Britain Goes Camping by BBC4 tackled the history of British camping from it’s beginnings as a pastime of the landed gentry to today’s resurgence in popularity. It was a fascinating history as camping reflected the changes in British society during the last century, so we’ve summarised it below:

The History of Camping: BBC4 Britain Goes Camping is from Campr - Everything Camping

There were 3 of us wild camping in Shetland for a week. We had picked a spot near the waters edge that involved getting a bus from Lerwick along one of Shetlands many single track roads, then walking 5 miles down another even quieter road/track then finally a mile over fields.

It was a lovely location, with plenty walking, and rock climbing to be had and as I was with 2 geologists plenty of that too. And if you walked over the hills you could reach a village in about 4 miles.

Scottish camping weather…

The weather by Shetlands standards had been pretty decent for the first part of the week but gradually deteriorated to the extent that we spent 24hours in the tent, escaping only for calls of nature and to collect water (although we ended up just putting a pot outside and collecting rain water).

The winds got stronger and stronger until we were faced with a force 9 gale that the tent just couldn’t cope with along with the really soft soggy ground that the pegs struggled to get to grips with. We abandoned camp and began the walk out but a local family saw us and took pity on us, gave us a cuppa and drove us to the nearest village we could find accommodation for the last night, and even suggested where to get a decent meal and where to go for a walk if the weather let up!

Staying in a bod

A Shetland Bod

This accomodation was something called a bod which is a bit of a combination between a bothy and a youth hostel, its very basic with bunk beds, but has electricity and running water, and you pay a small amount to use it, you can find them all over Shetland and are a great chance to meet other people staying in them too.

A fantastic week that I will never forget, made more memorable for the unpredictability of Scottish weather and the generosity of rural communities!

Wild camping in Shetland is from Campr - Everything Camping

Thanks to our friends at Argos we are able to give you the chance to win a handy Regatta Pop Up Tent Set.

The set includes a two person pop up tent, two sleeping mats, two folding camping chairs and two sleeping bags.

Probably the easiest tent in the world to pitch, pop-up tents are ideal for festivals and the lazier camper. Simply remove the tent from the bag and unhook the strap, the tent will instantly pop into shape leaving you with only the guy ropes to peg out. The tent is a single skin tent so suited to most summer camping

The Regatta Pop Up Tent set includes a near complete set of camping gear, making this is the perfect prize for those who wish to dip their toes into the wonderful world of camping.

This prize has been supplied courtesy of Argos, who provide a wide range of tents, camping stoves and sleeping bags

Enter the competition

To enter the competition simply tell us the name of your favourite campsite.

By entering the competition you agree to receive the Campr newsletter which you can unsubscribe from at any time. We promise never to share your email address with anyone else.

Closing date is the 21st July 2010. The competition is now closed.

Our lucky winner was Matthew Lacey from Somerset!

If you missed out enter here for the chance to win two return tickets to any easyJet destination!

Win a Regatta Pop Up Tent Set is from Campr - Everything Camping

Campining Ninja is a new site designed to help you book campsites online and could save you money, time and help you find that hidden gem with hot showers that takes groups in the Lake District (for instance).

Almost every area of the travel industry has been touched by the internet and in some cases transformed as companies like lastminute.com allowed us to book cheap hotel rooms at low prices, utilising rooms that would otherwise remain empty. But camping has lagged behind, many of the best sites are run by individuals in locations that don’t have reliable broadband connections and we know of many great sites that don’t even have a website!

But in 2010 the average consumer expects to be able to book online and with the popularity of camping exploding there is a big opportunity for whoever cracks this problem. The latest to try is Camping Ninja , a startup founded by Rhian Evans and Geoff Vaughan who won funding in a Dragons Den style pitch to build the site.

How it Works

Finding a site

Camping Ninja is a great looking site with rolling hills like our own! But the site’s good looks don’t get in the way of it’s function, Camping Ninja is simply laid out with a basic search accompanied by comprehensive filters to help you find the perfect site, including the option of nudist friendly and solar powered!

Each site is accompanied with a brief description and a very thorough full listing. Booking a pitch is a simple process familiar to anyone who has booked a hotel online.

