CAMpRA and the National Trust

What about those of us with caravans?  These ridiculous prices will affect us too. 

Although  this thread is mainly about NT providing (or not)  MH stopovers in carparks, it seems, at least at Stourhead and Kingston Lacey, it is CLs that are being discussed?   Are the prices at all their CLs going to be the same?

As NTS members we would be interested in staying at NT and NTS CLs when visiting a property, but not at £38 per night!   Especially as we would likely wish to stay 3 or 4 nights to explore the area.  Up to £20 is fine for EHU and hard stand, we do not need other than basic provision otherwise.

I think it is more likely the CL policy and price is controlled locally and has little to do with National policy and CAMpRA's consultations with the NT head Office.

peedee

I suspect that the combination of Covid, and to a lesser degree Brexit, has created a perfect storm across all types of campsite provision. A captive market, desperate for something to look forward to, and wanting to get back out into the countryside and attractions? Kerrching, and up the prices will go across all types of Sites, from big commercials, to Clubs, to tiny little 5 van provision. We have also stayed on four CLs this year where alternative accommodation is in place as well, camping pods and shepherds huts. Camping and touring is big business at the moment.

This year has seen a lot of the “real” prices semi hidden, with the big reduction in VAT.  But reality will bite next year. In fairness, the DG did mention at the AGM that the Club are working with other holiday accommodation providers to try and get the VAT rate reduced. But I have just had a browse at one or two CLs who use the CL Booking App, and there are one of two already giving a next year price £3 above this year. Some of our past favourites have gone up hugely these last two years, one has doubled in price. Nothing added, a nice location though. I noticed one or two CLs have a sliding scale of charges as well. Expensive to stay one or two nights, but longer stays rewarded with a better rate. So something more favourable for caravan owners, other than the one night stopovers.

Anyone with National Trust membership can come down here in the spring and visit Cotehele, Antony, Buckland Abbey and Lanhydrock without paying anything more for entry. They can stay on a very pleasant, medium sized, campsite centrally placed within those four - the going rates are £15 for grass pitch without electricity, £18 for grass pitch with electricity, and £20 for hard standing pitch with electricity. Toilets, showers and dishwashing are included. Those prices don’t go up in summer. 

 Some will jump at it, but some will say, “But we would have to pay a non refundable deposit, pay more for heating the awning, and pay in full two weeks in advance”. That’s true.

Sensible site owners in my opinion. 

Buckland Abbey is one with a reasonable HS overspill car park that would facilitate overnighting. Pay at Abbey number plate noted, gate closed when car park does, operative does a check before opening in the morning that everyone has paid. If they stuck in a tap, grey and black waste, I would happily pay £20 for a night.

.....meanwhile, there is a decent site just up the road if anyone wants to stay in that area.

And would the Trust let caravans stay overnight in their car parks too? I seriously doubt it. Why do motorhomers imagine special provision should be made just for them?

ET’s suggestion might work well for a caravan, and in the Spring before the big traffic hits the area. Lots of hobbit days, (there and back again.) It’s how we used to see some of the NT properties when we based ourselves and van in Fowey area.

However......SW in the Summer is a driving nightmare now. So we took to splitting our locations with our caravan, so that we could visit NT properties in the North and in the South of this big long county. Again worked well for us.

With the MH? Cotehele and onto a CL nearby. Up and on to Lanhydrock, CL nearby. Up early, possibly Trerice, or head on down to Marazion Club Site. Couple of days there to see Mick’s Mount and Trengwainton. Then off round to Falmouth area to see Trebah (no dogs in Glendurgan😉) CL overnight. Up and off to Fowey area, take in an NT beach or two, stop at CL in Fowey. Up and off, across Tamar, Buckland Abbey, use Britstop at Lydford. And then onwards............ No steps retraced, choice of CLs, other stop off options and prices. 

I just imagine how much easier and nicer this could be if Cotehele, Lanhydrock, Trebah, Buckland Abbey offered a park up option only overnight. We would of course be doing our chores on the sites at Marazion and Fowey, so no need for facilities elsewhere. 

We hopped from NT and HHA houses and gardens right down from home to Marazion and back in September, hardly driving over the same roads. It’s easily doable via CLs, cheaper Club Sites, etc.. no deposits, only thing we had booked up front was Marazion, because it was a booking carried over from 2020 for a big event in Penzance we attended. Other stops were confirmed without any fuss or deposits a couple of days ahead, on the road.

Linear touring suits us at the moment, hopping from place to place.