Just over a week after the UK Government gave the nod to campsites that they were allowed to reopen, I’m pleased to report we have finally been on our first camping trip of 2020.
By this point in the year we’d normally have been on two or three trips by now. Not to mention our house move in February having curtailed all other holiday plans for the year. So 2020 definitely hasn’t seen as many nights under canvas as we originally anticipated.
So how has the world of camping been affected by the Coronavirus outbreak then, aside from having to close for the first few months of the season?
I’m pleased to say, it was pretty much the same experience we’ve come to know and love – with a few small changes.
Obviously our experience is based on the campsite we stayed at (Westland Farm in Devon – our favourite site, and the scene of my 40th birthday camp-out last year!) – but having done quite a bit of research into other sites (as we plan out the rest of the year), it looks like most are taking the same measures.
Social distancing is fairly easy on a campsite. Most of the ones we’ve looked into seem to have implemented even larger gaps between tents than normal. At Westland Farm where we stayed, the site was at maximum occupancy apparently – and as you can see from the drone shot below (taken by Nicki and Andy, the owners of the site) it was pretty spacious!
The facilities were being regularly cleaned, and they’d implemented a “check in” system for the showers and toilets, with little “occupied” sliders out the front of the building. The only downside was that most campers didn’t seem to be using it – but you can’t mitigate for other people! Despite that, the facilities felt very clean and well looked after.
And that’s pretty much it – such is the basic nature of camping, that really was all they needed to do. No need for 2m distance markers around the field, no obvious need for face masks while sat staring at the stars in the evening. That really is the beauty of camping in 2020!
I’d love to hear what everyone else has planned for this year – when will you be heading out under canvas?? Let me know in the comments!
And happy camping!