Camping in my car?

[User76443998]

To cut a long story short….

My child will be away for a week in the summer on a music camp. My child wants to go but often struggles being away from home and there is a 50/50 chance I will need to visit during the week or take my child out for a night “off” midweek (I would book a local hotel for a night if this happens).

There is also the possibility that they will be fine and not need me!

I would LOVE a break while they are at camp. A night or two away by the sea. The camp is in Devon and I love Cornwall.

I don’t want to book anywhere because a) money is as tight as tight can be and b) I might need to cancel for the reasons above.

I know Cornwall really well. Is it crazy to think I could go down for a few nights and camp in my car? Just parking on quiet residential roads? There is a local leisure centre in the town I would stay in that I can use for showers and I’d be swimming in the sea every day anyway. THIS IS JUST FOR ME, I ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT CAR CAMP WITH MY CHILD.

Is it safe? I’d curl up on the back seat with a window open a crack and be covered with a duvet…

AIBU? I’m sure I’ll get some interesting replies. Off to sleep now so hope for some wisdom in the morning!

The campsites I know wouldn’t allow sleeping in a car (I have checked) and are expensive in the summer anyway. And the problem remains that if I can’t make it down I’d lose the money…

I’ve only slept in my car once when there was an accident and the road was closed so I had no option! But it was surprisingly ok and not too uncomfortable!

Ive been doing it on and off for over 10 years, its harder now due to lots of no overnight parking restrictions, if your on facebook look for car camping uk groups there are loads where every question you could ever think of and some you havent have been answered,

I wouldn't do it myself, but if you do, get yourself a shewee and an opaque bottle in case you need to pee. I have the silicone Sunamy one (Amazon) in my vehicle, and a metal bottle (Tesco). Easy to dispose of in a public toilet.

Surely you could get a little one-woman tent and pitch up in a cheap campsite? They generally are cheaper for single travellers?

Regardless of any legal issues or residents complaining I don't think its a good idea op. You'll feel knackered and grubby, even using leisure centre facilties just sleeping and living in a car for a few days will be awful.
As others have said get a cheapo pop up tent and use a campsite.

It's doable of course, but not particularly pleasant. I have a small van converted to a semi camper, and I have slept on the street (residential street but next to a park is a good one), but I always feel a bit on edge, and it's not pleasant to have to hide your existence. Laybys often have nocturnal visitors (sometimes dogging, sometimes groups of boy racers- you can imagine how relaxing that is!)

For these reasons I always prefer a campsite. It is completely untrue that all campsites in Cornwall will be booked up. And the great news is that the simpler and cheaper the campsite, the easier it will be to just turn up. Many might indeed prefer you to put a small tent up next to the car, but you can always use it to store your stuff in, giving you more room to stretch out in the car.

Google Maps is your friend for finding the cheapest campsites, that often don't have websites. "Farm camping" is the best search term to use. I know a lot of campsites in Cornwall that still charge £10 pp pn- or at least they did last year.

Try Lower Pennycrocker Farm nr Boscastle, Treesmill Farm nr Fowey, or Noongallas Farm nr Penzance.

Have you even looked at the prices?

It is £8-9 a night at some basic places around the county.

www.pitchup.com - chuck in the dates and see what comes up.

get some magnetic car curtains they are quick, cheap and take up no room, you can just keep them in the car, if you have them just in the back it looks like you have tinted windows, no one will suspect someone is alseep in the back

Meh, I reckon give it a go for one night and see how you find it! If it’s awful then head to a campsite/cheap b&b/home and if not it’s a win! Obv try and find somewhere unobtrusive but otherwise crack on!

