Yes we have booked a weekend already and will travel as light as we dare...like we did when we first started out.
We are considering altering our bookings and not the concept but going for longer in the middle stay at Crofton, this will allow a break between moves.
4 nights Golden Cap
6 nights Crofton
4 nights East Fleet farm
I must admit we are a little stubborn as we booked the sites and then asked for tips to help us get through it, our eyes are open to the pitfalls and I can see the positives.
------------- It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.
You have given yourself a decent longer break, in the middle. Setting up and striking is tiring.
In your previous post, you mentioned the time frame of 1.5 hrs for the whole set up.
On your tour you would par that down just to the tent. For furniture, I would just take 2 chairs, you will be chilling, the kids will be out playing. My experience, my son is mainly on his bed if on quiet time with his games. Maybe 1 table, kids can just sit on rugs or picnic table if ones around.
Keep your cutlery and items in a box, which will double up a wash bowl/carrier. Clothes in a bag each.
Just the bedding not to skimp on.
If unlucky it rains striking or setting up, the tent needs to be easy to handle, not too big to get other kit wet, large binbag is great. Remember you will have a footprint as well,great to protect underside of tent getting mucky.
Try and go for the smallest as possible,
I have a Nevada m, no way would I use it for touring, too big,if it's wet.
Heath63
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
When we tour, we also tend to use the journey in between sites to stop somewhere of interest which helps with the feeling of packing/unpacking on those days.
I think you have nothing to fear- there isn't a right way or just one way to camp. I think in the last ten years there has been a definite shift towards making camping in a tent more like renting a cottage/caravan be it with EHU or cushions. Some of the beauty of camping is paring down things we need to sustain ourselves to 'more of a minimum'.
Don't fret or over think about it too much, it is possible, it will be an interesting trip, and it's the camping that helps you to have your holiday however you want to do it.
Sometimes we tour, sometimes we stick, they've all been great times camping.
I think you will be fine. As stated above the main issue really will be if your changeover day is a wet one... it will seem a bit of a drag packing a wet tent, then pitching it again a couple hours later. But hey, that can be more about state of mind !
As for striking/pitching in one day, it won't be an issue as you only have a 1 hour drive between campsites so it can be as leisurely as you like.
Last year in France we did a 1 night stop, packed drove for about 5 hours, pitched again this time for a 2 night stop, packed drove for about 2 hours and pitched again for a 10 night stop. The first 2 stops we pitched a Vango Icarus 500 which is fairly light.
The 1 night stopped seem like a bit of a faff, especially as we decided to setup EHU which was a real pain and not worth the effort.. wouldn't do that again for a 1 nighter.
The 2 night stop was much better, and certainly wasn't too much effort putting up the tent or setting up the EHU, considering we had only packed it in the morning. We didn't setup cupboards or anything elaborate, clothes stayed in canvas bags, didn't use camp beds, just SIMS on the floor.... more to do with size of tent than effort ( it's a squish for 4 of us). We did setup table and chairs for eating, comfy lounging chairs, cooking table and washing line to dry the towels ! You need to feel some degree of comfort
For the last stay we packed all that lot away drove a couple of hours and pitched a Vermont XLP tent which is a heavy old beast, and one that we tend to spread out in !
The biggest effort overall I think had to be the fact that the longer you stay somewhere, the more bits of 'stuff' there are to find homes for. It's not about the tent, even the Vermont was down and packed in its bag in a short space of time. It's about how you live in the tent.
If you can live tidily in it, then it's a breeze
All you have to do now is look forward to it ... and practise being tidy
Well we have returned this week and added another night at the end so 15 nights altogether.
Lets put it this way, we would do it again but maybe keep it to two sites over two weeks, we enjoyed the experience and the speed and efficiency of each pitch and strike was improving each time...we even lost a couple of pounds in weight.
Now for some reviews to write up of 3 very different sites.
------------- It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.
