Best camping gear to shop now

Camping tents

Desperate to get away, but the weather isn’t looking promising? Don’t worry, this tent has you, and all the family, covered for all weather eventualities. As well as being suited for a family of six, or four if you’re sleeping next to smelly teenagers. It even comes with room dividers, so you can opt for extra privacy, and has double the ‘living’ area so you can get some alone time even if it’s raining. Speaking of rain, this one comes set with 4,000mm waterproof protection to get you through the roughest of storms.

There’s nothing worse than a steaming hot tent, so this one from Mountain Warehouse has mesh doors to keep the air flowing all summer long. You’ll need it, too, because this tent fits up to four people (although some reviewers say it fits three more comfortably). It also comes with its a sewn in groundsheet and comes with 2000m hydrostatic head waterproof protection, meaning you’ll stay protected if things get showery. Just avoid full-on torrents.

If you want to avoid resting your head next to your stinky, soggy boots, this tent has its very own porch area that makes for great storage. Or, you know, just sheltering from the rain without getting crumbs all up in your sleeping bag. It can comfortably fit a double blow up bed and, more importantly, it’s easy to set up. Should our sporadic British weather catch you off guard, it can also withstand up to 200L per hour for three hours, and comes with a 2,400mm waterproof groundsheet so you can stay cosy while you sleep.

Should you be planning a walk, and you’re not keen on lugging around a huge heavy tent, here’s a lightweight option that can happily fit a couple. It weighs just 2.5kg, but somehow manages to still tick all our boxes. Namely: it has a mesh upper and double doors to keep it fresh inside, takes under five minutes to set up, and has 3,000mm waterproof protection. Plus, it’s our lifestyle writer’s favourite dome tent, thanks to being surprisingly roomy in both porch and tent.

In case you feel like assembling another object with poles, a windbreak can be a useful addition to your set up to give your tent that little extra protection from the elements. It also has a handy little window so you can see what’s going on on the other side – like if you’re being approached by a mountain lion or your kids are running off into the forest. That’s the kind of thing that happens when camping, right?

Sleeping bags, mattresses, and roll mats

Decathlon

Quechua Inflatable 2-Person Camping Mattress

Speaking of that cold, hard ground, there is a way to improve it – and that’s to lift yourself off it. This 190 x 120 cm inflatable mattress is great value for money. Not only does it stay inflated the whole night through (which you’d think would be the bare minimum, but…) it also inflates in just under two minutes, so you can have your sleeping arrangement set up in a pinch. It also comes in a single size, if you’re sleeping in a tent that comes in on the smaller side.

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For a less extreme investment, this oh-so-lightweight mat comes in at just 520g. You’ll barely notice that you’re adding another thing to carry around with you because, rolls up to into the size of that dinky little bag. It even has its own pillow for neck support, while the hexagonal design evenly distributes your weight across its surface so you won’t wake up with achey muscles.

Unlike your favourite Simba mattress, the hard dirt floor won’t mould around your body weight or warm up throughout the night (that is, unless something’s seriously wrong). To give yourself a boost of heat while you sleep, adding a reflective mat can help trap warmth between you and the earth to prevent any unpleasant moments of waking up shaking with the cold.

I think we can all agree that a good night’s sleep is invaluable. So don’t skimp on what you’re going to sleep in: fleece-lined sleeping bags are far cosier than their plasticky counterparts. This one comes with four ounces of filling, which makes for a comfortable sleep anywhere between 0 and 15 degrees. And if you buy two, you can connect them with one another thanks to having a handy double zipper.

Sea to Summit Foam Core Pillow – Large

You’re already camping, you don’t need to punish yourself any more than that. This is us giving your permission to buy yourself a pillow that feels like home, like this foam-filled one from Sea to Summit that rolls up into 17% of its original size for easy transportation.

Two pillow people, listen up. Providing 12cm of distance between you and the floor, this blow-up pillow will help support your neck. And if it does happen to get dirty (finger crossed it doesn’t) it’s easy to clean thanks to having a removable fabric cover.

