[Closed] The Joy of Camping?

How to keep your kids happy entertained?

Are you trolling?

Outside the tent is a playground, a huge, massive, bloody brilliant playground. Shove your kids outside then sit back and relax with a nice glass or two of wine.

Camping is great, particular highlights for me are

Kept awake by other people's talking / music
800 yards walk to the toilet in the night and then get annoyed and do it in an empty bottle
Woke up by the light or screaming baby at 3:45
Half the kids in the campsite inside your tent

Outside the tent is a playground, a huge, massive, bloody brilliant playground. Shove your kids outside then sit back and relax with a nice glass or two of wine.

And this is why camping has become not so fun in my post-children years 😆
However I would rather be more selective and find the right place for my preferences, than stop kids being outside having fun, obvs.

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Dont forget Ear plugs and rum.
Camping is knackering. You'll be exhausted when you get back home.

Don't forget an eye mask. The tent walls rarely block enough light to keep you asleep.
The joy of camping for me is being virtually outdoors. That smell of countryside when you unzip in the morning. The sunshine (hopefully) on your face as you boil the kettle and make a brew in the slightly cold perhaps damp grass as you cast your view over the mountain range, viewable from your tent. (get up the lakes and camp at Castlerigg farm)
Some campsites allow a real fire, that you can nurture while you sup several cans of beer, cider or a bottle of wine, getting nicely rat arsed whilst your kids sleep, playing Scrabble with your wife in the dying light or under a camping lantern.
Cuddling up with your wife under canvas for a bit of the other and then waking in the morning with the sun streaming in.
Am I selling it to you yet?

Don't forget your guitar!
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Long boring hours hiding from midges...the soft sound of a slowly-deflating airbed...serenaded by snoring from the tent next door... waking up at 2am half-cut and desperate for a piss...the joy of some filthy farm shower...the squish of the slug in your shoes...

It can be great fun when it's good weather.

If it rains you;ll never get dry, you'll never get warm. that big playground becomes a muddy field for the kids bring into your 'living room', you'll fall out over the stupidist of things as your always a few feet from one another, the noise from from the other campers will piss you off and you'll wonder why you didn't just pay a bit more for a hotel.

Still if it's sunny you don't get the mud, wet and cold bit it's replaced by a dry unbearable heat and stale farts.

Camping is great for a short time, a couple of nights or so, but then the novelty soon wears off. We were going down the camping route and did a tester holiday for 5 days. A great campsite in a lovely location of Cornwall, so all great there. We lucked out with stunning weather for the whole time. But it's a huge faff, packing up the tent at the end of the trip if wet, and your car being full to the gunnels even if you're just going for a quick trip.

I love the freedom of camping, the kids love it and it is a great way to get around and see the country without being fleeced renting holiday cottages and B&B's, but its the tent aspect was the problem for us, so we've gone down the camper van route. So far it's been great.

We use the camper on its own for short weekend trips and have a large drive-away awning for the longer trips, so some of the downsides of tenting there, but we're not sleeping the awning and just use it for storing the gear so its not cluttering up the van. We don't tend to spend much time on campsites anyway, we're out and about all day.

My only tip is to travel light and efficient. pack everything into plastic boxes for ease of packing and keeping things tidy once set up. Be choosy about your fold-up furniture. The cheap stuff is cheap for a good reason, we bought cheap initially and regretted it, now replaced with more expensive decent gear which really is in a different league - much more robust, sturdy when set up and packs away better.

We've got a portable-potty for the van. Getting up and having a wee in the middle of the night isn't an issue for me, happy to walk to the toilet block or even use a bush, but with all girls in the family who seem to have multiple wee's a night, and as soon as one goes, they all have to go, the porta-potty is a godsend. Strictly for number 1's though, number two's are banned.

Entertainment - You won't struggle. Off grid is best. Board games, bikes, swingball, playgrounds (if your campsite has one - best to choose a campsite that has one) and iPads only come out as a last resort, but our kids don't tend to want to play with them when we're camping. You will get re-aqainted with your kids really quickly - that's the best bit of it.

I have thought about getting a small TV so they can play films off a hard drive or iPad, but we've not missed movies and TV since we've been camping so i'm not about to push it.

