Outdoors | Camping Truths

Camping is full of highs and lows but somehow it’s always worth it. Here, some of the Simple Things team - at least the more seasoned campers - share some of their most memorable camping moments.

You’ve not been camping until…

“...the airbed deflates in the night. It happens every time - and somehow you forget until the next time you're sleeping on one. The most memorable occasion, camping in north Wales, the tent was leaking too. My friend and I gave up and retreated to the car, where we reclined the front seats and slept there.” 

Jo Mattock, Commissioning Editor

You’ve not been camping until…

“...you try and put up a tent on the edge of a cliff in a gale. We bought a new tent for the kids when we went to Dorset and were staying on a campsite that went ups to the cliff edge. Our bell tent went up fine, but when we tried to put up the new one (which obviously we didn’t look at before, seasoned campers that we are) it was a lightweight nightmare. The kids hid in the car as we were nearly blown away and took about three attempts to get it pitched correctly. We had an audience of other unhelpful campers who cheered when we finally got it up and didn’t go off the edge of the cliff (it felt like the same cheer when you’re working in a pub and drop some glasses, I was not very amused).”

Karen Dunn, Commissioning Editor

You’ve not been camping until…

“you’ve gone glamping with friends in September in ‘Jane Austen country’ and listened to the sound of deer rutting in the field next door ALL night, with eight inquisitive children all asking what that noise is and why the stag is called ‘Mr Darcy’.”

Iona Bower, Editor at Large

You’ve not been camping until…

“...you've eaten brioche rolls for three days solid and shared the last tea bag between three.”

Rebecca Frank, Wellbeing Editor

You’ve not been camping until…

“...you've found ingenious ways to utilise every bit of kit. Growing up, we had a yellow plastic crate that was used to ship all the food needed for our holiday. And once in situ, it was turned upside down and used as a side table (all the home comforts!), a portable washing up station and a toddler bath/paddling pool for my younger sister. It even became a makeshift potty at one point, when she climbed in, squatted down, then stood up and proudly remarked ‘Now that's what I call a real tortoise!’ It's now family folklore and still laughed about some 35 years later.”

And finally, from TST’s most seasoned camper… you’ve not been camping until…

“...You’ve watched the stars while having a wee in the middle of the night, you’ve made ‘second breakfast’, you’ve won the prize of ‘the one comfy camp chair’, you’ve listened to the rain ping off the tent and know it is not leaking, you’ve sipped a whisky by the light of the campfire, you’ve not seen the kids for at least an hour, you’ve packed the tent up before the rain arrives. Less positively: you’ve had to retrieve the dog from someone else’s camp larder, you’ve had a six-hour drive and then had a row while putting up the tent, there’s ice on the inside of the tent.”

Lisa Sykes, Editor

This blog was inspired by our ‘Looking Back’ feature, which we’ve called ‘Happy Campers’ from our May issue. You can read it from page 70 of the issue. 

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Adventures | Stay in a Bothy

Don’t get in a bothy bother. Here’s all you need to know about staying in a simple shelter

Bothies are simple shelters, scattered across Scotland, Wales and Northern England. They often amount to little more than four walls and a roof, usually with a fire or stove and sometimes a platform on which to sleep. They were originally built for workers on estates - shepherds, farmers, gamekeepers and the like. As they weren’t originally designed to house groups of hikers, respecting the Bothy Code will help everything go smoothly. But if you’ve never stayed in a bothy before, here are a few questions you might want answered.

What do I need to take to a bothy?

Pack as though you’re camping, just without the tent. Or sometimes the toilet block. Don’t forget matches and fuel for the fire or rubbish bags so you can take everything away and leave it exactly as you left it. Drinking water and food will be needed and a camping stove if you want to cook.

What? No loo?

Nope. Usually no loo. This is a ‘long walk with a spade’ situation. If you don’t like the thought of spiky leaves, bring your own (biodegradable) loo roll. Okay, okay, some bothies do have a squat toilet available, but only the ‘five star’ ones. 

What about sleeping arrangements?

Some bothies have a sleeping platform but it really will just be a slab of wood each so bring sleeping bag, camping mat etc and a pillow if you want one. 

What if it’s occupied when I arrive?

Then you’re about to make a new friend! You can’t ‘book’ a bothy so if you turn up and there’s someone already in residence you’ll have to cosy up or move on. It’s not really a case of first-come-first-served either; if an extra person turns up the expectation is that you will make room for them (and hopefully make them a brew, too). The Bothy Code asks guests to stay no longer than two nights maximum and each bothy may have its own rules about size of group and length of stay so check that first. Groups of more than five usually need permission. If the bothy really is packed to the rafters, it’s handy to have a pop-up tent with you so you can camp just outside for the night and hope someone moves on in the morning. 

Is it ok to leave things behind?

