ecAmp Little Gem
Touch of class
Cooler camping
The Lincolnshire Fens hides a lovely little site that proves the perfect quiet hideaway from which to explore this lovely area
This quick-to-prepare Guyrope Gourmet recipe will add a new dimension to campsite finger food that’s sure to impress
Don’t put away your camping gear just yet. A little preparation will help you extend your camping to explore new experiences
Read more on page 4
Read more on page 5
Read more on pages 6-7
ecAmp Magazine
e e-cAmp magazine October 2013
ecAmp magazine ecAmp Magazine
INNOVATIVE FAMILY CAMPING
ecAmp Magazine ecAmp magazine WIN WIN WIN
Banish those dark nights using an Outwell Cumbal Classic lantern – complete with remote control. For more see our competition on page 8
editor’s welcome
clive garreTt
Our very own Outwell camper
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hat a summer we’ve had. The superb weather has more than made up for the past few turbulent years and, despite the extended winter, we’ve managed to enjoy some memorable long weekends away. My wife, Tricia, and I love camping with fellow Outwell fans and we always appreciate the craic. We recently had a top weekend with Hank and Shirley Waddingham who administrate the Outwell Camping Club Notts Facebook page. The company was so good that our planned agenda for the day was forgotten as our morning coffee extended into late afternoon! You can read about Laurel Park campsite in this issue – it’s well worth a visit. For me, the season’s end is marked by our annual trade show. It’s a hectic few days full of meetings and presentations. Luckily, many of the attending press and visitors are also personal friends so the show also offers the opportunity to catch up on trends and gossip. And, of course, this year saw a select number of social media specialists and our very own e-cAmp competition winners attend
on the Sunday. Now that was a busy day with Tricia and Josh ‘Guyrope Gourmet’ Sutton serving up more than 40 Monty Zoomers for brunch. Feedback was very positive – for both our specially created recipe and the 2014 tents and accessories on show. Times change rapidly and two years ago we would not have announced the next tent collections until the January of that year. This year we posted a taster video straight after the event just to give you an indication of what to expect as we move forward. Changes are made depending on market forces and feedback from many quarters and you will still have to wait for specifics but you can dream. Not seen the video? Check it out at youtube.com/outwelltents However, as the main season closes now’s your opportunity to try some late season camping. October is often a great month for snatching those last few weekend camps before winter sets in and a little preparation, the right gear and some basic skills will help you remain comfortable and snug through the early, cooler nights. We’ve included some pointers in this issue to help you enjoy the experience. And experience it will be as you benefit from quieter sites with cheaper pitch fees, seeing the changing character of the countryside, and a closer contact with nature. Give it a try – it will help make you a more rounded camper and enhance those camping skills. Happy camping!
Clive Garrett Editor
content 3 Meet the fans We meet the font of camping knowledge, Karen Murphy
3 Open Air John Traynor takes us on an off-beat ramble through an outdoor writer’s camping life
4 Site reviews The Lincolnshire Fens hide a little gem in Laurel Park, says Hank and Shirley Waddingham
5 Cooking with Outwell Guyrope Gourmet serves up a quick, classy snack that leaves you squids in when it comes to finger food
6 Technical feature Don’t pack away your gear just yet. We look at how to keep on camping into the shoulder months
7 Q&A of the month Repairing those vinyl windows
8 Image of the month Your pics tell a story
8 Competition Your chance to win one of three chic, practical Cumbal Classic lanterns
Editorial Issue: October 2013 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 © 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.
Monty Zoomers served up by Guyrope Gourmet at our recent UK trade show. Taken by e-cAmp prize winner, Steve Dennis 2 e-cAmp magazine October 2013
meet the fans
open air Karen Murphy is a regular camper and if you’ve not yet had the pleasure of her company on one of the regular meets she attends and organises with the various online Outwell fan clubs then you’ve probably chatted to her on Facebook where she regularly dispenses words of wisdom and helpful advice in the same selfless fashion that she dispenses cocktails from her tent!
Murphy’s law F
or Karen there’s no right or wrong way to camp. Murphy’s law states: “It doesn’t matter the size of your tent or how much equipment you have, providing you’re warm, dry and have the right attitude then camping is great fun and can provide some of your best memories.” And family memories are important to Karen. She has fond memories of camping with her parents and now enjoys spending valuable time with her son, Isaac and daughter, Amelia Elgie, (both pictured with Karen above) while exploring stunning locations and building experiences together. Some experiences can be, er, a tad extreme so Karen wants the best: “I choose Outwell because it’s a brand I’ve learnt to trust over the years. The quality far exceeds other tents I’ve looked at and when you’re sitting in your tent in the middle of a winter gale you need to trust that it will keep you warm and dry.” Karen’s favourite campsite is Saxdale House Farm in Hummanby, North Yorkshire. It’s only small and doesn’t feature attractions like playground and bar, but the facilities are immaculate – and that’s something appreciated by all campers. Karen owns a number of Outwell tents for different styles of camping trip. But the one she uses the most is her Nevada M with front extension. “It’s a great all-rounder and the perfect size for our family of three. We can pitch it in around 20 minutes and it has survived some pretty interesting weather conditions!”
