• It is more than likely that you will be surrounded by tents and they will be pitched within close proximity of your own, no matter how long or far out you try to extend those guy ropes!
• Your standards of personal hygiene may slip a little. Be prepared to spend the weekend in mud encrusted shorts, hoodies, t-shirts and wellies! (just remember to pack clean underwear!) If you are concerened about ‘bad hair days’ then take a hat!
• You may stand in line for hours to use incredibly smelly toilets… (but relax, no one ever died of plague or caught cholera from using a festival porta-loo, even though they are unpleasent)
• You will pay over the odds for everything from a bottle of water or a burger to a souvenir T-shirt or cap.
• If you were thinking of taking anything to make you look beautiful in the great outdoors that runs of mains electricity… do not bother, leave it at home! Festival camping really is all about ‘getting back to basics!’ So leave the mirrors, curling tongs, hair dryer and iron at home!

With all of the above in mind, don’t let it put you off! Just remember that you are going there to enjoy yourself! So smile, loosen up, prepare to get a bit muddy and more importantly… let your hair down and have fun, it doesn’t matter what you look like! Here are some tips on how to survive your festival camping experience for the first time.

Festival Top Tips

The Tent: Always choose a bigger one than you need! This is probably the biggest mistake people make and something I have always wondered about when I have seen pictures of festival sites, all the tents look tiny! A 2-man tent is for 2 people lying side by side in sleeping bags, but it does not account for the mountains of stuff you will be bringing along with you! Always go 1 bigger as a minimum to allow for clothes, coolboxes and those muddy wellies! Make sure that it is easy to pitch too… just in case your friends are a little less than helpful!

Arrive early to choose your spot: Arrive early for the best choice of pitches. Pitch your tent within sight of landmarks you will remember and that will still be visible when you wake up to a field covered in thousands of other tents. Choose a spot as far away from the toilets as you can because it won’t be long before they stink to high heaven.

Claim you space!  Do whatever you can to mark out your territory if you don’t want to wake up within a foot of someone elses tent in the morning. Remember this is festival camping so the usual rules don’t apply! People will pitch anywhere and everywhere in desperation. A windbreak set in front of your tent can give you a little more privacy and much needed extra space, perfect if the weather is nice and you can sit outside and enjoy that cup of tea and fry up in the morning!

Pitch in a circle: If you go as a group, then try to pitch your tents in a circle. Making sure all your openings face inwards; that way if the heavens do open unexpectedly (which is likely if you live in the UK) you can sit in your tents, stay warm and dry with the flaps open chatting to each other.

Know your tent: It might seem stupid after all you know what your tent looks like right? Wrong! In a field full of a thousand tents… and after a few beers they will all look the same, especially after dark! So try adding a giant flag, a windsock (try to get one that is a bit unusual) or even some balloons on a pole to make your tent stand out.

Make friends with your neighbours:  Getting to know the people who have pitched their tents near yours will add to your festival experience and also to the amount of eyes that will watch over your tent when your not there; (a bit like neighbourhood watch; camping style!)

Don’t lock up!  Don’t be tempted to put a lock on your tent. Whilst it might seem like a good idea it simply highlights to any would be thieves that you have something worth stealing inside. And lets face it; tents are not made from bricks and mortar, they are easy to rip or tear into so you would also wasting your time. To be safe don’t take anything with you that you are not prepared to lose… (this includes your friends!)

Hide your valuables when asleep:  Do not make it easy for thieves by stuffing your money or valuables in your boots, then leaving them b!y the front of the tent Put them inside you sleeping bag or by your head under the pillow so they are safe and the furthest away from the entrance.

Plan for disaster!   Trust me, if you have a friend like mine… you will need a disaster plan!! And with the vast amount of guy ropes and tent pegs that will be pegged in each and every direction, it is likely that the odd person will fall over and tents do not offer a lot of support! Take some gaffa tape with you to repair or patch up any broken poles if needed and a First aid kit… just in case!

Light up the night!   Make sure you take plenty of lighting with you… battery operated lanterns, dynamo torches and glo-sticks can add to the fun and festival atmosphere and will also help you find your way back to the tent after dark.

Festival Essentials

Despite the obvious of your tent, money and tickets, here are some ideas for gear you should consider taking.

Ear Plugs:  It might sound silly but trust me when your trying to get to sleep with people snoring, (including the person you are sharing the tent with!) talking and playing music within a few feet of  you, you will be glad you’ve got them. Earplugs are essential!

