I’m organising a family picnic by the river near Bellever Tor, in Dartmoor. I’m thinking about driving there early in the morning, pitching a medium tent (4-people type, with two bedrooms) to “reserve” the place, then drive back to Torbay to start picking up the folks around midday. It’s not massive “party” (9 + 5 kids), but tricky time-wisely, so I was thinking about leaving some picnic stuff inside the tent (tables, chairs, etc.).

Is the “tent move” legal? I found in the Forestry Commission’s booklet that camping in that place is not permitted. Hence the question – is a tent during daytime classed as camping?

Is the “tent move” legal?

Nope.

Loitering with intent.

Loitering with intent.

Leave the puns out, he’s just canvassing opinion.

Why not just a deckchair with a towel on it?
That’s not camping.

I would be tentative about doing it personally

Put the tent up and then peg it.

Get in touch with the FC and pitch them your proposal.

Get in touch with the FC and pitch them your proposal.

they’ll say no, marquee my words.

Do you really want to be that guy?

Too slow

You need some data – why not put up a pole?

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tJaapIXUds[/video]

Is the “tent move” legal?

it may be legal but it sounds like a dick move.

you’d probably get into trouble with an erection there

you’d probably get into trouble with an erection there

You’d have thought his folks would want to see his erection….

There sure is a fly sheet of jokes above.

Puns aside.

Why do you need to ‘reserve’ a pitch in the outdoors? It strikes me as a behaviour that is rude to other users.

Any German friends who could lend you a large towel?

Zip it, you lot…

Put a sign on the tent letting other people use it all morning but you’ll be back about 1pm.

That way people will know you’re not being selfish and blocking other people from using the space when they are actually there. 🙂

IMO in reality it strikes me as being selfish/nobbish behaviour.

careful it doesn’t blow over.

You don’t want done for fly-tipping as well.

Edit: what others said. Dick move

wasnotwas wins with

Put the tent up and then peg it.

Why would you do that?

I hope Northumberland never gets like that.

lets have a pole on this

think I maybe late on this

It’s not massive “party” (9 + 5 kids)

Dunno, sounds like it might be intents, especially now you’ve put the details on the internet, anyone could pitch up…

You guys need to be more supportive

Proper dick move BTW 😉

Thanks…

I expected that to be considered a “dick move”. My main objective was to leave the stuff there, so there was a bit less pressure a bit later. But I think I’ll ditch the idea…

just use one of the many that get left there after a sunny weekend.

My main objective was to leave the stuff there

*Exactly where* and how much is it worth? 😉

If that specific spot is important to you and you want to stop other people from enjoying it instead why not get your family to get there lardy arses not of bed and get there earlier?

“4-people type, with two bedrooms”

” It’s not massive “party” 9 + 5 kids”

keep it going – think the FC is the least of your worries

I’d risk an erection if you want to be a nob about it. Just be prepared to peg it if someone else pitches in with similarly high camp behaviour.

FC byelaws

Acts Prohibited on the Lands of the Commissioners
5. No person shall in or on the lands of the Commissioners:-
x. set up or place any caravan, tent, booth, stall or erection of any
kind, including equestian equipment;

That means no tents, camping or not and just in case it’s that sort of party, NO erections……

Hi Medo….

Thought this might help. Have a chat with them and let them know what you are doing. The Rangers on Dartmoor have always been very helpful.

http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/lookingafter/au-rangerservice/au-rangerareas

Personally, I’d be more worried about someone half inching it away whilst I’m gone.
You could always leave the entertainment system in there ……what could possibly happen 😆

Does it really get that busy that you can’t find space for a picnic blanket? If so, and you’d be elbow to elbow with other people, I can’t see it being much fun!

Medoramas – I assume that you are looking to reserve a space since the area gets really busy? As an alternative to getting up early and heading there as one of the first, why not look on a map of Dartmoor and see if you can find somewhere with a similar open grassy area and stream which isn’t rammed with half of Plymouth. Dartmoor is a pretty big area with a few honeypots

Thanks for some STW-style-helpful & the proper-helpful replies 😆

It was more about leaving the larger stuff somewhere (some chairs and table, all old and not valuable for stealing I suppose – hence the idea of the tent) up there, as I don’t have a car big enough to get it all in with all seats occupied. But I managed to sort out additional transport, so issue resolved 😀

yeah. try spitchwick corner…