Country Walking Camping Guide 2024

Camping

Guide 2024

The all-in-one guide to the kit

that makes all the difference on

the best nights of your life

SOLO BACKPACKING WOODLAND CAMPING

CAMPSITE CAMPING GLAMPING FAMILY CAMPING

WILD CAMPING ROAD TRIPS EQUIPMENT TLC

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THE CAMPING GUIDE

Welcome

to a great night out

I’ve lost count of the

times I’ve heard the

phrase “I don’t like

camping.” But more often

than not, this apparent

dislike has a common root. Whether it

was a washed-out Scout camp, illadvised

family hol, a festival that went

pear-shaped, or some other terrible

night under canvas, it can invariably be

traced back to one traumatic incident.

And that’s a shame, because camping

should be enjoyed, not endured.

It certainly doesn’t have to be cold,

unpleasant or uncomfortable. The key,

as with most things in life, is planning

and preparation. It’s well worth it.

Camping can be a magical. Done right,

it can give you valuable time and space

to de-stress, unwind and reflect.

It gets you even closer to nature than

a good walk. You can savour its sounds,

smells and sights, from sunrise to sunset

(and beyond). And without wanting to

sound like a self-help guru, it can teach

important life lessons from problemsolving

to resilience. That’s without

mentioning the fresh air, the sense of

freedom, the satisfaction of back-tobasics

living, the endorphins, or the

value of spending quality time with

friends and family. And the fact that

food cooked outdoors just tastes better.

Having worked for the Ramblers and

the Scouts, I’ve learned a few things

about camping over the years. And

being lucky enough to live in the heart of

Eryri (Snowdonia), I’m well placed to test

all sorts of camping gear, from ultralight

backpacking tents to deluxe tipis.

So if you’re camping-curious, here’s

our guide to some of the different kinds

of camping that outdoor-lovers can

try in the UK, from adventurous wild

camping weekends to family-friendly

campsite breaks and everything in

between – with some essential kit

to make sure the experience is a

memorable one, for all the right reasons.

Matt Jones, Camping Guide editor

Contents

04 BACKPACKING

Kit yourself out

for the long haul with

lightweight, packable

gear designed for multiday

camping trips

06 WOODLAND

CAMPING

Sharpen your backwoods

skills and take to the

trees with innovative

alternatives to

traditional tents

WILD CAMPING

11 What you need

for off-grid outdoor

adventures and epic

overnighters high in

the hills

CAR CAMPING

14 Build a cosy and

comfortable basecamp

for your next walking

holiday, either with a

partner or with friends

20 FAMILY

CAMPING

Make sure your next

family camping holiday is

fun and stress-free with

these practical kit picks

24 GLAMPING

Bring a sense of

lavish luxury to the great

outdoors and soak up

your surroundings in style

27 CAMPING

CARE

Inexpensive essentials

to help extend the

lifespan of your precious

camping gear

ROAD TRIPS

29 Hire a campervan

or invest in a roof tent

to combine your next

hiking holiday with an

epic road trip

COUNTRY WALKING CAMPING GUIDE 2024 3

Country Walking Camping Guide

Backpacking

Why not tackle a long-distance walk this year? For a real challenge,

you could even hike and camp solo, and meet new buddies on the

trail. Here are our top kit picks for backpacking, with the focus on

lightweight, portable gear that’ll take up minimal space in your pack.

Heat and eat

They’re not the cheapest way to

eat, but freeze-dried meals offer

efficient nutrition on the trail.

The best ones are tastier than you

might think too. We like Norwegian

brand REAL Turmat’s pulled pork

with rice, which has a rich flavour

and plenty of protein. It gives you

547kcal for a dry weight of just

121g and takes a mere 8 minutes

to prepare (just add hot water).

Real Turmat, £10.99,

basecampfood.com

Superlight shelter

One of the lightest tents in its class,

the Alto is a weight-conscious yet

comfort-focused three-season shelter

that is surprisingly spacious, with

good headroom. It comes in oneperson

and two-person models,

HERO

PRODUCT

as well as a nifty ‘bikepack’ version,

which boasts shorter pole sections for

packability. Impressively, all models of

the Alto tent weigh under 2kg.

Sea to Summit Alto TR1, from £435,

seatosummit.co.uk

Genius gear-hauler

Whether you’re a weekend

warrior or a multi-day trekker,

this clever pack can swallow all

your gear. That’s because it has

20 litres of expanding capacity,

making it extremely versatile.

The lightweight Y flex suspension

system and chunky, padded

hipbelt also ensure it’s a capable

load-lugger, and plenty of

pockets make it easy to grab

essentials on the go.

Sierra Designs Flex Capacitor

40-60L, £180, wildbounds.com

4 COUNTRY WALKING CAMPING GUIDE 2024

BACKPACKING

Fast food

Perfect for solo backpackers, all-inone

personal stove systems like the

JetBoil Flash are ideal for making a

brew in record time or quickly boiling

water for dehydrated and freezedried

meals. They’re easy to use,

efficient and convenient, which

ensures they’re a perennially popular

choice for life on the trail.