Just look how happy this guy is; that could be how happy you are camping, too. But it won’t be if you don’t have enough blankets to keep you warm. This thermal double bed-sized one will keep you warm, or can be scrunched up into its little bag to double as an extra pillow.

You can fight with me all you like about camping not being the place for a weighted silk mask (I can hear the disdain in your voice from here). But I would beg to differ: you need to get your rest in, and it’s almost impossible to sleep when the sun start glaring through your tent straight into your eyes at god knows what hour. Trust me.

Tables, kettles, and more eating/drinking essentials

Don’t waste your time trying to find somewhere to frolic in the grass. There are times for that (namely: at your local park on the hottest day of the year) but this is not one of them. You’ll want a surface to rest your plates on, and this one even has drink holders so you don’t have to shoulder the tragedy of losing your hard-earned G&T to the wind. It also folds up nice and thin, and clicks into place, making for a quick set up and getaway in emergencies.

Don’t worry, this isn’t another thing to put in another little bag. This fold up chair is held together by its very own elastic strap, meaning you won’t have to play mix and match with all the little holding bags you have stowed away in your tent at the end of your trip.

If your idea of a holiday is not having to make small talk with your family while you eat, this chair has all the accoutrements you need to fly solo, like a side table, drinks holder. It even has a storage holder at the arm, so you can really hunker down and get some solo time.

At home you might wait until 6pm to be polite, but out camping 5pm sharp is cocktail time. These tumblers will keep your drink cool for longer than most, and they also double as a great mug for warm coffee, tea, or soup.

You might think you can survive on dips, crisps, and snacks (a girl can only dream) but at some point the reality of needing a warm coffee or hot chocolate will hit you. And we’re going to estimate it’ll be sooner rather than later. This three piece set fits snuggly within itself, and includes a kettle and two pans that can be converted from frying to saucepan and back again using the handles.

You go without a lot of basic comforts while camping, but you shouldn’t have to forfeit a cold can at the end of the day. This cooler from Yeti can comfortably hold up to 20 cans, and when paired with the Yeti’s medium ice sheet, will keep them cold for three whole days, according to one reviewer. “I didn’t think I needed it until I did and now it goes with me every where,” they said. This is what dreams are made of.

You wouldn’t believe just how versatile the humble sandwich bag could be. For keeping food safe and dry, yes, but also for rubbish, packing individual items of extra layers in your bag so you don’t have to fish around in the dark for hours, and even for putting over your feet when you have to wear leaky shoes.

You might be thinking: £65 for a glorified mini tool box? And we’d forgive you for that. Now think of the rage you’ll feel if you forget one of the things on this knife that you need. Yup, really puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? This knife has 21 functions to cover everything you’ll need to do out in the wilderness, from cracking open a cold one to filing a broken nail.

Stoves, firestarters, and torches

Okay, everyone has a torch on their phones nowadays. But when you’re in the wilderness you’re going to want something a bit more reliable than that; this handheld one lasts for up to 35 hours. It’s also IPX 6 waterproof, meaning it can withstand heavy rainfall, so even if you leave it outside in the rain (I mean, don’t) it’ll be able to give you light provided the batteries haven’t died.

Despite the idyllic idea of camping you have going on in your head, your fire won’t be lit all the time, and it goes without saying you won’t have one inside your tent. These wind-up lanterns come in handy for running for a nighttime wee, or just for being able to see where you’re going when you get into your sleeping bag.

Unless you’re embracing the analogue lifestyle, we’re going to take a leap of faith and assume you’ll want something to charge your phone with. This 60,000 mAh charging bank lasts for days of phone charges – and it’s speedy at it, too. Plus, it’ll come in handy if you need to recharge lights or other devices as it has USB-A and USB-C ports.

For longer and wilder camping stints, a solar panel could solve the problem of not being able to recharge your power bank. This one folds up to the size of a laptop, making it easy to carry, but you’ll need to buy a converter to go alongside it.

