We have just purchased a family tent, having decided it would be nice to get out and about without actually being labelled a caravanner.

Anyway, we're not going completely native, and plan to start off at sites with reasonable facilities and 'electric pitches'.

Do any of our forumites go camping on a regular basis?

I'm just looking for any pointers and helpful suggestions you can offer from your own experiences.

We have bought a tent, airbeds, sleeping bags, lanterns, table & chairs, cooler box/fridge effort, water container, gas stove and cookset. So, we have the main items covered. I think.

Cheers all.

Spreadie

Used to go with my parents a fair bit, haven't been in a while though.

Our tent was more like a house though, I'm 6ft 5in and I can stand up straight in it. But anyway, here's a bit of advice, set the tent up in your back garden first, learn how to put it up, nothing's worse than getting to the site and then having to read all the instructions, and work out which bloody pole goes where. Another thing? Avoid setting up the tent in strong winds, you end up wearing it.

I may think of some other stuff later, but I'm far too tired to do it atm.

Oh, out of interest, what tent you get?

1) Buy a pack of multi-coloured insulating tape from a DIY shop. Set up the tent in your back garden before you go and when you've figured out which sections of the pole go together, wrap matching pieces of the coloured tape round the member of each 'set'. That way when you come to put it up later, you won't have to spend half an hour figuring out which bits of pole go with which while you're under the gaze of all and sundry .

2) Take two methods of lighting the gas stove with you. If you take only a lighter, it will fail. If you take only matches, they will get damp. Guaranteed. So take both, they don't take up much space.

3) In fact, take a backup stove as well. You can get these tiny ones that are basically a few pieces of metal that fold out into an 'H' shaped stand and have fuel that looks like fire lighters. Whole thing folds up into something not much bigger than a pack of cards. That way if someone leaves the gas valve open you can at least make a cup of tea. plus if you're going out for the day, you can take it with you can make a cuppa on the way.

4) You might also find a head-torch useful. You can get those in some DIY shops too. Basically, it's a small torch fixed to a headband. You wear the headband and the torch shines where you look. There are times when it'll be dark and you'll want both hands free .

5) Setting up under a tree seems like a great way to get extra shelter but remember this - birds live in trees. And what a lot of birds do is.. err... empty their bowels as soon as they leave the nest/roosting point in the morning. So you're better of either right under the tree or far away from it. Man-made shelter however - walls, buildings etc is usually fine.

6) Don't leave food in the tent if you can. It's better off in the coolbox the car anyway and it can attract the local wildlife into the tent. OK, lions and what have you aren't an issue but try getting a goat out of your tent if it thinks there's more food in there. This really happened to a friend of mine.

7) Don't buy ready packed meals from camping shops. They're generally no better than the stuff you buy in supermarkets and cost more.

8) Take more food than you think you'll need. You'd be surprised how hungry being outdoors all day will make you.

If you're going away this week or next, take LOTS of sun cream. It's going to be full on summer.

Have fun!

Jon

Yep, first thing I did was put it up to make sure it was okay and to get an idea. It only took 20 minutes, I was well impressed. Of course, this was in a sheltered back garden, it could be a very different affair on a windy field somewhere.

It's an Outwell Nevada L.

We got it because Outwell seem to get a lot of positive write-ups, plus this one has an integrated ground sheet and fully sealing doors. My beloved wasn't too thrilled at the idea of creepy crawlies sneaking into the tent in the wee small hours.

The poles and slots are colour-coded, thankfully. But good tip nonetheless.


I hadn't thought about that one.


You mean like the hexamine burners you can get from army surplus? I think I may have one in the garage.


Check.



Thanks for the suggestions.

I went to http://www.lakedistrictcamping.co.uk/ca ... cliffe.htm

Really liked it. Choice of electric or standard. Close to Bowness. Nice shower facalities and cafe/bar/restaurant.

Google Map View

Yep, them's the thing. Couldn't remember the name .

Jon

I know it sounds like a very "camping Nazi" thing to do, but make sure to retain room integrity....ie. make sure you don't end up with crappy, mucky boots in the sleeping area. Half the pain of camping is having nowhere to relax in. A tent with 2 rooms is a godsend, as long as you keep one room for sleeping in only....

+1 million!!

The tent used has an entrance bit where the boots, cooker, etc stayed. Then two rooms. One for storage and one for me and the missus for sleeping. No messy muck.

Just go !!!!!!

Don't pitch you tent where it might flood. Enjoy the outdoors and breathe in the smell of the outdoors.

If the worst comes to the worst... you're only a ride away from home !

The bigger the tent, the more comfortable and sociable it is. I bought THIS beast for less than half price on ebay. My mates love it.

Bring one laptop.
Bring one copy of Nuts In May.
Watch and enjoy with a bottle of something nice.

Make a good check of the ground area before setting up.

Shouldn't be a problem in a proper camp site, but last time I went camping, we managed to pitch our tent in the one part of the field where someone had dumped a load of old bricks and rubble, then covered it with a thin layer of earth.
That, combined with the fact that we forgot to bring a sleeping bag , made for a pretty uncomfortable nights sleep.

We did remember to bring the beer though, so it wasn't all bad!

Yeah, that's a thing, you don't want to tear the ground sheet, happened to us a few times, weren't at all happy!!

As for the Profs' idea of a laptop, I would advise against it, the chances of having an electrical hookup capable of powering a laptop, or even charging it are beyond slim, IIRC the hookup runs at something measly like 5v I may be wrong, but pretty sure I'm not.

Try not to pitch on an ants nest.



That would need a 100 square meter plot, which is bigger than my house!