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Are there any folks on here who do camping / can give advice on buying tents?
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Hiking/backpacking - yes.
Family camping - no.
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Funny that, I am writing this sat by a campfire in a forest with my girls asleep in the tent behind me. At Lago Peñuelas if you care to look it up.
We go camping around once a month for weekends and about three times a year for a week or two.
What sort of advice were you after?
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Last time was 15 years ago, but plenty of experience before then, all over Europe. Some advice will date, some will not.
What sort of advice were you after?
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>> Are there any folks on here who do camping / can give advice on buying
>> tents?
Yes - don't.
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Camping with a car or camping/hiking?
Car camping, you can take a big walk-in tent, cooker, camp beds, table, deckchairs, fridge, loo tent, bicycles, the kitchen sink, etc etc etc.
Carrying everything on your back in a rucksack - a flimsy lightweigt tent, a bluet stove, and a frying pan dangling on the straps.
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Eurocamp are pretty good !
;-)
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UL camping yes. Kit is a very personal thing and there is a cottage industry out there making lightweight specialised stuff.
Lots of reviews online and some good stuff on YouTube.
My kind of camping is probably very different to mainstream family camping, and after a day in the Lakes yesterday a high wild pitch would have been the perfect ending.
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Years ago we went to a campsite next to Ullswater, nearest village was Pooley Bridge I think. Can't remember the name of it but it was very pretty when it wasn't raining. Quite do-able from where you live Bobby. Nice bike rides about those parts too. Watch the weather forecast though!
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>> Occasional.
thats too often for me.
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Last went camping with the Army Cadet Corps in 1965. It rained.
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I have camped 6 times in my life, it rained every time, and i got wet every time.
I took the hint.
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>> Car camping, you can take a big walk-in tent, cooker, camp beds, ...
>> Carrying everything on your back in a rucksack - a flimsy lightweigt tent, a bluet stove.....
Take a removal van and some big tents and you can take the carpets, beds, sideboard, table and chairs, etc. :-)
I know of only one family who did this in the 1950s.
EDIT.... and they took the cat. But they did go for a few months. The father used to go to work from there.
Last edited by: rtj70 on Sun 19 Apr 15 at 12:22
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It's carrying all that stuff about that puts me off. Campers often talk of the freedom but to me it seems the exact opposite. I can fly to Europe and take only the contents of a cabin bag to last me a week. The neighbours have a van that takes a day to pack with tons of stuff before they venture over to Wales for a week in the drizzle.
Doesn't seem particularly cheap either. I suppose I just don't get it.
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>>Yes - don't.
I'm with ^this geezer.
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We camped with kids at least annually from 1999 until 2013 inc in UK and France. Over that time we've accrued a fair amount of experience of both tents and kit. While not quite so personal as the lightweight stuff LL describes there's plenty of scope for preference and even Marmite reactions to family camping stuff.
As others say we need to know what sort of camping you're intending. I assume it's probably family and car but an idea of numbers and where eg UK/Europe you might want to go will help focus advice.
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The closest we have got to camping was renting a static caravan when the kids were young. Still too close for me. :-)
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'Normal' camping is not for me. Packing all that gear. Food, cooking stove, pans, tent. It probably takes me less than two hours to get all my stuff together, checked, tested & in my pack. Then the possibility of having to dry out a large wet tent when you return home.
Quite a few friends have camper vans, but having chatted to one such friend yesterday, he tells me that with two young children it is lunchtime before you can set off anywhere. Everything has to be packed away securely. I can understand the attraction of a caravan, but I swing between extremes. Minimalist camping, the world on your back weighing sub 10kgs, or decent hotels, B&Bs. Preferably with a pool for a pre breakfast swim, fabulous breakfast, a nice view from the room & interesting people to chat to.
I have walked through, and even used the facilities of, some of these large coastal sites with entertainment on tap. A few spring to mind when I walked the SW Coast Path, but that kind of camping us not for me. Possibly idyllic for those with young families.
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I try to avoid the tyranny of things. I try to keep things simple and my options open. Own a load of camping gear and to feel obliged to use it even though you might want to do something else.
Same with boats, caravans, motorhomes, second homes etc. Don't want them. Too restrictive
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>> Same with boats, caravans, motorhomes, second homes etc. Don't want them. Too restrictive
>>
Don't forget time shares. :-)
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>
>> fabulous breakfast, a nice view from the room & interesting people to chat to.
>> I have walked through, and even used the facilities of, some of these large coastal
>> sites with entertainment on tap. Possibly idyllic for those
>> with young families.
We used to look out the sites used by Eurocamp etc and then book privately for our own tent. Guaranteed English friends for the kids.
Latterly we've found Camping Municipal and small French sites more to our taste.
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We used to look out the sites used by Eurocamp etc and then book privately for our own tent. Guaranteed English friends for the kids. SNAP, and with a little bribery, our daughter could join any of the activities run by the animateurs/trices.
Latterly we've found Camping Municipal and small French sites more to our taste. SNAP
However the coastal french sites are best avoided, ( unless you specifically know them), because they tend to be crowded, and densley populated. 30 years ago the presence of Eurocamp generally was an indication of reasonable quality. The better sites used to be under the umbrella of 'Castles and Camping' - I believe they rebranded themselves as Les Castels, but from the website does not look as 'quality' as it used to be.
If it is to be your first experience, I would avoid tin sheds, - too many people who are looking for a discount holiday. And then they complain about it being too cramped.The trick with a caravan is to regard it as living outside, but with a guaranteed waterproof box when needed.
We always regarded as camping as like staying in hotel, but more expensive. But you gain in flexibility and when carefully chosen with experience, a good outlook and enviroment.
Still difficult to beat camping on a beach in Greece, with nobody around and less the 10m to your morning bathe.
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>> The closest we have got to camping was renting a static caravan when the kids
>> were young. Still too close for me. :-)
Mobile home is as close as I ever intend to get.
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I've camped, but I don't like sleeping on or too near the ground, so I've used one of these which means you can sleep inside the car - if it's long enough:
www.caranex.com/
We're too old for that now, so it's for sale.
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We had one of these www.camperlands.co.uk/trigano-randger-415-dl-folding-campers1/ for about 10 years. Comfort and facilities of a basic caravan but under canvas, only about 10 minutes to set up on site. Most stuff was stored in the trailer so just had to grab bedding, clothes and some food, hitch up and go! But got fed up packing away wet canvas. (Why does it always rain on the last day of the holiday?)
