ecAmp Northern delight
Perfect prawns
Tips and ideas
Mark and Janette Songhurst visit the Friendly Club site at Barnard Castle and find a delightful welcome awaits
Another tasty delight from Guyrope Gourmet – this delicious recipe for Gambas al Ajillo even comes with a video
Bring a little sanity to confusion by simply organising your tent – John Traynor provides some ideas and tips to help
Read more on page 4
Read more on page 5
Read more on pages 6-7
ecAmp Magazine
e e-cAmp magazine APRIL 2014
ecAmp magazine ecAmp Magazine
INNOVATIVE FAMILY CAMPING
ecAmp Magazine ecAmp magazine WIN
Two chic Cooltime M coolbags up for grabs in our easy to enter competition SEE PAGE 8
Supporting environmental charities
EDITOR’S WELCOME
CLIVE GARRETT
Our very own Outwell camper
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arm sunny days certainly encourage a different outlook on life and has the same effect on me as a size 12 boot up the backside, encouraging me to get out and about. Not that I need much encouragement and, by the time you read this, I’ll already have spent a few nights under canvas – once with the Friendly Club and once with a large number of friends we have met through the Outwell Camping Club. And I have to thank many of these friends who volunteered to help out at the recent camping show at Birmingham’s NEC. It was great to have an experienced crew who could talk camping with stand visitors during the busy weekend. I certainly enjoyed meeting you all and look forward to running into a few of you on the campsite this year. While on the subject of thanks, all at Outwell would like to thank those camping members of Which? – the UK’s foremost consumer organisation – for singing our praises so highly. Your comments placed us in the number slot and the only brand to get five stars for water resistance and more
than three stars for durability. On its website Which? states: “Outwell tents stand head and shoulders above the competition…” The awards continue to flow. Not only did our Newgate 5 take Best Family Touring Tent in the annual awards from Camping magazine but it also took the prestigious Tent of the Year accolade – praise indeed for our latest Regency Collection. And that’s not all. The 2014 Camping Editor’s Choice Awards also commended our ECOcool box, Collaps Collection, and Outwell Duvet Sleep System Cupilo bed! While a lot of our success lies with the great innovations and products we develop, we are also proud to acknowledge that it equally reflects the dedication and support that you provide in helping us with feedback and support. So, onwards and upwards. The blue sky and sun call. The campsites are rapidly drying out. And I’m planning my next camping trip. Just remember to tell me about yours… Happy camping! Clive Garrett Editor It is with sorrow that we announce the death of our founder, Mogens Arens, on 7 March after a long illness. Mogens (74) founded the company in 1984, handing over the CEO position to his son, Henrik, in 2004. Mogens remained a member of the board until his death. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family and friends.
CONTENT 3 Meet the fans We meet Peter, Alice and Joshua Gale who enjoy the Outwell Family Camping Experience in Canada
3 Open Air John Traynor takes us on an off-beat ramble through an outdoor writer’s camping life
4 Site reviews Mark and Janette Songhurst visit the Friendly Club site at Barnard Castle for a little peace and quiet
5 Cooking with Outwell This month Guyrope Gourmet, Josh Sutton, rustles up the mouth watering prawn dish – complete with online video cooking demonstration…
6 Tips and ideas John Traynor comes up with some ideas and tips to help you organise your tent in the first of an ocassional series to get you thinking
8 Image of the month The good weather is here and you’re preparing to go camping!
8 Competitions Our easy-to-enter competition could net you a chic Cooltime M coolbag
EDITORIAL Issue: April 2014 Editor Clive Garrett editorial@outwell.com Publisher Lotte Simonsen los@oase-outdoors.dk Design Kaja Damgaard Please note email addresses are for editorial use only – product related emails should be sent to info@outwell.com Copyright © 2014 Oase Outdoors ApS. All Rights Reserved. Use of information, content and images only by written approval from the editor or publisher. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of Oase Outdoors. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of this magazine is accurate, but we assume no responsibility for any affect from errors or omissions. While every care is taken with unsolicited material submitted for publication we cannot be responsible for loss or damage.
