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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Back early after noisy overcrowded campsite

83 replies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 19:55

hmpffff. Just a quick moan. We booked onto what we thought was supposed to be a quiet secluded campsite. Joined the camping and caravan club specifically to have quieter nights.

Ended up having a huge party (16 people?) squooshed against us with little kids running in and out around our tent, around our bbq, constantly tripping up over our guy ropes and queueing up to kick their ball against our tent Group exceptionally noisy til after midnight then another groups kids were playing outside at 5:30am.

Campsite was overcrowded and 2 loos (with washing facilities integral so that if someone had a shower the loo was tied up forever) 20 minute wait for first wee of morning made me a very grumpy lady.

I know I am getting old and bah humbugy but some people do like sleep at night and to get away from it all. Just call me Victor Meldrew.

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Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 20:33

I'm really excited now. How brilliantly fabulous

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pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 20:39

Are you going to do it then OYBK? We would always make a firepit, with stones around. We would ensure ALL our mess was taken with us, so you could not even tell we were there, we would even remove the firepit. Apart from one place, were the firepit was left as we wanted to go back for a few weekends in a row, and it got used by others, and in the end it stayed and is still there now, used by others when they camp.

Dartmoor is a great place to camp. If you go there, look for Cadover Bridge or Shaugh Prior, or Burrator Reserviour. You might have to be prepared to do a reccy first, find a good pitch, and be prepared to walk/do a couple trips with your stuff/travel lighter(or differently). Make sure you pick sheltered and near water, but not too close to the car parks that you can leave your car in, as otherwise you will be swamped by walkers first thing and they will all want your sausages for breakfast!

I am sure it applies to all public owned areas, the moors, woodland etc. Sometimes, if you are brave enough to ask, a farmer might let you camp in his field for a fiver, or even free. There is a place near totnes we go to where the farmer just let a friend stay once as he is near the river, and now we all go there and just give him a fiver per tent. Great for our kayaks.

pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 20:41

glad I could be of help I hope you go, tell me all about it when you have done it!

Overmydeadbody · 29/05/2009 20:46

Gosh you poorpoorkitten, sounds like a hideous experience!

Sound like my idea of camping hell tbh.

There are loads of lovely campsites around though, more of the basic variety farmer's fields, with loos, showers and washing facilities that the noisy partying type campers don't seem to like, I tend to go for them!

pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 20:48

I just noticed on that link you gave that two of the places I mentioned are excluded from permission to camp oh how rebellious of me! Luckily I used to go camping with a national trust warden then eh? Ok, so ignore Cadover Bridge and Shaugh Prior for camping, unless on a campsite. Burrator is a MUST though, lots of places to camp, tors to climb, clear running water to be found everywhere.

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 20:48

I found a map of where you can camp

We are going to scotland in the first two weeks of the summer holidays but I am determined to make this a priority for a short trip. Will let you know when we do it.

Thank you

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Overmydeadbody · 29/05/2009 20:50

I grew up wild camping, it was the only camping my family ever did and we did a lot of camping, so this whole camping in campsites thing is still quite new to me and I am still amazed by a toilet and shower What luxury.

Thanks to PAvlov, I now really wnt to go wild camping again!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 20:55

lol pavlov!!

omdb - this was supposed to be one of those sites quiet and basic.

but there again, if we hadnt had the horrible noisy people I wouldnt have found out that you can camp on dartmoor where you like.

And we did have a New Forest foal walk right up to us in touching distance when we sat out in the woods today and I caught 4 crabs. Just a shame I'm not sat out there by my tent atm.

Might be as well actually as after I started this thread dh called me to look at dd. She has mystery spots all over her (mostly arms and legs but some on her back) look nothing like bites - more like a viral something. Shes got a low grade temp too. We thought her floppy weepiness was just tiredness but perhaps not...

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Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 20:56

I just had no idea you could do wild camping.