Now moved on to a small caravan www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/caravan/28105-trigano-silver-310tl still easy to tow as only 1.8m wide.
Have visited quite a few European countries over the years and now usually go out of season when campsites are quieter and use ACSI card www.campingcard.co.uk/extra-information/what-is-campingcard-acsi/
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>> Now moved on to a small caravan www.practicalcaravan.com/reviews/caravan/28105-trigano-silver-310tl still easy to tow as only 1.8m
>> wide.
I quite like those and a German couple on pitch next to us at Mimizan last year seemed to cope OK with one. OTOH it's max laden weight is only 70 or so kilos less than my four berth Xplore 304 www.elddis.co.uk/xplore/xplore-304
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sun 19 Apr 15 at 20:54
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wow - lots of answers before I could get my questions in.
I have some sort of desire to visit the Outer Hebrides, maybe part of being Scottish and feeling guilty about not having visited this part of my country. Looking to go last week of May. Just me and the missus.
Island Hopper ferry ticket is roughly £250 or thereabouts. If we stayed in B&Bs for 6 nights that would be the best part of another £500 at the prices I can find. So collectively you are into the same money as a week abroad somewhere sunny.
Then the missus suggested camping - we have never done it other than going to the Eurocampsites in France.
Doing some research on the OH sites it is starting to really appeal to us - a week away from everything, do lots of walking etc and just chilling out.
We don't have a tent so been looking on gumtree etc as well as visiting Go Outdoors. I want a tent that I can stand up in, don't want to spend a week crouched. But there seems to be an argument that the higher the tent, the more likely you are going to be out in the middle of the night in a storm trying to tie the thing back down!
So any advice on tents for starters ??
Not sure yet whether we will take the dog with us - I would love to but it is one thing being soaked, its another thing being soaked and sharing a tent with a wet smelly lab!
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>
>> sharing
>> a tent with a wet smelly lab!
the smelly lab lives under the car. They only need to be out of the rain and wind.
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you honestly think my missus would allow her precious lab to sleep outside under a car??
Nae chance!!
Ideally we would leave it till the week before to book ferries but there only is one ferry a day and its bank holiday weekend. I think we could cope with wind and rain over there once we are there.
However it will be a different story if I need to book the ferry now and then the Wed or Thu before we go the forecast shows rain and wind for a week!
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>> However it will be a different story if I need to book the ferry now
>> and then the Wed or Thu before we go the forecast shows rain and wind
>> for a week!
>>
Some problem, the last week we spent there was warm dry and sunny but with a stiff warm breeze.
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>> you honestly think my missus would allow her precious lab to sleep outside under a
>> car??
>>
>> Nae chance!!
she can sleep with the smelly lab then, and you can use the
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/131200754149?
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Hmph - would there be space to fit a leather couch in there for him to lie on to relax??
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>> Hmph - would there be space to fit a leather couch in there for him
>> to lie on to relax??
sure enough,
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Luxury-Super-Soft-Extra-Large-Dog-Bed-Leather-Fleece-Plush-Comfy-Pet-Dog-Crate-/321713373063
perfect for you the smelly lab
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It had better be a substantial tent, if it is windy it will be very windy. No trees there is a good indication of prevailing wind speed.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Sun 19 Apr 15 at 22:07
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I love camping. And whilst I live in a country where the weather is predictable 3 months in advance, I love it in the UK as well.
But before you choose what tent, then you do need to think about what you're getting into and whether or not camping will suit you, bearing in mind the likely weather you will experience.
I love it, but both me and my children love being outside and are fairly "robust" sorts. My wife wouldn't go camping in a million years.
If you are simply thinking of camping as accommodation then I doubt you'll enjoy it, simply because however good/expensive / modern, it still isn't a real bed in a real building. If you're thinking of it more as part of the experience of your holiday, then perhaps you will.
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Wise words. I began camping when in the Boy Sprouts and love the outdoorsy life. Especially hot tubs. My parents never took me camping, or caravanning, and from memory ex number 1 only ever spent one night under canvas. Ex number 2 spent zero nights under canvas.
If you want a tent which allows you to stand up, like the old Blacks Stormhaven from Scouting days, it will be susceptible to wind. Not good for the O Hebrides, although I have never been there.
Plenty of second hand kit available. Just a thought but if you do buy a tent, maybe get something easier to sell on, such as Hilleberg. They are my favourite 'go to' manufacturer, with a loyal following in the outdoor world. And they are bomb proof in adverse weather conditions. Sorry , but my knowledge of large tents is minimal. Ultralight backpacking tents/ tarps/ shelters is my area of knowledge.
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I've done the camping thing and the Outer Hebs thing too but I'd be shy of putting both together!!! Even my Khyam Rigidome, modern equivalent here tinyurl.com/ok8la8j which is one of the most wind resistant of family size tents would struggle in an Atlantic storm. Such extreme weather is relatively uncommon at May bank hols but more likely by Scottish or English August BH.
It's backpacker tent territory IMHO.
There are also relatively few proper campgrounds. It also occurs that a week isn't enough time to even touch everything from Barra to Butt. You'd need two weeks at least - though you could fill half a lifetime's holidays if you get the addiction.....
Another approach might be Hostels and Bunkhouses. There are quite a few of these with the Gatliff Trust's establishments at Howmore (Uist), Berneray and Rhenigidale being particular gems. But be warned, they're necessarily rustic hostels in a sense long left behind by YHA England and Wales.
We stayed several years ago at Am Bothan Bunkhouse (Obbe/Leverburgh - S Harris) which was excellent. IIRC it's still in same ownership. Rockview Bunkhouse in Tarbert is OK and my daughter speaks well of the independent hostel in Stornoway and a private place near Plocrapool on the 'Golden Road' (South Harris). There's also an SYHA/Community place at Kershader (East Lewis).
Would self catering work if you limited yourselves to either UIst/Barra or Lewis/Harris? Uist/Barra involves a ferry but it's only a short crossing and runs multiple times per day. The rest of the southern chain are linked by causeways and Lewis Harris are of course conjoined. It's possible to link the two chains as a day trip but the Sound of Harris ferry (a scenic event in it's own right) is expensive and only runs 3/4 times a day.
