You're pitching Glastonbury tent all wrong – camping expert shares top tips (original) (raw)

Camping experts at Outward Bound have issued a series of 'festival hacks' to ensure those heading to Glastonbury have as little drama as possible when pitching their tents

Outward Bound have a list of top tips to avoid any camping drama at festivals this summer

With festival season finally upon us, camping experts have issued some sound advice on how to pitch the perfect tent.

The gates opened for Glastonbury Festival earlier today (June 26) and some revellers are already struggling with their setups as they log their Worthy Farm experiences on social media. Thankfully, Outward Bound have a series of handy hacks to avoid any embarrassment on the campsite.

The outdoor learning charity has put together a put to a top tip sheet "to help camping newbies and veterans alike get their tents up in the right place, with the least hassle". In one video shared to TikTok, a Glastonbury attendee has already warned others of the "state of the ground".

"It's pretty bad," he adds in a short clip of his surroundings. "It's quite muddy, so bring your wellies." Other areas of the site appear to be quite the opposite, however, as one woman replied: "For anyone coming tomorrow the ground is so dry I struggled putting my tent pegs in."

Offering his advice, Outward Bound's expert Simon Young says: "One of our top tips is to 'pitch like a penguin' – once you’ve found roughly where you want to put your tent up, shuffle across the ground like a penguin so your feet can feel any lumps or bumps that could wreck your sleep.

"If it’s dry – never a given at Glastonbury or any other festival – then feel free to lie down on your chosen site before you get the tent out, and road-test your sleeping area. Don’t worry about looking weird – it’s unlikely to be the silliest thing you do on a Glastonbury trip."

Simon also advises campers to avoid scrimping too much on their equipment, tempting though it is to spend more on beer than gear. He adds: "Decent camping gear will keep you dry and warm, serve you well for years and doesn’t weigh that much either. And you’ll want to take it home – there is no excuse for abandoning your tent at a festival.

"Let’s face it, the trudge to your Glastonbury camping pitch might seem like a long distance but our Outward Bound participants can be expected to carry their gear an awful lot further – it’s a small price to pay for a weather-proof home for the night. And beware bargain-basement camping. Me and a mate tried to camp as cheaply as possible and, when he unpacked his cheapo tent, it turned out to be a beach shelter without a front. I found it a lot funnier than he did."

Worthy Farm opens its gates today (July 26) (

Image:

Getty Images)

Outward Bound’s top tips for Glastonbury campers

1: Get a tent that’s fit for a British summer

Cheap pop-up tents are much more likely to leak. Don’t be that person who wakes up with wet undercrackers and a disturbing dripping on their head.

2: Check you’ve got the camping bits before you leave

Take the tent out of its bag, make sure you’ve got tent pegs and any other kit that should be there (especially if you’ve been loaned the tent by a well-meaning relative) – and, if you’ve not put it up before, make your mistakes before you set off.

3: Rucksack or lucksack?

Pack your gear so the equipment you need first is near the top of your rucksack. If you just chuck it in randomly, you run the risk of having to empty out all your gear in a wet field to get to the important stuff.

4: Location, location, location

Which stages do you want to be nearest? Do you want to be close to facilities or away from the bigger crowds? Are you going to be within sniffing distance of the long-drop loos? Are you going to be sleeping on a slope or snoring in a ditch? A little planning goes a long way.

5: Pitch like a penguin

You what? If it’s dry, lie down where you plan to pitch your tent, and check for annoying bumps. If it’s damp, do a ‘penguin shuffle’ with your feet to make sure there will be no rocks in your coccyx.

Expert Simon Young says 'pitch like a penguin' (

Image:

AFP/Getty Images)

6: Set it up *then* get squiffy

We get it, there’s fun to be had. But sort your accommodation out properly before you get giggly, or it will all go wrong in the darkness later. Needs first, then wants, people.

7: Sorry about the wind

If it’s a bit gusty, pitch your tent with the opening away from the wind. If your tent has a pointy end, then point that into the wind. If you’ve not practised putting up your tent, this is when your new neighbours get their first social media hit of the weekend.

8: Feel that tension

No one likes a flappy tent. It’s noisy, amateurish and more likely to try to escape. So make sure guy ropes are taught, likewise the ridge along the top (if you have one).

9: Bags are your besties

All those Bags For Life you keep getting? Split your stuff between a few of them before packing so you can empty your rucksack easily and still keep things dry in the event of a water-related catastrophe (rain).

10: Buzz off

If there are critters a-buzzin’ around, keep your tent closed. Bug spray might stop them biting too much (might) but it won’t kill them so, if you let midges or mozzies into your tent, then you’re sleeping with them.

Outward Bound helps young people realise their potential through outdoor adventures, providing not just training bit often financial support for those on its courses. The six Outward Bound centres in the Scottish Highlands, Lake District and North Wales help thousands of young people discover the great outdoors, learn new skills and build confidence every year.