Best campsites in Britain
Reading an article today, "Buy my motorhome" claimed their top 3 sites in Britain were.
The C&CC Canterbury site
The CAMC Cherry Hinton site in Cambridge
The CAMC site in Brighton
Having been to all 3 of these sites I can firmly say than not one of them would come in my top 20 British sites. What do you all think.
Should be interesting 
Comments
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I suppose it depends on what you judge the "Best" on? From a location point of view, which is often the reason I select sites, all would be good in my book. If you judging on ambience and facilities then probably not. I quite like Baltic Wharf but from reading some social media many seem to hate the place. I suppose I have to throw it back to you TG what would your top three sites in the UK be?
David
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The 2 CAMC sites were 2 of the ones that we wouldn't rush back to any time soon. The judges must have had a very small sample to choose from if they were in the top 3.
Looking at the chosen ones it would appear that they should have said Best in the London catchment area.
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You know David I'm not sure, there is still lots of places we haven't been.
Out of the sites we've visited this year then Clachtoll has to be up there as one we would go back to.
The CCC site Kingsbury water park, we would use again. Nice site in an area with lots of cycling and walking.
If I had to choose a CAMC site then the Wirral has to up there. Again lots of walking and cycling + on the coast.
We have lots that we like to visit, Old Hartley, White Water Park, Brora, Dunnet. CCC Mablethorpe, Ravenscraig, Conkers.
We don't like city sites or cities as a place to visit, although we did enjoy Abbey Wood and London.
I thought when I read the article that the 3 chosen were just a bit odd given the wide choice there is, not one commercial or private site. The fact that they chose sites rather than places to visit seems odd to.
What would be yours DK.
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We have only stopped on one, Cherry Hinton and won’t be returning to that, especially now we are C&CC members. We will give Brighton a go some time, it’s a place we have been meaning to visit. However of the CAMC sites we have visited over our membership, I think I would put Hawes at the top of the list.
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As the article was in a motorhome magasine I suspect that their choice was severely limited by the fact that the motorhomers I know seem to have their number one priority as public transport being available.
After it being in the area I want my first priority is the view which excludes the majority of club sites and is one of the reasons we mainly use CLs.
So using the view as my main priority my three sites would be Trewethett Farm, Bunree and Plymouth Sound [given the right pitch].
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I would take what is classed as the top three sites ,by a minor magazine article as not a particularly good survey it is aimed at just one particular section of LVs , and the owners who it seems most want to use their motorcaravans as just a method of touring that is the same as with a caravan , but with the convenience of having public transport or within walking distance of towns without towing
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It's interesting, if you look up other web sites they all suggest different places. We've never stayed at the ones mentioned in TG's post and probably wouldn't as we know Cambriidge and Brighton quite well and have also visited Canterbury too. Unlike TG I think Canterbury is well worth a visit, so much history, especially our oldest English cathedral.
As motorhomers we don't pick sites near to bus stops unless they're sites we happen to want to visit. We see caravaners and motorhomers all using the bus stop at CAMC Hillhead, it saves on parking fees and scrambling through traffic in a very popular area and gives access to much of Torbay and the Dart for free.
We don't have a favourite site but we do return to one or two quite often, Slapton Sands, Plymouth Sound, Keswick. Some like Hillhead, Exmoor House and Minehead are within very easy reach so they get return visits. Strangely, Putts Corner is very near but we've never wanted to go, it's situation just doesn't appeal although we like the area.
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My post is as seen and noted by us,, as to the sites that attract MCs over and above other LVs, and as we who have normally been on more sites per year than the majority of those who post , ,quite a good idea of the demographics of site use
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Some reviews of sites are honest. One not far from here says “this is possibly the best and worst site I have ever stayed at”..and goes on to explain.
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The only one I've visited was Brighton during the "Beast from the East" back when I had my caravan. Looking at Canterbury C&CC from a motorhomers's point of view it, along with C&CC at Salisbury & Oxford, seems ideal for a city visit. I seldom visit the same place twice so, in that sense, I don't have favourites.
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A good way of travelling at Hillhead we have found ,if the bus service to and from the site is crowded is to use the P&R on the main Brixham to Paignton Road,,problem at Hillhead is the small single deck buses on the Brixham route, that are needed as the roads are so narrow,
The hourly service to Paignton is normally not so crowded at going to Paignton but can be crowded on the return journey a certain times ,
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If they are in an area we want to visit most sites are OK for a couple of nights, wether they have public transport links or not. What we find a complete turn off is those with no safe footpath walking from the site, such as Burford. It would be in an idea location otherwise. We weren’t even interested when we had a caravan, as I don’t like being committed to using the car to go anywhere.
