Calling all happy campers!

[mum2twins]

I am a complete camping novice and quite honestly the idea fills me with dread, but my husband has just bought us a family tent!!!! His idea of comfort and mine are poles apart. Can anyone recommend the vital things we need such as something comfy to sleep on (my main problem is it all sounds really uncomfortable) and any other 'must haves'. Also can anyone recommend any brillaint sites for 4/5 year old twins!

Our tent arrived today in a very small holdall type bag that I can lift quite easy so that's a result, more room for the rest of the stuff! We're going to put it up this weekend in the garden in preparation for going next weekend. Looks complicated! Probably up for a good row then!

If you don't want to buy an airbed just yet and you have one (and room in the car), try taking the mattress from a sofa bed. That's what we did the first time - and took duvets etc. Very warm and comfy, but does take up a lot of space in car. Airbeds take ages to pump up and I've never found them comfortable, especially if you're sharing a double one with someone who's much heavier. DH swears by the cushions from our sun loungers now plus a self-inflating mat. My top tip is to take hot water bottles and a hat to wear at night - it can get cold, although DH reckons it's my poor circulation - he sleeps in a t-shirt and boxers while I'm in pjs fleece, hat and hottie. I think I read on another thread that it's best to take a box of wine, so it doesn't tip over (also you get 3 litres)

pretty candles, we`ve just used one of these on hols in a friends flat..ho doesnt do cooking!!i twas brill and very powerful ,we didnt need it on full even for a huge pot of veg, take additional gas canisters as ours lasted one week but we didnt use it for all meals . but def worth it

prettycandles we use aliminium litewieght camping beds next too one another an put airbed on top then put fleece blanket on airbed we have large tent but get lectric hookup and electric blow heater its fab we go too llyn peninsula its beautiful very peaceful i love the warmth we pay 9 quid a nite with electric hook up we also take our quilt from home spare one and its so comfy we and our son is at least a foot off floor baby goes in moses basket between two camping chairs but next year she will be in travel cot in her inner tent good luck we love camping

• been online practically all day and can't find a campsite in New Forest that isn't 700 pitches in size that can squeeze in a tent and Kbear and the family for a week from 13th. Just want a small place - some sites are massive.

Anyone?????

Forest Holidays any good?

We use them for Forest of Dean (just got back) & facilities are good.

I have just this minute booked Holmsley which is run by Forest Holidays! It is 700 pitches - so much for a small and friendly campsite but desperation was creeping in. The New Forest is FULL.

As a newbie to camping I didn't realise you had to book so far in advance and I've had a stressful few days trying to find what I want and realise now I was too late!

So, 700 pitches, large and friendly hopefully, I can't wait to go now.

You'll be fine. We go to Bracelands, which is huge but well spread out. You hopefully make friends with those around you (we take our friends with us, but the kids always find some more { )and they have plenty of loo/shower blocks. To be honest, if you're surrounded by 399 other tents, what's another 200?

Have a great time. Post what the site is like as i've been interested in that one.

The thing is we are used to going to a wee site in the Scottish Highlands and having the place to ourselves so 700 pitches scared the hell out of me!

I'm sure it will be fine and, like you say, great for the kids (as long as they don't bring ALL their new friends back for tea in our tent!!).

I'll let you know how it goes!

Hi sallystrawberry! Unfortunately going on Saturday but will aim for a quiet corner - there must BE one! Am I an antisocial old bag but I don't like people when I'm on holiday - I like P&Q, just the "morning" on the way to the loos and then leave me alone. I have to be with people the rest of my life, I vant to be alone!

And I don't mind you asking - it's my own private idyll - Caolasnacon. Now don't all rush and spoil it! Seriously, it is wonderful, been going there all my life (first time I was 5 months old!). It's near Glencoe. May is the best time to go - always get great weather and no midges!

ssssh our secret right?

KBear, we are thinking of booking Holmsley for the Bank Hol wkd (for three families of four). Are we totally too late to get anything at this stage you think?

ps it took dh 2.5 hours to put up our new family tent in garden this pm. at one point he was saying we'd judt have to give up on the idea of camping en famille and stick it in cupboard under stairs forever! pmsl.

Seriously good self-inflating mattresses.

See you there then Strawb! DH's grandad came from Lewis - we hope to go there one day and check out the family connection! Now we have a tent the world is our oyster. Where are you from?

dinny - go to the website and check availability. It tells you the dates that it is full.

We haven't practised putting up the tent yet - DH is working constantly but Tuesday he's going on nights so in the day we will HAVE to have a go or there will be hundreds of people at Holmsley having a laugh at our expense. Cue the slow hand clap when it takes us four hours to put it up!

just have, Kbear - it's full! thinking of Ocknell (sp>?)

dunno - it's from Argos (amateur camper that I am - didn't want to spend loads and got it in the sale too!). It's a frame tent, sleeps five. It'll do us in the New Forest but there's a gail known to blow up at Caolasnacon so maybe we need something more expensive up there. We usually have a caravan anyway - few home comforts never go amiss.

Tell them I sent you! Karen from Kent - they'll know!

dinny - I hope you don't have to spend all day on the net like I did yesterday (what kids?!!) finding something. good luck.

I just hope we all like camping. I love being outside, especially early morning, quiet, coffee in one hand, packet of biscuits in the other, kicking back in my chair watching the day unfold! Misty eye memories of camping with the guides too - what a laugh we had. Might be more of a challenge with DH and no telly!!