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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Thanks very much mumsnet camping section. Sheesh.

34 replies

InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 18:26

So I have been browsing the camping forum whilst thinking wistfully of taking the two very small people to a eurocamp type affair in Brittany next year (when small people are slightly less small) and so far have bought:

A 5metre zig soulpad, with coir carpet, rugs, two teir tea light chandelier, solar powered fairy lights, bunting, posh beds and bedding, one of those A frame cooking things with stock pot, 4 Indian tables, three dry stone dyke style windbreaks and large tarpaulin.

A collapsible washing up bowl. Wtf?

Various other accessories including camping appropriate clothing for all of us, for all possible weathers.

An estate car and roof box.

A new house with garden big enough to make use of tent when not away, and to dry it out.

I have also booked us in to several local(ish) campsites for weekends throughout this 'summer' and have organised ferry crossings for a three week trip to Europe next year and an exhaustive list of fine campsites which will be suitable for our nomadic road trip plans.

Have sadly had to acknowledge that we will probably have to dispose of one of the children to have any hope of achieving any of this. Yet to make final decision on which one. Changes daily.

I suppose a lotto ticket might be slightly less radical (although less achievable)

Damn you mumsnet!!! Envy

OP posts:
pictish · 26/02/2013 18:28

Ha ha! Grin
As a fellow bell tenter I sympathise!

Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 18:34

Pictish, I recognise your name. You are among the ones who must take the blame.

I had never even heard of a bell tent until yesterday.

It's not funny. I couldn't even sleep properly last night.

OP posts:
Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 18:43

In fact I recall now people oooing and aahhhhing over the tent pics on your profile on a thread from last year.

And your tent has a name. A NAME! Mine will be Joni.

Must.

Not

Look.

WILL.

NOT.

LOOK.

I've got it bad. It's like having a teenage crush on your teacher. I may actually DIE if I don't get this.

OP posts:
pictish · 26/02/2013 18:49

Best money I ever spent. Sorry! Grin

Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 18:49

I looked. I should not have looked.

Siiiiiiiigh Envy

I'm in Scotland too. Do you drive to France? The journey makes me feel a bit queasy? I drove to South Wales when my eldest was 11 months, was ready to take own life by time we got there. Furthest we've driven since is two hours (scarred)

OP posts:
LibertineLover · 26/02/2013 18:53

Oh god, cheers Gadget I bloody looked too, how much are they?! Grin

pictish · 26/02/2013 18:53

No...it's too far, as I don't drive (although I really want to!), so it would be dh's task alone.

We took Bessie to Wales (North, Snowdonia) last summer - it was a great holiday, but crikey - 9 hours there, 9 hours back.

We're going to Aviemore this year. Wink

Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 18:58

Libertine, the one I've bought (in my head) is £510. The same again at least on all the essential twattery.

Pictish I like the look of the rothiemurchis estate campsite, it's one of the local(ish) ones I've booked (in my head) for this year. Have you been before??

OP posts:
Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 19:01

*rothiemurchus

OP posts:
pictish · 26/02/2013 19:04

Yeah...that's where we were thinking of going - Rothirmurchus.
We stayed at Glenmore last time we did Aviemore, and while the facilities were top notch, it was all very joyless and up it's own bottom. Thought we' try Rothiemurchus this year as it looks lovely!

The number of advertised sites in and around Aviemore is surprisingly few!

pictish · 26/02/2013 19:08

Can I just say...I think the ZIG is not the best option.
We have the PIG and it's fab. It takes maybe 10 mins to peg in. We considered the ZIG at the time of purchase and decided against, as one thing that zips do, is break.
The PIG is far lighter to carry (and even at that, Bessie weighs about 4 stone), considerably cheaper, and once it's pegged down does the same as the ZIG. There is less to go wrong with it too.

Just a thought x

VivaLeBeaver · 26/02/2013 19:14

Ive got a zig and struggled last year to zip it together. I was close to tears on the campsite begging mumsnet for advice. But at least its spiderproof.

Though i had to get a random man to zip it for me.

pictish · 26/02/2013 19:17

Having said that - one or two have raved about the ZIG, so it's just my own opinion that it's needlessly more expensive, fiddly and heavy. Others have said it's great. xx

Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 19:31

I'm a bit of a woose when it comes to beasties in general and spiders in particular. And any sort of scary foreign beast such as scorpions etc. shudders.
That's the main reason for the zig.

