Cirencester Park access road
Comments
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I can reverse but it takes me longer than when I had two working eyes having to turn my head so far from side to side. For me however, when I stay near a town I often will only visit it once during a 5 night stay and so I might just as well pick a site 15 miles away and drive for my visit.
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Were there lots of school and college kids getting in the way? The new road layout only partially removes them. Those comming from the estates the other side of the park will still use the full length of the lane. In such situations I would have thought a risk assessment essential. Even without any reversing, it's a narrow road ( in parts ) for school kids to be sharing with caravans.
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The more I follow this post, the more I am convinced that there are some for whom nothing less than a perfectly straight dual carriageway will suffice. How many members are quite prepared to tow several miles down narrow country lanes with few passing places to reach their favourite secluded CL? Indeed this may be the norm for many due to where they live. We are booked on Cirencester for 10 nights in August, am I concerned? No. Will we cancel? No. By the way our caravan is only 5.4m long.
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Neither will we cancel. Although if we still had our 12 metre combined length car / caravan, I would be undecided. To me it's more about the situation. Once the college and school are back there will be kids in the mix. That plus the fact, that unlike a narrow road to a CL, that has been there for 100 years. This one has been deliberately constructed in this manner in May 2020.😖
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It is one thing being able to reverse and another altogether if somebody is behind in your blind-spot. OK I can ask OH to get out and watch for anybody coming behind me but the site location is not that essential for me to faff. The C&CC Winchcombe site would be fine.
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I have a reversing camera at the back of the van that shows on my cars screen, incorporated with one of those bleeper thingies and like yourself if needed then OH would get out and guide me in bad situations. I feel I have enough to satisfy my requirements for reversing safely along with the safety of others around me.
Perhaps when/if I lose confidence will be the time to look at getting a Motorhome.
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It is not all about confidence though. I am confident (and fairly competent) in reversing having done it often enough in tight situations. I am also aware that we are all capable of getting it wrong.
For me the point is that, generally, the actual site I use is not a primary issue. It is the general area that matters to me. So I prefer to avoid complications. First choice a CMC, then C&CC followed by either a commercial site or a good standard CL.
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Agree, we have used Cirencester before, seen the town, there are plenty other Cotswold sites to use. I can reverse fine, but those bends with the nearby rocks, and the actual width at the passing places are a concern.
Our outfit is 12.75m hitched, better to go elsewhere and avoid any possible damage or hassle!
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It looked a complete hash up of a new road in the early photos, but after Club’s (overdue) intervention, its no worse than many a route into a Site to be honest. There are a number of Club Sites with narrow lanes, blind corners, a few other hazards. But if you know your outfit, your driving skills and add into that some caution and patience, then it will be fine.
The down side really is having to negotiate the lane while staying there, perhaps more than once a day, so a lot of patience and possible waiting, even when not towing, and definitely if using a MH each day to look around area. But it is what it is, a Site in a nice area, you either stay or you don’t.
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We tried it for one night coming up from Cornwall. Possibly most stressful journey we have ever done, as M5 was closed, and torrential rain. It was booked on the hoof, but we were badly delayed. I can’t recall original road in. We like Cirencester itself, and Site had a good dog walk, but we have found a fabulous alternative not far away, that suits us better. No boulders and staggering distance from a great pub😂
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Obviously your narrow lanes were open field, try stone built hedges nearly as high as the caravan.
Those big rocks are a poor replacement for a more expensive kerb, that in reality would have been more suitable for leisure vehicles and as a deterrent for driving over. Done on the cheap and amended on the cheap.
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I can understand the reticence of some about this road having had an altercation with a boulder hidden in some bracken whilst trying to make a sharp right turn. As has been said though, some CLs have "interesting" approaches. I recall one near Haverfordwest with a long narrow lane between dry stone walls and a sharp left turn at the end complete with the added distraction of a buzzard sat on the telegraph pole at the corner.
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I see in a recent review that a member has cancelled bookings due to the new road. Seems once was enough for this person who describes it thus: "If you wish to design a road to deter large vehicles and caravans, this would be it!"
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Obviously not a regular CL user then.
Like CY we have ventured along some hair raising approach roads hoping we don't meet anyone coming the other way but once on the CL the unit doesn't move until the end of your trip. One advantage of the caravan over the Motorhome. It hasn't put us off going to these places though and I can't ever remember a site where the approach road has been a factor in not returning.
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I can't ever remember a site where the approach road has been a factor in not returning.
If I was still a member the West Runton C&CC site is one I'd not return to because of the road.
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We walked up it last year a d it was not much improved from when we stayed there about 5 yrs ago. The road doesn't belong to the club but is owned by the NT who only maintain it.
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