Not for everyone, but great fun.

If it's not immediately obvious, you're probably not going to enjoy it.

The first rule of camping is, or should be, don't try to like it if you don't like it.

Entertainment - You won't struggle. Off grid is best

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jekkyl - Member

That smell of countryside when you unzip in the morning.

Don't take tablets or TV for the kids, they'll end up sulky little sods.

Buy fun outdoor toys, lots of supermarkets now have good ranges. Kites, balls, frisbies, archery sets, that kind of thing. Toy swords and shields always fun in our house.

Also helps if you can get small farm campsites. Lots of fun watching farms work.

If it's not immediately obvious, you're probably not going to enjoy it.

The first rule of camping is, or should be, don't try to like it if you don't like it.

^ This.
Slightly off-topic, and not in reference to OP so no offence - but used to help run a camp-site and I've lost count of the times we lost money/a weeks booking because a family has packed up at the first sight of rain.

Then they leave all their plastic waste in a pile by the bins. Along with still-packaged food.

'Do you know where I can charge my phone, I want to take the kids out for the day but need SatNav. "Is there anything to do here"?

"Oh, only coastal-walks, inland-walks, picnics, exploring, surfing, treasure-hunts, swimming, rock-pooling,snorkelling, fishing, insect-safari, face-painting,ice-cream hunting, painting, drawing, outdoor cooking, fire-making, wood-collecting, French Cricket, Frisbee, giant chess, kite-flying, charades, board-games, holiday-book reading, wild-food foraging, Geocaching, field-games with the other kids, food-party/BBQ, paddleboarding, kayaking, bike-hire, dinghies, sandcastle sculpting, shrimping, crabbing, softball ..."

"Meh, Do you have wifi?"

'ice cream hunting' ?? 😀

Kids are great, they make friends so easily. My daughter will actually go over and say 'do you want to be my friend?' and then they're best mates playing together with some pine cones under a tree for half an hour.

'ice cream hunting' ??

Yeah! It's like old-fashioned 'Googling for ice cream and pursuing it in an SUV/4x4', except you do it on foot in an unfamiliar area and with no 4G. I bagged a Hockings one day after two river crossings and three wrong turns.

* Edit - badllama made a good point about types of campsites/clientele. It's a make or break for me so +1 for the smaller sites/farm-sites.

OP here's. (what I consider) a good resource when choosing a site (have selected for kids option):

https://coolcamping.com/search?q=kids&tab=list&order=rating&categories=26

No club houses, pools, amusement arcades or bars though!

My mate and me have 1 camping/biking weekend a year and we love it.

Beer in the stream all day out for ride back showered (in the cleanest shower block you have ever encountered) to the tent sit and drink said beer, casual walk to the pub mingle with the other campers, walkers bikers drink more beer nice meal drink more beer then bed and ride the next day and repeat.

Last year we got back were sat outside the tents and there was a young teenage couple struggling to get a throw away BBQ going for something to eat give them a couple of beers got chatting and they were saying how they could not afford B&B's, hotels and just wanted some time with each other away from family homes.
Felt sorry for them, me and my mate give them some cash and told them to get something decent to eat at the local pub. 🙂

You meet all sorts and most people are really friendly. the camp site we go to has a backpackers field (we say on) and the other section is full of the big family tents loads of kids ruining round and is pretty busy.

I've hear horror stories of a couple of big sites in the lakes I would not go near with a barge pole though noise full of pissed up groups teenagers causing bother.

Make sure you pick a child friendly site and once you do Kids love camping and you, as parents, do not need to do much to keep them entertained. As soon as we arrive at a site, they are off exploring the field or other people's tents checking out what toys the other kids have.

Last weekend whilst camping down the Gower I was sat outside with a book and a beer and the kids where inside the tent playing lego (always take a box of lego). I went to get another beer and the kids in the tent were not my own! That's the best part of camping: all very relaxed and everyone on the whole gets on with everyone.

Camping is great for a short time, a couple of nights or so, but then the novelty soon wears off

Mileages vary massively. Weather does make a big difference here, but as a kid I never wanted to go home. As an adult, I still struggle tbh!

