Long stay Baltic Wharf
This is one of our favourite sites and we like to book at least 5 nights twice a year which we've always managed to do in the past We are caravaners but have also had motorcaravans in the past
More recently we've noticed this site tends to be monopolised by motorcaravaners who tend to stay 2 to 3 nights and move on (there were only 3 caravans on the site at our recent visit). This makes it increasingly difficult to book a longer stay.
This is not intended as a caravan v motorhome whinge (we have done both) but would it not be fairer if at least 50% of the pitches were reserved for a minimum stay of 4 nights or longer which, hopefully would give caravaners a better chance of finding a slot at this prime site and possibly others. Constructive comments only please.
Comments
-
No I disagree and we have had caravans before our current MH. We have done full weeks at BW with both, as well as a few days and even a one nighter. You just needed to book early.
Probably a bit late for BW in any case, it is closing. Although currently this has been pushed back several times, due to planning delays on its future use. The CAMC is about touring, folk do that in both MH’s and caravans. To restrict a certain number of pitches to a minimum number of nights, would be wrong in my opinion.6 -
"…..would it not be fairer if at least 50% of the pitches were reserved for a minimum stay of 4 nights or longer which, hopefully would give caravaners a better chance of finding a slot at this prime site and possibly others. Constructive comments only please."
Constructive or otherwise, I say a big no to this as, while satisfying your needs JLS, it would disadvantage others.
If you stop and think about it, your suggestion could actually result in pitches remaining empty which is no help to anyone.
The new booking system is coming and we've been led to believe that, happily, a restrictive minimum nights booking will not form part of it.
0 -
Minimum one night is a definite TW.
JK
3 -
Don't forget jv anything booked or amended after April will be a deposit
JK1 -
Surely being in a Club means that all members have equal access? It is very much a first come first served system. I am not sure it would be fair to introduce positive discrimination for one section of membership? I also suspect there are more motorhomes at Baltic Wharf at the moment because motorhomers are more inclined to go away for a few nights at this time of year. Every member, regardless of unit, has an equal chance to book. Its not unusual for pitches to become available at short notice because of cancellations so if you have some flexibility you can often pick up the odd extra night to extend a stay.
David
0 -
My own experience of several visits in the last decade has been that motorhomes have always tended to be more numerous or at least as numerous as caravans at Baltic Wharf, and that includes both winter and summer visits. On my last visit in July, I noted that motorhomes were overwhelmingly the majority; but that might have been influenced by the difficulty of access due to the road works. It seems to me that the nature of this site is always more likely to attract a higher proportion of motorhomes (at least in more recent years since motorhomes became so much more popular). The same is true I think of Crystal Palace and - perhaps to a lesser extent - Abbey Wood; it certainly has been so when I have been there. The CCC site at Oxford was the same, although I have not been there in many years since I left the CCC.
I remember the days when I acquired my first motorhome. I had to ring the club to ask if they accepted motorhomes; it was not obvious! We were very much a minority in those days! That was when the name should have changed, not 35 years later when it was too late to make any difference.
0 -
The majority of sites that have easy access to the local area, have in recent years seen more motor caravans. ,as posted by some on here that is the attraction, as they in most cases do not have the ease of getting of site that a car/caravan has
0 -
Some sites attract MHs for obvious reasons, all of those you mention are good examples. I always view getting to Crystal Palace on the south circular as a bit of an ‘Alton Towers’ type adventure in the MH given my norm is Cornish lanes. Certainly wouldn’t want to try it towing - ‘quick & the dead’ and all that…
0 -
Is it not likely that planning permission for the Clanage Road site will rather depend on the outcome of the planning application for Baltic Wharf? Many of the comments for both applications seem to make the assumption that they are mutually exclusive. Even if not, would the club want two sites in, or so near to, Bristol?
