THE ROAD TRIPPERS

A camping road trip gives you the freedom to explore – simply work out your route, pack your tent, then hit the road.

While families tend to choose a destination and set up camp for a week or two, a road trip needs a lot more flexibility so might be better suited for couples or people camping on their own.

You could go for a recognised ‘official’ route such as the North Coast 500 in Scotland or the Wales Coastal Way. Or you could create an itinerary of your own, simply by deciding on somewhere that you really want to explore in the UK or Europe and researching a route.

On a touring trip, where you move from campsite to campsite every day or every couple of days, it makes sense to travel lighter than you would normally.

No one wants to spend loads of time pitching a tent, setting up camp and generally getting organised, only to then have to take it all apart in the morning, move on to a new location and repeat the process the next day.

So, take a smaller tent that is easier to fit in the boot of the car and can be pitched and packed away quickly. Consider a three-berth tunnel tent, an easy-to-pitch dome for two or three or perhaps a hybrid of the two. You can get smaller tents with plenty of space to walk around, while others have very little headroom. If mobility is an issue, you should go for the taller style, as crawling in and out of the tent can be difficult.

Another popular option, especially for solo travellers or couples, is a rooftop tent. They only take a few minutes to set up and allow you to pitch up pretty much anywhere you like.

Of course, a smaller tent will mean sacrificing living space and sometimes some headroom but it is really a trade-off between space and freedom.