Where is everybody?
Been pitched at The Firs (Derbyshire). I reckon less than 20% occupied. Never seen it this quiet.
Where is everyone ?
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Where? Well families will be by the beach, old people might be on a cruise, 50,000 young ones are at the Boardmaster festival, and EasyJet had 37 million passengers in six months. Belper isn’t a big summer holiday draw..
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I was speaking with a friend who recently, last week, came back from Carsington Water, not too far from Belper.
They were surprised at the spaces left unfilled. They usually go there for about 5 nights to do some sailing every year and mentioned that it is a bit unusual. Even the Serviced Pitches weren't full.
Last week I checked all sites in Devon for a weeks booking starting Sunday of this week, all except the AS site and Steamer Quay. I could book a full week on every site apart from 2, one of which prevented me booking a Thursday, otherwise it was free.
I can understand some sites that are not on the usual tourist places to go, such as Belper, being less busy but Devon?🤷🏼 Perhaps there too many sites to choose from?
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THS's seem to be doing quite well this year, many of those we have used this summer have had over 50 units at weekends and still plenty on during the week. It would appears that not everyone wants to be staying on overpriced club sites, when discussing the issue with those on site.
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We parked up next door to a THS rally yesterday, field was very busy. Plus the small private site was fully booked. Fraisthorpe, just South of Bridlington. Great beach.
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Oh - so you're just up the road from us ttda! Fraisthorpe IS a beautiful beach - much better than Hornsea, this year - despite our Blue Flag status. The massive 'pebbles' from winter are still there - not so nice at all.
I cringe at the thought of towing a van down that single-track road to get to the site, though. Otherwise I think we might have given it a go before now.
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It was only a day trip for us sadly. We visited Burton Agnes, then wanted to look at the sea. Had an hour there, but that was all. I think we could be seriously tempted with Auburn Farm. Lovely for a week, particularly if we got our van sorted. Hadn’t seen new cafe before but it looks very nice. Love Fraisthorpe, it’s a “doing” beach, windsurfing, kite surfing,etc….
It’s a lovely area is that, all the little villages. We like Thorpe Hall site, walled garden, nice facilities, great little old fashioned shop on site. That approach road is single track, but plenty of pull in places. Best to avoid teatime rush home though😁
Edit…..fish and chips on way home at Brandesburton….yummy😁
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Maybe people are finding less expensive alternatives?
We are looking at sites at York, Beechwood Grange would be £38-39 per night, hardstanding, no serviced pitches available. Do they have any? If so, what would they cost?
A site we have used before on the south side of York, so we know it is good, would be £31 per night for a fully serviced pitch. Think we will go there.
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As we have a caravan, we would use the P&R if we wanted to visit the city, and have done so a few times, but mainly we are visiting the whole area, not just the city, so no need to pay a premium for Rowntree. For us Yorkshire is a bit far for commuting!
We have used Beechwood in the past, several times, but it is too expensive for us these days. We used a CL with serviced pitches earlier in the year, we may just go back there…….It was only £22, no facilities, but we always use our own these days anyway.
I think the price of Club sites is putting some people off these days.
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I think the price of Club sites is putting some people off these days.
That could well be the case for Beechwood, as it doesn’t seem to have a lot going for it, over other sites outside of York. However, the prices don’t seem to be putting folk of Rowntree. It’s full for most of the rest of August and half of September.
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Must be the wealthy MH owners!!
There is no doubt that if you want to be in the city centre it is very convenient.
Beechwood and the commercial we used before are in similar situations, so reasonable to compare. I reckon Beechwood is in a higher price bracket these days than it used to be.
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Kj, if your first line was meant to be humorous, you really should have indicated as such with an emoji. As it is, I find it rather rude.
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Ergo, those folk find it reasonable. They’d not pay it otherwise.
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I've never bought anything if I thought it was unreasonable.
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Are MH owners wealthier than other outfits in your view then? If so why all the post from them wanting cheaper prices or aires?
I don't think they are, seen some caravans and tow cars on sites easily costing more than the MH next to it.
And all you can say it's an easy comparison for you, it's not a fact. Price brackets are subjective and perhaps someone else would see things differently to yourself. Quality is subjective.
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There’s a nice site at Naburn Locks, which is about four miles from city centre in York. On riverside, so not only is there a bus stop outside, P&Ride a minute or so away, you can also use the River bus! Facilities are just being refurbished, metered electric put in. Ok for you if alone K, as it’s AO. York is easy to cycle into as well.
We have used YRP before, as it is a cheap stopover compared with other accommodation. However, we did have one booking cancelled because of floods, another the site was open but there was flooding in the park itself. No idea how much a night is at moment, we last stayed for an event, I think it was around £29.
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Agree about Beechwood - we weren't impressed when we stayed there earlier in the year. I just don't know what to think about pricing of club sites - because I did something yesterday which I didn't think I would.