Quote: Originally posted by cllr_gyppo on 14/1/2014
The Main problem we found was that you wasted a Day Packing up at travelling each time, meaning a you are unable to do proper Holiday activities.
I found exactly the same - you lose a day every time you pack up and move on.
We prefer to have 2 or 3 shorter breaks now, rather than change sites.
OH really fancies touring though, so we're thinking of getting a camper van.
Quote: Originally posted by youlbury on 07/8/2014
Well we have returned this week and added another night at the end so 15 nights altogether.
Lets put it this way, we would do it again but maybe keep it to two sites over two weeks, we enjoyed the experience and the speed and efficiency of each pitch and strike was improving each time...we even lost a couple of pounds in weight.
Now for some reviews to write up of 3 very different sites.
I'm really pleased you updated, so many don't bother! I did a similar trip a couple of years ago and came to pretty much the same conclusion as you. Welcome back from your travels!
Sorry I missed the original post, in the past we have tried this sort of touring and to be honest it's not really touring and we found it pointless. If covering relatively short distances we found it better to just stay one spot and then travel out for the day and still cover all those same places, coming back to a nice setup at the end of the day.
If you want to seriously tour then cut down your kit and travel a reasonable days journey and then set up for a day or two, to really experience somewhere different each day.
To be honest we can't be bothered now and just go one place and make that our base and in all fairness are a bit set in our ways now and don't even really bother travelling far from camp, almost enjoying camping for the sake of camping.
I think it is horses for courses, it was a lot less stressful than I thought, we reduced our kit without compromising and we noticed we could have reduced it more.
We found despite our children 10 and 7 normally run off and play, they mucked in with the pitching and striking on most occasions.
I wouldn't say we lost a whole day we were efficient but yes it would be around 4-5 hours including travel time.
Chappers2341 yes agree not a real tour more experimental nearby touring with the kids, trying new parts of the coast we have never have or visited many years ago as children ourselves.
Last year in Cornwall we chased the sun a bit North then South coast, but in the end I got fed up of driving and did much less on this holiday and this balanced out the moving around...mind you this was of course down to the great weather.
Hey thanks Campernic, I wanted to update after the good advice and confirmation of a bit of common sense needed on this type of holiday.
This might inspire and put off those that want to try, we had a great time and met so many great people, in fact we met up with some friends we met last year camping in Cornwall.
------------- It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.
As you say, benefits and pitfalls to each style, we too have played the sunny side of Cornwall game.
with regards to the kids helping out, that makes a big difference, we always had our jobs pretty much form as far back as I can remember, even if it was just following around with the pegs.
This summer we camped by a family who only came for a couple of nights, they had a pretty full on set-up. they turned up at about 7.30 all six of them spilled out of the car and almost without a word the machine went into operation, within and hour camp was established and dinner on. Once everyone gets into the swing it all happens quickley
We did the multi site holidays several times with five kids under 15 in tow, we travelled all the way down through France, Loire Valley for three nights, into the Southern Ardeche for five nights, then down into Northern Spain for a week, back into south eastern France for another week, then into the Lot region for about four nights, then back to the Loire (different site) for the final couple of nights before returning home.
Four weeks in all, and it was wonderful, unforgettable, as was our very similar trip a couple of years later, this time through France into the Italian Lakes, down into Tuscany, then down to the south, we ended up not far from Napoli, had the most amazing exrperiences, and none of it booked, we just chose where we wanted to end up, and only one night did we think we would have to sleep in the car, but found somewhere last minute.
Yes, it is a lot of setting up and taking down, but it can be done reasonably leisurely, and you have the excitement of 'where next'. Clearly we could not travel very light with all those kids, but kept it as simple as we could, tunnel tent and folding gazebo outside to cook under, with a couple of windbreaks, folding chairs, blow up airbeds for all except one, who slept in the living area on a camp bed.
