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I had a thought, I have a bike trailer with a ludicrous amount of luggage storage space. I have a toddler who particularly likes being outdoors. I also have a very small and lightweight hiking tent, tiny stove, a very light travel cot / baby containment device etc., all of which would easily fit in the bike trailer.
So I thought maybe I might take her camping with the bike. I was thinking maybe the campsite at Newhaven near the High Peak Trail, it being cheapish and an easy/nice afternoon's ride from home.
Has anyone else done this? Any tips?
Go for it, its what ive done, all be it in the New forest as i live in it. Beats being stuck in the "holiday" traffic around Lyndhurst. We didn't bother with the cot though, as it was too big, which the little'un had epic fun rolling around in the duvet untill about 10 pm when she just collapsed. Woke up early too, as the tent does little to keep the light out.
Good to hear someone else had the same silly idea!
Did you just use normal baby sleeping stuff (gro bag or whatever), no special baby camping gear?
joemarshall - that's genius (though Baby North might have to wait until she's gone past hwer first birthday).
Mrs North's gonna kill me.... 😉
Yep, same stuff. We put an extra layer on, a fleece, as the temparature dropped quite abit, but other than that grow bag as normal. Its no drama's, but the first time we stayed in a tent, she just went loopy. As far as she was concerned it was her on personal play pit.
The only thing i would take is an extra layer or two in it gets cold in the night. Push come to shove, they can always snuggle up with the parents.
I've been planning the same but its tough as we live in London and I'm not sure I can manage bike + trailer + 2.5 yr old on a train to get out of town.
Have a look at the Vango kids sleeping bags. I think it cost me £20 and should be fine for years. She loves it. She also loves her sleeping mat which is an alpkit 3/4 one that happily serves me for bivvy trips 😉
Took my little one to France when she was 9 months old, we had the bike and trailer & tent and travelled to different camp site via bike.
Took my little one to France when she was 9 months old, we had the bike and trailer & tent and travelled to different camp site via bike.
We did that a couple of times as well with a pre-school aged kid. I had most of the heavy stuff on my bike or in the back of the trailer. The missus and oldest kid just carried their clothes in their panniers. That helped keep things moving.
France is great for family cycle touring with plenty of rural campsites of all shapes and sizes that you can just roll up to unnanounced and get a pitch for the night.....
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I've been planning the same but its tough as we live in London and I'm not sure I can manage bike + trailer + 2.5 yr old on a train to get out of town.
We used to live in London and frequently left town by train with bikes and a trailer. It takes discipline and strong will though to get everyone and all the bikes and panniers organised and onto the Thameslink at Farringdon Station. I don't reckon I could cope with the stress if I ever had to do it again.
We're doing it again next summer, but this time will have a 3 year old and a 9/10 month old so may be a bit more difficult. Both will fit in the trailer, but my Daughter would rather use her balance bike for long distances so will have to bring that too.
I am heading out with the boy - 9 years old - with a bob type trailer in the summer holidays. There is a campsite about 8 miles away and there is a decent off road route down the canal. Not sure who is looking forward to it more; me or him.
Dogsby
Just found this one - took oldest son camping in the trailer when he was 2, and last year when he was 3 on the bikeseat with just panniers. Only 10 miles down the road to a campsite at a pub which does food (and nice beer). Have just used one of my normal sleeping bags for him.
This year plan to get him to pedal the back of the tandem, and maybe later in the year also take younger brother who is now 2 - but need to sort out a bigger tent for that.