Thoughts differ, but useful things like tinned food, matches, loo roll and the like are usually welcomed. Fresh food or anything that rodents might eat, such as rice or dried pasta less so. Rubbish, absolutely not. 

If you’d like to learn more about bothies, you might like to read The Enduring Appeal of Simple Shelters in our June issue.

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Cooking | Meals for a One-Ring Burner

Whether you’re camping or caravanning, meals you can make in one pan on a one-burner ring are always a winner… Or make them just for fun at home!

We’ve collated our six favourite meals for cooking on a one-ring burner. (On the seventh night, we think you should head to the pub or get fish and chips). Crack out the Travel Scrabble and gather round the teeny kitchen (or the open fire) and cook up a tiny storm!

One-pan Full English

As good at breakfast as it is for lunch or dinner, here’s how to do a cooked breakfast with just one thing to wash up. 

• Heat the pan high and fry chiplota sausages for around three minutes. 

• Add bacon, turning repeatedly until in goes crispy

• Add chopped mushrooms and cook until soft

• Drain any fat and liquid off, then spread the ingredients out evenly across the pan’s surface

• Beat some eggs and add to the pan to create a breakfast omelette. Cook for two minutes on a low to medium heat

• Scatter over tomatoes and cheese if liked and continue to cook until melted

• Serve in wedges once fully cooked

Chilaquiles

A holiday twist on nachos. We’re not saying this meal includes all the major food groups (other than crisps) but it is warming, filling and delicious!

• Heat oil high in a pan or skillet and then fry tortilla chips in single layers, draining each layer on kitchen towel as you go

• Reduce heat and gently fry some chopped red onion until softened and add some chopped garlic for the last half a minute

• Tip in some passata or tinned tomatoes and reduce. Once reduced and simmering, put the fried tortilla chips back in and stir to coat them

• Create a well in the middle and drop a few eggs into the sauce, cooking them through gently

• Top with chopped herbs, spring onions, grated cheese and whatever else you fancy

One-pot Orzo with veggies

A clever pasta dish, in which the water boils the pasta and the veggies together and then disappears like magic!

• Prep your veg. Anything that cooks in less than 10 minutes, like the orzo, is good… Asparagus, peas, broccoli and the like

• Put the veg with the orzo, enough water to cover it, a tablespoon of oil and any spices you like to your cooking vessel and bring to a low boil

• Once boiling, cook for a further five minutes until orzo and veggies are tender

• Reduce heat and add grated cheese, and any of the following you fancy: pine nuts, olives, sundried tomatoes, other deli veg

Chick pea and Chorizo Stew

Hearty, warming and pleasingly simple, this stew is great served with crusty bread or any other carb you fancy it with. 

• Heat a little olive oil in a large pan and then fry a chopped onion until it softens. Add chopped carrot, celery and herbs such as thyme and bay leaves. Continue to cook for around three minutes, stirring to prevent the veg sticking

• Add chopped garlic, chorizo and paprika and continue to fry with the veg for a few minutes

• Add a can of chick peas and a can of tomatoes and cook down

• Add a couple of handfuls of spinach and let wilt

• Remove from heat, season and serve with bread

Bubble and squeak

An oldie but classic. Another recipe that works for any meal from breakfast to supper - and it helps you get your greens in, too.

• In your pot, layer a chopped whole cabbage, five medium chopped potatoes and chopped Polish sausage or hot dogs from a jar

• Add a cup of water and simmer for 20 mins

• Once water is all soaked up and veg are tender, serve up

Black bean burgers

You can customise these burgers to your own tastes with many additions. Serve in big burger baps with ketchup. 

• Mash a tin of drained, rinsed black beans

• Mix in a tablespoon of ketchup and the same of mustard if desired along with a third of a cup of instant oats

• Throw in any extras for customisation - chopped onions, leftover diced veg, grated Cheddar etc

• Form the mix into patties, heat a little oil in the pan and then fry on each side until nice and crispy

• Serve in buns with plenty of sauce

If you think the caravanning life might be for you, don’t miss our Home Tour feature in our August issue, which features this beautiful van (above) in Sardinia, as well another retro van on the Kent coast.
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Games | for campervans, caravans and tents

Gather round the foldy-up table and join us for some fun and games for small spaces

If you’re heading off camping this summer you’re probably planning a few games around the campfire. There’s nothing like staring into the flames over a hand of cards with a steaming mug of tea (or a whisky) by your side. 

But the reality of British weather means you need a back up plan, too, and we’re all about embracing the back-up plan. While basking in the great outdoors, under the stars on a warm night is a wonderful thing, we love just as much the cosiness of playing a game, crammed happily around a tiny table with hot drinks on the Primus and rain battering the roof (or canvas) over your head. 

