The reluctant camper: 15 easy tips to make you love life beneath the stars

In my experience, the world is divided into people who love camping and people who hate it. In the second group are those scarred by miserable memories of childhood camping trips, and those who have never slept in a field and don’t intend to start now when they have a perfectly good bed at home, thank you very much. But at its best, camping can be cheap, healthy, environmentally friendly and, above all, fun. I asked camping enthusiasts how to combat first-timers’ fears and convince even the most reluctant campers to give it a go.

Don’t go right back to basics

Camping doesn’t have to mean going completely off-grid. Rory Willis, the founder of Northern Wind , a community outdoors project, says: “For beginners, a campsite with basic facilities such as clean toilets, running water and hot showers can make a big difference. Some sites offer small shops or cafes, which can be a comfort to those who are nervous about being too far from civilisation.” If you’re camping with children who aren’t used to running wild in the woods, Sally Thomas from Authentic India Tours advises picking a site with a playground, games room, cinema or swimming pool. “Start off with all the bells and whistles for more of a sense of home comfort, then go more wild on future trips,” she says.

Invest in a decent tent

“While you don’t need to go out and buy a lot of expensive kit for a camping trip, it is worth investing in the best tent you can afford. Modern tents are lightweight, airy and easy to assemble,” says Catharina Björkman, a Scandi lifestyle expert. “If you have young kids, consider a tent with separate pods, which will make it easier to accommodate different bedtimes. If you have older teens, it may be worth letting them sleep in their own tent nearby.” And don’t forget the pegs. Laura Marfell-Williams from Pitchup , a campsite booking website, says a set of rock pegs (about £10 for 20) make it much easier to set up on dry, hard or stony ground. She also suggests buying a mallet with a peg extractor: “After borrowing one from a friendly neighbour at a festival last weekend, it’s definitely on my shopping list before our next camping trip. It makes it so much easier to take pegs out.”

Pitch on flat ground

Kim Logan, a self-described camping fanatic based in the Canadian Rockies, says: “Ensure the ground is flat! It seems like common sense, but this can make or break how comfortable your sleep is.” Anna McNuff, an adventurer and Girlguiding ambassador, agrees: “There’s nothing worse than spending the whole night trying not to roll sideways or gradually sliding down in your sleeping bag. To test the ground out, lay your groundsheet down and lie down on it on your back. Lift your arms and legs off the ground and if you don’t roll off to one side or the other, then you’re good to go.”

Camp near natural attractions

“The most important thing is to be situated near or around natural attractions such as lakes, rivers, trails or scenic viewpoints,” says Willis. “This gives campers easy access to activities, making the experience feel more like a mini adventure than a daunting survival test.”

Make a warm, comfortable bed

David Scotland, the owner of the camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct , says: “Not getting a good night’s sleep is one of the main deterrents for a reluctant camper, yet with the right setup, you could actually wake up more refreshed. Rising to the sound of birds tweeting and fresh air is the ultimate tonic.” He says the luxury option is a camp bed topped with a self-inflating mat: “This is the best idea for anyone with mobility issues, as they won’t have to get up from the ground.” Others will be “incredibly comfortable” with just the inflatable mat.

If you only have a regular camping mat, Mhairi Mackay, Girlguiding’s assistant chief guide, suggests putting a blanket on top of it, underneath your sleeping bag. “It’s more important to have warmth underneath you than on top of you,” she says. Clarice Hunter from Hipcamp , a camping booking site, uses an emergency foil blanket to lock in heat. Scotland suggests a three-season sleeping bag that can be unzipped into a duvet. Sam Bruce, the co-founder of the travel company Much Better Adventures , says the top tip he hears from his customers is to pack an inflatable pillow: “It doesn’t take up much space and beats using your sweaty jumper or damp towel.”

Stine Schultz Heireng, the general secretary of the Norwegian Guide and Scout Association, suggests pouring boiling water into your drinking bottle, wrapping it in a spare sock and having it with you in your sleeping bag. “It works like a hot-water bottle and will keep you warm through the night,” she says. Pack lots of layers, warm socks and a woolly hat.

Take an eye mask

A blackout tent will guarantee a lie-in, but an eye mask is a cheap alternative – and earplugs are useful too. “New campers often struggle to sleep as they’re not used to the noises of the nocturnal natural world,” says Scotland. “Expect to hear all kinds of animal calls and twigs snapping – we were once awoken by a very loud frog ribbiting at our tent door.”

