4 nights at Chatsworth
Not a review as such, but a few observations in light of the recent thread I started plus some other points recently discussed
Arrived at 1.30pm on Thursday, no queue on the approach road and pulled up behind two caravans at reception. A warden came over for a chat whilst the missus was checking in. He asked if we’d been before to which I replied ‘many times’ and he then said ‘in that case, welcome back’. All very pleasant. He then told me the deer are a little noisy, rutting season, and he’d apparently received a complaint from a member about the noise they were making at night. Hilarious, we had a good laugh about that.
Anyway, wifey returned to the car by which time, I’d pulled forward to the white line. Proceeded at a steady walking pace towards the back end of the site and found a very nice white peg pitch, a little bit tight for our 8m twin axle but managed to get it on, awning up, beer, etc etc
I noted the posts that had been installed to carry the 1pm anti early arrival chain. It is positioned in such a way as to allow the island to be used for completing a U Turn back on to the main road and to also allow anyone exiting the site. Thoughtful positioning which unless you see where it has been installed, is tricky to explain on here as to how it has allowed both the U-turn and units exiting without allowing units to enter.
Anyway, great 4 nights spent with friends, lots of pleasant long walks and spent far too much money on good food, beer and fancy G&T’s in the Devonshire.
A couple of things also noted. The caravan is far from dead, outnumbering by far the number motorhomes on site. Yes the weather was good for October, but I was still surprised by the caravan/motorhome ratio. What was also nice to see was the number of, dare I term, youthful couples in campers (VW vans in the main, T4’s 5’s and 6’s.) It seems the CAMC has attracted some of these users to the Club. Good.
Yesterday, we had lunch at the Devonshire and with the good weather, sat outside. From around 12.30 there were a few caravanners and motorhomers trying to find a space to park around the village green triangle, causing some chaos for the bus services. It didn’t last long of course, they were all on their way again by 1pm, however, it won’t be long before the bus companies kick off about this.
On site, there were some yapping dogs, some overly loud members having fun with added alcohol but no wild children. Non of which bothered us, we had a great stay, very enjoyable, especially time spent at the pub 
Comments
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thanks for posting. What you write about (in my experience) is what actually happens on most sites. I've said it before, as others have, what actually happens in real life and what is reported to happen on CT are often very very different, and it's good to have reports from people who actually stay on sites.
Some just like jump on the bandwaggon and make a lot out of fake news. Just like some in 'public' office...
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From around 12.30 there were a few caravanners and motorhomers trying to find a space to park around the village green triangle, causing some chaos for the bus services. It didn’t last long of course, they were all on their way again by 1pm,
I wonder where these outfits would have waited if the chain was not in place CS
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Excellent post, which reflects almost our own recent experience, with the exception of the pub references (did not visit). I may add to the "country sounds" the crows, ducks and pheasants, all of which added to making an interesting visit. What on earth those complaining think the wardens could do about it I don't know. You're in the middle of a rural environment, get on with it.
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Its nothing to do with the Club. They clearly state no arrivals before 1.00pm for the obvious reasons as stated at length elsewhere. This information is mentioned in the Handbook and on the booking form. It really is up to members to time their arrival accordingly. If members start to make a nuisance of themselves in Baslow it is up to the local council to put in place parking restrictions.
Chatsworth seems to be a bit of a Marmite site as far as some members are concerned. We love it and are going again in early December as we are meeting our Son, his wife and some overseas visitors to show them the house. We also like the fact that we can leave the van on site and walk up the the house or into Baslow.
David
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"Chatsworth seems to be a bit of a Marmite site as far as some members are concerned. We love it and are going again in early December............."
Will you be there for the Christmas Market? It's good, very popular so ideal to be staying on the site.
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Yes +1. What can the club do with those that won't follow it's rules? I don't think it has any power or responsibility over club members and how they behave outside of club sites. That is someone else's responsibility (ie the police and /or local authorities/councils.
Oh how do we know these outfits are actually those arriving early?
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I don't think they do wash their hands of the situation as they go to great pains to advise member not to arrive before 1.00pm. If a member decides to ignore that advice how does the Club know. Even if they mentioned when booking not to use the parking mentioned they are in no position to monitor it. The site is half a mile away from where people are supposed to be parking up waiting for the site to accept newcomers. If there are problems that has to initially be sorted out by the local council and local police. As most of the land thereabouts is owned by the Chatsworth Estate I am sure word would get back to the Club if it were a real issue but even then it is difficult to see what more the Club could do. It shouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to expect members to follow fairly simple instructions, should it?
David
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I am sure word would get back to the Club if it were a real issue but even then it is difficult to see what more the Club could do. It shouldn't be a stretch of the imagination to expect members to follow fairly simple instructions, should it?
