Camping in the Forest
Comments
-
Doesn’t surprise me really. We first used Forestry Sites back way before C&CC got involved, in particular Beddgelert, which was always fabulous. Spiers House on North York Moors was another favourite, but never taken on by CCC. The prices rocketed, and the Sites lost their wonderful pitch anywhere you can ethos, so we gave up using them to be honest. We did drive round Beddgelert a couple of years ago, (the touring site bit), and frankly it was awful. Pitches tiny, all shaded and very much a side issue o the main money spinner cabins nowadays. FC have realised just how much money they can make now and are going for it big time. Spiers House is now all luxury cabins, mind it could be a mud bath at times there, so it’s long been cabin only. We do miss those lovely days at Beddgelert though, walking up Moel Hebog, along the river and into the village. A lovely location. Sad for CCCcmembers.
0 -
Camping, Caravan and Motorhome Club?
I seem to recall that some years ago the C&CC got their fingers burnt by some investment but can't remember the details. They seem also to be getting rid of what we would call here, Affiliated Sites. Perhaps the money they get from this sale will be reinvested in more sites they own, as they have done in the Lake District. Like the CMC they seem to have quite a few sites on not very secure lease deals?
David
0 -
I noticed a couple of C&CC franchised sites had vanished off the network. I think it was Teversal and Ashbourne. There's definitely something afoot and maybe the two clubs amalgamating, as has often been jokingly suggested, could become a reality.
0 -
Not sure really about Beddgelert and C&CC. It was definitely under the CitF name, but whether CCC ran this one, I’m not sure to be honest. Maybe you just got a discount if you were a Member? I do recall booking a pitch was all about what size you wanted. There was definitely a touring area there three years ago, because we drove in and around to have a look. Small, cramped all in shade, and we didn’t get out because of the midges. The cabins occupy the areas we used to pitch up on, much more open and spacious.
Our CCC experience is very limited, only used one Site at Haltwhistle, we joined because I was doing a lot of camping with my sister, and wanted access to CS’s. We have stayed on a few Listed Sites, and very nice they were. This all predates the internet, I still have my very old Big Book of Sites🤣0 -
I also have a hunch that the clubs are increasingly collaborating. Do they use the same mailing company? We have been members of both clubs for a good few years and often get similar stuff at the same time.
0 -
It's quite an expensive undertaking for CITF and presumably the C&CC will benefit from selling off their shareholding. It's always been run separately and it will probably be even better when CITF can be autonomous. C&CC have other enterprises with their franchises and their lodge/static sites. They've brought the big Loch Ness site back in house too. A different business ethos to CAMC.
0 -
You could well be right. The whole site provision industry has altered greatly these last couple of years.
1 -
Looks like Forestry Commission might have two holiday experience “arms”.
Camping in the Forest, now back in-house. And Forest Holidays, which includes Beddgelert and Cropton Forest, which we knew as Spiers House. Or perhaps they are not related, who knows🤷♀️
0 -
Lots of companies are having to up their game to recruit and retain staff, quite rightly as well. I noticed an advert to work at KFC locally, paid more than what most Care workers around here can expect. Twisted priorities when Burger flipping pays more than looking after humans. I don’t mind prices going up if the people at the sharp end are earning a living wage.
0 -
I found this WTG…https://www.forestholidays.co.uk/about/forestry-commission/
I thought C&CC were involved a bit before this to be honest. At least most of the Sites are still there in one form or another. I didn’t look for a then and now price comparison.😉
0 -
I agree but as wages are about the most expensive costs of most companies staffing levels are also the first to be looked at to save costs which in the leisure industry as many others gets reflected in what the customer gets rather than expects
0 -
Forest Holidays have been running a TV advertising campaign recently. I had a look at their lodge offerings and thought them pricey compared to some holiday cottages but I suppose it depends where you want to be🤷♂️.
I too thought C&CC had an involvement prior to CitF but it's a long way back in the mists of time.
0 -
We went for a look at the cabins in Cropton Forest. They are very nice, and a lovely visitor centre and eatery, but they aren’t cheap. You can get more for your money elsewhere. But the locations are nice. Good if you enjoy walking, cycling, not having to venture far from your holiday home. Mind I don’t think they are selling to canny Yorkshire folk like us, more your City types looking to “experience the dream”. Prices have rocketed this last couple of years in certain places. Cornwall in particular, couldn’t believe some of asking prices for cottages down there.
0 -
😁👍 That makes sense now. We go back to 1983/4 using Beddgelert. I recall the little log cabin shop where you paid, then you simply drove right and picked a flat bit to pitch your tent/ camper. The facilities block was brand spanking new, no hook ups, but it was a proper getting back to nature stay, with a stroll into village along old railway line, lots of wildlife and you could hike off up and out of top of Site into hills. Our last stay still predates C&CC partnership, it was March 2004, and I retired from paid work that week. We pitched up just across from river, with a hook up this time. Facility Block and shop as it had been though. Hence our huge sense of disappointment three years ago, it was all about the cabins by then.
0 -
No offence intended WTG.🙂 Just a bit surprised at the absolutely huge hike in cottage prices down in SW at the moment. It’s popular to owners are making the most of things, just market forces at work.
0 -
I can't remember any dates but we've used the forestry sites and also previously when it was just forestry commission in Scotland we've stayed in a lodge on Loch Awe. Our son and family tried a basic pod at the Loch Ness site last year and really enjoyed it, they've booked a fully equipped version this year so will be returning. The New Forest sites are very nice, some non ehu sites there are relaxed about where people pitch as long as they keep the distance rule etc. I think this is where C&CC will really miss out although they run some good THS in the area.
In some ways it's all a bit confusing, we tend to look for sites in places we want to go not who runs them, will just have to do more searches now!
Anyway thanks for the information in your OP, I hadn't noticed, was just glad they've got their "my bookings" working again!!
0 -
…..and the link to CitF is alive and kicking on the C&CC website.
https://www.campingintheforest.co.uk
0 -
Ref DK above: the C&CC franchised sites are quite different in every way from the CAMC affiliated sites. They run as Club sites: same booking procedures; wardens wear the same "uniforms"; same rules and so on. The CAMC affiliated sites just give members a discount don't they? (And some also give the same discount to C&CC members??)
WTG
Thanks for the explanation, I am not as familiar with the C&CC ways of doing things.
David
0 -
You’re right on all counts👍🏻
0
