Why are we always disappointed by CLs?
Over the years we have tried perhaps a dozen or so CLs, and have almost always found them disappointing. The one where the chemical emptying point was "over there" (never found it); the one which charged £20 a night on account of having facilities - facilities that were in fact shared with an encampment of twice as many vans that were not on the CL and apparently used by workmen; the ones made uncomfortable by a number of other, often tatty, vans scattered around. Where are we going wrong?
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"Where are we going wrong?"
Possibly just a combination of bad luck and lack of research , Sid! We're probably the complete opposite - can't think of a CL we've been disappointed with, but you do have to be realistic, they're not going to be the same standard or consistency as club sites.
If I was going to give you just one tip, I'd say start a thread on here asking for recommendations in the area you're visiting rather than relying on website descriptions or even reviews. There's a wealth of experience amongst those of us who use CLs regularly - you just have to ask!
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We have been using CLs for over 10 years now, but use them much more often recently than any other type of site. Only been on one that we would not return to, mainly due to the tight access to the site, but the water, waste and toilet disposal were a bit too basic for my liking, it was chosen for its location.
When we search we select EHU and hard standing, discount anything over £17 unless it has facilities, and prefer to see pictures with the description.
We rarely choose a CL with shower as we have our own, and would not pay extra for one.
We do take note of reviews, especially any by Nellie, and if there are no recent reviews then we tend to look elsewhere.
We check out position and access on google earth and discount anything too near a busy road.
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We have only twice been disappointed in a CL and we almost only use them for about twelve weeks a year. I look for them by location then read the reviews on the ones that come up. If one review is at odds with the others I tend to discount it but general trends can be identified. I prefer to book Cls that have pictures and usually have a look on Google Earth if it is a new one to us. We prefer the ones without facilities as they are usually cheaper and we don't use them but if it were in the right place and had good views I will pay for them if I have to.
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It's either
A) You do not carry out sufficient homework on all the CLs in the area that you wish to visit.
Your expectations are set too high so you should stick to CAMC sites. Not everyone is prepared to change their expectations.or C) You are very, very unlucky.
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We have only ever been disappointed with a couple of CL'S, one of which we used fairly recently, it was a shame as with a little bit of attention it could have been great, as the location was excellent.
We try and do as homework as we can on the site, it's much easier now with Google earth & street view, together with reviews and pictures. I remember only having the details in the SD to go on!
I do find the flouting of the 5 van rule annoying, although it has only happened to us a couple of times, in fact the last 2 sites we have used we have had them to ourselves.
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Got to agree with most of above, especially WN. The main thing to accept when looking for a CL is don’t think they will be anything like a Club Site, because they are not, regardless of what price they are, or what facilities they provide. They are each a unique little campsite, offering a huge variety of services and locations.
What they HAVE to provide is a very short but important list. What they CHOOSE to provide is something entirely different, and this is where being proactive and identifying what you need is key. Know what your absolute must haves are, move onto what you might like as well, check out the location, Google Earth, the reviews, (not just Club reviews, but other sources), see if the price range suits and gives you the value you seek, then think about booking.
A lot of folks are happy just going with automated booking systems, which are good if you have been before. But if it’s your first time visiting, you might want to check with owners via phone or email for any other specifics.
If after all the above, which becomes second nature after a while, you are still not satisfied, then perhaps CLs really aren’t for you. If price v Club Site is the driver, then it’s a route to failure before your visit commences to be honest.😁
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By and large I have always preferred sites in the valuable thread headed Small Private Sites which Take the Dog Along started - many of them started life as CLs but the owners invested time and money to grow them, develop them and improve them.
i know that some CL owners these days have gone to a lot of trouble and take great pride in their CL but I have to say we found quite a few where a farmer with a bit of spare land which had no other use, stuck in a water tap and a cess pit, put in sheep or geese to keep the grass short - and was happy to collect the money.
We gave up CLs for that reason, so my comment is some years out of date but am glad to hear things have improved.
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It is a very different experience ET, but thankfully, for folks like us that are fine with very basic, there are still a few that have little more than a water tap, a rubbish bin and somewhere to dump the waste. Don’t get me wrong, we don’t want anything untidy or unsightly, and certainly not unsafe, but a close mown field, safe water, a bin and an easy to use cess pit, in a gorgeous location, surrounded by birdsong and wildlife can be absolute bliss.😁
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We have used CL’s predominantly for the last 20 years. We typically decide what area to go and then research using forums for recommendations if a new to us area. Often when we’re out and about we pop in to view potential new sites which we’d like to try.
We like CL’s who have photos but also use google earth as well. We’ve only been disappointed by two, one no longer listed in IOW and one still listed which had the same experience as Eurotraveller.
We also prefer sites without facilities as we have our own, and also both bothered by hardstanding, although will use if available. We also discount anything over £15, although more and more seem to be advised of £15+ by the club.
Ask away in here -Nellie is a wealth of information.
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Just like the one I’m on now 😀
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The CLs I mentioned with the workmen's caravan site and one of the ones with tatty other vans scattered around both got 8/10 reviews and none of the reviewers seemed concerned about what felt to us like another site on the same location. Maybe we're too picky
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Think youre rambling ,,Sid !!
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I have no idea which are the CLs you are talking about RS, but some CLs do store vans perfectly legally, tatty and pristine. I agree you don’t want to be parked up in what appears like a scrap yard, but a look on Google Earth might have highlighted this before you booked and visited, and you could have searched elsewhere.
