We spent the easter week in cornwall with 8 year old & didnt want to come home, find the local Asda when you get there you can get lots of entertainment for very little cost badminton, cricket bat, travel games, frizbee all of which can be let behind afterwards.
The beaches there are amazing take your windbreak if you have one & buy your buckets & spades when you get there again at around £3 a throw who needs to take them home, just remember to dig Dad back out of the sand when you leave.
------------- Smile - There is no such thing as the wrong weather, just the wrong clothing.
We are off to Lyme Regis for 14 nights in August. This will be the longest we've ever been away (9 days before). All I am going to take 'extra' is towels. We will buy our food as we need it. We have a list of days out and e will alternate them them with a quiet day on site. We have chosen a site with a play park (have been there before so we know its good).
My only worry is it won't be long enough
------------- Theres only one way of life and thats your own!
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit, wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad.
Did 10 days camp last year when children were 3 & 4. Didn't take a lot in the way of toys, crayons and books were the best. Also took some audio story books which were great, used them mainly at night when we wanted to "chill" the kids out before bed, but also good for those bad weather moments.
Its worth doing a bit of tourist info research on indoor stuff just in case the weather is awful, nice to know in advance that you have a back-up plan, takes some of your worry away.
Will be doing a longer camp this year, hoping for 14 days, so the 10 days with 2 toddlers didn't put me off! Most of the time they amused themselves around the campsite, if there's other children around they'll be drawn to them anyway and will invent their own games.
I have never been a parent but surely the whole point of family camping trips is about getting to have quality time together and not relying on lots of entertainment, gadgetry and expense?
I can only say that I worship Val for her sensible advice - I have done exactly these sorts of things when taking niece and nephew camping. There is a limit to one rucsac each for personal stuff including entertainments - and frankly once there and running around with new friends, half of that never got used. Glowsticks are especially good though - we had a musically accompanied glowstick party one wet night at Teversal!
I have never got fed up when camping for any length of time though I have not camped for more that 3 weeks at a time. The only exception (ie a rotten fortnight) was 20 years ago in devon with my then husband; but that was more because our relationship was going down the pan and being in a tent with him just brought it all into miserably sharp focus.....
.............so I divorced him but kept the tent!!
.............so I divorced him but kept the tent!!
What are you like!
Want to agree with what someone else said higher up this thread: do a bit of research in advance about what to do in wet weather. Then when you get up on the inevitable rainy day you can just say, 'Right everybody, today is the day we are going to ...' and go off and do it rather than mope about the tent wondering when the rain is going to stop.
We've never been camping for longer than our summer fortnight but that two weeks always whizzes by! MT
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
Quote: Originally posted by twangy on 25/4/2007
See that's what's worrying me. It seems to me that the list of stuff to pack, just exist on as a family, is massive enough. Add on the kids' not-inconsiderable dalek collection and other home "comforts" (not to mention the weather question) and I start to wonder if we'd be better off coughing up the extra three hundred quid for a static caravan which takes a way the need for, say, a daily meal out which will rack up the cost anyway. I wonder will a bigger tent make all the difference. We want to be as self sufficient as possible.
Why the need for a daily meal out, Twangy? Take something decent to cook on and dine al fresco, much nicer (and cheaper ).
By the way, Cornwall does have shops, and lots to do, so don't be too intent on thinking of every last thing you might possibly need to take. Much less stressful if you travel as light as poss and get stuff, like provisions, when you are there. I'm sure the kids will love a visit to a shop if the intended purchase is a toy/game/kite etc!
I personally wouldn't go for a bigger tent, but would consider a kitchen tent (as Val has already mentioned, which gets all the clart out of the tent and makes for a much safer cooking environment). A day room might be an option, and somewhere new for the kids to play if the weather is a bit inclement. There are lots of ways to make the trip easier, and much better to spend the dosh on things you can use again and again, than on a static caravan, surely?
As for the weather, take kagoules and just let the weather take care of itself. I don't suppose sitting in a static and watching the rain is a much better option than sitting in the tent and listening to it (which I happen to really like, saddo that I am!).
At the end of the day, it is all down to personal preference, and that's exactly as it should be. Go with what you think is best, for you and your family, and you surely won't go far wrong.
PS We were lucky enough to camp for six weeks solid, last year, and will be doing a month this year. We don't take any more stuff than if we were going for a week, never tire of it and, quite honestly, I can't wait to be off!
hi there. i did 5 weeks on one site in devon a few summers ago and had a ball even though the weather wasnt perfect - just me and 2 boys aged 11 and 5. Secret of success - everything takes longer to do - dont fight it, go with it. don't try and do too much each day. if you can pick up a frame tent you will have a bombproof shelter with a window to look out of on a wet day and try and get a tent that is bigger than you think you'll need. listen for the weather forecast every day and be prepared to pack up early if you really dont like the sound of whats coming - better to go home one day early packing up in sunshine!
When my family were yung we used to camp for a fortnight, and quite often booked a local coach tour during the holiday. It was a relaxing day out and was a novelty for the kids, who were used to going everywhere in the car.
Many many thanks for all your reassurances and advice. Kitchen tent is a deffo I would say. We're all very go-with-the-flow types anyway (I just had visions of the tent sailing away in a Cornwall campsite flood when I wrote that) so a bit of rain isn't going to be a disaster. I think I'm probably extra wary because it's a long way and is still going to cost a packet anyway (we're planning to go to Seaview). You are absolutely right underthestars about everything taking longer to do (and all the other stuff you said is well woth bearing in mind)and there is nothing that we, as parents, love more than no telly for a fortnight. I will now send the link to this thread to my partner to save him from having to do any work in the office today.
Once when we had a two week holiday planned we could only get a firm booking for one week at a campsite in cornwall (left it a bit late) So on the last day of the booking we just packed up and drove along some country roads found a cracking site near kingsbridge in devon. We have done that a few times now also searching for a campsite adds to the adventure of the holiday and if you go off the beaten track you can find some gems of a campsite.
On the day off change we follow a general rule that we drive for an hour (ish) then start looking for a site.
Might not be ideal for some but its just a thought.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Camping for a fortnight
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