We love Winter camping and the challenges that can bring, Spring, on the other hand, is an open invitation to all, a call to step outside and embrace nature at its most vibrant! In this blog article, Ray and the Woodlore team want to bridge the gap to summer camping and help you get outside and enjoy the great outdoors for there is an electricity and anticipation in the air that is truly exciting to be part of!

But where to start?!

For newcomers, stepping into the outdoors can feel like an exciting adventure in itself—so much gear to choose from, routes to explore, and everyone eager to share their ‘must-have’ essentials for the journey ahead.

Britain’s natural diversity makes every corner a treasure trove for adventure. With Scotland’s Right to Roam Act, designated camping spots on Dartmoor, and expanding access to private campsites, the outdoors has never been more inviting. Plus, with endless online resources, guidebooks, and the world’s most detailed leisure maps from Ordnance Survey, inspiration for your next journey is always at your fingertips!

Navigating all the information out there can feel like a challenge, leading to even more questions—Is this trek right for me? Do I have the skills? How long will it take? Am I packed for the journey?

The best approach? Start smart! If you think you can walk ten miles, pick an eight-mile route and make time to soak it all in—maybe enjoy lunch by a stunning waterfall along the way. As your confidence grows, so will your adventures, your skills, and your gear collection.

The key is to match your trip to your abilities and be honest with yourself. The outdoors should be about fun and freedom, not pushing yourself to the limit—at least, not right away! At Woodlore, we’re here to equip, teach, and support you, so you can embrace the outdoors with confidence and enjoy every step of the journey. Plus with over 40 years experience guiding and teaching wilderness skills we are best placed to advise you.

Stepping into the wild for longer stretches means building essential skills—like navigation, first aid, and knowing how to take care of yourself out of doors. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered from the moment you set foot out the door -so let us explore some expert gear tips and adventure insights from Ray Mears and our seasoned team. Our mission? To help you embrace the magic of spring, fully prepared, confident, and ready for adventure!

This Spring we are featuring Hilleberg The Tentmaker, as our celebrated partner for helping everyone to get outdoors for the first time or as a seasoned explorer.

Why Hilleberg Ray? “ Because this family run company are absolutely  fanatical about providing the very best tents and they genuinely care that their customers have a totally reliable tent to enjoy but more importantly to protect them in the worst possible conditions”

Hilleberg’s reputation for unwavering attention to detail and premium craftmanship alongside traceability and professionalism are why we love their products. With tents designed for extreme outdoor use it really will be an investment of a lifetime. Our outdoor team have weathered many storms under the Hilleberg Tarp XP range, and they still perform as ruggedly and perfectly as when brand new.

At Woodlore, we put gear through a lifetime’s worth of testing in just one course season. So, when we say something works, you can trust we’ve pushed it to its limits!

Hilleberg makes choosing the right tent simple with their trusted label system—an extensive guide to their products, features, and suitability for different environments. As they put it:

“There really is no ‘best’ Hilleberg tent for you, but there is a ‘right’ one. We created our label system specifically to make choosing that ‘right’ tent as easy as possible.”

With this system, finding the perfect shelter for your adventure is effortless. And in spring—when the weather can flip from sunshine to snowfall in minutes—having a reliable, warm refuge at the end of the day is invaluable. Because at the heart of every great journey is the comfort of knowing you’re prepared for whatever nature throws your way!

Spring camping is a dynamic experience—one moment you’re shedding layers under a warm sun, the next you’re battling a biting wind while setting up camp. Hilleberg tents are designed with both seasoned adventurers and newcomers in mind, ensuring quick and easy setup so you can find shelter from unpredictable elements in no time.

A standout feature of Hilleberg tents is their pioneering integrated inner and outer design. This innovation allows both components to be pitched simultaneously, a significant improvement over traditional tents where the inner tent is set up first, potentially exposing it to the elements. With Hilleberg’s design, you can rest assured that your tent’s interior remains dry, providing a cozy retreat to recharge after a day’s journey.

This thoughtful design is especially beneficial during spring’s unpredictable weather patterns, where conditions can shift rapidly. Having a reliable, easily pitched shelter ensures you remain comfortable and protected, allowing you to fully embrace the joys of spring camping.

Ray Mears’ favourite solo tent – the Akto, has stood the test of time and been on many an expedition with him. This small and compact shelter excels in extreme conditions,  and Ray has  memories  of weathering a horrendous storm in the Norwegian mountains and also the tail end of a cyclone in the Canadian wilderness, questioning whether it would be standing in the morning – but it still was!

Ray adds that “The Nammatj is the strongest mountain tent I can think of, especially for winter mountaineering because it is so rugged! For canoeing I favour my trusted Nallo GT2 which is just brilliant because of the way the vestibule opens out on to the lake or river you are paddling and you feel at one with the landscape from the moment you wake.

