[Closed] It is almost over...(tourism content)

Similar feeling here, so you're not alone. We seemed to go straight from lockdown to overwhelmed. It'll be nice to have space to move around again.

No sympathy for the families who were under lockdown for 4 months? What did you expect them to do once a modicum of freedom was given but little option for foreign travel?

I think there is plenty of sympathy out there but no excuse for poor behaviour. It’s not difficult to be polite, not leave litter and generally have respect.
Just decided to head to N Devon this weekend, turned up on spec at a campsite slightly out of the way and there are 2 other groups with us in a 10 acre field with a panoramic view of Woolacombe and Croyde beaches. Not sure where all the masses are going - assume it’s just to the obvious places.

My first memory of my Mum shouting at a stranger was in Torquay. We had parked, quite legally on a road in front of a B&b in the height of summer. The owner came storming out f’ing and blinding at us for parking there...“bloody tourists” she was shouting. The irony meter was obviously of the scale. To this day I remember my mum calmly telling her that her income and those of a good proportion of locals was based on “bloody tourists”.
That said I know it’s frustrating. I lived in Bournemouth for 2 years. Vowed never to set foot in the place (in summer).

Of course I have sympathy Weeksy. Just found the increased numbers of tourists hard to deal with. Numbers increased by tourists who would have otherwise holidayed abroad.

Think the lifting of restrictions on July 4th was very short sighted by the government.

super busy and little regard for social distancing

Should have headed to a city centre. Absolutely dead and all the spa e you needed.

I have a little bit of sympathy, but not much.

I live in a small seaside town down South around 60 miles away from London. Attached to the town is a rather large holiday site.

You have chosen to live there,
It sounds quite pleasant but complaining about people visiting the seaside and holidaying nearby the town sounds similar to people who move next to a pub and then complain about the noise, move next to an airport and complain about planes or move out to the countryside and complain about tractors.

We have a caravan on the N Wales Coast. Just had a bunch of 'hiss heads' moved on from the caravan site pub, as they had rolled in from the Haven site near by. Most on our site are owned vans. The bunch were over 12 in number, all hissed up at 3pm. We're all following rules, booking a slot on a table outside the pub, but this lot were getting trollied.

I have sympathy because when people are on holiday for some inexplicable reason they act like total ****s.

Well don’t move to a holiday resort then...

My dad’s like this bless him. Moves to a beautiful part of the country and then won’t go to any of the beaches etc cos tourists.

Anti social behaviour

Seems par for the course no matter where you are. Although some of the scenes from beaches earlier this summer were just ridiculous.

driving has been very prevalent.

Not sure what you're driving at there?

It sounds quite pleasant

Or it could be Bognor

I haven't chosen to live here. I'm 28 and lived here since I was 9. Almost got to the 20% mortgage deposit then I'm away mate.

I know my op might sound snobby and anti tourist but it really isn't. I think scotroutes really hit the nail on the head with his post.

I live in a tourist area in south of France and this year has been the best year for businesses in ages . All restaurants , campsites etc.. reporting increases compared to last year .

Think the lifting of restrictions on July 4th was very short sighted by the government.

Because......? (Apart from the fact that they have starved the police of resources to tackle the anti social behaviour.)

I guessed Bognor as well.

Currently having a long weekend in the Lakes. With a bit of planning, not as bad as I expected. First nights away from home in 5 months. Feels bloody marvellous.

Because we are in the middle of a pandemic?

Close to Bognor, good guesses.

I rode through Canterbury today. Didn't intend to but was following the Cycling UK North downs route. The centre was heaving with people, absolutely chock full. I must admit I've been pretty chilled through lockdown, not overly concerned, but following advice because, well, that's what you do right? Seeing the crowds in the city centre appalled me frankly. I put a mask on and battled my way out of there. I struck me how disappointingly stupid the mass population can be. It's so depressing. Oh well. Sod them. I'm sure they'll be bleating 'why me?' In due course.
Rest of the ride was smashing btw.

I can’t wait for the grockles to depart

No sympathy for the families who were under lockdown for 4 months? What did you expect them to do once a modicum of freedom was given but little option for foreign travel?

I was hoping (but not expecting) for seemingly every lay-by in the highlands to not be littered with human turds.

