camping virgin needs help

[puddle]

I've read the camping tips thread which is full of useful info. But I need some more basic help. We are planning to take the kids for some camping weekends over the summer. We're thinking about investing in a tent and either buying/ borrowing some equipment. I've been camping once, and dp went a lot as a child.

So...my question is, what are the essentials?

We have two kids 5 and 2, so we need a tent to sleep us all - can anyone recommend one? Am assuming we'll need mattresses too. Have no idea about other camping stuff, stoves, etc - what do you really need for weekend trips?

Thanks in advance!

Take a blow up beach ball (or anything that blows up) for LO's to play with, doesn't take much space.

Also have a separate washbag for each person or each sex with toothpaste etc in each, nothing worse than getting to the wash blocks and finding out it's not there! I take a big carrier bag with washkit/ toewl in, that way I can use the bag to store my clothes in when I have a shower, in most places it is a luxury if you have 1 hook!

A bucket can be useful to store and transport dirty plates to the wash-up roo, a bowl does as well.

Take a pillowcase and stuff with other clothes.

We had our first ever camping trip last weekend. We've got four children, our youngest is 11 months old, so we took his travel cot and he slept all through the night - all three times!! We took blow up Ready Beds and a double blow up bed for us, with a sleeping bag each and we were really warm! We took a cool box with us with cheese, butter, bread, crackers, cereal and milk, so we had our breakfast and cheese sandwiches for lunch!

I'd definately say to take a pack of cards and a ball for them to play with, they also had a torch each and a lantern for the tent - which was plenty. We haven't got around to buying a gas stove yet, we are looking to see if anyone can recommend one . We were very envious of everyone cooking bacon for their breakfast!!. You need to take a bowl for washing your dishes and washing up liquid and tea-towels. Take loads of towels as it's difficult to get them dry, also a dustpan and brush is very useful for brushing grass and mud from the floor of the tent! Don't forget fold-up chairs and we put a large picnic blanket down on the groundsheet inside the tent for the baby to sit/play on!
We really enjoyed our little trip and we are going next weekend to Worcestershire! HAVE FUN!!

Sorry to butt in but I'm feeling inspired.

Do campsites have electricity points like caravan sites? How do you keep food chilled otherwise? And we have 4 kids (11 down to baby age) - are the plots big enough to take those size tents (8person) or does everyone have them that big?

Thanks

Yes they do, but you normaly have to say that you want a pitch with an electrical link up. These are a bit more ecpensive than the unserviced pitches.

Regarding pitch sizes it varies from site to site. It is always a good idea to let them know the size of your tent before you book. If your tent is very big some sites will charge you double.

swedishmum - depends on the site. Most will tell you in any brochures/web pages exactly what facilities are available. A lot of sights are camping/caravanning these days with set plots for each. We have a big 8 berth family tent and manage on most mid to large size sites.

We don't have electric hook up as

1. it is more expensive each night
2. you HAVE to book in peak times (you can get away with it if you don't need electric
3. the extra hhok up equipment is exepnsive to buy (about £70 I think)

We use a big cool box, with ice blocks, all campsites let you swap ice packs each day - about 25p a time, so we hand ours in and borrow some for a day, usually this is OK for 12 - 24 hrs. Yes the butter is runny, and the milk not freezing. But it keeps most stuff fresh for at least 24 hrs. Meat/bacon we keep overnight. Most campsites have a shop so you can stock up on stuff (maybe expensive, but it is a chep holiday overall). I am the mum cooking a full fry up in the morning Eggs/bacon/sausages and beans plus veggie sausages for me No problem

However we have a MASSIVE tent - sleeps 12 But there is only 4 of us. It is fab, loads of room for everything insie and the table and chairs if it rains. It takes dh with a bit of my help about and hour to put up - fine for a weeks holiday, and about 1/2 hr to pull down and pack

We have a great Gelert stove, wouldn't be without it and last year bought a 'camp kitchen' basically a concertina thing with a stand for the stove.

We pack air beds, duvets/sleeping bags, fold up chairs (£6 in tesco at the mo) table. Washing up bowl/liquid/tea towels, 2 saucepans, one jug (measuring water for all the packets!, kettle. Pastic set of crockery and extra cutlery. Overall we have spent about £500 over the last couple of years, and this year we want a couple of new things. But the holiday itself is around £100 for a WEEK for 4. Therefore it has cost us about £700 for the last 2 years, this year it will come down again and average about £250 a holiday and this will keep going down. Iw orked out if we spent £100 on gear each year and the holiday was £100 for accomadtion any extra weekends etc were nearly free (OK £15 a night or so )

Yep we take loads for a week, but it all fits in the car.

Thanks everyone - that's it! The cold box swap sounds v sensible. I'm buying a tent as soon as we get back to UK, and we bought a roof box to come out to Sweden. We already have 2 crossings to France booked as we had to use up Eurotunnel points dh had earned through work, so after a weekend in Dymchurch we're off! I'm reckoning at least 8 birth for us and 4 kids??

Wow! nice tent!.. Tent envy!!!!!

Oh and some camp sites in france will hire out fridges and BBQs!

We don't usually find it much of a problem keeping food chilled while camping in the UK I have to say. you'll be able to manage without for a weekend.

i would recommend carrymats rather than blow up mattresses. very easy and quite comfy and they never go down by mistake.