Camping- It's Like Marmite


Tenby, West Wales

When I was young I used to go camping with my parents every year. The stories I can tell you about Tenby. It was great fun in those days, and I can still remember the smell of bacon cooking for our breakfast every morning. As I have gotten older and I can afford a more luxurious holiday my days of camping have been forgotten, until recently. The new craze of 'glamping' has made me think of it once more.

So I asked some of my lovely friends why they like camping and these were their answers.

"It's relatively cheap and these days most sites have decent shower blocks"

"I LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Food tastes better - get up early and NO BLOODY TECH!!!!"

"We always BBQ. Go around local shops getting fab produce and meat. Keeping things simple."

"I love it because it encourages a love of the outdoors in kids and makes them realise just what the true necessities are in life. Fresh air, food, a bed and family. Oh and good weather helps! "

English: Modern 'dome' tent
English: Modern 'dome' tent (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
"It's back to the basics - no TV, no electric - just the family cooking on a gas stove! I have so many lovely memories of camping down Swansea - and some not so great, including 20ft high waves and running around the field trying to mallet the tent pegs back into the ground before the wind took the tents. We always had fun, no matter what the weather!"

"It's great as we can take the dogs."

"Fresh air everyone speaks, not many TVs etc but usually swings, beaches etc where kids have fun, cheap, everyone helps everyone else. Loads BBQs were people u don't know happy to pull up a chair & have a beer around the warm. Its just fun."


"I like camping but only when the weather is good (not something you can really count on though!) It's a cheap holiday. And it's good fun in a group, with a barbecue and some beers."

"I loved it, would meet other children, making new friends explore nature, real adventure holidaying, some sights have connections to outdoor activities, kayaking, surfing, lots of walking is involved. Ghost stories as bedtime, campfire singsongs. Eating toasted marshmallows."


and

"The only time I've ever camped was at Brecon Jazz festival and I hated it so much that I ended up sleeping in the car. Simon wants to take the boys camping and I've told him that it's a father and son thing. Not a hope in hell of me going! "

"If God had intended us to go camping, he wouldn't have invented hotels. Even prehistoric man had a cave."

I think if you go camping you have to have the proper equipment as it makes camping more comfortable. The right mattresses, stoves and camping tables, so you don't feel you are 'slumming it' all help. With a little preparation and skill, you can cook a proper meal and wake up not feeling shattered if you have a decent quality mattress. I remember waking up on the floor one day as the mattress had a puncture but these days they are so much better. I always enjoyed cooking on a camping holiday, making a one pot meal was great fun, even a challenge. 

Camping has also come back into fashion with the festival culture. They say if you haven't been to Glastonbury you haven't lived! I've never stayed on a campsite at a festival although I have been to Donington.  The festival culture looks so much fun but you certainly need good weather.

So tell me do you love camping? Have you been glamping?  If you love it why do you love it so much - persuade me to go again?!

*This is a sponsored post

18 comments

  1. We've not been for years, I can't be doing with the uncomfortable camping mat on the floor. But the your friends are so right, food always taste so much better.

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  2. HAHA Some fab comments, my fave >> "If God had intended us to go camping, he wouldn't have invented hotels. Even prehistoric man had a cave."
    I've never been glamping, thats posh camping, right?. I'd like to give it go, I know my hubby would prefer the old fashioned. But I would like a little luxury and wifi. x

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    1. Yep glamping is posh camping. I can see it would suit you Lucy :)

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  3. I loved camping as a kid... now, not so much... I prefer to relax in style and more comfort

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  4. Tenby looks amazing - like Balamory :-) I love the idea of camping, but know once I got down on the floor I'd never get back up again - so not really a good holiday for me. I do think that food out in the fresh air is great - like picnics and fish and chips by the seaside :-)

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    1. Tenby is beautiful. It is one of favourite places in the whole world.

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  5. I've only been camping twice in my life and one of those times was a festival and both times I was very drunk so probably didn't even realise I was in a tent. I'm much for of a hotel girl :)

    Cat
    http://www.rockandrollpussycat.co.uk

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    1. Good to know you enjoyed the festival lifestyle ;)

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  6. I think it's most definitely one of those things - you either love it or hate it. Would be interested to try out glamping though.

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    1. We had loads of positive comments, I think it's a great budget option.

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  7. My parents took me camping all over Scotland as a child, I have so many lovely memories of the different places we went now, I'll definitely be taking my children camping :)

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    1. Many people have childhood memories of camping. In those days foreign holidays were expensive too.

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  8. I've only camped as part of Duke Of Edinburgh but hope to take our kids now they are getting bigger. Mostly though your picture of Tenby brought back so many memories of childhood holidays there, thank you x @msedollyp

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    1. I adore Tenby, although out of season it is looking nicer than ever at the moment, a lot of the cheap shops have gone.

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  9. I used to love going camping, so much fun and back to basics is a great experience! I love the food too!

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