get their noses into anything.

DogInATent · 30/04/2021 09:23

The screw-in dog pegs can be frustrating in hard ground. The straight ones can be banged in with a hammer, are easier to remove, but are just as secure (dogs pull sideways, not upwards).

Use poo bags for rubbish, that way you're clearing it away from the tent little and often.

Microwave rice sachets can be heated in a pan over a gas hob, and come in a wide range of flavours. They're perfect for camping.

Wildswimming3 · 30/04/2021 09:49

Were new to camping too. One of our dogs is a nervous rescue, think she might bark if anyone came near our tent at night. Does anyone put their dogs in the car at night on their bed? Its a 4x4

BonnyEm · 30/04/2021 09:54

Hot water bottles are essential

Itwasjustresting · 30/04/2021 11:17

@Wildswimming3

Were new to camping too. One of our dogs is a nervous rescue, think she might bark if anyone came near our tent at night. Does anyone put their dogs in the car at night on their bed? Its a 4x4

I try and keep things as much like home for Ddog as possible - so his bed comes with us and a couple of familiar blankets and toys.

If your dog is used to sleeping in the car, go for it, but my gut feeling is she’d be happier in the tent with her people.

Wildswimming3 · 30/04/2021 13:08

@itwasjustresting i think we will start off in the tent and see how she goes, i wouldnt leave her in the car on her own though.

Itwasjustresting · 30/04/2021 15:19

I hope she loves it. Once my bottomless hairy pit realised that where there are campers there is often spare bacon he decided that camping was brilliant.

Hyperion100 · 30/04/2021 15:22

Only ever book campsites that allow open fires

Original poster

Bookaholic73 · 30/04/2021 18:20

Thanks so much for the suggestions everyone.

The dogs will definitely sleep in the tent with us. They are used to doing that anyway.

We think we will do a trial run in the back garden for a weekend this weekend, and see how they like it.

Then we will book a weekend locally to us, so it’s easy to come home if they (or I) hate it.

OP posts:

Original poster

Bookaholic73 · 30/04/2021 18:21

@Wildswimming3

Were new to camping too. One of our dogs is a nervous rescue, think she might bark if anyone came near our tent at night. Does anyone put their dogs in the car at night on their bed? Its a 4x4

I definitely wouldn’t leave my dog in the car overnight alone. You won’t be able to keep an eye on the temperature, plus I’d worry about them getting stolen.

OP posts:

Lockdownbear · 05/05/2021 20:52

@Etulosba

You will freeze on airbeds, even with something underneath.

We have never had a problem with air bed and a couple of duvets. I'm assuming the OP isn't intending to camp on the north face of the Eiger in winter.

I learned the hard way how cold airbeds were, even with a blanket under them. DH and I froze on airbeds, while DS slept like a bug in a rug with his sleeping bag unzipped on a 3cm SIM.

I'm currently in the market for 2 new SIMs. No way will i consider an airbed again. At a push I'd consider using them as a base for the SIMs.

AlfrescoDining · 20/05/2021 01:12

Pillows and a head torch.

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