Well, it’s not going to start itself, is it? Don’t kid yourself with fussing around with ‘natural’ fire starting, especially when you’re camping with other people. It’s all about getting the job done quickly, and this pack of 50 will be your right hand man.

You don’t want to be messing around with matches in the pouring rain; this long lighter will make sure you stay plenty safe when lighting a gas stove. It’s also refillable; just make sure you remember to check if it has enough fluid before you trek off into the wilderness.

We’ve covered a lot of equipment without even mentioning cooking, and if you’re already thinking you can’t be bloody bothered to deal with all the effort of lugging around a huge stove, look no further. This tiny pocket stove weighs just 45g but has the same power as a full-sized gas stove. Simply slip it on to a gas canister and you’re good to go. Yes, chef!

Toiletries

Don’t take any risks when it come to bug bits. You might not see them, but they’re there, so make sure to layer up your bug repellant outside of the tent, whether you’re sitting indoors or out.

I stick to a very serious once a week hair washing schedule. While I’m confident my hair can last out in the wild, I’m not taking any chances anywhere I go, which is why I’ve tested a shit ton of dry shampoos in my time, and this one is the so powerful, it’ll even be able to revive your day five campsite hair. Promise.

Things are about to get messy and stinky, all at once. No matter how determined you are, you won’t be showering as much as you think you will be, so having these on hand to clean yourself, and any unfortunate tent spillages up is ideal.

Come rain or shine, if you’re outside, you need face and body sunscreen. Need we say any more?

The parish council has received a ‘number of reports’ regarding anti-social behaviour in the village

A parish council says it has received “a number of reports” about anti-social behaviour. Yaxley Parish Council have said that they have received reports about cars meeting on Eagle Way Business Park in Yaxley.

Reports include concerns of noise and damage to the road surface. Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed that they are aware of recent vehicle-related anti-social behaviour in the area and are working closely with the parish and district councils.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Additional patrols are being planned at key times to help address concerns. Tackling ASB remains a priority for neighbourhood policing teams.”

Yaxley Parish Council has urged residents to continue reporting incidents including noting vehicle index numbers and keeping relevant CCTV footage.

A spokesperson for Yaxley Parish Council said: “We have received a number of reports regarding cars meeting on Eagle Way Business Park late at night. Reports have related to noise and damage to the road surface.

“We are in talks with the Police and they have asked residents to help by continuing to report any incidents, even if there isn’t always an immediate response. If possible, it would be beneficial for residents to note vehicle index numbers in a log and to preserve any relevant CCTV footage.”

The force has advised anyone who experiences anti-social behaviour to report it, either by calling 101 or via their online reporting services.

“Where possible, please include dates, times and vehicle details, as this helps us build an accurate picture of what is happening and respond effectively”, the spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police added.

Italy: Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Mannini, D’Inca; Madia, Stefan; Turani, Vecchini, Zanette, Fedrighi, Frangipani, Veronese, Ranuccini, Giordano (c).

Replacements: Cheli, Maris, Dosi, Duca, Sgorbini, Bitonci, Stevanin, Granzotto.

England: Sing; Venner, Jones (c), Rowland, Kildunne; Harrison, L Packer; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Lutui, Burns, Short, M Packer, Burton.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Bern, Balogun, Head, Robinson, Aitchison, Moloney-MacDonald.

Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team (SRMRT) were called out after the animal fell around 6.5 metres down a narrow, winding pit on Friday (May 8).

In an online post, the team said: “Yesterday’s rescue was certainly a different one for the team…”

Rescuers attempting to save the dog (Image: Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team)

The dog is believed to have slipped through several tight gaps during the fall, which may have reduced the impact but left her trapped deep underground.

SRMRT added: “Somehow, gravity had carried her through several extremely tight gaps, which likely helped break the fall, but also left her trapped deep underground.”

Mountain rescue crews (Image: Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team)

A major rescue effort was launched, involving mountain rescue volunteers, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, North Yorkshire Police and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association.