Rucksack:  Ideal for your camera, sunhat, sunglasses, mobile phone, snacks, water and suncream. Make sure it is well secured, especially if you have got valubles inside.

Food and Drink:  There are always vast amounts of food outlets at festivals for those who are prepared to queue for ages and pay a fortune for a greasy burger! If that doesn’t tickle your taste buds; fill your coolbox with food that is easy to prepare, along with crisps, snacks and nibbles as these will be hard to come by. Cereal bars are also a good idea for a simple and nutritious breakfast. If you are taking alcohol, remember to decant into plastic bottles as glass is band from many festivals for obvious reasons. Don’t forget to take plenty of drinking water too, (freezing a few bottles beforehand will keep your coolbox cooler for longer!) and maybe some energy drinks.

Emergency Facilities:  Festival toilets have improved over the years, but it is advisable to avoid them when possible! Taking along a ‘Bog in a bag’ or a ‘Shewee’ will mean you don’t have to leave your tent in the middle of the night in the dark, cold & wet weather searching for some stinking toilets. Pack yourself some loo rolls too and keep them dry and to hand!

Head Torch:  You might look like an alien in the dark but trust me, you will be glad you’ve got your hands free when your scrabbling around trying to find things (or your friend) during the night.

Waterproofs:  The good old British summer time always likes to throw in a shower or two so be prepared. Take at least one extra set of clothes. There is nothing worse than trying to dry a wet pair of jeans in your tent overnight! Also pack some lightweight waterproof clothing… just in case!

Warm Sleeping Bag:  It might be summer time but it will get cold at night so spend some extra money and invest it in a decent sleeping bag. A good nights sleep will help you get the most out of your festival experience – so make sure you are as comfy as possible when you turn in for the night… why not take your quilt for some added comfort?

Bin bags:  You will need somewhere to put your dirty clothes and they are great for keeping your clean clothes dry should your tent leak. Keep all your rubbish and dump it at the end of the weekend in one of the festival bins. Bin bags are also handy to sit on should the ground become wet and muddy!

Wet Wipes:  You won’t have the luxury of a shower so you will need something to freshen you up and these are the best solution. Wet wipes are also handy for wiping anything and everything, so keep a few packs in the tent and in your rucksack for while you are out and about.

Antibacterial Hand Gel:   Take loads of the stuff! It is handy for through the day as finding a sink to wash your hands before or after eating will be tricky. If you are brave enough to use them; festival toilets normally supply free hand gel but it will run out in no time; so don’t forget to take your own… and lots of it!

Be Prepared:  It may be hot, sunny, wet, dry or chilly – though in the UK it’s likely to be a little bit of everything varying from day to night. Take a selection of clothing to wear according to the weather. Layers are the key and sunglasses, sunhats and suncream are absolutely essential!

Stay safe!  Keep in touch with your friends via your mobile phones, check in every now and then and arrange meet ups in advance. Stick together with a group and tell your friends where you expect to be and when. Do not wander off into dark corners of the crowd on your own. Be careful what you drink and who you accept drink from. Bottles at festivals are receptacles for all sorts of unpleasant waste. And no matter how warm and friendly the crowd seems – you never know what’s in a drink accepted from a stranger.

Happy Camping!
Author: Rosie Austin
The CampTrip Team

One of the best ways to make any dish stand out is not to overpower it with too much of a contrasting flavour – that’s what amateurs do. Instead, just add a “pinch” of it in your dish, enough to get your guest intrigued enough by this combination to ask you for the recipe. (Trust me, they always do.)
And what food is better prepared for the job than the orange, whose delicious juices can penetrate and infuse chicken breasts with a sweet, yet subtle flavour that will make you and your guests swoon when this dish touches your taste buds. So let’s look at a recipe for chicken breasts that desperately calls for orange juice from the depths of your Dutch oven and just so the menu is complete, we’ll pair this sweet dish with a more neutral but just as tasty, mushroom sauce. Did you just say “yummy?”…

Orange Chicken Breasts – A Slightly Non-Conformist, Yet Delicious Dutch oven Dish

The Ingredients:

The listed ingredients are meant for 3 servings and are prepared in a 10-inch Dutch oven. You can adapt this recipe for a 12-inch Dutch oven by simply adding an extra 50% of everything or by doubling everything for a 14-inch Dutch oven. The ingredients are listed in the order they’ll be used.

