More people go camping this summer as the recession deepens May 27, 2009

It seems that camping has found some new friends. Once thought of as a typically dated and boring holiday destination, the humble campsite is now the destination of the summer for most families who can’t afford to go abroad this year due to the deepening recession.

Even people who might not have given camping any consideration before have realised that it is a cost-effective holiday plan for the summer. With the Euro meaning you get less money for your £, is there really any incentive to go away this year? Many Brits will be living it up at one of the many campsites across the country. In fact, we’re set for some good weather too, so staying in the UK this year might be a good idea after all…

The Festival Season Is Upon Us! May 18, 2009

Finally, its here! The festival season is upon us and this year its going to be BIG.

With The Prodigy doing just about every festival under the sun, i would say it is Reading and Leeds festivals that has the most unique headliners, with the welcome return of Radiohead and The Arctic Monkeys getting everyone excited.

However, there are some pretty awesome festivals that are on a smaller scale if you fancy something a bit different. Why not check out The Hop Farm festival? There’s The Fratellis and The Pigeon Detectives to name but a few…

Caravan Awnings: The Extra Living Space March 5, 2009

When people  buy caravan awnings they are generally for one purpose: to create an extra living space outside of the caravan itself. This is particularly ideal if you have  number of people staying in your caravan and you feel a bit cramped. Put up a caravan awning and see for yourself the difference it can make.

Caravan awnings are also great for when its a really hot and sunny day – you can stay in the shade under your awning when it gets too much!

If you like the buzz of travelling in a caravan but feel like the limited space is a bit of a problem, caravan awnings are the solution, so now your whole family can travel in style and not fall over each other!

The 2009 UK Festivals You Can Camp At This Summer… March 3, 2009

If you like camping and you LOVE live music then there is surely nothing more spending a few days this year at a fab UK festival where you can soak up the sun and hear your favourite bands play. You can camp at all the 2 day or 3 days festivals here in the UK, so take advantage of our legendary festival status and indulge in something really cool this summer…a festival!

Here’s my pick of where to go:

If you like dance music then head to Creamfields for an open air extravaganza featuring all the latest dance DJs including FatBoy Slim, Paul Van Dyk, Eric Prydz and Pete Tong. This is sure to be a superb event and the festival is now offering camping since it is a 2 day event. Check out the amazing Yurtel hotel on site, which is like hotel in a tent and has a king size mattress and chocs and flowers waiting for you! Does festival camping get any better than this?! Check the camping site out here: Creamfields

If metal music is more your bag, then why not head down to Bloodstock 09 where there will be a plethora of amazing metal acts to whet your appetite for moshing with the masses.  Featuring Carcass, Arch Enemy and Turisas to name but a few, and there is camping for this 3 day event. Much more basic camping than Creamfields and other festivals, but then this is a festival for metal fans that aren’t bothered about the luxury factor!

So, if you’re looking for 2009 UK festivals you can camp at, there is something to suit every music taste

Download Festival 2009: myhab comes to Download Festival! February 11, 2009

I wrote a previous post about the eco-friendly myhab festival accomodation, which is an excitng alternative to camping…well, now it is coming to Download Festival 2009! Prices won’t be cheap though, so start saving lol

The myhab is a great alternative to staying in an uncomfortable tent for 3 days – the myhab is THE thing to be seen in this summer, so make sure you get one while you can! Rock on at Download – tickets on sale Friday 13th February 2009

Camping Guide: Don’t Go In The Bad Weather February 6, 2009

If you are looking for a camping guide, one of the important things to remember is that bad weather can make your experience unpleasant. Avoid going camping in the Winter if you are inexperienced,as it could put you off forever! Only go camping in bad weather if you are confident of your abilities to brave the cold and have an enjoyable time! Many people, including myself, wouldn’t dream of going camping in the winter but some people do it! I think they’re mad lol. My friend goes camping every winter because he likes the adrenaline rush. But its definitely not for everyone.

