Short Camping Trips with Kids
Discussion
We have always enjoyed camping, but with young children (aged 3 and 1) we haven't bothered since before the kids arrived. I expect most of our "proper" holidays will be abroad, either at hotels or a lodge on a Eurocamp style campsite in France.
But we are keen to get the kids involved in the great outdoors and we are toying with the idea of getting a tent for short breaks (think ~3 nights), but I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle. Thinking about a bell tent (something like a Robens Klondike Grande) that can be put up quickly, and just taking the bare minimum (mats, sleeping bags, basic cooker).
We are in Surrey so there are loads of nice places within a 2 hour drive.
Does anyone do something similar?
But we are keen to get the kids involved in the great outdoors and we are toying with the idea of getting a tent for short breaks (think ~3 nights), but I'm not sure if it's worth the hassle. Thinking about a bell tent (something like a Robens Klondike Grande) that can be put up quickly, and just taking the bare minimum (mats, sleeping bags, basic cooker).
We are in Surrey so there are loads of nice places within a 2 hour drive.
Does anyone do something similar?
Thanks all, some useful information here.
We had a look at tents yesterday, couldn't see a Robens Klondike, but saw the Robens Kiowa. As much as I like the style of them, I just think the practicality compromises of the size/shape are a deal breaker, so we are back looking at tunnel style air tents.
We had a look at tents yesterday, couldn't see a Robens Klondike, but saw the Robens Kiowa. As much as I like the style of them, I just think the practicality compromises of the size/shape are a deal breaker, so we are back looking at tunnel style air tents.
Bit of a follow up here. We found a site in Dorset that had empty bell tents to hire, you just take your own beds etc. We did that for a couple of nights as a trial run.
It has made us completely rule out a bell tent. The door was a massive pain, and with no dedicated bedrooms, it was like daylight inside until it got dark inside, not good for the kids.
The kids loved it though, a little too much which meant the second night there was no sleep happening, so we cut our losses and came home. It hasn't put us off, but it has made us decide to avoid bell tents!
It has made us completely rule out a bell tent. The door was a massive pain, and with no dedicated bedrooms, it was like daylight inside until it got dark inside, not good for the kids.
The kids loved it though, a little too much which meant the second night there was no sleep happening, so we cut our losses and came home. It hasn't put us off, but it has made us decide to avoid bell tents!
Bit of an update here. We have just ordered this:
https://www.dometic.com/en-gb/outdoor/uk/products/...
It's a bit bigger than I had planned to get, despite technically being a 4-man it's pretty deep and fairly wide, but it will give us the option of staying for longer breaks. I'm hopeful that the darkened bedrooms should make bedtime manageable, and it seems to be a highly rated brand. It's a pretty chunky pack size because of the 150D material (despite not being polycotton), but hopefully we will manage OK.
https://www.dometic.com/en-gb/outdoor/uk/products/...
It's a bit bigger than I had planned to get, despite technically being a 4-man it's pretty deep and fairly wide, but it will give us the option of staying for longer breaks. I'm hopeful that the darkened bedrooms should make bedtime manageable, and it seems to be a highly rated brand. It's a pretty chunky pack size because of the 150D material (despite not being polycotton), but hopefully we will manage OK.
Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff