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Hi

I am reading this with interest as I am beginning to wonder if a bell tent could be the future for me and my family when camping. For some reason the idea of a bell tent is really attractive. If you have a mo could you tell me the good things about bell tents. This will help with my research tremendously!

Thanks. LOU

Hi
I bought a 4m bell tent from these people last year www.belltent.co.uk
I decide not to go with the sig as part of the attraction is rolling up the sides in fair weather.
We also have an Outdoor Revolution Starcamper 3 for weekends away when the weather is really bad and an Outwell Bearlake 6 for major holidays.
The bell tent is so easy to put up it's untrue. We took it to a festival last year when it was really gusty and windy and had the tent up and pegged out in minutes - people were amazed at how simple it appeared. Of course it's heavy and that's a disadvantage when your'e carrying it but the lightweight tents were behaving like kites as they were struggling to put them up in the wind.
We've also been away in bad weather, storms (spent last May bank holiday at Lyn Gwynant campsite in Snowdonia)
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/details.asp?revid=3010 
when many tents were blown away. It was our first time in the bell tent and it was extremely sturdy. We did make some changes to the groudnsheet and flaps at the bottom (don't know what they're called) to allow the ground sheet to go ontop of the flaps and be pegged through.
The tent was entirely waterproof and althogth it got very muddy at the festival, it was easy enough to clean.
I haven't had to put it up in the rain yet and have wondered about this as the groundsheet should be pegged out first - does anyone else have any experience of this?
All in all it's been a great investment. There's something incrediby romantic about them and yes we have a huge rug, sheepskins etc etc to add to the feeling. It is practical as well though and is great for making friends as people always smile at you - probably they think we're crazy!
I hope this helps

Annabel

Would love to see the tent denise  and that pony you have called Edward are you  visiting Eskdale again this year ?