Camping virgin (well as a grown up) and have a few questions

[JoshandJamie]

I loved camping as a kid and desperately want to go camping with my boys. However, my DH spent 10 years in the military and feels he's spent enough time in tents to last a lifetime.

However, I shall not be swayed. I need some advice on various things so that I can fight my corner better. I don't see us going on 'camping holiday' anytime soon, but I'd like to be able to go somewhere for one or two nights every now and then.

So:

• is taking a 2.5 year old camping a bad idea? DH says he's too young. I don't think so.

• we have no kit at all and don't want to spend a fortune as I don't see us doing this that often or for that long each time. Today I was in Halfords and saw that they had family packs that included a 4 man tent (a good size I thought), with two inflatable double mattresses, 4 sleeping bags and two lights for £99. Then they have a posher version (urban escape) for an extra £80 that I think has better quality sleeping bags, an electric pump for the mattresses, colour coded fibreglass poles so it's easier to assemble and better rainproofing (2000mm vs 1500mm). Has anyone used either of these Halfords? Any good?

• If they are ok, should we pay the extra for better waterproofing? What difference is there really betwenn 1500 and 2000mm?

• Would it be better to get a 4 man tent or a 6 man tent so you can use the extra space for storing stuff? I think given we won't be going for a whole week, we don't need that much storage space but DH seems to think we should go bigger (ironic for a man not interested in doing it at all)?

• Finally, are there campsites that you can just go to for a single night or two nights? And are they the type of places you have to book ages in advance in summer? I've probably got a completely unrealistic idea of us seeing a favourable weather forecast and thinking we'll just drive somewhere an hour or so away and then pitch a tent in an lovely uncrowded place. Am I dreaming?

Thanks in advance for any pointers.

well I too used to love camping, we bought a four man tent last year with a view to going and then ended up buying a trailer tent last minute and so never actually used the tent.
You could have that for a bargain price!!!
plus we discovered a place called Go Outdoors which is fantastic, its a large shop which sell everything to do with outdoors life, fishing through to camping and has so much stuff and very reasonable

I think you need very good mattresses or thoe off ground beds when you have children so they dont get too cold.
there are so many campsites and many you can go for two or three nigths except in the main summer holidays etc when they tend to just book out pitches for a week

2000 HH isn't particualrly high so I'd defini9tely get that above 1500, no question

2.5 isn't too young- ds3 first camped at a year, ds4 will camp at 8 weeks

have a look at the forest holiday sites- you can book for a couple of nights and don't always need to book months in advance

storage space a bonus- because it translates into not being on top of each other should it be rainy

I would go for the bigger tent if you can afford it, and 2000HH. YOu do ned more stuff than you might think, we take almost as much for 2 nights as a week - we have chairs, tables, cooker, and cooking utensils etc, and you need to take stuff to entertain the children if it is raining - we usually take a few books and pens and paper and a pack of cards. If you ar eplanning to eat out or only use a disposabl;e bbq you don't need as much kit, but we like the flexibilty to be able to cook different things when we camp and bacon butties for breakfast are essential!

Thanks Chocolatemummy. Am busy researching other sites at the mo having looked through the other camping posts on here. Am now gagging to go! The reason I liked the sets from Halfords is that they seemed to have everything you need (besides cooking things).

the tent we got has a small bedroom for four and then a large porch which you could stand up and get dressed in etc or put a small table in if required which is why we bought it.... You need space, especially if its wet and you have muddy shoes and wet clothes etc

Forest of Dean has some lovely sites.depends where abouts you are

choclatemummy, which tent did you buy?

It was only £60 but then we were offered a trailor tent which is fab.
I am trying to find it

www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3409196.htm I think this is a link

oh f*k
I am rubbish at doing that lol

most campsites allow you to do individual nights.
2.5 is definetly not too young to go camping, going camping with friends this year and their 2 year old daughter. i'm sure he'll love it.
As for DH tells him theres a WORLD of difference in camping cos you have to and camping for fun. There is so much on the market now that makes the whole expereince more comfortable

Have fun

just put Sovereign 4 man tent in a search and it comes up.

We love camping and our daughter aged 4 thiks its really exciting, once you have been once, you will come back with a list of things to get/buy before you go again lol

Yes I've always got a wish list of camping goodies I want to get. Or else whilst on holiday I'm peering into other peoples tents going 'OOOhh I want one of those!!!' .
If when your camping this summer you see a mad woman peering into your tent shout 'Solitaire sod off!!' or even better 'Solitaire come and have a glass of wine, whilst I tell you about my fantastic camping gadget'

what have you got the solitaire?
do you find it easy to socilaise with other families when you go camping?

Thanks everyone. Hmmm, the six person tent would give us the extra space but am worried that it will take forever to put up and be more than what we need for just one or two nights. But then again, I completely understand the dilemma should it rain which in this country is a high probability.

I definitely want a campsite that feels like it's in a forest/wood and doesn't have all modcons with heaps of kids entertainment. The point of going would be to get back to nature so to speak (but it must have a loo!)

the DC always find a gang of kids to run off with and usually that means you get taking to other parents.
We've got tent, cooker, airbeds, kitchen shelves, washing up stand, air pump (powered by battery or car V important), water carriers, folding table, cooking pans that all fit into one another (saves space) I'm sure theres so much more but I/,m abit senile. Would like to get a cooking tent to free up a bit of space in the living area.
Oh just remember gas powered lamps

car powered air pump? must look for one of those, we havent got a cooker yet but looking ta them for this summer. we got some lamps and we need to get a good hook up with a few sockets on for kettle, lights etc. we have found a lovely family site in the cotswolds that we are planning on going to this summer

whereabouts are you 9roughly0- you'll get loads of ideas if you ask for sites within (say) an hour of you. i second the forest of dean, but then its 25 mins away so ideal for weekenders- if you're in the north or east it wouldnt work obv

also agree about the gadgets.... and they get more specialist as you go. this year we're adding a cobb barbecue to our stash and i am agfter a chair i can comfortasbly bf in

I'm in West Berkshire - so can easily get to Wiltshire, oxforshire, northamptonshire, hampshire, dorset or somerset. Possibly West Sussex too

ok- somerset where i was raised so know a few there

first weekend- would suggest broadway house in cheddar (they have a website) as they are well equipped and great if any problems (we go there a lot)

also look at forest holidays new forest sites- basic but very good imo

dorest- another great site is wood fam in charmouth, brilliant for the sea. also has a website

This site is our favourite

It has David Bellamy awards and is a working farm which the children love. It also has a river that runs along the bottom of the camping fields (one of which has no river access). They usually have room at the last minute and take over-nighters.

In Hampshire the Forest Holidays sites are lovely and very much back to nature. Look here

We've stayed at Longbeech which is very basic and only has temporary loos and no showers or hot water so only a weekend stay site for us but its lovely. You can camp right under the trees if you want and there are loads of bushes so even though other people may be camped closeby you don't feel on top of each other. The ground is very stoney though so you need rock pegs

ooh - thanks for those. Will go have a browse!