CAMPING CAN BE GREAT FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY TO ENJOY , AND THERE ARE LOTS OF GREAT  COASTAL & COUNTRY RESORTS TO VIST IN THE UK . I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY EXPERENCE OF OUTDOOR LIFE AND SOME OF THE TIPS I HAVE PICKED UP ON THE WAY.

WHEN BUYING A TENT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER THE SIZE OF YOUR FAMILY NEEDS , IE IF YOU ARE A FAMILY OF FIVE , I RECCOMEND AN 8 MAN TENT , THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE ROOM A LARGE FAMILY NEEDS ON A MAIN HOLIDAY.

TUNNEL TENTS ARE GREAT MOST MAKES ARE EASY TO ERECT AND LESS COMPLICATED AS THERE ARE NOT AS MANY POLES  ETC , THEY ALSO HAVE HEIGHT AND SPACE REQUIRED FOR ADULTS ( NOT BACK BREAKING LIKE SOME SMALL TENTS) , MOST HAVE ONE MAIN POD WHICH CAN SLEEP UP TO FOUR PEOPLE AND TWO SEPERATE PODS WHICH SLEEP UP TO TWO PEOPLE IN EACH , WHEN WE CAMP WE USE THE MAIN POD AND 1 OF THE SMALL PODS FOR SLEEPING AND USE THE SPARE ONE FOR ALL OUR CLOTHES / EQUIPMENT FOR STORAGE.  TUNNEL TENTS ALSO HAVE GOOD SPACIOUS LIVING AREAS AS WELL. ALSO TRY TO BUY ONE WHICH HAS A BATH TUB SYTLE GROUND SHEET , THIS WILL KEEP OUT  DRAFTS AND RAIN. 

BUY A CAMPING SITE GUIDE BOOK , THESE ARE AVAILABLE FROM MOST GOOD BOOK SHOPS , THEY ARE FULL OF INFORMATION AND LIST LOCATIONS OF CAMP SITES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

WHEN CONSIDERING A HOLIDAY IN A SEASIDE RESORT , ITS WORTH WHILE SELECTING A CAMPING SITE A COUPLE OF MILE INLAND FROM SITES WHICH ARE NOT LOCATED NEAR BEACHES ETC , YOU COULD SAVE AROUND £5 - £10 PER NIGHT ETC , THE SAVINGS COULD GO TOWARDS THE EXTRA COSTS OF YOUR HOLIDAY OR GIVE YOU AN EXTRA WEEK STAY.

WHEN BUYING EQUIPMENT

USE YOUR OWN CUTLERY , WE ALL HAVE EXTRA KNIFES , FORKS , SPOONS ETC

TRY PLACES LIKE POUNDLAND OR 50P SHOPS FOR PLASTIC CUPS , PLATES , NICK NAKS ETC

SLEEPING BAGS AND BEDS / BEDDING ARE VERY CHEAP TO BUY FROM MOST OUTLETS

TRY SURFING E.BAY SOME PEOPLE HAVE TRIED CAMPING AND DID NOT LIKE IT AND USALLY SELL THERE EQUIPMENT VERY CHEAP , THERE ARE BARGINS TO BE FOUND IF YOU LOOK.

MOST GOOD BRANDED COOKERS ONLY RETAIL AROUND £30-40 POUNDS THESE DOUBLE BURNERS WITH GRILLS WOULD SUIT MOST SIZE FAMILYS

I RECOMEND YOU USE CALOR GAS , ITS MORE AVAILABLE AND MUCH CHEAPER IN SIZE / VOLUME THAN CAMPING GAS. I HAVE A CAMPINGAZ COOKER WITH AN CALOR GAS REGULATOR AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE TOO BEING DIFFERENT MANUFACTURES MAKES.

DONT BUY EXPENSIVE WATERCONTAINERS , WHEN YOU DO YOUR WEEKLY SHOP AND IF YOU BUY CORDIAL / SQUASH , BUY THE LARGE SIZE WITH A CARRYING HANDLE , THESE ARE VERY HANDY FOR THIS PURPOSE.

ITS ALWAYS WISE TO CARRY A FEW SPARES WHEN YOU CAMP.A COUPLE OF MTRS OF TENT POLE ELASTIC CORD / A COUPLE OF MTRS OF GUIDE ROPE AND A ROLL OF 2" GAFFER TAPE , IF YOU DONT HAVE A TENT REPAIR KIT THIS WILL COME TO YOUR AID NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER.

