Has the ar*e fallen out of camping

[soulstyledevon]

Genuine question.
I’ve not used a campsite for the last 6 months. The last all family camping trip was October half term. Honestly, there were only 7ish vans on the entire campsite.
The campground owners explained there had been a 25% drop of visitors to Cornwall summer 24.
Fast forward to May 25 half term.
I find myself on one of the best campsites in the country and again, it’s empty…

Have members noticed a lack of people camping this last 12 months…?

Cornwall 25

 

[Californication69]

That’s bonkers.
Tbf, we haven’t camped or had a holiday in 12 months.

 

[soulstyledevon]

That’s bonkers.
Tbf, we haven’t camped or had a holiday in 12 months.

As a family, we’ve camped less.
But it’s the constant juggle, of family commitments and work.
I’ve done a few solo runs, either by myself or with mates, without the need of facilities.

 

[colintfcolintf]

Genuine question.
I’ve not used a campsite for the last 6 months. The last all family camping trip was October half term. Honestly, there were only 7ish vans on the entire campsite.
The campground owners explained there had been a 25% drop of visitors to Cornwall summer 24.
Fast forward to May 25 half term.
I find myself on one of the best campsites in the country and again, it’s empty…

Have people noticed a lack of people camping this last 12 months…?

Cornwall 25
View attachment 136637

Where is that please, which site?

 

[Hawthorn37]

Genuine question.
I’ve not used a campsite for the last 6 months. The last all family camping trip was October half term. Honestly, there were only 7ish vans on the entire campsite.
The campground owners explained there had been a 25% drop of visitors to Cornwall summer 24.
Fast forward to May 25 half term.
I find myself on one of the best campsites in the country and again, it’s empty…

Have people noticed a lack of people camping this last 12 months…?

Cornwall 25
View attachment 136637

Yes we’ve noticed a distinct drop in occupation rate in England and Wales (not been to Scotland this year). Ireland was moderately busy in April and early May, particularly Easter weekend.

The CCC site at Priddy in Somerset (Cheddar Mendip Heights) reckoned they were down by a third when we stayed in mid May. I’ve just booked a one night stay in Lincolnshire at a nice looking site for next week, and it looks as if we might be the only van there!

The positive is that there isn’t much issue finding sites with available pitches !

 

[Shadrack]

Genuine question.
I’ve not used a campsite for the last 6 months. The last all family camping trip was October half term. Honestly, there were only 7ish vans on the entire campsite.
The campground owners explained there had been a 25% drop of visitors to Cornwall summer 24.
Fast forward to May 25 half term.
I find myself on one of the best campsites in the country and again, it’s empty…

Have people noticed a lack of people camping this last 12 months…?

Cornwall 25
View attachment 136637

At ripoff prices in the uk, what do you expect

 

[Corradobrit]

Not sure what the problem is. If you had experienced the Austrian sites like I did last Sept with camper vans and tents shoehorned onto every possible available space you will be thanking your lucky stars to be so blessed.

 

[Californication69]

As a family, we’ve camped less.
But it’s the constant juggle, of family commitments and work.
I’ve done a few solo runs, either by myself or with mates, without the need of facilities.

Work 5ucks, need some fast cash to retire.
But then I’d just spend more cash !

 

[Kernowboy]

A drop in demand - so you can wait and see what the weather is doing rather than have to book weeks/months in advance - and an associated drop in prices from the silly levels that some campsites have been able to charge is very welcome. And will help restore the joy. A natural correction from the madness of the early 2020s.
I’m c.3 weeks in to a trip along the WAW and have been able to ring ahead with a few hours notice without fail when using sites, only really to check that I can get in ok into the evening. None have been empty, equally none have been full but acknowledge that most are catering for the touring market rather than family holidays.

 

[JohnCalifornia]

I’ve been away for the last 2 bank holidays. Really struggled to get in anywhere, had to book 3 nights minimum and both sites were full to the brim when I was there. Also booked them 2 weeks in advance. I was concentrating on North Yorkshire only though. Maybe just a bank holiday thing

 

[soulstyledevon]

Bank holidays could still be busy. I get that. Not something I’ve done for a while.
Would rather stay at home…

I guess with a BH, you can tolerate the weather for a couple of days.

On the other hand, taking the family away for a week in Cornwall can be expensive and stressful, especially when the weather’s bad.
Monday - decent ish weather
Tuesday - terrible
Wednesday - cracking
Today - another terrible one…

Maybe people are returning to the overseas package deals.

 

[Louis II]

Last couple of years I haven’t camped much, mostly because I don’t like to commit (fair weather camper) and by the time I realise the weather is nice places I wanted to go were full.
Agree it seems very different this year and I’ve all ready been away a couple of times as a result. One of my favourite sites even seems to have dropped their 3 day limit.
Feels like a change for the better to me, let’s just hope there’s enough demand to keep the sites open.

 

[soulstyledevon]

One of my favourite sites even seems to have dropped their 3 day limit.
Feels like a change for the better to me, let’s just hope there’s enough demand to keep the sites open.

100%
It’s great having the availability and less people around, there’s some cracking UK sites that have appeared over the last few years.
They need to be profitable to succeed.

