I am a Scotland-based outdoors blogger but I am still open to the charms of outdoors adventures in other locations. One place that I have a very fond attachment to is the southern Welsh peninsula, The Gower.
During several beach/camping holidays here the weather has mostly been kind and the beach and waves have been perfect for hours of body boarding and surfing.
My favourite campsites are located just behind sand dunes so access to an old-fashioned, get-away-from-it-all style family holiday is as easy as swapping walking boots for flip-flops.
Recently, the Welsh tourist board, Visit Wales, and Berghaus challenged me to reveal what I would pack for a trip to Wales. Here’s my top 12 items:
1 A 5mm surfing wetsuit. While the weather can be sunny in Wales if you want to spend time in the chilly sea a 5mm surfing wetsuit is a must.
2) A neoprene hood, gloves and boots. These are not the most attractive items for a beach holiday but they do a great job of keeping out the cold and wind on cooler days.
3) Body boards for the kids (and surf hire for the adults).
Stunning sea and sands. Pic credit: Andy Robert on Flickr creative Commons.
5) Surfing shorts. I have four pairs of surfing shorts that look a little silly on any other kind of holiday. For the Gower I pack my long board style shorts with a swirly red flower design. #GettingAwayWithNoFashionSenseInWales
6) Flip-flops: I don’t get to wear flip-flops on many outdoors adventures in Scotland so I relish the chance to go almost barefoot in Wales on a beach camping holiday.
7) Mobile phone or camera for taking photos. I love holiday memories. (Plus a mobile phone charger). I might also add in a lightweight video camera, such as a Muvi sports camcorder.
8) A family-style tent. This is the kind of tent that has bedrooms, a living area, space for a chemical toilet, carpet, cooking area, fridge, blow-up mattress, cosy sleeping bags etc. It’s a glamping style of camping, rather than my normal ultra-light wild style camping.
Gower sand dunes. Pic credit: Mike Martin on Flickr Creative Comons
9) Camping barbecue. This is for the competitive cooking of evening meals and breakfasts that have traditionally taken place between my family and another family, with whom we have visited the Gower! Think roasted fresh fish with lemon and herbs and lashings of Cava one night followed by the fullest and bestest English breakfast ever cooked on a Welsh campsite!
9) Proper ground coffee and a cafetiere. For the morning after the night before of too much fizzy wine when you need a proper pick me up! Apparently Signature Blend Coal Town coffee beans work a treat and taste delicious.
Off to the beach…
10, 11 and 12) Sun cream for the sunny days, a waterproof jacket for the rainy days and a lightweight down jacket (such as an ultra lightweight down Uniqlo jacket) for the cooler days. It’s always best to be prepared on a camping trip in Britain!
Visit Wales have teamed up with Berghaus and Uniqlo to give away a #PackForWales Berghaus Day Pack full of goodies that are aimed at inspiring people to pack for Wales and get active.
The packs include an impressive array of items, including Signature Blend Coal Town coffee beans, a Rite in the Rain All-Weather Notebook, an ultra lightweight down Uniqlo jacket, Muvi sports camcorder, travel mug, Pocket Wales Landscape Wales book, Eurohike head torch and Anker Astro E4 battery for charging mobile gadgets, all packed in Berghaus Remote III 30 rucksack.
Main pic: Surfing delights on The Gower. Pic credit: Nick Russill Flickr creative commons