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| The lure of the great outdoors is proving irresistible as all kinds of camping has become the stay-cation of choice in the summer of 2020. |
Welcome to 2020, the year the world went camping.
It will go down forever as the year of the #Staycation, when
everyone and their mother dusted down the sleeping bags from the hot press, dug
out the old tent in the shed, and tried to hire (or buy) a caravan, campervan
or motorhome.
And here’s where it gets really tricky, to find a spot in a
campsite complying with Covid-19 rules and regulations the length of your arm,
that’s not already booked out until the end of August.
Camping is back in vogue, no mistake about it as families
clamour to get out of the house with the kids, and ditch those cabin fever
blues in favour of blue skies and the great outdoors. In fashion terms, camping
is the new black.
Okay, it’s #staycation Ireland so make that the grey
outdoors trading as the great outdoors, with blue skies an optional extra… like
the charge for showers, electricity and awnings on most Irish campsites.
Nevertheless, hail, rain or… more rain, this is Ireland and
the beaches are thronged and the campsites are booked out and we’re not going
to let the odd shower spoil our lust for life post lockdown. We’re going to carry
on camping! Everyone is going camping somewhere this year.
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| Sunset at Dick's Field, Ardmore. (Photo credit Pat Sheridan) |
Recently retired RTE presenter Seán O’Rourke has hit the
road and was spotted this past week in Dick’s Field, Ardmore in his 142 Hobby.
Munster and Ireland rugby legend Ronan O’Gara has been tweeting up about the
delights of family camping in Biarritz. (The best way to tackle Biarritz - see review here).
With a second Covid wave potentially lurking around the corner, travel bans, quarantine, self-isolation, ferry (and flight) cancellations and a rather uninviting, underwhelming and downright confusing ‘green list’ of destinations, well camping is your only man, woman and child.
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| Even rugby legend Ronan O'Gara has been bitten by the camping bug. |
With a second Covid wave potentially lurking around the corner, travel bans, quarantine, self-isolation, ferry (and flight) cancellations and a rather uninviting, underwhelming and downright confusing ‘green list’ of destinations, well camping is your only man, woman and child.
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| Camping in the Kingdom. This popular Goosey Island site is situated in the picturesque village of Sneem. |
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| Camping in the stunning Connemara Eco-Camping near Clifden. Physical distancing comes naturally. |
While camping remains a most sociable affair it has an
additional built-in advantage of physical distancing fitted as standard. You can remain mask-free and soak up the fresh air as you cook or chill, or
seek that thrill of biking, hiking, trekking, surfing, this way, that way, on
the blueway or greenway and sure whatever you are having yourself way.
Those who have already made a break for it are reporting
comets in the night skies, ice cream cones, fish'n’chips fresh from the boats
in Dingle, Killybegs and Kilmore Quay and stunning scenery to beat the band.
What’s there not to like?
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| Day or night the scenery is stunning. It's part of the appeal of camping. |
Well, here’s the snag. Camping’s return to fame has come at
a price.
Full House, No Tents,
No Showers & Stolen Vehicles
The upsurge in renewed interest in camping and the curbing
of overseas options has led to many of the more popular coastal campsite
locations being completely booked out for the peak season through July/August.
While there is some midweek availability, some campsites
have not opened for the 2020 season at all, many are not taking tents, most
require advance booking, and the majority are operating with reduced services
with wholesale restrictions on kitchens, showers and even toilets. Numerous
campsites are notifying that they are entirely booked out until the end of
August, while others are only accepting campers with their own self-contained
units.
At the same time there is mounting evidence that while campsite services and capacity may be reduced, prices are not, and indeed the indications are of price increases. Experienced campers are reporting prices upwards of €40 per night for a unit and two adults.
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| Camping is fun but one of the additional challenged this season is that many campsites are declining to accept tents due to Covid restrictions and the closure of shared facilities like kitchens, toilets and showers. |
At the same time there is mounting evidence that while campsite services and capacity may be reduced, prices are not, and indeed the indications are of price increases. Experienced campers are reporting prices upwards of €40 per night for a unit and two adults.
All these factors have conspired to generate other issues as
campers, both veterans and newcomers, are forced to seek alternative options as
they hit the stay-cation road. Not everyone can avail of the mid-week lulls and
this has led to chronic traffic congestion at popular seaside resorts at
weekends.
Furthermore there has been an upsurge in ad hoc parking in
towns and villages with no designated spaces or where campsites are unable to
cope with the spike in demand.
Not surprisingly, this has led to tensions in certain
localities with residents complaining of an influx of vehicles and what they
view as illegal parking.
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| It's deplorable scenes like this that give campers a bad name and raises public objections. |
Such is the level of concern the issue has been raised at
local authority meetings around the country in the past week, including even in
Kerry, where there are objections to motorhomes camping overnight in town
centre car parks and beauty spots in and around Killarney.
There is growing talk of more restrictions, Council by-laws
prohibiting overnight parking and barriers at scenic areas to prevent access by
campers in places such as Hook Lighthouse in Wexford, where kerbside and pier
parking in Kilmore Quay is also raising hackles.