 

[dspuk]

The three day limit has been a massive pain (CMC don't do this, which means we tend to use them more) - quite a few times we booked the three because we had to and left after two. We just had the BH weekend in Sandringham CCC, it was "very busy" but not quite full, there were spaces. We went last summer and it was packed to the rafters. A lot more tents vs campers and motorhomes as well.

TBH it feels like with the belt tightening people are saving their week away for the summer and staying closer to home for the shorter holidays. One expects the site to be jam packed again if we go in July.

 

[larrylamb]

I think it's been done to death post covid era and now with a lot of expensive pitches people are off back to the med.

 

[flying banana]

p1ss take camp site prices are the main issue. electric included is annoying and paying the same for 1 person as 2 persons is doubly annoying, it's often the same price to get a b and b or hotel which is ridiculous. a bit like how a taxi can be cheaper than getting the train.
couple that with screaming kids and it's easy to see why the shine can quickly go off camping. recently in scotland i intended to use the only camp on islay, for showers etc. i heard the screaming as soon as i pulled into the carpark. i filled the van with water, showered and left. never went back to a site for the full 15 days. i'd rather listen to road noise. huge campsites with shower blocks and playgrounds are now my worst nightmare. i agree with the comments about bank holidays too,stay at home

 

[brcas64]

My two pennies worth
As we mainly stay in Scotland the sites recently have been 50-75% full. Average price £30 a night. Where as you look at Troon north beach which is £10 with little or no facilities it is rammed and MH,s and camper vans squished in. I pass this site everyday and the last four weeks with the good weather it has been rammed. I have seen sites up here with £40-£45 a night especially around Edinburgh.So high cost of sites and the ability to get a free night in a pub car park or £10 a night in an aire seem to be the main reasons. Though on the bright side we stayed in Anstruther the weekend and the site was fairly empty

 

[The Merle]

p1ss take camp site prices are the main issue. electric included is annoying and paying the same for 1 person as 2 persons is doubly annoying, it's often the same price to get a b and b or hotel which is ridiculous. a bit like how a taxi can be cheaper than getting the train.
couple that with screaming kids and it's easy to see why the shine can quickly go off camping. recently in scotland i intended to use the only camp on islay, for showers etc. i heard the screaming as soon as i pulled into the carpark. i filled the van with water, showered and left. never went back to a site for the full 15 days. i'd rather listen to road noise. huge campsites with shower blocks and playgrounds are now my worst nightmare. i agree with the comments about bank holidays too,stay at home

Lots of sites offer service stop, water top up/loo dump/bins and use of showers (around £5). Well worth asking at any, that’s what I do as prefer off grid.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Cost of living having an effect. Some campsites were charging silly prices. I suspect a lot of people took up camping post Covid and then moved on to something else. It requires effort and planning. We go camping with a lot of families in June. They used to bring tents but now they all pay a small fortune to have a bell tent waiting for them.

I wouldn't go to Cornwall for a holiday. I don't want to be in a traffic jam, or rained on and its cheaper to go to France.

 

[flying banana]

Lots of sites offer service stop, water top up/loo dump/bins and use of showers (around £5). Well worth asking at any, that’s what I do as prefer off grid.

i did. was £4 on islay but easy enough to fill up with water and shower and sneak off. if you wanted to.

 

[Californication69]

Cost of living having an effect. Some campsites were charging silly prices. I suspect a lot of people took up camping post Covid and then moved on to something else. It requires effort and planning. We go camping with a lot of families in June. They used to bring tents but now they all pay a small fortune to have a bell tent waiting for them.

I wouldn't go to Cornwall for a holiday. I don't want to be in a traffic jam, or rained on and its cheaper to go to France.

Cornwall out of season is nice.
But yes, I’m looking to start going to france soon

 

[Kayleigh]

Work 5ucks, need some fast cash to retire.
But then I’d just spend more cash !

Have you tried investing in Trump meme coins???

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Cornwall out of season is nice.
But yes, I’m looking to start going to france soon

I was talking to some die-hard camping friends this weekend. Once again we agreed “it’s all about the weather”.

Cornwall nope. Brittany never again. Went for a week to Dorset during Covid. Every time I stood up my chair blew over. Couldn’t light the bbq. Never again, life’s too short.

Also, half the enjoyment of any holiday is not being at home, but being abroad does add something. I’m fortunate that I can be in France in a little over 3 hrs.

 

[soulstyledevon]

Cost of living having an effect. Some campsites were charging silly prices. I suspect a lot of people took up camping post Covid and then moved on to something else. It requires effort and planning. We go camping with a lot of families in June. They used to bring tents but now they all pay a small fortune to have a bell tent waiting for them.

I wouldn't go to Cornwall for a holiday. I don't want to be in a traffic jam, or rained on and its cheaper to go to France.

Oddly we had this very conversation last Friday.
The forecast for Cornwall was iffy, to say the least.
My idea was a run down to Bordeaux.
My wife didn’t fancy the drive. It’s been a hectic few weeks of work for the both of us, we just needed a quiet relaxing week.

Alas.
I’ve reminded her about that decision everyday since.
I’m sure divorce papers will be waiting on our return.
“Could’ve been in Lacanau” gets boring real quick……

 

[Californication69]

Have you tried investing in Trump meme coins???

XRP Lambo, moon etc!