ecAmp Land a great site
Touch of class
Question of the month
Fishermen and families will all love this great Staffordshire campsite that lies near beautiful Cannock Chase
Guyrope Gourmet, Josh Sutton, suggests a luxurious treat to go with your afternoon fizz or Pimms to keep you going until dinner time
We answer your key questions and publish your top tips to help lift your Outwell camping experience to even greater heights
Read more on page 4
Read more on page 5
Read more on page 7
ecAmp Magazine
e e-cAmp magazine June 2013
ecAmp magazine ecAmp Magazine
INNOVATIVE FAMILY CAMPING
ecAmp Magazine ecAmp magazine Bedroom bliss
Comfortable and chic Our sleeping bags look good and help guarantee a great night’s sleep. And our sleeping bag guide will help you choose wisely. See pages 6-7
editor’s welcome
content 3 Meet the fans We talk to an Outwell stalwart, Shellie Here from Basingstoke
3 Open Air John Traynor takes us on an off-beat ramble through an outdoor writer’s camping life
4 Site reviews Well-stocked fishing pools, superb playgrounds and a host of attractions close by – that’s Pillaton Hall Farm…
5 Cooking with Outwell
clive garreTt
Our very own Outwell camper
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ot my mallet. Got my tent pegs. Poles packed and all other gear that unexpectedly goes missing when you arrive at the campsite has been placed in the car! Yes, it’s time for us to go camping (picture below)… and I didn’t even use a check list while packing. I shouldn’t be too smug for I’ve dropped my share of bloomers in the past – like getting half way to North Wales before realising I had left the barbecue meat on the kitchen table. I’ll spare our contributors from red faces by not mentioning similar situations and allow forgotten clothes and children’s shoes to become brief, amusing scenarios to camping life best consigned to fading memories. However, we’ve all done it and it’s time to ‘fess up. Drop us a line on Facebook with your tales of forgotten kit. Perhaps you even purposely left something behind – like the kid’s mobile phone? Or partner...?
This month’s e-cAmp might not be able to help you remember everything but it’s stuffed with features to help you make the most of the Outwell camping experience. For a start, Kathryn Whelan checks out a neat family campsite in Staffordshire that will also appeal to the fishermen amongst us. And Guyrope Gourmet has a simple suggestion for a rather upmarket snack to go with the afternoon fizz and Pimms that we enjoy while relaxing on site in the sun (OK – a pint and glass of red). There’s also the usual mix of technical feature, tips, competitions and more. Happy camping! Cheers Clive Garrett Editor
We enjoy a tasty Pancharagus from the new Guyrope Gourmet cookbook
6 Technical feature Our guide to sleeping bags will help you get a good night’s sleep
7 Hot tips Send us your tips and tricks to help other campers enjoy our pastime
7 Q&A of the month Your questions answered
8 Image of the month Enjoying new tents
8 Competition Your chance to win great prizes.
Editorial Issue: June 2013 Editor Clive Garrett editorial@outwell.com Publisher Lotte Simonsen los@oase-outdoors.dk Design Kaja Damgaard Copyright © 2013 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.
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meet the fans
open air
Here for you
Many Outwell campers will know Shellie Here (pictured left) for her sterling work as an administrator of one of our most active Facebook fan sites: the Outwell Camping Club. Shellie is one of a handful of campers whose dedication to the Outwell camping experience has helped us develop the foundation of a vibrant online community that now extends on to the campsite
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hellie has owned a number of Outwell tents and, when we last met, she currently had a Bear Lake 6 with extensions, and a Trout Lake 4 with front extension. She says: “I love them both equally. I take the Trout Lake when camping with my four-year-old son and it is perfect for two. And I use my Bear Lake when other family members join us. It has plenty of space and we love the benefits associated with polycotton.” What does Shellie enjoy about camping? “I can just pack up, travel the country and meet lots of
new people.” And that must include sharing the fun and entertainment of an Outwell Camping Club rally with other Outwell fans! Her favourite campsite is East Fleet Farm Touring Park near Weymouth. Shellie reckons the facilities are amazing – she tells us the bathrooms are like mini suites – and the staff very friendly and helpful. As an experienced camper what advice can she give those new to our pastime? Shellie is adamant: “Never buy your tent ‘off the shelf’ from a high street store. Go to a specialist retailer that
has pitched tents and take time looking at the variety on offer. “Look at the living and sleeping areas. Check there is decent head height to make dressing easier and space so you’re not falling over each other. And, most important to me, get a sewn/zip in groundsheet or you are likely to be having breakfast with the local bugs every morning! “Then, once you have picked your tent, you had better start saving – you will be amazed at all the camping accessories you’ll find you ‘need’.”
