Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Camping Ettiquette

504 replies

MaryPoppinsPenguins · 02/06/2018 14:12

I’m camping this weekend, two tents, two children, two dogs.

This is the first time we’ve each brought our dogs and searched for a long time and through lots of reviews until we found this place... spoke to the owner who said he only takes a certain amount of bookings to make sure you’re all a bit seperate and no one bothers anyone else.

Last night it was amazing... it’s almost like you’re camping totally alone. I can see a group of tents in the distance and the top of another through the trees but it does feel very secluded.

When we arrived the owner was at the gate and told us to drive and find an empty space. I assume he says this to everyone..

Today a new family arrive, and park and pitch up right next to us. And I mean Right next to us. Some of their ropes even cross over with my friends tent. Their table and chairs are right in the siteline of ours, I can even hear their drink open!

To make it worse, their kids seem terrified of dogs. Our dogs aren’t on leads and have been running around ‘our camp’ really happy. Now we’ve had to get the crate out.

AIBU? I’m kind of pissed off. I wish I’d brought hungry hippos or some really loud scream inducing game but unfortunately playing cards and magiclip dolls are all I have..!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Onlyjoinedforthisthread · 02/06/2018 14:16

Look on the bright side, your dogs are probably pissing them off more.

Duchessgummybuns · 02/06/2018 14:17

Well that’s annoying but it was their choice to pitch there, if your dogs bother their kids they should move not you. I wouldn’t crate the dogs unless they’re actually causing a problem. As for their noise... not much you can do tbh, you expect a certain amount of noise on a camping holiday and as long as their not being antisocial you’ll probably have to lump it or move pitches yourselves.

RoseanneBarred · 02/06/2018 14:18

Can you move? (I mean, I know technically you shouldn't have to, but to give you and dogs a bit more room?)

Duchessgummybuns · 02/06/2018 14:18

*they’re not their. God i’m annoyed with myself Grin

LartenCrepsley · 02/06/2018 14:21

That’s annoying. I wonder if there is a reason they’ve pitched so close to you? Maybe ask them?

Shakirasma · 02/06/2018 14:21

It's not fair to crate your dog's if they're not misbehaving. If the new family don't like it they can always move!

ElderflowerWaterIsDelish · 02/06/2018 14:22

I hate when people do that, if it was me I'd move and pitch up further away so I had a bit more space and privacy,

Have the other family talked to you yet?

Original poster
MaryPoppinsPenguins · 02/06/2018 14:22

The dogs aren’t doing anything, they’re just laying down with a ball / chew toy.. then changing location every five minutes. But the kids were freaking out every time they moved.

It took us so long to set up this tent my DH will probably kill me if I suggest moving... Grin (it takes the girl in the video 9 minutes... it took us three hours 😂)

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 02/06/2018 14:25

But why have they camped so close to you?

Original poster
MaryPoppinsPenguins · 02/06/2018 14:26

They haven’t spoken to us, I said sorry and went to get my dog when he walked close... but I’m fairness to him it’s by a pile of logs he’s been laying by for 24 hours. He doesn’t understand why he suddenly can’t go there.

It makes no sense, you should see it, there’s so much free space all around, they could’ve gone 10, 20, 50, 100 feet away just in this bit!

OP posts:
Original poster
MaryPoppinsPenguins · 02/06/2018 14:26

No idea why!

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 02/06/2018 14:26

Maybe there's loads of people arriving today and they were told to?

Sirzy · 02/06/2018 14:27

I wouldn’t crate the dogs but I am amazed any site doesn’t have a rule of dogs being on leads!

coffeekittens · 02/06/2018 14:28

Could they be regulars and maybe you’ve camped on ‘their’ spot? Sounds bizarre though. I wouldn’t cage your dogs either, if the other campers have a problem then they can move.

CloudCaptain · 02/06/2018 14:29

I would not crate your dogs. Also ask them why they have pitched so close. Chuffing wierdos.

CloudCaptain · 02/06/2018 14:30

I say this as someone who is a bit nervous of dogs.
Have you pitched in a prime spot under a large tree, or beside the stream? Diagram please.

ItWillAllBeOkayInTheEnd · 02/06/2018 14:30

Guidelines say they should be 6 metres away to prevent the spread of fire, if you're in the UK. Not sure if that's an actual law, or just a recommendation.

MoonsAndJunes · 02/06/2018 14:30

Talk to the campsite owner and ask him what the hell the other campers think are doing. Politely of course.
How annoying.

fruitbrewhaha · 02/06/2018 14:32

why didn't you say something as they parked up? Before they pitched their tents?
You need to uncrate the dogs and talk to them. Either you move or they do and you can help each other.

Languageofkindness · 02/06/2018 14:33

We had this last weekend but the opposite to you - we go somewhere where you can camp anywhere - unplugged, woods, fab. Turn up, told to camp anywhere so we start looking round and discover that there are single tents using up an entire area of wood land (ie right in the middle) when you could actually fit 4 tents and should really have been left for groups. There were smaller spots that were meant for 1 tent and still a nice space. We were tempted to go and pitch up round them tbh (we had 4 tents between a group of 8 adults and 8 kids). Didn’t but I did say to the guy as we left that it probably needed more management than just pitch anywhere depending on size of group. He agreed with me but difficult to move people once they are in, may not be the same in your case but that was our experience,

happypoobum · 02/06/2018 14:33

Uncrate the dogs - hopefully they will move.

HeyMacWey · 02/06/2018 14:34

Please post a photo of your tents Grin

Don't crate your dogs though.

Hopefully they'll move.

PositivelyPERF · 02/06/2018 14:34

FFS woman, stop putting your poor dogs in a crate. If they were ignorant enough to pitch so close and their kids are being drama Lammas, then theg can move or crate the kids. It’s the dogs’ holiday too.

category12 · 02/06/2018 14:36

Move somewhere else?

Honeyroar · 02/06/2018 14:36

They had the option not to pitch next to you and the dogs, I wouldn't be crating my dogs. Can you not compromise and put them on a long lead line?

Is it really your group and them at one end of the campsite and everyone else miles away? Very strange! I can see them wanting to be at the peaceful end of the field, but would have thought they'd want some space from you too!