Truthful description?
Have you ever booked a CL where the description states with easy access, gentle sloping field or quiet etc only to find that access is nearly impossible or the field is so sloping that you need large chocks under the steadies to get the caravan level (no
fun if it is a twin axle), the field is next to a railway line and very noisy etc, etc.
The above are just examples and unfortunately we have experienced all the above plus on different CLs. If we knew what we were going to face, we would probably still use the CL, but we would know what to expect as some CLs are totally unsuited for a twin
axle to acces and with a sloping field almost like being on the side of a cliff.
Comments
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You can check out all those aspects by zooming in with GoogleEarth
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The reviews will also provide some of that information.
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"Have you ever booked a CL where the description states with easy access, gentle sloping field or quiet etc only to find that access is nearly impossible or the field is so sloping that you need large chocks under the steadies to get the caravan
level (no fun if it is a twin axle), the field is next to a railway line and very noisy etc, etc."Um, to be honest, no. But then we do a bit of research before we book, particularly looking at reviews on CT and even UKCampsite. They usually highlight any deficiencies in site descriptions.
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I thought it was a plus point that a CL owner is a club member but apparently they have to join to get listed! Silly me!
Pippah, all new CL owners have to be members of CC, however they do not need to be experienced caravanners, apparently.
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I suppose a long double axle van must be a lot more difficult to site on anything less than nearly level. Never gave it a thought until now, but I will next review I do.
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Yes NTH it seems the rules change. I was refused a CL a few years ago on account of my approach road - this approach where I am now on a new CL is FAR worse, Witness meeting a lorry on my way in and the mud my nearside bumper picked up! I am glad I held
ground a bit and didn't put the caravan in the same hole! My lane has wide mostly smooth verges and no ditches! Plus several gateways! I guess I wasn't supposed to run another CL, last one was back in the 80s.0 -
Yes NTH it seems the rules change. I was refused a CL a few years ago on account of my approach road - this approach where I am now on a new CL is FAR worse, Witness meeting a lorry on my way in and the mud my nearside bumper picked up! I am glad I held
ground a bit and didn't put the caravan in the same hole! My lane has wide mostly smooth verges and no ditches! Plus several gateways! I guess I wasn't supposed to run another CL, last one was back in the 80s.Perhaps it was a different inspector who passed the one you're on at the moment to the the one that came to see yours. Different standards unfortunately.
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The one CL we visited recently had a bend in the road to the right with branches overhanging and not wanting to scratch the caravan I went a bit wide.
Luckily the wife was walking in front of the vehicle to guide me as she nearly fell in a ditch that was hidden by long grass. I stopped with part of my tyre overhanging the drop.
I the front wheel had gone down the drop, it woudl have been extremely difficult to get thr truck out as we could not be pulled from behind as no room and no one could get to the front of us as they woudl not have been able to get around.
Basically the site was not very accessible for twin axle caravans but no mention of this on the website and you cannot see this from using Google Earth!
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Which CL was it, surfer? And have you mentioned the access problems in a review? If other members are anything like us they rely more on other member reviews than the official site description.
I can never understand why more members don't leave reviews on CLs.
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The last time I was at the CC site called High Onn. I remarked to my wife that the access road could be a problem for inexperienced caravanners due to the road width and lack of passing places. Certainly no room for outfits to pass each other. We arrived mid afternoon so everybody who should have left the site would have left at noon and we met no traffic coming the other way.
So narrow approach roads to CL's and farms IMO is understandable,
,but I would have thought that the access roads approaching a CC main site would have been made more caravan friendly particularly for those with limited towing experience.
K
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Street view is the best if you want to check access. There is one CL we use that has difficult access (stated in the details) and it's easy to check any of them out. Field hedges are just being cut now so through the summer access will get more difiicult
to many rural sites, you need to bear the seasons in mind.0 -
No idea how long your van is Surfer, but if it is a long established CL, it may well date back to when 15ft was considered a "big" van. One of the things we often notice with some sites is just how long some of the Vans and MHs are in comparison to say 20
years ago. Not a criticism in any way, just an observation.0 -
although it would be fairly simple to hardcore a few spots.