The ninja speaks

We spoke to Geoff from Camping Ninja about what inspired him and Rhian to setup the site.

Geoff: The idea behind campingninja came about from frustrations we have faced for years as keen campers. There you are, sat in the office on a Tuesday lunchtime. The weather forecast looks great for the upcoming weekend and you think to yourself, let’s go camping. You would ring 8-10 different campsites trying to find availability in a campsite which was right for you. Usually leaving a message as campsite owners are busy people. You would send off booking enquiry forms and e-mails looking for availability and sometimes wait up to 3 days for a reply.

The frustrating part is the amount of time spent trying to secure a booking. I can book flights, restaurants, hostels, B&Bs, hotels in Barcelona all within a couple of minutes and yet finding and booking a campsite an hours drive away from your home can take days.

We are working hard to get campsites on board with campingninja. This type of model is not new in the world of travel but it is a new way of working for the camping industry. People no longer want to spend days trying to find and book a campsite. Our goal is that they will never have to again.

We have made it really simple for a campsite to join us and we would encourage keen campers to help us out and let your favourite campsite know  they could be selling their free pitches through us. The price campers pay is the same as turning up on site. Signing up a campsite

Five Ninja Stars out of Five

We have to congratulate Camping Ninja on designing a site that makes sense of campsites sometimes perplexing pricing structures and for getting so many sites on board already.

The challenge moving forward will be to get the majority of UK sites signed up but with Pitchup.com (see our review from last year) relaunching their site to include online booking it’s an idea that’s time is clearly now.

CampingNinja.com Review is from Campr - Everything Camping

Weed out the espresso machine and gas grill from your pack in favour of some truly essential items, advises Margaret Bethray.

Part 3: Gear

A backpack should carry no more than a quarter of a person’s body weight. It is better to leave an item you are unsure about than regret carrying it for 60km. While ultra-light backpacking seems a competitive sport, there are less extreme measures campers can take to reduce the strain on their bodies and increase the distance of their trek.

Three R’s will get you started. Remove non-essentials. Replace heavy kit with lightweight versions. Reassign the function of items and use them in a variety of ways (such as using a fleece as a pillow).

Remove

What do you really need?

When it comes to reducing the weight of a pack, some campers can never go too far. Clothing labels, toothbrush handles, map edges, pockets, webbing straps, shoelace tails all get the chop. But don’t panic – you needn’t go that far.

First aid kits are a common source of excess weight. Replace expired medications and take out anything that is unlikely to offer real help in an emergency. Pack everything in a waterproof nylon bag, which is lighter than a plastic box.

Remove the luxuries. Camping is not an occasion to spoil yourself. Good eating, basic comfort and beautiful scenery are enough, and they will seem beyond price at the end of a long day. Camp chairs, coffee makers and inflatable mattresses can be replaced with seating pads, espresso powder and sleeping mats. Chlorine tablets are usually adequate to purify running water (but check your area), so leave the water filter at home. Flashlights, binoculars, lanterns are not indispensible. How much midnight bird watching will you really get up to? A headlamp will suffice for after-dark excursions.

Don’t lug around ‘life-size’ amounts of liquids when a four-day portion is all you need. Decant sunscreen, insect repellent, toothpaste, medicine and condiments into travel-size bottles. Think about how much fuel you’ll need based on how many hot meals you’ll make. Bring a little extra fuel, but don’t take an extra canister because you haven’t done your homework.

Deep down you know an insulated travel mug doesn’t make sense. You can’t hike and drink (unless you want to end up wearing your beverage) and there’s no reason to take excessive measures in keeping your tea warm. Unless you’re a winter camper or a painfully slower drinker, rest assured – it won’t get cold. Take a lightweight mug.

Do you really need a GPS or just a bit of map-reading practice? If your GPS breaks or loses signal (it can happen) and you have not brought a map and compass (or can’t use them), the GPS is a heavy, defunct waste of kit. Better to bring a map and know how to use it than be glued to a tracking system and miss the panoramic view.

