I joined onto a social media group of campers/tenter that like a chit chat a while ago.
It's made me realise the kind of camper I am. Reading many comments it's not a place I will fit in to. I've also come to realise that camping has become a different kind of thing to many now and it's not about peaceful surroundings and respect for each other campers. Realised camping has changed over the years which I have seen for myself on sites but the social media part has just confirmed it so.
Have now decided from now on will only go to certain campsites...no large ones anymore...and/or adult only. Not that I dislike kids, love seeing kids camp as mine used to and loved it. What I've seen/heard/read recently is no longer what camping was about 20 years ago....it's changed, so I'm finding I have to aswell.
Quite sad really that a mass of campers just laugh at people like myself that want to camp with a little bit of peace and respect for each other.
I got back into camping about 7 years ago when we had children & wanted to give them a love of the outdoors as I had as a kid and young adult. I needed family kit so headed for 'Go' etc and was amazed at the range and spec of all the 'must haves'. I treaded cautiously & purchased what we really needed. I read reviews on social sites (such as this!) and headed to '10/10 great sites'. I even borrowed an ehu. I was left feeling as you do. The music, TVs, games consoles, aerials & satellite dishes, event shelter all-night parties, 8 cars parked outside my tent, flashing fairy lights & tents lit up with million watts lamps.. I could go on.
We spent time in the areas looking for more low key sites & now have a network of smaller, quieter sites that allow kids, dogs & fires but that have the peaceful atmosphere we want. Some of them are less than a tenner a night too
Camping has changed over the years, it's certainly more commercial, but this does give more choice for everyone. It can mean finding what suits you harder, but I make it part of the experience. I tend to avoid anywhere with a billion reviews now & rely a lot more on word of mouth talking to folk I know and my own 'finds'.
What you are looking for IS out there. Keep the faith!
------------- If you can fill the unforgiving minute With 60 seconds worth of crackling fire & dark-sky stars, then yours is the world and everything in it!
Quote: Originally posted by Old Smokey on 17/8/2015
The music, TVs, games consoles, aerials & satellite dishes, event shelter all-night parties, 8 cars parked outside my tent, flashing fairy lights & tents lit up with million watts lamps..
That's it and so much more.
Other thing I've noticed is most places do have the same sex camping groups ban....what about the same family x 30 ban.
Yes it's lovely for family to get together but find they take over a campsite winning through just by numbers...recently found a rather intimidating situation myself on a campsite where I was 1 against the clan when their behaviour was selfish.
Camping gives you a base from which you can explore the area around the campsite then return to your tent to eat and sleep.
Those who spend all there time and energy improving their campsite turning it into 24 a hour party zone tend to stay in the campsite for the duration of their camp and miss out in exploring the area.
If you can see through the fairy lights, the matching cushions and crates of booze, you are probably having a better time than them. Try to ignore them and just get on with camping.
We found this out pretty quickly but for us it's just a matter of getting the right kind of site. Lot's of prep can make a huge difference.
It's funny as I thought I would want EHU etc but we have already realised that we could do without if it meant we gained the kind of camping we were looking to attain.
I like the responses above from people as it still allows for those that want "their" kind of camping also. I guess I am grateful for the full on sites as with a little work it allows others to have sites that allow for peace.
During the summer, or on bank holidays etc; when the kids are off school especially, many people go camping for a holiday and expect to be able to have fun and let their hair down a bit. They assume that everyone else is having fun also.
If you want peace and quiet and to get back at one with nature you need to go camping on fairly isolated basic campsites during term time and especially mid-week...or go wild camping.
I feel that the majority of campsites now cater more for the holidaymaker than for the serious campers who still like to light fires by rubbing two boy scouts together.
Most of my camping is now done out of season, mid-week and on fairly basic campsites although I now need to have EHU. Camping for me is a way of being able to afford accommodation when I visit various different places of scenic or historical interest. I enjoy seeing and walking in different places rather more than the actual camping. I mainly use my tent for sleeping in so providing I can get to sleep at a reasonable hour and my pitch isn't invaded I don't much mind what other campers get up to.
We're new campers - and a family, but we do tend to seek out the quieter campsites as appreciate the peace and quiet and scenery. We use our camp as a 'base' to travel from - couldn't imagine spending all day at the campsite :/ - that's where our national trust membership comes in! love the beaches too - not all new campers want all the mod cons (cant see the point in bringing the tv camping myself) - and my idea of hell is a haven site....
------------- June 2015: seaview international 2 nights
July 2015: little winnick 2 nights
August 2015: lower polladras 5 nights
august 2015: tollgate farm 5 nights
august 2015: oakdown 3 nights
September 2015: tregarton park
family of 6 with young children
Your idea of campsite hell sounds like mine, but i do put up solar fairy lanterns as they look pretty at night, but not flashing pseudo-Christmas displays please (is that a teensy bit hypocritical?).
