We have a caravan. but last May half term week there were loads of people in tents at the site in Oxfordshire where we were...... in 4 degrees C at midday!
I've given up trying to predict the weather in this country - in the last year we've had daytime temperatures of 4 in May, and 13 in February - not to mention the June/July floods last summer....
We are heading out for our first trip of the year on 15th May - until i read this thread i thought we were starting really late - but maybe we are a bit too keen?!! I like the idea of waking up on New Years Day in my lovely big tent tho!
Eskdale ccc site 1st weekend in April for us. we have ehu and a fan heater and new Coleman 450grm fleecy lined bags to try out so we should be ok i just hope it does'nt rain even our neighbours have said they never make plans for being outdoors when we go camping cos it always rains but still i can't wait to pack the gear yahoo!
------------- I Think Therefore I Am I Think? eh? If all is not lost where is it?
OK we are back, we stayed at the CCC Certified Site called The Walks in Raglan, Monmouthshire, we were the only people there, the owner said he was expected two other caravans for the weekend but no-one showed up so we had the place to ourselves. We had our tent with a SIG, EHU for our fan heater, I have a Wychwood 5 season sleeping bag and my other half has a HiGear 4 season sleeping bag, we took several fleeces and plenty of layers to sleep in but surprise surprise we didnt need them, we had the fan heater on low all night and we insulated the airbed well with foil mats underneath and a fleece blanket followed by a fitted sheet on top and when I got up to use the porta loo at night it was toastie warm, I didnt even use half the clothes I took and slept in my undies and a t-shirt. All in all the only thing that reminded me that is was Feb was how cold the groundsheet was so we used spare picnic rugs to cover the whole lot so we could walk around bare foot. Great for the dogs, we could let them rome free as we were the only ones there and as there was only one shower there was never a queue. We are off to the NEC Outdoor show next weekend so cant camp then but we are already planning somewhere for the weekend after.
The earliest in the year we went camping was March last year. It was rather cold and damp but if you prepare yourselves with heaters and extra layers then there's no reason why you can't go any time of the year. Our first trip this year is planned for April and then another in May. We've found the weather in May to be quite pleasant - so take a chance and have fun!
Hi
We always go off in April, But we have an EHU and heater that stays on day and night while we are in the tent, we also have a back up gas heater in case of power cuts.
Regards
Rex
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
Ditto here Rex, we take a gas heater should the trip switch go in the middle of the night and we cant get it back on (experienced this at Trevornick, Cornwall last year and there was only the security hut to call on for help).
Hi Domino.
Yes if the power goes down at least I can get the tent warm for val to get up with a smile But the gas heater comes in handy if it gets chilly while watching shooting stars and sipping the odd drink under the canopy.
Regards
Rex
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
We went camping for the first time last year in August I brought a tent of Ebay (yes it did leak) but at the end of the season brought a proper tent from a camping shop (got a good deal) and have been itching to use it since. I wanted to go at Easter but my wife is a bit reluctant so I settled for May bank holiday in the hope of still talking her in to going at Easter, does it still really get that cold in May?I have a fan heather and a normal heather extra duvets etc…but I thought this would be more for Easter than May.
Nice one Shielsy, the owner of the site we stayed at last weekend when we called to make the booking said he had a tent in the week before, I was concerned about the ground being waterlogged and not suitable for pitching but when he said that I thought I am least not the only mad one in a tent. The ground was as the owner said - perfect.
We arent off this weekend but we are going next weekend, Friday and Saturday night again, just got my C&CC big sites book out now thinking where to go.
Our very first camping trip (2 years ago) was in May. I would say that the best piece of advice would be to keep warm - it can get very cold and damp at night that time of year and the worst thing would be to be cold in bed. You need good sleeping bags, pjs and insulation between the floor and your airbed. We also put a blanket on top of our airbeds as an exta layer of insulation.
We start camping in the first weekk of April! Its a bit nippy at night but a duvet and sleeping bas with a liner on top of your air mattress keeps you toasty warm! We woke up one morning last April and it was 1 degree! We werent cold!
------------- Bashers Batey
USA Expat Livin in the UK!
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A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: camping in may
But the gas heater comes in handy if it gets chilly while watching shooting stars and sipping the odd drink under the canopy.
