To think camping is absolutely bollocks

[FuckYrBellTent]

It's crap isn't it?

Everyone else has fancy tents you can stand up in, we have a squished up, leaky four man. There's a puddle in the middle of it. It's rained non stop. My head is aching. I had an argument with DH over putting up the tent. Everyone has a sore back. Nobody can dry out. The kids (7 and 10) tag teamed us by needing the loo all night and wanting one of us to come with them. We are meant to be here for one more night. Aibu to go home early?

We used to enjoy camping, but I think our tent days have reached a natural conclusion. It's shit unless it's blistering sun. If we wanted to be stuck indoors with whining kids we could do it in the comfort of our own home, with ready access to toilets and kettles. It always ends up raining and it's really properly lashing so not even the type you can go out in anyway

We are poor and this is the only type of holiday we can afford, but I really don't think it's worth it

[Namechangetempissue]

If it is that shit then go home! Sounds like you are all miserable and knackered. Camping in constant rain is awful.

[kalinkafoxtrot45]

YANBU. Camping is the devil's work. Our ancestors invented houses for a very good reason.

[TondelayaDellaVentamiglia]

dearie, it sounds dreadful....I'd go home!

I really do understand the whole attraction of wild camping, living in the wilds, with wonderful views, no one for miles, privacy, nature, scenery

but generally camping in the UK sounds an utter misery of dampness and setting up home next to your car and the very very many cars of all the others who wanted some peace and quiet....it's just never going to end well!
I'd sooner not go anywhere tbh!

[Beenbadwolf]

YABU I love camping!!

Firstly get a camping toilet. No trips in the dark to the loo.

Think of it more as team time. Time to work together as a team by getting the kids to help put up the tent. Put the kids on washing up duty. Give them a score....who can get the highest by the end of the holiday? If you are stuck inside then play games. Come together as a family and enjoy each other's company. Share the jobs and then there's more time to have fun, even in the rain!!

Camping is a time to have a break from the daily grind and relax. That's certainly possible with kids aged over 4.

Failing that, camp abroad

[TheDonald]

Yanbu. It's shit. Holidays are meant to be a break from normal life, not harder.

And I say this as an ex-camping fan who saw the light. Airbnb with toilets, showers and sofas from now on.

I don't even think it costs much more by the time you have replaced crappy bits of camping gear or decided to go to the pub rather than cook soggy pasta in the pissing down rain!

[ghostyslovesheets]

it's solvable with:

a bigger tent
decent beds
camping toilet
dvd player
wine - lots of wine

but if you are wet and fed up I'd go home

I enjoy camping a lot but if it's really wet it can be vile

[HemanOrSheRa]

Urgh. It sounds utterly grim. Very occasionally I suggest we try camping - I get all misty eyed about 'going back to nature'. DP snorts and gives me The Look and I soon snap out of it . I'd go home OP.

[rollonthesummer]

Camping in the rain is fun for nobody!!

[FlaviaAlbia]

Speaking as someone with a collection of tents, YABU, but you do need a new tent

The latest tent we got from Decathlon, you just inflate rather than use poles. It literally takes less than 10 mins to pitch.

[Blossomdeary]

Bollocks indeed! Get thee to a nice comfortable dry sofa at home with a nice cup of tea!

[MadamPatti]

That reminds me of our last camping holiday. I'd go home. X

[Blossomdeary]

PS Children can do a country wee at night.

[BrieAndChilli]

After several years of camping as our main holiday - due to cost - I came to the conclusion that camping is horrible if doing it as well as days out, trying to look nice for meals out etc but it's fine if doing it for the sake of camping for a couple of nights.

[FuckYrBellTent]

That's what I'm coming to realise. The people who are still having a good time have the extra fancy tent with add ons, camping everything, proper stoves, big bbqs, camping wardrobes, camping fridges, big cars to keep it all in....it would cost the same to buy all that as a cheap few nights in a b&b.

[SaucyJack]

I love camping! But you're not wrong in that you need to invest a certain amount of money in your equipment to have a decent time.

If you wanted to keep it up next year, and you can get a spare £300 together, then you can do a lot worse than <a class="break-all" href="//www.amazon.co.uk/skandika-Montana-8-person-Family-Tunnel/dp/B01E3UR69U?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21" rel="nofollow noindex" target="_blank">this.

[CodLiverOil556]

YANBU I fucking detest camping, it's miserable at the best of times never mind when it's been raining. Pack up and go home

[FuckYrBellTent]

We have been weeing in the hedge all night, but poos were also needed. Grass is calf high and sopping wet.

[ghostyslovesheets]

I've built up my camping gear from basic to glamping but it's taken about 5 years - there is no way I would go without electric now and I've gone from a 6 to a 10 man tent!

I also never go alone - we always camp in a gang with lots of kids - so they go off and have adventures and we have wine

[RatOnnaStick]

Walls that move. No.

[BarbarianMum]

Camping is great if you have a weatherproof tent and it's not raining. If it is raining then just go home. And before next time buy a new tent (doesn't have to be massive but should keep the rain out). Beyond a certain age you'll wantone you can stand up in too.

[exWifebeginsat40]

camping is shit. and tents are shit, the leaking flappy pricks.

i'm not going to any more festivals unless we get a camper, like all my civilised friends. fuck camping. fuck it right in the ear.

[FuckYrBellTent]

I always start out enthusiastic, a few times the weather has been nice and it's been ok but I've still been so happy to get home at the end. I have blamed the shit times on our lack of preparation, but honestly we couldn't be any more prepared and it's still shit!!

[RiversrunWoodville]

My bestf is into camping but I just can't see the attraction we either go away (U.K. no passport yet) when we can afford or don't when we can't. She's threatened to set her tent up in our garden to "make" us come round to the idea my growled reply and dds marked lack of enthusiasm and DHs look of horror put her off

[ghostyslovesheets]

I'm not a fan of Skandika as I like a sewn in ground sheet

I have www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hi-Gear-Kalahari-Elite-10-Family-Tent-Complete-Set-/192220355688?hash=item2cc139dc68:g:n9UAAOSwz71ZRVAj this but it was a slight second and under £200

[KingJoffreysRestingCuntface]

I think camping was nice back in the old days when we couldn't travel, mostly lived in squalor, drew water from a well, lit fires for warmth, hunted for food and chucked our own shit on our doorstep.

It was a change of scenery and we had to camp because we couldn't reach a detonation in one day because cars weren't invented and the whole family travelled on a sad donkey.

Now it just seems insane.