Best campsites in Britain
Comments
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For us, it was always about the variety of walking either directly from or within a short distance of the site we were on. Very difficult to cast my mind back over so many years, but I think if I had to nominate 3 it would be -
Hawes CAMC site for its proximity to so many of the Yorkshire Dales walks
Drake House Farm CL for Pendle and Bowland walks (such an underrated part of the country)
and Chatsworth CAMC site (I know it's a bit of a marmite site) for access to the estate and the many nearby Peak District walks.
But I reckon if you asked the same question next week, I'd probably pick a different 3!
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Or they don’t get around much?
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For me locations are more important than the sites themselves but my top three would be
Troutbeck Head in the Lakes for all the great walks which figure more than the site, but it does have great views.
Melrose in the borders as it's in the town itself and has access to all the abbeys near it .
Norfolk Broads site at Ludham, near to the all the broads.
Taking out the first two, which we visit many times in any year then add
Seacroft at Cromer and Culloden
Bunree would have taken that last place as it is stunning but we were chased away by the midges.
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I have to agree with Steve, the poor (or absence of) footpaths, even when a site is within walking distance to the next town is a real turn off.
When not on our bikes, im more than happy to use my legs and leave the busses to those that need them but walking in busy roads without a footpath really annoys, especially when the site has been there for a while and there is no obvious reason for not building one.
I'd like to think that the club would be campaigning vigorously for footpath improvements in places like this?....perhaps they do?...
we use Bath Marina and are happy to walk the towpath into Bath and well beyond, but it's also good to have the P&R opposite.
of the three sites mentioned, we've been to Brighton several times....although the city is rapidly becoming a dump (Worthing, Shoreham etc far nicer...) it's great for cycling along NCR2 pretty much as far as your legs will carry you...
as far as our own favourites are concerned, it's favourite places rather than sites....the new forest, Lymington, Fordingbridge, Milford on Sea, Chichester, Norfolk, Minehead, and this site at Henley for New Year and the summer 'buzz'....
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Totally agree about (lack of) footpaths Steve. We've gone from a MH to a caravan but even so, we still only use the car rarely, preferring to walk or cycle. I looked at Burford a few years ago, as we'd never stayed, but some of the reviews mentioned the fact that there is no footpath from the site and that the road is busy. So we went elsewhere.
Hawes is one of our favourite CAMC sites. Not specifically for the site itself, although it has better views than some other sites. I mean for it's position. We've stayed there for over a week before now, and the car never moved from the day we arrived until we left. The walking there is superb, in every direction. Wharfedale and Bolton Abbey are good too in that respect in that area.
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BB said - I'd like to think that the club would be campaigning vigorously for footpath improvements in places like this?....perhaps they do?...
You would like to think so? Trouble is we don't know as I have never seen it mentioned anywhere that they do. Obviously footpaths are quite major investments for Local Authorities so I imagine there would also have to be some payback for local residents and that would depend on how many it might benefit locally. Would the Club be willing to make a contribution? The other thing I often wonder is does the Club actively engage with Local Authorities and Bus providers to get bus stops and services from Club sites? The most obvious one I can think of is the Edinburgh site where it is quite a long walk to the bus stop and not a particular pleasant walk back to the site after dark. Given that buses using Muirhouse Parkway do a loop of that road I would have thought it would have been an easy diversion along Marine Drive? Has this been discussed? Not sure the guy that runs the taxi service would be best pleased!!! Another site that could do with a footpath, at least to the main bus service is Southlands on the IOW.
David
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Best campsite in Britain. For me an impossible question to answer as weather and life throws up to many anomalies whilst at sites. As we have used hundreds of sites of all description all I can say is my wife made everyone of the sites a great holiday.
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The footpath from Moreton in Marsh site was part or all funded by the club
I would think Southland site has difficulty being viable ,without the club assisting with a footpath to the bus stop near the wildlife park when another bus runs past the site?
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You may be correct as it has been very noticeable over the last couple of years the amount of members we have been speaking to, ,are quite new to touring in the UK or normally have been abroad. ,and the restrictions meaning staycations have ,opened their eyes to just how beautiful these islands are, and has made them think twice before their next trip abroad even those who have not had LVs before
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I don’t classify Club Sites as camp sites. (Both Clubs) Too much tarmac, small posts and set square precision parking.
