The Camping Forum

[uptonfamily]

We spent most of last summer waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for a nice weekend for our first camping trip since DD was born (she was 2 in Nov!)

We took DS when he was a baby but even the most understanding of family campers could not have put up with DD through the night. We love her and we struggled at times!!!!

Anyway, the one weekend that had a good forcast we were more or less set to go. I called the site we had in mind and they were booked up. Called another, and another, and another. The same response. NOWHERE had space for us.

We stayed at home

We did eventually get one trip in the first weekend in september - it was wet and cold but the kids loved it and with 4 adults squished into our vango somthing-or-other 500 we kept reasonably warm in the evening!

So, how far in advance do you book your site? I kind of like the idea of DH calling from work on a Thursday to say weather forcast is good, let's get off tomorrow; is spontaneous camping not really possible?

Rachel

[in-a-tent]

We've booked to go away MayDay BH already and will be booking our July/August trips pretty soon.

That said we managed to book for an August BH on the Tuesday before in 2008, so it is possible.

Part of why we book ahead is that we go with family and friends and so it takes a little organisation.

[Admin]

We spent most of last summer waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for a nice weekend for our first camping trip since DD was born (she was 2 in Nov!)

We took DS when he was a baby but even the most understanding of family campers could not have put up with DD through the night. We love her and we struggled at times!!!!

Anyway, the one weekend that had a good forcast we were more or less set to go. I called the site we had in mind and they were booked up. Called another, and another, and another. The same response. NOWHERE had space for us.

We stayed at home

We did eventually get one trip in the first weekend in september - it was wet and cold but the kids loved it and with 4 adults squished into our vango somthing-or-other 500 we kept reasonably warm in the evening!

So, how far in advance do you book your site? I kind of like the idea of DH calling from work on a Thursday to say weather forcast is good, let's get off tomorrow; is spontaneous camping not really possible?

Rachel

First off. Babys and camping.. babys cry in the night sometimes they cry alot. It happens.. And we put up with it.. not put up with it in a bad way. perhaps accept it is a better word. you will always have some that don't but don't worry about those its not going to harm them in anyway.

If it helps when pitching try and find a pitch that is away from others if possible but honeslty dont worry about to much.

As for booking ahead.. We do try but often change our minds whilst away (we tend to do a few stops on a longer break) 2008 we canceled one stop in favour of having a longer stay at another destination we were in Germany (minden) and were meant to be stoping for a city break around Frankfurt but I had had sun stroke was pretty tired and wanted to do an 8 day stop instead of 4 days in Frankfurt and another 4 in the black forrest. I drove us for 8 hours (with stops) all the way down to the Black Forrest My wife spent the entire time looking through Alan Rogers guide and ringing round to find a site. pretty much every site had space for us.

In the UK though sites do tend to book up especially school holidays and bank holidays.

So always try and book in advance.. If you want to do spure of the moment then parks with less facilitys will be better options as those with electric hookup, shop on site etc. etc. will always be first to go.

[Admin]

Here you go.

Rememberd this one from a while back.

Camping with little ones

[Rob-merlin1973]

We tend to book in advance and have most of the year done
April 30th long weekend at Pillaton pools campsite to see what it is like and make sure all the gear is ok

http://www.pillatonpools.co.uk/ will just turn up

May Shell island for 5 days

http://www.shellisland.co.uk/ No booking allowed just turn up and pitch

June Long weekend in Blackpool

http://www.highbank-farm.com/ Booked

July The Hole In the Wall Festival for 3 days

http://www.holeinthewallconcert.co.uk/ Booked

August Whitehill Country Park in Devon for one week

http://www.whitehill-park.co.uk/ Booked

September Camping Forum Campout will have to be booked

TBC

This is just our preference as we like to be sure to get EHU on sites that have it and also becouse our tent is quite large we like to book a big enough space.

[uptonfamily]

thanks

Will take a look at that site.

DD isn't a problem now. She's 2 and a bit and a little sweetie but she was rarely sweetness and light whilst she was a baby!

Though I best clear that up incase we do make the camp-out!

right, best go and make some plans for this year and make some bookings

Rachel x