You might like to consider joining the Camping & Caravanning Club (although some do wonder about the benefits and commitment to tent camping) as it opens the doors to Certificated Sites, which are very small - only 8 touring pitches - and many in really rural, peaceful areas. Facilities vary from basic - just a pitch - to those with showers and washing up facilities and more.
There are, of course, lots of other small campsites offering the experience you desire - just avoid the big holiday parks if quiet is what you crave.
Yes, you do have to pay for membership for the C&CC but hey ho, you get a 'free' magazine every month. Have a look and see what you think, if you've not considered it before.
I'm sure you can find some special spots, to rekindle those memories, and make new ones.
------------- Camping - emotional resilience in action, a triumph of hope over adversity and antidote to virtual reality.
I think we like the same sort of site Magnolia - look at my site reviews .
We are members of the C&CC as well and have only ever used their smaller certificated sites. Be aware though that not all play by the rules, we have found that smaller sites often have the prescribed number of pitches allocated to caravans/campervans and then seem to cram as many tents in as they can. In fact a friend of ours with a caravan has given up with C&CC and now only uses the Caravan Club for that very reason.
I dislike 'cool camping', their label and philosophy really but their tiny sites are worth a look.
We camp as a family with a nine year old and a dog, find that the less facilities a site has the better, brings out like minded folk generally. We have never had EHU which means that we can generally pitch as far away from things as we want to.
Each to their own of course and happy camping to everyone, I think that you just have to be very selective if you don't like the crowds.
You would especially love Highside Farm, Ardnamurchan Study Centre, Scaldbeck at Morston and Wardley Hill. That has the top half of the country covered from Scotland to Norfolk .
Very true SG. My husband said just that to me a couple of weeks ago when someone pitched next to us after we had had the whole run of pitches next to the beach to ourselves.
I am not sure it was that really , they were blowing their bloody tent up from their car and had the diesel engine running until about 11:30pm.
Their very unfriendly dog had free range while they were doing this and when I came back from my late night loo run it chased my ankles. I was sure to tell them when I spotted a massive dog poo in the morning, whereas my husband said he would just pick it up (for them).
Thankfully we were leaving that day. No idea how to camp considerately.
that infuriates me too Paula-I was on a site out of season earlier in the summer and had a whole field to myself the first night, got back from my walk the next day and a group of young people had pitched next to me - what's that all about?????/
I would automatically pitch as far away from other people as possible
I wouldn't have minded if a) their dog was friendly, or unfriendly and on a lead; b) they picked up their dog poo and the biggest one of all c) they did NOT leave their engine running til very late to pump up their inflatable tent (well I presume that was why it was on).
Hopefully they will learn some consideration somewhere along the way. I did go out (in my very fetching thermals) to have a word at one point but outside our tent the sound of the sea washing on the beach seemed to lessen the sound of their engine and I felt it might be seen as a bit petty - inside the tent I could only hear the hum of their diesel engine.
We often camp where you can't take a car and had parked ours at the end of the drive down to the sea pitches because it was so wet - we didn't want to churn up the ground as others had obviously struggled in the week before us.
Never mind, a brill time despite that - this was the view from our pitch [/IMG]
I camp on Temp Holiday sites with C&CC which are great. tend to be a field with a water tap and a chemical disposal point and that is it! Just want to get away from everything and so do my sons, so was a little miffed when most of the field was empty the other year, was woken up to a caravan being set up next to our guy ropes!! So not impressed.
My kids would be more than happy if we took the TV etc with us when we camp! I have agreed on a compromise of EHU so they can charge their phones and use those to listen to music (via headphones only) and read on. If I had my way though we wouldn't bother!
But no theme park want to be campsites for us.
I do have to say that I like a nice toilet block and shower! but think that would be my only luxury.
When I was a kid, I was taught to be quiet after it got dark, and to choose your pitch so as not to disturb those already at the site.
I think that now these lessons aren't taught which is a shame
I agree with having a look at the C & CC, the ones we have visited have all been very good with excellent shower facilities and always clean. None have been noisy and (not sure about this so don't shout) the people who use their sites tend to be responsible people.
There is also the getting old bit as well and the older you get the more fussy you become.
------------- May - Dorset
July - Saundersfoot
September - S. Wales
October - S. Wales
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: The camper I am
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Just want to get away from everything and so do my sons, so was a little miffed when most of the field was empty the other year, was woken up to a caravan being set up next to our guy ropes!! So not impressed.
