Why do you do it?

[Admin]

I often get asked what wild camping is and why people do it, the truth is we do it for many reasons and I am hoping that you will share yours here in the thread.

I do not want to debate the label "wild camping" as even my ageing Autosleeper Duetto's owners manual has "advice" about wild camping. And if the term is good enough for one of the countries leading motor home companies, then it is good enough for me!

I will start with the fact that I love the feeling of freedom that wild camping gives. Wether I am parked beside a river or in a lay-by I have all the comforts of my second home with me. I can choose to stay or go.

 

[Firefox]

1. Freedom.
2. I like the outdoors. I even like to sleep under the stars if it is not raining and warm enough.
3. I'm rebellious. I do things that other conventional people wouldn't dream of.
4. I can easily afford campsites but I don't see why I should pay exorbitant prices for almost the same facilities I could have without. Ditto hotel rooms.

 

[oldish hippy]

1 I am not a sheep as those who have seen me can vouch for that.
2If I wish to go then I want go when I like not wait up for office to open and pay my dues.
3 if I do not like somewhere then I can move.
4 if I want peace then i can find it
The best one till last well not last but last in this list.
5 There is never a camp site where the best views are and the most peacefull.

cost does come in to it but I dont class that as a reason because if that is what iwanted then I would pay my way,

 

[Tbear]

I spend up to eleven hours a day in a concrete box. What better way to get out in the real world and fresh fresh air.

Richard

 

[Haaamster]

Well being a man who had it all I can tell you my reasons which some won't believe but hey ho.
Have worked a several major companies Marconi, Novartis, City University London and the last one Emcor I came to the conclusion that life is too short for the kind of **** I was putting up with, for what just to buy the latest greatest novelty that I didn't need. As I said I had it all, £60k a year,company car,easily able to save £2k a month if I wanted, almost paid off the mortgage which I could easily pay off but didn't due to complacency, a stunning yes truly stunning G/F 19 years younger than me that wanted us to get married and so much unused shiny new crap in my house that will never get used. One day as I looked around my house at everything I owned the thought (that had probably always been there) popped into my head 'I don't want this, none of it, why am I bothering to get up at ****ty o'clock in the morning for a 3 hour drive to Liverpool for a job I hate to buy more crap I don't need'
So I got rid of it all including the trophy G/F. I already had my van and as I was cash rich I went off on a european adventure on my own and loved it. I hope never to go back to the rat race and yes it really is a rat race.
I'm sure some will say but how do you survive without this or that but really if you stop buying all the rubbish you don't need you will be surprised on how little money you do actually need to live.
Well that's mine, lets hear some more please.

 

[sledge]

Starting doing it when we were young in the a vx viva estate amoung other things as we had no money to stay any where else .Then as kids came along we got a caravan and stayed in some sites as well as wilding now kids are older and doing there own thing its back to the wife me and the dog in our coverted ldv van. Still stop at some small friendly sites we found along the way but mostly wild .As someone allready said there is nothing like opening the door and sitting looking out over a river with all the wild life or on beach looking over the sea.ps only found out it was called wild camping when directed to this site from one of the ldv sites.

 

[Dezi]

Hi, just over 25 years ago we quit our jobs & started out on our own.

Fine, the money that is earned is yours but any responsibility is also yours & in our case this occasionally was huge.
If we went out for a couple of hours shopping we would return to 20 emails & a dozen phone messages all wanting immediate answers.
That and evening consultations with clients made us quickly realise that only a holiday planned well in advance with NO communication possible was the only way to get a relaxing & enjoyable break.

Wild camping with the mobile switched off was & is perfick.

Dezi :scooter:

 

[n brown]

i don't know how to express it.it would no more occur to me to pay to stay in someone's field than it would to go to the opera or ballet or disneyworld. other people do things like that,and i accept that without understanding.people do a lot of things i wouldn't do.we've travelled and camped and lived in vans for nearly 40 years and stayed on campsites maybe 4 or 5 times,cos the kids were interested.anyway in all that time i've been moved on a lot,inconvenient,but not life threatening,never been gassed or robbed,i think a towel went missing once off the line,but not certain and some gypsies nicked a pair of kid's shoes we left under the van covered in dog****. but we haven't half had some intertesting times and some laughs and met some right characters,wouldn't have missed it for the world! and it's ongoing!

 

[whitevanwoman]

For me, an obsessive stresshead, I can forget and not stress about anything except :
1. Staying warm
2. Staying dry
3. Getting fed

I guess it's a kind of therapy or antidote to life in general, even better when I can't get mobile reception.

