to be feeling just a little bit sorry for ourselves re holiday disappointment?

[timetogohomenow]

Currently being battered by the wind in a tent in Cornwall at 3:30am so I accept that I may be being a bit unreasonable here but...

AIBU to be so disappointed in how our holiday is turning out? After months of sweating away at work in the heat, we come away on our first camping trip as a family and apart from one day, the weather has been utterly rubbish for the last 8 days.

Camping is not the fun holiday I remember it being... trudging through the mud to go to the toilet in a portacabin, air beds that keep deflating, showers that are not much more than dripping taps, neighbours who talk loudly into the night... not as fun as I remember it being pre-children.

DD's behaviour has been a nightmare in comparison to at home and I feel like all we've done is have a go at her. I suppose she's only 4 and excited but things like running off or not listening in potentially dangerous situations can't be tolerated. That's not been any fun.

Cornwall... a beautiful county but my god the crowds. I knew it would be busy with it being August (we had no choice to come any earlier or later) but literally everywhere we've tried to visit has been a complete ball ache to try to get parked. Some places we've just had to drive through as there was no chance of stopping. Where we're staying there's no public transport we could easily use. The traffic is terrible! The supermarkets where we are are like scenes from an apocalypse film. How the locals cope living down here I do not know.

I know I'm just being a miserable so and so and I realise how lucky we are to be in a situation where we can (just about!) afford a family holiday but AIBU to be so disappointed? We've got 4 nights left and I just feel like packing up and going home! Please tell me in years to come I'll look back on this holiday with fond memories and not lament about the time we spent probably as much as we would have going abroad to stay in a wet, miserable, busy place in a tent!

I remember taking DD (then 4) to the Lakes. I had such happy memories of family holidays yomping up fells and splashing in waterfalls. Not for us. Bastard crowds, vertical sheets of rain, non stop tantrums. Just as I thought it couldn’t get any worse the TV signal went down. Justin Fletcher was all we had left at that point. I was openly weeping by the third day and pondering taking uo smoking. Never again.
We are in Minorca as I type this and I would happily pay for the sunshine ten times over than go on a UK summer holiday. Be kind to yourself FOLLOW THE SUN 🏝

YNBU. I live in a holiday area of Wales, and every year thousands of campers arrive in August and it always rains. I really feel for them. The ones that keep coming back find better ways to deal with it - caravans, or camping in forest areas (because it's more undercover). It's taught me that August is often a risky time for book a UK holiday :-/

My sympathies. There's no shame in coming home early and booking some day trips!

I think the weather makes a massive difference to a camping holiday. We went at the start of the summer holidays and the weather was glorious. We had an absolute blast, 4 adults and 6 kids in two tents. The kids loved the freedom and independence, the adults loved being able to just sit and relax. We have taken our kids since they were 10 months old and they love it. They are now 9, 6 and 4, I fact our eldest chose to be away for his birthday this year as he loves it so much. They don’t ask to go on screens and really enjoy playing games in the tent when it is wet and cold, with a hot chocolate and marchmallows.

Not unreasonable at all, OP. I went on a very wet camping holiday in France when DS1 was 1 (turned 1 whilst on holiday - spent it rolling around in the mud). We were so miserable, despite our best efforts to go to nice places during the day, that we left early and came home. Awful.

Cornwall in August is shit. It's not great anytime, TBH (grew up there). The Cornish are surly and only smile when they say something's not available, the service is terrible, the crowds are awful and the traffic intolerable. Go to North Norfolk.

Write it off, and chuck money at the next holiday.

I’m a camper and would probably admit defeat and go home. In 2004 my ex and I went camping for 2 weeks down Devon and Cornwall. We were in a village next door to Boscastle when the whole place flooded and tents started floating away. Our site wasn’t too bad but we did have to ditch our tunnel 2 man tent and buy a 5 man tall tent with space in to eat/play games etc and bought a radio etc. We didn’t go home as it was a 9+ hour drive back up to the north west and were young and found it adventurous (and expensive).

Now I’m a 40 something single parent who has taken up camping as the holiday we can afford. I do 3 nights at the moment at a time. I’m just packed up ready for our 6th trip since last summer. I usually check the weather before booking but that does make some campsites out of the question as the book up months in advance. Last summer I did do 4 nights in torrential rain. We survived, kids thought it was fun and we put on our waterproofs and had some fun, but I wouldn’t do it again in the rain. I’m chosey with sites that must have things to do and decent toilets etc. The odd few hours of rain is manageable but not endless days. I’ve also stuck with campsites mostly an 1-3 hours away from home.