Susan McTaggart sent in this superb pic – an inspiring view over the Isle of Jura 2 e-cAmp magazine April 2014
MEET THE FANS
OPEN AIR
Outwell in Canada This month we meet Outwell fans Peter and Alice Gale who live in Canada. Not wanting to follow the RV crowd and go down the motorhome or caravan route they purchased a Bear Lake 6 from the UK and haven’t looked back. They’re now looking forward to their 2014 Outwell camping adventures…
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y wife and I have always been huge weekend camping. However, here in Canada and in North America the most popular form of camping is the large RV ( a caravan or motorhome). It’s not what my wife and I consider as roughing it in the great outdoors for we enjoy simpler, maintenance free camping in a tent. With the arrival of our son, Joshua, our camping style changed and the search was on to find a tent that would meet our family’s needs, yet still be easy to transport, pitch, and maintain. In Europe, this is not a big deal given the choice but here large family tents just did not catch on or was overshadowed by RVing. We settled for the Outwell Bear Lake 6. We ordered it from a UK retailer and it arrived after two weeks. The Gales own a 2013 Bear Lake 6 and love its quality and size. Peter says: “We can fit our inflatable sofa and lounge chair, our dining table with camp chairs, and our kitchen/stove table all inside the living area. It is a great place to hang out and has lots of room for our son to play in bad weather. The canopy is great for rain and sun protection.”
We first pitched it in our back yard with snow still on the ground. Even though we never had set up a tent such as this, it was straight forward and easy., only taking the two of us 45 minutes to pitch. Our first impression of the tent was the quality. This is no cheap nylon department store tent. The tent has since faired extremely well in all the torrential down pours we had on our adventures with not one drop finding its way inside our tent. Wind was not a problem either, although, most of our campsites were well protected against the winds that accompany many of the thunder storms throughout the Albertan summer. This tent is huge compared to those available here in Canada. We added the carpet and footprint for comfort on pebbly soil you find on many
of our provincial parks. Last summer of we camped extensively throughout Alberta. Our Bear Lake 6 made every trip comfortable and enjoyable. We got a lot of positive comments on our tent as most campers here have never seen one of this quality and size. Our favourite campsite was at Dinosaur Provincial Park in southern Alberta. It is located in the badlands where extensive palaeontology digs are ongoing which you and your family can take part in. Our son absolutely loved it. This year, we plan on travelling to our great national parks in Banff and Jasper, as well as heading south of the border to Glacier National Park in the United States. We love the tent and cannot wait for the 2014 season to continue our camping adventures.
John Traynor with an outdoor writer’s ramble through camping life. Follow John on Twitter @jtopenair
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never went camping with my father. As a professional soldier he probably never saw it as recreation and would not have considered it to be a way of life as I do. When I became a father it was natural that my little boy would see the inside of a tent before his first birthday. Further plans for Dad/Son bonding trips were made, but time slipped by and he was almost four years old before we again took off with tent, gear, food and BMX bike. The bike and a three mile trek along a decent bridleway to our riverside camp, ensured his interest and I avoided the need to carry him. On arrival our tent was soon up and Mini-Me sped off to join the bigger boys tearing around the field on their bikes. The trip was shaping up to be a complete success and I lit a fire to aid the bonding experience. A late supper of sausages cooked on a toasting fork as the flames flickered in the darkness was followed by my suggestion that we have a wash and go to bed. The question “What! Here?” surprised me and it became clear that for one of us camping did not involve actually sleeping in a tent and staying overnight was clearly something he had not considered. Fortunately, tiredness and an inspired bedtime story ensured we both finally fell asleep snuggled up together and the next morning we were on our way home in high spirits. Mine were knocked a little by the non-stop chatter about cycling and no particular interest in the camping itself. Funnily enough, it is only really cyclecamping that ever roused his interest in tents. Years later, on a German campsite, I told the tale of the Little Reluctant Camper and discovered it was not only a common experience but truly international. There’s no grandchild yet to terrify. April 2014 e-cAmp magazine 3
SITE REVIEWS
Barnard Castle
Above: Neat and tidy – like all Club sites Top right: Club staff provided a top welcome Bottom right: Play area Inset: Eat local advice spot on
Mark and Janette Songhurst head to County Durham and enjoy a Friendly Club welcome from the staff at Barnard Castle – the perfect place to explore two National Parks and find a little peace and quiet The site ike most Camping and Caravanning Club sites you’ll find a variety of pitches and hard-standings. Tents mingle with other units and this proved perfect for we were camping alongside the parents’ caravan. The site is very well kept, the toilet blocks are immaculate for our entire stay and we never queued for the shower. The hot water was most defiantly hot and plentiful. This site is more sympathetic to couples as there are no ball games, Frisbees or kite flying allowed on site and no area put aside for these activities. But don’t be put off – we received one of the friendliest welcomes from the staff and other campers that we have experienced in a long time. There is a small shop in reception that sells basics, ice cream and sweets. There is a small children’s playground which looked well kept but would only entertain children for a short time.
