Camping Travel Store Blog

Just back from a great weekend having taken our cub pack out camping, yes camping under canvas in Mid December! Due to the nature of cub camps, I didn't take one of the usual suspects, Karsten, ESVO or Cabanon as the fields usually end up as a bog. So out came my trusted Hurricane 300, specially bought for these types of camps. Quick to erect, sturdy in high winds, rear storage area and perfect for me & my son (not a cub yet, but wanted to come along) for the weekend. So practising our ' Staying Warm ' ideas, we made sure that the ground we were pitching on was suitably flat, compact and free from twigs and anything sharp. Once the tent was pitched, we put a blanket down on the floor to lay our 10cm memory foam topped self inflating mats on. We used 4 season Snugpak sleeping bags with upgraded liners. Sleeping bag ratings are based on the camper wearing a base layer / PJ's in bed - which is always worth considering when choosing a new bag. During the ev

Our newly designed website is now live... There are more pages still to add, but the majority of it is complete. Please have a look... www.campingtravelstore.co.uk

Our top tips for staying warm whilst camping. If you have any other great tips - let us know in the comments below.

So as you can see we have given the blog a bit of a make over, this is to bring it in line with our new website which is nearly ready to go live.  Along with the Karsten, ESVO & Cabanon Tents, we will also be adding other products that have been tried and tested by us that we think you'll like. As you would expect they will be a must for any camper as well as being of fantastic quality! How do you like you like our new logo?  If you want to keep up to date with our blog posts, please subscribe by email.... that way when we update the site you'll be updated too!

This was the fateful weekend that we decided to go camping with a reasonable tent, only to realise that it failed in so many ways.... not particularly water or wind resistant....draughty.... uncomfortable and took ages to erect!  It was on this weekend having borrowed my fathers estate car as now we had Lydia and had underestimated the extra luggage, prams etc... that we were introduced to the a Karsten 300 Tent in Dark Beige pitched at the back of Camping and Caravanning shop in West Runton.

Having just finished the display and been away from the children for two week, I naturally said 'What would you like to do this weekend?' their joint response - GO CAMPING! As it happens, it turned out really useful as I needed to see the Karsten rental tents that Town Farm Camp Site have, so it was a great excuse to take the new ESVO Bedouin 340 for a test run... there will be a review on that tent coming soon. We arrived just after lunch to glorious sunshine and managed to pitch the tent solely with everything sorted, camp kitchens and beds etc... in under an hour from arrival. The children spent the afternoon playing on the campsite and settled down for home made chill supplemented by a campsite pizza cooked on-site by the travelling pizzeria. It was awesome.... After a fantastic sunset we settled down and slept really well.  Unfortunately the tent had to come down wet, but as it was so easy to  pitch  I don't mind re-pitching when we arrive home.

Our June display saw the showcasing of the ESVO Bedouin range....certainly the first time I've ever seen them in the UK. Together with the Cabanon and Karsten's our show was a 'Sea of Canvas'. With over 20+ models on display as well as Karsten Commercial Range and the mainstream tents offered by Cross Camping it was a display not to be missed. Quite possibly the best in the UK! All Enquiries 01763 273662

Although Valentines Day has passed, you still have the rest of the year to fall in love with a Karsten! Our first display is at the end of February with larger tent displays in April & June. Please see our website for further details or follow the link: HERE If you are a social butterfly, then please Like our page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Facebook Link                   Twitter Link

Join the event on Facebook Karsten's on display: Model, 200, 220, 240, 260, 280, 300 & 220 Link, 325 with Sleeping Ext, 350 Various awning configurations Plus the 220 and 240 Carp Tent Cabanon's on display Model, Pratic, Barbados, Bora Bora, Awaya 370, Biscaya 440 Snugpak's on display: Model, Stratosphere, Ionosphere, Scorpion2, Scorpion3, The Bunker Plus Cross Camping have nearly 30 models of Inflatable and Poled Tents from the mainstream manufacturers including Vango, Outwell and Sunncamp plus more. Refreshments available from the Garden Centre

Over the past few years our usual family Easter break has seen us camped at Clippesby Hall. A beautiful site on the edge of the Norfolk Broads with everything you could wish for from a top 'A' list site. However this year, within walking distance of Clippesby we camped at Willowcroft Caravan Park . Booked by telephone and deposit sent by post, we couldn't wait for our 4 day break. It didn't disappoint! Situated down a no-through road and only a two minute walk from the River Thurne on the Norfolk Broads, this twenty placement campsite all with electric hookups is simple, quiet and secluded. The friendly owners Jim and Kandy are also caravanners, so know what they expect from a site, and if there is ever a problem, which I imagine is rarely, they are only over the road to ask.  The toilets and showers are well kept and clean....small donation for the showers, a utility room with sink, fridge/freezer. Although there are no particular site rules, it is expec

