Extending Season on more Scottish Sites

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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2017 #32

    For nine years we travelled to Scotland for a fantastic New Year some from Kent and Devon as well as from the Midlands but as cost went up and fuel more there were less people booking and last year was the last time it was held, the year before we were in Cornwall and there was no one around,so I would think that some idea of use has been looked at as far as sites are concerned

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #33

    Balbirnie must have extended opening this year....according to the details it is mid March to early November for 2017.

  • RJLJ
    RJLJ Forum Participant Posts: 148
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    edited August 2017 #34

    Looking at sites in south east and southern regions, 22 close october/November.  I think its a shame more don't open for longer or open earlier.

  • Solobay
    Solobay Forum Participant Posts: 156
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    edited August 2017 #35

    Dare I add - some of this is driven by a 50+ silver tourer group that have retired early and want to get out 12 months a year

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #36

    We find it equally frustrating that so many National Trust Properties up here have a long winter shut down, winter is the time when we are home long enough and have the free time to visit places.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited August 2017 #37

    The club wants to promote Motor Homes. I can see that a lot of caravans are put in storage during the winter but M/H use theirs all year round. Why don't HO look at planning if that is an issue, Look at winter prices. Be a little imaginative in offers. I can think of Lady Margaret and Brecon Beacons at two Welsh sites that could do with a bit of looking at Likewise closing Kinlochewe in Late Sept is odd, even the fishing season has not ended and we go  to Scotland regularly until November. Commercials are open then.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #38

    November would probably be about the limits in a bad winter in the north, the snow gates would be closed. Vehicles would get iced up etc etc. I know some hardy souls will still be in mountaineering tents but it's not really much fun in the depths of winter with short cold days. Can't see it attracting many caravanners, maybe a few motorhomes. Perhaps more possible in milder areas like the Mull of Galloway but you've still got to get there via colder areas. I think we've had a couple of milder winters recently which makes it seem easier.

  • Solobay
    Solobay Forum Participant Posts: 156
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    edited August 2017 #39

    Agree on the far north sites but the Central and south areas could stay open longer and/or all year.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #40

    As TW said, even in Devon and Cornwall only AS s are open all year.

    Hillhead is the only Club site open beyond early November.

    I would have thought that, up here, anything south of Inverness would be OK until late November,  or even Christmas

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #41

    Minehead is in the SW and is open all year. We've been there in the snow and Exmoor was impassable! It's our nearest site for Winter trips. It's usually busy at weekends but much quieter in the week.

  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #42

    Many thanks Solobay for your post which I have sent onto the relevant team for their feedback.

    With regards to some sites closing towards the end of September, there are many factors at play, not all commercial. A big factor is whether or not we have permission from the local authority to open all year or not. There may be conditions applied which make opening not possible. We may also require permission from landlords on leasehold sites. Again, they may or may not grant that, or with conditions applied.

    Of course, commercial considerations do form a part of the Club’s decision making. Fewer people stay on sites over the colder months than on warmer months. This reduction in demand is not uniform across the country either. Whilst we try to keep sites open for as long as possible, this may not always be viable due to the reduction in demand.

    On a more positive note, we do have Club and Affiliated open all year sites in Scotland. These are: Edinburgh, Strathclyde (Glasgow), Grantown-on-Spey, Lidalia, The Ranch, The Woods and Melrose Gibson Park. Some of our open all year sites also offer Kids for £1 and mid-week discounts. Don't forget our CL Sites as well as many of these will either be open for some of the autumn and winter months or open all year. 

    I hope this information helps and thanks so much for your feedback. 

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited August 2017 #43

    Check again .... I always visit Balbirnie on its last weekend of the year which is normally the first weekend in November.  Booked again for this year ...hoping it is not the last weekend we see Andy and Sam the terrific wardens who I suspect will be moving on!

    It also opens mid March as I normally make the opening weekend!

    Would love to see Balbirnie open all year.

    Ayr, Forfar etc are all March to November sites ... Stonehaven stays open until after New Year.

    I am also in West Lothian and do use Starthclyde Park and Edinburgh ... use them at various points of the year but especially in Winter ... I don't mind being pretty close to home as you can make a dash for it if snow is likely (and have done from Strathclyde at least twice!).

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited August 2017 #44

    No change ... these are the usual opening and closing dates for Balbirnie.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,673 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #45

     I thought that might be the case.........

     

  • Solobay
    Solobay Forum Participant Posts: 156
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    edited August 2017 #46

    My mistake - was certain we were on it the first weekend it opened - no matter - point is it could be open all year IMHO

    Andy and Sam moving would be a huge loss - been going there a couple of times a year now and they are a shining example of what all wardens should be like. 

     

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited August 2017 #47

    Couldn't agree more .... I visit probably half a dozen times a year.  They will be much missed ... IF they go. Fingers crossed for another year!

     

    I would also use this site year round!

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2017 #48

    On Morvich at  the  beginning of August there were at least a quarter of the pitches were empty so probably not worth staying open

  • PATMAU
    PATMAU Forum Participant Posts: 250
    edited August 2017 #49

    Of the C&CC sites in Scotland, only 1 is open all year.  5 close 6 Nov.

    8 close 30 Oct.  2 close 6 Oct.  Opening dates with a couple of exceptions opened on 30th March.

    Looking to 2018 the opening date is 29 March just in time for Easter. 

    As some are in the same area as CAMC sites, I don't think local council rules can apply. 

    Anyway, more open all year with CAMC in Scotland.

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