DIGITAL ISSUE: With exclusive video
and extra pictures!
SEPTEMBER 2022
CARRY ON CAMPING!
How to make the camping season
last longer
BUDGET THWISAWLKAY
CAMPING OGUETTFKOIRTTTEHDE
HILLS
Top tips to beat
the cost of
living crisis
BREAKING BARD E-X-T-E-N-D
YOUR TENT
Discover Shakespeare country
The easy way to
WILD WILTSHIRE
Family-friendly fun create extra space
for little monkeys
SEPTEMBER 2022 ] £4.99
09
GET BACK TO NATURE ➧ 10 stunning sites for 9 771350 145239 >
exploring the outdoors
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WELCOME
September 2022
We all like a bit of summer sun, but some advice. retailer as well as paying tribute to the Camping
the baking temperatures we’ve seen For a gear geek like me, this is always a Hero of the Year. Cast your votes now at
this summer were something else. campingmag.uk/awards23.
I’m sure some of you enjoyed it, but for a pale brilliant time of year. In a few days, I’ll be
Scotsman like me, the only option when the heading to the annual Tent & Awning Show Finally, just a reminder that we’ve still got a
mercury hits 40°C is to strap ice packs to my trade event to see what’s new in the world of fantastic deal going on for Camping magazine
body, sit in a darkened room and turn the fan tents for next year. It’s not open to the public, digital subscriptions. For just £4.99 you can get
up to 11! but keep an eye on our website and YouTube a whole year’s worth of Camping plus access to
channel, CampingMagazineTV, over the next every article that has appeared in the mag since
It does seem that this is something we’re few weeks for exclusive sneak previews of what 2016. Visit campingmag.uk/exdigi22 for all
going to have to get used to. Whatever you will be in the shops in the spring. In the coming the info.
think about climate change, the vast majority weeks I’ll also be visiting the likes of Vango,
of scientists are of the opinion that it is real Coleman, Khyam, Outwell, Easy Camp and Happy camping!
and it’s man-made. Obviously, it’s up to the Robens to see what they have to offer in 2023.
powers that be to tackle the issue properly, but Happy days! Iain Duff, Editor
as campers there are some things we can do
to help look after the environment we love. Speaking of tent brands, don’t forget you can
Have a look at the guide to eco-camping on our vote for your favourite in our annual Camping
website outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping for Awards. Voting is open now and you can also
choose your favourite campsite and outdoor
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outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 3
CONTENTS
10
4 Camping September 2022 16
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24
46 56
INSPIRATION 29 CAMPSITE OF THE MONTH 56 GEAR: WALKING KIT
Back Of Beyond Equipment you need for hitting
10 WILD WILTSHIRE the trail
Clare Kelly enjoys a fun-filled THE KNOWLEDGE
West Country getaway 60 GEAR: KITBAG
39 SKILLS: CAMPSITE COOKING A round-up of the latest outdoor gear
16 A WEEK IN THE MIDLANDS With Outdoor Revolution
The perfect family holiday in REGULARS
Shakespeare country 40 SKILLS: EXTEND YOUR TENT
How to create more living space 6 FIRST PITCH
SPECIAL FEATURE What’s new in the world of camping
42 SKILLS: CAMP FOR LONGER
32 CAMPING ON A BUDGET Tips for staying cosy when you 8 AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
How to keep costs down and beat camp late in the season Your camping pictures
the cost-of-living crisis
45 SKILLS: CAMPING GURU 37 LAW OF THE CAMPSITE
SITES Readers’ problems solved Gillian Law’s camping thoughts
24 10 NATURE-FRIENDLY SITES 46 GEAR: TENT REVIEWS 63 OUR SITE
A selection of sites for getting Lightweight tents reviewed Liz Morrell meets campsite owners
back to nature living the dream
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 5
FIRST VANGO BREATHES LIFE
PITCH INTO OLD TENTS
Vango/Trakke
Vango has teamed up with an award-winning pack for day-to-day activities and a small features like wide-mouth front pockets and
backpack manufacturer to create a new accessory pouch made from tent-bag lining. padded laptop sleeves to make staying
range of bags made from recycled tent organised easier.”
fabric – including the iconic Force Ten. All of the Past Tents bags have been
constructed using end-of-life tents, giving the Rob Birrell, Vango’s Marketing Director,
The limited edition Past Tents collection kit another life and avoiding landfill. added: “Collaborating with another local
has been produced by fellow Glasgow- business in Glasgow to create the range
based company, Trakke. The collaboration between the two Scottish has been wonderful for us to explore more
brands celebrates a shared passion for ways to ‘upcycle’ end-of-life tents, as well
The range includes five models, from a exploring the great outdoors. as create a truly bespoke range that fuses
large 21-litre, roll-top rucksack made from heritage with modern day.”
original Icelandic tents used by the Scouts, Trakke’s founder, Alec Farmer, said:
to a striking orange Force Tote Bag. “We designed this collection to capture the ● The collection is available from the Trakke
nostalgia of the camping trips we took in our website trakke.co.uk
The range also features a design inspired youth. We created a range of sizes and styles
by Trakke’s staple Canna rucksack, a hip to suit children and adults alike and added
PODCAST REVEALS HIDDEN ROAD TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
A new podcast has been launched to showcase the attractions and beaten track and explore all that the NC500 has to offer.
activities along the North Coast 500. The series currently consists of six available episodes, hosted by
The route has earned a reputation for being one of the UK’s most presenters and producers, Dan Holland and Pennie Latin.
stunning road trips, and the series is encouraging visitors to get off the Each episode centres on a different region along the NC500 route,
with the presenting duo taking part in activities such as snorkelling, sea
kayaking and mountain biking.
The presenters have also enlisted a range of local experts to help
them highlight the remarkable features unique to each region, including
some lesser-known attractions.
Craig Mills, Head of Operations at North Coast 500, said: “While
road-trippers have long been
aware of the beauty that the
NC500 has to offer, this podcast
puts a focus on the wide variety
of activities available to enjoy
along the way.”
Look out for the North Coast 500's hidden gems ● You can subscribe and listen Presenters Dan and Pennie
at northcoast500.podbean.com
6 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
FLYPASTS CONFIRMED FOR RETAILER PLEDGES
LINCOLN SHOW SUPPORT FOR
REFUGEE CHARITY
Ellis BrighamTwo classic RAF aircraftENTERTAINMENT DIARY
Pixabay will be taking part in the Thursday A camping retailer has pledged to donate a
celebrations to mark the Main Marquee: The share of its sales from tents to a charity for
camping show season climax. Moondogs; Maxine Mazumder rough sleepers and homeless refugees.
as Dusty Springfield
Regulars visitors to the Outdoor chain, Ellis Brigham Mountain
Motorhome & Campervan Friday Sports, announced the move after seeing
Show, Season Finale, which Main Marquee: The Stones; the work of Sleep Pod at close hand.
takes place at Lincolnshire Yourythmics
Showground every September, Epic Centre: Andy Ska The charity provides temporary warm
will be aware that a flypast and dry emergency shelters for homeless
from the RAF Air Events Team Saturday people in the UK and refugees throughout
is an annual highlight. Main Marquee: Bobby Davro; Europe – people driven from their homes in
The Manfreds; One Step war-torn areas.
And it has been confirmed Behind
that, this year, the Spitfire Please note this show is After spending a day with Sleep Pod
will appear over the show ticketed. Seats are £20 per founder, Justin Devereux, to find out more
on Saturday 24 September adult or £10 per child when about the work of the charity, Mark and
and the Hurricane on Sunday reserved at the same time as Robert Brigham of Ellis Brigham pledged to
25 September, subject to your pitch. donate 1% of all tent sales until 31 October.
weather conditions. Epic Centre: Little Miss 60s
● Read more about the work of Sleep
Those wanting to stay on Sunday Pod at sleeppod.org.uk and find out more
site have until Wednesday Main Marquee: Martin Jarvis about volunteering to help build pods or
7 September to secure four is Tom-Tastic; The Cilla Black making a donation
nights away for £75, which Experience
includes unlimited access
to the exhibition area and
evening entertainment.
BOOK YOUR CAMPING PITCH NOW
Camping is available – four nights with entertainment – is just £75 when booked in
advance. Day visitor tickets are £5 in advance or £8 on the gate.
● Head to www.showgoer.co.uk for more details
TREVORNICK REVEALS £180k NEW COASTAL WALKING ROUTE IN ESSEX
SPLASH PARK R A new 85-mile stretch of the England Coast Path will give more than half Natural England
a million people increased access to the coast.Trevornick Holiday Park
Trevornick Holiday Park,
The new section in Essex stretches from Tilbury to Wallasea Island, via
a Premier Parks site in Southend-on-Sea, and takes in varied landscapes of saltmarsh and vast
area of grassland.
Cornwall, has unveiled its
A total of 150 miles – around 50% of the Essex coastline in all – is now
latest investment – The accessible via the England Coast Path (ECP), which will provide more
people with the chance to spend time outdoors.
Splash Zone.
The newly opened trail will also provide an economic boost to the area
Added to the site’s – it’s estimated that £350 million is spent during trips to coastal paths
supporting local people and businesses.
existing swimming pool
Highlights of the stretch include:
complex, the new £180,000 Heated pool at Trevornick Holiday ● Views ranging from the towering ships at Tilbury to industrial
Splash Zone, which was Park, Holywell Bay, Newquay landscapes, quiet marshes and glimpses of the Hoo Peninsula in Kent
developed in response to ● Canvey Island, where nature has reclaimed industry as you walk
past an oil terminal
customer feedback, contains two tipping buckets, fountains, water where construction was
abandoned in the 1970s
jets and a raised trickle stream, designed for toddlers, babies, non- oil crisis.
swimmers and those who are unable to access the main pool. When completed, the
ECP will be the longest
It also includes an extended sun terrace and dedicated area for continuous coastal walking
route in the world at more
street food vendors, so parents, carers and families can relax and than 2,700 miles.
enjoy a bite to eat.
General Manager, Adrian Tribe, said: “We are so thrilled to
have opened The Splash Zone after weeks of hard work by all
involved to bring it to completion. We had a good year in 2021
and reinvesting that success back into the park will be great for
the guests and for us. It’s a brilliant new addition to the resort and
we can’t wait to see the guests really making the most of it this
summer.”
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 7
It’s time to
No one knows more about camping than
campers, which is why we want
YOU to have your say!