Camping accommodation wasn’t built for large board games with many pieces. So here’s our round-up of games for small spaces that require few props, or nothing at all, and won’t end with someone’s tea being spilt during a particularly riotous round of charades. 

Monopoly Deal
Monopoly without the board and, better still, without the commitment of hours! This tiny travel version of the classic board game can be played in around 15 minutes.. Buy Monopoly Deal. 

Mini Jenga.

As much fun as the giant, building and balancing game, but fits easily into your rucksack and can be played on the teeniest of caravan furniture or on a fold-up camping table. Buy Mini Jenga.

Wink Murder

An oldie but a goodie. Take as many sheets of paper as you have players. Write ‘potential victim’ on all but one. Write ‘murderer’ on the last one. Chat, eat, drink and go about your business as usual. The murderer must secretly wink at others to ‘murder’ them without being spotted. If you are winked at you must silently count to five then enact a grisly ‘death’. If you think you have spotted the murderer you may accuse them by ordering them to turn over their card. 

Balderdash

All you need is a pen and paper for this. A dictionary is useful but you can also look up ‘Balderdash free words list’ on your phone to get you started. Take it in turns to choose an unusual word and secretly write down the definition. The other players make up their own plausible definitions. The person who picked the word then reads out all the definitions including the real one and everyone votes on which they think is the real word. Players score points for every person who votes for their ‘definition’. You get a point if you guess correctly, too. 

Bulls and Cows

For the mathematically inclined… One player writes down a secret 4-digit number. The other players take it in turns to guess it. Player one tells them how many they got right or wrong and how many were in their correct position. (Clue: it pays to write down each guess and how many were correct or incorrect and how many were in the right positions). By process of elimination someone will eventually work out the correct number. Good for anyone who has ever felt the pain of forgetting the combination to the padlock on the shed. And no, we’ve no idea why it’s called bulls and cows either.

Bananagrams

This is basically Scrabble but faster and with no board. Even more fun when camping and you have no access to a dictionary for anyone to check if you’re cheating or not. Buy Bananagrams. 

Find me on a Map

OK, we’ll admit we just made this one up but it’s great for when you’re in an area you don’t know well and want to know better. Get out the OS map. One person chooses a square and everyone takes it in turns to ask a question. Is there a church in your square? Is it close to water? Is it on a fold? You get the picture. The first person to get it goes first. Bonus points if you choose somewhere with a rude place name in. 

Ultimate Werewolf

Our favourite game of the moment, again in a very compact little cards-sized box. You need at least five players and are all given roles - as seers, witches, werewolves and more and you have to work out who the werewolf is amongst you. There’s an excellent app to make it more atmospheric but you can just play it with one of you as the ‘moderator’. Lots of fun and excellent for nights when there’s a storm howling outside your campervan. Buy Ultimate Werewolf. 

The After Eight Game

You will need a box of After Eights. Everyone sits around a table, tips their head back and places and After Eight on their forehead. The aim of the game is to move the After Eight down your face towards your mouth using only your facial muscles and gravity (no hands), and then eat it. Delightfully silly and immature and lots of fun. 

Pub Cricket

This is one for the way home in the car. You can play in teams or as individuals. Team one or person one goes in to bat. Every time you pass a pub you get a run for each leg in the name of the pub, so The Dog and Duck scores 6 (4 for the dog’s legs and 2 for the duck’s). The Coach and Horses would be 8, though you could probably argue for more horses based on the painting on the sign. You keep batting as long as every pub you pass has legs in. If you score no points (The King’s Arms, The Crown etc) you head back to the pavilion and someone else goes in to bat. You keep your score as it is for your next turn in to bat. 

If you’re inspired by the idea of living a campervan life, don’t miss the feature in our July issue about people who’ve adopted the campervan lifestyle in a more permanent way.

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How to | Go (Almost) Wild Camping

Live a simpler life, closer to nature, even if it’s just for a night or two

If you fancy the idea of the simplest of existences for a week, sleeping under the stars and living entirely out in nature (but perhaps aren’t quite ready to forego a shower and running water yet) you might like to try Almost Wild camping.

In our April issue, James Warner Smith told us where to find some of the UK’s best almost wild camping spots. You can read all about them from page 18. Here are some of his tips for getting started if you’re feeling wild (but not THAT wild).

*Check the facilities Availability of toilets, showers and washing-up areas may vary so check before you book and you’ll know what to expect.

* Stock up Few campsites will have an onsite shop, or it may be very basic. Find the location of the nearest shops before you travel and bring adequate supplies, just in case.

* Cut the clutter Try not to pack the kitchen sink. Aim for being able to fit everything you need into a wheelbarrow (often provided) as you can rarely park by your pitch.

* Book early For the best spots, plan ahead and book early, especially in (this) summer. Check if children and dogs are allowed, too.