Bag of clothes for everyone, and a huge stock of plasters and baby wipes and sick bags for one child who proudly carries the accolade of getting through a whole roll of Lidl's strong plastic food storage bags in one trip!
We had an absolute ball, and so many fabulous memories that the kids have never forgotten, so yes, for us it was a complete success, and we would do it again.
Not right for everyone, though, but after all, if we wanted an easy life, 5 kids would not have been the most sensible lifestyle choice
Glad you enjoyed yourselves
Jane.
Jane.
------------- Enjoying life beyond kids, new love, living on a boat and a new lease of life in my mid 50s! Never too old to reinvent yourself.....
Mum to five - 4 girls, 31,28,25 and 22 and one boy, 20
Engaged! Wedding June 2020!
Quote: Originally posted by tentaddict7 on 08/8/2014
We did the multi site holidays several times with five kids under 15 in tow, we travelled all the way down through France, Loire Valley for three nights, into the Southern Ardeche for five nights, then down into Northern Spain for a week, back into south eastern France for another week, then into the Lot region for about four nights, then back to the Loire (different site) for the final couple of nights before returning home.
Four weeks in all, and it was wonderful, unforgettable, as was our very similar trip a couple of years later, this time through France into the Italian Lakes, down into Tuscany, then down to the south, we ended up not far from Napoli, had the most amazing exrperiences, and none of it booked, we just chose where we wanted to end up, and only one night did we think we would have to sleep in the car, but found somewhere last minute.
Yes, it is a lot of setting up and taking down, but it can be done reasonably leisurely, and you have the excitement of 'where next'. Clearly we could not travel very light with all those kids, but kept it as simple as we could, tunnel tent and folding gazebo outside to cook under, with a couple of windbreaks, folding chairs, blow up airbeds for all except one, who slept in the living area on a camp bed.
Bag of clothes for everyone, and a huge stock of plasters and baby wipes and sick bags for one child who proudly carries the accolade of getting through a whole roll of Lidl's strong plastic food storage bags in one trip!
We had an absolute ball, and so many fabulous memories that the kids have never forgotten, so yes, for us it was a complete success, and we would do it again.
Not right for everyone, though, but after all, if we wanted an easy life, 5 kids would not have been the most sensible lifestyle choice
Glad you enjoyed yourselves
Jane.
Jane.
Now that is a touring holiday and one we will plan once both kids fully understand mucking in.
He he blimey 5 kids I come from a family of 8 and it was over a fair few years so my journey started with 5 kids and my parents in an old ex military tent..great days
------------- It's better to ask a silly question than make a silly mistake.
If I were you, I'd go for it sooner rather than later, the best way to learn 'mucking in' is by experience, the time goes far too quickly when the children are growing up, and yours seem to be the perfect age for the type of experience that ours had (ours were 5, 6, 10, 12 and 15 when we did the France/Spain trip, and 7, 8, 12, 14 and 16 when we went all the way from Bedford to southern Italy!)
We found that although they would help, it also helped us sometimes if they just went off to play once they had helped with the basic pitch of the tent, then we could do the rest at our leisure. Far easier.
Go for it!
Jane.
------------- Enjoying life beyond kids, new love, living on a boat and a new lease of life in my mid 50s! Never too old to reinvent yourself.....
Mum to five - 4 girls, 31,28,25 and 22 and one boy, 20
Engaged! Wedding June 2020!
Glad it worked out for you. A couple of pages back I stated that we were tempted by the same idea, but in the end we scrapped it in favour of 2 x 1 week holidays about an hour's drive apart but with 12 days at home in between. We might consider it for next year still.
I did a multiple pitch trip in June - my first long, solo camp.
The sites were only about an hour's drive apart but I liked the look of both sites and the locations for particular trips I wanted to do.
I did get hacked off packing and unpacking. In fact I didn't pack up the tent properly, I just plonked it on the back seat.
I'd recommend not packing the car with a shoehorn if you can !
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: multiple site advice