I can recommend a couple of self catering places on Harris but they're popular and you may have left it too late for a BH booking. The tourist offices in Tarbert and Stornoway will prbably be cluedd up on any late availability. Beware though of places towards west of Lewis - Great Bernera and beyond are a massive treck from Stornoway. Fine down there for a week if you get the weather but if it blows and rains for seven days.......
Another thought is that you mention a ferry that runs only once a day - which suggests an Oban route. They fill up quite quickly at peak. We've left it late in past and been wait listed for the peak time segments of the Ullapool and Uig Tarbert routes - a problem we solved by flexing a day or so or booking one instead of the other.
Any other questions?
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Mon 20 Apr 15 at 08:45
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A properly pitched Stormhaven (green Scout patrol tent as mentioned higher up on this thread) with flysheet should be adequate in any sort of gale short of pretty much a hurricane.
But I reckon that I'd be taking a proper, orange Vango up there. Any relying on spending a lot of time in the pub if the weather's nasty...
I did loads of camping in the Scouts, loved it. But that's quite a long time ago, and only occasional recent forays. Always most fun with an open fire.
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This country is usually too damp for tents to be comfortable. Can't rely on perfect summer weather.
They come into their own in dry desert countries.
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A further thought occurs.
IIRC it's possible to camp at the Gatliff Trust hostel at Howmore (Tobha Mor in Gaelic). Campers pay something like half the usual bednight fee and have use of Kitchen/Common Room and toilets etc. That might make 'crouching' tents more acceptable.
Howmore is well positioned for doing whole of southern chain - Barra to Berneray.
www.gatliff.org.uk/?page_id=10
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Mon 20 Apr 15 at 20:13
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Cheers for all the info Brompt - let me have a good read through and check the links and then I will get back to you.
I phoned CalMac today to check availability for the Oban - Castlebay ferries on the two days we are looking at and there is still plenty of spaces. Advised no cost for bikes on the roof though may be asked to take them down depending on where on the ferry you end up.
Interestingly their cancellation policy is that you can cancel up to a day before and you get a full refund minus £10. So if there was particularly horrendous weather forecast then we could just bow out gracefully and jump on a plane to somewhere instead!
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>> if there was particularly horrendous weather forecast then ..............
All part of the experience!
Seriously though, if you want the sun then don't go there in the first place. Because most of the time, the weather will be better in most other places.
Personally I really love stormy weather - rain, wind, cloud, snow, bring it on - love it to bits. I'd much rather that than lie on a beach somewhere.
Its not the sort of place that you're going to go to again, or at least not often. If it was me and I could afford it I would book a cheap(ish) B&B, buy some decent foul weather gear and go for it.
With some things the real enjoyment and warm feelings come from looking back upon it.
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>> Personally I really love stormy weather - rain, wind, cloud, snow, bring it on -
>> love it to bits. I'd much rather that than lie on a beach somewhere.
when you are cold and wet, and getting colder and wetter, its a miserable experience.
>> With some things the real enjoyment and warm feelings come from looking back upon it.
you look back and think, damn what a miserable experience.
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Damn you're such a downer.
There isn't much I've done that I would look back at focus on "damn what a miserable experience".
Perhaps nothing, even if I didn't love it at the time.
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The human brain blots out bad experience over time. If it didn't life would be intolerable.
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>> The human brain blots out bad experience over time. If it didn't life would be
>> intolerable.
>>
I think more subtly, it moulds bad experience into "funny with hindsight", and reclassifies it as a beneficial experience helping you realise what you really like.
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I have much fonder memories of camping or backpacking ( especially the Greek Islands ) on a tiny budget than I have for some rather more elaborate holidays I've also had.
The prospect of returning to some so called luxury hotel complex fills me with horror. Not the hotels so much which can be very well presented but the sort of people who tend to inhabit them...
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>> The prospect of returning to some so called luxury hotel complex fills me with horror. Not the hotels so much which can be very well presented but the sort of people who tend to inhabit them...
Interesting. I've heard the same kind of comment from people who've been on a cruise.
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My favourite holidays are when there is no real agenda, I like to take a car when possible and just do a night or two here and a night or two there. We've ended up in some really great places in the south of France, Spain and Italy like that. Just drive into places and if we like it we find somewhere to stay.
All great of course until you realise you are now more than a thousand miles from home and you need to be back at work the day after tomorrow !
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I hate hotels, really. The smarter they are, the more I hate them. You are treated like a small child, as though incapable of doing anything.
One sees this so often in senior management "Secretary, how do I turn my computer on?" what turns them back into children?
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The thing with staying in a hotel for any extended period of time is the almost inevitability of being latched on to by "John and Emma". They happened to be at the bar the first night you went in, you made the mistake of exchanging a few pleasantries, the wives got to talking...
A fortnight later, you are planning SAS style covert operations to get away from John and ruddy Emma. You find yourself going out to eat to avoid them only to notice them wandering past the restaurant you've found and they come over to your table with a cheery "mind if we join you?"...
:-(
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A holiday in a hotel or even a cruise, would remind me too much of the time I spent in an 'approved' school back in the mid sixties. So much so in fact that if I ever won such a holiday, I’d gladly give ‘the gift' away to someone else.
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Oh yes, I know John and Emma.
I'm alone at the hotel, after a weary day at the design fair. It's busy in the lounge area and two strangers, Emma and John (a mature couple), squeeze in at my table. Before long, she's rubbing me up under the table - clearly gagging for it a bit of rough. Next day, they disappear off on their routine amble, but she suddenly fakes a head-ache, returns and knocks at my door for an aspirin. "John won't be back for several hours" said Emma "could you massage my shoulders...
Get your own hotel fantasy.
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>> "could you massage my shoulders...
'Oh yes,' she murmured as I undid her bra and slid my hands under her ample bosom. Just before John materializes, jams a sawn-off ten-bore pump against the back of my neck while Emma collects my money, passport, valuables and car keys, and they both rush off giggling while I try to decide which blood-flow to stop first.
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>>'Oh yes,' she murmured as I undid her bra and slid my hands under her ample bosom. Just before John materializes, jams a sawn-off ten-bore pump against the back of my neck while Emma collects my money, passport, valuables and car keys, and they both rush off giggling while I try to decide which blood-flow to stop first.
You could have been a righter, Sire.
