Liked Bob's comment. I do have a windbreak and use it on a couple of sites visited regularly because they're quite open and you can waste a lot of gas boiling the morning cuppa. If a site charged me £12 for it, I'd not be booking. If you want an enclosed encampment as some people on sites seem to do, then charges for additional windbreaks might be justified but if you're in a small tent and cooking outside that really is disgusting - one can only assume the site owner doesn't want you.
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Quote: Originally posted by chelsea girl on 09/3/2012
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 08/3/2012
Not so many years ago when people went camping they took with them a tent. They may have used the odd windbreak for exactly that purpose...protecting themselves from the wind.
Gradually though, windbreaks started to be used as pitch boundaries
We do use windbreaks, and we use them around the perimeter of the pitch (which we pay for!) not to stake "this is our pitch, keep off" but to screen off the dogs (who are tethered) the dogs cannot see over the windbreaks and therefore do not bark every time a person walks past, so we all enjoy a quiet holiday.
Same here! Also we've had young children who have approached our tent to stroke Bailey, but we prefer that not to happen as all dogs are unpredictable, especially in the presence of young children. We had one child at one site last year that constantly appeared outside our tent, he was only about 2 but kept wandering up towards Bailey, even though Bailey kept barking at him. We didn't have a windbreak up at the time but felt we then had to put one up, no doubt some people would then have branded us as marking out our territory or being antisocial. I personally don't have a problem if someone does want to mark out their territory and be totally private, or if someone wants no windbreaks at all, a massive tent and a 40" plasma TV or a one man tent, if you've paid for the pitch it should be up to you how you utilise it aslong as it has no affect on your neighbours (Ok, the TV was a bit of an exaggeration, but I'm sure you get my point!)
------------- May/June - Spring Valley
Aug/Sept - Leekworth
I am not saying it is right or wrong to surround your unit with windbreaks. I occasionally use a windbreak myself if I feel the need for some protection from a chilly breeze or for some privacy (we all know windbreaks are useless in real wind).
However, most campsites with unmarked pitches usually go by the 6 metre rule for fire regulations. In other words the unit on the next pitch could be just 6 metres away. If somebody pitches a tent on that unmarked area, then adds gazebos, tables, utility tents, you name it...all surrounded by windbreaks, then at what point does the next pitch start?
If everyone does that then a field which should have enough room for a dozen tents for example could end up with only enough room for 6-8 tents plus all the junk, so a campsite owner has to take a stand somewhere. By charging for the extras the campsite owner will not only deter people from using extras and expanding beyond an acceptable area but may also recover some of the costs if they do.
The alternative is for owners to mark every pitch with a white line (or similar) leaving 6 metres between pitches and telling people they can erect whatever they want but it must stay within the white lines. That way, those people who want to take several tents, gazebos, windbreaks, 6 dogs and 20 grandchildren can do so providing it all fits...or they will have to hire two or more pitches.
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Like so many others we use a wind break as means of shelter. A way of being able to cook outside without he wind blowing the gas out. A way of providing shade for Comet if he needs it when he is outside with us.
And YES we have used them as a pitch boundry - we got our first windbreaks after a couple of days of having one family cut the corner across our pitch, even when we were sitting outside eating, on their way to the loo block - even though the path was a yard away.
But as the OP says, on some sites you add up the extras and what seems like a nice cheap site soon turns into a very expensive site. I add all the things together, and work it out, and compare with other sites in the area.
I don't mind paying a couple of quid per night for the extra car - worth it for the comfort factor on the journey to site, and the fact that if I want to go out without Richard, I don't have to alter seat/mirrors etc so that I can drive his car, but wouldn't touch sites that are charging over a fiver a night, as was one site I looked at a couple of years ago.
Quote: Originally posted by krazykamper on 08/3/2012
Quote: Originally posted by Bob61 on 08/3/2012
Not so many years ago when people went camping they took with them a tent. They may have used the odd windbreak for exactly that purpose...protecting themselves from the wind.
Gradually though, windbreaks started to be used as pitch boundaries and within these boundaries lots of other things sprang up, like gazebos, patio tables and chairs complete with parasol etc. Then came pup tents for the kids and more recently large utility tents which in many cases are as big if not bigger than the main tent.
It doesn't surprise me therefore, that campsite owners are starting to feel more and more taken for a ride, especially on campsites with unmarked pitches where what used to be a small area for one tent is fast becoming a huge area for all sorts of camping equipment. Apart from anything else this then limits the number of units a campsite can support and likewise the campsite owners income.
It therefore doesn't surprise me in the least that campsite owners, whilst not wanting to ban all these 'extras', feel enough is enough and perhaps they should start charging for the extra space all this stuff takes up. The alternative is to create marked pitches and what doesn't fit on them can't be used.
It must be quite a dilemma for campsite owners although I have not heard of any charging for windbreaks before. As suggested though...if you don't like the charges go elsewhere.
Point taken Bob. I know exactly what you are saying. There is nothing worse than being pitched next to someone who has 'hemmed' themselves in with windbreaks and all the other things that go along with it.
We have one windbreak which we take but dont always put up. It really just depends on the weather conditions and whether or not our neighbours are friendly I certainly would not be expected to pay extra for one windbreak.
We erect an awning and hem ourselves in with two 4 metre windbreaks and a 1 metre gate. It stops idiots taking short cuts through our pitch and also helps contain the dogs and prevent them from running around loose. We do not infringe on the neighbour's pitch.
We do take our custom elsewhere if site owners want to be greedy and charge for every possible item.
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Perhaps those who are against windbreaks would think again if they suffered from people constantly walking across their pitch. Believe me it is no fun having people walk so close that they could help themselves to the food off your plate.
Not everyone can go to a five van site.
I go away with two kids, and a dog - I put table outside, on my pitch because I enjoy eating outside. I have my chairs outside, weather permitting, because I enjoy sitting outside. Kids have their scooters outside.
However I do not infringe on other peoples pitches.
What's more I always take my portable DVD player with me, and sometimes if the weather has been really bad I have sat inside the tent, and we have watched a film. I ensure that it can not be heard at the edges of my pitch.
It is my holiday, and if things like windbreaks make it more relaxing for me, and I do not infringe on other peoples pitches then so be it.
However, I can understand the No Gazebo rule, as some of them are so flimsy and take off in the slightest gust of wind. I know that some are very sturdy we have one, that has withstood strong winds, but we respect the rule where it is in place.
I have used a windbreak on occasions. For some protection while cooking outside, privacy, and to stop b####y people walking through my pitch between the tents when my big sis comes camping with me.
We've just changed our awning and upon checking a booking that we' ve already made have realised that it's now going to cost an extra £4 per night. The site is asking for the extra because we now have a sleeping annexe. However the new awning plus sleeping annexe will take up slightly LESS space than our old full size awning which we used to use with an inner tent. We are considering asking for a refund and going elsewhere if they insist on the extra charge.
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Topic: Charges for `Extras`
I certainly would not be expected to pay extra for one windbreak. 
