Camping in the winter can be a great experience. You can enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors without having to worry about the crowds that come with warmer weather. However, camping in the cold weather does present some challenges, chief among them being how to stay warm. In this blog post, we’ll give you some tips on how to keep warm when camping in the winter so you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.
Dressing in Layers
One of the best ways to stay warm when camping in the winter is to dress in layers. This will allow you to regulate your body temperature more effectively. Start with a base layer that will wick away moisture, such as merino wool or synthetic materials. Then add a mid-layer for insulation, such as fleece or down. Finally, top it off with a waterproof and windproof outer layer. A hat and gloves are also useful to keep warm.
Sleeping Warm
Another way to stay warm when camping in the winter is to make sure you’re sleeping warm. A good quality sleeping bag is a must-have for any winter camper. Make sure your sleeping bag is rated for cold weather and has a comfortable temperature rating that you’re comfortable with. In addition to a good sleeping bag, you should also invest in a sleeping pad that will insulate you from the cold ground. Some light exercise before getting in your sleeping bag will help to boost your temperature.
Building a Fire
One of the best ways to stay warm when camping in the winter is by building a fire. Not only will a fire provide warmth, but it will also be a great place to gather around and socialize with your fellow campers. When building a fire, make sure you find a spot that’s away from any trees or other flammable objects. Then, clear away any dead leaves or branches from the area so you have a safe space to build your fire. Ideally you will use a fire bowl or an off the ground, folding, wood burning stove. Once your fire is lit, make sure you keep it burning by adding logs as needed. If you’re not comfortable building a fire on your own, there are plenty of instructional videos and articles online that can help you out.
Conclusion:
Camping in the winter can be a great experience if you know how to prepare for it. By dressing in layers, sleeping warm, and building a fire, you’ll be able to stay nice and warm all trip long. So get out there and enjoy nature—just make sure you do it safely!
Base Camp Food is an independent UK based business, offering the best range of freeze dried, dehydrated and ready to eat expedition and camping meals. Stocking the widest range of lightweight expedition meals in the UK, all with free delivery on all orders. You won’t find a better choice of freeze dried meals and expedition food.
Base Camp Food stock meals from the leading brands from across Europe including LYO Expedition Foods, Summit to Eat, Expedition Foods, BeWell, Bla Band, Real Turmat, Wayfayrer, TentMeals, Forestia and Extreme Adventure Food. There is a huge range of lightweight expedition breakfasts, main meals and snacks to choose from. They have a significant Vegan range of meals across various brands.
To complement the freeze dried meals and ready to eat meals, they have a fantastic range of lightweight cookware, stoves and utensils, including stoves from Optimus and titanium cookware from Evernew. Other well stocked popular brands include MSR, Jetboil, Solo Stove, JetBoil, SOTO and Vargo.
Base Camp Food supply Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions with DofE recommended ready to eat meals from Wayfayrer.
‘We have years of experience and expertise supporting expeditions across the globe and offer impartial, expert help for all adventures. We have a hand picked range of equipment including stoves, cookware, hydration solutions and tents.’ – Base Camp Food. Visit the website www.basecampfood.com
[ Members log-in to the NWC website to view discounts codes from Base Camp Food and other Business Partners ]
Bikepacking has become an increasingly popular adventure activity, combining the thrill of cycling with the freedom of self-supported travel. It involves traveling long distances on a bicycle, usually over multiple days and across different terrains, while carrying all necessary gear and supplies. This allows bikers to explore remote areas that are inaccessible by car, and experience the great outdoors in a unique way.
But what really sets bikepacking apart from traditional cycling or backpacking is the concept of wilder camping. This means choosing to camp in non-designated areas, such as a Nearly Wild Camping location. While this may sound intimidating at first, it can actually be one of the most rewarding aspects of bikepacking. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about wilder camping while bikepacking.
Wilder camping, also known as Nearly Wild Camping in England and Wales, allows you to experience the natural environment without any man-made structures or with limited facilities. This can include setting up a tent in the woods, sleeping under the stars, or even finding shelter in an open field.
Many bikepackers prefer wilder camping because it offers greater flexibility and immersion in nature. You can choose your own camp location based on personal preferences, such as proximity to water sources or scenic views. Plus, you have more freedom to spontaneously change your route or stay longer in a particular location without being moved on.
While wild camping offers many benefits, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Here are some tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience:
When bikepacking, you want to pack as light as possible while still being prepared for any situation. Here are some essential items to bring for wild camping:
Due to carrying all your camping equipment when bikepacking your bike is going to be much heavier than usual and therefore harder to pedal. Unless you are really fit you might find it almost impossible to travel any great distance and that might mean you will not reach your planned destination. This is where electric-assisted bikes come into their own. They make travelling longer distances much easier and make the hills seem less steep! You are much more likely to be able to travel from one camping location to another with an E-bike. Recent developments mean battery weight has reduced and they now last longer on a full charge. E-bikes make travelling by bike more enjoyable and allow you to get more miles in without worrying about arriving at your camp exhausted and too tired to setup camp for the night. Above: Cairn E-Adventure Rambler
Wilder camping adds an element of adventure and freedom to bikepacking. With the right planning and preparation, it can be a truly rewarding experience. Just remember to follow local laws and regulations, leave no trace, and be respectful of the natural environment. So grab your bike and gear, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through the great outdoors! Go ahead and explore the world on two wheels, and discover the beauty of wild camping during your next bike packing trip. Happy bikepacking…!
