What is camping?

[Jenna]

Might sound a daft question but I think it means different things to different people?

For me 'camping' is about travel, its about simple living... tents and spending time to merge into the countryside. For some I guess camping is what I would call caraving? or even motorhomeing?...

I as ask this because I was going to post a quick note about a nice little site we found recently but although it would be great for a backpacker, even a welcome change for an adventurous small motor home you would be hard pressed to get a 4x4 with caravan in tow down the lanes!

[DaveS]

Might sound a daft question but I think it means different things to different people?

For me 'camping' is about travel, its about simple living... tents and spending time to merge into the countryside. For some I guess camping is what I would call caraving? or even motorhomeing?...

I as ask this because I was going to post a quick note about a nice little site we found recently but although it would be great for a backpacker, even a welcome change for an adventurous small motor home you would be hard pressed to get a 4x4 with caravan in tow down the lanes!

Yes that's a good question.
With the Khyam its more about reasonably simple living, travelling light, etc... but when with the family we need a trailer for the behemoth of a family tent that we have, the cool box, the wardrobe, kitchen, cooker, tables, chairs, and all the mod cons. So as a family we tend more and more towards the luxury end of camping if you can call it that.
However it's still outdoors and we all love it for that.

[africajim]

For me it's strap my tent to the back of my motorbike and take off for a few days, sometimes a couple of weeks!
I use campsites, I like some comforts, like a toilet and a shower! The beauty of it to me is I can ride for hours then when I want to stop just keep an eye open for a campsite for the night. There you meet people of similar interests to talk to.
Camping adds to the adventure of my trips, I've tried B&B and it's just not the same.

[doglegdon]

I once heard that "Camping is about getting closer to nature, but further from cold beer, hot showers and flush toilets......"!

[Jenna]

In years gone bye I used to do a lot of camping, Mid/South Wales, Lakes, Cumbria etc usually with the Land Rover or a bike (motor or push!) and although its now frowned on we would hardly ever use a formal campsite. Most of the time we ended up in a farmyard or at the bottom of a pub car park which gave us a bit of piece and quiet but still not too far to race for a loo if needs must....

Thinking back I dont think I have ever used a site with showers and such, certainly not one with electric hook ups and so on, I guess that for me would be much like camping in the back garden.

Hopefully over the next year were going to be getting a lot more chances to get out, the idea of revisiting some of the places i have been with work all over the world but with out the ball and chain that work and hotels bring...

[cbrpaddy]

For me it's about getting away from it all. I prefer wild camping but have no problem with small quiet sites. I have to say I rather dislike enormous sites with tons of caravans, mobile homes and the like, I might as well be in a tacky high-rise resort Oh yeah, hello everybody !!

[StumpyFingers]

I have spent more time under Canvas than any other type of holiday.
Bones permitting I will spend many more.

[DaveS]

For me it's about getting away from it all. I prefer wild camping but have no problem with small quiet sites. I have to say I rather dislike enormous sites with tons of caravans, mobile homes and the like, I might as well be in a tacky high-rise resort Oh yeah, hello everybody !!

Yep I agree, but not to the wild camping. I like some creature comforts but I prefer sites where you're not packed in like sardines!

[Sharribee]

What a great thread idea, we've done it all really as far as camping goes.

We love the big family camp with all the works and luxuarys of a well equiped campsite, sitting in the evenings with a beer (or squash in Jays case) and playing Frisbee / cricket that kind of stuff, really social type of camping.

We love to put everything on the bikes and rough it a bit in out of the way campsites that are quiet just to get away where there are few people and we can sit late into the night around a fire relaxing

We have also spent a bit of time wild camping, building our own shelters and fires and making do with whatever we can find around us. Caitie M and Jay liked this a bit more than me, I need to be able to wash and dry my hair and the Welsh wilderness is a little light on facilities Great expereince though

[shonasdad]

For me its all about adventure, just put the tent on the bike take my ex army trangia stove and head off, when i had enough riding i find a nice spot sometimes go to a farm and ask the farmer or when out on the moors just find a remote spot a put the tent up..i love camping in the rain for some reason i love the sound of the rain on the tent and your all warm and dry inside...also the sounds the smells and the freedom of packing up and heading off to a new place the next day.