Replace

Choose lightweight gear

The three main culprits for needless weight are tent, sleeping bag and backpack. Purchase the correct kit and you will reap the benefits on the trail. A good outdoor sports shop will help you choose the best items for the season(s) in which you will use them. Just make sure you are buying gear that is light because it is high quality rather than made on the cheap.

If you’ve put some money aside to replace your current gear, well done you! With many items, you will get what you pay for, and now is the chance to make improvements and reduce weight at the same time. Replace aluminium and stainless steel cooking equipment and stoves with titanium and you’ll notice the difference immediately. If titanium is beyond your budget, look at replacing other items. Some people like the cheaper Lexan (lightweight unbreakable plastic) utensils and canteen kit. Closed-cell sleeping mats are lighter than their inflatable cousins.

Reassign

Make as much gear as possible perform double duty. How useful is an all-in-one corkscrew, awl, wire stripper and flimsy tin opener in the woods? A smaller version of your multi-purpose Leatherman or Swiss Army knife may be more appropriate.

You can also roll up a fleece for a pillow, wear zip-off trousers that become shorts or invest in a tiny orange whistle-match safe-flashlight. Be creative!

Photo credit: Matt.Pico

Worth the Weight? Packing light for Camping pt3: Gear is from Campr - Everything Camping

“Come on, come on! That’s it, do it, keep going, c’mon baby. Just. A bit. More.”

That’s pretty much how our Glamping trip started. My boyfriend, Guy, wasn’t talking to me – he was talking to our new beloved ‘Gracie’, a duck egg blue VW camper van. Why, what were you thinking?

Anyway… our VDub for the weekend was seriously nifty. I LOVED her. If I can scrape together a spare £35K (hmmm), it would be money well spent on actually buying one of these cruising queens.

Guy had had a pretty rocky start to his relationship with Gracie. A few hours on the motorway going at 50mph had got him riled somewhat and, by the time he picked me up for the adventure, he was talking to the van like an old lady does to cats. Or my Mother to herself.

So off we pootled out of Leeds and headed north. An hour later and we were in total darkness in the middle of woodland. Gracie’s tyres crunched carefully along the bumpy country lane and a really friendly couple and their kids, even the dog, came out to greet us. After making a careful trip across a farm in the dark the cheerful couple proudly presented our circular, trellis-walled lodging.

Our abode for the weekend was a Yurt. Flickering candles were dotted around giving it a honey glow and there was a wood burning stove to keep us toasty. We cosied up in our own little warm world, each wearing a head lamp so we could read.

The site owners even offer to bring you your evening meal. Yes please! We filled our boots with home cooked steak pie with creamy mash potato, veg and real proper gravy followed by a huge apple pie and custard.

It was so quiet; peaceful, tranquil. So much that we fell into the deepest sleep, our bellies full, under thick layers of duvet and a sheepskin throw.

The thin layer of transparent material at the top of the yurt was our gentle alarm clock, nudging us awake and letting us know it was morning. I opened one eye and saw my breath. But I was still snug and warm, just my nose felt like ice. Being the gentleman he is, or the little kid who likes to make fire, Guy got up to get the wood burner going. I pulled on my wellies and opened our hobbit sized door to a stunning morning to fetch the brews.

With the Yurt warming up and a cuppa char in hand, we sat happily drinking in the morning sun. It’s incredible how a little farm in North Yorkshire can make you feel totally new and ready to take on the world. I didn’t think the day could get off to a better start.

But then I saw the farmer coming towards us, his playful pooch bounding ahead of him, with two huge plates of Full English. Now that’s food for the soul.

http://karlibubbles.wordpress.com/

Site info

York Yurts

Tadpole Cottage
Sutton Lane
Barmby Moor
York
YO42 4DA

Sara@yorkyurts.com
01759 380901

Snailtrail

VW Camper Van Hire & Campervan Sales
01767 600440
mail@snailtrail.co.uk

Glamping gear

Glamping it up in Yorkshire is from Campr - Everything Camping

The idea of camping has only undergone a populist revival in the UK over the past five years or so, in France they’ve been lauding the delights of a holiday under canvas for… well, forever.

The whole culture in France positively supports the concept of camping as a viable option – unlike the UK the rules and regulations about where you can stay are a lot freer, whilst the further south you go the kinder the weather – get packing, get a map, some travel insurance and a good barbeque and head over The Channel for a bit of outdoor living.

