Seeking knowledgable advice for full sleeping set up for all season regular family wild camping UK (future Europe) and other things

[BertielovesPuppy]

Hello all- a little rundown of the situation and intended purposes (I will try and be as thorough as I can, so please let me know if additional information would be helpful).

First I’d like to say I really appreciate anyone taking the time to read and respond, it is truly nice to have people with genuine experience offering their advice.

I should preface everything by saying it won’t be campsite camping, but in the wild.

We are a family of 8 going wild camping, we have a large vehicle and the ages of the kids are 16,14,12,10,6 and 3. I know, I know, “don’t you have a TV?” etc

The two ways we intend on going are:

Park -> hike to spot -> set up camp -> sleep -> pack camp -> hike to car -> next location etc. (mainly for just one evening with the littles but could be two - three days most)

Park -> hike to spot -> make base camp -> hike out different directions across multiple days etc.

We will be doing all seasons and would like to venture at some point to the Northern European countries when the littles are a bit bigger, so if one bag doesn’t rule them all, lets just look at UK spec.

We intend to go at least once a month but aim for 2 times initially.

We haven’t got anything purchased as of yet, but have been saving and looking forward to this for over a decade.

We would like to spend sensibly so the rest can go toward the actual trips, but we value quality and longevity so don’t mind spending when it counts!

We have been looking at the Robens Klondike tent with the fleece flooring and a stove for the colder months - I would love to hear opinions on this set-up and if there are any recommendations for better?

I’m struggling to make decisions on the sleeping mats / bags / liners / synthetic / down / one-bag-does-all, etc, and with so many people cost is a big factor, however, it is paramount to the kids’ safety so we don’t want to cheap out

It would be great to hear some recommendations for all aspects of gear really, as we have no hands-on experience with nice kit and the times we’ve previously gone, we’ve just made do!
Any additional suggestions on the following would be much appreciated:

-water filter and carriers etc (this is a big one that we aren’t clued up on (specs, best value etc))
-lighting
-cookware
-utensils and tableware
-waterproof/windproof layer/poncho/cagoule/anorak type of thing
-tarps and poles etc
-unforeseen excellent additions that I don’t know about! (Lots I imagine)

I’m looking forward to receiving any responses and again, thanks for reading this and taking the time to share your knowledge.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Perhaps too much information and too many questions.

Where are you expecting to do this UK “wild” camping? Scotland? Dartmoor? A permission on something closer to home?
Where and with what have you made do on previous trips?

 

[demented dale]

Perhaps too much information and too many questions.

Where are you expecting to do this UK “wild” camping? Scotland? Dartmoor? A permission on something closer to home?
Where and with what have you made do on previous trips?

That post doesnt look right to me. DD x

 

[Pattree]

May I suggest that you come back with some of your questions when all eight you’ve spent just 24 hours away from home and dug latrines.
That will answer a lot of your questions about wild camping.

 

[Chris]

Hiya.

8 people is quite a lot of people for wild camping in the UK, especially when a lot of them are children. Carrying 4 tents would likely be necessary, unless you carry two really large ones between you, which itself presents a challenge.

The reality is that you cannot both car camp and wild camp easily in England and Wales. To get far enough away from your car for it to be tolerated, you’re looking at a few miles of hiking with tents and food and all associated kit. That’s really tricky with kids, and it’d also be quite hard for 8 of you to remain unseen. Also it’ll be quite hard to dispose of 8 people’s human waste in a responsible manner.

Might I suggest you try some ‘nearly wild camping’ paid campsites first with all 8 of you? That way you can see what kit you use, what you don’t need, what you do need, yet still be within easy reach of a car just in case. You might also then be able to see some of the practical challenges of 8 people wild camping.

 

[johnnytheboy]

8 kids, no need for the adults to carry anything

 

[C_Claycomb]

It’s hard to know from that opening post whether Bertie has wild camping experience, or what camping experience with the family they have. It is certainly possible to read it as someone with almost no experience latching on to a brilliant idea and getting fired up, but we just can’t tell.

• Large parties,
• small children,
• wild camping
• winter conditions

are all separate challenges, which most people tackle one at a time, gaining experience and equipment gradually. Asking for advice for how to prepare for all four at once is a big ask.

If you are in the Midlands, come along to the BushMoot at Rough Close, west of Coventry. The winter moot is in a couple of weeks, and another in the summer.

That Robens Klondike is 16.7kg of poly cotton! Just how fit are the parents and older kids, because that tent is a whole load or nearly so just by itself. With all the family in it, there won’t be much room, and I would suggest no room for the stove, which is one of the big selling points for that kind of tent.

 

[Woody girl]

You don't say what sexes your 4 elder kids are, but they could share two, two man tents between them and could be carried with their gear in their own packs. The two smaller ones could..and should be in with you. That means at least a 4 man tent for the two adults and two smallies.
It will be a squash even then.
Have you ever taken a 3 Yr old camping? You need eyes in the back of your head. How much food are you going to be carrying? Then there needs to be enough water for drinking, cooking and (especially with little ones) cleaning and washing up.
What are your toileting arrangements? 8 people in the wild will make an appreciable amount of waste product. How will you pack it out?
I hope you don't think you can all just pee in a bush and Bury 8 people's poo with no effect on the environment.
You'll need a dirty toilet bag to take that to proper disposal site at the very least. And another to pack out all your tins ,packaging, and uneaten food waste.
Have you got a comprehensive first aid kit?
How far can a 3 and 6 Yr old trek happily, especially if it gets wet, cold or even too hot.?
I think you need to rethink this a bit. Can someone look after the two smallest while you take the older ones out for an adventure? Still needs a lot of kit, but more manageable.
Children need proper gear in the outdoors too. Who will carry 8 pairs of gloves, 8 wooly hats and scarves warm jumpers, /fleeces, pj's, and all those spare socks. ?, and that's without spare clothes in case one set gets soaked.
Kids need proper footwear too, and it's not cheap, they grow out of boots fast.
I hope you have deep pockets!
I wish you luck, but to be honest, a large camper van seems a better bet than tents.
If you want to explore and camp off grid, but that is getting harder to do, unless you use campgrounds.
I think going to the moot, where you can sit and chat to others and get their experiences one to one is a good idea. You can see what sort of gear families need to camp safely and comfortably in a safe environment before disappearing (?) into the lesser provisioned areas of the country.
Bear in mind, wild camping is illegal in most areas of the UK, and you won't be able to stealth camp without being noticed with such a large group however hard you try!

 

[Watch-keeper]

What Chris said, I would try paid sites and car camping first so you get your kit and admin sorted, and I would start with warmer weather first too.
Some of the wilder camp sites are quite nice and gives you a safer environment to practice first and if dinner goes a bit south you can order in pizza, no shame in that we've all done it

Camping with kids can be a challenge especially younger kids but it is awesome, we do it regularly and the kids all love it.

On the kit and equipment front I would look to buy light weight kit if you intend to carry it any distance especially as you will have to carry some of the kids equipment too.

 

[ged]

What could possibly go wrong?

 

[C_Claycomb]

they haven’t been on since the 29th Jan. I am guessing the response was not what was hoped for and that will be the last we see of them….

 

[demented dale]

This is a fake post in my opinion.

 

[Billy-o]

Is this for a remake of the end of the Sound of Music