How to jump the queue to get the pitch you want.
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I'm rarely on a CAMC site long enough to be overly concerned as to where I pitch.
In any case the object of staying anywhere is to visit the local area not to spend the majority of time sitting on a pitch so I cannot see it really matters.peedee
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Let me guess .....over there ! again .😇
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I agree with that and I've said before that it is this blanket arrival/departure rule which is responsible for the sort of behaviour the OP and others have witnessed. Having said that I really don't think there's an alternative at some sites, Chatsworth included and I'm surprised it happened there because the wardens seem to have a pretty good system for controlling the flow of new arrivals.
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There is a simple redress to the problem shown in the original post. I note it was a motor caravan user that was flouting decency. They are likely to leave the pitch to go somewhere, which is just the time to go dump any left-over gear into the bushes and move onto the pitch. If you do this, remember to tell the warden that you had spoken to the miscreant and they had happily agreed to you swapping pitches.
As to the Camping Club "assisting" one to a pitch there is a big difference between the clubs. At Uttoxeter I was heading for a particular pitch and to avoid reversing on the wet ground drove through the vacant pitch behind it. The re-deployed Colonel Blimp in charge of the site came over most upset and tried to tell me off. At the Camping Club site at Sheriff Hutton a warden was "assisting" us to an excellent pitch that had been allocated on the basis of the points on our booking and told me "Don't come down the road - go around the back of those tents and you can drive straight onto the pitch."
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Sounds like the CCC. My experience of that club is that although they allocate a pitch to you, it is based on your needs. Extra work for the managers, but then it is the friendly club.
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It's some years and many visits to C&CC sites since we've been "allocated" a pitch, bob, and that includes a one night stop over at Wolverley last year. What has happened is that we've been asked if we want a pitch in a particular area, taken there and given a choice of the pitches there. At Kingsbury Water Park earlier this year we'd booked a HS but decided to go on grass as the weather was so good and the ground firm and we were offered a refund on the extra we'd paid! I like the C&CC system and have been very impressed by the way they seem to have improved their sites over the past few years.
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Arrived at a site a couple of weeks ago on a Sunday a lot earlier than expected due to the M6 being almost ghostly quiet (England happened to be playing). Planned on waiting out the 30 minutes or so on the approach road but found several units already waiting ahead of us.
Wardens had expected an early influx due to the England game so had decided to let everyone on before the midday rule and were just taking peoples details and membership cards and asking people to come back and pay once set up.
The lady(?) behind us decided to push past me as we went up to the office so I bided my time until the wardens asked who was next and I stated that I was and she sniped that he was in the queue before me. As I explained there was no way she could get her unit passed mine anyway she became even nastier in her response. Result, I handed over card etc and was sent on my way, she on the other hand was made to register and pay before being allowed on site. The icy glare she gave us when she eventually went past was very welcome in the hot weather😂
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I have witnessed this at Chatsworth- the people that do it are obviously superior and more important than the rest of us! Very selfish behaviour.
the idea of ticking arrivals off a list and letting them straight in would as mentioned solve the problem, and it would be first come first served.
expect to see people walking down the lane with a chair to sit on a pitch as people pack up, and for the husband to wait in a nearby lay bye with the unit until 1.00pm!
😂
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This reminds me of an episode at Ganspette in France. A ferry had obviously recently docked at Dunkirk and there was a long queue of caravans and MHs along the road outside. What amazed us and almost made us wish we weren't British was the tactics of some of the owners who were getting out of their outfits and running down the road to the site reception just to try to get in front of the many who were waiting patiently. Some may have had bookings but my guess is those that wouldn't wait were there hoping to get a pitch. The site staff appeared to be doing their best to retain some sort of order. Perhaps this is a regular happening.
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Well, just packing up to leave a C&CC site.
Cambridge.
Cost of my pitch was £7.50. Because of Duxford airshow weekend everywhere was full but I was offered grass, no EHU..... thank you, suits me fine.
Cleared reception, the man on bike directed me to the non-ehu field. He asked, not told, me where I would want to go. When I indicated a spot near the water tap he moved a picnic bench out of the way so I had room for my awning .... "if I wished to use it" as I already had said it was unlikely just for one night.
No fuss about how I parked, my vehicle being a Cali has the side door on the wrong side, but hey.... we're all here to smile.
The man on bike then proceeded to point out where amenities were (20 yards away, other side of hedge... was I happy)... where all the local pubs were, and with a "have a great time" pedalled off into the distance.
As can be imagined, the wardens and staff were all terribly busy but I felt greeted with a smile.