Don’t dread toilet trips

Face it: you’re going to need to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. Instead of dreading it, reframe it as a stargazing expedition, suggests McNuff. “I’ve done some of my best stargazing at 3am. I didn’t want to get out of my cosy sleeping bag but I needed a wee – and the stars were magical.” Logan goes one better: “I saw the northern lights in the wee hours of the morning this week.”

Savour sunrise and sunset

“I love to watch the sun set and observe the sky turn from dazzling orange to pale yellow and dark blue,” says Schultz Heireng. “When you spend the night outdoors, you will experience the daylight, twilight, nightlight and the morning light, and see how the scenery changes completely, even though you are at the same campsite all the time.” Liv Bolton, the author of The Outdoors Fix , adds: “Don’t forget to pitch the door of your tent facing west for a good sunset from bed, or east for a beautiful morning sunrise.” Willis likes to drink his morning coffee while watching the sunrise. “This quiet time can be incredibly peaceful and is a great way to connect with nature,” he says. “Sometimes I set off for an early hike to avoid the crowds – watching the sunrise from a mountaintop always feels special.”

Sit around the campfire

“A well-built fire is the heart of any campsite,” says Willis. “Pack a few easy-to-use fire starters such as cotton balls dipped in petroleum jelly to make lighting it stress-free.” Once the fire is going, “comfortable seating can make the difference between a restless evening and a relaxed, enjoyable night under the stars. Bring along foldable camping chairs or even just thick, waterproof picnic blankets.” Flavia Robles Llorente from Camplify , a campervan rental company, recommends fairy lights, blankets and a hammock for a touch of luxury.

Make a hot drink

A Jetboil stove provides instant hot water – but costs over £100. Instead, Marfell-Williams suggests boiling more water than you need on the fire and saving it in a Thermos flask. Sachets of hot chocolate and coffee make life easier. Lottie Griffiths, a marketing executive at Campsites.co.uk says: “You can get a whole selection, from flavoured lattes to alternative milk options, and they come with milk powder already in them, so no need for a cool box.”

Cook over the fire

Serkan Cetin, the co-founder of the Wild Canvas pop-up campsite in Turvey, Bedfordshire, says: “Camping is the only place where burning your dinner over an open fire just makes it taste better. It’s also an excuse to load up on meat and carbs!” Sausages and marshmallows are campfire classics, but there are lots of other easy options. Willis makes a foil-packet dinner. “Wrap ingredients such as fish, vegetables and potatoes in foil and place them on the campfire coals,” he says. “They will cook evenly and retain moisture.” Björkman suggests steak with charred peppers and grilled sweet potato wedges, and halloumi and pineapple skewers. For dessert, cut a slit down the length an unpeeled banana, stuff it with squares of chocolate and place in the embers until it melts.

Heat up homemade dinners

Hunter, who is clearly super-organised, mixes batter at home and takes it on camping trips to make breakfast pancakes. She also makes one-pot dinners such as chilli or stew at home, freezes them, then lets them defrost in her cool box at the campsite. “They are easy to reheat on the campfire or stove,” she says. Or you could just choose a campsite with a food truck, or in walking distance of a pub …

Make bathtime fun

“If you’re camping with a young child who is used to baths, bring a paddling pool or an empty storage box and use a shower to fill it up,” says Hunter. “You’ll add a little adventure to their usual routine.”

Hope for sun, prepare for rain

Pitch your tent on high ground, says Björkman, and pack waterproofs, walking boots, trainers and a pair of Crocs, flip-flops or jelly shoes for night-time loo runs. Take card games for in-tent entertainment: “Some of our favourites are Uno, Dobble, Herd Mentality, Taco-Cat-Goat-Cheese-Pizza and Kids Against Maturity!” And try to enjoy it, Thomas says: “Sitting under canvas playing cards while the rain gently pitter-patters can be a really lovely experience.”

Connect with nature

“A camping trip gives opportunities to spend time connecting with nature: a scavenger hunt in the woods, foraging, bird-watching, cloud-spotting, or exploring rock pools or streams,” says Björkman. One of her favourite things to do is go for a walk at dusk. “Eschew torches and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. You may be lucky enough to see some nocturnal creatures such as owls, foxes, hedgehogs or bats.” And spend some time in stillness. “Just taking time to sit with a cup of tea while absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of the world around you can be one of the most rewarding parts of camping, leaving you feeling rested and restored.”