Booking ahead for touring?

[CrewOVtwo]

Further help / advice required regarding setting off on our travels.........

We are lucky enough to be able to go when we want and come back when we want, but don't yet know how easy it is to get in sites throughout the UK.

We used to caravan regularly about 15 years ago and from memory didn't really consider it being difficult to get in anywhere; is it still the same?

We are going to sit down and make some general plans this weekend which at the moment will include some very very general areas (IE southern Scotland, the south east, Wales, the Highlands).

Does this sound ok, or have things got so busy that it is important to book specific sites?

All tips greatly appreciated.

 

[RogerL]

It all depends how choosey you are on location and/or site facilities - if you're particular it's best to book in advance.

 

[Mr Plodd]

If outside the school holidays or Bank Holiday weekends it's highly unlikely you will find a campsite with no spaces. A rough plan of where you want to go in any area should be sufficient, then telephone the campsite you fancy stayng at a couple of days prior to your planned arrival. If they are full (unlikely but nit impossibke) then simply widen your search area little using Mr Google.
Can't beat spontaneity when caravanning!

 

[CrewOVtwo]

Yes, should have mentioned - no CL's or alike - full 16 amp and heated shower blocks, or that kind of thing.

 

[CrewOVtwo]

And yes, we would generally avoid school holidays.
I should have provided more information.
Thanks for for your patience.

 

[Hutch]

You can find Cl/C's sites that are fully serviced, I much prefer our own shower in the caravan.
Popular sites can get quickly booked up, at weekends, so worth booking ahead, during the week not so busy, except a lot more retired folk getting away mid week.
It's a pain to get to a site and find you only have three nights and have to move, and then spend another day phoning around to find another site.

UKcampsites.co.uk is great for hunting for sites.

 

[IanB1485]

I found since retiring that we travel on tuesdays , Fridays and Mondays are out and we avoid school holidays , It takes about 2 years to realise weekends don't count to rush away or back, and with the CAMC handbook in hand if one site is full we just move on to the next nearest one,

 

[RogerL]

I found since retiring that we travel on tuesdays , Fridays and Mondays are out and we avoid school holidays , It takes about 2 years to realise weekends don't count to rush away or back, and with the CAMC handbook in hand if one site is full we just move on to the next nearest one,

We now travel on Wednesdays normally although we still travel Saturday/Sunday if we're going long-haul, which in our case is up to the North-West Highlands or using Scottish ferries.

 

[Dustydog]

Yes, should have mentioned - no CL's or alike - full 16 amp and heated shower blocks, or that kind of thing.

Three of our favourite CLs are fully serviced pitches with fabulous views, one even has two showers, we always use our own now.

As Hutch said U.K. campsites is a great tool. You can select your own search criteria narrowing down to your choice.

I prefer certainty these days and usually book in advance choosing our pitch where possible. Google maps earth is good for this especially any restricted access or too many high trees blocking the view.

 

[Beachball]

We also like C/Ls fully serviced some have tv hook up toilet and shower facilities like some one else UK campsite , Pitch up and Tranquil parks Adult Only caravan parks are a great tool . Our favourite day was a Thursday when we use to book .for a weekend .

 

[birdman101]

After being caught out by a site saying no need to book many years ago, have always booked ever since. Particular site said no need and after travelling to it 100+ miles arriving Friday after work,7 O’clock in the evening,was turned away as said they had a Rally, taking the whole site. Spent the evening driving back home again as phone calls all failed to other sites, Now January each year,we book a site for every month of the year from March to end of November. So all is planned and deposits paid.

 

[otherclive]

We found that particularly CMHC sites became difficult to book for a full week or two weeks when they opened the free for all no deposit booking system as unless you booked early they were effectively blocked out by weekenders. Spontaneous trips away were virtually impossible if it included a weekend.

 

[Dustydog]

We found that particularly CMHC sites became difficult to book for a full week or two weeks when they opened the free for all no deposit booking system as unless you booked early they were effectively blocked out by weekenders. Spontaneous trips away were virtually impossible if it included a weekend.

Ah, the legendary Chatsworth problem. In 40 + years never stayed there.
Far better places.
Plus with CAMC you normally have to find your own pitch once checked in and go back and tell them your pitch number!

 

[ProfJohnL]

I think its true that years ago it was generally possible to set out without booking ahead, but certainly at peak holiday times these days if you don't book ahead you could become a cropper.

During our last few yeas of caravanning , we always booked ahead which avoided disappointment and anxiety about being able to have a site.

