Possible DSC site

[Carole]

I was reading Fay's thread yesterday about how Telescope House has moved to Edenbridge for dark skies, and thought to myself, Edenbridge is not that far from Orpington (compared to other DSC sites), I wonder whether there is a campsite near there.  Did a google and found one, half way between East Grinstead and T. Wells.

I rang the owners today (who live in ORPINGTON!!!) and had a chat with them, and on the whole it looks as though it ticks all the boxes.  

No lights, except one on the toilet which could be "round the corner" depending on where you pitch.  If we are the only ones there we can wrap coloured perspex around it to dim it.  She talked about possibly being able to reserve it for our exclusive use during the winter DSC weekends.

There is a gravel road into the field (with hardcore) newly laid, and hard standing for up to 5 caravans.  Tents are not advertised but they are welcome, and she would consider half price for the Communal tent.  Says the field is about 1 acre.  

Nearest shops 3 miles away, 3 pubs within walking distance. 8 hook up points, primarily for caravans, but tents can use them if booked in advance.  

On the edge of Ashdown Forest, so sounds as though it would be a dark site, with little light pollution
(Tunbridge Wells??)

2 toilets and 1 shower.
chemical toilet disposal facilities.  

The down side is it's a little dearer than we are used to.

£8 per night + £3 hook up - same price for tents and caravans/motor-homes.
It says on the website that it is for members of the Camping and Caravan Club, but you can join when you come.  However Doug (who is a member of the CCC thinks that might not be necessary and will look into it).  The new owners have admitted they are not quite sure about this.

It sounds to me like this is worth a visit (Doug, Rose and myself are happy to go).
Plus maybe a try out at an UDSC.

http://www.campsitescaravansites.co.uk/campsite-caravan-site6194.asp

I think it would be good if we can find some-where a bit closer to home, with hook up, and without too many members of the public.

What does every-one think?

Carole

[mickw]

Unfortunately being closer to Orpington possibly means closer to the light pollution we are trying to get away from.
East there is Tunbridge Wells (where T.H. is running away from) West is East Grinstead, North is Edenbridge (not quite so bad as East Grinstead).
I can't find the map someone else posted about light pollution, but the red blob south of london in this one is roughly where TH have moved to.

http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/bestukastrolocationmap2.html

Paul W lives a bit South of Hartfield and may be in a better position to comment

[Simon E]

I don't mind where the dsc's are hosted. My mum and dad live in Kingswood, 7 miles south of Maidstone and light pollution is slowly going, by there. But I would say you gotto go down towards Romney marsh to get half decent darkness.

So what you guys have chosen before seems cool to me. I suppose the trouble I have is that my garden is pretty dark anyway, and until i get my auto tracking gear, xmas time ,then I can't really try for some decent photos and don't want to get cold camping til then.

si

[Carole]

don't want to get cold camping til then

You mean you're not going to come to the official DSC in November? 
As Mike would say "Wus"

It's great fun at DSC and even if you can't do your own guiding you watch the others and learn.

Carole

[Carole]

This is the link you were talking about
http://www.need-less.org.uk/night%20sky%20simulator.html
and there are a number of dark areas around the area I am suggesting. 

Paul W lives a bit South of Hartfield and may be in a better position to comment

From what I have been told, Paul has very dark skies where he lives.

Carole

[Mike]

Paul has very dark skies. Problem is his garden only has room for about 2 tents

[MarkS]

I've added Telescope House and Stairs Farm to my Google Map with DMSP overlay:
http://www.markshelley.co.uk/webdisk/SELightPollution2.jpg
See also,
http://avex.org.free.fr/cartes-pl/france/visuel/pl/

Looks darker then Blacklands & Woodlands though not as dark as Tuesnoad (my favourite!) or the Romney area.

In my opinion, certainly worth considering depending on the outcome of the CCClub stipulation.

[MarkS]

the red blob south of london in this one is roughly where TH have moved to.

Gatwick airport?!?!

[mickw]

Ah yes - Red blobs=airports 
I said it wasn't the map I was looking for

Anyway, had a proper look at maps and found where TH will be - nowhere around where I was thinking 

The French map is quite revealing, the area around tuesnoad really is quite dark as is Lydd

[MarkS]

There's an English explanation of the French map here:
http://avex.org.free.fr/cartes-pl/allemagne/index.html#anglais

It tries to mathematically model the sources of the light pollution (i.e. towns and roads) from the satellite data.  However, it doesn't always get it completely right - for instance, Dungeness power station is notable by its absence!

Mark

[Carole]

Looking at Mark's map, it certainly looks a dark patch at Stairs Farm. 

I think it would be worth going to have a look, and stay until after dark which I am happy to do.

Personally, I would rather try to get a site where there are less general public, and yet still have shower and hook up facilities, open all year with a road entrance onto the field and this seems promising.

Doug, Rose and I will go down and do the preliminary reckie and take it from there.  If we think it's got potential we can do an UDSC at a later date. 

We'll let you know when we are going in case any-one wants to join us, though it might be mid-week.

Carole

[Simon E]

I've added Telescope House and Stairs Farm to my Google Map with DMSP overlay:
http://www.markshelley.co.uk/webdisk/SELightPollution2.jpg
See also,
http://avex.org.free.fr/cartes-pl/france/visuel/pl/

Looks darker then Blacklands & Woodlands though not as dark as Tuesnoad (my favourite!) or the Romney area.

In my opinion, certainly worth considering depending on the outcome of the CCClub stipulation.

Looking at these maps, has anyone got a boat, cause there is no light pollution at sea

si

[Simon E]

don't want to get cold camping til then

You mean you're not going to come to the official DSC in November?  
As Mike would say "Wus"

It's great fun at DSC and even if you can't do your own guiding you watch the others and learn.

Carole

I do have my kids jesse 9 and conner 8 every Friday night and Saturday day........ So could make Saturday night on these camps/ Sunday night if I get a day off work on the Monday......

I don't think I could ever really make a Friday night unless I bring them too

si