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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
DartmoorDoughnut · 02/06/2018 17:11

Just let the dogs out, it’s your - and the dogs! - area

Aspergallus · 02/06/2018 17:11

I think I would struggle not to mention it. You'll never see these people again. Just a casual, "how are you doing? I'm a bit curious as to why you decided to set up so close to us, there's so much space?" If you are feeling particularly timid just add some comment about being inexperienced and wondering if setting up next to existing camps was a thing. At least if you bring it up, you'll be pre-emptying any complaints they might have re noise/dogs etc as it's been made clear it was their choice to be so close.

Original poster
MaryPoppinsPenguins · 02/06/2018 17:11

I think our feelings are obvious. I’m waiting for the owner. It’s really hot but he’ll come by soon with wood to sell.

OP posts:
kateandme · 02/06/2018 17:13

you need to go to the owner of the site with this now definitely.he wot want a dog eating child situ on his hands!no but seriously.go tell owner first they pitched right on top and now they are coming and taking your thing up and making your dogs anxious and or not enabling you to let the dog free as the children are screaming that they don't like them

MoonsAndJunes · 02/06/2018 17:15

Does the big white/beige tent belong to OP - and the orange one?

Does the small one in the middle belong to neighbours??

AcrossthePond55 · 02/06/2018 17:15

I think I agree with a PP who says they've been there before and probably think you're camped in 'their' spot.

We used to camp (well, RV) in a campground (I'm in the US) that had 'free range camping'. The weird 'you're in my spot' and pitching up right next to another person when there was acres of free space finally caused us (and others) to string up yellow caution tape 10 feet out around our caravan/tents/table area.

It happens at beaches and parks too. You show up at a beautiful empty beach or park and set up. Sooner or later someone shows up and instead of finding their own 'distant' spot, they rock up and set up right next to you. Must be some atavistic 'herd' instinct.

Ellendegeneres · 02/06/2018 17:16

Let the dogs out. If the kids get upset it’s the fault of their parents.

Also, next time a kid comes over say ‘no, these are ours, you need to go back to your fucking stupid parents. Off you go’

Bettyfood · 02/06/2018 17:16

People should go to a dog free site or just don't camp at all if they don't like well-behaved dogs. Tough shit for them, keep going, OP.

ziggiestardust · 02/06/2018 17:18

Absolutely let the dogs out. Absolutely. If their child starts screaming, they can move. I’d be unable to keep quiet in your situation, especially after a few 🍷🍷🍷

LakieLady · 02/06/2018 17:18

Noise travels. Especially at night. And tents are very thin. People can hear everything.

I once stayed at a site near Ullswater that was almost empty all week, then really packed at the weekend. For two nights I was kept awake by the sound of people farting, none of whom were me or DP.

A while ago, there was a thread about overhearing stuff on a camping forum I'm on. My favourite was the one where they heard sex noises from a neighbouring tent, and after a little while, heard the woman say "No, take it out, I haven't had a poo today". Grin

ziggiestardust · 02/06/2018 17:19

Also, next time a kid comes over say ‘no, these are ours, you need to go back to your fucking stupid parents. Off you go’

This. Absolutely this. Also, maybe loudly mention the chicken pox And impetigo your DC have just had.

MoonsAndJunes · 02/06/2018 17:20

Are the circled ones OP's?

Camping Ettiquette
Bettyfood · 02/06/2018 17:20

Though I have to say I would have said something about how close they were when I saw them pitching the tent.

Ellendegeneres · 02/06/2018 17:21

^^ and the diarrhoea you all have. Maybe vomiting too. Coughing with water thrown into a bowl is a great noise simulator 😂

ziggiestardust · 02/06/2018 17:23

ellen I like you. We should be friends.

kateandme · 02/06/2018 17:23

takes toy off child "sorry lovely that's not yours is it,go back to your parents now eh"

Roussette · 02/06/2018 17:23

If they are the green tent, this is ridiculous! They're like 2 foot away!

sarcasmisnotthelowestformofwit · 02/06/2018 17:24

This might sound odd but I do t mean it in a my way other than observation. Are they British? We alone seem to have a unique sense of privacy that other nationalities don't share. I spend a lot of time in SA and on a deserted beach another family will pitch up two feet from us. Corral mentality apparently.

In Italy people always chose the umbrella and loungers right next to others.

In the Far East it's typical to have shred tables at mealtimes.

Maybe it's a cultural thing? In which case (as I highly rate privacy) is move. Although someone else could well pitch up right next to your new spot.

Maybe it will take less time now you've had the practise of the first time?

trapinch · 02/06/2018 17:24

A big group of us pitched in the far corner of a campsite once and then another tent came and pitched right next to our group. This was really annoying as there was plenty of other space, the worst thing was though that our new neighbours both snored really loudly so our friends in the tent next to them hardly slept. I hope your new neighbours aren't snorers OP!

kateandme · 02/06/2018 17:25

over loudly say to your hub."oh dear the childs just been playing with dogs toys.should we tell them about the worms"

happypoobum · 02/06/2018 17:26

I am sure the dogs have cooled down enough to play football with next doors kids Grin

Ellendegeneres · 02/06/2018 17:26

ziggie have my first 😘

ziggiestardust · 02/06/2018 17:27

betty my DH is very like that. He’s pretty placid most of the time, but fuck with his personal space and you’ve had it. He’s told people to move on beaches before (we used to live in Cornwall). Some people are too dense to understand passive aggression or hints. You have to spell it out to them: “you have the whole beach/campsite/park. You need to move.” I used to sit there and cringe, but we never had people retaliate, they’d just pick up their stuff and hurry off looking worried.

Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname · 02/06/2018 17:28

Whisper to the dc that your ddog eats dc.
Don't start babysitting for them - that's a whole new thread!

The3 · 02/06/2018 17:28

Things that might get your neighbors to move:

  1. Get the kids to sing 347 green bottles (promise them an ice cream if they get all the way)
  2. Get friend to take kids for a walk someplace else and make noisy love in your tent
  3. Intersperse your conversation with shrieks of high pitched laughter and “oh Gerald”