pre-pitched tents

[NancysGarden]

ok, we have no camping gear (except sleeping bags) as I stupidly left all my camp-stuff with a woman I met in Amsterdam to continue my travels further afield (few years back) and you guessed it, a year later when I went to pick them up she had moved, goodbye camping stuff. (tent, stove, crockery, gas cylinders, torch, mats the lot! I'm an idiot, yes I know)

So, am wondering is it worth going to stay in one of these pre-pitched tents, am looking at Bracelands. We're a bit hard up and can't really afford to replace the gear AND go away this year. What are they like? Does it kill the idea of camping?

bump

I don't think it would kill the idea - except for the divorce-on-arrival aspect but I have no experience. Have you tried freecycle to see if there's any kit changing hands atm? I have just got a tent for the cubs from my local site and there seems to be a massive quantity of camping stuff changing hands on there just now. Whereabouts are you? (the amsterdam bit making me wonder if you are based in Europe)

I know the tents at Christchurch / Bracelands quite well actually, we pitched next to them last year.

Yopu know hat? i think they'd be fine. make sure you take the chairs outside a lot as othrwise you'll mis out on all the general people watching fun, but ootherwise I think it's not really any different.

There's lots of cheapo tents about though so do wonder if it would be as cheap just to get a tent- first time we camped we bought an Argos special (and lots of sales on there atm) and borrowed a stove etc- with Asda chairs and bags etc I reckon a family of four could easily get set up for under £200 witha bit of research (lidl / Aldi camping specials on around now- check their websites).

you'd need to balance up cost differences

we have all new camping kit this year - the old lot demised - defo weigh up if the package deals are in your budget at all, and as peachy says the latest lidl offers are absolutely bursting with camping gear atm. Asda chairs, take a look at B&M or Home Bargain if you have one near you. We did it for just on £100 but only a three-man tent as we are really Tin-tenters

just found a catalogue for robert dyas came with yesterday's paper - really cheap stuff! Hmmm might give this some thought! Thanks all (am actually in London, just ended up in the 'Dam mid-way through travels before sprogging out)

For future reference - since this is a bit of an old post - pre-pitched tents offer a great alternative to pitching your own tent.

There is no work putting the tent up or taking it down and potentially drying it out afterwards back at home.

Buying and pitching your own tent can be cheaper but with so many cheap tents on the market buying the tent is probably the cheapest part. Buying the rest of the gear is not so cheap and there is a lot of gear needed if you don't want to completely rough it.

If you only go camping occassionally there are a few pre-pitched tent companies around. Try a search for pre-pitched tents or take a look at camping holidays with Go Camping UK.