Putting this in Life in General as it does not fit in the other sections. Ratty please feel free to move it as you see fit!
For me personally, Easter weekend was the start of my camping season when I was a tenter, and continues to be the case now I have a van.
I have tried to go camping once a month throughout the year, and decided against doing so in the colder and wetter months as I do not wish to be stuck inside the van when the weather is foul outside as both the dog and I do not like wet and windy weather.
Looking forward to the first trip out this year over the Easter weekend, going back to Salisbury C&CC which is about an hour from home and has a big field right outside for the dog to run to his heart's content.
I can also walk into Salisbury to have a bite to eat and to go to a friends' micro pub etc...
I booked my pitch ages ago, and just checked to see if pitches are still available, to find they only have jumbo pitches without EHU left at just over 30 GBP per night for 1 member (jumped to 40 GBP per night for 2 people, one of which is a member etc.).
Can't wait, just hope the weather will be better by then!
Who else is having their first trip out over Easter?
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Not us this year, as we have commitments around that time. We usually do, but will go on 23rd April. When I was working, home time on Maundy Thursday was the best day of the year. If Easter was late we had a long weekend in a b&b late February.
I am waiting for this weather to improve so that I can carry out some essential work on our ancient caravan. Until that is done we can't really go anywhere with it. I'm having to do the work myself as the quote I got for having it done professionally was about 4 times what the caravan is worth. It's all labour charges though as I have nearly everything I need now to finish the job, and the materials won't come to more than £200. It won't be perfect, but it should enable us to get a few more years out of it. Can't expect much more as the caravan is already 31 years old! It has lasted well.
All I need now is some decent weather so that I can get on, as I'm working outside.
No, as a tent camper I am waiting til Coronation weekend for my first camp.
I don’t mind the cold, it’s the fact that early and Kate in the season even if the weather is good, it’s hard to bring the tent home properly dry. Damp evenings and mornings.
Good for you dk, have a great campervanning Easter!
Happy Days in 2013 - I started to go camping over Easter in Salisbury C&CC in 2013 after I upgraded my tent to a Dutch pyramid with a ZIG in 2012 (first Easter trip with this tent was Forest Glade in Devon) which was much cosier than a poly/nylon tent.
It was the only time when I needed to use an EHU extension cable as advised by the warden, as the EHU point was on the other side of the hedge.
It was a jumbo pitch without EHU and I did not have any neighbours during that trip, and it was very cold with sub-zero temperatures!
This pitch has now been turned into a hardstanding pitch with EHU. A number of their grass pitches had also been turned into hardstanding pitches with EHU which allows them to open the site all year round, which makes sense as the city is very popular with tourism.
DK
Post last edited on 24/03/2023 13:23:11
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Us! New (to us) van, and first trip is half an hour up the road at a site near Huntingdon. Apparently got the last 'Easter' pitch available. (classic salesmans ploy, eh!). Just need to shake the van down to make sure its all good. Which i already know it is by firing it up on the drive. But not tried the bed, nor physically 'living' in it. Then we should be set for a full late spring, summer and autumn trips we have booked, plus a few random weekends as and when.
We have just had a week at Poston Mill site. We got a free night and 20% discount as we have used Morris Leisure sites before.
Weather was better than forecast
I have done a site review.
Got back and it looks like our leisure battery has died
Fully charged but dies after a short use of the mover. Its quite old so a new one will be sourced.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
I never go away at Easter or any major holiday. Being retired we can go whenever we want and the prices go up over Easter.
We would head off after the Easter break, but our daughter and O.H. have rented house in Keswick so we're off to join them in the Lake District for a week.
------------- Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
We went to Salisbury C&CC site many years ago. Really enjoyed it there. Had some good cycle trips in the area. At the time, they were repairing the cathedral spire and my wife bought a ticket to go to the top. Not me, I stayed on terra ferma and held her coat. AS I have mentioned previously, I get vertigo if I have my shoes soled and heeled.
We also went to an evening organ concert in the cathedral. An excellent holiday. Enjoy it dk.
We will probably start with a trip to C&CC site at Walton, but the weekend after Easter when it will start to gwt quieter again, hopefully.
My first planned excursion is not until May, when I'm vacating the house in Wirral so my old friend's sons and partners can use it for the Eurovision weekend. My favourite site for short breaks, Rynys, is not open this year (sob...) so I decided to treat myself to a pod elsewhere. After seeing the price of anything habitable, I've ended up with a couple of nights in a Premier Inn for less money! What's the world coming to? If the weather's kind I might try a little camp at the end of April, but as I grow older and creakier camping alone becomes less appealing. I can see myself ending up just going on family camps before too long. Enjoy your camping Easters, those of you who are going!
------------- Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!
Been away twice already. 3 nights at Boroughbridge in February and 3 nights last week at Barnard Castle where we had snow.
Must remember to put in reviews of both sites.
Quote: Originally posted by Capt Lightning on 24/3/2023
I never go away at Easter or any major holiday. Being retired we can go whenever we want and the prices go up over Easter.
We would head off after the Easter break, but our daughter and O.H. have rented house in Keswick so we're off to join them in the Lake District for a week.
With you all the way there Capt. We never go anywhere during any of the school holiday times, or any bank holiday weekend. We haven't done since our kids left school, and our youngest is now nearly 40. We always go just after the kids go back or just before they break up.
I don't mind camping over Easter, as the less hardy folks and their critters and ankle biters don't normally come out until the late May Bank Holiday.
As for the summer holidays, I avoided them in the past, however, I have started to go to adult-only sites since I got my van.
SK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I�ve just pulled our van out of storage today Ready to clean up polish reload and get ready for next weekend when we go to the Wirral for nine nights. I know it�s bank holiday and I know it�s more expensive but when you�re working you can get nine nights away for four days holiday
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Start of a camping season
via mobile 24/3/2023 at 11:47am