Karen adds: “The owners and staff are really friendly and helpful, and the area is lovely. The site is open all year, too.” Socialising plays a big role in Karen’s life and she loves her Cobb charcoal cooking system for it takes care of everything. “A Sunday roast tastes so much better when you’re sitting outside a tent and baking cakes on a campsite is a very quick method of making friends.” Karen also loves her Collaps products: “I really do not know how I managed without my colander.” With so much socialising it’s a good job that the family’s favourite campsite activity is geochaching. Karen says: “The kids love using the GPS to hunt for the ‘treasure’ and I like that the activity has them walking miles without realising or complaint.” So, what’s Karen’s final Murphy’s Law? “Learn to laugh when something goes wrong – it will happen often enough so you might as well get used to it. There’s not much that can’t be fixed with a roll of duct tape and a sense of humour so it’s not worth getting stressed. “Of, and remember to remove your car keys from the tent’s storage pocket before packing it away in the boot. Saves a red face!”
Above: The Nevada Front Extension fits both MP and XLP models
John Traynor with an outdoor writer’s ramble through camping life. Follow John on Twitter @jtopenair
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hat makes camping memories? To my surprise, I find mine are mostly about people. And it was not the outrageous camping characters that popped up first but a nice old lady who ran a small café near a Welsh campsite who cheered me up just by smiling. She must have been a relation of the Dalai Lama or, being Welsh, perhaps it was the Dai Lama. The point is, memories don’t have to be dramatic to top the charts. Sometimes, just lying in the tent listening to the early morning birdsong can be as enjoyable as a stunning sunrise or sunset – and is one that is always keenly anticipated. So, where do memories and anticipations meet? Until an event happens? My scheming on what tents and equipment to buy feels real even though most will never happen unless I have a huge lottery win. Similarly, all my fulfilled travel plans would mean my life would stretch to centuries. So, as I write, it’s occurring to me that the line between reality and unreality is somewhat blurred. No problem for camping should be about getting away from it all and enjoying alternative experiences. If it were only an extension of daily life it would be hard to view camping as the great escape it should be to all, when one’s only cares relate to the family. It’s also a great time to think about direction in life and other big matters. There several people met through the years whose lives have changed course during or after a camping holiday; they range from buying a campsite to taking early retirement. Is there focus to your camping memories or does your mind roam free? Has camping changed your life? Tell us about your favourite memories, your plans and lifechanging decisions – you never know but your story could inspire others. October 2013 e-cAmp magazine 3
Site reviews
Little gem Above: Communal courtyard. Top right: Our pitch. Bottom right: Well protected camping. Below: Spotless toilets.
Recently, e-cAmp Editor, Clive, with wife, Tricia, was lucky enough to spend a few days camping with Hank and Shirley Waddingham who were visiting the Lincolnshire Fens. All were really impressed with the campsite which belies the fact that it’s only been going three seasons – as Hank reports here… The site aurel Park is a little gem of a campsite located in south Lincolnshire just off the A17. Owners Fiona and Bernie gave us a lovely, personal welcome before showing us to our pitch. This proved huge – more than ample for our Monty and awning. We had one of the 14 pitches serviced by an electric hook-up and there are another 11 non-electric pitches on this three acre site. Given its low pitch to size ratio there is ample space in the middle for children to play. Being the Lincolnshire flatlands the pitches here are surrounded by tall trees and bushes to provide plenty of shelter and privacy. What little rain we had soon drained away. On site facilities include a small shop, a washing-up and laundry area, and ice pack freezing service. A communal courtyard, with benches and a lovely display of coloured lights at night time, completes the picture.