We want you to tell us your favourite:
1 Tent brand
2 Campsite
3 Camping/outdoor retailer
4 Camping hero –
from the 6 shortlisted below
(Photo courtesy of Instagram @1bike1world)
(Photo courtesy of Instagram @the_boy_in_the_tent)
(Photo courtesy of Kerry Godliman)
Kerry Godliman Max Woosey Dean Nicholson
Camping-loving comedian The boy in the tent Around-the-world adventurer
8 Camping June 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
vote!
For more information and to vote
visit campingmag.uk/awards2023
(Photo courtesy of Kalei Brooks, Alaska National Guard)
(Photo courtesy of Ian Alcorn)
(Photo courtesy of the Camping and Caravanning Club)
Julia Bradbury Ian Alcorn Bear Grylls
The First Lady of camping Great British Campout founder TV survivalist and outdoors champion
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping June 2022 Camping 9
Around the
CAMPFIRE
STAR Spent a great weekend with friends at the
PIC Cae Du campsite in Wales and captured
this astounding sunset during a break in
the middle of a colossal thunderstorm.
Nature is always surprising and camping
gives us the opportunity to be right
smack in the middle.
Rob Baker
On Loch Lomond, camping
on one of the islands.
Chris Bennett
Share your adventures Join the Camping community
Send us your favourite camping photographs along with a short caption. @campingmagazine
We’ll publish the best snaps in the magazine and on our website campingmagazine
outandaboutlive.co.uk and the picture we like the most will win a great @campingmag
prize from Coleman!
Send your pictures to [email protected] outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
8 Camping September 2022
Share your camping Follow Coleman on
moments in association with facebook.com/Coleman.UK
or visit the website
colemanuk.co.uk
A lovely, warm summer evening watching the Our trip to The Grove
sunset over the Welsh mountains. campsite at Anderby
Creek during the
Emily Lashford Jubilee bank holiday.
Our Berghaus 6XL was
The Daltons in full decorated with bunting
Jubilee celebration and you can see my
at Rosedale Abbey husband, Dean, and
campsite. No corgis, son, Reuben, cheering,
just a labrador called and our dog, Margot (if
King George VII! you look closely). We
had a great time here.
Lachlan
Dalton Akvinder Spencer
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping WHAT YOU CAN WIN
Chris’ pictures win him a Coleman Cozy Double sleeping bag
worth £149.99. The Cozy Double is a soft and sumptuous
double-layer, quilted, cotton flannel sleeping bag with
Coletherm insulation, providing extra-comfortable
sleeping conditions. The hood is removable and combines
the spacious dimensions of a rectangular sleeping bag
with increased temperature performance. An anti-odour
treatment prevents up to 99% of odour-forming bacteria,
ensuring the bag will stay fresher for longer.
Additional features include a full left side zip and
quarter-length right side zip for easy entry into this
bag both sides. All zips feature Thermolock zipper
baffles to reduce heat loss through the zipper, keeping
you warmer, and the side zips also feature ZipPlow
technology preventing snagging by
ploughing fabric away from the zip.
September 2022 Camping 9
INSPIRATION WILTSHIRE
Wild
in Wiltshire
Clare Kelly and her family head to the southwest for a break
that’s perfect for little monkeys
10 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
Walking through Salisbury Plain
As soon as my body makes contact As he walked over the bridge, his dog Instead we planned to visit Longleat,
with the water, I'm gone. I can't tell poked his nose under the railings as if Bowood, and head further afield into
you where but it's somewhere that contemplating a dip. Hampshire for a more briny swim.
quietens my mind and stills my soul.
As a county, is often bypassed by those For now, though, a simple swim, the water
I'm a water sign if that means anything choosing to head to Devon or Cornwall for on my skin was enough of a holiday. I emerged
to you. And so when I took my family to summer holidays. Stonehenge is likely its with reeds clinging to my thighs and a tiny but
Wiltshire, I packed my swimming costume, most popular attraction but,with a one-year- not blood sucking leech on my arm. Not quite
too. I'm not sure anyone else would. That was old in tow, I couldn't see the Neolithic stones Venus. Not composed, just wild and alive.
certainly the impression I got when a puzzled being number one on our must-visit list this
man and his wolf-like dog found me not quite year. He enjoys trying to eat the stones he More civilised pursuits such as drinking tea
paddling but not quite swimming in the Avon finds on the patio so I can only imagine what and eating cake were forecast, too, and, once
just outside the village of Netheravon. would happen. roughly dried on the bank, we headed into
the market town of Marlborough.
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 11
INSPIRATION WILTSHIRE
Bowood House
Stunning architecture of Bowood House INSET One of Longleat residents
NEED TO KNOW selection of children's books. It’s been watch the animals and take some photos.
welcoming bookworms for more than 75 years I was sure that my son would love to see
● To discover more about Longleat and is as quaint a shop as you’d like it to be. You
longleat.co.uk won’t find any of the trappings that you’d find the monkeys and, while the signs outside the
at chain shops and it’s all the better for it. If you enclosure read ‘monkeys will damage your car’,
● For information about visiting Bowood do want a hot drink, just wander up the road to I thought 'we've come this far'. Up ahead a
House and Gardens Coffi Lab. car was under siege and missing an indicator.
bowood.org Baby monkeys clung to the underside of their
This contemporary café is both dog (the lab parents and opportunist adults prowled around
● To plan your visit to Wiltshire part of the name stands for Labrador) and child the outside of the car peering in the windows
visitwiltshire.co.uk friendly so we headed in there for a pit stop. and staring at my son who was petrified. 'What
It is a glorious building flooded with natural noise does a monkey make?', I offered in an
The town is really pretty light and was once a Lloyds Bank. It is favoured attempt to make the connection. His bottom lip
and there was a charming by well-heeled students from the famous wobbled and he looked like he was about to cry.
Marlborough College (alumni include Kate
book shop called The Middleton and Samantha Cameron), and those As we made our way out of the enclosure,
White Horse Bookshop of us who have just removed another stray river my wife spotted a hand clinging onto the back
with handwritten staff weed from their flip flop. window wiper. It vanished just before we left,
recommendations on the luckily.The deer enclosure was a much more
shelves, which I always My wife's family are from Wiltshire and relaxed affair. Food was £1 so we got a couple
love. I found my favourite in all our time visiting we'd never been to of pots and wound the windows down to
book, Miss Pettigrew Lives Longleat but, with a small person who enjoyed hand-feed them. I love their big eyes and gentle
For a Day, and picked up a making animal noises, we thought it would be a nature and, while I think it's quite novel to have
good plan. With our son happy in his car seat, a deer poke his head through the window, my
copy for my friend. we took the safari route first. You can book a son looked as if this happens to him every day.
There's also a good VIP tour but, if you're fortunate to choose a Such a tough crowd.
quiet day, you can stop as long as you want to
Longleat is massive and you could easily
12 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
Bowood
The gorgeous gardens at Bowood
Bowood Anna Stowe
spend a whole day exploring. I'm not a fan of (according to my coffee-drinking wife) the Serene swans glide on the lake at Bowood
zoos so seeing animals in this environment was best cappuccino. I certainly enjoyed the rocky You willl find great coffee at Coffi Lab
wonderful and one I know my boy will enjoy road cake and hid it from my son because he
when he is old enough to understand what it's confiscates anything chocolate-based. There’s a Coffi Lab offers great treats for dogs
all about. I didn’t know before our visit but pub here, too, called The Dog & Gun which has
Longleat was the first drive-through safari park recently been refurbished and does some great September 2022 Camping 13
outside Africa when it first opened in 1966. cocktails; the latter ideal for when Grandma
and Grandad babysit.
Today, there’s over 130 species of animal
who call Longleat their home and conservation Bowood House & Gardens, near Calne, has
is a key concern of those who work there, with been somewhere I’ve wanted to go for some
many breeding programmes in place – in fact, time, and hearing that it has a great adventure
you can see some animals that are actually playground just added to the appeal. With
extinct in the wild including the scimitar- some 100 acres of vast parkland designed by
horned oryx – a breed of antelope which once Capability Brown, I hoped that we would all
roamed freely on the plains of Africa. Animals be burning off some energy, with the aim of
love this place so much that some beavers having a nice little nap in the afternoon.
arrived on the estate all by themselves!
Behind the café and admissions office,
You can pitch at the Caravan and you’ll find the Activity Barn with soft play
Motorhome Club site inside Longleat if you kit including foam bricks and a mini shop
fancy some wild neighbours but we stayed for budding entrepreneurs who want to start
close to the small village of Netheravon in our wheeling and dealing early. Our little explorer
friend’s field. From here it wasn’t far to get to loved the tractor park best of all – dozens of
all the attractions we’d planned to visit. We ride-on John Deere tractors. You can ride them
also discovered a really cute little coffee shop up and down the little track or get Mumma
called Brushh in Netheravon itself which serves to push you around and around. There’s also
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
INSPIRATION WILTSHIRE
Summer on Salisbury Plain CENTRE The White Horse Bookshop in Marlborough
14 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
Bowood a massive sandpit and den-building area. All
this before you even get to the adventure
Pirate ship in the adventure playground at Bowood playground although, at this point, I wasn’t
sure we were going to make it that far. Round
Mudeford looking towards the Isle of Wight and round and round we went, who knew
INSET Clare's son plays in the sand at Mudeford tractors could run so well on such little fuel?
Once you’ve made it into the main parkland,
the space is welcoming. Wander down a path
and you’ll find the playground with its life-size
pirate ship and aerial walkways with scramble
nets and slides. This is a great spot for older
kids, while the Partridge Pen is for toddlers
with a ball pit, boat swings and Wendy house.
Further on past the adventure playground
you’ll come to the main house which has been
in the Lansdowne family since 1754 and is
home to many beautiful paintings and some
more unusual items including Napoleon’s death
mask. You might well know what that is but I
certainly didn’t. Put simply, it’s a wax or plaster
mask taken of someone’s face once they
have passed on. It’s not something I’d
want on display in my house but it's
intriguing nevertheless.
The arboretum was the
area of Bowood I loved most
and I hope to go back in the
autumn as I can only imagine
how gloriously golden all
the colours will be. There is
more than 700 species of tree
here and, when you’re walking
underneath the canopy of leaves,
it feels pretty magical.
On our final day, we headed to
Dorset to meet some friends at their
beach hut in Mudeford. I had packed my
swimming costume, and located the nearest
chip shop. On arrival, our friend, who swims
here every day, remarked that it was bit rough
out there. I was disappointed but decided that
ending the holiday on first name terms with
the RNLI wasn’t a good idea.
