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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:
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Themadcatparade · 30/07/2021 19:02

Going against the grain here… I absolutely love it. There is something about being so raw and with the earth, we even have a mountain tent we wild camp up mountains in.

I find it liberating.

Fizzbangwallop · 30/07/2021 19:02

If I want to experience the great outdoors and fresh air I’ll go to a nice park or enjoy a country walk then go home again. If I fancy eating outdoors, I’ll have a barbecue in my garden, have a picnic or go to a nice pub garden. I genuinely don’t understand why anyone would want to be so uncomfortable without proper beds, cooking facilities or private bathroom. I’m sure camping can be lovely for those that enjoy it, but I’ve never been slightly tempted to try it. I won’t stay anywhere less than 3 star!

Neondisco · 30/07/2021 19:07

Camping is shit. Just sending solidarity op xx

Interested in this thread?

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Camping
GrandmasCat · 30/07/2021 19:08

A park is not the great outdoors.

But a camping site is not the great outdoors either. It is just a rural overnight parking with the usual dodgy toilets and some extra showers.

GrandmasCat · 30/07/2021 19:09

Wild camping, that’s another story. The loneliness of the landscape makes up for all the inconvenience.

Violinist64 · 30/07/2021 19:12

I am totally with you, OP. I have always said that l would rather not go on holiday at all than to stay in a tent. Camping is not a holiday at all in my opinion, there is no break from all the jobs you have to do at home but in far worse conditions than at home. Added to this, l have chronic hay fever and a love of a comfortable bed and proper facilities. Fortunately, DH feels the same way.

DagenhamRoundhouse · 30/07/2021 19:12

My memory of camping is as a child, with my Dad, in his ex Army tent (literally WW2), which smelt horrible. I recall eating condensed milk from the tin while the rain dripped through a hole in the roof. As others have said, I'd rather not go away than have to camp.

chaosrabbitland · 30/07/2021 19:13

i quite like camping and dd loves it , its a fairly cheap way to holiday which is why i do it as im a single parent , but it can be absolute hell if its raining , just awful ,we have been very luckly and always had good hot weather , i sleep like a log and so does dd so noises like dogs barking and ppl talking dont bother me at all , in fact it lulls me to sleep lol , the only problem i had was one year a mosquito got into the tent and hearing it whine away the minute i got into bed , knowing it was going to bite me was torture , strangely enough neither i nor my friend who liked coming with us thought to buy a bloody can of spray to kill it with , we just moaned about our bites in the morning , but you do have my sympathy for the rain though op ,

Threewheeler1 · 30/07/2021 19:15

GoldBar
So absolutely spot-on!

Crowsaregreat · 30/07/2021 19:17

2 night limit. 3 at absolute max. No deal without an airbed.

ArabellaScott · 30/07/2021 19:21

Aye, camping is shite but you just have to get on with it. Formative and character building for your children. Smile

Panickingpavlova · 30/07/2021 19:21

UK with you op, I'm too old for it now.
Either baking hot in day or freezing at night.
I couidnt do it with children

MrsArchchancellorRidcully · 30/07/2021 19:23

I'm with you. I hate camping. Cold, wet and depressing. We bought a caravan in 2018 and love sticking the tv and heating on when it's pissing down. Absolutely love it. Getting ferry to Spain next summer!

KatharinaRosalie · 30/07/2021 19:38

but you just have to get on with it.

No, no you don't. That's the great thing about being an adult, nobody can make you go camping.

Livelovebehappy · 30/07/2021 19:50

The thought of camping is always so much better than actually camping. In your head you think of lovely days in the countryside, playing pooh sticks with the kids, singing round a camp fire. Like some Enid Blyton book. But the reality is lack of sleep, usually crappy weather, awful toileting facilities, flies and walking around like a tramp for the duration of the trip. I really would like to love camping, because on paper it sounds fun.

pictish · 30/07/2021 19:58

@Themadcatparade

Going against the grain here… I absolutely love it. There is something about being so raw and with the earth, we even have a mountain tent we wild camp up mountains in.

I find it liberating.