:+)
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>> They happened to be
>> at the bar the first night you went in, you made the mistake of exchanging
>> a few pleasantries, the wives got to talking...
see below *
>> A fortnight later, you are planning SAS style covert operations to get away from John
>> and ruddy Emma. You find yourself going out to eat to avoid them only to
>> notice them wandering past the restaurant you've found and they come over to your table
>> with a cheery "mind if we join you?"...
* Getting drunk at the bar and vomiting down Emmas cleavage normally prevents things getting this far.
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>> The prospect of returning to some so called luxury hotel complex fills me with horror. Not the hotels so much which can be very well presented but the sort of people who tend to inhabit them...
Spot on as so often Humph. I must stop saying that... but I agree that a decent hotel is a very handy place to stay if you're working and need to be looked after for all the domestic faddle. They vary of course, and self-important or jumped-up staff can be very tiresome. But a properly run place is quite inoffensive, even pleasant and relaxing.
Fellow guests are a whole other thing. Cans of worms for the most part.
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...so anyway, after about a week, JoJo and Emms ( as they've now told you they prefer to be addressed ) are habitually asking each night "so what are we doing tomorrow then?" In a fit of blind panic you claim an intention to hire a car to see a bit more of the area and JobleedingJo suggests we split the cost of one and go together...
Aaaaargghh !
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Come on Humph, where's your backbone?:)
At the first 'Do you mind if we join you' fix them with a stare straight in the eye (don't waver) and say 'Actually we do, we spend little time together during the year and we want to do just that'
I can tell you from experience it works, but on second thoughts perhaps it might be a good idea to get Mrs Humph to do it. Women are better at that type of thing.
Pat
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Well, therein lies the nub of it Pat. My wife gradually begins to feel a debt of loyalty to "John and Emma" and would, despite them being the most boring people on the planet, ( he inevitably talks about little but football and one concurrently becomes acquainted with the finest details of the benefits of her recent hysterectomy and how successful her daughter has become in the heady world of superdrug store management) by then find it hard to say anything which might give offence.
Best to just avoid the possibility really.
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Well, you just have to take a deep breath and do the dirty deed then!.........mind, she will probably tell you off then:)
Pat
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It is indeed a no win situation.
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Jojo and Emms are no problem. You just have to cite a full programme and hide when you see them.
You should try avoiding some of the people who attach themselves to you in some of the third world hotels I've stayed in. Tar babies to a man and girl... and some quite bad with it. I could tell some stories but I'm too ashamed.
There are two sorts of 'old Africa hand': commercial travellers and colonials/settlers. Most if not quite all are utterly awful people, thuggish and racist. We hacks and writers are far from blameless too, even when we think we can tell what's what. Our views tend to be superficial, we're there and then we're gone. We use technique to disguise this rather raw truth. Most of us aren't all bad but some are the most frightful cads and carphounds. Not me of course.
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Well, I like 4* hotels when staying in cities on holiday. Always great value for money because I bid for them on Priceline. Plenty of facilities like a pool (pre bfast swim to sharpen the appetite before eating out) jacuzzi, gym etc. Room only of course, but I do my homework and dine out in small local eateries. Plus by bidding you have the excitement of not knowing which hotel will accept your bid. Some lovely hotels, well located, in SF, Vegas, Rome, Venice... The Molino Stucky Hilton with roof top pool springs to mind. No one ever attached themselves to us. Probably the clogs & baling twine holding up my trousers had summat do with it. Conventioners give me a wide berth.
Outside of cities, a decent B & B suits me fine
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>>Always great value for money because I bid for them on Priceline
I've looked at that once or twice and then decided its more hassle than I can be bothered with.
What sort of savings have you been getting? And does it ever go wrong?
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Hi No FM2R
I have used Priceline for several years, must have stayed in at least twenty different locations around the world, including the UK. Never had a problem of any kind, but remember it is always RO accommodation. The system is very easy to use, and apart from local State tax, the price you bid includes all other taxes.
In larger cities, ( well most are) you can bid for several different areas. Prices vary, Venice is more expensive than Vegas, Boston cheap, F Wharf area cheaper than the financial district. Normally I would expect to pay between £50 & £70 per room. In Vegas it was less than £50 per room per night for a nice place at the top of the Strip, newly reopened, whose name escapes me. Right next to the Monorail.
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The SLS. £42 per room per night, but it was midweek in September
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I shall be using Priceline a lot on my jaunts this year. Phoenix, Sedona, Flagstaff, SF, Vegas,
Maybe more locations.....
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I got 4 nights at the Luxor in Vegas and return (steerage) flights on Virgin from London for £850 through Expedia in August.
Ok the Luxor isn't all that wonderful but it's on the strip and you can use the much better facilities at its next door sister hotel the Mandalay Bay, and I was trapped in my seat for ten hours on the way out by rolls of escaping flab belonging to a huge woman from Doncaster poking under and over the armrest but for that price it seemed somehow acceptable.
Work trip anyway so I wasn't too precious about it.
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RO at that price? We caught the Monorail from the rear of the SLS down to the bottom terminus, then walked back visiting the hotels & people watching, starting at the M Bay. I wouldn't choose the Luxor but ok for a business trip. Have also stayed at the Encore & Venetian. Surreal with the canals. We find some excellent dining places, cheap too, but eating outside at the Stripburger opposite the Wynn & Encore, watching the world go by, was our favourite.
A world away from wild camping on the SW Coast Path, which I prefer, but one has to do these things.
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>> Have
>> also stayed at the Encore & Venetian.
Stayed at the Venetian last time I was there. Still got the pen somewhere. Loved the electric curtains.
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It was the lifts in the Luxor that intrigued me. They are at the corners of the building which is a a replica pyramid. Think about it.
Yeah, weird.
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Talking of Vegas, three nights & two full days is enough for me. An early am flight on day 1, then a late afternoon flight out on day4. And on my visits I have not put so much as a cent in the slots. Or seen a show, unless you include people watching. A cheap place to visit if you don't gamble or see a show, and internal SouthWest flights can be dirt cheap.
Zeddo... How did the gondolas work?
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Or seen a show, unless you include people watching. A cheap place to visit
Not just me then, I've spent several months out there in total. Never seen a show or been interested in seeing one. Never stayed on the strip either, but not my money so shouldn't complain.
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>> Zeddo... How did the gondolas work?
