Camping etiquette

[GreasedPiglet]

Can anyone please tell me some camping etiquette that I'm unaware of? I know that you shouldn't use bubble wands, but that's about all. Is there anything about tent spacing and direction that I should know. Thanks!

As far as possible from the nearest tent lol. Most sites say 8ft or something but this never happens. Don't be loud after 10 or let your kids up early being loud. No kids going right up to others tents. Squeegee the shower floor if there's one of those things provided.

No idea but what's wrong with bubble wands, I'm intrigued?

The detergent in the bubbles buggers the waterproofing

I assume it's because the bubbles would affect the waterproofing of the tents but I'm hanging around to find out too

Leaving the shower floor clean is an important one. Most decent sites now provide a mop for this.

Remember that tents offer no sound proofing (it's easy to forget when you feel like you're enclosed) so talking (not to mention other noises) loudly is a tedious for your neighbours.

If the campsite is half empty it's best to not pitch adjacent to someone else that's already there if it's avoidable.

Don't walk across other people's pitches.

Just because people can't see you when you're in the tent doesn't mean they can't hear you

Stick to paths instead of stepping over people's guy lines (and teach kids this). It used to be considered very rude to wander through people's pitches but last few times we've been it was a normal occurence.... And people got irked when we set up our washing line to stop people squeezing around the back of our tent.

Oh, these are all great - thanks 🙂.

Don't have sex with a lamp on, no matter how dim...

Around That would really annoy me!

I cross-posted with Qweenbee - we won't be having sex 😂!

But if we did, I'd endeavour not to put on a shadow show 😄.

Keep your kids away from a new pitch being set up. They aren't helping.

Clean down after washing up- no foodstuffs in plughole etc

Give the loo a scrub as courtesy for the next user if dirty!

No music blaring after 10 / before 11/12

If your kid wakes damn early, bring something to keep them occupied. Do not just leave them to scream / get over excited for 2 hours!

Keep rubbish tidy. Don't encourage the seagulls / foxes!

Don't sit with your car running to charge your devices right next to my tent

Yes def agree with not walking through pitches. I also block them all off. Makes me mad when camping shops sell bubble wands.

Be aware if your dog barks THE WHOLE TIME.

Don’t assume other people will think your children are as cute as you do.

Don’t play with brilliant outdoor toys if you’re going to get all stroppy if other children want to join in- part of the fun of camping is sharing the stomp rocket. Conversely- keep an eye on your children- and stop them barging in where they’re not wanted. A tricky balancing act.

I agree with cleaning up after washing up. I've just come back from a week's camping and the state some people left the sinks in was disgusting - food in the plughole, sink left greasy and filthy.

Queen bee-brilliant

If you have children don't expect others to turn their barely audible music off at 7pm just because your little treasures have a routine that you won't relax even on a break.

Check the site rules - they differ a lot, if bbqs have to be in a cereal designated spot, use it! Many sites have designated numbered pitches, put your tent in the middle of the area and keep the guys close. Quiet hours are usually 10pm til 7am, kids shouting at 5am is why I don't got camping to sites that allow kids now mine are older.

Don't take cool playing on site stuff for kids unless you're happy with the whole site sharing - equally teach yours not to barge in & expect a go if the tent next door has awesome toys.

Don't be a loud drunken group of mates who've known each other for 30 years unless you're miles away from everyone else.

Be sensible about dogs - if yours yaps all night, you won't be popular. Equally teach your kids not to hassle anyone else's dogs.

Be fairly relaxed about big boisterous groups of kids being daft - if your 8yo falls off a hay bale mucking about with 10-13 year old friends, well, they were all being silly & there's probably no bones broken.

Take wine. Do not take musical instruments unless you're sure it's the right vibe for your off key noodlings.

Do not use this as a vehicle for everyone you've known for 30 years having a huge fuck off row about Brexit...

Expect newish partners of core group to hate you all & hide in tents.

Did not know about the bubbles!

I'm going to re-read all of this before we go, and I'll get DP to read it as well.

No bubbles (waterproofing)

No walking between tents in a family group or between tent and their chairs : it’s like walking through someone’s house.

Teach your kids this. They must never ever be close enough to anyone else’s Tent to be tripping over their guy ropes.

Be considerate about BBQ smoke. Note wind direction, and plan accordingly.

Note the site rules. If it says no amplified music then you can expect people not to Be playing their ‘barely audible except for the irritating high and bare notes’ music at 7pm. If music is allowed, it’s allowed.

Talk quietly or not at all when crossing the field to the toilets late at night, past people’s tents, and don’t shine your torch at tents and light them up.

Relax, chill out, have fun!

(I would never camp anywhere where there was any danger of the next pitch being close enough for guy ropes to cross).

I really think it's just all about being considerate to other people...the fact that you have asked the question shows that you're a considerate person so I think you're going to be ok :-)

Check the campsite rules though as most do have 'quiet times'. My favourite campsite doesn't even allow music, that might sound a little strict but it means you can enjoy the sounds of the owls hooting and the dawn chorus AND tends to mean people don't talk as loud as they're not competing with the tunes.

Do not pee in the hedge behind your tent. You may think it's fine, but the next campers will be the ones coping with the stink of stale piss.

Similarly, do not empty out the skanky remnants from your larder or coolbox into the hedge behind your pitch. You may think it's all hidden and will get eaten by local wildlife, but all the other campers will be the ones coping with the influx of vermin after you've left.

Torches! Point them at the ground in front of you as you walk, no more than 3-4m away from you, and not at some random point across the field. Because that random point is my eyes as I walk towards you, or my tent as I try to go to sleep.