Chaps,
I've just had a phone call from the owner of the woodland. She's having family coming down with their caravan (and her grandkids) explicitly for Easter (right over the weekend).
This means we can't use that piece of woodland for the easter weekender 
They haven't said 100% yet (and she said I should give her a call at the start of that week just in case their plans change), but she seemed fairly sure they'd be coming so I think we might do well to make an alternate plan because at this moment it looks like my land (by which I of course mean the land I have been given permission to use) won't be available. Our arrangement was that if she was using the place, I would keep clear so they can enjoy themselves and their privacy (which is of course fair).
It's a bummer, but to be honest it doesn't really change things too much (just means we have to travel lighter, I guess).
I'm still more than happy to fund two group meals etc, and the new toy I've bought is actually a frontier stove (complete with the water boiler attachment) I can rig it to produce no visible smoke from the flue stack. It's light enough for me to carry in and out, and packs down to a package smaller than a cat carrier!
I'm really sorry for having to change the plans all of a sudden, but at least there's still time for alternate plans to be made! In future, I'll be sure to clear any dates with the lady who owns the land
as well as my Mrs schedule (against which all life must be penciled).
She's asked me also to extend her apologies, and make it clear that it's not because she doesn't want us making use of the place... it's just one of those classic cases of bad timing! Personally, I think they're overestimating the weather conditions (they're expecting warm sunny spring weather... I'm expecting torrential rain with chilly nights)
So, we need to make alternate arrangements. Obviously, location dictates what we bring and what we can do. My new stove does at least mean we can have a traceless fire for cooking and keeping warm (as well as a good supply of hot water, assuming we can take enough water with).
I am also willing to pay the per-head for Orchards if that's the only viable option left! That said, the original plan was to go
stealth camping.
, myself I would go for the 4x4, I am ordering one at the end of the month I find that the XL when brought down to the floor leaves a too lower ridge for me , and sometimes is limited to the width between trees you can hang....of course you can fold in one end.
