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Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Four simple ways to cut the cost of your family camping trip this summer
Read on to find out how to save big on outdoor lines at B&Q SUN SAVERS Four simple ways to cut the cost of your family camping trip this summer Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CAMPING is a great way to get away on the cheap. But camping gear, driving long distances and paying campsite fees can still soon add up. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Pitch up for less with these simple tips. RENT A TENT: If it is your first time camping, ask friends if they have any equipment lying unused in their garage. If they can't help, you could rent instead of buy. Fat Llama has gear including tents and tables, while and ship all over the UK. If you want to buy, go second-hand from a site like eBay. STUDY SITES: Campsites can vary in price, so do your research to find more affordable options. There are plenty of free campsites, but make sure they are suitable for your needs. Websites like and let you filter by price. You can also join The Greener Camping Club for eco-friendly pitches in some stunning spots. UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard DRIVE DOWN COSTS: Transport costs can make a dent in your holiday budget, especially if you choose a campsite hundreds of miles away from home. To save on fuel, use the website which compares fuel prices across the UK. Avoid expensive motorway stop-offs and look for cheaper alternatives at You could even share a car with friends to cut your travel costs in half. FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Cook and freeze a meal before you leave home, then put this in a cool box with your other cooled foods and ice packs. It will help to keep your other fresh food cool and you'll save on an expensive takeaway or meal out. A cooler that plugs into the car socket can be a big help to keep essentials cold — just be careful not to drain the car battery. Take easy foods like dried instant pasta meals, noodles, pouches of rice and tins. All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. 7 We have four savvy tips to cut the cost of your family camping trip this summer DEAL OF THE DAY 7 This cosmetic organiser display box from Debenhams is down to £17.50 Credit: Supplied KEEP your lotions and potions clean and tidy in this cosmetic organiser display box from down from £69 to £17.50. SAVE: £51.50 CHEAP TREAT 7 Get six lollies for a penny with a Bonus Card tomorrow at Iceland and The Food Warehouse Credit: Supplied SNAG six lollies for a penny with a Bonus Card tomorrow at Iceland and The Food Warehouse. The first 10,000 people to bag the selected ice lollies, normally £1.35, get the one-day, 1p deal. SAVE: £1.34 Charming choice NOT to be outdone by the most stylish fashion houses, Lidl has launched its own bag charms. For the chance to win one, search for the compe-tition at TOP SWAP 7 The White Company Flowers large candle is £65 Credit: Supplied 7 But this flat ribbed Floral Blanc hurricane candle is just £9.99 from Aldi Credit: Supplied IF you love The White Company Flowers large candle, £65, you could try the cheaper flat ribbed Floral Blanc hurricane candle from Aldi, £9.99. SAVE: £55.01 Little helper SAVE 20 per cent on many outdoor lines at B&Q including some barbecues. The Tehama black charcoal BBQ, which cooks for up to ten people, so is perfect for parties, is now down from £125 to £100. Shop & save 7 Get four British steak burgers from Sainsbury's for £3.50 with a Nectar card Credit: Supplied PICK up a pack of four British steak burgers from Sainsbury's for £3.50 with a Nectar card, instead of paying the usual £7. SAVE: £3.50 Hot right now COLLECT double Nectar points until Tuesday on Tu clothing at Sainsbury's – two points for every £1. PLAY NOW TO WIN £200 7 Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle. Every month we're giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers - whether you're saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered. Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket. The more codes you enter, the more tickets you'll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
Top ten nature sounds for a good night sleep when camping revealed from raindrops to flapping tent fabric
MORE than half of campers say the sounds of the outdoors help them get a better night's sleep than if they were in their own bed. A poll of 1,000 people who often go camping revealed 56 per cent of those who find their kip improves when sleeping outside, put it down to the calming noises of nature. Advertisement 2 Hamza Yassin is the President of The Camping & Caravanning Club and is reconnecting with nature at one of their campsites Credit: Katielee Arrowsmith/PinPep 2 A bespoke audio track featuring some of the most relaxing sounds from the incredible outdoors has been launched Credit: Katielee Arrowsmith/PinPep Raindrops, flowing rivers, and wind blowing through trees were voted the top sounds that aid an enjoyable al fresco bedtime. With tent fabric flapping, insects chirping, and sleeping