Help going to car fest
Discussion
I have camping tickets for car fest north. Going with wife and two kids 6 &9. I have camped before 30 years ago the rest have not.
I've got a gerlert horizon 10 tent because she likes a big one! Blow up beds lights for the tent and sleeping bags.
What else should I take. I'm thinking practical like spare tent poles gaffer tape etc and comfort.
I don't want to fork out for a hotel as well as the gelert mansion. Btw had a trial pitch today at around 2 hours on my own is that any good? Any tips much appreciated.
I've got a gerlert horizon 10 tent because she likes a big one! Blow up beds lights for the tent and sleeping bags.
What else should I take. I'm thinking practical like spare tent poles gaffer tape etc and comfort.
I don't want to fork out for a hotel as well as the gelert mansion. Btw had a trial pitch today at around 2 hours on my own is that any good? Any tips much appreciated.
Well time wise I can get my Horizon 6 up in about 15 minutes with one half witted helper (SWMBO) but given size I can't imagine it being easy on your todd. It gets easier the more you do it though.
As for the extra things:
1. Alcohol hand wash.
2. Baby wipes.
3. Bin bags.
4. Dettol style wipes
5. 25L water bottle with a tap (and something to prop it on - a couple of planks of bricks will do.)
6. Camping tables (Gelert do some cheap ones) - one for kitchen/food storage, one for eating around.
7. Fabreeze (more relevant for longer than a weekend.)
8. Headtorches (I've got a couple of cheap Ring Cybalites, they do perfectly.)
I'm assuming you've got some sort of gas stove? If not, the bigger the better, Campgaz ones are pretty good. And a camping kettle is an easy way of getting some water boiling.
If you can stand them, instant coffee (2 in 1 or 3 in 1) saves some faff.
Probably fairly obvious but pack stuff together by area i.e. cutlery, stove, plates etc in the kitchen bag. Saves time packing and unpacking. And if possible the tent should be near the top of the pile when you pack.
As for the extra things:
1. Alcohol hand wash.
2. Baby wipes.
3. Bin bags.
4. Dettol style wipes
5. 25L water bottle with a tap (and something to prop it on - a couple of planks of bricks will do.)
6. Camping tables (Gelert do some cheap ones) - one for kitchen/food storage, one for eating around.
7. Fabreeze (more relevant for longer than a weekend.)
8. Headtorches (I've got a couple of cheap Ring Cybalites, they do perfectly.)
I'm assuming you've got some sort of gas stove? If not, the bigger the better, Campgaz ones are pretty good. And a camping kettle is an easy way of getting some water boiling.
If you can stand them, instant coffee (2 in 1 or 3 in 1) saves some faff.
Probably fairly obvious but pack stuff together by area i.e. cutlery, stove, plates etc in the kitchen bag. Saves time packing and unpacking. And if possible the tent should be near the top of the pile when you pack.
If using airbeds I would get some form of insulation mat to go underneath them. Stops them getting cold from the ground. Incidentially it will be too late now, but we have moved from a double to two singles, several reasons for this but ones to consider are that a hole in the bed means that at least one of you still sleeps, its easier and cheaper to replace a single, dont get woken up by the other person moving etc.
Another thing to bear in mind is that CarFest is run as a "Festival" and so they don't allow you to take your car onto the campsite - you need to move everything manually from your vehicle to wherever your tent will be (which I think is a bit odd for a "Car" Festival..) we took a sack barrow last year which worked well to transfer everything, but it makes it easier if you pack everything into something like large plastic boxes that can be carried more easily.
Sounds good :-)
Its all pretty secure, this is Middle England / Radio 2 transported to a field
They have security, who are pretty funny as they are obviously mainly used to wilder festivals and don't seem to allow for the fact that the main audience is mid thirties with two kids in tow rather than stoned teenagers looking for a "crazy" time.
Its all pretty secure, this is Middle England / Radio 2 transported to a field
They have security, who are pretty funny as they are obviously mainly used to wilder festivals and don't seem to allow for the fact that the main audience is mid thirties with two kids in tow rather than stoned teenagers looking for a "crazy" time.
We're going to Overton on the Saturday this year, missed the camping tickets sadly. Friends went there (not North and the site has changed anyway) last year, and pitch selection was key as you're camping on a slope, so get to the top. Other comment was, as mentioned lugging your gear. They had a great time though.
We went to Cholmondeley last year with 7 mates, and there are 10 of us going again this year.
In our experience, it was totally safe, we left our stoves/tables/chairs out all weekend and had no issues (usual sensible precautions apply!). There was a relaxed vibe about the place, very family and especially child friendly. I think if you're thinking this is a way to get the family into camping, then it's a very good way to do it. We were very lucky with the weather, as it only drizzled down on the Monday morning as we were packing up.
We got there early last year, within an hour or 2 of the gates being opened, (local knowledge of the roads meant we avoided a delay from an accident that caught a lot of people on the way in), and this year, I think we'll be doing the same, hopefully getting there first thing so we can all pitch in the same area. If anyone knows where they plan on putting the tents at Oulton, then can they let me know as it'll influence which back road I take!