JetBoil Flash 2.0, £140,

ellis-brigham.com

Warmth without weight

For maximum warmth to weight, a premium down

sleeping bag is the obvious choice. This tried and

tested bag is filled with 800FP moisture-resistant

goose down, certified by the Responsible Down

Standard. The shell is recycled nylon and treated

with a water-repellent finish. And when it comes to

warmth, it should keep you toasty down to -7°C.

Yet it tips the scales at just 775g.

Rab Neutrino 400, £420, trekitt.co.uk

Let there be light

A dependable head torch is a camp

essential. This one is well-built,

waterproof and packed with useful

functions. It has a bright max output

of 500 lumens, with flood or spot

beams to help you see down the trail

or in the confines of your tent. Add

in the impressive burn times and

integrated USB-rechargeable battery,

and it outshines the competition.

Black Diamond Storm 500R, £70,

cotswoldoutdoor.com

Ultralight

camp comfort

The lightest

insulated sleeping

mat on the market,

this featherweight

pad tips the scales at

just 250g and packs

down to the size of a tin

of beans. With an R-value of 2.3, it’s

warm enough for late spring and

summer nights. It also boasts 2.5

inches of cushioned loft, making it

extremely comfortable for such

a minimalist mat.

Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite, £235,

ellis-brigham.com

Bed down

Arguably the

purest form of

camping, a simple

bivvy bag also makes for the

lightest load if you’re backpacking.

Essentially it is a weatherproof bag into

which you slide yourself, your sleeping mat and your

sleeping bag. It enables you to bed down almost anywhere

in the great outdoors, whilst taking up minimal space and weight.

Trekmates Dew Point Bivi, £55, cribgochoutdoor.com



Woodland

camping

Want to channel your inner Ray Mears?

Nothing beats the back-to-nature simplicity

of a night in the woods. Hone your bushcraft

skills, swing yourself to sleep by pitching a

hammock and tarp or elevate the experience

– literally – with an innovative tree tent…

Bright spark

The Mora Companion is a favourite

bushcraft knife. The versatile

Scandi-grind blade is well suited

to a multitude of camp tasks from

whittling to splitting kindling. This

Spark version also has a high-quality

fire steel hidden in the handle. Use

the spine of the blade as a striker, and

with a little practice you’ll always be

able to get a fire going.

Mora Companion Spark Knife, £34,

thebathbushcraftshop.com

Flame-grilled food

This clever bit of kit is essentially

a portable campfire, with an

elevated base that means you

can have a fire without burning

or scorching the ground. The

height-adjustable folding grill

allows you to cook over open

flames, with or without a pan or

pot. Best of all, the entire kit

slots easily into a rucksack.

Wolf & Grizzly Grill (£90)

and Fire Safe (£80),

wildbounds.com


WOODLAND CAMPING

Take to the trees

Part hammock, part tent, part

portable treehouse, Tentsile’s awardwinning

tree tents are unique. These

suspended shelters feature a 3-point

anchor system to create the perfect

balance of tension and cushion,

while keeping you off the cold, hard

ground. The two-person Connect

model is ideal for adventurous

couples or just for hanging out

with a friend.

Tentsile Connect, £599, tentsile.com

Brew for two

This stainless steel ‘volcano kettle’ is simple but

ingenious: just fill with water, place the base on bare

earth or rock and load it up with twigs. Once lit, the

clever design boils water in minutes and even whistles

when ready. This 1.2-litre Scout kit comes bundled with

two sets of mugs and plates, a cook set and a hobo

stove, so you can prepare hot meals as well

as morning coffee.

Kelly Kettle Ultimate Scout Kit, £98,

wildbounds.com

Room to wriggle

This hard-wearing synthetic

sleeping bag is warm enough for

three-season camping, even if

overnight temps dip below zero.

It’s made from durable fabrics and

comes in no-nonsense olive drab.

It also has a clever deployable side

baffle that can be unzipped to give

you a few inches of extra wriggle room,

ideal for restless sleepers or those with

broader frames.

Snugpak Elite 3, £130, outdoorgb.com


advertising feature

Floating

ON AIR

Therm-a-Rest mattresses have

always been the most enviable

sleeping partner – but its latest

NeoAir designs have taken

comfort, packability & versatility

to the heavens.

WHEN SLEEP

SYSTEM experts

Therm-a-Rest

launched the very first

NeoAir mattress in 2009,

the goal was to create a

mattress combining the

warmth and comfort of a foam

pad, while being light and

packable enough for any

hiker’s backpack.

Now 15 years on, the latest in the

brand’s NeoAir range – the 3-season

XLite NXT and its winter weather

counterpart the XTherm NXT –

continue to define the category for

versatility, packability and comfort.

Comfort

Just over 7.5cm thick, both Xlite

NXT and XTherm NXT deliver

exceptional comfort and ‘cush’,

especially for pads that weigh only

Warmer, comfier and now quieter than

ever, a Therm-a-Rest promises a first-class

night of rest for you and your tentmate.

