{"id":21321,"date":"2017-07-01T10:51:40","date_gmt":"2017-07-01T10:51:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.tickettoridegroup.com\/?p=21321"},"modified":"2025-10-17T18:32:54","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T18:32:54","slug":"setup-epic-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tickettoridegroup.com\/blog\/setup-epic-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Setup an Epic Camp"},"content":{"rendered":"

For our Bordeaux to Bilbao Cycle Surfari<\/a> we will be cycling to a different campsite every day and we have decided to do this because camping through South West France and Northern Spain is an incredible experience, a right of passage for any UK adventure enthusiast.<\/p>\n

Learning great camping tips<\/a> on how to set up a comfortable, secure and downright epic camp, is a rewarding skill, that like surfing and cycling, takes practice, and the lessons I\u2019m about to share come from over 15 years of camping all around Europe. Yes I’ve camped in a tiny sleeping bag aka The Coffin, with snapped poles and nothing to repair them in torrential rain in Northern Spain, and yes I once slept in my sleeping bag on the beach in Biarritz because it was a beautiful Autumn evening, only to absolutely freeze all night because sand not only contracts heat but it keeps the cold in too. But you don\u2019t have to go through this stuff if you read on.<\/p>\n

My experience is pretty old school with a fusion of welcome new school luxuries, but it follows a pretty basic principle of just being aware of the location and conditions and not making it too hard on yourself.<\/p>\n

For those of you joining us on the Cycle Surfari,<\/a> you don\u2019t need to take heed of the following advice as our camp manager and chef will be setting up the epic camp for us and prepping the all-important cycle fuel. But feel free to read on so you know what to expect.<\/p>\n

Location<\/h3>\n

First things first, whether you\u2019re at a smart camp site in Hossegor, or graveyard in Bilbao (we didn\u2019t know, it was dark) the location of your tent is crucial. So find level ground, next to a natural wind shelter like a bush or some trees and set the tent down. Camping on the beach is slightly different as your tent will act as an oven when the sun rises and the sand will get everywhere, but it will be comfortable\u2026 We won\u2019t be camping on the beach.<\/p>\n

Sleeping<\/h3>\n

Having an uncomfortable sleeping arrangement can really take the fun out of camping. On my cycle tour a couple of years ago, I went as minimal as possible and had the most lightweight self-inflating bed I could find. It popped on day two and was completely\u00a0useless. If you\u2019re going minimal use a decent sleeping matt, or one of the half foam\/half inflating camping mats. They are self-inflating and if they ‘pop’ there\u2019s a comfortable layer of foam left to keep you off the ground and the cold.<\/p>\n

You\u2019re also going to need a good sleeping bag. It\u2019s responsible for keeping you warm, comfortable, safe, and will help your body get the rest it needs. Don\u2019t get that one on offer in the supermarket, find something with the balance of warmth, weight, comfort and functionality, for your price range.<\/p>\n

However, a decent bed, raised off the ground with an actual duvet and pillow is the one. Something you can actually sit on and it not topples over. Something you can go from sleeping on your back to your belly without waking yourself and the whole campsite up on. For the cycle surfari we have the luxury of a support vehicle and will be bringing top of the range camp beds, snuggly duvets and fluffy pillows. GLAMPING OR WHAT (I hate that term).<\/p>\n

Social<\/h3>\n

Now for me creating a decent social area is crucial. Not as crucial if you\u2019re camping solo, but when you have the choice between standing up outside, squatting or lying down in your bed to eat your dinner and drink your night cap you\u2019re still going to want to have thought about this one.<\/p>\n

Firstly let\u2019s get that campfire pit in the centre. This will be the focal point of your camp and will keep you entertained for hours. Also the smoke will scare off mozzies etc. Then make sure you have chairs to put around the camp fire. As previously mentioned you don\u2019t want to spend the evening squatting or standing. Now you\u2019re going to need some music. An iPhone will do the job if you have one of those Bose speakers, or similar. Now you\u2019re going to need a large universal adaptor to keep your entertainment charged (only if you’re at a campsite with hook-up of course). Whilst the fire will set the ambience, you will also need an LED lantern so you can actually see. And when we come to the evening\u2019s beverage of choice to get thecampfiree yarns spinning, boxes of wine are probably the best best. They are cheap, easy to carry, the box when finished can be burned and the plastic bag can simply be recycled. Ethical and environmental responsible drinking.<\/p>\n

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A fire pit is essential for creating a good camp vibe<\/p><\/div>\n

Kitchen<\/h3>\n

As well as the social area, the kitchen is crucial. Preparing food on the ground is really hard and if you\u2019re on the beach you will get sand in your sausage sandwiches 100%. A camp table, some sort of tarpaulin cover (or gazebo), double hob burner and some pans and cutlery will create a kitchen. However, if you\u2019re going feral, or minimal, use your environment cleverly. Use an upside down surfboard as a table, or set your kitchen up near some flat rocks\/ piece of driftwood etc.<\/p>\n

Essentials<\/h3>\n

The following are just some of what I would call essentials, regardless of the duration of your trip.<\/p>\n