Winter Tent Camping.

[Mysterian]

I've been thinking of giving it a go but have always chickened out. Then I realised I had just done it accidentally. "How the heck can you accidentally winter camp?" I hear you ask. I was camping in the Cairngorms in the site by Loch Morlich above Aviemore when the temperature dipped to about zero, and snow fell overnight on the mountains all around. In June. JUNE!

I'm going to go for a long weekend at some point over this winter. I'm waiting for a dry spell. I plan on getting a little gas heater, carbon monoxide alarm, and extra lights/batteries. I have a mini tipi style poly-cotton tent that's warmer and more breathable than regular nylon ones.

Any general advice and tips?

Please don't put a gas heater in the tent, your first winter camping will probably be your last if you do that (really not exaggerating, it's a terrible, terrible idea)

Spend the money on a better sleeping bag instead

Nope! Not in a tent! Or even under an awning. Hot food and drink, and insulation is the way to go

We have gas heating in our folding camper, but it is the sort that has a flue going outside. Even so, we have a CO alarm fitted.

As a test this summer after hearing about people cooking on BBQs inside tents, DH put our lit BBQ in the awning. The CO alarm went off after five minutes. It stays on zero when we are cooking inside with gas but I still wouldn’t risk that GO gas heater.

First night was cold. I'm on a camp bed. I forgot my thin SIM to go on top so felt chilly from beneath. Stayed warm enough to get some sleep though. Got cheap mat from Decathlon.

Condensation was bad because I'm an idiot and forgot to open the ceiling vents so all the steam stayed inside. All dry so far on night 2.

I’ve camped on New Year’s Eve, planning to go at the beginning of December and possibly again on NYE.

extra blankets under the sleep mat, decent sleeping bag, thick socks, woolly hat and clothes in bed.

Sorry! Didn’t realise this was an older thread and I missed the moment

It started when I was preparing for it. I'm there now. About 2c last night.🙂

I do love winter camping. Have a lovely time ☺️

Night 2. About 5 degrees. Warm and cosy in bed. Even a bit too hot. Tent quite warm as well.

I hope you don't mind me asking questions. I'm genuinely curious.

• why do you want to camp outside now when it involves so much prep just to keep you warm enough?

• what are you doing in the day times? Presumably also trying to keep warm?

No problem!

The countryside is beautiful. Autumn colours, an awesome blanket of fog in the valley, a bunch of deer right in front of my tent. It's also £15 per night.

In the day? Yesterday I went to Cardiff and walked round their wonderful park and their Christmas fayre and market. Today I'm all over the Forest of Dean. I'm writing this while drinking tea at Symonds Yat Rock.
Forest visitors centre next then a sculpture trail and Puzzlewood where all TV shows are filmed. If you do stuff you keep warm.

Sounds wonderful thank you.

So glad to pop back and see that you've been! I've sorted my kit for a post-Christmas camp I won't make it too hard as I have my car so will take a futon mat and loads of layer under me - so glad you did it, it's a brilliant cheap way of getting some peace and quiet and the real outdoors. Well done!