Tips for finding a good pitch:
- We would suggest getting your tent the day before you go and practice pitching your tent. At least, read through the tent pitching instructions so you feel confident before setting off.
- Picking the right spot to pitch you tent is the key to happy camping and a good night’s sleep. Choose as flat an area as possible with plenty of space for cooking and sitting out. If you find you have to pitch your tent on a slope, orientate your sleeping position so that your head is up the slope as this will give you the best nights sleep. This also stops you rolling down the hill!!!
- Avoid areas that are rocky, undulating or boggy/wet. Areas close to water can look great but if heavy rain is forecast you could be flooded out very quickly. Wet and boggy areas also attract biting/flying insects which can be a nuisance.
- Camping in or near trees can provide great wind protection and be beautiful. It is also good to have some shade when camping as tents can get hot in direct sun; however it is best to avoid camping directly under older trees to avoid risk of falling branches and other debris if the wind gets up.
- Try to take advantage of any wind breaks such as hedges or walls when pitching. However take care around dry stone walls which may be in poor condition and liable to collapse.
- Consider how close you want to be to the facilities at the camp site. Are you close to the water supply? How close are you to your neighbour? If there are toilets/ shower facilities, are they within a reasonable distance? Where are you going to cook?
Tips for putting up your tent:
- If you have a tent "foot print" lay this out first, this will give you an idea of the area to tent will occupy. You can then pitch the tent over the top of it. The footprint acts as a second ground sheet, making it more comfortable for you and less likely for the bottom of the tent to get wet and muddy when packing away.
- Poles - push the poles through the sleeves rather than pulling them through. This will a help to stop the poles coming apart inside the sleeves.
- All zips should be fastened and windows left closed during pitching as this will help to get the right tension for the tent. It also ensure that the doors and windows open correctly and easily.
- It is important that all guide ropes are pegged out and tensioned correctly. If any are left loose or not pegged out the tent will not be stable in bad weather and may sag or collect water on the roof. Do not over tighten the guide ropes to the point of putting stress on the fabric of the tent.
- Keep checking your guide ropes tension and pegs every few days and especially after bad weather. If you have problems with a zip, don’t force it as you may rip the fabric. Try slackening the tension of the ten (loosen a guide rope or move a peg).
- Pegs should be pushed in by hand or using a mallet. Aim for a 45 degree angle. Remember never to remove a peg by pulling it out with the guy rope. This can often rip the tent so if you've pushed the peg in too far, the best method for removing it is by hooking it with another peg.
- Once you have the corner pegs in check the tent is in the right position, check the seams are lined up, the fabric is tight with no sagging and check inside that the ground sheet is smooth and not wrinkled. Then you can go round and put in the rest of the pegs.
- Keep the tent well ventilated by opening the windows and ventilation vents.
Safe camping:
- Please DO NOT smoke in or near your tent and keep all naked flames away from the tent as they can be highly flammable.
- We do not recommend cooking inside your tent.
Getting ready for home:
- It is best to take down the tent when the tent is dry if you can.
- Please sweep or wipe out the inside of the groundsheet to remove wet grass, dirt and rubbish from the inside of the tent.
- When removing the pole from the sleeve put a little bit of tension on the pole so the poles curves slightly. This will prevent the pole coming apart as you pull (not push) the pole slowly out of the sleeve.
- Fold the tent towards the door area as this will allow air to escape and make the folding that bit easier.
- Before leaving your campsite, double check you have all your equipment especially all the pegs. Please disposed of all you rubbish correctly.
- If you are leaving the tent and other hired equipment at the campsite for us to pick up please speak to campsite staff as to where they would like the equipment left. Please ensure that it is in a safe and secure place as you will still be responsible for it until we collect it.
- If we are taking down the tent for you, please ensure all other equipment is safely inside the tent. Please ensure all zips are done up and guy ropes left up and pegged. We will aim to get there before you leave so that the tent is not left unattended for any length of time.
Please take care on your way home and don't leave too late in the day as you will still need to unpack the car once arriving home.
link to the creature comforts Countryside Code animation.