* The right pitch Practise putting up your tent at home and check you have all the necessary parts.

* Cook out Most sites let you have a campfire, which goes against the grain of the ‘Leave No Trace’ ethos of genuine wild camping. Ditch the camping stove and get creative.

* Slow down Switch off your phone, embrace the slower pace of life and just take time to enjoy where you are.

Almost Wild Camping: 50 British Campsites on the Wilder Side by James Warner Smith (Punk Publishing)

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Wild camping | bedzones

Sailors, mountaineers, hikers, cyclists, canoeists and pilgrims have been wild camping for centuries . These are the four traditional ‘bedzones’ used by wild campers…

WILD ZONE Aka Scotland – from Cape Wrath to Gretna, every loch, trail and beach, the lowlands, the peaks and what’s left of the forest. Freedom to sleep and wild camp was restored as a right in 2003 under the Land Reform Act.

FORESHORE ZONE The coast is possibly the most important common ground in Britain and Ireland. Our law has enshrined the right to fish, dig bait and navigate, without having to pay. This means that while the tide is out, it’s perfectly reasonable to camp, eat, light a fire and rest on the foreshore (the area below the high-tide mark).

MIDDLE EARTH The area between the foreshore and the mountains – where we all, pretty much, live. It’s wrong to say camping here is illegal. It’s like saying it’s illegal to sit down at a table in a restaurant without asking. It’s not, but just polite to ask first.

MOUNTAIN ZONE Mountaineers and ramblers have been enjoying free sleep in the hills for ever. Today, there’s still no one up there collecting pitch fees. Many landowners consider the minimum necessary height for wild camping to be 450m – and hundreds of hills within the UK fall into that category.

If you fancy a bit of wild camping yourself, turn to page 21 of our August issue, where Stepehn Neale, author of Wild Camping: Exploring and Sleeping in the Wilds of the UK and Ireland (below) tells us how to wild camp safely and considerately.

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Wild Camping Book Reader Offer

To order at a discount of 20%, go to bloomsbury.com and use the code SIMPLE20 before 27 August. 



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Make | Beer Can-dles

A fun make to entertain you all while camping (and make you look like Bear Grylls, too)

We loved these sweet candles made from beer cans from our August camping feature so much we had to share them here, too.

You will need:

Empty beer cans
Corrugated cardboard
Saved candle stubs and/or bunch of old candles
A barbecue or firepit
Old saucepan
Stirring stick
Chopping board
Knife
Scissors

How to make:

1 Using scissors, carefully cut beer cans to a height of 5cm. Keep the base of the can; recycle the top bit.

2 Cut 5cm strips of corrugated cardboard. Roll up the cardboard strips until they are roughly the same diameter as a can. Wedge the roll as tightly as possible inside the can base. Using scissors, prise a small hole in the centre of the cardboard roll. Poke a small piece of cardboard into the hole to create a ‘wick’.

3 Set a small fire in your firepit or barbecue. Chop your candles into small pieces and add them to an old saucepan. Melt the candles over a small fire until they are liquid wax, stirring regularly with a twig or stick.

4 Very carefully, pour the hot liquid wax over the cardboard rolls. Keep pouring slowly until the wax reaches the top of the beer can. Wait for a few minutes for the cardboard to soak up the hot wax and then top-up each beer can until it’s full to overflowing.

5 Allow the wax to cool completely and go solid before use. When it’s dark, light the ‘wick’ with a match. Beer can-dles burn for up to two hours and should only be used outdoors and attended.

Pick up the August issue for all the other ideas from our Under Canvas feature, from blueberry pancakes to shell garlands.

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Recipe: The Picnic loaf

Planning to picnic this weekend? We love this fancy sandwich

Half sandwich, half pie, this picnic loaf crams the best of the local farm shop into one easy-to-carry meal. Prepare it the night before so the flavours have time to soak in. You can chop and change the ingredients according to what’s available. Find this and more in Pitch Up Eat Local by Ali Ray (£16.99, AA Publishing). 

The picnic loaf

Serves 6

1 cob loaf (the crusty round one)
1 garlic clove, halved
2 tbsp pesto (from a jar is fine)

For the filling:
2 courgettes, sliced lengthways
2 red and 2 yellow peppers, seeded and sliced in thick lengths
2 tbsp or so olive oil
200g cheese (whatever you can find locally – a soft-rind/mozzarella/goat’s cheese)
200g sliced charcuterie meats or ham
a good handful salad leaves
2 tbsp fresh basil leaves
salt and pepper

1  Carefully cut the top off the cob loaf (save this for later) and hollow out the middle to leave a shell. Don’t make the walls too thin as it won’t stay crisp.

2  Toss the courgettes and peppers in the olive oil and put on a preheated griddle or BBQ grid. Cook for about 4–5 mins on each side until soft and lightly charred. Put to one side to cool.

