Malvern Hills-low occupency.
Currently having a few days at the Malvern Hills site (formerly Blackmore).
Lovely site, superbly maintained with excellent and friendly wardens.
Looking out, I would say nearly half the pitches are empty and this is not a small site. Quite suprised at this for this time of year. Last time here it was nearly full (but 14 years ago).
Anyone else in a low occupied site?
Steve
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We were at Blackmore 2 weeks ago and it was the same then. Around half empty.
Could it be related to high site fees?
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Having just booked a September tour, when we found several sites were full for most of the month, we did notice that virtually all the sites we were looking at were NOT full in August, which was quite surprising.
Having had a sharp intake of breath at the September prices, and the August ones being even higher, then possibly adding children......I am now not surprised!
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CCC site next door at least two thirds full.
Looked At late availability- Malvern has 120 spaces free out of 210.1 -
My guess based on conversations with other members is that many older folk choose to visit sites outside of school holidays. Which means that if that were common then sites which are not exciting to families with children would suffer from lack of bookings. Most kids I am sure would prefer to be near a beach not in the Malvern Hills.
This may explain the full sites in September but empty in August.
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Agree with BM, coupled with the high price at peak time.
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The site is just under £27 a night for two adults in peak time. Not sure that the C&CC site next door is any cheaper. Kids are £1 a night on this CC site. I presume that his not popular with families (except perhaps weekenders. As BM says many of us oldies avoid school holidays
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Out of curiosity , I've just compared the prices of Malvern Caravan Club v. the CC&C next door.. the Camping Club comes out at £1.75 per night cheaper in August for our outfit with 2 people... Not a massive saving, but if you are in both clubs why pay extra ? I did a similar comparison recently when we went to Cromer and again chose Camping Club over the Caravan Club's Incleborough Fields ( next door ) as it was a pound or so cheaper per night.. Every little helps.
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Could it be the cub is looking at the wrong market. Families with kids don't do CC sites. Us oldies shun August and start back in September. However before the tea drinkers get carried away the commercials start their offers in September. We get Haven Europitch for £11 in September and October.
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There are better destinations for families which I presume is why the offer is there. It attracted us a few years ago when it was kids for 1p. I'd not rush back if I'm honest but may consider it to break a journey.
If a site is going to be quiet in the summer school holidays I'd think this would be a very likely candidate
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We have used the Malvern site a few times for weekend stays when the children came with us. It's a pleasant site, but for longer stays with children it meant travelling longer distances for things to do.
We go back to the area now but use CL'S.
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The sites we booked did include some in probably more popular areas for holidays.....Ramslade and Merrose Farm and Trewethet Farm, these were the ones we were surprised were not full in August.
Some other Devon area sites we looked at were totally full for our dates in September, but plenty of free dates in August. I think price is a big factor.
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I've not visited Malvern Hills site, partly as Jayess says because of the poor ratio of H/S to grass pitches........
But I've just come back from East Anglia, stayed on three CC sites, all effectively full as far as I could see without peering down every nook and cranny, so I don't think it's anything to do with general pricing of CC sites, even though people might wish that........
But the CC is a commercial organisation, if it thinks it has pitched its prices too high this year, it will adjust them down next year......
But I wouldn't hold your breath.....
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We were there late April last year, over a weekend and it was pretty full then. I tend to agree that it's probably not a family holiday destination which will impact on numbers during the school holidays. As such you would imagine that the Club would reconsider its pricing structure, maybe a mid week discount even during the summer? Also the site is a bit remote and transport links not brilliant in my view.
David
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I preferred this site to the one next door which doesn't have the open views. But having two sites next door to each other in this area is unusual. I expect they are both busy when there are things on at the showground down the road. What does the opposition charge I wonder?
We liked it because we like pootling around on the Malverns and Malvern itself (good theatre there) and you can walk to the pub in Hanley Swan. But for return visits it would be CLs in some of the nice villages around there.
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Also the site is a bit remote and transport links not brilliant in my view.
David
I was going to disagree with you on this point David having stopped there a few years ago. However, on checking Google, I see one service we used no longer exists and the other between Worcester and Upton, is much less frequent. Local council subsidy cutbacks I suppose.☹️
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Steve
When we were there I saw a note on the Butchers shop, in Hanley Swan, saying they were reviewing bus services and as that usually means cutting them back was the reasoning behind my comment. Because we tend to rely on public transport I tend to do a lot of research before we get to the site. The one thing I have found is how much the provision of public transport varies between regions.
David
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if it thinks it has pitched its prices too high this year, it will adjust them down next year......
Fat chance of that happening, but if we (the customes) get lucky they might just not go up by as much as others.
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You will have go back to towing (a car) that is the one thing stopping my purchase of a motorcaravan, do not want to rely on public transport or bikes ect ect.
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I do not think it as any easier, about the same, least you can see the van without a camera.👍
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I cannot see that happening. There are loads of sites where access to towns and villages are accessible by foot, loads more where there is good public transport. Personally find owning and using a motorhome much easier than caravanning, won't suit all but it does us. Even Malvern is a nice site and within walking distance of Hanley Swan so fine for a couple of days but not so good as a base.
David
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We used the CCC site last year in July and with our OAP discounts saved over £5 per night. Much higher occupancy than the CAMC site then as well.
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