·2 tablespoons olive oil or any cooking oil

·3 chicken breast halves

·3 teaspoons Dijon mustard or Dijon mustard substitute

·Salt and pepper

·1 large onion, diced

·3 tablespoons butter, cut into 6 cubes

·1 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice

·1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

Directions:

1. Pour the olive oil into the Dutch oven and pre-heat to 350˚ Fahrenheit by using about half of the required charcoals at first, both on top and bottom and adding the remaining coals after a few minutes. (Remember, the ratio of coals for roasting is 1:1.)

2. Cover the chicken breast halves with the Dijon mustard or Dijon mustard substitute.

3. Place the chicken breast, skin side down, into the pre-heated Dutch oven. Add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle onion over the chicken breasts and place 2 cubes of butter on each piece. Pour the orange juice into the pan, but be careful not to pour over the chicken as this might “wash away” the seasoning.

4. Cover with the lid and cook for 25 minutes. Baste once after 10 minutes.

5. After 25 minutes, gently turn the chicken breast on the other side (the skin side should be yellow or lightly brown) and sprinkle with the brown sugar.

6. Replace lid and bake for another 10-15 minutes. If you have a meat thermometer, check and see when your chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165˚, which is the temperature the chicken should be when it’s done.

7. Serve on a plate with some of the orange juice left in the Dutch oven, or check the recipe for the mushroom sauce later in this article.

This recipe will offer your chicken a sweet, but subtle taste. It won’t be overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination. However, you can use more orange juice or any of the oranges’ cousins such as tangerines, mandarins or minneolas, and more brown sugar if you want to “turn things up a notch.”

Would you Like to be an Apothecary? As already stated, it’s the orange juice that gives the chicken breasts their flavour. But what if you’re not much of a sweet tooth and want to create your own concoction of something sour or bitter, rather than sweet? You can combine half of cup of orange juice with half of cup of grapefruit, lemon or lime juice. Or, you can forget orange juice altogether – it’s up to you.
Also, you can add a pinch or more of lemon sugar to your brown sugar, if you want to experiment. Be careful to not add too much, as lemon sugar has a very strong sour taste that can be unpleasant if over-used.

The Mushroom Sauce – The Chicken’s Best Friend:

Some people would find the taste of the orange sauce too sweet, and would like to match the chicken with a more neutral sauce, but one that doesn’t take long to make. And what better option is there than the mushroom sauce, the perfect companion for chicken dishes? Let’s see how it’s made.

Ingredients for Mushroom Sauce:

·Butter or olive oil

·2 shallots or red onions, diced

·4-5 garlic cloves, minced

·1 pound mushrooms, sliced

·1 cup vegetable stock or 1 cup water

·½ teaspoon dried thyme

·4 tablespoons cream

·Salt and pepper to taste

Directions for Mushroom Sauce:

1. In your Dutch oven or Dutch oven’s lid, turned upside down, or in a large skillet, heat up the butter or olive oil over low to medium heat.

2. Add the shallots (or red onions) and garlic, and sauté for about 2 minutes, until the shallots become translucent.

3. Add the mushrooms, and cook for about 5-6 minutes until tender, by gently stirring them so all the pieces get cooked. It might be that this amount of mushrooms seems large, but in just a few minutes they’ll shrink considerably.

4. Add 1 cup vegetable stock (or 1 cup water), stir in ½ teaspoons of dried thyme and simmer for about 10 minutes.

5. After 10 minutes, stir in cream, tablespoon by tablespoon, and taste after each one, because different creams have different consistencies and different tastes. If after just one or two tablespoons you think it’s enough, stop there

6. Let simmer for another minute or two and then add salt and pepper to taste.

7. Serve with the orange chicken breasts.

For those of you who like thicker sauces, you can add more vegetable stock and thicken it with cornstarch or arrowroot. Others might omit the cream altogether, although I think it enriches the taste and gives the sauce a nice colour. You can also run this sauce through a blender, or use a portable blender to make this sauce smoother – it’s up to you. Another option is to prepare this sauce in advance at home, store in the refrigerator and take it with you when cooking outdoors.

Author Bio:

Daniel Dutch likes to cook all kinds of things in his Dutch oven when he’s out camping with his friends and family.
You can find more of his recipes at his website, www.OutdoorDutchOvenCooking.info

Author: Daniel Dutch
Edited By: The CampTrip Team

There was one summer, I must have been about ten or so, I went on a backpacking excursion. I easily made friends with a few of the other girls, but there was one in particular I just couldn’t seem to sway to like me. Her name was Butch. I never found out if that was her birth name, or simply a pseudo nickname she had given herself, but she hated my guts. I was always nice to her, invited her to hang out with the rest of us girls, offer her some of my gummy worms, but she would just scowl and sulk away.

