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me again asking for advice.

well i am going on my camping trip next weekend and hubby can not go due to work commitments, so going on my own with 3 kids. yipeee

sure he has done this purposely.  anyway need some advice on wether i need a camp kitchen utility tent , what are the best lanterns and looking at mats instead of air beds which i have read a lot of your comments. but not sure which thickness is best. and anything else that yoy may think i will need.

thanks again claire

these will all be used alot hopefully planning plenty of camping trips.

hi clare, i camp regularly with my 3 kids aged 5, 7 and 8 1/2, i have the outwell self inflating mats for the kids and the vango one for myself, find them much warmer and comfy then air beds, as for a utility tent if its just for the weekend then i would just manage in the porch of the tent, if you are lacking space then maybe the utility tent would be useful.i don't use lanterns, if you have ehu i take a lamp from home and use a wilkinsons ufo light which cost me 2.99 2 years ago and still the same batteries, i persume you have camped alone with kids before, if not make sure you give them little jobs to do to help you pitch, all of mine follow me around with a mallet and tent pegs, i also make sure there is food at the ready so take a packed lunch, go and enjoy the freedom camping brings.

happy camping. 

went with them last year for first time, but with a couple of friends from uni. they are 5, 8, and 11.

really trying to make it as easy as poss. like the idea od lamp from home. lantern that i used last year never gave me enough light to read at night.

thanks again.

Keep it simple. Minimal kit for a start. You don't want to spend hours dragging things in and out the car and setting kit up. You'll have enough on your hands with the tent. Cook outside, on the ground. Simple and minimal!

I find it's a lot easier going without my Hubby actually as he wants Proper Meals, while the kids and I are quite happy with picnics and grazing food. Also you tend to go more at the kids' pace rather than a more adult one, which can do your head in after a while, but not for just a weekend.

At 5, 8 and 11 they're old enough to do quite a lot, btw, so don't let them go with the idea that they don't have to pitch in and help. The elder ones can help with pitching the tent and do the washing up, for example, and they can all carry sleeping bags and mats etc into their own pods and unpack them.

Basic £10-£15 self inflating mats are fine for kids. It's only us heavier and creakier adults that need the posh ones, or airbeds.

Brief comment about  the chilled wine being vital. I do wish people would think twice before making comments like this. If you're the sole adult in charge of kids in a place like a campsite it's more important you have a clear head than say in the familiar surroundings of your home with kids safely in bed. One glass yes, but you have to stay on the right side of being able to drive just in case. Same as if you have two adults...one has to be sober enough at all times to do this but at least you can take turns!

thanks guys, its really nice to know that their are many wise people with lots of info for us novices. xx

just to ask where is best to get the mats from prices i have seen are £40 plus

Here....

Here...

Here..

And best buy here...

As well as a lantern of some sort, I heartily recommend an LED headlamp torch. They're invaluable if you need to do anything that requires two hands and illumination, and brilliant for reading by.

Ours have 12 LEDs, but you can have just 4 or 8 on, and they were around a fiver each in a builders' merchant.

Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 24/4/2009

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Here....

Here...

Here..

And best buy here...

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Fantastic, been looking for some good quality camping mats for weekends.  That last one is fantastic value - thanks Val

 I have been very intrested in reading this thread as last year my friend and I took our kids camping on our own and we really enjoyed it, and I can see that we are not the only ones.  

We did not go to far from home so if we needed the men they could be there quite quickly.   I am sure we will be doing it again this year in the 6 weeks to keep them entertained.   Oh and of course we had the wine chilled for when we arrived too xxxx