• A question

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:31 pm**

I'm fairly sure this has no bearing on anything, it's simply that my mind started wandering earlier on and I ended up asking myself this question ...

If the only way you could go camping was do so on a designated campsite, would you still go?

After some pondering, I concluded that my answer would be no.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:32 pm**

Yes. I often use official campsites.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:38 pm**

Not whilst Covid is around (hence why I haven’t gone anywhere during my current 2 weeks off) but yes at all other times

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 5:50 pm**

If I could guarantee a corner spot facing away from the field I might. Would feel almost like wild-camping then. Ish.

Some "wild camp" sites only allow 2 or 3 campers so that might be alright.

I could always try and re-create a realistic wild camp spot by asking to bivvy in the toilet block I suppose!

Sigh. It's not the same is it? Half the fun is the chase. No, make that 99% of the fun.

And I've never really got to grips with the idea of paying to be asleep. At the very least I'd expect to wake up with a new hip or something.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 6:23 pm**

Would depend on the campsite. I've stayed in some really nice ones, but also, some of them might as well have been Ibiza.

Edit - and yeah, I'd want to be on the edge of it away from everyone.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 6:32 pm**

yes as I still do with friends and my kids

Like others the two big killers are you have to pay -its does not matter what this is I always find it too much and the noise /other people - the drunks late at night and early morning screaming kids.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 6:38 pm**

Yes. But I'd chose carefully. Dixe Wills's book Tiny Campsites has some good ones, eg Middle Ninfa near me close to Abergavenny, run by a cycling friend who has a smallholding on the side of the Blorenge.

And in France gotta love a 4 euro a night camping municipal.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 6:39 pm**

Stonethwaite campsite is one of my favourite places in the world, but it is very basic; it's only got cold water and drafty toilets. Before this year it only seemed to attract like minded people, but the farmer has had to close it after it was invaded by halfwits.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:04 pm**

The Cumbrian wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 6:39 pm invaded by halfwits.

In therein lies much of the problem

. Happy to bivvy with Boners 'cos most of 'em are full-wits

.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:27 pm**

No!

Mrs-voodoo doesn’t understand how I can wild camp but can’t camp in a field with facilities. Simple answer is other people

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:40 pm**

Yeah.

My main compromises with campsites are they are in a fixed location, and that location usually isn't as interesting as somewhere within range.

I'd probably sack bikepacking off if I couldn't wild camp, and ride through the night a lot more. Camping would be a long weekend finding cool sticks, cooking, and gazing up at the night sky

I would still have to arrive by bike as it's my only mode of transport so I guess it would still sort of be bikepacking (other words for carrying stuff by bike are available )

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:43 pm**

Yep. I've got a great list of campsites that are not at all crowded and allow fire pits. Most are just big old fields, but some are in woods and you can feel genuinely isolated if you want to. Not interested in campsites with swimming pools and cafes ... just a toilet block and no caravan policy will do me thanks.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:44 pm**

I've been on campsites every year since before I can remember. All our family holidays were camping. That's what we could afford. Inevitably there are good sites and bad sites, quiet sites and noisy sites.

To the naysayers, what accommodation would you choose to stay in if you wanted to visit another part of the country? Are you happy paying for hotels, B&Bs etc regularly and, if so, how do you cope with breakfast times with all those other guests?

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:47 pm**

yes, i do more than wild camping.
i like a shower
i like clean water
i like socialising with likeminded folk who also camp.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:19 pm**

Yep. I don't care which actually. It's more about the ride and the route. If I've organised myself I'm happy to use a quiet campsite, though I do like a jaunt in the hills too

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:28 pm**

ScotRoutes wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:44 pm I've been on campsites every year since before I can remember. All our family holidays were camping. That's what we could afford. Inevitably there are good sites and bad sites, quiet sites and noisy sites.

To the naysayers, what accommodation would you choose to stay in if you wanted to visit another part of the country? Are you happy paying for hotels, B&Bs etc regularly and, if so, how do you cope with breakfast times with all those other guests?

Always an apartment and if I can, avoid hotels. Don’t want to get dressed up to have my breakfast and having an apartment means I don’t need to talk to anyone else other than my family (and I can only hear my own mini-voodoo steaming and not 20 other brats...!). In essence I like my own space

Plus hotels and B+Bs tie you in to certain breakfast times and that irks me lots

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:41 pm**

Sat on a campsite now and it’s ok. We’re in the van though so it’s acceptable- but if I were biking I wouldn’t stay here. Too many people.

And to hear people say “we’re off grid” - charging their phones from the solar panel - FFS. You are not off grid. You are just not plugged into the mains!

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:43 pm**

Yes a well spaced out quite campsite

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:51 pm**

If it was very well spaced out, kid and drunks are either not allowed or totally silent, then yes at a push.

More chance if the above conditions and I was in the campervan

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:56 pm**

ton wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:47 pm i like socialising with likeminded folk who also camp.

Yes, we have met some really nice people that way.
I prefer to wild camp but campsites have their place. In Holland we really couldn't find places to wild camp so we stayed on campsites pretty much all the time. That was fine. Wild camping has its place. Like in wild places.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:57 pm**

Borderer wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:56 pm
ton wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:47 pm i like socialising with likeminded folk who also camp.
Yes, we have met some really nice people that way.
I prefer to wild camp but campsites are nice sometimes too. In Holland we really couldn't find places to wild camp so we stayed on campsites pretty much all the time. That was fine. Wild camping has its place. Like in wild places.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:57 pm**

Double post

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:09 pm**

Yes, although would rather have the option.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:25 pm**

Borderer wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 8:56 pm
ton wrote: ↑Fri Sep 11, 2020 7:47 pm i like socialising with likeminded folk who also camp.
Yes, we have met some really nice people that way.
I prefer to wild camp but... in wild places.

This really.
Also on long trips it’s good to mix it up. The facilities and amenities on campsites are useful after a time.

Posted: **Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:38 pm**

Yep. Grew up 5 of us away in a 12 ft Sprite Alpine caravan towed by a Rover 100. That was 55 years ago.

These days we still all meet up. Mum now 87 in her wee Caddy Camper car. Sister in a caravan, me and other sister in campervans. Love it. Should have been at Kirkcudbright this weekend. Hopefully next one is in October.

i love it. I have done the being in a tent in the arse end of nowhere, shitting myself, with a bear or a lion snuffling around outside. These are different and have been great family times down the years.

Also quite happy to stop at a campsite on a tour/bikepacking* (*i really dont understand the difference) for a shower and a bit of company

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