2025 is coming to an end soon, how was the year for you, camping or non-camping wise?
For me personally:
1. I had more gainful employment. On one hand, the additional income was great; however, I had less free time to engage in non-work related activities, and at times, it was stressful due to the requirement to be 'continuously contactable' for my line of work, e.g. when I was touring Scotland in July 2025 and had to find suitable places to stop and take calls while I was on the move between sites.
2. I got fed up with playing the mobile phone signal roulette, and had taken out additional data plans so that I now have access to all 4 mobile phone network providers in the UK. I still have to check mobile signal coverage when planning where to stay so as to avoid signal blackholes.
2. My cat of 18 years died in late September 2025 due to old age (she was 21yo when she died). Although it means I no longer feel guilty about leaving her in the cattery when I go camping with the dog (she needed regular medication), I do miss her dearly, R.I.P. my sweetest girl.
3. My site/no. of nights counts for 2025 were the highest since I took delivery of my van in April 2021, and I still have one more trip to go, from 24 December 2025 to 02 January 2026. However, the trip in Scotland in July 2025 was very tiring and stressful, and I have learnt from that trip - to stay for longer (5 nights minimum) at lesser number of sites if a long drive is involved between sites.
4. No significant change health-wise which is good.
5. Trying to put up a canopy type awning during a storm was futile. However, I have not given up on the idea and shall try again next year.
Without a senior cat to worry about anymore, I am hoping I could do more impromptu short trips both in distance to travel and number of nights.
That's all from me for now.
How was 2025 for you?
Happy Holidays and happy camping in 2026!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
For me, not a bad year camping, mostly because I did longer stays on the few trips I did. I actually extended my stays whilst on site as I was either having such a good time in unexpectedly good weather, or trying to avoid towing the caravan hundreds of miles through named storms!
As seems to be the case every year, I didn't get away as much as I'd wanted to the places I want to go, other people including me in their plans seems to impact quite a lot! I lost a good few weeks of potential holidays early summer when Covid knocked the stuffing out of me, and I really didn't recover quickly, driving any distance and setting the caravan up was beyond me, at least in any way that would have been in the slightest bit enjoyable.
I'd planned to get away in early to mid Oct, with no particular destination in mind other than it HAD to be a quiet and firework free area (my dog hates them and becomes a trembling wreck even with calming measures taken), as Diwali at home is like some horrible never ending battle on the Somme for a good two weeks! As I already had a long 300 mile trip booked for the end of Oct, I wanted somewhere that was an easy tow and no more than a couple of hours journey, preferably on the coast. Didn't seem a big ask, but between the sites that had closed for the season and those already fully booked, it turned into a real depressing chore, to the point I felt it was a lost cause and all the joy had gone out of it! Pretty much ran out of time without finding anywhere before the 'warfare' started, so decided to just hunker down and comfort dog as best I could.
My much desired stay (not quite Bucket list, but if I don't get there soon, it may become so!) in Northumberland was yet again one of the casualties of my 'didn't happen' trips this year too!
Life in general seems to have hit one of those eras, very much beginning to feel like 'I'm the last man standing', so many of my friends and acquaintances have gone down with really nasty life altering/threatening conditions, and many of them are a lot younger than me! Whilst I've the candles on the cake to match the oldest of them, I can still do most things I could do 20 or more years ago, but everyone around me is 'old and decrepit' it seems! - It's not encouraging! Struggling to think of friends who haven't got some bit of mechanism substituting for the bits they were born with, and that's not including those who've been near eviscerated and lack a lot of 'innards' they used to have! When I see anyone these days, or enquire after them, I dread the answers!
It doesn't seem to get better with so many of the dogs I've known (through my dog charity volunteering), it's been a pretty bad year, which only serves to remind me my own dog is knocking on at over 11 years old, nearly all her peers I knew when she was a pup, have gone over the rainbow bridge. Thankfully she seems to be a perpetual puppy and really not showing her age.
Damned if I'm ready to throw in the towel yet and join my 'nackered' old friends, already got two camping trips booked for next year, as one of those has become a bit of a two centre camp over past few years, although 2nd part not booked yet, I suppose it's really three trips already sorted, with a forth firmly in mind too! Must book the other trips I want to do, before some other bugger books me into their plans again!
Hope you all had a good 2025 camping experience, and 2026 is looking good for you.
In addition to losing my beloved cat, one of my oldest friend that I have known since 1994 had lost her husband suddenly which was very sad.
He was younger than me by about 10 months!
By chance I was on a work trip near her and was able to pop in for a catch-up, and am glad I did.
