Can you 'travel the UK/EU camping?'

[wovengrass]

I have no children, just me and my partner. We were planning on converting a campervan at some point in the future to travel in, but now we are wondering if it would be simpler to just travel the UK/EU in a tent for a couple of months!

Has anyone had experience of this? Has anyone got any amazing campsite recommendations?

Aibu to think that this is practical, or is buying a campervan/caravan the way to go?
Thanks!

For 2 I would prefer a camper van-tents are shite in wet weather. Camper vans are not cheap though. Get an awning you can leave at your pitch though so you don’t have to pack everything up when you go out for the day.

Camper van and bikes. Loads of sites all over EU where you can park the van and explore the local area on bikes.

A camper would definitely be preferable but it's the hassle of having to find a reliable, but affordable, campervan and MOT and insure it. It all feels very costly for what will only really end up being about 4/5 weeks of travelling.

DH and I thought about buying a van a few years ago, but decided against it because of the cost. We bought a large 6 person (family) tent and have found it okay for camping in the rain. There's space to sit, stand, move around. Probably more so than in a van. Do spend some money on a good one so it doesn't start to leak after 1 night.

Plus with the money you save on not buying a van you can easily spend the odd night in a b&b, cottage, youth hostel, etc.

We'd still like to have a van one day, but at the moment simply cannot justify the cost.

Also remember, most vans are diesel, and with stricter regulations being brought in in many cities in the next 5 or so years, you basically have to have a pretty new van if you want to be able to drive in urban areas (this was a deal breaker for us as we live in a city centre).

Why not hire one if it's only for a few weeks? Europe is really set up for touring in a camper-van, some aires are free or minimal
Euros to stay at, plus safer than a tent.

Not done it in a camper but regularly do it on a bike. Just cycle around anywhere and pitch up. It's a good way to see the world.

France and Germany have tonnes of campsites, which are mostly very nice. A very typical Dutch summer is to pack up the kids and tents etc, then spend a few weeks travelling around various campsites.
camper vans seem to be the in thing at the moment, but I love tents personally. If you have a decent sized car you can take airbeds etc so you're nice and comfy!

A tent will be fine in most of Europe in the summer for 4/5 weeks! You could spend the cash saved on the campervan on a fancy hotel for the last couple of nights.

@thatmustbenigelwiththebrie

Not done it in a camper but regularly do it on a bike. Just cycle around anywhere and pitch up. It's a good way to see the world.

Wild camping's illegal in most regions.

(legal in Scotland, parts of Dartmoor, parts of the Lake District, can 'sort of' get away with it if you're not noticed but still technically trespass.)

(and I reckon they're getting stricter on it having to clear out hundreds of lockdown campers who are littering something awful.)