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Those who want to walk into Burford can do that from Wysdom touring park at the school
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Well it's clear that what one person finds a favourite others not so much.
We are not fans of Chatsworth, Rowntree, Hawes and Tredegar but others clearly are.
We have lots of places still to explore in the UK. The pandemic has caused us to holiday here more in the last 2 years than we would have normally done. There is still plenty of time for us to catch up with the UK when we have finished abroad.
The Scottish Islands are awaiting a visit as is more of Scotland and Wales.
The lake district a favourite of many doesn't draw us so much, as we are not into hill walking. A nice coastal site with coastal cliff top walks or just nice sea fronts attracts us more.
Places where we can cycle unhindered by main roads or crowded tracks shared with padestrians, are more up our street. Towns and cities are rarely of any interest unless special.
Art galleries and museums again not really of interest though the one in Bristol along the wharf from the club site (name escapes me) we enjoyed.
In past years we have toured in winter in the UK which does tend to be so much different to summertime. Not sure if we will manage any this coming Jan/Feb.
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We liked the Burford site but not Burford itself, Broadway is better as easier walking into Broadway and now prefer it to Cirencester, Exebridge is another we would go to again, we are all different so some sites appeal to some and not others, Brighton does not appeal but Fairlight Wood does as it is smaller.
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Strangely I found Abbey Wood was pretty much perfect for a visit to London. Couldn't really find fault at all. Much nicer than Denham but not as handy for us if coming in from the North. Favourite though has to be Buxton, just because it was our go to site when working and I love the Peak District.
Finally I suppose it would be Wirral CP. I think this is the first year we haven't paid at least 1 visit to it since 1990 so I suppose it must tick the right boxes for us. I've always thought it was the situation rather than the amenities on this site as it needs some upgrades but I did miss not going this year.
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As many have said it is so much a matter of personal taste. I avoid sites with facilities such as bars, restaurants and, even worse, entertainment venues. But it goes without saying that for many these are the big draws.
Location is a major factor for me, but the site has to have an open and spacious feel to it and be tidy and well tended and with big well spaced pitches.
Cambridge is a pretty good location but the site was damp, cramped and gloomy. Brighton was so huge and I found the long, uphill walk returning from the bus a real drag, but otherwise it is a good site in a good location. I've have never been back to either and that is a good measure of what I thought of them. I doubt they would make my top thirty of sites I have been to.
I have not been to the Canterbury site. I much like Black Horse at Folkestone and Canterbury is easily reached from there by bus or car. Contrary to above posts, I like Canterbury; but I think you have to appreciate the history to enjoy that city.
York Beechwood, Ayr, Southport, Stonehaven and Littlehampton are among my favourites - but I have rarely been to non-CAMC sites. Also a special mention for Pembrey and Rosedale Abbey and Chapel Lane. The Cotswolds' sites have much going for them but Broadway was too busy and cramped for my taste and Burford had no transport for motorhomers - although Burford itself is my favourite Cotswold town. Bourton on the Water is way too far from the town to get any vote from me. Moreton is another that when full, as it usually is, feels cramped to me.
I have not been to Onich for over 30 years; my modus operandi is now different, but, in those days, it was my favourite site.
If Baltic Wharf were bigger and less like a car park it would probably be my number one. But it isn't so it isn't!!
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I am mildly surprised that most replies to the headline “Best sites in Britain” are simply giving a list of sites operated by one or other of the two big Clubs.
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I have been thinking about this since Tammy Girl posted the first question. On my website I have reviews of about 130 UK campsites. In all honesty I can't say that I would avoid any of them in the future. Obviously the ones that are close to destinations either by walking or local transport would now be further up the list than those in the middle of nowhere. But even those sites that we have been to which in my mind are in the middle of nowhere they wouldn't be ruled out as places to revisit as they might make good overnight stops. Where I perhaps differ from some is that a campsite is not usually a destination in itself. It's what you can conveniently visit from the site without taking the van off site which tends to be the deciding factor. We like towns and cities and that is often a problem when trying to find campsites nearby with easy access. I can't even decide on a favourite campsite!!!
David
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But we have yet to discover what the criterion is by which we, in the context of this thread, judge a campsite as being the best? I suspect the reason why the two Clubs are mentioned so frequently, apart from this being the forum of one of the clubs, is that they often have sites convenient to the places that people wish to visit. Commercial sites can be simpler or have more bells and whistles but they are rarely conveniently close enough to use without transport when many would prefer to walk, cycle or catch a bus.
David
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