I only wild camp these days as a way of extending an assoicated activity such as biking, hiking or fishing. Used to love going to campsites, still have a couple quiet favourite ones but generally speaking most are overpriced hell holes full of ignorant families who think their weekend/week is more important than every other user there.

Is Halfords kit (seating, cooking, sleeping etc) generally OK or should we stock up at a "proper" camping shop? I guess with a basic camper van we can be fairly minimal to begin with and then build up stuff as we discover we need it.

"Meh, Do you have wifi?"

We stayed on Mull a couple of weeks ago - the campsite had WiFi 😀

with a basic camper van we can be fairly minimal to begin with and then build up stuff as we discover we need it.

That's a fair plan/assessment IMO. One of the best things about camping is making do and being inventive. As the holiday progresses you'll see/chat to other campers about what they use/find indispensable. Have seen too many families turn up with a massive job-lot of China's cheapest camping and outdoor kit in order to make a bacon sarnie to only then **** off home because the tent ripped/airbed deflated/the cooker broke.

I would say bare-minimum unless using open fire-pit/fire-bowl would be: cooker, gas and kettle. Don't forget blankets. You probably have knives and forks at home then take them. If a small family just take a regular plate, mug and bowl each. Pack well. No need to buy crappy plastic plates etc.

Is Halfords kit (seating, cooking, sleeping etc) generally OK

I don't buy much of their stuff being a caravan owner, but it always looks good and seems good vfm.

Lots of shops doing good ranges of cheap reliable kit these days. Easier than ever to get kitted out. Go Outdoors also excellent.

Go Outdoors. Decathlon. Mountain Warehouse.

No need to spend lots of money and you'll slowly work out what's needed, what's "nice to have" and what's luxury.

My main holidays have been camping for the past 55 years. I'm going a bit soft now by having my van converted into a camper but we'll still take a tent for some trips and I'm still doing lightweight stuff on foot and with the bike. Just being outdoors for long periods is its own reward and it's a wrench when the holidays are over and we're back in the house 🙂

Camper van?

Most important thing is proper bedding, sheet duvet etc. Do not go down the nylon sleeping bag route.

You'll work everything else out in time. 8)

Halfords stuff is fine. Our 4 man tent is a proper survivor. Storms bring everything else down, but the Halfords job stays standing. Must be 10 years old. Been borrowed so many times I don't even know who's got it now.

Recently returned from 3 weeks around the Islands and North Scotland in our 1976 VW camper - noticeable that those in the biggest camper vans / with most stuff were the most miserable! Worst were the 30 footers - WTF drive to the very north in glorious countryside and sit inside watching telly? I'd also generally avoid sites with static caravans - you just needed the duelling banjo music as you drive in to complete the atmosphere.

I had an irate mother shouting down the phone at me last year, from my rental villa, theres no sound on the (english tv) and my son is bored as he cant live without tv. Oh dear, maybe if he didnt turn the sound base off...no idea how old he was but doesnt bode well for his future.

Sadly now any arriving family...first question, whats the wifi code.

Sadly now any arriving family...first question, whats the wifi code.

You'll be able to check on their live Facebook updates to see if they are having a nice time with you

Currently into the 2nd week of a camping holiday in France. It's ace. Previous trips have been to Ireland, Scotland and Belgium and while they didn't put us off, good weather (and good wine!) Makes it so much more pleasant and as a bonus the car doesn't stink so much of wet kit when we move from place to place.

Problem tonight is a concert across the road. Hoping it doesn't go on til too late as we rode up alpe d'huez today and need to collapse shortly!

Ditch the kids and ditch the campsite and you'll be fine.

you get to meet, make friends and talk with people you never new.

last year we ended up in a sing-a-long around a campfire with some lovely people, we didn't really know and likely will never ever see again.

that's what i like about it most.

We love it but seem to constantly buy new stuff lol even after many yes we have everything conversations

BTW anyone use a 3 way fridge, I'm thinking of getting one. Dometic 1200 or 1700 perhaps

The joy of camping? I think that's the part where you pack your tent up, get in the car and drive home.

I mean I know people like to play tricks with their minds, convincing themselves that they're "getting away from it all" "going back to basics" etc. But where's the joy in sleeping outdoors?

It's the 21st century FFS; we invented roofs years ago.

