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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this the camping trip from hell.

212 replies

Redgreenfroggy · 27/08/2024 20:30

Just want to start by saying we camp 2 or 3 times a year and have loved it. Don’t know if we have been really lucky with campsites.
yep there has been the odd annoyance but on the whole great.

Arrived at a campsite yesterday and the family in the tent next door just seem to yell at each other all the time. If they are not yelling at each other they are yelling at the dog. The adults are constantly swearing at each other and the two little girls just seem to scream

To make it the 2 girls aged about 5 kept running in our tent laughing and running out again. At one point when DH and DS had bobbed to the campsite shop and I was looking for something in the car I looked back at the tent to see both girls coming out of our tent with one of my sons board games. I stopped them and said they should not take things that dont belong to them and to stop coming in our tent. All I got in return was them both sticking their tongue out at me.

When my DH came back he went over and had a word but they parents could not seem to grasp while we didn’t want their little darlings on our tent and said they would only be borrowing the board game.

Woke up this morning at 6 to the girls running around our tent screaming and shouting for my son to wake up. My son is 12 and wants nothing to do with them. Luckily it stared raining so they went back to their tent.

Later this afternoon came back to the campsite after a day out and not only has a new family pitched their tent right up next to ours so we could literally reach out and touch their tent from standing inside ours, they have pitched over were the car is meant to go.

all the tents are pitched so there is a tent and then a car on the right hand side but they have 2 cars and have just taken up their pitch and half of ours. I did point out this to them but I just got a shrug of the shoulders.

We did mention to the owners of the campsite this had happened and they did say they would have a word if we really wanted them too but could we just put our car by reception. We got the feeling they did not want any confrontation. So our car is now by reception. Not a huge deal but still a bit inconvenient.

i am now in our tent listening to an argument from the family next door. The kids screaming and the dog going bat shit barking. Plus the ones that are right up next to us the bloke keeps hacking at the time.
So you get that massive hack noise as if he is trying to bring something up. The women with him had a cackle laugh that would put Amanda Holden and Alisha Dixon to shame.

My DH has gone out to get ear plugs

OP posts:
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TheSandgroper · 31/08/2025 13:37

Floatlikeafeather2 · 31/08/2025 13:18

@Redgreenfroggy , go back to the managers and complain again on the grounds that they are infringing the safety rules. I can't remember the actual spacing, but the regulations are that tents must be a certain distance apart because of the very real danger of fire from the type of people you're talking about. Also, you're paying for a certain size pitch, which includes a space for your car and you can't use it.

@Redgreenfroggy @twilightcafe

Please note, OP was camping 12 months ago. I really think the problem has been resolved.

twilightcafe · 31/08/2025 13:29

You were too soft with the first family.
Those girls would have been told to get out of my tent RIGHT NOW.
And words fail me with their parents. Children should never wander into anyone else's tent or caravan. Could have come across a pervert.
Useless parents would have been told by me I do not wish to see their damn kids in my tent again.

Floatlikeafeather2 · 31/08/2025 13:18

@Redgreenfroggy , go back to the managers and complain again on the grounds that they are infringing the safety rules. I can't remember the actual spacing, but the regulations are that tents must be a certain distance apart because of the very real danger of fire from the type of people you're talking about. Also, you're paying for a certain size pitch, which includes a space for your car and you can't use it.

Floatlikeafeather2 · 31/08/2025 13:11

KatyaKabanova · 27/08/2024 20:44

This x 1,000,000.
Why on earth do people do it?

Because some people love camping. We don't camp these days but spent years and years doing so. But we chose our campsites carefully, avoided ones with bars, pools and games rooms etc.

11oclockrock · 31/08/2025 13:00

Ty Parke camping in Pembrokeshire, quiet secluded pitches ❤️

Caroparo52 · 21/06/2025 12:38

Sounds like hell. That's why I stopped camping once the kids were fed up with it

Jem57 · 29/08/2024 19:25

Hence the reason I don’t go camping.Hope things improve for you.

Jeannie88 · 29/08/2024 16:47

Unfortunate luck of the draw. Most campers are likeminded and respectful but, as everywhere, there are always some twats! Xx

Teddybear23 · 29/08/2024 15:36

I feel very sorry for you, that behaviour is appalling. I would have packed up and found another campsite. We have a touring caravan and sometimes we too have noisy neighbours so we usually book adults only sites but unfortunately you can’t do that as you have children. Put a bad review on the campsite.

Flavourful · 29/08/2024 12:16

This is the reason why I stopped going camping on an open field and paid for the electric hook up. We had the exact same thing and I swore never to do it again. For the extra money you get your own square footage, give it a go

Life2Short4Nonsense · 29/08/2024 10:17

Redgreenfroggy · 27/08/2024 20:50

. The dad has just called one the girls a useless little fucker. Oh my goodness I want to hug them now. My husband had booked us into a nice b and b for the next two nights so we have tonight and then will be leaving. We are going to talk to the owner about at least a nights refund.