The indoor ones? No idea, never looked down, I was too enamoured about how realistic the ceiling (sky) looked.
Only place I have stayed in that had three teles. One at the end of the bed, one in the lounge area, and one in the bog.
Last edited by: Zero on Wed 22 Apr 15 at 22:48
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Yes. The painted sky fascinated me. The clouds seem to move. We upgraded to a 'suite' on an upper floor with amazing views over Treasure Island to the distant mountains. Walgreens in the basement provided us with margerita contents, which we sipped whilst sitting around the pools late afternoon. Met some really interesting people from Argentina around the pool, and despite being with a California girl ( married to a good friend of mine who refuses to visit LV) we tried to stay clear of vacationing Americans!
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Back to the OP, is Bobby going to the Hebrides and if so in what tent?
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>> Back to the OP, is Bobby going to the Hebrides and if so in what
>> tent?
And in case he missed this:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-32393339
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Green Beret course on Dartmoor in November/December put me off camping!
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I reluctantly agreed to accompany some friends on a camping trip a few years ago (on my own, the missus would rather die than go camping) and I quite enjoyed it, although we were extremely lucky with the weather. However, I suffered both a stiff neck and back for about a week afterwards and concluded that I am too old for that sort of thing. In my youth many many years ago I used to go camping quite a lot with mates although the emphasis was more on drinking, smoking something exotic and loose women. These days I can only manage one out of those three :-0
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I'm sure BBD can remedy that
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Brompt - been away with work so still not time for a reply worthy of the effort you put into your post but as things stand we are going to OH and worse case scenario, taking my pal's tent that he has offered.
But still keeping an eye on ebay / gumtree for any ridiculous cheap ones.
Will update later
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OK update time.
Re doing the holiday in the tent, we have done the hotel, the villas, the caravans, the tents in South of France and them ore we have talked about this the more we are both getting into the idea of doing it by tent in OH.
Hopefully it would then be something that we would continue to do , maybe a few weekends away over the course of the year.
My mate has offered me the use of his tent - a Gelert Colimo 4TD as seen here
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gelert-Colima-4-TD-Camping-Tent-2010-/270575476802
He uses this for weekends away primarily as a base for hill walking etc.
He argues that this is the best option for us because
a. its free so no need to buy until we have had our week and decided if it is something we wish to do again
b. he reckons this is as high as we want to have in the OH where many of the sites are exposed to the conditions.
However I find it quite claustrophobic - I can accept the argument for lack of height but this only has 90cm each side of the sleeping accommodation and I just find that too small for simply being able to sit on a seat and have a beer , listen to music etc.
Went to Go Outdoors today again and if we were going with a low height tent, then I would be tempted towards
Outwell Dusk 4 at £80 www.gooutdoors.co.uk/outwell-dusk-4-tent-p321984
or Dusk 5 at £120 www.gooutdoors.co.uk/outwell-dusk-5-tent-p321584 has more height and a bit more living space.
I liked the height (and price) of www.gooutdoors.co.uk/freedom-trail-sendero-4-tent-p286258 but I once had a pair of Freedom Trail walking boots and they were awful quality so I am not sure the tents would be any better!
The Vango tents do seem to be better quality but you obviously get what you pay for.
As with many products you could pay more and more and need to decide at what price level / features you need to go for. Integrated groundsheets / footprints, carpets etc!
As a side note, have also discovered / realised that the daughters's boyfriends grandparents come from Barra (McNeils believe it or not) so he is going to make enquiries from the ones up there as to where to go / pitch etc .
Sad as this may sound to some, we are both actually getting quite excited about doing a holiday totally different to what we normally do and to a certain extent, outwith our comfort zone. Over the course of the last year we have taken up a lot more activities - me with cycling and the missus with hill walking and running so much more fitter and active than we were a year ago! And much less inclined to want to go a beach holiday abroad!
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Whilst I agree with your perspective I reckon this...
a. its free so no need to buy until we have had our week and decided if it is something we wish to do again
is a killing argument.
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The friend's offer is not only free but comes with the advice that this is as tall a tent as you should probably use for OH. Maybe you should check out that before getting a bigger, taller tent and find it blew away when you went out walking.
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>> Whilst I agree with your perspective I reckon this...
>>
>> a. its free so no need to buy until we have had our week and
>> decided if it is something we wish to do again
>>
>> is a killing argument.
Confucius he say, "Listen to wise friends"
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>>Sad as this may sound to some
By the way, not at all. Exactly the sort of thing we get excited about.
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Confucius he also say "This years wet and windy camping, make next years hotel holiday sweet"
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Also, you won't know what is important to you until you've done it.
The tent you've been offered, although it may or may not be ideal, will be fine. It will not be unsuitable enough to spoil a holiday.
However, having had a camping holiday there, you'll then know firstly whether or not you want to camping again, and secondly what factors are or are not important for you when [if] you buy your own tent.
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I'm getting excited about spending three weeks under a tarp in June. Glorious wild camps, maybe afternoon storms, filtering water, dehydrated food and the usual bear encounters. What's not to like. Apart from rest room facilities, courtesy of a trowel. But you soon adapt. Lovely.
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>> I'm getting excited about spending three weeks under a tarp in June. Glorious wild camps,
>> maybe afternoon storms, filtering water, dehydrated food and the usual bear encounters. What's not to
>> like.
The tarp, wild camps, afternoon storms, crap water, crap food, and bears is whats not to like.
In June I am getting excited about staying in a hotel, eating Tapas and visiting the Alhambra.
Kamping? Nien Danke.
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June? The Alhambra? The first two weeks it's The Bodyguard musical. I was born in Bradford and see no reason to return. Unless it's a cheap curry or even cheaper drugs. Nice building though, opposite the police station.
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>> June? The Alhambra?
I think he meant the one in Granada. We found it a bit disappointing. Granada itself more so. I suppose it's down to expectations.
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>> and one in the bog.
The crap channel?
'All together now: UUUUNH! .... And again: UUUNH!
'Come on now. You aren't trying. Remember your health, your future!
'And again: UUUURGH!
'Well done!'
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We'll be roughing it in August when we take the caravan to Florence.
Flush loo, shower, fridge, full cooker, hot water, telly, blown air heating, cocktail cabinet. Well , you can't leave it all at home....might have a break in.
Sorry, typo there...should read St Florence.
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>> Sorry, typo there...should read St Florence.
