ecAmp Peak perfection
Food with zoom
Peg collection
Callow Top is a popular campsite with families visiting Derbyshire’s wonderful White Peak area. We find out why
How an Aztec chief and our iconic Montana 6 tent has inspired Guyrope Gourmet to create this breakfast with a kick
Our guide will help you build up a collection of tent pegs to secure your tent no matter the weather or ground conditions
Read more on page 4
Read more on page 5
Read more on pages 6-7
ecAmp Magazine
e e-cAmp magazine MAY 2013
ecAmp magazine ecAmp Magazine
INNOVATIVE FAMILY CAMPING
ecAmp Magazine ecAmp magazine Sun and fun
kick back and relax Whether it’s the top tips, holiday ideas or a chance to win some great prizes in our easy-to-enter competitions your Outwell magazine is packed with ways to help improve your camping experience
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RESS O U BLE D
C R U ISE 80
editor’s welcome
content 3 Meet the fans We talk to romantic Outwell campers, Simon Thomas and Camilla Southron
3 Open Air John Traynor takes us on an off-beat ramble through an outdoor writer’s camping life
clive garreTt
Our very own Outwell camper
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ew tents and camping equipment are stirring the blood and encouraging many of you to head out and start the season’s camping adventures. And I am the same now I’ve got my Concorde M. Next month promises to be busy with camps planned at the Camping and Caravanning Club’s Hertford site to celebrate the Club’s National Camping and Caravanning Week, and with fellow Outwell campers at Nantcol. I’m also keeping an eye on our Facebook page and, if time allows, hope to meet up with many more of you on site if your pitch falls close to my travels. Remember to send us your pics and stories to go in e-cAmp – this is a magazine for Outwell campers written by Outwell campers and we love to hear about your experiences. This month, Outwell fans Mark and Janette Songhurst visit Callow Top in Derbyshire to find out more about this popular family campsite. And we meet a very romantic Outwell couple… We also celebrate Josh ‘Guyrope Gourmet’ Sutton’s cookery book that’s due out at the end of the month, and our involvement,
with a recipe created just for us. The Monty Zoomer is a breakfast experience with a difference and a personal favourite of mine. And you have a chance to win a signed copy of the book! There is the usual monthly competition and you could join Amber-Rose as one of our winners. Her picture, below, won the recent colouring competition – where did she get that Topaz? We also check out tent pegs. Remember, even the best car requires tyres to suit the conditions if you want it to perform (and, of course, the skill to use it). And, in a similar way, a great tent requires the right pegs to firmly anchor it to the ground. Our technical feature will help you decide what you need to carry in your peg bag to suit the conditions you might expect to meet during your camping trips. Happy camping! Cheers
Clive Garrett Editor
4 Site reviews Callow Top in Derbyshire is a popular family camping venue with lots of facilities. Time to book a pitch…
5 Cooking with Outwell The Monty Zoomer celebrates the new Guyrope Gourmet cookbook
6 Technical feature No matter the conditions our guide to tent pegs will help keep you secure
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: May 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
John Traynor with an outdoor writer’s ramble through camping life. Follow John on Twitter @jtopenair
Simon Thomas (right) and Camilla Southron (left) meet Outwell guy at WM Camping
Camping romance Outwell fans, Simon Thomas and Camilla Southron, visited the WM Camping show recently and the day ended with Simon proposing to Camilla in an Outwell Vermont. You can see Outwell Guy’s video here. Meanwhile, what do our happy couple enjoy about camping?
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amilla enjoys the simplicities of outdoor living – having to make do without the distractions of computers, TV… This is something shared with Simon who has been a keen camper since childhood. They discovered Outwell a few years ago and haven’t looked back. Camilla says: “We have been impressed with the Outwell designs, quality and reputation and we have yet to be disappointed with anything we’ve bought.” Our couple own a number of tents that include a small
SmartTunnal and Birdland 3 that they use for short camps with the Scouts where the headroom is appreciated. Although they have an extension that adds room for longer camps they are now in the market for a larger family tent to take all their camping gear. Both are self-confessed fans of the camping gadget and list off a small camping shop of kit. However, for Camilla it is her Outwell Lakeview sleeping bag that steals the show and her advice to any newbie is never to
Neat tent for couples Simon and Camilla currently own an Outwell Birdland 3. This excellent tent is not only quick and easy to pitch, but it has the sort of low bulk and weight that makes it the popular choice with touring couples – especially if they have limited space to store the tent at home or in a small car. You can read more about the Birdland 3 and other tents in our DeLuxe Collection on our website here.
