A Vintage CLing Year 2016

birderbilly
birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
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edited October 2016 in Certificated Locations #1

I know 2016 is not over yet but for us the Caravanning season is now over and like many others our thoughts are now turning to 2017. By way of reflection I thought I would put together a little “overview” of the CLing we have done this year - all have been wonderful as have all the CL owners we have met during the year so a huge thanks to them.

April - Rhydhalen Farm CL - Newquay Pembrokeshire

A lovely quiet CL close to the charming coastal town/village of Newquay

May - Eastmoor Farm CL - Gower Pembrokeshire

A lovely quiet CL on the wonderful Gower peninsular

July - Harveyland Farm CL - Hythe Kent

A lovely quiet CL on the Royal Military Canal between the Downs and the Coast (yes this really was late July)

August - Lower Barn Farm CL - Frinton on Sea Essex

A lovely quiet CL (I think you are perhaps seeing a theme here) on the somewhat undiscovered Essex coast.

September - Lyndor CL - nr Ross on Wye Herefordshire

A lovely quiet CL - a real cracker right on the banks of the Wye

September - Upper Bushford CL - nr Skomer Island Pembrokeshire

A lovely quiet CL on the wonderful Pembrokeshire coast

September - Heath Cottage CL - nr Tenby Pembrokeshire

Another lovely quiet CL on this superb coastline

Nearly all of these CLs were booked just a few days before and in some cases the day before and ranged in price from £6 to £15 per night - all were excellent value for money.

What have been your CL highlights of the year ?

 

Comments

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #2

    I haven't used any this year and looks like I won't be doing so in what remains of the year.

    peedee.

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited October 2016 #3

    Billy what an inspirational post!  You have upped my resolve to get to more CLs!  Thank you.  For some reason I moved to club sites as being easier and often cheaper option for a solo traveller.  I also had some difficulty contacting CL owners but I have realised from the non EHU threads that there ARE still basic CLs out there.  I think my favourite this year was Mud Horse Cottage on the Somerset coast.  

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited October 2016 #4

    They look our thing, but can I ask were the photos from a "drone"?

  • ggregu
    ggregu Forum Participant Posts: 214
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    edited October 2016 #5

    I too use CLs almost exclusively and have stayed on some wonderful ones this year. I agree that Eastmoor Farm on the Gower is beautiful. I stayed there last year, unfortunately after 2 days the weather broke and that was the last I saw of the view! Owners
    were great.

    My favourite CL's are Higher Bochym Farm on the Lizard and Home Farm in Somerset. I have stayed at both now on several occasions and like them for their facilities but more so for their super friendly owner, for whom nothing is too much trouble.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited October 2016 #6

    Only two CLs this year but my season has been curtailed due to licence revocation. By the time I get that thrashed out, I'll be looking at next year assuming I can get it back.

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
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    edited October 2016 #7

    They look our thing, but can I ask were the photos from a "drone"?

    Yes - but don't worry no bombs dropped or privacy invadedHappy

    Apologise to the residents of the Gower and Newquay whom I appear to have moved to Pembrokeshire - I do know that they are not I just like Pembrokeshire so much that I tend to think the whole of South Wales lies in that county.

  • Surfer
    Surfer Club Member Posts: 1,303
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    edited October 2016 #8

    We would not be very happy with any on flying a drone off any site.  IMHO they should be banned unless at a proper club flying field!

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #9

    Birder, do you ise your drone for bird watching?

    Done 12 CL's this year 1 of the 4 times.  Still got a couple to go!

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
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    edited October 2016 #10

    Birder, do you ise your drone for bird watching?

    Done 12 CL's this year 1 of the 4 times.  Still got a couple to go!

    No, I am very carefull with it, so I dont fly near people or animals - or indeed actually over CLs.  Have to say tho I would love to take it somewhere like the Serengetti !

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #11

    Impressed with the quality of the photos BB.

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,640 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #12

    At present we're on our 33rd CL stay for this year and have a couple more booked for this month. We could well get past 40 before the year is out, although we will have visited a few more than once in the year. This will probably be the most that we've visited
    in a single year, but in other years have stayed on only a few less. Been on some great ones, ranging from £9 to £14 all with EHU. 

  • birderbilly
    birderbilly Forum Participant Posts: 349
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    edited October 2016 #13

    Nellie - that is seriously impressive - I can't even conceive setting up packing up and moving on 40 times in a year - you must be exhausted !  Any special highlights or unexpected surprises ?

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,640 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #14

    Nellie - that is seriously impressive - I can't even conceive setting up packing up and moving on 40 times in a year - you must be exhausted !  Any special highlights or unexpected surprises ?

    We do about 5 trips during the year, of up to 11 weeks at the longest. I've not included the few CC and other sites we've used too this year. The CL we're on at the moment is a real find for us, Slapestone Villa Penrith, very popular this being our 3rd attampt
    at getting a pitch here. We like to try new sites where possible, such as The Old Orchard, nr Worcester. In total we've stayed at 7 new to us CL this year, and 3 small commercial sites not visited before.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,606 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #15

    Great post, BB. Although spending 15 weeks on the continent this year I'm glad that we've still stayed on 8 CL's, all apart from 1 being new ones. Like, Nellie, one of favourites was The Old Orchard at Ombersley, near Worcester and Manor Farm near Huntingdon.
    Both CLs have wonderfully friendly owners who go out of their way to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.

    Still chance of 1 or 2 more trips out, fingers crossed.

  • tigerfish
    tigerfish Forum Participant Posts: 1,362
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    edited October 2016 #16

    BB  Great pictures, We stayed on the last one - Heath Cottage in Early - Mid September.  When we were there the site was full so I suspect that it was earlier than your stay. A great CL, although a bit soft after all the heavy rain.

    As I said in another post this has been our first ever year without staying on any club sites.  43 nights in total. The vast majority of which were CL's.  Great value and as you have shown, some outstanding locations.

    TF

  • Athel
    Athel Forum Participant Posts: 80
    edited October 2016 #17

    We only managed one trip away this year but stayed on 5 CLs, particularly liked Glenlivet despite the rubbish weather. Prices from £4 to £12. Have already got my eye on some for next year.

  • m0rrisman
    m0rrisman Forum Participant Posts: 75
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    edited October 2016 #18

    I too use CLs almost exclusively and have stayed on some wonderful ones this year. I agree that Eastmoor Farm on the Gower is beautiful. I stayed there last year, unfortunately after 2 days the weather broke and that was the last I saw of the view! Owners
    were great.

    My favourite CL's are Higher Bochym Farm on the Lizard and Home Farm in Somerset. I have stayed at both now on several occasions and like them for their facilities but more so for their super friendly owner, for whom nothing is too much trouble.

    Write your comments here...Not able to find home farm on the CL site directory
    ggregu any other info to locate!

  • paul56
    paul56 Forum Participant Posts: 937
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    edited October 2016 #19

    Well done, unusual photos. I always take a photo of the van 'in situ' for what my wife calls my Nerd File! Just looked back and this year we've managed 11 CLs, 5 Club sites surprisingly enough (as we tend not to use them) and 2 'commercials' totalling 53
    nights away. Not one of heaviest years but all good fun.