Camping? have you ever been camping on your own or thought about it, I mean as in at the age you are now.

It’s the getting up to go to the loo in the middle of the night that I don’t fancy! It’s an age thing. I like an en-suite even if it is in a caravan or camper van.

In the late seventies went to Cornwall and Devon it was fun but uncomfortable. Later on when children were young went to Wales that was dreadful because of the weather. No way would I consider it in my sixties I need the comfort for my joints.

Camping, is that when you spend a fortune to live a homeless lifestyle?

I don't camp but I don't mind travelling alone. These stories of noisy children remind me of the morning I woke up to a huge spider in my tent. I was terrified and got out of my tent to tell my parents so they could help me. I whispered what was going on and got hissed at to go back to my tent and back to sleep. Going back to my tent was not an option until the spider was dealt with and I didn't know what else to do with myself, so I started to cry. The more my parents told me to go back to my tent and lie under this spider, the more panicked and loud I got. By the time my mother decided the only way this was going to be resolved was if she removed the spider, I'd probably woken up the whole campground. My parents were humiliated and I don't think we ever went camping again after that year. My apologies to those trying to sleep in that morning.

This year we decide to try winter camping (there are no other travel alternatives). We're going to go this weekend to celebrate Christmas. Since we are newbies, we are accompanied by a close family friend and his girlfriend who have been camping for many years.

It depends how fit you are Biker. Tents need time to put up - maybe in the rain. Air beds - you need to be able to get up and down from a very low level. And, the big one - you need a good bladder which isn't going to get you up in the night for a long trot to the loo block. Unless you're happy with a bucket loo.

We've opted for a campervan. With a bed, kitchen, fridge - and a loo. Surprisingly, a lot of small campers don't have a loo. But we're not fit.

Used to camp loads usually in nice weather.

You need a tent preferably that you can stand up in but put up solo. After trying a few I went for a canvas pyramid tent but they are quite expensive try looking secondhand. A bucket or toilet of some sort for nighttime. A comfortable bed and a sleeping bag with a duvet on top to keep you warm.

Never felt unsafe as most campsites are friendly places.

jackplans I guess you're not in the UK.

I've been camping as an adult on my own and have thought of doing it at the age I am now.
I'd stay on a campsite, not wild camping, if I did do it.

As I have just written on the thread on long hair. Age is totally irrelevant. If you want to do it and you can. Do it.

Personally, sleeping under canvas lost its attraction when I outgrew Enid Blyton. I have been caravaning, but camping under canvas, never, and I never will.

Yes, I’ve been camping once and I never went again. It was an alright experience for me but I honestly don’t want to do it again. I rather stay at home instead of camp all day.

It’s impossible to sleep peacefully at a tent since it could either be freezing cold or sizzling hot. Plus you could hear crickets or bears at night. Which freaks me out.

Whenever you walk around a forest or a lake. These little bugs come out and give you a bug bite.

What if you need to take a piss at night? Oh wait, you’ll have to walk through the dark to find the nearest restroom.
(Also whenever you find the restroom its either occupied or smelly as fuck)

Wanna go for a swim? Good luck meeting some leeches in the lake. Yeah, pretty wonderful to have on your skin.

I wouldn’t mind camping if I had some sort of RV, but tents and sleeping bags don’t do it for me.

bikergran - as usual I didn't read your OP properly. I've taken risks in the past but I wouldn't go lone camping these days. Even if you're far from civilisation all kinds of things can go wrong - especially weather changes, losing your way etc. We had a few very dangerous experiences.
Best to join some kind of club .

bikergran maybe you could borrow a tent and have a trial run in your garden(if you have one) It would allow you to test some of the practicalities. My biggest challenge would be sleeping on the ground and getting myself upright again!

I would love the freedom of a motor home with a loo and shower. I’ve entered an ITV comp and I fantasise about winning it.

Recently investigated cost of hiring one. Around £1k per week. My search then did flag up warnings from folk regarding insurance. Their hire company had held a £1k deposit on their credit card, claimed to have found bodywork damage on return and refused to return their deposit.

There is a club for single campers, not for dating purposes, just people who want to camp, and have no companion to go with. newcompanions.org.uk/about-us-new/about-the-club/

It seems like you can join in with activities each day, bike ride etc, or do your own thing. It might be a good place to try at first. Good for you, I hope you do it.

We only started camping in midlife and I discovered that, unlike in the Girl Guides years ago, it was enjoyable! DH usually moans for the first day but then settles down I'd love to go on my own, and have threatened to buy my own tent for quick escapes. There are loads of great campsites (one near Truro with nicer toilets and showers than at home...) and honestly, there's nothing nicer than waking up and getting the bacon grilling.. go for it bikergran!

Good to hear different views..looking out the window right now in wet lancashire throws a different perspective on it than when the glorious sunshine is beaming down,lots of food for thought.

Why don't you join The Camping and Caravanning Club, very safe sites with Wardens permanently on site, toilet blocks and showers, dish wash up and electric hook up if required. Tents, caravans and motorhomes.

Did it once in a Italy with 2 babies and loved it, did it again in the U.K. and vowed never to repeat the experience .
So, No.

Husband used to often go camping on his own. His biggest adventure was to spend a weeks wildcamping in and around the Knoidart peninsular in NW Scotland.
He had to take a heavy backpack with him and arranged for food pickups from isolated places.
I went with him on some of his backpacking trips, mostly in Derbyshire and the Lakes. We didn't camp in campsites, just on the top of hills and moors, far from anyone.
I'll never forget one night in a very compact double skinned tent, on top of a hill, when the wind nearly picked us up - we had to spread out our belongings to weigh the tent down.
I soon got fedup with the hardships and carrying heavy loads so he mostly went off on his own after that.
Our children came with us in the early camping days, they still talk about one outing in winter when we had to dig ourselves out of the snow and got told off by a sort of gamekeeper.

Barmeyoldbat I'm laughing at your post!! ???

We used to go camping and in fact I went away with friends in all weathers before I met DH.
When we were first married he borrowed a Scout tent and a primus stove and off we went but that was too primitive for me!
I think I realised my camping days were over after a damp Cornish holiday when my joints started aching; we have been to France since then to sites where the tent is already set up but no more.

I'm not sure how old you are bikergran but I don't think I'd want to do it now.
I've never been on my own and I don't think I would like to.

A campervan would be a good compromise especially if you have a bike to get around once there.

I would be a little worried on my own but if it isn`t not a worry for you,yes go for it.

Hate camping

However I know a lady who would regularly camp well into her '80s.

She got in a few scrapes going in fields. Farmer would come over all primed to raise merry hell. Took one look at tiny charming old lady and reappeared with eggs and cream.

Also there is a bloke who we know vaguely who camps alone in local wooded area. Seems as happy as a lark.

If you fancy it, go for it!

Camping used to be a hobby of mine. Lost it over the course of time. Now that you have asked this question I think I might consider going camping. My wife won't allow me because of the pandemic. I'm staying at home watching Netflix and doing a bit of gardening all the time. I have all the accessories in my garage starting from a pen knife to a tent. Fetching a bi-cycle is good if the terrain is vital. I prefer hiking to cycle.

Than Lucky no not on fb, but will google Josie Dew

Bikergran do you use Facebook? There is a lively group called Bicycle Travelling Women and lots of other groups by and for women who travel alone by bicycle and other wise. I wish I had the nerve to do it. Do you know the travel books by Josie Dew? Excellent and entertaining reads.