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Barnard Castle Club Site Dockenflatts Lane Lartington Barnard Castle County Durham DL12 9DG Web: campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk Tel: 01833 630228 Facilities • Laundry and dishwashing facilities 4 e-cAmp magazine April 2014
A few campers came inspect our SmartAir Concorde L but more came to look at our rabbit sunning itself outside the tent. If you own a larger tent be careful as some of the pitches are a little short. Our Vermont XL would have had to pitch sideways on. The area This part of County Durham is a great place and here are three things we checked out: • Barnard Castle town is only a mile away and an easy walk from the site. This small market town has a castle that boasts stunning views over the Tees Gorge. • Locomotion at Shildon is the Northern branch of the National Railway Museum. It is just a short drive from the site and is free to go around making it a must for families – especially if they love trains. • Raby Castle sits between the site and Locomotion. Not only is it one of England’s finest mediaeval castles but you’ll find High • Toilets and free showers • Chemical disposal point • Electric hook-ups • Dedicated accessible facilities • Children play area • Dogs welcome • Gas cylinders • Ice pack freezing • WiFi – charges apply Tourism Information We used thisisdurham.com
Force in its grounds – one of England’s most stunning waterfalls. Eating out For a morning Coffee or an afternoon treat, try the delights of Bramble Pie on the edge of the Horse Market. We had a delightful cheese scone and coffee – and, as an added bonus, the owners are very friendly which made the visit even more enjoyable.
Above: We certainly enjoyed our relaxing stay at Barnard Castle! Eat local There is an ‘eat local’ board in the reception area and a Fish and Chip Van visits the site twice a week. It’s so popular that it took me 40 minutes to get my chips! Did you know? The bridge over the River Tees falls between diocese of Durham and York. It used to be the site of weddings as no one knew who was responsible for the area over the water
GUYROPE GOURMET
Perfect prawns
Shoppin g list
Gambas a
n Ajillo Ingredie nts – S erves fo ur ✓ 500g cooked fantail k ✓ 2 clove ing/tiger s of garl prawns ic (cho ✓ 1 level pped) teaspoo n hot smo ✓ 2 table ked papri spoons ka olive oil ✓ Fresh flat leaf parsley ✓ Seaso n to tas te Enjoy!
Click here for video!
This is another gem from my pal James, AKA Sous Chef of Sheffield (I become Sous Chef of Otley when dining at his place – it’s a respect thing). The guy is a bit of a whizz, and, incidentally, makes the best Christmas Puddings in the World – unfortunately beyond the capacity of the Guyrope Gourmet. Anyway, you know this chap is good; he added ‘…or something like that – based on something I had in a tapas bar in London’ on the end of the recipe when he sent it to me. He orders, he savours, he recreates…
H COOKBOOK NEWS
eat the olive oil ‘till almost smoking, add garlic and allow to sizzle until the aroma rises. Add the prawns and turn in the hot oil, add the smoked paprika and heat the prawns in the spiced oil, turning throughout. When heated through (two-three minutes or so) check for seasoning – this will depend on how much salt the prawns were cooked in. Add a handful of chopped flat leaf parsley and serve with fresh bread to mop up the juices. You can find more delicious recipes from Josh in the new Guyrope Gourmet cookbook, published by Punk Publishing with our support. And you can support the author by purchasing your copy today from all good booksellers online. We would love to hear from all budding Guyrope Gourmets and share your recipes with other Outwell campers in e-cAmp magazine – just send them with a few images to editorial@outwell.com
April 2014 e-cAmp magazine 5
TOP TIPS AND IDEAS
Organising your tent F
In the first of an ideas and tips to considers five w
or many of us, our first camping experiences were probably in a small tent with a simple sleeping mat, sleeping bag and rucksack or holdall. As age c precious and the amount of gear needed increases. So does the need for organisation grow. As my grandmother used to say: “You need to get some s was doing. Taking a group of four as the unit and a long-term pitch as the context, there are several ways to keep on top of the potential for tent chaos a areas to consider with flexible living space a must. This Outwell tent has an integral wardrobe with a hanging rail and kit loft but not many campers have such luxury. Cupboards are a versatile solution and larger models can take hanging clothes. The shelf space is perfect for clothes, towels and footwear, avoiding the clutter that can so easily swamp a tent.
Outwell offers plenty of storage solutions through its wide range of Pack ‘n’ Go and Folding Basket products (pictured here)
Air the sleeping bags as soon as your tent is pitched. Spreading them out helps the insulation loft to provide a warmer night’s sleep
If you have an electric hook-up, then finding a safe, secure space for your mains unit is a must.
6 e-cAmp magazine April 2014
Think about how you’re going to dry those towels and store dirty clothes. If you cannot wash things on site then consider keeping dirty gear in dry bags.
