We need more basic facility sites

Posted on 01/09/2022 11:24 by Muddywheels

Sorry for the long winded post but the OP caught my attention and I thought I might share my experiences

I bought my first caravan in 1984 - it was very basic with a foot pump for water and gas lights - we used farmers fields back then and had no need for EHU - we weren’t member of any clubs

Mid 90s we joined CC and C&CC and used CLs with our first deluxe all singing and dancing twin axle. We had 3 kids and EHU was essential. We all loved CLs even the kids. When the kids flew the nest the 2 of us continued to enjoy CLs until 2015 in various caravans.

2019 we bought our 1st motorhome and for the first time ever tried club sites for the convenience of walking instead of driving into locations. After many years staying on farms we found them not to our liking I’m afraid - too much like static caravan sites or holiday parks - and the prices!

In all our years vanning we never needed facilities bar the EHU, tap and CP but in recent years CLs with EHU are becoming very expensive and difficult to find space due to increased popularity so I’ve now added an inverter, gas tank and additional solar so we can take advantage of off grid CLs which are not as busy

We recently did 11 nights off grid using solar and £11 of gas (mainly for the fridge) despite the hot weather and paid £5 per night for pitches. We still showered, watched tv, used coffee machine and microwave so definitely not slumming it.

I was sceptical spending the money on off grid equipment but now convinced it will pay back in droves and we have as much space around us as we want

If we still had a caravan we would want fully serviced pitches where possible but now with a fully equipped Moho all we want is somewhere to park with a tap and CP when necessary 

I think everyone has different needs and many like shower blocks and serviced hard standings but for me especially with the increased glamping expansion it’s moving away from the club I joined years ago - more Haven than CC now

I’m increasingly looking for alternative places to stay not connected to CAMC and considering lapsing my membership

Posted on 01/09/2022 12:32 by young thomas

I've had 13 nights on non EHU, non facs sites in August...plus 3 months in Spain in the spring using the sun to keep our batteries charged.

im not waiting for the Clubs prices to go down, that's not going to happen. I've made my move...i won't be using club sites going forward. no desire for a 'movement' of any sort.

The thread is about how different type of club sites (no facs and/or no EHU) might help stop prices spirally away from some members.

happy to carry on posting my views on what our club is doing, or not.

Posted on 01/09/2022 12:50 by young thomas

We've used several CLs in the NF this year, all within easy cycling of the attractions (Lymington, Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu, Burley etc) and one even walking distance from Highcliffe...

having used the Centenary Site once, we would never go back there...for caravans possibly but found it too remote for us, the cycling wasn't safe like the CLs and THS sites we've used this year.

Posted on 01/09/2022 13:08 by Tinwheeler

I can assure you the facilities at Warwick are for the exclusive use of campers as they also are at Uttoxeter where the club leases the site for x number of months per year. Racegoers are not permitted onto the pitching areas at those two sites.

However, use of facilities on racecourse sites has nothing to do with the perceived need for more basic sites.

Posted on 01/09/2022 15:16 by JVB66

 Some pitches at Warwick are at times not avallaable .

Did I mention Utoxiter?

Posted on 01/09/2022 15:13 by JVB66

Unless there is off road routes to the places you mention I would not use routes that have motor vehicles on🤔

 

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Posted on 01/09/2022 15:33 by young thomas

Unfortunately, the uk doesn't have a comprehensive 'safe' set of routes and it's a fact of life that the vast majority of roads will be shared with other traffic to a lesser or greater degree.

Yes, the Sustrans routes steer you away from the heavy traffic and onto quieter roads, some very quiet, but most routes are likely to be a mix of thinner and denser traffic with some (hopefully) being traffic free.

we do plenty of bike miles every week, whether in the van or away, but I realise cycling isn't for everyone and the different levels of confidence will have a bearing on whether a bike (even an electric one) will put certain sites within the range of where you want to go.

we've just had 7 nights on a lovely, quiet site on the western edge of the NF and many of the vanners there had bikes....road bikes, trekking bikes, electric and not, all levels of competence and confidence....one of our pals is a bit nervous, but we see cycling as so much more than just getting us from the van to X.

The van is easy to move to another site and easy to set up so we don't miss not being able to drive 40 miles. If we really wanted to that we would either take the van (for the specific purpose) or move to another site near that point and make that the next stop.

within the context of this thread, and the use of cheaper less frills sites, the THS network puts folk pretty close to urban areas should driving not be desired and bikes not your thing...good for catching busses too.

Posted on 01/09/2022 12:20 by young thomas

TDA mused that, when pitch type changes come in, it may well be that awning pitches are more expensive (£1?) and HS prices might also increase (£1?), rather than grass decrease.

I just picked up on that and mused a tad further. She/I (we) were talking about club sites and the upcoming changes...what else could 'we might soon' possibly mean in that context?

of course, folk can do as you remind us several times a day, go elsewhere. Some, including myself, do just that, but others are loyal to the Club and probably want their vanning to be linked to it if possible.

add the above potential increases to the current leccy add ons (up to £2.50 so far?) and an awning HS pitch might soon be £4.50 more than in the recent past.

These rises won't concern me, as I won't be using Club sites, I'll be using sites to suit my requirements, price 'limits', locations and weather pattern...

however, as a CT and CAMC member, none of the above precludes me having an interest in what 'my Club' is doing and what changes they are making going forward...these two things aren't mutually exclusive.

so, irrespective of what sites I use, and where, I'll continue to post my views on CT.....of course, if that's alright with you?

 

Posted on 01/09/2022 13:33 by harryb

Thanks for the comment. I have taken no further part for some pages now.