What do you look for in a pitch?

[LizziePope]

We've gone back to May 2014 with Martin Roberts' blog – click here to read it. What we'd like to know is, what makes a pitch perfect for you?

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

As per Martin's blog it all depends on length and purpose of stay. If using the awning then we go for hard standing, 'cos we're lazy and don't want to clear the awning daily and lift the groundsheet if on grass. We prefer a south facing pitch so the awning can get the rising sun, but back onto a hedge to afford protection from the north.

A serviced pitch is nice for our 'main' holiday, but not necessary on a short stay. We only use a grass pitch for dry weather periods in order to keep the van clean inside.

The kids have moved away so we site the van away from the play area as it tends to be more peaceful!

All in all we're not fussy.

 

[chrisbee1]

As per Martin's blog it all depends on length and purpose of stay. If using the awning then we go for hard standing, 'cos we're lazy and don't want to clear the awning daily and lift the groundsheet if on grass. We prefer a south facing pitch so the awning can get the rising sun, but back onto a hedge to afford protection from the north.

A serviced pitch is nice for our 'main' holiday, but not necessary on a short stay. We only use a grass pitch for dry weather periods in order to keep the van clean inside.

The kids have moved away so we site the van away from the play area as it tends to be more peaceful!

All in all we're not fussy.

 

[Dustydog]

Large pitch with a degree of privacy.
EHU. Fully serviced is a bonus.
Good views. Grass to have picnic, BBQ. Hardstanding for caravan and awning
We use CLs so the toilet block doesn't matter.
Decent dog walk.
Must get a satellite sky signal.
WiFi useful but not essential.
Done the kids thing so prefer adult sites these days but still happy on family sites.

 

[JamesH]

Within staggering distance of a pub.

 

[Mel]

Quiet, Large, Hedged, Fully serviced.
Mel

 

[emmerson]

Grass every time for preference, but that poses a question I've pondered for years; if a pitch has hard stand and grass, why put the van on the hard stand? This then means that the car goes on the grass.
Which moves most, car or van?
So the car chews up the grass!
Doesn't make any sense to me.
Where possible, I always put the van on the grass and the car on the hard stand.

 

[emmerson]

Oh, I forgot - good neighbours!

 

[Parksy]

Because there are just the two of us we rarely bother with the awning if we are staying for less than a week and we choose either grass or hard standing depending on the weather at the time. For longer stays we use a porch awning. We tend not to book far in advance and avoid school holidays whenever possible.
We've been regular ralliers in the past and have no problem using the caravan facilities to their full potential but now that the works pensions have kicked in at last we are more likely to opt for a slightly more expensive option than weekend rallies.
We enjoy quieter certified sites in the countryside and only rarely visit main club sites.
If we are near the coast we now look for for a fully serviced pitch, excellent washrooms, friendly staff and if possible an on site bar/ restaurant on a site not too far from a seaside town and beach.
Swimming pools, amusement arcades and funfairs are of no interest to us at our time of life and if there happens to be an on-site childrens playground we aim to pitch as far away from it as possible.

 

[Gagakev]

As per Martin's blog it all depends on length and purpose of stay. If using the awning then we go for hard standing, 'cos we're lazy and don't want to clear the awning daily and lift the groundsheet if on grass. We prefer a south facing pitch so the awning can get the rising sun, but back onto a hedge to afford protection from the north.

A serviced pitch is nice for our 'main' holiday, but not necessary on a short stay. We only use a grass pitch for dry weather periods in order to keep the van clean inside.

The kids have moved away so we site the van away from the play area as it tends to be more peaceful!

All in all we're not fussy.

Does anyone actually lift there groundsheet on a daily basis?
Never done it myself, use a breathable one and seems to do the trick, indeed put mine down on Friday and the grass popped up straight away, packed up today (tuesday) and the only evidence we were there was the perimeter where the awning skirt was as this is tucked inwards.

 

[Raywood]

We prefer sites without bars swimming pools etc unless we have our grandson with us so tend to go for club sites or similar. As we use the caravan facilities we are happy on sites with no toilet blocks but where they have one stay away from pitches close and aim for a quieter spot.
We can get annoyed by people walking very close to the caravan so if we can get a pitch with a hedge or fence at the rear we take that.
We are not worried about children but do leave pitches near the play area to those with them.
We prefer hard standings in wet weather and like them flat or near flat but will take other pitches if they look good.
It is really a list of preferences rather than demands.

 

[waffler]

Peaceful and open aspect. We like the light but the price is wind. We use CL/CSs and rally fields all year and only venture on club sites in winter (when it is cheaper!). In winter hard standing is useful and in summer the biggest no no is recently cut uncollected grass. We always use van facilities and don't bother about electric. (Use EHU if available and in pitch fee.) Am i giving the impression of being tight? In 2014 we did 136 nights out in the van- if i can save £5 a night on pitch fees it is £680 in the year- that's a hotel holiday in wither in Spain.

 

[Theteaboy]

Quiet (ie a CL)
Adults only
Picturesque
In the countryside
Basic and clean amenities
EHU

And that'll do me perfectly. We Don like noise or other people really! Not that we are unsociable or anything, just that we deal with people all day in our jobs.

Matt

 

[mealsonwheels]

A grass pitch on a CL, preferably with a view B) .

Friendly neighbours

A pitch where a previous occupant hasn't drained boiling water out of their tank onto the grass, making a large scolded patch that won't recover for weeks hmy: . (Answer: Switch heater off early and run the remains of the hot water down the sink and into the wastemaster, as I'm sure most of us PC forum members do)

Must have a WC.

 

[Thingy]

Always look for fully serviced if on for a long stay. Always look for the evening sun to shine on the awning as we tend to eat in there at night. Pitch needs to be fairly level and sheltered. Always try to avoid a junction and get as far away from the play area as possible, although that will now have to change now that we are grandparents.

Always tried to avoid the road edge of the site for road noise. Much prefer hard standing but well drained grass is acceptable. Always tried to avoid trees as we had an awful problem some years back on the awning with tree sap, not to mention the flying rats.