OUTDOOR FUN
PHOTO GETTY IMAGES *Survey by the Office of National Statistics, between 2008 and 2014
THE GOOD
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It’s official: tents are the new B&Bs. So pack up your kit and go wild in the country!
leeping outdoors under canvas or, more precisely, polyester, has never been so cool or popular. A survey by Mintel found that a fifth of us have had a camping holiday in the last three years, while sales of tents and caravans have risen by 75 per cent in recent years*. ‘It’s a no-brainer,’ says camping fan Emily Murphy, 44, a mother of three. ‘Who can afford to stay in hotels or go abroad every year?’ Once the equipment has been bought, years of soaking up nature, eating outside and letting the kids run wild lie ahead.
Get the kit right
Did you experience cold and soggy tents in your childhood? Things have changed; tents now keep water out and warmth in! Take a disposable barbecue and cook fresh food while you sit on your comfy camping chairs, watching the sun set as you sip a cold glass of wine poured from a bottle in your cool box. Bliss! (Turn over to read about the perfect kit.)
Find your happy place
The very best camping sites get booked up months in advance, but with thousands in the UK, you’re bound to find one near you that’s just right. Plump for one with a bar, restaurant, pool and shop that will cater to your every whim, or go for a more wild experience where you’ll be surrounded by nature and free to explore the countryside.
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