Definitely pack up if you can bare to in the rain - it’s hard work and getting the tent away is tricky. You’ll need the extra time at home to dry things out and wash stuff.

Don’t give up on camping. It can be fun. Join one of the many camping/tent groups and find out good places to visit. Try some more last minute sites next time where you can chase the weather. The north east coast is fantastic, up to the boarders and down to Yorkshire!

jesus go home

I had a sad enough time in a holiday cottage with wifi last week, and my kids are teenagers, I certainly wouldn't be subjecting myself or a four year old to 2 weeks of being told off in the rain.

I live in Cornwall and the weather has been fine over the past couple of months. Has only been a handful of rainy days in that time and I've been to the beach most days and gone in the sea. Has been lovely. It is beautiful here and there is lots to do for all ages. Am not sure camping with a young child is a good idea. Staying in a static holiday caravan is a better idea. North Cornwall is not as busy as South Cornwall and is just as lovely with lots to do and with plenty of holiday accommodation. Don't let this experience put you off OP as Cornwall is a beautiful and fantastic place. I used to holiday here every year and loved it so much I moved here and it is amazing!

I can't imagine anything worse. 4 year old too young for easy camping unless you have a spare adult to keep trailing her. Hate crowds on rainy days. We had a similar rainy week in the Dales 2 weeks ago but we had a cottage and I was pretty annoyed even then.

My DS is in Cornwall at the moment and all his pics involve people in coats and scarves! Summer holidays should be earlier, august hasn't been hot for a long time. Whereas June and July are usually mafting while kids struggle at school in the heat.

I love camping and when my kids were small it was a great way of doing cheapish holidays. We camped regularly for 10 years and have had some amazing holidays but some pretty dire experiences too. Mind you one week in Northumberland sticks in my memory as being an awful holiday, the weather was terrible, the kids were hard work and we struggled for things to do. That year we were in a holiday cottage.

My advice would be to head home but don't give up on camping - it has given us some great family memories and some holidays that we couldn't have afforded otherwise.

Camping used to be cheap and fun.
Too many people doing it now and campsites cashing in. I used to rock up and someone wd come and collect a fiver as it went dark. lots of space and it was great. i went recently and it was 25 quid for 1 night for 1 adult and 2 kids. really!

I've never understood what possesses people to go camping. You don't live in a tent for the rest of the year, why do it to yourself?

We once went by train for a week in a cottage in Norfolk. The weather was so bad they had to close the beach and we ended up buying extra clothes to try and keep warm. The following year we tried again and had boiling sunshine. Camping in the rain is really miserable, as is holidaying where everyone else does. This year we went to Saundersfoot which is just up the road from Tenby but no where near as busy, we've also done Babbacombe rather than Torquay and Coombe Martin rather than any of the noisy seaside towns nearby. It sounds like you've just been unlucky this time.

Where are you in Cornwall? I was born and grew up there and may be able to suggest quieter places although this time of year is very hard work. I've just been down over the weekend myself.

Some experiences just have to be chalked up to experience. don't they?

FWIW I don't blame you a bit. There's no way I'd have taken the DCs camping in the UK with uncertain weather for a protracted period. It just sounds like misery. Even in good weather without crowds camping can be hard work.

It's really important to get to know our own country and we used to make a point of doing a week somewhere in the UK. Generally these involved warning the DC that the weather was going to be horrible and having a roof over our heads.

I still remember DS at 4. It was minus 3 in Edinburgh. "Look DS, we're going to walk the royal mile" DS took one look at the driving sleet, and despite being a most complaisant child said "Do we have to?"

Lol Ok I might be the only one but even if you go home now, you will look back on this holiday and smile, you won't believe it though for a while. like...perhaps about 15 years???

