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Original poster

Do you love or hate camping?

264 replies

Mumtothreegirlies · 30/06/2023 00:02

I just read another thread where a women was saying how she didn’t like camping.
I get why some people don’t like camping but I was surprised about how many others also hate it and they way they talked about their hate for the outdoors.
My question is, am I weird for loving being outdoors amongst the dirt and leaves?
Sometimes I go out in my car and park up in the countryside just to get away on my own and for my birthday I’m actually going away for the weekend on my own camping.
am I weird or is there anyone else out there that gets me?

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6
nancy75 · 30/06/2023 08:42

Not a chance, been camping once & it was once too often!

I’m a city person, I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do in the great outdoors (unless it’s a beach).
Once you’ve seen the view what do you do then? (this is a genuine question - I can’t understand what you’d do in holiday in the country side)

doris9034 · 30/06/2023 08:42

I love camping! However we do have a high inflatable bed with a mattress topper, duvet and pillows so very comfy. We also take our pizza oven, event shelter, mini fridge and about a gazillion other home comforts so it very far from just sleeping on the ground in a field!! And we always go to sites with decent facilities!

Malarandras · 30/06/2023 08:44

I love being outdoors but I hate camping. I do not get it. No toilet or shower? Not for me thanks. I hire cottages when I go on holiday. But each to their own, the world would be a boring place if we all liked the same things.

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Camping
VWFF · 30/06/2023 08:47

Malarandras · 30/06/2023 08:44

I love being outdoors but I hate camping. I do not get it. No toilet or shower? Not for me thanks. I hire cottages when I go on holiday. But each to their own, the world would be a boring place if we all liked the same things.

We have a toilet tent.

We go abroad on holiday in hotels too. A weekend away In the van is so cheap so we enjoy that too many times a year.

I agree though it's not for everyone.

Netcam · 30/06/2023 08:49

nancy75 · 30/06/2023 08:42

Not a chance, been camping once & it was once too often!

I’m a city person, I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do in the great outdoors (unless it’s a beach).
Once you’ve seen the view what do you do then? (this is a genuine question - I can’t understand what you’d do in holiday in the country side)

We go walking every day in beautiful, scenic locations. Nice breakfast and proper morning coffee, make a packed lunch and flasks of more coffee, find a decent walking route online and drive there. Walk for a couple of hours, have our picnic lunch, walk for a couple more hours back to the car. Come back and shower, make dinner, cooking outside on our little griddle if the weather's good enough, then relax with a small glass of wine and a bit of Netflix.

Do you love or hate camping?
RabbitsRock · 30/06/2023 08:49

Used to love it but I couldn’t cope now with all my aches & pains. Glamping would be great as long as there’s a comfy bed!

Zipps · 30/06/2023 08:57

Love the outdoors but hate camping. Alas have to do it for motorcycle rallies.
Our campervan is my lower limit for normal holidays and that feels like roughing it but in a nice way and useful for festivals. I like to have a variety of holidays over the year and the necessary camping makes me appreciate the Five star hotel with luxury superking mattress, fabulous shower and onsite spa holidays we take, even more.

HowLongTilChristmas · 30/06/2023 09:22

Hate it!!!

Went to Shell Island in 1982 with my boyfriend, my friend had lent me her unused tent… the weather turned as we were putting it up and the fly sheet/waterproof
part (?) blew away!

That night a storm came in and water poured through the tent, we were stuffing loo roll in any gaps to save our clothes and sleeping bags.

We drove home in miserable silence, sopping wet and stinking. I had to pay for a new tent by myself as he said it was my fault it blew away!

So…. Left on Sunday morning, lovely happy couple of 6 months….arrived home Morning lunchtime, couple split up!!

HopefulOrange · 30/06/2023 09:30

Netcam · 30/06/2023 08:41

This is our camping, we got this micro caravan last year, a bit quirky but fits in our garage and gives us a proper bed, toilet, hot water and a little kitchen. We love the outdoors and walking, but DH and I are in our early 50s and want a bit of comfort.

That looks so cosy! What a lovely set up.

We also like our comforts when camping.
We only stay at campsites with toilets and showers. No wild camping 😂

Such a great feeling waking up to the sounds of nature & fresh air.

Also love hotels & b&bs, but camping at couple of times a year is great fun

Nussbaum · 30/06/2023 09:43

nancy75 · 30/06/2023 08:42

Not a chance, been camping once & it was once too often!

I’m a city person, I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do in the great outdoors (unless it’s a beach).
Once you’ve seen the view what do you do then? (this is a genuine question - I can’t understand what you’d do in holiday in the country side)

I don't know about others, but I spark the BBQ up ( it's slightly bigger than a disposable one and folds completely flat ) and get the steaks going.
I don't do EHU.
Then it's into the campsite bar for a few drinks and a laugh with the other happy campers.
Then it's into my maggot for sleep in between nipping round the back of the tent for a pee.
Then in the morning I'll flip flop to the showers, quick shower, stop at camp shop for some breakfast rolls and be eating them while the other happy campers are waking up with hangovers.

HereComesYourMam · 30/06/2023 09:59

I wouldn't say I love it, but I like it enough to want to go now and then, for a few days. Wouldn't be up for whole weeks at a time, as a main holiday.

My favourite thing about camping is sitting round the fire, and this is a deal breaker when booking a site - if they don't allow them they are ruled out.