economise on bedding for an uncomfortable night can ruin the experience. And relaxing is Simon’s favourite camping pursuit: “You cannot beat sitting around an open fire with friends. Cooking out in the open is always good – especially if there are a few of you.” As to favourite site? No facilities, a camp fire and a few laughs are appreciated as much as a full-featured site by Simon and Camilla: “Both have ups and downs – and all provide an excuse for more gadgets!”
Birdland 3 – the ideal weekend home for two is packed with Outwell features that ensure a quality camping experience
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eople often ask if I have a favourite campsite? “No” is the short answer. Making up a list wouldn’t be difficult, but only one? Impossible! It’s surprising we ever stay anywhere as, having picked an area to explore, the ‘shortlist’ of sites just grows. Eventually a decision is usually based on feedback from other campers. They tell me what a site feels like as opposed to the number of toilets. They add the ingredients of personality and character as well as the pitches to seek out or avoid. A moment’s reflection resulted in quite a list of factors to be considered in picking a site. Style of site, location, season, memories… all play a part in making a plan. Then there’s how we plan to camp – and for how long. A quick overnight trip might mean that lugging a light tent to the far side of a carfree site with few facilities is no problem whereas it could be ruled out if the full kit is to be rolled out. Conversely, a couple of weeks by the sea with the Big Outwell, table, chairs and camp kitchen would probably also involve an electric hook-up, more facilities on-site and the need to drive to the pitch. Not to be overlooked in any selection is the mood we’re in. A little solitude mixed with peace and quiet is sometimes good for the soul. At other times, good company and a load of laughs are in order. If friends propose a site then go with the flow and embrace the experience without the responsibility of having made the selection. If all goes well – excellent. If it proves disappointing, it’s a lesson learned and no recriminations. The best – a wee bit too slick, perhaps – answer to the favourite site question is, probably, “The next one”. However, if you have a campsite that draws you back then let’s hear why it has such appeal. You can always keep the name secret if you don’t want to share with the rest of us. May 2013 e-cAmp magazine 3
Site reviews
Callow Top’s the best
This popular family site is just off the A515 north of Ashbourne, the approach takes you up the hillside away from the road and the noise. This is a great base for families, with easy access to the North Peak District and the convenience of a great town nearby. Mark and Janette Songhurst pay a (regular) visit The site Janette and I have camped here a number of times and find, despite its large size, it manages to retain the family feel. Reception is well staffed and there is a manned security gate. The friendliness of the staff shows the family values that lie at the heart of the business. It has been owned by the Palmer family since 1975. An important consideration for any Outwell owner is that the pitches are 9m x 9m so there is plenty of space for your tent on a well maintained grass surface. There are a number of camping fields and whilst there is no electric for tents, what you lose in electrics you gain in other facilities. In fact, if you are here for the weekend there is no need to leave the site as there is a swimming pool, sports bar, pub and microbrewery on site. This makes it a popular place for families who do not want to explore during the day and booking is advisable. It also means the site is a vibrant place to stay and can be quite noisy – although this is strictly monitored at night by security staff. The size of site is reflected in its large shop that sells a vast range of food, games, camping accessories and drinks – just the job if you do not want to take a trip into town. Callow Top Holiday Park Buxton Road Sandybrook Ashbourne DE6 2AQ Web: callowtop.co.uk Tel: 01335 344020 Facilities • Camping over three fields • Chemical disposal point • Laundry and washing-up facilities
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The area Situated in the Peak District National Park there is plenty to do if you would like to leave the site: • Walk to Ashbourne along the Tissington Trail and through an old railway tunnel. • Head underground and explore Treak Cliff, Blue John and Poole’s Caverns. • Alton Towers is not too far away. • Take in the market town of Buxton for a stroll and a little shopping. • Burn off the kids’ energy at Go Ape, Buxton. • Visit the Heights of Abraham.
