dh wants to go camping in the summer and i am not so sure

[cheeryface]

any words of wisdom?

i have a feeling that it will all be too much hassle. faffing with toilets/showers etc and my kids are not the most chilled out!

also dh and both sons are hayfever sufferers

the thought of camping alone, reading a book and gazing at stars alone sounds apealing right now though!

Cheeryface,we bought a 6 man tent 2 years ago. Me and DH have stayed in it a few times but without our 5 year old ds. We are planning on taking him this year. DS and DH bith have hayfever, so I'll make sure they have all their nose sprays etc etc. Also we'll not go too far, so if it's too much for ds (or me!!) we can pack up and come home. What ages are your kids? Treat it like a big adventure. Camp at good sites with lots of ammenities and things to do.

But I like your thought of going alone! Yeah - paradise!!!

the kids are 12 and 9 so they should probably love it, unless theres nothing much to do and they get bored
still not sure if i will like it though!

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We're going camping for the 1st time this year. Dd1 is 4 and DD2 will be nearly 2.

Can;t wait! Have chosen a tent (Outwell Hartford XXL - pretty much the biggest tent I could find!!!) now just trying to see if I can get a cheaper 2nd hand one.

Have fun - the kids will loveit if you're enthusiastic.

We love camping, and the children seem to, too. We joined the camping and caravaning club last year, and the site are really lovely, with very good facilities.
There's a good one a Grizedale, which would give you plenty to do with children.

Have a comfy tent. We've got a vango Aspen which is really comfy and spacious. Can you borrow one to try out?

Try somewhere nearby for a few days, then you can alwaysgo home if it's a disaster.

It's a bit like marmite- love it or hate it, but worth a try.

i'm not sure what the tent is like because we would be borrowing one from my dad

i'm not sure i like the idea of going to public toilets etc though

we live in manchester, so, not sure where we would go

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The only cmaping I do is eurotent styleee.

Ya know, with the beds, and the other essential itesm...like the fridge for the wine, lol.

Cheery, we are in manchester. The hayfield site is nice for a weekend, you can have bbq etc. You would have to try it and see how you feel about the toilet thing. They are very clean and usually heated.
Link for Hayfield site here

I would also say, like mostn things, you start off with the basic stuff and if you like it you can add your own luxuries if you think it's something you'd do again.

only like camping somewhere hot.

don't want to stay on a massively organised site because then you might as well be in a hotel (and more comfy).

so always think camping 'in the middle of a field' will be great. And then it gets really cold, and you can only sit staring at a smouldering frying pan of sausages for so long. So you have to go to bed. In a cold tent.

no ta.

I can't settle in hotels. I just think of all those people who have slept in the bed and it makes me itch...

i just think of someone else making the bed for a change!

Nope still like my own sleeping bag! Plus waay cheaper.

We go camping and the DC (8 & 10) love it. Usually theres other kids that they met on site that they run around with and have a great time. Isn't it great how kids just seem to met and get on?
This year we'll hopefully have a puppy in tow for the first time which shoudl be an experience!!
We also met up with friends, its a great way of having a cheap weekend away and catching up with friends who live miles from you

you sound like a professional camper pinky, maybe i would feel different if you were taking care of things.

my cousin is a bit like that, she once managed to rustle up a full english and real coffee during a torrential downpour.

i was impressed.

oooh forgot to say.
Get the kids two way radios so that if they go of on the site, you can always call them back, or they can contact you if neccesary

Now I feel embarrassed! It's true I have camped all my life. Have tried hotels, cottages, gites and b&b - they are nice but I still prefer my tent. We did get flooded out once in the Loire valley and stayed at a B&B whilst the tent dried out in a barn, otherwise it's always been great, regardless of the weather. But it's not for everyone.

HE Solitaire! We used to have a dog. He loved camping- always a steady stream of children to throw his ball for him. They make great sleeping bag warmers,too!

ooh Cheeryface - go to Edale - this one.

I took ds's last summer for the first time camping on my own and it was perfect. We pitched in the nearest field to the car park which was also next to the visitors' centre but small and still felt very camp-y with sheep wandering through it! But it also felt safe because the park rangers came round every so often to check everyone was OK and the centre was very handy to bob into when it got a bit chilly!

I loved it and am definitely going back there this summer.

thanx for all the suggestions