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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

camping in the uk is very shit, need to book weeks ahead

76 replies

madhurjazz · 09/08/2016 07:33

I want to go away this weekend in the new Forest but i tried 10 campsites yesterday and they all full!/I'd book a hotel room long in adnvance but not camping as its awful if its wet cold and windy.

Even if we could of got a place it would cost not that much less than a deal on a family room at a Travelodge, and we wouldn't have to slot in endless 50p and wait a long time for the shower

OP posts:
drinkingtea · 09/08/2016 08:16

The New Forest is the problem - its got a population density similar to London in school holidays, with 95% of people being tourists :o

P1nkP0ppy · 09/08/2016 08:17

Your in grave danger of sounding arrogant and ignorant op.
Perhaps you'd prefer farmers to give up in order for you to go camping?
Prat.

Egosumquisum · 09/08/2016 08:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
madhurjazz · 09/08/2016 08:18

*Is this going to be one of those threads?

From asking about camping to farming land use*

Well someone else started it as an excuse, Glastonbury is a farm but 175'000 people seem to camp there OK.

OP posts:
StillDrSethHazlittMD · 09/08/2016 08:19

Last comment from the OP creased me up again. She's a gift that keeps on giving.

Oblomov16 · 09/08/2016 08:21

I'm not sure why you are surprised. I book, at the campsite you have mentioned, a year in advance. I've already booked for next year.

LunaLoveg00d · 09/08/2016 08:21

I agree that camping is only nice if the weather is good.

I disagree - camping is still hell even when the weather is great. Will never understand what is supposed to be "fun" about sleeping on a mat in a sleeping bag in lose proximity to the rest of the family, cooking on a makeshift stove, schlepping through a field to get to the loo, having to share a shower with goodness knows how many other people and having zero privacy.

Evangelical campers are something else though, trying to convert the rest of us to their brand of holiday. Almost as bad as vegans.

hazeyjane · 09/08/2016 08:22

Well its not so much that camping in UK is shit, there are some lovely campsites. Its just that you need to book ahead in the summer, unless you risk going to a turn up and pitch site (also likely to be full).

We usually camp in spring half term, and book a year ahead for summer, then random weekends when school is back if the weather is good. We are risking turn up and pitch this weekend because dh has a last minute bit of holiday he can take. If they are full we'll pitch up in the garden!

Egosumquisum · 09/08/2016 08:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
madhurjazz · 09/08/2016 08:25

Its not so much I'm surprised, just moaning that you can't do it spontaneously.

Some people are book a year in advance people, others are not.

I've sent a message off to someone that owns a field in Bournemouth, that might work.

OP posts:
Salmotrutta · 09/08/2016 08:26

Goodness.

I think this thread could be good...

P1nkP0ppy · 09/08/2016 08:27

Definitely a prat 😀

hazeyjane · 09/08/2016 08:27

I promise I won't try to convert you Luna. Camping is bloody odd, I do love it though. Last time we went, dd1 (10) suddenly seemed to realise its oddness, saying, 'I like camping, but hate having to say hello to people in their pyjamas on the way to the showers'.

Egosumquisum · 09/08/2016 08:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NoobThebrave · 09/08/2016 08:28

I believe Dartmoor and parts of the Highlands still allow wild camping 😁

witsender · 09/08/2016 08:28

You need to look for smaller sites. Phone some big ones that are full, ask about smaller ones nearby. Many sites barely have a web presence. But really, the New Forest in Summer?! Come to the Isle of Wight, plenty of space here.

GarkandGookin · 09/08/2016 08:29

When we were children our parents took us camping for precisely the same reasons as the OP - last minute decisions based on Thursday's weather forecast for the weekend. We always found a site just from driving around Dorset or wherever. I gave up on camping last year because of having to book weeks (or months) in advance, and finding there were so many sites that charged £30+ per night for two people for a spot in a field with electric hook-up and a portaloo.
We now spend a lot more on holiday cottages and feel really spoiled on holiday, but we are lucky as we can afford to do that once a year.

80sMum · 09/08/2016 08:30

Check out this list OP. Harry's Field and Folds Farm still have some availability.

hazeyjane · 09/08/2016 08:31

Well you can do it spontaneously, years ago i camped in farmers fields and random places all over England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.It doesn't really lend itself to family holidays though, and you sometimes end up with a cow shitting on your tent.

Egosumquisum · 09/08/2016 08:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AtSea1979 · 09/08/2016 08:32

I don't get camping so I don't go. It doesn't seem like a holiday to me when you have to pack all that stuff and build things and sleep on the floor. A holiday to me is arriving and having a nice brew while I think about where to visit.

ZansForCans · 09/08/2016 08:35

I know what you mean OP but there are solutions.

You want big, free-ranging, low-maintenance campsites where there's loads of space, but not a lot of entertainments or fancy showers. They don't tend to get booked up and they can be stunning.

I don't expect to get a shower while camping. A swim in a river maybe. If you want to be really clean and get a hairwash it's better to build in a day trip to a swimming pool. (Great in itself as you can check out local leisure pools you don't normally go to)

Not all campsites are mean with the showers though - at some they are lovely, free, hot etc. There are lots of websites that review campsites so you can find the best ones.

But you have to like camping. If you prefer a hotel room to a tent, you should get the hotel room.

Original poster
madhurjazz · 09/08/2016 08:37

29 GarkandGookin I'm coming to the same conclusion, sadly.

Harry's field says its fully booked for this weekend online, where did you see that it had avalibility?

OP posts:
logosthecat · 09/08/2016 08:38

There isn't just one thing called 'camping', is there? I'm always struck when we have been staying in a tent just how differently people do it. Some have an absolutely humungus tent, and all kinds of cooking kit. Others are doing the more old-fashioned small-tent-and stick-fire thing.

Some campsites have laundry and shower blocks and a cafe that sells postcards, others have the most primitive and stinky portaloo and that's it!

Original poster
madhurjazz · 09/08/2016 08:39

Ego I'm making phone calls. I'd be happy with somewhere just that has drinking water and a lake / stream to wash in.

Although there are lots of directory camp sites, I'd of thought most would be listed there?

OP posts:
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