DK
Post last edited on 07/12/2025 20:59:19
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We only had 8 days camping this year back in September, but we have had a week in Corfu and another week in Cornwall staying with my wife's sister, and several days out. Also got 5 days coach trip to the Isle of Wight to come before the year is out. That's the good bits.
The bad bits are losing so many friends and acquaintances in one year. So far I have been to 10 funerals, and the year isn't over yet. Still, on the positive side, none of them have been my own yet!
On our way to the Lake District, got to Preston, got a terrible stomach ache, went to hospital. Woke up with a stoma! In hospital for a month, long recovery, only been away once. Going to SIL in Lowestoft at Christmas, staying on a site. Hoping for stoma reversal . Not the best caravanning year but I am still here at 78. Onwards and upwards!
2025 started with my annual visit to family in NZ, where my sister & I explored areas new to both of us. Tasting wine at cellar doors was obligatory.
The year was bit more stressful than usual, due to a health issue that took months to get dealt with and more months to get the results. Thankfully, everything is as it should be.
As for the camping - we went back to areas of Scotland that we'd not been to for a while, trying new sites there (Benderloch, Braemar) and confirming that other sites were as good or as bad as we remembered them (I won't name the bad ones, but I always try to make my reviews fair).
Tried a pod for the first time (needed the car not the MH) - they do vary so much in what they offer, but a wooden tent seems a good idea for families.
And we celebrated an anniversary by returning to the Lofoten Islands off Norway for the third time. Astonishingly beautiful scenery, which I very much enjoyed sketching.
It started on the up: a friend accidentally ran me over reversing in his pick up truck half way through December and I spent Christmas on crutches and in pain walking and sleeping and using my arms. But I was improving a lot by New Year and looking forwards.
Had two brilliant camping trips, Kent and Suffolk. Lots of walking and sea swimming. And a day spent on Orford Ness which I loved. Also a trip to a completely off grid cottage (no electricity or running water) in Norfolk, walking, wildlife and swimming. A weeks fell walking in the Lakes.
Visits to friends in Hebden Bridge, Derbyshire, my son in Bristol, Rye, and last week to the opening of a play my friend wrote / adapted in Stratford on Avon. All great trips with lots to see and experience.
Loads of art galleries and theatre trips. Some lovely parties.
Really enjoyed a trip to see the Maunsell Forts from Whitstable, and I have started walking sections of the Thames Path where you can walk from one station to another. I am looking forward to the stretch downstream from Goring in the Spring.
Like Monty I feel that many around me are starting to look askance at camping, I think due to a greater need for creature comforts than decrepitude, but I am aware of getting on. I am heading towards 70 and realised that I really need to get on with the longed for camping trip to Northumberland etc before I get too weedy to lift my canvas tent in and out of the car. I go to Body Pump classes to keep my strength up.
My teeth like to remind me of my age and have cost me a huge chunk of my savings this year as the choice was toothless crone chic or implants.
Amidst much to despair about I am constantly reminded how good, kind, friendly and sensible most people are. I am very involved in community grassroots activity and people’s wit, grit and generosity keeps me optimistic.
Sympathies and best wishes for those who have faced loss and health challenges this year.
A good year here too! We have plenty to be happy and thankful for.
We've managed to get in around 50 nights away this year, a record for us. We laugh that we are trying semi-retirement as we work for ourselves, it seems to be working this year.
Got to go to Northern Ireland for my 50th in the summer for 10 days, which we had long hoped to do and will return some time as it was beautiful.
A wander down to Cornwall for another 10 days there and back, we haven't been for 10 years so a nice change. Had our usual short trips to the Lakes and North Wales for paddleboarding as well. Away for New Year too.
Immediate family has kept in good health (parents especially) and have allowed us to get away.
Always end up with the family for Christmas dinner so have that to not look forward to as seem to get little help apart from OH, so glad of the break afterwards. One day it will change, just hoping the Kids will start a new tradition of hosting but I don't hold my breath!!
OH has a big birthday next Spring so need to start planning a big trip somewhere new for that, lots to look forward to.
Highlight for me were the endless days of sun and amazing weather, a proper summer. It seemed to start in March and was good through to October (apart from September! Explained below).
A couple of decent weekends camping. Ingleton was a highlight. 25 degrees, wall to wall sunshine. Didn't manage Ingleborough as it was so busy, but did a 6 miler and finished off with a couple of ciders in the local pub.
Then a few weeks later on to Masham. Not so good weather, we found out our tent needs seam sealing after a massive cloudburst soaked the porch area!
Plenty of passport stamps. Geneva in March, Lille in early April, Dublin mid April, Ibiza in October and just back from Malaga. Scotland to come for Christmas.
Disappointment was a long booked and planned trip to Scotland on the sleeper in September. Unfortunately the weather had been poor the day we travelled to London to catch it. Plan was sleeper to Fort William, bus to Oban, night in Oban, train back home.
