Today kids can enjoy a camping vacation in a much different way than we could back in the day. Just have a look at these tents for example. They scream for attention, and if every campsite was filled with these kind of tents, kids would have a million things to look and laugh at. This innovative approach to much more creative tents comes from FieldCandy, and it will certainly reinvent the way you choose your tent.

There was me thinking that most marinas round the world were filled with floating caravans masquerading as yachts and boats, and then my architect mate Julian Cripps shows me an example of an actual floating caravan. Now I’m not normally one to agree with Jeremy Clarkson but I’m not one for caravans unless they are vintage ones. However, I might make an exception with the Sealander given my nautical and camping interests, although probably only on a lake.

Loveabell offers you the perfect way for you and your friends to sleep under the stars, with us doing all the hard work. Camp in one of our beautiful bell tents at any site, or stay at our beautiful site in Alfriston, where pitch-price is included. Luxuriously decorated with a comfortable bed and all the essentials you need so that you can just arrive and relax.

With posh camping spreading like wildfire through the British countryside, it was only a matter of time before some clever clogs came up with a way to glamp in the city.

But where to pitch luxury tents in an urban environment?
London Zoo has stepped in with the answer: in earshot of some wild animals. The zoo already runs sleepovers for children, where kids bed down on the floor of its bug house (sold out this year; 2012 tickets go on sale mid-October). Now it is introducing a more sophisticated version for adults.

For just five days in May 2012 eight safari-style tents will be pitched in the middle of the zoo. These being posh tents – with a hefty price tag to match (£225 per person; call 0207 449 6269 to book) – they come with proper beds with linen and bedside lights. After a three-course dinner you’ll be taken on a torch-lit guided tour, then it’s lights out at midnight, accompanied by the roar of lions to lull you to sleep. In the morning, breakfast is followed by another tour before the zoo opens to the public.

The photo on the right shows the bender in the distance with frame tents ether end, one was a cook tent and the other an entertainments stage. In the foreground Ellen and Patti in front of the Hilleburg Stalon tent.

The photo on centre left shows the Hilleburg Stalon used for cycle touring in Northern Spain. A Spartan set up for the solo cyclist.

You can also see Hilleburg Stalon in the photo on centre right with extension and tarp’ shelter, possibly somewhere in Oxfordshire.

Steve explains that Hilleburg tents are a favourite with the Swedish Military so they are good in foul weather. You find them all over Europe often inhabited by Swedes or Germans. Great tents, very good build quality and will last years but a little on the expensive side.

While staying at Stoneywish Nature Reserve this weekend we had a few visitors coming to see us. We had an amazing cream tea at the Ditchling Tea Rooms with one group who were hiking over the Downs. We also caught up with Arthur Alsop and his family. Arthur is an old school friend who now runs Alsop & Walker Artisan Cheese Makers over in Mayfield, East Sussex. He bought some Cava along with some samples of his Mayfield and Lord London cheeses, which proved very popular with the other campers. Must order some more for our next trip some we can ‘glamp it up’ with more Cava and Cheese.

I’m a big fan of Stoneywish Nature Reserve and think it could become the best camp site for kids in UK. Whether Michael the owner has the inclination to make the changes and investment required is a different matter. Right now it’s still primarily a nature reserve, which is usually empty, with a very basic campsite; and one that was only set-up two years ago after Matt from my-Kea running the local Steiner School Summer Camp there (see Really Cool Camping at Stoneywish).

In fact, Michael should take a leaf out of the Steiner School Summer Camp particularly as far as their facilities are concerned, because the School not only bring their own composting toilet, they also bring an eco shower and kitchen sink for washing up. Stoneywish at the moment only has a tap for water and 3 toilets accessible from the outside. There are two more inside the visitors centre, but they are only available when it hasn’t been rented out for a private party. I’m not quite sure of the logic as the visitor centre is rented out for only ten quid an hour whereas as a family of 4 are paying nearly 20 quid a night and for that kind of money don’t want to have to stand cross legged in a queue.

Things weren’t quite so bad last year when we went to visit friends who were about the only people camping there. However, this weekend the field was almost as packed as the Steiner School Summer Camp but without the additional facilities they bring. But what really amazes me is how quickly Stoneywish has become popular as it’s not much more than a couple of fields with charges that are not much less than cooler and more mainstream sites with way more facilities. Just goes to show there’s a growing demand for this kind of offering.

