Cool Camping Europe:

A Hand-Picked Selection of Campsites and Camping Experiences in Europe by Jonathan Knight

‘The best low-key picks from across Europe.’

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From Portugal to the Algarve, this handy little guide covers over 100 low-key locations across 12 European countries. Fall in love with the sprawling woodland of Portugal’s Peneda-Gerês National Park, or stow away on a spit of land in between two of the Black Forest’s most beautiful rivers. Looking for an Italian adventure? Watch out for the woodland site with direct access to the beach bordering the Ionian sea.

Yurts, tipis, safari tents and domes all feature in this edition, which covers rural France and Spain, as well. Leave the crowds behind and set up camp at some of Europe’s most idyllic, personality-rich campsites. The Cool Camping guide is typically entertaining and informative, and each site is backed up with great photography. Also included are a bunch of useful local phrases, to help you get along. Countries featured: Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland.

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Cool Camping Scotland:

A Hand-picked Selection of Exceptional Campsites and Camping Experiences

‘A guide to Scotland’s most stunning campsites.’

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Essential reading for all lovers of the outdoors, this updated edition of Cool Camping: Scotland features 50 of the country’s best and most hidden campsites. Discover a grassy oasis amid the lunar landscape of the Isle of Harris, hidden sites inside glens, and family farms, neatly tucked away.

From Scotland’s beautiful mess of highland islands, to the Atlantic shore and wild mountains, this is your guide to the most beautiful camping spots in the whole country. Let Cool Camping guide you through new walks and trails, as well as local events, plus how to travel, and where to eat and drink.

This is one of the best Secret Campsite Books we’ve read

Use the ‘At A Glance’ guide to easily find the kind of campsite you’re looking for, including ‘Cool For Campfires’, ‘Stunning Views’, ‘Middle of Nowhere’, ‘Lochside Chilling’, ‘Cool For Camper Vans’ and ‘Dog Friendly’. Highly recommended.

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Wild Guide:

Devon, Cornwall and South West by Daniel Start

‘Get down and out of the way in the UK’s most picturesque corner.’

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The one and only wild camping guide to Devon, Cornwall and the South West, features information on where to set up camp, as well as where to find the best food and drink on offer. Visit windy beaches, and woodlands which traverse ancient grounds, as well as gorgeous picnic spots and wildflower meadows. Visit lost ruins, castle, yurts and heritage sites on your way to some of the most secret campsites in the UK.

Engaging and written with great enthusiasm, the Wild Guide to Devon, Cornwall and the South West is a top pick for us at Camping Things.

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Wild Swimming:

Hidden Beaches by Daniel Start

‘Where to swim like the wild beast you are.’

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Britain’s beaches aren’t so inviting for swimmers most of the year, and when the sun does come out, the top picks are usually so packed with people, it’s hard to move, let alone enjoy your moment of peaceful tranquility.

Hidden Beaches from Punk Publishing is the ultimate guide to Great Britain’s secret coast. Find low-key alcoves and tiny, deserted beaches, from Devon, to the North-East coast. There are few more comprehensive, and well-photographed guides out there than this one, and we highly recommend it.

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Wilderness Weekends:

Wild adventures in Britain’s rugged corners by Phoebe Smith

‘The ultimate wilderness weekend guide from Britain’s most avid wild camper.’

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With practical advice and colour photos to help you along, Smith’s Wilderness Weekends guide takes the hassle out of actually finding somewhere out of the way, freeing you up to get out and enjoy yourself.

One of our favourite Secret Campsite Books

Covering 26 of the wildest weekend camping spots in Britain, from the southern tip of Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands, you’ve got everything you need right here, for a truly wild weekender.

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Best Secret Campsite Books

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Never did practice as a scout? Learn how to live off the land, and turn what looks like nothing, into something practical, and often fun. As always at Camping Things, we’re about combining great quality and value, and we only choose books we love. Great for yourself, and perfect as gifts.

Essential Bushcraft by Ray Mears

‘Practical bushcraft tips, condensed.’

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Woodland tracker of 2010 gunman Raoul Moat, and arch nemesis of fellow TV wildman Bear Grylls, Ray Mears is known as on the UK’s most outspoken bushcraft fanatics. Essential Bushcraft is a condensed edition of Bushcraft, in which Mears presents survival tips and tricks for some of the most tricky environments, as well as practical hints for how to live off the land, when your beef jerky runs out and your tent blows away.

