Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Camping is hell.

492 replies

Thisisnothappeningagain · 29/07/2021 02:53

I havent enjoyed camping since i was a teen. Dp is well into it 'i just chuck a few things in the car and go!' -_- (i wont even get in to how much effort it was to acquire, sort and pack everything for a family and dogs) i finally bowed to pressure and here i am, a trek across a field away from the locked, extremely poorly ventilated, toilets and no idea where in this dark tent trying to take off the key is even though ive tried to keep it in the same zipped pocket. I must have had 5hrs sleep all week.

I HAVE TRIED to be positive, but im seriously struggling to see why this is fun, or relaxing.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
beenbotheringme · 29/07/2021 11:16

I am the least likely camper. I first went under duress with my husband. Now he pretends he hates it and moans constantly. Obviously I would rather be in a 5star hotel but there is a time and a place for camping. It's great family time and good for kids independence. My 12 and 10 year olds put their own tents up. I ban screens and the 7 of us sit around playing uno or cricket. You need a decent airbed. We take duvets as well as sleeping bags and loads of blankets so you can sit out at night.

Also plan decent means. Who wants to eat a fucking sausage. My dh bought some amazing king prawns last time we went and bbqed those and made an amazing fish curry.

We only went 3 nights last time and didn't bother with the washing up at all on the last day - brought it home in a big plastic box and put it in the dishwasher.

It's a day to pack either end on top of your holiday though and miserable when it's raining.

BrozTito · 29/07/2021 11:20

I can only take what i can carry though so no drumsticks. Ration packs with extra pigeon if im lucky is my compromise for more freedom.

ferretface · 29/07/2021 11:20

Enjoyment is very conditions and equipment dependent.

We have a spectrum of camping stuff through from superlight backpacking set up (which is not comfortable, let's be honest) through to large car camping tent with mattress, bedframe. And then we have our selfbuilt camper van.

In the rain, only one of these options is pleasant and it isn't the tents...you can stay dry inside a large tent but putting it away is annoying and you have to take it out and dry it again. Polycotton helps with the heat issue but they can still get unpleasantly warm.

The van is great though. It doesn't really matter if it rains then as you can dry things out properly and it doesn't get that damp clammy feel.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Camping
rantymcrantface66 · 29/07/2021 11:23

I hate the huge amount of packing that is involved. Crockery/cutlery/stove/food/sleepingbags/pillows/clothes/toys/tent/chairs - the list is never ending.

I see a lot of comments like this. You can have all the crockery and equipment on one handy box, the bedding all zipped together in a big IKEA bag, everything else all stored together in the same place so it just takes half an hour to transfer from attic/store cupboard to car. Friends of mine have a trailer that they keep packed and just hook it on to the car and go. Even more efficient but I don't have a tow bar.

Lots of people who last camped as kids or students maybe not realised equipment and tents have come on a lot since then and it can be made pretty dry and comfortable even in poorer weather.

It does cost initially and totally agree it's not a case of buying a cheap Tesco tent and off you go wit it on your back. You need good equipment and a car but I'm far from middle class - very low income single parent - and I've bought bits over 3 years and pick things up in sale etc. I now have pretty much everything I need for a fully comfortable trip. I always pick smaller sites with good facilities

rantymcrantface66 · 29/07/2021 11:24

@BrozTito

I can only take what i can carry though so no drumsticks. Ration packs with extra pigeon if im lucky is my compromise for more freedom.
I feel you are talking about an entirely different camping experience to the majority of camping families though?!
TheHoundsofLove · 29/07/2021 11:24

We took our rescue dog camping for the first time 2 years ago....she was not impressed. I had to do an emergency trip to a local supermarket to get her an extra blanket (she ended up with a velvet throw). She just kept giving me a confused look. And I knew exactly what she was thinking: 'Why are we doing this when we live in a perfectly decent house?' Grin

vixeyann · 29/07/2021 11:25

Done it a couple of times and hated it. I am a poor sleeper but just couldn't get any sleep. The tent is either too hot or cold and noisy, be it people or sea gulls! There's no joy in traipsing across a wet field for a pee for me and dressing it up as a holiday!

GoldBar · 29/07/2021 11:26

Camping isn't a break. It's everything you have to do at home - wash, cook, shower, use the loo, wash up - made 10 times harder and more uncomfortable.

Rosegoldfan · 29/07/2021 11:27

What does it for me is waking up sweating needing the toilet and having to haul myself to the shower block. Then having to wait in a morning queue as my IBS kicks off.

That's not to mention packing the beds, food, cool box and sleeping bags that fill up my car. Then sleeping on blow up beds. Also felt like all our stuff was just stacked messily on the floor.

I felt jet lagged on return like I had been to America. I did enjoy sitting around with my mates talking on a night though but I could do this had I booked an onsite static.

seasonalremarks · 29/07/2021 11:27

I do love camping but this time it has been hard.

We picked a lovely quiet site, pitches are great, facilities lovely.

Unfortunately we are by an RAF air baseConfused. Low flying chinnock helicopters flying over on nightdrills. I actually awoke from a dream with an army officer shouting at me to get moving Private Seasonal.

We also have a herd of cattle behind the tent that are incredibly distressed by the helicopters and make a deathly racket for most of the night. Confused

We then had the septic tanker arrive and then the ride on petrol lawn mower and a carpenter with power tools.

This is possibly the noisiest, quiet campsite in the UK

Average sleep 4hrs max...