Our Karsten and Canvas Tent Camping Guest Blog from Geoff on his Karsten 300 - It's really informative... Please click on the picture link to go to his review. Text Link:  http://www.ourcanvastents.me.uk/karsten-300.html

Guest Blog from Richard and Serena (Karsten Owners) Hi James & Suzie This time last year you were shovelling snow off your front lawn to show us the Karsten tents. Since then we've spent a fantastic year trying out our purchases as often as we could and just thought we'd email to let you know how successful it's been.   We started off with a long weekend in Lyme Regis last April (photo with rainbow) when the days were sunny but the nights were perishing .The Karsten was warm and roomy even when filled with fellow camper friends who didn't want to go back to their own freezing tents... June we took it to the wilds of the West Coast of Ireland for a fortnight (photo by water) where the famous Irish climate chucked just about everything possible at it. We were camped literally feet from the Atlantic Ocean but the Karsten barely noticed it was in the eye of the storm much of the time. We slept like babies, the tent barely moved and we emerged sever

September has started well for the Karsten Tents - Not only are we offering Karsten's Autumn 10% discount, but if you order a pod in September, you'll also receive a free compressor. However, one member of staff seems to be taken to hiding - couldn't resist a photo! If you wish to view our Karsten Inflatable Tents, our next show is on Friday 19th to Sunday 20th September, please see website www.campingtravelstore.co.uk or call 01763 273662 for further details

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For those of you who follow on Facebook  you will have probably learnt over the past week that I have turned the wrong side of 39. Saw it happening, but was powerless to stop odometer clocking 40! As a present my family gave me a digital SLR camera that I had been hankering after for a while to which I was absolutely delighted. I have just signed up to the 365 Project - "Document everyday of your life in a year with a photo". This link takes you through to my recent photos (Hopefully they'll improve):  http://365project.org/campingking/365   The reason I'm posting about it, is that it makes you take a photo each day! It gets you out the house or on your lunch break, and if you are into photography, there are some seriously spectacular photos to view, all searchable via tags. Enjoy!

Kitts Cottage Campsite - East Sussex Guest Blog by Club Member - Jo Dodds A group of 9 cycling ladies spent the weekend here last weekend (07.10.2012). I was in my Karsten 300 pod with two other friends and there were various other smaller tents in our group.  James Butcher made us so welcome and nothing was too much trouble. There was one other group there last weekend, but there is so much space there that we couldn't actually see or hear them! The great bonus of this campsite was that you can light campfires, so we would come back from the pub and have a chat around the fire with toasted marshmallows and hot chocolate. This is what camping should be like! James sold us very dry seasoned wood and came to check that we weren't running out, so we went to bed nice and warm. The loos and showers were clean and fairly basic with solar heated water. We were a little concerned that there wouldn't be enough water at this time in October, but we all had

FULL VIDEO Camping Travel Store has just displayed the Karsten Inflatable Tent's along side the Vango Airbeam's. It was a very successful weekend for both tents and the dispaly will be repeated in 2013.

Karsten's direct to tent rain awning connector. This is a great little joiner add to your collection of Karsten Awnings. It allows you to connect your current rain awning direct to the Karsten Pod, without the need of erecting the Comfort or Extension Awning. We have used it today at a display on a Karsten 325 and its' fantastic. Not only does it protect the doorway from rain, but also provides enough shade for two people to sit under. This is now available to order from the Camping Travel Store Please call 01763 273662 or email info@campingtravelstore.co.uk for further details.

We have just returned from a very successful weekend at the Great Northern Fishing Show , held annually at Cudmore Fisheries in connection with the Finals of the Fish 'O' Mania Competition. Setting up in the rain, on a boggy slope whilst trying to keep everything clean was a real challenge. Luckily we managed to get some bark.  Gradually the clouds broke and Saturday brought with it intermittent weather but large crowds. Our first sale was completed with an hour of the doors opening. Sun and blue skies were the order for Sunday and it didn't disappoint. Although the crowds were less than Saturday, we had lots of serious interest, especially with the 350 Karsten for general Camping. Cudmore Fisheries is a great fishing location, catering for all anglers on various lakes.  Check out our Video Channel on YouTube

Following the sign from the main street we found this delightful pub, The Masons Arms full of original features dating back to the 16 th Century. The landlady made us very welcome and as they have been awarded the ‘Five Paw’ award, our Yorkshire terrier was also allowed in. The beer tasted great, and the menu was full of good hearty choices. We sat in the smaller bar area but noticed that reservations had been made on several of the tables. A Good Sign! Being Sunday, Roasts were the order of the day for Suzie and the children; Suzie enjoying Pork Hock whilst the children stayed with traditional roast beef. I could not resist the steak and ale pie – a firm favourite. The meals were served in good time, piping hot and were absolutely delicious. Compared with the localised chain restaurants, this pub for the atmosphere, service and quality of food excelled in value. 2 x Adult Meals 2 x Children Meals 2 x Pints and 2 x J2O = £35.00 The Masons Arms is a great ‘lo