I live less than ten miles from Loch Lomond. I intend to take my little boy to a site there next week so we can try out the tent and get a feel for camping. It's a really beautiful site, has raving reviews, and it's right by my house, so it will be a good place to go on a whim when the weather looks good some weekend.
We go to Sherwood Forest Holiday Park which is 20/30 mins away from home. As o/h works weekends she can go to work and we still have a break without her losing holidays.
Once we've pitched we could be anywhere as far as we are concerned.
There's a site just a few miles from me and I camp there occasionally because I like camping for its own sake, it's nice to wake up to a different view and because there are some great walks on the adjoining footpaths.
On another tack, choosing a site close to home is a wise move for novice campers. If they find they've forgotten some vital item - food, toothbrushes, OH - they can nip home and fetch them. Or, if the weather gets rough or they simply decide they don't like camping it's no problem to up sticks and go home.
Another good reason for spending a night or two on a nearby campsite is to road-test new gear, especially tents. I have always pitched new (or new-to-me) tents in my garden first (often striking and re-pitching) to get the hang of them. After that I take the tent and spend a night away from home in it - either at one of the three or four campsites within 15 miles of my house or, more often, in a field nearby (with the farmer's permission).
I'd far sooner find any drawbacks or problems with new kit when I'm a few minutes from home than a few hundred miles!
we dont plan going further than 30 miles ever !! great to think ill be on site within 40 mins of leaving home lat the holidays begin no long drive or bored kids
and great to think im only 40 mins from home when packed up and time to go
All our weekend camps are within a 30-40 minute drive away, why spend all Friday night driving when you've got another hour or so to get set up, especially as I don't finish work till 5pm.
I'm glad we're not alone, we've often camped close to my work for long weekends so that we get a trip without me taking holiday as i work away from home all week.
This was the first time we've been that close to home! We'll def do it again!
I am lucky to have a few good sites very close to home, and have done a number of very pleasant short trips.
I used a simpler set up for such short trips, such as without windbreak or camp kitchen.
If I had a garden with grass, I would have camped out there for sure!
DK
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Well we have only ever had one set of kit before, as we only ever had one tent. That has now all gone into the trailer tent and so is inaccessible, so now I'm trying to get together stuff for a 3 day trip from tomorrow using the Izmir I'd got so used to having it all together, this is like starting again and I'm getting cross because it won't all be co-ordinated!! And I'm kicking myself because when we got the TT I got rid of all the cooker stands with shelves, so now I don't have one - will have to put the cooker on a table. Gah, so annoyed with myself - need to get sorted out, I hate being disorganised!
Quote: Originally posted by BrandNewDay on 30/7/2010
I live less than ten miles from Loch Lomond. I intend to take my little boy to a site there next week so we can try out the tent and get a feel for camping. It's a really beautiful site, has raving reviews, and it's right by my house, so it will be a good place to go on a whim when the weather looks good some weekend.
I went camping at the CCC site at Luss a few years ago & that was lovely.
We went looking a few weeks ago & found 3 great sites within 14 miles of home but could have been miles away so hoping to go for a weekend soon.
We will be camping close to home as we are hoping to put our new tent up tomorrow so may just camp out for the night.