Lack of rules
Just spent the weekend at a lovely independent site. When the office was closed there was a sign on the door which said;
"If you have a booking please refer to the envelope attached to the notice board for pitching instructions. Please come back in the morning and pay the balance of your fee".
"If you don't have a booking please pitch on numbers x, xx, xxx, xxxx, etc. And come back in the morning and pay your fee".
The toilets didn't close for cleaning either. Very few rules. Pitch how you wanted providing it didn't obstruct anything and you were far enough away from your neighbour.
Bliss
Comments
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Yes. To point out that there are other ways of running campsites.
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But its very simple, if you want that way of your site being run then you go there (or places like that). If you like the club way then you come to a club site. Leave the club sites to those like them. Judging by the popularity of club sites many do. Judging by the number of empty pitches on your OP can the same be said of the site you describe?
Its says you're a member mbee, if you prefer your sites as the one you described then why be a member?
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You mean people didn't know this?
Are people forced to come to a club site?
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I'm always amused - or should that be bemused? - by treads like this, whether it's the booking system, deposits, checking in, on site rules etc etc etc.
To me it's simple - you look for an area you want to visit then you look for a site you'd like to book. They all have different systems - if you can live with it, book it, if not look elsewhere.
It's not a better system, it's just a different system - it's not life or death, it's a few days holiday we're talking about. Why all the fuss?
Edit - I'd be slightly concerned by the statement "pitch how you want ..." - not everyone has the same interpretation of consideration for your neighbours!!
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with the two clubs being the default choices for sites in the uk, its good that members can post about their experiences (good and bad) of other site providers and give a broader view to others who may be interested.
agreed, campers (members and non members alike) arent forced to stay exclusively on club sites (thank goodness, as its always good to have balance).
information as posted in the OP is always welcome to provide an insight to those who might wish to venture out of the network of (both) club sites and their processes.
Commercials give great value, alternative locations, different deals and a different ambience to the two clubs.
a thread or two about alternative offerings in the marketplace keeps members up to speed with 'whats out there'.....highlighting choice is good.
perhaps the site name and location would help.
thanks to the OP.
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I don't think club camping is the default choice. Far more people use commercial sites I'd guess.
Based on the Facebook groups at least
We camped very happily for years without joining a club and will do in the future.
I do prefer defined pitches though whoever provides them. Someone else's reasonable distance from others may not be mine
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I have always found the arrivals procedure very straightforward at club sites. Arrive anytime between 12 / 1pm and 8pm. Baltic Wharf does actually put pitching instructions on a board if you arrive after the office is closed. I am not sure I would want folk able to arrive at midnight. Or do they shut and lock the gate on the OP's site, as they do at BW.
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I am just wondering how many people select a campsite for the rules or lack of them? Perhaps the OP is just expressing surprise at find such a site?
David
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possibly/not 'surprise' David, but certainly likely to be 'delight'.....the post ended with the word 'Bliss'
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The pitches were defined but you were not restricted to car, caravan, awning in that particular order. I started this thread to show the difference between some sites being regimented and others being far more relaxed. It was a comment about a site I'd been to that I found most enjoyable with few rigid rules.
Moulesy - not quite sure why you should be amused or bemused? Clearly you're a "club" man not that there is anything wrong with that. So am I to an extent but having been to a non club site and found it to be so relaxing without having to worry that the car is the wrong side of the van!
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That's why we like Setthorns site ,the pitches are defined by trees and bracken and well spaced apart ,and NO peg ,so you can park anywhere in your pitch, forwards ,backwards and even sideways, depending on how you feel when you have come back after a day out , but I also use club sites and my target is always to be within 2mm of the peg
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What are these pegs you all refer to?
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Yes I agree about the two clubs not being the default choice. Looking at the facts and not perhaps biased perceptions, the two clubs have about 350 sites between them, while uk-sites.com which supposedly provides a comprehensive list of every known caravan and campsite across the UK states it has over 3000 sites listed. If the two clubs are default, then the other 2700 or so sites just take the left overs?
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mbee - a "club man" ? You couldn't be more wrong! Just last week we were at Ross Park in Devon, our last week away was at Wood Nook in Yorkshire. We've also been on C&CC sites and two CLs recently. Oh, and yes two club sites! Next month we've got two bookings for CLs. We use club sites if they're where we want to be and give us the best deal. In general I haven't found the rules any more restrictive at club sites than on the commercials we've been to. CLs are more relaxed of course.
But as David said above - who chooses a site based on rules or the lack of them?
BTW, which site were you on? It sounds good and might well be ne we'd look out for!
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Mbee
I wonder if you have seen the latest CMC magazine where in one article they explain the reasoning between the spacing between pitches? Might be interesting to compare with the site you mention. BTW, are you going to share the name of the site in question?
David
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Given the experience of the fire at one site where the separation was just enough to prevent the adjacent units going up but they were damaged it is clear that this has to be a minimum. I would not want a site where they did not monitor this at it is dangerous. I know the continental sites do get away with far less but I can see a disaster at some point.
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Moulesey says , "it's just a different system - it's not life or death"
Unfortunately, many of these rules that are seen by some as obnoxious are just to prevent death, disease, and damage. A (reasonably) safe distance between units, people not to race about on bicycles, dogs not to defecate everywhere, cricket etc not to be played between units. All to protect the many from the uncaring actions of the few.
I just don't get what a few people are on about pegs. Everyone could be left to work out for themselves where to put their main unit with a 6m seperation from other units. When pitches are close together as most Caravan Club sites are now, when they, or their neighbours get it wrong everyone has to move their unit so that all pitches can be used. I'm glad someone has measured it all out beforehand and I can see where to pitch right away and get on with my holiday, even if there is nothing on adjacent pitches at the time.
Remember it has been clearly stated so many times that the peg shows where the main unit is to go. Either way around, or stand it on end!
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Yes indeed, you should have at least 6m between spaces of adjacent caravans/motor home walls I can't understand mbee's point about being restricted to car, caravan, awning in that particular order, you can have (apart from two/three sites) car, caravan, awning or awning, caravan, car. On an awning pitch and you don't put up your awning it is possible to have a car either side. I have in the past, and yes I checked with the wardens
The club has chosen to have the main unit in the middle to maintain the 6m rule. Again if you don't like that (as it has been going a few years now) don't book a club site?
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Glastonbury.......... I knew it 😘
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Good one, lol as they say
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Did the OP mention mud though . . . ?
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Remember it has been clearly stated so many times that the peg shows where the main unit is to go. Either way around, or stand it on end
as now shown on page 11 of the July magazine, (not standing on its end though)
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