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First off, I just want to say thank you for all the invaluable tips I have read while planning our first camping trip.  We (me, OH and 3 boys) have just  returned from a weeks camping in Wales and it was brilliant, the kids loved it, so thank you.

I would also like to thank the lovely man who told us about the camping shop in town that was having a sale after we had admired his tent.  After erecting our borrowed tent, we went down to the shop and had a look, mainly because we had forgotten our eldest sons folding chair and thought we'd get another cheap(ish).  Any way we didn't get the chair but we did get an Alaska 8 dirt cheap from the bargain bin. After being assured that we could return it if it was no good, we duly took it back to the campsite and (after checking with the owners) set it up (no instructions) which took about an hour and a half.  We loved it immediately and after checking it thoroughly, took down the borrowed tent and spent the rest of the holiday in our Green Goddess as she is now known.  We survived the wind and the rain in her and our only problem now is finding somewhere big enough to dry her out as we had to decamp while it was raining.

We hadn't planned to buy a tent so soon, as we weren't sure the kids would like but two days in we knew they did and we couldn't resist a bargain.  Thanks to this website and forum and the advice on here I knew what to look for and what to avoid so many many thanks.

Pleased you like the Alaska and welcome to UKCS. 

I've got an Alaska 4, they are well designed with a very good layout.  If you've got nowhere to dry it out, then put it in the bath and keep moving it to get most of the water out of it.  You can hang it over the banister or somewhere similar to get it dried out properly.

You sound like you are happy with your new purchase and if you got it for the right price then it looks like your trip to the camping shop was well worth it

Where about in wales were you?

and good luck with drying it out

Thanks Bernie will try that out.

Force Ten we were in Porthmadog, North Wales at Tyddyn Adi (2 days) and Tyddyn Llwyn (6 days) both sites that I found on this website.

Quote: Originally posted by ValC on 03/9/2007

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Thanks Bernie will try that out.

Force Ten we were in Porthmadog, North Wales at Tyddyn Adi (2 days) and Tyddyn Llwyn (6 days) both sites that I found on this website.

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Glad it all worked out for you.

Quote: Originally posted by ValC on 03/9/2007

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Thanks Bernie will try that out.

Force Ten we were in Porthmadog, North Wales at Tyddyn Adi (2 days) and Tyddyn Llwyn (6 days) both sites that I found on this website.

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it is very nice around that area only problem is the trafic through porthmadog can be a bit of a pain at this time of year

was the shop that you got your tent from outdoor world in porthmadog?  

Quote: Originally posted by force ten on 03/9/2007

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Quote: Originally posted by ValC on 03/9/2007

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Thanks Bernie will try that out.

Force Ten we were in Porthmadog, North Wales at Tyddyn Adi (2 days) and Tyddyn Llwyn (6 days) both sites that I found on this website.

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it is very nice around that area only problem is the trafic through porthmadog can be a bit of a pain at this time of year

was the shop that you got your tent from outdoor world in porthmadog? they are a big supplier of gelert camping gear in that area  

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Yes we tried the beach at Borth Y Gest, great for rockpools and although we didn't go up the mountain we did go on a few railways including the Ffestiniog (Porthmadog - Blaenau) and the Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon - Rhydd Du), OH and the kids even got a ride on the footplate of Taliesin at Porthadog, something that OH has been wanting to do for 30 years!

Yes the traffic through Porthmadog was a bit of a pain, but bearable and yes the shop was Outdoor World (great assistants).

The whole holiday was wonderful, the people on the campsite were so friendly and easy going and it is a beautiful part of the country, even the rain couldn't spoil it.  We can't wait to go back next year and do some of the things we missed this time round (more railway! - OH and youngest son are train nuts - slate mines and more beaches).