We have done quite a lot of 1 or 2 night weekend trips and most of the time we are on our motorcycles so stuff has to be at a minimum level however wife wont camp unless she can stand up in the tent
However a vango airbeam is up very quickly
I keep everything packed and ready to go we can jump on the bikes or throw the stuff in the wee car and be on our way fairly quickly
We sold our caravan a couple of years back to start going abroad for some sun, after a while I started looking at small tents for cheap weekends away in between our abroad trips but it quickly got out of hand and we ended up a full setup suitable for week trips, which was way to much for weekends. We realised we wasn't going to do any 7 night trips so back tracked and sold or returned what we could, however after some more time we feel one nighters will be perfect for our family.
We like to get out for the day if we can and I often end up driving hours just for a day trip so it makes a whole lot of sense for us to have a small tent for the night so we can make the drive more worth while. I still have my mini Cadac, small heater, sleeping bags, etc. I just need a small tent and some air beds.
Mentioned this to Muckerette, and she said she'd probably be interested for a local trip, ie Derbyshire Dales/Peak District. I sort of agreed at the time, but do now think unless the trip is almost exclusively for the camping alone, by being just an hour or so from home would be better/more practical to just go home to your own bed.
What trakker says about taking that longer trip, say 3 hours plus, would make more sense. Too far for a day trip, but maybe more do-able if staying (camping!) overnight.
Especially if the site allows early arrival and/or late departure for little or no additional cost.
Load up the night before. Depart at 7am, arive at say 10:30, set up, cuppa, and out on the push bikes (or walking boots) by say 11:30. Not dark until 20:30 or later, that's still a good day out, and no need for the long trip home. I like it!!
Certainly food for thought.
I generally arrive at a campsite about midday. By the time I have booked in and got set up it could be around 3pm. That still leaves me plenty of time to go out exploring the area and look for a decent pub for a meal and a drink in the evening.
The next day I go out again around 10am and spend most of that day exploring the area and visiting the places I went there to see.
Depending on how big the place is or whether or not I am starting to get bored I will probably return to the tent around 3pm - 4pm giving me plenty of time to pack up at a leisurely pace and off the site by 5pm or 6pm.
I have never really seen the point in spending another night in the tent once I have seen everything I wanted to see and then having to get up in the morning, possibly pack away a damp tent, and be off by 10am or whatever time the campsite stipulates. Might as well go home the evening before and spend a comfortable night in my own bed. For years I was religiously paying for two nights and then quite often going home after one night...I have now got wise - lol.
If I haven't managed to fit everything in to my one nighter there is always another day to return or, if I am really enjoying myself ask for a late stay on the next day or book another night.
A least by just booking one night initially you then have choices of how long to stay and when to leave (assuming it's not fully booked).
I completely agree debs 398 , I always feel really relaxed after just one night away . We try and do it at least once a month weather permitting
------------- May 2017 - Haworth 1 night
June 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
July 2017 - Hawkshead 3 nights
July 2017 - Malham 2 nights
August 2017 - Otley 1 night
August 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
September 2017 - Otley 1 night
We've just got back from our one nighter and we had a great time, we were setup within 20 mins and sat out enjoying the view before heading off for a lovely country walk, had a really nice meal in the pub across the road and then spent the evening chatting around the bbq/ fire pit and watching aeroplanes pass overhead as the site we went to is only about a mile from Leeds Bradford airport. If I can work out how to do it I'll pop a photo up of our camp .
------------- May 2017 - Haworth 1 night
June 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
July 2017 - Hawkshead 3 nights
July 2017 - Malham 2 nights
August 2017 - Otley 1 night
August 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
September 2017 - Otley 1 night
On a more serious note though, be careful how many bottles you drain on the night before you drive home. Many a morning driver has lost his licence for still being over the limit.
That's a good point Bob61, we always take a disposable breathalyser with us and test OH once we've had breakfast and packed away. Only once he's been over the limit so we asked if we could leave the car and went off for a walk for an hour . We tested him again and he was clear. We buy the testers off eBay, they are very cheap but very worthwhile
------------- May 2017 - Haworth 1 night
June 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
July 2017 - Hawkshead 3 nights
July 2017 - Malham 2 nights
August 2017 - Otley 1 night
August 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
September 2017 - Otley 1 night
We do a lot of one night camps. We've got two tents - a big cotton tent for long stays of 4 nights plus, and then a Vango F10 MK4 which is perfect for short stays - we affix a large tarp to it to keep the tent dry and also give us some sheltered outside space.
To make the whole thing as convenient as possible we have a couple of hold alls ready to grab and go. We have a stove for boiling water but generally eat out rather than try to cook, especially if its just an overnight. Pot noodles and soup type snacks, combined with an eat-out dinner.
I think when you're working and only have a short weekend off as the norm, its important to have good comfortable bedding and a easy-to-erect tent. You don't want to leave on the sunday feeling knackered.
------------- MAY 2017 - Loch Ken, Scotland
JUNE 2017 - Sango Sands, Durness, Scotland
AUGUST 2017 - Balloch O Dee, Galloway and Invergarry
SEPTEMBER 2017 - three brief trips
OCTOBER 2017 - hopefully one final trip before Halloween
Well I've been out and picked up a little air tent, I got a second hand (used once) Airgo Stratus 4 which has 150D and 6000HH so hopefully will last a little longer. I also bought a couple of Bestway double airbeds from B&M then went to book a little night away for this weekend but think I'll give it a miss after looking at the weather!!
CampyC and trakker1 the weather has put us off for this weekend, hopefully we'll get another chance before the winter sets in . We have camped as late as October with gorgeous sunshine during the day but a bit chilly at night. If we know it's going to be cold we take the fire pit and put bbq coals on and sit around that. Lump wood charcoal gives off loads of heat
------------- May 2017 - Haworth 1 night
June 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
July 2017 - Hawkshead 3 nights
July 2017 - Malham 2 nights
August 2017 - Otley 1 night
August 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
September 2017 - Otley 1 night
Thanks Jim I'm going to go and have a look at that one, might be our next adventure
------------- May 2017 - Haworth 1 night
June 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
July 2017 - Hawkshead 3 nights
July 2017 - Malham 2 nights
August 2017 - Otley 1 night
August 2017 - Newton in Bowland 1 night
September 2017 - Otley 1 night
I love one nighters!! Especially the impromptu ones when the weather is unexpectedly nice. I keep all the basics in a plastic box with a lid so we just grab the tent, sim, sleepingbags and box and go! (I usually forget pilows!)
We usually pick a site within 2 hours, with a later check out time, and have an easy morning before visiting a place of interest of on the way home.
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: One Night Camps
