Camping with kids

[fairycakes69]

Thinking of taking the grankids camping age 7 and 4. Never been before, not sure how to narrow it down,there are loads of campsites. Wanting to stay in Angus only for a couple of nights, anyone been camping and have any tips on what sites to look for and what to do with them at night. Can borrow a 6 man tent and sleeping bags,so that at least is sorted.

[boxtops]

All the campsites on this page are child-friendly with playgrounds, not visited by me, but have a check.. http://www.ukcampsite...y=Angus&playground=on

[Barmaid]

Oh yes, boy have I been camping.

I would suggest that you look for campsites with either a common room/games room for in the evening - somewhere to go so you are not stuck in the tent. If it is raining it will get damp and cold quite quickly and then it is almost impossible to get warm unless you invest in a little Camping Gaz heater. If they are going to sleep on those rubber airbeds, take a couple of sheets to put on top (body heat will cause condensation and make the air beds wet and consequently you wake up at 4am absolutely frozen).

If you do have a heater, board games and card games are quite entertaining, even for little ones. You also need to consider how you will feed them. Will you eat out? If not, make sure you take plates, cups, cutlery, cooking equipment, a small stove, a washing up bowl. A cool bag is handy to store milk in and other perishables in (many campsites will let you put cool blocks in their freezers), but it never keeps quite so long. Given it is Scotland, you absolutely MUSt take waterproofs and wellies lol

[wolf63]

You might need thermals if you are planning a trip to Scotland. Remember the two most important things about camping - flushing toilets and hot showers.

[boxtops]

Or - for some REAL fun...... hot toilets & flushing showers ;)

[Barmaid]

lol wolf, I've not camped with flushing toilets and hot showers for about 15 years. All my camping has been done in a field with a burn for "facilities"......

[tonyav]

Don't forget to take your shovels.

[wolf63]

Barmaid - you sound like a female version of my brother. His three monsters love camping. I didn't get the camping gene.

Hot toilets sound fun too - I have a gurgling shower!

[Nibble]

Careful what you wish for, wolf, that might be your next Hotel..... :0)

[murraymints]

One BIG tip...don't do it !!!!!

[Mamyalynne]

Insect repellent.

[annie0000]

if you can stretch your location a wee bit, there is a campsite near pitlochry that has a indoor swimming pool and shop on site. can help entertain when the weather is poor.

[annie0000]

we take cartons of UHT milk - much nicer than it used to be - for breakfast in the morning :o)

[sherrardk]

Have you thought of hiring a touring caravan - bit like camping but not quite so drastic!

[Wharton]

Read the advice from murraymints again and again and....

[mike11111]

As part of my recruit training in the RAF we had to spend four nights under canvas. It was a source of amazement to me then, and still is, that some people do this for fun AND pay for the "privilege".

[WyeDyed]

It may be worth going on a "trial" camp over a weekend. Somewhere nearby to see if you all take to it.
At least then, if the kids or you hate it you're not stuck miles from home with a week to fill.

[annie0000]

we took ours when they were 2.5 and 1.5 and then chucked the tent away for many years. Trying to put the tent up with two littlies running around, tripping over guide ropes, wandering into other peoples tents, cars driving about etc They didn't get to sleep cos of the noise and then woke up as soon as it was light (about quarter to 4!!)and trying to keep them quiet and entertained until a reasonable hour (6am) was an experience!!

Since then they have gone away many times with cubs and scouts and OH takes them away from time to time. I did it when we went to a yurt which was luxury!! new tent now though so might risk it this summer now that they are older.

Have you considered a pre-erected tent or hut (wigwam)? That would be far easier :o)

[jomifl]

Mike, the whole point of my camping exploits was that it was free! I once camped in an abandoned gold mine.

[fairycakes69]

Hi thank you for all your answers. Like the games room tip, think that will be top of the list. We live in Angus so we're used to rain and cold. Only planning a couple of days,don't think I could do more. Beginning to think we might try out the garden first as a trial. God knows how long it will take us to put up the tent,with no instructions.

[B00]

"God knows how long it will take us to put up the tent,with no instructions. "

Definitely try it close to home first then! Nothing worse than trying to put up a tent you're unfamiliar with in the peeing down wind and rain!