One of the best bushcraft books we’ve read.

This pocket-sized guide will teach you how to start a fire responsibly, how to cook in the wild, and which wild-foraged foods are safe to eat. Designed to be packed away in your rucksack, or tucked into your pocket, Essential Bushcraft is less detailed than its parent edition, but filled with just as much practical and fun stuff. Great for campers, hikers and families.

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Advanced Bushcraft: An Expert Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival by Dave Canterbury

‘Beyond bushcraft, learn how to thrive in the wild.’

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New York Times bestseller Dave Canterbury is back with Advanced Bushcraft, the follow-up to the wildly success Bushcraft 101. In this edition, Canterbury talks about how to navigate without the use of a map or compass, as well as how to start a fire with minimal resources, and which foods are safe to eat (as well as where to find them.)

Definitely on of our favourite bushcraft books

Learn how to track and hunt wildlife, getting closer than ever before, with Advanced Bushcraft, you’ll be able to go further and deeper into the the wilderness than you’d ever imagined. Even if you don’t end up stranded in the middle of the jungle, it’s still pretty cool to be able to impress your friends and family with all that you’ve learned. Build a fire, build a shelter, forage for food and cook it, all without spending a single penny.

Highly recommended for experienced outdoors-lovers and casual campers. This beautiful book makes a great coffee table conversation piece, too. Agreat contender in our list of best bushcraft books.

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Out On The Land by Ray Mears

‘Surviving and thriving in the frozen north.’

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Ray Mears is at it again, this time using the great northern Boreal forest as his setting. Out On The Land is an entertaining and informative journey into the great outdoors of the arctic circle, where temperatures can make even the most basic tasks next to impossible. Mears walks us through his experiences and joys of spending time in the Boreal forest, covering essentials including food, clothing, injury prevention and treatment, and navigation.

This is one of Mears’s most enjoyable books, a clear labour of love, packed with personal observations and practical tips for staying warm, dry, safe and fed. Check out the section on wild cooking for a fascinating insight into what really is possible, even in the most challenging environments.

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Living Wild: The Ultimate Guide to Scouting and Fieldcraft by Bear Grylls

‘Life lessons from the UK’s toughest boy scout.’

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Is it possible that Grylls calls it fieldcraft because Mears calls it bushcraft? Possibly, but we’re not here to weigh in on that battle. Living Wild is a treasure chest of hardcore survival skills, compiled and tested by Bear Grylls himself — and as the UK’s chief scout master, who are we to question? These tips and tricks are, if at times a little extreme, useful in a more general sense.

Perhaps better suited as an entertainment piece than a practical guide to staying alive on the Norfolk Broads, Living Wild is still a great book for both seasoned adventurers and casual campers.

Former army man Grylls has climbed Everest, and passed the rigorous 21 SAS testing criteria, so while you may find yourself scoffing at a few of his suggestions, he is a legitimate hardman, so this book comes highly recommended.

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The Bushcraft Field Guide to Trapping, Gathering and Cooking in the Wild by Dave Canterbury

‘Cook up a storm, in a storm.’

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Ever been so hungry you’d eat your boots? Well, hunger no longer, because New York Times bestseller and bushcraft expert Dave Canterbury is back, with the ultimate guide to wild trapping, gathering and cooking.

In this hefty volume, Canterbury covers options for carnivores and vegetarians alike, explaining in entertaining detail, how to build and set up traps, and which plants, fruits and mushrooms are safe to eat. He also details how to prepare them, so that you not only stay safe and illness-free, but so that you can actually enjoy the food you’ve foraged.

One of the most challenging things when it comes to wild cooking is trapping and preparing food. It’s not something we ever have to do, and Canterbury explains in easy-to-understand language, exactly what’s involved. One of our favourite books in this collection, Canterbury’s guide makes for great reading, whether you’re experienced or not. Buy this one for yourself, or for someone you love; it’s a great read.

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Best Bushcraft Books

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Even if you do have food with you, knowing how to cook it well while you’re out on the trail is still a challenge, but there’s no excuse for not knowing how to do it; the information is out there, and we’ve got it.

These are just a few of our favourite camping cookbooks, ones which we’ve all dipped into at some point to get us out a sticky situation. We’re particularly fond of the Cool Camping series, with its mixture of fun and delicious recipes, and practical tips for preparing food without the modern comforts.

The Camping Cookbook by Annie Bell

‘Savoury and sweet treats from the queen of outdoor cooking.’

