I grew up in a family that never went camping… except for Dad, and that was purely because of him being in the army. His feedback was never great, so we weren’t exactly convinced! It was always hotels or Airbnb accommodation for us basically… not complaining.
Fast forward a few years and Covid came along. Suddenly, everything became so expensive, and I started looking into camping videos on YouTube. I was not aware that there were actual Harry Potter tents — you know, the ones that look small but are basically a mansion inside! This sparked my interest even more, so I went ahead and ordered a cheapish tent.
Not having a clue what kind of tent was what, I ordered one that didn’t have a stitched-in floor (bathtub floor). So my husband’s and my first camping trip was a bit of a flop… and the weather didn’t help. Loads and loads of strong winds! But at least it was beautiful where we were.
Armed with a little more knowledge — and some Halfords tent offers — I bought a proper tent. The kids and I practised pitching it in the front garden a few times, and then I booked us a camping holiday four hours’ drive away.
I deliberately chose somewhere four hours away so that we couldn’t just pack everything up and go home. We had to make it through at least one night!
Both girls slept great, although our very basic camping gear wasn’t amazing. The first night is always the one when I don’t sleep perfectly. But the second night was amazing. The kids and I slept wonderfully, and our little one actually slept through the night. Funny enough, she only ever slept through the night while camping!
That’s when the girls and I caught the camping bug.
We went camping again as a family, but my husband doesn’t love it quite as much as we do. So that’s how I became the mum who camps with three kids — our two girls and my nephew — on my own. Well… sometimes my brother tags along!
Going from never having been camping to now attempting four or five camping trips a year, usually three or four days at a time, is such a change. And honestly, one thing I regret not doing when I was younger is camping.
I’m catching up now, though, and giving my kids as many experiences as we can.
On most of our trips, we try to include museums, aquariums, zoos and other places to explore. If we’re returning to a campsite we’ve already visited, we sometimes try to stay put instead and save the money for another, bigger adventure.
One of my favourite things about camping now is the mornings. Waking up to the cool, fresh air, stepping outside the tent while everything is still quiet and making that first cup of coffee — there’s just something about it that you don’t get at home
Over time, we’ve built up a great camping setup, and I’d probably say we’re not really just camping anymore… we’re glamping! A good night’s sleep is a must if you actually want to enjoy anything the next day.
There will be much more about our setup, our favourite camping spots and what we pack coming in the near future.
Follow along with Brambles & Bread on the blog, Instagram and YouTube for more of our camping adventures. 🌿
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