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Original poster

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:
Nadeed · 28/08/2024 19:03

The best site I stayed on had lots of kids, but strict noise curfews strictly enforced. Staff made clear if you needed more than 1 warning they would throw you off site with no refunds.

lavenderlou · 28/08/2024 18:57

I don't camp in the UK any more, unless on a tiny C&C club site. Every time there seems to be someone making antisocial noise, or large groups who are up late being loud. On the other hand, have camped many times on France and never been disturbed by any noise, including on some big sites. Even the British campers seem to manage to stay quiet.

ButterCrackers · 28/08/2024 18:53

The car should be moved and the tent pitched correctly for distance. Tell the owners that you will leave a review about your experience. Report the other campers for letting their kids steal your stuff and only stopped by yourself because you came back on time.

DiduAye · 28/08/2024 18:52

Sadly there's a certain type of person who has discovered camping and they have no idea of etiquette or what is acceptable The owner is out of order though Dealing with problems avoids conflict I only ever camp in sites that have strict rules and excellent reviews

pollymere · 28/08/2024 18:51

I try to use campsites that are not aimed at families. Our DC finds it difficult to relax near dogs so we went for Dog Free ones. Bliss. We had a problem with our initial pitching site so we just moved to a different one as there was plenty of room. Some people just don't get camping etiquette. And going in your tent is theft. I'd be reporting it and mentioning "Police Report" in conversation...

rosyAndMoo · 28/08/2024 18:49

You have been really unlucky OP. We only go to places now where pitches are marked out, and I always ask the site team to send us a map of the site when we book, ask what pitches are available and make a request to be as far away from the toilet and shower block as possible. My reasoning is, we don’t have young children, we have been known to drive to the shower block/toilets in a push (we don’t drink so driving isn’t an issue), also people tend to be noisier nearer the toilet blocks as everyone walks past those tents. And I read reviews on UKCampsite NOT trip advisor. This ensure we generally have a good experience, but all the best will in the world can’t stop the Clampits from pitching next to you :(

CatherineMaitland · 28/08/2024 18:48

I haven't read everything; but tents should be pitched a certain distance apart for fire prevention purposes so the campsite owners should absolutely be having a word.

Kjpt140v · 28/08/2024 18:24

Could you not have moved to another peg.

Sousuke · 28/08/2024 18:21

I'm guessing this was a field style campsite without well defined spots. We camped a few times in the hereford area and they were all like that. We try to avoid peak summer camping for places that aren't defined. Sites tend to be emptier when over night temps are below 10C. I like some of the Welsh sites because you are more likely to get a proper cove with tree cover so neighbors aren't close by.

Timebomb1 · 28/08/2024 18:09

cardibach · 27/08/2024 20:32

Camping is shit. It’s even shitter with bad neighbours, but in a hotel they’d be less of an issue , so it boils back down to camping being shit.

Definitely this 🤣

Jumpers4goalposts · 28/08/2024 18:04

OMG this is my worse nightmare. I love camping but my fear is to end up in a situation like yours so we only ever book three nights in a row and then move on to somewhere else just in case.

KSB65 · 28/08/2024 17:56

Can you name the site, so we know to avoid. I use sites where management and owners have proper rules in place and stick to them and will confront other campers if need be. The tent right next to yours is dangerous and a fire hazard as well as the lack of privacy.

Mtlso · 28/08/2024 17:56

Pointless you being there if it’s like this. You can’t stay somewhere where you stuff gets nicked! Leave and ask for your money back in full (under UK consumer law, they haven’t fulfilled what was agreed upon so the contract is terminated). Have a few days in a nice hotel. Good luck OP.

Fonseca · 28/08/2024 17:54

Not sure if I am allowed to post details but friends of mine, a lovely husband and wife team, run a small , inexpensive and beautiful Glam Camping biz in North Devon. I get all the above just sitting in my garden, at least I can escape to the house. Manners and respect have all gone South, already booked my handcart!

fetchacloth · 28/08/2024 17:54

Sorry OP I wouldn't be going to get earplugs, I would be packing up and going home. Sod that for a game of sticks.

elliottsmum67 · 28/08/2024 17:50

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

You don't just get it camping,there's kids in our road running amock, screaming and running in and out of the road,all about 5 years old,no shoes or socks and the parents are nowhere to be seen,they just let them get on with annoying the whole street.... constantly looking when their scooters and bikes get to close to the cars... blooming nightmare... can't wait for winter lol

Original poster
Redgreenfroggy · 28/08/2024 16:41

We have got a full refund from the owners. We did not have to argue they just agreed and gave it to us. We have checked in 40 minutes ago at a lovely b and b. It’s a good job we left as just before we did another couple turned up who had booked on but there was literally no room
for them.

OP posts:
Rubyandscarlett · 28/08/2024 00:35

cardibach · 27/08/2024 20:32

Camping is shit. It’s even shitter with bad neighbours, but in a hotel they’d be less of an issue , so it boils back down to camping being shit.

Lol - this!

Nadeed · 28/08/2024 00:27

I would be saying to the campsite owners when you leave that you have spoken to a relative who works for the fire service and they have said the other tent being so close is a massive fire hazard. And that you are reporting them to the HSE.

In the meantime does your son want to play any of his music really loudly?

UnRavellingFast · 27/08/2024 23:30

Redgreenfroggy · 27/08/2024 21:04

i am seriously thinking of social services and also rspca as DH saw him kick the dog hard.

DS is adamant that he has 3 lots of sweets missing.

Please please do this op.

longestlurkerever · 27/08/2024 23:16

Camping is lovely in certain tightly defined circumstances. There are lots of ways it can go wrong. Shit neighbours is one. I think you'll have to move your pitch. Annoying, but the lesser of evils at this point. I would say at least it's a cheap holiday but some camping fees take the piss these days

GrandesRandonnees · 27/08/2024 23:16

I booked a week on a site in Cornwall, had four lovely peaceful nights and on the fifth day a massive motorhome parked up right next door to my tent. I never saw the people staying in it, just heard them and their music all fucking night, men coming out to have a piss by my tent. At 6am I heard someone leave the van saying “same time tomorrow?” and I decided it was time to go home. They were cunts deeply unpleasant people and I’m sure the site owners were well aware of what went on but didn’t want to deal with it.

The most annoying thing was in my haste to depart I left my freezer blocks in the campsite freezer.

I love camping but people’s ever more selfish and entitled behaviour makes me think very carefully about which sites to stay at. Small and basic doesn’t necessarily equal unappealing to tossers, unfortunately, as I found out recently.

Alanfarthing · 27/08/2024 23:14

Get a cheap caravan and stay on cl sites , bliss. We have had similar experiences though, camping/ caravanning is great, away from people though, there's some utter twats about unfortunately. I'd deffo pull all their pegs out at six in the morning when you loudly pack up and leave.

HesterLee · 27/08/2024 23:14

I had 4 nights in a tent at a festival last month and had a better experience than you!

Enough4me · 27/08/2024 23:11

This has reminded me of some of my worse fears about camping. Your peace can be taken at the whim of your neighbours' poor behaviour. I'd want my sanity back and would definitely get into an argument. If camping was my only choice I'd save the money for some nice daytrips.