I made do with a paddle and enjoyed the
view over to the Isle of Wight and the famous
Needles, blindingly white as if just cast from
plaster. When I turned around, I noticed an
older gentleman was also smiling and enjoying
the view but I’m not entirely sure he was
looking at the same thing I was…
STAY AT
LONGLEAT CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME
CLUB SITE
Longleat, Warminster BA12 7NL
01985 844663
caravanclub.co.uk
R GREEN HILL FARM HOLIDAY
VILLAGE
New Road, Landford, Salisbury, Wiltshire
SP5 2AZ
0333 200 2790
lovatparks.com
R COOMBE CARAVAN PARK
The Race Plain, Netherhampton,
Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 8PN
01722 328451
coombecaravanpark.co.uk
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 15
A WEEK IN The Midlands
The Heart of
England
From bustling cities to quaint villages with thatch-roof
pubs and lovely riverside walks, the Midlands has it all
The Malverns outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
16 Camping September 2022
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford Pixabay
The Midlands is the a tipple in the Dirty Duck, often
geographic heart of frequented by local actors – is a
England and there’s little frankly splendid way to pass an
doubt that for history, culture, afternoon. The Bancroft Gardens
scenery and an almost limitless is a lovely place to relax on a
number of things to do, it ticks an sunny day.
awful lot of boxes.
If the Midlands is the heart
And with a vast area offering of England, then Birmingham
everything from quintessentially seems like the heartland of the
British villages to bustling towns, Midlands, both historically
with a large dose of heritage and geographically. Massive
added in, it’s a lovely part of our investment during the past
green and pleasant land to spend two decades has seen the city
a holiday. transformed and it’s now a
vibrant, bustling city on the up.
Stratford-upon-Avon in
Warwickshire is the epicentre of Leamington Spa, Solihull
Shakespeare country and is filled and Warwick are charm-filled,
with brilliant attractions and smaller Midlands towns and, for
things to see, not all linked to the the definitive, beautiful Midlands
famous Bard of Avon. village we reckon it’s hard to
beat the thatched perfection of
This medieval town dates Shottery, near Stratford.
back 800 years, with the Royal
Shakespeare Theatre, parks and The beautiful Cotswold village
River Avon dominating the of Bourton-on-the-Water
centre. On a warm summer’s day, certainly comes in a close second
strolling along the river past the place and offers many delights for
theatre – and maybe stopping for a day out.
WHERE TO EAT Pixabay
BOSTON TEA PARTY
St Gregory’s Hall, Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6QW
01789 632722
bostonteaparty.co.uk
This is a chain with branches across the west of England, but it’s a cut
above the usual High Street fare. This was voted best café in town for a
couple of years in a row, and it offers up a great selection of breakfast
and lunchtime dishes – including vegan and veggie options.
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 17
A WEEK IN The Midlands
DAY 1 & 2 Pixabay
THE BARD’S HOME TOWN
Ann Hathaway’s house
Stratford, Shakespeare’s home town,
is a hotbed of history, heritage and STAY AT
culture… and merits at least a couple of
days of your holiday. MOUSLEY HOUSE FARM
Case Lane, Hatton, Rowington, Warwick
For starters, the Royal Shakespeare CV35 7JG
Theatre is well worth a visit. You 07443 475434
can get discounted tickets but it’s mousleyhousefarmcampsite.co.uk
worth reading up on your choice
of play before you go as not all the R BRIARFIELDS MOTEL
productions are Shakespeare plays.
Outside the theatre are the Bancroft & TOURING PARK
Gardens, right next to the River Avon. Gloucester Road, Cheltenham GL51 0SS
Relax here on sunny days and enjoy 01242 235324
the wide grass lawns and manicured briarfields.net
gardens with the river as a backdrop.
KINGSBURY WATER PARK CAMPING &
Features include a human sundial, CARAVANNING CLUB SITE
a new performance zone, two fully Bodymoor Heath Lane, Sutton Coldfield
accessible bridges over the canal and B76 0DY
lock, the magnificent swan fountain 01827 874101
and the Gower Memorial (featuring campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Shakespeare and four characters from
Pixabay his plays). Just outside Stratford, the
picture-perfect village of Shottery
was the childhood home of Anne outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
Hathaway, famous for being William
Shakespeare’s wife, and her cottage is
one of this part of England’s premier
places to visit.
DAY 3
VISIT BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham has long shaken off its old,
grim reputation and England’s second
city is now an energetic and vibrant
place to visit. Go to the canalside
restaurants of Brindleyplace for some
wonderful al fresco dining, or the
brilliant Bullring shopping centre if you
feel the need to open your wallet.
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens
rival anything in the UK for beauty,
the Thinktank Birmingham Science
Museum is a fantastic place to expand
your mind, while Ikon Gallery is a feast
for the eyes if you’re into contemporary
art. And for the sweet-toothed, try to
make it to Cadbury World – an entire
place dedicated to chocolate!
DAY 4
AVON BOATING
If you’ve had your culture fix and fancy
a bit of exercise, head to Avon Boating
in Stratford, where you can hire rowing
boats, punts or canoes to enjoy and
explore the river.
Prefer to relax? You can also hire out
motorboats by the half-hour, or the six-
berth Mallard boats for longer periods.
An eight-hour Mallard day hire costs
£120, and £150 on weekends and bank
holidays. Plan these trips in advance to
get the most from them.
Try to fit in a fun tour of the
Shakespeare Gin Distillery, which
is inspired by the Tudor period and
features gins flavoured with herbs from
a Tudor herb garden.
xxx
Boats in Stratford-upon-Avon
18 Camping September 2022
Pixabay
Pixabay
Birmingham’s canals Hall’s Croft ц
ONE TO VISIT
HALL’S CROFT is the former home of
Shakespeare’s daughter, Susanna, and her
husband, the physician, John Hall, dating
back to 1613. Enjoy the luxurious rooms and
the stunning interiors of this fascinating
house and relax in the beautiful walled
garden with its fragrant herbs as used by
John Hall in his remedies. There are also
puzzles, quizzes and trails for
the children to enjoy.
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 19
A WEEK IN The Midlands
DAY 5 patchwork of honey-coloured towns and Ⱥ WHERE TO VISIT
STELLAR LEICESTER sleepy villages. Bourton-on-the-Water, a
stunning Cotswold village on the bank of SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE
Leicester has a surprisingly varied selection the River Windrush, is a lovely place to Henley Street, Stratford CV37 6QW
of attractions – from historical treasures spend a day of your Midlands holiday. It has shakespeare.org.uk
to Space Age gems. The discovery of King gift shops, boutiques and specialist retailers
Richard III’s remains in a council car park in selling everything from model railways to ANNE HATHAWAY’S COTTAGE
2012 has sparked a revival of interest in the local brews. Visit the wonderful Cotswold Cottage Lane, Shottery CV37 9HH
city’s heritage, and the incredible story is told Motoring Museum and Toy Collection, shakespeare.org.uk
in the visitor centre. Currently undergoing packed full of old motoring memorabilia and
refurbishment, the magnificent Jewry Wall, vintage cars. SHAKESPEARE’S NEW PLACE
part of the town’s public baths, is one of the 22 Chapel Street, Stratford CV37 6EP
tallest surviving pieces of Roman masonry in At Chedworth Roman Villa, people in shakespeare.org.uk
the country. Roman dress will tell you about medicine and
life at the villa and you can see the workings SHAKESPEARE DISTILLERY TOUR
But if you’re looking for something truly of the underfloor heating system, the old Drayton Manor Drive, Stratford CV37 9RQ
out of this world, the National Space Centre in bathhouse and the sauna. 01789 336559
Leicester is an absolute must. This is the place shakespearedistillery.com
to go if you want mind-bending facts about DAY 7
the solar system. Did you know Jupiter has 79 ESCAPE TO THE HILLS COTSWOLD MOTORING MUSEUM
moons? You do now! Bourton-on-the-Water GL54 2BY
Head to the Malvern Hills for a day of 01451 821255
DAY 6 walking and you can enjoy breathtaking cotswoldmotoringmuseum.co.uk
THE COTSWOLDS views of Herefordshire and the Severn
Valley, while the Shropshire Hills are also CHEDWORTH ROMAN VILLA
A 45-minute drive from Stratford-upon- an area of real beauty, offering walks for any Yanworth, near Cheltenham GL54 3LJ
Avon takes you into the heart of the beautiful level of fitness. 01242 890256
Cotswolds, where you’ll find a dreamy nationaltrust.org.uk/chedworth-roman-villa
NATIONAL SPACE CENTRE
Exploration Drive, Leicester LE4 5NS
0116 261 0261
spacecentre.co.uk
Bourton-on-the-water outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
Pixabay
20 Camping September 2022
The mountains are calling
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Shop our Camp Mugs at
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PARKS DIRECTORY DEVON DEVON
Caravans, Pods, Tents, Motorhomes,
En-suite pitches, Lodges.
Pets are welcome at Smytham. A rural retreat ideal as a base to enjoy all that
North Devon has to offer. Walks and dog friendly beaches are nearby.
Direct access to Tarka Trail. Dog exercise field.
www.smytham.co.uk | [email protected]
Little Torrington, EX38 8PU | 01805622110
DORSET Now is the perfect time
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01258 453719
NORFOLK
RELAX IN NORTH NORFOLK Tenby - Pixabay Search on
Set up camp surrounded by rare heathland, pines and woodland. outandaboutlive.co.uk
Explore self-guided trails, ride your bikes and swim in the lovely
indoor and outdoor pools. Enjoy a game of tennis, try fishing or hop
on a steam train. You can stay in a holiday home or lodge too.
®
To book a wonderful holiday call 01263 588181 or visit kellingheath.co.uk
Nr Weybourne, Norfolk
22 Camping September 2022
Pixabay
Damage Barton, Devon
Kelling Heath, Norfolk
South Wales Touring Park,
Carmarthenshire
High-quality campsites in the most Elie Holiday Park - Fife
stunning locations
PPixixaabbaayy
Book your ideal break with Premier Parks
Go to
premier-parks.co.uk
to find the perfect destination.
