Hardstanding or Grass Pitches
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Your question Micky, Yellowcraig has nine grass, no awning pitches shown. We took one a couple of years ago, tucked nicely away. We could roll out our canopy fine. Very nice site this one, pitches are very random, some HS, some grass, set out in horseshoe areas most of them. Very heathy feel on edge of dunes and pine woodlands. Avoid school holidays though.......
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If a canopy left unwound overnight when the wind gets up can be annoying to the occupants of the caravan concerned, would it not also be an annoyance to the occupants of other caravans nearby?
Makes sense for wardens to be concerned that canopies are wound in at night - after all, no-one would be underneath sheltering from the rain (over here) or the sun (over there).
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One of the very best in our opinion. But do your homework regarding school holidays, you don’t want to be there when kids are off, it’s heaving. Brilliant for dogs, stunning location, easy to get into Edinburgh by train from North Berwick, a very nice town. Our morning walk was along beach, and through pinewoods. Good for walking and cycling as well.
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Dunnet Bay is another all grass site which has some non-awning pitches according to the site details page.
Godrevy (all grass) has a few non-awning pitches shown on the site plan although the site details page says otherwise.🤔
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I thought Marazion had a couple of none awning pitches on grass. In fact I can recall us having one for a couple of nights. They were right at back under pine trees with road into Marazion behind you. The tent peg hasn’t been invented to get through those tree roots😂 Mind you, us and Marazion go back to a date when there was no EHU in paddock!
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I’ve not looked it up but, yes, I know the pitches you mean - been there, done that - and there’s barely room for the van on some, let alone an awning.
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Yeah, pitches 25 and 25 I think. That would be a real afternoons entertainment watching someone actually siting an awning, let alone trying to knock the pegs in! Our van was straddling tree roots, let alone an awning!🤣
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Hard to say on numbers as they move the pegs around and, last year, seemed to have fitted in a couple of extra pitches.🥺
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My own view is that the majority of members prefer a hardstanding so I can't see any member wanting a grass pitch being disappointed,
Sorry David but we have been disappointed on a few occasions and I wonder to what extent research has been done on the basic question of choosing and getting HS or Grass?
Personally I prefer the feel of grass between the toes rather than grit.
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On the question of 'research', there was the limited trial a few years back, but the lack of detailed explanation from the Club as to the reasons for not allowing folk to book specific pitch types (i.e. HS or grass), at least gives me the impression that the trial was not very 'robust'. Just my personal opinion - I shall still pressing for members to be able to book pitch types, whenever I get the opportunity.
David
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The warden will be aware of the size of you outfit and in managing the site is unlikely to put you on a grass pitch if they think it will cause damage as they are the ones who have to repair it, if you are concerned I would suggest a call to the site a day or so before arrival.
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My own view is that the majority of members prefer a hardstanding so I can't see any member wanting a grass pitch being disappointed
Not me. Grass every time.
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...and us, in decent weather.....
after a lifetime of sports on grass (football, cricket, golf etc) I have a liking for the stuff.....
chippings? just not the same attraction, I'm afraid
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David, what is it about grass you don't like? For us when the ground conditions are right it's just so enjoyable to be on, back to natural living things I guess.Thing is it must be high maintenance and really only suits the short stayers. Pitch markers I would think need to be moved about to keep the grass in top condition. But it is a much more pleasant surface than gravel in our opinion.
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I certainly respect people's right to choose and in fact welcome it, as it means there is more chance of getting a HS under the current booking terms. However, being able to guarantee HS would be even better.😀
I can even see the appeal in the nice weather. From September to December we were on grass on a seasonal. HS pitches were on offer but were not particularly well located for the extra £100, so we opted for grass. September, given the good summer, was great, as was October, November not so much, December definitely muddy. Even away from the van the grass was covered in worm casts, which coated the wellies.
For what we paid it was excellent value and if we weren't switching to a MH would probably do it again. However, at full price I must express surprise at Whittakerrs and MM's statement of "Not me. Grass every time"
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It would be interesting to know what percentage of Club pitches are on hardstanding. Would I be way out by suggesting 75/80%?
David
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Personally its not the grass that's the problem, it's what can happen to the grass in the UK when the weather is poor. I don't like taking the risk in the UK. Even in the summer, te weather is so unpredictable. However, when we go to the S of France or Italy in the summer, it matters far less. Even after a thunderstorm and really heavy downpour in Provence, an hour later the grass (what there is of it !! 😁😁) is all dried up.
David
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I suppose we should be grateful that sites do have hardstandings, at least it means some stay open all year. If you can get nice grass that doesn’t cut up badly in wet (firm sandy soil underneath) then we love grass. But the sheer traffic on Club Sites means that a lot of pitches are in constant use. It’s the quality and comfort of some of the stuff used though that surprises us. YRP is absolutely awful stuff, big uneven lumps, ankle twisters, and drab grey. Doesn’t make the site look attractive at all. Given that it floods though, perhaps cheap is no bad thing and easily replaceable. We put those cheap Aldi mats down round doorway last year, only way to make striding in and out comfortable.
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Perhaps not good news for you but I reckon the percentage will only increase in favour of hardstandings. As the Club buy/open new sites (probably not that frequently) they increase the numbers as it guarantees a longer season for most sites. Grass might become a rarity?
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all the newer sites Bridlington, Barnard Castle... built from scratch have been all hard standing and I noticed the grass pitches at Troutbeck head have been converted to HS after years of not being used. When the club talks of site redevelopment it is usually more HS.
I think the percentage of grass will slowly dwindle over the years and hopefully that will mean more sites open longer even over the whole year.
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I noticed the grass pitches at Troutbeck head have been converted to HS after years of not being used.
I also thought that to be the case. They really need to update the web site as it shows :- Total pitches 156 (148 hardstanding) 8 grass pitches are also shown on the site plan.
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