We had finished our long hike through the back routes in Yosemite National Park, and our counselors had told us to set up camp near a vertical rock wall. I tussled out my sleeping bag next to two of my buddies, Melissa and Cary, and took a gander at the setting sun over the horizon. It was breathtaking.

“What’s for dinner?” asked Melissa, throwing her backpack in the dirt with a hefty grunt. Our counselor opened up a baggy filled with hot dogs and started a nice, warm fire. I dug into a snack pack of nuts and dried fruits and took a seat next to the fire. I hadn’t seen much of Butch that day. She had dillydallied near the back of the group most of the hike, and at one point I think the counselor had us go ahead because Butch had disappeared. At dinner, I saw her crouch in the shadows on the other side of the fire. She actually looked rather amused, happy. It was probably the first time I had ever seen her smile. She had a rather nice smile, actually, one of those smiles that naturally didn’t need braces. The rest of the night was filled with campfire songs and s’mores. Melissa and I flirted with the cute boys and drank too much hot chocolate. But alas, it was time to go to bed.

I needed to use the bathroom before bed, so I grabbed a roll of toilet paper and a shovel and headed out into the wilderness.
When I returned, I walked by Butch’s sleeping bag where I caught her looking at me with one eye open, and a malevolent grin to make a dog stick its tail between its legs. I paid no mind to it, and walked to my bed. Just as I had kicked off my flip-flops and was about to climb in, a voice called out, “Stop!” I turned around to find Cary and one of the counselors approaching me. Cary’s arm was outstretched and pointed to my sleeping bag. “Are you sure you saw her do it?” asked the counselor. Cary nodded. “Mm hm. Butch did something to her sleeping bag. I saw it.”

I looked down at my sleeping bag and stepped away while the counselor picked it up by the end and hung it upside down. Two shakes of the sleeping bag later, a furry tarantula dropped out. All of the girls shrieked and scooted away. My eyes were wide. I blinked a few times but didn’t fully come out of my daze. The next few moments related to the counselor scolding Butch and panicking about what to do. She had called the campgrounds with our satellite phone, and someone from the camp was to immediately come pick us up. Butch was silent on the car ride back to camp. She sat in the front next to the counselor, her head bowed and staring out the window.

“I didn’t want to sleep in the dirt anyways,” said one of the girls.

“I can finally shower,” said another.

“Can you believe Butch would do that?” one murmured.

“She could’ve been killed,” said a fourth.

The girls kept talking amongst themselves, not at all trying to hide the fact they were talking about someone in particular in the car. I sat quietly in the back, still dazed and thoughtful about the occurrences of that night. In almost an instant, I would have stuck my bare feet down into sleeping bag I shared with a deadly creature. It could have bitten me, and if I hadn’t woken up from the bite, I may have never woken up at all. It would have been all too quick and easy, and someone purposefully and maliciously had attempted to do it to me. Again, what did I ever do to her? Why was I the target? As soon as we returned to camp, her grandmother was called and she was immediately picked up. I never saw Butch again after that. I’ve always been curious to find out where life took her, where she ended up and such. I’m just thankful that I had someone looking out for me that night.

Being a democratic and fair family we put it to a vote. I lost 4 to 1. So on a beautiful Thursday morning we woke up at the crack of dawn and I found myself headed to Ocean Lakes Campground in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, my husband, 3 teenagers, and a camper in tow. 

“My breath was taken away at how clean and beautiful the beach was…”

Upon our arrival, I was surprised at the speed of our check in after having filled most of the paperwork online. I was delighted too, at the beautiful maintained grounds! Our pitch was perfect as I did request one with a little shade. Of course, after setting up the first thing we did was go to the beach and I have to say that my breath was taken away at how clean and beautiful the beach was. I watched on as the kids and my hubby bounce around on the waves, as i sat next to the lifeguard stand just in case he needed me to spot man of wars or sharks. Hungry and tired after a long trip, that evening we bathed in the very clean and well stocked bath house and headed on over to Crabby Mikes Seafood buffet. This was the best seafood I had ever tasted and I especially enjoyed the crab legs in butter.  I think I counted over 100 items on that buffet and we certainly got more than our moneys worth with 3 teenagers at my table. My oldest daughter doesn’t eat fish, but they had a fantastic salad bar, fried chicken, pizza as well as a slew of desserts. 
Upon returning to our campsite, we cracked open a couple of beers and talked until the wee hours of the night.
We slept very good that night listening to the surf. The following day we woke to a beautiful day and rented bicycles and tripped around the grounds. I couldn’t believe how secure this campsite was. I frequently saw security patrolling unobtrusively in and around the general store, the laundromat, and through the site. We went to Bucanneer Bay and played some miniature golf and

“I had to admit I was having a good time!”