Sleeper arrived at the platform in Euston, ready to board to then be told due to the electric wires being dragged down by a train near Penrith due to hewvy wind and rain the lines had to be closed and the trip was cancelled. We refused sleeping on the train and hotfooted it to Kings Cross to get the last train home. Fair play to Cally sleeper and the ticket retailer for other legs of the trip we had full refund within a couple of days.
Any year I'm still here is a good year camping wise started year with 7 weeks in France and Spain had several short trips here in uk.
I've been at home since middle of June as wife had to go to Spain to help brother and sister give palliative care to her mum for 6 weeks before she sadly passed away, good innings though 96 years old. now planning another long trip in Europe for the end of January 2026.
we always use Newhaven to Dieppe ferry.
Managed a week away in April, and a few weekends in August and September, so found it good rediscovering long weekends away in a smaller tent. Found some nice new sites.
Looking for a new weekend tent so that we can do this more often.
2025 has been my first year without tent camping in a long time. I've rehomed my tent; as an increasingly creaky solo camper in my 70s, the hassle was outweighing the pleasure but I was reluctant to stop. It was a dream that decided things for me. In my dream I'd gone out for the day from the campsite; on my return I found my tent was completely empty. I woke thinking, 'That's it. There's nothing left in here for me.'
Given that I'm at the stage of having steroid injections in my knees and have had physio through the year on shoulder and ankle, I think it was the right decision. My tent went to a good home, too.
I have had two stays on my favourite site, Rynys, this year in their static caravan so I haven't left campsites behind completely! It will be podding, caravanning or self-catering from now on. Roll on 2026!
------------- Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
Well, we've had the excitement of a full year of our very first experience of campervanning, so that's nice! 😁
... And we're not quite done yet...
One more night in UK (Saturday, near Folkestone).
Followed by 21st & 22nd heading South in France.
Finishing 2025 with the 29th, 30th, and 31st in the van heading back North, taking us to a record-smashing personal best of 68 nights for 2025. Woohoo!
We've broken our duck with a couple of off-grid nights in France, and a couple of UK Pub-stops. All went well.
This upcoming last trip of the year will also include a couple of nights on camping-car aires, almost certainly CCP for this particular trip. (CCP App downloaded and credit topped up in preparation!)
... and the last night of our trip (1st Jan) will kick start 2026 as early as possible, so here's to another record-breaking year next year! 🤞
Sadly not a good year health wise for either of us, Margaret has had two hip replcements from which she has recvered well from both. In May I had a stroke which has impacted a lot on our lives.I can' drive at the moment and the DVLA don't seem to be in a hurry for me to get my licence back which is very limiting. I suppose it was a wise decision to sell the motorhome last year so at least we don't have that to deal with. After selling it our plan was to use campsite accommodation to keep in contact with the hobby but in medium term, at least, that seems unlikely.~I suppose we can look back to many wonderful trips around the UK and Europe.
At David Klyne - get well soon to you and your wife!
At Mucker - CCP - is it worth it please? Thinking of overnight stops in France in future. Thanks in advance.
DK
Post last edited on 16/12/2025 11:12:30
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 16/12/2025
At Mucker - CCP - is it worth it please? Thinking of overnight stops in France in future. Thanks in advance.
DK
Post last edited on 16/12/2025 11:12:30
I guess I won't know the answer to that until we've tried it. And even then, this initial trip alone will undoubtedly prove inconclusive, as we're only planning on stopping on one of them. If it suits us on the way down, there's a high chance we'll stay at the same CCP aire on the way back, but mainly due to the location and our itinerary.
So I guess we're only one tiny step ahead of you and your own thoughts/plans for the future.
Main point for us being there appears to be no actual camp sites open in the area we expect to be in on night 2 of 3 outbound. Nights 1 & 3 should be on a proper sites, if Google is to be believed! 🤞
Similar for the return, plus we've found a camp site for the last 2 nights (NYE & NYD) that is purported to be open, and is in darting distance for Le Shuttle on Jan 2nd.
We won't be using Aires... CCP or others... extensively, as we're not fully self contained... no shower for a start!
But whilst we've no plans to pay for the CCP Privilege account (€29 per year), we're thinking the €5 lifetime pass is well worth paying to give us an extra string to our bow, alongside "unbranded" aires, for if/when we find no vacancies at unreserved camp sites.
It just opens up our options (considerably, perhaps?) when touring, as we speed headlong into our "Adventure before Dementia" stage!
Time will tell... Give us a year or two!
(I will of course report back with opinion of our first taster, whether it's interesting or not!)
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: 2025 in flection
via mobile 08/12/2025 at 7:39am
