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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

Camping - how to do it better next year (DIBNY)

217 replies

Crinklycut · 24/07/2023 22:38

Before we even set off this year, DH and I were discussing how we could do it better next year, and it occurs to me that this is one of the great (and many) pleasures of camping.

So what will you do better? What’s your DIBNY?

Our first thought was that we would get a load of boxes that exactly fit the boot of the car and pack into those. And bring a bottle opener.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Tulipvase · 07/08/2023 10:29

Parkmama · 07/08/2023 10:27

The Decathlon beds have been a game changer, we actually sleep now!

www.decathlon.co.uk/p/inflatable-camping-bed-base-camp-bed-air-70-cm-1-person/_/R-p-309887

We have these beds with a 10/12 cm SIM. They are just too big though. We just don’t have the space when we all camp. Also, the SIM just isn’t very wide and I end up wanting to kill my husband….

Fingersmith · 07/08/2023 10:33

We were able to drive the car up to the pitch which helped. I assembled the rail in the tent.
The drawer thing is real furniture from our spare room that we bought from ikea. My husband took some convincing of this but as it fit easily in our back seats and could be packed with stuff, I’d do it again. Made it feel very glam :-)

Camping - how to do it better next year (DIBNY)
LostThestral · 07/08/2023 11:00

nice set up

we have extra wide camp beds which are fantastic & I can fidget about as much as I want

did see some nice looking camp beds in decathlon at the weekend that were taller & easier to get in & out of

HippyChickMama · 07/08/2023 12:53

Fingersmith · 07/08/2023 10:33

We were able to drive the car up to the pitch which helped. I assembled the rail in the tent.
The drawer thing is real furniture from our spare room that we bought from ikea. My husband took some convincing of this but as it fit easily in our back seats and could be packed with stuff, I’d do it again. Made it feel very glam :-)

This has inspired me! I've got a clothes rail that I dismantled from dc's bedroom, I was going to take to the charity shop but I think I might find a bag for it and keep it for camping, brilliant idea!

TheMousePipes · 08/08/2023 21:00

I love our new cadac two burner stove, combined with the notebook bbq that folds up flat we can cook most things.
I also love my corkicle wine glass that stays cold for ages (also keeps coffee hot at the other end of the day).
This years brilliant new purchase is a cutlery drawer insert that fits under the shelves in my camp kitchen. No more stabbing myself with the sharp knife when hunting for a teaspoon.

Tulipvase · 08/08/2023 22:04

TheMousePipes · 08/08/2023 21:00

I love our new cadac two burner stove, combined with the notebook bbq that folds up flat we can cook most things.
I also love my corkicle wine glass that stays cold for ages (also keeps coffee hot at the other end of the day).
This years brilliant new purchase is a cutlery drawer insert that fits under the shelves in my camp kitchen. No more stabbing myself with the sharp knife when hunting for a teaspoon.

We bought a second hand cadac eazi chef and took that camping. It is big, more so the gas to use with it but it made cooking for 5 so much easier. The skottle pan is so versatile. And cooking at waist height is a lot easier.

Spudlet · 10/08/2023 16:45

Has anyone been camping in Ireland, right down in the south? I am plotting and scheming for next year… might require us to upgrade the tent to one with a bit of living space though 😈

Any experiences of good sites (ideally ones that allow campfires) and tips would be lovely, so I can present this idea to DH 🤣

LostThestral · 10/08/2023 16:51

anyone have any tips for wet weather camping?

So far i'm thinking take string for a drying line & coat hangers for rain jackets in the vestibule but any other ideas?