We were looking for somewhere to go for Christmas this year and thought I'd better crack on and book something before it was too late to get in. We've decided not to go to Sandringham as usual - think we've done that place to death - so I thought I'd have a look at Chatsworth. Last time we were there for Christmas was 10 years ago and it was lovely. Much to my surprise, there were vacancies - and after injuring my arm recently dragging a very full Wastemaster, was even more surprised to see there were still some fully-serviced pitches available. The catch - it was over £56 per night for the two of us.
I hesitated for a while - having vowed in the past that I wasn't going to pay those sort of prices - but then I thought we're both of an age now where who knows whether we'll be either caravanning or even here
in another year's time!! (Not being morbid but who knows what's around the corner).So - it's only money after all - and I bit the bullet and booked it and I'm coming to the conclusion that it's just a question of having to get used to what we previously considered inflated site fees - just as we have had to do in so many other areas of life.
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I think the problem with forums like this and other social media is that those that are always talking about price tend to make the most noise almost to the point of sounding critical of those willing to pay the going rate. Take York as an example. Is it really that expensive? We use Premier Inn's occasionally and to stay in York in one of their hotels would cost £100 a night, not forgetting the extra cost of meals. There are always cheaper alternatives to almost everything but that doesn't mean those that consider higher prices worth paying are somehow in the wrong?
David
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Well Wherenext I can confirm that even if people aren’t using CC sites they are still here in Devon, the place is teaming with holiday makers, as usual we can’t move for them, hibernating at home at present. Our daughter and our granddaughter both work in reception at two different very large holiday sites, both are full to capacity with thousands of holiday makers staying every week of the school holidays and this is just two of the many local sites. Maybe this type of holiday is where everyone is staying. They have caravans, lodges and very large touring fields. Swimming pools, saunas, entertainment etc, etc. Maybe this is what families are looking for now.
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It’s the same here and particularly so in West Cornwall. The place is heaving with barely a car park space to be found.
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That’s a piece of good luck, and for a Christmas break, £56 I suppose is good value for anyone with a tourer. You will just get fleeced by the Estate now, if you want to do the house etc…..🤣 Seriously though, it’s nice is that area at Xmas. Haddon Hall might be open and decorated, Bakewell is very nice at Xmas (we have family there) Hassop Station has a very nice eatery and gift shop, and you can walk the adjacent Trail if it’s a nice crisp dry day.
Keep an eye on flood levels, very rarely Site does flood🤞Nothing like as frequent as YRP though.
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Go for it Richard! Life’s not a rehearsal and, as David implied, there’s nothing wrong with spending your money as you see fit. Enjoy it.
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Abbeywood is£10 a night cheaper than the Chatsworth site. And London has theatres, concerts, museums, galleries, loads of history and an ice rink. Gets my vote for Christmas every time.
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This thread prompted me to have a look at YRP, and an option. Pitch for 2, standard with awning, mid week August, £60.30. Travelodge next door to Yorvik Viking Centre, ensuite with wifi, is £68. 🤔
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I appreciate that Devon and Cornwall are, and always have been in my lifetime, holiday hotspots which is why I decided to look at sites in Devon as they have quite a few there. Funnily enough DEBSC the site in North Devon was the one fully booked. If D&C are full of tourists then one would expect the CAMC sites to be full as well. Maybe they are in Cornwall, I didn't check those. I used your quote TW as it was shorter than DEBSC, just in case you were wondering.
Whilst writing I would also like to challenge an assumption, brought about by DKs assertion that people paying club prices are being criticised. It was mentioned on another thread that M/homers were seeking Aires and such places as they were "cheap". Personally speaking we stay on CLs/CSs because I actually prefer them to sites, whether they be CAMC sites or others. I will use sites on occasion when there is no reasonable alternative in the area but money isn't the driving force and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in that. We started off using club sites for most of our stops but early retirement and having to watch the pennies meant we switched to using CLs. Nowadays it's not a question of watching the pennies but more a preference for CLs and the like.
If people want to pay the prices that the club charge then who am I to argue, it's their money. Just don't assume a choice for a less expensive stay is solely down to money.
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I’ll not argue with you in any way, WN, but you have to admit that the constant cry is about price so it’s understandable that folk think cost is the driving factor in the quest for aires/quickstops.
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I agree with WN, it is not always about money. Given the demographic of the Club, it is not surprising Club sites are not full in peak season, it has always been quieter in peak season. Why should the retired pay a premium when they can go to sites any day of the week off peak.
peedee
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Same goes for us WN, we also enjoy the overnight stops for the same reason. Nearly always different, nearly always a bit of an adventure. If chosen wisely, usually a very nice experience. We are just not fans of being surrounded by lots of other outfits, lots of operating terms and conditions. We do like Club Sites, especially if not too busy, but they have become 3rd,4th choice for us, and cost is only one reason why.
I think it’s around three years now since we last managed to get down to SW, and possibly some 5 further years back since we last stayed in Cornwall. We were astonished at the numbers down there three years ago, and it definitely had a different “feel”. I think since COVID some UK locations have just had such a surge, sometimes on already high visitor numbers, sometimes to places previously a lot quieter.
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