Our Best Camping Tips

Shop Around - A lot of people are coming to camping for the first time, as foreign holidays seem to be off the cards.  If this is you, and you can't wait to experience the great outdoors, then when looking for your camping gear, SHOP AROUND.  Don't just go for the cheapest set up, or the most expensive in the shop - just because you think you should.  Got any friends that camp? Then why not ask if you can borrow their tent?  If not, take a look at the second hand market.  There are plenty of places out there to pick up "last years model" or a tent that's only been "used once".

And remember, size matters!  A four man dome tent will be designed for four people to sleep in, but may not include space for all your other stuff, so think about the number of people, the amount of stuff and how much time you will be spending in the tent.

You don't need everything! Clothes washing backpacks, multi functional drinking bottles that wash up, inflatable sofas and a bracelet that doubles as a multi tool - there are so many weird and wonderful camping gadgets out there you could spend thousands without even buying a tent.  You don't need them all.

Think about what you are planning on doing, and buy or pack appropriatley.  If you intend to eat out all the time, then it's no good investing in the latest multifunctional camping stove, a basic to boil water for the morning coffee will be sufficient.  If you find, after your first trip, you are converted and will be camping for the rest of your life, then start investing in gadgets which will just make life easier.

Plan for all weathers (especially when doing the NC500) - We joke a lot up here that you can have four seasons in one day - but it's true.  I've left home in glorious sunshine and 10 minutes away it's pouring with rain and blowing a gale (by the way, yes it is always windy in Caithness!).   Where the weather is concerned, expect the unexpected.  Make sure you pack for glorious sunshine, as well as torrential rain - raincoats are a must, but so are sunglasses.  

There's nothing worse than returning to the camp, having been soaked to the skin because you decided to save a bit of space by not packing your raincoat, and nobody will enjoy that!

It will be tough at times - We've all seen the movies. The family with 2.4 children arrive at the campsite, the weather is beautiful, the tent goes up in a flash, and the next thing you know they're all sitting round the BBQ with perfectly cooked food, laughing and giggling and the entire holiday follows the same path. Well, I am sure you're going to love your camping holiday, but it won't be all sunshine and perfectly cooked food - but embrace it!  Think of the memories you'll be making, the stories you will have to tell that will make you cry with laughter.  Remember, it's an adventure1

If you plan to cook your meals from scratch, then PLAN - Make sure if you are going to cook your meals on site, that you plan.  Plan your meals, make sure you think about what you can cook with a camping stove and what you are going to need i.e. saucepans, frying pans, utensils and so on, and pack a "kitchen box", everything in one place makes it's so much easier when packing up & unpacking.  Also check what's available on site and where the nearest shops are.

If you're planning on eating out, make sure you you know where the closest places to eat out are, their serving times and whether you are likely to need to book - you don't want to turn up at a restaurant expecting a good meal and find they'ree closed or fully booked.

Don't forget the essentials - Running a campsite, you do get asked for the strangest things, things which I thought would be essentials for camping.  We've had people turn up with no tent pegs ("we left them in the other tent"), no mallet (" do you have a mallet we could rent?") and even no towels ("Oh, we thought you could hire towels.").  There are certain things you should not leave for a camping holiday without.

Make a list and stick to it (or pop back next week for our Essential Camping List with room to add your own).

Do a practise run - So, you have your tent and you're all excited to go.  But, before you do, do a practise run in the back garden.  Make sure you know which poles go where, how to tighten the guy ropes and how big the finished tent is.  We've seen people turn up, in pouring rain and then spend 3 hours trying to put up a brand new tent, with no idea what they're doing.  Practise makes perfect, and an afternoon putting the tent up in the garden will make your life so much easier when you arrive on site - even let the kids do an overnight stay!

Check out sites - Now this may seem an obvious one, but over the last season we had so many people just turn up and be disappointed when we were fully booked.  Check out sites on the route and, if you can, book ahead, but be realistic about how far you will get in a day - try not to overstretch or you will just end up stressed, tired and probably disappointed.  

If you want to take a more relaxed approach, try booking a day or two in advance.  Make sure you have 2 or 3 options though to make sure you can get somewhere.

Also check what facilities the campsites offer, and any rules.  Some welcome dogs (like us) others don't allow dogs or charge for them.  Some allow campfires, and some don't and all will have different rules in place due to Coronavirus.  Make sure you know what to expect when you arrive.

Take extra blankets - You may be going camping the the summer, but it can still get chilly overnight, and there is nothing worse than being freezing cold - trust me I know, I actually wore my woolly hat to bed one camping trip.

As well as blankets, you should also make sure you invest in a good sleeping bag for everyone going on the camping trip.  It might cost a little bit more, but, trust me, it will be worth it - cold children and partners are not happy campers.

Be realistic - When you plan, be realistic about what you are going to be able to do.  Don't promise the kids that you will see and do everything on a route if time is not going to allow.  Compromises may have to be made, but you could always do it again next year to see all the things you miss out this year.

Don't set unrealistic targets for each days travelling - remember you don't want to be arriving at the campsite at 11pm and trying to put up a tent in the dark.

Be prepared to keep the kids amused - We all hope that when we go on holiday, the weather will be amazing and we'll be able to go and do all the things we want to and see all the things we want to see, but in reality it's going to rain at least once!

Pack a box with travel games, colouring books, reading books, games and activities to keep them busy if they can't be out and about.  It will save your sanity!

Leave no trace - Make sure you clean up after yourselves.  Once you're all packed up, double check the area for any rubbish and dispose of it properly.  Everyone will thank you for being a tidy camper!

Enjoy it - Whatever happens, enjoy it!  Make the most of the time making some wonderful memories, and funny stories you can share with those back home.