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Topic: Unnacceptably rocky ground bah

sadkate

05/8/2012 at 9:45pm
Location: Linlithgow West Lothian
Outfit: The Yorkshire Diamond!

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Had a little trip through the week there to a site which was really nice. Great location and facilities - like Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way...

Except for the bloomin' rocky ground.

I know you can't expect no stones but this might as well have been an astroturf mat on top of tarmac. SOOO annoying. I didn't get a single peg in first time and ended up moving the whole tent (didn't help).

Most annoying - I had left the rock pegs at home, thinking that camping on the links in soggy Scotland in a dedicated tent field I wouldn't need them. Bah.

Anyway, just fancied a moan about that. I think the site should mention that when you book.

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Kate

Ye're no here tae enjoy yersel.

SoggySteve

05/8/2012 at 9:56pm
Location: Bristol Uk
Outfit: 2012 Outwell Trout Lake 4 & Tarp

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There is a great campsite in the lorna doone valley that allows little fires. Wicked little campsite that i've been to only once for some reason (probably because I can't remember where it is..!).

Totally destroyed most of our pegs although it wasn't positioned to be windy enough to be a problem. Partly to do with the quality of the pegs at the time.. Rock solid ground totally unsuitable for tents.

Some places are just like that. I don't know what a campsite could do about it other than dig the place up and start again..

KewGardener

05/8/2012 at 10:01pm
Location: London
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I once overnighted on an amazingly flat site and found the same thing. Turned out to be an old airstrip and was just a few inches of topsoil over the old runway. Luckily it wasn't windy that night but I did tie a couple of guys to the fence at the back and one to the car - just in case.

sadkate

05/8/2012 at 10:03pm
Location: Linlithgow West Lothian
Outfit: The Yorkshire Diamond!

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Yeah, they'd have to dig down 6 inches and fill it up with soil. Expensive!

I don't think it would be too much trouble though just to say when you book, "We'd recommend you bring rock pegs," maybe even stock some for sale at the office.

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Kate

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armchaircamper

05/8/2012 at 10:56pm
Location: Aberdeenshire
Outfit: Several tents and a hammock

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It's the kind of thing to mention if you write a review of the site.

The site in Ullapool is like that. It took me ages to pitch the tent.

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Sarah

heath63

05/8/2012 at 11:09pm
Location: wirral
Outfit: Outwell Nevada m Vango sigma 300

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I'm afraid it just depends on the area you are camping in. There are areas where I camp and it is guarenteed that it is going to be rocky. It is just the Geology of the area.

Just need to be a boys scout and be prepared. When I was a newbie, I learnt fast, that you needed different pegs for ground type, when I had fun trying to hammer in wire pegs, in rocky ground. I bent a few pegs, but needed to jiggle the pegs around until they went in.

heath63

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dk168

05/8/2012 at 11:15pm
Location: Devizes Wiltshire
Outfit: MWB VW Crafter PVC

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Birchwood, my favourite site, is like that too, learnt my lesson after my first stay there in 2009, and have always carried rock pegs as part of my kit ever since, just in case I come across sites with hard ground.

DK

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Toothsmith

05/8/2012 at 11:43pm
Location: Cheshire
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We went to a site in Shropshire last year, and the web site strongly recommended you have rock pegs with you. They weren't kidding! Luckily we took their advice and bought a couple of boxes before we went. Used every one of them.

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It's only a bit o' rain...

Bernie47

05/8/2012 at 11:50pm
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Many camp sites are on the sites of old rubbish dumps, railway stations etc. so I always carry rock pegs and a small hammer.

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daveroughley

07/8/2012 at 6:05pm
Location: Highlands
Outfit: 1983 CI Europa 5 berth

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Quote: Originally posted by armchaircamper on 05/8/2012

It's the kind of thing to mention if you write a review of the site.
The site in Ullapool is like that. It took me ages to pitch the tent.

Every site in the NW Highlands is like this. We live in the NE Highlands but prefer camping in the NW. We do own several different types of pegs but only seem to use our rock pegs.
Anyone want to buy some 8" plastic pegs. Still in the packet lol

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September 27th. I'm going away. Don't care where. Just going!!!!

sadkate

08/8/2012 at 3:48pm
Location: Linlithgow West Lothian
Outfit: The Yorkshire Diamond!

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Sort of thing that could put a newbie off though, eh?

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Kate

Ye're no here tae enjoy yersel.

daveroughley

08/8/2012 at 6:18pm
Location: Highlands
Outfit: 1983 CI Europa 5 berth

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Quote: Originally posted by sadkate on 08/8/2012
Sort of thing that could put a newbie off though, eh?

I just think you have to be prepared. We all take waterproofs even if the forecast says warm and dry. We take precautions " just in case ". Pegs are just the same. A good selection of pegs should be in everyone's kit really. It's simply good practice.

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September 27th. I'm going away. Don't care where. Just going!!!!

sadkate

08/8/2012 at 9:08pm
Location: Linlithgow West Lothian
Outfit: The Yorkshire Diamond!

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They're in my kit. Just not in my boot on that trip unfortunately, doh!

However, I didn't get rock pegs until I'd been on a few camping trips. We saw three other families arrived and suffer similar rage too.

If it was my campsite, I'd let tent customers know and take advantage of the chance to make a few quid by selling some rock pegs at the desk.

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Kate

Ye're no here tae enjoy yersel.

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