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!

[juneau]

YANBU at all - it sounds horrendous. It's actually been on the news how rammed Cornwall has been this month, so I feel for anyone who is there and has saved up and looked forward to their holiday only to arrive and find everywhere packed and the lovely weather gone.

We nearly always holiday in the UK in the summer, but we avoid Cornwall, always rent a cottage and choose somewhere where there is plenty to do if it rains.

[AnnabelleLecter]

Holidays should be fun and relaxing.
Camping is for scouts and brownies and teenagers at festivals imo.
Can you save up and book a uk hotel perhaps with indoor pool next time? We have been in some lovely hotels breakfast included, much better than and cheaper than a caravan and a billion times better than camping.

[Ansumpasty]

@Sophia99
I just had a look and there are 264 air bnb places available from today - Thursday, in Cornwall. I agree that some might be cabins and not all houses/apartments but better than a cold, wet tent

[Branleuse]

Cornwall in august is unreliable. Their summer is may june july.

[herecomesthsun]

You do have options. Clearly you are on the internet, so you could look up late rooms and booking.com, there is accommodation available in Cornwall for the next 4 days for around £230 for 2 adults + child, airbnb might be even cheaper. If you drove down through Devon or Dorset, you could look for somewhere to stay there for 3 or 4 nights instead, should you want to get away from the crowds and go part of the way back home.

For future reference, we have found the Easter hols a good time to take a 2 week break in the past, still outside of term time, but less crowded and less expensive, and sometimes with very good weather (even in Cornwall).

We have also done Eurocamp, which is sort of camping, but with a cabin, with separate bedrooms for everyone should you wish, radiators, air con, oven/ microwave/ fridge/freezer. Also a relatively safe and child-centred atmosphere. It is very cheap at Easter (there is a bit of a theme there for us).

I think the weather is due to pick up this week (though of course regional weather varies a lot) but hope you have a great rest of the holiday whatever you decide.

[fishonabicycle]

We camped in Cornwall one year - weather was shit. We all packed up and came home early.

[MissP103]

Yanbu op. Pack up and go. Your Dd must be bored stiff and its sounds like a horrible holiday regardless. Why suffer it out.

[chocatoo]

I used to love Cornwall so much but I think it has just become too touristy in the last few years. There are so many other beautiful, unspoilt places to go in the UK. In the meantime try to make the best of it and don’t let it put you off camping next year.

[bananasandwicheseveryday]

I'll be honest, after a dreadful first camping holiday when I was a teenager, I vowed never to go camping again. And I have kept that vow for o we 40 years.
We took our dcs to Cornwall as both Dh and I had fond memories of our own childhood holidays there. That was a mistake we have not repeated. We found it very crowded, very expensive and to be honest, not very welcoming. We spent many happy holidays in Yorkshire, both with and without dcs (they are now adults), and have always found lots to do and places to visit at reasonable cost, without the crowds of Cornwall and have always felt welcome.
If your holiday is making you miserable, I'd come home. It's not a holiday if you end up stressed and unhappy over it.

[ScreamingValenta]

I completely understand your frustration about the weather. We invest so much hope in our fortnight's holiday while we're stuck at work in the glorious sunshine. It's even more frustrating if it clears up again when you get back.

I don't have much advice. When DH and I used to camp and the weather was rubbish, we holed up in a pub and did crosswords all day - pub probably not an option as your DD is only 4, but could you perhaps have a nice meal somewhere to cheer yourselves up?

[oldbirdy]

Next time, go to the Isle of Man. We went this year and all the tourist places were empty and the weather was loads better than the mainland. It was very pretty and National Trust cards make loads of the attractions free. They have suffered a huge downturn in tourism for some reason. Just make sure you don't choose the same week as the motorbike Grand Prix.
The kids enjoyed the ferry, was part of the adventure, and no car hire fees.

[deepsea]

Still chuckling about the stories on here about camping. We should start a new thread, and cheer up the bank holiday wash out 😂

[peachypetite]

Unfortunately you can't guarantee the weather when you holiday in August in the UK. Camping with a four year old doesn't sound like fun. Either find accommodation or come home. Holidays should be fun.

