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Been reading threads from earlier in the year about winter camping under canvas and am getting itchy to try it!. Now, I am not a seasoned 'camper' having only recently swapped our caravan for a secondhand Conway trailer tent, but I am intrigued as to whether it would be considered safe/stupid/irresponsble to consider a trip up to Suffolk in late December? We have recently taken the trailer to Norfolk (we live in Essex, so not exactly intrepid exploration!) for a week and all was fine, but just wondering if I bowl up to a site in mid-late December with a trailer tent if the site warden will smile politely, but then call the men in white coats!!

I should mention that we will also be taking 4 dogs with us, but as regards the camping aspect, that is neither here nor there as they will all be in bed with us at night anyway!

We have a Coleman stove, infrared heater, fan heater, that we used to use in our van awning anyway, as well as the kitchen unit from our trailer that currently runs on Butane (not good for winter!) but have never been away in potentially cold weather before, let alone under canvas.

Any advice welcomed, even if it is to get some more fair weather camping experience under our belts before we contemplate a serious winter trip!

I am now in the caravan category, but previously had folding campers.  Went away in winter in them, minus 6 at one point. The days were sunny and cold, the nights very crisp, cold, and clear skys.  Had 3 young children with us, who all had a good time.  Went walking during the day, evening meal, perhaps a drink at the pub, and bed by 9.  We swapped to Propane gas and never had a problem with that.  Good sleeping bags are a must, and had a thermostatic convector heater on low during the night.  The only time we felt cold was when getting up to the loo in the middle of the night.

Quite a few weeks before winter sets in, so a few more trips should help you decide.

It can be lovely snuggled up inside when it's below freezing outside - warm clothes, lots of layers, fleecy blankets, fan heater. But it's not just the cold you need to be prepared for - if it'd raining you will also feel damp & cold. Also the short days need to be considered - it makes the evenings exceptionally long and if you go to bed early because of this, then it'll be drak when you get up so lots of good lighting is essential.

Look on the campsite searches to find out which sites are open all year - these campsite wardens wil not think you're strange!

We went camping in February (in a tent) and it snowed! The great advantage is that you'll probably have the whoe site to yourselves - peace, quiet and no queues for the showers!!

Also think about getting the canvas on your TT dry too.

As nanashirley says, get a few more trips in if you can before the winter and see how you feel.

Hi

We camped at Chichester in February half term this year, in the tent.  We went prepared with good sleeping bags (inside summer ones), plenty of layers of clothing, heating and lighting.  The worst problem we came across was partially frozen milk in the mornings.  It was lovely waking up to the fresh crisp mornings.  I would recommend it and will be doing it again.

Aria

In addition to fan heater and a gas heater (latter for the living area and was never left unattended), I also had an electric under-blanket on my blow up bed (I lived to tell the tales). Hence I was very snug and cosy while I went camping in South Devon over the New Year weekend with the South West mob.

I vowed I would not go camping cold weather again shortly after returning from the trip. However, I thought, why not? I survived the last trip, and have all the gears already.

Hence I camping again over Christmas and February, PROVIDING, the weather is not too wet. I can cope with the cold temperature, however, I really do not like being wet and cold. I love clear and bright cold days, great to walk the dog on the empty beaches to his heart content!

My dog won't thank me dragging him away from the comfort of the house for sure!

For this winter, I shall take my Khyam Freelander instead of the bigger Khyam Excelsior XL I used last year.

I thought the latter would be a cosier tent as I could tuck the storm skirt all the way round the tent under the groundsheet. However, it was too big and drafty to be heated efficiently and effectively by just a fan heater alone. Luckily, I had my gas heater with me.

Hence I shall take the Freelander instead. I may not require an additional heater, however, I am taking the gas one along just in case I do!

As for cooking, I bought myself an early Christmas present in the form of a Coleman Dual Fuel 553 single stove. It uses unleaded petrol or Coleman fuel (effectively a highly refined unleaded petrol allegedly), and is effective at sub-zero temperatures when butane or even butane/propane canisters would fail.

