Camping on a shoestring - help please :)

lavenderblue_3

I would definatly take proper pillows with you if you are car camping - after doing 3 weeks fly-weight camping in Croatia, I craved a normal pillow or two. Try and find a head torch from somewhere and hang it from the top of your tent - instant light if you need it in the middle of the night.

Lots of UK camp sites have thier own cooking areas that surply gas - if you can find a site with one you can save a lot of money. Try to make sure that your campsite doesn't have coin operated showers- this can add extra pounds to the trip.

A couple of blankets under your karimat will make for a more comfortable night if you are not used to sleeping on the ground - the knitted square ones that Granny used to make are ideal for this - they add extra springiness and warmth.

Get plastic cutlery/plates/drinking vessles etc from poundshops - much much cheaper than a supermarket.

This tip is naughty but I am going to tell you anyway....

If you ever eat in a Weatherspoons or similar pub, make sure you stock up on those little packets of condiments - salt/pepper/mustard/ketchup/horseradish/vinegar etc. They are great for camping as you only open one or two at a time and have no messy bottles to get knocked over.;)

Chipps

We always kept our cutlery (not special camping stuff, by the way!) in a washing up liquid bottle - the round sort - with it's top cut off. Just the right size for most cutlery & sturdy enough that knives generally don't get to poke through. I don't know whose idea it was, but my mum did it... so I did it...