Jackie was a young girl who always wanted to go wild camping but her mum was scared to do it. After lots of pestering and with a bit of research her mum found a solution that she was much happier to try. Jackie was so excited when her mum said that they could go Nearly Wild Camping. Jackie was happy to see that her mum was finally willing to try out something a bit more adventurous than going to a campsite full of people, noise and cars moving back and forth.
They packed up the car and set off for their camping location. It was a beautiful spot in the woods, and Jackie was excited to get started. They set up their tent, lit a fire in the fire pit provided and started cooking dinner. Jackie loved being outside and she was having a great time.
After dinner, they sat around the campfire telling stories and roasting marshmallows. Jackie felt like she was really getting to know her mum and they were having a lot of fun. As evening drew in they saw a deer in the distance and could hear the bird song settling down for the night. Jackie was so glad that her mum had finally given Nearly Wild Camping a try. Maybe next time they could try out an even wilder location using the Wildness Rating to judge which ones would be most suitable for them…
Weight and Comfort
Another important consideration when choosing a backpack for wilder camping is weight. Obviously, the more stuff you pack, the heavier your backpack will be. However, even if you’re judicious about what you bring, your backpack is still going to be fairly heavy. That’s why it’s important to choose a backpack that is comfortable to wear, even when it’s fully loaded. Look for features like padded shoulder straps and a hip belt that will distribute the weight evenly and make it easier to carry your backpack over long distances.
Durability and Weather Resistance
When you’re out in the wilderness, you’ll be exposed to all sorts of weather conditions—including sun, rain, snow, and everything in between. That’s why it’s important to choose a backpack that is durable and weather resistant. Look for a backpack made from high-quality materials that can stand up to anything Mother Nature throws at it.
Conclusion:
Whether you’re an experienced camper or someone who is just getting started, wilder camping is a great way to get closer to nature. However, before you head out into the wilderness, make sure you have the right gear—including a durable, weather-resistant backpack with plenty of compartments to hold all of your supplies. With the right backpack by your side, you’ll be ready for anything!
1) Goto the website, click the icon at the bottom of the screen.
2) Scroll up the menu and click on ‘Add to Home Screen’.
3) Click on ‘Add’ in the top-right corner.
4) You now have a shortcut on your Home Screen!
The process is very similar for iPads, Android phones and tablets – you now have an icon similar to an App.
We have been asked a number of times about patches, so we finally decided to have some made. After some searching online we came across Patchion. What stood out to us was that their prices are very reasonable, they are made to order with different backings such as velcro, iron on and self-adhesive and after putting in a test order, they arrived in a timely manner and well packaged. The Nearly Wild Camping patches are now listed in the Patchion store where you can mix and match designs in your order and receive a 10% discount at Checkout with the code ‘wildUKall’
Members should head to the Members Discounts page for details of a massive 40% discount off NWC patches using the members promo code: https://nearlywildcamping.org/members-discounts/
All members are invited to join us in a series of talks and discussions exploring topics across all things camping,
whether you are a location owner or camping member.
While the talks are separated into ‘camping member’ and ‘location focussed’ talks,
these discussions are open to all and you can join both talks if you would like,
You can sign-up to the talks here (need to be logged-in)
[ over the next few months we will be adding more features to this page… ]
Make some money and reduce waste.
We all know there is nothing better than sleeping under the stars, enjoying the benefits of being outside, experiencing time with our beautiful natural world. Nearly Wild Camping has created a directory of campsites that offer just this experience. Tentshare is offering a way to help the camping community share their tents and kit safely, earn money and reduce our carbon footprint.
Fondly referred to as Fresh-Airbnb, Tentshare is an online tent-matching service. The idea is simple: organized sharing. A tent owner can earn money sharing their kit with people in the local community who would like to camp but don’t own a tent. The tent-borrower can rent a tent at an affordable cost.
Let’s face it most of us campers have a couple (if not more) of tents stored and unused in our garage or loft. It’s estimated that 250,00 tents go to landfill each year in the UK. If we all shared, we wouldn’t need to keep buying cheap tents and them ending up in landfill.
Tentshare is committed to building a like-minded sharing community. We would love you to join us on our mission to share more and consume less. Tentshare provides a way earning and saving money for you, and in turn helping to protect our planet.
There are three ways we can help you and in turn, you can help protect our planet.
1) Earn money – List your tent on the Tentshare platform: https://www.tentshare.co.uk/ready-to-share/
2) Save money – Rent a tent from the Tentshare platform:
3) Receive the ultimate FREEcamping checklist – Sign up to receive a bi-weekly news update from us: https://mailchi.mp/4e12731fa41d/tentsharers
Rebecca Heaps
founder of Tentshare
The STORM CARE range is designed to wash, proof, deodorise and repair your outdoor apparel, footwear and gear.All of their products are made in England, and they are proud to produce aftercare that is PFC, PFOA and PFOS FREE.
‘Don’t replace. Reproof and Reuse.Over time, dirt and oil mask the water repellency treatment on gear, meaning it starts losing performance and absorbing water; putting a dampener on your outdoor experience. Care really is key when it comes to getting the most out of your kit. So in 2003 we decided to create a range of products that do just that, to ensure you get maximum usage and performance, from your gear.’ – Matt Graves, Storm Care Solutions Ltd