Just returned from 10 days holiday, 3 days in Wiltshire and 7 days in Cornwall. The number of new campers and their new tents was unbeliveable, I was bored one evening (waiting for the washing to dry) so I had a walk around the site in Cornwall and counted the new tents and out of 35 tents 30 were new!. I spoke to a couple of the new campers to see if they were enjoying the new experence, and without exception they were all having a great time, some had camped years before but this was the first time camping with a family. The only thing I found strange was most of the new campers had 2 or 3 windbreakers erected around their tents, seems strange to me as these things cut you off the rest of the community, and lets face it, they are ugly things. lpp2
I personally wouldnt have set foot in a tent 6 years ago and only did so when my daughter was born and tropical beach holidays seemed pointless.I didnt expect to enjoy it but instantly thought "ah I see why people like this" on day one! I did get good weather on my first trip though, which was a huge factor on doing it again!
Outdoor and camping shops such as Go Outdoors are really booming by the look of it and does look like a change in English culture a little?
PS as for windbreaks, I personally dont go for the community but for the outdoors and camping. In campsites where you are 3 metres apart I do see why you would want a little privacy!
We are new campers too! we havent been yet but go in sept we have only just got tent & afew other things at the mo we just getting what we need to start us off then add to it as we go along. I said I would never go camping since ive been with OH (12 yrs!) but afew wks ago I was looking at someone I knew who just brought a tent & the photos they uploaded & thought i'm so bloody boring we don't get to go away much cos nice places cost so much to stay like nice caravans & hotels so thought got to give camping ago & since looking around at tents & going in the ones on display i was so excited then we brought our 1st tent now I can't wait to go & get away more hopefully meet other new campers along the way too!
Just to say hi, we are not new to camping but are going to be new to camping under canvas. We have just come back from 4 red hot weeks in southern france and have sold our caravan as we have decided to go for a tent, we only every manage a couple of weekends throughout the year and then a 4 week main break in the summer so decided not to pay for storage and insurance etc on a van which stands about for 47 weeks of the year and opt for the more spacious tent, we have been to look at a few and our feeling is the Outwell Montana 6, I have read the reviews and they all look good, alot of positive feedback on how they cope with heavy rain and wind but did wonder how comfortable they are in 35 degrees plus heat, any info would be appreciated, at one point this year the temperature was 46 degrees in our awning, which supposedly has a heat reflective roof!!! We have two teenage kids with us so with all the usual 'everything and the kitchen sink' we are going to invest in a trailer to pile it all in, we have a beauclaire so we always cook outside anyway so hello world of canvas...can't wait for our first trip (should be a laugh watching us try to erect the thing though eh)....
Quote: Originally posted by KellandMark on 20/8/2009
We are new campers too! we havent been yet but go in sept we have only just got tent & afew other things at the mo we just getting what we need to start us off then add to it as we go along. I said I would never go camping since ive been with OH (12 yrs!) but afew wks ago I was looking at someone I knew who just brought a tent & the photos they uploaded & thought i'm so bloody boring we don't get to go away much cos nice places cost so much to stay like nice caravans & hotels so thought got to give camping ago & since looking around at tents & going in the ones on display i was so excited then we brought our 1st tent now I can't wait to go & get away more hopefully meet other new campers along the way too!
Kell and Mark,
You will find its almost like a different way of life in some repects. Once you have been a few times you will see what we gang on here are always on about, the buzz of the outdoors. With good equipment you shouldn't go far wrong, buy only what you need and go for it.
Quote: Originally posted by Andrea 1966 on 21/8/2009
Just to say hi, we are not new to camping but are going to be new to camping under canvas. We have just come back from 4 red hot weeks in southern france and have sold our caravan as we have decided to go for a tent, we only every manage a couple of weekends throughout the year and then a 4 week main break in the summer so decided not to pay for storage and insurance etc on a van which stands about for 47 weeks of the year and opt for the more spacious tent, we have been to look at a few and our feeling is the Outwell Montana 6, I have read the reviews and they all look good, alot of positive feedback on how they cope with heavy rain and wind but did wonder how comfortable they are in 35 degrees plus heat, any info would be appreciated, at one point this year the temperature was 46 degrees in our awning, which supposedly has a heat reflective roof!!! We have two teenage kids with us so with all the usual 'everything and the kitchen sink' we are going to invest in a trailer to pile it all in, we have a beauclaire so we always cook outside anyway so hello world of canvas...can't wait for our first trip (should be a laugh watching us try to erect the thing though eh)....
We've got the Montana 6 and can't praise it highly enough. We go to the Med each Summer and it's stood up to the Mistral very well. It coped well with very heavy rain during an amazing thunder storm this year. Ours is 4 years old now and still fab.
Regarding the heat- yes it does get hot but how much time will you spend inside the tent during the day? We are either at the river, pool or beach or we sit outside in the shade. The Canopy provides some shade and lets the breeze in. We also have a couple of large parasols that we use to provide extra.
The tent cools down very quickly in the evening and has never been uncomfortable to sleep in. .
I wouldn't swap it but I know there are lots of good tents out there. Having experienced tent camping and holidays in caravans I much prefer the tent.
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: New Campers
