Taking the family camping

As the word ‘staycation’ dominates the summer, who wouldn’t be tempted by the idea of a picturesque camping trip in the great outdoors? According to Mintel data, a staggering 17.9 million trips were taken by UK adults in 2017, and almost an extra million trips are expected to be taken this summer.  So what’s all the fuss about? 

Going camping is a great value way to enjoy the outdoors with your family and make the most of the amazing natural locations of the UK. If you’re prepared, then camping can be a rewarding experience that creates unique memories. Below are some useful tips to ensure you make the most out of your family trip:

1. Choosing where to go

Firstly, try to find a campsite that ticks all the boxes for you and your family. There are plenty of amazing sites with kids’ playgrounds and fun activities to keep the little ones busy and tire them out by the evening!

Also make sure to check out any location’s on-site facilities. Having access to good wash facilities and water points usually means the kids can stay reasonably clean whilst you’re away. However, it is always worth taking some anti-bacterial wipes with you for any unexpected circumstances. 

2. Don’t forget the poles!

Once you’ve booked your campsite, make sure you have all the right camping essentials. If you don’t know where to start, have a look at the Halfords guide to camping with kids. It offers plenty of suggestions from packing essentials, to recommended activities  to keep everyone entertained. There are also some wise words from family camping heroes that will fill you with confidence. 

Organisation is key when it comes to camping with your family. Getting a great tent is a good start, but there are always items like washing up liquid and torches that are very easily forgotten but incredibly important. Start to make a list early so you can think of the everyday items that you’ll need. Double, triple, even quadruple check to ensure you’ve packed everything.  There’s nothing worse than pitching up at a campsite and realising you’ve left the tent poles at home! It’s also worth thinking about the small things like glow sticks for guy ropes so that there’s no trip ups in the night! 

3. Make the most of it

It’s not that often that the kids get to experience the outdoors like this, so make the most of every second. Bring the bikes or plan days filled with different activities. Being outside and away from technology will do the world of good for you and the kids.

When you’re busy it’s easy to forget where you are and how quickly time is going. Record what you are doing with plenty of pictures and videos. You’ll be kicking yourself if you don’t capture memories from some amazing locations you end up in.

Disclosure: This is a guest post