Free camping

Free camping French style

They love campers in France, so much in fact that they provide free campsites – get that, no charge, no hassle, but also no facilities. But what the hell? Known as ‘Aire de Campin’, these sites are a brilliant way to keep costs down on a tour, plus they are quite often located in beautiful little towns, just a stone’s throw from the local pâtisserie.

Beach bum camping

La plage du camping

The south west coastline is home to some of Europe’s longest, sandiest beaches – surf the best waves and watch the sun set over the Atlantic horizon. Because of its beach bum attraction the area has developed to cater for all manner of camping client, take your pick from massive corporate parks with onsite entertainment, through to bijous sites where you can shack up in a yurt or tipi.

Vineyard camping

Sample local wines under canvas

Over 1000 wine growers and famers throughout France offer one night of free camping – the perfect solution for a wine cruise of the grape regions. This is a great way to get to the roots of rural France, staying on small farms, getting personal tours of crops and sometimes even offered an evening meal, and always, of course, excessive amounts of excellent plonk.

Mountain camping

For the more active camper

If you can’t quite bring yourself to crawl into a tent, then your best bet is to head off to Frances ‘coolest campsite’ – quite an accolade and quite rightly awarded. Near Mirepoix, Airstream trailers perch in the foothills of the Pyrénées, with amazing mountain vistas, luscious woodland settings and all manner of luxury amenities, including a relaxation yurt and wood fired hot-tub.

Capital camping

Camp in sight of the Eiffel Tower

Camping on the outskirts of a major metropolis may not seem like f, but in the fashion capital of the world, camping on the city limits is anything but shabby. For a calmer, cheaper accommodation alternative to the harsh extremities of downtown Paris, the campsite in the northwest suburb of Maisons-Laffitte is just 11 miles from the Eiffel Tower, on an island over looking the slow moving Seine.

Camping in France – a life under canvas is from Campr - Everything Camping

Campr is going on it’s annual expedition to foreign climes, and this year it’s Colombia! The tents may be closer to hammocks but if we see any cool campsites we’ll check them out.

If you’re looking for some far flung camping see our review of Dune du Pyla in Archachon, France.

See you in two weeks. Adios!

Gone camping… is from Campr - Everything Camping

If you’re planning to head into the hills, don’t make the mistake of bringing dull, heavy food – and don’t be fooled by expensive innovation either. Margaret Bethray ransacks the kitchen cupboards to help you plan a light-weight menu.

Part 2: Food

The choice of food you bring on a long-distance hike is crucial because it is the fuel that will get you from A to B. Napoleon’s observation that an army marches on its stomach also holds true for wilderness campers who need 2,500 to 3,000 calories a day. Some of this will come from morale-boosting snacks in wet weather and as a reward for tired feet at the end of a long day. What you put into your pack (and your mouth) will undeniably affect what you get out of your trip.

The good news is that the weight of your food will decrease each day – and it isn’t the lightest of supplies. But with some planning, you can take nourishing, delicious and relatively lightweight food on the journey, no matter how long your expedition lasts. Dutch ovens, perishable ingredients and wasteful packaging can be left behind. A small stove and a source of fresh water are all you need.

Outdoor sports shops are full of hi-tech, bland and heavy food ‘options’. Energy bars, MREs and ready-meals may look like space-saving, hunger-banishing solutions, but they are often loaded with the wrong sort of sugar, fat and carbohydrate. On top of that, the average price of a camping ready-meal or a dessert is £3.50 – so three meals and a dessert daily for four days will cost you £56 (in addition to snacks and hot drinks).

Supermarkets

There are a number of light-weight and long-lasting ingredients to be found in supermarkets if you think outside the ready-meal box. Look for packets of flavoured couscous, Parmesan cheese and chorizo, which will spice up any dish and do not need refrigerating. Pita bread and porridge oats are good for campers bored with muesli.

Super Noodles and Pasta ‘n’ Sauce packs are light, easy to cook and come in a variety of flavours. You can transform plain pasta or quick-cook rice with cuppa soups, powdered cheese sauce and dried vegetables such as porcini mushrooms, tomatoes and chillies.

