A Beginner’s Guide to Camping, and Doing it Well

The notion of camping doesn’t appeal to everybody. Quite often, when we imagine camping, we truly picture the worst-case scenario. Glorious British rain, leaking tents, and not being able to make any food at all. However, it doesn’t have to be like that. We’ve come a long way since camping meant squeezing into a small tent and making our own campfires. If you’re not an experienced camper, but you’re wanting to get started, this guide will help you prepare for your first camping trip.

The Different Types of Camping

Camping is no longer simply setting up a tent and sleeping in the outdoors. There are in fact, different forms of camping for you to choose from:

• The most obvious one, is of course campsite camping. This is where you pay for a space to pitch your tent in a campsite for a specific period of time, sort of like booking into a hotel, but with a tent rather than room service. This method of camping is usually popular amongst large family/family friend parties, who will all book to pitch their tent in the same campsite. A plus to campsites is they do provide on site facilities such as showers and toilets, and the more family orientated ones will have some sort of playpark and evening entertainment for the children.
• Wild camping is closer to the traditional style of camping you’ll tend to think about, and it’s not for everybody. Instead of having the security of a campsite, you’re looking at literally heading out with a rucksack full of essentials and a tent and embracing the great outdoors. It’s not for everybody, but if you’re looking for a way to disconnect from society and spend some real time alone, it can be quite cathartic. However, this form of camping isn’t legal everywhere. You’ll have to seek landowner’s permission a lot of the time, so before heading out, do your research.
• Glamping is a fairly new and extremely popular alternative to camping. A lot of pre-bookable glamping sites will provide tee pees and glamping pods, aiming for a more luxurious style of camping. If you don’t like roughing it and like your luxuries, glamping might be the perfect version of camping for you.
• If you’re serious about camping, and you’re quite an adventurer that wants to travel around, investing in an RV or Campervan might be a good option for you. It’s more secure and weatherproof than the traditional tent and will likely have all of the essentials you’ll need right there. Not only this, but it gives you the freedom to stay in more than one place and really satisfy your wanderlust. Camperism is a great site full of advice and ideas for this sort of camping, so do your research as it’s readily available.

Before You’re Up and Off

Before you actually embark on your first camping expedition, whether that be glamping, in your new campervan or back to basics, there are a few things that are important to check before you leave:

• It’s advisable to check all of the gear you’re presumably bought for camping. Although more often than not it’s reliable, it’s not impossible that faults can occur during manufacturing, and the last thing you want is to not realise until you’re already on your trip!
• Prepare your camping home, whatever that may be. If you’re going for the traditional tent, make sure you do a trial run of pitching it to avoid any issues, and to ensure you know what you’re doing. Similarly, if you’re taking your campervan on its first big adventure, you’ll want to make sure you’ve had it serviced beforehand and that it’s well stocked up with petrol and the essentials you’ll need for wherever it is you’re going.
• Make a list and stick to it. You’re much less likely to end up in a situation where you’ve forgotten something if you make a checklist and follow it exactly.
• Remember wherever you’re going, and however you’re camping, to check the rules. You don’t want to pitch or park up comfortable then realise it’s actually somewhere illegal and you’ll need to move and find somewhere else. Doing some prior research can save you hassle in the long run.

Enjoy it!

Last but not least, remember to enjoy the entire process! The preparation, the travelling and the camping itself – whether you’re going solo or on a family expedition. Regardless of what sort, camping is a great way to reconnect with nature and recharge your batteries. We spend so much time absorbed in technology nowadays, that going back to our natural roots and camping can be exactly what we need.