Camping can be a wonderful adventure and is a great way to spend time in nature. However, it does come with its pitfalls, such as wrangling tents, lack of facilities and being at the mercy of the weather!
Fortunately, you can get the benefits of camping without using a tent or foregoing all of life’s little luxuries, such as electricity and hot showers. Here’s how to explore the great outdoors and holiday in comfort.
Travel in a Motorhome
Travelling in a campervan or motorhome is a brilliant alternative to camping that puts you in full control of your trip. In your own little home-from-home, you’ll have everything you need to hand, a solid roof over your head, and best of all, you’ll be completely behind the wheel of your own adventure.
So if you find somewhere you love, you can choose to stay longer or alternatively, up sticks and leave if you’re not keen.
You can park your motorhome at many campsites and caravan sites, and in some areas of the UK, you’ll even find free overnight parking that will allow you to stop and rest along the way.
Motorhomes typically come with a bed, a seating area, your own bathroom and a fully-equipped kitchen, so no matter where you end up, you’ll have all your own comforts with you. They’re typically very customisable too, so you can chop and change the inside as you require to meet your needs. Alternatively, if you’re not very good with this kind of DIY, you can contact reputable companies offering part exchange motorhome services to swap out your older motorhome for a newer one which meets all your needs.
It’s a good idea to take the time to get well acquainted with your campervan before you hit the road, so you know exactly how everything works and – crucially – what your dimensions are. You’ll also need to arrange for motorhome insurance to cover you during your travels.
Explore Glamping
The term glamping is short for glamorous camping and has been widely used for a couple of decades. Glamping gives you all the benefits of spending time in nature without needing to put up your own tent or sleep on the floor!
Instead, you can choose to stay in warm, dry accommodation ranging from traditional yurts, glamping pods and log cabins to safari tents, tree houses and shepherd’s huts. The choices when it comes to glamping accommodation and locations are seemingly endless, with rural retreats and coastal escapes throughout the UK and abroad.
Most glamping set-ups offer private bathroom facilities such as showers and toilets for your sole use, as well as private or shared kitchen facilities. Equipment, such as crockery, utensils and pans are typically provided, along with essentials such as torches and bedding so you don’t have to cram as much into your luggage as you would if you were camping.
Another benefit of glamping is how eco-friendly it can be. Many sites utilise environmentally-friendly features such as composting toilets, solar panels, and wind-generated electricity, to reduce their impact on the natural environment.
Drive and Stay in B&Bs
If the thought of shared toilets really isn’t for you, you could always try driving around and exploring an area on foot or by bike during the day, before staying overnight in bed and breakfast accommodation or in hostels.
Many hostels now offer private, en-suite rooms at reasonable prices so you don’t have to share with strangers and can still have the adventure of a lifetime.