The club should have acted long ago David with regards to all sites (whilst the queues were on CC access roads). Make it clear that arriving early is not acceptable without agreement. Also that on sites where there is a problem of any kind details will be taken and strikes given. Somebody is 5 mins early is, in my view, not a great problem. I have seen the queue on entry to Berwick Seaview and the warden has told me that several outfits have been up to 30 mins early. I arrived at 2 minutes to 1pm and there were 6 or more outfits already their. Similar story at Old Hartley when we were leaving. We left earlier than usual as the next hop was not far. Probably Berwick on Tweed. there were several outfits queued outside 30 mins or more before entry time. Not fair on residents.
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Those who advocate the "flood-gate hour" (whether it is noon or 1pm or whatever) now want to also decree how close to a site the visitors may make a stop. If this obtuse software allowed for a poll to be added the categories I would give for voting are:-
Outside the gate
Not within three miles.
Not within 30 miles.
Not at all - stay home.
Please cast your imaginary vote now.
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Does not bear considering. There is absolutely no way this would be possible at Chatsworth. Total chaos would prevail. The Club have no option but to enforce what they consider now to be the best option.
Now if members can’t abide by the instructions given upon booking, which can’t be any clearer, together with the signage at the start of the lane, then I can honestly accept they had no alternative but to install that chain.
As for the subsequent fallout, holding up in Baswell village etc... who’s fault is this? It certainly is not the fault of the Club other than, it has not upheld the same no tolerance to early arrivals at all other Club sites, which in turn gives the impression it is OK to flaunt the ruling at sites which can not handle it.
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Arrived Thursday for 4 nights and lunch at the pub yesterday Monday watching the caravans and motor homes parking up causing chaos. I'm wondering where Nigel's own caravan was at this point 🤔🙂
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I started the thread last night, at the time, ‘yesterday’ was Sunday, I was eating my Sunday lunch outside the Devonshire when caravans were parking up in the village. By Monday lunchtime, my caravan was in its spot in the storage yard.
Next point Freelander359? Anything else you want to add?
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Its actually quite nice to roll up at Chatsworth with out running the gauntlet of the must get there early brigade blocking the lane .
Arrived 2 pm Sunday no drama , no fuss with just a couple of units in the yard .
This is what's been needed at Chatsworth for a very long time ....well done the Chatsworth estate , its certainty made life better for people who turn up when they should.👍
And as a bonus the weather is lovely & the site is full.😇
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Enjoy your stay.
As you did, our aim was to arrive around 1.30-2pm because I knew the chain was being used and wanted to give time for any traffic build up to dissipate prior to entering the lane myself.
As you found, just a couple of caravans before us at reception and finding a happy pitch was easy.
Hope you didn’t get too much wind yesterday, we witnessed a branch fall from a tree at the back of the site over the weekend, fortunately it didn’t hit anything expensive or anyone, but it made a hell of a noise when it fell. With the wind that was blowing yesterday, we did wonder if more trees would succumb.
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All quite on the super pitches thanks .....we love to hear & see the deer the sounds of nature are to be expected at Chatsworth....... loving the free club WiFi too. 👍
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What a noise those stags make! Like a good Friday night in Leamington Spa
If you were up early enough on Monday, you may have seen us leaving. Navy blue RR Sport pulling a Buccaneer
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Currently at Chatsworth - halfway through a 6 night break and, yes, we can hear the deer almost all the time but it isn’t a bother. It may be a Marmite site but we love it. Just 20 miles from home but it’s another world and by the end of the year we will have been 6 times with bonfire and the Christmas market long weekends still to come.
The autumn colours in the Park are wonderful and we’ve been walking at the Derwent Valley dams today. Almost unbroken sunshine although chillier than yesterday.
Yes we’ve noticed the chain which enables you to go around the “island” at the entrance. There are now also signs up in the toilet block advising members to avoid leaving the site between 12.30 and 14.30 as it can be difficult to get by the incoming units.
Shame you can no longer get a newspaper.
I think they’ve changed the toilet cleaning times since we were here earlier in the year and closing the gents at 10am is ridiculously early.
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I'm afraid I have a different take on the responsibility situation.
Just suppose the CAMC was a prestigious school and the pupils on their way home were causing chaos in the village and on the buses, would the Headmaster say "nothing at all to do with me when they leave the school premises" or would he take responsibility to sort it out by threatening detention etc?
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The time to have resolved this issue was whilst CC still had ownership of the problem as it was on their access road (shared or otherwise). It is not as though the problem of queues on the access was a new one, It was certainly present 10 years ago.
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looking at googlemaps, there appears to be a ready made 'exit' road behind the 'scrapyard'..(an interesting 'feature' right next to a flagship site....).not beyond a bit lateral thinking to have the vans come in one way and out another.
doesnt impact onto the actual Chatsworth House entrance and exits into Church Ln just east of the Village Hall...
no chains, no fuming, no blockages, no queuing.....can even introduce flexible arrivals...
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