Dubbed The Queen of Outdoor Cooking, Annie Bell returns with over 60 recipes for use in the great outdoors. From picnic lunches to family meals, when resources are scarce and firepower is limited, Bell’s recipes deliver.

The Camping Cookbook is one of the most comprehensive outdoor cooking guides we’ve come across, and each recipe is created and tested by Bell herself. This wonderful book makes a great addition to any weekend camping trip, so you’ll never be far away from a healthy, delicious meal, one made all the more satisfying with the addition of your own fair hand.

Recipes include chicken tagine and baba ganoush with apricots, as well as sweet treats like sticky nougat (a fun and delicious alternative to marshmallows.) The Camping Cookbook is a one-pot wonder filled with enough recipes to keep you going for years.

Top 5 Best Camp Cookbooks

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With so many people looking for respite from the daily grind, our favourite campsites are being overrun with people. We’re in need of somewhere quiet, somewhere secret. If you are, too, check out our picks for the best secret camping spots in the UK and Europe. Compiled by the team at Camping Things, we’re certain each of these picks will lead to the trip of a lifetime for those of you on the lookout for somewhere a little more off the grid.

Wild Camping Guide to Devon & Cornwall by Daniel Start

‘Get down and out of the way in the UK’s most picturesque corner.’

The one and only wild camping guide to Devon, Cornwall and the South West, features information on where to set up camp, as well as where to find the best food and drink on offer. Visit windy beaches, and woodlands which traverse ancient grounds, as well as gorgeous picnic spots and wildflower meadows. Visit lost ruins, castle, yurts and heritage sites on your way to some of the most secret campsites in the UK.

Engaging and written with great enthusiasm, the Wild camping Guide to Devon, Cornwall and the South West is a top pick for us at Camping Things.

Our guide to the top 5 Best Secret Campsite Books

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We’re missing some of the most vital survival skills like how to trap and prepare food and how to build and effective shelter, how to navigate without the use of a map or compass. These survival guides are designed to equip you with the knowledge needed to thrive in the great outdoors. Follow the advice in these books, and you’ll never be without some way to improve your situation, whether you find yourself stranded, or you’re just on the lookout for ways to challenge yourself.

Get back to nature, and use what’s around you to your advantage. These Survival Guides compiled by the experts at Camping Things are guaranteed to make you smarter, and harder to kill.

Wilderness Navigation For Dummies: 15 Hacks To Get Yourself Out And To Find Your Way Without GPS by Micheal Courtney

‘Google Maps won’t save you this time.’

Navigation is one of the most essential skills any outdoors-lover can have. Know where you’re going, and where you’ve been, and you’ll save time, effort, precious calories and even more precious hours of daylight. Not only a great addition to your weekend camper pack, for when you find yourself deep in the woods without any service, this book Wilderness Navigation For Dummies is great for reminding even experts of the basics when it comes to effective navigation.

No need for phones, learn how to read maps properly, as well as how to use the environment to figure out where you are, and where you need to head next.

Simple, easy-to-follow tips, all of which we found to be genuinely useful and practical. Highly recommended when all you want is the bare bones of effective navigation.

Our guide to the top 5 Wild Survival Guide Books

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For this collection of wild camping books, we’ve pulled together a few of our go-to favourites, to help you get the most out of the great outdoors. We’ve got books on bikepacking (that’s hiking with a bike, also known as just ‘biking’) as well as survival guides and inspiration on where to go for your next UK mini adventure.

As always at Camping Things, we only choose the best, so you’re assured a great read, whatever you choose.

Wild Nights: Camping Britain’s Extremes by Phoebe Smith

‘Thrilling insight into the wildest places in the UK.’

Author of Extreme Sleeps, Phoebe Smith is back with a collection of the wildest, most remote places in Great Britain to set up camp. As one of the UK’s most celebrated extreme campers, Smith has been to the ragged edges of our little island and back again.

Wild Nights is a thrilling look at the most fun, most challenging places in the UK to hike, climb and camp. Journey with Smith as she battles whiteouts in Wales, monster waves along the Suffolk coast, and the treacherous summits of some the highest, most unforgiving peaks the British Isles has to offer.

Highly recommended by us, for both casual campers and extreme adventurers, Wild Nights is fun, personal and surprisingly informative. One of the best wild camping books on our list.

