Changes to site opening
It seems to have come up on other social media that the club is closing (reducing the lengths of the season) on some sites that normally stay open over winter/ all year round Durham,Chapel lane,Poolsbrook are mentioned so far Club feeling the pinch a bit ?
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Not just Poolsbrook but Durham Grange as well. Others have been mentioned Troutbeck Hall and Ferry Meadows. There may be more but there isn't anything official stating which sites are closing that in past were open. The Open All Year part of the website hasn't been update either to remove the ones that are now clsing.
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This is the official list of Open All Year campsites plus extended opening. The latter usually indicates sites that close after new year until March. Some site licences only allow sites to be open for 10 months. https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/uk-sites/club-campsites/open-all-year-sites/
Although I can't immediately find the list some sites might have a change of opening times due to work being carried out over winter. It is of course always possible that the Club have decided to shorten the opening period of some sites due to other circumstances like expected occupancy? I will report this thread to the Community Manager to see if there is more information.
David
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There will be comms. shortly
JK
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Unfortunately it’s not unusual for the booking side and other web information provided to be at odds. A very poor state of affairs and one for which there is no excuse. It would be interesting to know if anyone with a booking in the months now shown as closed has been informed. Several years ago we had a long term booking at Chatsworth when they decided to close it for site work, we were never told anything and only found out by a chance mention. As we didn’t want to go anywhere else I just let the booking stay in my bookings and didn’t cancel and book elsewhere. Several months later they decided not to go ahead with the site work and we were able to use the booking. I wonder what will happen with the storage at Chapel Lane, as that is currently 365 days.
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The Club never seem to inform us of their intentions before the action is put in place, only retrospectively, why? There may be perfectly good reasons why changes are required but making those changes without first informing the membership always leads to speculation which is easy to get wrong. In the days when the Club magazine was the main form of communication with members that may have been fine but in the world of Social Media a storm can erupt in minutes! As Steve suggests the different elements within the Club need to work much more closely together.
David
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This is all we got. 11 night Christmas stay ruined at short notice without a reason other than they regularly review the season length. Such short notice with very little time to find somewhere else.
Important information: Winter closure of Troutbeck Head Club Campsite
Dear Mr Harman,We’re contacting you regarding your upcoming booking at Troutbeck Head Club Campsite.
We regularly review the season lengths of our Club campsites to ensure we are operating our network of campsites to meet the needs of our members, and as such, we have decided to change the season length of this campsite.
This campsite will now be closed from 6 November 2023 and will reopen on 15 March 2024. If you have a touring pitch booking between these dates please cancel or amend your stay to reflect the new open and close dates.
Don’t forget, deposits are fully refundable providing the cancellation or amendments are made at least 21 days prior to arrival.
Please note: any affected bookings which have not been cancelled or amended accordingly by Sunday 1 October 2023, will be automatically amended on your behalf to either depart by 6 November 2023 or arrive from 15 March 2024. Any remaining bookings for stays within the closed period will be cancelled. (Please accept our advance apologies for the wording on the cancellation confirmation you will then receive. Unfortunately the cancellation message is automated and we are unable to change the wording.)
If you would like to move your booking to an alternative site, the nearest one is Coniston Park Coppice Club Campsite which is open until 3 Jan 2024.
We apologise for any disappointment or inconvenience this may cause.
Many thanks
The Caravan and Motorhome Club team
Please note: If you have amended your booking in the last few days to dates unaffected by this notice, you may disregard this email.
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Please accept our advance apologies for the wording on the cancellation confirmation you will then receive. Unfortunately the cancellation message is automated and we are unable to change the wording.
Well doesn't that say it all about customer care?
Can't or won't?
I'll say no more......
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We had the opposite happen. We usually go to Sandringham for Christmas but we didn't book for this year because it was due to be closed over winter for refurbishment. I think I picked up that bit of information from CT. I certainly don't remember getting any specific information from the Club but the availability info on-line confirmed it as closed until, I think, then end of March 2024.
Then - just by chance and I don't know why I did it - but on looking at the availability a few weeks ago, I discovered it was, in fact, open all year with no hint of a closed period at all over the winter. Bit of juggling around with alternative arrangements and we managed to get a pitch.
Even though I was pleased that we had managed to secure our preferred choice - it was only by good luck - and certainly not good management, that we did so. This lack of communication with members can't be doing the Club's finances any good at all - and left me feeling that the membership don't seem to matter.
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Hi everyone,
We regularly review the season lengths of our Club campsites to ensure we are operating our network of campsites effectively. At times this may mean the season lengths and number of campsites open changes.
It's not a decision that is made quickly and without careful consideration. In light of changes to booking trends, and the forward nights booked for this and previous years we've had to make some difficult decisions to ensure we're operating the UK campsite network as efficiently as possible.
Whilst we consider the needs of all our members, we have to ensure we support the wider membership and as such, we have changed the season length at some campsites this year.
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That reads to me that quite a few club sites are being less frequently used or booked than anticipated. Wonder what the reasons for that is?
