Camping is hell.

[Thisisnothappeningagain]

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.

I have a romantic idea of camping that none of my few real life experiences have led up to.

Camping is fine when you're a student on a budget. Just. It makes life as difficult as possible when you can't sleep comfortably or cook easily and end up hanging around aimlessly in the rain. Going across a muddy field in the pitch black at 3am because your efforts to drown your unhappiness with wine means you're desperate for a wee. Topped off by a lukewarm and pubey shower in the morning.

I'd rather stay at home and do chores than camp.

Camping looks lovely I always think, from photos, but that misty sunlight and glowing campfires is a screen to rain, no beds and gallumping through a field at night for a piss.

Totally 100% with you! I've only been twice I think and once to Reading Fest. The last time put me off forever. We had a 2 man tent which leaked after a night of torrential rain somewhere in mid Wales on a campsite on a slope. No showers and shared toilets with a group of bikers! It was def an experience. We ended up sleeping in the car and went home the next day. It has been caravans all the way since then!

A few of my friends attend a festival with us every year. Whilst we all love camping (the trick is the right gear), they hate it. So, we have a group tent for the day time that functions solely as a living room and they go back to the hotel at night.

Now please, go home and never set foot in a campsite again. There's no point in torturing yourself for the sake of your family.

Ha ha. I loved camping. We always went with friends and had a great time. Kids playing, us drinking wine etc.

Then we camped on a lovely clifftop campsite and the wind was so bad it ripped the tent from its groundsheet (we weren't in it). Never camped since.

It's great on a sunny day but not so much in a deluge.

An awful lot of people do buy large cheap tents. I have seen a lot of them damaged or collapsed when camping near the sea. They just aren't designed for those conditions.

I can’t think of a single good thing about camping. Not one. It’s torture.

I’ve got friends in the US who often go camping. It looks so exciting and fun, with dramatic scenery in some beautiful national parks. They always have good weather. I’d happily join them but camping in the uk doesn’t appeal to me at all.

Only been camping once as a smallish child but I still remember how uncomfortable it was. I think my parents must have hated it too because I can only remember one trip…

I'm a seasoned camper.
I think picking the right campsite is essential. We always pick one with indoor space, pool ect.
And the weather of course! Nothing worse than sitting in a tent while it's raining and everything is getting damp!

I totally agree. I can't fathom how people think that being uncomfortable is fun. I've definitely given it a fair go, but I wouldn't encourage anyone else to. Having everything and everyone inside an oversized bag for life is a real test of character, not a jolly experience.

It’s not great camping weather right now!

I love camping and get of the best sleep ever but you do need the right kit (which is different for everyone!), clothes and campsite (again different for everyone!)

Hope you can get home soon

I weirdly love camping.After reading this thread I can't remember why 😁

I love camping but I can sleep through anything (a thunderstorm last weekend) and I never get up in the night for the toilet!

However, I do hate that 'everything is wet, we can't get it dry' feeling so I think it's fair to say I am a fairweather camper

The weathers been really awful this week too… without that, it’s really just a week spent crammed together in a sweaty polythene bag.
Oh yes, with no sleep.

Not for all the tea in China!!!

Camping is lovely if you've carried the essential kit half way up a mountain and you are miles away from every one else except your partner. Still okay if it rains. Move higher up mountain next day without seeing anyone. Camp sites are awful usually.

Camping is only fun in nice weather, on a nice site with nice facilities and with a decent air bed. Then it can be really lovely. I agree the packing part is horrible though. If it rains it’s just not worth going or staying. We only ever go for a long weekend at the last minute if the weather is lovely.

I hated it. Never slept, always freezing no matter what the weather and the slightest noise woke me. The worry that I had to flip flop my way to the loo meant I constantly had to go, as going to the loo was always in my mind. Cooking sausages on a camp stove under an umbrella was memorable.
A trailer tent was a bit of an upgrade but when we woke up to snow one year enough was enough -never been since.

We are the types who should definitely enjoy it, we kept trying but one time we were on a gorgeous campsite in perfect weather and we still hated it so we haven't been since!

Aww I can empathise Op. Only ever camped once, 1 night, never ever to be repeated. It’s total shit IMHO.

Ration packs, right gear, practice and location are the secret.

Wet weather can quickly turn camping into a grind and make everything difficult and depressing.

Camping is absolutely shit. There is literally nothing about it that isn't shit. Words have not been invented to describe how much I hate it.

We’ve just come back and had an amazing time. 3 nights wasn’t really enough but that’s all we could get a booking for.
It’s a bit bleak in the wet, obviously.
The kids got up late, we all swim in the lake, then drink wine and play games and BBQ food the rest of the time. Pretty brilliant really, and peaceful.
Bit if you don’t like it, just don’t go 🤷‍♂️