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Ohh, the nerves are setting in (along with the excitment!)

We are heading away for our very first camping trip on Friday untill Monday at Blair Castle (nr Pitlochry) Really looking forward to it and have spent an age on here getting all the tips (thanks everyone!)

Now I am getting a little nervous, know the weather is not forecast for the best, am a little worried about the wind getting as bad as last week but hopefully it wont (Delta pegs are on the way so fingers crossed here in time)

My OH is certain that I am not going to like it (even though it was my idea) so I am determined that I will have everything with me to cover all that the great scottish weather may throw at me (now will have to get good at getting it all in the car)

Think I am a natural born worrier! 

Thanks!!  Was just reading your 'just back' thread, was going to go to that but couldn't for work reasons....so glad I didn't now, think it may have put me off for good!

Hi Clare, same for us! First family camping trip, Caz has just got a stinking cold and you can be sure the kids and I will have it in the next day or two. Its raining here in the dales and forecast is grim! Saturday looks about the best. So looks like were putting the tent up in the rain and taking a wet one home. Still think of the expereince we can pass onto other new campers about camping in the rain!

Going to start and load my trailer between the showers.

P.s If you see someone struggling to put a tent up in the rain at York. Thats most likley to be ME!

Enjoy ya trips everyone

John

Hi Claire,  we're also due to go for our first camping trip this weekend!  Really excited, put the Khyam up in the garden yesterday afternoon (only one, very small argument at the beginning and the whole thing up in sub 30 mins...admittedly not properly pegged out!), got the kit, D-pegs arrived in the post this morning, but....

Trouble is we're supposed to be going to Mersea, very exposed, with lots of small children and the forecast is icky.  Got a horrible feeling it isn't going to happen....(sob!)...

Can't decide whether we should go, even with forecast heavy rain and really cold nights or just wait for better weather for our first trip and leave all our exciting new kit in its boxes....

We're off camping on Monday. Don't worry about the weather, just make sure you're prepared. Last half term it was 6 degrees at night and not much better during the day, the wind and rain was awful and the tent got flattened (was a dodgy ebay purchase!). Having learnt from that experience, we're now kitted up for the weather with foil backed mats for insulation, fleece liners, sleeping bags and picnic rugs for carpets. Keep fan heater on and you'll be fine. We've been camping at New Year (wind beat us away though), in Feb, March, & April with the kids and they've not suffered! Get waterproof trousers and kagouls for kids and send them out regardless (providing they're old enough, of course!). Ours have ski trousers for knocking about it, keeps them warm and dry. Take a pack of cards, a board game and other nits for when it rains.

Most of all, enjoy it! Don't expect everything to go right as there's always hiccups (like when we took the cooker and forgot the gas bottle!) but that's part of the fun, having to improvise. But the best thing is you can do things at your own pace (except when the kids start demanding, as ours do!) and throw routine out of the window for a while!

Thanks for all your words of encouragement!!

Have been running around all morning getting all the last minute things together in a pile (am working tonight until 10pm) want to pack the car up first thing tomorrow morning.

Got waterproofs and wellies today just in case!  Have the picnic blankets, fleece throws, heater, sleeping bags, fleecy pjs and socks and a hot water bottle!!  OH thinks I have gone mad...

Can't wait to get away, chill and spend time together without all the normal distractions....good bonus point is that there are highland games on this weekend in the grounds of the castle, have never seen them so that should be good.

Good luck to everyone else knew or old who are going away this weekend...lets hope the weather is nice to us!

So many people off for the first time this weekend!! Will anyone be left in their houses??

We're off again up to the lakes and I can't wait, this will be our third time this year and we've had mixed weather but I've learned to ignore the forecasts and just judge the weather by going outside!

I hope you all have a fab first weekend, just relax and enjoy