Camping with kids

Female adventurer Kiko Matthews is no stranger to an outdoors lifestyle. She was one of the first people to choose Firepot to fuel her through a record-breaking expedition, when she became the fastest woman to row the Atlantic solo in 2017. Even more astonishing is the fact she did this just months after undergoing brain surgery for Cushing’s Disease – a condition caused by a tumour on the pituitary gland. 

Following her record-breaking Atlantic Ocean crossing, Kiko moved to New Zealand and became a mother. She took her baby daughter cycling, kayaking, and out on beach cleans. Now that three-and-a-half year old Ocean is old enough to enjoy the outdoors more actively, she’s starting to plan bigger adventures, starting with a six-week family camping holiday. 

We caught up with Kiko as she began her latest challenge: an expedition climbing the UK’s three highest peaks – Snowdon, Scafell Pike, and Ben Nevis – with Ocean on her back. 

You’ll be climbing the three peaks over a six-week period. With a toddler in tow, how do you plan for a long expedition?

Rather than plan things in too much detail, I’m taking things as they come. At home, living with a preschool aged kid makes you very reliant on routine. We still have a routine when we’re on the road and staying in campsites, it’s just totally different to normal. I really am just going with the flow – Ocean’s needs and happiness dictate the day. Not planning too much means we can see how things work out and take things at our own pace.

What are you hoping to get out of this trip?

In all honesty, I've been really excited about not having to be somewhere at a certain time, and just being able to focus on Ocean. I want her to get used to long days out adventuring at her own speed. My daughter is hypermobile and has some developmental delay, so I want our time away to support and help her develop her strength and skills. Throwing, football and climbing in the local play parks along the way will all help with this. She’ll be with me 24/7, which may also make a difference. 

Mostly, I want Ocean to learn to be comfortable in the water and around fire. We’re taking a Kadhai – a portable barbecue – so that we can sit around the fire in the campsites that allow it. 

Are you worried about anything? 

Ocean’s a big sleeper and she won’t get her usual 12 hours per night, so she’ll definitely need to nap during the day. Light evenings and early mornings, with noisy campsites to boot, mean that camping might be challenging. To help with that, I’ve bought a blackout tent that we can put up inside our four-man tent, and we did a bit of ‘practice’ camping at home to get her used to it. Managing as a solo parent will also be challenging as I won’t be able to just pop to the shower or the toilet — she’ll have to come everywhere with me. 

What sort of places have you chosen to stay?

I’ve booked two campsites in each place we're going, just in case we arrive to find one is not suited to a preschool kids. We’ll spend about ten nights in each, so it’s important they have what we need. I’ve tried to book places with play parks nearby for Ocean. 

I want to do a lot of stand-up paddleboarding with Ocean, so all the places I’ve booked have water nearby. I bought a roof rack so I can keep our paddleboard inflated (rather than lose 20 minutes every time it needs blowing up). That way it gets as much use as possible and it doesn’t matter if we only use it for ten minutes at a time. 

How will Firepot make your life easier?

I remember loving the Dal and Rice with Spinach, but you’ve stocked a lot of new flavours since I finished my Atlantic crossing in 2018 which I’m excited to try. I’ve allowed for two to four Firepot meals every ten days or so to give me a few nights off from thinking about cooking and washing up. Ocean’s not a big eater yet, but I think she’ll be grabbing at my spoon — especially once she gets a taste of the Apple Porridge! 

Kiko is undertaking this challenge to introduce her daughter to a life of adventure, and to raise money for Women’s Aid, a charity that has supported her in the past. You can visit Kiko’s fundraising page here.