But in addition, as others have said, it's the freedom, the challenge, a deep love for nature and the outdoors, and the ability to stick two fingers up at rules and regulations.

 

[Deleted member 3957]

Wildlife.

Peace.

The views.

To get away from those annoying people on camp sites that insist on talking to you!


:lol-053:



Lidders

 

[Channa]

I echo a lot of the above, had a good job, well paid but under consistent pressure.
I divorced and as mentioned realised I owned a lot of things I didn't need.

I always enjoyed travelling so did the Europe and UK thing too.

My motorhome a tool to assist in seeing New things. And provides a hotel room wherever I choose to stop.

I have no problem with campsites, I don't generally use them as often I don't require the facilities....

Channa

 

[murial]

Life an adventure

Do it because I enjoy it. Do not wear a watch so would always be late for the campsite and if I wanted to live on a estate I would. Lets face it that what campsites are like. And when I see something I like I want to stop and just enjoy the view.

 

[kimbowbill]

Freedom, is the biggest part for me, just been able to take off where ever and when ever i want, i have used campsites as a lone traveller, sometimes not feeling right on my own, i have gone on them for safety more than anything, but as i have wilded more i have got more and more confident. also having a teenage dog who misbehaves at times, its much easier for me to be away from the madding crowd, i really enjoy the meets that we have had as we are all like minded people. These last few months for me being without my van has been traumatic, not being able to take off, hopefully i will have her back in a few weeks and life will begin again.

 

[Airecraft]

1. Freedom.
2. I like the outdoors. I even like to sleep under the stars if it is not raining and warm enough.
3. I'm rebellious. I do things that other conventional people wouldn't dream of.
4. I can easily afford campsites but I don't see why I should pay exorbitant prices for almost the same facilities I could have without. Ditto hotel rooms.

All of the above plus I can take big toys on a motorhome holiday like bikes and boats.

 

[Bigpeetee]

Because I can!!

Like many of the answers, we don't fit in with the crowd and "Do" things like everyone else.

There are times where a CL is used, if we need the facilities or have Grandchildren with us (not very often!) so they cam explore safely without worry from traffic.

We prefer to be on our own, as mentioned before, we're both signed up life members of the miserable old gits association.

Most camp sites mean that we have to be close to other people, we like to choose who we are near (that narrows it down to about a hand full)

We did call at a CL and they put us in the "Rally field" along with about 40 other MH/CVans. They never mentioned this when booking!!

One night was enough of people being "Happy" and "Joining in all the fun"

Any way, we're off tonight to a local gig then we're on our way to MK to visit our daughter + grandkids.

 

[Ste]

Because my tent got blown to bits!

 

[Makzine]

1) Because I like my own company, so that makes me one of the miserable old gits then fine, so be it,
2) I have always lived out in the country and prefer life at my pace, not hurried along with the "crowd",
3) My partner is disabled and facilities for her are not always available or suitable on sites so we tend to carry our own comforts,
4) As said before by others, nature in all her glory is so beautiful that you just have to stop where you want, not where your told to,
5) List not always in this order.

 

[Deleted member 16175]

1. Freedom! That really is the main reason. I can stop where I like, rest or get some sleep if I'm tired and continue when I like. We stay at sites at times, in France we found a small site for only 10 Euros/night w. electricity. They didn't speak a word English, but were very helpful.

2. We are not interested in what (larger) camp sites offer. We just want a place to stop for a night or two, spending the days visiting a castle, a garden, going for a walk or whatever, but sites are always crowded with people staying for weeks in the same place. They're not interested in the same things we are, they want the life they have at home, but at the camp site.

3. I get restless when staying in the same place for too long, two or a maximum of three nights is what I put up with. Usually it's just the one night and then on to something new.

 

[Deleted member 12539]

I love the outdoors, the fresh air, probably why I love motorcycling too.
I love driving (should have done it as a job).
I love knowing I can just go almost anywhere at anytime in the van.
I love going on holiday with the van, because nothing is usually forgotten, cos it is already in the van. We can take as much as and what we like with us, and bring back what we want (within reason).
I love the idea of being able to just stop, park up and put the kettle on, eat, sleep or use the loo, without wondering if, where and how much will it cost.

I believe there are too many people telling us how we must live.
I think the motorhome/camper allows us more freedom.

 

[al n sal]

all the above AND I'm really tight, :dance: