Camping, Glamping and Festival Survival Tips!

I was lucky enough to travel with friends who have been going to Glastonbury for years, so they shared the information that they had gleaned over the years. After my first camping trip in 25 years, I’m not calling myself an expert, but I did learn something which may be useful whether you are heading off to Eurocamp, spending a night in the arctic wilderness or even heading a to fab European festival:

- No point beating around the bush, the toilets may be an issue! Take your own loo roll and hand sanitiser, these often run out. The little packs of tissues are really convenient. Avoid using the facilities offered near the biggest attractions ( at Glastonbury that would be the ones by the Pyramid stage)

- Showers – if you wake in the middle of the night, this would be the perfect time to have a shower, no queues! Take your flip flops, and wear as little as you get away with for your walk to the shower….. chances are it will end up on the floor.

- Food – the food can be varied, and even if it is well priced, you can still spend a small fortune. Take lots of snacks such as nuts, cereal bars, biscuits, crisps and dried fruit – Always put a good selection in your day bag ( chocolate can melt and it may be sunny, you never know!)

- A few big plastic bags can be useful, from laundry runs, to storing muddy wellies in your tent.

- Drink – I took supplies to make my morning coffee, even if you take long life milk, you still need to keep it quite cool, or it will split. I used the cheap water carrier I’d bought lots, saving on several smaller trips to the stand pipe. For wandering around, a small platpus type drink pouch for your ruck sack is a good idea. Check the festival / camping rules, and take some alcohol with you: A couple of cans, a wine box to share with friends or your favourite spirit might be helpful. At Glastonbury, glass was prohibited but you could decant your drink into a plastic bottle. Oh, and maybe some Berocca to help counteract the fun you’re bound to be having!

- Sleep – it can be noisy on a camp ground, the sun sets late in summer, and gets up before I want to! So I packed the freebie eye mask and ear plugs from my last flight. You also need to accept the fact that even in our warmest summers in the UK, the nights are likely to be cold. I only took a 2 season sleeping bag, but topped it up with a duvet – I’ll definitely invest in a better sleeping bag before I next sleep in a tent.

I’d written a packing list before I left and I’ve updated it since my return, if you’d like a copy, just ping me an email.