Coogee · 29/07/2021 11:27

I appreciate that not everyone has the resources to do what I do

I do and I still prefer to camp or rent a house than stay in a hotel for longer stays. It’s not always possible for short breaks or cities etc.

rantymcrantface66 · 29/07/2021 11:28

Camping in a small 2 bed tent on skye with my best mate and no respite from midges - that tested that friendship

Yeh I wouldn't consider that either 😆. Avoid the west coast entirely- east coast Scottish camping only! You need a bigger tent than the number of people you have, comfy beds and a living area you can stand up in as a minimum for any stay.

ChaToilLeam · 29/07/2021 11:29

We used to go camping when I was a child. Apart from the summer of 1976, which was sunny and warm, it was wet, cramped and miserable.

Tried again as an adult. It was wet, cramped and miserable. And I will absolutely not ever do it again. I’d rather stay at home. There was a reason our ancestors created houses to live in. They were fucking fed up of camping too.

DP is desperate to go wild camping. I have told him he is welcome to go anytime, but there is absolutely no way I would accompany him. I want a decent bed, a proper toilet and washing facilities, protection from the elements and from bugs, and hot coffee I haven’t had to make myself. It’s not a holiday if you are having a more shit time than you would at home.

Viviennemary · 29/07/2021 11:29

Camping is hell on earth. I went once years ago and vowed never again. Why leave a comfortable home to live in a tent. Its madness.

LondonLife3 · 29/07/2021 11:30

I’m totally with you! I have to take 2 expensive days off (self employed) to be cold wet and uncomfortable and stress for a week leading up to it to try and pack everything. DP ends up in such a mood as there’s so much to be done before and after

rantymcrantface66 · 29/07/2021 11:31

@seasonalremarks

I do love camping but this time it has been hard.

We picked a lovely quiet site, pitches are great, facilities lovely.

Unfortunately we are by an RAF air baseConfused. Low flying chinnock helicopters flying over on nightdrills. I actually awoke from a dream with an army officer shouting at me to get moving Private Seasonal.

We also have a herd of cattle behind the tent that are incredibly distressed by the helicopters and make a deathly racket for most of the night. Confused

We then had the septic tanker arrive and then the ride on petrol lawn mower and a carpenter with power tools.

This is possibly the noisiest, quiet campsite in the UK

Average sleep 4hrs max...

I'd be insisting on a refund if they'd advertised a site next to an RAF base as being 'quiet'.

Having said that we've stayed by one and the kids loved seeing the planes but it was quiet at night

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 29/07/2021 11:31

Who things I've list my mind since I've agreed to this trip...

Child free weekend
Camping by canoe... that is, we can only take what fits in the canoe with us. So hike tent, SIMs, sleeping bag, mini stove, change of clothes, food that doesn't a cool box...
No electricity.

I've lost my mind right? We are scoping out a route DH wants to take DDs on. They do this a few times a year....

TheVolturi · 29/07/2021 11:31

@TheHoundsofLove

We took our rescue dog camping for the first time 2 years ago....she was not impressed. I had to do an emergency trip to a local supermarket to get her an extra blanket (she ended up with a velvet throw). She just kept giving me a confused look. And I knew exactly what she was thinking: 'Why are we doing this when we live in a perfectly decent house?' Grin
🤣🤣🤣
BrozTito · 29/07/2021 11:32

My friend got out of their hammock on top of a sheep by accident, noisy buggers.

Annoy · 29/07/2021 11:32

@godmum56

camping in the garden is epic....less than a minute from your own toilet and bathroom all the fun of watching the stars and so on and if it all goes to ratshit then you can go indoors.
I live in the Lake District and camp in my garden a lot with the kids smuggly knowing that the campsite in our village is £30 a night 🤪
TheVolturi · 29/07/2021 11:32

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Who things I've list my mind since I've agreed to this trip...

Child free weekend
Camping by canoe... that is, we can only take what fits in the canoe with us. So hike tent, SIMs, sleeping bag, mini stove, change of clothes, food that doesn't a cool box...
No electricity.

I've lost my mind right? We are scoping out a route DH wants to take DDs on. They do this a few times a year....

Are you married to Ant Middleton? 😂
thriftyhen · 29/07/2021 11:33

Have you tried glamping as a compromise?

rantymcrantface66 · 29/07/2021 11:36

I live in the Lake District and camp in my garden a lot with the kids smuggly knowing that the campsite in our village is £30 a night 🤪

Surely that's just the same as me saying im smug in my house when people are paying £200 a night upwards to stay in a pokey room in the same city during the month of august. Surely the actual point of a holiday is being somewhere different ? 😆

Annoy · 29/07/2021 11:37

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Who things I've list my mind since I've agreed to this trip...

Child free weekend
Camping by canoe... that is, we can only take what fits in the canoe with us. So hike tent, SIMs, sleeping bag, mini stove, change of clothes, food that doesn't a cool box...
No electricity.

I've lost my mind right? We are scoping out a route DH wants to take DDs on. They do this a few times a year....

I take my family canoe camping every year! Only a night or 2 though. Although for my DofE imI did my gold expedition in a canoe... that was fun! You don’t have to carry anything!

I love love love wild camping in the mountains.... not to be confused with fly camping Angry

Annoy · 29/07/2021 11:38

@rantymcrantface66

I live in the Lake District and camp in my garden a lot with the kids smuggly knowing that the campsite in our village is £30 a night 🤪

Surely that's just the same as me saying im smug in my house when people are paying £200 a night upwards to stay in a pokey room in the same city during the month of august. Surely the actual point of a holiday is being somewhere different ? 😆

Fair enough 🤣🤣
Swipe left for the next trending thread