Newbies- family with 6 year old twins

Cavalier Caravaners
Cavalier Caravaners Forum Participant Posts: 88
edited May 2016 in Introductions #1

Hello all

We collected caravan last week and took out for first trip, very exciting. We were campers for years but needed a bit more warmth and comfort and were delighted with our caravan; Swift Expression 586.

We have 6 year old twins who love playing on campsite playgrounds and making friends. We camp with friends who are sadly moving far away and so we are looking to make new caravan family friends. Is rallying good for families with young kids, as there are
usually no playgrounds (as in fields) do families go or more couples? Is that a good way of making friends with kids of similar ages?

I have booked a few caravan club sites, and also wondered what people think are the best family sites near south west london (I've booked littlehampton).

We are also members of C&CC so what do people think of both club sites- how do they compare?

Thanks for all replies, so excting to be a caravaner!!

Comments

  • HelenandTrevor
    HelenandTrevor Forum Participant Posts: 3,221
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #2

    Hi and Welcome Humphrey Campers. 

    We used to rally when our boys were younger and came away with us, they enjoyed them, and the centres often arrange activies. Give one a go, you don't have to be a centre member so could try a few centres.

    It's been a while since we used Littlehampton but I remember it had a good playground for children.

    Can't help with the c&cc club as we are not members, but lots on here are so I'am sure they will help.

  • Helen Aaron
    Helen Aaron Forum Participant Posts: 98
    First Comment
    edited May 2016 #3

    And a big welcome from The Club!

    I shall essentially let your fellow caravanners inform you of their personal advice and tips (and I'll be following closely with a 6 year old of my own!)

    Suffice to say there is a wealth of information on the website about touring with children including top Club sites for families:

    http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/families

    Enjoy - and you know where we are if you need us.

    Helen

  • Hazel
    Hazel Forum Participant Posts: 185
    edited May 2016 #4

    Welcome to the Club and congratulations on your new purchase!

    We have a section on Club together called
    Centre News & Rallies     which has some specific information on different rallies and feedback from other members on rallies they have been to.

    Happy touring!

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,192 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #5

    Hello and welcome. As we've never rallied I can't comment. Not been a C&CC member for some years but found their sites good. Nice way to make new friends, but also you'll be able to camp with existing friends.
    The C&CC allow you to book pitches together, but CC don't; you have to arrive together and hope for the best.

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,581 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited May 2016 #6

    Welcome to the site. We are members of both clubs and there is very little between the sites but on C&CC ones the grass tends to be longer, you see far more tents and they show you to a pitch rather than let you find your own. It will not bother you with
    twins but for night birds the C&CC lock you out at 11 pm.

    For South West London not sure about any club sites the best I can think are C&CC at Chertsey and Walton on Thames.

  • Cavalier Caravaners
    Cavalier Caravaners Forum Participant Posts: 88
    edited May 2016 #7

    Thanks for the welcomes and the tips. We store our caravan at C&CC walton on thames site- very pretty but bit too quiet for kids who want other kids to play with.

    We are off to littlehampton CC site this weekend, it has playground, shame the weather is not as hot as it was but looking forward to dry cooler times exploring local area.

    I've been reading some of the discussoins on here and all very useful to newbies- so big thank  you to all you posters!

  • Cavalier Caravaners
    Cavalier Caravaners Forum Participant Posts: 88
    edited June 2016 #8

    For other families with kids of similar age, London location,  I thought I'd report back - littlehampton is great, 1.5 hrs from London, play ground and staff very good. Beach only 10 mins drvie with great crabbing and a small fair.

    The second site we visited was Battle, further to go due to horrendous road works on A21. Kids said they perferred this site due to play ground plus play area so they can play ball games and there are lots of rabbits. As grown ups we found the site pitches
    really mixed, some dark and not much light and up hills and some beautiful sunny ones. so if its busy you might be pitched on a dark gloomy pitch away from the play ground (not ideal).

    We've now been to 2 CC sites and have to say the postives are they are clean. staff usually friendly, we visit ones with play grounds and you can book pitches and if you have to cancel (3 days before) you can without charge. But in comparison to private
    sites kids perfer the private sites- they mostly have better play grounds, more green space to run around, and a bath for kids so you do not have to shower them to wash hair (as any parent knows shampoo in eyes enduces screaming). Another comparison I would
    make is the CC pitches seeem tighter packed together than comercial sites so that feels more cramped and reduces amount of green spacees near pitches for privacy and kids playing.

    What do other parents think? Do they do more than a weekend break on a CC site and how to you get on? what are favourite private sites for families with young kids?

Categories