With Spring finally here and longer days upon us, thoughts are rapidly turning to camping and many of us are itching to get out for our first proper camping trip of the year!
Whilst warmer, sunnier days can easily tempt us back under canvas, night time temperatures remain bitterly cold, frequently hovering around and even dropping below 0 degrees. So if you can’t wait any longer to get out camping, we’ve put together some handy tips that will help you enjoy your Spring camping experience.
1. Be prepared for soft and muddy pitches
Around March and April time the ground is likely to remain waterlogged. This means pitching your tent is likely not only to be a muddy affair, but the ground will still be very soft, making it easy for tent pegs to pull free in high winds.
A decent pair of wellies or walking boots is an absolute must, a footprint ground sheet will stop your tent from getting too muddy and make sure you’re using decent tent pegs too.
The bog-standard pegs that most tents come with will pull free quickly in wind when the ground is soft, so investing in sturdy heavy duty tent pegs is always a smart move whatever the weather.
Check out our review of the Kärcher 0C3 portable cleaner, ideal for cleaning off your muddy camping gear.
2. Wet set up and take down is a distinct possibility
It’s not fun setting up camp in the rain, but it’s even less fun having to pack it all down when it’s wet. Soggy, muddy camping gear shoved hurriedly back into the car isn’t the greatest end to a camping trip that I can think of, so bear in mind that at this time of year the weather remains particularly changeable.
Ensure you take an extra tarp with you, or at the very least large bin bags (great for popping sleeping bags into before dashing through the rain to deposit back in the car) and a boot liner is a great investment to protect the inside of your car from mud and water. Don’t forget that if you take your tent down in the rain you’ll need to get it out to dry at home within 48 hours, and this is especially important if you have a canvas tent.
3. Take extra bedding to stay warm and toasty at night
Sleeping outdoors in Spring is cold, and probably far colder than you think it’s going to be! You’ll absolutely need to invest in a top quality 3-4 season sleeping bag for Spring camping in the UK, but don’t stop there. I’d thoroughly recommend ensuring you have thermals to wear in bed, and at least an extra thermal blanket.
When camping in Spring and Autumn I always use a hot water bottle and wear thermals and thick fleece pyjamas, I also sleep in gloves and a hat. For car campers in particular, it’s much better to pop in a few extra blankets that you end up not needing than to find yourself with insufficient bedding and end up freezing.
For more tips on staying warm when camping, check out How to keep warm when camping.
4. Hot and hearty meals are a must
I love cooking when I’m camping, I enjoy the pared down experience and would never eat processed food at home, so it’s not something I choose to do when camping. Good nutrition in cold weather is more important than ever, so make sure you plan your meals in advance.
I will often slow cook casseroles, hearty soups and curries at home, freeze, then heat up on the camp stove, which means hot. hearty and wholesome meals at the campsite. As well as stews and casseroles, make sure you take hot drinks, and porridge (instant porridge pots are super handy for camping) for the morning. If you don’t fancy cooking there are some increasingly high quality freeze-dried camping meals available in pouches that just require hot water – hot nourishing food really does make all the difference when camping in cold weather.
5. Plan family entertainment for bad weather
Bad weather can often force a change of plans. I’ve camped countless times and planned grand walks only to have my plans scuppered by driving rain and poor visibility, leading to an impromptu day of local sightseeing or lounging around in the tent.
As someone who these days usually camps alone or as part of a couple, entertainment is a fairly simple matter of ensuring we’ve got a good book with us, and I always take my tablet loaded up with a few films just in case.
For family campers though, bad weather can really put a spanner in the works. Instead of kids running around and playing outside and doing what kids do best, they’ll instead be stuck inside the tent moping around.
Planning for bad weather is big and clever, so make sure you take craft supplies, books and even board games to keep the kids occupied.
6. Take extra footwear and changes of clothes
Let’s face it, a little bit of drizzle really isn’t a big deal and it won’t stop us campers from having a good time, but some simple planning can make life much easier when you’re camping in Spring.
When I’m expecting bad weather I always pack extra clothing, not just for warmth but so I’ve got an additional change of clothes should I get wet through or covered in mud (which has happened to me. Several times), the same applies to footwear.
I always wear walking boots when I’m camping in colder months, and whilst they are waterproof, they will often get very muddy, so it’s a great idea to ensure you have more than one item of footwear with you. Something clean and warm that you can wear on your feet inside the tent too makes sense. My cosy UGG slippers always come camping with me for exactly that reason.
The post CAMPING | 6 Simple Tips For Your Spring Camping Trip appeared first on Camping with Style Camping Blog | Activities • Glamping • Travel • Adventure.
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