Tech And Startups For Camping Enthusiasts – TechRound

As Europe enters its summer months, more people are looking to explore (and sleep in) the great outdoors.

In fact, camping is incredibly popular amongst Brits, with research citing that 1 in 5 adults have been camping or caravanning post-COVID-19, and around 1.2 million go camping on a regular basis.

What Are The UK’s Most Popular Camping Sites?

The UK countryside is home to a number of beautiful camping sites, each offering outdoor lovers something different.

According to The National Trust, some of the most popular areas for camping in the UK include:

• The Lake District
• Gwynned
• Pembrokeshire
• Cornwall
• Dorset
• Skye

and more.

In fact, the UK is home to a whole network of camping sites, costing on average £10-£30 per night with basic amenities.

But camping isn’t just about a place to pitch a tent, there are several other considerations nature lovers need to take into account.

What Are The Challenges Of Camping In The UK?

Like most outdoor activities, there are a number of common issues with camping in the UK, some of these include:

Bad Weather

For all its benefits, one thing that the UK regularly comes up short on is the weather.

With regular rainfall, even in the summer months, planning a camping trip in advance can be tricky. Given that camping relies on sleeping in a tent outdoors, the weather can have a major impact on the enjoyment of a camping holiday.

Whilst weather apps are becoming more advanced and able to predict incoming storms, there’s always a margin of error to consider.

Getting Lost

Many campsites are in remote areas of the UK. Whilst this is amazing from a nature perspective, it can mean patchy phone signal, making it easy to get lost.

Of course, relying on traditional paper maps is also an option, but given the countryside’s complex network of paths and directions, it’s no surprise that many people regularly find themselves getting lost whilst navigating their camping holidays.

Having The Right Equipment

Camping trips can be a lot of fun, but they also require a lot of equipment. Campers need tents, portable stoves, bedding, tables and crockery – just to name a few.

Being organised and having everything you need is incredibly important, especially as finding camping shops can be tricky when off the beaten path.

Luckily, a number of startups and apps have emerged to help campers better plan their trips. Let’s take a look at some of them…

Apps And Startups For Camping Lovers

Pitchup

Pitchup is a UK campsite booking website, that allows people to book camping spots in over 16,000 sites.

The site includes reviews from other travellers, making it easy to decide the right fit for a certain trip.

Outdooractive

Part of a good camping holiday is planning good hiking and biking routes in a certain area.

Outdooractive provides users with a route planner and GPS trails to help them explore the great out doors.

The routes are designed by trained guides and industry experts, ensuring they are both safe and scenic.

TravelSpend

Holidays, even camping ones, can be expensive. TravelSpend is a great app for anyone looking to stick to budget, helping users track their spending throughout a trip.

The app is free and allows people to more easily stick to their budget, providing insights around where they are spending their money and what cash they have left.

Searchforsites

Search for sites is similar to PitchUp, but covers larger areas across Europe.

The site allows users to search for campsites, wild camping spots and motorhome stop overs, featuring locations in France, Italy, Germany and more.

Wikicamps

Perfect for campers and caravanners alike, WikiCamps is a database of campgrounds, caravan parks, backpacker hostels toilets, showers, and more.

The app features a number of filters to help users find what they need, and even has an in-built trip planner, camping checklist and compass.

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