‘Motocamping’ for the 1st time

[Eastmidsbiker]

An opportunity arose for 2 days of trail riding in the Derbyshire and the Peaks, leaving gear at the Miners Standard in Winster.

I’m currently enjoying the birdsong whilst waiting for the cafe to open . Good value at £9 a night, and so far it’s been an enjoyable experience. (I can count on one finger how many times I’ve camped as an adult).

 

[Slime Bomb]

Well done! You'll get the bug now. Have you figured out what you needn't have taken yet?

 

[Posh Pete]

Thanks. I was considering camping there en route to Hereford in September. The pics on the website showed it in a less favourable light - chokka with campers etc. September should be fine.

 

[steve hughes]

Ive just spent a weekend under tent, one roll bag for tent everything else shoved in my topbox. Came home with unworn clothes and un eaten food. I allways overestimate what I need

 

[boatman]

Motocamping ,,,,, “ It’s the source man “
But seriously ,,, it does help to make the cliche about motorcycles and freedom become a bit more real !
Wandering around the same roads in a radius that you can do from home , gets a bit “ stale “ ( well it does for me anyway ) - so a decent set of camping kit allows one to simply wander around ( especially up here in Scotland)

 

[G&T]

I’m a wild camping freak, so I must try this next to a pub lark. I do like the idea of a beer, a good meal and stroll to my tent though.....I really do.

 

[Wapping]

Motocamping ,,,,, “ It’s the source man “

A very good tent, is a great place to start. Not cheap but will repay itself in spades.

 

[Barnoe]

I’m a wild camping freak, so I must try this next to a pub lark. I do like the idea of a beer, a good meal and stroll to my tent though.....I really do.

Then the getting up for a piss every 20 mins

Top Tip: Drink shorts not pints

 

[Posh Pete]

That tent is impressively organised Sy!

 

[Gee-]

Then the getting up for a piss every 20 mins

Top Tip: Drink shorts not pints

Or carry a spare wide neck drinks container, for that night call, just don't mix them up with the other bottle of water.

With Hotels, B&B, even Air B&B, Pods being so expensive these days in the Highlands, all usually fully booked up from previous year, camping does make sense.
Most sites have low charges for overnight ranging from £10-£30 per night, depending on site, and whether you require electric hook up.
Youth hostels are another cheaper option, if you don't mind sharing a multiple occupancy with smelly back packing youths.

 

[Barnoe]

Or carry a spare wide neck drinks container, for that night call, just don't mix them up with the other bottle of water.

With Hotels, B&B, even Air B&B, Pods being so expensive these days in the Highlands, all usually fully booked up from previous year, camping does make sense.
Most sites have low charges for overnight ranging from £10-£30 per night, depending on site, and whether you require electric hook up.
Youth hostels are another cheaper option, if you don't mind sharing a multiple occupancy with smelly back packing youths.

Camping is great, i always go non-electric as my powerbank is enough and it charges during the ride.

 

[Gee-]

Same, never use electric charge power points. Tent up into sleeping bag, dead to the world for 7 hours.
Even those campsites with only a honesty drop box for your cash, I prefer to use those, as most owners are hard done by crofters scratching a living in the Summer season.
Never take any tinned food with me, either it's cafe sannies or buy from local markets stalls, or crofters usual hen eggs for breakie, as I tour their bonnie countryside.

 

[Eastmidsbiker]

Well done! You'll get the bug now. Have you figured out what you needn't have taken yet?

Thank you, how's the recovery ?

Staying near a pub with showers meant I didn't really need to take much as they have a cafe open in the morning and the pub in the afternoon. The only thing I forgot was the correct lead to charge my phone from my powerbank, but it charges on the bike so not the end of the world.

Thanks. I was considering camping there en route to Hereford in September. The pics on the website showed it in a less favourable light - chokka with campers etc. September should be fine.

It was dead there midweek, 5 of us had the field to ourselves. Showers are a little basic and are £1 for 2 minutes, of which 30 seconds are spent waiting for it to warm up. I thought the food was just OK given the cost. The guys into beer seemed happy there.

Motocamping ,,,,, “ It’s the source man “
But seriously ,,, it does help to make the cliche about motorcycles and freedom become a bit more real !
Wandering around the same roads in a radius that you can do from home , gets a bit “ stale “ ( well it does for me anyway ) - so a decent set of camping kit allows one to simply wander around ( especially up here in Scotland) View attachment 516820View attachment 516821View attachment 516822View attachment 516823View attachment 516824View attachment 516824

That looks really well organised, you realise the value of a large porch when you get back from a ride. I do like the idea of having equipment with me as you say to just 'wander around', although think I need to get a slightly smaller packed size tent and sleeping bag.

