27Aug2024
Tips to Organize Your Maps When Backpacking
I love back-packing long distance trails, but what a lot of maps to carry! Two years ago I plotted my own ‘Coast to Coast’ route from Southport to Scarborough in England. I needed eleven Ordnance Survey Explorer maps to cover the 200 mile walk. It goes without saying, if your maps are disorganized the maps won't help you they will hinder you. Here are my tips to organize your maps when bac
Continue Reading26Aug2024
Should Camping be Free?
Should Camping Be Free? Benefits & Downsides of Free Campsites Every avid camper knows about those secret, free campsites. I am sure you know what I am talking about. When my girlfriend and I traveled through Australia we got a thrill out of spotting a nice free campsite somewhere. With a campervan it was easy to just ‘hide’ somewhere in a parking lot or some national park. Some state
Continue Reading25Aug2024
Backpacking and Camping Alone can be Inspiring
I do like being in company, but sometimes backpacking and camping alone with the wonderful solitude of your temporary home on your back can be so inspiring. Especially if you are in an area of fantastic beauty that you have never visited before. The joy of walking early, looking out of the tent to see the mist-covered mountains or lakes. To put your face in the icy water from the local stream an
Continue Reading20Aug2024
Be Careful What You Say to Your 10-Year Old
It is the spring of 2006 and we buy a new tent for the children to use for next summer. This is quite exciting and Graham, then aged 10, wants to try camping in the backyard during the school half-term, week holiday. This seems okay. He has slept in the garden before, as had his sister before him. He equips the tent with pillows and blankets and books and a CD player and so on and is very cozy.
Continue Reading14Aug2024
Camping at Shell Island, Wales
If anybody had told me what the whole camping experience was going to be like I probably wouldn’t have gone. Portaloos really aren’t my style. But I did go (and my mother thought I was pretty stupid to do that), so I’m going to talk you through the good, the bad and the ugly of Wales. My Experience Camping at Shell Island, Wales: Camping is a Journey as well as a Destination It was a very
Continue Reading03Aug2024
Camping: Horse Flies, Cows and Cous Cous!
So my story begins in the beautiful surroundings of the Lake District, Cumbria, England. I had embarked on a 4 day camping expedition over the rolling hills and steep mountains of the English countryside, to complete The Duke of Edinburgh Award. My Tips for Camping in the Lake District: Horse Flies and Other Lovely Insects There are a few things you should know before you go on a camping trip,
Continue Reading31Jul2024
Camping Supplies for Music Festivals
I don't think of myself as a real camper as I only camp at Glastonbury, UK and other music festivals; but, eleven festivals later (including two with a toddler), I have worked out some things that might be useful to you on your own camping trip. Camping Supplies for Music Festivals: Pillow Firstly, pack a pillow - put it in a bin liner (garbage bag) and tie it with string to your backpack. It
Continue Reading18Nov2013
The History of Camping
How it all Began Camping has been around almost as long as man. Tents have been used as shelter by native americans, armies on the move and for many other things. But it is only since late Victorian times that camping has been thought of as recreation. Thomas Hiram Holding was a British traveling tailor and often considered the founder and father of modern camping. His passion for c
Continue Reading