Is it just me, or have pitch prices gone through the roof?!

[pictish]

That's dh and I looking into booking our summer camping holiday this year.
I don't know how it has come to pass, but there seems to be a distinction between last year and this one in terms of price.
Where we would normally pay around £25 per night at peak times (ie school holidays) for a grass pitch with EHU (where possible, EHU isn't essential), we are now looking at £35++ for the same thing!
How the hell can they justify that sort of money for a patch of grass and a toilet block?

Places seem to be charging a basic pitch rate that seems reasonable, but when you total in the extra charges for children, car, awning....fresh air etc it becomes an expensive endeavour indeed!

We're passionate about camping and don't go just because it's a cheap holiday, but tbh the much cheapness was always a big bonus.

We want to do 10 nights at the beginning of July in areas that have scenery and activities close by for the kids. We're really having to do our sums and our homework like never before.

Anyone else looking at sites and pulling the face at the tariffs this year?

Can't compare this year to last as I don't camp often.

In fact, until the last couple of years, I hadn't camped since I was a teen and I was utterly shocked at the prices. Camping used to be a cheap holiday for our family when I was a kid - when my mum was single and on I/S it was the only holiday we had.

However, basic pitch where I camp in the Peak District is £17 per night, plus extra for 2nd car, kids 3 and 4, EHU etc.

I suppose the owners are subject to the vagaries of British weather and can't guarantee income in any way so use that to justify prices. I wonder if farm subsidies have changed and that has an effect?

Camping prices ridiculous. We've tried the last 3 yrs to find a reasonably priced campsite in Devon or Cornwall, and each time we've ended up either in a premier inn or Travelodge instead, as it works out cheaper 2A, 2C, a baby and 2 cars, £50 a night? Don't think so!

I suspect there are still excellent value sites out there, they just don't advertise heavily or maybe don't have internet presence.

I agree. When I first camped with (now) DH as a student we used to pay £5 a pitch. The most I've ever paid recently was over £30 (and we don't have EHU)- which seems like massive inflation in 20 years or so. However, I guess then we had a tiny two person tent, went out of school holidays and to smaller more basic sites. So I may not be comparing like with like.

Maybe it's the equivalent of subconsciously expecting the Beano still to cost 15p, but I can't quite get over staying on a patch of grass being as expensive as a family room in a premier inn.

Dotty yes that's exactly it - we could stay in Premier Inn for between £29-59 per.night, which means we take one car, park it for free, have a decent bed, the DC get reasonably good beds, private bathroom , WiFi & tv/electricity;

Vs camping - need to use both our cars to take all the equipment (we have 2 small cheap cars as opposed to one larger family car), making our own beds, have to walk to the toilet and queue up for a shower, limited wifi. No contest for us really! (I totally get the fact that lots of campers like the no wifi/electric aspect of it)

Perhaps wild camping is the way forward in 10 years time the woods will be covered in human shit and disposable bbqs, mark my words

That's what we were saying. It's become almost synonymous with hiring a cabin or a cottage with those prices. We wouldn't do that, because we have a fabulous tent and have spent years building up a thoroughly comprehensive collection of top quality camping gear which is there at our perusal, but surely to god camping ought to be significantly cheaper than hiring accommodation!
Not any more it seems.

We were looking at the Lake District last night and for 10 nights camping pretty much anywhere in the area we're looking at nigh on £400!

We'll probably end up paying it...but I do think "why should we?".

Daryl there's hardly any wild camping to be had anywhere these days, as arseholians go along and leave litter and excrement and broken glass everywhere, they cut down living trees and plants to burn on the fire, and just basically show their environment no respect at all. So landowners have unsurprisingly and increasingly put up NO CAMPING signs left, right and centre.
We used to have our beautiful, wonderful spots to wild camp in, but most of them have become a no go area in the last 15 yrs or so, because of the idiots that haven't a clue how to camp responsibly.

I know, sad isn't it is it just lake district you're after pictish?

No...we're open to ideas. We're in Midlothian though, and don't want to spend hours and hours driving to our destination. We had a fabulous holiday in Wales three years ago, but the drive there and back (10 hours both ways all in) was gruelling as hell and we agreed it was too much.
We've done all the most scenic parts of Scotland over the years, but often the best places are remote and perhaps not great for family activities or wet weather plans.
We last camped in the Lake District four years ago and thought it was about time for a return there.