bags rustling also making the list. The study also found that when at home, anxiety over work and finances, and thinking about the things they need to do the next day all contribute to a bad night's sleep. Whereas 49 per cent say snoozing under the stars helps them decrease their overall stress levels. Advertisement The study was commissioned by The Camping & Caravanning Club, which teamed up with its club president, wildlife cameraman and presenter, Hamza Yassin, to launch a bespoke audio track featuring some of the most relaxing sounds from the incredible outdoors. Released just in time for National Camping and Caravanning Week, the track is available to listen to on The Camping and Caravanning Club website. Hamza said: 'The benefits of spending time in nature are widely reported, but it is fascinating to hear how this can have such a positive impact on sleep quality for so many people. 'Whether it's the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, the chirping of crickets, or the soft patter of raindrops on the side of a tent, immersing yourself in the incredible outdoors and all it has to offer can provide the ultimate soundtrack for a peaceful night's sleep. Advertisement 'Our new track has captured some of the most relaxing sounds from nature to help inspire and encourage people not just to get outdoors more, but to really tune into the world around us. 'Camping is a great way to experience this, as it puts you right on nature's doorstep, helping you to enjoy the calming benefits of the natural environment and fully switch off.' UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard The study also found one in five claim they switch off instantly when arriving at a campsite, while six in 10 (59 per cent) feel fully relaxed within just an hour of pitching up. A further 71 per cent enjoy the mood-boosting effects of being closer to nature, with 69 per cent citing fresh air as their favourite thing about dozing in the wild. Advertisement Time away from technology, experiencing new adventures, and the opportunity to stargaze also contribute to the wonder of getting some shuteye outdoors. Out of those who enjoy sleeping outdoors, 43 per cent praised the healing properties of switching off from daily life and 42 per cent relished the escape from their routine. This may be why more people rest for longer in nature than at home in their own bed, with nine per cent of campers snoozing for over eight hours, compared to six per cent when in their 'natural' habitat. It comes as no surprise, then, that over half (56 per cent) would recommend outdoor sleeping for those who struggle to nod off at night. Advertisement This links to the belief held by a third (34 per cent) about there being immediate, short-term health boosts to be gained from connecting with the natural world. And even if not seeing instant results, 45 per cent still believe in the long-term health benefits of being outdoors overnight, according to the research commissioned via Commenting on the importance of a good night's rest, Heather Darwall-Smith, psychotherapist specialising in sleep and author of How to Be Awake (So You Can Sleep Through the Night), says: 'Camping's like hitting the reset button on your sleep. 'Spending time outside – soaking up sunlight, moving your body and tuning into nature's soundtrack, gets your sleep systems working how they're supposed to.' Advertisement
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Huge boost for wild camping as Brits CAN use one of UK's best-loved national parks in blow for millionaire nimbys
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I HAVE wild camped on Dartmoor more times than I can count and the fact that this right was even debated in court seemed ludicrous to me. Back in 2021, the battle for the right to wild camp on Dartmoor ensued. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Wild camping access on Dartmoor was threatened thanks to local landowners Credit: Alamy 7 But now the Supreme Court has ruled it is allowed Credit: Daniel Davy/Dartmoor Wild Camping Action Group Following back-and-forth debates incourts, the Supreme Court has ruled that wild camping IS allowed in one of the UK's most-loved national parks. I am not surprised with the decision and I welcome it with open arms. As do the campaigners, that for the past four years have been fighting for something that should not have been questioned in the first place. Landowners (and millionaires) Alexander and Diana Darwall started the battle, claiming that people should not be able to camp without permission from landowners. The Darwalls created the argument as part of their 4,000-acre estate on Stall Moor near Cornwood, spilt into Dartmoor National Park. As a result, the tradition of wild camping was in jeopardy. And in January 2023, the High Court ruled that the Darwalls were allowed to remove campers from their site. Their legal team claimed that the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985, which allows access for "open-air recreation", did not include overnight camping. Outrage at the decision obviously arose and debates garnered national attention over the future of