What shall we do today? Oh it's pissing it down, how about we just lye on the settee watching TV for fourteen hours? Yeh, sounds good, good job we've got a roof over our heads.

Now imagine fourteen hours in a tent. Or worse, fourteen hours in the "communal" area of a campsite.

Would you toilet in your bedroom at home? Because that's precisely what you do when you go camping. I mean there's a toilet block, but what're the chances of making it there when it's a quarter mile walk in the freezing cold at 4am.

How much do you enjoy showers? Do you ever talk to your colleagues at work about your shower in the morning? No? Thought so.

But that's what you'll do when you go camping, you'll bang on about it for ages....."****ing hell, well good showers here"
"lets stay here another night cos the shower block is clean and warm" etc.
The showers dictate your trip. You'll never enjoy a shower as much as you will do when camping.

At least they're something to savour. You will often find campsites with sub-standard facilities, which means you've got absolutely nothing to look forward to.

It really is hardwork. Plus, it's bad for the local economy. Honestly, don't be a tight arse, just stop in a B&B or a hotel, you can enjoy yourself then.

Tents up now.... Bunk ups later.... Great timing, as ever, STW.

First night under canvas this evening.... If only in the back garden.

Looking forward to all of the above... But maybe not the slugs in your shoes.

There is no joy in camping. For the first year in 10 years, this year's trip to Wales won't involve building my own quarters, yet somehow sharing my personal space with every other bugger on the site, as I listen to how Tarquin down the road did in his GCSEs whilst I'm trying to sleep.

davidtaylforth 😆

For me the joy of camping is the cheapness and the freedom, but you have to get good at it and accept that yes, it's a lot of work.

Spent more than a month overall under canvas (well, nylon) last year, and it was all great. Hoping to beat that this year.

I can surely say I would much rather be in a tent than in a b&b or hotel

Top tips?
Meteorology. Avoid bad weather (which you are free to do!)
Avoid Nazi campsites with loads of caravans and marked out pitches!

Reading this from my sleeping bag on a Beavers Leaders family camp at Ford Castle near the border.

Our kids (3 & 7) did a ~four mile hike today, played with friends in woods and streams, held slugs snails and beetles, saw kites flying, helped BBQ dinner, then sat round a campfire roasting marshmallows till 11:30 at night.

Lush!

(Yes 11:30 isn't ideal, but these are the nights that memories are made of)

I am currently camping as I type.

Wish I wasn't. 🙁

I'm with davidtaylforth.

We did the family camping thing, noise, light, cold, damp, deflating airbeds, rain, mud and do on. Hard work.

We bought a caravan. Problem mainly solved.

But where's the joy in sleeping outdoors?

There are no joys to be found outdoors. Even if there were, none would compare to the sublime pleasure that is B&B. Please keep B&Bing and keep Britain in Business. Let those masochistic fools pretend to enjoy flogging the [s]dead horse[/s] soggy donkey that is 'the outdoors'!

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generally speaking most are overpriced hell holes full of ignorant families who think their weekend/week is more important than every other user there.

This exactly. I've never once been to a campsite where people have obeyed the 10pm rule, there is always at least 1 group of piss eds up until 2 or 3am, then you get the dawn chorus of the crying baby at 5am.

Wild camping is the only way, but then to do that you are going to bed without a shower (having walked in for miles and sweaty and hot), no decent food either.

Ha ha - so this is actually a we hate camping thread??

Personally I love it but I would opt for the minimal approach - can't stand huge sites so aim for little traditional tent only places or more than often these days wildcamping.

Racing and a partially converted van for me 🙂
A comfortable bed, room for the BBQ, proper stove and proper cover if it got wet. Hanging around in a field with a bunch of other DH mates having a laugh.

Top tips - you don't need special camping food, you can cook what you would at home quite easily, bring the decent pans/knives from the kitchen and get a kettle.
Get some comfy chairs and something to keep the beer cool.

Top tips - you don't need special camping food, you can cook what you would at home quite easily, bring the decent pans/knives from the kitchen and get a kettle.

