i'v just bought a Wynnster Saturn 9 off ebay, picking it up tomorrow, and we're gagging to go away this weekend, i'm the only one with any sort of camping expirence, the rest are all total novices. Hence should i risk going miles away, (we live in kent) i was thinking somewhere like the Peak District, or should i stick to a local campsite in case they don't like it?
My thinking is, if we go further away, its harder to give up if they don't like it, but i couldn't face a whole weekend getting nagged in a small tent :))
planning a 3 day trip leaving friday morning.
Also do most of you go for ehu most of the time?
------------- Common sense, isn’t very common anymore
Unless the weather is absolutley awful it's unlikley that they (who are they friends, family?) will They might not want to do it again, but chilling out round the tent in the sun is a fairly enjoyable pastime for a few days. Even if the weather is bad, most people will still manage to enjoy it. FWIW I know a few people, who where ardent non-campers, who are now keen campers, some of those had pretty poor first experiences But it looks like the weather for next weekend is looking pretty good
However, I'd not worry to much about baling out. I mean all it means is driving for a few more hours to get home.
I'd concentrate making the trip enjoyable -
So pick a site far enough away to feel like you ahve been away, but not so far as to be an effort, and to leave plenty of time for setting up camp - say 2-3 hours driving? If you have plenty of time when you arrive then if it's raining you can wait for a bit before pitching, youa ren't in a rush so people don't get stressed etc.
Which would make the Peak possibly just about do able depending on where in kent you are, and where in the Peak you go. But I think I'd aim for somewhere a bit nearer, New Forest Hampshire,Wiltshire,sussex Suffolk coast? depends on what else you like doing when not lazing around the tent. And check the weather forecasts for the different areas
Pick site to suit the rest of the party in terms of facilities, but make sure that the washing block/toilets are up to scratch, ropey facilities are a real turn off for some people, I'd pick somewhere which has easy access to places to eat if you don't want to cook every night esp. if the weather is a bit poor, would a local pub be welcome?
Things like being cold and uncomfortabel at night are another put off. Making sure that people have decent sleeping bags and camping mats/airbeds goes a long way to making it a good experience, and make sure that they ahve enough clothes !! - non-campers don't necessarily relaise that you can be get pretty cold of an evening sitting around - always pack an extra wooly :-)
And things like making sure that the stuff like stove, cooking gear, lighting is sorted so that it makes life easier than struggling along. Even simple things like having enough of the right sort of food and drink around helps people feel relaxed.
As for EHU, we moslty don't bother unless it happens to be available on the pitch, all we really use it for is the electric coolbox and charging the odd thing like phone or DS, and these things can be done in the car when driving about if really necessary. But other people are much more wedded to them. One reason we don't is that often the more relaxed camping picthes with more space are on areas of the site with no EHU
Hve a look at the camp site search on here. You will find many good sites within an hours drive or so from you, either within Kent itself or even over into Sussex and bit further afield in Hampshire or Dorset. If it's your first trip, don't stress yourself out with having too long a journey to reach your site, arrive fresh and ready to go, then you will be in a better frame of mind for the rest of your stay.
I think for any 2/3 night trip it's not worth driving more than 1.5 hours, especially if you get caught in traffic.
Use the radius search on this site, we are away again next weekend but are going to our local site (20 mins door to door) as it makes the weekend less stressful and gives you more time for relaxing.
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: Home or Away?
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