went to bala lake last month, planning on going to home farm - angelsey next month.
when booking these campsites i had to do about 4 weeks in advance, and have been disappointed twice when we were planning to go about a week before - but couldnt because sites were fully booked.
some of the comments on here seem to be about shall i go away this weekend or not.
how do you know you have availability at a camp site or is it potluck or find out when you get there.
i would love to know, as when we started getting the camping gear together, the idea was - if we wanted to get away for the weekend, with no planning we could just pack the car up and go !
It's a difficult one isn't it. We booked to go away in August to a campsite we love the look of and we phoned in March, we was told EVERY weekend till September was fully booked, I was gobsmacked. I put the phone down but then I had a brain wave and booked for a mid week instead.
I have booked 3 trips now for July and August and I now feel if it's a campsite I really want then I will book in advance or if not I will try my luck and book a day or so before.
we are trying to get a campsite with a pool for 3 nights in august - eventually i have got a space at #35 per night - which i think is extortionate - but everywhere else is already full or wont take less than 7 nights. previous years we would phone up & book - i think next year i will have to plan my dates in january!!
In a way it is a good idea to book as then you have a guaranteed space. The problem is you can't predict the weather that far ahead and as said sometimes you just want to pack and go.
We have just lost our £25 deposit on a pitch as we cancelled the trip this weekend cos of the rain. OH likes to choose his site, so we need to book ahead, but then if we don't go we lose the deposit. He is now saying we won't book any more, but just take pot luck, but with the school holidays looming I can see that we might not be able to get away when we want if we don't book. Dilemma!
i just got back from a stay in the lakes last night and the site we headed for was fcfs and we missed out but they recomend nearby sites ans we turned up on one at 7pm and managed to pitch there ,so i guess its pot luck !!
It is pretty much pot luck if you up and go but it is not a problem as we have found that if a site is full they will point you in the direction of another site so we've never had a problem. If there is a site that you particularly like then book ahead.
If you are planning any trips during school holidays book ahead, also bank holidays are best to book ahead for too.
we always book the big holiday during the summer as i am a teacher and i need a guranteed holiday during this time. We book most of our weekends too because i know that although i would be happy to drive around looking for alternative sites and exploring the area, it would my OH's worst nightmare!!!
even with weekends though, we will only book perhaps a couple of days before. sometimes it means we can't get in where we want but i just keep trying until i find somewhere - any site is better than staying at home! I have booked a site for next weekend this morning and that is about as organised as i get!
Quote: Originally posted by halsteadl on 21/6/2008
we are trying to get a campsite with a pool for 3 nights in august - eventually i have got a space at #35 per night - which i think is extortionate - but everywhere else is already full or wont take less than 7 nights. previous years we would phone up & book - i think next year i will have to plan my dates in january!!
wow that is expensive. where is this site? have you tried bank farm in Gower?
Debbie - This was Freshwater in Dorset - I need to visit my Auntie in Dorchester who recently lost her husband. I want to be near for the weekend - but not to stay with her.
Coincidently - my friend & I are taking 5 kids to Bank farm on 24th July - so everybody - be warned!!!
We booked in there for a much more reasonable fee - £86 for the three nights - with electric, 2 adults, 5 children & 2 cars - bargain. (Maybe we will loose some of the kids before we come home - now theres a thought!)
I'll probably be at bank farm myself that week. i'm staying in the caravan and camping club field, £8.50 a night per pitch, but no electric in that field. They are there from last week of jul until 17 august, so if you decide you want to extend your stay, join the club on site.
It's a lot easier to find a non electric pitch, it's also pretty straightforward to find a pitch on a no frills site. Unfortunately if you're looking for electric and an all singing all dancing site it's a case of booking ahead.
It's always worth ringing the day before though - they will get cancellations. The reverse of that is, if you're booked and you decide not to go, ring the site and tell them, there might be someone waiting for a pitch.
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: booked camp sites
I have booked a site for next weekend this morning and that is about as organised as i get!