@PrmParks @PremierParks @premier_parks
INSPIRATION Sites for nature lovers
A natural escape
Celebrate the joys of the great outdoors with a stay at one of these
lovely campsites, where nature is all around
Words by Claire Tupholme
FLAXTON MEADOWS
North Yorkshire
Flaxton, York, North Yorkshire YO60 7QZ
01904 393943
flaxtonmeadows.co.uk
1 March – 31 October
The aim and policy of Flaxton Meadows eco campsite is
to provide a low carbon footprint environment for eco-
conscious guests to stay and enjoy. The site is located
in North Yorkshire’s beautiful countryside, bordered
by rolling farmland and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s
Strensall Common Nature Reserve. If you fancy a change
from the tranquillity of the campsite, the bustling city of
York is only 20 minutes away, with a bus service one mile
from the site, or there are several park and ride services
available, too.
Tent pitches are available on grass with electric and
there are more back-to-nature camping pitches adjacent
to the nature reserve. All guests can enjoy use of the state-
of-the-art washroom and toilets with thermostatically
controlled hot water and underfloor heating utilising
natural resources generated on site. Facilities are fully
accessible, plus there is a launderette, a bar and nature trail.
cosmicherb/stock.adobe.com
ELIE HOLIDAY PARK the sandy beach of Shell Bay and next to 30-minute drive away, with a historic castle
Fife both Elie Forest and Ruddons Point, a Site and range of shops.
of Special Scientific Interest. There are lots
Shell Bay, Elie, Leven, Fife KY9 1HB of birdwatching opportunities and walkers The camping pitches at Elie Holiday
01333 330283 often see red squirrels around the park, too. Park are on grass, not far from the beach,
abbeyford.com Reception can provide several walking route with electric hook-up. There are toilet and
18 March – 31 October maps, detailing the wildlife and scenery to shower facilities, a launderette, a shop, a café,
look out for en route, and Shell Bay is ideal takeaway, games room, restaurant and bar,
With its Robinson Crusoe Adventure Park for rockpooling. Exploring further afield, all available on site. Dogs are welcome here,
and coastal location, Elie Holiday Park is St Andrews, the home of golf, is just a too. Cycle hire is available locally, with bikes
perfect for families. The site is adjacent to delivered to the site.
24 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
INSET Powis Castle (Pixabay)
RHYD-Y-GROES TOURING & individual wet rooms, plus Powis Castle terrace (Pixabay)
CAMPING PARK a dog shower. There’s also a
Powys woodland walk where you can
experience a habitat home to a
Marton, Welshpool, Powys SY21 8JJ variety of birds and butterflies.
01938 561228
rhyd-y-groes.co.uk A 10-minute drive from Rhyd-
All year y-Groes is Powis Castle and
Garden. This striking, rust-red
Set near Welshpool in mid Wales, medieval castle sits overlooking
Rhyd-y-Groes is a tranquil beautiful gardens. A visit in late
campsite, ideal for a relaxing break summer or during autumn will
for adults over the age of 25 only. still see the Italianate terraces and
The site is surrounded by woodland Edwardian Formal Garden full of
and farmland with 10 pitches colour. Add to this a panoramic
available for tents, with electric view across the Severn Valley and
hook-up if required. Site facilities you have one very special treat for
include toilets and showers, with the eyes.
DORNAFIELD abundance of floral features on site, and both Killerton, with its parkland, garden and 18th
Devon flora and fauna in its woodland. Tent pitches century house, which is a 45-minute drive
are allocated in The Orchard, a pretty area of away. The journey is certainly worth it, as this
Two Mile Oak, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6DD sixteen fully serviced pitches, enclosed by old 6,400-acre estate is famous for its rare trees
01803 812732 stone walls and hedges. There are toilet and and shrubs. You can also walk from Killerton
dornafield.com shower facilities, laundry rooms, a shop, a dog to nearby Danes Wood (one mile). In summer
12 March – 3 November exercise area, adventure play areas, games room it is a retreat from the crowds, with songbirds
and a tennis court on site. and buzzards overhead, and in autumn the
Surrounded by woods and trees, Dornafield trees turn a rich red and gold. You can follow
is naturally beautiful and you can enjoy an If you decide to explore off site, head to up your walk with a cream tea in The Stables
café back at Killerton.
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 25
INSPIRATION Sites for nature lovers
COSAWES PARK
Cornwall
Perranarworthal, Falmouth, Truro, Cornwall TR3 7QS
01872 863724
cosawes.co.uk
All year
Set on the edge of the River Fal in south Cornwall, Trelissick has
gardens, woodland and countryside with panoramic estuary views.
During the season, you can expect to see a variety of flowers and shrubs
on show. Located a few miles further south towards Falmouth, Enys
Garden is a 30-acre haven of tranquil gardens and woodland. There are
also ponds, an orchard and a pinetum here so you can get your fill of the
natural world – as well as a picturesque photo or two!
Nicely nestled between the two gardens (three miles from Enys and
five miles from Trelissick) is Cosawes Park. This site is for adults only
and is home to lots of wildlife thanks to its environmental efforts. There
are three small grass pitches suitable for two-person tents, or there are
also larger grass pitches with electric hook-up. Facilities available include
toilets, showers, a covered washing-up area, a launderette and dog
exercise fields.
Stourhead (Pixabay)TANNER FARM PARKSHAFTESBURY COUNTRY TOURING PARK
Stourhead (Pixabay)Kent Dorset
Scotney Castle (Pixabay)
Goudhurst Road, Marden, Kent TN12 9ND Sherborne Causeway, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 9PX
01622 832399 07436 791800
tannerfarm.co.uk shaftesburycountrytouringpark.co.uk
All year 9 April – 31 October
For a campsite within 20 minutes’ drive of three great places for natural This site is the
delights, choose Tanner Farm Park, 13 miles from Royal Tunbridge closest to the
Wells. The first place is Sissinghurst Castle Garden. Here, you will find pretty town of
The Cottage Garden, which shines with colour in late summer and Shaftesbury, well
carries through into September and October. Next, head to Bedgebury known for Gold
National Pinetum and Forest, home to the most complete collection Hill from the Hovis
of coniferous trees anywhere in the world. Finally, there is the moated advert! Shaftesbury
Scotney Castle. An early autumn-time visit will reward you with the Country Touring
vibrant reds of Japanese acers. Also keep an eye out for wildlife on Park is also only
the wider estate and maybe you fancy a guided estate walk – they run nine miles from
between February and November. Stourhead, a landscape garden with Palladian house. This is a special
garden, with a lake at its centre surrounded by classical temples,
Tanner Farm has grass pitches for tents, but without electric hook-up. grottoes and exotic trees. In summer the flowering shrubs and
On site you’ll find a shop, toilets, showers, a launderette, dishwashing colour from the trees reflect in the lake, making for a memorable
area, and play areas. The site is surrounded by woodland, farmland and sight, and in autumn the colours are sublime. The 2,650-acre
apple orchards. countryside estate is home to a variety of birds, roe deer, butterflies
and bats.
Set in the rural Dorset countryside, Shaftesbury Country Touring
Park has two areas, one hosting a fishing lake in a 19-acre field that
can accommodate all sizes of tent. Electric hook-up is available and
there are toilets and showers, accessible facilities, a launderette, and
shop selling the essentials.
26 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
SPRINGBOK FARM ESTATE CAMPSITE Winkworth Arboretum (Alan/stock.adobe.com)
Surrey
Care Ashore, Alfold, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8EX
01403 752555
careashore.org
Easter – October
This campsite is located on a country estate owned and run
by Care Ashore, a charity that provides accommodation
and support to retired seafarers. Pitches are on grass with
10 electric hook-up points. There is a small toilet and
shower block, with one shower in each of the ladies and
gents, plus an accessible toilet. A restaurant and takeaway
are a 20-minute walk away with a shop 10 minutes further
on. An aerodrome is nearby, which may be of interest to
aeroplane enthusiasts.
Half a mile from the site is Sidney Wood with a selection
of walking trails, where you can go in search of the old Wey
and Arun Canal. A little further afield (a 15-minute drive
away) is Winkworth Arboretum with a collection of over
1,000 species of trees and shrubs. Throughout the changing
seasons this is a beautiful place to explore, with free guided
walks available each month.
BREDON-VALE CARAVAN AND Trail walks, ranging from a three-mile stroll
CAMPING to a longer six-mile walk, all rewarding you
Worcestershire with sights and scents of the blossom.
Evesham Road, Norton, Worcestershire The campsite overlooks the Malvern
Hills and, with a focus on nature, hedging
WR11 4TW and wildlife areas have been created, along
07864 744074 with reinstating an orchard. There are
bredon-valecaravanandcamping.co.uk hardstanding pitches with electric hook-
All year up, or grass pitches with no electric. The
facilities comprise toilets and showers plus an
Between mid-March and mid-May, the visitors to drive, cycle or walk parts or all of accessible family room, a washing machine
Vale of Evesham and surrounding areas are the route. On the doorstep of Bredon-Vale and drying room, and a covered dishwashing
recognised for their apples, pears and plums Caravan and Camping are three Blossom area. Reception sells the essentials such as
that fill the landscape with blossom of varying bread and milk, along with some home-
colours. So much so, a 45-mile AA signposted grown produce.
Blossom Trail route was created, allowing
LOW WRAY CAMPSITE means daffodils – the blaze of yellow colour across the landscape that so
Cumbria inspired Wordsworth! What better way to experience Mother Nature’s
springtime display than with a scenic walk and a picnic? The shores of
Wray Castle, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 0JA the lake at Tarn Hows, and the grounds of Wray Castle, make for two
01539 432733 idyllic spots. At the castle, you will even find an indoor picnic room,
nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/low-wray-campsite-lake-district should the British weather let you down.
28 March – 31 October
Wray Castle is only half a mile from Low Wray Campsite, and Tarn
If you’re planning your camping trips for 2023, picture the Lake District Hows is five miles away. The campsite is located on the western shore
in spring – the flowers are in bloom, bluebells carpet the woodland floors of Lake Windermere, with access to the water, and tents can pitch on
and the scent of wild garlic fills the air. You might spot newborn lambs in the waterfront, or in the woodland or meadow. Facilities include toilets,
the fields and wildlife as it emerges from its winter slumber. Spring also showers, a shop, launderette, washing-up area and play area.