370g and 440g respectively. And in

the fight to keep you warm, the XLite

NXT’s R-value of 4.5 protects you

from those chilly early Spring nights,

whilst the XTherm NXT’s 7.3 R-value

helps you to stay cosy and warm even

during a harsh winter.

And while both pads deliver ultra

comfort to the user, they’re ultra quiet

too – almost six times less

than the previous model

so tentmates enjoy a

restful night’s sleep too!

Packability

You can have

your XLite or

XTherm in mummy

shape or roomier,

rectangular

MAX format.

NeoAir pads can be

packed in a rucksack,

duffel or day pack with ease – the

XLite NXT packing down to the size

of a wide-mouth bottle, meaning no

sacrifice of space in an already full

pack. But for us, packability also

means speed striking camp – so both

the XLite NXT and XTherm NXT are

equipped with Therm-a-Rest’s easyto-use

and super speedy WingLock

valve, so you won’t be waiting long

for your pad to inflate or deflate.

Versatility

Available not only in multiple lengths

and widths (like all Therm-a-Rest

pads), both NXTs are also available

in a rectangular ‘MAX’

shape as well as their

traditional “mummy”

shape. So if you value

some extra space at the

top or bottom of your

mattress, or you’re a sidesleeper

who wants to

ensure they stay warm

all through the night, the MAX

versions deliver the same comfort

and packability of their mummy

shaped counterparts.

www.thermarest.com


WOODLAND CAMPING

Hang out

If you hate sleeping on the cold,

hard ground, maybe it’s time to try

hammock camping. This hammock,

from Balinese brand Ticket to the

Moon, has an integrated bugnet to

keep away creepy crawlies. It’s made

from durable parachute nylon that

can support loads up to 150kg. And

it’s easy to set up too, especially if

you use the brand’s knotless Moon

Straps kit (+£30).

Ticket to the Moon Original Pro,

£130, scandinavianoutdoor.com

Camp coffee

This handsome set is made in

Finland from a natural wood

fibre composite, manufactured

using renewable energy. Despite

the modern materials, it’s based

on traditional Scandinavian folk

designs. The result is a stylish,

eco-friendly alternative to

plastic that doesn't absorb

smells or tastes. It’s also very

heat resistant, perfect for camp

coffee breaks.

Kupilka Classic Cup and Plate,

£33, thebushcraftstore.co.uk

Under cover

The essential companion to a

hammock is a trusty tarp, to keep you

protected from the elements all night

long. This 3-metre-square shelter

provides full coverage for you and

your gear, with 19 strong attachment

points for versatile pitching. It’s also

made from recycled PET polyester,

with each tarp saving approximately

258 single-use plastic bottles

from landfill.

DD Hammocks Recycled Tarp 3, £45,

trekitt.co.uk

Find your

forest

Five of our favourite woodland

campsites…

1. Blackberry Wood, East

Sussex

2. Cefn Coed, Penmaenpool,

Snowdonia

3. Lee Valley Almost Wild

Campsite, Broxbourne,

Hertfordshire

4. Wrekin Forest Camping &

Glamping, Shropshire

5. Fire and Stars Woodland

Camping, Leicestershire



Wild

camping

Hankering after an epic overnighter, high

in the hills? Here are our top gear picks for

wild campers, ensuring you’ll sleep safe and

sound on your next off-grid adventure, while

staying well-fed and watered too.

Trusty torch

If you’re walking and camping,

you’ll want a durable and

dependable head torch with good

battery life. Petzl’s Tikka is a

popular choice. The latest CORE

version also has some welcome

upgrades – it’s brighter than ever,

with a max output of 450 lumens,

and can be powered by either 3x

AAA batteries or a removable,

USB-rechargeable lithium cell.

Petzl Tikka CORE, £44,

ultimateoutdoors.com

Wild water

Getting sick can spoil a wild camping

trip pretty quickly, and contaminated

water is usually the cause. This

compact, lightweight and

easy to use filter bottle has

become our favourite

grab-and-go water filter.

It’ll remove bacteria,

cysts and other nasties

from tarns, rivers and

streams, filtering up to

2 litres per minute. It’s

the easiest way to

ensure clean, safe

water for your camp.

Katadyn BeFree 1L,

£56, madabout

mountains.co.uk


WILD CAMPING

Lighten the load

Most wild campers will need a

pack of around 50 litres to carry all

their kit for a night in the hills. The

Atmos – or Aura for women – is

Osprey’s premier trekking pack. It

offers arguably the best carrying

comfort in its class, thanks to its

suspended mesh back panel,

chunky padded harness and

wraparound hipbelt. This LT

version shaves valuable grams,

leaving you with a lighter load.

Osprey Atmos AG LT 50, £165,

wildbounds.com

Bases covered

The foundation to staying

warm and comfortable in

the great outdoors is a

great baselayer, and that’s

true whether you’re

walking or camping.

Japanese brand Zerofit

claims to make the warmest

layers on the market, thanks

to clever insulating and

friction-producing ‘heat

threads’ in the fabric.

They’ve been tested down to

minus 10°C – perfect if the mercury

plummets overnight.

