we are newbies too........ I love all this kind of thing, my OH is not quite as convinced but little one loves it and gets so excited. Am hoping to go camping at the end of September but this weekend may be our list trip out this year. Having lived in Northumberland for nearly 6 years we are finally making it to Kielder Water!
I would love to get a smaller weekend tent, but OH is still recovering from all my shopping this year...........and I still have a huge Christmas wishlist for OH to pick from which consists of a lot of camping gear or camping luxuries as OH thinks.
to all the newbies....... heres to next year and to all the experienced campers thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us newbies, hopefully we can pay it forward next season............
------------- Jewelsm - a fair weather camper
August 2013, 14, 15, 16 & 17-Trevornick for two and a half weeks of sea and surf (and ever optimistic -lots of sun). Some other weekends if I can persuade DH
Quote: Originally posted by JdDerek on 26/8/2011
I can kind of beat the first year as this was our first month !!!
We have had one 2 night stay and loved it so much we even did a camp site review
I keep on looking at the diary to see if I can squeeze another date in before the camping season finishes but without any luck at the moment.
We have brought a nice new tent and lots of bits to go with it but its looking like we might have to wait until next year to use it all
lol, i could match that as our first ever camp was the 2nd aug and second camp was this week so been at it less than a month! hoping to get a quickie in before the kids go back too
------------- Sea View International, St Austell. Jul 2012
Home Farm, Radnage. Aug 2012
Marlie Farm, Kent. Aug 2011
Roundhill New Forest. Aug 2011
This is our first year too and I love it! Only been away for 2 weekends so far. The first was in a friends trailer tent just to try camping and then we got a tent of our own, went away last weekend and had a fabulous few days despite the rain. I still have to convince one of my outdoor-phobic teenagers though, hopefully another weekend away next month will help with that
Great to hear how much you have enjoyed yourselves newbies
its been my first year camping (ever) too and I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed myself, not to mention how many really good friends I have made and how many tents I now own as I plan to keep on camping right through the year. My little pile of stuff that once took up a corner of the room is now dominating the house as its never worth putting away at the moment.
Have you thought about a smaller weekender tent, perhaps a canvas one which will be warmer in the winter and can be picked up bargainwise from fleabay, I camped last Halloween weekend and it was 16 degrees in the evening, you never know what the weather is gonna be like in GB.
So glad everyone has enjoyed their first year, as one of the above said, I doubt we will ever forget it.
Quote: Originally posted by british bronco on 26/8/2011
Just one question I'd like to ask all campers in their first season. Did you think camping would be a cheap holiday?!!!!!!
Glad you're all loving it though..
I had done my research (whilst trying to persuade OH to let me take us camping). I knew that initially it would cost a small fortune (spent almost £1000 on equipment to date). The way I see it is with each trip it will get cheaper. I have been quite surprised at the costs of some of the sites but then the last time I went camping was in the 1980's so I think my mind was stuck on those prices.
I have been shocked at how much stuff you can buy but do love buying bits most weeks for our tent (well until OH banned me that is)
------------- Jewelsm - a fair weather camper
August 2013, 14, 15, 16 & 17-Trevornick for two and a half weeks of sea and surf (and ever optimistic -lots of sun). Some other weekends if I can persuade DH
I don't think I thought about the cost to be honest.....camping was on my 'list' lol and didn't manage it by the time I turned 40 so it sort of hung around......borrowed everything for the 1st time, just to be able to say 'been there, done that'! Then discovered I loved it but was very lucky as I had a birthday coming up lol.....Kids got me a very cheap tent (very pre loved), birthday money paid for all the essentials and then my friend brought us all decent sleeping bags.....Have picked up loads of bargains along the way and I wouldn't change it for the world....
Its our 1st season to. Just had an amazing 2 weeks in newquay with our new wolf lake 7, finnished off with a night of thunder storms on the last night. Must say the wolf lake took it all in its stride. Stayed at hendra and although the pitch wasn't the best the campsite was really good. A few of our friends stayed at trevornick this year and mentioned how good it was, so we popped our heads in and had a look around. We left after securing a 2 week booking for next august, we even picked are pitch. We all ended up getting wet suits and body boards, i'd like to think i'm quite good but my lad says i;m not a patch on his mum. The rock pools were good and kept the children entertained for hours. Bedruthan steps beach on the coast road to padstow is a must. stunning views. We had a good day out at flambards theme park and newquay zoo was ok for a afternoon out. We all managed to get a tan and cannot wait for easter because that looks like about it for this season.
Not our 1st season, but the 1st I've put some thought into it and actually taken an interest. We've upgraded our tent from a cheap (but actually quite good) tent we bought in aldi/lidl/netto over eight years ago. Have stopped borrowing from others and are actually building on our own collection.
