Storing tent at a campsite?

[BustyDeLaGhetto]

I have a question, campers.

Due to take DD camping in Dorset next week - problem is I don't drive and have a stupidly heavy tent (Outwell 4 man) - we are taking the train down there and I can't carry it onto the train.

The idea was that I would courier the tent to friends who would then drop it down there for me but they can only do it two days before we arrive. I have emailled and called the campsite to see if they are happy to store it for me for a couple of days but there is no reply to either emails or the phone.

I literally don't know what to do. Shall I just send it on and hope for the best? It's a really stupid situation to be in.

Camp site owners are normally really helpful and friendly, I would keep trying to call, but if all else fails ask your friends to explain when they drop it off. Doubt you'll have a problem.

Have a fab time

What is the campsite? If Eweleaze, for example, there will probably be a MN camper there! Start a thread asking if anyone is at the site !

It's Woodyhyde - haven't been before. The opening times of the shop are super limited so can't get hold of anyone. I'd try the train but this thing is MASSIVE. May open thread see if anyone there next week

Are you likely to be doing trips like this again? Would it be worth buying/borrowing a lighter tent for the two of you? Particualrly with a lot of sales still running it might be a good time.

get a trolly like this www.diy.com/nav/fix/handtools/hand-trolleys/hand_trolley/B-and-Q-Hand-Trolley-HT2022-9686783 to transport heavy stuff about?

I am SUCH A DICK. I saw this tent (with it's glowing MN reviews!) for cheap on Ebay - its only been used twice, and I am a sucker. I bought it and had it couried to my work wherein I realised I had purchased a monster tent heavier than the actual moon. It's only DD and I and I don't drive so it has been used approximately once, very very locally. The plan was a summer of lovely camping but like a spoon I have bought this ludicrous tent. The reason I want to use it is because the weather looks awful next week and this is a sturdy motherflipper of a tent in the rain.

We have to get 3 different trains to get to site (I know, right?) + stuff + small child, and am dreading hoicking it around. Maybe I could take out the poles and put those on my back (in a rucksack, obvs) to make it more manageable.

Campsite shop is only open 2 hours a day - I have someone going down there on Friday who could drop it off but he won't be there within the two hour gap. Gaaaah!

I go to WoodyHyde every year, trying to think of where they would store it, they don't seem to have anywhere I can think of but do call them, they're all really helpful and nice.
Have a great time, it's pretty free and easy there, you can have a camp fire but it has to be off the ground.

And the shop is open for longer than 2 hours but can't remember what hours they are!

Are you getting the train to Wareham?
You'll still need transport to get to Woodyhyde, it's about two miles out of Corfe, middle of the countryside.

3 trains? Not a chance - you will be so tired by the time you get to the site you will end up checking into a hotel to recover. Get on that phone and stay on it - it is the only way. How are you planning to get it home again though - are your friends picking it up?

For what it is worth, I had something couriered from Obelink in the Netherlands to a French campsite we were staying on (all organised on the phone before we arrived) and they were really helpful about it. So if the French can do it despite the fact I didn't speak any French, I am sure an English campsite should be able to cope with someone dropping a tent off and leaving it for a couple of days (storage permitting of course).

I wouldn't just hope for the best though because if they do have a problem with storage it may not be left somewhere safe (dry probably doesn't matter if it is only a couple of days).

If you do get it there, maybe put a For Sale sign on it and see if you can sell it before you leave?

Re reading your OP and you saying you don't drive, is Woodyhyde really the best site for you and your DD, it is quite a long walk from anywhere and there isn't a lot in the way of play areas.
5 miles I think to Swanage and as I said about 2 miles to Corfe Castle.

The steam train to Swanage runs along the bottom of the site but there isn't a stop within walking distance with that amount of gear and a small child, it is very lovely though.

Amazon have quite a few trolleys for not a lot of money.

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_7?url=search-alias%3Doutdoor&field-keywords=trolley&sprefix=trolley%2Caps%2C414

And all on a main road until you get to the WH turn off when it's about half a mile down to the site.

Site have emailled me back! I can drop tent off at the shop which is open 9-11 and 5-8p.m...only the person dropping my tent off for me can't do it within those times. Gaaaah!

I'm meeting friends who are going to collect us from Wareham train station and take my tent back home with them (I will probably then courier it from their place to mine)

I was planning on using a courier Frozen but it is too late to book one now as is bank holiday. We are going Tuesday to Friday.

:(

How are you getting from Wareham to WH and back?

Frozen meant to say, very impressed that you arranged a courier in French without speaking the language!

gertie A friend is collecting us from Wareham train station and taking us to WH where they are camping

How heavy is the tent? Parcels2Go are doing a 10 off offer for delivery of parcels under 20kg including on next day delivery. So you could have the tent picked up tomorrow and dropped off either on Saturday or on Tuesday (depoending if weekend delivery is an option).

I used this recently to get free collection with Yodel of something I bought on Ebay. They were great.

Personally, whilst I appreciate the point about the tent's sturdiness, in your situation of no car, I would nevertheless be inclined to cut my losses and head to Decathlon or similar for a lighter tent you can carry on a trolley like those linked with your other gear (Decathlon tents have never failed me in any weather so far). This one even has somewhere to sit in the rain for two of you: www.decathlon.co.uk/arpenaz-family-41-tent-id_8294502.html#anchor_ComponentProductTechnicalInformation.

It is 9.8kilos but there is a similar lighter one with shelter but no groundsheet, Arpenaz 4 I think, which is lighter.

Oh no sorry I didn't arrange the courier. Obelink organised delivery - I just gave them the address. I just arranged with the campsite that they would accept delivery. I didn't do it in French though. They spoke English.

Oh I get it now, sorry.

Right. Tent has left the building. Friend dropping it to site on Monday and I will spend the weekend trying to make contact to see if it can be taken into shop. May also see if any MNers there on Monday who can alert owner that I am trying desperately to make contact.