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Laurel Park Campsite Huntsgate Gedney Broadgate Spalding Lincolnshire PE12 0DJ Web: laurelparkcampsite.co.uk Tel: 01406 364862 Facilities • Electric and non-electric pitches • Chemical disposal points 4 e-cAmp magazine October 2013
The toilets and showers are clean and spotless and, although only three toilets, one urinal and two showers between male and female blocks, we never had a problem even when the site got busier towards the end of our stay. The area Laurel Park is on a quiet country lane that’s great for cyclists and for rambles. • The site is located on the MCN Cycle Route – Hull to Fakenham, and the whole area is perfect for cyclists. • Park up at Gedney Drove and walk out along the Wash flood defences and marsh flats – a haven for wildlife. • Visit Spalding – famed for its Flower Festival and Springfields outlet shopping centre with its Festival Gardens • Take a boat tour from Spalding • Visit the Baytree Owl Centre
Eating out There are plenty of shops, supermarkets and eateries at Holbeach (thee-and-a-half miles) and Long Sutton (two miles) where we enjoyed a superb meal at The Old Ship Inn – big portions and excellent value. And we were able to take our dog into the bar/ lounge while we enjoyed the meal – always a big plus for pet-owning campers who do not want to leave their dog in the car.
• Toilets and showers • Washing-up and laundry facilities • Mobile phone recharging point • Calor Gas sales • Site shop sells basics • Ice pack freezing service • Secure covered cycle storage on request
Eat local You do not need to purchase provisions from shops when driving around this lovely area. As befitting Lincolnshire’s rural nature local produce can be found in abundance outside most farms and houses. Even Fiona and Bernie make and sell their own jam.
Tourism Information Email: info@sholland.gov.uk Tel: 01775 725468
Did you know? Highwayman Dick Turpin was arrested for horse rustling from nearby Long Sutton before escaping to Yorkshire.
guyrope gourmet
Quick snack adds class
Shoppin g list Salt and pepper s quid
Ingredie nts – S erves six : ✓ 4 00g fr esh or frozen s ✓One cu quid p of pla in flour ✓ Lots o f salt ✓ Lots o f pepper ✓ Vegeta ble oil f or fryin ✓ Lemon g for squ irting
This dish is unbelievably easy, but does take some preparation. The clever trick that gets the best results is to make sure you dry the squid thoroughly. The secret is to dry well when whole and then dry again after chopping. Plenty of kitchen roll helps out here. Admittedly it’s a bit faffy but well worth the effort. You could short-cut the drying process, but it’ll end up a bit claggy! Claggy and Faffy, now are they bona fide cooking terms – who knows? You get the picture!
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Cookbook news
our about two inches of vegetable oil into a large saucepan ready for deep-frying. If you’ve brought a wok along with you all the better. Dry the whole squid thoroughly in a tea towel. If you are using the frozen variety you find in some supermarkets you’ll find that the tentacles have already been cut away and are tucked up inside the body. You can squeeze the tentacles out once the squid has thawed. If you’re lucky enough to have found whole squid, then you’ll have to cut away the tentacles and remove the purple ‘skin’ from the body. Keep the tentacles because you will be eating those too! Pull out the transparent ‘spine’ from the body and discard. Chop the bodies of the squid into rings, and once again dry thoroughly using kitchen roll. Put the flour into a bowl and grind in plenty of black pepper – a good dessertspoon ought do the trick! Throw in five good pinches of flaked sea salt and mix with your fingers. Before you coat the squid with the seasoned flour, you need to make sure the oil in the pan is hot for deep-frying. My old home economics teacher, Mrs Walker, used to say a good cook never fries ‘til he sees the blue smoke rise! Once the oil heats up, toss the squid thoroughly through the seasoned flour, ensuring each piece of squid is well coated. Carefully spoon the coated squid into the hot oil. It should effervesce immediately. Deep fry for three or four minutes, you’ll see the coating turn a lovely golden colour. Lift out with a slotted spoon into a bowl lined with a couple of sheets of kitchen roll. Let drain for a couple of seconds then remove the kitchen roll. Halve the lemon and squeeze over the squid just before serving. Good on its own as a starter – Mexican beer and crusty bread for a light lunch! This delicious recipe is taken from the new Guyrope Gourmet cookbook, published by Punk Publishing with our support. 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 with a few images to editorial@outwell.com
October 2013 e-cAmp magazine 5
Technical features
Cooler camping
Winter is normally the time when most campers maintain kit while keeping an eye open for end-of-season bargains. Long hours are spent planning the next season’s camping trips, sites located and many booked. But winter is still a little way off and a little thought, plus the right gear, will extend your camping season into the shoulder months and open the camper up to new experiences. Tip: Change into fresh dry clothes at the end of the day – you’ll stay warmer for heat loss will be less than when wearing those damp garments. Wear fleecy tent socks! Hot showers soon warm you up.