Tarn Howes (Kevin Eaves/stock.adobe.com)
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 27
NOT
Campsite Of The Month INSPIRATION
Campsite
Of The
Month
R
BACK OF BEYOND TOURING
& CAMPING PARK
Dorset
A wonderful adults-only site close to beaches and forest
Back of Beyond is a little bit special. It offers There’s also a warm water dog wash, a L INFORMATION
an oasis within a 30-acre park of woodland, reception shop and a fishing lake stocked with
heathland and lakes. The adults-only site is a haven carp, chubb and tench. STAY AT
for wildlife and is located within a short drive of
Dorset beaches and the New Forest. There are You can also pick up freshly baked croissants, BACK OF BEYOND TOURING
three main camping areas for tents, including the pain au chocolat, pain au raisin and baguettes for & CAMPING PARK
wonderful Emma’s Glade, which offers around 20 breakfast if pre-ordered the day before. 234a Ringwood Road, St Leonards,
non-electric, wild camping-style pitches for a real East Moors Lane, Dorset BH24 2SB
off-grid experience. Recreation facilities include a boules pitch and a 01202 876968
pitch and putt golf course – where clubs and balls backofbeyondtouringpark.co.uk
For a more comfortable pitch, the Warren has are provided.
10A electric pitches on flat artificial grass and there FACILITIES
are also traditional grass pitches with electric. For glampers, there are fully ufrnished shepherd ● Shop selling camping essentials as well as
huts with wood burners, as well as a luxurious local produce
The modern toilets and showers offer luxurious yurt, lodges and pods. Dogs are welcome in some ● Breakfast pick-up service
comforts such as power showers and there is a of the glamping accommodation. ● Free WiFi at reception
washing-up area. A brand-new shower block ● Seating area and outdoor pop-up bar
was completed in time for the start of the 2022 Moors Valley Country Park and Hurn Forest ● Mobile takeaways
camping season and the existing toilet block has are close to the site, with New Forest villages and ● Dog wash facility
also undergone a refurbishment. Ringwood just a cycle ride or short drive away.
Major coastal resorts such as Bournemouth and
Poole are within 30 minutes’ drive.
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 29
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outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping June 2022 Camping 3
BUDGET CAMPING
Don't let inflation
get you down!
Iain Duff explains how the humble camping trip can help you beat
the cost of living crisis
Stock up on booze from the supermarket instead of You don’t need to be a financial wizard holiday in Spain at almost £5,000. Based on
going to the pub to save money to know that money is tight just now. a rough back-of-a-beer-mat calculation, I
As inflation soars and the cost of living quickly worked out that you could get at least
spirals upwards, belt-tightening and cutting seven years’ worth of brilliant camping trips
back on spending are the order of the day for in the UK for the same amount of money.
pretty much everyone.
Don’t believe me? Let’s say you pay £20 per
One of the greatest pleasures of camping night for a pitch for a family of four, in high
is the fact that it doesn’t have to cost a season. Over 14 nights that works out at £280
fortune. It is perfectly suited to families – and if you repeat that seven times it comes
wanting a cheap getaway for a few days as and to £1,960. Add in spending money, travel
when they can, and even the most basic of costs, a couple of family tents and some other
equipment will be enough for you to enjoy a gear and you’re still under the £5,000 cost of
great, relaxing break. one foreign holiday. Of course, once you’ve
made the initial investment in the camping
Recently, I read some research carried equipment you can use it as many times as
out by a travel insurance firm that put the you like. In fact, chances are you’ve already
total average cost of a two-week family villa
32 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
TOP TIPS FOR CUT-PRICE CAMPING
Camping is an affordable way 1 SET A BUDGET should write it off. Instead, think about how
to enjoy a family holiday Could you survive on £15 a day? If you do your you can breathe new life into these older
own cooking and keep extraneous spending pieces of equipment.
to a minimum then it should be possible. The
important thing is that you should decide in Get your tent repaired rather than paying
advance what you’re going to spend and stick full whack for a new one. Your original supplier
to it strictly. should be able to put you in touch with a bona
fide repairer.
2 LIVE CHEAP
Cook your own meals and take Use waterproofing solutions such as Nikwax
packed lunches on trips. Take to help your waterproof jacket keep the
advantage of free activities elements at bay.
nearby – beaches, museums,
castles, etc. If you are going 5 BE A BORROWER
to splash out on a theme park If you’re a complete camping novice and
visit, try to get hold of 2-for-1 are just looking to test the waters without
vouchers in advance. Socialising committing to buying, a great option is to ask
on site, rather than going to pubs friends and family if they can lend you some
kit. There’s no better way to experience the
or restaurants, will save a fortune. When was great outdoors than by pulling together a
the last time you played a board game with few items that will do the job, leaving you
your family? to concentrate on making the most of your
experience. This extends to clothing, too –
3 GO BARGAIN HUNTING simply take along what you have at home,
If you’re starting from scratch and want to rather than spending unnecessarily.
buy everything new then your best option is
to look for a package deal from one of the big 6. GO LOCAL
retailers. These deals change all the time and The temptation when booking a site is to
you need to search around to find the offer find somewhere as far away from home as
that suits you. possible. But to save fuel (and money), why
not look for somewhere relatively close to
The second option is to go online and trawl home instead? A 50-mile journey should take
eBay or local Facebook selling pages. Again most people in Britain to a campsite in an area
you need to spend a little time and effort worth visiting, whether it’s on the coast, in the
searching for the ideal tent and equipment countryside or one of our towns or cities. A
but you could land yourself some great deals remote campsite can be idyllic, but being near
this way. a built-up area is good for keeping costs down
in other ways. Petrol costs will soon soar if you
4 MAKE DO AND MEND have to drive miles to get anywhere and easy
If you have old kit which appears to be past access to a big local supermarket keeps food
its prime, that doesn’t necessarily mean you costs down.
INSET BELOW Repair damaged kit rather than bin it
Cook your own meals instead of eating out Keep the kids occupied for free and choose a site with good facilities like this
fab playground
got almost everything you’d need anyway.
So you’re not getting the guaranteed against Spanish villas. But, at a time when where to camp and how to get there, to what
every penny counts, it’s becoming difficult kit you will need – it’s no wonder the
good weather of a trip to the Continent. to justify the expense of heading thought of keeping the cost down can
But equally you don’t have to worry about off abroad. And that’s part of the seem daunting. It doesn’t have to
getting to the airport for a 3am departure, whole camping thing. Getting out be, of course, as long as a bit of
hotel transfers, screaming kids on the plane there cost-effectively, enjoying thought is given in advance.
and, worst of all, the endless hours spent in good times, exploring the great So what do you really need
the check-in lounge thanks to delayed and outdoors – and knowing you’ve for a cut-price family camping
cancelled flights. Not to mention the massive done it at a fraction of the cost trip? Actually, not as much
post-Brexit queues at passport control. And and ten times the enjoyment as you might think! Start by
with the money you’ve saved on your main of alternatives such as the all- writing a list of what you’d need
family holiday, you can always get your fix of inclusive package holiday. for a fortnight under canvas, then
foreign travel with a cheap city break later in check off everything you already have.
the year. Family camping on a budget does Once you’ve done that you can draw up
take a bit of planning, though. With so
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got nothing many considerations to bear in mind – from your shopping list and start bargain hunting.
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 33
BUDGET CAMPING
HOW TO BAG A BARGAIN
Camping and outdoor gear can be expensive, to clear their shelves and make room for the down prices.
but you don’t have to spend a fortune to land new season’s gear. That’s when prices fall and Supermarket community notice boards,
yourself some great new kit. you can pick up a great deal. postcards in newsagent windows and campsite
Follow our six tips and you can pick up a new notice boards often throw up secondhand
tent, sleeping bag or a pair of hiking boots for 2 GET AN OLDER MODEL camping bargains so it’s always worth giving
a fraction of the usual cost. Every year, tent manufacturers launch dozens them a glance when you’re passing.
of new models onto the market. Yes, they
1 BUY OUT OF SEASON might come with a new design or some extra 5 HIT THE MIDDLE AISLES
The golden rule for finding a real bargain is features but chances are they are not going Budget supermarkets, Lidl and Aldi, are a great
to go shopping when no one else is buying. to vary much from what was on sale last year. source for picking up decent-quality camping
Outdoor shops struggle to keep up with So instead of getting the latest and greatest, kit at bargain-basement prices. Both introduce
demand at the start of the season and during it’s worth considering picking up an older a range of outdoor gear to their famous middle
the peak holiday months, but when winter model at a knockdown price. Some shops will aisles a couple of times a year and generally
comes around they suddenly have to find ways be happy to flog ex-display models, too, and speaking it’s good stuff. We bought a set of
these can be another source of deals. But heavy-duty tent pegs in Lidl for £6 five years
beware – if the tents have been displayed ago and they’re still going strong. We’d maybe
outdoors for six months they may well have steer clear of supermarket tents and we’d
suffered UV damage and have been clambered recommend that you don’t buy a super-budget
over by eager shoppers, so check thoroughly piece of gear anywhere unless you are 100%
before buying. A bargain’s only a bargain if the certain it’s of a good standard.
product does what it’s supposed to do.
3 SHOP ONLINE
Most outdoor retailers have their own websites
and sometimes you can get special web-only
deals. The downside of buying online is that
you can’t see the product in person – and if it’s
clothing or footwear you’re after, you can’t try
them on before buying.
You can bag a bargain at a charity shop 4 BUY SECOND-HAND Look for bargain gear in the supermarket
Buying second-hand camping kit is a great way
to get a bargain but make sure you check the
condition before you part with your cash.
Charity shops and car boot sales are very hit or
miss generally, but they can be good for pots,
pans, cutlery and crockery and you can often
find good-quality outdoor clothing at knock-
Our first family tent Quality brands tend to outlast their cheaper outlet, Makro. The package also included
cost less than £100 – rivals so it might be worth investing in two chairs, a table, a stove, airbeds, and
unfortunately we only something a bit more expensive that will do four sleeping bags. Granted, it wasn’t all
had one pair of shoes you for seven years or longer rather than the highest-quality gear, but five years on
between us having to fork out every couple of years for a everything was still in regular use.
replacement model.
With a bit of research you’re sure to find Your priority when it comes to camping
some good deals online or in the shops. In saying that, our first family tent cost a equipment should be a sturdy tent. It
Online auction sites like eBay are also worth grand total of £99 from the cash-and-carry doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just well
a look, especially if you’re willing to go constructed and reliable in bad weather.
secondhand (or ‘pre-loved’ as people like to Checking for reviews and Facebook group
say nowadays). comments online is well worth doing once
you’ve narrowed down a shortlist of possible
Cheap and cheerful is always tempting, models; there’s nothing better than hearing
but remember we’re looking long term here. the honest opinions of people who have
experienced them first-hand.
After buying your tent, your biggest outlay
will be on site fees, so it’s important you
spend some time and effort choosing the right
place to stay.
