Booking pitches
Comments
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TW
Your last comment I would suggest applies to several C&CC sites I have visited and probably the reason why a lot of their facilities are not up to standard. The same is also true of some CMC sites but the difference is that they were probably built to a much higher standard in the first place so they have lasted better.
We gave the Oxford C&CC site a try last year in mid May and found it acceptable despite not having hardstandings and it having been wet. We use our own facilities so site blocks are not a particular concern for us. I was concerned about getting off the pitch but in the event it was fine as I had parked as close to the road as I could. For us, because we leave our motorhome on site the major advantage of the C&CC Oxford site is the easy transport links into the City. Bladon Chains is an alternative but its about a 50/50 split between hardstandings and grass so no guarantee of a hardstanding.
David
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You could well be right in your first para, David. I’ve found other C&CC sites to be far better than Oxford but the 3 Scottish ones I’ve used a fair bit have all been refurbished so are obviously of a higher standard.
We don’t use public transport but I can see the P&R across the road would be a huge advantage for those, like you, who do.
Another time we would use either the CL or commercial site we’ve stayed on before and give C&CC a miss. I’m not a fan of BC either.
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10amp and Wi-fi not a problem for me either, Easy, but they are for some folk. It was in general a site that fell below expectations.
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"If that was the only objection to a site it wouldn't stop us using it."
Nor me, David. North Ledaig is 10amp but we've used that more times than I can recall.
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I've been arguing the case for us to be able to book a pitch surface for quite a time - and will continue to do so! The Club know exactly how I feel at all levels of the Club. I keep making the usual points, and have even offered this as a contributory factor as to why the Club have seen a levelling out of bookings between the main season and 'out of season'. I know there are folk, like myself who will only book Club sites out of season when grass ptches are taken out of use. Alternatively, in the main season I book full serviced pitches, where one is guaranteed a hardstanding (with a couple of exceptions). I really think this contributes towards the leveling out of bookings - those who want to guarantee a hardstanding go where they can.
I continue my quest....
David
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we were there earlier this year, it is on a short lease (ueqr on year i was told) and, like CC, they are reluctant to spend on improvements, lime updated showers...in fact, the landlord is Go Outdoors who own a store next door.
i wouldnt worry about 10amps being any sort of issue at all, unless your in the habit of running heating at full chat and the kettle and your heated rollers and.....etc.
the wifi covers at least half the site from my usage.
like many sites, its really popular for its locqtion rather than its own 'ambiance' and you can bus, cycle or walk into the city.
BTW, if i wanted to visit Bladen, i wouldn't stay in Oxford, so why would i stay in Bladen to visit Oxford?
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The only time we stopped on the Oxford C&CC site was in 2001 when I had to go into the Radcliffe Infirmary for an operation on my pituitary. I was going to be in hospital for more than a week so we took the caravan down. Carol stayed in the van what I was in hospital so she could do a daily visit, and I drove the caravan back home when I came out of hospital... !! It was a fairly basic site then, but quite convenient having the caravan shop at the front. Also easy access into the town by bus.
On another occasion we stayed at Lincoln Farm Park over towards Witney. Good site - but a bit further out if what you really want is Oxford. Having spent student days in Oxford, we tend not to go back too often - seen most things - tend to go occasionally for specific occasions, but then to drive down for the day....
David
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With the vagaries of the British Weather the sooner ALL pitches are converted to Hard Standings the better, no one likes churning up a grass pitch or worse getting stuck on one....who tows you off these days ? All grass pitches should be closed after the end of September. To allow the spots where awnings have killed off the grass to recover.
Nothing worse than Having to take a pitch with a piece of 'dead yellow muddy grass' to walk over. Yuck. Take grass pitches out of the equation altogether asap.
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How is Norwich a non facility site . With toilets and showers ? Wife walked into council offices to do family history , i walked almost into town but got waylaid by three hostelries , selling great ale . lovely site
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I seem to recall you recovered from some form of illness by doing lots of swimming.
Not illness Rufs but therapy!
At age 40 (26+years ago) I had an orchidectomy to remove a cancerous testicle. Follow up that I chose was 'belt and braces' radiotherapy, a treatment area across lower abdomen and probably 18'' up spine with a months radiotherapy. Just before the end of the treatment at the start of February I took my late wife with me to the hospital and we picked up two grow bags on the way back. At home I threw them over my shoulder and walked 10 yards to the greenhouse where I fell on my knees fighting for breath
I was off work for two weeks after treatment and after the first week went swimming. I managed half a width at a time. After a week or two I could swim a length and hang on the side gasping before the return length. After 4 months I could manage 100 lengths, before the treatment I could manage 3 lengths under water on one breath.
