Well, Merrose farm, what can i say.
never again would just about sum it up. Firstly the plus points. Yes the site is a beauty as is the Roseland, dont understand the comment about lack of pubs, found quite a few good uns for both food and a good pint.
For us we were very lucky We managed to get one of the few level pitches there are, with massive space too. On another day it would have been far different. On booking, I was told that there were no arrivals before noon and that was strictly adhered too. Fair dos, parked and waited for noon and duly arrived at the site, to find that a large number of vans had beaten us by hours and this was a theme throughout the weeks we were there. Caravans arriving from 0900 daily. Felt dreadfully sorry for those we saw patiently waiting up the road for noon. At the site, from noon onwards there were caravans frantically driving around looking for pitches and getting more flustered each time they passed us. Pitches too were far from level and some folk had to remove their jockey wheels to get a level.
Onto the wardens, one nice lady, the rest sour and miserable. On arrival at Merrose, once you have found a pitch you are given a white card to place in the van window with the pitch number, this you hand in when you leave, clearly then the wardens would know what pitches were empty. "You have to drive round and find one" snapped Mrs Happy behind the desk, "Im too busy." Great start. As we attempted this at least 8 others were doing the same it was chaos. As I said, every day was the same. Numerous people throughout the weeks mentioned the same about Mrs Happy.
Despite having its own dogwalk (and I have nothing against dogs or their owners) the usual suspects couldnt be bothered to walk to it, and both the late arrivals area (directly in front of reception) and the grass pitches were often a target, very few bothering to pick up the mess. Despite being in full few of the wardens, nothing was said. Well, actually, I tell a lie there :evil:
Reverting back to the pitch finding chaos, I was stunned to find the wardens holding specific pitches for their friends, and yep, you can guess, the very best pitches on site.
In defence of the wardens, they did work hard and the facilities when cleaned were spotless. I wonder though how some of my fellow caravanners live at home looking at the mess many of them left behind. Noise too, going on till all hours (didnt bother me, I dont go to bed early), but I thought there were rules..........
In truth, we did OK, had a good time and liked the area, but it was by pot luck that we did. Some of the pitches along the side, allocated to people who had booked an awning pitch, you couldnt possible put an awning up on unless you were prepared to drive your pegs into the tarmac road.
Ah well, we tried for a change but its back to what we know for Cornwall next time.
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