PuttingDownRoots · 10/08/2023 17:06

I've heard of taking a door mat to get your wellies off on!

weirdoboelady · 10/08/2023 17:09

Take an extra towel, so that halfway through the holiday you have a nice fresh fluffy one (and a towel, ooo err missus) to cheer yourself up.

gogomoto · 10/08/2023 17:20

Giggling reading this (ok tinged with a little envy) just packing for our trip and I the nearest thing to a luxury is a blow up pillow - motorcycle camping Grin. I do take crocs though, non negotiable for nighttime trips to the toilet, luckily they are super light (weight is more issue than bulk actually)

PuttingDownRoots · 10/08/2023 17:20

Work out how to fit your towing eye if the campsite is on a slope and your car isn't suited to deep mud... DH had to rescue a few cars when we were in the Lakes, fortunately we had a tow rope...

gogomoto · 10/08/2023 17:23

My dream campsite in under trees where you can wander and find a pitch without being too close, walking from a car park. No electric hook ups, no generators, nobody who wants to get up before 9amGrin (so teens just fine)

PuttingDownRoots · 10/08/2023 17:28

gogomoto · 10/08/2023 17:20

Giggling reading this (ok tinged with a little envy) just packing for our trip and I the nearest thing to a luxury is a blow up pillow - motorcycle camping Grin. I do take crocs though, non negotiable for nighttime trips to the toilet, luckily they are super light (weight is more issue than bulk actually)

We seem to have two camping modes... bringing everything but the kitchen sink, and it has to fit in the drybags on the canoe (and not sink us). DH also does solo by motorbike. He's currently working out if can fit the paddleboard, tent and overnight fear on the motorbike...

Batalax · 10/08/2023 17:42

gogomoto · 10/08/2023 17:23

My dream campsite in under trees where you can wander and find a pitch without being too close, walking from a car park. No electric hook ups, no generators, nobody who wants to get up before 9amGrin (so teens just fine)

We had one just like that once. Was in the shade in the early morning so no sweltering as soon as the sun comes up, and was in full sunlight for most of the day/evening.
Never had such a perfect spot before or since.

We normally circle around for a good few minutes, arguing where the most perfect pitch is. Obvious signs of young kid -no, plenty of space, shade etc.

Batalax · 10/08/2023 17:44

PuttingDownRoots · 10/08/2023 17:20

Work out how to fit your towing eye if the campsite is on a slope and your car isn't suited to deep mud... DH had to rescue a few cars when we were in the Lakes, fortunately we had a tow rope...

We’ve had a farmers tractor pull us and others out before. Was quite a spectacle watching people struggle before the farmer had to intervene.

Runnersandtoms · 10/08/2023 17:48

We have some large plastic boxes with all the camping gear in and just put them straight in the car. Means you are much more likely not to forget anything. But it does mean you have to have or buy duplicates of stuff. Eg kitchen stuff like peeler, grater, and stuff like torches, batteries etc. We have different ones in the house and then the camping ones which live in the camping boxes.

Washing line and pegs is my top tip, and glow sticks (although not environmentally friendly) are great to hang up as a night light so it's not pitch black and you can find your torch if you get up in the night.

Batalax · 10/08/2023 17:49

LostThestral · 10/08/2023 16:51

anyone have any tips for wet weather camping?

So far i'm thinking take string for a drying line & coat hangers for rain jackets in the vestibule but any other ideas?

An ikea bag for dumping wet shoes and wellies in at the front of the tent next to an old towel door mat substitute. The old towel can then be used to clean/dry the under tent or footprint when packing away.

A toilet system of some kind. One memorable pouring with rain scenario, involved a saucepan and food bags. The kids were horrified. We’ve since devised better systems!

HippyChickMama · 10/08/2023 18:35

gogomoto · 10/08/2023 17:23

My dream campsite in under trees where you can wander and find a pitch without being too close, walking from a car park. No electric hook ups, no generators, nobody who wants to get up before 9amGrin (so teens just fine)

Not sure if it's easy reach for you, or somewhere you'd want to go, but the forest pitches here are as you describe

www.pitchup.com/campsites/England/Central/Warwickshire/Bentley_Atherstone/nightingales-rustic-camping/

The farm shop is fab too, they sell burgers and sausages made from their own meat and home baked bread

Mysteriousgirl2 · 10/08/2023 18:50

How to do it better next year?