@rollindoughnut there is probably someone on the Canterbury City Centre Internet Forum moaning about the disappointingly stupid mass population of cyclists that were cutting through the city earlier today.
Very depressing, can't they find anywhere else to ride their bikes away from the centre where people are picking up essential items. Possibly thinking sod them,they'll be bleating in due course.

@piemonster

https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/the-cairn-gorm-crapper/

No sympathy for the families who were under lockdown for 4 months? What did you expect them to do once a modicum of freedom was given but little option for foreign travel?
I think there is plenty of sympathy out there but no excuse for poor behaviour. It’s not difficult to be polite, not leave litter and generally have respect.

They couldn’t go abroad, so they decided to stay here, behave like a bunch of mindless dicks and make the lives of people here a misery?
I’d expect them to behave like civilised people, not scumbags.
The Herepath running out of Avebury up to the Ridgeway has been closed to all traffic after a mob tried to hold a rave there, no idea exactly where they were going to hold it other than on a farmer’s crop field, if I was the farmer, who has a herd of cattle there, I’d have got the slurry sprayer out and fertilised the field while they were arriving.
🤬

You have chosen to live there,

What an extraordinarily dumb thing to say! You can’t honestly believe that everyone who lives in a touristy area has moved there just because it’s pretty? Do you not understand that families have lived in, and continue to live in these places, for generations?
Jeeze!

I’ve never seen it so busy, I’ve avoided the town centre until late afternoon where it’s still very busy. Went to Newcastle a couple of weeks ago and it was far quieter than back home.

It’s been great for businesses and cases have barely gone up which is good as there was a risk. I don’t think it’ll get quite just yet as the retried older ones will take holidays. Talking to friends with accommodation they’re booked up until the end is November which is unusual.

Ready now everybody, breathe in, breathe out, repeat slowly...
It's been a tough year, you have more in common than you do differences.
When you can, go ride a bike.

Well don’t move to a holiday resort then…

One man's holiday resort is another man's home town.

Sorry op, I said that jokingly but it doesn’t read like that in hindsight. My dad’s always moaning about tourists so I’m used to winding him up 😉

No worries👍

Peekay. It was pure tourism/consumerism. Massive queues for bars and restaurants. The streets were packed, it took ages to get through.
I was too tired to re route before you say it. Had been riding for about 10hrs by then and didn't want to leave the course.

@rollindoughnut
Sorry to go of epic guys, where did you start from mate? I live on the North Downs and just being nosy at the distance you covered in those 10 hours,epic ride mate.👍

It's been a surreal year and I swear my SAD symptoms have come on much earlier than recent years, because I've gone out far less, due to drawn out post-Covid fatigue from late March to at least early June and then losing August through my back abscess.

Work has been bonkers due to the extra online shopping and my one escape in July got partly messed up due to a rear freehub failure on my road bike.

This bank hol weekend has been rubbish so far, due to stupidly turning my commutes yesterday into effectively time trials and then feeling to exhausted to do anything after work. Today I randomly woke at 0400, couldn't get back to sleep despite feeling like a zombie, finally getting a short nap after a dire Spa F1 grand Prix.

Tomorrow will be another attempt to try and get to Milland Hill for the first time (having wanted to get there a few times this year including today, but failed to get out the door each time), followed by a couple of weeks trying to get myself mentally and physically ready for daily rides around the Mendips hills from Burnhan-On-Sea in mid September.

This year has been an exhausting blur and currently it feels like it's going to be a long winter.

Drac, let me know when your network tells you it's quietened down there - I'm guessing you're in Alnwick/Morpeth although I'm looking at the Borders.
Looking at returning to God's own country for a break later in the year.

I’m in Alnwick I will try to think on.

Poopscoop.
I live in Tonbridge. Set of at 2.30am and rode towards Headcorn on the road. Stopped after an hour for a 2hr sleep behind a hedge as I wanted to try out my new sleeping bag and mat (they were brill). At 6am I continued down to Hythe where I had doughnuts freshly baked from a seaside van. Followed the coastal path through Folkestone until it ended near Samphire Hoe, then I carried all 22kg of my loaded bike straight up the white cliffs of Dover! There was a zigzag path up a wooded fissure in the cliff. Topped out at a little cafe.
Followed the superb, new by the looks of it NCR 2 cycle path along the cliff top before dropping down into Dover itself. Nipped up to the castle then selected the Cycling UK route on my Garmin which took me straight back down the hill!
Followed that through Canterbury then on to Wye where I split off and followed my own route from a previous trip through Charing then back to Headcorn. 2 more hours of flat, headwind riding saw me home.
220km, 1500m, 15hrs elapsed, 10.5hrs moving.
Legs nicely sore this morning!

