JULIA Bradbury knows that it might surprise people when she admits to having a fondness for ‘glamping’.

In recent years she has become the go-to-girl on TV for outdoor programmes from hosting Countryside to her most recent Britain’s Best Walks shows on ITV.

On camera it seems she’s never one to take the easy route, attempting perilous adventure seemingly without any kind of stress.

“When I’m on a work project you can pin me to the side of a mountain an envelope and I’m happy,” she said, “but when it’s with my family, I like the creature comforts. I enjoy glamping.

“Camping doesn’t have to be uncomfortable and wet. You can be like me and enjoy glamping. If you want the full-on Bear Grills experience then you can do it but if you want to do something a bit more cosy you can do that too.”

Julia is a passionate advocate for camping and caravanning, hardly surprising given that she is currently the president of the Camping and Caravanning Club.

“I’m very proud of that,” she said. “Firstly because I am the only female president in the history of the club. I’m following in footsteps of quite good people like David Bellamy and Lord Baden Powell.”

Julia will be heading to Manchester’s Event City next Thursday in her official capacity to be one of the star guests at the Caravan and Motorhome Show.

“All is good in booming in the camping and caravanning world now. After all. its a six billion pound industry,” she said.

“I think it is shaking off its image now. People are revelling in UK holidays and our beautiful locations. I think programmes like Countryfile and hopefully Britain’s Best Walks have shown us how much there is to do and explore.

“As a result, I think camping is moving into that world of adventure and exploration and is now really seen as something that is good fun to do.

“My dad is the outdoor one in my family,” she said, “whereas my mum was definitely not. She’s 80 now so I don’t think we’ll convert her.

“My dad was the one who took me walking and introduced me to the outdoors and instilled that sense of adventure in me.

“The camping came later because it was something my mum never wanted to do.”

Julia believes camping is an ideal break for families - she has three children, a son, six, and two-year-old twin girls.

“You don’t want the experience to be miserable, although it is good for kids to be bored,” she said. “I do think there is a propensity to try and fill their every waking moment with something. It’s good that they have to make their own play and do their own thing. If you’re camping in a forest, it can be a good thing to tell them to just get out there and enjoy it. It can feed the imagination which is a good thing.

“Also, when you have got young kids it’s a great excuse for you to get involved and use your own imagination.

“Why should adults stop playing? Having young kids is my perfect excuse to keep on doing that,”

After travelling to Manchester next week, Julia will be back on our TV screens at the end of the month hosting Britain’s Favourite Walks.

“It’s a whole evening featuring the top 100 walks as voted for by viewers,” she said. “The results have surprised me and a number of little walks have made their way in there.”

Caravan and Motorhome Show, Event City, Manchester, Thursday, January 18 to Sunday, January 21. Details from www.caravanshows.com