Beddgelert in the 1980’s before CCC got involved was superb. We used a small family run camp site at Bodinnick for 16 years before owners retired and sold up. Still there, still a fantastic location, but now a lot larger. Nowadays, it’s CLs and small private sites that come the closest to best campsite for us. West Kyloe up in Northumberland rates very highly, a nice mix of all types of camper in a stunning location. Find a space, pitch up, no fuss.
Nunnykirk is possibly the best remaining Club “campsite”. But it won’t float many boats on here as it’s all grass, no facilities and miles from the nearest village/town. Challenging with an ebike, as it’s amidst rolling hills. But still gloriously undervalued.0 -
We don't have favourite sites but our "go-to" site is CCC St. Neots in Cambridgeshire because :
- It's an easy 1 hour drive from home
- I can book a grass pitch without electric and they also give me a "wrinkly" discount
- Lots of cycling routes off road
- Dog walks in virtually every direction
- Riverside location with boating and fishing
- Pleasant small town within half a mile with a weekly market and monthly farmers market
- Wide choice of shops and Tesco Extra, Waitrose, M & S Food and Lidl shops within 10 minutes walk
- A Fish & Chip shop, Indian and Oriental take-away 400 yards from the entrance
- A local butchers with steaks the size of half a cow
- On a bus route to Cambridge, Milton Keynes and Peterborough
What is there not to like, even the East Anglian climate is better that most
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I'm not sure why you're surprised at that, et, given that the replies are coming from members/past members of the club who probably spend much of their time away on sites belonging to the two clubs.
Too often we have been disappointed by glossy brochures and websites for private sites and then been disappointed on arrival.
But 3 we would return to would be
Ross Park in Devon (though I'm not sure how the recent development by the new owners will have changed its character)
Waterrow Touring Park on Exmoor (though that's one where you definitely can't do much walking from the site)
and Salcombe Regis Touring Park with an easy stroll down to the Donkey Sanctuary and walks along the cliffs especially towards Branscombe.
Hope you feel that redresses the balance!
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Whilst the 'staycation' (not my word...) thing has meant we saw a bit more of the UK this year then we perhaps would in a 'normal' year, AD has commented about how crowded it was trying to do the 'uk thing' this year.
we've done plenty (a dozen weeks or so) but of restrictions get lifted we wouldn't be swapping any of 'our favourite sites' here for our usual tour in the sun.
hopefully, for those who do want to do a bit more here with a bit more room, those who'd rather 'get away' will be allowed to...
we've enjoyed our multiple trips here this year but it isn't why we got the MH. It's been nice, but we want to get back to some driving on the wrong side....
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You have hit the nail on the head in respect of how crowded parts of this small country is ,,at peak times, and that can only get more so,
We have had our time abroad ,and as numerous others ,are now quite satisfied with our lot in this country albeit getting quite at times difficult,,
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Jim, never tried it (bit off our patch) but have made a note...thanks👍
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Actually, that’s why we rate it. It’s an absolute throwback to early Club days. Up to this last couple of years, it was a lot cheaper than many CLs, it was one of the “tour for a tenner” sites, was never ever busy, and the little white pegs were guidance rather than tablets of stone. Plenty around for us to do and visit, lots of wildlife and birds. Last time we visited, which was a tad damp, Wardens just suggested we park with a pitch marker in mind, but close to the road so it was easier for us. There was no one out with a tape measure, all very laid back. Marazion used to be similar as well, but that was heaving last time we went.
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Jim didn’t mention the park virtually adjoining the site which is well worth a stroll around and has a decent cafe as well.
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Does look very nice, might be a venue for us and bikes as well👍
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Treginnis Uchaf CL (off grid) at St’ Davids, Pembrokeshire. What a view.
Borrowdale club site on Derwent water. Just a big CL really, but access to the lakes is top notch.I would be hard pressed to name a third as so many stand out. This year alone we have stayed on 4 fantastic CLs that were all excellent for different reasons. Maybe top of the pile would be Monks farm CL in Sneaton outside Whitby for combination of the view, walking distance to a pub and cafe and access to both Whitby and the moors.
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We did an impromptu four nighter at C&CC St Neots in Sep20. Pitched on the riverbank in glorious sunshine. Recommended.
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We rather enjoyed that field on the side of the Kennet and Avon Canal CY, think we followed you there this Summer. Nice one for a dry stopover, but I suspect a challenge for a MH if wet. Scenery was glorious.
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It's better to look in the membership area for all the centre contacts. Even quicker to google camc rallies for 2022 (and other organisations.) Some haven't been finalised yet although I looked up one in June and it already had a waiting list.
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