My least favourite thing is the dickhead campers who think everyone else on the site wants to listen to the shit music blasting out from their car stereo. Yeah no, we don't thanks.

Hillbilly · 30/06/2023 12:07

The secret to happy camping is to have the minimum amount of the best gear possible 😊

kelsaycobbles · 30/06/2023 12:12

I love camping although at times crawling into the tent seems a bit much these days

Crawl because it's a very small tent that I take for a (long) walk somewhere nice and quiet and away from it all before pitching

VWFF · 30/06/2023 12:14

@Netcam I love your set up.

sanityisamyth · 30/06/2023 12:15

Love it but hate putting tents down. I don't seem to sleep well either, although I'm not great at sleeping anyway!

Greatbumble · 30/06/2023 12:20

@Hillbilly that is so true! When I used to camp I had this amazing self inflating mat, really pricey but so comfortable. Also bought top end tents so never had a mishap even in north scotland. I miss being in my tent, was certainly a happy place for me, but couldn’t manage all the packing, setting up and packing up these days.

JustAsYouSuggestPressedAndDressed · 30/06/2023 12:29

I can imagine enjoying camping (i.e. in a tent) in somewhere fabulous and spectacular like the Serengeti or the outback. What I don't understand is why people who go camping in the UK enjoy going to camp sites.

Why is sleeping in a tent in a field in, say, the midlands, surrounded by people from Carry on Camping any fun at all? It looks absolutely awful to me. I'd be up the nearest decent hotel in a flash.

ShiteRider · 30/06/2023 12:40

nancy75 · 30/06/2023 08:42

Not a chance, been camping once & it was once too often!

I’m a city person, I don’t understand what I’m supposed to do in the great outdoors (unless it’s a beach).
Once you’ve seen the view what do you do then? (this is a genuine question - I can’t understand what you’d do in holiday in the country side)

Depends on how old the kids are but walking, cooking outdoors, stargazing, playing games, walk to the pub and watch a band, go to restaurants, eat picnics, visit cafes, little villages, art galleries and museums, paddle board, surf, sit and read a book.

Mainly for me, I enjoy disconnecting from the mundane urban routine. Love that there is no Wi-Fi, love that you can hear wildlife and no traffic, love that I can breathe without coughing because of pollution, that people chat to each other, you can wander around in your pyjamas and no one bats an eyelid. It’s just switching off from the stuff I don’t enjoy.

ShiteRider · 30/06/2023 12:45

JustAsYouSuggestPressedAndDressed · 30/06/2023 12:29

I can imagine enjoying camping (i.e. in a tent) in somewhere fabulous and spectacular like the Serengeti or the outback. What I don't understand is why people who go camping in the UK enjoy going to camp sites.

Why is sleeping in a tent in a field in, say, the midlands, surrounded by people from Carry on Camping any fun at all? It looks absolutely awful to me. I'd be up the nearest decent hotel in a flash.

I love that choice has opened up again since Covid. There was a year when lots of the people who prefer hotels and going abroad decided to go camping. It was awful. They didn’t get the etiquette around camping and just made it a miserable experience for everyone. So pleased they’ve gone back to their hotels and planes and left the camping for people who appreciate it.

Gateappreciation · 30/06/2023 12:50

Like the idea of camping. Don’t like the hassle, sleeping on the floor etc. qQuite enjoy the outside cooking etc and the comradeship you get on campsites.

Delatron · 30/06/2023 12:58

I love the outdoors and everything about camping (if the weather is nice) apart from
sleeping in a tent. I need to wee about 4 times a night and even though I go behind the tent it’s a faff unzipping the tent, finding shoes in the dark etc.

I am also a light/terrible sleeper so invariably sleep very badly and I’m so tired the next day. Then we go home (because I can’t cope with more than 1/2 nights) and the faff and washing and stuff to put away is immense so I decide it’s not worth it (then always agree to go again the next year).

I did find a good solution one year - a camp bed with a mattress in a one bed tent with earplugs and a sleep mask!

JustAsYouSuggestPressedAndDressed · 30/06/2023 13:00

ShiteRider · 30/06/2023 12:45

I love that choice has opened up again since Covid. There was a year when lots of the people who prefer hotels and going abroad decided to go camping. It was awful. They didn’t get the etiquette around camping and just made it a miserable experience for everyone. So pleased they’ve gone back to their hotels and planes and left the camping for people who appreciate it.

Show quote history

I can say with a clear conscience that I was not one of those appalling miscreants who went camping outside Droitwich without knowing "the etiquette".

I just don't get why sleeping in a tent in a field in the UK, surrounded by a load of people - and always with a good chance of rain - is fun or relaxing.

explainthistomeplease · 30/06/2023 13:01

Love camping. have a camper van (just a VW T6 with a bed and fridge). I sleep my absolute soundest in the van, even if i have to get out and find the toilet block in the middle of the night.

GeraltsBathtub · 30/06/2023 13:07

I love camping! I never went until I was an adult because my mum hated it but I’m glad to have discovered it as an adult. I’m not a person that typically cares much about going to fancy hotels either though -I go on holiday to experience other places, not to experience enhanced comfort/luxury. And I’m not someone who has to get up in the night to go to the loo so don’t mind not having one right next to me (also applies to night trains and hostels).

Gizzey · 30/06/2023 13:09

Love being out in nature.

One night of camping is quite fun. Any longer is a chore.

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