Camping in comfort

Tent in a meadow

Sam Pow, co-author of Cool Camping, explains how to add a bit of luxury to your camping trip

Camping has come a long way since being the favourite low-budget holiday preserve of young families and travellers. Ever-expanding, spacious constructions, luxurious bedding and easy access to fine dining enables us all to enjoy the great outdoors within our desired comfort zones.

Waking up to a morning birdsong and glimpsing gorgeous sunrises from beneath our own Egyptian cotton duvets with nature’s riches at our fingertips, can be all the more enjoyable with the right camping accessories. Thankfully, there is now no shortage of little luxuries on offer.

Anyone who likes to be surrounded by creature comforts will be amazed at the increasing number of boutique, bijou havens that have sprung up.

Top tents

Making the traditional tent look retro in its basic design are the many fashionable florals, miniature yurts, recycled plastic and cardboard creations on the market. But with their light-softening canvas and constructional ease, the new Bell Tents (sleeping 8-12) have become the presidential suite of campsites. Lightweight with a porch, mosquito nets, and sides that will roll up when it’s unbearably hot, they retail at £249.

Luxury hotels often offer breathtaking views, but few can match the rural beauty of remote campsites. Plot yourself to wake up with the best possible vista on site. In high summer, go for a spot west of a tree, the branches will shield you from the morning sun, and if its looking like rain, aim for high ground to keep dry.

Camping trips benefit from good organisation. Pack your torch, eye mask and paperback in a pocket next to your pillow, a bottle of water and snacks go at your feet, next to the toothbrushes and hand wipes, and for dashes to the bathroom keep a pair of waterproof ‘slippers’ in the porch. Frisky Sandals (£19.99, www.fmfootwear.com) made from recycled materials, are ideal.

Pamper yourself

If the thought of waking up stiff has ever put you off camping, there’s no excuse now that AeroBed have developed their line of rapid inflatable mattresses with an outdoor version, which pumps to life without electricity (£69.99).

Costing the same as an average night’s B&B, it really is a great investment. You can find perfectly comfortable recycled sleeping bags that will keep you warm in temperatures as low as zero degrees and for a nice touch, quite literally, pop a silk sleeping bag liner inside.

Many campsite owners have cottoned on to the advantages of installing solar-powered showers, a super environmentally-friendly ensuite at your disposal – towels are not supplied, so pack your own fluffy favourites. Or you could always take your own washing device - for £175, the Biome Eco Camping Kit includes a 20-litre capacity reusable shower. The ultimate excuse for a lie-in, once the sun’s rays have warmed up the water, off you go. They also come with a water-powered digital alarm clock, a wind-up radio, an organic cotton roll-up bed and a self-powered wind up lantern.

Fine food

Just as every five star institution offers accessibility to fine cuisine, so do the more revolutionary campsites. The popular Featherstone Farm in Lincolnshire, for example, is situated just minutes from the Michelin Pub of The Year 2008, the Olive Branch in Clipsham.

Failing that, some of the tastiest food you’ll ever eat will be the gourmet dish you knock up over your own campfire. Check Cool Camping’s own Cookbook for tips on how to cook the eco-friendly way.

The Wood Gas stove system will appeal to all aspiring outdoor chefs. They are 90 per cent more efficient than traditional stoves because you can use nature’s bounty to fuel them. Sawdust pellets, wood chips, twigs and grass - stick them all in.

Romantics might fancy the look of Emma Bridgewater Hearts Picnic Hamper (£200), with champagne glasses, cutlery, plates and, the ultimate camping accessory, a wine cooler. If you’re on a budget, just pick up some cool packs and ask your hosts to freeze them while you’re out exploring.

If your partner is the type who’d rather watch football than feed you strawberries, compromise by taking along a portable DVD player. The latest generation of solar-powered MP4s boasts 3.5 inch screens and inbuilt LED flashlights, so you can snuggle up and catch a little ‘light entertainment’. These gadgets will also entertain unsettled kids and charge your mobile phones and digital cameras.