• Try out water sports at Carsington Water, a short 15-minute drive away. • If you want to try something special then contact Always Airsports for an activity with a difference. Eating out There are a number of varied restaurants, cafés and take-aways in Ashbourne and, from personal experience, some of the pub food is fantastic. But we would also recommend the onsite facilities in the pub or the sports bar.
Top and above: Plenty of picnic benches outside the site’s café and bar • • • • • • • • • • •
Freezers for Ice Packs Children’s Playground Indoor Games Room Pool Tables Shop Gas sales Dog Walking area Outdoor Swimming Pool (Season dependent) Café/Bar Pub Separate disabled facilities
Tourism Information Web: visitpeakdistrict.com Tel: 01335 343666 Eat local Go through the Co-op car park to find a small butchers shop that sells superlative pork pies and freshly made oat cakes. Did you know? The 1966 West German Football team trained in Ashbourne’s fantastic park.
cooking with outwell
Shoppin g list Monty Z oomer
Ingredie nts – S erves fo ✓ Two ur: cloves o f garlic ✓ Olive o (finely c il hopped) ✓ 200g c horizo, s k in remove chunks d, chopp ed into ✓ Two la 1 cm rge beef tomatoe none to s (o r tinned hand) tomatoe ✓ Half a s if red chil li , seeds re use a w moved, f hole ch inely ch illi if yo ✓ 1/2 ts opped – u want p groun extra zo d cumin ✓ One tin om! red kidn ey beans ✓ Four , drained eggs ✓ Four flour to rtillas ✓ Handf ul of fla t leaf p ✓ Sea sa arsley, c lt and f hopped resh gro und blac k pepper to taste
Far left: Monty Zoomer – ready to roll! Left: Breakfast with a kick.
MONTY ZOOMER The eagerly-awaited Guyrope Gourmet cookbook is out at the end of the month and Josh Sutton brings us this little taster…
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his pepped-up burrito with a good chilli kick is guaranteed to give your taste buds a quick ‘zoom’ in the morning. It’s my Mexicanstyle take on the good old bangers and beans breakfast, and works well as a brunch, too. Given the tremendous support the folks at Outwell have given the Guyrope Gourmet, it seems fitting to offer thanks in the form of a recipe. So the name I’ve chosen pays homage not only to the warring Aztec emperor but also to the mighty Outwell Montana 6 tent, or the ‘Monty as it is affectionately known. Warm the olive oil in the non-stick frying pan and add the chopped garlic and chorizo. Fry
gently for a couple of minutes, until the paprika in the chorizo turns the oil a lovely deep red colour. While this cooks, roughly chop the tomatoes then add to the pan together with the chopped chilli and ground cumin. Stir, place the lid on the pan and set heat to low. Season the drained kidney beans with salt and pepper, and mash roughly with a fork. Add to the pan and bring to a gentle simmer for 1520 minutes, keeping the lid on. The tomatoes will start to break down as they cook and the sauce will thicken. If it gets too dry, add a little water – you don’t want it too runny or it will leak from the tortillas. Once the sauce is cooked, fry the eggs to your liking in a separate pan – I like mine runny. Spread a good tablespoon of the sauce over a tortilla and place the fried egg on top. Scatter with flat leaf parsley and roll the whole thing up, tucking the edges in as you roll – that’s what makes it a burrito and stops it all falling out when you take that first big bite!
Left: Josh celebrates the Outwell Monty and our support given to Guyrope Gourmet
Cookbook news Here’s a date for the diary – 20th May! That’s when those fine fellows at Punk Publishing release the new Guyrope Gourmet cookbook. You can book your advance copy here. However, to celebrate our association with the project we’re also giving five lucky Outwell fans their own signed copy. All you need to do is have your own recipe published in e-cAmp magazine – follow the link for details… May 2013 e-cAmp magazine 5
Technical features
PEGS galore Y
ou may have the best car in the world but it will only be as good as its tyres. The same goes for a tent. It needs to be pitched correctly using the right pegs for the job. It pays to build up a collection of pegs to meet all conditions – and here are some pointers as to what you might need and their value to the well-prepared camper. Left: A wet and windy day may call on all your peg selection to keep the tent secure Cons: Break or deform if hit incorrectly or if strikes a stone.
