Catalunya's mild climate makes for a pleasant camping experience but avoid winter months - from November to February - if you’re sleeping in a tent. Temperatures can often drop below 0°C at nightfall. The best time to go is from April to September, avoiding the sweltering summer months of July and August when temperatures can reach 37°C. Camping is prohibited in the region’s national parks, such as Aigüestortes Parque Nacional. Instead, look for one of the many designated camping sites in the surrounding villages (www.campingscatalunya.com). The most popular campsites in summer, however, are those that run along the Costa Brava and the Costa Daurada.

A light to middleweight tent should be fine for both coastal and mountain camping. Good places to buy tents are El Corte Ingles and the sports megastore Decathlon (www.decathlon.com), which both have sales on at the beginning of July. Essential items to take with you include a torch, Swiss army knife (with all-important bottle opener), lighter, basic first aid kit and sleeping bag.

Campsites in Catalonia are generally equipped with a range of leisure facilities. Many have swimming pools, a small supermarket and a bar or entertainment in the form of tennis, volleyball, beach football and games in the pool. For those who enjoy the rustic nature of camping but can’t sleep without the comfort of a bed, you will find many campsites have fully-equipped bungalows available. For more information consult the Federació Catalana de Campings i Ciutats de Vacances website: www.campingscatalunya.com.