camping first time

[Roger645]

Check here for sites, reviews kit, etc etc

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/

[Porkbrain]

condor said:

I'd agree re the amenities - however, where I'm camping for FoS there's a portaloo and a cold water outside tap...and I'm there 6 days.

A portaloo for 6 days - that will be plastered in crap after the first hour.

What you need is your own st box - you can savour the moment in the luxury of your own tent.

http://www.thebrowncorporation.com/

My daughter is a serial festival goer so I bought her one as a Christmas present

[tenohfive]

j4ckos mate said:

does anyone know one anglesey or south lakes with a bar on it or somewhere pretty busy so i can keep swmbo occupied, if shes not kept busy and it dawns on her, she wont go again.

This might tick the boxes - it was the first place I went camping and I'll be going again.
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revi...

Bayesbrown Farm in the Langdale Valley. Stunning valley that's lovely just to sit outside admiring, decent gastropub 5-10 mins walk away, basic but clean facilities and you can pitch wherever you want so you can get a bit of privacy. No nightlife or on site shop but the village is walking distance.

On the practical front two things I really found handy - alcohol handwash and a decent water container for cooking etc. It's a complete ballache wandering up to the facilities block every 5 minutes for water - much easier to lob it in the car and only have to do the run once.

[condor]

Porkbrain said:

A portaloo for 6 days - that will be plastered in crap after the first hour.

What you need is your own st box - you can savour the moment in the luxury of your own tent.

http://www.thebrowncorporation.com/

My daughter is a serial festival goer so I bought her one as a Christmas present

I remember seeing something like that on Dragon's Den and thinking I could make one myself

[YorkshirePudding]

TaRD said:

I think this place might do, I've not been but heard very good things about it.

http://www.shellisland.co.uk/

That place brings back some memories, spent a few summers there as a kid.

[aw51 121565]

Agoogy said:

condor said:

I've bought a solar-pwered shower to try out. You can get them for less than a fiver - still waiting for some sun so I can try it out.

is that one of those black bags with a watering can nozzle on it?
hmmm....yeah...'not all that' I'm afraid.... I bet they're great on the equator during the summer season...but elsewhere....babywipes all the way.

They generally get warm enough to do the washing up - and this has to be a better option than taking all the dirty dishes etc to the amenity hut to wash & dry them, having to go back for the washing up liquid and/or couple of tea towels that someone else (it's always someone else ) forgot, then staggering back to the tent again .

I paid a fiver for mine, last year.

[Agoogy]

aw51 121565 said:

They generally get warm enough to do the washing up - and this has to be a better option than taking all the dirty dishes etc to the amenity hut to wash & dry them, having to go back for the washing up liquid and/or couple of tea towels that someone else (it's always someone else ) forgot, then staggering back to the tent again .

I paid a fiver for mine, last year.

wash up?.....dry them?
novice...

[gazza285]

PaulHogan said:

Don't have a shag with the light on unless you want to provide a porno shadow show for the neighbours.

How they cheered though...

I learned that one the hard way.

[Merlin28]

Put clothes in waterproof bags nothing worse than having damp or wet clothes to stick on. Also don't be lazy and have a slash outside the tent in the night as you will be surprised at who is still up and watching you on campsites. Insect repellant spray and citronella candles too.

[blugnu]

Merlin28 said:

Put clothes in waterproof bags nothing worse than having damp or wet clothes to stick on. Also don't be lazy and have a slash outside the tent in the night as you will be surprised at who is still up and watching you on campsites. Insect repellant spray and citronella candles too.

I always keep my clothes and wash stuff in the car so there is more room in the tent and less chance of them getting wet. Plus if you go out for the day and get unexpectedly soaked / find an empty beach, you have everything with you. Pre-kid I used to jam my towel in the rear window (as people do to keep the sun off new babies) because it's a very effective way of drying them.

[Simes205]

Make it as comfortable as possible so that you'll be able to go again!!
A warmer climate helps.

We rarely camp in the UK now, but she's fine with 3 weeks in France!

[Cotty]

My basic set up

Popup tent (learn how to fold it before you leave, pegs and rubber mallet. Inflatable mattress & hand pump, 15tog sleeping bag, normal pillow. Thats the sleeping sorted.

Camping chair, cold box for beer, BBQ meat and milk. Wepper portable BBQ. Single burner stove for cup of tea in the morning. Plus millions of little things like mugs, plates, cutlery, kettle, ear plugs (especially if camping at a 24 hour motor race), sleep mask, toiletries, towel etc etc

[condor]

Agoogy said:

condor said:

I've bought a solar-pwered shower to try out. You can get them for less than a fiver - still waiting for some sun so I can try it out.

is that one of those black bags with a watering can nozzle on it?
hmmm....yeah...'not all that' I'm afraid.... I bet they're great on the equator during the summer season...but elsewhere....babywipes all the way.

Actually managed to try it out to-day with a couple of hours of sunshine, it did cloud over for the last 1/2 hour.
I tested it after 45 mins and the black bag was hot but the water coming out was cold. I gave it a shake and the black bag went cold again. I tested the water after the requisite 3 hours and the water was not tap cold, but cold nonetheless.
I suspect that Agoogy was right with his comments

[Johnnytheboy]

Worth doing a google search for pubs that also do camping, rather than campsites with bars.

More & more places do this. The Trooper in Stourton Caundle (Dorset) near me is one example. Every now and then we walk/drive over there, spend the night in the pub, then camp in the field out the back.

[aw51 121565]

Agoogy said:

aw51 121565 said:

They generally get warm enough to do the washing up - and this has to be a better option than taking all the dirty dishes etc to the amenity hut to wash & dry them, having to go back for the washing up liquid and/or couple of tea towels that someone else (it's always someone else ) forgot, then staggering back to the tent again .

I paid a fiver for mine, last year.

wash up?.....dry them?
novice...

Well, you know...

[Mave]

Take a decent sized thermos, and keep it up with hot water whenever you're cooking - means you can have a quick brew without constantly lighting up the cooker

[condor]

aw51 121565 said:

Agoogy said:

condor said:

I've bought a solar-pwered shower to try out. You can get them for less than a fiver - still waiting for some sun so I can try it out.

is that one of those black bags with a watering can nozzle on it?
hmmm....yeah...'not all that' I'm afraid.... I bet they're great on the equator during the summer season...but elsewhere....babywipes all the way.

They generally get warm enough to do the washing up - and this has to be a better option than taking all the dirty dishes etc to the amenity hut to wash & dry them, having to go back for the washing up liquid and/or couple of tea towels that someone else (it's always someone else ) forgot, then staggering back to the tent again .

I paid a fiver for mine, last year.

Yesterday I had the solar-power shower in the greenhouse and outside in the sun most of the day - still felt coolish to me.

Today - I left it in the car nearly all day on a tray in the passenger seat and it got to a reasonable warmth - enough to wet my hair, give it a quick wash with a 2-1 shampoo, rinse off and there were a few dregs left.

I think with these things, forget the sun - leave it in the car

[Cotty]

condor said:

I think with these things, forget the sun - leave it in the car

Or just fill it with a mix of cold and hot water after a brew.

[condor]

Needs a bit more than that

I'm quite happy with the results of my experiment and feel confident I can give an honest review to the place that sold/delivered it to me