Emergency services at the scene (Image: Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team)

The team described it as “an outstanding six-hour-long joint effort” involving multiple emergency services.

After hours of careful planning and teamwork, a cave rescuer was able to squeeze through the tight underground system to reach the dog.

SRMRT said: “After careful assessment and a lot of teamwork, cave rescuer Lucy managed to squeeze down through the tight system to reach the dog and bring her safely back out.”

The dog was then safely brought back to the surface, bringing the challenging rescue to a happy ending.

The team added it was “a technical, challenging and very muddy rescue”, thanking all agencies involved for their support.

If you’ve seen forecasts of snow next week flash up on your social media feed over the last few days, you may be thinking that winter is about to return.

While snow is not expected over the vast majority of the UK, it is true that rather cool conditions for May are set to dominate.

With high pressure centred to the west of the UK, winds will mainly come from that chillier northerly direction. During the second half of the week our air will have originated from around the Arctic Circle in northern Scandinavia.

Daytime temperatures for most will be much colder than normal at 9-14 Celsius (48-57F) in many areas.

Areas of low pressure crossing southwards across the country will bring a greater likelihood of rain and, like last week, some snow in Shetland and the Scottish mountains cannot be ruled out.

As well as snow, last week also brought the UK its coldest May conditions for nearly 30 years. Tomintoul in Moray, Scotland recorded a low of -6.8C (20F) on the night of the 5/6 May. This was the lowest temperature recorded in May since 1997 when the same temperature was reported at Leadhills, Lanarkshire.

Further night frosts are expected in places during the week ahead.

MOVA Studios is set to welcome its first visitors during an open day on Saturday (May 16).  

The business will offer Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates and Yoga, alongside a Run Club, in classes which will begin on Monday (May 18) at Hargrave House, in Boroughbridge Road, Acomb.

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It was founded by York-based Pilates instructor Ruby McTough, who will bring her years of experience in the mind-body exercise to sessions at the studio.

The studio will offer Reformer Pilates, Mat Pilates, Yoga and a Run Club (Image: MOVA Studios)

She explained: “How you feel in your body and how you feel in your life are the same thing.

“What you put into yourself, you carry back out into your day. What you put into your community, you feel inside the studio.

“We want MOVA to live in both places, and to live there with our members.”

Aside from the sessions, MOVA has been building links with independent York businesses ahead of its opening.

“What you put into yourself, you carry back out into your day” (Image: MOVA Studios)

Partners include York Gin, York Distillery, Wardrobe Angel, Bothy Botanical, Avorium and Brancusi, with MOVA members able to receive small benefits at each business.

Ruby said the partnerships were about strengthening connections rather than offering discounts.

She said: “Community doesn’t end at our front door. York is full of people putting their whole hearts into what they make.

“We want our members to know them, and we want them to know us. That’s how a studio becomes part of a place, instead of just a place inside it.”

Tom at Avorium said that York is “at its best” when independent businesses look out for one another.

He added: “That’s exactly the spirit we feel from MOVA. We’re proud to be one of their first Local Love partners.”

MOVA is offering a Founders Membership for first-time visitors (Image: MOVA Studios)

A Founders Membership is now available for those who want to join the studio from the outset.

Ruby said: “We’re starting with the people who choose to start with us.

“Whatever MOVA becomes, the founding members are part of how it got there. That story doesn’t get written twice.”

First-time visitors can try MOVA with a £35 introductory three-class pass.

For more on this, please see here.  

Officers from Cleveland Police were called to Quenby Road in Billingham at around 10pm on Friday (May 8), following reports of an assault.

A man, aged 39, sustained an injury to his ear during the incident.

Cleveland Police have said that they are now looking for ‘several men armed with knives’ after launching an investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector John Bonner said: “Shortly before 10pm on Friday, May 8, police were called to Quenby Road in Billingham following reports of an assault involving several men armed with knives.

“One man, aged 39, sustained an injury to his ear.