3  Rub the cut garlic clove over the insides of the bread shell, then use a spoon to spread the pesto all around the inside walls and under the lid.

4  Blot the grilled veg with kitchen roll, then and slice the cheese.  Season both well with salt and pepper, then start building up layers of veg, cheese, meat and salad leaves. Finish with a layer of basil leaves. The hollow in the bread must be filled well.

5  Put the top of the bread back on, then wrap the whole thing tightly in clingfilm.  Put a plate on top and weigh down with something heavy to let the flavours fuse together for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, in a cool-box. 

6  Cut into thick, cake-style slices to eat now, or pack in your lunch-box and take on your adventures.

This recipe originally was published in June 2015 - and it tastes just as good, if not better, now.

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From our May issue…

How to buy a camper van

The camper van is so much more than a vehicle to sleep in, says motorhome lover Martin Dorey who shares his tips on buying one. 

Have you got your heart set on a camper? Congratulations. I look forward to waving to you on the road somewhere. But first ask yourself a few questions about why you want one and what you want to do with it.

Do you want to own a classic? Is it to travel the world (or even a bit of it)? Is it to camp in a little more comfort? Will it carry what you want to take with you? How many do you need to be able to sleep? Two is easy, more then four is trickier – and remember, kids get bigger.

Firstly, set a budget as it will decide everything from age to the interior, the condition and mileage and comes back to the ‘why’ question. It’s worthwhile totting up the running costs, too. You could consider alternatives to a VW and bear in mind that imported vans from dry places like Australia and South Africa are often rust-free and right-hand drive, too.

Rent before you buy to make sure a camper is really for you, before you spend thousands. Then go to as many big dealers, motorhome retailers, VW festivals and conventions as possible. Nose about in as many vehicles as you can, to check layouts, seating arrangements and budget, and try to identify the vehicle that’s just right for you. There’ll be one, all you have to do is find it.

Serial camper van owner Martin Dorey is author of The Camper Van Bible and his latest book, Take the Slow Road: Scotland (both Bloomsbury). You can get signed copies at martindorey.com.

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How to build your own camp stove

Impress your neighbours (that will be the squirrels then) with this simple campsite DIY

You will need:
Large rocks or green logs
Spade (optional)
Tinder, such as as dry leaves or grass
Dry twigs for kindling
Dry firewood
Grill
Water to hand

Pick a spot at least 3m from anything flammable and on exposed earth. Create a keyhole-shaped border from large rocks or green logs. Dig a shallow pit within main hole. Now assemble your fire. Tinder goes in the middle. Kindling is next: try a teepee or stacking method. Once it’s going, add your firewood – try to spread it out evenly. After the flames have died down, use the resulting coals to cook food (rake coals from the pit to the square section for more even heat). Lay a grill on top of the stones and get sizzling!

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Camping recipe | Smoky Boston beans & armadillo potatoes

No flames are required for this comfortingly simple cowboy supper of foil-wrapped herby spuds and a casserole of sweet, smoky beans – all of which is tucked into the hot, white coals to cook.

Serves 4
4 baking potatoes
30g salted butter
Handful of fresh thyme for the beans
1 tbsp olive oil
400g smoked bacon lardons
1 onion, roughly chopped
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground cumin
2tsp English mustard powder
2 tbsp tomato purée
1 tbsp black treacle
2 x 400g tins haricot beans in water
Handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
Natural yogurt, to serve

1 Using a sharp knife, cut slits widthways into each potato, working your way along from end to end – be careful to only cut three-quarters of the way down. Rub each potato generously with butter and carefully stuff sprigs of thyme in between some of the slits.
2 Individually wrap each potato in a double layer of foil and place directly on white coals (when the flames have died), for 30–40 mins, turning every 10 mins.
3 Cook the beans in either a Dutch oven* on an open fire or in a large saucepan on a camping stove. Heat the oil over a medium-high heat and add the lardons, frying for 5 mins until they just start to brown. Add the onion and continue to cook until softened.
4 Add garlic, paprika, cumin and mustard powder; stir thoroughly before stirring through the tomato purée and treacle. Add the beans along with the water from their tins, then half fill one of the tins with extra water and add that to the pan also.
5 Bring the beans to a simmer and allow to cook, stirring often, until the sauce has thickened – around 10–20 mins, depending on how you’re cooking them. Before serving, scatter the parsley over the beans.
6 To test the potatoes, give them a gentle squeeze: if they feel soft, they’re ready. Carefully unwrap each one and serve with a generous helping of beans and a dollop of yogurt.

* A Dutch oven is a lidded cast-iron or earthenware casserole robust enough to cook in the coals.

