A good spot to pitch
You Arrive at a new camping site, where is best place to pitch? A few things to consider:
Sun, shade and shelter.
Best not to camp directly under trees and some trees drop resin or leaves that can stain a canvas tent. Also, as they say, not great in a thunderstorm. But it is nice if possible, to camp near trees, close enough so you can appreciate the shade they give off protection from a passing shower.
View?
What can you see from inside your tent with the door open? Turn it until it’s perfect.
Sunrise sunset ?
Make an educated guess where on the horizon the sun will rise and if you’d like that first bit of sun to shine right into your tent . Or perhaps turn to the west to best enjoy spectacular sunsets as you cook your evening meal.
Be aware of other campers.
What is the purpose of your holiday? Are you there for a chilled relaxed and quiet time? Or are you catching up with old friends and likely to be sitting up playing music and singing into the night? Either way keep the greatest distance you can from other groups or large families no point in complaining about noisy groups if it’s you that camped near them.
Of course if you think you’ve pitched in the wrong place move your camp it’ll probably take you about an hour it can be worth it and a fun activity in itself re setting up the indoor and outdoor decor, perhaps making an improvement on the original setup .
Low ground or high ground?
I’ve been to campsites where the perfect spot still seems to be available even when busy. I’ve pitched in a hollow before surrounded on three sides by hedges, and the open side with a view across to the distance sea. Absolutely perfect. Why had nobody grabbed it? Answer? After a night of heavy rain I found my small hollow to actually be an inactive dried up pond. Water pouring in from every direction.
These days I like to head for higher ground. It may be a bit more exposed and windy, but I take the appropriate kit to deal with that, and there are generally better views. If the campsite has a gentle slope, I like to be right at the top
Shelter from wind.
If your site is exposed and the wind is up it is amazing how much difference pitching in the right place can make. Try and tuck yourself behind a low hedge to shelter from the prevailing wind. Or behind a building? Or even a camper-van. The smoke from your fire will be less erratic and you will get a better night’s sleep without the tent flapping around so much.
More to come. Happy camping.