Go Camping Next Summer

Go on, take the family camping next summer. Novice camper? scared to take the plunge? Here are some tips to get you going.

Camping is a growing pastime. Many (like the Hairy1) camp for the sheer pleasure of it. Some camp because it is a cheap way to take the family on holiday. In fact, keep your wits about you, shop carefully and you can build a useful camping setup AND have a couple of weeks summer holiday for much the same price as a couple of weeks in a budget hotel. A few years ago I moved my family to the UK, leaving behind some 25 years accumulation of camping gear, so had to start over and build it all up again. So I have been there and done that recently

I'm talking tent camping here, of course. Caravans and campervans are also good, but are much bigger budget methods.

Firstly, let's get the basics straight. Something close to 20 years ago one of my children took her first unaided steps - in a campsite. All of my kids now have their own gear, based on their experiences. So we must have the basics right at least.

Morning View - Bude, Summer 2007 From Cornwall - Fi...

For a successful family camp:

1. You must be able to move all the gear and people to the campsite - safely and comfortably;
   
2. Everyone must be able to sit and sleep comfortably in camp;
3. Cooking, eating etc., must be easy - and the food good;
4. You need to be somewhere worth visiting.
   

Get these right and your family will be happy to camp with you for many years.

I will go into each of these rules in more detail in the next few posts. Watch this space!