For the ultimate in cost-effective camping,
nothing beats wild camping. It really is
simplicity itself – just decide where you
want to go, pack a rucksack and head off
on an adventure! And the big plus is that
it’s completely free. For peace of mind, you
should seek permission from landowners first.
Wild camping is not for everyone –
especially if you like your creature comforts –
but for a memorable camping experience with
older children, there’s nothing better.
More likely you’ll prefer to stay on
a campsite. While prices seem to be
34 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
£5,000 to stay here or enjoy HOW WE WORKED IT OUT
seven years of camping? CAMPING
permanently on the rise, it’s still possible to Campsite Family tent package £600
book a pitch for as little as £5 a night, but
remember for a family holiday you’ll need £20 x 14 = £280 Replacement secondhand tent
decent facilities, like showers, baby changing
rooms and play areas. Try to weigh up the Eating/drinking £15 x 14 = £210 £200
cost against the amenities. Transport/fuel 100 miles = £25 Extra gear £500
TOTAL (£515 x 7 years) £3,605 TOTAL £1,300
Consider also joining one of the two major
clubs, the Camping and Caravanning Club SPANISH VILLA
and/or the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
The membership cost can easily be recovered Average cost of two-week foreign holiday £5,000
by staying just one week on any of their
own sites – but in both cases check out their Messing around in the Campsite shops are convenient but
suitability for tent camping. river costs nothing tend to be quite expensive so consider a site
within driving distance of a supermarket.
Another obvious way to keep costs down It’s a bit boring, but planning your meals in
is to cook your own food. A decent cooker is advance will also save you money. Draw up a
essential, but if you’re trying to save money, menu and buy as much as you can in advance.
don’t bother buying specialist cookware –
pots, pans, knives, forks and utensils can be Don’t forget this is a holiday, though. If you
borrowed from your kitchen at home. can share the cooking duties, all the better,
and if your budget allows it, try to treat
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping yourself to a nice meal out once a week.
A few pints in the pub is nice but can be
expensive. Taking advantage of supermarket
special offers on booze and relaxing with a
few drinks on site of an evening can be just
as enjoyable as visiting the local hostelry –
especially if you’re camping with friends.
So is it really possible to get seven years
of camping for the price of a fortnight in
a villa? Finding the right site is vital for a
start and there’s no doubt that a £15 a day
budget would be difficult to keep to. But
with planning and willpower it is certainly
achievable. But don’t forget – camping is
supposed to be fun, so don’t turn the whole
thing into a nightmare for the sake of a few
pounds, or you might find it difficult to
persuade anyone to do it again next year.
September 2022 Camping 35
Law of the CAMPSITE stock.adobe.com/Mariia Korneeva
Indoor ‘camping’ and food delivery to campsites…
Gillian Law marvels at the modern world
“I don’t want “TRUST you to want to live in a tent all summer!” mosquitos – I also don’t want spiders, midges,
spiders, That was my husband the other day – though mice, or anything creepy crawly in my bed with
midges, mice, me! So that zip stays closed. Sometimes in the
or anything the actual conversation we were having wasn’t morning you can see all manner of wildlife on the
creepy crawly quite what you’d imagine. After all, who wouldn’t netting and I’d really rather it stayed out there
in my bed want to live in a tent all summer? That sounds like and not in here.
with me! So heaven to me.
that zip stays As well as these free-standing mozzie nets for
closed” But we were in fact talking about mosquitos in your bed, the other thing that has changed since
our flat. We don’t get that many of them, but it ‘my day’ is food delivery to campsites. When did
still gets annoying when you’re trying to get to that start? And is it really a thing?
sleep and you hear that familiar ‘eeeeeeee!!!’ by
your ear. I don’t know why they have to make I was wandering past a campsite reception the
that noise – I’d honestly rather they just snuck up other day, and what should I see, but a motorbike
on me silently and sucked out some blood. pull up with one of those familiar heat-retaining
boxes on the back. The rider got off and handed
So I started Googling mosquito nets to put a carrier bag of food to a couple, who set off
over the bed, and things have moved on from with it back towards a tent.
when I last looked! You no longer need to install a
chunky hook in the ceiling, just to attach an old- Honestly. I couldn’t have been more astonished
fashioned hoop that holds the net. Instead, you if they’d been doing a drug deal.
effectively put an inner tent on your bed! What
genius came up with that idea? I don’t know why it shocked me so much – I’m
a really lazy cook, and I tend to get by on the
I can’t quite work out if this tent thing goes on most basic meals if I’m camping by myself. Tins
top of the mattress or if you have to squeeze of beans with sausages have been seen in my
the mattress inside the tent… but, either way, it’s camping pot, for example – I really am that lazy.
pretty spiffy and I was super-keen on the idea.
I wanted to lie there in a snowy white cocoon, And, indeed, I find it ever so charming when
laughing at the wee blighters as they tried to cute food vans arrive at a campsite and serve
reach my tasty ankles. But, as you’ve seen above, up mussels and chips, or artisan wood-fired
my beloved thinks I’m a bit daft to be wanting to pizza sprinkled with rocket for 15 quid each.
recreate the campsite experience indoors. So, basically, I’m being a snob. And a bit old
fashioned. People can sit outside their tent and
That reminds me – I’m always amazed when I eat a takeaway burger and fries if they want,
see photos of people’s camping set-ups where and it’s nothing to do with me. And there’s no
the inner tent is zipped wide open to show off washing up!
their sleeping bags and mats. “Close that door!”,
I think to myself. We are always very, very But I still feel a bit taken aback by seeing it
careful to keep the inner tent closed at all times happen in reality. I think I’ll go and sit in the tent
when not actively getting in and out. It’s not just on my bed for a bit and consider my views on the
world. And maybe download a food delivery app!
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 37
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CAMPSITE COOKERY In association with THE KNOWLEDGE
CHEEKY PERI-PERI SKILLS
CHICKEN WRAPS
Top tips and expert
advice from the
Camping team
10
MINS
Do you miss your favourite spicy chicken dish when you’re camping? This easy
lunch recipe will let you rustle up a cheeky peri-peri wrap of your own. Change
the amount of chilli to make it mild, medium, hot or extra hot
Ingredients (2 wraps each) Method
CHICKEN PERI-PERI ● For the wrap filling, slice the chicken are all heated up. After about five minutes,
breasts into strips. Mix all the dry seasoning flip the chicken strips over, turn the heat
4 chicken breasts MAYONNAISE ingredients together in a bowl and down a little, and fry more gently until it’s
massage into the chicken pieces, making fully cooked through.
2 tsp garlic powder 2 tbsp mayonnaise sure they are all thoroughly coated.
● Combine all the peri-peri mayonnaise
2 tsp paprika 1 tsp paprika ● Put the oil into the frying pan on a high ingredients in a bowl, mixing thoroughly.
1/2 tsp chilli flakes 1/2 tsp chilli powder heat, then, when it’s fully heated, add the
1/2 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp chilli flakes chicken. It should sizzle when it hits the ● When the chicken is fully cooked, it’s
1/2 tsp salt 1 pinch salt pan. Leave the chicken frying in the pan time to serve. Take a warmed wrap, spread
1/2 tsp ground white without moving it, so it gets nice and crispy generously with sweet chilli sauce and layer
pepper 1 pinch sugar around the edges. the lettuce, cucumber and tomato on top.
Add a serving of chicken then drizzle with
1 tsp vegetable oil Lemon juice ● While the chicken is cooking, place the the peri-peri mayonnaise, fold the wrap
wraps in a dry frying pan to warm them, and serve with a side salad.
Sweet chilli sauce switching them around to make sure they
Little gem lettuce
2 sliced tomatoes
1/2 sliced cucumber
8 small plain wraps
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outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 39
THE KNOWLEDGE
SKILLS EXTENDING YOUR TENT
Top tips and expert
advice from the
Extend your tentCamping team
All you need to know about
creating more space for your
family’s camping needs without
having to buy a bigger tent
1 WINDBREAKS great for socialising but some sites frown upon But for another £150 or so you can add a
A windbreak is probably the cheapest and it and it can feel quite antisocial towards other front extension that transforms the tent into
easiest way to extend your tent. Simple and a big family model with a second large living
effective, and quick to set up, they can campers, so make sure you check in advance space, ideal for use as a kitchen/dining area.
be used with all sizes of tents. As well that it’s allowed.
as providing outdoor shelter for What you have then is a quality tent that is
cooking and just generally sitting 2 AWNINGS AND EXTENSIONS considerably bigger than many of the market-
around, they help to define your
pitch and provide some privacy Most tent manufacturers now offer
from curious eyes. Although quite various opportunities for you to
what you’re doing that requires extend your tent. These include
privacy we’d probably rather not know. optional awnings, extensions,
porches and canopies – although
Campers who are with friends and family being able to tell an awning apart from
will often use windbreaks to create a marked- an extension can be difficult, if not impossible.
off communal area between their tents – this is Regardless of the terminology, these extensions
can vary from a small rain shelter to a full-
1 on enclosed section. What you go for largely
depends on your needs and what is available
Windbreaks form a private space around your tent for your tent. Some extensions are tailored for
INSET Create a sheltered outdoor kitchen specific models while others are designed to be
used on any tent, or a wide range at least.
Usually they come without a groundsheet, so
think about whether that’s something you want
– you can buy a bespoke one from the camping
shop or go for the cheaper option of a general
tarpaulin that could be cut to size.
The biggest benefit of an extension is the
flexibility. For around £250 you can buy a high-
quality weekend/touring tent with comfortable
sleeping space for a family of four or five.
