MotorHolme Information

Camping is all about having fun outdoors and being with nature, which makes the woodlands the perfect place for this type of trip. When you camp in a woods, you'll not only be able to enjoy a truly authentic camping experience, but you'll also have access to hours of free entertainment – from cycling and walking along the forest trails, to wildlife spotting, there's an endless amount of ways to keep you and your friends amused during your trip.

The UK is home to a huge variety of woodlands, both contemporary and ancient, including the Forest of Dean, Queen Elizabeth forest, Snowdonia National Park and Argyll forest, to name just a few. Many of these woodland areas have official campsites; however there is ample opportunity for those who wish to camp in the wild here too. After you've selected a site and arrived at your destination, the next thing you'll need to consider is where to pitch the tent. This is a relatively straightforward process, however, camping in the woodlands presents its own unique challenges and will require a little extra thought in this regard.

If your are new to camping, Motorholme recommends that you practice pitching the tent in your back garden before you set off, as it won't be much fun struggling for hours on end to do this in the forest, particularly if it gets dark out. Speaking of this - make sure to set off as early as possible, so that it's still light enough to see your surroundings and choose a good site for your tent. Before choosing a spot, take some time to walk around the area; some of the best spots are ones which previous campers have used. You'll be able to recognise these by the flattened grass. Look for a clearing, so that you're not too close to trees and bushes and won't disturb any woodland creatures living in them. Remove any rocks, twigs and other debris from the area where you intend to pitch the tent, as you may wake up with a sore back from lying on these during the night. It's even more important to do this if you have an inflatable mattress, as the sharp edge of a rock or branch could potentially pierce the fabric and deflate it.

Lastly, be aware that when camping in woodland areas, you'll be living in natural surroundings and may find that small animals are attracted to the camping site, especially when you are preparing meals. Most are harmless, but it's best to avoid feeding them, and make sure to put any leftover scraps in a sealed bag, so that the animals can't smell them.