As has been said, they don't allow to take your car to where you're camping, so even though you'll be taking your barrow/sack truck etc, don't worry if it doesn't fit in the car as they do hire them out. We had a sack truck and a barrow between us, and that was sufficient for us with a couple of trips. They also don't allow glass bottles, so either hide them where they don't clink, or take tins/plastic. They didn't tell anyone this until we got to the actual ticket entrance last year, and I had a bit of "chat" with the muppet on the entrance about it not being specified on the T's & C's they'd sent through. I think this policy was more geared to helping the companies who had stands during the event, as a number of them were selling drinks in bottles (they also stopped you returning back to the event arena with the glass bottles you'd bought previously - very strange). Also, there are no campfires or charcoal bbq's allowed, however gas bbq's seemed to be acceptable last year (now, according to the website, they are apparently not).
There were plenty of loo's, and several shower blocks, all cleaned several times during the weekend. There was also a campsite shop on site as well, however they did run out of the essentials like milk by Sunday (I ended up buying a spare carton of UHT from a random family who were leaving before us). There was also a designated quiet area that you could pitch your tents, however if I'm honest the whole site was pretty quiet - not like other festivals...
Overall, a pretty decent weekend with music, beer and cars
ETA, you asked about your beer going walkies, well we had a 4 gallon 'box' of beer set up all weekend outside (kept cool under wet towels), and this wasn't touched by anyone apart from ourselves
In our experience, it was totally safe, we left our stoves/tables/chairs out all weekend and had no issues (usual sensible precautions apply!). There was a relaxed vibe about the place, very family and especially child friendly. I think if you're thinking this is a way to get the family into camping, then it's a very good way to do it. We were very lucky with the weather, as it only drizzled down on the Monday morning as we were packing up.
We got there early last year, within an hour or 2 of the gates being opened, (local knowledge of the roads meant we avoided a delay from an accident that caught a lot of people on the way in), and this year, I think we'll be doing the same, hopefully getting there first thing so we can all pitch in the same area. If anyone knows where they plan on putting the tents at Oulton, then can they let me know as it'll influence which back road I take!
As has been said, they don't allow to take your car to where you're camping, so even though you'll be taking your barrow/sack truck etc, don't worry if it doesn't fit in the car as they do hire them out. We had a sack truck and a barrow between us, and that was sufficient for us with a couple of trips. They also don't allow glass bottles, so either hide them where they don't clink, or take tins/plastic. They didn't tell anyone this until we got to the actual ticket entrance last year, and I had a bit of "chat" with the muppet on the entrance about it not being specified on the T's & C's they'd sent through. I think this policy was more geared to helping the companies who had stands during the event, as a number of them were selling drinks in bottles (they also stopped you returning back to the event arena with the glass bottles you'd bought previously - very strange). Also, there are no campfires or charcoal bbq's allowed, however gas bbq's seemed to be acceptable last year (now, according to the website, they are apparently not).
There were plenty of loo's, and several shower blocks, all cleaned several times during the weekend. There was also a campsite shop on site as well, however they did run out of the essentials like milk by Sunday (I ended up buying a spare carton of UHT from a random family who were leaving before us). There was also a designated quiet area that you could pitch your tents, however if I'm honest the whole site was pretty quiet - not like other festivals...
Overall, a pretty decent weekend with music, beer and cars
ETA, you asked about your beer going walkies, well we had a 4 gallon 'box' of beer set up all weekend outside (kept cool under wet towels), and this wasn't touched by anyone apart from ourselves
Edited by jep on Wednesday 24th July 15:00
I'm also not sure what else to say... it's not as if it's a polar expedition, it's middle-England and Carfest at Oulton Park
There are lots of stands for food and drink so you won't go hungry. As long as you're warm and dry (airbeds/duvet's or sleeping bags), have some bacon, baps, teabags and a kettle for brekkies, just rock up and enjoy the weekend!
If you want to get an idea of what other Carfest-goers are taking, then this probably has most of it in (obv with 10 in my group, then there will be sharing of some things, but you get the gist!):
(Personal)
Tent: 5-man HiGear Windermere 5 with double airbed, duvet and pillow.
Tent lights: 2 sets of 3 x single led lights that are battery powered and hung from the tent ceiling in each area of the tent.
Picnic rug for the tent entrance/living area.
Camping chair.
Head torch.
Spare batteries for anything that I'm taking.
Headphones.
Bog roll.
Baby wipes/hand sanitiser.
Ear plugs/eye mask so as not to be woken up at 4am from birds/sunlight.
Towel and some microfibre cloths.
Multi-pack of bottled water.
(Communal)
Hand pump to top up the airbed (we all inflated ours from a compressor at the car before taking to the tents last year, much easier).
Folding table(s)/pop-up shelves.
Stove (at least 2 or 3 rings) with some extra gas.
Kettle/frying pan/saucepan/mug/knife/kitchen utensils (all plates/cutlery are paper/plastic and disposable).
Penknife.
Fairy liquid/sponge/washing up bowl (collapsible if poss).