40 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
2
2 A family tent with large extension A side extension on a vis-à-vis tent
3 a covered extension, or a bit further away. Sites with marked-out pitches are, generally,
Perfect for sitting under or for using as a less able to be flexible in accommodating large
A Robens Windscreen tarp offers extra shelter cooking area and on warm nights you could tents plus extensions.
even sleep under it – as long as you don’t mind 6 DO IT YOURSELF
leading family models – for little more than sharing your space with bugs. The DIY option has always been popular
half the cost. Not only that, in effect, you have among campers. Everything from nylon fabrics
two tents for the price of one. 4 EVENT SHELTERS AND UTILITY sewn together into all sorts of shapes to huge
3 TARPS TENTS cheap plastic tarpaulins and groundsheets
The trouble with tent extensions is that they Huge structures like Coleman’s Event Shelter lashed down over tents and cars.
can be heavy and bulky, expensive and difficult offer a variety of flexible shelter options from
to pitch. So, if you’re just after something rain, wind and sun. We featured a range of It might not look pretty but it can be just as
simple, yet versatile, that can offer shade or different models in the last issue. Some are effective as the expensive extensions supplied
shelter from the rain, you might be better totally enclosed with fabric or PVC sides, while by manufacturers.
off with a flysheet tarp. These can be set up others are merely open-sided shelters.
directly next to your tent’s entrance to provide 6
Either way, they offer outside space where
Two Outwell Event Lounges linked to create you can cook, eat and drink before returning Create a DIY tent extension
one large space to your tent to sleep. Toilet and shower tents –
where you can create your own self-contained 7 BUILT-IN EXTENSIONS
en suite facilities – also fall into this category. Rather than asking you to buy an extension,
porch or awning as an optional extra, some
Again it’s essential to check with the manufacturers have started including them
campsite in advance to make sure you are with the tent. Whether this counts as an
allowed to pitch your shelter – there may be an extension or not is debatable, as it’s basically
additional charge. part of the tent, but it does allow you to
maximise your living space.
5 GAZEBOS
Rather than going for a more expensive event 7
shelter, you could raid your shed or garage
and set up a cheap and cheerful garden gazebo.
They make great cooking and eating areas and
with side panels in place, there’s the possibility
of protection from insects and the elements.
As with event shelters, many sites have
banned gazebos and others charge extra for
extensions, whether bought or home-made.
5
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping 4
A gazebo can be used on the campsite and at home A built-in front porch
September 2022 Camping 41
THE KNOWLEDGE
SKILLS LATE SEASON CAMPING
Top tips and expert
advice from the
Late escapesCampingteam
Winter is coming and the temperatures are dropping, but
there’s no need to stop camping. Follow our top tips and you’ll
be able to carry on camping no matter the conditions
3Get layered. Start off 5A tent carpet is considered KEEP WARM IN BED
with a fleece on top of a must-have accessory by
a long-sleeved shirt with a many family campers these Even on warm, sunny autumn days, the
t-shirt underneath and you days, especially out of season. temperature can plummet at night, so staying
can gradually peel off the They offer real protection warm while you’re in bed is essential. Here’s
layers when it gets warmer, from the cold ground, and you some top tips
and layer up again if the can get tent-specific carpets or
temperature drops. simply lay a blanket or fleece ● Before getting inside, give your sleeping
out on the floor. bag a good shake to ensure you maximise the
1Pack three-season sleeping loft of the insulation.
bags, as well as duvets and 6A pitch with electric hook- ● Go to bed on a full stomach as the food will
fleece blankets. ups will provide unlimited generate body heat.
electric heating and lighting. ● A sleeping bag liner will improve the bag’s
2Hot water bottles, bed warmth significantly.
socks and even hats all help 7A nearby family-friendly ● Insulate yourself from the ground with a
keep you and your family cosy. pub, preferably with open duvet or blanket to avoid the cold drawing
fires, is a definite asset come heat away.
the evening. ● Sleep on a thick self-inflating mat or a camp
bed (or a combination of the two!), rather
4A windbreak will than an airbed. The air inside an inflatable bed
block chill winds from will get cold quickly and stay cold throughout
howling through the tent. the night as the temperature drops.
Alternatively, pitch in the ● Sleeping bags will lose insulation values
shelter of a wall if there is one. when damp so try not to sleep with your head
under the covers breathing out moisture.
● A mummy-shaped bag has less internal
space to warm than a rectangular bag and
wraps snugly around your head and shoulders
to keep the heat in.
42 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
THE HEAT IS ON
A heater is the best way to keep your tent warm in the evening but what is the best type and how
do you use them?
The safest option for using a heater in your Naked flames are a definite no-no when it
tent is sticking to electric – a hook-up will comes to heating, with the double threat of
allow you a whole world of heating choices, carbon monoxide poisoning and fire. NEVER
including fan, halogen and radiant options. be tempted bring a smouldering barbecue into
your tent for warmth. The fumes can kill.
chimney pipe is a marvellous way to heat a
Don’t wait until the temperature is traditional canvas bell tent.
unbearably cold before putting your heater
on. Once your body is cold it can be difficult to It’s not a good idea to leave a heater
heat up again so try to avoid that happening running unattended or through the night.
by flicking the switch as soon as it starts to Switch off when not needed.
get chilly.
After the initial blast of heat it’s better to
keep the heater on at a low, steady level,
rather than constantly switching off when it
gets too warm then back on again when you
start to get cold again.
A wood burning stove with a heat-radiating
TACKLING CONDENSATION
Quick tips for dealing with moisture in your tent
Condensation is a natural and
unavoidable part of outdoor
living. It can be managed but not
eradicated so there’s no point in
getting too hung up about it.
Oh, and don’t confuse
condensation with a leak in
your tent. Just because water is
dripping from the roof, it doesn’t
mean it’s come from outside.
● Take some absorbent cloths ● Sheltering from the rain with all the doors,
to wipe down condensation windows and vents closed and a heater
before it starts dripping. blasting out hot air sounds tempting but will
● Ventilation is key. Panels generate loads of condensation.
(usually mesh-backed) at the rear and above ● Avoid bringing wet gear and clothing into
doors and windows allow air to flow through the tent. Put it in the car boot if you can, or
the tent without letting rain in. Leave the leave it in the front porch.
panels open as much as possible to keep ● Try to air off sleeping mats and sleeping
condensation down to a minimum. bags every morning.
● A sewn-in groundsheet can prevent air ● When packing up, try to dry your tent
from circulating freely. Unfortunately, without fly and groundsheet. Even if it hasn’t been
one, your tent could be cold and wet, so raining, both will be damp with condensation.
you’ll have to balance up the pros and cons.
● Don’t have visitors round. A large number
of people breathing in your tent will cause
moisture build-up.
● Wear base layers or thermals and a woolly September 2022 Camping 43
hat to bed instead of normal pyjamas.
● A light fleece blanket is useful to pull over
shoulders through the night and a cheap
duvet adds substantially to a sleeping bag’s
performance when tucked around.
● A hot water bottle or a small hand warmer
wrapped in a sock and slipped down to the
foot of your sleeping bag a couple of hours
before getting into it will help to keep you
warm at bedtime.
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
LOOKING FOR
THE PERFECT
HOLIDAY LOCATION?
YOUR PERFECT LOCATION
The Staycation Guide
An inspiring travel guide to help you plan your touring
and camping holidays around Britain for 2022
EXPLORING
• Regional highlights • Top attractions
• Hidden gems • Things to see and do
PLUS LOTS MORE…
Scan me
TROBOLO WandaGO Cumbria
The mobile and ultralight camping toilet VisitEngland/Richard J Jones THE CALL WINDERMERE The Langdale Pikes VisitEngland/Cumbria Tourism SOLWAY’S STUNNING SHORES
for your car, van or camper. OF CUMBRIA You can also experience England’s
www.trobolo.com longest lake, Windermere, in the same CASTLERIGG STONE CIRCLE On the southern shore of the great
A favourite of the poet, Wordsworth, Cumbria is a feast way. A cruise on Windermere’s waters One of the earliest British circles,
xxx Ullswater Steamer for the eyes. Simply relax and breathe in the beauty will afford views of mountain scenery, dating from the Neolithic period, Solway Firth, that divides England
secluded bays and wooded islands, Castlerigg is located near the town of
BORROWDALE VALLEY LANGDALE VALLEY boat cruise right around the lake. There with piers at Ambleside, Bowness, Keswick. Expect panoramic views with from Scotland on the west coast, lies
This runs from Scafell Pike, the highest Located right at the heart of the Lakes, are various landing stages with the Brockhole and Lakeside. Various trip the mountains of Helvellyn and High
summit, down to the shores of with notable attractions including the main ones just 10 minutes’ walk from tickets are available, such as a buffet Seat as a backdrop. You can park in a land of stark beauty. The Solway
Derwentwater. The valley is a popular National Trust’s High Close Estate and the centre of Keswick town. Also near cruise and sunset evening cruise in the the centre of Keswick and walk to the Firth stretches from St Bees Head
place for rock climbing and there are Arboretum and Bowfell and Crinkle Keswick is the ‘Theatre by the Lake’ summer months, but boat trips operate stones in about 30 minutes. on the northwestern tip of Cumbria
many scenic places to explore such as Crags. There’s also Grasmere and where you can enjoy a production in all year round. all the way to the Mull of Galloway.
the National Trust-owned hamlet of Rydal. The Wordsworth homes of Dove the stunning lakeside location. The coastal area from Rockcliffe to
Watendlath and the pretty village of Cottage and Rydal Mount are popular HADRIAN’S WALL Maryport is designated as an Area
Grange in Borrowdale. locations to visit, along with an area of ULLSWATER Built to guard the northwest frontier of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The
woodland known as Dora’s Field. At the The second-largest lake in the Lake of the Roman Empire, the vast 73
SCAFELL PIKE western end of Rydal Water you’ll find District. A great and leisurely way to miles of Hadrian’s Wall passes through area is known for its endless walking
At 978 metres, this is England’s highest White Moss Car Park and from here explore this lake is by steamer boat. For parts of Cumbria in places. One of the opportunities. A popular route to
mountain and not for the faint-hearted. you can enjoy walks of various lengths 160 years the Ullswater Steamers have longest remaining stretches of the follow includes the six-mile Solway
There are three main routes up the and may stumble upon Rydal Cave. been operating on the lake, running wall available to explore is located at Villages Trail, tracing the history of old
pike that require map reading and a serpentine course for eight miles Birdoswald Roman Fort.
compass skills. The reward for reaching DERWENTWATER through stunning vistas. The steamers transport routes, streams that powered
the top is huge and you will see the Known as the ‘Queen of the Lakes’, this pick up and drop off at different piers,
highest war memorial in memory of lake is three miles long and one mile allowing you to explore some pretty the corn mills, and ancient woodlands.
those who died in World War I. wide. You can hire watercraft or take a villages and attractions on foot, too.
This is also the place to observe
wildfowl; the Solway Wetlands Centre
at the RSPB Campfield Marsh Reserve
being the ideal place.
