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Hello Campers,

I hope you could help me. I am new to camping (well i have been a few times when younger) but never as the organiser.I have been scouring many sites and this forum so thought why not post myself and get some tailored advice.

I want to go camping this year and many years to come (the plan). Here is the dilemma. I am now the owner of 2 lovely baby boys. The eldest 2 1/2 years of age and quicker than the speed of light with no sense of danger and the youngest 9 months and learning to crawl further each day.

I also have a wife that I am sure is just saying that she is happy to go camping, but would prefer a hotel complete with bath robes. I own all this yet not one piece of camping equipment apart from a blow up mattress and a broken head torch.(my birthday is approaching so planning on buying all the kit I need

So here are the questions:

What tent should I purchase - Dont really want to spend more than £350 pounds and would like a tent with alot space to keep all the stuff i have to carry round. I will probably be the only 1 putting the tent up (small assistance from the wife, while my eldest removes all the pegs !) so would like some quick and easy for weekends away and the occasional holiday in the UK. (if it works then who knows!) I have been looking at the outwell michigan and the vango colorado etc but really do not have a preference. The must have is a sewn in groundsheet to keep the toddler safely locked up. What berth should I get? Is a 6 berth overkill?

Also one other quick question. I know it is under the tent threads, but as a starter to the camping world. Can anyone recommend a cool campsite with good facilities to ease us in, preferably by a beach. I live in Cardiff so would not like to tarvel too far.

Once I have this knowledge there should be nothing stopping me ! apart from energy and the weather and a desire to be  in an enclosed space with a toddler, small baby and a stressed wife !!

any help would be appreciated.

cheers

Mr Thomas

Hi thawk,

I was you last year ;-)

1) 5/6 berth is probably the way to go - you need the space with younguns and a wife that likes creature comforts.

2) I'd get a tent with 2 sleeping cabins, initally my wife and I share with our kids - ie I sleep with our son, she sleeps with our daughter - when they get a bit older we'll put them in together.

3) Easy pitching tents are a must if it's just you (like me) pitching it.  6 berth tunnel tents are easy enought to pitch by yourself (I would know, I've put mine up 3 times already this year).  But I'm about to upgrade to a Vango Sumatra 600 (I think - still looking around) http://www.somersetcamping.co.uk/products/vango-sumatra-600-poly-cotton-dome-tent-sage-green/135/?source=froogle&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=comparison_shopping_feeds&utm_nooverride=1 - it looks easy enough to pitch http://www.vango.co.uk/products/documents/2009/Sumatra.pdf.

4) Creature comforts - air beds or cots are a big yes.  I think my wife tried a sleeping mat once for about 5 minutes.

5) I've just booked here: http://www.pittoncross.co.uk/local_area2.cfm it's near Rhossili bay so not too far from you.  I haven't been yet but the reviews are all very positive.

6) Good Luck :-)

Cheers, Jake

First as good as sites like this are,   you need to get inside erected tents.   All tents look good on paper or on screen but you can't beat actually standing in a tent to see if it's for you.  

 Draw up a list of possibles tunnel, dome, other.   Then get in them  Is there enough room, is the layout right, enough head room, nowt worst than a tent that you can only stand up straight in the centre. 

 Yes always go bigger than manufacturers ratings.  Two small kiddie-winks now but they will grow.  Toilet is probably required so room for that. Be prepared for looking at larger tents.

 Do you need a light tent or a dark one.  Light in a tent always makes you think of sun and fun, but will the Kiddie-winks be up and about pre 5am with the light streaming in.  Tents always set up with little or no equipment so first get round the equipment section you will need to fit all you need in as well.

When you have seen a few then you will have more of an idea of your requirements.

In the mean time have fun, play the if we had this one we could ....   if we had that one we could......

One last piece of advice   

 The more you take the less you go.....

So try to keep it as simple and easy as possible   don't be pulled in to the must have everything.