Hi, hope everyone is well. I just wondered what you all do if you go for a wander around when camping? Do you go out or just stay in your tent? What do you do with all your stuff? Do you lock your tents up in any way? Obviously we won't leave valuables behind but don't fancy carrying everything around with me all day if we venture off for a walk? I would hope to think that camp sites are friendly places and you can trust your belongings to still be there on your return?
We like to have a mix of days when we're away, like to visit local places but also like to spend time at the site. No point in locking your tent as a stanley knife would soon let someone gain access if they thought there was something valuable in there. Just put anything valuable in the boot and the rest just stays with the tent, in fairnss your tent is probably the most valuable thing. Everyone is in the same position and you do tent to notice if someone strange is snooping around on a site and most campers would keep a look out for each other's stuff.
------------- May/June - Spring Valley
Aug/Sept - Leekworth
When I go away I choose a place or an attraction I want to visit and then find a campsite as close as possible, hopefully within walking distance of the area or the attraction I have gone to see. I am not therefore just camping for the sake of camping but because so far I have not found any cheaper means of getting accommodation on my trips.
That said, as soon as I have erected my tent, had a wash and maybe a cuppa, I am off exploring the area. I may then return for a brief rest in the late afternoon then I am out again for dinner and a drink. Depending on how exciting that turns out to be I eventually find my way back to my tent and a good nights sleep.
Up again the next morning, a cuppa and maybe some breakfast but prefer to go out to the nearest place that serves breakfasts, then off exploring again. Back to the tent late afternoon. Depending on various factors I may then pack up and go home if I have done everything I went there to do, or I may stay another night if I enjoyed the previous night.
I don't take valuable possessions with me when camping anyway but when I go out I put everything inside the tent and close the curtains and doors. Not much else you can do really. Thefts on campsites are very rare...even thieves need a holiday
Valuables are locked in the car, when we are out and about off site. as Bob61 says, doors and curtains are zipped up.
Chairs are put inside the tent, mainly if it rains, I don't want them wet, while we are away. No point putting a look on zips, for two reasons
A) advertising valuables,
B)a sharp knife will do.
Normally you get to know your neighbours,so you know who should be there or not.
I like chill out on site, then explore the surroundings. I decide which county or area I want to visit, then research the area, to plan my outings.
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
Thank you :-)
Not planning on going by car so won't have a lot of bulky things, just wondered what everyone did.
What about at night/sleeping time. Do any of you padlock your zips to prevent small children getting out? I'm thinking it will be too dark for my children to want to wander off but I'm over thinking today and worrying about all the "what if's"
No don't padlock the zips, you never know if you will need to get out in a hurry, for a wee for a start!
If the kids are small, do the zips up so that both parts of the double zip are at the top corner of the door, then they can't reach.
Don't worry about all the what ifs, that's what camping is about - and that's why I love it, you come across every eventuality, and learn how to work/mend/make/assemble almost anything!
Everyone is different, just like parenting, do what works for you.
we normally go places with nice walks, scenery and nice places to visit.. but always have 2 plans.. 1 plan for sun and 1 plan for rain!! remembering we are living in UK !!! and I leave our stuff.. take valuables but like others have said.. campers normally keep an eye out for eachother
------------- The great outdoors, sunshine, laughter.. a moaning wife and screaming brat!
May - Warren Wood Cromer
June - The Warren Folkstone
July - Fforest Fields
Aug - Goonreeve House Cornwall
We tend to spend the morning reading and drinking tea then go out in the afternoon then back for BBQ by 6:00... shouldn't be in a rush to do anything on holiday.
We started camping as a family when our daughter was 3 and just kept the zip toggles out of reach... but don't worry about your kids having a play beyond your wind break; I've found that we all keep an eye open and you're soon told of any trouble or problems they've got in / got involved in.
Best bit of advice is choose your campsite with care. It takes time to build up a list of favourites, but I was sure from day 1 that we didn't want a big 'holiday complex'.
We aim for between 40 to 80 pitches and just a small shop and play area - kids love an icecream for breakfast. It's nice to be able to walk to the local pub but something on site can get boisterous in high season. The joy of smaller sites is you get to know everyone faster and they tend not to attract problems. When we've been in Tenby in August it seems there are always reports of problems at Kiln Park but we've never had problems at Meadow Farm, Trefallen or Trevayne (touch wood).
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Thank you for your replys :-) sometimes the obvious just isn't...obvious! Lol
Still hunting for a suitable first tent, researching camp sits and making endless lists of things I might need, things I have fallen in love with but probably don't need and LOADS of tips and recomendations of you lovely lot!! ;-) xx
As others - valuables in the car or front box of the TT when we are out. Also bought two small safes that fit under the car seats for when we went to France, once there one stayed in the car and one got attached to the TT to keep things like passports, spare money, spare keys, etc. Not expensive, but also not the cheapest and gave us peace of mind so value for money
------------- Nick
2017
April - New Forest(9)
May - Dorset (9)
August - Camping Le Pin Parasol, Vendee (18)
October - East Mersea (8)
and five nights in the one man tent!
Best security system in the world all the eyes and ears of your neighbours on site!!!
I don't mean their being nosy or intrusive...But as your living cheek by jowl in the same situation you do get a sense of who should be around a particular tent...Who has gone off for a day out etc....And can keep an eye out while pottering about the site....
As for plans for the day....I camp mostly by myself.... So no need for plans that include others. And am quite happy round the site and immediate area....But have been known to do "Spur of the Moment" stuff....Like get up..Say to myself "Where do you fancy going today?" and just go......
All valuables(such as I have) go with me in the van...And I have never left a site for the day worrying about weather folk will be snooping around...Or if my gear will be there when I get back....Don't mean to sound complacent...But they invariably are still there untouched when I do return....
I do think you develop a feeling for each site you visit..And almost unconsciously Know when things are OK...Or otherwise...
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
If you are camping without a car then you will have minimised the weight and bulk of family and personal kit.
The family kit will be the tents of course, plus any cooking equipment including plates and cutlery.
Each person needs a sleeping bag, mat, torch and clothes for dry/wet conditions.
When you leave the tent carry light weight valuables with you eg cash/cards, cameras, phones.
Anything valuable that you cannot carry hide under heaps of dirty underwear etc. Try not to be too tidy and never leave the good stuff on show.
Don't leave anything outside and around the tent in your absence, bikes should be locked up, preferably to a fence or tree.
I have never used a tent lock, it invited the use of knives.
Unless it is raining you will not want to spend whole days inside a small and crowded tent especially if you can hear the waves crashing on the beach just over the dunes. If you are too worried about your stuff to pack it away and stroll off to the beach then you probably shouldn't go camping, but remember in an hotel the cleaning staff go through your room every day, I find that more scary.
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: What do you do?
