Ilfracombe Site Closed
We arrived at Willingcott on Monday. When I was asked at check-in if I had visited before, I replied No, but that we had stayed locally at the Ilfracombe site some time ago. I was then told that today (Monday) was Ilfracombe’s last day, and that it was closing. Sure enough, when we drove past yesterday the site was empty, and the gates were closed. Sad, it was a lovely quiet site.
Comments
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According to the Club webpage it closed for the season on 9th September with a 2025 opening date of 11th April. I get the impression that the Club has started to close the non facility sites earlier than they used to. But they have also made some previously all year opening sites seasonal.
David
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Some seasons have been shortened these last few years. We used to use Bolton Abbey in December, to visit local Xmas Fairs, but it started to close in November, so we altered our plans.
If it’s to cut costs, I hope the Club is also retrenching in other non site areas. We have always considered the provision of UK sites and pitches to be what the Club is primarily about, but given shortened seasons, and total closure/loss of some sites, I am beginning to wonder a bit. It’s certainly condensing the length of Club Site availability, as well as choice of sites somewhat. I was perhaps under the mistaken belief that the take up of campervan/MH ownership meant more folks were touring all year round as well, but perhaps it’s not happening as much on Club Sites.🤔
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It would be good to hear from JK (JC, too, if he minds to😀) as his input was very helpful to our understanding of all things CAMC.
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I think I am muddling Ilfracombe with Ilminster - the site where it was reported that the wardens had staffed an empty site for two days in August waiting hopefully that someone might arrive.
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This is happening at our favourite site in North Yorkshire, closed 9th September and not opening next season till 25th April which is almost a week after Easter. I can understand taking off the grass pitches due to weather but there are about 20 hard standings.Have heard rumours that it’s to be sold.
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Closed & off the network Sadly, Ilfracombe Club Campsite has seen a decline in member visits over recent years, making it unsustainable to continue operations. As part of our strategy to focus on locations that better align with the requirements of the membership, we have recently acquired campsites like Lickpenny Matlock, enhancing our network in popular areas. While the closure of Ilfracombe may be disappointing, our UK Club campsite network now offers approximately 180,000 more available pitch nights than in 2018, across fantastic sites that cater to the interests of the wider membership
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I note from the site plan it is all grass pitches which probably doesn't help with occupancy figures? Sad as it is to see these sites close perhaps in the longer term it is better for the Club to concentrate on those sites where they know they will get a reasonable return?
David
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https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-sites/england/devon-and-cornwall/devon/ilfracombe-club-campsite/
It’s all there to read.0 -
I have just seen on a Facebook post (and confirmed on the sites details page) that Crystal Place is now confirmed as closing and also Stamford. The London site has been on a year by year lease for a while and it was only a matter of time. With Stamford the Forestry Commission have declined to extend the lease and both sites will close by year end. Both were popular sites.
David
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Looks as if they want the CC to be an elitist club once again!
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So it would seem Nellie!
We have now booked our next trip, 8 nights on a CL, serviced HS, the owners apologised for putting up the price from £18 to £20 due to electricity costs.
And 6 nights on a CCC site due to our usual site being closed……£26.10 per night for a hardstanding. Not serviced unfortunately, have requested a pitch close to water and waste.
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I think we have to accept that any site held on a lease is vulnerable to that lease not being renewed. When the Club took on many of these leases it was a very different world. We are probably lucky that we have had the benefit of some sites for so long. The knock on effect of that is that if the only course for the Club is to buy existing sites, which is very expensive, prices will increase.
David
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This is a major problem for both clubs, landlords see the clubs doing well with the sites and decide to try running it themselves often very successfully.
I know this happened to the C&CC site at Luss when the landlord had already taken on a static site and saw running this as more profitable than leasing. It is a fact of life with leasehold sites.
With sites in cities like Crystal Palace and Bristol the value as housing is so much more than as a camp site these are never going to continue as sites unless the club own the land or the local authority see more value in the tourist income. Possibly the best way forward is to buy existing sites where possible.
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