So, if you do go camping in bad weather, make sure you’re prepared. Take warm clothes and always bear in mind that if you go in the summertime, it can still get cold. In the UK, the weather is particularly unpredictable, so you never know what you could be facing on your journey! Pack warn clothes and an insulated sleeping bag(or two!). If you are going with someone else, you can often afford to compromise on the blankets, because if you cuddle up next to each other, the heat you both generate will help keep you both warm.

So, if you are going in bad weather, make sure you look at a proper camping guide before you go.

Wanting To Go Camping In Paris? Check This Out… February 3, 2009

My friend keeps saying she wants to go camping in Paris – naturally, she wants me to go with her. I wasn’t so sure, but after i did my research, i found that there are some good places to go camping in Paris.

Before you embark on your journey, the tip is to read reviews of where others have stayed. Don’t risk travelling abroad without knowing much about the area or camping.

I found a great site where you can find essential camping in Paris information…just click the link below:

CAMPING IN PARIS

Festival Camping – Are you Going Camping This Year January 29, 2009

So, are you going festival camping this year? It might be your first festival, or indeed your first festival experience, but it is definitely worth trying. You haven’t lived if you haven’t tried festival camping!

For all US blog readers, i strongly advise you come over to theUK and check out whats so great about a UK festival..the camping in the rain is only a small part of the enjoyment!

Festival camping rocks!

Need Huge Tents?Great Camping Equipment Website January 21, 2009

Just found a really cool camping equipment site and had to share it with you!

http://www.readytoleave.com/

They have a huge selection of stuff, and their tents are big enough to fit a whole army in! Check them out today…

Static Caravans: The Best Thing To Buy? January 16, 2009

Imagine living in a static caravan and taking life so much easier. It can happen, if you decide to buy one.

Static caravans are great if you buy one near the seaside. Particularly popular is Torquay, Scarborough and Cornwall. There is little point buying a static caravan if you don’t have it somewhere with a good view. I also recommend buying one that is large enough to move around in. Caravans used to be notoriously small, but recently they have got much larger and you can now buy massive ones that can accommodate a lot of people. Its a bit like living in a bungalow, except it costs less and has a better view. Imagine trying to buy a house with a sea view? It would be quite expensive, so i think it is a much better investment to go for a static caravan that you can enjoy at a more reasonable price.

Camping In The UK: The Weather January 14, 2009

For UK campers, camping in the UK has lots to offer. With vast countryside and many campsites dotted up and down the country, why wouldn’t you want to go camping in the traditional English areas?

To camp in the UK, just be aware of the weather. We are not known for having particularly good year-round weather, so take this into account if you are thinking of going camping in the UK.

My best advice is to go in the summer, around early June time when the weather is usually pretty good. However, if you do get faced with rain, don’t despair. Just make sure you take enough camping equipment etc that will cover weather disasters. Pack a rain mac and you should be fine! However, it can sometimes feel like bad weather can “dampen” a holiday (excuse the pun lol) but don’t let it ruin a good time for you and your family.

You can check the weather before you go by clicking below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/

Need To Sell A Caravan? How To Do It January 6, 2009

If you need to sell a caravan, then knowing where to start is a good idea.

Some people might advertise it privately, in the local paper or online. Advertising online is a great way to attract Internet searchers, particularly if you opt for selling on eBay. eBay is a great caravan marketplace so you can pick up a bargain as well as selling what you have. If you’re worried about selling it too cheaply, put a reserve on it and then you wont lose any money(apart from the listing fee).

I think it is important to remember when the best time to sell a caravan is. Advertising it in the Winter months might not be a good idea, because people aren’t thinking about caravans at that time of year. Try Spring, early Summer, when people are considering what to do for their holiday that year, so whether its a static caravan they are looking for or a motorhome, you can make sure you get sufficient interest.

Naturally, people will want to visit the caravan to check it over before they purchase. Its a bit like buying a home. Be prepared for regular visitors and don’t get despondent if you don’t get a sale instantly. Keep plugging away. Clean the caravan and make sure it is spotless before people look around it. You want to make it look as appealing as possible and then you will get the best price.

If you need to sell a caravan, choosing when to advertise it is the most important thing.