Our guide to the Best Wild Camping Books

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For this collection of wild camping books, we’ve pulled together a few of our go-to favourites, to help you get the most out of the great outdoors. We’ve got books on bikepacking (that’s hiking with a bike, also known as just ‘biking’) as well as survival guides and inspiration on where to go for your next UK mini adventure.

As always at Camping Things, we only choose the best, so you’re assured a great read, whatever you choose.

Microadventures Local Discoveries for Great Escapes by Alastair Humphreys

‘Discover something new about the world and yourself.’

Microadventures Local Discoveries for Great Escapes have becoming increasingly popular over the past few years, as a way for busy people, and those who just don’t want to go for a full-on expedition, to experience a little bit of the outdoors, without investing too much time, money, sweat or tears.

We’re making these microadventures sound like adventures for the non-committal, but they’re far from that. What they are, is an opportunity to explore in miniature, to discover something new about the world and about yourself. They’re close to home, cheap, and usually don’t require a whole of investment in terms of kit.

In his book Microadventures Local Discoveries for Great Escapes Humphreys details dozens of microadventure ideas, with accompanying photos to get you inspired and fired up to get out and do something. An entertaining read in its own right, Microadventures is a great little guide to getting the most out of life, one bite at a time.

Our guide to the Best Wild Camping Books

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With so many people looking for respite from the daily grind, our favourite campsites are being overrun with people. We’re in need of somewhere quiet, somewhere secret. If you are, too, check out our picks for the best secret camping spots in the UK and Europe. Compiled by the team at Camping Things, we’re certain each of these picks will lead to the trip of a lifetime for those of you on the lookout for somewhere a little more off the grid.

Wild adventures in Britain, Wilderness Wild Weekend guide by Phoebe Smith

‘The ultimate wilderness wild weekend guide from Britain’s most avid wild camper.’

With practical advice and colour photos to help you along, Smith’s Wilderness Wild Weekend guide takes the hassle out of actually finding somewhere out of the way, freeing you up to get out and enjoy yourself.

Covering 26 of the wildest weekend camping spots in Britain, from the southern tip of Cornwall to the Scottish Highlands, you’ve got everything you need right here, for a truly wild weekender.

Our guide to the top 5 Best Secret Campsite Books

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We’re missing some of the most vital survival skills like how to trap and prepare food and how to build and effective shelter, how to navigate without the use of a map or compass. These survival guides are designed to equip you with the knowledge needed to thrive in the great outdoors. Follow the advice in these books, and you’ll never be without some way to improve your situation, whether you find yourself stranded, or you’re just on the lookout for ways to challenge yourself.

Get back to nature, and use what’s around you to your advantage. These Survival Guides compiled by the experts at Camping Things are guaranteed to make you smarter, and harder to kill.

A Survival Guide For Life by Bear Grylls

‘More life lessons from the UK’s chief scout master and hardman.’

We love Bear Grylls, and while his fieldcraft advice might be a little extreme for the average weekend camping trip, his advice for life is solid. A media personality, family man, former army man and Everest climber, Grylls is more more than qualified to give advice on how to set and reach goals.

In Survival Guide For Life, Grylls talks about how to live with intention and purpose, how to take control of yourself, so that you can live a more adventurous, more impactful life. If you like Grylls’s practical survival guides, you’ll love this.

Our guide to the top 5 Wild Survival Guide Books

The post A Survival Guide For Life by Bear Grylls appeared first on Camping Things.

We’re missing some of the most vital survival skills like how to trap and prepare food and how to build and effective shelter, how to navigate without the use of a map or compass. These survival guides are designed to equip you with the knowledge needed to thrive in the great outdoors. Follow the advice in these books, and you’ll never be without some way to improve your situation, whether you find yourself stranded, or you’re just on the lookout for ways to challenge yourself.

Get back to nature, and use what’s around you to your advantage. These Survival Guides compiled by the experts at Camping Things are guaranteed to make you smarter, and harder to kill.

Survival Guide: The Book All Survivalists and Preppers Need

‘A low-key Survival Guide to staying on top of things in the great outdoors.’

This short Survival Guide is packed with essentials and good-to-knows, and, as the title rightly points out, is a great one to have stashed away, if you’re a frequent camper or trapper.

It’s not as in-depth as many of the other survival guides on our list, but it’s a solid little book for those in need of a quick tip on how to keep food fresh and how to build basic traps. Buy a copy and keep it in your car, or use it as fire kindling (this is survival, after all.)

Our guide to the top 5 Wild Survival Guide Books

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