Sites open all year
Comments
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No fun spending your time sitting in the van watching the rain!
Indeed! You can do that in June. (and July) (and August) (etc).
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I think Malc is being Malc. I wouldn't take his points about visiting the north of Scotland in winter literally.
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Having caravans all year for over 40 years mostly on rallies in Winter I have first hand experience of getting caught out in snow and its not pleasant with or without 4 wheel drive. We were once returning from a Centre dinner/dance only 15 miles from home in early December towing with a Mondeo estate on fairly flat roads when it started snowing hard. What a struggle! It took us over three hours to get home with a number of diversions to avoid any hills and even gentle slopes became an increasing problem. It was Sunday and even at midday the roads had not been gritted. Had it not been for some helpful passers by giving us a push on two occasions we would never have made it.
Even with 4 wheel drive its not easy towing in snow especially on journeys such as York to Lancashire over the M62 in January. We still caravan in Winter but keep a very careful eye on the weather.
So to those who want to go to northern Scotland in Winter good luck.
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My most intense winter snow experience was in finding that one of the snow drifts I had been bashing through with the Land Rover was much much deeper than the others. Big enough to bring everything to a sudden stop. When I slid open the window to have a look I couldn't see anything as it was solid snow.
That is why Land Rovers come with opening back door, and one carrys the snow shovel strapped to the rear of the vehicle. I don't think having a caravan would have made more than a few inches difference in the penetration, but we would all have had somewhere cosy to rest while taking turns digging it out!
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We have family in torbay the only site we can find open is Hillhead but that is only till 3rd january and is very expensive or a CL at Newton Abbot that is about 15 miles away. There are not even private owned sites open down there and it's very rare that they have snow or bad weather it that part if the country.
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It happens most winters, Brue, as you and I know.
Can you think of the name of that AO site on the Torbay ring road? It's open all year but I've forgotten the name.
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A lot of us DO van all year. More M/H I admit but there is a lack of choice across the network. ie None here in North Wales, even Brecon is shut. All have excellent road access and we see minimal weather problems. The club needs to look at the position particularly as we now encompass M/H and if necessary liaise with Nat Parks. local auth and freeholders to see changes. Just because some put their vans in winter storage should not detract from those who do not
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It's not just economics, David. Many sites in this country simply aren't granted licences to operate all year round. They don't have a choice in the matter.
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The AO site on the ring road is called Widdicombe farm as is not open all year 15 March-26 October. And yes i appreciate what you say about Halden and Telegraph hill but have traveled to Torbay about once a month for the last 30 years since the ex wife took my 2 children there. We did find a site a couple of years back but not that good and would relly not want to go there again.
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As others have stated, Local Authorities or National Park Planners often will not grant 12mth licences, for fear of opening the door to permanent occupation. There are only two CC sites open all year in Wales, in the north LMP at Chirk (only just over the border) and Tredegar House in the south. Surely the Club could seek to increase opening times at others, particularly Brecon Beacons. But knowing the intransigence of BBNP Authority probably not easy.
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Where we store our caravan only approx 30 out of 100 or so are regularly being used all year round. Quite a lot of them remain under cover and only move at spring/summer peak holiday times.
Along with the local authority restrictions, it must be the case that the Club would not find it commercially viable to open more sites for 12 months of the year.
There are a few motorhomes at the storage site too, nearly all of them are used all year round. It’s mainly caravans that stay under wraps for 5-6 months of the year
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Scoutman-The Morris Leisure site at Betws y Coed is open into January. Could not be nearer the middle of the Nat Park than that. I just wonder if the tea drinkers at HO do any research or even try to seek changes to open times at various sites. This could lead to different opening times and even a change in the location of year round sites. The van usage has changed over the years but the club does not seem to have kept with the changes or made any attempt to attract actual M/Hers except the change of name.
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I didn't say that, David. I was merely pointing out a fact and not speculating on any scenarios.
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Ask the club, David.
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Well, we are avid all year tourers, loving some of the bargain prices on Club Sites as well! Currently at Warwick Racecourse, all facilities, great dog walking, easy stroll into lovely interesting town, all for £14.35 per night! Loads of MHs here, not so many vans. We shall be back here in the not too distant future, but Bolton Abbey may be our next Club Site stop, lovely in the run up to Xmas!
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Can't wait to get out and about again, once the van has had its habitation service and we get back from seeing our son in Malta.
There will be plenty of m/h's out in Scotland all over winter most will wild camp at the ski slope car parks. Glenshee is just up the road from where we live and while the snow gates do get shut from time to time they are soon open again. We also live very close to the A9, signs for the snow gates start just after Perth and before our village.
In a bad winter our village can be cut off from the main road for a couple of days as the main roads take priority. However we have lived here for 27 years now and its only happened 4 times. Driving in snow and ice is something we got used to living in Northern Germany for 20 years. Once the roads are clear we like to go up to the hills, its lovely to see everything white crisp and clean.
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Glad you’re enjoying Warwick, we live here and we like it. Any tips or suggestions for places to eat etc... ask away
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