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Nellie
It could be nothing to do with price but perhaps more members being unwilling to commit too far in advance? They seem to be basing the decision of future bookings, or lack of them, by the read of what Rowena said. In all the discussions we have had on here about the new booking system I have sensed an undertone from some members not wanting to commit money up front because they worry, for various genuine personal reasons, they might not be able to honour the booking and don't want to lose a deposit. We have struggled this year through health problems, mainly mobility issues, and also lost a couple of deposits. If we manage to get to our next booked site in October it will mean we have only had half the nights away this year compared to last. I just wonder how many are in a similar situation? Its not particularly a money thing for us but you do get a bit fed up with cancelling bookings. At least with the Club all you lose is the deposit so still a better bet than most commercial sites?
David
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The club do not understand the membership, a large proportion are retired and as such are from an era where people were married at a young age and consequently started their families at an early age, If their parents live longer they will be like mine in their 90s and require care and support this makes pre booking unattractive if there are financial consequences ie lost deposits.
I would normally have booked June and September by now but not prepared to risk losing a significant amount of deposits if the necessity to cancell arises.
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Folks like us who tour all year round, who used Club Sites in the off peak, who turned up regardless of the weather, who were happy to support the Club over the quieter months are the losers Nellie. Spectacular own goal in terms of all the new booking terms and conditions, that’s why the deposits have reduced to only 10%. Clearly the numbers aren’t happening, so it’s more condensing of site opening periods. The Club have initiated a cycle whereby folks will have to use alternatives, those alternatives will prove very nice (they certainly have been from our point of view), and some may never go back to Club Sites they had previously loved in the Winter. Sad, very sad. ☹️
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That's absolutely fine, Rowena and what I would expect of a well-managed organisation. However, what I am suggesting is that we - the members - aren't kept informed when these decisions are made. As I said in my earlier post, it was an absolute fluke that I happened to notice that Sandringham has been reopened for this Christmas. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall this fact being circulated anywhere.
I seem to get a deluge of emails from the Club about this special offer and that special offer - which quite frankly aren't a lot of interest to me - yet on something as fundamental as which sites are open and when, we seem to hear nothing.
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It seems to me that the reason so many sites were previously booked so far ahead was simply FOMO ( the fear of missing out). This was fine when no financial committment was at stake.
The deposit scheme has achieved exactly what the Club intended and "frivolous" bookings have disappeared, possibly it has worked too well and members now realise there is no need to book months in advance.
With the changeable weather evident throughout the year doesn't it make more sense, for those with no committments, to go away when the forecast is good rather than to an aribtrary date. This week is awful but next week is forecast to be a cracker - I think we''ll go away.
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I do think the Club need to make up its mind on what its doing with deposits. Yet another promotion period with the 10%. Perhaps its an experiment to see if the 10% works better for the Club rather than 20%? I just think they need to decide one way or the other. 10% might be more attractive as its a much smaller upfront payment but I suppose there is the danger that as a result of it being smaller people will be inclined to forego the deposit at the last minute as they did in the past?
Interesting that on those sites where the opening periods have been reduced that there seemed to be no offers encouraging people to book those sites to fill the space just to keep the sites ticking over. Is it a case of dynamic pricing only working in one direction?
David
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Ttda, you are exactly like us. We always used to go to our favourite club sites for at least a week each month, from November to March: Wharfedale, Hawes, Bolton Abbey, Castleton and Meathop mainly. Not too far from home. In December we've also gone further afield, the Cotswolds, and made a fortnight of it, visiting a few Christmas markets in the area. Only once did we cancel a January booking, and that was due to extremely high winds on the day we were due to travel; warnings were in force not to travel unless necessary etc, etc. Other than that, we've always turned up, even if the weather was forecast to be wet.
Like you, we have found plenty of alternative sites, as good as, sometimes better than, club sites, and certainly much less expensive. So, like you, we won't be fequenting club sites over winter any more, and agree it's very sad.
Received an email only today, with an extended offer of only 10% deposit. I'm afraid that's not enough to tempt me back onto club sites
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InaD....Ditto...We would also have booked a club site for at least a week each month from now until March...and whilst I do have several bookings (only one with a small deposit) not one is a CaMC site..
As you say...lots of alternatives and if like us who use our onboard facilities...there are some excellent CL's out there...who I might add go the extra mile for your business...
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When Bolton Abbey Site season was reduced, we reverted to using a wonderful small campsite, which also has a CL area, not far away. Discovered they also had a lovely holiday cottage, and owners let me have a look around while it was changeover, to see if it was suitable to take my Mum who is/was at the time in her 90’s and able to go away with us. Had some lovely stays there since. We used to use Durham Grange to visit the Xmas Fair in Hexham, but then found a good cottage a few miles from Hexham. All better options.
Regarding booking, deposits and cancellations. We used to use a cottage at Old Byland each January. Notorious area of Yorkshire for heavy snowfalls, but as we had a 4x4, it was never an issue for us bar the once. A week before we should have set off, huge snowfall and the whole village was cut off, only tractors able to get in and out. I received a phone call from owner, concerned about our visit, would we like our full amount back, or did we want to change our dates? We duly took a week a fortnight later and everyone was happy.
