What to take on a family camping trip

Camping is an excellent alternative to the traditional family holiday and if you are looking to save some money on your break this year you should find that camping is a lot cheaper. Campsite pitch tariffs are often incredibly low and if the whole family sleeps in one tent you will be able to save a considerable amount of money on the cost of your accommodation. When you consider how pricey hotels can be these days, you will see why so many people decide to go camping.

This isn抰 the only reason though, as there is a lot to be said for being close to nature and enjoying the beautiful countryside that the UK has to offer. Camping trips are all about getting into the outdoors and exploring, so you can go hiking, cycling or even try your hand at some bird watching or fishing. Whatever it is you plan on doing on your camping trip though, there are a number of essentials that you will need to take with you no matter what.

An obvious essential would be your tent, and the type of tent that you choose to buy for your trip is entirely up to you. Buying a large tent will help to give everyone a bit of space when camping though, so rather than opting for a standard 4 man tent you might prefer to get a 6 or even an 8 man tent for the occasion.

Your sleeping equipment will require some thought as well, so decide early on whether everyone would like to just have sleeping bags or they would rather take air beds. Sleeping on an air bed is certainly more comfortable and is often the recommended choice if you want to be able to get a great night抯 sleep.

Another must-have item for your camping trip is a torch. In fact, you should make sure that everyone has a torch for the trip so that, should anyone need to go to the toilet in the night, they will be able to use their own torch rather than having to wake you up to borrow yours. Of course, if your child is quite young you should always accompany them.

If you would like to be able to cook your own food while you are staying at the campsite you can take a miniature gas stove with you. You can get more sophisticated versions of this if you would prefer, and if you will be cooking for a number of people you might want to take a barbecue with you as well, but only if the campsites rules allow.

A first aid kit, folding chairs, bottles of water and a thermos, everyone抯 toiletries and some good waterproof clothing for each person will also be required for your camping trip.