To be honest, I have read all your Club Site reviews, and you do mention some aspects of negativity that are quite obvious to others, for example Warwick Racecourse is going to be very different on a Race day to a non race day!
Please don’t take it as criticism, it wasn’t intended that way, and I think if you do a bit more research and make sure you ask the right questions of the CL owner, you will come to enjoy them like many of us do😁
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- We love CLs and infact are on one right now. However I do think that if you need/want shower/toilet then there is a much greater chance of being disappointed than if you use your own. Whilst those facilities if provided might be adequate, the chance that they will be equal to ours (van and home) or even CAMC sites is very slim. What CLs do provide is space, peace and quiet, location, wildlife and most importantly originality at a low price.
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They vary, we have used CLs with top quality facilities.
RS, take a look at the Small private sites thread in the UK section. You might find something of interest there as well.
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As I've been mentioned a couple of time I thought that I should add my tuppence worth.
We use CLs all year round and have found very few that we would not go back to. We do not look for those with toilets &/or showers but I will use them if available and in decent condition. We prefer to choose from those that have photos on their CC or web page, have good reviews overall and ones that have been recommended by CT posters. We use Google earth to view them, if possible both to see the site's position and the route to them. If I not familiar with an area I'll ask on here for recommendations, which in virtually all cases lead to us using some of those posted and have not found any lacking our requirements. If you are looking for ones in a particular area just ask as there are many one here only too willing to help. The more that use CLs the better chance of them stay open.
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+1 Nellie!😁
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We use more & more CLs these days to move away from the pack 'em in CC sites.
We've only been disappointed by two. One was in the North East where the owner had intended us to pitch in a grotty, muddy corner of his yard but we'd already pitched elsewhere in his absence. He was taking the proverbial with his interpretation of just 5 pitches too .... apparently the other caravans were on his daughter's caravan site .... 😞 And the other was a working farm that milked his cows at O'crack sparrow f@rt on the other side of the barn wall we were pitched against.
You win some .... you lose some.
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I can’t imagine where you’ve been Sid but I have had exactly the opposite experience. When I was on grid I came across some lovely sites which were well equipped and kept. I went off grid some six years ago and have had stunning sites to stay on- often by ourselves! Yes, indeed you must have had bad luck but look at the reviews - that’s what they are there for.
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I can identify with Eurortraveller's description of a "corner of a farmers field" having stayed on such a CL, albeit for one night in transit about seven years ago. In its defence it was only a fiver. I suspect RS has set his expectations too high coupled with a lack of research.
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If over the course of time you have tried 10 different bottles of red wine but found none to your taste, perhaps you don't like red wine? Could it be the same with CL's? Over the years we have used relatively few CL's but so far this year we have used 2 and are currently on a small site which was previously a CL. No complaints so far. I suppose you have to ask why you want to use CL's. Is it the seclusion, is it the cost, is it that you don't like large sites? There are a couple of Facebook pages where the more progressive CL owners tend to post details of often quite well equipped CL's. I don't always find the reviews on this site very useful as they are often not very comprehensive. Often the ones on UKCampsites are better and as its a requirement there to list what type of outfit (caravan/motorhome/tent) you can drill done a bit more in to how fellow motorhomers feel about a site. For us any CL or site is a means to an end and the first priority is location being near to where we want to visit. Once that is established we can then drill down into the facilities and relative qualities of the site before making a decision. I am not sure I would pay more than £20 a night but that could depend on what other choices I had.
David
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A few years ago, we decided we wanted to find some CLs (or CS's), about an hour or so from home that we could use as a 'bolt-hole' from time to time.
I did some research from reviews, Google Maps etc and came up with a short-list of about 10 and we set out for the day (without the van) to have a look. We found some horrors - like the one near Filey that described the 'wonderful views of Filey Brigg' - which looked like a travellers camp and Filey Brigg was only visible if you stood on the caravan roof!
On the other hand, we found two lovely sites - High Breame at Flamborough and Thornthorpe CS, near Malton and we now use both at least a couple of times a year.
I suppose it was taking that research one stage further - but it was worth it and if we're out and about in the car - and pass a CL that looks promising, we usually pop in - have a chat with the owner - and get a feel for the place - and if we like it, mark it down for future use.
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The only reason we use CLs is that they fill in gaps in the site network and enable us to stay where we need to be. We don't expect much; we choose CLs with hookups, and we've never had a problem with those. We don't look for ones with facilities, but we are disappointed when we pay for facilities but they are dirty. We look at reviews (our two recent disappointments have average scores of 8/10) and at the satellite view on Google Maps (in both cases there is the odd extra van around, but not the large encampment we found on the ground). I will take the tip about UKCampsites, though.
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we use plenty of C&CC THS sites so this brings you 'down to earth' regrading facilities, there aren't any...
so, when we use a CL/CS it's likely that we are moving a little 'upmarket'
but the MO is the same...these sites are in places (coastal or close to town centre) where full blown sites aren't generally around.we're rarely disappointed as location is the prime driver...we have good facilities on board and are happy to use them.
the 'payback' is being in a great area at half the price (or much less) of a club site, often with loads of space...(we're using only few club sites each year nowadays).
i can understand being annoyed if there's a huge 2nd site next door, or fields of stored vans, but Googlemaps is your friend as others have said.
...but as DK pointed out, the CL style may not really be for you...as it is we love CL, CS, THS and red wine
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