"We can go so many places that a caravan can't" – Gemma's TentBox story

Gemma Hawtin's parents met in the camping club's youth section, and she and her brother grew up attending. "I have been camping all my life, and in a tent on my own from the age of four," she says. "I've never stopped, as I love it so much."

She has now been a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club for 31 years. She owns a caravan. She has owned a folding camper, and many tents.

Then her husband spotted a roof tent for sale second-hand, and they haven’t looked back.

Here's how a lifelong camper became a TentBoxer, where it’s taken her, and what she packs for camping all year round.

"Every weekend we go, it's another holiday away"

Gemma has always camped all year round, and the roof tent didn't change that. In February they were out in the snow at Bramhope, and it didn't stop them. "I would say our favourite part about camping all year round is every weekend we go, it's another holiday away in the fresh air," she says.

They're usually the only roof tent in the field, pitched among caravans and motorhomes. "I do think some wish they could experience what we are doing – you can see it in their eyes," she says. "Some say to me, I don't know how you can go back to camping in tents when you have a caravan. The answer to that is we can go so many more places that a caravan can't. This is the reason we do it, and we discover more places while we travel to places caravans can't get to."

"Each camping trip we changed the way we used it"

"We started with a Lite and ended up with all the accessories for it three years later," she says. "Each camping trip we changed the way we used it."

After three years the Lite gave way to the Cargo, which she now shares with her husband and their dog Willow. The old tent went to someone who now camps alongside them. With the Cargo, a weekend means the Living Pod, a toilet tent and a windbreak. Longer weekends bring the side awning out for the extra space.

In winter they layer up the bedding. "The TentBox down blanket really helps when it gets cold," she says.

Where it's taken them

Much of their camping is with the Leeds District Association: usually just fields with a water point, a bonfire meet in November with fireworks and pie and peas, and a Christmas meet where the children get to see Santa. In the summer they go away for two weeks with Perth and Angus District Association, near North Berwick.

Her favourites are Kielder Campsite and Regatta Fields, near Bridlington, which they visit each October. "I've got up at 5am for the sunrise and to take the dogs out for a walk," she says. "Bliss!" Still on the list are the NC500 and the South Wales coastal roads.

"Pack for it"

Gemma's advice for anyone nervous about camping in bad weather is short. "Pack for it, we always have a raincoat and wellies in the camper as you never know," she says. "A big one is layers are important to keep you warm. We have been out in the sunshine, rain, snow and wind."

She thinks her younger self would love where she is now. "I've always wanted a camper van, and I have the best of both now as I own a VW Caddy and a Cargo, so the dream I'm living in my own way."

Build your own setup

Want a setup like Gemma's and to get out all year round? The Cargo is TentBox's fastest roof tent to open, at 30 seconds, and it can carry gear on top. Add the pieces she's built up along the way and you've got the same all-year camp.

• TentBox Cargo – the tent on Gemma's Caddy Maxi.

• Living Pod – she puts up half of hers for a weekend.

• Cargo Side Awning – the extra space she adds for longer weekends.

• Synthetic Down Blanket – the blanket she says really helps when it gets cold.