After 13 years together, Glen finally got his wish… a camping trip!
He has wanted to take me camping for years, but I’ve always preferred the comforts of a hotel. These days I am a bit more “outdoorsy” so I was swayed into sleeping under the stars for the first time!
We planned a relaxing break for our fifth wedding anniversary and found Haw Wood Farm
in Suffolk. The campsite was very peaceful and well maintained, with a luxury toilet and shower block. I was seriously impressed by the facilities! We had a large plot of land with an electric hook up, which was surrounded by meadows.
When Trespass contacted me for a product review, a tent for our camping trip seemed the obvious choice. Trespass have a good reputation for quality outdoor clothing and accessories. I’ve worn their ski jackets in the past and always found them to be practical and functional at an affordable price.
I opted for the Tarmachan tent from the selection on their website, as it was described as the perfect size for two people. The tent was lightweight and packed neatly into a carry bag, with pegs and guylines included. We travelled by car so weight wasn’t really an issue, but this particular tent would be ideal if you were backpacking and trying to keep weight to a minimum.
It was very easy to assemble and took less than 30 minutes to put up (although Glen did most of the work while I just watched)!
It is spacious enough to accommodate an inflatable double-mattress and two sleeping bags, with room around the sides for our kit. Inside there are pockets for storage and a loop to hang a light. The porch gives extra space, keeping our bags and shoes safe and dry.
The only problem with this tent is that the bright orange colour did seem to attract insects- the outer layer was swarming with tiny bugs. In hindsight, I might have gone for a more neutral coloured tent as to avoid the insects! On such a warm weekend, I expected to overheat in the tent but it was actually very cool and comfortable, without any condensation. We could unzip the inner door to provide ventilation, with the mesh door preventing the insects from coming in.
We woke to heavy rain on the last morning of our trip, but the tent stood up well to the weather keeping us completely dry. The Tarmachan retails at £34.99 which I think is a really reasonable price for an entry-level tent. I can’t say how this tent would hold up in extreme conditions, but it was perfect for our weekend on a campsite. Trespass have a guide to picking your tent on their site, which has good advice for an inexperienced camper like myself!
We were lucky to have gorgeous weather for most of the weekend, so took advantage of it to explore Suffolk. On Friday, we headed out for a short cycle which turned into a 47 mile ride! The country lanes took us through much of the nature reserve and small villages. The roads were fairly flat with a few inclines along the way and it was lovely riding under the shade of the trees. We stopped in the coastal town of Southwold to explore the promenade and pier. I love the pastel coloured beach huts.
We also visited the open-air lido in Beccles, which was as crowded as we had expected on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I managed to swim 500m before calling it a day and getting out to sunbathe on the poolside.
The Big Dog Ferry runs from just outside the lido, so we decided to take the boat along the River Waveney to Geldeston Locks. The trip was seriously relaxing… listening to the sound of the water lapping against the boat and watching dragonflies skim across the river. It took 40 minutes to reach The Locks Inn where we stopped for lunch and a wander around the riverside.
I’m a camping convert after this weekend and already planning our next trip in our tent! Without any Wifi, it was refreshing to disconnect from social media and completely relax for a few days.
Trespass sent me the tent for review, but all opinions are my own.
Do you enjoy camping? Which campsites have you visited?
