How to pick the perfect camping spot

  Camping Skills

Words and pictures by Iain Duff

You've found the ideal campsite. Now you have to decide exactly where on the campsite you want to pitch your tent.

Would you rather pitch your tent on a spot with a great view? Close to the toilet block? As far away as possible from the clubhouse? Under trees for shade?

There are pros and cons to all of the options, so you need to weigh up what suits you best. Whatever you decide, if you are staying at a campsite for several days, it certainly pays dividends to stay on a pitch that you enjoy rather than endure. Even if you are touring and moving on each day, why put up with a pitch that is less than satisfactory?

Unfortunately, on some campsites you’ll simply be allocated a pitch when you arrive depending on how busy it is and what’s available at the time. That applies especially if you need electric hook-up. Happily, most site owners and managers are friendly, helpful and happy to accommodate reasonable requests and usually there will be some negotiation and flexibility possible, but your choice may be limited.

On other sites you’ll be able to choose to pitch wherever you like on the campsite. If you do have a choice of pitches, take a drive, or preferably a walk, around the site before you decide and see where is best. Even ask the warden what they’d recommend.  

What is the best location?

The first thing to do is decide where you want to be on the campsite and for that there are a few things to consider. The pluses and minuses of convenience, noise and traffic need to be weighed up and balanced out.

Avoiding being near the site entrance and reception is a no-brainer for many. It is likely to be the spot with the heaviest passing traffic, with car doors slamming, radios playing and engines running. However, there are some benefits to being near the site entrance; you’re likely to be close to the shop and the strongest WiFi signal, if they’re important to you.

Setting up near the wash block will mean it’s an easy walk to the toilet and showers, which will be appreciated by everyone, especially if the weather is bad. Washing-up facilities and bins are usually located close by, so, again, that’s convenient.

But again, passing traffic could be an issue, this time on foot. And depending on the quality of the facilities, they may smell and if it’s warm, you may get the fragrant aroma of bins that haven’t been emptied for a few days. A pitch on main thoroughfares to these amenities is also likely to have lights burning all night, so pack eyeshades and earplugs

Something else to look out for near your potential pitch are roads and railway lines that might not be immediately obvious. It might have the best location, but it could be noisy – the 0630 express rattling past your tent first thing in the morning is not the sort of alarm call you want!

Pitching near the kids’ play area can be really handy if you like to keep a close eye on your children and make sure they are safe. The disadvantage is, of course, the noise and the fact that you’re within earshot of every argument and playground dispute.

If you’re after peace and seclusion, then the very farthest corner of the site, away from kids’ play areas, the entrance and the toilet block, is probably for you. Obviously this means a bit of a trek to brush your teeth at night and for the 3am toilet visit.

Pitching near trees and hedges

Hedges and trees are great for offering privacy and shelter from sun, rain and wind, but they can house all sorts of wildlife and insects, which can be noisy and may take an unwelcome interest in your food and drink.

One person’s welcome shade may be another’s frustrating shadow. The gentle sound of wind through the leaves will either send you to sleep or keep you awake – as will the sound of raindrops falling on your tent well after the downpour has passed. Sap, bird lime, falling branches, midges, peg-bending tree roots are yet more hazards you may want to avoid by pitching away from a tree’s overhang.

Being set-up on top of a hill or cliff can be a prime spot especially if there are stunning views to be had. But it can also mean you are exposed if the wind gets up or the rain comes rolling in, especially if you’re by the coast. Further down the hill means more shelter, but even more chance of being flooded.

What size of pitch?
If you have a large modern family tent, cooking area, table and chairs, bicycles, windbreak, awning extension and a large car, you will clearly need a much bigger pitch than a couple with a little dome tent and a Mini.

Be realistic about your needs before booking. A pitch 5m by 7m might sound enormous but that depends on what you plan to put on it and which way you would like your tent to face. For practical reasons, pitches with electric hook-ups will usually be cheek-by-jowl with their neighbours.

What's the best surface for camping?

Apart from the basic consideration of pitch size and location, the major factor in pitch selection is the surface of the pitch. As a camper, you might assume it would be grass but as pitches on popular sites take quite a hammering, marked out pitches may have been ‘seeded’ with gravel for a firmer surface.

On some sites, all-weather pitches offered with electricity may actually be hardstandings for caravans and motorhomes, with no chance of whacking in normal tent pegs and the potential to cause irreparable damage to groundsheets.

 
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Size Is the pitch big enough and the right shape for your tent?
Location How far away are the loos and showers?
People traffic Are you on a through route to amenities?
Style of pitch Is the pitch formally marked out or does the campsite take a free and easy approach?
Trees Shade or shadow?
Pitch facilities Do you want electricity, water, etc at your pitch?
Pitch surface Grass, gravel or tarmac?
What's the view like? -Seaview, neighbours' tent or the rubbish bins?

TOP TIPS

If a site takes your fancy as you drive by, ask at reception if you can take a walk through to check out the pitches before deciding to stay.

As your choice of pitch may be restricted on site, it pays to pack a variety of pegs to ensure your tent is pitched securely whether the ground is hard or soft.

Try to pitch your tent with the main door facing away from the prevailing wind.

Pitch close enough to the electric hook-up point to ensure your cable can reach the tent. If necessary ask the site if they have an extension lead.

Clearing twigs and stones from your pitch will help reduce the possibility of punctures and tears in your groundsheet. Consider buying a large cheap tarpaulin to act as an extra groundsheet and to soak up some of the potential damage.

Check the lie of the land before you pitch – those hollows could turn into water traps if it rains. Check grass colour and other vegetation to assess drainage.

Take time to familiarise yourself with the location of services like taps, waste disposal points and emergency fire-fighting equipment.

If you find a site you love and plan to come back, make a note of which pitch suits you best and request it on booking. Take a picture, stake a claim.

Helping you to learn the camping skills you need

Find out everything you need to know about putting up a tent, the best spots to pitch, how to organise your living space and much more with our practical guides to all the camping essentials.

Expert advice for campers

If you want to look like a camping pro, follow our step-by-step guides and practice pitching your tent in the garden at home before you head to the campsite.

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