Cheaper Camping &Touring.
Avoid the Club Sites, stick to the CL Sites, even though some of them are getting expensive. Every time I want to stop at a Club Site I get palpitations at the prices they want. This is definitely my last year with them. It may be a Club for the members, but it does not reflect it in the prices they charge.
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Get yourself a refillable gas cylinder, set yourself up with solar panels and lithium batteries. A fair bit of capital outlay but it will enable you to use off-grid CL's, non EHU pitches and give you 'real' freedom.
Moderator comment: Post slightly moderated.
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Cooking on a mobile fire pit with fuel gleaned from the environment is one of the most cost effective good for the soul past times I’ve ever enjoyed👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
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Indeed. I had the solar panels fitted to keep the cab and hab batteries topped up in storage. However, we have found the additional advantage of using them for a few days on off grid Aires in France. We only have one AMG hab battery and 180watts of solar, but had no issues in both June and September, even using the TV. The battery was recharged easily by the end of the day.
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If it helps-don’t go into the middle of a tinder dry straw field, don’t build a big fire in high winds, always have a big bucket of water handy, don’t set a fire where regs suggest you shouldnt👍🏻. I hope this helps-I already abide by these rules, it’s why I’ve done it for many decades without an issue Rufs🔥😊
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good for you R2B good to see somebody abides by the rules, but if like last year vast areas of National Parks throughout Europe banned the use of open fires, it kinda reduces ones options for cheap camping to a relatively small area, much prefer an enclosed gas BBQ especially as we eat a lot of fish, so gas BBQ is so quick and economical, and a lot less hassle as you dont have so much cleaning to do, and if you are on a small CL much more user friendly as you dont smoke you neighbours out.
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I don’t camp overthere👎🏻. Over here only & steering well clear of setting the biggest peat fire ever by burning the Moors. I have a 2’x2’ asbestos(user friendly) slab for the fire pit to sit on. I don’t use it in Summer-that is what pub Beer gardens are for-‘eat out to help out’. Thanks for the interaction-enjoy your Summer whatever course it takes👍🏻😊
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Fully agree - the Main Club sites are getting too expensive to use now
I looked today at what the prices were for Meathop Fell and my first reaction was "I'm not prepared to get ripped off by the 'Club' (which is supposed to be for the benefit of members) charging such excessive rates
So I've spent a few hours looking around at both fully independent sites as well as other caravanning groups
As a solo caravanner, I've now joined the Caravan & Camping Club as their rates allow you to pay a 'per person' rate rather that automatically charging you for two people
I'm a solo caravanner. I've only ever been a solo caravanner. Over 900 nights away over 8+ years on both main & CL sites and I've NEVER been offered a 'rebate' or discount for only being a solo, I've always just borne the unjustness of it; but I can no longer continue to do that with rising costs, and I refuse to get ripped off any longer
So, some of the nights away I wanted to book with CAMC, I've now booked with CCC at nearly a 50% discount to CAMC rates
3 or 4 years ago I was paying £105 for a stay at Meathop Fell CMC site, often a lot less off peak with the 50% midweek discount. There's no way I'm paying £230+ for 9 days at Meathop, especially now I've found out how to stay in the same general area, on a main site for around £120 !
Sorry CAMC but if you want to keep putting up the costs to levels which exceed unreasonable, then you're going to lose out especially if you continue to charge for a minimum of two people for those of us who travel solo0 -
As you are a member of the CMHC then surely you should be aware that like the CCC, the club charges per person NOT per couple, especially as when booking, it specifically asks how many people are going to be staying on site and if it automatically says 2, then you simply change it to 1.
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When I use the booking system it always shows the price for one adult as a default, I have to change it to two. MF is currently £25 a night on a HS pitch for one person, which seems very reasonable to me. Typically a C&CC site would cost slightly more unless your qualify for age related discount when it would be 2/3 pounds less.
Circa £225 for 9 nights sounds OK to me but if you can get a similar site for £120 (£13.30) a night then go for it. As long as the sites where you want to go of course.
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Cheaper camping /touring is easy. Run an older car with an even older caravan.
Instead of spending £75,000 on modern state of the art leisure vehicles, as many on here do, put the remaining £60,000 into savings or investments. £3000 interest that way is 100 nights site fees paid for.1 -
So let's expand your suggestion. Nobody buys a new LV anymore is what you are saying, how long before the demand to dealers stops, how long before LV manufacturers stop making new LVs and start to lay people off, how long before the demand for campsites declines. Not great for the economy, not great for the people who have lost their income but I'm all right Jack, I've got £60,000 in the bank.
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That's what I do - 2008 Toyota Hilux Invincible 3.0 auto & a 2006 Knaus StarClass 470
Knaus Caravan£8k, 8 years ago. Built like a battleship, nothing ever breaks or rattles. Just keep on top of basic maintenance, new tyres & brake pads every 3 years, new shocks every 5 years. Between CMC & Independent sites, well in excess of 1000 nights away since purchase without any issues
Toyota Hilux
£12k, 9 years ago. Toyota reliability, just coming up on 200,000 miles. Immaculately maintained & serviced religiously from oil & filter every 4 months, new air filter annually to all fluids every 3 years. TerraCleaned & full service annually (September)
A few extra's like auxiliary transmission cooler, uprated brakes (disks & pads), full Dinitrol under-seal, etc ... Soon to have a front steel bumper including 5-tonne winch to help with boat launching & recovery
Ex-motor trade so would never buy a car new - its just throwing money away IMHO
Better to buy well, maintain well & enjoy a trouble free easy life at a sensible cost - and if you're technically-minded, with a car & caravan you know inside out0 -
I agree about Club sites, although we have spent three nights at New England Bay for, I think £23.50 a night (two adults) non electric pitch. Just had 9 nights in Scotland over seven sites, average about £19. That did include one site (independent) at £32 because of its location (just one night). The only site where we had hook up (because there was no option). I am not convinced it was worth it. Besides the CAMC site and that independent site, there were two more independent sites, 2 aires, and two CSs. NEB was the first camc site we have stayed at for two years. I wouldnt give up CAMC membership (or CCC) because of the CL and CS network and at times CCC age discount.
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We are away at present, but up to this morning we have done 104 nights away, at many different types of sites :- CL, CS, CC and C&CC club sites, Commercial ones (all on EHU) hand 3 off grid THS's and the average cost is £16:14. So it is possible to still tour in this country at a reasonable cost.
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