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This weekend was our first camping trip in GB as a family.  We have a few questions for all those pro-campers out there. 

Firstly having read a few threads noise seems to be a bit of a problem, are there any campers that have not experienced late night noise and music? Is this the general thing that fellow campers have to put up with? Are there any sites in general that do not allow loud music. 

Secondly, what is generally the excepted distance between tents and Thirdly is there a rule on arrival time? 

We arrived to a fairly nice camp site with no marked pitches which seemed fine as you could take up as much or as little space as needed.  It was mostly families with children relaxing and having fun until a group of 5 young males arrived at 7pm and pitched their tent & gazebo and had a car sterio booming away until midnight or so until someone complained.  What makes them think the rest of the campsite enjoys hearing their choice of music?   We had a young couple arrive at around 10:30pm to pitch their frame tent which was extremely close to ours and it took them nearly all night to pitch and blow up the mattresses etc etc.  They were so close in fact we could hear everything that went on in their tent!!!!!   We were taking our tent down on Sunday afternoon and we could basically hear everything that was going on and it left nothing to the imagination, a bit embarressing with young children!!!!   We did have a good time except for being tired, it was really nice and peaceful during the day and the kids had a really good time playing with the other children. Generally the other families were lovely but the night time noise by inconsiderate campers would eventually put me off camping.  General talking and laughing and backround music would be fine but you always seem to get one that has little or no consideration for others, a shame really. 

 Hi Vanfamily5 and welcome.

Most of us have experienced selfish noisy campers at some time but its not the norm. Honest Most sites have rules regarding music and a curfew time for noise and you only have to complain to the warden/manager and I'm sure something will be done.

The rule regarding the space between units is 6 metres but this is rarely adhered to on an awful lot of privately owned sites. We have decided to join the Camping and Caravanning club because you do get a clearly marked pitch and the stick to the 6 metre rule. They are also very good at dealing with nuisence campers.

Carol

the only site we have ever camped on where noise was a real problem for us was a site in East Sussex. It was our own fault as the site did say it was free and easy, allowing camp fires etc. It was exactly what is said and great for young peeps who wanted a good time but not for us old f**** who like to be in bed by 11o'clock.

But pitching to close is another matter and also one of my pet hates. Last bankholiday we stayed on a very nice site with plenty of room or so we thought. Went out for the day on the Saturday when we returned someone had pitched in our car space next to our tent. They left enough room the otherside of their tent to play badminton. No though at all to where we were to park our car.

Quote: Originally posted by mini on 27/6/2006

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But pitching to close is another matter and also one of my pet hates. Last bankholiday we stayed on a very nice site with plenty of room or so we thought. Went out for the day on the Saturday when we returned someone had pitched in our car space next to our tent. They left enough room the otherside of their tent to play badminton. No though at all to where we were to park our car.

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Presumably you parked your car on their badminton court then? I would have.....

I agree but the incosiderate ones come from all walks of life, it's not just the noisy youngsters, but large groups of any denomination.  I'd specifically ask the site about arrival times and pitches etc when you book.  Tip, keep away from play areas aswell, we've just come back from a site wher all the kids congregated and parents left them to it!

Don't let this experience put you off ... just be choosey wher you stay

Quinnys

Yep excessive other people's noise is becoming a bigger problem and sadly, if it follows our society trends, it will get worse. Right now the answer to be very selective with the sites you use, or go wild.

When booking I always ask if they have a noise policy and, importnatly, that they enforce.

I would like to campaign that we all do the same - the more people ask, the more they will get the message that it is important.

But don't let it put you off, jsut be selective where you go - this year I have not had a problem on any site.

We pitched next to some Brits in the Dordogne, last year (or rather we pitched and they pitched next to us) The back of their pitch was at the side of ours (if you see what I mean) and we  both pitched looking out. All the pitches were hedged and theirs had two entrances, the front was open (as usual) and there was a footpath entry to the rear (ie next to our pitch frontage). To our astonishment, they then parked their car halfway across their footpath entrance, which also meant their vehicle was parked in the front of our pitch, blocking part of our exit and entirely blocking out view of a lovely stream which ran through the site. We first thought it was a temporary measure, whilst they set everything up, but no, they must have liked it that way because it continued the next day (it actually was quite bizarre because it meant that, whilst unloading their shopping, they were standing next to our table whilst we were eating!). We did ask them politely if they would consider parking on their own pitch, response was that their tent was too big for the pitch and if they parked in front of it they would have no room for the kids to play!

We finally had no option but to mention it to the site owners, who asked them to keep to their own boundaries. Not nice having to complain about your neighbours though, is it?

Just goes to show, even with hedged pitches, some folk want more than their fair share. regardless of how it affects anyone else.

(I have to say, these people only stayed for a few days and were replaced by a lovely family from Wales, whom we spent many happy hours with.)

Quote: Originally posted by jimandali on 26/6/2006

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I don't like the Camping & Caravanning Club. Far too many rules and they expect you to clean floors while you're on holiday - surely that is the site's responsibility - especially when they charge you so much money! 

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Thank you to all those fellow campers who replied with advice and comments.  I will surely be asking the campsite next time about their policies. Something I didn't think about on our first trip.  I do like the relaxed atmosphere of camping and most of the people are friendly with a bit of common sense but you always get a few that have to spoil it for everyone else.  Tut Tut.   I am not sure if I quiet fancy the wild thing - camping with facilities is as far as it goes!!!!!!!  I do like having other people/families around just not selfish ones.   It obviously didn't bother the boys that much as they want to know when we are going again.