 

[Mel]

In our case we carve out dates across the calendar, book ahead and tell our offspring. Otherwise they will sign us up for childcare and we will never get away. BTW on the rare occasion that we have come back early we hide in the house and don’t tell them. 🤫
Mel

 

[Hutch]

In our case we carve out dates across the calendar, book ahead and tell our offspring. Otherwise they will sign us up for childcare and we will never get away. BTW on the rare occasion that we have come back early we hide in the house and don’t tell them. 🤫
Mel

We never book ahead, more than two weeks, we never know what we are going to do.
I understand people saying , right July 2 weeks, we are going to be away. 4 month away.
At the moment we are going through different medical appointments, unfortunately our health services do not give E mails to state appointment dates at short times. So we stay at home.
Previously I got a two day appointment by phone call, when I was in North Yorkshire, so I drove 500 miles round trip, only to drive home the next day.

 

[RogerL]

We never book ahead, more than two weeks, we never know what we are going to do.
I understand people saying , right July 2 weeks, we are going to be away. 4 month away.
At the moment we are going through different medical appointments, unfortunately our health services do not give E mails to state appointment dates at short times. So we stay at home.
Previously I got a two day appointment by phone call, when I was in North Yorkshire, so I drove 500 miles round trip, only to drive home the next day.

We have lots of medical appointments between us so find what works best for us is to book sites well in advance, usually the previous autumn, but ensure they're all either no deposit or fully refundable deposits - this does eliminate some sites who require non-refundable deposits or payment in full - we do of course let sites know if we can't make it there.

 

[Beardy]

Mostly we book less than 2 weeks ahead, always CLs or small private sites. That way we can see on the forecasts what the weather is going to be like. It works well (occasionally ). We normally have two or three sites in mind and find at least one of them has pitches available.

 

[Dustydog]

We never book ahead, more than two weeks, we never know what we are going to do.
I understand people saying , right July 2 weeks, we are going to be away. 4 month away.
At the moment we are going through different medical appointments, unfortunately our health services do not give E mails to state appointment dates at short times. So we stay at home.
Previously I got a two day appointment by phone call, when I was in North Yorkshire, so I drove 500 miles round trip, only to drive home the next day.

How about a good CL within 100 miles of the hospital? The break would do you both a lot of good🍺🍺🍷🍷

 

[Beachball]

We had a break booked in April with Sykes cottages for a few months brought and paid in full at the weekend did not feel well got a rash went to doctors on Monday now diagnose with Shingles on a prescribed medication and the break is cancelled so put a claim in on our insurance , The next break is June 2025

 

[RogerL]

We had a break booked in April with Sykes cottages for a few months brought and paid in full at the weekend did not feel well got a rash went to doctors on Monday now diagnose with Shingles on a prescribed medication and the break is cancelled so put a claim in on our insurance , The next break is June 2025

Hope you get better soon BB - keep taking the tablets!

Too late for BB but I do suggest everyone old enough to qualify for the free Shingles vaccination gets it done ASAP as it can be very unpleasant.

 

[Beachball]

Hope you get better soon BB - keep taking the tablets!

Too late for BB but I do suggest everyone old enough to qualify for the free Shingles vaccination gets it done ASAP as it can be very unpleasant.

Thanks for the good wishes the doctor said I might get it again but do what RogerL advices please.

 

[Hutch]

How about a good CL within 100 miles of the hospital? The break would do you both a lot of good🍺🍺🍷🍷

That would be great, but as I mentioned, the Plastic surgery dept of Bedford hospital do not send E mails for short notice appointments. Going in next Wednesday for the right hand Carpal tunnel operation. I can ask them about contacting me for the left hand.
New tyres on the caravan, so as soon as the hand has healed, it's off we go.
Youngest lad is doing a Banburgh Castle to Edinburgh 48 hour, run in July, so looking for sites about 30 miles from Edinburgh. Might have a few days at Belford,

 

[Beachball]

That would be great, but as I mentioned, the Plastic surgery dept of Bedford hospital do not send E mails for short notice appointments. Going in next Wednesday for the right hand Carpal tunnel operation. I can ask them about contacting me for the left hand.
New tyres on the caravan, so as soon as the hand has healed, it's off we go.
Youngest lad is doing a Banburgh Castle to Edinburgh 48 hour, run in July, so looking for sites about 30 miles from Edinburgh. Might have a few days at Belford,

I hope you recovered well and the operation successful.

 

[RogerL]

That would be great, but as I mentioned, the Plastic surgery dept of Bedford hospital do not send E mails for short notice appointments. Going in next Wednesday for the right hand Carpal tunnel operation. I can ask them about contacting me for the left hand.
New tyres on the caravan, so as soon as the hand has healed, it's off we go.
Youngest lad is doing a Banburgh Castle to Edinburgh 48 hour, run in July, so looking for sites about 30 miles from Edinburgh. Might have a few days at Belford,

Try West Meikle Pinkerton Farmhouse - it's a Caravan Club CL just off the A1