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or are the number of campsites that take tents getting smaller?
I've negotiated the rehoming of my dads old force tent and fancy taking it for a spin with the dog. I sewar i were but a lad there were tents in every second field!
deffo.
when i rode with Teej on his route to the ferry, we managed to find 2 east of leeds.
and the first he rode to was shut.
As in, sites that only want campervans/motorhomes? Possibly, kind of makes sense for lazy/covid-phobe site owners if they don’t have to put on/clean facilities for smelly tent-dwellers! Still plenty around that take tents of course (I’d always book in advance though, never just try to turn up on the off-chance!), that said on our recent jaunt to Pembrokeshire we were the only non-campervan on the site!! So I guess vans are massively more popular now than a few years ago.
It's been a trend for a long time. Decades. I think it has accelerated though. When I was a lad, the North and West of Scotland had many more campsites than it does now - in spite of the NC500.
There was a time during Covid restrictions that campsites were only open to self-contained units - i.e. with on-board toilets.
It's easier/cheaper to provide pitches if you don't need decent, flat ground.
There's probably a thing about being able to charge more.
Definitely. Lots didn’t seem to take tents on my cross country trips this year.
We've yet to encounter an issue but we are usually looking for a big pitch for one or two weeks.
The next site along from ours this summer was little more than an open field and some basic loos and showers. Plenty of tents there and on ours.
Having not camped very much for a decade or so before we bought the current big tent in 2019 I'm probably not qualified to say what the trend is but touch wood not had issues so far.
And if they do happen to take tents, many more these days have a 2 night stay policy at weekends or 3 over bank holidays. No good for the cycletourer.
Blame #vanlife and glamping, no-one wants to stay in a cold, damp, uncomfortable tent any more.
There's still plenty that take tents (have a look on pitchup.com) but there's a much bigger number of vans and glamping pods etc rented out for £50 a night...
Camping was a proper thing when I was a kid, I grew up having weekends away in the lakes with Mum & Dad, campsites were everywhere. Maybe it’s cos that’s all a lot of people could afford, certainly was for us.
There’s still loads that take tents but not many that ONLY take tents as far as I can see.
Not that I look for any, I’ll be happy if I never see the inside of a tent again.
Got quite expensive too I've noticed.
It's really annoying when searching an area for 'campsites' and you get caravan club parks.
yeah i think thats the most annoying bit google campsites in an area you invariably end up scrolling down a long list to find one that takes bloody tents.
I just want a field, with a cold draughty toilet block and thats basically it. The torridon campsite is perfect with its no campervan policy! I can and do wild camp but sometimes its nice just to know that you will have a space big enough!
Uk campsite let's you filter to type of camping unit
Uk campsite let’s you filter to type of camping unit
Uk Campsite, site, still looks like something out of the dawning age of websites. 😊
I think most campsites are doing less tourers etc and concentrating on selling statics as there appears to be more money less hassle.
Yes and no.
1. It is now late September and many sites especially smaller are shut / shutting. We operate a 5 pitch tents only under 28day rule and are closed.
2. We have personally found Scotland worse for the caravan / campervan only sites.
3. If you like smaller/ basic sites become a member of nearly wild club and the greener camping club. Both are members only and have good sites. £20 and £15 p.a so not too expensive.
Uk Campsite, site, still looks like something out of the dawning age of websites.
It's true but it's actually a lot better from a small operators pov compared to pitch up so you get some good sites listed
Only 1 site around here now taking tents. Owners know they can rip the campervan/caravan mob for more.
Deffo, been getting less and less for a few years now.
The 2 or 3 night minimum stay is a ballache as well. We turn up on a Saturday of a BH once and they said, yeah we can fit you on but it's 3 night min as BH. They actually wanted to charge us for the Friday night we hadn't stayed there.
They got told to **** right off!
There’s probably a thing about being able to charge more.
Why do I get charged more for a short wheelbase vw t5 with no electric than my friend with a huge tent and a land rover discovery which is almost the same size vehicle?
I'm always tempted to book in a small tent, throw up a pop up tent and just sleep in the van.
Only 1 site around here now taking tents. Owners know they can rip the campervan/caravan mob for more.
Camping is getting really expensive, average price seems to be £30 now. Its not much more for a premiere Inn and full cooked breakfast!
I think campervans and Caravans have a longer season than tents. The majority of tents are at bank holidays and summer holidays. The demand for tents falls off a cliff after September. Maybe there's enough money not to bother with tents?
I’m always tempted to book in a small tent, throw up a pop up tent and just sleep in the van.
I've done that - before the van was obviously fully converted to a campervan.
I know people who own campsites - or used to. They switched because they got fed up with managing the changing demographics of tent campers i.e. the festival crowd, who's only experience of camping is noise, loud music and litter, and think that's what camping is.
Uk Campsite, site, still looks like something out of the awning age of websites.
coat got
The 2 or 3 night minimum stay is a ballache as well.
This is not just camping. We've just been trying to book places over October half term and July next year - most self catering and a few B&B's want 3 nights stay. Even a couple of hotels in the season too. I get it - change over daily Vs every three nights. But it's a growing thing and makes touring rather more challenging.
Its not much more for a premiere Inn and full cooked breakfast!
Even that though is climbing in cost - even more for independent hotels.
If you like smaller/ basic sites become a member of nearly wild club and the greener camping club. Both are members only and have good sites. £20 and £15 p.a so not too expensive.
this seems to get me what i want. still not many in the grand scheme of things. Some sites i'm amazed don't take tents anymore... lazy duck and clachan for example.
I need to buy a field somewhere nice and put it a half mile from a track to keep out the riffraff, composting toilet and jobs a goodun
^^^ yeah I hadn’t heard of them before but we stayed at a GCC site recently & it was great (though not especially cheap!) To get certified looks like they have to primarily focus on tents with a lesser emphasis on vans & glamming. The site we were on had massive pitches marked out with mown grass and then separated with longer/wilder meadowy grass (which looking at their other sites seems to be quite common). Every pitch had a picnic table (although site owner said that was new) & firepit too which was great, plus there was also a woodland area if you fancied some “wild” camping. Will definitely be my go-to next time we look for a new site as it was exactly what we wanted.
Trend in Europe too some out favourite sites are slowly filling with chalets and lodges I can see a point soon where there will no camping on them.