Combining Camping With Your Ramble

By Bruce Shawkey

There comes a point when a motel room or even a cabin feels like a barrier between you and the outdoors. You want to stay fully immersed—day and night—in nature itself.

That’s where camping comes in. Instead of heading indoors at sunset, you stay with the landscape—the changing sky, the sounds of the night, the fresh air. At first it might feel unfamiliar, but once you get used to the basics, it becomes incredibly rewarding. It opens up a whole new way of traveling.

Even if you’re not chasing that deeper connection, camping has its own appeal. It’s simple, flexible, and free from the usual schedules. For anyone tired of noise and routine, it offers real peace. And practically speaking, it’s also one of the most affordable ways to travel.

Equipment – Tents

There’s no one perfect tent—it depends on how and where you’re camping. For purposes of rambling, lighter and more compact options make a lot more sense.

Ground Sheets

Don’t overlook the ground sheet—it’s just as important as your tent. Even on a dry night, the ground can be damp, and this is what keeps you from getting soaked. 

Blankets & Sleeping

When it comes to staying warm, lighter, fluffy blankets usually give the best warmth for their weight. Sleeping bags are convenient, but they can be harder to air out. A simple alternative is using blankets pinned together to make your own sleeping bag—you can open them up during the day to dry properly.

And whenever you get the chance, air your blankets out in the sun—it dries them and helps restore their warmth. Climbing into sun-warmed blankets at night is hard to beat.

Cooking Gear

There are two main ways to cook in camp. The classic option is an open wood fire—it’s part of the whole camping experience and something many people enjoy learning and mastering. But it’s not always practical. Firewood can be hard to find, and landowners don’t always appreciate scorched ground.

That’s why a lot of campers prefer a small stove. A portable stove is reliable, easy to use, and works even in bad weather—you can even cook inside your tent when needed; just use caution not to set your tent on fire! Compact units are especially great if you’re hiking or cycling.

For cookware, go with simple options. A basic mess kit will serve the purpose just fine.  

For beverages, tea bags and instant coffee singles work well, as well as powdered fruit-flavored singles. Water works, too.

Don’t forget the basics: a can opener, utensils, a few plates, plus dishcloths, towels, and some soap for cleanup.

Personal Kit

Keep it minimal but practical. Focus on the essentials—things like a small towel, toothbrush, insect repellent, and basic toiletries. The goal is to stay comfortable without carrying unnecessary weight.

Checking and Packing Your Gear

To avoid forgetting something important, it helps to make a simple checklist. The easiest way is to picture a typical day in camp and think through everything you’ll need.

Your list will usually include the basics: tent, ground sheet, bedding, cooking gear, utensils, toiletries, and a few essentials like matches and soap.

If you’re staying in one place, pack your clothes and personal items in something waterproof that can handle damp ground. A roomy backpack works well even for this kind of setup.

For walking trips, packing becomes more important. A good rucksack is key—it should be comfortable, with wide, supportive straps that don’t dig into your shoulders. How you pack matters too, since poor weight distribution can make a big difference over time.

In general, a slightly larger pack that isn’t overstuffed will feel better to carry than a small one crammed full. It sits more naturally on your back and is much more comfortable over long distances.

Choosing a Campsite

Picking the right spot can make or break your camp. Even the best gear won’t help much if you’re exposed to wind, rain, or flooding.

Look for fairly level ground where water can drain away—slight slopes are actually a good thing. Avoid dips or hollows, no matter how appealing they look—they tend to collect water. Pay attention to the grass, too. Marshy patches or unusually lush, dark green areas often mean damp ground.

Shelter from the wind is key. In cooler months, try to block winds from the north and east; in summer, it’s more about protection from the west and southwest where storms often come from. A hedge or wall can work just as well as trees for blocking wind and rain.

Shade is great in hot weather, but don’t pitch your tent directly under trees. After rain, they drip for a long time—and there’s always a small risk of falling branches.

Water access matters too. Streams are useful for washing and general use, but not always safe for drinking, especially at lower elevations. If in doubt, boil your water, or bring your own. 