Zerofit Heatrub Ultimate Baselayer

(£55) and Leggings (£55),

zerofit.com

Sleep tight

Temps can drop

when you’re wild

camping at higher

elevations, so a

warm sleeping bag

is a must. This

850FP down

sleeping bag from

Aussie brand Sea to

Summit is ideal. The

mummy shape is

thermally efficient,

yet roomier than

most superlight rivals, ensuring

cosy and comfortable kips.

It has temperature ratings of

4°C (comfort) and -2°C (lower)

and uses a moisture-resistant

down fill.

Sea to Summit Spark SpII,

£365, tauntonleisure.com

Stay aloft

‘A layer underneath is

worth two on top’, says

the old Scout adage. To

be fair, the Scouts know

a few things about

camping. And it’s true –

to stay warm at night,

you need to be off

the cold ground. This

insulated air mat will do

the trick, thanks to its

internal layer of synthetic

fill and 7cm of cushioned

loft. It even has an

integrated pump to

make inflation easy.

EXPED Versa 4R,

from £120,

expeduk.com


That Freedom To

Breathe Feeling.

That confidence of all day comfort in the outdoors,

no matter the weather or terrain feeling.

That Bridgedale Feeling.

bridgedale.com

WILD CAMPING

Pocket powerhouse

A hot meal is always welcome after

a long hill day and can also help you

sleep warmer. This backpacking stove

is tiny – when folded, it’ll nestle inside

the cavity at the bottom of a gas

canister. But don’t be deceived: it’s

powerful and precise, with great

simmer control that won’t simply

cremate your supper. Team it with an

ultralight cookset for the ideal wild

camping set-up.

Optimus Crux, £51,

valleyandpeak.co.uk

A light supper

If you’re lugging wild camping

gear high into the hills, every

gram counts. Titanium

cookware is the lightest option

around, and a nesting cookset

like Alpkit’s nifty MyTiStax 3

takes up minimal space too. It

consists of two lidded pots plus

a frying pan, all with folding

handles, for a total weight of

just 330g. So, you’ll be all set for

any ultralight adventure.

Alpkit MyTiStax 3, £93,

alpkit.com. Optimus Crux, £51,

valleyandpeak.co.uk

Sturdy shelter

More exposed wild camps demand

a robust tent. Free-standing dome

designs like this one are inherently

stable. It’s also reasonably roomy for

two, with decent headroom plus

double doors and porches. At 2.3kg,

it’s light enough to carry on longer

walk-ins, and compact enough to fit

in a pack too.

Wild Country Helm Compact 2,

£300, hillanddaleoutdoors.co.uk

Where can

I wild camp?

Wild camping is permitted

across Scotland, provided you

follow the Outdoor Access

Code. It’s also allowed in

certain areas of Dartmoor.

Elsewhere, you should have

the landowner’s permission –

though there is a long tradition

of wild camping in upland areas

such as the fells of the Lake

District and the mountains of

Eryri (Snowdonia). Always

follow ‘leave no trace’ principles

wherever you wild camp.



Campsite

HERO

PRODUCT

camping

Need a comfortable basecamp for your next

walking weekend or hillwalking holiday?

Here’s how to create a cosy home from home

on the campsite, whether you’re going away

as a couple or with a group of mates.

Terrific tipis

For cosy and convivial camping,

nothing beats a tipi tent. We

love the Robens Klondike, which

sleeps up to six. It’s airy and

well-ventilated, with superb

headroom. Modern polycotton

fabric makes it much lighter and

quicker drying than traditional

canvas too. It’s also configurable

– you can add luxury extras like

a carpet, a bedroom partition

and even a woodburning stove.

Robens Klondike, £650,

outdoorworlddirect.co.uk

Beat the breeze

A sturdy windbreak is a good way to

create sheltered outdoor space on

the campsite, making camp tasks like

cooking much easier. It also gives

you some extra privacy. This model

features five panels and six poles,

with transparent window panels and

several guylines to keep it securely

anchored.

Berghaus Windstop, £60,

blacks.com


CAMPSITE CAMPING

Side order

A small but sturdy side table is a good

camp companion. Use it to stop drinks

and nibbles getting knocked over or to

keep items that are easily misplaced

(like your phone) close at hand.

Helinox’s Table One is probably the

lightest and most compact camping

table on the market. It also has two

handy drinks holders. Just be sure to

peg it down to stop it blowing away…

Helinox Table One, £130,

gaynors.co.uk

Double up on comfort

Sharing body heat is a proven

survival strategy. Or at least,

that’s what you can tell your

partner if they need convincing

about the merits of a double

sleeping bag. But this one is

great, being wider than a

standard double with a hood

that’ll fit two proper pillows,

plus zips at each side, individual

integrated blankets and twin

foot vents.

Kelty Tru.Comfort Doublewide,

£170, wildbounds.com

Living room

If you’re car camping,

weight and packed size

aren’t such big priorities. So even if

there are only two of you, consider

taking a 3 or 4-person tent for added

space and comfort. The Galaxy 300

has a roomy sleeping area, two doors,

porch windows with curtains, a porch

groundsheet plus air vents and

practical organiser pockets both

inside and out.