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Living | How to camp well

Swap bricks for canvas, early mornings, outdoor life. Body clock reset

Jonathan Cherry shares the details that take camping trips from good to great

FLOWERS FOR THE TABLE
One of the first things Gemma does on arrival at any campsite is set off with the kids to forage wild blooms for the table – picked responsibly, of course – leaving the adults to pitch the tents in peace. Display in a recently finished beverage bottle of your choice.

KUBB (VIKING CHESS)
With a handy carry bag, this game travels everywhere with us from the garden to the beach. Great as a family game with the kids but even better played late in the evening with a beer in hand. Just mind your shins!

HERBS & SPICES
Bex advises taking a ‘store cupboard’ supply of your most used herbs and spices – it’ll save your kitchen being overrun with duplicates on your return and means campfire dishes can be as flavourful away as they would be at home. Her favourites are ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, herbes de Provence and baharat.

FIREWOK
Matt couldn’t survive a camping trip without the Firewok. Hand crafted by a small business in Bristol, this is our favourite portable fire pit and comes with great cooking accessories (firewok.co.uk).

TINDER
Logs and kindling are readily available at most campsites but we always take our own tinder to ensure dinner happens! For every camping trip, Matt brings a mason jar of cotton wool balls and tumble dryer lint which he collects over the winter – free and a great fire starter.

SWEDISH LOG CANDLE
This is a self-feeding camp fire made from one log. Cross-cut 3⁄4 of the way down and stuff the top 15–20cm with tinder and kindling. Set a small fire on top of the log. Thin sections of the log at the top will start burning, sucking air down and drawing fire into the heart of the log. At this stage, it is possible to boil a kettle or cook on top of the candle.

SOUVENIR HAIKUS
You don’t need to write a diary of your trip in haikus to camp well, but if you fancy writing one or two like Matt’s on these pages (@Matt_633)... A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-line poem of 17 syllables, broken up into 5/7/5. They often focus on nature, and in character are simple and direct.

For example...
How to write haiku:
Count syllables, be direct
Focus on nature

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Escape: Caravan holidays

A new view from your bedroom window but with home comforts all around you: a caravan holiday delivers the ideal combo of home and away 

Have you ever wondered about the appeal of a touring caravan? Then consider the freedom one offers. Not just the obvious freedom of the road, where you can journey spontaneously wherever and whenever fancy takes you, but the freedom to take your home comforts with you. Fancy a cup of tea? Pull over at a lay-by and put the kettle on. Suspicious of hotel bedlinen? Yours is all there tucked away in neat little cupboards, waiting. Worried that tea and biscuits might not be up to scratch in a B&B? You have tins of your favourites stowed away and ready for use. Miss your real home? Furnish your mobile one with customised cushions, curtains and bits and bobs.

Then there are all the benefits of the outdoors. Arrive on site, erect your awning and you can put up a deckchair, barbecue some sausages, let the children run free (and bring the dog) without wandering more than a few metres from your door. Try doing any of that outside a hotel room.

A caravan (and this includes the unfairly derided static caravan or mobile home) also offers the freedom to escape the workaday routine without going too wild. Instead of eating meals on the sofa in front of the TV, you can eat around a campfire beneath the stars. But no camping hardship here: proper plates, cutlery and glasses can be employed, not plastic cups and billycans. And rather than each family member being glued to their tablet, a pack of cards or a board game provides the evening’s entertainment. Really, what’s not to like about caravanning? 

The spirit of the sprite

The first caravan to tickle the fancy of the UK holidaymaker was the Alpine Sprite, above, a light, low-cost (£199) caravan made from tempered hardboard that could be towed behind the family car. It was the brainchild of designer Sam Alper* who in 1948, saw a gap in the market for a post-war leisure vehicle.

As the years went on, Alper developed different models. The model that still survives in vintage caravan sites and the odd front garden is the Sprite 400, which could be towed behind smaller cars, and the Sprite Cadet, launched in 1970

You can still pick up a vintage Sprite on eBay for between £500 and £1,000. 

Turn to page 56 of July's The Simple Things for more of Clare Gogerty's caravan feature.

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Competition: Win a luxury bell tent worth £650

Come rain or shine, you’ll be the envy of any campsite you head to this summer with The Glam Camping Company’s stylish ‘Sugar & Spice’ tent, a luxury four-metre bell tent, exclusively designed in the UK. Devised with an Indian summer theme, it is beautifully appointed with wooden poles and pegs, porthole windows in the doors, contrast trims and handmade, golden, bell-tipped bunting.

If showers threaten, you’ll stay toasty in this tent, which features a fully zipped-in PVC groundsheet and a heavy duty outer in 100 per cent cotton canvas, which is fully waterproofed, PU-coated, mould and rot resistant and comes with its own canvas bag.

