Just bought new bell tent, very excited, tell me what else I need...

[MrsLovely]

....before I waste my money on a load of old tat due to severe over excitement!

What tried and tested extras have you done the hard work to find so I don't have to?

The tent will be expected to take two adults, two children (one 7, one baby coming up to 12 months when the tent will first be used) and occasionally two dogs.

What do I need???

Can I recommend getting a 2nd canvas bag. One for the tent the other for the groundsheet. Makes it easier to carry, pack and store.

And congratulations

Mrs Lovely you are in for such a treat-congratulations!

We stayed in a 5m bell tent on a tiny Hebridean island with our three children last summer and it was the most fantastic holiday. So much space, so cosy.

The tent had a wee pipsqueak stove and we would put it on in the evenings when the children were in bed. It was lovely. We had a fire extinguisher close to hand and it did make a real difference on those nippy Hebridean nights.

DP and I are now nervously considering one from 'canvas and cast' with a stove even though it will cost an absolute fortune.

Hoorah! Glad it arrived at last. It's not hard to get back in the bag, honest. Some things come in too-small bags, no matter how tightly you roll. But I've never had a nasty moment with the bell tent. But yes, two bags, in case of muddy groundsheet. We just use a bin bag.

Belated guffaws at Sal's amazing car.

Ooh, fantastic, congratulation with new tent arrival! Will you pitch it this weekend?

No problems with getting tent back in the bag here either. When wet we binbag groundsheet too. Lately we've started putting a builders' tarp like this under the groundsheet if camping on muddy ground. Makes cleaning less on an issue. Mind you, ours still full size, I need to cut it to tent groundsheet size as I'm letting the tent down, I fear.

What's the weather forecast for this weekend? At the moment it's blowing a gale here (again!) so I can't help but think not the best time to attempt the first ever putting up of tent.

Plus, need to book trumpet players for triumphant fanfare when it's up!

A BROOM - essential! I curse if we forget it- dried mud, grass, twigs and childrens general messiness is easily swept away, otherwise you will spend ages on your hands and kness getting it all out of the tent.....at least I do anyway! I second clever storage solutions - pop up bins etc. Your bell tent won't look so lovely when all the clothes, toys & bedding is on show. I was quite disheartened on our first outing when it continually looked like a tornado had passed thru the tent. Didn't look much better when everything was nicely stored away in orange sainsburys bags

We've just ordered one too, but got the one with the zipable groundsheet to keep the creepy-crawlies out. It's our first tent, so very excited and can't wait for it to arrive :)

The beauty of the bell tent is that you can put your bunting up all the way around inside using the little ties that you roll up the sides with.

Therefore enabling you to have highly decorative, expensive fabric, non water proof, non flapping bunting which just looks divine and will not piss off any haters.

Don't care what anyone says - bell tents need some skins, bunting & feurerhand lamps to look their best!

Gah, well the weather let me down big time over the weekend, and it's now raining so I'm still containing my excitement over putting the tent up.

I did, however, take the groundsheet out to see just how big it was, and the answer is...big. Very very big.

And the inner looks enormous too!!