Definition of an awning
I would like to ask if there is an official definition of an awning. Reason I ask is when you book a site you get the choice hardstand with awning or hard stand without awning.
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I think that would depend on the park itself - Some parks term a wind out as a sun canopy & charge say £2 a night extra. Basically if you want to put anything on the side of your van then an 'with awning pitch' may well be larger or have grass at the side of the hardstanding.
Anyone else's experiences?
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On a CAMC site there is no definition. On the one hand, you can book an awning pitch and not use an awning and, on the other, you can use a wind out canopy on a non-awning pitch (with certain restrictions).
There is no difference in price but on some sites the non-awning pitches might be cramped and in dark corners. A few sites, such as Bunree, don’t permit awnings on the front row overlooking the loch or sea.
We always booked awning pitches which are the most plentiful even though we had no awning other than a wind out which was rarely used.
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As above no definitions as such, apart from if you have an awning that is bigger than 2.5m away from your caravan you may not be able to erect it on certain sites if it won't fit on your pitch. Up to 2.m will always be catered for.
Generally awning pitches are bigger but sometime not, sometimes you'll find them the same size. Awning and non awning are defined by the distance between adjacent walls of outfits and the distance between parts of your outfit. On some sites they are narrower than the traditional caravan + car space as the car would be parked in front.
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I don’t find it confusing really but more a case of being free and easy with the few restrictions being centred around fire breaks and spacing regs.
Pitch surfaces vary but there’s the grass option usually.
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Fairly straightforward on club sites, book an awning pitch with either HS or grass, pitch nose in or reverse in between the two line posts and put up the awning.
On club sites on HS there a few inches of gravel but earth beneath, sometimes the ground is soft and other times slightly harder but get a good lump hammer and rock pegs and you should be OK. We've never failed yet and we're getting on a bit now. Never found those screw in pegs any good really but others have.
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Thanks for all your comments very interesting. Funny you mention Bunree, I am at that site at the moment and yes you are correct regards the front row, no awnings. I was told here the official definition of an awning is if it has sides on it and if you put out the top cover (awning in my world) it is classified as a sun cover and you can go on the front row???
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That sounds as if it’s a specific to Bunree definition. I may be wrong but I think the no awnings in the front row is about blocking the view from others in which case the no sides rule would make sense🤷🏻♂️
Enjoy your stay but, personally, I prefer North Ledaig where the pitches are staggered, awnings are allowed, the views are amazing, and there are less midges.
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Things re awnings are as TW says. There are a couple of other sites, certainly White House Beach (Suffolk) and I think Garlieston (D&G) where you cannot use an awning on certain front row pitches.
We think of a roll out sun shield, no sides, as a canopy. Agree regarding North Ledaig as well, nicer site and location😁👍
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There are some sites who don't allow awnings on certain pitches as they may be more exposed to the wind and weather. Bunree is another site that you cannot use an awning on the front pitches, as the wind is quite damaging when the site is exposed,
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Surely the wardens will deal with any such issue if necessary?
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One might expect them to but whether or not they actually do is another matter. The last time we were there, a couple of years ago, on the front row, there were two large motorhomes with sun canopies and large windbreaks (at least 5 feet high), presumaby to restrict their dogs. They were obviously travelling together but I've no idea what conversations might have been held between them and the wardens. I must add that they didn't affect my enjoyable stay at Bunree.
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I don’t see how an awning can ever be classed as a tent🤷🏻♂️. It might be too large to fit on a pitch but it’s still an awning whether attached or freestanding .
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The definition of an awning is that it connected to a structure.
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I found this definition from the CCC:
An awning is defined as a closable tent intended to be fixed to a stationary vehicle or to stand free of the vehicle.
The Oxford definition refers to those type of awnings typically seen on shop fronts or over the decks of ships - like those, indeed, usually, seen on motorhomes. So the OP is right to ask the question I think.
But, in the caravan world, I think most would assume an awning to be as per the CCC definition.
In any case, I would hesitate to put anything up at Bunree, and especially not a wind out awning, even if well pegged down. It can get mightily windy there.
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Just for a bit of clarity, on our sites a roll out canopy is just that so they can be deployed on a non awning pitch as long as the required spacing is adhered to. Add sides and a front to it and it's an awning so then not allowed on a non awning pitch.
JK
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