I’m a wild camping freak, so I must try this next to a pub lark. I do like the idea of a beer, a good meal and stroll to my tent though.....I really do.

As an introduction to it, it was perfect as they had a cafe for breakfast and the pub later serving food. Having said that I can see the attraction of being self sufficient. I have a jetboil, so just a few boil in the bag meals away from it . I do like a shower in the morning though.

A very good tent, is a great place to start. Not cheap but will repay itself in spades.

Yes, I went for a 'cheaper' option and do want a slightly smaller tent. I'd like to be able to trail ride with the gear on, so that dictates it needs to pack down to a slightly smaller size, and can see there are a number of quality options. I also need to get the suspension sprung properly as I tried trail riding this morning with everything on and to describe the front as vague would be an understatement.

Then the getting up for a piss every 20 mins

Top Tip: Drink shorts not pints

This is a good tip, 3 pints of lager meant I did get up in the night, but a short walk to the hedge.

Or carry a spare wide neck drinks container, for that night call, just don't mix them up with the other bottle of water.

With Hotels, B&B, even Air B&B, Pods being so expensive these days in the Highlands, all usually fully booked up from previous year, camping does make sense.
Most sites have low charges for overnight ranging from £10-£30 per night, depending on site, and whether you require electric hook up.
Youth hostels are another cheaper option, if you don't mind sharing a multiple occupancy with smelly back packing youths.

I've done four NC500 loops and I priced up the hotels to do it again this year and was quite surprised about both cost and availability. I realise its a tourist loop but even off that corridor its not a cheap trip.

Camping is great, i always go non-electric as my powerbank is enough and it charges during the ride.

Yes, I took a powerbank with me, they are a godsend, I also charge on the go for phone and tablet so that takes some of then pressure of.

A good experience, glad I went along and now I just need to decide if I want to do some more. . Thanks for all the comments.

 

[boatman]

A very good tent, is a great place to start. Not cheap but will repay itself in spades.

^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^ %

 

[Northern jock]

That looks really well organised, you realise the value of a large porch when you get back from a ride. I do like the idea of having equipment with me as you say to just 'wander around', although think I need to get a slightly smaller packed size tent and sleeping


Yes, I went for a 'cheaper' option and do want a slightly smaller tent. I'd like to be able to trail ride with the gear on, so that dictates it needs to pack down to a slightly smaller size, and can see there are a number of quality options. I also need to get the suspension sprung properly as I tried trail riding this morning with everything on and to describe the front as vague would be an understatement.



This is a good tip, 3 pints of lager meant I did get up in the night, but a short walk to the hedge.



I've done four NC500 loops and I priced up the hotels to do it again this year and was quite surprised about both cost and availability. I realise its a tourist loop but even off that corridor its not a cheap trip.



Yes, I took a powerbank with me, they are a godsend, I also charge on the go for phone and tablet so that takes some of then pressure of.

A good experience, glad I went along and now I just need to decide if I want to do some more. . Thanks for all the comments.

If you’re looking for light weight gear and good quality this is a good place to start

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With tents, if you want good quality, very light and liveable it will cost but as pointed out above, it’s worth the money. I won’t give any recommendations unless you ask for them as we all have our own ideas of what’s good.

 

[EVskiy]

When strapping a tent to a bike, be sure to keep poles separated completely from your tent. Do ask me why

I’ll give you the answer. The fecking things wore a few holes through.

 

[G&T]

^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^ %

Yeah, but we all...and I mean all started with a s*it tent. It’s how one learns. I have literally been on the side of a mountain keeping the thing from collapsing to learn that!

 

[boatman]

Yeah, but we all...and I mean all started with a s*it tent. It’s how one learns. I have literally been on the side of a mountain keeping the thing from collapsing to learn that!

True ,,,,, it is a learning curve

 

[Udders]

I was always very nervous about leaving one of my Hillebergs on a campsite and going out for the day.
Way too many thieving scumbags around nowadays unfortunately.

 

[Posh Pete]

I was always very nervous about leaving one of my Hillebergs on a campsite and going out for the day.
Way too many thieving scumbags around nowadays unfortunately.

There's a balance to be struck, I think. Which way you go in that balance will depend on a whole range of factors: cash available; how many times you're going to use it; what trips you're going to use it on etc. I used to use a Vango tunnel type (a much cheaper copy of Sy's Hilleberg above) but switched to the Green cone. On the negative side is its weight and packed size but on the positives are the space and the fact that I can stand up (just) to put me keks on!

Yer pays yer money and yer takes yer choice!

Incidentally ... Symon, how about a short description of the gear you take and how you organise / pack it. Having seen it all "in the field" I reckon newbies especially would find that helpful?