A Summer outdoors – Ultimate Camping Guide

The summer holidays are in full swing which means it is the ideal time to get outdoors with your children and get camping.  Having been on many camping trips with our little adventurers, from camping in wigwams to tents to real glamping, our camping trips are some of the most memorable of our travels, especially for our children.  For camping novices, now is the best time to give camping a try, the choice of camping options has never been so great.

So why camp with children?

Enjoying the outdoors:

There are hundreds of reports showing the benefits of being in the great outdoors for the whole family but as a nation we are becoming more reluctant to take our children outdoors. Camping offers families so much, from rolling hills and scenic walks, that during your camping trip you will be outdoors, taking in the fresh air and enjoying the simpler things in life.

Space to run and play:

As much as I love a nice hotel, I find that the hotel room after a little while can be claustrophobic especially with three little adventurers in the same room. Camping allows children lots of open space to go and play and  parents can relax on a deck chair or two whilst their little cherubs go and make some mischief close by.

More social:

Within the camp site, there are always a number of campers nearby and as is often the way with children, you will always have families from nearby tents come over and say hello. http://www.thelaneshealthandbeauty.com/tramadol-uk/. It is also does wonders for children’s confidence and as a parent it is lovely to see them making friends.

Put down the electronics:

Adults are probably more guilty of being on our phones and gadgets then our children and camping means we are often forced to look beyond our everyday distractions and focus on what really matters!

Makes your children a little more aware:

camping has a number of things that we need to be aware of, fires are often lit in and outside the tents.  Making children aware of dangers is important and are great taught from a young age.

So what options are available for families:

Camping with your own tent:

Gone are the days of dreary, messy camping sites.   The options now are endless from camping on the shores of Loch Ness to National Trust sites to a family festival.  We have a tent and love the flexibility which this offers as you are pretty much set to go. The choices of tents are incredible (and so confusing!) and I love the range that are available at Halfords.  I would always recommend to visit a trusted retailer and see some “tents in the flesh” before buying one.

Camping pods

These are almost the halfway to glamping, with gorgeous wooden wigwams / pods, which are perfect for families who want to try camping but without having to buy / put up a tent.  Most of the pods also provide beds so you will get a good nights sleep and dependent on the site, may include electrical points and extra amenities!  Camping pods can be found all over the country and we have spent wonderful moments in camping pods in Northumberland!

Glamping

Imagine safari tents, the likes of which are not out of place in Africa which come fully equipped with beds, toilets and showers to a lounge, this is truly luxurious camping.  We had an amazing time on our glamping trip and one trip on my wishlist is glamping in a real safari camp in the UK.  The Aspinall Foundation looks amazing and would be an incredible experience for children and adults alike!

The above is not an exhaustive list and the options for camping with children are forever increasing, so if you have any doubts you should research into the multitude of options that are available.

Hints and Tips

Camping is amazing but can be exhausting especially when you have little adventurers in tow!  I recommend spending time researching and looking into camping and I love the Ultimate Camping Guide written by Halfords.  It is a perfect guide including a range of information from great spots to camp, a list at camping essentials checklist to useful tips on finding the perfect tent.  The guide is perfect for both novice and experienced campers as there is information from how to pitch your tent but also lots of ideas of things to do in lots of counties across the UK.  We have added the book to our camping gear and will definitely be using it as we work our way across the UK.

Have you been camping with children?  What have you loved and have you got any tips for making it a memorable experience?

We are honoured to be asked to work with Halfords, in promoting their new Camping Guide for 2016.