Can I ask how you deal with toileting. dh is making faces at my excitement.

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pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 20:58

OMDB, its the best isn't it? I have great memories of watching the stars with a glass of wine in my hand, fire crackling, a friend strumming his guitar (it has also beenraucous on occasion too, with us all singing loudly and dancing around the fire! - we used to go camping with friends a lot) I love the Bare Naked Ladies for the memories they gave me camping. We used to sing many of their songs around the campfire, including If I Had A Million Dollars (we would all have to sing a couple of lines) and What a Good Boy.

those were the days.

DH is very 'precious first born' with DD. He does not want to go wild camping with her at 3yrs as she is 'too young' and he worries about lack of hygiene, toilets etc. Funny though, last time we went camping, last week. He did not even use the facilities (oh, once, morning visit ). Luckiy though, he does not want to do clubs/pubs/pools camping either.

pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 21:04

toileting = toilet roll (or wetwipes ) behind a tree/rock/builder, wash hands with river water and liquid soap or hand gel. Designate an area so you don't then go put your rug over the lovely wet mess! Or dig a hole, section it off (we have done that!) so that all know where they need to be going. That is all a toilet is anyway, a hole, with a fancy lid on, with the waste being taken further, as there is more of it to dispose of due to constant use. When camping you will not be overrun with wee and poo .

Just make sure, before you pee that a sheep is not standing right in front of you chewing the grass. Its a bit disconcerting with your pants down and this sheep peering at you with miserable eyes like you are disturbing it!

pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 21:05

oh and take Ecover soap/washing up liquid, as it will go directly back into the water supply, and also the river looks a bit unsightly with too many bubbles floating along it!

pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 21:07

Hope your DD is ok btw.

Sorry for so many posts - I am all excited for you .

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 21:11

at sheep!!!
Better than my moment. Yeads ago dh and I were hiking in Spain along a gorge. Thought I had found a nice private spot for a wee. Sadly not - there was a path just behind it and a large group of German hikers marched past me. I pretended I was invisible.

That sounds very doable. Will remember about the ecover.

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Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 21:12

don't be sorry about the posts!!!!! this is really cheery up - to know that I really can escape is great!

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Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 21:15

dd is prone to peculiar rashes at the drop of a hat. Will see how she is over night after a proper sleep and lots to drink. Maybe she had a bit much sun.

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pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 21:16

I have access to some of the most beautiful countryside, and I would be so so upset if I could not stay in it whenever and wherever I wanted. I hope you get out and enjoy it soon. Where are you based OYBK?

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 21:22

I'm in Hampshire

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pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 21:32

you will need a proper tent that fits into the countryside though, like out new one

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 21:41

very nice!! perhaps a little heavy for hiking?!

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pavlovthecat · 29/05/2009 21:58

not if you split it among you! thats my theory anyway, have not tried it yet...only used campsites . DH said he wil take dd wild camping next year. great, when i am at home with a newborn, er no, don't think so!

Original poster
OhYouBadBadKitten · 29/05/2009 22:10

ohhhh.... good plan!!

grrr to your dh!

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Kbear · 29/05/2009 23:01

We found a nice site at Mersea Island - quiet after 11pm, not far from beach and country park and near enough to Tesco Express for emergency dash for more alcohol!!

Hate noisy people on campsites and HATE people in the permanent statics who act like they own the place!

New Forest notoriously PACKED with people (hate people LOL!). East Anglia less so.

sarah293 · 30/05/2009 09:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Kbear · 30/05/2009 09:50

Ah, NOT WALDEGRAVES which we were warned about!!! Fen Farm at East Mersea. Was really nice. No clubhouse (god forbid), no Sky tv, shop or anything at all really except a few swings, nice toilets and showers, good disabled facilities, a David Bellamy conservation award (which usually means it's quiet for some reason!) and a few minutes walk from the beach and a really nice country park. Strict 11pm quiet policy too.

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