Perhaps the CC does not own any of the suitable spots?
I've noticed considerable development of wind farms in Scotland has resulted in many tight corners being "improved" including some nice mono-blocking across roundabouts and even completely new lengths of remote road being built.
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The last time I was at the CC site called High Onn. I remarked to my wife that the access road could be a problem for inexperienced caravanners due to the road width and lack of passing places. Certainly no room for outfits to pass each other. We arrived
mid afternoon so everybody who should have left the site would have left at noon and we met no traffic coming the other way.So narrow approach roads to CL's and farms IMO is understandable,
,but I would have thought that the access roads approaching a CC main site would have been made more caravan friendly particularly for those with limited towing experience.
K
.If the site owner/leaser has a say over the access road
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Hmm I wonder if my place might have been considered too close to the Market Rasen Racecourse site around 2 miles but I had the potential to stay open all year.
Such a shame Pippah that you were not able to open your CL. Are you reconsidering trying to have another go at getting approval?
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I am not sure NTH - it might or might not fit in with the way things are going but it is an option I will think of.
It really depends on yourself just how much you want to run a CL/CS type of site and how far you want to push the issue.
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In many ways I would love to run a CL again (did it in the 80s in Sussex) as there is much to share here - in particular the Barn Owls - and the peace - but I can't help wondering if the hassle is worth it - it certainly can cost a bit to set up. I would
go basic although electricity is fairly handy.0 -
The last time I was at the CC site called High Onn. I remarked to my wife that the access road could be a problem for inexperienced caravanners due to the road width and lack of passing places. Certainly no room for outfits to pass each other. We arrived
mid afternoon so everybody who should have left the site would have left at noon and we met no traffic coming the other way.So narrow approach roads to CL's and farms IMO is understandable,
,but I would have thought that the access roads approaching a CC main site would have been made more caravan friendly particularly for those with limited towing experience.
K
I am not without towing experience after 35 years regular caravan usage
From memory though the approach involes maybe 200m of narrow road with little intervisibility. Been once and shan't return.
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The last time I was at the CC site called High Onn. I remarked to my wife that the access road could be a problem for inexperienced caravanners due to the road width and lack of passing places. Certainly no room for outfits to pass each other. We arrived
mid afternoon so everybody who should have left the site would have left at noon and we met no traffic coming the other way.So narrow approach roads to CL's and farms IMO is understandable,
,but I would have thought that the access roads approaching a CC main site would have been made more caravan friendly particularly for those with limited towing experience.
K
.If the site owner/leaser has a say over the access road
I have certainly been on some CC sites that would not have been granted planning if the highway aspects had come to me for checking. When many were opened I suspect that aspect was more lax
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Hi Pippah45.. I'm sure most members would welcome a new CL in the network - especially if you have wonderful wildlife to share from your potential site. Our CL is on a single-track farm drive and we simply manage the access by ensuring anyone leaving is
gone by 11am and new arrivals don't come before 12. It seems to work fine (7 years). We have also added a couple of passing places (as you suggested you did on yours).I'd happily discuss this with you and see if my connectiosn at the Club can assist, as (for my sins) I'm a Nominated Member of the Council. Please email me on tedhj@btinternet.com
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I would also add that as a highway engineer in Cheshire I have, when still working, designed passing places on narrow roads in similar circumstances. These were within the highway and although done to a reduced standard compared to the main highway construction were not without cost. Is the narrow access over highway land?
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In the latest CC magazine there are reviews of CLs associated to pubs. The review of one of the CLs is a bit glowing although the access road is terrible and they charge £18 a night! The one and only review of the CL by a member highlights this issue and
warns people of the access road.IMHO this CL is not accessible for a twin axle caravan and we would not dream of taking our caravan down that road. Even with a single axle there is a good chance you coudl do what the chairman did to his caravan.
The CL itself is very nice, but when we visited about a year ago without the caravan, it seem to be an overflow car park for the pub.
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