Is still a reasonably cheap holiday... The outlay can be a little much, but having spent ££££'s on a trip to the USA recently and nothing much other than memories and photos to show for it... We've spent £££ on camping and still have the memories and photos as well as the means to do it all again whenever (within reason) we like for ££.
------------- 2013:
Ty Mawr - March
Hurley Riverside Park - May
Quote: Originally posted by johndonc857 on 27/8/2011
Its our 1st season to. Just had an amazing 2 weeks in newquay with our new wolf lake 7, finnished off with a night of thunder storms on the last night. Must say the wolf lake took it all in its stride. Stayed at hendra and although the pitch wasn't the best the campsite was really good. A few of our friends stayed at trevornick this year and mentioned how good it was, so we popped our heads in and had a look around. We left after securing a 2 week booking for next august, we even picked are pitch. We all ended up getting wet suits and body boards, i'd like to think i'm quite good but my lad says i;m not a patch on his mum. The rock pools were good and kept the children entertained for hours. Bedruthan steps beach on the coast road to padstow is a must. stunning views. We had a good day out at flambards theme park and newquay zoo was ok for a afternoon out. We all managed to get a tan and cannot wait for easter because that looks like about it for this season.
were you pitched on the field facing the road by any chance? we drove past a few times enroute to fistral,and spotted another wolf lake. sad I know but its nice seeing another tent like ours lol we stayed at trethiggey which was a nice site
Post last edited on 27/08/2011 22:51:32
------------- tent and gear all packed away now and making plans for 2012
plans so far..
Easter..Nantcols
August..Bristol balloon fiesta
August..Cornwall..of course!
My first camping season too, after a 10 years break. I squeezed a lot into those few months: 3 weeks camping holiday in England,numerous weekends solo or with the kids, and the purchase of 4 tents!!! and lots of gear...
------------- Proud owner of a 1987 Sprite Alpine 370 EK, a cheap popup tent and a beloved retro Trio frame tent from the early seventies, called Giraffen.
Quote: Originally posted by newbie-campers on 27/8/2011
Quote: Originally posted by johndonc857 on 27/8/2011
Its our 1st season to. Just had an amazing 2 weeks in newquay with our new wolf lake 7, finnished off with a night of thunder storms on the last night. Must say the wolf lake took it all in its stride. Stayed at hendra and although the pitch wasn't the best the campsite was really good. A few of our friends stayed at trevornick this year and mentioned how good it was, so we popped our heads in and had a look around. We left after securing a 2 week booking for next august, we even picked are pitch. We all ended up getting wet suits and body boards, i'd like to think i'm quite good but my lad says i;m not a patch on his mum. The rock pools were good and kept the children entertained for hours. Bedruthan steps beach on the coast road to padstow is a must. stunning views. We had a good day out at flambards theme park and newquay zoo was ok for a afternoon out. We all managed to get a tan and cannot wait for easter because that looks like about it for this season.
were you pitched on the field facing the road by any chance? we drove past a few times enroute to fistral,and spotted another wolf lake. sad I know but its nice seeing another tent like ours lol we stayed at trethiggey which was a nice site
No that wasn,t us, but like you we did notice that tent. That field is non electric. We were further into the campsite. I remember saying to the lad, you won't find another one of these son as he went in search of the same tent like kids do. There was one right behind us in the next field, we were only seperated by bushes. He found another 3 as well. Lots of people seem surprised that we managed to stay 2 weeks in a tent, but after paying fortunes to stay in statics over the years i can honestly say the wolf lake 7 was a great alterenative. The euro tents will knock you back a good £1100 for 2 weeks at trevornick, there not a patch on the wolf. Cannot wait to go back, still buzzing from the body boarding
Its our first year as well. We went away last aug bank holiday but that was with my parents and non of the gear was our own.
This year we've taken the plunge and bought a lot of gear from my Monty6 to a camping only kettle and toaster and recently a new ford cmax complete with roof bars and box. Sadly this is our last weekend as there are a lot of events happening throughout september and after that its simply too cold for us newbies.
We are putting together a shopping list for the closed season though as there will be bargains to be had. Given the amount of gear we have brought this time though I think a tow bar and trailer is the next big purchase
------------- Outwell Montana 6 with awning, Vango Adventure Tarp and a trailer full of beer
Just picked up this thread, I'm a newbie (ish) too!
Just one 2 nighter with my wife and son in my small 4man tent which I use for weekends away with the lads, hillwalking. They both loved it and we have just bought a Tennessee 6 which is due for it's first outing in the next couple of weeks.
Your post made me even more eager to get going!
Cheers
Graeme
------------- Starting out family camping from scratch!
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