Static Caravan Dealers: Want To Buy? January 6, 2009

Do you want to buy from static caravan dealers? It is important that you search all around the country in order to get the best deal.

I found a great site http://www.sambeckcaravans.co.uk/ which has a wide variety of static caravans to buy, new or used. They even have “energy efficient” ones, which sounds great.

They are based in Essex, so this is aprticualy useful if you are a Southerner looking for static caravan dealers.

Coast To Coast is one of the largest used static caravan dealers in the UK and they have a great selection to choose from.

Set yourself a budget before you call any of these guys though – you want to make sure you don’t spend more than you have. If it is just intended as a holiday home, then your budget might be tighter. However, many people are now moving into static caravans as their actual everyday home. It is cheaper and much more economical, and in these Credit Crunch times, this is so important. I know many people that have moved into a static caravan permanently and they wouldn’t look back.

Take into consideration erosion if you are planning on getting  a static caravan near the sea. I knew someone who bought a caravan there once and the rockface underneath gradually wore away. One day, the whole end just broke off into the sea below and the caravans went with them. Luckily, no-one was hurt. This was in Scarborough, UK. Think carefully about your purchase.

Thinking Of Camping In Germany? Read This! January 6, 2009

My friend recently said she wants to go camping in Germany in 2009. I wondered why she had chosen Germany as her camping destination, but after doing my research, it seems that this is a good choice, since the campsites are some of the best.

Camping in Germany? Lets do it!

The Independent compiled a list of some of the best campsites in the world, and the following one in Germany made it to Number 34:

CAMPING WULFENER HALS, GERMANY

 Camping Wulfener Hals, 23769 Wulfen auf Fehmarn, Germany (00 49 43 71 86 28 13; www.wulfenerhals.de)

With a wide range of activities, this campsite is a great option, and is open from April to September. It is situated in Northern Germany.

You can read  more of  The Independent’s best campsites by clicking HERE.

You might also fancy checking out this campsite in Bremen.

Camping-Paradies
Everinghauser Dorfstr. 17 27367 Everinghausen
Bremen, Bremen, Germany
Telephone: 04205-319113
Fax: 04205-319115
Website: www.camping-paradies.de

There is also the Camping Schnelsen Nord

Campingplatz Schnelsen-Nord Wunderbrunnen 2 D – 22457 Hamburg
Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Telephone: +49 (0) 40 – 5594225
Fax: +49 (0) 40 – 5507334
Website: www.campingplatz-hamburg.de

For more great camping sites in Germany, click HERE.

Camping in Germany is great fun and i am sure my friend will love it – its something just that little bit different to camping in the UK.

Group Camping: The Best Choice? January 6, 2009

Some of my friends would argue that group camping is the best way to to do it. Its much more fun and can reignite friendships.

Others may say that group camping is a bad idea; after all, if you don’t like spending more than a day with people, then you probably wont like camping with a large group of them. I think it is important that you only go group camping with people that you really trust and have been friends with for years. Taking the new work friend with you might not be the best idea!

Group camping is great if there is about 8 of you that want to have a week’s camping holiday somewhere. It is relatively cost-free and is the perfect solution for those not wanting to spend money on hotels etc. Enjoying the simple life means camping is perfect for you.

When you go group camping, make sure you get on well with everyone that is going. One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch lol.

If you’re going group camping, aim for the summer months when there is less chance of bad weather. Bad weather puts people in bad moods and this can lead to tension in the ranks, so planning your camping holiday is important.

Most of all, your group camping holiday should be fun and an experience to remember.

Camping Accessories – What To Take Camping January 6, 2009

When you go camping, you want to make sure you have exactly what you need. Too much stuff can drag you down unneccesarily and not taking enough will leave you panicking about where the nearest shop is to stock up on the bits you left. Therefore, camping accessories are important. Knowing what to take will make sure you have a better camping holiday.

Obviously, a sleeping bag is important. These are nice and compact and can be rolled up and carried on your back. A torch is crucial, especially if you are going to be camping in the middle of the nowhere.

