Blue peg (standard pitch without awning)

Heethers
Heethers Forum Participant Posts: 641
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edited August 2019 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

We are new to Motorhoming, up to now we have been out twice once to Castleton and then to Southport both enjoyable. l am a little confused on rules on the use of the canopies attached to the Motorhome, at Castleton we were told we could wind the awning out permanently on a blue pitch, now here's the confusion at Southport we were told we could wind it out in the day but had to rewind it in at night due to fire regs. l fail to see what difference it makes to the fire regulations in the day as apposed to night, can anyone clear this up. At both sites l paid the same for blue pitches as white ones so whats the advantage of a blue pitch 

Nidge H

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  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #2

    obviously, on cc sites, fire ony spreads at night and only on Western coastal sitesundecided?

     

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2019 #3

    At both sites l paid the same for blue pitches as white ones so whats the advantage of a blue pitch 

    For me there is no advantage generally. On some sites the location of a non awning pitch might be worthwhile as at Bunree where the pitches closest to the loch are non-awning. Similar easons on a few other sites. Generally they offer less location choice.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited August 2019 #4

    I didn't know that BB

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #5

    elementary, my dear Alanwink

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,146 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #6

    With the exception of the odd site such as Bunree, there is no advantage in choosing a non-awning pitch. In fact, it’s often a disadvantage. I tend to book an awning pitch in order to have a better choice and, possibly, more space. 

    As for leaving the wind out canopy out overnight, opinion varies. It seems daft to me to need to wind it in as either the required gap exists or it doesn’t, irrespective of the clock. 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,866 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #8

    In the scheme of things there is not much point in booking a non awning pitch and no incentive either. It is a different matter if non awning pitches are the only ones available of course. Before I book a site I tend to have a look at the site plan. Some sites only have few blue pegs whereas others have quite a few.

    With regard to the use of a canopy on a non awning pitch I had always understood that to be a concession so that you could use a wind out canopy during the day (whilst you are around the van) to provide shade but on condition it should be wound in at night. We tend to do that anywhere regardless of whether we are on an awning or non awning pitch, it only takes a couple of minutes and is no hardship, at least to us. It is possible that on some sites the spacing is more generous but not quite generous enough to make it a full awning pitch and in those circumstances the warden is using a bit of sensible discretion? 

    David

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #9

    Like David we put the canopy away at night, it is so easy with a wind in / out. No more middle of the night scrambles to rescue the roll out on our caravan. 😂 We tended to leave that out as it took longer to put away.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,146 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #10

    Yes, us too. I’d not want to try rolling it in during the night due to a sudden change in the weather. 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #11

    The only time we've booked a non awning pitch recently was at Hebden Bridge where I saw on the plan the "blue peg" pitches where at the back of the site away from the road...when we got there it was quiet on all the pitches! 

    The other place I don't bother which type of pitch I choose, is Rowntree Park in York where we book what is available, also Baltic Wharf.

    So there are places where, if you really want to stay there, you can't be too fussy about the pitch type.

    Old Hartley is another anomaly, no awnings allowed anywhere.

    So, as said, check the plans and what's available and adjust to the circumstances.

    edit we tend to leave our roll out "out" only taking it in if the weather is windy.

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #12

    Some non awning pitches at Seacroft are in hedged pitches which with the Easterly winds can give protection,we have used them Early and late in the Season 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited August 2019 #13

    Could you tell me how you find the site plans for CMC sites as I have never seen anywhere that that's possible. cheers.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #14

    Minehead has a short row of southerly facing, but wind sheltered non-awning pitches (some of the site can be quite dark as its shaded by a sloping wood) which are plenty large enough for a single MH, even with the canopy out for a while.

    booked one 'by accident' and was surprised at how nice they were, so now we prefer these tomthe awning pitches.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,866 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #15

    If you go to the webpage for the site you are interested in click on the link "site details and price bands" This will take you to the main information page for the site in question. On the right hand side, lower down, you will find links to the Site Plan, Site Leaflet and Site Accessibility. These are usually in .PDF format.

    David

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
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    edited August 2019 #16

    I already worked this one out after being told to wind my canopy in. My canopy is used as a rain cover (more use than for Sun !!) and it is left out overnight with storm straps holding it down. Only take it down if it gets too noisy to sleep. Notice many Caravans now also use canopies, this causes a problem as to where does the car go ? on a Blue reduced space pitch.

     (unless parked under the canopy !!)

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited August 2019 #17

    Cheers DK.

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
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    edited August 2019 #18

    Confusion, it should be simple, if I was running the club no awning of any type would  be allowed on a none awning pitch too many members push the boundaries of what is allowed, none awning pitch should be van/motorhome only.

  • Heethers
    Heethers Forum Participant Posts: 641
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    edited August 2019 #19

    Hooker in that case it should be reflected in the price

  • ATDel
    ATDel Forum Participant Posts: 335
    edited August 2019 #20

    Don’t see the problem with a Motorhome having a canopy out, there should be plenty of room as if it was a caravan there would be a car as well, 2x items , Motorhome with canopy 2x items!

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,485 ✭✭
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    edited August 2019 #21

    Just a point - if you're on a standard pitch without awning (blue peg) a motorhome parked to the blue peg would be the same as a caravan parked to the blue peg but the car would be parked on the offside of the caravan and would still only have the same space available on the nearside - and not sufficient to put any type of canopy out.

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2019 #22

    It always is a good idea to speak to the site Warden as some non awning pitches  "just" fail the latest spacing , we have been allowed to extend our wind out canopy during the day while the c/van has been occupied,and wound in at night while on a blue peg pitch

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2019 #23

    Just go nose in, unless you have a continental MH, in which case it's already not  a problem.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2019 #24

    yes, we take note of sun and 'other factors' and then either Drive or reverse in...not too difficultundecided

    is there an offside rule with a MH?....just turn the steering wheel, it actually works...smile though, as CY says, our canopy is already 'offside'.