Wow, sounds like my family. Those poor girls. Some couples really should not have kids.

Editted to add: Or pets, seeing as they are abusing their poor dog.

Pippetypoppity · 29/08/2024 09:22

So glad you’re away from it all now. You need a stiff drink and a warm bubbly bath. Then report the dog kick and the verbal child abuse deffo!

Fonseca · 29/08/2024 08:45

At the risk of attracting the anger of 'management' here are the details of the Glam Camping site I mentioned yesterday. Brilliant reviews, lovely people.
Under The Milky Way(Coombe Martin, North Devon)

Sunglow1921 · 29/08/2024 08:33

winterwarmer8274 · 29/08/2024 05:55

YABU leaving a bad review when they gave you a full refund.

Maybe they could have dealt with the situation a bit better, but the family’s actions was not the fault of the campsite owner and after working in the travel industry, people who have already shown themselves to be inconsiderate won’t listen to reason anyway so it’s unlikely the campsite owner would have been able to get them to change their behaviour.

I always think very carefully before leaving a bad review because it can have a really big effect on small businesses.

I disagree. It’s fair to say what happened so other people are warned. Refund or not, It’s not fun to have to put up with that kind of behaviour and leave in the middle of your holiday because the campsite won’t enforce any rules.

As long as the review is factual, there’s nothing wrong with it.

mrssunshinexxx · 29/08/2024 08:02

How is this a holiday?! Just go home

CheekySwan · 29/08/2024 07:44

I would have asked them to move their tent because you have paid for that part of the plot and then gone and complained. I also would have told them to watch their language as I suppose there were a lot of children around. I hope you got some sort of refund.

user1492757084 · 29/08/2024 06:58

You are unreasonable to consider staying one more minute!

Swap to a more remote campsite. Leave a bad review. Maybe the campsite owner knows of a place nearby or can move you to a site that is more private.

ButterCrackers · 29/08/2024 06:57

sunseaandsoundingoff · 28/08/2024 23:09

Harsh when they gave you a full refund, the other people being there weren't their fault.

It’s reasonable to explain what happened because it’s the truth.

LlynTegid · 29/08/2024 06:55

Hope you had a pleasant and restful night's sleep.

Please even if it is after your holiday contact the police or RSPCA. Don't condone cruelty to animals by inaction.

Twiglets1 · 29/08/2024 06:41

The full refund given immediately may partly explain why there are so few bad reviews. But good on you for leaving one anyway to warn others.

Oldgardener · 29/08/2024 06:33

A very badly run campsite. You are doing the right thing by leaving. Dealing with badly behaved guests is part and parcel of making the enviroment good for everyone, so if they can’t do it, and can’t enforce pitch rules then they re going to get bad reviews. Your bad review will prevent others going through what you did.

winterwarmer8274 · 29/08/2024 05:55

YABU leaving a bad review when they gave you a full refund.

Maybe they could have dealt with the situation a bit better, but the family’s actions was not the fault of the campsite owner and after working in the travel industry, people who have already shown themselves to be inconsiderate won’t listen to reason anyway so it’s unlikely the campsite owner would have been able to get them to change their behaviour.

I always think very carefully before leaving a bad review because it can have a really big effect on small businesses.

Prriorayingly · 29/08/2024 05:18

We once had the family from hell camping next to us. We upped sticks and went to another site. It was the only solution.

TickingAlongNicely · 29/08/2024 04:37

TheCompactPussycat · 28/08/2024 23:14

Ideally you need to go to the type of campsite that doesn't have marked pitches. Our favourite campsite comprises 3 large fields where campers pitch up wherever they choose. The trick to avoid close neighbours, although there rarely are any, is to spread your equipment around - the rotary washing-line placed 10 feet away from the tent on one side, the swingball set 10 feet away from the tent on the other, camping table and chairs left a good distance in front of the tent.

(I've pm'd you the name of the campsite. It's fairly basic in terms of facilities but great if you're the type of camper who likes to get off site every day).

That doesn't work if its fully booked out though! The OP said the site had run put of room...

Our favourite campsite has XL pitches. We (and our friends family) book 2 next to each other, and we can fit 2 6XL size tents, a 4 man for the 3 teenagers, a gazebo, 4 cars and still have space left. (Its a bit excessive for 8 people really!)

Swampy1958 · 29/08/2024 03:24

I used to love camping and went as often as I could with now an ex. Sadly due to a disability I can no longer go camping and I miss it. 😒
In your situation I couldn't put up with the people either side next to me. 😡
I'd be looking online for campsites in the area, preferably for adults only and the next morning I'd pack up and go. 😎