Caravan Club

[RJC]

I have recently returned to caravanning after a break of around 16 years and re-joined the Caravan Club as we had always been delighted with their sites before and I would not disagree with what has been said about the sites themselves and certainly the facilities are usually extremely good.

We have just had our first holiday away in our new caravan and visited a CC site and while we were really pleased with the facilities at the site I am sorry to say that I cannot agree that club sites are always friendly. The reception by the warden was in fact anything but.

I will not go into what the issue was but very early into the booking process I was asked if I had read the rule book (not what you want to be asked when you are on holiday and as it happens I hadn't - as I am sure most of you haven't but I had the rule book with me and found that what we were proposing to do was within the rules. When I pointed this out (politely) she stated that this was not the case on a Bank Holiday and she would report me to her Manager - this was for doing something definitely well within the rules).

On my return I sent an e-mail to the Caravan Club and despite two reminders I have not had a response - apart from an acknowledgement after the first reminder that they had received it and it was being dealt with. I realise that I may have been unfortunate with that particular warden and I am sure that the majority of you have had very good experiences with both clubs (I am also a member of the C&CC but have not used any of their sites yet) but I wanted to point out that you can encounter problems.

I would reiterate though that the site itself was excellent and the facilities really were superb.

 

[AnnM1]

We have never experienced 'moody' wardens on CC sites thank goodness. I wonder if the person booking in in front of you gave them some pain. However, there should never be a 'knock on' to the following member.

Strange question to ask I might say. We have never been asked if we had read the rules!!! As you say very few of us would honestly be able answer - yes. We only read the relevant rule when wanting to ascertain certain details, appropriate to us. I am sorry that the Club has been lax in responding to your complaint. Perhaps you should have put it in writing, not email. I know that emails can easily be cancelled and occasionally don't reach their destination.

Hope your next outing turns out better.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Graham I dont know how far north west you refer to but Im surprised that nobody as mentioned the C.C. site at Low Park Wood, Sedgwick near Kendal. Excellent site and friendly wardens when we were there in June. Its obviously in a wood with lots of private pitches and plenty of wildlife with the River Kent running alongside. There are ruins in the wood which Im told are the remains of a gunpowder works. Its handy for the Lkes and the Cumbrian Pennines. Regarding the Camping/Caravan club I dont like the way they allocate you a pitch and I really can't understand where they get the "friendly" from.

 

[AnnM1]

Coulnd't agree with your more Lord B!!! The logo 'frendly' should certainly be dropped from the C&CC. I have only been on 3 sites run by the C&CC this year, and would only recommend ONE, where the site manager and his little helpers could be classified as friendly.

Actually I have complained about two of their sites to management, but only received a rambling 1 1/2 page letter back. I might also add that the response had little bearing to my original complaints. They got it so wrong!!!

I'm opting OUT of the C&CC when my renewal arrives!

I am happy to stick with the Caravan Club as their amenities and sites are always well run. I have never received a bad welcome on CC sites either.

 

[Scottishlass]

OK, I'm going to go against the grain ... we've visited CC sites and prefer private ones ... somehow the CC ones seem a bit sterile and lacking in character witht eh exception of Park Coppice on Coniston. Favourite private sites are Trethem Mill near St Mawes (seemed much prettier than Merrose Park), Castlerigg Hall at Keswick (beautiful view vis a vis what seemed to me the bleak Troutbeck CC site) and Kippford Holiday Park in ... Kippford!

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

Graham I dont know how far north west you refer to but Im surprised that nobody as mentioned the C.C. site at Low Park Wood, Sedgwick near Kendal. Excellent site and friendly wardens when we were there in June. Its obviously in a wood with lots of private pitches and plenty of wildlife with the River Kent running alongside. There are ruins in the wood which Im told are the remains of a gunpowder works. Its handy for the Lkes and the Cumbrian Pennines. Regarding the Camping/Caravan club I dont like the way they allocate you a pitch and I really can't understand where they get the "friendly" from.

We stayed there last June for just over a week. We found it be be a very nice site also.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

The thing is though Lassie is that at least with the Caravan Club sites you know they are clean and the facilities are excellent but from my experience a lot of private sites arent like that. Just been to one last week and how I never got a hernia lifting the wastemaster to empty it is a miracle. Sherwood Forest Caravan Park and Llangors Lake are 2 more with facilities from the dark ages. How some are passed by the Health and Safety Inspectorate baffles me.

 

[GrahamW]

Lord B

Funny how peoples experiences can be so vastly different, I have never been to a private site which has disappointed of been anything but immaculately kept.It cannot be a matter of standards either as " she who must be obeyed" is the fussiest person I know.

 

[GrahamW]

Lord B

Funny how peoples experiences can be so vastly different, I have never been to a private site which has disappointed of been anything but immaculately kept.It cannot be a matter of standards either as " she who must be obeyed" is the fussiest person I know.

Of should be or!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gary_5039903]

The only decent private site we've been on was Highfield Farm Camping site in Cambridgeshire, stayed on a few real poor private sites.... We normally use CC sites for the same reason as the others, as you know beforehand that the site will be well kept and (usually) pitches are spacious. Met a small number of a*sehole wardens (some seemed to take offence that we were under the age of 60 and one even gave my Indian wife a stare that made us wonder whether she was treading dog muck into the reception office.....), though the majority were very pleasant.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

The thing is though Lassie is that at least with the Caravan Club sites you know they are clean and the facilities are excellent but from my experience a lot of private sites arent like that. Just been to one last week and how I never got a hernia lifting the wastemaster to empty it is a miracle. Sherwood Forest Caravan Park and Llangors Lake are 2 more with facilities from the dark ages. How some are passed by the Health and Safety Inspectorate baffles me.

My most profuse apologies Scottishlass, having re-read my post it sounds as though I'm talking to a dog by calling you Lassie :O( I beg your forgiveness from the bottom of my humble aristocratic heart. :O)

 

[baxtjhn@aol.com]

I think it depends on what age you are and what you do when you are on a site,i.e:- outdoor pursuits,walking ,cycling.Some times you might like a quiet break and other times something a bit more lively.Also having young kids can determine what you are looking for.

I have been caravanning for over 30 years and have been through all of the above,we tend to use CC sites now as standards are guaranteed.

We all look for what pleases us,be it facilities on site,great views or a friendly local pub etc,etc.

john.b.

 

[MONKEY1]

Last month we stayed at the Cherry Hinton CC site in Cambridge, I went up the site office to book in and it's was closed. The warden popped out of her van and apologised that it was closed but that they we having their lunch and would we mind staying put and walking though the site to identify a pitch (the site isn't that easy to turn a van round in ) & coming back in 20 minutes.

Just as I walked back to our van another car turned up. I gave him some advice along the lines of go for a walk and come back at 2pm. Oh no this guy marches straight pass and abuses the warden for not being open and for the cheek to have lunch.

I couldn't believe how rude this guy was. The Wardens at the 3 sites I've been to this year .Keep up the good work my family and I appreciate it.

Monkey's Husband

 

[VIP2006]

I stayed at Cherry Hinton in July when the temperature was over 30 degrees for most of the week we were there.

I found that the wardens and particular the relief warden were very hospitable and how the relief warden worked keeping the grounds in tip-top condition in those temps beats me. Some people (who may not be members) have such a terrible attitude and go around with a smell under their noses as though they owned the place.

 

[Scottishlass]

My most profuse apologies Scottishlass, having re-read my post it sounds as though I'm talking to a dog by calling you Lassie :O( I beg your forgiveness from the bottom of my humble aristocratic heart. :O)

Forgiven m'lord!