I know- just don’t book it at all. I’m on my way home from an awful camping trip- never again. 😂

weirdoboelady · 10/08/2023 20:07

Mysteriousgirl2 · 10/08/2023 18:50

How to do it better next year?

I know- just don’t book it at all. I’m on my way home from an awful camping trip- never again. 😂

Oh no! What went wrong? Was it just horribly wet? I was camping last week as well and had a (mostly) great time!

Mysteriousgirl2 · 10/08/2023 20:25

Yes it was horribly wet and soggy. Family of 5 in small camper van. My youngest is 2 and sort of potty trained but even with regular stops, did a massive wee on her car seat on the way down.

Then she did a wee in the bed that I was sharing with her and her older sister. Towels were all wet and stinky on the first day. Maybe I’m just not good at it! The children are 7, 5 and 2. They absolutely LOVED every minute and I think they’ll be talking about it for years, so despite the challenges we are still going home with a smile. I might have a large gin before I crack on with emptying the camper van and start the laundry tomorrow. Massive respect to you all- I think we’ll stick to self catering until the kids are a bit older!!

TakenRoot · 10/08/2023 21:15

Oh, come on @Mysteriousgirl2 , your youngest will be potty trained by next year, and the sun will come out at the beginning of May and stay out until October.

Honest!

@Belmondo For enough hooks in the shower block, pack a few S hooks / butchers hooks in your washbag to hang over the cubicle door. And put your dry clothes in a plastic bag having from one of them so that the shower spray doesn't get them wet - there is never enough space and they always get wet, IME!

@crackofdoom Very envious of your Cabanon. I have a canvas Esvo which I love, but not in this weather, a big wet canvas tent is not a great thing to bring home!

Who was asking about wet weather camping?
I have a really cheap IKEA doormat, quite thin so easy to pack, that I have outside the tent door and another inside if the weather is bad.
Wellies for the kids, easy to slip on and off. Shorts, not trousers, unless they are in complete toddler rain suits.
A big umbrella is quite handy for quick nips to the car etc
Keep the bedroom pods zipped up and don't let the kids into them with any wet or damp clothing.
An in-tent toilet arrangement of some kind is good. Bucket with lid or whatever.
When the kids were small we sat under the porch playing various aiming games at things outside the tent - throwing pegs at a bucket, once we had a spud gun, that was good.

crackofdoom · 10/08/2023 22:39

taken root

It's a very very old Cabanon! I got it for £30 from eBay over 10 years ago- it was cheap because it was model unspecified, and to be honest I still don't know! It will always be the Great Green Shed to me. Yesterday it took itself off to Boomtown, and today it's been put up (acquiring a bit of a rip in the process apparently). Tomorrow I'm going to join it (by train). Cushy or what?!

BiddyPop · 11/08/2023 11:07

I have a doormat that I keep just inside my tent door for mucky wet shoes (from before I got a tent with a canopy).

A fellow scout leader used to bring the bread for camp in a large cardboard box for travel, then lay that box flat inside his tent door as a mat that could be recycled at the end of each camp. Could use a wine box carrying adult beverages for a family camp version...

@Spudlet I am not sure about fires (but I think there was at least 1 in a fire pit), but I stayed in EaglePoint campsite on the Beara peninsula in west cork a few years ago and it was great. Relatively quiet (big site but plenty of space), on the sea with some pitches at the waters edge and some well back, reasonable shelter, good shower blocks, room with kitchen sink and freezer for campers etc. I was planning to go back this summer (but life has intervened). It's a long way down from Dublin (about 3.5-4 hours) but worth it to me.

I am also possibly still going to manage a couple of nights in a site in the caravan/camping handbook/guide in Glenbeigh, Co Kerry, which looks close to but not on the shore (great beach and decent golf club in Glenbeigh). But that's less about the site and more about meeting family staying locally.