IF YOU ARE A MIDDLE TO LARGE SIZE FAMILY I WOULD BUY A BBQ TO DO SOME OF YOUR COOKING ON , IE STEAK ,  PORK / LAMB CHOPS , BURGERS ETC , YOU CAN COOK LARGER QTYS ON THESE THAN A NORMAL CAMPING COOKER , I BUY A 5 KILO BAG OF LUMPWOOD CHARCOL FOR ME AND MY FAMILY OF FIVE AND IT USALLY LASTS US FOR OUR 2 WEEK HOLIDAY , YOU CAN GET ABOUT 6 BBQ OUT OF A 5 KILO BOX / BAG.

WE USE A ELETRIC 2FT STRIP LIGHT IN OUR TENT , IT HAS TWO CROCODILE CLIPS SO WE CAN FIT IT TO A CAR BATTERY FOR LIGHTING , THESE LIGHTS COST BETEEWN  £10 - £15 POUNDS TO BUY , A GOOD CAR BATTERY FROM A BREAKERS YARD WILL COST ABOUT £10 , BUT THIS IS WELL WORTH WHILE AS ITS A LOT CHEAPER AND SAFER THAN GAS LIGHTS IN THE TENT ETC , A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY WILL LAST ABOUT 2 WEEKS WITH A GOOD FEW HOURS USAGE PER DAY AND AFTER ALL YOU CAN RECHARGE IT.

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT BUYING / USING A ELETRICAL HOOKUP , ITS WORTH WHILE WHEN BOOKING ASK THE SITE  HOW MANY AMPS YOU GET AS THE CAN CHANGE FROM SITE TO SITE  , THIS COULD AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF ELETRICAL GEAR YOU CAN USE AT ANY ONE POINT , MOST SITES ARE 10 AMPS.

SOME PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF USE NORMAL STANDARD ELETRICAL KETTLES / TOASTERS WHICH REQUIRE HIGH AMPS OUTPUT TO USE , THE EASIEST THING TO DO IS NOT RUN ALL YOUR ELECTRICAL ITEMS AT THE SAME TIME THIS WILL PREVENT TRIPPING.

THERE IS A SIMPLE WAY TO FIND OUT HOW MANY AMPS A ELETRICAL ITEM NEEDS , MOST STANDARD HOUSE HOLD ITEM HAVE WATTAGE RATING ON THE LABEL , IE MOST NORMAL KETTLES ARE 2000 WATT . TO FIND OUT HOW MUCH AMPS THIS NEEDS TO BOIL YOU DIVIDE THE WATTAGE BY 240V THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE AMPS.

2000 DIVIDE 240 =  8.3 AMPS  AS YOU CAN SEE BY THE SUM A STANDARD KETTLE NEEDS A LOT OF AMPS TO BOIL , THERE ARE SPECIAL LOW WATT KETTLES / EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO USE A STANDARD TYPE.

EXAMPLES OF HIGH AMP APPLANCES

NORMAL KETTLES

TOASTER

ELETRIC HEATERS

EXAMPLES OF LOW AMP APPLANCES

SLOW COOKERS

TELEVISION  ( PORTABLE OR HAND HELD )

MICROWAVES

RADIO / CD PLAYERS

ELETRICAL COOLER BOXES 

I HOPE ALL MY FELLOW EBAYERS FIND MY GUIDE USEFUL , AS IT KEPT ME IN GOOD STEAD OVER THE YEARS.

I ADVISE IS TRY CAMPING IT GOOD HEATHLY LIVING AND YOUR BASIC CAMPING EQUIPMENT COST / SETUP WILL COST AROUND £400.

A HOLIDAY IN THIS COUNTRY IN THE FIRST 2 WEEKS IN AUGUST IN A STATIC VAN IS GOING TO COST £1300 , THAT NOT BEFORE SHOPPING / TRAVELING  + SPENDING MONEY YOUR TALKING £2200 PLUS.

A CAMPING HOLIDAY WITH YOUR SET UP IS ONLY GOING COST £1000 THATS WITH GOOD LIVING THE BEST , AND REMEMBER ITS GOING TO LESS THE YEAR AFTER AS YOU DO NOT HAVE COST OF YOUR SETUP .