Camping newbie, what to pack?

[Oni12]

Hi, so I've been talked into going camping for a few nights. We won't be at a site but at a lake. Haven't been before but just wondering what handy things I should pack apart from the obvious, clothes, food, sleeping bag. So far I've got, battery pack for phones, bin bags for dirty clothes and rubbish, torch....and that's it!

Just to add, I'm in Scotland so we are able to camp, responsibly, outside of caravan and camping sites.

Oh and we don't have a camping stove, no idea what we're going to eat for two days....sandwiches maybe

light for inside tent

plates etc

pack dry food eg oat cakes, peanut butter, crisps, boiled eggs

mat for under tent

Baby wipes. Trowel for burying stuff.

Or actually money for a hotel.....

Thanks, good tips!
Hahaha Starfishmummy, a hotel would be my preferred option but my dh thinks I'm going to love it, I'm not so sure!

Insect repellent for the infamous midges.

I think it would depend on whether you're travelling to the place you're camping at by car, as to what you take! If you are driving there...

-tent
-comfy rollmat/SIM/blow up mattress
-decent sleeping bag (trust me, it's hideous being cold at night, when you're camping! Also don't ever underestimate the weather!) +/- sleeping bag liners.
-suitable clothes (layers, waterproofs, beanie hat, warm socks)
-torch and batteries
-travel-john/she-wee
-toilet roll
-insect repellent spray and a basic first aid kit (with any usual meds, plus basic pain relief/antihistamine tablets etc).
-Icebox/coolbox: freeze some bottles of water before you go, put food in ice box, use frozen water bottles to keep food cool.
-cook set: small stove, saucepan, bowl, cup, plate, knife/fork/spoon, a flask (so that when you've boiled water, you can keep it in the flask), water bottle for drinking.
-something to wash up plates/cutlery.
-hand wipes/baby wipes, hand gel.
-camping stove*
-book/kindle/puzzle books/cards, in case weather's crap and you're stuck inside tent.
-snacks
-folding chair

*doesn't have to be expensive! I used the army issue hexi-burners (with hexiblocks) and mess tins for years, until I had kids and was therefore cooking for more people than just me. I now have a Cobb Pro and a multi-fuel Trangia (but that was after years of camping and trying different types of stove). Everyone's preferences are different though.

I guess you'd need to speak to the rest of the group and see if you'd be doing meals together, or expected to sort your own. Enjoy your time camping :D

Umm... a toilet? Do you have one of those camping ones?

I was a late convert to camping, via dh, and I was surprised to find I loved it! Going a week tomorrow for the first time in ages and can't wait. But camping without a proper bathroom...? No way.

My advice especially in Scotland is take more warm clothes than you think you need, including a woolly hat, gloves and fluffy socks. And layer up in the evening before you start to get cold. Once you're cold it's hard to get warm again!

@mineofuselessinformation

Insect repellent for the infamous midges.

Yes, this is a must for Scotland. Can't forget that, thanks!

Sports leggings & a longsleeved lycra top to wear underneath everything, woolly hat, far more pairs of long socks that you think you could ever need in 48 hours, a towel, lightweight fleece blanket, gaffer tape to go with a roll of thick bin bags, sun block, bug repellent, antihistamines, saline wipes, waterproof, tick remover, paracetamol, water - lots of bottled water - baby wipes that don't irritate your sensitive skin, sunglasses, spare house key, paper maps in case you have no signal or charge and the number of the nearest hotel.

Regarding cooking, if you're somewhere near a camping shop, something like a Kelly Kettle is far better (and safer) than using gas cylinders or, even worse, having your OH thinking he can make an pen fire. Plus a spare clipper lighter for when his fails, he loses it or worse, he decides that a box of matches will do, couple of enamel mugs/coffee/sugar and a load of snack bars in case it just pisses down constantly.

A fully charged powerbank to keep your phone charged.
torch
sleeping bags
lots of blankets as the nights get chilly
hot water bottles (if you have gas stove and kettle)
easy slip on shoes / sandles for night time visits to the loo
Wet wipes
hair ties
glow sticks (i tie them to the guy ropes to stop people falling over them at night)
Lots of insect repellant

@lazylinguist

Umm... a toilet? Do you have one of those camping ones?

I was a late convert to camping, via dh, and I was surprised to find I loved it! Going a week tomorrow for the first time in ages and can't wait. But camping without a proper bathroom...? No way.

My advice especially in Scotland is take more warm clothes than you think you need, including a woolly hat, gloves and fluffy socks. And layer up in the evening before you start to get cold. Once you're cold it's hard to get warm again!

We do have a camping toilet although I have medical issues, which is really the only reason I'm so reluctant and dont want to go any longer than two nights. Really would prefer some proper loos! I'll see how it goes though.

Good luck, OP - hope you enjoy it! If wild camping doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea, don't let it put you off trying the slightly more civilised version though .

This video shows why I am never going camping in Scotland.

twitter.com/tramplite/status/1420011232673865731?s=21

I do go camping elsewhere and I always take a bug zapper (the kind that looks like a tennis racquet) We have a tent big enough to sit inside in the evenings and there are always gnats. Insect repellent never seems to work for me!

@lazylinguist

Good luck, OP - hope you enjoy it! If wild camping doesn't turn out to be your cup of tea, don't let it put you off trying the slightly more civilised version though .

Thanks haha I may need it! It may well be my first and last wild camp!