We always take decent cooking kit, and plenty of kitchen role. Hand g out a bacon cob on a piece of kitchen role reduces the washing up which is my only gripe with camping.
Even took the uuni pizza oven a few weeks ago when we went, now that is flash!
Showers, nobody dies when they don't have a shower, ever been to a festival?
We go to a place regular and we always try and camp as far away from everyone else as possible as it just makes it feel that little bit more camping like.

Right campsite is the key. We pretty much always go to the same one, never crowded, even when it's busy your only allowed to camp round the edge of a massive field so loads of space in the middle for kids to run/play.

Five minute walk through the fields to the coast path and an awesome beach with a lagoon, sea caves and decent surf in the right conditons. And it's only £10 a night and 45mins from my house.

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Jam bo, where is this campsite, it sounds great.

Atlantic view, porthcothan

The words, 'joy', & 'camping' don't occur together in my vocabulary. I've still got all my gear but use it for when/if I stay in a bothy (obviously I don't put a tent up in a bothy though) 😀
Used to love it when I was a kid & spent a lot of my childhood camping with Mum & Dad on High Bridge End farm near Thirlmere.

No more of that for me!

Thanks Jam bo, might have to pay a visit later this year.

It makes sense to recognise the pastime of 'camping' as nothing more complex than an affectation borne out of a barbarous stubbornness. This is nothing new for the Brits, whose tenacious and madochistic nonsense was recorded by the invading Romans who after giving it a shot eventually said 'bugger that for a game of soldiers' and sodded off back to their villas in Italy.

Here's what Cassius Dio had to say:

Both tribes inhabit wild and waterless mountains and desolate and swampy plains, and possess neither walls, cities, nor tilled fields, but live on their flocks, wild game, and certain fruits...[b]They dwell in tents, naked and unshod, possess their women in common, and in common rear all the offspring[/b]....

....They can endure hunger and cold and any kind of hardship; for they plunge into the swamps and exist there for many days with only their heads above water, and in the forests they support themselves upon bark and roots, and for all emergencies they prepare a certain kind of food, the eating of a small portion of which, the size of a bean, prevents them from feeling either hunger or thirst"

- Roman History, LXXVII.12.1-4).

Of course, modern writers will sell you the dream:

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But the reality is far more sobering. So sobering in fact - that one requires to be drunk in order to attempt it:

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Booked a campsite for weekend at end of July, we will be their first guests on a new site so they have framed our deposit cheque, turns out authorities have dragged their feet with the approval so their won't be any facilities (and I mean zero) and we will be the only campers - oh and it'll be our first wedding anniversary

Surely Cassius Dio was only referring to Wales? I've had many a mountain biking holiday there that sounds quite like that.

@davidtaylforth, you have to admit the view you get camping has to be better than the one from under your bridge...
Up to two years ago, the only camping I'd done was the Reading Festival back in the 90's, and that involved having a noisy bunch pitch up next to me with a boom box who stayed awake all night, forcing me to abandon my tent on the last night and walk all the way back to my car to try to get some sleep.
Not in a Vauxhall Chevette, I didn't..., then I did a weekend at a small pub festival around five years ago, not well equipped, tent was ok, but I had one of those horrid flock air mattresses that took forever to inflate, the temperature plummeted overnight and my sleeping bag was an ultralight one I'd used on a bike tour in France, so I was chilled to the bone.
Forward to two years ago, IoW Festival, same tent, proper s/a mattress, a cheap (Aldi) but very snug bag, and the five days I was there encouraged me to do a proper camping holiday, so I packed the car and drove down to South Devon, and spotted a little camp site by accident a short distance from a village I'd stayed B&B at in the pub, I'd originally planned on doing a wild camp in a field a bit further away, so I though I'd check this one out first.
It was ideal, just the fenced-off top of a field, with part of a hedge dividing it into two sections, a small double toilet block with wash basin, and a standpipe with tap between the two sections.
There were a couple of campers and a caravan there, but they were only there for the weekend, and I had it to myself for most of the time.
I was there for nine days, cost £10/night, money in an honesty box, as against £75/night in the pub, money saved went on beer and wonderful food in the pub each evening, I had a little stove jobbie which I fueled with chopped-up driftwood I collected from the beach, plus some dead wood from the hedge behind, so I was happy keeping a kettle simmering for numerous mugs of tea while sitting outside reading and enjoying the stunning view across Start Bay.
Then I'd walk along Slapton Sands, or all around Start Point to East Prawle, or drive up to Dartmoor or round to Dartmouth.
Fantastic time, all on my own, first time I've ever done it, and I'm 63 this year, looking at getting a bigger inflatable tent, for ease of erecting, and planning on doing the same again in September/October.
This is the view:

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Dartmouth is off in the far distance, directly in front is a path that goes down to a lake, then along to the beach about ¾ of a mile away.