I shall keep the butane/propane canisters in the living section of the tent on a table wrapped up in tea towels etc., along with the cooking oils (they solidified last year when I left them outside overnight, doh). Someone suggested to put the thermo-electric cool box on "warm" setting, unplug, then keep the gas canisters and oils etc. in it overnight for insulation. I may try this, as I doubt if I would need the cool box for refrigeration - just leave the food outside instead!

Can't wait, just hope the weather will be kind to me!

DK

Thank you all for your replies, sorry I have not seen sooner, but been away at a dog agility competition with my wife - we are all very proud her dog got 2 first places and a second!!

Special thanks to DK mainly cos you have a cute pic of a Border T......not forgetting the cat! We have 2 BT's - I  ran one of mine very poorly at the comp today, the missus did MUCH better with her ColliexPoodle  never hear the last of that!!!

We have a trip away at a comp in October, so maybe I will use that as a guide to how well I wiil cope with the cold, but I think the general feeling is the wet and damp will be more of a problem, and I wouldn't disagree! Makes me feel like a bit of a lightweight - I have the choice of going and coming home if I don't like it - not like our ancestors who woulfd have had to deal with weather and seasons head on!!

Thanks guys will let you know how we get on!!!!

You are welcome!

Borda the dog likes camping, providing it is not wet and windy, he is the wuss, not me!

I forgot to mention the importance of the right clothing, for day time as well as at night.

Have plenty of layers, and water-proofs, hats, gloves and scarves, and spares if you have space, as there is nothing worse than having damp clothes!

And always wear a hat to bed, as a lot of heat is lost via the head.

I mentioned in another thread about my reservations for camping in Oct and Nov is the unpredictability of the blooming weather. The Great Storm of 1987 was in Oct!!!

Good luck, whatever you decide.

DK

Quote: Originally posted by SGThomas on 12/9/2010

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I mentioned in another thread about my reservations for camping in Oct and Nov is the unpredictability of the blooming weather. The Great Storm of 1987 was in Oct!!!

But The Great Heatwave of 1927 was in October

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When was the last time we had a heatwave in Oct?

DK

Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 12/9/2010

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Quote: Originally posted by SGThomas on 12/9/2010

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I mentioned in another thread about my reservations for camping in Oct and Nov is the unpredictability of the blooming weather. The Great Storm of 1987 was in Oct!!!

---

But The Great Heatwave of 1927 was in October

---

When was the last time we had a heatwave in Oct?

DK

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We have a dog agility competition booked for 1-3rd October at Snetterton, and this will be in our Conway TTent, on an unserviced pitch. If I am ever to get a gentle introduction to 'true' British camping, this will be it! No electric (limited to car and leisure battrey), no showers.... apart from the 12v one I've just bought on eBay.... could make or break my decision on whether life under canvas in all seasons is right for me!! Truth be known, that's why I liked our little van - we had the warmth, dry and 'security' of a micro home, but with the adventure of a 'camping' with the attached awning!! 

I feel like such a tart - I'm only going 100 miles up the road, in what could be quite reasonable early Autumn weather, and feeling apprehensive about it! At worst, I could even cycle home - and one look or listen at the news of our guys in conflict elsewhere or of other explorations to the poles brings me good grounding!!

Will keep you all posted, if you can read without chuckling or wincing....!!

Having been regularly camping during the October half term, both in our folding camper, and previously in a tent the best advice i can offer is have plenty of lights!  it does get dark earlier than you think, and without sufficient lighting you'll be cooking your evening dinner around 2pm or in the dark!

once we went away over new year, and it wasn't as cold as we thought it would be - infact we have always used butane to cook with and have not been let down so far!

One other tip i picked up somewhere on here sometime ago, is to fill your kettle before bedtime - that way, if your water does freeze up overnight, you can still make that moring cuppa without too much difficulty.