Read y’day that Cornwall is only at 80% of the summer norm, while other places are being overwhelmed. Took a day trip from Plymouth to north Cornish coast this weekend and it was as busy as I’d expect a nice late September weekend to be.

Beaches around Plymouth seem to have had a greater share of anti-social locals this summer.

On the flip side. For those moaning about their local areas being rammed the past few weeks im assuming you never go on holiday or visit somewhere else where you could be causing the exact same problem for local residents? Also, what about someone like myself who lives in London and contends with tourist all year? Its all swings and roundabouts

They couldn’t go abroad, so they decided to stay here, behave like a bunch of mindless dicks and make the lives of people here a misery?
I’d expect them to behave like civilised people, not scumbags.

You only expect that as these problems are usually hidden from you as they take place abroad. Magaluf and Benidorm for example are trying to take this opportunity to change their market and lessen the amount of mindless dicks that turn up every year.

It's a cornerstone of modern British culture isn't it?

Our modern "Expeditionary Farce" a proportion of the UK population who every summer we direct towards various places adjacent to the sea to behave like bellends for a week, normally done relay style to keep the locals on their toes.

Of course this year they were forced to carry out their manoeuvres on home soil.
The inhabitants of Spanish and Greek Islands must have been bereft...

Of course now they've discovered the "staycation" expect a good proportion to be back next year, not having to pay for airport parking, flights or convert currency means lots more money for fizzy piss beer and maybe even a few more nights stay...

Its all swings and roundabouts

Sounds like awful town planning.

@rollindoughnut

Thanks for the for info mate, epic ride!

I'd have more than sore legs, that's for sure.😁

"Its all swings and roundabouts"

only if swings and roundabouts leave bags of shite all over the place

There is no doubt that people have been behaving badly, they always seem to in large groups but this is a slippery slope.

A few months ago the people from Cornwall seaside towns were on the news telling us that they were all going bankrupt and cant live without the tourism. Now, the same people are on the news telling us that they don't want all the people from "london" clogging the roads up and leaving litter.

You cant have it both ways, the money comes from people and people drive cars which clog up the roads. Some of those people will be idiots.

I was on the verge of posting that ^^ and the fact that many times on similar threads people are on the "Planes destroy the environment, holiday at home" bandwagon.

You cant have it both ways, the money comes from people and people drive cars which clog up the roads. Some of those people will be idiots.

and the fact that many times on similar threads people are on the “Planes destroy the environment, holiday at home” bandwagon.

What a load of reactionary bilge.

We can do better. We can expect better of people. We can fly less, without clogging up country lanes with cars. We are not compelled to behave like idiots.

Yeah. Holidaying doesn't give you permission to park like an asshole and leave trash everywhere. Totally avoidable with the tiniest bit of social and personal responsibility.

What a load of reactionary bilge.

The same response some people give to the Plane/environment threads, it' be nice if you had a more intelligent contribution.

We are not compelled to behave like idiots.

Across many threads, and many topics we know there are people that act like idiots.  It'll always be that way, as much a some will go to places and treat them with care and respect.  Winding yourself up on an Internet forum helps no one.

Just come back from Wales, the selfish "f*** you"-ness of many tourists was enfuriating to behold - park where you want, don't wear a mask, don't socially distance. I can understand why the locals get annoyed - stopped in on friends on the way back, they'd loved lockdown as it meant they could go to beaches they'd normally avoid.

Yeah. Holidaying doesn’t give you permission to park like an asshole and leave trash everywhere. Totally avoidable with the tiniest bit of social and personal responsibility.

I never really appreciated before how much the resorts in Spain, etc are like Wetherspoons - of no interest personally, but keeps the arseholes out of the nice places 😂 come back planet-destroying air travel, all is forgiven 🤣🤣🤣

What a load of reactionary bilge.

