Your festival home from home

Camping out is part of the fun and so is finding a great place to stay off site

THE first and biggest decision has been made: which festival you are going to. Now comes another important one; where are you going to stay? We should say that there is another important move to make if you are going to the islands: get the ferry booked now! You will be far more certain of the sailing times you want if you go online or pick up the phone and book with CalMac now. www.calmac.co.uk To camp or not to camp? That is the question. Once again, the secret is book early. Every location will have a mix of high-end accommodation, down to B&Bs and hostel or backpacker accommodation. Have you considered making a festival the highlight of a bigger holiday and booking a holiday cottage or other self-catering? That way you get to enjoy the buzz of the build-up to the festival, watching the stage and equipment arrive, hearing the sound checks – it can all add to the festival-going experience. If you are bringing a caravan or motor home, remember that pitches can fill up fast so once again, book early. Camping at a festival is just like ordinary camping, but magnified. Everyone’s stories of festivals include having to rescue someone who had never been camping before. Don’t let that be you. Do practise pitching your tent beforehand and using your kit, even if it is only in the back garden. This will save you a lot of heartache. We have weather, lots of it. Sometimes several different weather systems in one day, often within the hour. So your camping equipment should be able to cope with this and so should your clothes: think layers, lots of them. There is a reason why people wear wellies at festivals, remember to bring yours. (See above). Not only do we have a lot of weather, it has a sense of humour: bring sunscreen and a hat. We kid you not. First-aiders deal with more cases of severe sunburn, dehydration and heatstroke than they do hypothermia, because no one was prepared. Never mind what the national weather forecast says, the islands, sea lochs and mountains create crazy little weather micro-systems. Bring water, lots of it to keep hydrated, also non-perishable food. You will want to eat at some of the amazing food trucks but keep the budget balanced with some cheaper meals in between. We have midges, lots of them, they are hungry and you look tasty. Bring along midge repellent. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. At 4.30am you will wish you had spent more money on a good quality sleeping bag and sleepmat. You might not be planning on getting much sleep but when you want to, you will want to be warm and cozy. You’ve got the power: because you have remembered to bring batteries and a power bank to recharge your mobile phone. Security: keep valuables with you but keep your tent unlocked. Sounds crazy but a locked tent says ‘we have something worth stealing’. Thefts are rare and all events have good security but it pays to be aware and not leave yourself open to an opportunist thief.