Picking up a bargain...
There is no doubt that Autumn is creeping in and that what little summer we have had this year is drawing to a close. Whilst that’s bad news for most of us tent campers who don’t enjoy scraping frost of the inside of our tents, it does also mean that there are about to be some bargains to be snapped up in the end of season sales.
So, how do you go about picking a tent? What size and shape will meet your needs? What kind of material should your ten be made of? The best way to make your choice is to go to a showroom or large shop and have a look around, but to help you with your decision, here are a few things to consider:
The ideal tent would be one that is light to carry, but will still protect you against whatever the weather might throw at you. Ideally, you want something with enough space for you and your camping buddy, if you have one, plus all of your things- walking gear, bags and so on. It is great to have space in which to sit when you are not sleeping, so either a second room or a sheltered space outside is very handy especially in wet weather. And it should be easy to assemble- whether it is unbearably hot or you are stuck in a storm, no one wants to be struggling with tent pegs and balancing heavy poles.
However, it tends to be a trade-in between very small and light which is convenient or big and heavy which is great once it is up, but difficult to carry to the place you want to be. Lighter larger tents will be significantly more expensive, as will ones tolerant of extreme weather. When it comes to some of the best tents of 2009, it still all comes down to what you want to be using your tent for....
#10There seems to be a huge number of wasps around at the moment. If you're unlicky enough to be stung, use vinegar or lemon juice to sooth the pain. If you're stung by a bee, a little bicarbinate of soda mixed with water will do the trick.
Reading & Leeds, Glastonbury, T in the Park, Bestival, V, Isle of Wright... the list of music festivals is seemingly endless, thanks in part to the fact that since the late nineties the festival scene has exploded. No longer the domain of crazy stoned hippies (although, no doubt, there are still some of those around) Festivals now cater for everyone, with some festivals incorporating family areas.
Packing your camping gear and getting you tickets may seem like a breeze when compared to knowing what to wear to a festival, which is almost certainly always a point of contention...
BT has announced that it will be providing wi-fi access for camping and caravan sites across the UK in order to give campers an “option to get online and stay entertained … if the weather does its worst”. Now, on the one hand twitter-addicts like me will welcome the option of getting wi-fi access at a campsite, but on the other hand, I can’t help thinking that the main point of camping is to get away from the norm, to escape from daily routine and enjoy the great outdoors....
We have been chatting with Fforest Fields and following them on Twitter for a couple of months now, finding out what's happening at their campsite and learning what makes the site so popular. We are always looking for excellent campsites and trying to find out what makes them so great - we were delighted when Fforest Fields agreed to let us interview them to find out a bit more about what goes on behind the scenes.
Celebrity Camping Companions I am loving this story today. It seems that a UK camping company has run a survey across 500 people to find out who we would or wouldn't want to share a tent with.
Johhny Depp has come up as the number 1 camping buddy - Yes. I'd have to agree. I wouldn't kick him out of my tent!
At the other end of the scale, 48% of the voters said they'd rather sleep outside that share a tent with Paris Hilton! But what do you think?
#6 Make sure nothing is leaning against the wall of your tent as this will let in any rain or condensation. Also, make sure your inner and outer tent aren't touching to avoid letting any rain into the inner tent.
Secret paths and monster droppings…. If you are hiking with younger children they will love to hear stores of buried treasure, or magic trail and fairies and beasts in the woods. Pick a few common plants or stones that could be 'signs' and invent a story for the kids to play along with - get them to spot a series of items in a row as a sign that they're getting close to their fairy/monster/treasure etc.
#10
We have been chatting with 
Johhny Depp has come up as the number 1 camping buddy - Yes. I'd have to agree. I wouldn't kick him out of my tent! 