Seasonal pitches!

[juliewales]

We are thinking about getting a seasonal pitch for next year. We have just been offered one at the park we frequently return too. Has anyone had a seasonal pitch? and what your thoughts on them!.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

My local Park which I'm staying on at the moment has seasonal pitches. They aren't for me though, I bought the van so I could tour and see all of the British Isles. I don't decry those who do have them though for whatever reasons, either fed up of towing or don't like it. I was talking to a lady who has a seasonal pitch here and she said it's quite expensive,

 

[AnnM1]

We have actually had a seasonal pitch and, at the end of the first year, were glad to relinquish it and return to touring. You say that you are considering keeping it on a site you frequent and are happy with. However, I hope it won't become a chore. The repeated journey alone drove us mad and we tended to use it less and less. Unfortunately, at the time we had a 'van which required a 3.5 tonne truck to tow it so we had to sell it in situ. This didn't cause us a problem in the end.

The site fees jumped from

 

[juliewales]

Thanks for your thoughts, and advice.One of the reasons I want a seasonal pitch, is, I really get up tight about towing lately, and the night before we go away, I get worked up so bad that Im physically sick, so my husband suggested that we either get a seasonal pitch or get rid of our van, which, I really dont want to do. I love my tourer, and the park is a great place to stay, overlooking the sea, a minute walk to the beach, we love it there. So, after all the thinking and talking , we are going for it, and if we dont like it, well, we can always take the van off site . Thanks again guys, you helped me make up my mind.

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Julie

I was looking through a Brochure for a site in Cornwall, it appears that you can book summer storage for a fixed fee of

 

[Guest]

To each his/her own. I like the touring idea, for as along as i can afford it.

However, I would like to see there being a minimum occupancy clause in any pitch allocated this way. All to often it seems they become just weekend retreats and it can be a bit depressing being surrounded by locked empty vans.

 

[AnnM1]

Fortunately, Scotch Lad, we were on a very popular site and the caravans on seasonal pitches were used all the time. Most of them were owned by retired folk who lived no more than an hours drive away so that took full advantage of their 'second home' as they liked to call it.

Sadly, for us, it was a 4 hour trip up the A1 to get there and this soon began to pall after the first six months or so. We returned to touring because we much prefer to amble around the UK and meeting different people.

 

[Glenn_5132962]

We have had a seasonal pitch in Abersoch for the past 2 years. We love it there & having the van set up all summer is great for us. We have a small boat there as well. My wife is a teacher & during the summer she stays there for the full 6 weeks with the kids. Its expensive at 2k for march till october but we get so much enjoyment out ot it. We pull the van home at the end of the season & tour during the winter. About half the people on our site use big hobbie vans but I prefer my swift 5 berth with a big awning.

 

[GeoffH_5040432]

Julie,

Lots of people on this site are condemning seasonal pitches, let me put a different view on them. If you have a seasonal pitch then the 'Mad Friday Dash' to get a good pitch on the site you are visiting is a thing of the past. We leave home around 19:30Hrs when the traffic is getting lighter and arrive at our van ready for use, including the awning up and everything setup and built!

Now come Sunday tourers must be off pitch by 12:00Hrs C.C. we can and do stay for a barby, leaving at 20:00Hrs when again traffic is light.

All this about towing is poppy ****, we have had our seasonal pitch on Old Hall Caravan Park for 4 years and every year we go to France (South West last year) round trip of 2500 miles with a double axle, no problem.

Obviously your choice, but in my opinion Seasonal Touring is much easier and less stressful...

 

[Guest]

This could be another of those 'no winners' arguments. As already mentioned, to each his own, as long as it remains just that. The majority of people I suspect interpret caravanning as a touring hobby, unless they buy a static caravan, which has its own advotees. I admit my wife has often suggested that we take the 'van to the local site which is only a mile up the road. My response is usually why?? I like to use my 'van to see other areas outwith my own, and meet other people. Yes, I suppose you could say I meet visitors on the local site, but personally I don't see the point. Possibly I still follow the Toad of Toad Hall philosophy and the lure of the open road, even if it ain't too open these days.

Just as long as we never reach the stage where the good 'touring' sites are fully booked by seasonals, then I would be upset.

 

[TheTravelMan]

hi Julie, we had a seasonal pitch last year at a CC site in North Yorkshire. although we had tryed caravanning a couple of times previous with my parents van this was our 1st year with our own. We decided on a seasonal pitch simply as we were new to touring, we enjoyed this summer and had a great time. however this next coming year we have decided to tour around with the van, however would i have a seasonal pitch again "Yes" I would in the future. The good thing with a touring caravan compared with a static is it gives you a choice each year either to swap between touring or seasonal, also if you do enjoy seasonal gives you the option to change locations each start of the season. You wouldn't be able to swap your static caravan pitch as easy or cheaply each year if you did want to keep with a seasonal pitch but change site each year! Enjoy it what ever you's decide. Cheers!

 

[juliewales]

I'd like to thank everyone for their input, and hope I did'nt start a full out war on here, I have decided to put my tourer on seasonal pitch, and will be taking full advantage of it. It's not a decission we have taken lightly, and have really thought hard about it , and now thanks to you guys have made the right choice,"I hope". So thanks again, and hope to speak soon. Julie.

 

[RogerL]

Site operators are in business to make profits. This applies equally whether it's a small one-man site, a large multi-location group or one of the caravanning groups. They all need to maximise the annual revenue from each pitch, whether it's park homes, holiday statics, seasonal caravans, tourers or tents.

If seasonals took all the pitches up so that tourers had nowhere to go, then new touring sites would open up.

It's all about supply and demand, that golden rule of economics, the same rule that put almost everyone's income well above poverty level.

Too often complaints from caravanners are on the basis that they want capitalist market force for their income and socialism for their spending. You can't have your cake and eat it. Just choose - left or right!