Bell tent - well, I've got one extra from my Holland expedition

[MisSalLaneous]

As some of you might know, we went to Holland last weekend to buy my bell tent (a 4m with the zip-off groundsheet).

I got one extra (the 4m with separate groundsheet) to help share some of the travel costs, so if anyone's interested, just shout.

It's this Obelink one, the same as sold by Belltent UK.

You can have it at cost €195 plus £50 for diesel/tunnel costs, so should save you £70 - £80. (I'm obviously not making a profit, but as we were going there anyway, it would feel wrong to. )

CAT me if you're interested!

What a lovely thing to do! We have a 5m on order so are looking forward to being part of the bell tent thing!

Ooh, how exciting, fireandlife! I'm ridiculously excited about my tent, I just wish the weather would improve a little now! Will you be getting a stove etc too? For now, I'm just sticking to the tent, but might reconsider if something freezes off...

We've got one night coming up in 2 weeks already, so that will be our first real try in it.

Welcome to the Bell Tent obsessives! We bought ours last year and have never looked back. the only downside is having to chat to every admirer on the campsite!

Thanks Orangesarenottheonlyfruit!

I was afraid I'd get there and not really like it, but when we sat down it was just perfect - how I imagined it would be, all open, spacious, well, nice.

I really love the look of those coir carpets on Belltent and Soulpad, but not sure if the size of it would annoy dh me when it comes to packing and unpacking the car. Love the look though. What do you all use for floor? Couple of rugs scattered or full coverage?

oh it's gorgeous
but DH would have a fit if I bought ANOTHER tent

I'd love a stove but being a bit of lazy thing I don't want to have to be watching my DSs all the time when I want to relax as much as possible!

I may get one to use with the tent in the garden. I have lovely ideas of using it for Winter parties when the dining room just isn't big enough!

I'm so excited about its arrival but have to wait until 25th May!

Had a thought about your coir matting thing Misal, Albion Canvas do a very much lighter, slightly less expensive carpet which folds down to a very small parcel.

I'm never going camping but what is so fab about having a bell tent over a more conventional one?

Its beauty and atmosphere.

Great, thanks fireandlife! Never thought of looking there for a mat - I know they do great tents, but never thought of them for the rest.

I use a few scattered ikea rugs and enormous floor cushions. Lots of space for lounging and can get bunged into the washing machine after naughty children have covered them in all sorts of disgusting things!
Have long been lusting after a coir mat tho!

I like those Albion ones - with perhaps a small Ikea one here or there (e.g. at entrance for the worst mud/dust). I wonder how thick they are. If it's just the actual single layer material, or slightly padded as some tent carpets? I'm really in two minds - if plain, perhaps I should make one myself for that price?

I also have a Moroccan rug that's done it's bit (i.e. got covered in candle wax!), so might move that to the camp stuff...

Hmm, I see a roof rack coming up!

I think the Albion ones look quite thin but I've gone for the 'luxury' groundsheet with the tent so for me it would be purely aesthetic - hopefully, if the groundsheet does make a difference! It would be lovely to have a few IKEA ones as well. I don't think I'll be buying floor coverings this year as I will have spent a small fortune on the actual tent. I'll dream for now and steal things from the house!

Oh yes, Albion also do the coir matting but I expect it will be more expensive, probably much better quality than others but none the less...

Ah yes, I think I'm just being silly - I've got the heavy groundsheet too, so it doesn't matter really.

Oh! A week ago and I would have bitten your hand off. What a lovely thing

If that's silly, then this is really silly - I bought a beautiful, very expensive copper whistling camping kettle last year. I didn't need it but it's pretty. It's all about making a lovely holiday environment and if a big thick coir mat does it for you then so be it. I'll never be in five star hotel luxury so over time I'm building five star tent luxury!

Sorry DuelingFanjo, I wasn't sure whether we'd be able to go or not, or else I could have shouted out in advance! Mind you, I didn't actually know I'd bring a 4m, someone else was hoping for a 5m one, but I couldn't get any. (They're huge, so only space for 2 in the car!)

What tent do you have? Have you camped in it already, and if so, tell more!

I've bought fairy lights ages ago, but didn't feel right using it with Orchy, so I'm itching to do the whole set-up (and blame ds for all my, uhm, things).

fireandlife, oooh, that sounds lovely!! Yes, I guess we don't really need any of these things, but it does make the experience so much nicer.

It is so lovely. My favourite is rolling all the sides up and just chilling

I take ours to the park sometimes, for picnics. People laugh but then they LOVE it.

We have a 4 metre Bellent from belltent.co. not used it yet - we're going to have a trial run soon and then use it for Glastonbury.

I want some funky rugs and fairy lights

Hey BettyBlu, I've wondered about park - so no-one's yet said you're not allowed or something? I would obviously not use it in a full park, but there is a small park right next to us, and more often than not, it's only ds and myself (or dh, ds and myself over weekends) there. So if it's allowed, I'd love to pitch it for a picnic. Would obviously not stay overnight, I know that's strictly forbidden, as it should. I think I would just do the top part, and not bother with the groundsheet (picnic mats instead).

Dueling - nice! I bought ours half price at Tesco a couple of weeks ago, but I've seen nicer ones (slightly more expensive) around.

I'd also quite like one of these, but it is a bit expensive, so not sure. I love the look though.

duellingfanjo that sounds fantastic - with fairy lights it'll be simply magic.

oh yes, I love the tealight things. I have an old candle Chandelier from Ikea but it takes thin long candles and not sure how safe it would be.

I was watching this on ebay but decided against it.

I like that! Spray painted white it might look really nice inside. I wonder about the safety too - especially as Soulpad specifically say they don't sell it as they're not keen on open flames in a tent... I guess a stove is more enclosed. I also wonder how easy it would be to take down (to blow out candles). Hmm, or perhaps you will stand on something instead?

I do have some garden lanterns for tea-lights, might use them instead.

You have to put pics up on your profile once you're set up, it sounds lovely!