“Enquiries are progressing, and anyone who has information or footage that could assist with enquiries is asked to call 101 quoting reference number 087533.”

A warning has been issued to dog owners who may be walking their pets

A dog has died after it “ingested cannabis” at a Cambridgeshire town park. Soham Town Council have confirmed that three dogs have reportedly “ingested cannabis” after being walked at Drayton Meadows in Soham.

According to the council, as a result, one of the dogs has died. A spokesperson for Soham Town Council said: “We have found that cannabis gummies are being left behind which is a serious concern for young children as they resemble real sweets like Haribo. Please be vigilant if you are there with your children or dogs.”

At least one of the cases has been confirmed to be Cannabis by a vet.

The council has advised dog owners to make sure that dogs are on leads to avoid them “running into any overgrown areas where things may have been thrown”.

The police and local youth services are aware, and the council are hoping to patrol the area if volunteers are available. In a statement by Soham Town Council, a spokesperson added: “We are unable to close the area completely as it would still be accessible by climbing over the gate, so would likely not act as a deterrent for those hanging around there.”

“As the National Party of Wales, the party’s aims shall be: to secure independence for Wales in Europe.”

Since its founding in 1925, independence has remained a core principle of Plaid Cymru – the above quote even forms the second line of its constitution. For the first time, Plaid secured the most seats in the next Welsh parliament as Labour lost control of the Senedd for the first time since devolution in 1999, with even first minister Eluned Morgan a casualty of Labour’s catastrophic losses. Yet in a change of tone from previous decades, Plaid’s leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has not led with an independence campaign, and more talk of a referendum has come from his political rivals, who have tried to warn voters that the party will introduce it through the “back door” once in power.

At Plaid’s annual conference in Newport in February, the topic was not raised once in ap Iorwerth’s speech, nor was it mentioned at the manifesto launch in Wrexham. At the last Senedd elections in 2021, the party promised to hold a referendum if it won a majority – a pledge that was quietly dropped from this year’s campaign.

Yet for the first time in history, Westminster is faced with the prospect of having a nationalist party running each of the devolved nations, all pushing for greater powers – so what are Plaid Cymru’s plans for independence?

Professor Laura McAllister, of the Wales Governance Centre, said: “Given that independence is the primary aim of Plaid Cymru, it is inconceivable that the party internally has not considered a longer-term strategy for advancing that goal. Having said that, the party leader, Rhun ap Iorwerth, has been categorical that the first term of a Plaid-led government would not be focused on independence.”

Instead, ap Iorwerth has prioritised the cost of living crisis; the state of the NHS, which has failed to meet targets to cut waiting lists; housing and a better deal for Wales under the current constitution. Their next steps do include a national commission, which would cost half a million pounds of the annual £27bn Welsh budget, which it says would “lay the foundation” for any future independence plans.

Recent polls have not shown much support for Welsh independence, with only 32 per cent in favour and 52 per cent against. While he remains a personal believer in the cause, ap Iorwerth admitted during his campaign: “I do not think now is the time to have that referendum, because the people of Wales are not telling us that it’s that time.” However, Prof McAllister noted that this tactic “is very much out of the SNP playbook from 2007”, and that polling support for independence is similar to the position in Scotland two years before the 2014 referendum that rejected independence.

With Labour suffering a humiliating defeat on Thursday, slipping to third place in its former red heartlands, Plaid Cymru had pinned the election as a “two-horse race” between itself and Reform UK, which is staunchly opposed to further devolved powers.

Many have viewed it as an election between those who view themselves as more Welsh-aligned, and others who view themselves as more British – with Nigel Farage even describing the Welsh language as “foreign”.

“In terms of voters motivated against independence, at present I think those will already be captured by Reform UK,” Prof McAllister said. “It’s harder to predict in the future as we do not know what a Plaid-led government might do and when. But were independence to become a defining issue in Welsh politics, as it is in Scottish politics, then I think we would see a fundamental realignment that cuts across left-right lines.”