We can do better. We can expect better of people. We can fly less, without clogging up country lanes with cars. We are not compelled to behave like idiots.

Nobody is excusing poor behaviour, we are just realistic that a small percentage of the population are idiots. Get larger numbers of people together and you will find more idiots.

BTW the idiots in coastal towns don't all drive in either, there are plenty of home grown ones there 😉

How do you suggest a family go on holiday without a car or flying? According to google maps, it would take me 3 hours to drive to Cornwall.

It would take me 7 hours 25 to go via public transport involving 2 trains, 2 buses and the last bit would be via taxi. I would also need a taxi every time I tried to go somewhere.
It would take me 16 hours without stopping to cycle it - my 8 year old may find that a bit tough going.
Unless you want us to do the 51 hour non stop walk?

I went to Bath this weekend. I don't think news of Covid has reached there.

It was uncomfortably busy with absolutely zero social distancing taking place in the streets and restaurants absolutely brimming.

Certainly have sympathy with any locals who want to do the right thing there. Made me very pleased that I don't live in a touristy area.

stopped in on friends on the way back, they’d loved lockdown as it meant they could go to beaches they’d normally avoid

Just out of curiosity, how do these people earn a living?

Its not about having it both ways, its about some common sense. If you see somewhere is rammed and know its going to be rammed, pick somewhere else to go, which from other threads it seems there are plenty of other places with capacity for this.

Peekay. It was pure tourism/consumerism. Massive queues for bars and restaurants. The streets were packed, it took ages to get through.

I'm fed up living in London of paying all my taxes to fund the idealistic lifestyle of people in rural settings. Then they get angry when i come out to see what i pay for on my holidays.

Just out of curiosity, how do these people earn a living?

Both can (mostly) work from home. How come?

Joe: how does your living in London pay for the lifestyle of people living in the countryside exactly? Last I checked I pay the same rate of tax as everyone else! By all means get annoyed it you like but some semblance of logic would be useful.

baboonz
Member
Its not about having it both ways, its about some common sense. If you see somewhere is rammed and know its going to be rammed, pick somewhere else to go, which from other threads it seems there are plenty of other places with capacity for this.

Bit late by the time you driven to Cornwall! how do you know how busy it will be when you are booking?

What is your cut off for rammed, how many people per square metre?

"Common Sense" is a vague way of the government shirking responsibility

Dont be so easily manipulated by their spin

Joe: how does your living in London pay for the lifestyle of people living in the countryside exactly? Last I checked I pay the same rate of tax as everyone else! By all means get annoyed it you like but some semblance of logic would be useful

Average Londoner pays a bit more than twice as much in income tax as average SW person

Average tho so pretty meaningless on personal basis

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-and-tax-by-county-and-region-2010-to-2011

Magaluf and Benidorm for example are trying to take this opportunity to change their market and lessen the amount of mindless dicks that turn up every year.

Then they will suffer an economic hit. Spain specifically sets aside these vomitaria to relieve a load of pissed up yobs of their cash. It is a specific policy.

Plus, if all the yobs go to one place there will be other nice places that are free of them.

I’m fed up living in London

Quite.

Just popped over to Foyers on the motorbike for a bit of lunch. Still busy.

Ready now everybody, breathe in, breathe out, repeat slowly…
It’s been a tough year, you have more in common than you do differences.
When you can, go ride a bike.

This needs sticking on the front of every thread!

How do we stop people behaving like dicks? Firstly you accept that the majority of people are actually ok, and aren't dicks. Then you educate people, from kids upwards, how to behave and what social responsibility means. And then you resource the enforcement of driving/parking/littering rules properly, and dangle a few from the lamp posts.

As I've said on other threads, had a weekend in the Lakes this bank holiday, yes it was busy, but we were careful where we went and what we did and most of the people we saw were doing the same.

Bit late by the time you driven to Cornwall! how do you know how busy it will be when you are booking?

What is your cut off for rammed, how many people per square metre?

“Common Sense” is a vague way of the government shirking responsibility

Dont be so easily manipulated by their spin

Reports of hotspots being rammed started in March. Its now September, I think its enough time to get a feel for it.

Reports of hotspots being rammed started in March. Its now September, I think its enough time to get a feel for it.

We went to Cornwall in August

It was quieter on the beach at Hayle than it was 2 years ago

Reports were wrong?

