Dornafield Touring Park

Rowena
Rowena Administrator, Club Member Posts: 155 admin
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edited December 2022 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We’re delighted to announce the Club has purchased Dornafield Touring Park.

The site, to be called Dornafield Club Campsite is situated in a quiet valley, surrounded by beautiful countryside and perfectly placed for exploring Torquay, Totnes, Newton Abbot and Dartmoor.

On-site there are over 100 all-weather fully serviced pitches, excellent facilities and lots of entertainment for all to enjoy - including table tennis, pool, darts, two adventure playgrounds, a dog walk and an all-weather tennis court!

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Comments

  • Unknown
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    edited December 2022 #2
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #3

    Thats what you said about  Bingham Grange but has proved the reviews it is still in need of upgrading in some areas to bring the standards up

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #4

    We have stayed at BG soon after this club acquired it and it was in real need of serious need of being upgraded 

    The upper part of the site was although not bad and an attempt at making it user friendly was far to crowded with to many cramped pitches

    The Lower site was an absolute mess with no waste disposal at all although it also had tent pitches

    The only waste disposal was an open pipe away from the pitches. That had to also act as a motor caravan disposal

    The chemical empty was in an ordinary toilet dilapidated  shed?

    Great dog walk 

    Two showers were quite nice but all the others were in need of a complete rebuild 

     

     

  • Unknown
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    edited December 2022 #5
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #6

    Just answering your negative response wink

  • Simon100
    Simon100 Club Member Posts: 665 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #7

    Dornafield is a nice sites with decent pitches. Let's hope that the club doesn't try and squeeze yet more pitches on any open spaces. The access road is a bit tight, a long single track road, so those who don't like Cirencester approach might need to consider their options!

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited December 2022 #8

    Yes, looks like fun😉

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #9

    I don’t think it would interest us much. No local footpaths shown on the OS map and although there is a bus service not that far away, it’s down the end of that narrow approach road. Looks a nice site though, possibly more suited to tuggers or MH’s that tow a car.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,857 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #10

    I have just had a look on Google Earth and the approach seems far worse that Cirencester!! I appreciate the Club have got to take opportunities as they arise but I don't think I will be tempted. Looks a fairly dangerous walk to the main road. Ross Park was for sale not so long ago which has easy access to the A381.

    David

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited December 2022 #12

    My immediate reaction was why! The Club already has four sites in the area. Are they at risk of losing one or some of them?  I have stayed at Dornafield a couple of times when I had a caravan but it is not really suitable for a motorhome although there is a pub within walking distance (half a mile) if you want to risk the walk along the narrow country road which has an even more narrow section just after you come out of the site.

    peedee.

     
  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited December 2022 #13

    possibly more suited to tuggers or MH’s that tow a car. 

    Given the reversing limitations when towing a car there is no chance I would do it up that road. Access to Ramslade is bad enough but still better than Dornafield. These days when requiring a stop over near Torquay I prefer Widdicombe Farm (adults only) just off the Torquay bypass.

    peedee

     

     

     
  • Unknown
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    edited December 2022 #14
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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #15

    Perhaps the club will widen the entrance road to ensure better access for all outfits? 

    Personally like the idea of all pitches being SPs

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited December 2022 #16

    I've seen worse locations for CAMC sites although with a small CL type site even closer to the pub/bus stop and the often eye-watering prices on CAMC sites, I'm unlikely to patronise it.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited December 2022 #17

    Agreed, neither entry nor exit looks inviting, either in a MH or a caravan.

    I guess there's safe cycling to the west but even heading to Newton Abbott (closest town at just 3 miles away) requires a convoluted route to avoid the A381 and even this involves a 300 ft change in elevation. Certainly not relaxing.

    perhaps with a car?....but then there's the towing aspect on those lanes...but certainly a better option than a MH.

    this is the main issue with this sort of area, one (perhaps two) main roads and a few rat runs laden with traffic. Roads too narrow for pavements and as for cycle paths, forget it.

    You need to be heading deep into countryside to get away from cars...but then this takes you to the middle of nowhere ( thanks Dusty❤️).

     Hardly a single MH in the google maps satellite view, all caravans as expected.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #18

    Nice spot but public transport isn't close by, I think 1/2 a mile on roads without footpaths. More of a caravanners site. Maybe a place for holiday units in the future?

    If we're in the area we like easy access to facilities.

  • vbfg
    vbfg Forum Participant Posts: 504
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    edited December 2022 #19

    In what way is the Club going to wreck it?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #20

    Isn't this just a change of status from AS to club owned rather than an extra site?

    BTW, their T&Cs looked less favourable than camc's.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #21

    It is the second site in the South West to be bought by this club after running as an AS before?

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,666 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #22

    I had a quick look, it would not be for us either with our large outfit.   We have been to Ramslade, that was not too bad as the access road was quiet at the time, but that was in June, not peak summer holiday time.     This looks worse!

     

  • Unknown
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    edited December 2022 #23
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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,426 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #24

    I think less favourable is being extremely generous, 'strictly' no refund deposits although before 28 days it can be moved but only once, pay upfront 28 days before and after that if you cancel you'll lose it all. There is a cancellation cover of £2 per day but cancel within 7 days you'll only get back half. 

    At least that's one improvement the club will make?

    Post edit, non members were charged an extra £15 something?

  • Arch
    Arch Forum Participant Posts: 347
    edited December 2022 #25

    Is Stover non facilities site now on the clubs list for closure its only 4 miles away from Dornafield only in a much better location and easy access, Dornafield has very restrictive access I do not understand why on earth they've taken this site on.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #26

    Lots of little holiday lodges...?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #27

    This clubs Directors  seem to be working in very strange ways recentlyundecided

    For years other interested parties have been looking at the cc ?surprised

    It has happend to both the RAC and the AA frown

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited December 2022 #28

    It may well be looking forward to the time when ICE vehicles tow vehicles are not availablesurprised

    A lot of commercial sites are looking at install holiday static or already have installed static holiday lodgeswink

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited December 2022 #29

    "We’re delighted to announce the Club has purchased Dornafield Touring Park."

    As most of the comments on this thread already are negative, perhaps the club could have spent this money on meters for the sites they already own?😉

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,383
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    edited December 2022 #30

    That would make sense.

    peedee

     
  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,135 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2022 #31

    Lovely site is Stover👍

    Who knows, Arch, but CAMC sought planning permission for more HS at Stover only a few years back and duly installed them. It's a completely different type of site from Dornafield, and closer to the A38, Exeter and Dartmoor. I'd think there is room for both.

    Btw, I think it's more than 4 miles between the sites using towable roads. I suspect those distances are as the crow flies in the same way as Cornwall is reckoned to be 90 miles from Swansea😂