One of the biggest problems when trying to sleep in a tent is finding a good head support. A pillow is generally too big an accessory to stick in a rucksack – and too embarrassing to tie to the outside. So you just grab a towel, wrap it tightly round your clothes, and have a dreadful night's sleep as they slowly spill out, damp and smelly.
But there is an alternative, providing you are prepared to consume the contents of a wine box first. A pal from Scotland gave me this tip, and we have called it the Glasgow pillow ever since.
At the end of your convivial evening, pull off the cardboard box to reveal the inner wine bag and stopper. With the stopper open, blow the bag up, then close the stopper again. And there you have it: the Glasgow pillow.
The bags used to be big silver affairs, a bit like space blankets, which can feel quite classy; now there is a trend for transparent plastic. Pack a pillowcase and it won't make any difference. And any type of wine will do (although the stronger it is, the less likely you are to need the pillow) – but if you are on your own, you'll need to make a few friends, or you could end up drunkenly throwing away the bag and wearing the box as a hat.
The Glasgow pillow takes its place among other similarly named camping innovations – notably the Glasgow shower (cleaning yourself all over with a baby wipe) and the Glasgow bath (using two).