Don’t forget a stove to do all your cooking on. You need to make sure you have the right foods with you also, particularly if you are trying to be self-sufficient and not rely on running to the nearest village store for essentials. Beans are always good to take, and anything you can heat easily in a pan.

Take into account the number of people in your holiday crew, and spread the carrying duties evenly if you can. Make sure both arms are balanced with something to carry, as this will make it less painful on the joints when you just carry one hevay thing that drags you down.

The good weather is not a given, so take appropriate clothing and pakcing  a rain mac or kagool is always a good idea as it is light and doesn’t take up much room. Being space-conscious is paramount.

Carry On Camping! November 13, 2008

When thinking about camping, you can’t help but remember Carry On Camping as one of the greatest camping films ever. I was just reminiscing and thought i would share the best laughs with you..

Love the bit where: they roll up at the campsite and Mr Fiddler says everything is “a pound” and then proceeds to con Sid James into paying more money when he sees the wad of cash.

Love the bit where: Mr Muggins joins Peter Potter and wife Harriet on their camping trip. Charles Hawtrey is hilarious in this role.

It was released on 3 July 1969 in the UK and will always be remembered for its truly British comic humour.  What are shame none of the characters are still with us

Oh, and don’t worry, the chances of your camping trip turning out like this are very slim, but it would indeed make light of the situation!

You can read more about Carry on Camping HERE.

Carry On Camping

Keeping Food Cold When Camping… November 13, 2008

Keeping food cold when camping doesn’t have to be as stressful as you might think.

Keep fresh food to a minimum – camping life doesn’t revolve around dining on fresh food every day; camping to me means eating cold baked beans out of a tin watching the sunset go down. But, i can see why people would still want their luxuries.

Cool boxes are a great idea because they will keep your food cold for a while, will the help of ice packs. I have seen a few recommendations for the Coleman 70 QT Extreme Cooler, which looks really good. You will need to spend a little bit of money on getting a good cooler, rather than pulling the old one out from the garage that has been sat there for 10 years. This things can get a bit dirty inside and may lose their “cooling” impact over the years.

Take lots of plastic containers to keep food fresh and try not to lumber yourself with lots of food because i guarantee a lot of it will get wasted. Eating healthily when camping is hard, so you will have to be strong willed if you intend to stick to your health kick every night. If you’re not on a diet and just up for a good time, take copious amounts of crisps because they will last for ages and can be taken home to eat if all the bags aren’t eaten by the end of the camping trip. Good times!

There are some electric coolers that can be run from the car, so if you are wanting something guaranteed to keep your food cold, invest in one of these. The only thing you will have to be careful of is running the car battery down, so be aware of this. For light travelling or picnics, check out the Ring 6 litre travel cooler box, available from Shop.com. You plug it into the cigarette lighter and it is perfect for mini trips.

Keeping fold cold when camping really just requires a bit of thought. Packing for a camping holiday is an altogether more difficult experience than checking into a hotel because you are going to be self-sufficient when camping. People often forget this and think they need to take everything and more with them when camping, in fear of running out of stuff and not being able to replenish food stocks.

Camping is a great experience, so as long as you’re prepared, you should be fine.

The Ultimate Question: What To Take Camping? November 13, 2008

When planning a camping holiday, the question on everyone’s lips is “what to take?” It can be hard knowing just how much or how little to take with you, and there are certain things you need to remember:

