Chatsworth Check In
I live so close to the Chatsworth site I can time it to arrive a few minutes after 1pm. At 1.20pm I’m currently 10th in the queue down the lane. Why oh why isn’t the check in changed?
There’s absolutely no reason for it. The warden “standing guard” on the lane should have the arrivals list which tells him which colour peg. He gives you a map, ticks you off and tells you to pitch THEN go back to reception to pick your gate key up and pay. Would make arrivals much speedier and the two vehicles waiting to get out of the site won’t have to wait until at least 2 or even later to get out.
Comments
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Everyone must have a free choice and go in together when the clock chimes - though ahandicapped start would be fairer for those who can't run as quickly as others to pick their favourite gravel square. On your marks, get set, BANG.
But do give my regards to the Duke when you meet him - hello Peregrine - tell him I'm sorry I can't be there.
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Ah, Chatsworth.
Been once did what we wanted why subject yourself to the hassle again. You say you live close by so why bother.
Have you shared your thought with the warden? There might be a good reason why your method won't work. Could it be that there would be to many vans trying to manoeuvre the site all in one go.
Until you ask you will never know.2 -
As posted so many times ,if you have a problem as with most things why have a rant on here ,when a conversation with those on the frontline has normally saved the "stress?" and then having those who will just give their own normally incorrect reasons as to why their idea is better when not having had the "problem" themselve- s
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Do what we do, (although you do need a MH or camper van for it to work) Book in, tick arrive between 18.00-20.00. Spend day out doing something interesting and nice, arrive at site between time above. Never a queue. Ten minute set up, then first cuppa. We don’t do queues, or the mythical “perfect pitch”.
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Likewise, I don't think I have ever arrived at or near to earliest arrival time, much preferring to arrive mid/late afternoon.
The pitches all look the same to me on most sites, I'll rest my bed wherever from whatever is available on arrival.
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We are a Wardens nightmare in Summer months, usually arrive quite late. Never ended up in LTA area though. To be fair they are always cheerful.
Another reason we like CLs. I usually check if it’s ok to arrive late, and to make sure they know we will be turning up, even if the sun is setting!
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We learnt on our first visit to avoid the 1pm madness on weekend days. Earlier this year, turned up at 2pm on a Tuesday, only 1 van in front, just moving off as we arrived, 5 minutes to check in and then straight on to lovely big pitch (not under trees) at far end of site with a sort of view of the house.And that was leading up to early May BH weekend. Sorted!
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Ah, but M, did someone else have a nicer pitch than you? You may never know!
Chatsworth is one of our closest Sites, along with Clumber Park and Castleton. Never been tempted to visit first two, and a lot of years since we stayed at Castleton. It used to be our early December bolt hole for a long weekend when we were working, chaps sent on ahead to do the set up and dog walking, while the lasses caught the train to Hope after work. My BF was late one time, then I heard some blues and twos and knew she was on her way! We just made the train.👍😂
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"Ah, but M, did someone else have a nicer pitch than you? You may never know!
"Quite possibly!
My policy on arriving is to find the first available pitch that looks OK (or ok-ish), get on, get set up and that's it! It's one of my little foibles that drives Mrs M up the wall (apparently there are some others! )0 -
It’s not the pitch we go for it’s the time we’re there. I was working from home this morning, left home at 11.50, up to the storage yard, hitch up and arrive at Chatsworth by 1pm. It’s less than 20 miles away but it’s another world but had to spend almost as long in a queue to check in!
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At Rowntree Park, York, on arrival there was a warden outside with a list of arrivals, he took our membership card and told us to find a pitch, come back to reception after finding a pitch, pay and get keys.
It was a little while ago, so not sure whether that system is still operational, but it seemed a very effective way of avoiding a bottleneck at check-in.
I'd have thought it would work at Chatsworth too, it's many moons since we were last there, but we saw the 1pm rush when we were there too. Surely it's quicker to take people's membership cards off them, tick them off on the list and send them on their way to find a pitch. Rather than to have numerous units queueing up, each one checking in, paying, being told what pitch marker to look for, being told how to pitch to the peg, do you want to order a paper, have you got a dog, have you stayed here before, etc.
Only my humble opinion of course, and I'm not a warden, just a mere member
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Your suggestion does sound good. I don't think you'll get an answer on here , apart from 'pass it on' that is. Why not send an email in to head office?
Like M in peak I aim to arrive well after opening time.
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I fully understand mbee, and agree with what you are saying. After years of going away for a month at a time, we found ourselves unable to do anything longer than four days (3 nights away, because of caring duties) Going to a Club Site with a caravan became hardly worth it, as we had to arrive after 12 noon to drop off and set up the van before doing much, then on the last day, you have to pack up and exit by 12 noon and then sight seeing with a van on back isn’t quite as easy. At less busy times, it was possible to stay a bit longer, but its not always a given. We were in the lucky position of being able to purchase a MH, which altered things significantly for us. Out all first day doing something, pitch up late first night, then on last day head out for another full day somewhere to maximise our free time. It’s possibly the single best reason we have for touring in MH, you simply get much longer from each day. We still have our old van, great for long lazy tours on just one or two sites.
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We encountered a similar situation at Chatsworth last December it didn't particularly bother us and there must have been at least twenty units in the queue.In fact I thought it was quite well organised. One problem I can see with what is being suggested is that you could have up to 20 units going round the site looking for a pitch. Don't forget there are several pitch types at Chatsworth and if you are unfamiliar with the site it might be helpful to have some input from from the wardens. You only have to have a couple of caravans or motorhomes trying to reverse onto a pitch you risk grid lock. There seems to be an assumption that the wardens have not thought through the process of booking in. Perhaps the OP should have asked the staff why they don't do it a different way?
David
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We have experienced trying to leave a site when early arrivals start queuing. I had to physically stand in front of one unit to allow my OH to drive out of gate. They were rolling down nose to tail, talk about desperate!
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