That's a shame, but you don't go camping to be miserable so if you don't enjoy it there's no point in suffering. Give yourself a break but hang onto the kit for a while in case you change your mind.
Stop camping as a duty because you have bought so much expensive gear and need to justify the expense.
A period of campinglessness may bring about a need to camp. Cut out most of the heavy kit and go simply, how you started out, in a period of good weather, don't decide to go until the last minute and don't book.
It sounds like you have made your mind up about camping, but I would encourage you to have another think about a trailer tent/folding camper.
We camped for a number of years but eventually I got sick of sleeping poorly and waking up grumpy on holiday. We bought a Pennine Fiesta last year and I can't recommend FCs enough - comfy beds, fridge/freezer, electrics for electric blanket, kettle/toaster, charging laptops/phones. It takes us about 45 mins to set up/take down, including awning, fits in our garage and our 2004 model cost us less than an Outwell polycotton.
It's amazing how a good night's sleep whilst camping can completely alter your outlook :-)
I agree with the last post (although for practical reasons I know this might not be for you). We have been camping for 10 years as a family and have loved every minute of it. We reluctantly got EHU a couple of years ago and really appreciated having an electric coolbox and fanheater.
Then at the beginning of this year OH said to me he was finding camping hard work these days. He is not the best sleeper even at home and despite trying a number of different sleeping arrangements he said he was always a bit tired when we were camping.
I was a bit shocked but I do know where he is coming from. We dont go abroad, camping is what we do so its important everyone enjoys it.
In the end we bought a FC and OH is so much happier. Its maybe not "proper camping" (and my eldest would rather be in a tent) but it feels very luxurious.
We have kept the tent(s) and I will take the kids on my own but I guess things change over time.
After one very crappy summer (2011 I think?) we had a year off and booked a holiday cottage. Everyone agreed that they would rather have been in a tent! I wouldnt be in a rush to sell everything but maybe keep the basics for now.
Hi, I felt this way 5 years ago and we narrowed it down to the weather here in the UK. So for the last 4 years we've headed south to the med and Europe and never looked back. Hope you get sorted :-)
We used to camp very light but even then there was still an amazing amount of stuff. We too started to get p'd off with the camping chore! Then we got an Esterel and fell in love with it again. The joy of a quick set up and little things like running water have made all the difference. It is a good compromise between a tent and a caravan, we call it posh tenting It is easy to store like a FC but you don't have the worry of wet canvas. Yes it takes a bit longer to get to site but this is more than made up in the quick set up time. Oh and we still go non EHU, so are rarely stuck in with the caravans.
I still tent camp with the Scouts, and just a tent, mat and sleeping bag seems like a lot of stuff now! Lol
What ever route you go down it has to be right for you, no point in going away to be miserable.
sevens, I feel for you. We've been at it twenty years but don't do short UK camps anymore. We don't do basic or have multi-tents according to the duration of the stay so factor in the weather and a big polycotton tent and it just isn't worth it for us. Instead we do a Premier Inn weekend somewhere for as low as £25pn.
A full fortnight in a sunnier climate and the balance changes but we'll be coming to a decision on even that after this years holiday.
Selling our stuff is one thing. What we're unlikely to change is the type of holiday. We love the freedom of independent travelling but might do the safari tent or static type booking in future. So, many of the pluses of camping without the effort.
Whatever you do, good luck, and happy holidays.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
I am resigned to the fact that my camping under canvas days are numbered due to advancement in age.
Touch wood I shall stay relatively healthy and sufficiently fit to be able to erect a canvas tent on my own for next 5+ years.
I am debating whether to move to a trailer tent in 2017/8 when I shall have a newer car to tow it; or to get a different canvas tent that is easier to pitch than my current Hypercamp Escala 4 that has nearly 40 pegging points instead!
I may be able to afford the latter sooner if it is an ESVO Bedouin 340, but not a Karsten in the configuration that I am after. The Bedouin 340 will fit into the trailer and can still be towed with my existing car.
I shall refrain from getting a caravan for as long as I can, as I am almost certain I cannot get the one I am after, namely a T at B 400L, without getting a bigger car than a MINI Countryman D All 4 which will be my next car for 6+ years.
Who knows? My enthusiasm may diminish due to changes in circumstances in the future. However, as long as I have a dog, and he is still a bouncy 7 year old; and my health and fitness holds out, then I shall continue to go camping under canvas for as long as I can.
Good luck to the OP, and Mike G, whatever you have decided.
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$$ on it and walk away!
Being surrounded by the countryside is the bit I enjoy. We will try a couple of years renting bricks and mortar for holidays (we both dislike hotels) and see how that goes for us. We stayed in a lovely place in Shetland and it was bliss, and took all the hard work out of it. It maybe we come to dislike that and want to go back to camping, so the stuff will stay in the cupboards for now. Maybe I'm just getting lazy, but I dont want time off to be hard work. I had stomach upset the day before we went, out of dread of what had to be done. I want to look forward to holidays. And that will probably mean no camping for me.
I know what you mean re: stomach upset without en-suite facilities to hand.
One of the reasons I enjoy camping is the proud sense of achievement that I get when sitting inside a tent that is set up all by myself.
At the moment, it take a day or so for me to recover from the setting up, hence I only camp for 5-nights or more.
When the recovery time gets longer and outweighs the sense of achievement, then it will be time for me to call it a day.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I feel for you, I love camping, but my husband wont go again in England as it always rains! My two older children only do it under duress and my youngest loves it. I love the concept more than the reality! I love being on here, planning, looking at sites, reviews etc but the reality of it is so much hard work. The last twice we have gone (on my own with kids) I have had to pack up in a storm as we were all stuck inside the tent not being able to do anything other than play cards! ( this is good but not for two days solid!)
Most years we do a foreign camp in a ready tent or static and I think that is how it is going to be from now on. I have got rid of my vango sungari 800 as i cant put it up without my tall husband, that leaves me with my icarus 600 and two pop up tents. So i have tried to book a weekend up with this gorgeous weather, but i work every second weekend, it just gets too difficult.
We have made a decision. I will sell both the tents I have now, the Carolina and the bell tent, and upgrade the belltent to a bigger size, large enough for both of us and easy to put up. That will then be my forever tent. It will reduce the amount to store but still have a tent to take away, one that if cared for should last a lifetime.
If we're all honest I think most of us have felt like this at some point, a few years back in Norfolk, we we're washed out, tent battered etc, we all looked at each other and said , why do we do this, the next summer in Cornwall we had a fantastic time, so when we were sitting out the front of our tent sipping a cold beer in the sun, we said, this is why we do this! Gaz
------------- "sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy"
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: A terrible realisation
It is easy to store like a FC but you don't have the worry of wet canvas. Yes it takes a bit longer to get to site but this is more than made up in the quick set up time. Oh and we still go non EHU, so are rarely stuck in with the caravans. 