I completely take your point. I’m just wanting to grab the chance to get away for a night or two and it might not even be possible. But if it is, I wouldn’t be treating wherever I slept as a holiday destination (not that you’re suggesting that!) and I would leave no trace. Nothing. I’ll be in a main town car park in the day but it is very clear that you can’t sleep there overnight. Although you can park overnight and if I managed to get a good spot on the edge and used baby sun blinds (the suction ones) I could probably get away with a good 6-7 hours sleep without anyone noticing?! Hmm… It’s a calm car park, the type that gets full from 7am but by 10pm you can normally find a spot (some people just park all week when they are on holiday and pay for the whole week which is allowed).

I do love camping. But I would feel reallly vulnerable as a lone woman camping off the beaten track and also it’s a pita to pack up when the tent is wet from dew (or rain!) the next morning.

I camp with my children loads. We will be camping later in the summer in Cornwall - on a proper site with a proper tent and all the camping paraphernalia!

It is fairly simple process to turn off the car alarm. Check your car manual or search your car make & model for instructions on how to do it. I turn off my car alarm each time I go on a ferry and it’s easy to do.

I’ve said this already. Trust me, I’m not an anxious mummy who hovers over my children and is sure they won’t cope without me.

One of my children is not good at being away from home and although he is extremely keen, both the camp leaders and I agree that if he needs a night off/time out with me, that will be best for everyone.

This would not be a conversation I’d ever have to have with my other children.

And it is precisely because I pay for music camps (and the rest!) for my children that I don’t have the budget to do what the other parents seem to be doing (booking amazing hotels nearby for some proper rest!).

It’s hard not to find it patronising to have camps explained to me. I’ve had 6 years now of one or all of my children going off to various camps.

The only issue with this for me would be that someone might see a woman sleeping on her own in a car and break into it? Certainly sleeping with the window open and nothing to cover the windows seems absolutely wild to me! I wouldn't sleep a wink

Thank you! I do have a small tent (and a larger tent!) and tbh if I end up on a campsite I’d rather sleep in my tent. But I’m trying to avoid any costs and needing to book etc (my dates are not certain) and the campsites where I want to be get booked up in advance (I know because I got one of the last spots for later in the summer at our favourite site!)

Then you didn’t read my post clearly 🙂

My child is staying inland in Devon. I have no doubt that I can find a room reasonably near for a night if I need to.

I want a night or two in Cornwall, by the sea. We will be about 2 hours apart.

I love Devon. But it’s been 15 years since I could be in my favourite place without having children to look after and it is all I can think about!

Good grief. Thank you so much for your parenting advice 🫣🫣🫣

@User76443998
Thanks for responding politely to my points, as many would not agree I am sure! I do remember my grandfather talking about this quite a bit, in the way that older relatives do 😁, so it had stuck in my mind…

If you do change your mind a couple of the YHA hostels do camping in the grounds. I had a quick look and it seems to be £15 pn. There are some YHA on the north coast in glorious spots.

I stayed once at YHA Perranporth and it was basic (probably a bit spruced up now) but right on the coast path.

Scotland right to roam camping applies to TENTS not cars so thats incorrect, also not legal and illegal are too seperate things, its not illegal to sleep in your car.

😂😂😂

I doubt anyone would even notice! I won’t be making any noise and have a fairly smart family car. I don’t peer into the back seats when I walk past cars in my (very nice) village. And I’ll be off well before 7am and into the sea for a pre breakfast dip (I hope!)

Staying in church-affiliated retreat houses, monastery and convent guest rooms, spare chaplaincy accom etc. is 'a thing'. £30 upwards. University rooms ime vary from £55 to £120 plus.

What is wrong with a Travelodge or Premier Inn, or one or those airbnbs which are in a host's family house?

Depends where you are but villagers Will Notice a new car with a stranger sleeping in it. Tbf villages have been gutted in Cornwall, so maybe not.

Just bloody book somewhere OP 😂😂

Sounds fun if you can stay safe. Let us know how it goes!

I might not. Miss Marple would. So would Christian Brückner.

I slept in the car aged 22 and haven't done it since because I know how deeply deeply uncomfortable it is for even one night let alone a few. Sounds hellish unless it's a hearse and you can stretch out 😁