Carnon Downs Caravan Park in Cornwall
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It’s a Site we have stayed on in an earlier incarnation. Possibly 1984 if memory serves me right😂 It was a nice site back then, but only a one night stay for us. I do recall having a shower and it had decent hairdryers.
It looks a nice site. Wouldn’t be our chosen location for a long stay though as it’s inland, and you have to drive out to get to coast and other more scenic locations. Good to know that Cornwall will still have an all year round option though, we visit in all seasons.0 -
It is interesting how some seem to have a misty eyed views of non Club sites. Of the 131 sites I have stayed at since 2000 26 have been what I call commercial sites. Some of them have been the equal of Club sites but many have fallen below the standard that I would expect from a Club site. Now some will want bars and swimming pools which are not of interest to me but because a site has these facilities doesn't make the site "better or worse" Clearly this was the case with Bingham Grange. Although I have not been there, some seem to eulogise about the site when it was in private hands but it seems that many members who had previously not visited when it was in private hands have highlighted shortcomings. So who is right, particularly interesting in the case of Bingham Grange because I think I am right in saying the Club have yet to upgrade the site?
As to Carnon Downs Caravan Park I am glad the Club have purchased the site which will give it an assured future unlike many of the leased sites.
David
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Def and individual thing,
"Some of them have been the equal of Club sites but many have fallen below the standard that I would expect from a Club site."
yes agree that in the main the club does offer a very high standard when it comes to facilities, but for us as long as they are clean with lashes of hot water that is fine for us, after all you dont live in the facilities block.
Bingham Grange has clearly evolved over the years starting off as a farm which then diversified into a caravan camping site, and in as much they utilised many of the old farm buildings, so they were as i said, quirky. They did have a very nice onsite restaurant only open on weekends i think except in peak season and you could also get a very nice take-away.
"Although I have not been there, some seem to eulogise about the site when it was in private hands but it seems that many members who had previously not visited when it was in private hands have highlighted shortcomings. So who is right, particularly interesting in the case of Bingham Grange because I think I am right in saying the Club have yet to upgrade the site?"
I dont think any one person is right, for me it is a personal choice. I think were the club have failed is, they took on the site, have not done the upgrade as promised then advertised it as a club site, maybe they should have put some sort of caveat in the site details to say that the site was not of a normal club standing, and as such maybe reduced the rates, but my guess is, they took it on ran into issues such as Local Planning regs, and then Covid but tried to make a fast buck nevertheless in the hope that people would not notice.
Not sure how the club manage the site, as i said previously the site previously had dedicated reception staff, dedicated cleaners and maintenance people and i would say the site is def high maintenance so not sure how 2-4 wardens would cope which is the club norm
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I've given up puzzling my brain over it, David. I'm so confused, I'm not even sure of my own name any more 😂😂😂
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Carnon Downs was a superb site, able to book seasonal pitches for the Summer. Same at Cayton Village, but no longer. Look at the web site availability for this summer. Looks a bit quiet. The same will happen at Carnon Downs no doubt. These sites are not short term touring parks, but holiday destinations for families rather than a few nights touring stays. A huge benefit was being able to book specific pitches for you and your family for more than 21 nights a year in advance.
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If our Club is actually looking to get new sites in areas where it currently is under represented, the magnificant Loch Ness Shores site is up for sale at two million pounds.
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Yes, there's a thread about it. The site is franchised to C&CC which apparently complicates things. 🤷🏻♂️
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How lucky then that the club has bought the site so you can be assured of future standards. Consider if a commercial organisation such as Haven had purchased it!
I think it’s a good result for us all but you're completely free to search out an alternative site.
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Bath chew Valley was in the past an affiliated site, then after a few years when they had it seems a decent customer base they "dumped" their as they thought a need for the cc to be involved
That was until it seems the customer base started to go down, so they have again come back for some help to build their customers up and is now adults only and all cars are to be left in the car park after pitching
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Seasonal pitches are normally on sites that need add income ,where if not having them would have more empty pitches,at times , that seems is this clubs outlook. as both sites you mention the take up of pitches is as yet unknown under cc ownership and I am sure if needed, will be like other club sites in need of add income be looked at
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nanu nanu
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+1👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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We stay at Carnon Downs on a regular basis. It is a great site with a 7 acre field for dog walking as well as a perimeter woods walk. The best bit was the pre booked pitch and Cornish pasties you could book for arrival, departure or any other time and recently having your papers milk and eggs delivered to your pitch by one of the the owners family.
Its a shame that Simon and family is moving on best wishes to him. I am Glad the Club now has full ownership, but will miss the ability to pitch how we wanted especially against a winter storm (its on a hill top) rather than the clubs regimental pitch post mentality. I also wonder how long it will be before 7acres becomes a storage facility and the pitches get squeezed to double capacity.
Hopefully prices may come down and the high standards will be maintained. If I don't like what I find in the future, I found a couple of other sites with the same high standards open all year round (and cheaper to boot) not to far away.
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Hi No One, you describe very well how Carnon Downs has been up to now - but we can well imagine how it will become.
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Greetings All, just been on to "live chat" to asked when the bookings for 2022 are going live on the web site for Caron Down. Was informed that although the Club has bought the site it is still an affiliated one and bookings for 2022 can only be made by contacting the site direct, I was even given the link
All bookings for this year and next that were in place when the site was taken over are being honoured., but the site will be run as an Affiliated one!
i have tried to find out if the site is being run by the sister company Experience Freedom but not had a lot of luck but it would explain why I was told it's staying an Affilated Site.
Just thought we would let you know if you were hoping to book through the normal channels.
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