Under Canvas

It seems an age when we wait to get our family camping back underway. Easter fell reasonably late and the weather was glorious the whole holiday. My wife and I finished early on Thursday afternoon and drove just over an hour away to a campsite we have used many times previously. Charoland Campsite is a small adults only site that has about 10 pitches and is placed between Preston & Blackpool. With it being Easter and the weather set fine we often seek refuge within an adults only site. The hosts run a small farm and are meticulous in all they do. Having set the tent up I left Mandy at about 8pm all alone for her first night solo camping as I had work the following day. It was a pleasure setting up the tent but was surprised to see only three other units onsite. I returned the following day after work to find the site filling up. Sadly like most sites it is gradually turning over to suit motorhomes and caravans that seem to prefer tarmac, block paving or shale standings. Perso...

                                          Our first wild camp was a success. Our packs were a bit heavy (I will weigh them next time) but the weather was gorgeous for a walk and camp. We knew the temperatures were to stay below zero, but the -8C on the Sunday morning was well, quite noticeable. We are happy to take a frozen tent over a wet tent any day though.     

I managed to pick up a reasonable used condition iconic rucksack from from the Swedish Military. The LK35 is a steel framed bucket style rucksack used from the 70s onwards. It's ability to carry heavy loads and pack quite a lot of gear inside...and crucially outside, is very much sought after. It's a very basic sack, but its design with all the straps for extra loading points is superb. Described as a 35ltr in size, I am sure it can take more. I have always owned a metal external frame rucksack even in my days with the scouts, so this fits the bill nicely. It seems to be popular choice for those looking to carry unusual loads, like game meat or timber. I can't see that being my requirement though. Mine is one of two styles reportedly made, one being of canvas with the other from Cordura synthetic material with PU coating inside. I am guessing that the Cordura version will resist water better. Most of the Rucksacks I have seen online via YouTube, have been Cordura as it s...

It seems more common than you would credit. We have been looking into the viability of a bit of winter camping, but not necessarily on a campsite as such. Possibly near to home and a preference for a woodland. I am probably describing wild camping here. The trouble with that term is that it has such a broad covering of what wild camping means. The purist would no doubt scoff at the phrase used for the type of camping we are looking to do, and in truth I can see that would be fair. Surely "wild camping" is backpacking with a pack of self sustenance for whatever that period away may be. The Americans/Canadians just call it "Hot Tenting" which I think suits the style. I think I look at it as....I don't know yet in truth. Maybe after it's happened I will have better phrase. Even the word camping has that effect for many. My definition of camping is in a tent, whereas it seems this can be used for others to mean a motorhome, caravan or camper van. In p...

We are reluctant to give up on the camping season so, I surprised Mandy with a 2 night camping trip to a campsite outside of Settle on the Yorkshire Moors.....I am good like that! I checked the weather and the all important pack up day of Sunday was looking dry. Friday wet, Saturday in the morning damp, but sunny spells developing in the afternoon. In October I will take that. Mandy was not keen, as we set off Friday afternoon the weather really was hard to look past, the fog encountered was low and thick with constant drizzle. We rolled up just after an hours drive to the campsite and got told there wasn't many campers booked on so pick your spot (music to our ears). Thought we would keep on the higher ground just in case, and we were soon pitched up and having a coffee. A lovely view was quickly admired before we set off for supplies. I had taken along a real treat for us as a surprise. Mandy was surprised alright. A MOD 24hr rations pack! The weather star...

Errr not quite. My addiction, as it turns out is lighting. That be at home, garden or camping. I am a huge fan of the LED lighting now available, but I will keep my meanderings to lighting for camping. The basics of what I look for lighting when camping. LED ✅ Battery Powered ✅ Compact ✅ Remote Control ✅ Rechargeable Via USB ✅ High Lumens ✅ Variable Brightness ✅ I think I have found something that gives me most of the basic things. Each of the categories can always be improved though. But so far this light is as good as it gets for a person with addiction to fulfil. The lamp is small and heavy. Most likely the batteries are the main weight with a total of 9900mah capacity. The dimensions are approx H85mm W75mm It looks as though it has one LED bulb for the white light and one for LED for the red light. Ideally I would prefer a number of LEDs inside the lamp as this normally makes the light a little less directional. It's not a huge thing with...

It gets to this time of year and we are reluctant to give up on our camping. We should get a few short trips in before the end of October but this year we are looking at camping in the winter. Finding a site that is open all year and that will allow tents on the ground is not that easy and I have not found a site local to us at all. I usually start thinking of camping in the winter months now but come November I think...mmmm...maybe not. This year I hope to change that. We have found a site a couple of hours away after making a few enquiries they are happy for us to camp. Now don't get me wrong we will be using electric hookup at that time of year so a heater is readily used. The practicalities of camping in low temps and often damp conditions makes it more awkward as packing the tent away when not dry is a fatal mistake especially cotton/canvas. I am excited about the thought of the trip and Mandy is slowly warming to the idea. The thought of crisp mornings and snow on ...