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Camping anyone ?

moonchip

moonchip

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Type of diabetes
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Just wondered if anyone enjoys camping - either the hiking sort or car camping with the odd walk ?

46 yr old married guy with a wife who doesn't 'do' camping looking for others who are in the same boat or just fancy a night or two 'under canvas'
 
Yes, I camp a lot. Often alone, when staffing checkpoints on mountain marathons, most recently OMM in Northumberland in late October 2014. Next time will be 2 nights over Easter, meeting a group of friends at a campsite in Lake District, for a 50th birthday. My partner went off with another woman 2 years ago, so now I camp alone when I choose, instead of waiting for me to have a weekend off and havign drive all the way from Cambridge to somewhere hilly, as he never learned to drive.
Can you compromise with your wife and use a camping barn? I stayed in a camping barn at Edale in November to be ready for an early start helping on a RAID 3 navigation race. That one was very basic, so I took my own head torch, stove, sleeping bag & mat, but some have mattresses, electric lights, flush toilets etc. Had whole barn to myself, so disturbed no-one when I got up at 0600.
 
My ex and I used to take the kids camping all the time when they were younger but eventually they reached the age where they were more concerned with how they were going to charge their mobile phones and plug in their straighteners than spending an evening round the campfire telling ghost stories. It was an experience that I really enjoyed and it was sad when it finally came to an end. We then upgraded our tent for a river cruiser where the kids got to go off exploring on a little rib...it was good fun.

Anyway...I digress. At the time we were doing this there was a group called UK Campsite, who used to run social weekends and events. It didn't cost an awful lot to join but we had a number of weekends away doing this and it was great fun...all the kids would team up together and play games while the adults lit a bit bonfire and sat chatting over a glass/tin cup of 'The Pink Stuff' (but that's a whole other story).
There were a number of people who used to do these weekends alone...for whatever reason, but they were always made to feel a part of whatever was going on. It might be worth considering...who know's maybe it might even tempt your wife.

I found this link...I think it's probably the same group...just looks a little more organised than it was back in the day.

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/ukcampsites/socialcamping/meets/
 
Thank you Copepod & Natalie for your replies

I'll have a look into UK Campsite and see what is about. I'm fortunate to live in the Dark Peak so there is plenty of scope for camping both 'proper' sites and wildcamping (with permission)

My wife had a few bad experiences with camping years ago (before we met) both with her ex- and with the cadets in her 20's, so I'm afraid she won't entertain it.

Even looked at getting a touring caravan (my hilux will pull just about anything available) but its still a no-no from her :(

She's happy for me to camp alone (if I'm careful !) or with others or groups, so my regular camp buddy when permitted is my little dog

Sadly conversation is a little stilted so it would be lovely to find others with whom to camp, hence the post
 
I spend as much time as possible in the warmer months in my campervan, just me and my dog and mostly around Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor. I never use campsites, I just park up where the fancy takes me. Anyone doing similar down this way give me a shout :)
 
rowan said:
I spend as much time as possible in the warmer months in my campervan, just me and my dog and mostly around Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor. I never use campsites, I just park up where the fancy takes me. Anyone doing similar down this way give me a shout :)
Click to expand...

Is there space nearby for a tent ? :)
 
I just go on my own. Being a singleton if I waited for someone to come with me I'd never go anywhere! A lot of my friends say im "brave" being a girlie, but I've never felt that way. Campers are a friendly bunch generally and a chat at the washing block or outside your tent us common. You could look at joining the camping and caravanning club. They have their own sites, and district associations (das) who meet up in various locations across the country for social weekends
 
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