My first holiday that was just me and my two DS's, they were 5 and 3. I was on my own, I took the train, with so much crap I could barely move. We went to a caravan site that looked like a mud bath, we were staying near Polperro, and while everything looked beautiful when the sun was shining, Mr Sunshine didn;'t show his face once.
I took the children on lovely walks....so lovely we all got blisters, youngest DS felt sick, so I had to carry him as we had walked further than I thought. Our clothes were soaked through and the van smelled of damp clothes. I spent day 3 trying to wash things in the sink. Both the kids then felt poorly, but while it was crap staying in the van, to get home would have been worse for them as we'd have a long walk to the station to get the train....
I cried, I drank too much the night before we left so I was travelling back with two damp miserable kids, on the train, a ton of wet soggy clothing in bin bags stuffed in a bulgy suitcase, holiday money all spent on God Knows what, with a stinking migraine....but I look back at the awful photos with my boys, now 17 and 19, and they give me the biggest hug, and tell me how f8&^ing awesome I was to do all of that to give them a holiday. Either that or totally bloody stupid! lol.
Its the holiday we remember the clearest anyways! lol.

How to make camping fun:

1. Go with like-minded friends. For us that means our mates who enjoy cooking food on a campfire, hanging about chatting and drinking wine.

1. Go with friends who have children. In fact the more children you have with you, the less parenting you need to do we've found, as long as point 3 is observed:

1. Choose a campsite with loads of space for the kids to run about and no dogs (unless you have dogs). Not one that packs people in - they're totally stressful! Pick a campsite that leaves the majority of the field / wood / wherever, tent-free.

1. Bring a gazebo or similar, for the kids to make their own. Put toys & stuff in it, Maybe a cheap paddling pool.

1. Sit with the other adults at the camp, relax, drink wine and chat about grown up stuff while the DC run about the field having fun with their friends and you parent from afar. Everybody happy!

The main secret is plenty of space and lots of kids. having only your kids, in a cramped space will just be stressful as they'll be looking to you to make their fun 100% of the time, instead of running about being free.

If you can afford it, pack up and move into a child friendly hotel. If you can't, then I'd just give up and go home!

We had the same three weeks ago. Went on holiday and the weather was shit whilst we were there. Literally pouring with rain, we made the most of it, but it wasn't great. So I understand your pain.

Hi OP , it's not time to go homenow,
enjoy your holiday and I hope it's not too much of a wash out. We used to go camping at Lizard Point, but as I got older I wanted more reliable weather and more comfort. However we still reminisce about our camping holidays , the mud, the wind, the leaky tent, staying awake all night and saying it will be better in the morning! It never was ! But it is fun. Try star gazing and story telling. No matter where you go in Europe July and August will be busy and unfortunately weather is never guaranteed . You have two choices, stay and make the most of it , or do what we did and shove the tent in the car and head home !!

Cornwall is lovely - for max three nights, in a hotel, in April (not easter) or May.

I live in the south west and am currently listening to the pouring rain while feeling sorry for the poor sods in tents.

Thank you everyone for posting your stories, they have made me laugh! I can't believe so many people have taken the time to reply, you are a lovely lot!

We're still here and things have gone well today!! We've had a lovely day at the aquarium in Newquay this morning (managed to get parked in the 2nd car park we tried so not bad) and then we drove down to Mevagissy for the afternoon. We enjoyed it so much there, we didn't get back until late.

The weather has been nice for a second day running, it's almost as though someone has heard my moaning and decided to give us a break!! I'm not a quitter, I'm sticking out until Fri but I think this will be the last time I spend so long in what is basically an overgrown shell suit with poles! 3 - 4 nights max if we ever camp again!

Cornwall really is beautiful but I think if we were ever to return again, it won't be in August and it won't be in a tent! Lesson well and truly learned!

Blimey I could have wrote this 4 years ago. Did exact same thing, went camping in Cornwall as we had moved to a bigger house and wanted to give the kids a bit of adventure.
The second part worked out but like you, it pissed it down for the full week in August. We spent a bomb on petrol, days out and food.
I balled my eyes out. Working 40 hours a week for that! Never again.

How to make camping fun: My list.

1. Find someone else to take the children camping
2. Book yourself into a nice hotel

We used to camp every year, from dd being about 2. She met other kids, some similar age and some older (up to early teenage) and would spend much of her time playing with this large group. We'd camped in the field with the play area (a large sandpit, seesaw, tyre swing, and a climbing frame) so she didn't generally go far, but sometimes they'd go into different fields on the site.

The point about camping was really that it allowed her to roam and explore and be a bit more self-sufficient. Children don't tend to mind rain much if they're playing with other children.

Are there other kids camping?