We've put our tent away for the winter . Is anyone out there camping in a tent?
We were due to go Woodbury in Devon last week - changed our minds due to lovely (not) weather from Storm Babet. Last time we went, if you remember, it was Storm Agnes and we had to come home.
I'd hoped to get out one last time as it was half term here, however the weather warnings came early enough to put that idea to bed, so like you I have packed the gear away for the winter. We had 40+ mph gusts for our last trip in September and I didn't much enjoy that. Plus our garden gets very wet with no sun past October so drying the tent becomes an ordeal.
I'm now coveting a new tent for next season. I want more space, a porch bit and perhaps an air tent which will be easier to pitch alone, given my husband's reluctance to join me in the great outdoors.
We were camping at Kendal last weekend (pre Storm) & there were several small tents with motorcyclists plus a car-top one. Blue skies, flat calm, frosty grass one night only.
However, the choice of sites does get more limited as some start to close for winter.
I know at least one UKCS member out camping in her tent this weekend.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I'm off next week to the frozen north (Cumbria, and there WILL be snow if you find a high enough peak! ). Believe me, for a Londoner who is normally excused abnormal weather on the basis of mild London micro-climate, Cumbria truly rates as the 'frozen north' at this time of year! - if not frozen then it tends to be drowned!!!!!
Ok, confession, I'm in a caravan not a tent - I may be old, but I learnt to be smart, not totally daft, a while ago!
Been times when dragging a caravan there at this time of year has been a challenge, and have set off uncertain whether I could actually reach booked destination through the floods!
Do like camping in a tent, but the weather has to be a bit kindly to a grizzled old OAP, caravan is far more tolerable 'out of season'
Loaded the car up yesterday...
Off over to Ghent on Wednesday (25th), for 6 nights, returning Halloween.
The forecast according to the Beeb looks heavily swayed toward nigh on constant light rain... so we've decided to ignore that, and use other weather apps which are a little more appealing! LOL!
Showers on and off still, but nothing too concerning! (Touch wood!)
A hint of sunny spells, and temps in the low to mid teens (Daytime). Night time lows still clinging to double figures, so nothing of concern there.
We will be on EHU with a little fan heater on standby of course.
We're going with another couple (identical tent), so most likely sat outside of an evening well wrapped up. (We could all squeeze into one tent if need be, with a quick/easy shuffle of the sleeping mats).
Plan is for a few days out and about on our E-bikes. Intermittent showers we can cope with. Fingers crossed it's not as rainy as the Beeb are making out!
Plus it's Belgium... so plenty of opportunity to up the calorie intake to keep the body temps up!
... Plus...
Nothing set in concrete as yet, but we normally end up camping somewhere (in UK) over New Year. Might not make definite plans until early December though.
I winter camp, normally it has been up in Scotland in Glencoe. No midgies lol. great even when waking up to snow in the morning, temps dropping down to -9. I have done car camping in winter, even the winter screen wash could not hack the cold, up in Scotland.
Going up to Scotland next month, possibly car camp again, cannae wait.
------------- New Year: Hesketh Bank
Feb/March: Red Squirrel
March: lakes
June: Morecambe
Aug: Lake District(not camping camping)
October: Red Squirrel
Well, it looks as if several fronts are coming through in this coming week, so we have decided not to go, even though we have a caravan. No fun in walking in rough weather. If we have a week of fine weather before Christmas we will be away somewhere.
The cotton canvas Dutch pyramid tents with ZIG/SIG were definitely cosier than the draughty nylon/poly ones with ZIG/SIG.
I did not winter-camp in the van in 2021 and 2022 as the weather was not good in the days when I wanted to camp in December.
I blame the dog for not liking wet and windy weather!
Joking aside, it is no fun when it is wet and windy - if I were to be stuck in the van due to bad weather, then I might as well be stuck in the comfort of my own home!
However, I have booked to stay at a pub campsite that I like over the New Year weekend this year. It has good facilities and plenty of ciders and perries that I like! This may well be a new tradition for me going forward.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 22/10/2023
... Plus...
Nothing set in concrete as yet, but we normally end up camping somewhere (in UK) over New Year. Might not make definite plans until early December though.
I am definitely camping over the New Year weekend, with plenty of ciders and perries to drink!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I’m picking up a new electric mountain bike in a couple of weeks and will be off with the MSR tent as soon as poss after that - probably to the splendid Thames View campsite. Hoping to ride the west Kernow Way with the same setup in Feb.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Camping anyone??
. Is anyone out there camping in a tent? 
via mobile 22/10/2023 at 4:44pm
). Believe me, for a Londoner who is normally excused abnormal weather on the basis of mild London micro-climate, Cumbria truly rates as the 'frozen north' at this time of year! - if not frozen then it tends to be drowned!!!!!
