Camp life, not van life
With so many of my adventurous friends and acquaintances driving various kinds of camper van, all kitted out for mountain biking, climbing, whatever the passion, I thought it was about time that I tried a bit of van life for myself.
So in April, my husband and I hired a VW Transporter with a pop-top for a family adventure, here in Wales. To start, we ventured from Cardiff to Ceredigion with the kids, plus bikes, buckets & spades.
The adventures we had during our week away did not disappoint, from exploring the Teifi Marshes at the Welsh Wildlife Centre near Cardigan to cycling across Barmouth Bridge, something which had been on my Wales bucket list for years.
However I quickly realised that van life is not for me. Aside from the frustrations I experienced of managing two small children in a small area (and I’m only 5ft 2in), I was missing the connection to nature that you get when camping.
Whether that’s ‘campsite camping’ or ‘wild camping’ the things I love about camping include:
the smell of the grass
lying on the ground
fresh air while you sleep
hearing the dawn chorus (as well as the nightime visitors)
the technological detox
This list could go on….
Last Wednesday I ventured into the hills with my friend and talented photographer Huw James and was reminded that even just one night in the hills leaves you feeling refreshed, less stressed and more in tune with nature. It really doesn’t take long for the busyness of a day in front of a laptop to dissipate and for nature’s effect to take over. It slows the pace, forces us to look up, and look out. The simplicity of life in a tent challenges our thoughts on consumption and what we really need in life. In my mind a good tent, good chat, and a good view is all you need. Thanks Huw.
And it’s official, camping makes you happier. Take a look at the recent ‘Outjoyment’ report carried out by a team of academics at Liverpool John Moores University and Sheffield Hallam University.
Tori is proud to be working in partnership with Robens, a tent-maker with an enviable heritage and reputation for producing award-winning technical tents for over 50 years.