So do we. Our expedition tent we call it. For the mountains. We have four tents, all for different types of camping. Absolutely love it.
Sparklingbrook · 30/07/2021 20:04

Aye, camping is shite but you just have to get on with it

But it's supposed to be a holiday. Grin That makes it sound like root canal surgery. Something to get through-which I suppose it is really.

cptartapp · 30/07/2021 20:10

We camped last week when the weather was fab. That makes it or breaks it tbh.
Have camped for ten years with the DC who are now teens. Probably only a couple of years left in us tbh. Three nights is our max, and we have a great set up with separate bedrooms, carpets, duvets etc and are picky about campsites.
As our only holiday though? No way. It's usually shortly followed by ten days under a palm tree somewhere.

Mackymacmacface · 30/07/2021 20:33

@Ylvamoon please share these UK campsites with indoor pool!!!

bemusedmoose · 30/07/2021 20:36

It's a bit marmite personally I love it but I get that it's not for everyone - my mum hates it so I never went as a kid but once I did a school trip camping I fell in love with it.

The fold up camp beds are so much better than inflatable beds (never managed to sleep on one without waking up to it completely flat!)

Dont have a car so it's a case of tent and camp fridge on a sack truck, back pack with gas, cooker, pans, clothes and sleeping bag. Kids take a backpack of essentials and a sleeping bag. Then it's 2 trains and a ferry to IOW. Usually get a week bus ticket and zoom around the island and chilling on beaches with chips. We're pretty easy going and don't do activities, just explore and roam and enjoy the down time. It's just me and kids so we don't take more than we can carry and that suits us.

I love waking up really early, before the kids and getting a coffee on the stove, dew thick on the grass and a nip in the air, watching the sunrise with a hot brew... It's my time to feel completely free of everything. When I'm done feeding my soul, I whack on the bacon which immediately gets the kids up in a great mood, narf down a bap then off to play on the beach, swim... Even in the rain (we just did that Wednesday) which is awesome as we almost get the beach to ourselves, except for a few other crazies who are also loving it.

You can either make the best of it or go home really

pictish · 30/07/2021 20:46

“I love waking up really early, before the kids and getting a coffee on the stove, dew thick on the grass and a nip in the air, watching the sunrise with a hot brew... It's my time to feel completely free of everything.”

Ditto. I’m always up first, making coffee and anticipating the day ahead in peace, enjoying the early morning light and air. It’s a nice time for wildlife too.

ViceLikeBlip · 30/07/2021 20:55

The trick to camping is to find the exact right amount of alcohol that lets you sleep through the absolute racket that is Other People Doing Shit, but doesn't have you up in the night for a piss. I find spirits work better for this than beer #yourewelcome

ViceLikeBlip · 30/07/2021 20:59

Ps the actual best bit about camping for us is that it's a way we can "go away" with a few other families, so the kids disappear off for most of the day, and the adults just sit around drinking tea and eating biscuits, and occasionally making noises about how we should check on those kids in a minute. Camping with just my own family would be hell.

FrenchBoule · 30/07/2021 21:10

I loved camping before I had kids. We used to just chill,eat when/what we wanted,sleep as much as we wanted and go/do whenever/wherever we wanted. Weather was rubbish-there was a book,crosswords or just sitting on the on the beach watching the tide come in/out.

Then kids came,one with ASD. After spending a week in a fucking tent in bent position all the time as it wasn’t high enough to stand straight, kids whining, meal routine, (or lack of it),pissing rain I was ready to cut my throat.

Never again camping with small kids.

Went to caravan holidays and everybody loved it.

Snoopsnoggysnog · 30/07/2021 21:12

@ViceLikeBlip

Ps the actual best bit about camping for us is that it's a way we can "go away" with a few other families, so the kids disappear off for most of the day, and the adults just sit around drinking tea and eating biscuits, and occasionally making noises about how we should check on those kids in a minute. Camping with just my own family would be hell.
Agree with this, we go once a year with friends, our DC love it and all the adults moan about the cold / rain / toilets etc but we usually cook a lovely dinner and breakfast, and drink plenty of red wine which helps us sleep, and bugger off home early if it’s throwing it down, which we did last year.

With just me, DH and our DC it would not be a fun trip away and we’d all get on each other’s nerves.

So camping is mostly shit unless you have some good mates you can share a drink and a moan with.