The ‘Sugar & Spice’ bell tent is ideal for glamping trips away, as well as kids’ sleepovers, wedding celebrations and garden parties.

In addition to its beautiful bell tents, The Glam Camping Company also has a fantastic range of handpicked essentials. Whether you’re heading to the beach, the countryside or venturing no further than your back garden, it offers everything you need for outdoor fun, from vintage-style windbreaks, stunning picnic and barbecue essentials, pretty sleeping bags and throws and a gorgeous selection of lights and lanterns to add a touch of sparkle to your gathering.  

How to enter

Enter now

Enter by 15 August 2016. You can see Iceberg Press’ full terms and conditions on page 129 and at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules

The prize consists of a Sugar & Spice 4m bell tent, including poles and pegs, bag and full instructions. The tent will be delivered to the lucky winner by 3 September.

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Sponsored post: PRIMUS CampFire

As the temperature rises and thoughts turn to entertaining family and friends outdoors, Swedish stove brand Primus has the perfect solution for cooking up culinary delights.

Made using smart Scandinavian design and sustainable ingredients, CampFire is a beautifully crafted three-strong range of double burner stoves, high quality pots, pans and accessories that are perfect for outdoor dining and entertaining.

Out of the three double burner stoves in the range ONJA (SRP: £105) is a show-stopper stove made from a unique blend of stainless steel, oak, brass, cloth and leather.  Compact and portable, it’s easy to assemble and pack away, yet suitable for large pots for cooking up culinary treats outdoors.  Plus there’s no need for expensive, heavy gas cylinders as the all the stoves run off easy-to-buy self-sealing LP gas cartridges.  Simply cook, eat, laugh, pack up, pop on your shoulder and plan your next outdoor culinary adventure.

Clever little touches to the range include stackable stainless steel pots with integrated colanders in lids that can be packed away neatly into a storage bag; a utensils kit, complete with oak and stainless steel knives and accessories, that’s held in a polycotton wrap that can rolled out flat or hung; a cutlery set that packs neatly into a leather sleeve; and a utility sack with a watertight roll top closure – handy for carrying water or food in, then taking home used cutlery, plates after a memorable outdoor cooking experience.

Escape: Mellow meadow

A weekend away camping in an idyllic Dorset meadow, Emma Bradshaw and family have fun sleeping under the stars, cooking on the campfire – even washing up in the open air. 

Our new series comes from online UK travel guide This is Your Kingdom, whose handpicked contributors explore favourite places, special finds and great goings on.

You can read about one we love each month in The Simple Things - turn to page 72 of the May issue for more of this Dorset campsite adventure - and plenty of others at thisisyourkingdom.co.uk.

Emma Bradshaw is a contributor to thisisyourkingdom.co.uk. She has three boys, works for Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, blogs at bradshawandsons.com and shares glimpses of daily life on Instagram as @_emmabradshaw. 

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Recipe: Hardwick lamb curry in a hurry

Lamb curry and a decent beer is hard to beat. This is camping-friendly lamb curry doesn’t take hours and all goes in one pot. If you are in the Lake District, seek out Herdwick lamb and a local ale for a campsite meal to remember. Discover more in Pitch Up Eat Local by Ali Ray (AA Publishing). 

Herdwick Lamb Curry in a Hurry

Serves 4

vegetable oil
2 tsp each of ground turmeric and garam masala
1 tsp each of ground cumin, ground coriander and chilli powder
500g lamb leg steak, cut into bite-sized cubes
a small handful of green beans (about 8), trimmed and cut in half
a bunch of spring onions, sliced, including the green bits
350g basmati rice
1 x 400ml tin coconut milk
100ml vegetable stock (made with a cube)
a small bunch of fresh coriander (mint will also work nicely), chopped
salt and pepper
a big knob of butter

1 Heat a glug of oil in a large saucepan with a lid, and stir in the spices for a minute.

2 Add the lamb, beans and spring onions, and jostle them about in the pan so that the lamb browns, about 2 minutes.

3 Now add the rice to the pan, stir well, and then add the coconut milk and the stock.  Bring up to the boil, then turn the heat down to a simmer, put the lid on and leave for 10 minutes.

4 After 10 minutes, check that the rice has cooked, but don’t stir it. If it’s not done, let it cook for another couple of minutes.

5 When ready, stir in the fresh coriander (or mint), keeping a little back to garnish at the end.  Season with salt and pepper, then add the butter and gently stir through.

6 Serve with the remaining herbs sprinkled on top, accompanied by a good local ale. 

Read more: 

From the October issue

Camping recipes

Curry recipes

Recipe: Barbecue baked apples

This is a super-simple way to cook. Local apples are everywhere now, and are an easy but delicious dessert for campers.

BBQ Baked Apples

You’ll need a lidded barbecue to make this delicious apple dessert. Or it can be cooked in the embers of a campfire. 