Beer/wine/spirits/cocktail shaker/bottle opener/corkscrew.
Couple of coolbags/boxes, one with just ice in that will hopefully last a couple of days.
Extra UHT milk (prob throw away whatever's not used at the end of each day and start a fresh one each morning).
Bottled water/water container.
Bin bags.
First aid kit with extra blister plasters.
Sack truck/wheelbarrow.
That's the main stuff, obv some may be considered luxuries, but if you've got the space in the tent/car (which I do on both fronts) then there's no point in not taking it if it makes the weekend any better.
Last year, we pitched our tents in a tight circle around the table/chairs, and this year we're thinking about a gazebo to leave up in the middle of the tents just in case it rains, however that may be a bit overkill. There were lots of people who had a tent and put a gazebo up next to it (or windbreaks/bunting etc), so it's not as though they took a hard line to cramming the tents in shoulder to shoulder next to each other.
Also, even though it may be tempting to pitch next to the main paths through the campsite so you can find your tents easily, last year they had lights strung up that were on all night, so may be better to go slightly further away from where everyone walks. IF you think you will need help to find your tent, buy a big helium balloon or 2 and tie it to the top of the tent (we had a big fire-engine and Lightning McQueen tied to 2 of our tents which helped the late arrivals to find us).
Whatever happens, I'm sure you'll have a fab weekend.
There are lots of stands for food and drink so you won't go hungry. As long as you're warm and dry (airbeds/duvet's or sleeping bags), have some bacon, baps, teabags and a kettle for brekkies, just rock up and enjoy the weekend!
If you want to get an idea of what other Carfest-goers are taking, then this probably has most of it in (obv with 10 in my group, then there will be sharing of some things, but you get the gist!):
(Personal)
Tent: 5-man HiGear Windermere 5 with double airbed, duvet and pillow.
Tent lights: 2 sets of 3 x single led lights that are battery powered and hung from the tent ceiling in each area of the tent.
Picnic rug for the tent entrance/living area.
Camping chair.
Head torch.
Spare batteries for anything that I'm taking.
Headphones.
Bog roll.
Baby wipes/hand sanitiser.
Ear plugs/eye mask so as not to be woken up at 4am from birds/sunlight.
Towel and some microfibre cloths.
Multi-pack of bottled water.
(Communal)
Hand pump to top up the airbed (we all inflated ours from a compressor at the car before taking to the tents last year, much easier).
Folding table(s)/pop-up shelves.
Stove (at least 2 or 3 rings) with some extra gas.
Kettle/frying pan/saucepan/mug/knife/kitchen utensils (all plates/cutlery are paper/plastic and disposable).
Penknife.
Fairy liquid/sponge/washing up bowl (collapsible if poss).
Beer/wine/spirits/cocktail shaker/bottle opener/corkscrew.
Couple of coolbags/boxes, one with just ice in that will hopefully last a couple of days.
Extra UHT milk (prob throw away whatever's not used at the end of each day and start a fresh one each morning).
Bottled water/water container.
Bin bags.
First aid kit with extra blister plasters.
Sack truck/wheelbarrow.
That's the main stuff, obv some may be considered luxuries, but if you've got the space in the tent/car (which I do on both fronts) then there's no point in not taking it if it makes the weekend any better.
Last year, we pitched our tents in a tight circle around the table/chairs, and this year we're thinking about a gazebo to leave up in the middle of the tents just in case it rains, however that may be a bit overkill. There were lots of people who had a tent and put a gazebo up next to it (or windbreaks/bunting etc), so it's not as though they took a hard line to cramming the tents in shoulder to shoulder next to each other.
Also, even though it may be tempting to pitch next to the main paths through the campsite so you can find your tents easily, last year they had lights strung up that were on all night, so may be better to go slightly further away from where everyone walks. IF you think you will need help to find your tent, buy a big helium balloon or 2 and tie it to the top of the tent (we had a big fire-engine and Lightning McQueen tied to 2 of our tents which helped the late arrivals to find us).
Whatever happens, I'm sure you'll have a fab weekend.
jep said:
There was at least 1 at Cholmondeley, and that was near to the shop - there was a hell of a queue every morning though.... I would really suggest you take a camping stove and make your own!
Definitely take something to cook / prepare breakfast with - You will wake up hungry and looking for a cup of tea / coffee, and won't want to go wandering around the campsite looking to queue up for themAlso the washing / toilet facilities at CarFest South last year were pretty limited, so bear this in mind with your kids - this was one thing that did irritate me, its all pre booked so its not as if its Woodstock with hoards of unexpected people. Assume there is a legal minimum of loos / showers per person, and they stuck with that, but they could definitely have done with double the amount they had ( and they brought extra in over the weekend)
Just got back. Had a brilliant time. Everything worked out well. We got there early parked near the entrance and got a pitch for the tent overlooking the track. It's a good job it didn't rain much. The tent was full of puddles this morning. Take plenty of money I got through over £400 and we brought most of our drink with us. 2 x hot dog and chips £20. Well worth it though.
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