Am I mad to consider going "camping" on my own?

[RiverCityFan]

In a few years time my youngest will have left home and I'm thinking about life on my own.
One idea was to buy a small trailer tent to go off camping at the weekends. I think I've found one that looks easy to set up on my own. I would be staying at proper sites.
In my head I will have lovely relaxing weekends visiting new places in the UK!
The reality may be a little different
Will I stand out like a sore thumb as a single female ? Is it safe
Has anyone gone camping on their own?
Am I mad to be considering this?!

No experience of uk camping but I think this sounds amazing! Hats off to you! Know quite a few people that do solo wild camping but that's a bit more basic I guess.... Great way to see some beautiful parts of the country without spending a bomb / staying in miserable cheap hotel rooms.

Ooh do it! Sounds amazing!

Sounds great! You probably wouldn’t even need a trailer.

I used to do this a lot pre-dc and never had any problems at all. Stayed in some fairly remote places and only ever had positive encounters - tbh most people kept themselves to themselves anyway. Go for it!

Fabulous! A lot of people will just assume you have a companion and they're already in the sleeping bag

I camp alone, I've never had an issue with anyone and always felt safe. I love sitting out and reading a book as the sun sets.

That's a great idea and has made me look forward to doing the same in a few years' time.

My neighbour does this. She’s single in her early 60s. I think you can meet like minded people or other women doing the same, and there’s a sense of safety and looking after each other. Lovely idea.

Sounds great.

My friend does this, she bought an old camper van, did the inside out and now is away most weekends sitting with the doors open, reading a book and looking out to sea

go for it

I used to do this a lot before I met my partner. I had a tent I could put up solo and used to stay a lot on caravan and camping club sites as they seemed well organised and safe for a woman camping alone. I never had any problems.

I have always dreamt of doing something like this, sounds bliss

I would. Sounds like bliss.
Only thing is I would probably go for a pop up tent or an airbeam tent. So much easier to set up on your own.

I do this a lot and I love it. I've never felt odd or out of place on campsites. I do tend to choose smaller, more basic campsites rather than the holiday park type sites which are aimed at families.
The only times I've had a bad experience is when the weather has been really rotten - when you are camping with someone else you can make light of it and cheer each other up, but it's a bit miserable on your own, especially if you are worried about whether your tent will make it through the night!! Other campers do tend to be very helpful in circumstances like that though.

Id do it in a small camper just for ease and being able to do it quite frequently. Tents are a bit faff with all the equipment on your own.

@RiverCityFan Go for it! i'm doing the same once i can get some money together! Need to put a towbar on my car but other than that I would do it next spring

Thanks everyone!
When I first mentioned this plan, my DCs just laughed so you have bolstered my confidence.
A campervan would be the dream but I cant justify the cost and I'm a bit too stiff and creaky to manage in a tent; hence the reasoning behind a trailer tent!

I do it all the time in my van, which isn't really a camper, but you can take the seats out and put a blow up mattress in the back, and it has windows and curtains. Never ever had a problem, or even a comment. I absolutely love it.

Off up to Dartmoor this weekend (except that, unusually, a gentleman friend has invited himself along this time. To be honest, I think that this will be a different experience, but not necessarily a better one. Losing the joys of solitude will hopefully be compensated by (ahem) other pleasures ).

Just saw your update, OP. I deliberately went for a multi purpose vehicle that converts from a child taxi into something I can sleep flat in. So, it's like a warm, cosy steel tent that you don't have to erect. Perfect! It was great in the storms the other week, it just swayed a bit, while the (unoccupied) bell tent next to me was just a sodden heap of canvas by morning.

Buy a campervan
Join vw camper chick and crafty camper on Facebook. You honestly won’t regret it
What’s your budget?

My mum walked Hadrians wall with just her dog for company camping along the way & had a great time, definitely felt safe & she was only in a small tent.

We had a trailer tent as a kid, it was great fun putting it up!

Do you feel confident towing? That would be my main concern especially if you're driving long distances.

@crackofdoom

I do it all the time in my van, which isn't really a camper, but you can take the seats out and put a blow up mattress in the back, and it has windows and curtains. Never ever had a problem, or even a comment. I absolutely love it.

Off up to Dartmoor this weekend (except that, unusually, a gentleman friend has invited himself along this time. To be honest, I think that this will be a different experience, but not necessarily a better one. Losing the joys of solitude will hopefully be compensated by (ahem) other pleasures ).

Enjoy! You can catch up on sleep when you get back 😜

I'm a bit too stiff and creaky to manage in a tent; hence the reasoning behind a trailer tent!

Look at an air beam, game changer and so easy to put up!

Look at an air beam, game changer and so easy to put up!

Very heavy though if you get a comfy one big enough to stand up in.

This is what I was thinking about