Air today, gone tomorrow his really is the case for Shellie’s tent collection. We’ve just heard that she recently purchased a Smart Air Concorde L and her trusted Classic tents were soon sold and sent to good homes. Bear Lake 6 Shellie says: ‘Despite loving the tent, the Bear Lake is quite a beast to pitch. Given the advancing years of some of my relatives I wanted to get a tent that was easier to use and the Concorde L fits the bill Trout Lake 4 perfectly. And, of course, the Concorde L is so easy and quick to pitch that it negated the need of the smaller Trout Lake for just me and my son’s use when taking shorter breaks. I’m now looking forward to its first big outing at Nantcol.” Concorde L More information about the Smart Air Concorde L can be found on our website From Classic to Smart Air – Shellie loves her – just follow the link. Outwell tents!
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John Traynor with an outdoor writer’s ramble through camping life. Follow John on Twitter @jtopenair
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ecycling – something I’ve always been keen on though friends often call it scrounging. I prefer ’the creative re-use of distressed pre-owned goods’ and take my cue from my Gardeners’ Question Time hero Bob Flowerdew. As yet, I haven’t packed old tyres for use on a camping trip but there has been a steady flow of old camping gear to our allotment. It is astonishing how much can be used in the garden. It started with a skip. As a bunch of Scouts hauled gear out of an equipment store opposite our house, I was busy removing it to my own store. The marquee poles have seen further sterling service. Some form the corners of the raised beds in our polytunnel. The others have made the frame for a grand fruit cage – pity there were only 20 of them. That skip was fortuitous but campsite waste bins and corners can yield rich pickings. My collection of odd pegs and poles is extensive – all rescued from landfill – and has proved remarkably useful over the years. A couple of small tents yielded all manner of components with some of the fabric still in use as a windbreak and stuff sacs. You’ll find windbreak poles on my allotment alongside pots, pans and buckets without handles – all abandoned by campers. I’m even trying to fashion a greenhouse heater from a lantern left by a camper who couldn’t be bothered to repair the broken glass. Whilst many of my treasures had come to the end of their useful primary role, some were abandoned through carelessness or neglect. The former is understandable; the latter unforgivable. Family camping gear is designed to withstand heavy wear but if you check all parts when packing your tent away and make sure it is dried completely before storage its life will be extended considerably. After all, there really is a limit to how much I can recycle. June 2013 e-cAmp magazine 3
Site reviews
Pillaton Hall Farm The welcome is friendlier than implied by the utilitarian looking reception
The campsite is perfect for family holidays and features two great play areas
Fishing lakes are an attractive feature to the site
This Staffordshire campsite may be a firm favourite with fishermen but it is also an ideal base from which a family can explore nearby Cannock Chase and the market town, Penkridge. Kathryn Whelan reports… The site Staff is friendly and welcoming – this site is a great place for families. They also welcome dogs, although these must be kept on a lead unless in the enclosed dog walking area. The site has two excellent play areas: one fairly central catering for the smaller children, and the second towards the edge of the site for three- to 12-year-olds. This has a sand pit and a small football pitch. Despite the fact that you can see the M6, it is remarkably peaceful here and sound doesn’t seem to carry very far. However, the site also has a secluded separate field. Views are beautiful and the sunsets can be spectacular. Fishermen will love the site’s well-stocked pools. The spacious pitches are mostly flat and the facilities very good. The indoor washingup area has detergent dispensers on the wall, a hot drink vending machine and a freezer for your ice blocks. Pillaton Hall Farm Pillaton Penkridge Staffordshire ST19 5RZ Web: pillatonpools.co.uk Tel: 01785 715177 Facilities • 188 pitches • Rally field • Chemical disposal points 4 e-cAmp magazine June 2013
The toilets and showers are kept clean and there’s plenty of hot water. Another nice touch is the shower gel in each cubicle. At weekends, a small hut serves morning breakfast and pizzas/burgers in the evenings. It has a small selection of sweets, crisps and drinks – handy as the reception/well-stocked site shop can be a ten-minute walk away. The area Pillaton Hall Farm is about a mile, or 20-minute walk, from Penkridge and its Wednesday and Saturday markets. The close proximity to the M6 makes this site an ideal base from which to explore far afield. Why not try: • Cannock Chase heath and forest with walking and cycle trails (hire bikes at Swinnerton Cycle Centre). • Alton Towers theme park. • Shop at Stafford or Birmingham • We like Birmingham’s Sealife Centre
• Shugborough Hall – Lord Lichfield’s pad is set in 900 acres of parkland and gardens. As well as being able to explore the house and gardens there is also a land train ride, play park, restaurant and tea rooms, craft workshops and gift shop. • Chasewater Country Park – ideal for a scenic waterside stroll and to check out the famous Chasewater Railway. • Penkridge Leisure Centre has a fitness suite, sports hall and swimming pool. Eating out Penkridge has a variety of places to eat. Try The Boat pub for excellent home cooked food. An excellent Indian restaurant delivers take-aways to the site and a local butcher will also bring you your barbecue meat! Further afield, the Spread Eagle pub at Gailey has a delicious carvery, extensive menu and large beer garden with children’s play area.
