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AIBU?

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Original poster

To go camping on my own?

37 replies

Undertone · 20/07/2013 17:51

I am 29 and like me a bit of fresh air and space. I have booked a tent pitch in a gorgeous bit of Pembrokeshire near a small village and intend to spend a few days reading, snorkelling and walking/running.

My parents still think i am their little girl and have been chuntering that it's not safe, tried to make me stay in a b&b instead.

If it's a campsite in the summer it'll be quite busy, right? It's not like I'm in the middle of nowhere or in a crimewave Ground Zero (unless the village has been suffering from a spate of rarebit-snatching recently).

I've told them.not to worry and i will be fine. Privately, should i actually be rethinking this?

OP posts:
Jenijena · 20/07/2013 17:52

Go! Enjoy! Sounds lovely... Am a weeny bit jealous.

And if you want the excuse to go camping with people, join the scout association :)

usualsuspect · 20/07/2013 17:53

You will be fine,I always find campsites to be safe and friendly places.

JollyHolidayGiant · 20/07/2013 17:54

I've been camping on my own before. In my late teens and early 20s. A lovely experience :)

Original poster
Undertone · 20/07/2013 17:56

Jeni - i am a frustrated hermit and am slavering over the opportunity to camp solo. But my love of camping comes from Guides expeditions many moons ago.

Usual - yes if i make myself known to neighbours on the site (in an unintrusive way) they will keep an eye out for Gruesome Murderer types heading toward my tent with a chainsaw, right?

OP posts:
Original poster
Undertone · 20/07/2013 18:00

Jolly - what did you get up to and where did you go?

It's been such a long time since i camped last i am flapping about what to take. Looking at the forecast... A mac, and a jumper so far!

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usualsuspect · 20/07/2013 18:01

Campers are generally a helpful lot. So you should be safe from mad axe wielding maniacs.

KingRollo · 20/07/2013 18:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JollyHolidayGiant · 20/07/2013 18:04

I went to the Edinburgh Fringe. And I went to a campsite in a village with a national trust property so spent some time wandering around there. I also went to Inverness.

I honestly didn't consider safety a concern! I didn't drive then either so was travelling by bus/train. The issue with that is that you can't charge your phone unless you have a pitch with electric which I couldn't justify the cost of.

Original poster
Undertone · 20/07/2013 18:11

I too am public transporting myself. Planning to keep phone off unless i need it (and to send parents texts every morning to let them know i haven't become a Daily Mail headline). Should last 72 hours like that.

Ooo i might even have a personal bbq and a few sneaky artisan ciders in the evening.

Looking forward to storming down to the beach at sunrise and shrieking in the cold sea.

OP posts:
JollyHolidayGiant · 20/07/2013 18:17

Sounds lovely :) Remember a torch! I forgot mine on one trip and it made going to the toilet a bit of a nightmare.

gordyslovesheep · 20/07/2013 18:20

My mum, 67, has just returned from 8 weeks camping alone in Europe - just her, her little car and a small tent - she did France, Germany, Italy, Croatia, Italy, France and back home

apart from a minor prang in Italy (German women reversed into her car - cue much sign langauge but it got sorted) and a slight scary man following her back to camp in Croatia (the camp security saw him off) she had a ball

This is the second time she has done it - she's planning one more at 70 Grin

GO FOR IT!

thispunderfullife · 20/07/2013 18:37

Undertone I am dead jealous have an amazing time!!

Turniptwirl · 20/07/2013 18:41

Go for it! Never camped in my life til I got to go as a guide leader and I loved it :-)

TimeofChange · 20/07/2013 18:51

You can buy solar phone chargers from places like Maplin.
You will have a fantastic time.

Xmasbaby11 · 20/07/2013 18:57

That would be my idea of hell, but safe enough!

PeppermintCreamsSaga · 20/07/2013 18:58

You could always buy a spare battery for your phone? Cheap ish and won't take up much space.

Theas18 · 20/07/2013 19:05

sounds bril! aldi have solar point charged for a tender. You can also buy the sort you putt aa batteries in to charge your phone.

burberryqueen · 20/07/2013 19:08

camping is so much more sociable than b and b for singles or single parents, course it will be safe.....
have a great time!

Original poster
Undertone · 20/07/2013 19:08

Will look into phone chargey options.

Have excavated childhood tent and it's airing in the garden now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Undertone · 20/07/2013 19:09

Burberry - oooo do you think i will pull?!

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TiggyD · 20/07/2013 19:39

I've got a car phone charger and one for my laptop too. I'm techno-mobile.

SheepAreSuper · 20/07/2013 19:55

YANBU. Solo camping is great. I camp alone in the lakes fairly often.
I don't worry about safety anymore than I do at home alone.
I usually have the car so tend to just plug the phone in every so often and turn things like wifi of to prolong the life.

Have a great time!

YellowDinosaur · 20/07/2013 20:05

I would love this! I've been camping on my own with my 2 sons and in some ways I think that makes me more vulnerable.

Don't buy a solar charger though. They're shit. I've got one of these which provides 2 full charges for a smart phone if you charge fully before you leave. Great and similar weight to a phone.

Have a great time!

burberryqueen · 20/07/2013 20:05

Grin @ undertone - quite possibly!!
have pulled at campsites in my time.....

Original poster
Undertone · 20/07/2013 20:45

I feel i have to bring the tone down by admitting that the book I'm really looking forward to reading is Jilly Cooper's Riders. Haven't read it for years!

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