My first experience of camping was in the back garden of my Grandparents house. The tent was a 1950’s army canvas one with no groundsheet. It was laced up at the front, no zips here, my bed was a metal and canvas camp-bed that too bore the markings of previous military service.
I was accompanied by one of my uncles who at only 7 years older than me was still a child himself. I remember waking in the middle of the night and spending ages trying to unlace the ‘door’ before finally having to pee in the corner, on the grass.
This didn’t put me off and a year or so later my first family camping experience began in St Tropez – not a bad place for a real introduction to sleeping under the stars. Although St Tropez is famous as the playground of the rich and famous onboard yachts or as guests in 5 star hotels there are also some excellent and accessible to all campsites in the area.
Our family tent was a four-man affair. It had two separate sleeping compartments, one for the adults and one for the children. Comfort was assured on blow up mattresses and in cosy sleeping bags. There was enough space under the awning for us to enjoy a cooked breakfast of fried bacon and fresh local eggs as well as the ubiquitous croissants. This was the start of a beautiful relationship with camping – we loved it so much we went back the following year.
As well as St Tropez we also explored what the Italian Lakes can offer a family under canvas. Lake Como was our destination of choice offering a picture postcard campsite flanked by lush green fields resplendent with championship winning cows. Intrepid as we were even though this was the Easter holidays, we also swam in the lake itself either paddling in tentatively or plunging headfirst and resurfacing at speed gasping for breath – happy times.
After a hiatus of several years my next camping experience was a very different one as I took to the road straight out of school to celebrate the end of exams, our destination Looe in Cornwall. By this time I had acquired a two -man tent that up to this point had only seen action in the back garden. This single compartment tent was roomy enough to accommodate a few 18 year olds. A bed-roll replaced the inflatable mattress but the cosy sleeping bag was the same.
Following this successful trip my next camping adventure took me again with with friends but this time to Biarritz for camping and surfing. Minus the family element we were limited to the campsites that would allow our stay and ended up on the more than adequate municipal campsite. My two-man tent was still going strong but limited to two larger twenty somethings rather than skinny school leavers. This did however allow us to house our bags overnight where in Looe they’d spent the night locked in the car.
It was several years again until I next zipped myself into a tent and one that again featured a surfing element. This time a trip to the Gower Peninsular in Wales. The campsite offered fantastic views across the bay and was only a short walk to the beach.
And there I thought my camping journey would end. However, Christmas Day 2010 delivered a special present and one I was keen to introduce to the joy of tent.
When POD’s first camping trip finally came along it was at the higher end of the scale via Explorer Glamping at Chessington World of Adventures. Although she was spoiled with electricity, a real bed and a voluminous duvet her excitement at the process of sleeping ‘outside’ was not diminished. Ever since she’s been asking to repeat the experience and is looking forward to the more traditional camping adventure of turning the torch off before snuggling down into a sleeping bag for a night under the stars.
Halfords has created the ultimate camping guide which features everything you need to create the perfect trip. From choosing a tent, camping tips and a festival survival guide to what glamping is, cycling abroad and travelling with kids. Their superb downloadable guide also features hotspots to visit, campsites, cycle routes and events to attend so you can really make the most of your adventures.
Disclaimer: This post is in collaboration with Halfords.
Top three images iStock, other photographs Charly Dove.
I used to go camping every year as a child and haven’t been since I was about 12. My husband would never go camping but your photos make me want to go, it looks so idyllic x