^ Beesands? Looks lush, wherever. I was first bitten by camping bug in South Hams. It was the regular family camping destination. First trip was parents and two kids with all the campng stuff in an old Mini. Then we upgraded to a Maxi with a trailer!

Fantastic time

Yeahy!

, all on my own

A verified vastness of joy

Can't believe this hasn't reared its head yet:

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People who like camping are basically deviants. Or ten years old. And don't get me started on ****ing bivvying.

Yeah basically it all hinges on obtaining peace and quiet. Book with care.

People who like camping are basically deviants. Or ten years old

True.

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Ya bunch of miserable stay-home naysayers. 😀

Agree that sites are key though. Just choose the type you want.

Sites with clubhouses, arcades, swimming pools and evening "entertainment" have their place and can be fun, if a bit feral.

But likewise sites with little else beyond a grassy field, loos and a decent view are often amazing too.

Our camp this weekend was on Scout property in the grounds of a castle. Just us and the others leader's families. River, forest, big campfire, facilities block with kitchen, loos and showers. Perfect mix for the group we had.

This place may interest some folk on here: http://comriecroft.com - supported camping in the woods, with fires allowed, and mountain biking in site.

I was never keen on the idea of camping until the hotel I booked was washed away in a flood and I needed to make alternate plans very quickly. I bought a tent, a stove and a sleeping mat fell expecting to dislike the experience, but I loved it.

It is true that special food isn't required and some prefer duvet to sleeping bags. I'm not sure that 'camping' would necessarily be my main objective when I go camping and I'm not sure il like to stay in a place that is a field full of tents. I like the places where the pitches are clearings cut from trees, so you get some privacy and the sound doesn't travel so much.

I like B&B's, but some of the proprietors a a little odd and some give you the message that you are staying in their house. Which you are, but if a person is precious about their house, they shouldn't let strangers stay in it, especially if they are going to charge them.

@Malvern Rider, yeah roughly between Beeson and Beesands. Only issue is the [i]very[/i] steep bit of road about 100 meters away, which is even worse coming back late at night after an evening in the Cricket Inn and several pints of Otter and a big meal!

the main attraction for me is low cost and flexibility. the first couple of days are hard but after that its OK.

Our miserable family camping holidays St Agnes Isles of Scilly

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It really is hardwork. Plus, it's bad for the local economy. Honestly, don't be a tight arse, just stop in a B&B or a hotel, you can enjoy yourself then.

I think common sense says that is wrong. Particularity in peak season. Something like 20% of all summer visitors to Cornwall camp. As all the accommodation will be full at this time not camping would mean a 20% drop in visitor numbers. It would not be desirable or viable to build extra accommodation for a few weeks per year. I can think of places all over the world where the only viable way of getting in all the visitors you want is camping.

the first couple of days are hard but after that its OK.

Try a week in Oban when the only day it doesn't rain all day long is Wednesday. 🙄

davidtaylforth, did something kidnap you and do something nasty to your head? I know you've made some troll-ish statements before, but between your comments above, and the ones you made on a recent thread about buying a new roadbike, I'd say you've gone batshit crazy, or just become ridiculously oppositional.

OP, just ignore him.

