Bottled water causes fire…and other useful things campers should know

As the heatwave continues and Pitchup.com reports record levels of daily bookings (averaging around 1,000 per day), the outdoor holiday specialist has revealed six top tips for anyone taking a camping, caravanning or glamping holiday this summer. 

1. Pick a campsite with shade, such as a forest location. US research shows forests can be up to five degrees Celsius cooler due to the shade and evaporation.

2. If buying a new tent, pick one with a separate groundsheet. This allows air to circulate inside the tent, even when closed, which has a cooling effect.

3. Take extra freezer blocks: rotate them to keep food and drinks cool. Choose a site with ice pack freezing available.

4. Pack a fan. A battery-powered fan will provide a great cooling effect, especially if a bowl of ice is placed in front of it – instant air conditioning!

5. Put a tent over your tent – if pitched in direct sunlight, provide shade or reflectors that will keep the sun’s rays off and the tent cooler.

6. Be careful with innocent objects that could start a fire if left in direct sunlight. Bottles of water can concentrate the sun’s rays and ignite groundsheets.

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, commented: “These are just a few of our top tips for  keeping cool - and staying safe - while camping in warm weather.  Camping air conditioning units are available but these can prove expensive and require an electric hook-up, so are not ideal for all campers on non-electric pitches.” 

He continued: “Visitors to our site can search to find the perfect site for hot weather,  from forest locations to those near water or sites that offer outdoor swimming pools.  This is our busiest time of year and with the mercury still high, we’re getting more visitors to our website every day:  daily visits average 60,000 with bookings at around 1,000 per day.  Most site owners are well versed in staying safe while camping in summer, so if in doubt always ask for advice on arrival and request a cool and shady spot that gets the least sunshine and perhaps cut back a bit on the booze.” 

For more information visit www.pitchup.com.  All prices correct at time of writing.

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For media information:

Cass Helstrip, Samantha Marsh or Rob Bates at White Tiger PR

Cass.helstrip@whitetigerpr.com 07968 255464

Samantha.marsh@whitetigerpr.com 07711 265666

Rob.bates@whitetigerpr.com 07957 316491

About Pitchup.com

Founded in 2009 by former lastminute.com man, Dan Yates, multi-award winning Pitchup.com is a free guide to all types of outdoor accommodation in the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Croatia, Luxembourg, Austria, Poland and Switzerland.  Pitchup.com, which currently lists over 5,800 sites, provides users with a simple platform in which they can search and book an outdoor holiday with total ease: the customer journey from landing on the homepage through to booking a holiday can be completed in as little as four pages.  The site also goes beyond traditional searches by allowing users to search for accommodation based on more than 80 criteria, such as adults only and campfires allowed, and view nearby events, Good Pub Guide pubs and VisitBritain attractions.  It’s also possible to check out water bathing water quality in the surrounding area with data provided by the European Environment Agency.  Users can also search on the offers page to find the best deals available. 

In 2013 Pitchup.com became the first business of its type to launch a bookable mobile app and site, making the site easily accessible to users of mobile and tablet devices.  The mobile site, m.pitchup.com, now accounts for 16% of bookings.

Pitchup.com enables users to search for all types of parks and sites from the major brands right through to one-off campsites and unique outdoor accommodation options, which may not have previously had a web presence.

Awards include Best UK Travel Website of the Year at the British Travel Press Awards 2011, and most recently Best Travel / Leisure / Sports / Mobile Strategy / Campaign at the Marketing on Mobile Awards 2014.