If your knees a bit wick or some times letting you down - use walking poles!!! Walking with poles gives you extra support and balance particularly on uneven ground and steep ground. They will help you to carry weighty packs with less effort. If you are walking with light day pack one pole may be just right for you. But if you're travelling on uneven terrain or/and carrying a havy rucksack two walking poles will be the best choice for you!

Before venturing out with your new tent measure the footprint of it then buy some heavy duty plastic sheeting, cut this to size and use this to protect the bottom of your tent.

Time and time again I have been told this through my adolescent years, but this time I was very nearly caught out. I had become so excited about my trip Ice Climbing to Norway that I had forgotten about my Passport's expiry date... which was going to be 2 days into the trip! Fortunately I managed to sort it out, avoiding paying more and just in time for the trip.. as well as renewing my EHIS card (European Health Insurance Card)... So Tip of the day is: Don't leave things to the last minute by being blinded by excitement- Write a check list of what needs doing, and check as soon as you know you are going! :).. This will also save you money and unnecessary panic.

Making your own waterProof matches is really easy firstly make sure you use a wooden match and dip the striking end into warm candle wax coating it well. Let this cool and dry then repeat the process to completely cover the rest of the match when finished put all your matches in a waterproof container.

Very much still a beginner, but I have recently found a real love for climbing. I am firmly stuck indoors unfortunately due to reasonably serious vertigo-but I really enjoy an hour of bouldering after work when I get change. I am not exactly one for long fancy nails, but I do sometimes forget to trim them down-scraping nails when climbing a route on an indoor wall is a bit like nails on a chalk board-guarenteed to send a shiver down your spine! Keep them nice and short!

When camping in the desert you might find your tent pegs are a bit short and will not hold in the sand. Look around for some longer pieces of dead wood they will make ideal pegs

A real easy way to get you're open fire going, collect the lint out of your tumble dryer pop it into a water proof container and when needed you have instant kindling .

Check the site to make sure it is flat and does not dip in a way that will mean water collects if it rains. Is the ground soft enough to drive in the tent pegs. Is it reasonably sheltered from the wind but not too near anything that might crash down on to it, such as a dead tree? Check that there are no sharp objects that could damage the groundsheet such as stones and twigs, clearing anything of this kind from the site and flatten any small humps.

WEll spring is here,our first bit of sun and like the true brits that we are, out come the shorts off with the t-shirts and on with the flip flops!! I am sporting my new pair of Havianias for work, chuuffed to bits with the colour choice we have. I cant live with out my Haviaina's i have a pair for the gym, ideal for around the pool and in the showers. They are ideal to have in your back pack for travelling as you can whip them out anytime, also comfortable and light to wear to travel, letting your feet breathe and feeling more relaxed on long haul flights,keeping your feet cool keeps you cool. The only decision you have to make is which colour to buy..........?

As a dad of two kids and one on the way, we have had to get creative over the years to keep our two boys occupied entertained and safe whilst camping in both this country and abroad. When camping with really small children we find it important to make sure they are kept well entertained, the key to this good pereperation before you leave. Laminate sheets of A4 paper and purchase some cheap dry wipe marker pens not only do these come in really handy for the traveling but you don't have to carry, store and keep dry sheets of paper for your wee ones to doodle, play games, and list eye spy targets etc. A tuck box is always a great idea, as camp shops are usually more expensive and opening hours can be hit and miss. Good outdoor shoes and clothes are essential, no matter what their age is a must! All in one waterproof suits and wellies are fab, as long as children are dry and comfy they are happy kids, and what kid doesn't love splashing in puddles? as long as they are dry who cares. Invest in a carrier for toddlers, it save lugging pushchairs around, they are all terrain and our youngest would happily sleep in his whilst I carried him anywhere. We bought a Littlelife kiddie carrier when he was 6 months old that he still uses now he's 3+ so we've had our money's worth out of it. On the same note the Littlelife toddler daysack at around £20 is a great way of keeping your toddler safely by you, it's also a walking aid to save most trips and falls and they have enough space for your little one to carry a spare nappy, wipes and a bottle. Also make sure that children are welcome at your chosen destination we have used websites like www.campingninja.com, www.awaywiththekids.co.uk, www.ukcampsite.co.uk all of these sites have handy reviews and are easy to use. And lastly check out the area where your camped especially if you've arrived in the dark the night before, open water, cliffs and ledges, Elsan toilet points , whilst all part of camping and the great outdoors are not always child friendly, stay safe and remind your kids where you want them to play.

Most lightweight tents which are suitable for backpacking do not have the seams sealed by the Manufacturer as the lightweight nature of the outer tent fabric(Flysheet) is not suitable to be sealed at the manufacturing stage. Vaude are one of the few Manufacturers who appear to have perfected this process on tents such as The Vaude Hogan Ultralight. So purchase a tube of sealant and do it yourself. HOWEVER,ONCE THE SEALANT HAS SET THEN DUST THE SEAMS DOWN WITH TALCUM POWDER TO STOP THEM ALL STICKING TOGETHER WHEN THE TENT IS PACKED AWAY.A CHEAP AND EASY WAY OF ENSURING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.

Before you go on any camping trip, practice putting your tent up at home first. It will save alot of hassle later on; especially if its raining!

Never forget the simple things such as some toilet paper, how many times have you gone to facilities on a camp site and they don't have any!. Wet wipes are always are good thing to bring along as well for those occasions when a full on shower is just to much hassle.

Save space in your car or rucksack by using a Lifeventure Microfibre Towel. They are super absorbent and pack down much smaller than a bath towel.

Always use a selection of small coloured dry bags when packing your rucksack (or even smaller cubes when packing your luggage for holidays!). That way when you need to stop and find something you can remember which dry bag you need to pull out and look through, rather than having to dig right to the bottom of a large one. Much easier to find those essentials! Especially good if you have an access panel zip on the front of your pack.

The warmer summer weather is the prefect time of year to get out for your first camping experience, but don't think that just a tent and sleeping bag will make for a comfortable night in the great outdoors! Sleeping Mats provide not only comfort, but insulation from the cold ground. They trap and hold a layer of dead (non-circulating) air between your body and the cold ground. Your body gradually warms this layer of dead air and it becomes an insulating barrier. So, whatever you do, don't forget your sleeping mat (belive me, I've done it!)

When out camping in your tent, put a fleece jumper in your sleeping bag when you go to bed. When you wake up in the morning and need to put a warm layer on, your fleece jumper will be comfortably warm (rather than cold, straight out of your kit bag)!

Take some of your favourite spices with you when you go camping (think chinese five spice, chilli flakes, paprika, curry powder). They weigh next to nothing and can turn a bland meal into something really interesting! Whether its car camping or wild camping it can be a real morale booster.

From my previous camping disasters, 1) Do Not pitch tent on top of tree roots and stumps. These do not do your back any favours. 2) Do not pitch tent in open, windy areas They wok similar to paracutes. 3) Do not pitch by a footpath. If you have a black tent, like me, everyone try's to walk through my tent.

DON'T put it on the roof of the car...this is a bad idea as you might forget it is there and drive off!

A very obvious but simple tip - always carry around a small flint stick when you're outdoors in case you need to light a fire. It's easier and a lot quicker than getting blisters by rubbing sticks together believe me! Yes, it may be obvious, but as and when you need it flint sticks are extremely useful!

Take old clothes cos if it does get wet and muddy Who cares .One other thing have you practised pitching the tent for some strange reason we always forget how to do it from summer to summer and invaribly its starting to rain or dark when we arrive!

Always bring a pair of tights with you when you go camping, it means you can easily filter water before boiling and sterilise before drinking!

Always take spare pegs, They dissapear like spare socks, you can never have too many.

A few tips for happy campers! • If you’ve never pitched a tent, it’s worth practicing before you go away. Go down to your local park, or have a play around in your garden. It’s much better than being stuck pitching your tent in the dark on a windy evening • Things get lost in a messy tent. When you set up camp, try and make sure all essential equipment – such as torches and matches for the stove – have a designated place. • Keep your tent clean and dry by leaving all outdoor clothes including wet shoes in the porch area. • A good sleeping bag will keep you warm but it won't warm you up so make sure your kids don't go to bed cold. Sleeping on an air-filled mattress with an extra blanket or sheepskin underneath will help prevent heat loss. • There's more to campsite cooking than baked beans! One pot wonders, locally sourced ingredients and a few choice store cupboard items brought from home will make outdoor dining a delight. • Make the most of being outdoors and keep your little Ray Mears-es entertained by exploring the area and learning some outdoor skills such as shelter building. • If sleeping on the hard ground isn’t your cup of tea then ensure you take an inflatable mattress with you, it couldmake all the difference the next morning!