[Bitlost]

Seasoned camper here. I'm sorry that your holiday has been a disappointment. It's always a risk with camping and yes, it can be utterly miserable.

There's nothing wrong with packing up early. If the rain stops and the tent is dry (ish), seize the moment and pack up.

As for the crowds. I was worried about this. But we stayed near St Austell this year - not very busy at all. Perhaps a location to think about for next year ?

I can highly recommend Treveague Farm, which has a lovely cafe where to shelter from the rain if the going gets tough.

Good luck!

[TheMythicalChicken]

Camping is shit. The only people I know who enjoy camping are misers who are too cheap to pay for a hotel.

OP, can you save up and go somewhere nice later in the year? It is really disappointing when a holiday doesn't work out the way you were expecting. You need something else to look forward to. Maybe an overnight trip to a city? Including a trip to the theatre, or something like that?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

we went to Devon a couple of years ago at this time of year (which is usually lovely) stayed in a Caravan and it pissed down . Woke at 3am on the Sunday thinking someone was running about on our roof...it was rain.

We spent the Sunday searching out waterproofs and things to entertain the DC

It stopped raining for 30 minutes at a time to dash out somewhere then take shelter .

We were right on a beach which was like a Ninja Warriors ordeal to walk across.

If we were in a tent , we'd have lasted 24 hours. At least in the caravan we had kitchen/bathroom without leaving the 'van.

[timetogohomenow]

Wow!! Thank you for all of your responses, I wasn't expecting that many! You've made me chuckle and I'm touched by how people can commiserate and sympathise with a stranger on the Internet. You are a lovely bunch! Thank you!

Reading back over my original post and I think I was a little bit full of middle of the night doom as it hasn't been a complete write off. We've been to the Eden project which I've always wanted to visit and was amazing and we've also been to Healey's cider farm which we all enjoyed for different reasons!

Regarding the campsite, I did do a lot of research before booking and this one seemed right for us. However the website and the reality are a little different and I'm a bit disappointed. There is a lovely new shower block right at the start of the site and the fields around it are full with touring caravans left there for the season. What the website doesn't show you is that the 4 tent fields have one portacabin with 3 toilets and 3 showers between them. We have been walking up to the nice block during the day but for the 2am pee break it's just too far. This wasn't obvious on the website or trip advisor from what I could see.

Camping seems to get mixed reviews! We loved it pre-DD but now I'm 5 years older than the last time we went, I don't know whether camping is for us any more! We're stuck to school holiday times due to my job so renting houses is usually double or more the cost of a campsite (with good reason!)

We're going to stick it out as it looks like it's going to be nicer at least today but I might suggest booking into a hotel half way home for the last night as a bit of a treat and to end the holiday on a high (hopefully!!)

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and support!

[WindyWednesday]

Where are you in Cornwall?

[Whattheduck]

Camping would give me the rage whatever the weather
I would be inclined to call it a day and book a hotel room for a night or two and enjoy the rest of the holiday in comfort and go home refreshed feeling like you've had a break

[cholka]

I think it wouldn't be unreasonable to head home and pretend you're on holiday there for a bit - days out etc.
If you're going to stick it out, you need to change your attitude or it will continue to be miserable. Find your nearest camping shop and get a better air bed and a camping bucket toilet thing. Love bomb your four year old and go for walks looking for minibeasts etc. Get yourselves tired out walking so you sleep better. Head inland to less touristy places and the traffic/parking will be a bit better.

[WindyWednesday]

Devon or Somerset have lovely beaches.

[WrongKindOfFace]

Camping is generally shit. Just about bearable in good weather, but otherwise shit. We didn’t invent houses for nothing.

Honestly, if the forecast is rubbish go home.

[WrongKindOfFace]

No, ignore Cholka. It’s not a holiday if you have to pee in a bucket. That’s what they do in prison.

[Scientistic]

We went one year. Your description of the supermarkets is spot on, it was insane. I agree with a pp- upgrade to solid walls if you can.