That evening we ordered pizza from the pizza parlor on the campground and it was delicious too. There was so muchto do nearby. We went to Ripleys aquarium and saw MERMAIDS and other sea creatures. However, my girls and I opted out for the guys trip to the reptile/alligator farm. We chose to stay in the camper and watch cable tv, made available through the campsite.
I was very impressed with this campground. I have stayed at many and this site, thus far, is number one in comfort, security, cleanliness and with a ton of stuff to do very nearby. So much to do in fact, you need to spend at least a week in order to take it all in. Next time, family, next time!

Author: Reginia Griffin
Edited By: The CampTrip Team

Camping for some can just seem like too much bother, so much to do and the worry that it will not be done in the right way!… Well if I can do it then anyone can!
Check out my ‘camping alphabet’ below for some great tips, ideas and articles that will help you get the best from your camptrips. Happy camping!

A is for ACTIVITIES! There is so much to do during a camping trip, trust me, there is never a reason to get bored… even on rainy days!

B is for BUGS! They will be there on every camptrip in some shape or form, but camping with bugs does not have to be a problem! Don’t let the little beasties get you down!

C is for CAMPING! (of course, what else?)  But is camping for you?…

D is for DUTCH OVEN… A great thing to have in your camping kitchen! Have you ever cooked a meal in a dutch oven whilst camping?

E is for ESCAPING from the hustle and bustle of everyday life as you kick back and relax in the great outdoors, so ditch the stress and bring on the smiles! Camping is fun… honest!

F is for FIRE. A campfire to be exact! Every camper should know how to build one and more importantly… (which i have learned from experience)…how to keep it going!

G is for GUITAR… songs around the campfire never sounded so good! But there are some sounds you just do not want to hear on a camptrip!…

H is for HIKING... get out there and explore! It’s great exercise too…for those who want it!

I is for INTERNET! Yes, you can still keep in touch with the ‘outside’ world if you really want to!

J is for JACKET… whatever the season, make sure you have the right jacket for your camptrip.

K is for  KIDS! A great way to create lasting memories is to take your kids camping!

L is for LIGHTING. Torches, lanterns, glo-sticks you name it. Choose the right form of lighting for your tent!

M is for MOSQUITOES! They come every summer and invade your tent, but there are ways to avoid the misery and meyhem!

N is for the NIGHT SKY. Why not try some stargazing while you are in the great outdoors?

O is for ORANGES! Did you know that you can cook eggs in an orange skin?…

P is for PREPARING… Always remember that preperation and safety are key factors for any camping trip.

Q is for QUILT! Do you take a quilt for luxury or a sleeping bag?

R is for RV… do you have one? How do you pack yours for your trips?

S is for SMORES! Delicious and so easy to make, a must for any camping trip!

T is for TENT! (obviously!) The most important part of your camping kit, your tent is your home whilst living in the great outdoors, look after it and it will look after you!

U is for USEFUL things and supplies that you don’t want to forget!

V is for VANITY! Yes, you can still look good when you are camping, it’s easy when you know how!

W is for WINTER. Camping in the colder months can be a great experience, but correct clothing is essential.

X is for ‘X’ marks the spot! How do you choose a camping location that’s right for you?

Y is for YOGA! It can ease tension and support a healthy body while camping… why not give it a try?

Z is for ‘Zzzz!’ Camping doesn’t have to include an uncomfortable sleep! Sweet dreams!

Author: Rosie Austin
The CampTrip Team

Figuring out what to pack for a camping trip is always a challenge, particularly if you’re planning to cook your own meals. It’s easy to rely on instant noodles and sausages, but the basics of campsite cuisine can become boring quickly.

What’s more, they’re not exactly the healthiest of foods. For this quick guide, we spoke to Gareth O’Rourke from Pure Leisure Group to learn more about the best healthy food options to take camping.

