after going away in Aug for two very successful trips, I have to say I have got the camping bug bug time. So much so that I cant wait to go again, so I am trying to talk the OH to go away camping for the Sep weekend, our daughter is up for it, but he is not so keen, thinks Sep might be a bit cold, and with the nights getting darker quicker not as much fun for our 7yr old who when we were away in August was never in the tent always out rain or shine.
The question is what season do you stop camping in and if you do go what do you do in the dark nights (keep it clean please ) to keep everyone occupied, just frighted of sitting in the tent shivering away
We have camped in September when the weekends have been warmer than in August. Yes the nights are drawing in and it can be ruddy freezing sat in a tent. We take hot water bottles and fleece blankets so we dont sit and shiver for too long.
Play cards or read is one of our favs but as we dont have little ones to occupy I am no help on that front
I camped with a group of friends 12 months of the year until I married, and now the the family have grown up and I am on my own again I am contemplating resuming autumn and spring camping. The secret is to use a smaller tent, for reasons of weather resistance and warmth, and to find a site close to or with a nice warm and friendly pub to send the evenings.
Board games - I think it's a really good opportunity to get back to the simpler pleasures in life from the days before multi channel TV, Playstations and even the Internet! Some kids don't have a clue that there are other forms of entertainment!
take a torch out and play dark games, like trying to take something (ie, a ball) from in front of someone with a torch, without being caught.
you could also go into the town n go to a pub, or fish n chips (wrap up warm!).
or there is my personal favourite, have a campfire (n the beach, or away from the campsite if site does not allow it) and toast bread, marshmallows, chewits etc, and sing campfire songs, whilst snuggled in blankets. we did this early june, and we found it lovely!
We have a 13 year old, 11 year old and 2 year old! We only stop camping when we have run out of holiday entitlement at work! LOL.
This is our last weekend away this season but then we have had 7 wonderful holidays this year within the UK - as opposed to one holiday abroad!
We will start our camping season again next year with an Easter weekend away at Dolbryn in Carmarthenshire - which we did this year and it was fabulous. It was below freezing one night, but take the right clothing/bedding and a little cheap fan heater (Challenge from Argos) and you will be as snug as a bug!
Glad you've got the bug - enjoy!
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
Quote: Originally posted by Missizippi on 24/8/2006
Hey CaddyClan - I'm very impressed with your colour co-ordinated tents and windbreaks! Is your car the same colour too?
my car matches lol! its black and that matches with the black stripe around the bottom of the tent which match the windbreaks, the canopy, the chairs, the kitchen stand and the wardrobe!
We went for one night at October half term last year (to try the tent out!). It was fine, but cold at night (no ehu then). We went to the pub for a meal, but couldn't stay all night as we had a 6 year old and 18 month old (as they were at the time). When we got back to the tent we had to go straight to bed as it was too cold to do anything else.
However when we camped in May this year (and it was cold then too!) it was fine, we had the electric heater and the children did colouring/book reading/played simple games in the evening.
Have to say over the summer we have mostly ended up going to bed not much after the kids - but then sometimes it is 10.00 pm before they are in sleeping bags! Still been great fun, however I wouldn't go again in late October!!!
Many thanks for all your replys, think I have to managed talk him into it. Went out to Argos today and bought a small heater, and I think I will look out the blankets and spare downie just in case for the night.................
Now only got to sort out were to put all these extra blankets etc??????? and decide where to go ?????????
One thing to take for your girl is a tube of glowsticks. You can get really cheap bendy ones from Ebay with little plastic connectors for making bracelets and necklaces and other sorts of shapes. Kids love them, and they look amazing down at the swingpark at dusk.
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: when to stop.............
) to keep everyone occupied, just frighted of sitting in the tent shivering away 
but then we have had 7 wonderful holidays this year within the UK - as opposed to one holiday abroad!
lol! its black and that matches with the black stripe around the bottom of the tent 
and decide where to go ?????????
