High Onn, is it closing
51 replies
replied on 30/08/2022 08:51
Posted on 29/08/2022 23:02 by DavidKlyneHarry
In an ideal world absolutely. But the Club don't seem to work in an ideal world!!! Perhaps their mindset is that no one needs to know until its closed? We always seem to be behind the curve when it comes to getting information from the Club. Mind you they gave us plenty of warning about the new booking system but that hasn't happened yet!
David
Posted on 30/08/2022 08:51
I agree that the club seems to run with a notion that no one needs to know until it’s a done-deal ! The re-branding to CAMC springs to mind! 🤷♀️ Again, a mushroom existence (or arrogance) that paying members are not informed 🙄
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eurortraveller replied on 30/08/2022 09:22
Posted on 29/08/2022 18:37 by harrybI've just been on the web page for this site and the latest review, 25/8/2022, makes mention that the site is to close at the end of the season because of lack of use. There's no availability showing at the start of next year.
Graydjames replied on 30/08/2022 09:26
Posted on 30/08/2022 09:26
I have only been to High Onn once - 7 years ago. The review I wrote at the time is positively glowing. Because of its remoteness, I would not stay there long, being in a motorhome, but it is better than many remote sites because the cycling is very good with mainly flat ground on quiet, narrow lanes (and on cycle route 55 following an old LNWR railway) and lots of points of interest including the Shropshire Canal, the airfield and its fascinating history and many interesting villages and other hidden gems.
The thing I really disliked was the very narrow lanes in getting to reach it. I described this as "nerve-jangling" in my review.
A combination of remoteness and the narrow lanes put me off returning quite honestly, but I regret that now because I feel I have contributed to the closure of a lovely, peaceful site - assuming closure is what is going to happen.
vbfg replied on 30/08/2022 09:40
Posted on 30/08/2022 09:26 by GraydjamesI have only been to High Onn once. The review I wrote at the time is positively glowing. Because of its remoteness, I would not stay there long, being in a motorhome, but it is better than many remote sites because the cycling is very good with mainly flat ground on quiet, narrow lanes (and on cycle route 55 following an old LNWR railway) and lots of points of interest including the Shropshire Canal, the airfield and its fascinating history and many interesting villages and other hidden gems.
The thing I really disliked was the very narrow lanes in getting to reach it. I described this as "nerve-jangling" in my review.
A combination of remoteness and the narrow lanes put me off returning quite honestly, but I regret that now because I feel I have contributed to the closure of a lovely peaceful site - if that is what is going to happen.
Graydjames replied on 30/08/2022 10:48
Posted on 30/08/2022 09:40 by vbfgHi GJ
You mention the narrow lanes. Do you know if they are worse than the narrow lanes on the way to Borrowdale or Coniston?
Posted on 30/08/2022 10:48
Hi vbfg
I am sorry, I really could not say as I have not been to either of those two sites. I am not a lover of the Lakes, but I have been to the region in my car, once only, and I remember being very nervous of some roads, especially on hill sides where I felt that oncoming vehicles could easily push me off the side! But, in truth I really don't know. I suppose I ought to admit that I get nervous easily when driving on narrow lanes. It has always been something of an Achilles heel for me - especially in my van.
You'll see in DK's post above that someone he knows actually abandoned going to High Onn, because of the lanes, so that tells a bit of a story I think.
In my review of High Onn I said this about the lanes:
The “official” route to the site is challenging with a very few muddy, improvised passing places. Contrary to other reviewers who saw this as “no problem”, it made me nervous. I met a concrete mixer lorry; its driver kindly reversed some distance to let me through. Two tuggers meeting head on would be an issue ......... For a two or three night stay this site is close to perfect with, for me, just the nerve-jangling approach the only real negative.
Tinwheeler replied on 30/08/2022 10:58
Posted on 30/08/2022 10:58
As I recall, the lanes are narrow but not too twisty. I think we did it in our coachbuilt MH but can't really be sure now which van it was. The lanes were quiet though and we never met any oncoming traffic. I've visited CLs with far worse access.
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Takethedogalong replied on 30/08/2022 11:06
Posted on 30/08/2022 11:06
I think a lot of folks worry about approach lanes, and it puts them off such lovely places. Marazion is another case in point, yet we have seen some enormous outfits on there. I think it’s possibly another reason why a lot of folks don’t do CLs either. Such places are a bit easier with a motorhome or camper of course, but we got our caravan into some tricky locations, back when we used to tow.
Graydjames replied on 30/08/2022 11:24
Posted on 30/08/2022 11:06 by TakethedogalongI think a lot of folks worry about approach lanes, and it puts them off such lovely places. Marazion is another case in point, yet we have seen some enormous outfits on there. I think it’s possibly another reason why a lot of folks don’t do CLs either. Such places are a bit easier with a motorhome or camper of course, but we got our caravan into some tricky locations, back when we used to tow.
Posted on 30/08/2022 11:24
Yes, some are confident about narrow lanes and are bullish about it; I get that and I also get that those kind of drivers will get their outfit through almost no matter what.
I have admitted (above) that narrow lanes make me nervous so, if I start with that mid-set, I am much more likely to be put off when I encounter them and especially when I get into difficulty, like meeting the cement mixer lorry on my way to High Onn. The driver of that lorry was very kind and helped me out. He had to reverse some distance. If it had been a more aggressive driver, I might have given up like DK's neighbour (though he was navigating a pretty big rig).
If I infer from your post that I shouldn't worry, it won't help me sadly.
Also I would not want my comment about the narrow lanes to take over this thread. High Onn is a lovely site and the club have no control over the lanes. I shall be sorry to see it go and, I repeat, I regret not having felt able to revisit. I doubt the narrow lanes are much of a factor in its demise - if demise it is to be.
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vbfg replied on 30/08/2022 13:58
Posted on 30/08/2022 13:58
Thank you GJ, TW and TDA for the replies regarding the narrow lanes. High Onn has always been on my bucket list for a visit as I have been in that area on a number of occasions on a narrowboat, so I had better get my skates on if I want to make a visit, in view of the recent sad news about its closure. Personally, I have always been far more nervous when driving along the narrow, motorway lanes, where they are converting to "smart" motorways, alongside a huge lorry, than I am on a narrow road as at least with the latter, you can see a vehicle coming toward you and can slow down.
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Tammygirl replied on 30/08/2022 14:13
Posted on 30/08/2022 08:50 by JVB66I thought that Clachan was run by volunteers??
Some years ago before the big increases in LV ownership
The club owned site at Notgrove had a problem with viability, even though it had seasonal storage and seasonal pitches
The regional manager was all for selling it as according to site staff "these non facility sites are a drain on club income it is insurance and overseas travel that makes the money for the club not sites"🤔
As can be seen by many reviews it seems newer members want all the facilities they can get on sites rather than as us older members who can still walk to a service point🤗
harryb
Caravanner