Easy Camp Galaxy 300 Rustic

Green, £172, easycamp.com

Gourmet grub

A well-fed camper is a happy camper, and a twin-burner gives you the

scope to go gourmet. Unlike some, this stove packs away neatly, with an

oak lid that doubles as a chopping board,

plus easy-clean fabric sides and an

integrated carry strap. It takes two

standard screw-in canisters and works

with other popular types, so there’s

no need for heavy gas bottles, hoses

or regulators.

Primus Onja Duo, £165,

outdoorgear.co.uk

Value

Choice

The pans to pick

Lightweight aluminium or

titanium pans are great for

backpacking, but they’re not

built for basecamps. If you need

durable camp cookware to do

breakfast, lunch and dinner,

stainless steel is the way to go.

Look for a set with bail handles

and strainer lids to make

draining your potatoes and

pasta easy. Even better if

the pots and pans all nest

together neatly.

GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless

Base Camper, £99,

wildbounds.com


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CAMPSITE CAMPING

Stretch out

Okay, a double camp bed

means taking some extra weight

and bulk, but what price for

a good night’s sleep? Most

models pack into handy carry

bags that still fit easily in the

boot of the car. This one also

has elastic corner straps to

secure a double sleeping mat

on top for ultimate comfort.

Zempire Z Leg Twin Stretcher,

£150, zempire.co.uk

Lap of luxury

You’ll have seen basic camping

chairs for sale almost everywhere,

from motorway service stations to

supermarkets. But in our experience,

cheaper chairs feel slouchy and

rickety, and don’t last. For car

camping, when weight isn’t such a

consideration, plump for an oversized

chair that offers a high back for

support plus plenty of padding for

warmth and cushioning.

Vango Embrace Oversized Camp

Chair, £90, cotswoldoutdoor.com

Hello sunshine

Power banks are a useful bit of kit to

keep your devices charged, especially

if your camping pitch lacks an electric

hook-up. So are portable lanterns if

you still want to see after sundown.

This solar-powered gadget does

both, combining a bright 360-lumen

LED light with an integrated USB

charging port and a 4000mAh

battery, enough to fully charge a

smartphone twice.

MPOWERD Luci Base Camp, £55,

wildbounds.com

Plush pad

A lot of novice campers get cold at

night, even if they have a warm

sleeping bag and extra blankets,

because of heat loss to the ground.

That’s why insulated air mats are

far superior to blow-up mattresses.

This example boasts 11cm of loft,

comes in multiple sizes including a

doublewide version, and crucially

also has a high R-value of 4.8 to

guard against night-time chills.

Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated,

from £126, valleyandpeak.co.uk



Layer up

A cosy blanket is great for chilly

evenings around the firepit, latenight

stargazing sessions and

unexpectedly cold nights when

you might want an extra layer

on top. Lightweight and

packable, with a ripstop shell

and insulation made from 100%

recycled materials, these Rumpl

blankets are deservedly popular

– though we suspect it’s got a

lot to do with their bold prints

and bright colours too.

Rumpl Original Puffy Blanket,

£90, rumpl.co.uk

Chill out

Soft-sided coolers are lighter and

more portable than rigid cool boxes,

but the best ones can still keep food

and beverages chilled for up to 36

hours. The Day Escape has tote-style

carry handles so you can take it on

park picnics and beach days as well

as camping trips. With a bit of clever

stacking, its 26-litre capacity will hold

up to 42 cans.

Hydro Flask Day Escape Soft Cooler

Tote 26, £168, ellis-brigham.com

Head down

A decent camping pillow can really

help you to get a good night’s sleep

in the tent. Much more comfortable

than a pile of spare clothes, and far

more packable than cramming your

pillow from home in the car. This one

combines an inflatable bladder with

a thick layer of foam and a soft

microsuede cover.

NEMO Fillo, £45, tiso.com

Mid

Range

Classic cot

If you struggle

to sleep on a

sleeping mat, no

matter how plush, a folding

camp bed might just help you

get a decent night’s sleep. They

eliminate lumps and bumps yet

are sturdier and more durable

than cheap, blow-up air

mattresses. This one has an

aluminium frame, steel brackets

and a polyester fabric base that

can support up to 100kg.

Regatta Renata Camp Bed,

£55, regatta.com

Rest easy

If you prefer a bit of privacy at

night, a tunnel tent with separate

sleeping areas is a good way to go.

This great value Coleman tent

sleeps up to six in three bedrooms

and also features nifty BlackOut

fabric that blocks light for more

restful sleep, while also keeping

the tent cooler during the day.

Coleman Castle Pines 6L

BlackOut, £560,

wowcamping.co.uk


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YOUR ADVENTURE,

YOUR WAY

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Family

camping

Thinking about a family camping trip for

your next summer holiday? Here are our

top kit picks to ensure it’s a fun and

stress-free experience.

Mid

Range

HERO

Fresh air

PRODUCT

Air tents take

the hassle out of

pitching the tent: no

poles, no fuss, no time wasting.

