First time camper - what do I need??
Discussion
My daughter who is 5 really wants me to take her camping and I am quite keen too!! But, I haven't camped since school which was a good few years ago now! It will only be me and her while the wife stays at home with the little one, I'm definately not brave enough to take a 6 month old camping (yet??!)
I have found a nice looking site which isn't too far from home if it all goes wrong and does 2 night stays, I have also found a place nearby that hires out tents and other stuff. Here come the questions!
I am looking at a 4/6 man tent so we have plenty of space if it rains, is there any disadvantage to this?
I can hire a table & chairs, sleep mats and lights from the camping place and we have sleeping bags... there is a fire pit on each pitch and you can buy logs there. Other than food/drink etc what else I am likely to need?
How do you keep cold food, milk etc from going off, is there normally a communal fridge or something?
This is the site www.hiddenspring.co.uk , anyone been?
Thanks in advance!!
I have found a nice looking site which isn't too far from home if it all goes wrong and does 2 night stays, I have also found a place nearby that hires out tents and other stuff. Here come the questions!
I am looking at a 4/6 man tent so we have plenty of space if it rains, is there any disadvantage to this?
I can hire a table & chairs, sleep mats and lights from the camping place and we have sleeping bags... there is a fire pit on each pitch and you can buy logs there. Other than food/drink etc what else I am likely to need?
How do you keep cold food, milk etc from going off, is there normally a communal fridge or something?
This is the site www.hiddenspring.co.uk , anyone been?
Thanks in advance!!
edthedead said:
How do you keep cold food, milk etc from going off, is there normally a communal fridge or something?
Coolbox with a couple of them frozen blue things in, I also freeze milk (in a pint plastic bottle) so it lasts a bit longer if im on an extended trip.Most of your food should be ambient food that you dont need to keep cool.
We've taken our daughter camping as a young baby and she loved it! She slept in a carrycot.
Tent wise there are many many tents on the market. I'd recommend going to somewhere like gooutdoors and having a glance at what's on offer. We started off in a cheapy 6man tent from lidl, did us well and is still being used by other members of the family. Places like halfords do 'starter' kits... They won't last you forever but the amount your going to pay on hiring equipment will be double the cost of buying... Lots of places do cheap camping stuff, pound shop, wilkos, supermarkets, tesco stock gelert tents cheap if you want slightly better than halfords own brand. There's also lots of camping kit check lists online you can use as a guide.
Take crockery, cutlery, pans etc from home. We use uht milk, but some sites do have freezers you can use to re-freeze ice blocks.
As long as your warm you'll be fine. I'd recommend taking fleece onsies for your daughter.
Oh and dont take bbq's into the tent... Even if you think the coals are out!!!
Tent wise there are many many tents on the market. I'd recommend going to somewhere like gooutdoors and having a glance at what's on offer. We started off in a cheapy 6man tent from lidl, did us well and is still being used by other members of the family. Places like halfords do 'starter' kits... They won't last you forever but the amount your going to pay on hiring equipment will be double the cost of buying... Lots of places do cheap camping stuff, pound shop, wilkos, supermarkets, tesco stock gelert tents cheap if you want slightly better than halfords own brand. There's also lots of camping kit check lists online you can use as a guide.
Take crockery, cutlery, pans etc from home. We use uht milk, but some sites do have freezers you can use to re-freeze ice blocks.
As long as your warm you'll be fine. I'd recommend taking fleece onsies for your daughter.
Oh and dont take bbq's into the tent... Even if you think the coals are out!!!
Tents probably your biggest outlay. Some campsites have pre erected tents you can hire/use.
Think about all the stuff you use at home in a normal day. Then think about what you would need to take and what you could take from home.
Look in cheap shops (pound stretcher, home bargains, TKmax etc) for stuff to take (plastic plates, disposable BBQ's etc)
Meals wise just take packets & tins.
Think about all the stuff you use at home in a normal day. Then think about what you would need to take and what you could take from home.
Look in cheap shops (pound stretcher, home bargains, TKmax etc) for stuff to take (plastic plates, disposable BBQ's etc)
Meals wise just take packets & tins.
I bought a Halfords starter kit. 4 man tent, two double airbeds and four envelope sleeping bags for about £100. I will probably invest in a better tent as the OH and her son will be joining me and my daughter on future excursions. Go Outdoors is excellent and they do deals that give really good value.
Double burner stove, cool box and freezer blocks, cutlery, crockery, pans, water carrier, collapsible chairs, stand for stove, gas bottle, gazebo for cooking under if it rains, torch/lanterns
I would say most of this is essential but you can do without some bits like the gazebo
And don't forget to get a mallet
Double burner stove, cool box and freezer blocks, cutlery, crockery, pans, water carrier, collapsible chairs, stand for stove, gas bottle, gazebo for cooking under if it rains, torch/lanterns
I would say most of this is essential but you can do without some bits like the gazebo
And don't forget to get a mallet
Davey S2 said:
Decent air bed and sleeping bag. If you are cold and uncomfortable during the night you're unlikely to want to camp again.
^^^ this. It can drop cold at the early dawn even in summer and whilst a few beers does wonders for getting you to sleep on a thin foam mat, it's not going to be ideal for your youngster. So something warm and comfortable to lie in is the most worthwhile kit you can buy, 2 air beds and something to pump them up with should be top of the list. As for tents I'd get one with lots of space which allows you both to stand up in, just in case it rains and you have to spend time inside during the day.
Edited by b2hbm on Saturday 30th June 05:32
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