In any case, I foresee arguments ensuing with your suggestion - sensible though it sounds on first reading. If Clanage Road happens it will, hopefully, be a much more agreeable and attractive site with more space and less like the chaotic and cramped jumble of caravans cars and motorhomes that is Baltic Wharf; but there will never be any substitute for the wonderful location of Baltic Wharf - both being right on the harbour side and within fairly easy walking distance of the town and many of Bristol's attractions. Having visited the site of the proposed new facility, I have to say I was not impressed. It is a long walk from the town and, at least at the moment, the shortest route takes you along some extremely dark, unkempt paths and through some pretty unattractive parts of the city. It is also near a railway line that I understand is planned to re-open to passenger traffic. Access to Clifton, by the shortest route on foot, means having to cross the suspension bridge; sadly for me, who cannot do heights, that's a non-starter. Otherwise it is a long walk indeed. A walk into Clifton was one of the highlights of my stays at Baltic Wharf.
I know that is a very personal viewpoint and I mean not to sound self-centred about it. But I do not think people have understood that the new site, if it happens, will not be the same. People call it a replacement. I do not see it that way. It will be very different. But I acknowledge that beggars cannot be choosers and options in a busy, large city like Bristol are few and far between especially at reasonable cost.
0 -
Look at it this way, MHs take up the short stays 2 or 3 days because caravanners don't want them.
We have been to BW in both caravan and MH and found 2 or 3 days enough. Then again we tour, rather than go somewhere for a week then go home.
IMO it wouldn't be fair to favour 1 mode of LV over the other so NO to your suggestion.
3 -
We love BW and it's easy access to Bristol and that it's been close to our son and partner (they are due to move)...however, I can't see it as a 'destination site', certainly not in itself...it's pretty much a very expensive city aire..hence the popularity with MHers perhaps.
it's strange, that many MHers 'simply couldn't' stop on aires yet BW is the Clubs best example of what this type of touring is all about...minimal facilities, glorified car park, city location etc...the only thing 'wrong' with BW is its exorbitant price. Location, location, location.
yes, the attractions of Bristol are fairly close by, but Bristol is a huge city and takes some getting about. We could do 2 or 3 days or our way north somewhere but not a week or more.
0 -
I was at C&CC Oxford last month. MH's were about 80% of the occupants.
I know what Seaside Bill means about the "quick & the dead". I've often thought that the Place d'Etoile around the Arc de Triomphe epitomises that phrase from the Book of Common Prayer. Nearly as hair-raising as the first corner of an F1 race.
0 -
And Southport another! IMO of course.😆
0 -
Is it not likely that planning permission for the Clanage Road site will rather depend on the outcome of the planning application for Baltic Wharf? Many of the comments for both applications seem to make the assumption that they are mutually exclusive. Even if not, would the club want two sites in, or so near to, Bristol?
In any case, I foresee arguments ensuing with your suggestion - sensible though it sounds on first reading
It was really a tongue in cheek remark, I was more wondering what the Club would do with the Clanage Rd site if they were still offered BW? There was some talk of a Motorhome Aire on a proposed new Park and Ride somewhere near Clanage Rd. If that ever came to fruition, then that would be my choice rather than walk from the Police Training ground site..
peedee
0 -
I would be very surprised if the Baltic Wharf development didn't happen at some stage. The City Council seem to have too much invested in it for it not to happen? The City's own housing company is a joint developer so lots of money will be made there and of course the ongoing Council Tax that the development will bring to the City it coming years? I don't know if the Club ever tried to buy the site but I would suggest its probably a bit late now to try? Mind you rather ironic that one of the objections to the Baltic Wharf development is the destruction of lots of mature tress. Wasn't one of the objections to Clanage Road that the Club want to cut down a couple of trees?
It does seem that there are several bus services running along Clanage Road so perhaps not so isolated as it seems?
David
0 -
At Clannage Rd you can go over the defunct railway bridge by the site and join the Avon walk and cycle way. If the railway plans go ahead there might even be further travel link, I would imagine local residents might want that, the route is alongside the Avon between Bristol and Portishead on the coast. A nice run if it ever gets sorted!
I would imagine the delays at Baltic Wharf are due to the flood defence and improvement works.
0