Anyway, managed to cycle back to Brighton over Ditchling Beacon the hard way, which is the first time I’ve done that for over a year. Have to say I’m looking forward to sleeping in a real bed tonight tonight, particularly after one of the kids wet the inflatable one we were sharing last night … not exactly the high point of the weekend.

Last year we went to see the Electic Forest sound and light show at the National Pinetum in Bedgebury. I created a photoshop collage of our trip there and uploaded it onto the Bedgebury Pinetum Facebook Group and nearly a year later I’ve been asked if it could be included as part of a photographic exhibition.  Funnily enough my photoshop collage from our camping trip to Wowo last year got me a free weekend there (see here), so wonder if the Electric Forest collage will help me get some free or cheap tickets to the Electric Forest this year as I’d love to go there again.

How-To: Microadventure

It’s been more than fifteen years since I began enjoying sleeping in wild and wonderful places. I guess I’ve spent about a thousand nights sleeping outdoors. Out of all those probably only about ten have been in a ‘proper’ campsite.

I’ve slept on top of England’s highest mountain on New Year’s Eve and on the northern tip of Britain in midsummer week.

I have also spent many nights without a tent -bivvying- and these are often the most magical of all. (Not always, mind!). I’ve bivvied on hill tops, seashores, even on a swimming platform out at sea and in sewage pipes (clean ones) on three continents!

So I know how easy, safe, simple, fun, rewarding and invigorating sleeping wild can be. It is one reason why I came up with the idea of microadventures to try to encourage people to give these things a try. But I completely understand how someone who has never done it might think otherwise.
Therefore I hope that this article will help encourage wild-campers to give a microadventure a try by explaining how to do it all, and answering a few common worries.

Last year we headed out to Stubcroft Farm campsite in East Wittering and have to say we were a bit disappointed. The website made it seem like something you’d find in the Cool Camping Guide. In fact, they do list it on their site but most of the reviews aren’t too favourable and I’d agree that it’s all too regimented and crammed. Also the booking process is a huge faff with deposits having to be sent by post. We were also penalised due to the size of our tent and for bringing an awning, which added to the cost and is not something we’ve experienced elsewhere. This made our stay there relatively expensive for a site that wasn’t really up to much.

Perhaps more importantly the local beach isn’t really up to much so it’s drive to the sandy one at West Wittering unless you’ve bought your own bikes or rent some from the campsite. That said the beach at West Wittering is pretty exposed, which is why it’s popular with windsurfers and kite boarders. So by the time you’ve packed your wind break and all your other kit you’ll need then you’ll probably end up driving there anyway.

Anyway, this year we decided to try Nunnington Farm camp site, which is the closest one to the beach in West Wittering. The only problem is that you can’t book, but were told that we’d had a strong chance of getting a pitch if we arrived early enough on a Friday morning as the site only gets booked up on bank holiday weekends. As you can imagine, it was a big disappointment to arrive early last Friday to find out it was full.

Fortunately, the Scotts Farm site nearby had some space. With static caravans and over 600 pitches it’s by far the biggest and most mainstream site we’ve ever stayed at. It wasn’t as bad as we’d expected although on the Saturday night two lads pitched next to us who decided to play rave anthems through their pretty impressive car sound system. Fortunately their battery went flat before it got too late so we did get some sleep – possibly more than the neighbours from Brighton we bumped into staying at Stubcroft farm, who had to put up with the Londoners camping next to them chattering away until 2am.

The reality is that we didn’t spend a huge amount of time at the campsite and only had breakfast there. We spent most of the time at the beach and using the cafe there, which is actually best avoided as you can find better catering at a motorway service station. In the evening we went to both the Old House At Home in West Wittering and the Pizza and Pasta Pub at the Black Horse up the road in the village of Apuldram. Not sure either are gastro or gourmet, but were polite, good value and kid friendly.

I did see some tipis so maybe there’s a secret site nearby. I hope so because can’t say I’m over impressed with the ones I’ve stayed at or seen there. If not then there’s a Get on my land or Camp in my garden type opportunity for someone. Until then we’ll probably just go there for day trips now, and fingers crossed the National Trust will do the decent thing and change the management of the cafe or we’ll be taking our own picnic from now on too.