Happy Camping….

May 8, 2010 By Cassandra
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Does anyone go camping?

We’ve never been before but are seriously considering trying it this year in the Summer holidays. I was hoping we might be able to have a more exotoc holiday, or at least one that involves an aeroplane but unless we win the lotter it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen so we thought camping in the UK might be a good alternative.

To practice, we’ve bought a little 2 man tent from B&Q (complete bargain at £11) and set it up in the garden. It was a loads easier than I thought to set up although to be fair we do appear to have a few spare ropes and pegs left over so somethings not quite right! But it’s looking sturdy enough and the kids are pretending to sleep out in it at the minute so I’ve just put the spare bits back in the box

Not bad for a tenner. We’ve seen a four man, 2 bedroomed tent for £99 and that includes, airbeds, sleeping bags and all sorts of camping stuff that apparently I wont be able to live without if we do go, but we thought we would try the smaller one in the garden first – Baby steps and all that!

I can’t decide if I could handle camping, I just can’t see how you could have a good nights sleep in a tent! And what do you do if you need a wee in the night, or when it’s time for a shower and where would I plug my straighteners in lol. Then there’s my main concern (apart from spiders that is) what do you do if it rains!

Seriously though, I think it might be a great way to get away cheaply so I’m going to have a look into it a bit more. If anyone knows any good campsites or anywhere I can find out about them, I’d be really grateful.

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Lou · 777 weeks ago

Check out <a href="http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk" target="_blank">www.ukcampsite.co.uk for loads of advice on tents and camping :)
We go regularly! (at least try to!) Some peoply may advise getting a large tent (e.g an 8 berth for 4 people), but it really depends on your wants/needs. We are a family of 5 and have a 4 berth tent with my eldest in a small 'pup' tent. I cannot be doing with the weight, size and time taken to put up a huge tent, but then we only go for weekends. If we went for weeks, then it might be different. Anyway, ukcampsite does have lots of advice so it's worth checking out. Take your time to make the right choices re tent/sleeping bags etc, you'll be thankful in the long run if you get it right first time.

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

You're a star - Thanks very much for the advice. I'm going to have a good
look round that website.

I think a four berth one will do us at the moment as the kids are still
quite little but I can see why we could want a bigger one in a few years time.

Thanks again
x

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Pamela · 777 weeks ago

We didn't do too much tent camping as we had a caravan when we were younger but I do remember one excursion to St. Bees. My schoolfriend and I slept outside in the tent and it was loads of fun. We stayed at a campground because we weren't the rustic-type of family that can do without the loos and showers, but we did cook on a camp stove. I went camping years later, again with the loo/shower hut within walking distance, and we had a great time sitting by the campfire and roasting marshmallows.

One pot meals are the best for camping food and if you're really organized, prep (wash and chop up) all the ingredients you can so you can just toss everything into the pot. A tin of ham with green beans and potatoes was always a camping favorite as was any kind of beefy stew, and then there are always the BBQ options - hamburgers and hot dogs. If you can find a campground near a beach, Miss and Master Frugal will have so much fun!

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Sue Smith · 777 weeks ago

Camping....no way Jose! It was hard enough to get me in a caravan! S x

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Mel D'raven-Smit · 777 weeks ago

We took our 5 and 4 year olds camping at Broadways at Cheddar last year and they absolutely loved it. It's a really good camp site with swimming pool and play area. They didn't go to sleep until 10 as they had so much fun.

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Nat · 777 weeks ago

camping and me not a match, 4-5* hotels much better :D We bought masses of camping gear years back for when we drove across Australia, camping at 38C also not nice lol

but I hope you enjoy it!

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themadhouse · 777 weeks ago

Uk Camping has some great advise on sites, do a test run at Rosedale, where there is a great little camp site. we will be digging out our tent again shortly.