Serves 4

4 eating apples
1 large knob of butter
2 tbsp light brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
a handful each of sultanas and chopped nuts
2 tsp demerara sugar
a splash of booze if there’s some around (rum, brandy, cider but – NOT beer or wine!)

1Core the apples, leaving the bottom 2cm in if possible. If that’s too hard, take the whole core out, cut the bottom 2cm off the core and plug it back into the bottom of the apple. This is to stop all the melted butter flowing out later.

2Score a line around the centre of the apple.

3Put the butter, light brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.  Mix in the nuts and sultanas. Use your hands if it’s easier to blend it all up into a lumpy paste.

4Push some of the mixture into each apple until it’s all used up.

5Place each apple on the centre of a large double-thickness square of foil. Sprinkle a little demerara sugar and some rum or brandy (if using) over the top, then wrap each apple up tight in its own square of foil.

6Put the foil parcels on your barbecue away from the direct heat and close the lid. You’ll need to rotate the apples occasionally to enable them to cook evenly.

7They will take about 20 minutes to cook and go soft enough to eat (you don’t want them mushy), but this will depend on the size of apples and your heat source, so keep an eye on them. Serve with cream or plain yoghurt.

Recipe from Pitch Up, Eat Local by Ali Ray (AA Publishing with The Camping and Caravanning Club). 

Turn to page 72 of September's The Simple Things for Under Canvas, highlighting secluded, riverside camping pitches. On sale 29 August 2015.

Read more camping posts from The Simple Things...

• Recipes: The Picnic Loaf, Sunshine Hash, Campfire Beef & Beans
• How to pitch a tent like a pro
• Britain's best wild camping spots

September's The Simple Things is on sale today - buy, download or subscribe now.

Recipe: Flip-flop-pop fish and campers' coleslaw

'This is a super-simple way to cook fish when you’re camping. It is also a very child-friendly recipe. In fact, it was my five-year-old who suggested the Rice Krispies coating. It works brilliantly and provides a satisfying crunch. You could try breadcrumbs, rolled oats or even cornflakes in place of the Rice Krispies. The coleslaw is low-cost, quick and easy and very tasty.'

Ali Ray, author of Pitch Up, Eat Local

Serves 4

4 skinless fish fillets (use white, firm, flaky-fleshed fish such as pouting, whiting or sustainably caught cod or pollock)
Olive oil
4 soft bread buns

For the coating

Plain flour
2 tsp paprika
Grated zest of 1 lemon
Salt and pepper
3 large handfuls of Rice Krispies
1 large egg, beaten

For the coleslaw

Half a red cabbage
Half a white cabbage
Half a red onion
3 carrots, peeled
4 tbsp plain yoghurt
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

1 First, make the coleslaw. Slice the cabbage and onion as thinly as possible. Put in a large bowl. Grate the carrots into the bowl. Add the yoghurt and mustard and mix well.

2 Sprinkle at least 6 tbsp plain flour over a large plate and mix in the paprika, grated lemon zest, salt and pepper.

3 Crush the Rice Krispies in a freezer bag and pour on to a separate plate. Have your beaten egg in a wide bowl next to this.

4 One at a time, flip the fish fillets over in the flour, then flop in the egg, then flip back into the flour. Pop into the Rice Krispies, making sure the fillets are well coated.

5 Heat up a slug of olive oil in a large frying pan. Put the coated fish fillets in the pan, and fry for about 4 minutes on each side. Resist the temptation to push the fish about with a spatula as it might disintegrate. Check the fish is cooked.

6 Put the fish fillets and a heap of coleslaw in a soft bread bun to serve.

Recipe from Pitch Up, Eat Local by Ali Ray (AA Publishing).
See August's issue of The Simple Things for coastal campsites and the perfect pitch - buy, download or subscribe now.

Read more:

• Sunshine Hash recipe
• Picnic Loaf recipe
• Campfire Beef & Beans recipe
• Camping food inspiration on Pinterest

Reader offer: Isle of Wight Campers

Our friends at Isle of Wight campers were so delighted at how many of you entered their competition to win a camper holiday that they are offering readers of The Simple Things £50 off any 3,4 or 7 night booking made for the 2016 season. 

They are also halving the deposit required - so it is just £50 for 3 or 4 nights and £100 7 night hire if booked before the end of January. 

Isle of Wight Campers has six candy-coloured 1970s campers for hire. Sleeping up to four the vans come equipped for self-catering with everything you’ll need to potter round the lanes and head to the beaches before parking up at a campsite for the night.

To book phone 01983 642143 or email info@isleofwightcampers.co.uk and let them know you want to take up The Simple Things special offer.

Get more of a feel for their holidays on their Facebook page. 

For more info and offers sign up to their newsletter here.