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All excellent results ttda
you could thank CAMC for discovering that cottage near Bolton Abbey!Yes, it used to open until just after New Year, then started closing at the beginning of November. I remember going in December, but that is a long, long time ago!
A much more personal arrangement with cottages booked direct with owners. We haven't gone down the route of cottages yet, but may well do so at some point.
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Could be a good decade ago InaD. In fairness, I think it was more Cavendish Estates related rather than a Club driven decision, but we had some lovely Winter times there. I used to go home with our Fiamma Box full of evergreen branches that had come down, great for Xmas trimming up😁 Our very first outing in our MH back in 2014 was a weekend in early December at Durham Grange. It was bitterly cold, around -10c, but we were lovely and cosy in the MH. All the taps bar the ones by the loos were frozen solid. There were quite a few on though, including a pair of very hardy trailer tenters.
We still have some of the open all year sites not far from us, Castleton, Chatsworth, Clumber. We used to go to Castleton walking with friends in December each year. Fellas would take vans across, while my chum and I got the train after work to Hope. Not keen on Bridlington, don’t like the town, so we use CLs either at Bempton, Flamborough, Or Thorpe Hall Walled Gardens a bit earlier in year. Friends are stopping in a Glamping Pod at Cayton Bay in November, we might meet up with them. No need to book, it won’t be busy😉
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I’m not sure if there’s been an explanation beyond that given up thread by Ro PD, and I think it’s going to be in the Oct Mag. But if you try and take a look at availability at say Durham Grange, no prices are given after a certain date, so the conclusion is that the site is closed at some point.
We liked Ferry Meadows in February, have stayed over half term week, when the Winter open side was usually very busy, and there was lots to do in Nene Park, but looks like this has gone as well.
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Peedee
Rowena didn't mention specific sites but other posters have named sites. It looks as if the map in this link has been updated as it no longer shows Ferry Meadows as having an extended season. Maybe a list will appear at some point but all you can do at the moment is to interrogate the map to see it you notice sites no longer listed as all year/extended opening?
David
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You are right there, tda, as you well know we used club sites mainly in the quiet winter months but will certainly not be doing so from now on. There are many small commercial sites and CLs that suit us much better, don't require deposits and charge a lot less than the "club" now do.
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David, As others, such as TW, have said in the past about taking care what members express a wish for, it appears to me that those wanting deposits are in part responsible for the drop in advanced bookings and hence the earlier than advertised closure of some sites.
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David - now I haven't a clue what is going on! Just checked your link and - once again - Sandringham is shown as closed between October and late April - and the same information, unsurprisingly, appears on the main booking page. Yet - I have a confirmed booking in "My Bookings" for 22-29 December and my deposit has been taken - so the system must have let me make the booking.
What a shambles! I shall have to ring later this morning to find out what on earth is going on.
If it turns out that it is closed, I can't see us using Club sites any more and Sandringham would have been the only one this year, anyway.
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If you look at the map in the link I provided there is an option to expand to almost full screen. On the left there is a drop down menu which lists sites open all year plus those that close in January, so basically all sites that are open over Christmas/New Year. I have pasted the current list of sites Open all Year/Over Christmas/New Year below, it will make the post a bit long!
David
Open all year sites
Abbey Wood Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Ashridge Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park (AS)
Black Horse Farm Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Bridlington Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Brighton Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Broadway Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Burrs Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Cadeside Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Cambridge Cherry Hinton Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Carnon Downs Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Castleton Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Chatsworth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Cheddar Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Chester Fairoaks Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Clumber Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Commons Wood Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Crystal Palace Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Edinburgh Caravan Club Site
Gatwick Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Grantown on Spey Caravan Park (AS)
Henley Four Oaks Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Hunter's Moon Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Knaresborough Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Lady Margaret's Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Lidalia Caravan Park (AS)
Love2Stay (AS)
Ludlow Touring Park (AS)
Meathop Fell Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Melrose Gibson Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Milestone Caravan Park (AS)
Minehead Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Moreton-in-Marsh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Rutland Caravan & Camping (AS)
The Sandringham Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Skegness Sands Caravan Park (AS)
Southport Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Stanmore Hall Touring Park (AS)
Strathclyde Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Tanner Farm Touring Caravan and Camping Park (AS)
Tredegar House Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Wagtail Country Park (AS)
The Woods Caravan Park
White Water Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Winchester Morn Hill Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Wyatts Covert Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
York Beechwood Grange Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
York Rowntree Park Caravan and Motorhome Club SiteSites open until January
Baltic Wharf Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Bearsted Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Black Knowl Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Cayton Village Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Cirencester Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Coniston Park Coppice Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Exmoor House Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Hawes Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Littlehampton Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
Pembrey Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Riverside Touring Park (AS)
Seacroft Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Stonehaven Queen Elizabeth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Warwick Racecourse Caravan and Motorhome Club Site
Wharfedale Caravan and Motorhome Club Site0