Ampthill, those photos are bloody glorious! I want to go there right now. 😀

I've said this in a previous thread, I like camping, but I'm not particularly looking forward to going camping as a family

I like spending time outdoors, I like bikepacking and bivvying, I like spending time in the woods with the kids making shelters and cooking lunch and dinner over the fire (private woods)

BUT, whilst I love the notion of going camping as a family, I really don't fancy the practical side of it
(1) - I have 2 youngs kids and a wife
(2) - I'm mildly OCD about packing stuff - what it is, how it's packed and where it goes
(3) - I have 2 large dogs

It's the thought of packing enough to keep (1) entertained and comfortable, which combined with (2) meaning I'll be the one packing, unpacking, setting up. (3) means keeping the tent clean, having food permanently dotted around at floor height (unless we bring more kit like tables, but see (2) ) are both a hassle, and the likeliness of it being wet add more to the already major MAJOR faffage in mildly moving house before and after

Plus the (very large) car is already full of dog and person, the roofbox fills up with normal stuff (like clothes, kit, wellies, games/toys etc)

I like the idea of trying some wild camping but finding a shelter big enough to fit everyone but light enough to carry is a challenge

I should point out that I spend a lot of time outdoors and am fairly experienced at wild camping and bikepacking, and I love it, but the faff isn't appealing. Having 2 kids and 2 big dogs means things are slightly tricky.

Despite all of that, I'll be doing some camping this summer I reckon, but I'll probably do it on the private woods I have access to where I won't have to worry about annoying others and can have a fire more easily. The main problem is no running water or toilets, but we can deal with that OK

Having lots of camp furniture is pretty good and makes things rather easy. But then you realistically need a trailer so you can just pop it all in and be done. Trailer would be my choice if I didn't have a caravan.

We keep our kids entertained with a small number of classic outdoor toys and for indoors some play sets, colouring, that kind of thing. If they whine about being bored we tell them to go and explore and find something to investigate. Not usually a problem.

Cuddling up with your wife under canvas for a bit of the other

You're having an affair with the OP's wife and this is how you choose to tell him...?

Good God man! That's pistols at dawn stuff.

I've lost the joy of camping a while ago mainly due to every time we went it poured it down. Add to that the over priced sites that insist on packing as many people in as they can and well beyond the facilities they have available.
Much prefer to just book into a small guest house/AirBnB now which usually isn't that much more expensive but infinitely more comfortable with the added bonus of not having to listen to neighbouring tents wife snorting like a pig when she laughs or someone insisting on playing the few songs they think they can play but obviously can't.
Other bonuses include not having to unpack the tent when you back so you can get it cleaned and dried, ready for the next camping trip which you convince yourself will more enjoyable.

Ha after a couple of nights at the Keswick Mtn Festival this is topical. Thankfully we didn't have our 4yo with us but great time had despite torrential rain and high winds. I'm a camper from being a baby, then caravans. I love it but we've tried campervans, all the faff of camping with a much higher bill, tenting, nice but moist. Pondering a caravan , well put it on a seasonal site further north so it's there and if we want to venture we can. I do like it but some of those massive sites are awful and it's a wholly different proposition in the sun !

We've done a "big" camping holiday - a week in the southern lakes in a field - had the keys to the community hall / access to showers / great weather/loads of space. Still hard work trying to work out menus and keeping food in a healthy state - lots of buying fresh stuff to be consumed within an hour or so. Big tent, loads of gear etc.

Just bought two 3 man tents so we can take the family away for an overnight - trangia to make cups of tea on, fish and chips for tea, bread and jam for breakfast then away home.... that's the theory - a bit of wild camping (once summer actually arrives in Scotland...)

https://mpora.com/camping/instagram-vs-reality-camping-really-like#8sUuxL0arDOLUtgG.97

The pictures of what camping looks like according to marketing and what camping actually is!

I don't mind it, I've done a few car-based tours of Scotland where I'll stop over somewhere for a day or two, spend all day riding, sleep, move on somewhere else etc and I've usually split my time between a mix of B&Bs, camping at campsites and one night "wild camping" (it's not wild at all, it's off a road and out of sight and there's a car parked next to me...)

To be honest, that for me is the perfect balance, especially when it comes to things like washing and drying cycle clothing, having a choice of kit to wear and not having a massively laden bike.

Seems to me that a lot of folk moaning about busy campsites, too much noise etc are just not finding the right sort of site for them.

So.. what do folk use to find suitable campsites?

I usually use:

www.ukcampsite.co.uk - bit clunky and old skool but good user reviews of sites.
www.pitchup.com - flasher, better search engine
http://coolcamping.com/campsites/uk - more unusual sites
www.getoutwiththekids.co.uk - limited sites but often has other useful information.