Alternative Camping in the UK

Embrace your wild side and get back to nature with some top alternatives to the normal camping holiday – the UK offers some surprising and fun options!

Take a Road Trip in a Camper Van

If you fancy taking a trip in a classic VW camper van then you’ll be spoilt for choice – pack your surfboard, mountain bikes or fishing poles and head out into the wilderness for a great adventure.

• www.oconnorscampers.co.uk – camp in a renovated VW with new engine and interior, there are 12 models to hire so there’s something for everyone!
• www.vwcamperco.com – If you fancy camping on the go, but want some creature comforts too then try this Oxfordshire based fleet of eight where you can sleep in a double bed.
• www.snailtrail.co.uk – Pick from Betty, Ruby, Pearl, Flo, Dot, Matilda, Elsie, Nell, Sylvie and Pru who are all brand new copies of the original VW models that have been shipped over from Brazil.

Go Back to the Iron Age

Camping in Scotland is bound to get a little chilly at times so make sure you are warm and toasty in The Roundhouse – a unique camping experience! The Roundhouse has stone walls and a thatched roof as well as a fire in the centre to keep you nice and warm and to cook your meals on and is a replica of an Iron Age hut. Hit the 61.8km of mountain biking trails or scramble up the climbing wall in the chill out area. Visit http://www.marthrownofmabie.com/ for more details.

Caravanning with a Difference

Cosy up in a traditional Romany Caravan for a caravanning holiday with a difference.  Gorgeous gypsy caravans let you get back to basics and you’ll be going green too with one of the UK’s top ethical holiday companies.  You’ll have your own meadow, a cabin with a shower room, kitchen and even a wooden veranda – perfect for sitting outside with a glass of wine, or cup of tea! Vist www.underthethatch.co.uk for more details.

Into the Wilderness

Ever fancied camping in the wild? We don’t mean a secluded field on a campsite – but the freedom to go and camp wherever you want? Well, you can actually. In Scotland you can legally camp anywhere, as long as you are out of sight of houses and roads, aren’t on farmland and leave the flora and fauna untouched – See www.mountaineering-scotland.org.uk for details.

You can also camp out on Devon’s notorious Dartmoor – where wild camping is actively encouraged. Just hope you don’t bump into the Hound of the Baskervilles who is rumoured to haunt the moors. www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk.

Make sure you have all the equipment you need – tent, compass, Ordnance Survey map, torch, plenty of food and water and a sleeping bag. Check out the Littlewoods camping section to find everything you need.