• Disabled facilities • Washing-up facilities • Children’s play areas • Sports field • Takeaway • Well stocked shop • WiFi (fee charged) • Dog exercising area
Eat local A farmers market is held in conjunction with the main Penkridge market on the third Saturday of the month. Try Lee Adams Family Butcher on Clay Street for excellent local meat and game and Gailey Fruit Farm for locally grown and PYO fruit and veg. See gaileyfruitfarm.co.uk for more…
Tourism Information Web: visitstafford.org Tel: 01785 619619
Did you know? WWII airbase Pillaton Airfield has reopened for mainly microlites.
cooking with outwell
Pancharagus st ping li p o h S s aragu Panchnts
Cookbook news
– buy die e : r g n I o suit ities t quant s aragu ✓ Asp a t t e h lack ✓ Panc und b h gro e t ✓ Fres s a r to t peppe
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Those fine fellows at Punk Publishing have now released the new Guyrope Gourmet cookbook and you can support the author by purchasing your signed copy from the Guyrope Gourmet website here. 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 editorial@outwell.com with a few images…
This idea came to me in a flash of inspiration when I was at Malton Food Festival in the middle of the British asparagus season. I needed a seasonal dish that was really quick, with which I could feed passers-by. It’s a bit pricy out of season, but, oh, so good.
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sparagus is one of my all time favourite vegetables and British asparagus is, as far as I’m concerned, the best. The season is relatively short, usually running from late April through to early June, but this year it’s about a month late so fitting for this month’s camping treat. You often see it for sale in bunches on stalls by the side of the road and in peak season it becomes very affordable. When cooking with asparagus you need to break away the woody part at the bottom of the stem. It’s easy, just hold the ends of the spear in either hand and bend until it snaps. It will snap naturally where the woody part ends. Don’t throw those woody bits away, but boil them in a litre of water with a few whole peppercorns and a halved onion for a tasty vegetable stock – ideal for risottos or soups. I’ve tried this recipe using Parma ham once when I couldn’t get my hands on pancetta. It didn’t work as well as there wasn’t enough natural fat in the ham. The fat from the pancetta really helps the cooking process and makes all the difference. Wafer thin slices of streaky bacon are a better alternative. Pancharagus always seems to go down well at Guyrope Gourmet cookery demonstrations – it really is a simple luxury. So, come on – it’s time to treat your friends and family. All you do is carefully wrap a slice of pancetta around the asparagus and cook for two or three minutes on a very hot griddle pan, remembering to roll the pancharagus so that the pancetta browns all round. Season with black pepper and dip in a good mayonnaise. Serve up with a glass of chilled light fizz or a Pimms cocktail.
The background photo and above: It may be a simple dish but little beats British asparagus served up with something light and fresh for a campsite snack on a sunny day! Treat yourself... June 2013 e-cAmp magazine 5
Technical features
Bedtime rt o f m co A
sk any experienced camper and they will all say that one of the secrets to enjoying camping life is to get a good night’s sleep. Warmth and comfort are key considerations – and these are achieved if you use a good sleeping bag. We look at a few of the things that you might like to consider when buying your family sleeping bags.