And despite what you might

think, the best designs are

extremely rigid and robust. New

for 2024, this premium option

sleeps up to seven people across

three darkened bedrooms, with

big doors and windows for

plenty of light and air.

Outwell Stonehill 7 Air, £1220,

aeleisure.co.uk

Personal space

If you’re camping with older kids or

teens, look for a tent with a mirrored

or vis-à-vis layout. This design has

bedrooms at either end with a central

living area, offering greater privacy

over a standard tunnel tent. The

Vango Castlewood 800 is a good

example. It sleeps up to eight in four

bedrooms and features AirBeam

technology for quick pitching.

Vango Castlewood Air 800 XL,

£910, threezero.co.uk

Al fresco eating

There are loads of camping tables

on the market, from no-frills

budget options to featherweight

wonders. But this hexagonal table

gives you a bit more elbow room

and features an adjustable raised

centre, with a hanging storage

pouch hidden underneath. At full

height it will seat six people

comfortably – or shorten the legs

to create a practical coffee table.

Quechua Hexagonal Camp Table,

£90, decathlon.co.uk


FAMILY CAMPING

Wriggle room

‘Mummy’-style sleeping bags

offer maximum thermal efficiency,

but they can feel restrictive. On the

campsite, a rectangular bag can feel

much more like your bed back home,

with space to stretch out or curl up.

This well-priced bag has a soft-touch

fabric inner with synthetic fill and a

ripstop outer. The full zip offers

versatile ventilation, so in warm

weather you can open it out

like a quilt.

Wild Country Burbage,

£75, winfields

outdoors.

co.uk

Take cover

Though we all hope for

wall-to-wall sunshine

when we go camping,

the British weather

doesn’t always play ball.

What this means is that

covered space is an essential

for family camps – enabling

people to read, play games, eat and

chat together without all having to retreat

to a cramped tent. This airy gazebo with

skylights and zip-away doors can be used come rain or shine.

Berghaus Air Shelter, £300, millets.co.uk

Growing pains

As every parent knows only too

well, kids grow up fast. You’re

forever buying new school

uniforms and new shoes as the

little ones get bigger. Which

is why this kids’ sleeping

bag is genius. A clever

zipped footbox means

the bag expands from

100cm up to 170cm

in length, so it

should last for

multiple family

camping holidays,

year after year.

Gruezi Grow, £67,

littletrekkers.co.uk

Sofa, so good

Camping should involve plenty of

open-air R&R. So, you’ll need

somewhere to sit back and take it all

in. Kelty’s triple Lowdown Couch

gives you plenty of space to stretch

out or snuggle up together. It’s about

as close as you’ll get to your living

room sofa thanks to its slightly

reclined seating position for

enhanced comfort.

Kelty Lowdown Couch, £140,

ellis-brigham.com


TIKKA CORE & ACTIK CORE

The new TIKKA CORE & ACTIK CORE are compact, powerful and easy to

use with lighting suited to a variety of outdoor activities. With a simple single

button both headlamps also have red lighting and come with the CORE

rechargeable battery. petzl.com

FAMILY CAMPING

Super-sized snuggles

Big, snuggly blankets make great

multi-purpose extra layers for use

around camp. Wrap them around the

kids on chilly evenings, or throw one

over your sleeping bag at night if

you’re feeling cold. This oversized

double blanket features synthetic fill

for lightweight warmth, while the

brushed fabric ensures next-to-skin

softness. It also comes with its own

handy stuff sack.

Kelty Biggie Blanket, £50,

wildbounds.com

Value

Choice

Value for money

Can’t stretch to an air tent?

There are still plenty of good

quality poled tents on the

market. But beware of some

that skimp on materials and

build quality. Not the Palmdale

600 Lux from Easy Camp. It is

made from robust weatherproof

fabrics, with larger diameter

fibreglass poles for strength and

stability. It’ll be snug for the

quoted 6-person capacity but

is a good choice for a family of

four or five.

Easy Camp Palmdale 600 Lux,

£580, attwoolls.co.uk

Family-size food

If you’re cooking family-sized

meals, you really need a twin-hob

camping stove. This version has

stainless steel burners and adds an

enamel grill pan too. It’s powered

by standard screw-in gas canisters,

so no need to worry about heavy

gas bottles, hoses or regulators. It

also comes with side windshields

for extra stability and better

cooking performance.

Outdoor Revolution Twin Burner

Stove and Grill, £99,

worldofcamping.co.uk

No-mess meals

Portable kitchens help to take the

mess out of camp catering. This

option folds flat for easy storage

and transport, but transforms into

a practical workstation complete

with splashback, washing up bowl/

sink and rubbish bin, plus several

useful, easy-access storage shelves

bring order to your camp kitchen.

Kampa Chieftain Field Kitchen,

£185, camperite.co.uk

Space to spread

Self-inflating mats inflate like an

airbed but have a foam core for

comfort and warmth. They start to

fill with air as soon as you unroll

them and open the valve, hence the

name (though they normally require

a few top-up breaths too). The

Campground 30 is made from robust

fabric and has a sturdy valve, plus a

rectangular profile that gives some

extra room to spread out.

