I am looking to go camping for the first time in Oct half term, i have two children 5 and 2, so was really just posting here to really get some info. Not sure it if is going to be too cold to go in Oct especially as its our first time and doint know what to expect or what stuff i will need.
We are looking at going to the new forest .
Thanks for reading xxxxx
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Hi and welcome to UKCS. I personally think it will be too cold to camp bearing in mind your childrens ages,it will be dark earlier and if your stuff gets damp which I'm sure it will, it will make for a miserable introduction to camping. We went one September in a trailer tent and that was cold! Ended up sleeping in thermals with hat and gloves on for the secondnight. I would research over the winter,pick up some end of season bargains and plan for next year. If the children don't enjoy it they may not want to go again next year. Sorry if this sounds negative,just my opinion. Good luck and keep posting!
For a first time camp I would wait for the better weather. In October things can get damp and it can be very cold at night. Might put you off for ever.
We camp at October half term and never have I had things go damp - we go with electric hook up.
So long as you keep warm but most importantly STAY warm then I don't see any problems.
We have thermals, tick walking socks, hats and gloves, hot water bottles, wellies and waterproofs, hot drinks, fan heater, plenty of under and over bed fleecy blankets for the girls (we just have thermals, thermal sheet and a quilt). Wear lots of layers and your younger child would prob be best in a hat (and gloves if they wriggle their hands out of the covers) for bed.
Choose a site carefully - one that has heated toilet block and somewhere you could go and sit early evenings if it gets really cold.
Our heater is thermostatically controlled so can be st low and left on when we are out of the tent. It also has a cut out switch should it get knocked over.
The New Forest area should be slightly warmer than the rest of the UK. Last year we went to Brighouse Bay in Kirkcudbright where we had beautiful sunny days (not hot but clear and bright) mostly and cold clear nights.WE had a grat time. We are going to nr Newark this year and hoping to wander in Sherwood Forest.
If it gets too much for you you can always pack up and go home again - nothing ventured, nothing gained.
------------- Keely :-))
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Camping at this time of year is perfectly doable. That said, if you're new to camping you're probably not going to have the kit to make it a pleasant experience. electric hook up and a good, thermostatically controlled fan heater is a good start, as are good quality sleeping bags or a high tog duvet. Basically you need plenty of insulation. have a tent carpet, one of those silver backed picnic blankets under the airbed and a fleece blanket on top of it. as the previous poster said the trick is to keep warm as it's much harder to get warm once you're cold.
if you haven't got the kit I'd leave it till next year, Easter at the earliest.
Quote: Originally posted by lisa0118 on 07/10/2009
Hi
sorry if this is in the wrong section.
I am looking to go camping for the first time in Oct half term, i have two children 5 and 2, so was really just posting here to really get some info. Not sure it if is going to be too cold to go in Oct especially as its our first time and doint know what to expect or what stuff i will need.
We are looking at going to the new forest .
Thanks for reading xxxxx
Welcome to UKCS. Camping on October is do-able (as folk have already said), but if you are new to it and don't know what to expect I would wait until next year. You need to know what it is like when the weather is good, first, before you risk going with the wrong equipment. It would be a shame if a bad experience put you off camping.
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Topic: First time camping
