We've had a couple of comments recently that have highlighted the different approach taken to camping over the pond compared to to the way we go about things over here in good old Blighty (well the way I've always gone about it anyway). It's something I've been faintly aware of while researching various things and reading other camping blogs so I thought I might write a post that describes the rationale behind why we go about it the way we do.

Here in the UK (and from what I've seen across Western Europe) camping is primarily a means to have a holiday in a picturesque location relatively cheaply. We pack up our tents, trailer tents, folding campers or caravans together with as many home comforts as possible and head off to the coast, moors, lakes, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Dorset or sometimes Great Yarmouth. We're after some peace and quiet and a change of scene and we want to stay for a few days possibly a couple of weeks. What we can't afford, is to pay for a hotel or B&B for that amount of time in that location.

Usually the cost is because 'we' usually means a family, parents, kids, grandparents, cousins and so on. For us a hotel stay is not only pricey it's also boring, Camping is a win-win for families. Kids find it fun and can be given some freedom to go off on their own a little and parents can relax and take things easy. The parents get to feel good that the kids aren't glued to the TV and the kids get to explore the campsite, make new friends and have fun. When bedtime comes the kids are tired, the parents are drunk relaxed and we all get a good nights sleep (in theory at least, see here) .

Campsites in the UK are therefore mainly aimed at 'car campers'. Those like us who have cars and trailers packed with all sorts of things aimed at making our stay as comfortable as possible. We have large tents where we can retreat when the inevitable rain starts. Double burner stoves with grills to make beans on toast and fry-ups. We take duvets and pillows to get a warm and snugly nights sleep. We feel that being under canvas is about as close to nature as we want to get. For those where that is too close there are caravans (the scourge of the Bank Holiday 'A' roads) that plug into the national grid once deployed and have more home comforts than you would think possible.

So to summarise camping is a way to get a cheap family holiday that provides a change of scene, lets the kids have some fun away from the TV and the parents have some relaxation. We make it as pleasant as the inclement weather lets us with big tents/caravans and lots of home comforts.

I am generalising here obviously and there are those in the UK that go hiking across the moors with just a bivvy bag and some Kendal Mint Cake and those that take their pop-up tents to every festival there is all summer long and then bin it. I think though, that the majority of campers in the UK (and probably across Europe) are like us and go camping for the reasons I've mentioned, which hopefullly explains our slightly odd behaviour.