Camping in a wood or forest can be an extremely rewarding experience. There's something very calming about getting away from city life and being surrounded by bird song rather than the continuous drone of traffic and other people.

However, there are some risks associated with camping in remote areas and the planning that goes into such trips will tend to be more involved than if you were just visiting a typical tourist camping resort.

Some of the factors that you may need to consider include:

1. Do you have permission to camp in the wood/forest?
Sometimes small woods may be privately owned or land may be owned by the Forestry Commission. To avoid being accused of trespassing, it may be prudent to check that you are allowed to camp there. In most cases, land owners tend to be quite sympathetic to campers, provided that the campers are prepared to act responsibly and not leave litter or fire hazards.

2. Make sure you tell people where you're going:
Okay, it's maybe not as risky as going up a mountain, but any trip to remote surroundings can lead to injury or mishap. It's important, therefore, that you tell loved ones where you are going and when you expect to get back. This will enable them to raise the alarm if you haven't returned by the appointed time.

3. Bring a mobile phone:
If something does go wrong, it's useful to have a mobile phone to be able to call for help. This might just be a case of being able to call for breakdown assistance if your car suffers a failure en route to your destination.

4. Beware natural threats:
Depending on what part of the world you're camping in, there may be wildlife to be careful of such as snakes, ants, bears, wolves, or other large predators. You should heed any warning signs or guidance given by locals. It's very unlikely that wild animals will attack you without provocation but some simple precautions are sensible, such as making sure that you don't leave food lying about outside your tent at night!

5. Bring a medical kit:
If you've travelled out to the countryside to find a wood or forest, the chances are that you may be a long distance from civilisation and things that we take for granted like pharmacies and hospitals. There is always a chance of an accident occurring, so it's important to take a basic medical kit containing things like bandages, plasters, etc. It's better to be prepared than sorry on such things.

6. Adequate supply of food and water:
If you're going away for a few days, make sure you bring an adequate supply of food and water. Don't gamble on your ability to drink water from streams or forage from the land!

7. Choice of clothes:
Remember that it may get cold at night so make sure you pack some warm clothes, even if it's warm during the day. Some waterproofs will also be a good idea in case it rains.

Remember, also, that to make the most of your camping experience you should make sure that you have the standard camping essentials such as a good sleeping bag, lanterns, a good quality tent and a gas stove for cooking your food. And also insect repellent and sun screen.

Hopefully, with all these preparations and precautions in place, you can enjoy a wonderful woodland camping holiday and will have loads of scenic photos and fond memories!

Learn more about this author, Simon Wright.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about How to get ready for camping trips in the woods?
We want to hear your view. Write now!