Camping...be honest...do you really enjoy it?

[OrkneyGirl]

I'm typing this in a field in Cornwall. I love the idea of camping but, honestly, is it really a holiday? My neighbour is snoring. I've got to wash up at a sink area with no roof. The tent is starting to ming because it's been so wet. I could go on! And the one thing I never seem to get right is sleeping comfortably. I've tried blow up mattress, camp bed, blow up mattress on camp bed - all just a bit uncomfortable and making me want the comfort of a double bed with a cosy duvet!

It is great, IF the weather is good and all goes to plan.

Otherwise it's rubbish

No nothing about it to like sorry but it's not fun

I disliked it as a kid when we went with family. Found it quite boring with guides (but we had the most dull leader in the world). Loved it as a teen going with school and friends and ever since (though I can only go for one night at a time now, because I no longer seem to sleep).

I like getting up early making a coffee and sitting out (normally still in my sleeping bag, hat and fingerless gloves even in the summer) watching the morning while it's really quiet and still. I like the smell of the burning wood from the camp fire - poking it with a stick and watching it glow. I like the fresh air and the way conversation touches on different topics. I like that it's a bit different.

The key for me is making sure you're in good company and not having an agenda of having to do anything in particular, but also having a list of outdoorsy things you can get up to, especially walks with good pubs on them, and a pack of cards to pass the time in the evenings if no one is that talkative. I also put effort into having a decent campfire, good food and alcohol.

And after, I love getting home, having a long hot shower and getting into a warm comfy bed with decent wifi!

Don’t like the sleeping on the floor part, putting the tent up etc but quite enjoy the cooking outside etc However, given the choice, I wouldn’t go.

It's fine for a family in a campground that has toilets, showers, barbeque pits and a store. I would not suggest back country camping for anybody with kids though. It can be glorious to get away from it all but totally not practical for a family. Camping in a field sounds boring as hell though. I've only ever camped in the woods by a lovely lake with access to kayaks, canoes and good swimming. Otherwise I wouldn't bother.

We used to go in a group with other families snd lovely memories of sitting round in the evenings chatting and drinking while the children ran around playing manhunt in the dark. But it was a faff,all the packing, unpacking, pitching a massive tent etc - a motorhome is much easier (esp without children!)

We go for long weekends with friends, the kids play together and the sense of camaraderie makes it bearable for the adults! Honestly we've been to some great places and have great memories. The kids really look forward to it. We book pubs/restaurants so don't take cooking equipment. I don't think I could handle anything more committed, like a week of just us with our kids and having to cook on site.

Because of the weather (Scotland) tent - no thank you the idea is lovely but the reality is soggy and horrific. But a caravan holiday where I’m protected from the elements I love! Still get the chilled walks, early nights, bbq dinner and morning coffee but don’t need to fall asleep dry and wake up with everything including a big hairy wet dog and husband 😂 needing dealt with along side all the clothes etc.

Yes, I love it. I utterly hate hotels, B&Bs, holiday cottages etc as I hate the thought of sleeping in or on bedding that other people have slept in/on. I much prefer my own tent and sleeping bag.
I love waking up to the sound of my tent flapping gently especially if I can also hear the sea.
Hard ground also does wonders for my bad back.

Only in a caravan. With an inbuilt wine fridge and a big double bed.

And yes, no rain. Fair weather caravan'er only.

If I’m honest there’s quite a lot about it that I don’t love but nobody has mentioned the obvious - the price. Because we camp we can do a 4 night holiday for under £100 whereas if we refused to camp that would be a minimum of £4-500+ for us as a family of five. That’s the only reason I keep going really, to get cheap Uk holidays. The kids enjoy it.

A campervan is your friend, OP.

I thought we had nailed it...went camping with our massive newish tent last weekend, cooked a meal in it and felt everything was working. Had a good kitchen set up, tables chairs, beds etc. Then went to bed that night and the wind picked up, started lashing rain. Was a little concerned next morning as rain was coming in around the door. Went out for a few hours and when we came back, the tent had collapsed and there were puddles of water everywhere inside it. Had to pack everything up wet, drive 4 hours home. A week later things are still wet. So I'm done now. Glamping maybe from now on.

