I'm new to these boards and thought I'd say hello.
We've just got back from our first camping trip and I'm hooked. OH has wild camped on Dartmoor since he was a lad, but has never stayed on a proper site, and I'd never spent a night under canvas.
We (me, OH and two friends) were meant to be staying at Hardhurst Farm in Hope Valley (Peak District) but due to the bad weather this weekend, and still wanting to get away we called last minute to Rutland Caravan and Camping and arrived there the next morning.What a great site for our first camping experience, even with our baptism of fire that was the weekend's bad weather!
All of us three non campers are now as hooked as my OH (Mr Wilderness as we nicknamed him over the weekend) and we're looking at a (much) bigger tent now for next season.
Pleased to hear that you enjoyed your first camp. The NF Tree Frog, WOW, that's a serious bit of kit Small, but perfectly formed.
As soon as you decide which (much) bigger tents you like, mention it on here, & you'll get all the best advice about the pro's & con's of each tent on this forum.
We're fairly new to this camping thing too but totally hooked! Everyone's been great on here with advice and there's loads of posts that give us a giggle too
And don't forget to get your cheque book ready (chip and pin card these days) when visiting a camp supplies shop in person or on the internet. There's always something you can spend money on!
This place is great for suggestions and answers to 'how to' questions regardless how insignificant they may seem. You can bet someones already had the same query and someone has the answer.
Enjoy!
I would say that while you are on a "steep learning curve," keep a very firm grip on that cheque book and be absolutely certain you need everything you are tempted to buy and when you are certain that you need it, buy the best. Consumerism is rife with camping kit, just like with everything else.
I do both wild camping and what has become known on here as "glamping." For my big summer camp I have the pretty rugs, the table cloths and the cut glasses, I have aquired recently a very nice large Turkish rug which will make an admirable carpet for the Aruba and woe betide anyone who treads mud over it! All these are luxuries tho' and I can do without them.
Buy the very best tent, sleeping bag, Thermorest and cooking stuff you can afford, you don't need much else to start out, you've probably already got everything else you need at home.
Don't buy other specialist camping stuff until you have identified a real need for it and then buy the best you can afford (don't forget that the best stuff isn't always the most expensive)! Otherwise you will end up buying a lots of (so called) "essential" stuff you won't use and / or doesn't do the job.
For me the foundation for all camping, including glamping, is the minimalist wild camping which your boy friend can teach you all about.
The skills you will learn will enable you to recognise EHU, microwave ovens, tent heaters and DVD players as luxuries which you don't need and can manage very well without making you appreciate them when you have them. I don't but I have to have my china mug, even when wild camping!
Hi Mookey and welcome. The other thing I would like to add about this site is the most extensive campsite review section you will find anywhere which, for its brilliance, relies entirely upon members honest reviews. So if you have something to say about Rutland it would be greatly appreciated if you could post a review of it. Don't worry about being a newbie, so are many people on here and a review by a newbie is worth its weight and all that.
I too am a newbie on here, I've camped in the past but only using a Quechua pop up and only for the odd weekend here and there. As an early birthday pressie my Mum (bless her) has bought me a Quechua T4.2 as I wanted something that was easy to put up alone and enough room for myself and my daughter.
We've not had chance to camp during the summer due to the poor weather and various other reasons so have booked for the Bonfire Weekend at Brandy Wharf to give the tent her first official airing.
I've enjoyed reading the posts and have got some excellent tips off here. I can't believe how addictive these forums are!
Quote: Originally posted by mrs jubbly on 14/9/2008
Hi Mookey and welcome. The other thing I would like to add about this site is the most extensive campsite review section you will find anywhere which, for its brilliance, relies entirely upon members honest reviews. So if you have something to say about Rutland it would be greatly appreciated if you could post a review of it. Don't worry about being a newbie, so are many people on here and a review by a newbie is worth its weight and all that.
Cheers, Clare
Hi Clare
I've written my (long but praising) review of Rutland C&C, just need to get it uploaded on here. We really used the reviews section when we were booking the place we were meant to be staying at in the Peaks, and then also the reviews on here were the clincher at booking last minute into Rutland last weekend.
------------- Mookey
Camping Newbie
Vango Killington 400 for week-long camping
Outwell Oakland L for Weekends
North Face Tree Frog 24 for OH's backpacking
I am a newbie too. Just back from 2nd camping trip this weekend. How funny we also were nearly at Hardhurst, but then ended up at Laneside just down the road. I had no experience and have had great advice to get me started on this forum, and also avoided a few bad purchases! There is some real wisdom!
we are fairly new to this and like you we're hooked too. This site is fab.. have received excellent advice and feedback, don't feel embarrassed to ask a silly question...they've got the answer. We have kitted ourselves out following info etc from here. You can spend hours on the forums or camp site search...I've been planning all the sites we are going to visit next year and we are even venturing abroad
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 Newbie
Small, but perfectly formed. 