>>
Pembrokeshire, then :-)
Last edited by: VxFan on Mon 27 Apr 15 at 01:37
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One day I'm gonna backpack the Pembrokeshire Coast path. Never been there.
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>> the Pembrokeshire Coast path. Never been there.
I have, used to live there when small. Dinas Head is good.
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>> One day I'm gonna backpack the Pembrokeshire Coast path. Never been there.
I have, Fabulous. St Davids is very very disappointing tho.
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"St Davids is very very disappointing tho."
Intrigued. What were you expecting? Pleasant enough sort of place I recall with a very small cathedral and a few good restaurants and some excellent beaches within a mile or two
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>> "St Davids is very very disappointing tho."
>>
>> Intrigued. What were you expecting? Pleasant enough sort of place I recall with a very
>> small cathedral and a few good restaurants and some excellent beaches within a mile or
>> two
Boring place place with no decent restaurants or tea rooms, cathedral tiny and of no note at all, full of bored old biddies in wheelchairs, while the beaches are really good they are not called St Davids.
St Davids is merely an inconvenient traffic jam.
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>> Pleasant enough sort of place I recall with a very small cathedral and a few good restaurants and some excellent beaches within a mile or two
And a very fine ruined, roofless bishop's palace which one used to be able to explore.
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I can recommend a delightful farm cottage within walking distance of St Florence; has a garden and a hot tub too. And, best of all there'd be no need to clutter the landscape and the narrow roads with a wendy house on wheels.
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Sounds wonderful. Should you ever be in residence, and I am in the locality, may I call in for a shower and sit in the hot tub with a beer? Please.
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Try a trip to Bosherton Lily Ponds: parking available - a comfortable stroll to the end, rather than around, will lead you to one of South Pembrokeshire's best beaches - Broadhaven South,
www.visitpembrokeshire.com/explore-pembrokeshire/beaches/broad-haven-south/
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Of course, LL, although it may be a while. We last went at Easter 2009, and since Mrs Beest's abominable racist grandmother died (a Brummie exile in Pembroke) we've not had the obvious reason to go. Still in touch with the owner and would happily go again. Not in the summer, though; it would be nice cycling country but the thought of those narrow lanes choked with traffic and caravans puts us right off. April is manageable, if you take an extra sweater.
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www.gooutdoors.co.uk/vango-icarus-500-tent-2012-p201938
Just a wee update, bought one of these today from Gumtree in mint condition. Put it up in front garden, only took 15 mins though obviously didnt peg it all down.
No doubt it will get blown away in Outer Hebrides but until that happens,, I should be able to sit in comfort!
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Well route all planned now, head off on Saturday. Divorce lawyer booked for the following week...
Have booked Eddie Stobart to bring all the "essentials" that the missus has decided we need!
Looking forward to it, weather is forecast to be poor so definitely a case of making the most of it. Have a sneaky suspicion that we are going to come back raving about how good it was!
Port, Beer and Red wine should help me get through the week!
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Wind forecast as gusting to 35mph on Sunday in Stornoway. Good luck!
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Not in Stornoway until Wed though the tent might get there before us!
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>> Have a sneaky suspicion that we are going to come
>> back raving about how good it was!
Just ask yourself why there are so many "only used once" tents going cheap on Gumtree.
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Thinking about it I must have spent 90+ nights in my Hilleberg Akto over the past ten years. My fair weather 'go to' Tarptent Squall 2 is now approaching 30 nights which will shortly be doubled.
Decent weather forecast until early October where I'm going (Sierra Nevada in CA) with occasional afternoon storms.
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>> Just ask yourself why there are so many "only used once" tents going cheap on
>> Gumtree.
Far too many people think a 'good' tent costs £100.
Our 25year old Saunders Spacepacker (£200+ in 1990) is still going strong. The family Rigidome, around the £500 mark in 2007, has something north of 100 nights under its pegs and remains perfectly serviceable.
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>> >> Just ask yourself why there are so many "only used once" tents going cheap
>> on
>> >> Gumtree.
>>
>> Far too many people think a 'good' tent costs £100.
I am sure that is the case, but no that is not the reason. Try again.
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>> Looking forward to it, weather is forecast to be poor so definitely a case of
>> making the most of it. Have a sneaky suspicion that we are going to come
>> back raving about how good it was!
Well, I think you are doomed.
Just my personal opinion, mind.
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You might have a better chance of avoiding a divorce if your itinerary was based a bit nearer the equator. Blue skies and an average temperature of about 25 - 30C should do it. :-)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Fri 22 May 15 at 07:36
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>> Looking forward to it, weather is forecast to be poor so definitely a case of
>> making the most of it.
One of the joys of the Western Isles is the inaccuracy of the weather forecasts. Apart from fact that it's 120 miles from Vatersay to the Butt the interaction of sea and mountains create numerous micro climates.
You can also have four seasons in as many hours.....
We're off to the Mull of Galloway tomorrow for a week with the caravan. Similar weather forecast and hoping for similar local variation.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Fri 22 May 15 at 08:36
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I'd rather be in a tent in a gale than a 'van...
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>> I'd rather be in a tent in a gale than a 'van...
I'll watch either or both from the hotel window.
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Wonder how Bobby is getting on. We're a good 130 miles south and it's 12 degrees outside. Glad the van's heating works ::-P
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>> Wonder how Bobby is getting on. We're a good 130 miles south and it's 12
>> degrees outside. Glad the van's heating works ::-P
Apart from being a wee bit chilly, has it been wet and blowing a gale?
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Am getting on great!
Two nights in Barra, think we have seen the nicest beach in the UK by far in Vatersay and now up in Benbecula.
This tent life is great you just eat your dinner at night then drink copious amounts of red wine interspersed with some crackers and cheese!
For you plane geeks, watched the Loganair plane land and take off in Barra airport today. If you don't know what I mean google it. Stunning!
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>> For you plane geeks, watched the Loganair plane land and take off in Barra airport
>> today. If you don't know what I mean google it. Stunning!
Been there, seen the 'twotter', might still have been an Islander the first time. We also stayed in Compton McKenzie's house overlooking Northbay on one occasion.
Benbecula always struck us as Squaddie central. The army presence meant for a while it was, along with Stornoway, an area where English rather than Gaelic predominated on signage.