We were looking at the Loch Lomond area this year as well, but have concerns about overcrowding and the inevitable influx of people from Glasgow, who in our direct and extensive experience, can be antisocial camping neighbours with shouting, aggressive behaviour, out of control dogs and kids, drinking and fuck all consideration for anyone else.
I mean no disrespect and offer sincere apologies to any lovely Glaswegians who might read this and rightly bristle at me, but I can't lie about it - any horrors we've ever encountered at campsites in Scotland have been weegies. Loch Lomond is in their immediate vicinity so it's something to think about.

My friend wild camps on Coll.

Not sure your kids would be up for anything that remote though!

I suspect the Peak District is too far for you, but if you did fancy the trek, the site we stayed at is here:
www.upperhurstfarm.com/Upper_Hurst_Farm/Welcome.html

We're more than happy to do remote, and the younger two would be happy with that as well, but the eldest is a teen and he'd soon get bored after a few days. It's a family holiday and I'm trying to cater for everyone. Scenery and outdoor pursuits for us, and fun activities for the kids as well. We pad out the paid attractions with hillwalking and so on.

The most we have ever paid is £45 a night for a waterfront pitch in the Lake District - too much and I wouldn't have done it if everyone else wasn't so keen.

We camped for two months a year in the 70s and 80s because it was so cheap, no way my parents would have done it otherwise (£3 or £5 max for luxury, per night for a family) - it allowed maximum holidays and we loved it.

By the time I started camping as a young adult, uni and onwards we were paying £8-10 a night.

Nearly 30 years on we are still camping at similar types of sites and paying £20 as a minimum.

We try to find farmer's field type sites in beautiful places without too many facilities, not to save money, but they do tend to be cheaper by virtue of what they are/offer.

I suppose the popularity of camping, or maybe, glamping, allows the increases. I would rather pay more than be squashed in though, I think that is worse in a lot of respects.

Interestingly prices on the continent don't seem to have risen in line with good old Blighty.

That's true.
we hired a gite in France a couple of years ago. The municipal campsite in the village was only €3 a night I think. It had no facilities other than shower and toilet block but there was an outdoor swimming pool just a couple of minutes away.

Pictish would have to be looking at Netherlands really and the ferry would bump up the price. Might be an idea though?

If you are a member of the caravan club or the c&cc you should look at the temporary holiday sites which are run by local bits of the club. Often much cheaper admittedly they may not have much more than basic facilities but it is worth considering.

If you want to consider the Peak District our favourite campsites are Upper Booth and Field Head, Field Head has a lovely part where you carry your gear to a pitch and pitch in a car free field. Upper Booth has one pitch completely on its own half way down the side of a hill which is wonderful, obv you have to ask for that one.

We have always found it much cheaper than the Lakes, still plenty to do.

We are staying at a farm in wales this summer, costing 22.50 per night for all 5 of us, its very basic, no ehu or brand new shower block but the area looks beautiful, has a beach nearby and we can have camp fires at night.
Some we looked at were priced far too high.

Yes. I have noticed a steep creep the last few years to be honest. My camping trips have reduced alot.

10 years ago I used to pack the kid and car up and go to Deon and Cornwall for 4,5.6 weeks of non stop camping. Last year I managed 1 weekend and 2 weeks in the summer.

I love camping so much but just cannot afford it and also resent being ripped off.

As much as I adore the campsite feeling, sipping my wine sat beside my tent watching the sun go down and the kids play and sleeping in my tent, I cannot justify the ridiculous price anymore.

Travel lodge here we come!

The Peak District is a bit far for us I think. About six hours away. It's a long six hours with the kids packed in like sardines and barely being able to see out the windows for gear. You all know how it is.

Anyold we stayed on a farm campsite in Wales (Snowdonia) that allowed campfires too...it really was a brilliant holiday and almost worth the toil of the travelling. But no...it was a blight on what was an otherwise fabulous trip.

The Lake District suits because we could be there in three hours on a good day, four at the most on a bad one. But the prices are definitely putting us off. We still haven't decided where to go this year.

I have this bookmarked

www.theguardian.com/travel/2010/may/15/best-british-campsites-family-groups

There are a few in Yorkshire which look reasonably priced.

I have an extensive virtual brochure on ukcampsite...my favourite forum after mumsnet. You get all the best camping geekery chat on there!

Oooh think we might have swung for this place!

That looks so beautiful, I might add it to my own list - we are doing a long Scotland trip this summer .

pictish this is our favourite site Gibraltar farm. Not as far for you as the Peak district and very easy access to the South Lakes, the one you've found looks good though.

That sounds very expensive! I'm in Wales, maybe it's cheaper here, but literally right next to the beach at Whitesands costs us £15/night for three of us - charged per person not per car etc.

I thought that was pricey compared to other places we'd camp (though they do mostly tend to be ultra basic).