Plan early and make 2022 your ideal family camping year

Mums Tips

Travel with kids

Published on Sunday, 05 December 2021 23:54

Last Updated on 05 December 2021

Monica Costa

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When it comes to camping excursions, planning is not only beneficial, but also necessary, and the sooner you begin, the better. Where to go, when to go, and when to book should be at the top of your to-do list.

Photo by Todd Trapani from Pexels

Jan-Feb

This is the calm season for camping for most people, and it’s time to start planning your travels for the future year. Everyone likes the thought of tossing a bag into the car boot after work on a Friday afternoon and driving out to a beautiful campsite along the seaside for a spontaneous camping weekend. But it’s not quite that straightforward, especially when you’re travelling with a family.

 

The first step is to look at Family Tents then to pick where you wish to travel throughout the year. Perhaps an entirely new location, or a tried-and-true old favourite with a twist. You may even spend a week or two at each location. When selecting a place, try to include the entire family. If things go wrong, at the very least it divides the blame! It may seem self-evident, but limiting your search to a single region or location makes finding a site much easier.

 

It’s also crucial to plan when you’ll take your camping breaks. Obviously, if there are children involved, you will be limited to school holidays and weekends. This can be constricting because the principles of supply and demand dictate that these are the most expensive times, and you’ll need to book ahead of time to ensure a pitch. Bank holidays are very popular, so plan ahead if that’s when you want to travel. In addition, the peak summer months are extremely popular.

 

Of course, if you don’t have children in school, the world is your oyster! It’s considerably easy to avoid popular dates, which means quieter campsites and lower prices. The negative is that outside of peak season, some sites may not have all of their facilities available, so make sure you check ahead of time if you want to use the swimming pools or enjoy the entertainment.

 

Instead of risking not getting the site and dates, you desire, book it now. Keep an eye out for early bird discounts — certain sites may give you a discount if you schedule your pitch a few months ahead of time.

 

Unpacking your stowed gear is another significant duty for this time of year. It’ll take a long time, so don’t put it off. You’ll need time to assess what needs to be cleaned, repaired, or reproofed, and then to complete the work (see panel).

 

Try winter camping during the February half-term holiday if you’re feeling brave. There are just a few sites available, so make sure you pick one with plenty of amenities. Showers that are heated are essential, and if the weather turns nasty, a common cooking/lounge space can be quite useful. Look for areas where you can pitch your tent.

 

This is also the best time of year to look for bargains. Early in the year, go shopping and hunt for nice bargains.

March-May

The unofficial start of the camping season is during the Easter vacation. In 2022, they will begin around 6 April, depending on where you reside, with the long Easter weekend being between 10 and 13 April. If you can avoid the weekend and instead vacation during the week, you’ll find that the pitches are less expensive and the sites are less crowded.

 

In May, there are a handful of bank holidays that are always busy, and you’ll almost certainly need to book ahead to secure a decent spot. To coincide with VE Day commemorations, the early May bank holiday will be on Friday rather than Monday this year. Because the weather can be nice, the school mid-term holiday towards the end of the month is ideal for a lengthier break.

 

Why not schedule your summer vacation now, if you haven’t already? Do it right now, before the best pitches are gone.

 

Spring is when new gear and tents come in stores, so head to the High Street to refresh your supplies and even splurge on a new tent.

 

Consider how you’ll pack your automobile and do a practise run before your first trip of the year. To spread the load on the automobile, consider a roof box or trailer. Make sure you have a decent bike rack and, if needed, a lighting board.

 

It’s also a good opportunity to double-check your wiring. Make arrangements for your electricity and cable now, rather than a few days before the holiday.

 

Check to see if your tent insurance is up to date and that your coverage covers the replacement of old gear with new ones. Consider coverage if you aren’t already covered. Also, find out whether there are any get-out clauses.

 

If you’re planning a summer trip abroad, make sure all of your documents are up to date well in advance (especially passports). Because of the continued uncertainty surrounding Brexit, we don’t know what documentation you’ll need to drive on the continent at this time, so check government websites well ahead of time. Now is the time to look for good ferry and site rates, as well as breakdown insurance.

 

If you’re going to use a trailer, be sure it’s roadworthy. If possible, have it maintained by a professional, and pay careful attention to the tyres. Don’t forget to bring a backup.

 

June-Sept

From the beginning of June through the middle of September, we spend the majority of our time camping — brief overnight trips, weekend getaways, and extensive summer vacations.

 

You should have booked your main vacations by now, but if you’re willing to be flexible on the place, you can still get last-minute pitches.

 

There is no such thing as a “good” weather season in the United Kingdom, but the height of summer will undoubtedly provide you with the most sunshine. Early September, on the other hand, can be pleasantly warm and bright.

 

If Scotland is your desired location, go early in the season, when the weather is usually warm, dry, and bright, and the risk of encountering the terrible midge is lower.

 

Make a meal plan. It’s not something you should do in January, but plan inexpensive, easy-to-prepare meals to cook on the road ahead of time.

 

Remember that Scotland and England have distinct school holidays, so if you’re from the south and want to visit one of the lovely spots on the west coast, you might want to wait until late August when the Scottish kids return to school or go during the English half-term break.

 

You might prefer to spend your summer touring rather than taking a long vacation. With this type of vacation, planning typically goes out the window, and it may be a question of finding any place with a vacancy, especially during school vacations. However, be prepared to get turned away from busy locations.

Oct-Dec

Many campgrounds are open until after the October half-term vacations, and some are open all year. You might get lucky and enjoy some late-season sunshine, but if you prepare properly, you’ll be able to camp regardless of the weather. Most locations should be accessible without a reservation, but it’s always worth double-checking, especially if nice weather is anticipated.

 

Many of you do it, but camping in November and December requires a strong desire. The majority of us have put our gear away until the new year.

 

Make a list and go through it as you store your stuff, looking for anything that is missing, broken, or damaged. Now is the moment to clean and re-proof your tent if necessary.

 

If you’re going away for a weekend, you’ll generally want to stay somewhere closer to home than if you’re going away for a week. We use the hour-per-night method to determine how far to travel: every hour of travel necessitates a night’s stay, so if the site is two hours away, we’d need to stay for two nights, and a five-hour journey would require a five-night stay.