It depends on the camping. My worst experience was camping in Kerry in relentless pissing rain, we gave up and went home on day three. Camping at Glastonbury in the mud years was a challenge too, but worth it! We were very happy to be staff though as we had catering and more importantly, hot showers and flushing toilets! When I moved to Oz I said no more camping because spiders etc, but now we go away for camping weekends three or four times a year, it’s brilliant fun! We mix it up, there are lots of beautiful semi-wild camping spots around, but we are going to a campsite with heated pool next month, as it’s still only early spring. Sunshine is now a non negotiable to me, I do not do camping in the rain. I also hated my SIM, much prefer duvets and inflatable bed. Also need lots of wine, ear plugs and hopefully a pub nearby for tea. Our friends just bought a trailer tent, maybe we will be next.

I sleep really well in the tent. We have self inflating mats with a fitted sheet on top and then a light summer duvet to lie on and a thicker duvet on us and a blanket nearby if we need it. I don’t like feeling constricted in a sleeping bag and dh wakes me up if we’re in a double when he goes to the loo in the middle of the night!
If it’s really warm we then lie on the thicker one and have the summer one on top of us. Works really well and I’m often too hot.

@DinosaurOfFire Electric hook up is worth it for phone charging, especially as kids get older, and a kettle for that first cup of coffee in the morning. My friend and I sit outside having coffee whilst everyone else is still sleeping, bliss.
Kids are happy to come with us still even though they are all young adults now and still follow all camp habits/traditions like joining in our camp olympics we made up when were young and the rule of kids doing the washing up although I don’t give them pocket money for it anymore!
We tend to go for a long weekend somewhere every summer as it’s so much harder to plan trip to France now as too many diaries to sync…

I like aspects of it; being outdoor if weather is nice, by the fire, having a bbq, sharing a drink, listening to the birds; but it is a bit of a hassle and miserable if it rains.

We have just done a campervan trip and it was better; but still a bit of work and a bit cramped to cook, move around, cleaning dishes; etc. Kids said is the first and last time they are doing it so didn’t embrace it; a different experience but they like comfort and space, a good size kitchen to cook; not necessarily luxury but clean, comfy, spacious

This is the key to it i think. I was 100% against it and have always thought a hotel or holiday accommodation has yo offer something I don't have at home. So avoided it.

My husband is outdoorsy and since we met 15 years ago has always been pushing for us to camp, we did last year and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.

It offers a chance to switch off completely from modern world and tech and focus on your family and friends without distraction. We went as a group of 3 families, with camp beds and comfy chairs. Also pick your campsite better, there are some great spots thwt aren't just in a field. We stayed next to a lake, with some children and family activities around us. Lots to do for children and its good for them. We also had separate tents for rhe children - we have 12 between the 3 families.

I personally enjoy it in that context, I don't think I would enjoy a field staring out at other families.

I will wild camp for a night or two in a beautiful place just because there's no alternative but I never sleep well and it's very soggy. Don't like campsites because of the noise. But no, it's not my favourite.

Morning...got grumpy head on. DH snoring all night...youffs still up from night before now playing music!!!! Love the advice but really wondering why I'm here. The only positive is that it's not raining. Grey, yes. But not wet. Looking forward to a day of silent disgruntlement...

So we don't do full weeks camping, more weekends or bank holidays. It does mean we get to experience a cheap break away without paying for hotels and therefore wouldn't have gone otherwise.

It takes us about 30 mins max to get the tent set up ready as we don't have loads of stuff which suits us fine

If it was taking us 2 hours on a a Friday night after work to put up a tent then I'd feel differently

Love it, but we have decent equipment that makes it comfortable.
also we live in Australia; being cold and wet in a tent in Britain sounds awful 😂😂

I love it.... in the perfect weather conditions which happens twice a century

I like the idea much more than the reality. Thankfully dd isn't a huge fan so when our old motorhome packed up, we knew we wouldn't be replacing it!

I love it but did invest quite a lot of money in buying really good equipment. For some reason when it comes to camping, the smaller stuff is the more expensive it becomes!

I only go for a maximum of 4 nights and pick sites that have very few pitches and basic facilities. Preferably adult only. No electric, just a power pack to charge my phone.

Nothing better than going out walking for the day then getting back to my tent and sitting outside with a glass of wine and my kindle.