In short: dry ground, good drainage, wind protection, and smart positioning make all the difference.

Camp Cooking

Keep it simple. Roasting and baking are tricky unless you really know what you’re doing, so it’s best to stick to boiling and frying. Also, don’t rely too much on canned food. Fresh ingredients—meat, fish, fruit—are better for both taste and health. That said, on a cold, wet day, canned food can feel like a lifesaver.

Lighting a Fire

Good fire-starting makes all the difference. Look for reliable materials like birch bark, pine twigs, or dry sticks from the base of hedges—they’re often dry even after rain. Avoid things like straw or bracken—they tend to smother the fire instead of helping it.

Once you’ve got a steady flame, you’re ready to cook.

For cooking fires, hardwoods like ash, oak, beech, and birch are your best bet—they burn steadily and give good heat. Softer woods like pine catch easily but burn fast, so they’re better for getting a fire started than for cooking. Some woods just aren’t worth the trouble—they smoke too much or don’t burn well.

Once your fire is going, don’t rush to cook over big flames. Let it burn down until you’ve got a solid bed of hot coals—this gives you steady, even heat and avoids burning your food.

A simple cooking setup helps a lot. You can make a basic “stove” by building a narrow trench or using two rows of stones or bricks just wide enough to support your pans. If possible, position it so the wind flows through—it keeps the fire burning efficiently. Open campfires might look nice, but they’re harder to control and tend to burn both your food and your patience.

Storing Food in Camp

Two simple rules: keep food cool, and keep flies off it.

Cover food when it’s not being used, and keep it off the ground to avoid animals. A great low-tech solution is to hang your food from a tree branch. Add a cloth or mesh covering, and you’ve got a simple, effective camp “fridge.”

One way to solve food storage is with dehydrated or freeze dried meals. The downside is that these meals can be quite expensive. But they may prove useful for a day ramble or an overnight.

CLEANLINESS IN CAMP

The experienced camper can always be told by the tidiness and cleanliness of his camp. The idea that camp is a place where the ordinary household rules of cleanliness and hygiene have to be abandoned is a delusion of the ignorant tenderfoot. The importance of storing food in the right manner has already been addressed.

Of equal importance is the proper disposal of refuse. The safest rule is ‘‘ Burn all you can and bury the rest.”

It is the pride of every real camper to so leave his campsite that no one can tell there has been a camp there. 

These remarks apply equally to roadside picnics. The real wayfarer loves the country too much to defile it with orange peel and soda bottles.

MISCELLANEOUS HINTS FOR CAMPERS

In wet weather, dig a small trench round the tent—this will it from being flooded.

Don’t guy the tent ropes too tight if rain is expected.

If the wind is rising, examine all tent pegs before going to bed to make sure they are secure.

Bicycle camping

Many people enjoy bicycle —it lets you cover a lot more ground between campsites. It’s especially great in flatter or rolling areas where you want to explore widely without constantly moving your base.

Even if you stay in one place, having a bike is a big advantage. Quick trips to nearby towns for supplies are easier, and you can explore a much larger area without long walks.

Most lightweight tents are made of nylon now instead of the old-fashioned canvas. The reduction in weight matters a lot on a bike. Most of the same packing advice still applies, but how you carry your gear becomes even more important.

The key rule: keep the weight low. A lower center of gravity makes the bike more stable and easier to control. While some people carry everything in a backpack, it’s usually not a great idea—it’s tiring and can throw off your balance.

A better setup is to spread the load across the bike. Use panniers (fancy word for saddle bags) rear and front if necessary for lighter items. This keeps things balanced, stable, and much more comfortable for longer rides.

Motor Camping

Motor camping makes things a lot easier since you don’t have to worry as much about weight. You can bring a bigger, more comfortable tent, extra blankets, and even a camp bed without much trouble.

It gives you many of the perks of a caravan—just without the cost or bulk. For solo trips, you can even sleep in your car if the seats fold down, though most people still prefer using a tent, especially if there’s more than one person.

The biggest advantage is freedom. With a car, you can reach more remote spots and carry everything you need without hassle—making it much easier to explore and camp in places that would otherwise be difficult to access.