Robens Campground 30, £35,

easycamp.com



Glamping

Camping doesn’t have to mean going ‘back

to basics’. Glamping brings lavish luxury to

the great outdoors, allowing you to soak up

your surroundings in style.

High spirits

An elegant flask and tumbler set for

transporting your favourite tipple, the

Firelight 375 is named for its practical

capacity – at 375ml, it holds exactly

half a standard bottle of spirits. That’s

ideal for savouring a single malt or

cradling a warming brandy beside

the campfire. And the ingenious

design’s integrated tumbler

magnetically attaches

to the top of the flask.

High Camp Flasks

Firelight 375, £65,

highcampflasks.

co.uk

Throwback

For real luxury and authentic

outdoor heritage, you can’t

beat a Pendleton camp blanket.

These rugged USA-made wool

throws were used by early

traders and settlers of the

Pacific Northwest. Today,

they’re still handed down

through generations of modern

American families. They look

great whether spread out in

a tent or draped over your

shoulders as

you sit out

under a sky

full of stars.

Pendleton

Yakima Camp

Throw, £170,

wildbounds.

com

Treat your feet

On camp, it’s hands and feet that

tend to feel the cold first. A pair of

hut slippers – originally developed

for use in Alpine mountain huts – is a

great way to guard against cold toes.

Voited’s Soul Slippers are better than

most, featuring a water-repellent

shell, memory foam insole, fleecy

lining and a durable, grippy outsole.

Voited Soul Slipper, £45,

voited.co.uk

Light up the night

Nothing creates authentic

glampsite ambience better than

the soft glow of candlelight. This

‘Candlelier’ makes any space

feel cosy and inviting. Its three

candles come in standard wax,

scented beeswax

or insect-repelling

citronella and provide

up to 12 hours of light.

The top warming plate

can also be used to

heat bedtime cocoa.

UCO Candlelier, £50,

wildbounds.com

Carry the flame

Most glampsites will have some sort

of campfire circle or fire pit. But if not,

there’s always the option to bring

your own. This Japanese-made

portable fire pit folds flat and packs

into a carry bag for easy transport.

This kit includes a baseplate so you

don’t scorch the ground (essential for

leave no trace camping), plus a grill

for adding flame-cooked flavour to

your food.

Snow Peak Pack & Carry Fireplace

Kit, £275, tamarackoutdoors.co.uk


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The big chill

It’s a splurge alright, but if you want

the Rolls-Royce of coolboxes, this is

it. YETI has built a rep for building the

toughest and most effective coolers

on the market. This two-wheeled

brute features three inches of

insulation and a freezer-quality lid

gasket to keep contents perfectly

chilled for days on end, with a

generous 70-litre capacity.

YETI Tundra Haul, £400, magrigg.

co.uk

Wearable warmth

Nobody likes getting chilly. And a

big, cosy layer that you can just

throw on over everything else is

a great defence against the cold.

This insulated poncho doubles

as a stylish blanket, perfect for

wearing around camp. It has a

snug kangaroo pocket to warm

your hands, which doubles as a

pack pocket for take-anywhere

convenience.

Therm-a-rest Honcho Poncho,

£110, tauntonleisure.com

Too posh

to pitch?

Where to go glamping…

1. Penhein Glamping,

Monmouthshire

2. Muiredge, Perthshire

3. Dartmoor Domes, Devon

4. Hesleyside Huts,

Northumberland

5. Top of the Woods,

Pembrokeshire

Pump ’n’ grind

If your mornings always start with

coffee, you’ll need a portable coffee

maker. This nifty gadget brings

proper espresso to the great

outdoors. Just fill the tank with hot

water, then use the simple hand

pump to deliver a creamy shot of

steaming espresso. It’s available in

two versions that use either ground

coffee or Nespresso capsules for

a tasty home comfort.

Wacaco Minipresso, £56, tiso.com


TENT CARE

Camping care

These small but mighty bits of kit can greatly extend the

lifespan of your camping gear, making it easy to keep tents

and other equipment in top condition. Which is both

good for the planet and good for your pocket…

Repel the rain

Tents occasionally require

reproofing to restore their

original water-repellent finish.

Fabsil’s Universal Protector

Liquid is a tried and tested

product that works particularly

well for large areas of canvas or

polycotton. This big tin provides

plenty of

coverage and

can be painted

or sprayed

on to tents,

awnings and

other outdoor

fabrics in need

of proofing.

Fabsil

Universal

Protector

(5L), £50,

millets.co.uk

Repair rips and tears

Accidents can happen, no matter

how careful you are with your

outdoor kit. So don’t go camping –

or walking, for that matter – without

carrying a little roll of this excellent

gear repair tape. It can be easily cut

to size and used to quickly patch torn

tent flysheets or groundsheets as well

as other outdoor fabrics, including

waterproof jackets and overtrousers.

