Camping with family

[skydive80]

Hi guys

My kids have been asking to go camping for years but the idea of it scares the hell out of me, but I have now give in and agreed to it.

I have 3 boys and the youngest is two, so do you have any tips of good tents, good pitches and most important tips in general, live nere swindon so need somewhere close just incase I chuck my toys out of my pram.

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[pimpnutz]

You could try somewhere like the forest of dean area. Very friendly sites, and not to far away should you wish to pack up n go home.

1 tip 4 ya, Dont 4get bog roll




Halfords currently have some good deals going on at the moment, or try Go outdoors.

[skydive80]

Lol did not even think of loo roll, good tip thanks mate

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[cresad67]

Hi

Me and the missus took all 3 of our kids camping untill they left home , the one main thing I would say is get the biggest tent you can cause if it's wet ( in the UK ? ) you'll need it. We started with a frame tent - It was big enough to get our car with our 5ft trailer on the back inside to unload when wet.

Also I found that the cheap stuff from halfords etc tends to be thin , it gets cold in tents at night. We actually used airbeds with sheets and quilts instead of sleeping bags.

We still go camping now but it's just us and the dog in a trailer tent.

A good place to look for sites etc. is to go to the camping club site.

Adam

[Stuart 0366]

A bit of advice concerning size of tent...remember you will have to dry it out if it rains. Make sure you have space to do that when you get home. Also yes it gets cold. As well as sleeping bags take blankets or duvets...works for the missus ;-)

You always forget something so before you go make sure all the essentials are packed then the rest doesn't really matter (don't forget tin opener)

With the youngest being 2 make sure there are at least basic facilities at the site you decide on for obvious reasons. You don't want to be stuck at a site with no facilities when you need to clean something.

Airbeds or camp beds...depends on preference really but whichever put a blanket on the bed under your sleeping bag, it really does benefit believe me.

Pitch the tent so your door is away from the wind that way you don't have the wind blowing into the tent causing chaos.

And don't forget your alcohol for when the kids are finally asleep ;-)

[skydive80]

Thanks guys for all yr tips, so most impotant thing is beer and loo role,think I can cope with that. I'm easy myself just give me vodka,food and the misses and I'm happy

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[skydive80]

Thanks guys for all yr tips, so most impotant thing is beer and loo role,think I can cope with that. I'm easy myself just give me vodka,food and the misses and I'm happy

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Or any other willlng female

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[Lyrrad]

Sleeping mat's are a must, I've never used a blanket as suggest in earlier post. Best value is closed cell type that are not so bulky and sufficient for summer camping.


this is the best site for camping sites


I can't agree with bigger the better for camping. I just had weekend in East Grinstead here and it is so much harder to find a suitable pitch for a big tent compared to a small one. Of course you need to take into consideration your sleeping arrangements, but once you are asleep the amount of space surrounding you is irrelevant. Your central living area (if you choose to have one) again will be warmer the smaller it is, but that will not be such an issue if it is in summer.

If the ground is flat, excellent, but if there is a slope ensure the door is on the down-slope in case of rain.


edit: I TAKE 2 SETS OF CAR KEYS. I have shut the boot of my car with the keys in the boot twice. I'm a bit disorganised, but it's easy to do if you do find yourself going backwards and forwards to the boot of your car. Give the spare set to your missus

[Snowy79]

Check also for mobile phone signal where you go so you can order a Pizza.

[masur123]

Inflatable bed, with either battery or car lighter pump is essential.

Toilet roll
Torch
Camping chairs
Wash stuff
Gas stove with frying pan and pot
Some cutlery
I prefer 2 duvets over a sleeping bag, but thats just me

[toolmansteve]

hi matey, As you are in Swindon area , then head west and get yourself to somewhere like Weston Super Mare, lots of campsites there ---- with facilities ----and where ever you get your tent from, go somewhere -- back lawn --- local park --- and practice putting it up ( and down) and get it off to a fine art as Sods Law dictates it will be pissing down with rain when you are trying to get it up and it w ill save arguments -- and tears -- Have fun.

[Canker_Canison]

I take my little brother & nephew camping during the school holidays. Never from more than two days at any one time, any longer & I'd kill them.

Get the biggest tent you can handle. I prefer dome tents, but make sure there's an outer layer & the rooms fasten separately inside. If the tent has a single layer you will get wet if it rains.

Cooking wise, get a double burner or multiple single burners. The more you have the quicker they shut up whining about being hungry.
Also make sure you have enough pan & plate sets.

Don't forget the washing up liquid.


Lights - the more you have, the better. I use two LED camp lights that hang from the center of the tent. But I also have about 6 LED torches for those trips to the bushes.

Entertainment - plan for rainy days as well as the rare sunny ones.

If you never want to do it again, take a portable DVD player & some horror films.
From experience films like Dog Soldiers, Friday 13th, American Werewolf in London (up until he gets to london) & Shrooms work really well.
The last trip out I used Dog Soldiers with the gruesome twosome, but didn't take a tent, just some rope & tarps for a crude shelter. Set up in a small clearing of trees so the sides were completely open.
My nephew sensed movement around him during the night & opened his eyes..... my dog was stood over has head looking down on him. The little git nearly shat his pants. Mentally scared my little brother so bad he doesn't want to go camping again

[skydive80]

Many thanks for all your tips, each one has been taken with thanks, the kids now know I said yes so here we go

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[jips]

Good Luck. Hope you have better luck than me on my first trip.
Went to deepest Cornwall for a wedding. Campsite was a field, no facilities at all. Real Camping
Got the tent up OK, did the wedding etc. Then it started to rain...... then wind..... then thunder etc
Tent is an 8 man dome tent, put up by myself as the others starngely had better things to do!!
It was still up the next morning, with only minor leaks.
As it was still pelting down outside, we had breakfast in the living area, which was already quite large, but when we took the bedrooms down, was even better.
Only time we got really wet was taking it down, and night time peeing.
Good fun for a night, but next time will be fine weather!!!!

[patkins]

Skydive, it could be a great bonding experience or it could be.................