The thought of the zip breaking does make me want to cry a bit though. Hmmm

Can I ask, how do you actually put it up and is there anywhere you can see a live one, in the flesh?? Husband so far is going along with it, but says he's not parting with that sort of money without actually seeing/feeling one. More hmmmm.

OP posts:
pictish · 26/02/2013 19:41

Think of it this way...beasties will have just as much trouble getting out as in, won't they? Wink

Um I think you can see them at some festivals...Soulpad do Bestival village for example.

Perhaps your h should take the chance? if it's not what he expected (and believe me, it will exceed ALL of his expectations so don't worry) he can always send it back.

Matildaduck · 26/02/2013 20:15

I've bought one :-) we havent camped with the smalls before so were "forced" into a Tent purchase !

Will let you know how lovely she is when she arrives.

Still struggling with the decor theme, i have bought some lovely pale green and cream wool blankets today to start me off.

Tea lights, bunting....where to start.

Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 20:23

Tbh I'm unlikely to have to deal with beasts alone, and I'm sure I'm able to not flip out and scream like girl until I've exited the tent in a demure and composed fashion leaving someone (baby? Who cares as long as its not me!) to remove/kill offending beastie.

Cheers for the advice though. Dh is up for it really, he just goes a bit green around the gils when having to part with serious amounts of money, which is fair do's really on account of not actually having any.

Festivals sadly out for us for a few years, although I've seen bell tents at BC festivals. I just didn't know they had a name or that they were affordable(ish) or practical or normal people. I've only ever seen them in the VIP posh areas of festivals.

Have you ever taken Bessie to a festival?

OP posts:
Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 20:36

I know Matilda, where to start indeed. And where to stop?? Our problem is that I haven't gone back to work after second child ad probably won't until they're both at school and we are really struggling on one wage.

Camping sounds like it should be an affordable way to give the kids cool holidays and adventure and experiences and it probably would be if I didn't have such poncey aspirations!!

Still, we've been saving £2 coins in one I those money tins you have to open with a tin opener (to prevent dipping into it to pay for kebabs and such like) and when last years tin was full it had £700 in it!! Some of it had to fund Christmas but there's about £500 still left and we're well on with tin two. This is our holiday fund (we've not had one for years) so it's a pretty good start.

OP posts:
Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 20:41

Pictish, when are you going to rothiemurchus? Would love to hear how you get on.

Are we likely to be able to put tent up for the first time at the campsite, without a dry run at home, without too much bother?? We've no room in our garden for it.

OP posts:
Matildaduck · 26/02/2013 20:44

It's expensive if you are starting from scratch :-(

Were lucky in that we have all the boring stuff, beds, bags, lights..etc.

If you can buy the tent then just buy economy on the other stuff and upgrade as you can. You can get buy without alot of the gadgets really.

Ask around your family and friends people have all manner of things in lofts etc.

kernowmissvyghen · 26/02/2013 20:57

We bought our bell tent from BCA, based in Bradford, who make tents for scouts and guides- do look at them as well as soul pad, etc. Their tents are totally bombproof, made in the UK with top quality materials, customer service is fab and they are super helpful. I love our bell tent!

Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 20:59

We have some stuff, but its all so old (and probably mouldy by now). We've no decent kitchen/cooking items at all.

I think we need to be patient an wait until next year, and keep going with the £2 coins (I'm like a fiend with them, always ask for them in change and buy them off friends if they have any, bit odd I suppose but it works for us!)

Get some stuff in post summer sales maybes?

OP posts:
Original poster
InspectorGadget · 26/02/2013 21:02

I just googled BCA Bradford and it came up with Bangladeshi Community Association. Grin

OP posts:
pictish · 26/02/2013 22:09

Hi - yes Bessie has been to several festivals. I don't go to the big ones like Glasto or T in the Park as that was hell on earth to me when I was a youngster, never mind now...but I do love a crusty old festie. The tent has done splendidly in the most adverse of conditions.

Rothiemurchus the first week of July I think. Can't wait. I love Aviemore.

pictish · 26/02/2013 22:15

I was just speaking to someone tonight who has bought an ex hire bell tent from these guys, for a good price.
This company had a wee village of these for the performers at a festie I was at last year. the guy came over and tried to sell me one (even though I clearly already have one Hmm) and although I didn't want one, we all went over for a good look, and they were lovely! He was wanting £280 for a 5 metre PIG.

here

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