Breakfast: Grains, Fresh Fruit and Eggs

Instead of eating calorically dense energy bars for breakfast (many of which are mostly sugar) why not cook a delicious campsite omelette? Pack some eggs and fresh vegetables and cook the perfect omelette at your campsite.

If you like some carbohydrates with your breakfast, you have a wide variety of choices. Bring some quick-cooking oats and prepare porridge while you wait for your eggs to cook, or pack some muesli for a delicious continental breakfast.

Bringing a cooler? Pack some containers of fresh yoghurt for the ultimate tasty breakfast. Fresh fruit is easy to store and ideal for adding flavour to muesli and porridge during your campsite breakfast.

Lunch: Salads, Hard Boiled Eggs and Lunch Meat

Does your campsite have its own BBQ area? If so, you can avoid the queues that develop in the evening by cooking your sausages and meats at lunch. This way, you’ll have tasty food ready to serve on walks and other day trips.

Pack some salads in your cooler and bring them out at lunchtime. Bring several different dressings and you’ll have a unique and tasty lunch ready on each day of your trip.

Other great options include hard boiled eggs, which you can boil using a portable stove and cooking pot. Hard boiled eggs are a great addition to sandwiches, as well as common campsite breakfast dishes.

Dinner: BBQ, Fresh Salads and Pita Pizzas

Who says campsite dinners have to be boring? Go with a classic and enjoy a BBQ at your campsite, complete with sausages, tasty steaks and chicken skewers. If you’re searching for a healthy food option, try something leaner such as grilled chicken or turkey.

Even traditionally unhealthy dishes can become healthy with the right combination of ingredients. Bring some pita breads to grill on the BBQ and cook pita pizzas with some cheese and fresh vegetables.

Dinner is a great time to finish off salads you prepared at lunch. Fresh vegetables will last for several days inside your cooler, making them a great all-purpose meal choice for camping trips.

Make your next camping trip a healthy one

Going camping doesn’t mean sacrificing your health and fitness. Enjoy the classic campsite meals and some of the UK’s best scenic walks as you stay in Lake District camping pods from PureLeisureGroup.com.

Our trip started well. The late summer weather was beautiful, the early morning drive down to Gloucestershire was straightforward and the campsite – all rolling fields surrounded by mature ferns – was as charming as could be. But little did I know, our idyllic campsite insisted all visitors – including campers – stayed on gravel pitches. While pitching a tent on gravel seemed completely against the spirit of camping to me, the park authorities maintained it was the best way to keep their beautiful looking campsite looking beautiful.

Disappointed but not (yet) dismayed, we bought some heavy-duty pegs for our gravel pitch from the reception/shop/tourist office and returned to put up the tent. This is when things started to unravel. The problem was, unlike grass, gravel isn’t overly great at anchoring tent pegs. Indeed, every time we managed to peg a corner of the tent into the gravel, it simply popped out again as soon as we pulled the tent even a millimetre in another direction to try and put in another peg. And so it went on for just under two very frustrating hours.

After consuming a less than inspiring lunch of crusty rolls, Frazzles and lukewarm tea from a Thermos flask, we decided to try and reduce our stress levels by taking a two-man canoe out on the nearby river for an hour. With our money, phones and change of clothes stowed safely away in a water-tight container and the sun shining once again, the stress of the morning eventually ebbed away as we glided gently along the river taking in the verdant scenery and infectiously chipper birdsong. After about twenty relaxing minutes of leisurely paddling, I happened to spot a rope swing hanging from a tree by the river bank. Buoyed by an urge to put some fun back into the trip, I suggested we should have a go on it.

‘You first’, said Sal.

And so we paddled over. After a bit of a struggle,I grabbed hold of the swing , pulled myself up on to the deceivingly high river bank and positioned myself for take off. One quick sprint and a jump later and I was arcing out over the river like Tarzan in his prime. Unlike Tarzan though, I was not in my prime, even then. After a few swings back and forth I started to lose my grip. Moreover, the high river bank prevented me from being able to clamber back onto dry land.

There was only one option…

‘Get the canoe underneath me so that I can drop into it!’ I screamed at Sal.

Once she had stopped laughing and put her camera away, Sally steered the canoe so that it was more or less beneath me. Still swaying slightly, I picked my moment carefully and dropped, ninja-like into the canoe.

‘Yes!’ I thought; ‘How cool was that!’

