Camping

[alisonbestford]

Well, guess I'm on some kind of mission, being able to plan 'stuff' that we've been able to do for a number of years

My question, this time, is to those of you who take the family camping

I'm, seriously, considering buying a tent but wonder if anyone has any recommendations on tents, child friendly sites etc

I've been looking at 5 or 6 man tents, with a living area (just in case the 'big kids' come)........The problem is that I have visions of sleeping in the car after I've thrown the tent poles down the hill in despair...............

A DF suggests I need to 'twirl' my hair and look puzzled so's some burly bloke will come to our rescue..................

Don't think I'm 'fluffy' enough to do that - I'm more likely to be standing there swearing like a trouper with an open wine bottle and frighten them away...................

As I say, just wild thoughts at the moment but, if you can't ask your friends..................

 

[natalielongstaff]

I would reccomend NOT camping

 

[jjk]

sorry dont know much about camping , im more of a hotel with room service sort of girl

 

[Hilary]

We had lots of camping trips with our DDs when they were younger, but we haven't been now for a good few years so I don't know whether any of this is still relevant!

We started out in the Blacks 4-berth frame tent my parents had bought about 20 years earlier! - very sturdy but pretty basic. Although we liked the camping itself, the preparation and packing seemed never-ending and put us off going away for just a weekend because it took us all week to get sorted! We persevered for a few years and then decided to try a trailer tent, the idea being that we could leave a lot of the gear in the trailer ready for the next trip.

We bought a second-hand Trigano trailer tent - built like a tank but incredibly heavy to put up! After a few years of muscle-building with the Trigano we upgraded to an ex-demo Conway trailer tent - lighter than the Trigano with acres of space and very comfortable for the four of us (it could easily accommodate 6+), but it was noticably less durable than the Trigano had been. We had some great trips with this, and even featured in a camping magazine writing a review of it! It's still going strong with my SIL and her family When we sold on the Conway I felt really lost without a tent to hand, so we bought a 6-man dome (can't remember the brand), but I'm ashamed to say I haven't used it yet, although DD has made good use of it with her mates!

We found the standard of camp sites improved over the years (or maybe we just got fussier and picked ones with better facilities! ) and there was a whole range available from the 'field and a bucket' type right through to those with laundry rooms, swimming pools and entertainment laid on. There seems to be something for everyone, depending on what you want.

If you want to know any of the specific sites we used (although it was 5 - 15 years ago), just ask

DD and her BF have just bought a 2-man tent from Tesco for a festival weekend, but that might not be big enough for your brood!

 

[Camping Kid]

Hi,

We camp regularly with the kids (I run a kids outdoor store - though we don't sell tents). The tent we use is an Outwell Montana 4. This has a head height fly sheet so you don't have to spend all your time crawling around and an inner tent that provides two sleeping pods in addition to a "sitting room". It is easy to put up but is quite heavy and needs two people to errect it unless it is completly wind-less.

As we have two small children (age 6 and 2) I usually sleep in one pod with the toddler and my son sleeps in the other pod with hubby. We have recently added a dog to the family camp trips so they have become even more hectic, but great fun.

The kids love camping and I would recommend it to everybody who wants an inexpensive way to get real quality time with their kids - our six year old is usually a bit of a geek (did I really say that about my own son!) but once he has seen the tent some out he turns into the wild man of the woods.

I hope you find a tent you like and good luck with your camping trips.

 

[Camping Kid]

Forgot to say the following sites are pretty useful for finding camspite reviews/family friendly sites;

ukcampsite.co.uk/
campinguk.com/
lastditchpitch.com/

And if you consider camping regularly it is worth joining the camping and caravanning club just for their campsite guide - it provides really good info about famliy friendly sites.

 

[carolfoy]

A DF suggests I need to 'twirl' my hair and look puzzled so's some burly bloke will come to our rescue..................

:

If the GGG was anything to go by, I'd say it works

 

[saratogagirl]

If the GGG was anything to go by, I'd say it works

Yes it certainly worked for Carol, little girl lost look, and she was surrounded by Welsh men keen to put up her tent I hope you will be joining us at GGG3 - next year it will be sunny

 

[alisonbestford]

If the GGG was anything to go by, I'd say it works

Best get 'twirling' then......I still think being blonde provides an unfair advantage when it comes to the 'little girl lost' look though
I've often considered throwing a blonde wig into the car for occasions when I 'need a man'

Thanks for all your suggestions.
I'd actually looked at the Montana 4 at the local camping shop - it looked pretty good
I'm still in the thinking stages but, looking out on the rain, I'm not so certain........

Definitely 'up for' the GGG next year
Will it be in Wales?
I love a man with a Welsh accent
Off to practise 'twirling'