Quote: Originally posted by baymaster on 01/9/2008
Sorry to keep bumping this thread but i cant believe that nobody has yet thought of a solution to this problem namely all year round weather pitches for tents.
What about that stuff they use on ski slopes on top of a gravel layer in a nice shade of 'grass green'
Feel a visit to Dragons Den coming on to make my fortune
Hi baymaster.
Sites are now looking into all weather pitches for tents,and at busy times and the latter end of the season ,it may be the only solution if we want to avoid mud.
but they will cost the site owners additional outlay and will have to be recouped, but once laid correctly and well drained it will require less maintenance in the long run and be more profitable in the long run.
But site owners are understandably cautious as to whether we will use them. So the more feed back we give will help them decide. Big farm sites with lots of room will still provide the green pastures for us in the Hot dry summers in the distant future
All the best
Rex.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
I must declare an interest in that I do run a small campsite (and I am a camper!), and this thread is particularly relevant to a real problem I have - waterlogged pitches. This year it was so bad that I had to make a decision as to whether to simply shut up shop or do something about it. I did something about it and made 5 all weather pitches. They were the only ones I was able to book out during August, I closed the rest of the site.
My concern was how they would be looked upon by my campers, I needn't have worried, they went down a storm - or more like it the storm came down and my campers didn't go home!
So, as an earlier poster said ''But site owners are understandably cautious as to whether we will use them. So the more feed back we give will help them decide''
I am going to fully convert for next year, and would ask any camper to support any site that converts some pitches - they really do make all the difference to a holiday.
My method - lay terram to the pitch size, overlay with wood bark shavings (not chippings, they get caught up in shoe treads and carried into tents), there is a potential for fire so I am adding a seperate gravel area for cooking and firepits on each pitch, with a shelter over the cooking area.
Results: No mud, no one gone home before due, and many compliments.
Sounds like a great idea you have and wish you luck with it. One other advantage of the AWP is the fact that cars don't end up churning up the pitches or getting stuck in the mud.
IMO it is the way forward. With more and more people using footprint ground sheets and carpets these days there is little discomfort from the harder base.
All am particularly interested in this thread and yes would really really welcome campers experiences of AWP and their construction.
gregrb41 - can you let us know where you have sourced your bark shavings as we can't seem to find them and also how do they cope under a prolonged stay say 15nights?? do they rot? smell?? do they drain well??? Given the appauling weather we are looking at a cost effective option for our camping pitches - many do not like shingle/gravel and tus we wanted a 'different' material.
Cheers
Liz
------------- If you can't beat em, join em, so we did! And then we sold it for a holiday let & Glamping pod instead 😁
It is something that we are thinking of too, of course. Where is your campsite gregrb41, would it be possible to visit during the 'off season'. You are most welcome to repy off line if you want katie at fforestfields dot co dot uk
Of course, it will no doubt, be the most lovely summer next year. So I suggest that we keep talking about choices for all weather pitches just to invoke 'sod's law'!!
We have taken quite a battering this summer and have just had to cancel the local village show which is held on the Sports Field, next to the site. Another victim of the weather I'm afraid.
I am very interested in this idea of AWPs. I have tried one at Sandy Balls a few years ago and didn't like it as it was too hard to peg down into and too lumpy underneath the tent. However, the ones that are being talked about now are sounding much more promising and I've got half a mind to book onto one somewhere later this month for a try out.MT
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
Rex has posted a link to a site with AWPs for tents in Saundersfoot, then there's Sandy Balls and google tells me that Trethem Mill now has some as well. Anyone know any others? MT
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
Just a comment about using the bark for pitches, I am not sure what they had underneath, but the site we stayed on a few weeks ago was quite waterlogged, but did drain quickly except the bark under the playarea. You sunk up to your ankles in water
Hi
I never camped in my tents on AWP but I would willingly to save camping in the mud. Even a AWP will flood as I have seen last year at the C&C Club site at Folkstone. so drainage must be the priority of any surface,but pea gravel must be the firm favourite in my opinion. but subsurface could be a problem as we all know our friends the worms have a wonderful capacity for sinking gravel and replacing it with soil also membranes would soon get badly damaged with hundreds of pegs a year going through them.The AWP is the answer and would extend the camping under canvas season for sites that opened all year.
I recon a 25mm Quarry waste topped with pea gravel would do the trick. It would then be rake the gravel back in instead of cutting the grass. As for comfort it will not be a problem. and 12" rock pegs and SS deltas should hold the tents.
Regards
Rex.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
We were camped on an AWP last year in July. As you will all remember I'm sure, last year was worse than this with many towns/cities flooded. The AWP was great, we were pleased we pre booked early. We stayed the full 2 weeks whereas many of the tents on grass were packing up and going home. They had tried laying roofing felt down to walk on to their tents but gave up in the end. We had no mud in or around the tent which meant we did not paddle it into the tent either. We never went bare foot we just used a pair of those plastic slip on sandals. Rock pegs worked ok and if we use an AWP again, we will take an extra ground sheet to go under the tent. The only thing with the AWP, large tents would struggle to fit on. We took the Gelert Cadiz 4 + 2 which is not large but only just fitted on lengthwise. Width was ok, we had space to spare.
------------- Lyn xxx
Harbury Fields March
Moreton in the Marsh March/April
Hawthorn Cottage April
Lamb Cottage April
Somers Wood May
Maxstoke Hall June
Houghton Mill June
Lamb Cottage August
Somers Wood September
The Meadows, October
We've just camped in Talsarnau in Wales on an AWP which was made from fine slate, We were warned by the owners that we needed 9" pegs. worked very well except that the slate seemed to get everywhere.
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: Hardstanding for the future?
