Who doesn’t love the great British outdoors? Nights spent in pub gardens or huddled round a roaring fireplace, striding along the sea front, children playing in the snow outdoors and, of course, the traditional camping holiday, with cosy nights spent under the stars and warming toes by a fire.
Sleeping in the great outdoors is an exhilarating experience for many, but not as often enjoyed in the winter months. What if you want to enjoy nature without forgoing your home comforts at any time of year? Well, look no further, as glamping (glamour plus camping) can provide an ultra-comfortable stay in the wild without feeling as though you’re missing out.
Here are some no-fuss suggestions of how you can add glamour to your camping experience during the colder months:
Say Goodbye to Barbeques
How to feed yourself and your family or partner is one of the most important aspects of camping. Getting the right gear can mean the difference between limited meals or something to savour in the evenings. Start by upgrading your method of cooking.
By opting for a gas stove or camping stove, you’ll find yourself being able to cook many of the meals you enjoy at home, from Spaghetti Bolognese to tasty stir fries, steak and fish. Make like Rick Stein and impress your camping companions by keeping a stash of herbs and spices in small tubs or pots to spice up your camp side fare.
Make the most of the chilly evenings and use the gas flames, hot coals or campfire to toast marshmallows, warm Jacket potatoes in foil and generally indulge in all the delicious camping clichés!
Plus, you can look forward to a hearty cooked breakfast to set you up for a day of exploring the great outdoors.
Check out dream-guides for more camping tips.
Plush Interior
If a comfortable night’s sleep is what you want from a holiday then upgrading from a roll mat to an air bed will instantly inject luxury into your sleeping quarters. Whilst temperatures plummet outside you could also scrap the sleeping bag in favour of a pile of duvets, pillows and throws, creating a plush interior that will guarantee camping feels like a home away from home.
Embellish your sleeping area with extra pretty blankets, scatter cushions and cosy throws to beat the chill and add bohemian glamour to your tent.
Power Up
Taking a trip into the wilderness is often a chance to escape modern living, but if you want to make the experience a little more comfortable, then having a portable power supply on hand means you can still use your gadgets.
There are many solar powered battery or panel options available that offer a charging solution for mobile devices such as phones and tablets. These usually charge during the day and then can be used through the dark evenings, ensuring you are never without your phone, whilst also being kind to the planet, a definite win-win scenario.
Having access to an electricity point, whether stationary or on-the-go, means you can ramp up the evening activity for yourself or the kids with a movie night, games or reading.
Get the Lighting Right
In addition to the ubiquitous torch or tent lamp, why not set the mood and put some battery (or even better, solar batteries south carolina) operated fairy lights up in the tent. Not only are you providing a hands-free light source throughout your temporary living space but their warm glow also gives an enchanted feel to the whole wintery camping experience.
Keeping little ones happy during the night will be easier with some dainty fairy lights and will help adults with the early morning bathroom trip or finding that essential item in the tent in the twilight hours.
Find out if your campsite allows it, but placing a couple of solar powered ground stake lights next to your tent doors can also prove pretty and useful for identifying your tent after a full day away from campsite exploring or a festive evening in the local pub.
Tent
Pop up tents are great for festivals, however they often suffer as collateral damage from all that weekend fun. The material on budget tents is often thin and single layered, making it a little cold and prone to condensation during a winter camping trip.
If you are an avid camper and don’t mind splashing a little cash, a canvas tent is definitely the way to go. Although they are slightly pricey in comparison, the canvas ensures a warm, condensation free environment. Like normal tents, they are made of a waterproof, rot proof material meaning they are still practical to use in the unpredictable British weather, but the material breathes better, keeping you warm in the cold and cool in the heat.
If you want to make it even more magical, and money really is no object, consider an air tow utility trailer, some off road camper trailers or tradesman trailers. The Instagram pictures alone make it worth the investment! If you want the look without the cost, many of the high street outdoors shops do high tech fabric versions of these styles.
Book a Glamping Experience
If you just fancy the experience of camping without having to afford the equipment, you may find that booking a glamping experience is more your thing.
These often come with everything included, your cooking equipment, beds (real beds) and lighting. This means that you can enjoy camping without the hassle, or the price tag, of buying, transporting, setting up and taking down all the equipment. Just add food and drink and you are good to go.
There are glamping experiences all over the UK giving you a chance to really explore the British Isles, including off the mainland. The Isle of Wight has some amazing glamping experiences in interesting places. Whitecliff Bay camping at the Isle of Wight, for example, puts you close to the beautiful coast as well as heritage sites such as Osborne House and Carisbrooke Castle, giving you plenty of stuff to do away from the camp. By booking a ready-made glamping experience there is no limit to where you can visit.