• Think about how many days you are going away for. There is little point in taking 2 weeks worth of stuff if you are only going for a week. The key to successful and happy camping is to pack sensibly and take what you genuinely need. A camping holiday is not a seaside holiday or a luxurious hotel holiday where you will be dining out and spending money in all types of shops…a camping holiday is a very minimalistic approach to holidaying and you need to pack accordingly.
• Check your camping equipment is still in good working order. If you’ve had it stored away in a garage then do a test check in advance before you leave for your holiday. Remember when you go, resources might be limited so picking up a new stove etc could be difficult, especially if you decide to camp somewhere remote.
• Take waterproofs and good sleeping equipment. An air bed is a good idea if you like to be off the ground, and cover this with blankets etc to ensure maximum comfort.
• Don’t try and squeeze too many people in a two person tent. You can buy massive tents these days, so if you all want to be in the same one, maybe opt for a 10 man tent for extra room and comfort. I stayed in a tent once and it was so cramped (and on a slight hill) that i rolled into someone else and it was the most painful night of my life! I have since learnt my lesson!
• Take plenty of water and tins of food. Fresh food will not last, so don’t risk it, especially if you’re going to be in the baking heat all day.
• Take a couple of cool boxes for the essentials that you need keeping cold. These are great, but can get very heavy, so plan who will be carrying from the car to the campsite!
• Take a torch and if you want music to listen to, think about a solar powered radio, which doesn’t require batteries and works off the heat from the sun. You can buy a really cool DAB solar powered radio HERE.

When it comes to wondering what to take camping, people can get a bit stressed out with the whole thing, but the trick is to keep it simple. If you are wanting to take everything but the kitchen sink, then maybe you would be better suited to staying in a hotel. Some of us just need our luxuries

What to take camping?

Have You Ever Thought About Living In A Caravan? November 3, 2008

My friend said he wanted to sell his home and live in a caravan. At first i thought it was crazy, but after a bit of a discussion, we agreed that this could be a really good idea!

So, what happens when you end up living in a caravan? Well, you will still have to pay council tax, but only if you decide to live in it while it is in the grounds of your property. So, for example, if you are having your house renovated, then it is perfectly acceptable for you to live in a caravan while you wait for the work to be completed.

If you are thinking of giving up everything though and living in a caravan, then you must check out this Blogger’s Blog: http://iliveinacaravan.blogspot.com/2008/07/current-gas-prices-are-no-joke.html

This person tells you how it is living in a caravan and explains why they did it! Sounds quite rewarding, don’t you think?

The only thing i wonder is how my friend will cope with his 2 dogs and 3 rabbits. All those animals living in a caravan? Why would you do it?! Well, sometimes you just need a change of scenery and feel like you want to give yourself a new lease of life – quite literally!

So, if you have thought about living in a caravan (well, you must have done to arrive at this blog!), then maybe it could be the best decision you ever make?

I once worked with a lady at a Hospital and she moved out of her home, with her husband, and then bought a caravan and had lived in it for 15 years. The only problems they ever had was staying warm. Not sure why – was probably quite an old caravan that had heating problems!

Buy a Motorhome and Fulfill Your Dream – Try eBay! September 26, 2008

Buy A Motorhome!

 

Okay, so you’ve done some travelling and rented a motorhome a few times, but now you want to upgrade a little. You don’t have to rent forever – why not try and buy a motorhome instead?

Firstly, with the amount you may spend on motorhome rental when you decide to have a holiday, why not buy one and you will probably find you will save money in the long run. If you are someone who travels a lot, then you can justify the purchase of a motorhome.

So where do you look for one?

Well, despite my non-purchase of a motorhome to date, if i was to get one, i would head straight to eBay. They have a great selection and it’s the perfect choice for people who don’t want to spend a lot on buying a motorhome. A “used” motorhome may have a few miles on the clock but will still be a sound investment. It is like when you buy a brand new car – as soon as you drive it off the forecourt it depreciates, so naturally the same applies to motorhomes. Maybe you should consider a second-hand motorhome and save yourself a bit of money, rather than get a brand new one. It’s personal preference at the end of the day, and all depends on how much you are willing to spend when you buy a motorhome.

There are so many vehicles sold on eBay that you wouldn’t be the first to buy from there. I think a lot of people get put off by the fact you are spending a lot of money on something that may not be quite right, but the added benefit of eBay is that you will usually get the vehicle at a reduced cost, so surely it’s a bargain? Well, a bargain is only a bargain if it works, so make sure you go and visit the seller and see the motorhome for yourself, spend ages checking it over and evaluating what you are prepared to pay for it at the auction.

Don’t try and offer the seller an amount for it in person though, as he will probably reject your offer and think you just came to haggle for a bargain. Fair is fair and you will end up having to bid like everyone else.