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he pegs supplied with most tents are normally ample if you are pitching in calm conditions on ideal ground but should not be relied upon to meet every ground or weather condition that a camper may meet. However, they do act as a good foundation on which to build a peg collection. This does not mean you need a trailer load of hardware to peg down every conceivable part of the tent. But, over time, careful consideration as to materials, design/use and key pegging points will help you create a well-balanced selection to meet needs. This can be further tailored each trip by asking the site owners at time of booking what they would advise to use for their ground. Materials Exotic materials, like carbon fibre, may be used for technical models to keep weight and bulk down but there are three key materials used to make pegs for family tents – wood, metal and plastics. • Wood Benefits: Make your own; durable if quality wood is used; great if used for soft ground. Cons: Heavy; bulky; can split or deform over time or if you hit a hard object like a rock. • Metal (steel/aluminium) Benefits: Hard wearing; good in stony ground; strength of steel. Cons: Heavy; steel will rust; cost; aluminium is light but deforms easily. • Plastics Benefits: Cheap; light; good for hard to soft ground; easy to clean and maintain.
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Design In its simplest form a tent peg is just a skewer or nail. But this has obvious limitations such as little holding power and shedding of the guy line as the peg twists in the ground in windy conditions. As a result, this style is best left to pegging out groundsheets, ensuring the head of the peg is pushed down to the ground where it will not trip up the unwary camper. For this reason some have a mushroomshaped head or a head bent to lie parallel with the ground. However, a hardened metal version of the skewer, or nail, will come into its own if camping on rocky soil that will bend, break or just plain resist any other design or material. These are known as rock pegs. Stakes make up the vast majority of your peg collection and will meet most conditions if you choose a variety of materials and profiles. Thick, square section wood or, more common, plastic pegs are great for medium to soft ground. Use longer and thicker pegs if camping on very soft (mud or loam) or sandy ground. While the standard stake can be used for every pegging point it is worth considering taking a few longer pegs for the main guylines that hold the tent up and the main pegging points at each corner when camping on soft ground. Metal stakes tend to have a V- or U-shaped profile for grip and to stop them rotating in the wind, causing them to shed guylines. Their resilience will be appreciated in the sort of hard and stony ground conditions that will break or deform a wood or plastic stake. Again, eight or so metal stakes of varying length are a useful addition to meet Right: A good mallet and peg extractor are a wise investment – find them online in our tent accessories, along with pegs and more
most emergencies – more if you know you’re going to be camping on hard ground. The final peg to consider is the Delta peg. Shaped like a 7, the short horizontal top piece lies flush with the ground and the guyline attaches to its end. Any forces applied drive the peg deeper into the ground. This makes them ideal for stormy conditions. There are three varieties: nylon for general ground; stainless steel for long life and all conditions up to hard ground; and a stainless version or use with rock pegs. A good combination is four stainless for the main guys, nylon for other guys, and four rock versions for when needed. The premium price for stainless reflect they last for years. Never take just enough of just one peg style for every pegging point, but mix and match to suit various conditions. Concentrate on key structural points when assessing the number of more specialist pegs required and, while your peg bag may grow a little larger and heavier, it will contain everything you need to meet most situations without going overboard or investing too heavily. Finally, buy a good mallet and peg extractor. They make life a lot easier and improve safety. A soft shoe will easily pierce if the foot slips when pushing in a peg and campers have been blinded by pegs flying out of the ground when attempting to remove them by pulling on the tent rubber… Let common sense prevail, use the right tools correctly and build up your camping skills to get the most enjoyment out of camping life.