Horses for courses, but the C&CC approach does prevent pitch bagging and rather than having rules thrust upon me I felt that by being shown where I could park up a lot of hassle was being saved.
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That pretty much echos my experience and my view, OJ.
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It is best if reception ask if the one trying to book in is with the outfit at the front of the queue. This stops attempted queue jumping.
In over forty years of membership of the Camping and Caravanning Club I have never been offered a choice of pitch.
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Having just returned from France, it was interesting to experience a variety of pitching methods, all of which mentioned above.
Looking back at them, I think we were equally content whichever method was chosen. My holiday really wouldn’t be adversely affected by someone selfishly going against the unwritten etiquette- I have more important things going on in my life to challenge and do believe in karma!
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Spot on OJ, very much our experience on C&CC sites, one wag up north asked us whether we wanted to go on the "dark" side (meaning the shade.
) The only time in our fifteen years of membership we were allocated a pitch was in Moffat when the site was teeming with short stays and overnighters and they were trying to sort out a big rush of arrivals.If we arrive a bit early for the 1pm opening I'm quite happy for the site managers to eat their dinner in peace or do whatever they need to do whilst we wait. It works both ways. The club could learn a lot from a more customer orientated system on site, pre-booked pitch types and less frustration all round, people know what to expect.
Perhaps some get an adrenalin thrill from the club arrival system, I often find it the least enjoyable bit.
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Recently left C&CC Sandringham site. Arrived in the hot weather, a van in front of us. Greeted by several wardens, 5 couples on site, asked whether we'd like to pitch. Sun please says OH - Greeted by cheers as everyone wanted shade 😂. Paid up and followed cycling warden to MH point, she disappeared for a few minutes, one in front of us 😉. On her return we'd just about filled up, no rush or hassle, she said follow me I'll stop and show you pitches - we turned down 3 but liked the fourth. She offered park whichever way including sideways was a grass pitch 😉 which we did, she guided us in pointed out facilities etc wished us a happy stay and cycled off.
For various reasons hadn't used C&CC sites for a while but as far as we can remember we have been offered a choice of pitch, unless were taking the last one!
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This is the method used at Lay Margarets Park.....strictly booking in in order of arrival. The wardens are obviously wise to the queue jumpers.
Have used 6 CCC sites in the last year and at all of them the warden suggested a pitch then pointed out others we might like to consider too.
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Last year we arrived at Bridlington followed quickly by another unit. I could see out of my nearside mirror that the lady passenger was rushing towards reception and I think she got there before me! The warden was wise to this and asked who was at the front so I said I was and in no uncertain terms told the lady who had rushed ahead that it made sense to deal with me first!!!
David
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Offered a choice every time, and also you do not have to take what's offered you do have a choice.
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No contradiction at all. As I mentioned previously I was acting on the wardens instructions so I have a completely clear conscience. Otherwise I would have obediently waited my turn as I always do unless instructed otherwise. By the time we had found the pitch we wanted, in a matter of minutes, no other member on site was inconvenienced.
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Disgraceful behaviour at Hunter’s Moon when we arrived. A family with a caravan were obviously waiting for other family members to arrive in a motorhome. We were told of a few pitches that were available and when we got to one of the pitches it had a motorhome sign on. Turned out the family already there had placed the sign there to ‘reserve’ the place for the motorhome before they arrived so that no one else could take the pitch!! We knew this because another family saw us looking confused and had seen what they had done!
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Pitch grabbing has been going on for years, it takes many forms.
Thankfully the wardens are very wise to the passenger jumping out and running into reception to queue jump, most will ask who's next in the line.
Passengers running onto the site to stand arms akimbo to grab the 'best pitch' pitch doesn't work with me either, if the vehicle or a sign is not on the pitch then I will drive on it if its the one I fancy.
We have now used a number of C&CC sites and have to say I rather like the fact that I can book a H/S turn up whenever I like and know that there will be one available, even if its the last one.
Recently we were at Beadnell Bay site, arrived on time to find wardens just opening up reception and a queue of 4 vans in front of us (very large field to queue in) there is no queue jumping, its next in line and everyone was quite friendly standing and waiting. Site personnel 3 of them on bikes ready and waiting to escort you to a pitch having discussed with you what was available and asked where would you like to see first. I was even told that there was a large group of young people going in one area (they had been allocated) so if I wanted to avoid it that was fine
no one running around standing on pitches, no vehicles driving to fast to get there first all very civilised. Will be using more of them in the future, much more relaxed attitude and dare I say it, the other campers were very friendly and not a bit stuck up. 
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