One night in Donegal

In Northern Ireland we don't often get a long spell of good weather. However we've been having the best run of dry and warm weather for as long as I can remember, with temperatures from May through to now in the mid to late twenties and hardly a drop of rain. It has been too hot!

So, perfect camping weather! Off I went, I went very light, throwing a 4 person pop up tent in the car almost like an afterthought. I wasn't even sure where I was going! But I did know one thing, I wanted to go to the beach.

The best beaches I know of are in Donegal, particularly all around the coast of Gweedore. My favourite beach is adjacent to Donegal airport and I had a new toy to play with, a Stand up paddle board.  I wanted somewhere with relative privacy to try it out as I knew it would take a bit of getting used to.

I went straight to the beach, pumped up the paddle board and got going. I had my little dog with me who caused a bit of a problem jumping on board with me. I found it very challenging to actually 'stand up' on the Stand up paddle board, sitting down was definately more my style. I literally spent hours paddling up and down the coast line in shallow water, no deeper than waist deep.

By this time I'd formulated a plan. I decided that I'd stay at Sleepy Hollows Campsite where I'd been once before quite a long time ago. I knew the pub down the road, Leos, would do a nice meal so I called in there for a Steak on the way to the campsite.

I knew Sleepy Hollows was quite bad for midges. I'd forgotten just how bad and although I had quite a bit of 'smidge' on I got quite badly bitten. The following morning the midges just descended on me like a cloud attacking my face in particular. It was horrific, so I literally threw everything in the car and went to the beach. At the beach the constant breeze ensured that midges can't hang about too long.

Another scorching day meant that even at 10am I was struggling with the lack of shade. I backed the car up to a quiet spot at Mullaghderg Beach and pitched the tarp at the back of the car. My swimming gear was still a bit wet from the day before so I used the poles as a drying line. Then I set about making breakfast on the stove and there wasn't a single soul around. It was bliss. 

In the afternoon after another day of paddleboarding I decided that I didn't want to stay a second night partly because of the midges at the campsite and partly because I did have a commitment at work which I could have delayed a day but I preferred to get done in the time frame I'd told the client I would. I headed back to the campsite to pack up and by teatime I was back on the road heading home. 

List of items needed for camping (modifiable)

One of the most frequently asked questions on camping forums and in real life, from other people, is WHAT DO I NEED WHEN I GO CAMPING!

So here's a starter list, which can be modified to suit you as you become more experienced.

• Tent
• Groundsheet/footprint
• Pegs
• Rubber Mallet, more than one
• Claw Hammer can be used for stubborn pegs and also for taking them back out again.
• Sleeping bags (3-4 season) per person
• Airbed and PUMP (capital letters because this is so often overlooked!)
• Foam mats or equivalent for under an airbed
• extra blankets
• pillows from home
• hot water bottles

2 folding crates or clear plastic boxes (If you buy a lidded plastic box they used as a low table.)

Crate 1: (think of it as kitchen box)

• plates, mugs, cutlery
• tin opener/corkscrew
• dishwashing kit (ziploc bag with sponge, scourer and sm. bottle of dishwashing liquid)
• nesting pan set (or a lidded pan and a small frying pan from home)
• tongs, sharp knife, peeler, chopping board
• tea/coffee/sugar in airtight food containers
• dry food, such as crisps and biscuits and cereal packets
• MARSHMALLOWS
• wooden skewers
• tin foil
• hand sanitiser

Crate 2:

• torch/head torch
• battery operated lights (such as a string of fairy lights or even solar lights)
• first aid kit
• baby wipes
• spare loo roll
• matches or lighter
• books/pack cards
• roll of bin liners
• collapsible water carrier
• ear plugs
• picnic blanket

Clothes bag:

• soft holdall bag, one for each person (even little people) containing clothes, toiletries and undies.
• toiletries to include sun cream and meds
• travel towel, preferably bath towel sized

Cooking:

• Stove (lots of options from single burner to camping oven!)
• Folding barbecue
• Cool box (tip freeze milk, sausages, pre-made dinners etc beforehand)

Optional:

• 2 handled Trug, £3 Asda, perfect for washing dishes in. (Alternative: washing up bowl from home)
• Kettle (or you could use a lidded saucepan)
• Chairs (or you could sit on a picnic blanket
• Table (for eating at and playing games etc)
• Folding kitchen stand, not essential (for example you could use one end of your folding table) but it is safer with young children to have everything confined to one place. Avoid the concertina type kitchen stands, they are unstable and prone to collapse.

If you're taking EHU (Electric Hook Up) you can have:

• fan heater or electric oil filled radiator
• electric kettle
• table lamp from home
• chargers for devices such as cameras and phones

Having EHU extends the camping season earlier and later in the year.

For a more simplified version of this list check out The Never No More Packing List