Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Any single parent campers around? I have questions....

42 replies

aSilverLining · 01/02/2010 18:54

It's just me and DS now and I am trying to take a positive can do approach to all aspects of our lives.

I am trying to secure funding for driving lessons for example.

We camped a lot as a family before but with a big beast of a tent which ex has said he will give me the money for if not I am going to ebay it.

So any single parent campers on here??
What tents do you have? Do you manage to put them up ok? How much stuff do you take? Does it bother you being 'on your own' i.e. no other adult in the tent? I would consider going with another mum and dcs but all either coupled up or anti-camping.

If I can pass my test and get a car I can take DS camping. Come along and tell me if I am taking the can do approach too far or if it is possible.

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 18:56

I'm a single parent camper!

hang on a sec...let me read your questions...

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 18:57

oooh I am a single parent camper and I don't drive, we mostly use public transport or get lifts with friends, it is great fun loading up our rucksacks and taking the trins and busses to get us to remote places for our camping trips!

People think I'm mad, but DS and I love it!

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 18:59

Also, as all the other MN campers will tell you, I am a minimalist camper. We take the bare minimum, I have a number of small tents that we use and a three berth tent that I take if we have a lift in a car, I can put all up by myself and no it has never ever bothered me or even crossed my mind that I am alone with DS, why would another adult in the tent be any better? Camping is fun with just two of you, less compromises to make and more room in the tent

trice · 01/02/2010 19:00

I am not a single parent but dh is so allergic to grass that he has to stay indoors in the summer so I take the kids and go on my own.

Having gone through the shame and humiliation of trying to put up the normal sort of tent on my own (got lots of help from other campers but then they wouldn't leave me alone). I bought a teepee which I can put up and take down all on my own in about five mins.

Original poster
aSilverLining · 01/02/2010 19:01

Ooh replies! DS is asking to go to bed

I will be back soon as I can...

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:03

Only take the bare minimum and get a small tent, you don't need anything big, camping is about being in the greart outdoors, all you need the tent for is to sleep in and keep your stuff in

DS was 2 on our first camping trip, he is noe 6 and an old hand at our camping trips!

I also avoid big fancy campsites with all the fancy extras, keep it basic I say! Wild camping is also great fun and allows an even freeer style of camping, with open fires, no other people or showers or toilets or washing up facilities, just you and nature.

LauraIngallsWilder · 01/02/2010 19:03

I am a lone parent who wants to go camping with my kids but havent yet - that isnt terribly helpful is it

This year is the year we go camping

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:04

If you have a car the pop-up tents are ideal, really really easy to put up and take down, but too big and bulky in size for me to take on public transport!

I miss camping and am counting down the days till our firat camping trip of the season in march! roll on spring...

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:05

Do it Laura!!!!! It's the best thing ever.

Batteryhuman · 01/02/2010 19:17

Witha car I would choose a 3/4 person dome tent witha biggish porch

like this one

Easy for one adult to put it up and plenty of room to store stuff and enough room in the porch to lounge a bit if you DC is asleep.

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:24

You don't need a tent that big!!!

I find, as a single parnent camping with just DS, that we both go to bed at the same time, there is no lounging to be done after he is in bed lol as I am shattered and ready for bed mylsef!

I guess it depends on the age of the OP's DS, but I prefer a smaller tent, more comfy and cozy at night to be enclosed close together, and warmer too!

Original poster
aSilverLining · 01/02/2010 19:26

When you say minimalist OMDB.....? {worried}

DS is 5 and we first went camping when he was 10 months old we love camping. I never went as a child and love it as much as DS.

We usually take airbeds and a one ring gas camping stove which should be ok in a car.

I never considered getting to campsite via public transport - are many accessible this way?! Am genuinely curious. I would consider this if didn't have a car but it does limit what you take by a fair bit doesn't it?

Like the sound of a teepee.

I didn't mean being alone as in no adult company, I meant do you feel vulnerable as a single mum camping with dcs? It probably wouldn't bother me TBH, I only ask as I mentioned it to my toxic overly paraniod mother and she looked at me in horror!

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:27

actually that is not a bad tent battery!

OP you should be able to put a tent like that up by yourself with few problems. Ho old is your DS? By 5 they should be able to help.

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:30

lol when I say minimalist, I mean no airbeds, no rollmatts, no carpet or kitchen table or chairs, no fancy cooker and grill and plug in fridges, no bucket/toilet in the tent etc etc that a lot of campers take with them! Just the basics.

Yes lotas of camping sites are accesible by public transport, there is a good website that helps you plan a route with public transport I can't remember its name...

#I have never felt vulnerable camping alone, always feltsafe on a campsite.

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:31

I do prefer meeting up with friends when camping though, especially if it's for more than a weekend, nicer to have some adult company and possibly other kids for DS to play with.

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:33

this is the website

Original poster
aSilverLining · 01/02/2010 19:33

sorry for posting and disappearing

When you say minimalist OMDB.....? {worried}

DS is 5 and we first went camping when he was 10 months old we love camping. I never went as a child and love it as much as DS.

We usually take airbeds and a one ring gas camping stove which should be ok in a car.

I never considered getting to campsite via public transport - are many accessible this way?! Am genuinely curious. I would consider this if didn't have a car but it does limit what you take by a fair bit doesn't it?

Like the sound of a teepee.

I didn't mean being alone as in no adult company, I meant do you feel vulnerable as a single mum camping with dcs? It probably wouldn't bother me TBH, I only ask as I mentioned it to my toxic overly paraniod mother and she looked at me in horror!

OP posts:
Original poster
aSilverLining · 01/02/2010 19:37

Whoops I lost my connection for a bit there and didn't think it had posted first time round.

DS is 5 and autistic. I would prefer to have a tet I know I can put up on my own and if he is in the mood to help it's an added bonus!

Will check out links now I am back to being not pestered and have a full internet connection.

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:42

You should be able to put up any two berth tent on your own and most three berth tents too.

Definately essentila tp have some practice runs at putting it up and taking it down before you actually go camping, and even writing some instructoins yourself to help you once you get to campsite.

What does your DS like doing? Do you want the type of campsite where you stay on site all day and have 'facilities' there to entertain you, or will you be using the campsite as a base to sleep and east at and then go off every day?

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:45

this thread might help

Original poster
aSilverLining · 01/02/2010 19:48

Campsites we are fairly easy going, he is happy in a field or wood as much, if not more so than an all in campsite with clubhouse etc. I prefer quieter campsite.

There is a nice one near us that has fields, wood and lake which is nice. I don't mind really the worldis our oyster.

And damn you all showing me tent porn - I have not got rid of the last one yet!

OP posts:
Batteryhuman · 01/02/2010 19:53

But if your old one is "a big beast of a tent" it won't be much fun for just the two of you. i am not a single parent but often go camping with just one or 2 of my DSs eg to festivals or for a weekend away. the big family tent would be way too much hassle for that kind of thing. My 3/4 man tent (like my link above) is perfect fo me and 8 yr old DS3 for a weekend or for 3 of us at a festival. Any way tent porn is the best....!

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:54

lol I am desperate to go camping so the tent posn is good!

overmydeadbody · 01/02/2010 19:55

I agree with battery. Get rid of the beast of a tent.

Original poster
aSilverLining · 01/02/2010 20:08

I said in OP I am not keeping big tent, ex wants to keep it so I have said give me the money then or I will Ebay it. It is a huge Vango 8 man thing takes at least two people to put it up - we needed it before, me and DS definately don't. Will be nice to snuggle up all cosy in a little tent.

DS has gotten out of bed, looked over my shoulder and said, "Oooh lets get a blue tent next mummy!"

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread