What is going on?
Today,a friday in july,I drove past the sites at Garlieston.I have never seen so many vacant pitches (both sites) at this time of year!Are people not spending the money or has the return to continental travel caused the downturn?
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We've been to Gareliston a few times down the years (and actually going in a few weeks) it's never been a 'full site' type or even approaching it and always had spaces.
While it is a fantastic site in a great location next to a beach and lovely village it is a little bit out of the way and somewhat isolated but very peaceful and relaxing of because that.
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I am asking what other members opinion is,I have my own suspicions.
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I live nearby and at this time of year the view from the road has shown a busy site but today there were lots of plainly visible empty pitches.
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Perhaps they were all taken by MHs
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Let’s hear then, Dave. As the man on the ground, so to speak, you may have seen things of which we're not aware.
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I think the cost of fuel has a lot to do with it.
We have recently spent three weeks on a favourite CL near the coast in Yorkshire [Monks Farm at Sneaton] and it took us five and a half hours to get there.
Speaking to the constantly changing other caravanners and motorhomers none had come as far as us and a large proportion had only come half an hour to an hour's journey.
Garlieston is a long way off the beaten track and would cost quite a lot in fuel.
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We were there last year and it was pretty full for most of our stay so I think the site is popular. But as I say that was last year so who knows why it is not as full this year. It surely can't be price as its only about £35 a night in peak season.
David
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It surely can't be price as its only about £35 a night in peak season.
That's a very interesting observation DK. I must admit that, whilst I realise site fees have gone up, I wouldn't call £35 a night "only". Obviously it's relative to what one can, and is willing to, pay; but I do wonder whether everyone shares that view.
We are fortunate enough to be able to afford to pay that, but there is no way that we would. We have stayed at Garlieston twice a lot of years ago. A few years ago we were in that area and spent about a week on a community-run site in Port William; a superb site, right by the sea; very clean toiletblock and even a washing machine which, at the time, was free to use. Overall a site we preferred to Garlieston.
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Are fuel costs really having that much of an effect. Cut out on a coffee and piece of cake one morning on a day out and you will cover any fuel increase cost.
Colin
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Yes I was quite surprised how cheap it was when we booked.
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Re-reading the OP when it said both sites I assumed it meant both pitching areas on the club's but I see there is another non club site there?
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We thought it reasonably priced when there in 2019, but it seems rather expensive now for where it is and what it offers.
Looking at the cost of 9 nights there in late July for 2 adults, one 5 year old and a 2 year old on an ordinary HS pitch, it works out £6 more expensive than the fully serviced pitch DD has booked on a very nice holiday park near Aberdeen, where there are far more facilities for the children, very nice toilet block, and plenty to see and do within a short distance.
And no Club membership fee to pay!
I would also agree with Ina that £35 ( it is actually a little more than that in peak) does not bring the word "only" to mind.
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We were at Garlieston for 2 nights a couple of years ago on our way up to Scotland's north west coast. We thought it was expensive then for what and where it is. It was as I recall the only Camc site of that trip.
Since then we have drifted towards the cheaper options of CLs CSs and C&CC temporary holiday sites. Talking to people on those sites many now say they actively avoid club sites (of both clubs) in the summer months due to price, which are more than they are prepared to pay.
One of note last month was at Kendal in the lake district. Easy walk down in to town, shops and pubs, frequent buses available to explore. Yes we needed to use our own facilities and our solar panel, but it was ONLY £9 per night ! There were, I would estimate, 200 units on the site with 'vanners of the same mind.
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It is probaby all down to rising prices and the reduction of disposable income brought about by inflation and mortgage and rent rises. In these circumstances I think it is only natural for van owners to cut back on non essential travel to make savings to pay the essential bills.
As far as I am concerned, I don't like paying for facilities I do not need, Club sites are nothing special so why pay over the odds for such sites when a CL or similar will do just as well.
peedee
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Ina
In the context that people seem to be complaining that peak site fees costing between £40 and £50 a night, £35 a night seems good value to me. We were there last year in May and it cost £27.30 a night, a little below our average nightly spend for last year. I don't know what the peak fees were last year but clearly they have not gone up much. Garlieston is a nice place with an interesting history and we were only there for three nights. Port William does look a nice place and perhaps chalk that up for a future visit but I don't think the decision will be based on site costs.
David
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You've said "I'm sure" twice. Are you sure?
JK
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Maybe this would be of interest to somebody to keep their costs down, looks like a free tour
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There is nothing in the area that has changed,(other than more motorcaravans fly camping) but I have never seen the site with so many obvious empty pitches at 4 pm on a friday in july.Which is why I asked the question.
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yes,I was referring to the pair of pitching areas,sorry for any cofusion.
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The site at Port William is really good value and of great help to the local community.
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David
I agree that compared to £40-£50 a night, £35 is indeed cheaper; whether £35 a night represents good value is another matter and based on personal evaluation. On our 2 visits we found Garlieston interesting too and enjoyed our stays.
Decisions on sites aren't purely based on cost alone, but neither will we book any site regardless of cost; if we want to be somewhere specific, then we'll pay more, but if it's an area we're looking at, then we'll look for what we consider to be vfm. We have been away quite a few times this year, but not used any CAMC sites, finding that CLs and CSs represent better vfm and give a more choice. All IMHO of course
At the end of the day it's just as well we're not all the same, or we'd never manage to get a pitch anywhere
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A member of staff has quoted this on Trust Pilot after the umpteenth complaint about site costs this year and VFM. (5/7/23)
"In future years the club's ambition is to set lower annual price increases "
There may have been some errors of judgement over the rush to purchase vans after lock down which gave the brief false impression that camp sites would be overflowing with new keen campers? But it seems many have now changed their minds and the vans are awaiting resale.
Let's hope for a more balanced approach over next year.
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We drove past the site a couple of days ago, and though we didn’t stop it doesn’t look enticing (especially when the tide’s out). I much prefer New England Bay where we are. More spread out with different types of pitching areas. Both sites are rather off the beaten track (though Garlieston is near a pub if that’s your sort of thing). We drove 160 miles to get here, but as it’s our main (6 days) holiday don’t mind the cost of fuel.
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Only the second site in 40 years where we booked for a week and left after one night as we hated it.We were crammed in between the front row overlooking the harbour of motorhomes and the row behind us of caravans. I have to say the warden was wonderful in refunding our fees. We went on to New England Bay and loved it.
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Jenny
You would have probably been happier of the other section of the site across the road as the pitches are a bit more generous and no rush to get a harbour side pitch? Perhaps now as we have a motorhome we tend to spend less time on anyone site also Garlieston was handy for our onward route to Ravenglass.
David
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