Dacia reveals the 20 things Britons love most about camping, from stargazing to the sound

Britain has always been a nation of happy campers – and a new survey has revealed the 20 things Britons love the most about holidaying in a tent, with simply getting a bit of peace and quiet coming top (44 per cent).

Being in the great outdoors (38 per cent) and stargazing (34 per cent) are other aspects of camping Britons treasure, ranking second and third respectively.

In a further nod to nature, morning birdsong is in joint fourth place with exploring new places (27 per cent), followed by the sound of the rain falling on the tent (26 per cent).

The senses clearly evoke a sense of joy for British campers, who also favour the smell of bacon on a camping stove (sixth, 24 per cent), the sound of the tent zip (joint 10th, 20 per cent), and the smell of wet grass (joint 13th, 16 per cent).

Many look fondly upon the challenges too, such as trying to find the tent in the dark (15th, 11 per cent), while others like customs such as telling ghost stories (16th, 10 per cent).

A new survey has revealed the 20 things Britons love the most about holidaying in a tent, with simply getting a bit of peace and quiet coming top (44 per cent)

Almost a quarter (23 per cent) say you can’t beat campfires, which ranks seventh on the list, while 20 per cent love toasting marshmallows (joint 10th), and 17 per cent enjoy taking their dog along for the ride (12th).

Others love going back to basics or using a sleeping bag (joint eighth, 22 per cent), while for some the main draw is making campsite friends (joint 13th, 16 per cent).

Despite its perks, camping comes with some downsides too.

Two in five campers (40 per cent) say they dislike being bitten by bugs while for one in five (20 per cent), it’s sharing a tent with a snorer.

Other camping dislikes are having to go to the toilet in the middle of the night or having insects come into the tent (both 37 per cent).

The findings come from a new nationwide survey by car firm Dacia, which ‘has proved once and for all that Britons are a nation of keen campers’ with a ‘resounding’ 82 per cent claiming they either ‘like’ or ‘love’ it, the company says.

While the remaining 18 per cent are happy to admit they ‘hate’ it.

THE 20 THINGS BRITONS LOVE MOST ABOUT CAMPING

1. Peace and quiet (44 per cent)

2. Being in the great outdoors (38 per cent)

3. Stargazing (34 per cent)

4= Exploring new places (27 per cent)

4= Morning birdsong (27 per cent)

5. The sound of the rain falling on the tent (26 per cent)

6. The smell of bacon on a camping stove (24 per cent)

7. Campfires (23 per cent)

8= Sleeping bags (22 per cent)

8= Going back to basics (22 per cent)

9. Saving cash on a hotel (21 per cent)

10= The sound of the tent zip (20 per cent)

10= Toasting marshmallows (20 per cent)

11. Feeling good about one’s carbon footprint (19 per cent)

12. Taking the dog (17 per cent)

13= The smell of wet grass (16 per cent)

13= Making campsite friends (16 per cent)

14. Having a digital detox (13 per cent)

15. Trying to find the tent in the dark (11 per cent)

16. Ghost stories (10 per cent)

Source: Dacia

Some 23 per cent say you can’t beat campfires (seventh in the ranking) and 20 per cent love toasting marshmallows (joint 10th)

Morning birdsong is in joint fourth place with exploring new places (27 per cent), followed by the sound of the rain falling on the tent (26 per cent)

Overall more than a third (36 per cent) of camping fans feel more optimistic or satisfied with their life when surrounded by nature.

And with overseas trips out of the picture for many this year due to cost, 44 per cent say they have chosen to camp in the UK this summer in a bid to save cash.

Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of Britons say that the UK is the best place in the world to go camping, with the Lake District coming out on top as a favourite destination for it.

Luke Broad, UK brand director for Dacia, said: ‘We want to encourage Brits to make the most of spending time outdoors with their loved ones during these summer holidays.

‘With the research highlighting the positive impact of being outdoors, we hope it encourages more Brits to go on alternative holidays, such as camping, due to it being an affordable and enjoyable way to spend quality time with friends and family.’

For campers seeking a comfortable experience this summer, the car brand offers a Sleep Pack for its Dacia Jogger model, which has a ‘spacious’ interior that turns into a bedroom for two ‘in a matter of minutes’, the company claims.