Above: Our luxurious Lakeview sleeping bag for high levels of comfort
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t Outwell, we have a huge range of sleeping bags, from the luxurious to those with a tad friendlier price tag that reflects the different materials used. A good sleeping bag does not have to break the bank but you do get what you pay for and the secret to choosing the right one is to assess your needs and buy accordingly rather than expect wallet-emptying characteristics to suit every occasion. Sleeping bag designs tend to be limited to a mummy-shape and versatile envelope-styles that we use for our Outwell sleeping bags. Mummy sleeping bags taper to the foot to reduce the internal space that needs to be heated by the body to stay warm, but many campers find this restrictive. Envelope-style bags, like our popular Camper range, provide that much-appreciated space to move at night yet requires a little extra body heat to create a snug haven. Hybrid shapes and slimmer envelope styles bring the benefits of both shapes together while minimising any negative points. Our Cushy and Cosy are good examples of sleeping bags designed to provide space while minimising cold spots. Do not skimp on your bedding for there is nothing worse than waking up feeling chilly. Good bags will provide ample ventilation to cope with overheating on hot, balmy nights. A sleeping bag liner, like our Fleece Liner, used to help keep the inside of your sleeping bag clean and add extra insulation, can also be used on its own if things get too hot. So, just concentrate on keeping warm. Keeping warm Most manufacturers will provide a season rating to give you an idea as to when a sleeping bag can be used and you can see a brief video about this here. And all our sleeping bags are also tested to EN13537 – the official European Standard that defines how to test, measure and label a sleeping bag. We publish the resultant THELMA ratings for each of our sleeping bags and you can read more about this on our website’s FA section here or watch a brief video here. 6 e-cAmp magazine June 2013
Insulation Insulation traps a layer of air between you and your surroundings. Duck down is used as the premium fill – those tiny filaments trap a lot of air – and can be found in our luxury Lakeview sleeping bags. Having no quill down has little ‘body’ and is often reinforced by the addition of feathers and this ratio is often quoted – 55:45 in Lakeview sleeping bags. Sleeping bags store down in chambers (box wall construction) that allow an even spread and stops it migrating to one area. It also improves down’s ability to ‘loft’ – the ability to open fully from a compressed state, trapping air in the process. Unfortunately, down loses its superb insulation properties if wet. Not only does water rapidly draw heat away from the body but it also stops down’s ability to loft – the drawing in of that insulating layer of trapped air which makes it expand from its compressed state. And some campers have a down allergy. At Outwell we also use hollow fibre synthetic fills for they are far more user-friendly and do not carry the down’s premium price. This captures air in tiny tunnels that run the length of each filament. You can see a brief video abut Isofill here. Synthetic fills do have a size and weight penalty but this is not a problem unless camping in more extreme conditions that demand low size/weight with superior performance. Our premium synthetic fills have good insulation values and a longer life than cheap fills that rapidly lose their ability to loft and trap air. Synthetic fills are easier to maintain than down and do not lose as much insulation properties when wet – making them the better choice for family campers. Layers of synthetic sheets are used. Single layer bags, as used in our children’s Coastal range, are good for summer conditions, or for travel, or sleep-overs but cold spots can occur where the sheets are compressed by the stitching used to attach the layer to the sleeping bag’s outer/inner face. The majority of our sleeping bags use twolayer offset construction to avoid this problem; one insulation layer is sewn to the outer fabric and one to the inner fabric. The layers are offset to cover the cooler compressed stitching areas, making the sleeping bag more suitable for general use throughout the year. Materials Ideally, the material used for the inner part of a sleeping bag will need to be soft and warm to the touch, high wicking to remove Right: Air your sleeping bag after use to keep it fresh and to maintain insulation levels Far right: Our Duvet Sleep System for easy bed making
Hot tips
water vapour and sweat, easy to clean and quick to dry. Brushed cotton is often used for comfort but good synthetic inners are often far easier to maintain and have better wicking characteristics. Outer fabrics should be hard wearing and easy to clean – again, key characteristics of a man-made fibre. Soft, warm fabrics offer a psychological boost when, like with the inner, a cooler fabric may feel a tad unwelcoming. Features Unless you really need the low weight/pack size and extra insulation of a mummy bag for more adventurous camps or travel then it may well be best to go for an envelope style. We choose this design for it not only provides a more home-from-home sleeping experience by allowing you to move but it can also be opened out as a ‘duvet’ for extra versatility. However, you will lose heat by the bellows effect in any sleeping bag – warm air escaping when you move. If camping in the cold then look for a bag that gives ample head/shoulder protection through the use of a drawcord/ baffle. It is great to be able to snuggle into your bag, pulling it tight around the ears, on a cold morning. A heavy-duty two-way zip running the length of the bag will provide ample ventilation on hot nights. Further, rather than buy a dedicated double bag this should allow you the versatility to zip two single bags together – just remember to make sure that your partner has a bag with a zip on the opposite side to yours if you want to enjoy night time snuggles. Youngsters should not be forgotten. We offer Outwell Kids and junior Coast and Coastal sleeping bags designed for smaller people. Our kids’ bags are sized to prevent a child from slipping to the bottom of the bag and any drawcords are replaced by elastic to prevent accidents. Being smaller, children’s bags are easier to wash and dry. Finally, some campers like to take their home bedding with them. Nothing wrong with this but we have designed our Outwell Duvet Sleep System to provide similar levels of comfort in one convenient package. Here, your bed’s mattress, sheet and duvet are all provided linked together – just unroll, inflate and use. Component items can be removed easily for cleaning and maintenance.
