Ha ha, just back from Stone House Farm at Little Hadham near Bishops Stortford. Grass pitches in a row.Our neighbour had an awning which left a bright yellow patch when they took it down to leave.
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I prefer hardstanding pitches as I don't like to bring mud into the van!
Grass is only nice when it is not wet, soggy and muddy IMHO.
I don't have grass at home - gravelled front and back, so HS is like home from home!
DK
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A few years ago we went to a CL near Great Torrington in Devon. It had hardstandings but to access them you had to drive over mud as they were not "attached" to the track. No way that it should have been open in winter. They were also too narrow, and farm work started at about 4am.
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 07/8/2024
I prefer hardstanding pitches as I don't like to bring mud into the van!
Grass is only nice when it is not wet, soggy and muddy IMHO.
I don't have grass at home - gravelled front and back, so HS is like home from home!
DK
I wouldn't mind hardstandings if they made them square and had them in random patterns, but they all tend to be much longer than they are wide and all in neat rows. That's not camping to me, more like being in a car-park. I like to orient my caravan how I like in relation to the sun, views, etc. I don't like regimentation, and that is what hardstandings are usually like, in my experience. I'd rather clear up a bit of dirt than camp in a "car park", but each to their own.
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Too far for most people, I realise:
Drumroamin site near Newton Stewart (Galloway) is all grass, over coastal sands & gravels so it drains & doesn’t get muddy. Pitches are 10m x 10m (marked by stobs) and you can go onto it any way you like “except on your roof” as the owner said. Yes, pitches in rows because it’s a small rectangular field with outer hedges so it’s logical, but it’s never felt regimented because some (like us) pitch sideways for the views, some diagonal (for shelter if it’s windy).
New England CAMC site is mostly grass on coastal sand, random pitches, and even farther away! South of Stranraer. No hedges between but a lot of gorse.
Hawthorn Farm at Martin Mill (just outside of Dover) does have some delimited pitches with shrubs in between, as well as a large open area, and a few smaller fields surrounded by trees.
I've been several times for some family group camps and, on my own, but not for some years.My roots are that way in Whitfield.
There is a railway line that passes by but it's not busy, and that does mean a station isn't far away to take you to London if you wish, or towns of Deal one way, and Dover the other. There are two large sanitaires (if we're talking French) with undercover washing up sinks.
It's not in walking distance to a town, and as it's a large site overall, you might prefer to cycle!
But, there is at least one pub in the village, The Lantern always used to be nice. St Margaret's Bay is wonderful and not far away and keeping the French theme, when you reach the bottom your mobile phone is likely to say 'Welcome to France'! Great pub - The Coastguard - which was simple and lovely, has been gentrified and called 'Coastguard On The Bay' with a paint job I dislike but the Bay retains a certain je ne sais quoi, and on a clear day you can see France too ,
I prefer 'broken up' sites too, rather than the green car park you describe.
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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: UK sites like the French ones?
via mobile 07/8/2024 at 10:08am
