Camping magazine - Helping you to be a better camper

How long have you been with Camping magazine?

"I became editor of Camping in 2011 and I can honestly say it’s been an absolute pleasure. I had been a journalist for several years and was a keen camper so I jumped at the chance. There really is nothing better than being able to combine your job with something you love."

When did you start camping?

"We always went on caravan holidays when I was little, but the first tent I ever owned was a Lichfield Combat 3, a sixteenth birthday present from my parents. I had ambitious ideas to tour the campsites of Cornwall but they never got beyond the planning stage, and until I started going to festivals a few years later, the furthest it got was our back garden!"

What do you like so much about camping?

"For me, camping is about getting away from it all – it gives you the freedom to adventure but also the time to relax. And it’s a chance to make memories that will last forever. Even miserable camping experiences can make up part of the rich tapestry of life! But more than anything, camping trips let you have a laugh with family and friends, visit beautiful locations and generally live life to the max. As the saying goes… you’ve got one life, live it."

What are your most memorable camping trips?

"I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy loads of memorable camping trips over the years – but there are a few that really stand out. One was the road trip around Europe, when we passed through 10 countries, swam in two lakes, sailed across another, took a train to the top of the Alps, celebrated Swiss National Day and ate our own combined weight in pizza and gelato. Another favourite was the trip to Yorkshire, when our eldest son learned to ride a bike on a campsite, something we’ll always remember.

And then there was the wild camping trip in the Cairngorms when I looked out of the tent first thing in the morning, just as a herd of wild reindeer passed by.

Possibly my finest camping achievement was a few years ago, when I was set the challenge of camping at least one night in every one of England’s 39 historic counties. I managed it… just! My final night was 31 December, when we celebrated New Year on a campsite in London.

All of those camping trips were completely different, but equally memorable in their own way. And none of them would have been possible without Camping magazine."