Unfortunately, my shock arrival caused the canoe to rock uncontrollably. In an act of pure desperation, I shifted all my weight to one side of the boat to try and nullify the spasmodic convulsions. Big mistake. The mixed look of abject panic and blind rage on Sal’s face just before the canoe tipped over summed up that holiday perfectly. However, I think it was the barrage of vitriolic abuse Sal unleashed when she saw her purse and flip-flops bobbing away downstream which best articulated her feelings about that particular weekend break.

That water-tight container was anything but…

Tips for Romantic Camping:

• When you begin to plan your romantic camping getaway, consider the surroundings. A site that is near to the sea or a lake will instantly add a touch of romance. Once you are there, choose a secluded spot to allow you and your partner the privacy to do as you please. Ideally, for a camping trip for two, you want somewhere quiet, where the pitches aren’t packed too tightly together.
• Keep your trip short. Just a couple of days and one beautiful night will be enough to create some lasting memories. Going too long without a comfy bed and modern conveniences can dampen even the most romantic feelings.
• Plan a few activities to do together during the day that you both enjoy, like hiking, mountain biking, sailing, skiing, horseback riding, or just walking on the beach or in the woods. If physical activities aren’t your thing, then why not just kick back, relax and enjoy a picnic together? Pack some fruits, sandwiches, maybe even some wine and find a good spot. Picnics can be very special depending on how you present the food. For me, strawberries dipped in melted chocolate on the campfire and toasted marshmallows would be a must!
• Just because you’re spending the weekend outdoors doesn’t mean you can’t bring some romance with you. Candles, fluffy blankets and some of your favuorite music can make all the difference and add comfort to the evenings if they turn chilly.
• Campsites are the perfect place for stargazing since there are not usually many artificial lights in the surrounding areas. The view you will get from stargazing at a campsite isn’t something you will get to experience too often so you should really take advantage of the situation. The stars also provide the perfect backdrop for a romantic evening.
• I believe that a campfire has magical and romantic qualities. So as the sun sets, get the campfire going, light some candles for instant romance and wrap yourselves up in a blanket. Sitting beneath the stars around a warm fire is another fun thing you can do together and what better time to make s’mores and crack open that bottle of champagne!

Camping and romance can really go together if you make the effort to try it. Let’s face it; what could be more romantic than watching sunsets over the lake, sleeping under the stars, snuggling up by the campfire (roasting marshmallows of course) and cuddling in your tent? Enjoy and happy camping!

Author: Rosie Austin
The CampTrip Team

Camping in Canada Information:

Visas
Unlike the Unites States, Canada implements a much more lenient visa policy, in that you are welcome to stay for up to six months under the visa waiver program (provided you come from one of the qualifying countries and can support yourself financially for this length of time).

Transport
Getting around in Canada is fairly affordable these days. If you’re hoping to use public transport, train and bus tickets can be very cheap. Or if you’d prefer the freedom of a car or a van, there are countless hire companies to choose from. Though the cost of hiring a car or van can be expensive, the cost of fuel in Canada is considerably cheaper than many other Commonwealth nations, such as the United Kingdom and Australia.

Climate
Obviously Canada can get extremely cold in winter, particularly to the North. So getting some good quality winter gear from e-outdoor.co.uk  is essential for comfort and survival. It rains frequently throughout Western Canada, so you will need to take this into consideration when you plan your mode of accommodation.

Accommodation
If the weather is too harsh for you at any given time, hostels rooms are a good temporary alternative to camping and can be found from around $18 a night. Entry into campsites however should come as cheap as $9-$10, so you could save a fair amount by ‘roughing it’, provided of course that the weather isn’t too extreme.

To Get You Started
These are only some of the basics. However your own personal itinerary will no doubt dictate the more specific details and requirements of your trip. If you’re looking for individual testimonials and detailed advice on particular regions of Canada, or information pertaining more to Canadian culture, then Trip Advisor is a great place to start. Bon Voyage.

Author: Guest Post
Edited By: The CampTrip Team

One tip that many people never think of is pre-cooking food and packing it with everything else before you leave so that you have plenty to just heat up when you get there. Making up a thick vegetable stew and packing it away in a few airtight flasks to be heated up when necessary saves time and effort, tastes delicious and is packed with vitamins and minerals that you often miss when you’re living off of baked beans and instant mash. Take along a box of your favourite muesli and mix it with some yogurt (which keeps better in flasks than milk does) for a delicious, healthy breakfast.

It is also very easy to enjoy stereotypical camping treats while staying healthy. Baked beans are fine as long as you don’t overload on them – mix in some pre-cooked minced sausage meat and heat up for the same taste as the tinned beans with the artificial sausages, but a lesser effect on your weight.