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Yes, disabled facilities in both clubs have the lift down shower heads, but in the ordinary showers many of the CCC sites we used did not have any lift down heads, unlike CAMC who usually have at least one lift down head .
These, I am reliably informed, are ideal for hair washing without having to strip off!
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Yes, disabled facilities in both clubs have the lift down shower heads
Yes I checked out the disabled facility on C&CC Conkers site whilst there. I don't use the showers on any C&CC site due to the inability to regulate temperature and I was just confirming that the same situation prevailed in the disabled facility ..... it does, which is disappointing!
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Not on all sites, we found regular adjustable ones in the disabled rooms at Kendal, Derwentwater, Cambridge, St Neots, Cardigan Bay, Salisbury, Dunbar, Scone, Dingwall and Moffat. Possibly they are adjustable where they have been recently upgraded.
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Tried a few C&CC sites this year, but not very impressed, downsides: minimum 2 nights plus deposit required in advance. Over 60s discount not available as wrong time of year ? main downside: being directed to a pitch, when another was requested...sorry, no others available...but there WERE. SO, cancelling direct debit for membership, that will save some money at least.
Oh yes and non heat adjustable showers, with all fixed heads, just a little thing....but annoying.
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ray, yes it is a 'courtesy' of the CCC to help you select a pitch and guide you to it, but i have always chosen the pitch myself....if there is one i fancy i just firmly, but courteously, let the warden know that where i will be pitching....never been an issue and certainly not worth getting upset about it as, like CC, there are other benefits of membership, not least the CS sites and THS meets.
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Same here. When using CCC i've usually been offered a selection of pitches to choose from and at least one, usually more, has always been suitable.
As for showers I use the one i paid for that comes in the caravan so the site showers are of no interest to me.
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Of the two systems I much prefer the CMC one where I am completely free to select the pitch I want. We use C&CC sites because they are often near where we want to be so put up with the guided to pitch system. Whilst you are able to make a few specifications on what you want to be near, water etc It still seems to me that you are initially guided by a whole range of pitches which would have done perfectly well. I wonder if they work to a methodology? What is more of a major bugbear is the blanket 1.00pm arrival time!
David
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i dont know if CCC have a methodology....they could fill the site systematically for a number of reasons...
however, while we are all able to choose our own pitch, the CCC 'system' certainly results in less vehicles circling the site in search for the perfect pitch...
bearing in mind the many posts on here re speeding and the number of vehicles on site, this has to be a safer process as one new arrival is safely pitched before other get onto 'the track'.
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Unless there are a few BB’s on site👍🏻
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The 1300 arr times that at Sandrinham site is strict ,,and then waiting for next "escort?" we have noticed ,and the managers admit is a nightmare to carry out ,causes large queues on the approach to the site which blocks the road ,meaning a very difficult exit for any vehicles,and all the available staff are tied up with this process ,the managers say if they did not use their own cycles (at their own expence) to speed things up it would be far worse,as also not every one will accept the pitch they are "offered"
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I often wondered why they used bikes, I actually thought it was easier than jogging alongside the car
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We also prefer a HS pitch after/during inclement weather so use a variety of pitch providers. We do however at other times prefer the CAMC over all others if they are where we want to be in the UK as their ‘systems’ suit us (booking only 1 night if needed/changing dates/cancelling/ choosing pitch etc.)
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Both clubs have different procedures, prices (and deposits), rules and ethos and I have to say personally standards in terms of cleanliness and site tidiness (which more than one poster has mentioned but I admit that last part is subjective)
That's good isn't it, you (one) chooses the one that suits you best, it would be awful if they were both the same.
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I was very impressed on a commercial site that I used this summer. The lady showing me to the pitch kept easily abreast of the car at 4mph.
the managers say if they did not use their own cycles (at their own expense) to speed things up it would be far worse,
If they are on cycles they usually outpace my 4mph and have to wait for me
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The Malvern site did allow booking of hard pitches for a short time a while back I presume for a trial? I must admit we use the service pitches for long stays and ours are already booked for next year. We have just spent a few days at Hurn Lane site were all the grass pitches are closed down and re-seeded
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bus service direct to city