Glad you're bejoying it.:-)
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>> For you plane geeks, watched the Loganair plane land and take off in Barra airport
>> today. If you don't know what I mean google it. Stunning!
>>
I hope it was low tide. :-)
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Well, came back yesterday from our jaunt to the Outer Hebrides in the tent and no divorce lawyer is required!
Spent two nights in Barra in a lovely ex-croft right on the waterside. Barra is a lovely island with its unique airport on the beach. We were woken on Monday morning by a police car racing past the site with its blues n twos on. The site owner who had lived in Barra all his life had never seen this before! Anyway it turns out that there had been a break in at the café at the airport! No big deal but the café also doubles up as the check in and security! Watched a plane land and then take off again, right up and close! Also took a drive over to Vatersay which has the most stunning beaches I have ever seen in my life. If only it wasn’t blowing a gale and 10 degrees then it would have been more Paradise like!
We then spent 2 nights in Benbecula, what a god-awful god-forsaken place!! Just sparse marshland for miles in all directions, a hellish wind blowing through it permanently and very few trees to be seen! Had chosen to stay here as it was roughly half way up the OH but would gladly recommend to anyone to drive right through.
Then two nights in Stornoway. For a “major†port route and lots of tourists, the town itself is crying out for someone to take it by the scruff of the neck and bring it up to scratch. I get the bit that this is their town and they don’t want to turn it into something resembling Blackpool or whatever. However lots of the industry is fishing and we were wanting to go for a meal that would have lots of fish options, all locally caught, maybe processed through the local Smoke house but nope – there was nothing available. Ended up having a meal in the Chinese restaurant which actually happened to be one of the nicest Chinese meals I have ever hand. The mixed platter for starters had the usual prawn sesame toast – but this is the first time of having this that the “toast†bit was actually jam packed with prawns!
Tent wise, our Vango Icarus 500 stood up to the challenge. Yes, someone’s description of “trying to sleep in a huge crisp packet whilst someone scrunches it all night†was pretty accurate. We picked this tent so that we could stand up in it which of course made it far more vulnerable in the wind however the fibreglass poles have some amount of flexibility in them. Having said that, I think every other camper we met had a much lower down tent!
Saw some strange motoring sights, none more than the rusting Ford Transit sitting in one field (it would appear no one scraps vehicles in the OH they just leave them in their fields) but this Transit looked like it had been left to rust away and you could see all the lines of rust working across it as if it was being eaten away in front of your eyes. I swear one day every door and panel will just fall off the chassis simultaneously!
A huge number of cyclists in the island all doing the camping bit and cycling from one end to the other. We had a car full, boot full and back seat full, and these folk had all their possessions including their tent and sleeping bags in a couple of pannier bags on their bikes!
Have taken lots of photos and some video, if I can remember what website it is that I have used for sharing photos before then I will put some up.
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I'm pleased you had a great time and thanks for taking the time to write about it.
One question, if you had known then what you know now, would you still have gone camping?
Last edited by: No FM2R on Sat 30 May 15 at 21:49
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Absolutely but would have done some things differently
- travel much lighter , less clothes, less food
- smaller chairs, we had visions of being able to sit outside in the chairs we took but weather was not that nice so had to sit in them inside the tent which took up lots of space
seriously considering doing it next year again with some of my siblings on our bikes.
On a separate note, so lots of nice camper vans, even the "basic" VW vans seem to start about 30k !
Saw one on our site in Stornoway that parked up, attached an awning to the back and what I thought was a roofbox on the roof. But this roof box extended out to house an enclosed double bed which was accessed by climbing a ladder up the outside of the van and climbing into the box!
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I go camping with my daughters, it is absolutely not my wife's sort of thing.
We are absolutely minimalist;
If you can't cook it on a fire, then it doesn't get cooked; the point of extra clothes is in case of wet, not smartness or poncing around; we take the bikes, best way to get around when time is not a factor; we take nothing that we worry about getting stolen unless it can be locked and left unattended in the car; work out how many clothes you need as a minimum, half it and take that. Except socks. You can't take enough socks.
I love sitting by a fire late at night, in the dark when the girls are asleep in the tent; a decent whisky, gentle music and a good book sat outside in the quiet, away from people.
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Your last paragraph was the one thing I wanted to do this week and just wasn't able to do due to the weather.
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>>Your last paragraph was....
Well I guess the weather is more supportive here. Just to rub salt in the wounds not only am I typically last to bed, I also get up first and enjoy a solitary coffee in my chair before getting breakfast going and the troops out of bed.
Typically then No 1 goes fishing (normally gone by about 7am) and No 2 goes adventuring by cycle (gone by about 8) and I am back in my chair by 8:30, just coffee instead of whisky.
Best part of the holiday.
Mind you, I have also sat outside in full thermals and waterproofs enjoying my late night whisky. Not as much fun, perhaps, but still fun.
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Glad you had a good time Bobby and that you want to to back. The Hebrides are addictive that way.
As with us a hundred or two miles further south at Drummore (Galloway) you were unfortunate with the wind component of the weather. A northerly aspect at this time of the year spells serious chill - we had it for a week at Finsbay (on East Harris's 'moonscape' coast) in 1998. In other circumstances, 2002 stands out, we've had days on the beach at Losgantir (South Harris) where we could have been in the Med.
While decaying vehicles are still a feature of the Islands, Lewis in particular, they've been much reduced over the years. When Mrs B an I went there first in 1984 (on bikes like the folk you describe) they were everywhere, as was the rubbish, mostly beer cans, in the roadside gutters. The Isles Council had a blitz on this stuff later in the eighties, including a project that used old cars, buried in dunes, as part of improved sea defences.
The absence of trees is not unique to Benbecula (I share your aversion!) but is characteristic of all the islands. The only woodland I can think of, excepting the off sheltered stand of pines, is around Lews Castle in Stornoway.
Lews Castle was the home of William Hesketh Lever (Lord Leverhulme), philanthropist founder of the Lever Brothers empire who bought Lewis and Harris after the first world war. He tried to bring industry to the islands. Some projects - fishing - had the capacity to succeed. Others - soft fruit - were pipe dreams.
He was though at the wrong time in history. The clearances and Landlordism were 'unrighted wrongs'; the locals wanted land for crofts, not factory jobs. Roger Hutchinson's book 'The Soap Man' is an interesting account of that period in the Islands' history.
