Has the ar*e fallen out of camping

[Californication69]

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.

Yep I can get to Dover in 3 hours.
And Portsmouth.
Bro-in-law lives in Fréjus.
Think we will visiting him towards the end of September !

 

[Cali Phillip]

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

And kids zooming around on bikes close by the van with no sign of parents, is not relaxing.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

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

The Pont Aven ferry from Plymouth to Spain is great also. We’ve done that 5 times in 15 years. The last time we drove back via Ile de Re and came back through the tunnel.

France is spectacular for camping. Get the Cool Camping France book. We’ve been going for 2 weeks every summer. Don’t remember a bad campsite. Just bad weather in Brittany.

 

[pjm-84]

Lol....I had one bad campsite in France and I'm 99% certain it was near Frejus.....ended up going back down the coast to La Mole, where we had come from.

Haven't been to France since 2016 but I have a real soft spot for the Tarn region or the mountains, or....actually most of it!

 

[andyinluton]

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

Same here, had a pretty awful 12 months, started with health problems - exploding eyeball!! and ended with loosing both parents suddenly to cancer within a couple of weeks of each other either side of Christmas, then thrown into the mix that we've moved house twice since xmas & had our eldest two kids move out, we really havn't had time to even think about a holiday.

As the dust is starting to settle, Ive just swapped the van & my Morgan for a new 911, it's pretty sing for camping in but fun to drive. Next couple of holidays will be probably to see family in Australia & South Africa. If I get the urge to camping again Porsche do a very nice roof tent!

 

[willwander]

Hopefully things will stay quiet, fed up of stupid prices, big chavy tents and screaming kids.

 

[CaliAndyScotland]

Kids are popular on here.....

 

[Californication69]

Same here, had a pretty awful 12 months, started with health problems - exploding eyeball!! and ended with loosing both parents suddenly to cancer within a couple of weeks of each other either side of Christmas, then thrown into the mix that we've moved house twice since xmas & had our eldest two kids move out, we really havn't had time to even think about a holiday.

As the dust is starting to settle, Ive just swapped the van & my Morgan for a new 911, it's pretty sing for camping in but fun to drive. Next couple of holidays will be probably to see family in Australia & South Africa. If I get the urge to camping again Porsche do a very nice roof tent!

Yep, health problems were a shock to the system, HA & 2 stents at age 53 wasn’t fun.
But losing both parents and moving house twice, that’s some HA inducing stress right there.
Look after yourself, as the family need you.
Oh wait the kids have moved out as well, man, that’s a hellvalot in 12 months.

 

[Californication69]

Kids are popular on here.....

Yeah when they move out.
Which is great, loads of free time to do your own thing.
But then they produce more of the little buggers.
Then you have no time as they need looking after by Nan & Grandad.

So when you have kids you go places with other kids so they can hang out.
Kids out. Want to travel to places with no kids.

Grandkids, then have to holiday with older kids (who think they know everything) and the crawling snot demons who are sick every other week.
What a life.

 

[Mansfieldman750]

I’m just waiting for one of my kids to turn up then we’re off to Keswick but she’s 35 and reasonably well behaved.
Keswick is one place that the campsites are always full. Like this time we’re at Castlerigg because the two in town are full.
On the other hand we went to Mablethorpe for a few days midweek during the good weather expecting it to be busy and there were about 10 campers, which is a shame because it’s a very well kept site.
Maybe that says everything about the relative merits of Keswick and Mablethorpe but I like Mablethorpe. Big skies. Got a Lidl.

 

[andyinluton]

Yep, health problems were a shock to the system, HA & 2 stents at age 53 wasn’t fun.
But losing both parents and moving house twice, that’s some HA inducing stress right there.
Look after yourself, as the family need you.
Oh wait the kids have moved out as well, man, that’s a hellvalot in 12 months.

Still got the 2 youngest at home only 2 moved out.

 

[Californication69]

Still got the 2 youngest at home only 2 moved out.

Well that’s half good news then
Pint half full or empty ?

 

[Wesel]

Kids are popular on here.....

The problem isn't with the children, who have to play to grow up, as we did.
It's often the fault of the parents who don't educate their children.
And we've been bothered more often by uneducated adults who allow themselves to party loudly for most of the night.

 

[willwander]

It’s nice when they move out, but they have a nasty habit of moving back in again.

 

[pjm-84]

both parents suddenly to cancer within a couple of weeks

I can relate to this. I lost my Dad suddenly and then my Sister within a 3month period in 2022 and the grief is still there. I sometimes struggle with my emotions 3yrs on