Glamping and van camping holidays in the UK are experiencing a surge in popularity compared to traditional pitch camping, social data has revealed.
Camping, in its various forms, has experienced a huge boost in recent years, with 4.5m Brits going on their first camping trip since the pandemic. To reveal the most popular type of camping holiday, and where people are heading, ATS Euromaster, tyre and vehicle specialist, delved into Instagram hashtag data.
71,609 people across the UK have hashtagged glamping or van camping holidays, compared to 47,644 mentions for camping, showing Brits are looking for more than just a pitched tent.
England is the most popular country in the UK for glamping, with 22,511 camping-related tags. Van campers are driving for an adventure in Scotland, with 24,204 tags, whilst wild camping is also popular, with 23,321 mentions across the UK.
Cornwall van camping, credit: Instagram
The data also revealed the most popular counties for glamping and van camping. Despite Scotland being a hot spot for van campers, Cornwall is the most Instagrammable county for those looking to take their campervan away this summer.
Cornwall was also the most Instagrammed county for glamping, proving to be the top destination for Brits looking for a luxury camping experience. The seaside county was closely followed by Norfolk (2,715) and Yorkshire (2,119).
Wild camping was most popular in the Lake District, with 1,048 of the tags being there, whilst Pen Yr Ole Wen in Snowdonia was the most popular place for traditional camping, according to Instagram.
Lake District wild camping, credit: Instagram
For those looking to get away glamping or van camping, ATS Euromaster has compiled a list of five things to do to your car before setting off on a camping holiday:
1. Check your tyre pressure and tread depth – make sure it is at the recommended depth. The legal limit is at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre.
2. Make sure you have a spare tyre and that you know how to change it. You don’t want to get stuck in the middle of the English countryside with no phone signal and a flat tyre.
3. Check your engine oil and vehicle coolant levels and fill up if needs be.
4. Ensure that your battery is not going to run flat while you are on your trip. If your engine seems slow to turn over or your lights are flashing, it may be running low.
5. Check your windscreen for cracks and ensure that wiper blades are functioning properly.
To find out more about glamping and van camping in the UK, click here
Data used to inform findings available here.