Above: Clive and Tricia Garrett wrap up warm and use a wood stove for al fresco campsite heating and cooking during colder snaps (Above and pics 4 and 5: Karen Murphy)
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ctober is one of my favourite months – especially for camping. For a start, the weather is often stable and, while the temperatures drop, there’s a good chance that those drier counties will be enjoying clear, still days with little rain. Wrap up and ramble for wildlife will be more obvious, stocking up on hedgerow food ready for the long winter ahead. I find deer, hares and birds galore can be more easily seen around my home in Lincolnshire around this time. Then, of course, campsites are cheaper and quieter. And although many will be on the point of closing up for the season there are many all-season sites geared up for the colder weather. In fact, choose carefully and you could snatch a couple of good long weekends away that will see you through the camping drought experienced over winter. You just need the right gear and to think things through… Keeping warm This is the key concern for many and home life is often to blame. I always suggest that anyone who enjoys outdoor life should turn their room thermostats down a notch or three and condition themselves to colder conditions. It is far easier to adjust to camping out of season if you do not live in a tropical house throughout the year. If this approach does not appeal then dress accordingly. Cold is rarely a problem but combine it with damp and wind and the body has to work hard to meet the challenge. The core temperature is rapidly sapped away so layer up using materials that will insulate by trapping air and stay dry by removing body moisture. Fleece is the ideal midlayer, although I also like wool that gives off heat when wet, and use a windproof top and waterproof when things get wet outside. Warm hats, gloves, socks and good footwear are invaluable. A Buff – that seamless microfibre tube – not only keeps out draughts around the neck but can be used as a lightweight cap at night. Warm heads and feet normally mean happy campers!
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Keeping friendly One of the great things about camping is the social aspect. Many dark evenings can be spent in pubs located around a campsite but this gets expensive and also takes one away from the most joyful camping experience – the campfire! Many campsites now allow open fires, and many more will allow barbecues/fire pits that burn conditioned wood and ‘Crackle’ logs. These shed a little warmth on social proceedings – and have a major psychological effect. Just beware of the fire risk and never use a barbecue inside a tent – too many deaths have occurred recently from carbon monoxide poisoning. Tip: A tarp and windshields will protect the party and help retain some of the group’s body heat. Fleece blankets, extra layers and, dare I say, onesies will keep you snug until bedtime. Bedroom bliss The secrets to a good night’s sleep? Pretty much the same as when you’re summer camping – comfortable bed, dress accordingly and ensure you’ve eaten well. Let’s consider the bed. Insulation is key. If you’re using a two-season sleeping bag then you might want to upgrade or use an inner bag to provide additional insulation. I know some campers will even use two two-season bags, one inside the other, to provide additional insulation. Remember, insulation is created by trapped air acting as a barrier between the body and the outside. You may well find wearing too many clothes will affect the sleeping bags ability to keep you warm so dress lightly and use a Buff/hat and socks to help keep extremities warm. A sleeping bag also loses its insulation properties if damp (air well in the morning) and compressed where you lie. This can be alleviated with the use of an airbed or self-inflating mat (SIM). If you’re using an airbed then place a fleece blanket between it and the floor. This will prevent the formation of convection currents within the air chambers that transfers body heat to the cold ground. It will also help prevent condensation from forming between the airbed and groundsheet – something that is also relevant to a SIM. For additional comfort I would also recommend a fitted sheet or fleece blanket between the sleeping bag and bed. A camp bed will keep you off the cold ground but a SIM is advisable for additional comfort and to prevent heat loss to the open air that lies beneath the bed. You lose energy at night and it is important to eat well to ensure you do not wake cold at some unearthly time in the morning. You want a slow release of energy, not a sugar burst. And drink well – not too much alcohol! But remember that you want to try and avoid a toilet call until you’re ready to leave your bed. Keep torch, clothes and
Hot tips
Time to share those tips that you find help improve camping life! Each month we publish a few from our postbag so drop us a line and help spread the knowledge... All emails to editorial@outwell.com •
Take a wind-up lantern like the Vento and you’ll never lack a light. Laura Ingham Burrnham-on-Crouch
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Keep a damp towel in a plastic bag ready to sort out kids’ problems ranging from sticky hands to overheating to washing feet. A wet towel is a poor person’s Swiss Army knife when it comes to camping. Euan Jardine Galashiels
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Check the ground thoroughly before pitching – we once camped on an ants nest and that was a trip not to be forgotten! Jo Welsh Soham
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Plan the holiday menu so you know how much basic ingredients you need to take from home, like stock cubes, flour, herbs and spices. Avoids taking too much and waste. Helen Huxley Middlewich
