Oh My! I NEED a Bell Tent!!

[wickedfairy]

I realise I am a little late to the party with this declaration, they look fabulous and I need one!

We have a 4man nylon-y tent at the moment, which does the job but with DC3 on the way, we would need to get a bigger one anyway. I figure we may as well get a fabuous one, while we are at it. So, sorry about all the questions....

So, is a 5m one the best for a family of 5? Are they really massive - can you get one pitched on an average pitch or would you need to book 2 pitches?

We normally go camping in France, this year at a place where they have "open" pitches that are not demarcated, so I would assume this is best? But we do also go to Wales as well.

Where is best to buy from - belltent.co.uk or soulpad.co.uk?

Thanking all you bell tent experts in advance!!

[tootsietoo]

Zombie thread - but I thought I'd add to this rather than start another new bell tent thread.

I am about to buy one. But I am wondering how hard it is to put up? I'll be on my own with the DDs (8 and 9) - DH doesn't do camping - and so I need to be able to do it by myself. Are they fairly straightforward to put up? I'll always have a trailer with me so stacks of space to store everything and I won't need to carry it anywhere, just roll it out of the trailer!

Anyone done any recent shopping around for one? Which are the best websites to buy them from at the moment?

Thanks!

[NannyR]

Really easy - you lay it out and peg it down, crawl inside with the central pole and erect it in the middle, then slot the a frame into place. Then peg out your guy ropes, done!

I have the smallest size and can easily do it on my own in under 15 mins. With a larger one, the method is the same, the tent is just heavier.

[tootsietoo]

That sounds easier than the nylon tents look. All that slotting together pole A and pole B. Great! Thanks.