Time to share those tips that you find help improve camping life! Each month we will pull out five from the postbag for publication so drop us a line to editorial@ outwell.com and help spread the knowledge... Poul Harkjaer from Hinnerup, Denmark, was encouraged to write in with his tips when he read a recent e-cAmp tip about using S-hooks from which to hang camping kit… 1. We use a small Velcro band to fix lamps and other equipment to the tent – use vertically and horizontal. 2. We also glue Velcro to the bottom of our kitchen table top and use it to hang a homemade bag that contains our kitchen tools (image above). 3. We supplement our Outwell lighting with a budget rail of LED lights often sold by cheaper supermarkets. Credit: Both images Poul Harkjaer 4. We use vacuum bags to reduce the size of our duvets, using the same pump to remove air as we use to inflate our flocks. 5. We like to show who we are when on a campsite so we made a banner that shows our homepage (image right).
q&a of the month Dear Outwell Does anyone know of a current extension that works with a Michigan XL? We cannot find one anywhere. Andy Mackintosh via Facebook Hi all, Andy’s question about extensions and awnings is one often asked and one we unfortunately cannot answer for a number of reasons. Chief amongst these is that we design extensions and awnings to suit specific tents for optimum performance and do not test, or have ever tested, them with other models. It’s also why we do not do a universal version – it just does not work well. However, we know that many campers do ‘mix and match’ and we advise that such questions are posted on Facebook to see if anyone can suggest a solution based on their experience. We ship all our stock to dealers and sell through them to ensure the best possible aftersales service. As a result we do not have old stock to sell to campers and cannot advise what stock may still be available in the marketplace. A posted question will also be seen by dealers and they might be able to advise or have something in stock that fulfils needs. Otherwise, Google is often the only answer if a Facebook post fails to help.
June 2013 e-cAmp magazine 7
image of the month
Having fun with Outwell D
on’t you just love it! The sun is shining and Outwell campers are out in force. And one of the nicest things is to hear the number of campers who have been brought together by their love of Outwell and who now enjoy our pastime with their new friends. I, for one, really enjoy seeing your pictures and will start to share your experiences posted on the unofficial fan club Facebook pages on our own official Facebook page to reach a wider audience. Let’s shout about how much fun we’re having! This month we see tents old and new get an airing. Andrew Pinder posted pic 1 of his Covington 4 out in the sun at Kelling Heath while Claire Walton shared pic 2 as one of many of her new Bahia 7. Of course, cakes still appear and birthday picture 3 came courtesy of Marlene Perks – just one of some lovely party pics! It’s always nice to see children having fun outdoors Descerning campers! Another camping equipment trip & we always end up choosing Outwell gear ;) Penny Irvine via Facebook
– although its not all letting off steam. Charlie Gill posted pic 4 of her nipper quietly concentrating on excavating a dinosaur. Some pics are worthy of an Outwell brochure and you can never mistake Paul Meads’ tent – as pic 5 shows he likes to make an Outwell splash! But Image of the Month has to be the atmospheric pic from Richard Gask that was taken at Clippesby Hall, which we think sums up Outwell and this beautiful Norfolk campsite. We always love to see your camping pics so please post them on Facebook or email them to me, Clive Garrett, at editorial@outwell.com – you could see them chosen as an e-cAmp Image of the Month. Remember to tell us the story that lies behind your pic…
Competition Take part in our easy-to-enter competition for a chance to win a set of our superb Terry Pack Towels that have been designed with campers firmly in mind. No wonder they’re so popular…
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ousehold towels are bulky and hard to dry – and who wants musty, damp rags hanging around the tent all day? Well, our Terry Towels are the perfect solution. Quick drying characteristics, coupled with an ultralight and small pack size, has to make them the most convenient camping towel around. And the terry cotton-style-finish to these polyester microfibre towels make them so comfortable to use. You’ll never want to take a normal towel with you again!
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For a chance to win a set of small, medium and large towels just visit the product page on our website to find out the large towel’s pack size and email your answer to us – competition@outwell.com Please place ‘Terry towel competition’ in the email subject line and remember to include your name, delivery address and contact number. The winners will be notified by email as soon as possible after the close date on 30 June 2013.
The e-cAmp Image of the Month