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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
Timeissliplingaway · 02/06/2018 18:09

Why is she walking through your camp? There is so much room to walk around 😂. This is actually rediculous. OP I don't know how you are not saying anything to them.

GnomeDePlume · 02/06/2018 18:10

Are you sure they didnt confuse dogs and dogging and are just annoyed the 'entertainment' hasnt started yet?

It's an easy mistake to make. Owner says to them 'there's dogs in that corner'. They mishear and pitch up close ready.

On the other hand you could tell them that you will be playing cards against humanity tonight and invite them to join in.

TenuedeNimes · 02/06/2018 18:11

If the dogs won't bark can't you bark instead?

Why own a dog and then bark yourself? Confused Grin

I am loving this thread although seething with indignation on OP’s behalf!

Kahlua4me · 02/06/2018 18:12

Why don’t you ignore their game and be super sweet to them? Go over to their tent, be really friendly and invite them for a drink. See how they react and then you will know whether to ring owner straight away or not 😀.

No way though should you crate your dogs just because their daughter doesn’t like dogs as they chose to pitch next to you. The dogs are behaving better that those people are!

We camp lots and it always amazes me how other campers behave with pitch choice. If I was them I would not have pitched there when there is a whole field to choose from, crazy!

SneakyGremlins · 02/06/2018 18:13

Start flirting with them? Invite them over for netflix and chill? Grin

happypoobum · 02/06/2018 18:14

gnomes is right. Did you not notice the huge pampas in the middle of the pitch?

They want you Wink

Justgivemesomepeace · 02/06/2018 18:14

This is silly. Just go over and say 'Look. We're clearly annoying you, the kids don't like the dogs and we're not crating them as they've been allowed to roam until you came. There's tons of room. I'll help you move your stuff. Over there looks good .' If they're obnoxious then I'd ask the owner to get them to move.

Peanutbuttercups21 · 02/06/2018 18:20

You have taken "their" spot, they go there every year, and you are in the way!

FrangipaniBlue · 02/06/2018 18:22

Guidelines say they should be 6 metres away to prevent the spread of fire, if you're in the UK.

I don't know about it being law but it's certainly in the local authority licensing conditions for campsites that they have to ensure this!

I'm surprised the owner hasn't been up and said anything to them.

MimpiDreams · 02/06/2018 18:23

Walking through your camp is absolutely not on and a complete breach of camping etiquette. You just don't do that. Ever. WTF is wrong with them.

NettleTea · 02/06/2018 18:23

this is madness. we run a pop up site in a mahoosive field in August - only 10 pitches. we tell people to pitch where they like but not on top of other people - as we say, its a 10 acre field, so you've got an acre each

NettleTea · 02/06/2018 18:23

we are in Sussex too Wink

SimonBridges · 02/06/2018 18:24

Get pissed and get one of the chaps to piss up against their tent by mistake.
Then have really noisy sex.

Or tell them that the bit they have camped on is an ancient burial ground and bad shit will come and get them in the night.

Original poster
MaryPoppinsPenguins · 02/06/2018 18:25

I’ve got a fillet steak, gin and tonic, a slight sunburn and a good game ahead of me ... I can’t be bothered to engage with them I’m too happy now Grin. They’re clearly not very nice and I don’t want to enrage them. If the owner stops I’ll say something surreptitiously but I’m not going to go over there...

After a few drinks however 😂😂😂

OP posts:
Pigeonpost · 02/06/2018 18:25

I don't get this. Why camp so close and be all passive aggressive when there's so much empty space?!? Have you seen the owner yet?

Original poster
MaryPoppinsPenguins · 02/06/2018 18:25

Nettletea do you allow dogs?!

OP posts:
Supermagicsmile · 02/06/2018 18:28

Let the dogs out! Don't lock them away at all!! Hope the idiots move!!!

user100987 · 02/06/2018 18:29

Missing point of post but love the sound of this campsite if you could share the details at some point. I'm up for finding more dog friendly spacious sites. Sounds totally weird what's happened with the neighbours tho. We went camping last weekend with the dog and it was great although a campsite rule was that dogs were on leads all the time which was annoying.

Ginandpanic · 02/06/2018 18:30

Op they have to be 6 meters away from you as already mentioned so 100% go and ask the warden or owner to ask them to move.

It’s not ‘ their’ spot, they got there after you, tough titties.

They are ruining your trip, don’t let them!

siwel123 · 02/06/2018 18:30

OP what has the owner said? Maybe when they're told to move, offer to lend a little hand?

ALongHardWinter · 02/06/2018 18:30

This is the camping site equivalent of the empty car park,where someone else parks right next to you,despite there being 500 other spaces they could have chosen. Or the person on a practically empty bus who sits down next to you and then sets about making you their new best friend. I think maybe it's the mentality of 'safety in numbers'?.

getdownshep · 02/06/2018 18:33

Im in Sussex too, shall I bring my two yappy terriers and my cd of whale musicGrin
We have just started camping again after a few years, I just showed dh your pictures and he is also enraged on your behalf!

TimeToDash · 02/06/2018 18:34

That is close, very odd but maybe they saw your friend's tent and thought they were unconnected to you so took that as their benchmark about distance. I wouldn't put your dogs in a cage, but definitely think they should be on a lead. It's usually the rule anyway. We have a ground spike with a long cable for ours so our dog gets lots of room with the caravan, the awning and the radius outside.

SaucyJack · 02/06/2018 18:34

Do you want to borrow my DP for the night?

After a night of trying to sleep whilst listening to his "Sounds of the Abbatoir" snoring through 0.1mm of canvas..... they WILL move.

CatkinToadflax · 02/06/2018 18:39

I'm in Sussex too. Happy to send my Labrador over. She's lovely but wants to play with other dogs constantly and will chase any other dogs round and round in circles....she'd be happy to run round CF's tent eleventy billion times and repeatedly sneeze on it too....