Tag: camping

The AA Caravan and Canmping Guide 2026.

Birthday Gifts, Books, camping, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, travel

Disclaimer: We received these books for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Summer holiday season is here and the weather is currently glorious and perfect for camping and caravanning. Whether you’re pitching your tent for the very first time or like us, have been enjoying caravan holidays for years, then a guide book is a great way to discover the best sites around the country.

The AA Caravan and Camping guide is the UK’s best selling annual camping guide and covers the United Kingdom as well as the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Scottish Islands. The guide is split into regions with the AA 5 star site recommendations at the start of the book along with sections for adult-only and glamping sites. With over 550 sites it’s a great place to start your holiday planning.

Before you start looking at the sites there’s a useful introduction explaining how to use the guide. A series of symbols make it easy to see at a glance what facilities are available on site from the type of pitch available, eg caravan, motorhome or tent, as well as the facilities on site which could include an indoor/outdoor pool, playground, showers, WiFi, and services available like cafés, electric hook up and bars. The symbols are quite self explanatory but there’s a handy a key at the bottom of each page so it’s easy to see at a glance what they mean.  

The sites are split into areas and then into counties and are in alphabetical order making it easy to find a campsite in the area you plan to visit. Every regional section begins with an overview of the area, complete with ideas for places to visit, before moving on to the campsite listings themselves. Each site is given an AA rating, which I found really useful when trying to narrow down the shortlist.

Each campsite entry includes full contact details , basic directions to the site and a paragraph describing the site and facilities. It also tells you when the site is open as well as arrival and departure times. The symbols make it easy to see the types of pitches, on-site amenities and leisure facilities, as well as attractions and activities within three miles of the campsite. Many of the listings also include a colour photograph, giving you a feel for the site before you arrive.

Whether you’re planning a weekend by the sea, a walking holiday in Wales or fancy trying glamping, this guide takes a lot of the guesswork out of choosing a caravan or camping site in the UK.  

RRP £14.99  

Available from Amazon and all leading bookstores.

Fabsil Tent Care Kit

camping, Summer

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

30 years ago, I bought a lightweight hike tent, a Phoenix Phreak. I’ve looked after it and it’s still in great condition but when I used it earlier this year, I noticed that the water was not shedding from the surface like it should. Camping with a soaking wet tent is no fun at all and whilst the tent is old there’s plenty of life left in it – all it needed was a spot of TLC in the form of the Tent Care Kit from Fabsil.

As the tent was a bit grubby, I first used the Tent and Gear Cleaner in a bucket of water to give it a good clean. Simply mix it up, rub the fabric with a sponge and wash off.

Once dry, I moved onto the waterproofing. This needs 6 hours to dry and with the weather as it is at the moment, I decided to pitch the tent in the Scout Hut. Reading the instructions, it seemed quite simple, pitch the tent then brush or spray onto the fabric, following on with a clean cloth to wipe it down. I set to with a 4” paintbrush and starting at the front, worked around the tent. The liquid went on really easily, the instructions warn about maintaining a wet edge, but this was not a problem. 10 minutes later I was done.

I left the tent pitched overnight and brought it home the next morning. I couldn’t help but pitch it in the garden to see if it had worked. I didn’t have to wait long for some rain and was really pleased at the difference it had made. Instead of water soaking into the fabric, it now beads and runs off.

This paint-on liquid replicates the original water-repellent finish found on all kinds of outdoor gear and equipment and guarantees to keep you dry even in the wettest conditions. As well as waterproofing it also adds UV protection so if we do ever see the sun again this summer I know my tent is protected from the elements.

With no end to the rain in sight I’m now ready for my next adventure knowing that my tent will keep me dry.

Helly Hansen Stockholm Backpack

Birthday Gifts, camping, Days Out, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Sport, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Treat yourself this summer to a new Helly Hansen Stockholm Backpack, made with waterproof material and a laptop compartment, is it for urban, or rural?

Available in various colours including dark blue, black and the green which we were sent to try, the Stockholm Backpack holds 28 litres and has a front pocket for valuables, closing with a zip. The back pocket is padded for a laptop whilst the straps, no matter what you’re using the backpack for, are more comfortable for long wears because they’re padded.

The top of the Stockholm Backpack is a roll top and buckle – no zip here, so you can stuff it full of clothes or gadgets and the roll top is waterproof, like the rest of the polyester material which makes up the whole bag.  The straps also have a cross-strap to hold them in place and distribute the weight across your shoulders, and the whole bag is wider than a normal backpack to add more volume and to even the load. The length of the bag is bigger than usual too so if you’re taking a lot with you camping, or travelling with more than usual this is for you. Anyone who is that big taller might find this a useful bag too as the dimensions mean it holds a lot more but is also more comfortable for wider shoulders and frame.

The base of the bag is re-enforced with a waterproof material which looks and feels like leather (but isn’t) to make it more hard wearing especially if it’s put down on the ground or used for travelling. Empty, it flattens down to almost nothing thanks to its square design, and the material is incredibly durable so is bound to last a long time. It’s easy to clean as well as there aren’t many components and it’s made of only a few materials which can all be machine washed.

Although pricy at £65, it is Helly Hansen so you know it’s well made, will last and is designed and made for the outdoor life.  It works just as well for commuting though as it’s the size of a laptop (or bigger) and hold a computer safely with the added compartment. It’s a great bag for cyclists who are going into work with laptop, change of clothes and lunch all thrown in, and the slightly bigger size makes it easier to carry more. Thankfully the waterproof material and buckle roll top will save your work clothes for the British weather too!

RRP £65.00: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/stockholm-backpack-67187