When you buy a motorhome, think about where you’re going to keep it when its not in use. There’s no point having it blocking up your tiny driveway. These are large vehicles, so take into account all the extras.

Motorhome Rental Destinations – Travelling in Style September 26, 2008

Cartoon Motorhome

 

If you are thinking about motorhome rental then you may be wondering where you should travel with your new luxurious home. Finding the best destinations is pretty much pot-luck, unless you know the area and have visited before.

I think Scotland is a great place to take your motorhome to. With beautiful scenery and fabulous drives, you will be hard pushed to find anything that really comes close. Motorhome rental means you can travel in style and have enough space to really spread out. Perhaps you’re taking the whole family on your holiday and planning where to stay once you get there or fitting everything in the car sounds like a nightmare. I know this feeling! Renting a motorhome takes the stress out of it all and means you can really enjoy the whole adventure.

I rented a motorhome last Summer and we went to the Lake District. Kendal is a beautiful area, really idyllic and picturesque, with stunning views from all angles. For us, Kendal is much closer than Scotland, so i think it is always wise to consider distances. You don’t want to spend all your holiday driving – you want to be able to enjoy the motorhome you’ve rented out, so maybe pick somewhere quite close by and alleviate some of the stress associated with driving.

Motorhome rental is the best way to have a fun, enjoyable holiday and you are not restricted to hotel check-in times or costly dinners. The motorhome is the easy, uncomplicated way of going on holiday.

Festival Camping – The New Trend! Podpads and myhab September 26, 2008

Nowadays, festival camping doesn’t have to be all about the tents and the inconvenience. Recently, i have seen a growing trend for a more “luxurious” festival approach, so i decided to give it a go.

Two years ago at the Download Festival, i stayed in a Podpad, a sort of mini house that looks like it was made for Tom Thumb and his friends. Very cool though, and i love the individual little decorations on the outside. There is also a solar-powered sunflower at the back of the house that will provide you with light inside your pod. Great (as long as it doesn’t rain).

Festival Camping: Podpads!

When i stayed in a Podpad, they were a relatively new thing. It cost me around £650 for the weekend, including my festival ticket. A Podpad can fit 2 people in and you can choose from either a double bed or two singles. There is some ground sheeting and a basic mattress provided, so all you need to bring is a sleeping bag and you’re all set! Or, if you want to make it as homely as possible, you could always take a big duvet to wrap up in.

Podpads are great if you are looking for a unique festival camping experience, but i have to admit i found it a bit tedious crawling in and out of it each morning (trust me, bad backs are advised to stay away).

The Podpad team were at loads of festivals in 2008 and i am sure their popularity will continue as more and more people seem to want a bit of luxury when they go to festivals these days.

There are other festival camping options to consider, such as the myhab. This is a unique little tent that is perfect for the green-conscious amongst us. They are made from recycled materials and as they are environmentally friendly, they are a very popular choice for event organisers as we all try and do our bit for the environment.

Plus, the really cool thing about the myhab is that you can personalise it and draw funky pictures on the outside, so you will always be able to find it when you return to the campsite!

Festival Camping: Myhab

Festival Camping Stories September 26, 2008

Music Lover

 

You often hear festival camping stories and think that they may put you off going to a festival and camping there. A few of the times i have been to festivals i have seen toilets set on fire and a few disturbances, but nothing major. The trick is to get out of the festival arena before any late night trouble starts and then head back to your campsite. If the headlining band has come on late then you will find there may be the occasional ruckus, as people get agitated and after a few drinks they can become loud and angry.

When back at the campsite, there is nothing better than meeting up with friends outside your tent and reliving the eventful day you’ve just had; all the great bands you’ve seen and what you hope the next day of music will have in store.

I remember seeing Guns N’ Roses at Download festival one year and the band came on very late to a chorus of boo’s. They then proceeded to play, but lead singer Axl Rose kept having little ‘breaks’ from performing, so walking off stage and then coming back 5 minutes later. I remember watching the crowds get angry and lose patience with his games, so they started throwing bottles. When the bottles start flying at festivals, usually it is harmless fun but there can be the occasional bottle that has been filled with rocks, so when that hits you in the back of the head, naturally it is not very nice. Throwing bottles will only encourage others, and even if you throw an empty one, some people out there don’t think twice to throwing a rock-filled one.