I'd also recommend Peter May's 'The Blackhouse' and its two companion volumes as an account of more recent times. The fictional scenarios are over the top but the background and sub-plots are well researched and fascinating.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Sun 31 May 15 at 20:08
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Brompt, can you guess which book I took with me on holiday but never got round to reading it????????
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>>Have taken lots of photos and some video, if I can remember what website it is that I have used for sharing photos before then I will put some up.
s1112.photobucket.com/user/Bobbyg69/library/Outer%20Hebrides%20May%202015
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What a fantastic place Bobby. Completely jealous, my girls would love it - especially around the beach.
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Where is the dog? what did you do with him?
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>>Where is the dog? what did you do with him?
Well there was a story. I initially wanted to take him as I knew he would love it. However as we took more advice etc we felt that the sensible thing to do on our first week of camping was to have a contingency in case it all went breasts up. That contingency was the credit card and b&bs. We felt that if we had a wet black Labrador in tow then it may narrow down our choices.
There was also the issue that my dog is the noisiest thing when he sleeps. He grunts away, howls, barks occasionally, all while he is in a deep sleep. If he had came with us he would have wanted to lie upside down on the sleeping bag with the fleece over the top of him. Not that I am suggesting for a second that he is spoilt rotten or anything.......
Will definitely consider taking him next time though now that we have built up the confidence of whats involved etc.
And anyway, did you see the state of the car? Where was he supposed to fit in??
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Y'all didn't need ya factor 15 then I see.
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>> Y'all didn't need ya factor 15 then I see.
>>
Maybe, but care is needed. I've been up there and burned (or in my case tanned) under a decent overcast. I believe you have the same phenomenon in Cornwall.
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>>I believe you have the same phenomenon in Cornwall.
Yes indeed, I've been sunburnt on an overcast day when angling in days gorn by. Lots of stone age 'stuff' up there I see, that always turns me on, as it does in the West Country.
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The weather has been unusually cold during the last month. We had Australian friends visiting us recently and on a trip to Loch Katrine it snowed for a while, much to their delight. They were also delighted that we had lent them ski jackets. You can also get serious sunburn up there!
Phew, caught the edit, the auto correct gave Loch Latrine, well it is Glasgow's water supply. :-)
Last edited by: Old Navy on Tue 2 Jun 15 at 08:44
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Lovely looking beaches but rather cold for snorkelling
A few years ago whilst on the TGO Challenge , C2C across Scotland in May, several mornings I had snow on the tent. Which is ok on occasion, but I prefer warm sun nearer the equator. You appreciate the warmth after such trips, and sleeping with boots & Gas canister in your sleeping bag becomes tiresome.
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Definitely the tropics for swimming of any description.
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Yes, there is a ski resort in the Snowy Mountains (real name) in NSW. That Kangaroo looks a bit confused but then they always do.
Last edited by: Old Navy on Tue 2 Jun 15 at 09:02
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>>>...2 nights in Benbecula, what a god-awful god-forsaken place!! Just sparse marshland for miles in all directions, a hellish wind blowing through it permanently and very few trees to be seen! Then two nights in Stornoway. For a “major†port route and lots of tourists, the town itself is crying out for someone to take it by the scruff of the neck and bring it up to scratch...
Great report and images.
You do have to be careful with Scotland... there are mainland areas too that fit your description of Benbecula and Stornoway. Back in the 80s we arrived at a Sutherland cottage which was a post and barbed wire surrounded bleak grey place in the middle of endless moorland... hardly a tree in sight... rusting cars, vans and tractors surrounded the place in the adj fields. The local large village very much fitting the Stornoway description too.
We left in under 24hrs and found somewhere much better rather than waste the week.
For our needs experience has taught us to find tucked away pockets of remoteness which still have reasonable access to food shopping, fuel, eateries etc. There are lots of such places and we've refined the art of finding them very much aided by the internet more recently where Google maps, streetview, other folks Photobucket images/Youtube videos all help to build a picture of the area. Back in the 80s you often just had a close crop picture in a brochure of the cottage front and that was all you knew until arriving at 3pm on the Sat takeover.
The white beaches and their blue water are for us the highlight... if the sun comes out even better! I've probably said here before we take an inflatable boat (proper Zodiac, not a toy) so we can find such beaches with no road access where, apart from the odd sea kayak explorer, you are alone.
Like here...
i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg72/SealgairC420/CaolisportBeach2.jpg
i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg72/SealgairC420/NimrodSecretBeach.jpg
Last edited by: Fenlander on Tue 2 Jun 15 at 09:30
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Nice car, Fendelander, right colour too. I had one in silver :)
It was an automatic :(
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Yep, good workhorse those Mondeo estates
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I was going to ask Dog if he meant BMW, Polo, Saab, Bentley, Rolls, Alfa, S-Type etc... but Mondeo Estate.. obvious when you think about it.
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Well, all of them really Fl, but I was alluding to the Saab. It was actually a 900 that I had.
Is that one of your daughters playing the guitar?
Also, the pic, and I've seen it before, of 'Nimrod' full-on with presumably your daughter and you. The sky looks very dramatic and, I wonder what type of filter was used to get that effect?
Last edited by: Dog on Tue 2 Jun 15 at 11:33
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I was sort of joking... no idea you'd commented on the Saab. Proper cars those older 99/900 models... rear load space floor made of real (ply)wood.
Filter... what you don't see that as usual mid August weather up north? Well OK... it was a simple graduated grey filter on our PC's photo program of the time.
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>>Well OK... it was a simple graduated grey filter on our PC's photo program of the time.
Nice one .. I use a Hoya polarising filter on my FZ200 to darken the sky, but your graduated grey effect is something else!
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>>You do have to be careful with Scotland..
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFubsxHTApw
(Some bad words, so NSFW)
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Yep excellent link NoFM. Mrs F would love it but she's in the early stages of 4wks post-op recovery and not sure stitches would stand it!
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Looks a bit like the Fens without the beaches and porrige cannons.
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Brilliant. Just forwarded the link to my Californian friends, currently kayaking off a beach somewhere in Grand Cayman
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>>>Looks a bit like the Fens
When we arrived at that Sutherland cottage and saw its down at heel bleak windswept location with a red rust Massey in the back yard we did indeed feel like we'd doubled back in error and ended up back home.
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Any campers on here? - Lygonos