Hot tips
In the peg bag
Skewer – good for lightweight use like pegging out a tent’s groundsheet and footprint
Wood stake – sit back in your chair, pour out your favourite tipple and whittle a few of these useful additions to the peg bag
Metal stake – hard wearing anchors good for medium to firm conditions
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... This month’s tips are supplied by Colin Swindle from Carlisle 1. Line your barbecue with silver foil for easy cleaning. 2. Struggle with Ring and Pin (pictured below right)? Use a peg extractor in the ring and push down with your foot while inserting the pin into the pole – works a treat! 3. Keep your electric hook-up (EH-U) off the ground. Sharpen one end of a broom handle and at the other screw in a cup hook. Change the EH-U clips to ones that fit the handle diameter (conduit clips work). Bash handle into ground, clip on EH-U with hanger over hook. (Tip 2a – not suitable for a sewn-in groundsheet!) 4. Always take a selection of pegs – including rock pegs. 5. As an extra deterrent to go with a trailer’s hitch lock make a budget plastic-coated wire rope with eyelets and shackles – all available from a DIY shop. Credit: Jacqueline Fleming
q&a of the month Dear Outwell Can I run 1,200W on an EH-U (Electric Hook-Up)? Liz Kolvic via Facebook Plastic stake – cheap and cheerful, perfect for soft to medium ground with few stones
Delta peg in stainless steel – security in a storm. Choice of materials to suit various ground conditions and wallet
Tarzan rock peg – a tough peg for when you find yourself in a rocky patch
Hi Liz It depends on the rating of the campsite’s electric hook-up power supply and the combined power requirements of whatever you use should not exceed this. Many UK sites are rated at least 10 amps (2,300 watts) so you will have ample power to use a 1,200W device. But, run two at once and you’ll trip the pitch supply. If you’re on a 16A pitch then this goes up to 3,680W. It is worth noting that microwaves are rated at their running rate but draw almost twice the figure when starting up. If you are tempted to use one and have too many appliances running when you switch it on then you might trip the electric supply. For instance, the use of a camping kettle (750W) and camping fan heater (750W) is OK (total 1,500W) but plug in a 750W microwave (1,500W start-up, total 3KW)) and you’ll trip a 10A pitch. Figures here are average only so check the appliance before use. May 2013 e-cAmp magazine 7
image of the month
Superhero Keen campers D
espite the weather it has been great to see so many Outwell fans keen to try out their new tents – and take the time to post the pics on our Facebook page for us all to enjoy. We’ve had spring pics from Ypres (Helen Standen), a new Bear Lake in Canada (Peter Gale, pic 3) and even autumn camping in Australia (Jane Cooke). It’s great to see people having fun. We love Karen Murphy’s new ‘sky diving’ technique used to pack away her Fusion 300 (pic 1) and Simon Birchell capturing the moment when his family try and place the bedrooms in his new Wolf Lake 7 (pic 4). And, of course, you cannot beat a campfire (Lisa Perks, pic 5). Our attention was caught by Ruth Templeton’s account of camping in a barn during some particularly bad weather (pic 2). She writes: “We weren’t bargaining on gales whilst setting up at Treveague Farm in Cornwall but the site owners kindly agreed Contented camper Yosemite Falls – excellent replacement for our old Norfolk Lake! Currently pitched at Hertford campsite. Arlene Thomson via Facebook
to let us pitch in their barn usually used for summer dances. We had a fab time…” But our Picture of the Month goes to Ged Hartshorn whose superb cake illustrates the fine artistic and culinary skills that has been demonstrated by so many of you on Facebook. In fact, I feel a cake competition coming on – with me as chief taster! 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 Our new Mira lights have a smart retro-look that will grace any tent – and two lucky campers can walk away with one each in our easy-to-enter competition!
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s the use of electric hook-ups becomes increasingly widespread amongst tent campers then so does the demand for electrical products. Mains electric lighting is a regular choice for use in tents and the Mira joins our popular 230V lights for 2013. The Mira comes in three colours – and you can choose your prize from Mocca, Green and Blue – stocks permitting. They all feature an on/off switch, cable and a threaded 40W bulb (maximum rating). 8 e-cAmp magazine May 2013
For a chance to win this great prize just visit the product page on our website to find out the Mira’s height and diameter, then email your answer to us – competition@outwell.com Please place ‘Mira competition’ in the email subject line and include your name, address and contact number, plus the colour that you would like. The winners will be notified by email as soon as possible after the close date on 31 May 2013.
The e-cAmp Image of the Month