A well packed bag.

Don’t be tempted by treacle pudding in a bag or similar offerings. Too often they are heavy and dull, but there are lighter, tastier options available for an after-dinner treat. Add a few spoonfuls of Nutella or drinking chocolate to easy-cook custard to make chocolate pudding. Bulgar wheat is another versatile, low-fuss staple. Stir in a pinch of cinnamon and condensed milk for a delicious alternative to rice pudding.

Fresh Food

Fresh food, although heavier than dried ingredients, can be worth the extra weight. Add potatoes, carrots and onions to basic carbohydrates in the first day or two. Trail mix also tends to be heavy, but the energy and fibre contained in its fruit and nuts is indispensable. Kendal mint cake, flapjacks and caramel wafers are also worth their weight (in moderation) at the end of a demanding day.

Another way to vary your menu is to bring a small ‘kitchen cupboard’. You will need a bag large enough to hold eight plastic film canisters (ask at any camera shop) filled with dried herbs, seasoning, sugar, salt, Marmite, tea and instant coffee. The particularly adventurous can include unpeeled garlic cloves, curry powder and tomato paste. If you like milk with tea, coffee and breakfast, be sure to bring enough of the powdered stuff. Don’t forget to pick up some packets of ketchup, mustard, salad cream and brown sauce found at many restaurants. Lastly, a stirring spoon, scouring sponge and small knife are a must.

A final note – always carry a small supply of emergency rations. You never know when an extra meal may prove the most valuable thing in your rucksack. Bon appétit!

Photos courtesy Ross and Chazz Layne.

Worth the Weight? A Guide to packing light Pt2: Food is from Campr - Everything Camping

If wilderness camping is in the cards for you this spring or summer, you might be surprised at what you can cut from your packing while still including everything you’ll need for a few days away from civilisation. Margaret Bethray supplies some tips for a four-day trip.

Part 1: Clothing

If you’re planning on camping in Scotland or anywhere with variable weather, you’ll need to take waterproof jacket and trousers, a jumper (or fleece) and walking trousers in case it turns nippy. But you’ll also have to prepare for dazzling moments of sun, which means a short-sleeve shirt and shorts. A hat with a brim is essential for keeping the sun and rain off your face, and no matter the forecast, three pairs of socks are a must.

Despite the warmth of the season, even in August it is unlikely you will sweat through a shirt every day. At the end of a particularly gruelling trek, hang your shirt up to air or rinse it in a stream and wring it out to dry overnight. This will allow you to take fewer shirts. You would be forgiven, however, for packing a fresh set of pants for each day – some things are worth their weight.

Given the changeability of the weather, how do you cut back on packing? The fashion-conscious won’t like it but you can easily limit yourself to two or three shirts and a single pair of trousers (in addition to waterproof trousers). As long as the expedition doesn’t take place in late autumn or winter, you’ll find that lugging a sizeable rucksack up and down hills will keep you warm enough for shorts – and if it doesn’t, there’s always the fleece and trousers.

Essential items

Some items may seem essential, but you should think carefully about bringing them along. Many hikers omit gaiters, padded jackets and towels and find they don’t miss them. A good rule is – if you packed it last time and didn’t use it, you probably won’t use it this time either.

Don’t forget the less obvious articles of clothing – pyjamas (keep your sleeping bag clean), knitted hat (stay warm while you sleep), bandana (myriad uses) and sandals (let your feet breathe while at camp). Once you’ve eliminated the unnecessary pieces from your packing list and lined up the essentials, you are ready to use the camper’s secret weapon: freezer bags.

To making space in your rucksack, pack your clothes into strong, extra-large freezer bags. You can fit a surprising amount into one bag with careful folding. When the bag is full, seal the top except for a small opening and then sit on it. This will expel the air and the bag can be completely sealed, effectively vacuum-packing your wardrobe. You will be amazed at how thin each bag becomes and how little space they take up. Don’t be tempted to bring more clothing, though – packing it this way will help with space but can’t improve overall weight!

Worth the Weight? A guide to packing light is from Campr - Everything Camping