I've been away from caravanning for a few years and am curious about the definition of a Fully Serviced Caravan pitch, especially on this site.
Previously, using this site, if I set the filters to include "Fully Serviced" I'd expect to find pitches with EHU, Water supply and Grey water drainage. A few even had toilet cassette emptying adjacent to the pitches.
I'm starting to plan a tour up to Scotland later in the year and the search facility is offering up many sites which, on checking their websites, only have EHUs as well as a few with pitch water supplies but no sign of grey water drainage.
Is this a 'North of the Border' thing or just poor definitions of the search engine?
Age and decrepitude mean this is not just a desirable feature.
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Quote: Originally posted by nuthatch on 02/1/2023
I've been away from caravanning for a few years and am curious about the definition of a Fully Serviced Caravan pitch, especially on this site.
Previously, using this site, if I set the filters to include "Fully Serviced" I'd expect to find pitches with EHU, Water supply and Grey water drainage. A few even had toilet cassette emptying adjacent to the pitches.
I'm starting to plan a tour up to Scotland later in the year and the search facility is offering up many sites which, on checking their websites, only have EHUs as well as a few with pitch water supplies but no sign of grey water drainage.
Is this a 'North of the Border' thing or just poor definitions of the search engine?
Age and decrepitude mean this is not just a desirable feature.
I'm not sure there is a definition as such, I think it does seem to be a bit vague. If I were willing to pay extra for a fully serviced pitch, which I am not, I would certainly expect EHU and my own water supply, and maybe grey water drainage. However, I have been on sites that have had those facilities without even describing them as "fully serviced" at the time. One such site even had waste recycling collection from each pitch individually.
I wouldn’t like to say it’s a “north of the border” thing, as I’ve not been south of the border since Covid. Thinking about the “fully serviced” pitches up here that I’ve been on, none had sewage disposal (that may be a regulation thing from Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) re smells, pollution etc).
As you say, all have EHU & water, but I’ve been on one “Serviced” pitch where the water tap was shared between 2 (Motorhome) pitches.
Some had a TV socket, that’s not common though.
Not all (half? 3/4?) had their own grey water drainage, you’re right, and there’s no guarantee that it’s near to where you actually want it on the pitch. I suggest you phone the site or check the website to be sure; I’d put that down to things like the slope of the site as it has to drain to a main drain by gravity, or go to an approved sump to drain into the soil gradually. Not all sites have a Motorhome drive-over drain / MH service point either (but increasingly MHs are banned by sites if they drive away with the waste tap open, draining onto the site & public roads).
A serviced pitch does not necessarily mean a hardstand either. There’s a cracking site at Aberlour that has the full Monty for serviced pitches but they’re on grass (red squirrels as compensation).
As Colin said, not sure there is any de facto definition of a 'Serviced Pitch', best I can offer is a look at the main two caravaning clubs definitions of their pitches, this covers perhaps the lions share of camping pitches out there, and many private sites follow a similar pattern:
My personal expectation for a pitch described as 'Serviced' is a) individual fresh water supply, b) individual EHU, c) individual grey water drain. 'Individual' can cover a service point shared between two pitches, but must mean you can permanently leave your personal connections in place.
Never come across a pitch with own CDP, but I believe (never paid much attention as no need for this as use my own onboard facilities) there are pitches with own toilet/shower facilities!
I'm thankfully fit and able, so as long as standard facilities are functional and not too difficult to access, I don't go looking for more, no objection to fully service pitches, but not inclined to pay the premium prices.
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My favourite site, namely Birchwood Tourist Park near Wareham, Dorset, differentiates between semi-serviced and fully-serviced, in that the latter has grey water drainage and more expensive for that reason.
Their largest pitches up to 10m are fully serviced.
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!
Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 02/1/2023
I'm thankfully fit and able, so as long as standard facilities are functional and not too difficult to access, I don't go looking for more, no objection to fully service pitches, but not inclined to pay the premium prices.
I would probably describe myself as reasonably fit and able for my age, I've been retired 10 years, but I do have some limitations such as back problems. I therefore try to limit lifting and carrying to an absolute minimum and I use a trolley for water and waste disposal. I also try to use site facilities as much as possible for the same reason. I also have no objection to fully serviced pitches, but I'm not prepared to pay extra for them, in the same way that I won't pay extra for hardstandings. If anything I try to avoid them for several reasons. Firstly I much prefer to be on grass, particularly if I am using my awning, and secondly they usually tend to be regimented, that is all in neat rows alongside a roadway, whereas we tend to go for random pitches where we can set up our outfit any way round that we choose and with plenty of space around us. We never go away when the weather is at its worst, so we rarely encounter very wet pitches when we go.
It seems that maybe in my absence the defintions have shifted slightly.
I was hoping that I wouldn't have to spend quite so much time double checking the websites as well, though I usually do to check the layout/access/appearance etc.
I agree with Monty15 "My personal expectation for a pitch described as 'Serviced' is a) individual fresh water supply, b) individual EHU, c) individual grey water drain. 'Individual' can cover a service point shared between two pitches, but must mean you can permanently leave your personal connections in place."
I'm not usually bothered by having a "Super-sized" pitch so long as there's room for the awning and a respectable space between each pitch.
Once again my thanks.
Best wishes
Mike
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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 02/1/2023
I'm thankfully fit and able, so as long as standard facilities are functional and not too difficult to access, I don't go looking for more, no objection to fully service pitches, but not inclined to pay the premium prices.
I am on a service pitch (think it is a fully service pitch with grey water drainage) at my favourite site so that I can have a good Wi-fi signal while I am there for work purposes.
Sadly, my old favourite pitch there which is a grass one with EHU does not have good mobile signal or wi-fi coverage, hence the need to move closer to their Reception/Office.
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!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Fully Serviced pitches
via mobile 02/1/2023 at 3:34pm