TOP TIPS AND IDEAS
n occasional series of shorts John Traynor throws in some o help you get the most out of camping life. This month John ways to help organise your tent.
creeps up and a family appears, leisure time becomes more shape on that!” – ‘shape’ being ‘order’ and ‘that’ being anything I and discomfort. Cooking, eating, sleeping and storage are the core
Trouble packing? ot your gear ready to pack but struggling to work out what size bag you need to hold it all? Then ‘compartmentalise’ your gear. Split it into little piles, like socks and underwear, trousers and shorts, tee shirts and sweats, wash gear and towels... Then work out how each pile looks compared to a two-litre bottle of pop. That will help you visualise the amount your kit will take up in litres – the most commonly used measurement used to sell luggage capacity. Of course, your little packages will take up more room as you pack so add a few more litres on whatever luggage you need to ensure you have space to spare. It helps to actually compartmentalise items when you pack, too, so that you can quickly lay your hands on things you need. Try packing your kit in different coloured dry bags, like those supplied by our sister-brand Easy Camp, to help locate clothing and keep your clean clothes away from smelly, dirty, wet gear.
G Collaps storage and a kitchen table with its associated cupboard create a safe, uncluttered work area. Moving the kitchen and stove outside or under an extension or tarp when cooking is a wise move.
YOUR TIPS
Plastic boxes are great for storage and transportation but the Outwell Kitchen Storer provides plenty of compartments in which to keep those items than need to be readily found – ideal for more than just the kitchen kit!
For more decades than he might care to admit outdoor writer, JohnTraynor, has been one of Europe’s leading outdoor industry commentators, as well as editor, broadcaster, columnist and journalist. He is also author of Lightweight Camping (right), published by Cicerone and available in all good outlets.
Time to share tips that you find help improve camping life! Each month we publish a few from our postbag so drop us a line to the usual address, editorial@outwell.com and help us spread the knowledge... • Cooking on gas but have an EHU and an electric kettle? Add some boiling water from your kettle to a pan of vegetables/rice/pasta etc to reduce the cooking time of your food and gas consumption. Graham Symington by email • As a real treat prepare some pancake mix at home and place in a sealed plastic bag. Freeze it and it will slowly defrost in your cool box. You can then snip a corner at breakfast time and squeeze pancakes into frying pan. You will be considered a genius by all your fellow campers. Jacqui Sclanders by email • We always keep a knife within easy reach in case we have to escape a tent fire. Joerne Rune Kviserud by email April 2014 e-cAmp magazine 7
IMAGE OF THE MONTH
Sunny times ahead!
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he recent NEC show had Outwell fans visiting us in droves and we really enjoyed meeting you all. And we have to thank all the members from the Outwell Camping Club who volunteered to help man the stand during the busy weekend – your input was really appreciated by staff and fellow campers alike! Outwell Guy was particularly on form as pic 1 from Vicky Watson shows. In fact, he was so busy that some visitors had to settle for a photo with his cutout – thanks Alison Gambrill for pic 2. The great weather has got people thinking of camping and our unofficial clubs have been sharing inspirational shots like pic 3 taken at last year’s OCC Nantcol meet that was taken by, er, Clive Garrett. Others, like Lee Meredith who was waterproofing his tent (pic 4), where taking the time to prepare by waterproofing his tent. My Pic of the month goes to this sunny beach shot from Steve Dennis. Let’s hope this weather continues. Happy camping all! Enjoyable visit to NEC Fantastic display of Outwell tents at the NEC today. I’m delighted to announce we are now the proud owners of the Smart Air Harrier XL Nick Stokes via Facebook
The e-cAmp Image of the Month
Cool prizes to be won! Two lucky readers will walk away with one of our chic Cooltime M coolbags – and it could be you if you enter our easy competition
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he chic good looks of our Cooltime coolbags are perfect for those who want to inject a little style into outdoor living. The range comes in three sizes: S,M,L and we’re giving two away. On offer is the 20-litre capacity Cooltime M that offers quality materials delivering reliable performance for family campers – on picnics, on the beach, shopping and when travelling. Cooltime M features a mesh exterior pocket and adjustable shoulder strap with compression straps to reduce capacity 8 e-cAmp magazine April 2014
for best cooling effect when required. The polyester fabric outer and PVC lining are durable and easy to clean. For a chance to win one of these superb Cooltime M coolbags just visit the competition page on our website and follow the links. The winners will be notified by email as soon as possible after the close date. More information about the Outwell Cool ‘n’ Go Collection of coolboxes and coolbags can be found on our website – including details of our advanced ECOcool range.
GIVE IT A GO!