Camping - abccamping.co.uk

An Introduction to Camping

Camping can take many forms nowadays - you can go off into the wilds with just a sleeping bag to sleep under the stars or you can stay in a state-of-the-art camping village where every tent has all the comforts of home (and you'd hardly realise that you are staying in a tent at all!)

Although people in the UK have camped for decades it became particularly popular from the 1950s onwards - particularly for boy scouts. This is a cost effective way to take a holiday and many camp sites were established over the next couple of decades to cope with demand.

Nowadays, many people will opt for a camping holiday - especially if they have kids as it is a cheap way of having a fun holiday. And, of course, the growth in music festivals has led to an increase in young people taking a tent out there with them.

Some people like to camp in the UK or abroad but many people (especially those with young families) will go to a camping site abroad to get more sun. Here you can take along your own tent and camping equipment or simply choose a holiday camp where everything is laid on for you.

In general terms there are various ways of camping nowadays. These include:

Off-site camping - here people don't stay on campsites but simply camp out where they want to (and where they are allowed to!).
Basic campsites - some campsites offer no facilities and simply have a field where you can pitch your tent or park your caravan. Others may also offer basic facilities (such as a toilet block and laundry room).
Advanced campsites - some campsites will offer more than just the room to pitch a tent. Some, for example, will have toilet and laundry facilities, entertainment rooms, restaurants, club houses, bars and sports facilities such as pools.

The way that you use camping sites will vary. Some will give you a specific spot to pitch your tent whilst others will leave it up to you. Some will have limited space so you'll be close to other campers whilst others will have more room so you can be more secluded. The Camping and Caravanning Club is a good source of information on the different kinds of campsites and the options open to you. If you join the Club then you will also be able to use their network of campsites.