DOWNLOAD NOW Things to s and do in Solway
FOR JUST £4.99
‘‘ MARYPORT stones and inscriptions in Britain and istockphoto/david evison
campingmag.uk/ypldig22 Step into history with a visit to the unique examples of Romano-British
‘‘ A cruise on Windermere’s waters will afford views of ancient town of Maryport. Explore religious sculpture.
mountain scenery, secluded bays and wooded islands its history at the Maritime Museum
VisitEngland/Cumbria Tourism/Brian SherwenBorrowdale ValleyDerwentwaterScafell Pike and Wastwaterand you can also take a wanderST BEES HEAD
VisitBritain/Joe Cornish along the harbour to see the little There are in fact two St Bees Heads
lighthouse that features in several – the North and the South Head –
Pixabay paintings by LS Lowry. and between them nestles a coastal
Pixabay secret – Fleswick Bay, remote and
VisitEngland/Alex Hare SENHOUSE ROMAN MUSEUM accessible only on foot or by boat.
The museum is next to the remains To the south of the head, closer to St
of a Roman fort, and houses the Bees village, is an RSPB reserve for
largest group of Roman military altar seabirds, which is the only breeding
place to be found in England for the
St Bees Head black guillemot.
Castlerigg Stone Circle THE LAKE DISTRICT COAST
AQUARIUM
This is home to species all found
in lakes, streams and rivers of the
region. You can look into the depths
of the ray pool, and then emerge
to play mini golf or explore the
adventure playground.
Maryport
52 | YOUR PERFECT LOCATION outandaboutlive.co.uk/park-holiday-homes facebook.com/parkandholidayhomeinspiration @PHHImagazine | 53
52 Cumbria.indd All Pages 25/11/2021 14:07
Pixabay
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CAMPING GURU in association with THE KNOWLEDGE
Q&A Got a camping problem SKILLS
you need to fix? Camping
expert Gary Cross is here Top tips and expert
to answer your questions advice from the
Camping team
QI’m a complete newbie to camping. Can QWhen using EHU, is there a formula to tell you QI’m a single mum with two kids,
you get shopping delivered directly to how many electrical items you can plug in at a time aged five and seven. I want
your tent by the big supermarkets? without tripping the system? to take them camping for a week
this summer but I’m worried about
AYes, and what a great way to save Picture courtesy of Vango AYes whether I’ll be able to put a tent up
space in the car when travelling to and no, on my own and whether I’ll feel safe
the campsite. As we all know, you can it’s all to do at the campsite. What type and size of
book a timed delivery and, depending on with amps, tent would you recommend?
the campsite, the supermarket may even Watts
be able to deliver to your pitch number. and volts. ALet’s start with whether you
Worst case, you may have to wait around When will feel safe. I believe you
at the campsite entrance for an hour. working will – campers tend to look out
That said, I love to shop local so maybe try out how for each other, so get to know
and find some local independent shops as many your neighbours, even if it’s just a
well, especially if the area is known for appliances you can use, I find working out how polite good morning on the way
its regional food. many Watts I’ll be using is best, as all appliances to the showers. Now, as for the
stock.adobe.com/Anthony Brown state how many Watts they use. For example, if tent, you will want a medium-
you know how many amps the 230V campsite sized four-berth tunnel tent,
mains upstand can supply, you can then work nothing too huge to start with –
out how many Watts you can use. Typically the maybe about 3m wide by 5m long.
campsite supplies 10-16A, so 10A = 2,400W, 16A = A simple fibreglass, poled tunnel
3,840W. This is why low-wattage appliances such tent can be pitched by one adult
as kettles, toasters, heaters, etc, are useful. These easily. Type into YouTube “Cross
can be found in all good camping stores. The camping method” and you will
information I have given here is based on Watt’s find a couple of quick videos that
Law and is for example only. should put your mind at rest. Of
course the best advice I can give
Picture courtesy of Outwell you is visit a quality independent
camping store that has a good tent
QI want to take a shower tie the four pads together, display. The staff will fill you
tent and portable shower one on top of each other. with confidence and steer you in
on our next camping holiday This would make a perfect the right direction.
but how does the water drain base to stand on while
away without creating a big showering and will allow
muddy mess? the water to drain away.
AThis is a difficult foam flooring squares My wife had a great idea, got a query? follow
one. You will need (approximately 1m by which is to buy one of those
something to stand on in huge flexible gardening Got a camping question Visit Gary’s group on
the shower tent that raises buckets and stand in it you’d like the guru to Facebook: search for
you above the ground, while showering, the only help with? Camping Guru UK
issue we both thought of
campingmagazine
but still allows the water 1m), but the type that has with this idea is you will be Contact us at editorial@ @campingmagazine
to drain away. I would campingmagazine.co.uk
holes throughout the foam standing in the dirty water,
buy a four-pack of large squares. You could cable but it is certainly an option. or on social media @campingmag
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping Camp All Year
Our cotton canvas tents
keep you warmer
Indoor Display
Winter Accessories
www.campingtravelstore.co.uk
September 2022 Camping 45
THE KNOWLEDGE
GEAR LIGHTWEIGHT TENTS
Top tips and expert
advice from the
Camping team
See the light
Camping editor Iain Duff looks at a selection of lightweight tents
for your next wild camping or backpacking adventure
If your camping trips fall into the The lightweight fabrics used are designed the weight of your pack down as much as
adventure camping category – trekking, to allow you to carry the tent in a backpack possible, without compromising on comfort
backpacking, motorcycling, cycling, or on your bike or canoe and they can during your overnight adventures in the
canoeing, etc – then you’ll need a more usually be pitched very quickly great outdoors.
technical tent than you would for a typical
family holiday. At the risk of stating the obvious, a good We have gathered together some of the
lightweight tent is the most important piece best new lightweight backpacking tents for
Adventure tents can be for one, two, of kit you will need for overnight trips, 2022 as well as some old favourites that are
three or, occasionally, four people and tend either on foot or on a bike. still available.
to be more expensive than mainstream
models because of the technical materials For backpacking trips, the size and weight Most of the tents in our round-up are
used for fabrics, poles and pegs. of your tent is vital as it will be on your back two-berth and are just about big enough for
for a few hours a day. a pair of campers to share. But, for me, a
High-tech materials used in these tents tent of that size is better for one person and,
include ripstop fabrics, alloy poles and While you might not need the sort of if you want to share a shelter, I’d suggest
titanium tent pegs. ultra-lightweight gear that is available for you upsize to a three-berth.
the real specialists, you will want to keep
46 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
COLEMAN COBRA 2
Wedge shape water. This is certainly not the lightest tent Given the price and the overall quality
on the market, but at £130 – even less if you of the build, it’s hard to find fault with the
There’s a common misconception that good shop around – it is brilliant value for money, Cobra. It’s not going to be one for the ultra-
lightweight, technical tents have to be super- and more than good enough for overnight light brigade, but, for nights out on the hills
expensive, complicated to pitch and are really hiking trips. or solo camping trips, this is a super little
only for the kind of diehard campers who tent.
chop the ends off their toothbrush to save a First of all, it’s really easy to pitch. Inside
few precious grams. the large bag are two poles – one long and Storage vestibule
one short – which slide into the colour-coded,
The Cobra 2 blows that theory out of the mesh sleeves to form the structure. The main LVITAL STATISTICS
centre pole clips onto the flysheet to make it
Rear ventilation panel taut. The aluminium pegs supplied with the W colemanuk.co.uk
tent by Coleman are surprisingly strong and PRICE £129.99
easily pushed into the hard, dry ground where
I was camping. ● Style Wedge
● Sleeps 2
When pitched, the Cobra 2 forms a ● Weight 2.8kg
pleasing wedge, tunnel shape – wider and ● Packed size 56 x 13.5 x 13.5cm
taller at the head end than at the feet end. ● Waterproof 3,000mm hydrostatic head
Inside there is theoretically enough room for ● Pitching time 5 minutes
two but, in all honesty, this is a one-berth tent ● Size 250 x 120cm
– if you need to share, I’d recommend going ● Height 80cm
for the Cobra 3 instead. ● Materials Outer Polyester
The tent does have two decent-sized Poles Aluminium
storage vestibules, so if two of you were
sharing then there is plenty of space to store
your backpacks. Unfortunately, there is only
one entrance, which makes getting in and out
rather awkward.
With ventilation panels at both ends,
allowing air to flow through, and zippable
mesh on the inner doors, condensation isn’t
a major issue. The vents have covers, so can
remain open even when it’s raining. Generally
the tent is fairly low to the ground, which
means less headroom if you’re sitting up,
but makes it far more capable of coping with
strong winds.
outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping September 2022 Camping 47
THE KNOWLEDGE
GEAR LTIEGSHTTEWDEPIoGrHtaTbTleEBNBTQSs
Top tips and expert
advice from the
Camping team
ROBENS BOULDER 2
Enough space for two Large sleeping area Storage porch area
The Boulder 2 is squarely aimed at guys, each with two attachment points, so tents – this one comes out unscathed up to
backpackers on a budget. In fact, it’s part offering good stability even for a basic dome. 105km/h (65 mph). That’s actually a Force
of a range developed to meet the demand Robens does wind tunnel tests for all its 10 storm! Needless to say, you should always
for simple entry-level tents. Manufacturing try to seek out a sheltered spot to pitch when
quality is excellent. Ease of pitching and LVITAL STATISTICS you can.
pricing aimed at budget campers make this a
great choice for beginners, DofE participants W robens.de Headroom inside is good – a metre at
or youth groups. PRICE £178.99 the highest point, which extends the full
width of the inner, so two backpackers can
It comes out of its stuff sack with fly and ● Style Dome sit up without feeling as though they have
inner separate, as it pitches inner first. In ● Sleeps 2 to compete for space. That said, as with
warm dry conditions, this may be all you ● Weight 2.4kg most two-berth tents, you will need to be
need – protection from marauding insects, ● Packed size 42 x 17cm very comfortable in the presence of your
and a tinge of modesty if you’re on a site. ● Waterproof 3,000mm hydrostatic head companion, as there won’t be much in the
● Pitching time 10 minutes way of personal space.
The fact that it pitches inner first is ● Size 240 x 220cm
actually the one issue I have with the ● Height 100cm There are doors on both sides, so each
Boulder 2. It’s fine if the weather is dry, but ● Materials Outer Polyester camper has their own mini vestibule and
in a downpour, the inside of your tent is access point, removing the need for clumsy
inevitably going to get wet before you’ve had Poles Alloy clambering for night-time toilet trips. Those
the chance to put the waterproof flysheet vestibules are perfect for stashing backpacks
over the top. and boots, and provide an ideal sheltered
space for cooking.
When the wind gets up, you have four
48 Camping September 2022 outandaboutlive.co.uk/camping
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