All about location, but fell a tad short for me
Most reviews of this site are glowing in their praise, and I agree that the site has some very positive features, the main one being its location, but my overall feeling was one of disappointment. I have been to much better sites. With a reputation for some first-rate views, a setting close to water and beaches, some nice country walks and all in a very well-to-do area, it is perhaps inevitable that it would rank highly. But there are downsides.
I never expected to get a pitch with a view; I imagine you have to be in the “ignore earliest arrival time” camp to have a fighting chance of that; but I had assumed there were more pitches with a view than there are. They number less than 10% of total pitches. In any event, those few pitches with a view were exposed to very strong winds so they were not all good.
The lack of a view was not my gripe. Instead, I felt the site was cramped; it bore a claustrophobic, over-subscribed quality. It was pretty full, which tends to heighten any sense of confinement, but my own theory was that it was all about the layout; there were several dead ends and, whilst specific pitch separation is no doubt normal, I gained the impression that roads had been designed to get the maximum use of the space. I never pitch on grass unless there is no option, but I did observe some extraordinary pitches on grass; in one case a large caravan shoehorned between a service point and a copse of fir trees (26) and another, a motorhome, perched precariously on a narrow section of grass between the arc of a corner in the road and the trees behind it (41). Presumably they were content there, but I would have hated it.
Another thing, perhaps less important, but which nevertheless struck me as a negative, was that there is only one chemical waste disposal point which is in the facility block. I cannot recall having to walk so far to empty the loo. I must have done, but, if I had, it was a very long time ago.
I knew the site was relatively isolated, so I was ready for this and that is why I booked three nights only. As a motorhomer, I like public transport to reach farther afield; but there is none close at hand here. I did cycle and walk. Cycling is effortless if you stick to the disused railway running between Heswall and West Kirby because, naturally, it is flat. Accessing these towns (where there is public transport) was easy. Some of the walks are very lovely and the beaches, once accessed, are pleasant, if hardly idyllic, but there is no access close to the site (depending on how you define close I suppose).
The site managers I had contact with were really lovely and helped me out of a problem with my planned next site visit which I sadly and annoyingly had to cancel.
I cannot honestly say I would return here, except possibly out of season, but I am glad I came if only to find out for myself what all the fuss was about.
Graydjames
Reviewed on 15/05/2022 14:45