@kimbers

We went to Cornwall in August

It was quieter on the beach at Hayle than it was 2 years ago

Reports were wrong?

You didn't happen to cough loudly just as you approached the beach did you?

You didn’t happen to cough loudly just as you approached the beach did you?

4 snotty kids

we clear our own path

Reports of hotspots being rammed started in March. Its now September, I think its enough time to get a feel for it.

Pretty sure the reports were that it was very quite from March until July and trade was suffering, can’t think why that might be.

You cannot pay enough tax to make it acceptable to trash places outside of London. I don't think that's what you were saying, but just to be sure. That's the kind of crap entitled attitude that got us all here...

You cannot pay enough tax to make it acceptable to trash places outside of London. I don’t think that’s what you were saying, but just to be sure. That’s the kind of crap entitled attitude that got us all here…

He was talking about visiting those places, nothing more, saying he was trashing them is quite a leap!

Yes but he was claiming that he subsidises people living in the country, which is both wrong and a crappy attitude. If you pay a decent amount of tax it’s because you earn a decent amount of money.
If you’re fed up living in London then don’t.

Then they will suffer an economic hit. Spain specifically sets aside these vomitaria to relieve a load of pissed up yobs of their cash. It is a specific policy.

Er, no it isn't. It's turned out that way, but it's definitely not a specific policy (at least these days - I don't know about 30-40 years ago). And if they can move to more upmarket (aka richer / family) tourists there's no reason they will suffer an economic hit.

Just come back from Wales, the selfish “f you”-ness of many tourists was enfuriating to behold – park where you want, don’t wear a mask, don’t socially distance. I can understand why the locals get annoyed –

😂😂😂

Where did you go. Drove back from Wales yesterday, they don't wear masks. It's not compulsory. Aside from staff, did not see a single local wearing a mask. I joined the confused English 'tourists' deciding whether to wear one anyway.

masks are literally not compulsory in Wales, it's hardly a f you is it? 😂🤷🏻‍♂️

went for a surf yesterday (1st september), the difference a day makes. was almost back to normal.

Joe
Member
I’m fed up living in London of paying all my taxes to fund the idealistic lifestyle of people in rural settings. Then they get angry when i come out to see what i pay for on my holidays.

Based on this logic, I can come up from my hovel in Cornwall and take a massive shit on your doorstep but its OK as I pay above average tax to let Londoners* keep living their luxurious lifestyles.

I am lucky enough to live in Cornwall but not rely on it for income, when you move to the county you expect it to be busy in the summer and quiet in the winter. What annoys the local the most is the excess litter which is left by a small minority of tourists and the arrogance (like above) of an equally small number of people. This has been made worse this year by the whole "we came here to get away from coronavirus" attitude so there is more a pushback from the locals than usual.

*I am originally from London

Pretty sure the reports were that it was very quite from March until July and trade was suffering, can’t think why that might be

Snowdon 22nd March: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-51994504

If you’re fed up living in London then don’t.

granted the attitude of I pay more to live in london doesn't hold up (i also live in london) but the whole dont live there then also goes for people who live in tourist traps, if you dont like tourist go live in a place that doesn't get any. Tourist annoy me on a weekend sometimes too standing on the escalators, walking super slow but thats london we need them to support a lot of the shops and services.

People moaning about "their areas" being busy need to just reflect on how other parts of the world are also impacted by this year on year. People are also extra stressed due to general life and covid so maybe people leaving "their area" to visit yours is a much needed break for them. I left london a few weeks ago to see some family in Swanage and it was the first time i went outside of the m25 in about 4+ months. Should I have stayed at home just because it was going to be busy?? How do you decide who can and cannot come and go.

Snowdon 22nd March:

Did Snowdon take a holiday to Cornwall in March?

That’s the kind of crap entitled attitude that got us all here…

Have you ever seen someone from not-London try to achieve personal space on the tube?

Blooming country folk coming here, filling our trains, pushing up prices, using the hospitals, buying all the theatre tickets. Why can't they just be happy with a barn dance and some cider that tastes like meths?

So, where's a good place to take the kids for October half term then?

centerparcs...

So, where’s a good place to take the kids for October half term then?

🤣🤣 Not Bognor, apparently.