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Hi Helen,
I will definintely put baby wipes and alcohol at the top of my list. Although I prefer G&T which is not so easy to transport about. Might need to find a new tipple otherwise you could find me just swigging straight from the bottle of gordons!!

This might help with your camping G&T time:
http://groceries.asda.com/asda-estore/search/searchcontainer.jsp?trailSize=1&searchString=gin+tonic&domainName=Products&headerVersion=v1&_requestid=16984

Available from all the major supermarkets!!

Shelli thanks for the comment about being cold at night. We did actually go camping a few years ago for 1 night and I remember I absolutely froze and it made me really exhausted and ratty the next day. In fact my neighbours very kindly plied me gallons of coffee as they felt sorry for me!!

I think for my first trip I am going to take a sleeping bag (yet to purchase and a duvet and see how I get one. If there is electic then I may take my heated blanket!!  Joking really...

I am really quite a wuss when it comes to being cold so I need to get my head round this one as I dont want to spoil for my boys.

Helen you star! I would never have thought of G&T cans.  Far more elegant than me swigging from the bottle. Best of all they are on special too!  Yay.

You're very welcome honeybean - I often take the vodka cans with me and my friend likes the Pimms!

I don't do "cold" and due to medical problems I seem to feel the cold more than most.
The best thing is to be prepared for the cold weather.

Insulated between you and the bed (for example: picnic blanket on the floor, airbed with fleece blanket on top, good quality sleeping bag and an extra blanket if it's really chilly), wear several thin layers, hat and gloves, have a warm drink like hot chocolate before bed, use hot water bottles and get changed into PJs before the weather gets cold (you can alwyas put a coat on if you want to continue sit outside in the evening once you've got changed)

If you have EHU, a small 1kw fan heater can help keep the chill off the tent in the evening and first thing in the morning.

Quote: Originally posted by honeybean on 29/1/2012

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Hi

Is there anything I need to know as we're new to camping in terms of campsites?

Do I need to book a site first or can you just turn up (probably risky!).

As I haven't been yet, I don't know what kind of site I want...  I know I would like toilets and showers. I don't know what else I should consider! 

I will have my 2 little boys with me who will love open space to roam about. I am not so keen on a massive noisy site, I think more peaceful and open, picturesque. However, are you able to take children to that kind of site?

I guess this will be  a learning curve and I will learn as I go along.

Anyway, if you could give me any tips I would be very grateful.

Thanks

Post last edited on 29/01/2012 21:48:31

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Helen thanks for the keeping warm advice. I will definitely do the rug under the bed and fleece on bed and good sleeping bag and extra blankets. Excellent info about putting pjs on before its cold and late. I hate getting undressed in the cold.

Do you sleep with your hat on?

Getting a little heater if we have a EH sounds good too. Sooooo tempted to take an electric blanket!!  Haha.

I shall be stocking up on the pimms cans too. That will keep me warm!!

Thanks again

Quote: Originally posted by upapalmtree on 04/2/2012

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How old are your kids? How far do you want to travel? We live in WS too and have 2 boys under 10 and camp around the area.

Which part of WS are you in and I can give you some site details which may be good for you.

We try to do nice sites with plenty of space for the boys to run around, kick a ball, decent play areas, not a commercial site, good loos.

I have to say WS is not the best for sites - if you go down Dorset way (about 1 - 1.5 hours travel) you get much better sites and more to choose from.

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Hi Upapalmtree - thanks for your post.

We're near the Midhurst area. Our children are 5 & 7 and I don't want a commercial site (I think). Just open spaces, loos, showers. Initially we wont want to go too far from home the first couple of times just in case and I dont want to spend ages driving when we could be out enjoying the countryside!

I will go to Hants and Dorset though I realise there are good sites further a field. I think we will want to try the New Forsest. A friend told me about a lovely site in Up Lyme near Lyme Regis which sounds great.

Anyway, any advice/recommendations greatly recieved.

Thanks

Hi Upapalmtree - thanks for your post.

We're near the Midhurst area. Our children are 5 & 7 and I don't want a commercial site (I think). Just open spaces, loos, showers. Initially we wont want to go too far from home the first couple of times just in case and I dont want to spend ages driving when we could be out enjoying the countryside!

I will go to Hants and Dorset though I realise there are good sites further a field. I think we will want to try the New Forsest. A friend told me about a lovely site in Up Lyme near Lyme Regis which sounds great.

Anyway, any advice/recommendations greatly recieved.

Thanks

hiya,

we've been camping as a group of 3 families with kids aged between 7 and 12 for the last 3 years.

A heater is good to take the chill out of pj's and the beds at dusk, and the fleecy socks from primark are good to wear once its gone dark and in bed!

Our kids prefer the freedom of camping than going abroad! We try and get a campsite with a swimming pool so the kids can burn off some energy.

Go with the flow, you'll find the kids get tired earlier with all the fresh air and also lie in too!!

Anything else you want to know ,just ask every one on here are really helpful,

jayne