Electric hook-ups (1) allow the use of Etna heaters (2) and Mira lights (3). Or you could enjoy the atmosphere of a camp fire (4) – if you take the time to light it! (5)
footwear to hand where they can be readily found if you do have to make that late night/early morning trip. Tip: Water vapour saps body heat and can be found in a tent in copious quantities – you give off around a pint during your sleep alone. Then there are damp clothes, kettles… This has to go somewhere so condensation could be a problem in polyester tents. Store clean clothes separately in dry bags to prevent them absorbing water vapour and remember to air your sleeping bag. Light work Pay attention to lighting and suggest a head torch each for hands-free work and when walking to the toilet, and a couple of rechargeable lanterns take care of tent lighting. Ensure all spare batteries are new and try to keep them protected from the cold that saps power. LEDs are now the choice for low power consumption and long life – no more trying to find a replacement for a blown bulb. Wind-up torches and lanterns are useful for children who otherwise waste batteries when they fall asleep with the light on. The electric hook-up has changed the face of late season camping for they allow the use of electric lights and heaters – check ours out online. Radios, computers, electronic games… all can be used and charged during bad weather. And the use of induction hobs negate outdoor cooking in the cold. Food for thought All-season camping generally differs little from camping during the summer months – it’s just down to dealing with different conditions and gaining the in-depth knowledge and gear required to cope. It will truly expand your skill base and make you a better camper who considers all aspects of camping life and has the experience and gear to handle any problem thrown at you. And it is a very satisfying feeling to have seen the countryside from a different perspective and have lived a scenario outside that normally shared with other campers. Any discomfort is soon forgotten while those superb memories live on.
q&a of the month Dear Outwell
I’ve found a tent vinyl window is damaged — how do I repair the rip? Unknown via Facebook Hi all, y apologies to the originator of the post for I can no longer find it but it is a question that does raise its head periodically. Unless you go for a costly full panel replacement you’ll have to live with a repair. Luckily, a neat patch using the right materials will not be too obvious. The temptation is to slap on some Tenacious tape or similar. However, there is a better alternative that was brought to my attention by the waterproofing specialists, Storm. The company distributes a material called Tear-Aid that is the perfect hard-wearing yet very flexible patch for all tent repairs. It is readily available in the UK – especially online – and well worth keeping in the tent first aid kit. There are two different types and it is important to get the right one for vinyl or vinyl-coated repairs. While Type A provides an instant patch for everything from groundsheets to air tubes it is Type B you need for the windows. This has a special adhesive that is resistant to the oils found in vinyl that would otherwise lift a patch. You can find out more information about this excellent repair material at tear-aid.com
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October 2013 e-cAmp magazine 7
image of the month
Season ends on a high
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ugust runs into September and the sunny days turn to rain as the nights grow longer. But does that stop an Outwell camper? No! Just check out Peter Adlington’s pic (1) of Montana City in North Wales. Some great pictures reflect those longer nights, like the lovely pic 2 that Kirsten Stevens has taken of her Nevada lit against the dark. And it’s good to see those Indian Lakes out and about. Nicola ‘Rhys’ Wood’s pic (3) is just one of a number we’ve seen recently. A particular favourite is Chris Wolfe’s pic of camping in Donegal (4) – I had a similar pitch at the foot of Brandon at the opposite end of the country in Kerry a few years back. And it was good to see James Hawkin’s camp (5). I gather that after a weekend in their Hartford XL his wife is now hooked…
Praise for Falls We hebben een super vakantie gehad in onze Niagara Falls; wat een fijne tent! Angelique van Leeuwen via Facebook
Some campers have been showing off their latest buys, like Alexander Wöber from Austria (6) but my overall favourite is Juhani Naukkarinen’s pic of a Trout Lake pitched at Silver Sands in north west Scotland. Bliss! 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.
The e-cAmp Image of the Month
Grab a top lantern for your tent A good lantern should be part of every camper’s kit cupboard – especially now the nights are closing in! And we are giving you the chance to win one of three Outwell Cumbal Classic lanterns in this month’s easy-to-enter competition.
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mart, chic and practical – the Cumbal Classic is a powerful lantern that will grace any tent. Its 20 LEDs are powered by four D batteries to provide 50 Lumens for around 40 hours – ample to light a work area or provide general lighting for the living room or bedroom. And if you do have to get up in the night there is no messing around in the dark while you find the lantern – just use the remote to turn it on! The small control unit features a handy attachment point to clip
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it somewhere easy-to-find and close to hand if you do not want to store it in the bedroom wall pocket. The weather-resistant Cumbal features a carry handle, hanging hook and compass in the hanger to help you find your way back to the tent after making a night time comfort call. For a chance to win this superb prize just visit the competition page on our website. The winners will be notified by email as soon as possible after the close date.