What Would a UK Club Type Aire Look Like

There we go then, we’re all the same so nothing needs to be done👍🏻😀

Maybe sites could be segregated into short stay and long stay areas like car parks, where the charge for long stay is discounted?

The Club has about 150 sites but only 48 are open all year. The CampingCar company model which was mentioned earlier is  to keep such sites open all year  - but only for  self contained, self sufficient motorhomers - without resident staff in order to cut costs.

So their sites have automated payment and automated barrier entry, minimal facilities, low prices, toilet blocks sometimes open for caravanners in summer but usually closed in low season, metered electricity, and only visiting part time clean up staff employed.   A cheap model, 

Motorhomers welcome that model, but the Club is tied to its own model of resident staff with all the costs that means, or closing down all but 48 sites when the main season ends. And some Club sites are closing from September onwards.

A very interesting thread. We have never been overseas in our outfits, so I don’t feel able to comment on what is provided elsewhere. However, we have used Aire type stopovers in Scotland, and have had some enjoyable overnight stops in such places. The very best was in Kircudbright, three clearly delineated pitches, each had a hook up. There was fresh water, cpd point, drive over MH waste, and garbage recycling. It was run by the towns swimming pool, I don’t think you could book (more on that later). Stunning views, excellent facilities, and it was quarter of a mile easy level stroll into Kircudbright. On the edge of the tidal river, safe, quiet and a mere £10 per night. If you weren’t lucky enough to get one of these spaces (we were two nights running, the max stay), there was also a level field that could take more MH/campers for free if you didn’t need services, £5 if you did.

Another Aire at Castle Corner near Caerlavarock, seven spaces, four landscaped with picnic tables, water, bins, CPD, three you just lined up with spaces. All for £5. We stayed twice, first time it was fabulous, only three of us there. Second stop ten days later going home, the selfish, dirty, disrespectable, thieving arrived. We got a landscaped pitch and made sure our outfit was in fend off position, ie no one could selfishly park right next to us, but we did end up blocked in by some idiot that was going on at 5am, so didn’t think we would mind(😡) That night, by 9pm there were 18 outfits shoehorned into a space for seven. Some blocked footpaths, some didn’t pay, there were none stayers dumping CPD and not staying or paying. Mix of overseas and hired outfits that were the main problem and just didn’t care. We were fine, had taken advance measures to keep other outfits at a distance, but no way would we have wanted to be in the other area, like a ruddy bun fight. Nice village half a mile one way, Caerlavarock Castle the other via a cycle/footpath.

Third and fourth Aire type provision was via Forestry Scotland. Two big car parks at 7Stanes forests, loads of room, and open for caravans as well. No facilities until buildings opened, £8 at one, free at the other. Showers, loos, cafe, shop.

Last stopover we visited in day, but moved on. On edge of Clatteringshaws Reservoir, so fantastic scenery, walks, cycle paths, visitor centre. This was free, only had rubbish and CPD disposal. There were others in D&G we thought of, but found what we needed easily. We were touring, moving on most days and with a small MH had no parking issues in any of lovely little towns and villages. Middle four days we spent on a very nice CL so that our dog was safe while we went cycling. That was £25 per night, a landscaped garden with tap, CPD and hook ups. Someone on site all the time.

I don’t think the Club is the right provider of such, would be too expensive. Something like the swimming pool ran it as a side line to the community pool, and it was excellent. 

There are patently some very selfish people out there on the roads, these types would need monitoring and dealing with, my question is is this a British trait, or is it common overseas as well?

Having seen the mess, witnessed the vandalism of freely provided facilities in some towns and villages in UK, I do wonder what might be the fate of provision in some places that don’t have a watchful pair of eyes, or security measures in place. Providing eyes, ears, security comes at a cost. sites without good security here are Carte Blanche for the less respectable to take over, and our police, justice system isn’t able to deal with it quickly, ask any farmer.

One of the best places I have seen for an Aire that isn’t there, would be at The Sill just below Hadrian’s Wall. Huge car park, empty overnight, not that many sites, CL/CS in area. It has ANPR, it has staff in the day, and cover at night as it is a Youth Hostel. Arrive after 6pm, depart before 10 am or move/ pay for daytime parking. Brilliant for those interested in HW, walking, cycling. 

We use Pub Stops as well. Some have all facilities, some have none. Never stayed on one we didn’t like, or wouldn’t return to again.

TTDA you can stay overnight at the Sill, when I was there 2 years ago it was £10 for the night, no facilities.

peedee

I believe the recommended donation at Castel Corner is now £10. We stayed last month.

Fairly recently some research from the Club identified that motorhomers staying at club sites were more likely to spend fewer nights, move on more often, than caravanners.  It is certainly what we do.

In the most recent magazine which we received last week there was a very brief report of April (?) Council meeting. It referred to the number of motorhomes now in membership and the need to ensure the appropriate "facilities" were on offer. There was mention of detailed discussion groups exploring this. No indication of what they were exploring, and I seem to remember reading something similar before from the Club, but dont remember where.

The Camping Car organisation mentioned above was hoping to expand into the UK but clearly has not done so, presumably because of a variety of difficulties.

The increase in motorhomes in this country has been matched with an increase in a different form of touring i.e. touring around more. The problem in the UK is a lack of aire type sites near attractions including easy distance to towns and villages, or along the way. Couple that with the difficulties of parking a motorhome much longer than 6m in towns and it is no wonder that frustrations show themselves in many social media posts.

We rarely stay more than 2 nights anywhere. We visit attractions on our way between a and b. This works in Scotland with lots of aire type sites, many helped in their establishment by CAMPRA. 

We tend not to arrive at a "site" until mid/late afternoon and we are off the following morning. We dont use facilities blocks, we dont need or want pristine pitches. And we certainly will not spend £40 for the privilege. 

The CCC club allow use of facilities for a limited period of time for a fee. It works for them in some of their sites. A starting point would be for the CAMC to copy that. Their argument that this encourages wild camping is a nonsense. Lots of vans use pub stops, park & Rides, other carparks etc etc (all legitimate overnight stops) but do need emptying and filling facilities. The Club misses a trick by not allowing this. Similarly it needs to roll out optional and metered hook ups far more quickly that it is doing. 

The Club is supposed to be inclusive, but at present does not include provision within this type of touring within its offerings.

Other than the removal of the facilities block how would you suggest that CAMC sites are made more basic?

"The Club is supposed to be inclusive, but at present does not include provision within this type of touring within its offerings"

I disagree. CAMC is inclusive because it offers the same facilities to everyone. If motorhomers choose to stay only a few hours overnight and don't use the facilities, that is their choice. There are plenty of less pristine / non facility stopping places around for those who don’t wish to avail themselves of the facilities. CAMC / C&CC provide exactly what is needed for MH-ers, caravanners, trailer tenters et al but they also provide other things to each and every one of you. Use them or not but it seems odd to criticise the provision of too many facilities.

That’s great news PD👏👏👏 I actually wrote to NCC suggesting something after we got home. Good news they decide to take a look, maybe a good few others had done the same.