You might have heard the phrase “Great British Summer” bandied about from time to time, but if you stop to think about what it actually means, you should probably think twice about what you’re packing ready for your summer holiday to the camp sites and caravan parks of the UK. The weather could be fine of course, but over here there is always a chance that it won’t be, so it’s important to make sure you take certain things with you.

Plastic bags are a good start, to keep your wet stuff away from your dry stuff. Re-sealable if possible, so you can use them should you ever go away in the rainy British weather ever again. Perhaps most importantly though is socks. Nothing is more uncomfortable and prone to ruining the holiday you’ve worked so hard to save up for than a wet pair of socks, and if you don’t have a nice, clean, dry pair to put on instead, it’s not going to get any better for you. It’s also a good idea to take a number of different types of socks, for different occasions too.

You will need a very thick pair of socks for inside your wellies, and assuming you’re going to get them wet, a few more pairs too. Wellies are absolutely essential for camping in Britain, because you’re going to ruin those nice shoes even taking a quick trip to the bathroom.

Don’t leave your nice shoes at home though. One of the great things about camping in the UK is the flexibility that it offers you; you can cook some simple beans in your tent, or you can go out for a meal in a country pub, so it’s important that you can look presentable if you want to. And obviously, if you’re taking your nice shoes, you’re going to want some nice socks to match. Several pairs of course.

There’s a chance that it won’t rain, and this shouldn’t be overlooked. You should always check the weather just before you go – BBC Weather is always a good place to start. You should also check Pitchup.com for more advice on what to do when the inevitable rain does come – because it really doesn’t have to ruin your holiday.