Expert camping tips for beginners

By Tom Warren BBC News

Photographer Harry Cory Wright has camped since childhood

Photographer Harry Cory Wright spent six months camping in 2006 as he travelled across Britain capturing images of landscapes.

Here the lifelong camper offers some advice for beginners on what they need for their first holiday under canvas.

"The whole idea of camping is to get out there and do something different," he said.

"Obviously you've got to have a tent, you've got to stay dry, but you don't need to have a terribly good one.

"You need a sleeping mat and a sleeping bag - but what's wrong with taking a duvet?

"And you can get blow up mats, but why not just take cushions from your settee?"

Why not put the kitchen table on the roof? It might sound like a mad idea but that's what camping is all about Harry Cory Wright

Mr Cory Wright, 45, from Burnham Market, Norfolk, has camped since childhood and believes there is nothing better than spending a few nights under the stars.

"I just think it's that thing of being outside really, it's as simple as that.

"I've always been camping and it's always been a second nature thing.

"It feels real and it's that degree of contact (with the outdoors)."

Along with the basics of a tent, sleeping bag and mat, he recommends taking a table, lantern and torches.

But he said a stove was not a must-have item.

Plenty of wine

"You can cook-up food, but there's normally a pub down the road.

"A table is good. Why not put the kitchen table on the roof? It might sound like a mad idea but that's what camping is all about. Make it different and original.

"There's always a good moment when the children go to sleep and you definitely want to have an extra bottle of wine to watch the stars by.

"And you need a good flannel to deal with 'camper's eye' (a dirty face)."

Mr Cory Wright said people accustomed to creature comforts, such as hair dryers or hair straighteners, should not be put off camping.

"The great thing is to not worry about that kind of thing. The facilities are usually pretty good at many campsites.

"But by day two, no one gives a stuff about what you look like anyway because everyone looks awful," he said.

"The great thing about camping is you can do everything the wrong way around.

"You can wake up, have a beer, take the dog for a walk then have a shower. You can break all the rules, that is what's great."

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