Then there is the crowd-surfing. People continue to enjoy this, despite many warnings by the event organisers that it shouldn’t be done. The countless times i have seen young girls and boys dragged out of the audience because they have been hit in the face etc is very sad. I once saw a boy bleeding from the head and being carried off on a stretcher. As you get older, you really start to feel sympathy for people that end up hurt at festivals.

If you do decide to go festival camping, make sure you’re not someone who stays in the campsite all day instead of going into the arena. I see so many people that buy an expensive festival ticket and then prefer to sit in their tent drinking all day. Whats the point?! Get inside the arena and experience the great bands, otherwise you may as well just go camping somewhere else.

Festival Camping – Great Fun – What To Take? September 26, 2008

Festival Camping; Great Fun!

 

I love going to festivals; it is the highlight of my summer and often replaces an actual ‘holiday’. Festival camping is so much fun, and with going abroad being so expensive these days, coupled with unreliable flights, the best holiday by far is going to a festival.

Some might disagree, but for me, the best part of festivals is the camping. It is like combining two holidays in one; many people may decide to have a camping holiday, so why not combine it with some great music and get the best of both worlds?

Okay, so you’re about to start packing for your festival. What do you need? Probably not as much as you think. It is often a female’s intuition to take everything and the kitchen sink when they go anywhere (this is me), so going camping requires a completely different mentality. You need some extra clothes if it rains and you get muddy, but all in all, very little else. I normally take a poncho as a standard addition to my camping bag, just so you are prepared if the heavens open while you are stood in the middle of a crowd. You might want to take some wellies for the rainy days too. Copious amounts of toilet roll is a must, and also a first aid kit always comes in handy if you get into any scrapes.

Festival camping is a great idea, although you would be surprised how many people decide to stay in hotels nearby to eliminate the stress and hassle of taking all your camping gear. If it is your first time camping, don’t be put off by the stories you hear; there is a really great atmosphere at night and it makes camping so much more fun when you can hear people having a good time and music blaring out until the early hours of the morning.

As far as your festival gear is concerned, i recommend taking the following:

A tent

A stove

Cutlery, plates, mugs, bowls

Cooking utensils,

Food and drink

Cool box and ice blocks

Festival camping is definitely an experience and one you should try. Some of the best festivals to go to are:

Download Festival

Reading and Leeds Festivals

Isle of Wight Festival

Creamfields

T in the Park

Camping Places: My Recommendations! September 9, 2008

Camping By A Lake

 

If you have decided to take the whole family out on a camping trip, you might be wondering about where the best camping places are. Since my friends are avid campers, this is where i can impart some wisdom and tell you about where they like to go for a camping holiday.

Personally, i have never been into camping. Doing it at a few festivals was bad enough, so the thought of ’slumming it’ for no good reason at all sounds like my idea of hell…I need my home luxuries.

Nevertheless, there are many people who love camping and if you are wondering where the best camping places are for your next trip, i have a few suggestions based on what my friends tell me.

It might even be your first time camping and you need some ideas.

Firstly, why not try Bay View, Pevensey Bay in Sussex. My friend liked this one because it is very child-friendly and quite small and intimate. It is near the beach and has great views, apparently.

When one of my friends went camping to Wales, they stayed at the Tyn-y-Mur. This camping park offers every camper the opportunity to take in some breathtaking Welsh views and it has really great facilities too. Abersoch village is only a few miles away and has a lovely beach.

If you fancy being somewhere really tranquil and renowned for its beauty, you really should camp in the Lake District. As far as camping places go, some would say this is the best location.

My friends are going to stay at Park Cliffe Camping & Caravan Site in Windermere next year. This campsite won the Cumbria Tourism Award 2008 so it must be good!

Just a few camping places ideas; will no doubt be adding more when i hear about them!