Over the last few years, camping has evolved as demand has increased into holidays that suit a wide range of tastes and price brackets. It is certainly more than singing “Ging Gang Gooly” around a blazing campfire though if that’s what you crave, go for it! Here are a few other camping options you can try:
Glamping
“Glamorous camping” or glamping allows campers and travellers the experience of being outdoors without compromising on luxury. Some of these tents are simply fabulous darling and you will often have the comfort of actual beds, wooden floors, log burners as well as sumptuous décor. You will, of course, have to pay more for this type of camping but it might provide the compromise you are looking for if you are unwilling to totally give up on home comforts.
Wilderness camping
The other extreme is camping in the wild – an experience fast gaining popularity thanks to explorers such as Bear Grylls and Steve Backshall. There are places dotted around the UK specialising in giving tasters in “survival” (sometimes referred to as “bushcraft”) or you could try making your own adventure (which would be the cheaper option). Wherever you decide to go, you will need to make sure you have permission to camp there and then consider carefully what you need to take as there won’t be any lavish bathrooms, shops, etc. for you to call upon. This sort of experience can be a great bonding experience for “lads and dads” although there’s obviously no restriction on who can try this. It can as extreme as you want to make it – more experienced campers might limit what they take food-wise and attempt to forage for it, fish for it, etc. although obviously this entails a whole other skill set and you need to have some idea of what you are doing so you don’t end up frying the wrong kind of mushroom for example!
Purpose-Built Campsites
These arguably provide the best compromise for those camping with children. The campsites have full toilet/shower facilities and then depending on the site could also comprise electric hook-ups, playing fields with items such as goal posts, swings and slides, sports facilities, swimming pools, shops, outdoor activities such as canoeing, rock climbing, hire facilities for all manner of things, Again, you get what you pay for so expect to shell out more for the more facilities you desire.
Caravanning/Camper van
Seasoned campers might call this cheating but we say bring it on! Obviously, you have the benefit of more home comforts such as a kitchen, shower room, seated living area but you are still enjoying the great outdoors (as long as you don’t burrow yourselves in your tin tent) and can enjoy the same camping experiences. Again, you don’t need to rush out and buy one, hire one first and see what you think.
Camping at home
Who can remember camping in your back garden as a child? I certainly can…and I can remember my friend’s brother scaring us to death and hot-footing it back into the safety of our bedrooms! This can be a great place to test out your brand-new tent and for kids to get a taster of camping before you actually branch out and go for it. Sometimes, it’s a nice thing to do just for the heck of it and it’s the cheapest option!