Drink water! This one tip may sound obvious, but many people resort to just drinking bottles of soft drinks or alcohol which they have bought while they are there. Take along a water cube (a lightweight cube with a tap that you can fill with water) and fill it at a camp drinking water tap to make sure you are in stock, though if you are going to do this take along some squash or cordial as well – the cubes can slightly taint the taste of water.

But most of all, make sure you are full after each meal. This will discourage you from buying unhealthy snacks through the day. If not, take alone some tins of fruit and eat them with low fat custard – this tastes amazing and is still healthy!

Don’t worry to much, though – one weekend won’t hurt, but it might become a habit! Eat enough to satisfy you, and try and keep your diet as normal as possible.

We arrived in the town on a wet, clammy evening. The weather was having more than a dampening effect on proceedings. Our camping expertise was non-existent and as we could not afford indoor accomodation so we had to make-do with what we could construct. That did not provide a recipe for comfort. Our makeshift shelter was incapable of keeping out the rain from above or dampness from below and this was not helped by the fact that too many of my companions were all demanding space for themselves – space that wasn’t there.

Underground conditions were deteriorating, tempers were becoming frayed and space was at a premium. At about three in the morning I could stand things no longer. I gathered my few belongings and decided that walking the fields in the rain presented a more attractive proposition than sharing the dampening groundsheet with a crowd of disgruntled and by now drunken malcontents.

I emerged just as the light was breaking through. I had no idea as to what my next move would be until miraculously, fate intervened. As I ambled aimlessly through the multitude of camps – mostly similar in style and setting to our own – what did I spot on the ground but a ten-shilling note? Now you know that I am no spring-chicken! My conscience went off on a holiday and I decided that the powers from above were looking after me.

I made my way to an adjacent hotel, spoke to the porter and got an assurance, on producing my new-found treasure note, that i would be looked after within a short while. Meanwhile I was granted access to a bathroom with shower and how I luxuriated as I washed away all the discomfort and grime of the previous hours. When the kitchen in the hotel opened I had a ‘Full-Irish’ breakfast with lashings of everything. I was refreshed, replenished and reinvigorated.  The one-and six I had left after hotel expenses went that evening to pay for cold chips and colder tea.  The entire experience put me off camping for life and off Fladhanna for over a decade. I am not sure that I have yet recovered.

Get a modern tent. When I first started camping back in the eighties, a two man tent weighed over twelve pounds. Today, the modern equivalent weighs just three pounds. Fabric technology has really moved on.

Pack dehydrated food. Assuming water is plentiful, foil sachets of dehydrated food are the best choice for longer trips. The weight saving is significant.

Use an alcohol stove or a modern heat exchanger butane/propane stove. The Swedish Mini Trangia or a home-made Pepsi can stove have no moving parts, weigh little and virtually never go wrong. That’s my preference. However the modern type of butane/propane stove incorporate a heat exchanger in the pot base and a pot cosy to keep the contents war, That makes them so efficient even a small fuel canister lasts a long time.

Use an LED head flashlight with lithium cells. You need to keep your hands free. Incandescent bulbs are less efficient, less reliable, and are obsolete technology. Lithium cells are lighter, last longer and have a terrific shelf life. In the Arctic I left the flashlight behind – the sun never really sets in the Arctic summer.

Baby wipes are a convenient and lightweight way to wash and I don’t shave on trips either. Saves a few more ounces.

Consider the latest sleeping mats. For example, the Thermarest Neoair. Lighter and more comfortable.

Nothing beats goose down for warmth-to-weight ratio. A down sleeping bag will be lighter than an equivalent synthetic bag, but is useless if it gets wet.

Know more, carry less:  I know people who carry a steel trowel for toilet purposes. But if you are in forested country, it takes thirty seconds to make a digging stick using your pocket knife. For fast and light mountain trips where I’ll be using walking poles, I ditch the tent and string up a silnylon tarp between the poles. If environmental conditions allow, cooking on a wood camp fire saves your stove fuel for when a camp fire is not feasible.

Don’t keep changing your kit, and pack things in the same place each time: I often camp with friends of varying experience. You can tell who is an old hand at the game. Their outfit is well-used and battered, and they know exactly where everything is and how it works. Flashlights in particular should be kept in the same place so you don’t waste time in the dark trying to find it. Most modern outdoor clothing has a terrific number of pockets. You need a system of where to stow things.