While such prohibitions have already been introduced along
quaysides in Galway city, Mullaghmore, Leitrim and Dungarvan, there were further
episodes of negative reactions to campers developing in places normally
welcoming of motorhomes in Kenmare, Portumna, West Cork, Westport, Ardmore and Achill.
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| A sign of the times. Restrictions on camping are becoming more commonplace just as it becomes more popular. |
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| Camping restrictions in Achill where there has been disquiet over the numbers of vehicles 'wild camping'. |
Elsewhere in the Shannonside Tipperary village of Terryglass
the local tidy towns organisation were moved to intervene over what they say is
wholesale indiscriminate overnight parking, littering and anti-social behaviour.
There were even complaints of illegal dumping at the popular and usually well
respected Aire in Cobh.
The experienced campers cry foul, plead innocence and point
the finger at others. It is not in the interest of regular and veteran campers
to burn their bridges as they appreciate the symbiotic relationship between
themselves and local communities.
Against this backdrop the enforced staycation is a gift
horse that many landowners, vintners and local authorities appear to be looking
in the mouth as their captive audience is crying out for more and improved
camping facilities and services.
County Clare is a hugely popular destination with the
motorhome fraternity, there are for instance only five campervan designated
spots on the expansive Lahinch prom carpark, and no provision for overnight
parking. This is not just an Irish phenomenon but is an issue being raised
right across the UK with an increasing clamour for French style Aire amenities.
To compound these problems certain camping sites are seeking
a minimum bookings of between 4 and 7 nights. Meanwhile the prices being sought
for second hand caravans and motorhomes is rocketing this season. Anyone
planning to splash out on their first campervan might well be advised to hold
off until the winter.
There is little doubt that some wreckless first timers and newcomers
are spoiling the camping opportunities for everyone else.
Pulling up willy-nilly off the street, blocking a working
pier, encroaching on yellow boxes, taking over multiple parking spaces (with awnings
& BBQ’s), over-nighting in a car park and leaving a mess behind for others
to deal with hardly constitutes ‘wild camping’ or ‘going off grid’, as some
like to rebelliously portray themselves, compounded in a minority of cases a
downright reluctance and refusal to pay for any kind of services.
There is levidence that for some the so called ‘wild
camping’ is little more than an excuse to have a party and piss-up on the
dunes, in the park, at the forest or on the banks of the lakeside or river and
try pawn it off as a camping weekend.
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| The Garda were prompted to issue a security warning this week due to the spate of caravan thefts. |
With all that to contend with, it hasn’t helped that the
Garda authorities were prompted this week to issue a security warning such as
been the spate of thefts of caravan and campervan vehicles in recent months.
There is also concern about the safety and security of vehicles when camping.
The secrets of a
Happy Camper
Camping is fun. Camping is good. Camping is good for you, so
how do we keep it that way as the peak August bank-holiday weekends approach in
Ireland and the UK, and newly converted camping fans snap up the last of the
outdoors gear and bargains.
Here are some pointers, tips and insider info that may make
the difference in ensuring that you remain a happy camper… and that everyone
else enjoys the experience also.
First and last rule of camping - leave no trace. It’s
self-explanatory, leave the camping spot the way you would like to find it,
that includes cans, bottles and cigarette butts and of course the toilets.
Basic respect for others.
Get online and join one of the many useful camping and
motorhome forums on Facebook. These are run by vastly experienced campers with
a wealth of knowledge which they are only too willing to share. While they are
all glad to be supportive and help on a wide range of camping
related topics, some of the questions being posed recently border on the
ridiculous, trivial and downright lazy. They are not, as one recently pointed
out, travel agents, so do make a basic effort to inform yourself and then avail
of the vast knowledge and insights of your fellow campers.
Parking up at Lidl is not ‘wild camping’. If you are going
to go wild, go wild in the country.
Camping does not come with batteries included. Be prepared to
provide your own entertainment.
With that in mind a rain jacket, walking boots, a bike, a
kayak or a surf board are vital pieces of camping kit as you take a break from Netflix.
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| Good camping kit is vital. This range of useful accessories from Alo Donegan, Portlaoise. |
Speaking of which it is worth investing in good gear, it’s a
lifesaver and will last you a lifetime.
August means peak camping. The 'full house' signs are up all
across the country’s most popular campsites. Try booking and plan ahead.
In this regard it is vital to inform yourself of all the
options and real time info available from the numerous camping forums on
Facebook. Just key in motorhome, campervans or camping and a range of options
will pop up. There are even ones that specialise in camping with kids, camping
for adults only, camping near pubs, wild camping, pet friendly camping and yes,
wild camping.
Learn how to pack light in a one bag strategy but always
bring the essentials like fresh water, tea, coffee, sugar, as you’d never know
when you will get stuck.
No camping trip is complete without the obligatory BBQ. You
will also need basics like a bottle opener/cork screw, matches, cool
box/fridge, a mallet, spare gas, a torch, high-vis vest, first aid kit, toilet roll,
and a good map (you won’t always have a signal for Google maps coverage). Make
a list.
Remember, first and last rule, leave no trace.
Now you’re ready. Happy Camping!