wild camping. Then in July 2023, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court ruling in July 2023, restoring the right to wild camp. UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard But the NIMBY's didn't stop there, as the Darwalls appealed to the Supreme Court - whose judges unanimously rejected their appeal yesterday. Most weekends as a teenager, I would camp on the moors as part of training for Ten Tors - an annual hiking event for teenagers, hosted by the army. I would be walking from the early hours of the morning, sometimes until midnight - carrying at least 10kg on my back and often fighting the harshest of conditions. By the time it came to setting up camp in the dark, being able to pitch up my tent near enough anywhere, did not even cross my mind. Myself and my team would pitch our two small tents, in the dark, with nothing but torches. To date, the three events (35, 45 and 55 miles) that I participated in over three years were the biggest challenges of my life - mentally and physically. For thousands of teenagers who participate each year, I can guarantee the same. 7 I used to hike and camp on Dartmoor as a teenager Credit: Cyann Fielding If yesterday's decision swung the other way, I am unsure of the impact this would have on the event and the training thousands undertake each year. All I know is it would not have been a positive impact. Wild camping is nothing like camping at a camp site. Often you are exposed to the elements - but you get to truly be in the wild, surrounded by rolling hills and tors, flourishing rivers and streams and the only pitch black sky with bright stars I have seen in my life. Yesterday's ruling essentially means that people are legally allowed to camp in set areas of Dartmoor - they just need to follow a code of conduct. This includes leaving "no trace", the park authority has said. Tents and camping equipment must also fit in a carriable backpack, with no more than six people allowed to camp together. 7 Campaigners have been fighting for the right to wild camp for years Credit: Alamy Following the decision, social media and forums have also been flooded with comments from the public. One person commented: "A good ruling based on the common understanding of the words 'open-air recreation'. "Absolutely mad that it had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to rule on something so blindingly obvious." Another added: "Thanks to whoever updated the Wikipedia entry of Alexander Darwall, whose nimby campaign to ban wild camping on Dartmoor has just been upheld in the courts." Darwall's Wikipedia page was updated to include "enemy of the people", but has since been removed. When I watched the court hearing back in October, the argument boiled down to one sentence of the archaic Dartmoor Commons Act 1985. Section 10(1) of the Act states: "[T]he public shall have a right of access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation." 7 Campaign groups are now fighting for the right to wild camp across the UK Credit: AFP The court had to decide whether this section gave "the public a right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on the Dartmoor Commons". The Supreme Court ruling said: "Within Dartmoor National Park, there are areas of moorland which are privately owned but on which other locals have the right to put their livestock. "The clear wording of section 10(1) shows that it confers a right of public access which includes wild camping." Commenting on the ruling, Dartmoor Preservation Association CEO, Tom Usher, said: "This is an historic victory for public access, the DPA are very proud to have played a central role in campaigning to keep backpack camping on Dartmoor as a right. "This has been achieved through the work of many people and we salute the courage of the National Park Authority in fighting this case to the end." Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority, added: "We are delighted and relieved with the Supreme Court's ruling. "This is a landmark judgment not just for Dartmoor National Park but for people who have long campaigned for access rights. "The judgment reaffirms our long-held belief for the public's right to backpack camp on certain commons and, importantly, our role in regulating and managing that access." 7 Locals are now celebrating the ruling Credit: Alamy Daniel Davy, founder of Dartmoor Wild Camping Action Group, said: "So yesterday was an emotional one. "We are so lucky to have the right to wild camp in Devon and the myriad of benefits it's brings, and it's about time that everyone had access to these wild spaces and experiences that shape so many lives. "We are going to take this fight to other national parks so that everyone in the country can experience what we are so lucky too on Dartmoor. "This could be the pebble that creates the splash, which turns into a wave that is access reform across the country." The group will be hosting a gathering on Monday at Haytor on Dartmoor to celebrate the ruling. Dartmoor on horseback is also the perfect way to enjoy the vast Devon moorland. Plus, the best 'almost wild' holiday campsites in the UK for families this summer.
