This year why not round up the family and head off on a camping trip for your summer holiday. Cheaper than going abroad, and less hassle than getting to the airport and on a flight with lots of little ones plus baggage, camping will bring you all closer together.
The key to success on a camping trip, wherever you plan to go from Cornwall to Wales or your own backyard, is to plan and pack well, plus a little preparation. We give you the lowdown on the family camping break packing essentials…
Make sure you pack light; you need to lug a heavy tent and subsequent sleeping bags so the rest of your kit needs to really be kept to the minimum essentials. Toiletries are tricky, because if you go really rural, you may be without a sink/toilet/ shower for a day at least, so baby wipes, hand sanitizer and lots of bottles of fresh water are must haves.
Dry shampoo will keep you hair clean and the baby wipes will do the rest. Camping breaks are typically active holidays so prepare for the odd scrape, bump, gash and cut by bringing plasters, antiseptic cream and bandages. Insect repellent is also must have to ensuring a family of happy campers.
Erecting the tent is the first of many challenges that you will face on this type of family holiday. The best way to make sure each challenge ends in success is to pack a camping tool kit. A mallet will save your hands and help to push in tent pegs, also important in making sure your tents don’t blow away in typically bad British weather.
String, duct tape, matches, and a torch are all great items to pack to help in any eventually. Because most camping destination won’t provide electricity 24/7 electronics are a waste of valuable packing space, so forget your mobile phone and charger and instead invest in a digital two way radio. These are great for group communication, especially over large areas and without a direct power source; they are also much more fun for playing with and keeping tabs on your children.
Keep your choice of clothes to garments that are durable, warm and easy to care for because chances are you will get covered in mud at some point. A rain mac, warm jumper, thermal underwear, and good socks are all essential as are the classic camping choice of footwear – wellington boots. Pack a few board games, preferably ones that don’t have lots of pieces as these will inevitably get lost, a pack of cards will also provide endless entertainment.
Don’t forget a camping stove and the appropriate food, beans, soup and more tinned food is ideal. The most important thing about any family camping break is to have fun, and what better way than sitting around a campfire and toasting marshmallows whilst all relaxing and talking, with no interruptions. Patience and a little imagination also go a long way into making a camping trip a family break to remember for all the right reasons.
Contributed by Charlie Curtis-Jones from of Brentwoodradios.co.uk – On the beach, at a festival or just a keen adventurer enjoying a trip out, walkie-talkie consumer radios are a great way to keep in touch.