McNett Tenacious Tape, £7,

blacks.co.uk

Safe and secure

Tent guylines are easily

damaged by high winds – or by

campers tripping over them.

Guard against such mishaps by

replacing your guys with these

fluorescent and reflective lines,

in four lengths of 3 metres.

This set also comes with four

glow-in-the-dark, non-slip

locking runners for maximum

holding power.

Clamcleats Reflective Guylines

and Line-Loks, £17, cleats.co.uk

Tent TLC

Over time, the performance of tent

fabrics can degrade. Tear strength of

fibres can be reduced by UV damage,

while waterproofing can be affected

through abrasion and contamination

from dirt and dust. Nikwax’s

Solarwash cleaner and Solarproof

reproofing sprays guard against

this, providing UV protection and

restoring water repellency. Use

before or after a camping trip to

look after your tent.

Nikwax Camping Care Kit, £17.50,

amazon.co.uk


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FROM THE MAKERS OF

MAGAZINE

ROAD TRIPS

Road trips

If you fancy a change from conventional

tents, why not combine your next hiking

holiday with an epic road trip by hiring

a campervan or investing in a roof tent?

Side shelter

Most campervanners hanker

for a little more room. The

answer is a drive-away

awning, which attaches to

the side of a van to give you

extra sheltered space but

doesn’t need to be packed away

whenever you leave the site. The fastpitching

inflatable Outwell Parkville

200SA is great for smaller vans giving

you a no-fuss, weatherproof seal

without awkward connecting panels.

Outwell Parkville 200SA, £1065,

outwell.com

Pack it out

Responsible camping means

taking all your rubbish with you.

This clever vehicle accessory

makes that easy. It attaches to the

rear of your van or truck – so, no

more long drives with smelly, leaky

bin bags in the back. Once home,

just give the Trash Pak a rinse and

it’s ready for your next trip.

Kelty Trash Pak, £100,

wildbounds.com

Bright idea

Fairy lights are a popular way to

illuminate outdoor spaces, from

roof tents to van awnings. This is

one of the neatest we’ve seen: four

lights on a 10ft (3m) cord, with a

USB port at one end that can be

plugged into any power bank.

You can also daisy chain multiple

SiteLights to light up larger spaces.

BioLite SiteLight String, £18,

trekitt.co.uk

Secure sipping

Single-use coffee cups should

be a no-no these days. What

you need is a sturdy, cupholdersized

sidekick for your next road

trip: something like Camelbak’s

Horizon Tall Mug. The doublewall

vacuum insulated stainless

steel construction keeps

drinks hot or cold, while the

condensation-free powder coat

finish and robust handle makes

for easy swigging en route.

Camelbak Horizon Vacuum

Insulated Stainless Steel

Tall Mug 710ml, £35,

camelbak.co.uk



Room at the top

Roof tents seem to be the next

big thing in car camping. Market

leader Tentbox’s latest Lite 2.0

model is a great all-rounder that

fits on even the smallest vehicles.

It also now features a comfier

mattress, two skylights, and a

removable rainfly. Set-up is

simple too – it pops open in under

5 minutes for easy adventuring.

Tentbox Lite 2.0, £1295,

tentbox.com

Portable power

A portable power station is the ideal

option for charging your devices if

your vehicle isn’t equipped with a

separate leisure battery. Charge it

before you leave home and the

Yeti 200X can deliver 187 Watthours

of power from door to

destination and back again. It can

also be topped up using a portable

solar panel like the Nomad 10 for full

off-grid capability.

Goal Zero Nomad 10 (£100) + Yeti

200x (£230), goalzero.co.uk

Cookin’ on gas

Depending on your set-up, your

van might be equipped with a

simple burner or a deluxe oven.

But now and again you might

want to cook al fresco – after

all, that’s one of the joys of

camping, right? This compact

and portable gas-powered BBQ

allows you to grill out in style

(and keeps grease and oil

outside your camper).

NomadiQ, £259,

thejourneycentre.co.uk

Vroom with a view

If you fancy swapping the tent for

a campervan on your next camping

holiday, visit GoBoony – basically, the

Airbnb of online motorhome hire.

Whether you want a luxury RV,

a classic camper or a bespoke, oneof-a-kind

van conversion, there’s an

option for you. Chat with the owner

to arrange a viewing or even a test

drive, and away you go.

From £96 per day, goboony.co.uk


WE

CAMPING

11

ways camping

is better than

real life

1. Food tastes incredible

2. Conversations go deeper

3. You’ve never slept in fresher air

4. You feel part of a giant universe

5. There’s so much less to worry about

6. It’s a lesson in gratitude (isn’t being warm ace?)

7. And philosophy (are there earthly riches

greater than hot chocolate?)

8. The views are better than any penthouse suite

9. The bills are peanuts

10. The memories are priceless

11. The shower at home is the best of your life

PHOTO: KRISTAPS UNGURS/UNSPLASH


The award-winning Frontier Collapsible Cook Set —

maximise your mealtime and minimise your pack size

— five collapsible, super lightweight and

easy to use pieces.

www.seatosummit.coVL

Country Walking Camping Guide 2024

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