We, both newbies, have both booked time off work (last week of March) and are going to venture out in the caravan for the first time!! What did you do for your first trip? stay local? Club site?
I am in the Manchester area and my initial thought is to not go to far, Blackpool or somewhere similar. The issue appears to be establishing sites which are open between 18th - 21st March... I am also a little nervous of towing too far for the first trip, so want to try and avoid windy country roads if possible... just until I get used to towing.
Any advice on where to go?
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Have you joined the Caravan Club or the Caravan and Camping Club yet? If not recommend that you do, you will then be able to look through the sites books and choose a site that you like the look of. Also by joining this type of club you will be assured that the facilities will be of a high standard. If you decide to join The Caravan Club, please quote our membership number and you will be entered into a prize draw 17298647. Thanks
You could try the Caravan Club site in Blackpool it opens around 16 March but it is exclusive to members. If you wanted to go a little further afield, you could try Troutbeck in the Lake District. There is a Caravan Club site and a Caravan and Camping Club site very close to each other. They are both easily accessible sites (off the A66) no winding narrow roads to negotiate. Have been to both of these sites and they are lovely.
We're just back from a CC. CL site (Caravan Club Certified Location) Lovely wee site called Little Stubbins in Garstang. It would be ideal for your first outing
Hello, yes we have joined the Caravan Club. I have just had a look at the CC Blackpool site but unfortunately it doesn't open until 27th March which is too late for us. We are looking at goign away on the Wednesday 18th, returning Sat.
I like the look of the Troutbeck site, but I think it may be a little too far for our first trip. Am playing it safe in case i forget something, which knowing my luck will be the case, I can pop back!
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How about trying a Certified Location from the Caravan Club. Alot of these are open all year. If you find one that has a hardstanding with electric hook up and toilet and shower facilites you will everything that a larger site could offer. Because they are smaller (5 vans only) you find that people are really friendly and only too willing to help out.
Some friends of ours stayed at Keepers Cottage near Blackpool (Caravan Club CL) they said it was nice.
I live in Rochdale and my first outing was to the CC Meathop fell site at Grange, access is very easy and it is open all year. It is a very easy tow with no problems at all for a novice. Another very easy trip to a CC site that is open all year is to lady margarets site at Chirk just south of Wrexham, also you could consider a trip to Clumber park CC site ( M62 the A1 and very easy to get to )
All of these sites are extremely accessible, no more than one and a half hours towing from Manchester all are open all year. All three will be very quiet duirng the week and will all be nearly full at weekends.
I would recommend that you find a site quite near home for your first trip. The first time we used our caravan we went to a site about 5 miles away, OH had to pop home twice for things that we had forgotten!
Joining CC or C&CC is also good advice as you know that the sites will be of a good standard. We are members of C&CC as we used to be tent campers and just continued with our membership but the CC do have more sites to choose from - you could join both if you can afford it, lots of people are members of both clubs.
FB
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Other half has just reminded me of another site that is not too far from you in Manchester. Lickpenny in Matlock. Lovely site, great views. Take as much swing out as you can before turning into site. If you are just getting use to caravanning, might be an idea to ask for one of the pitches that is easier to get in to, some of the pitches at the top of the site can be awkward to reverse in to but you do get the views.
I live in Rochdale and my first outing was to the CC Meathop fell site at Grange, access is very easy and it is open all year. It is a very easy tow with no problems at all for a novice.
Sorry Janus I totally totally disagree
Never in a million years. This site was the 3rd I ever visited and it scared the hell out of us. No way on earth could you describe the approach as easy. Single track, tight corners, No visibility of what's coming down when your going up.or vice versa. Deffo a no for a first outing. Ok it wouldn't bother us now but not for a first trip.
------------- Beauty is in the eyes of the beer holder
Cath
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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: Which site for our first outing??