My secret, a tent you can stand up in (for the inevitable rain and getting dressed), wine, thermals and fairy lights

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ahumdrummum · 777 weeks ago

Having camped loads as a child, we've rediscovered it thru Elf's eyes a few years ago and had our first proper holiday last June on the Isle of Wight. It was brilliant. We also camp a few weekends a year around the south coast, not far from home but far enough to feel like it's a break. In order to sleep at night, you need half a bottle of wine, some thermals, and a hot choc before bed. And most places have vanity rooms where we use our straighteners. (That's me and my friend A not my OH!) We are on the verge of glamping, but you have to be comfortable. It doesn't cost THAT much, it's just that you need lots of stuff. But honestly the kids love it, off for Gruffalo hunts in the woods, long days on the beach and they sleep quite well too. In fact A just texted me to say they'd been playing pretend camping in their front room with their 4 year old daughter Miss M! Enjoy and report back. -HMx

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Jo Anne · 777 weeks ago

I am the worlds worst according to my husband! A real Princess and the Pea so to speak, but a couple of years ago we wanted to stay at a car club event and so bought a tent. I like my luxury, so we bought a 2 bed, 1 living room, tent that was tall enough to stand up in. (it cost 140 quid from Blacks) I would say go somewhere like that to buy from and do not go the Argos/Homebase/B&Q route, as they will not be waterproof enough or stand up the the gales you may be unfortunate enough to get. Our initial outlay was about £200 with the camping stove, air beds etc (you can get them from Tesco!) and make sure you get the pump that hooks up the the lighter in the car, it's much easier that blowing beds up yourself and only takes about 5 mins.
To cut a long story short, we had a fantastic time and used it a fair few times, including in gale force winds and rain and thunder - you crawl into your bedroom and get inside your sleeping bad and everything is fine.
You will have a great time....
We have just bought a touring van and used it for the first time this weekend, so I'll blog the results of what happened.
Relax, and go with the flow is my philosophy now, as least the cost of a holiday is reduced to durt cheap doing it the campung and caravan clubn way LOL x

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makedomum · 777 weeks ago

I love camping although not done it with baby in tow (we are going to Whitstable soon to see how we get on). The Guardian lists some interesting campsites http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/camping. We stayed at this campsite in St Ives http://www.chycor.co.uk/ayr/index.htm which had plush toilets and not a spider in sight, plus it was cheap and overlooked the sea - perfect!

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frugal queen · 777 weeks ago

I worked/cleaned at Tencreek holiday park, in between Looe and Polperro - lots of families with children and all seemed to be enjoying themselves, lots of nice places to visit (including me - come on over with the kids for a cuppa!) where you don't need money - other than to pay to park or fuel to get there.

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frugal queen · 777 weeks ago

to add to this - we've camped in France for years! if you can take the kids in term time, you will get a very cheap crossing, I can recommend southern brittany/carnac - lovely for familes - try the site Camping les druides - we've been for over ten years and it just gets better every year

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

I'm with you on the rustic camping front - I definitely need showers and toilets lol.

The kids are so excited by the whole idea of it and I like the idea of the campfire and marshmallows x

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

Lol - you can borrow my tent after I've tried it.

You might even convert to a true camper x

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

That sounds like the sort of place we're looking for, thanks very much x

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

Thats a good idea, not too far from home.

I love the idea of fairly lights too but not the inevitable rain lol

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

Oh you've made it sound like something I definitely want to do now!

I think it was the wine and the fact I could have straighteners that did it lol

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

A 2 bed, 1 living room tent sounds like just what I need!

Some really good tips there, thanks very much x

I look forward to reading about your new adventures soon x

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

Thanks for thise links, I'm definitely going to check them out. I like the sound of the toilets and no spiders place!

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

Thats exactly the sort of place I fancy, somewhere with lots of other kids and families and you would be an added bonus ;-)

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

Funnily enough hubby just suggested France if we manage to get into the whole camping thing.... Am excited to try it now!

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Jordiegirl · 777 weeks ago

When I was a kid we always went camping as we couldn't afford any other sort of holiday and I loved it. I'd love to do it again but my hubby likes his home comforts.

I'm sure your little ones would love it, it will be an adventure for them. Give it a go, if you don't like it you don't have to do it again.

Camp sites these days have showers blocks etc etc all mod cons, not like when we went camping in the early 1960s.

If you need to go in the night you can opt for traipsing across the campsite in the dark to the toilet block or just go in a bucket like in the good old days.

Have fun.

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tracyo · 777 weeks ago

looks like fun! The kids will have a blast....we are going to try it out this summer too :O)

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magicmummy · 777 weeks ago

I'm really looking forward to it now x

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