At Woodlore, we understand that the term “kit” can evoke both excitement and apprehension among outdoor enthusiasts. Our philosophy, championed by Ray Mears, is to “carry less by knowing more,” emphasizing the value of investing in key pieces of equipment. Specifically, we recommend focusing on, namely your shelter, a good sleeping bag, good footwear and a waterproof jacket.

Ray what else should our readers be thinking about when heading into the outdoors?

“It really depends how you travel – you could add a blanket to the bottom of the tent and put pillows and duvets on. In particular this is a great way to start youngsters out – they should feel comfortable, cosy and enjoy the experience. If using a sleeping bag, children need a good quality bag and it is better to buy an adult version and reduce the volume by tying a belt or cord around to restrict the length of it – the belt can be moved as they grow. Teenagers are more susceptible to the cold because of their body mass and every effort should be made to keep them warm and enjoying their time camping. Any fool can be uncomfortable but the secret is to be comfortable outdoors!”

Ray and the Woodlore team are constantly honing and refining their gear requirements but a few items have really stood the test of time and will never be left out of our pack;

• A small  rechargeable lantern, this casts a wonderful light in which to work, read or socialise by and are so small you barely notice it in your pack but the  illumination of an early spring night is most welcome
• A Thermarest sleeping mat, lightweight, tough and incomparable to any other product in function, these barriers between you and the cold earth will ensure you are safe and warm in your shelter. Why Thermarest? Because they have a lifetime guarantee which they honour and have never let us down when we really need them! Lighter and less bulky than a foam mat but these will still
• A good sleeping bag. But what is a ‘good’ one? It should be a mummy style (has a hood that encompasses neck and head) has enough fill and loft that it will keep you warm through the night without compressing, is roomy – we move a lot in our sleep which keeps us warm, if its tight you will be cold!  Make sure it is rated to the season or temperature you intend to stay out in but remember everyone sleeps at different temperatures and feels the cold in different ways! Adding a woolly hat at any time of year will always keep you warm
• A pillow? Not for us, we roll our clothes into a dry bag or t-shirt!
• Base layers – in particular we love Ullfrotte wool and Swazi Steevos pants for relaxing at camp. Having a set of ‘day’ clothes that bear the brunt of the exertion and then having the ability to get into a warm, dry set of clothes will transform your whole experience – this goes for socks too!
• When camping in a tent with a bigger vestibule such as the Nallo Gt2 we will use the king of stoves – the Trangia. It’s bombproof, wind proof design allows catering to be comfortably undertaken for the individual or a group and the results can be quite sublime! Of course the consideration of CO2 build up and the flammability risk inside the tent should always be assessed
• To cook we simply take a mug and a spoon as everything you can consume will be eaten like this, plus you can wash from it, measure liquids for adding to expedition style foods and boil unsafe water in it. A steel mug is incredibly tough and can be sterilised on a fire or stove. We like to add the Osprey Nato water bottles too

Ray set out this list many years ago to aid the traveller in building kit for any trip – you can take away and add equipment as required:

Selecting the right campsite can truly enhance your outdoor experience. Begin by considering the elements you’ll face—whether it’s wind, rain, sun, or snow—as this will influence your shelter choice and positioning. When setting up, position your tent’s entrance away from prevailing winds and align vents to face the wind for optimal ventilation. Avoid pitching your tent in valleys where cold air settles or on exposed hilltops; instead, opt for mid-slope locations to balance protection from wind and cold. Before settling in, inspect the area for hazards like insect nests, animal trails, dry riverbeds, overhanging branches, leaning trees, and loose rocks. Seek out flat, level ground and test it by lying down to ensure comfort, as hidden roots or stones can disrupt your sleep. If camping on a slope, position your head uphill to prevent blood from rushing to your head during sleep. Choose a site near a water source but not too close, to avoid insects, animals, and potential flooding. Lastly, consider the availability of resources like firewood and the overall ambiance of the spot, your chosen spot will live in your memory for many a year and when you wake, refreshed inside your tent, warm and snug in your sleeping bag and look out to the breaking dawn of the wild, you will thank yesterday’s you.

Equipping yourself with the right gear is just the beginning; ensuring your safety and preparedness outdoors is equally crucial. Before embarking on your adventure, always check the weather forecast to anticipate any changes. Inform someone of your itinerary, including your destination and expected return time, and carry a reliable means of communication along with a portable charger to keep your devices powered. Pack extra food to sustain you, plan your route with water refill points, and bring a map and compass—and know how to use them—to navigate confidently.

And above all, don’t forget to pack a sense of adventure!

As you pack down your tent and prepare to leave, cast an eye over where you have camped and ensure to follow the leave no trace principles. Brush back any leaf litter that you have disturbed, clear away your fire, spruce up the lightly compacted spring vegetation that you have slept on back to life and leave the area as pristine as possible for the next traveller to enjoy

Whether you’re canoeing, climbing, bush crafting, or bouldering, Woodlore is dedicated to supporting your outdoor pursuits by offering expert-led courses and high-quality equipment.

www.raymears.com

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Callum Hilder – Aspirant Instructor and Marketing Manager