We've a holiday in France booked in the summer but have another week off In the main sch hols to go away in the UK. Am considering trying a C&CC temp hol site in south west or south. We have 2 primary aged children. Anyone been to a THS? Would you recommend it?
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
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Only ever camp on THS from March to September. People are very friendly and we often see the same people on a few of them. Nothing nicer than meeting up outside someones van for a drink and a chat. Would highly recommend them.
PLUS THEY ARE CHEAP.
Caravanning as it should be! Out of choice I will always use a THS if there is one in the area where I want to be. School fields, football and rugby pitches, sheep pastures, etc etc and for those who feel at home on a Tesco carpark some are on commercial sites.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
There are a quite a few in the south west, either in a farm field or even some on commercial sites where you'll be in the rally field but have use of the sites facilities (for half the cost!) We always go with the club for our camping and have enjoyed many weekends and longer stays - its the only way we can afford to get out as much as we do. We would recommend it!
Very few THS have electric or facilities (just waste dump) so you will need to be self contained, but if you have solar panels or enough batteries to power your needs for the week then I say go for it.
£6-£20 per night depending on location, you'd be a fool not to take advantage of such a cheap week away, and the social side of the sites with other campers is excellent if you like to chat and be social, and so far we have found that all families using the sites children all play excellent together, with the older ones looking after the smaller ones (just how it was years ago) leaving Mum & Dad to relax a little bit.
Our 17month daughter (as she was then) spent more time in a neighbours tent playing one day last year then in our caravan!
Temporary Holiday Site, organised by the various District Associations and special interest groups within the Camping and Caravanning Club, usually open to all C&CC members (ie not restricted to the organising DA etc).
May be held a sports ground, school etc or at a commercial site (usually on a separate rally field).
Facilities may be limited to water supply and chemical toilet/rubbish disposal, or may include the facilities of a host site, occasionally with EHU.
Advance booking (except for EHU) is rarely needed.
Details of forthcoming THSs are listed in the Out and About pages of the Club magazine.
Temporary Holiday Site. The C&CC magazine lists them as "friendly affordable camping". I don't know if CC has equivalent sites. Not sure, I think you have to be a club member to use them but I'm not sure. So, for example, Renfrew & SW Scotland DA (District Association) is having a THS in Ayrshire, at a Country Park, 10-21 April. The magazine entry says how to find it, site fees £8 per unit, add £1pppn for over 16s (I'm only quoting, so don't ask me why), own san recommended (i.e. not essential but showers are not available 24 hours - the block is locked at night), and who to contact. Some entries - not this one - say "adv bkg ess". There's a THS at Muir of Ord where it's "stay 7 nights, pay for 6" and it's only £7 pu, regardless of age - bargain! Some tie into music festivals (e.g. Montrose 20-26 May). One at Crieff in July is on the Rugby pitches, and uses the next door site's (very good) facilities - I know we paid more than £8 per unit on the "proper" site! As many of them are on Certificated Sites, you can look up the reviews in another section of UKCS.
We used a THS in Cornwall for many years when our children where younger, absoluteltly great value and we all made many friends.
The THS was run by Birmingham DA and was in the village of St Merryn near Padstow.The rally field was part of a small commercial site so we were able to use their showers etc (coin operated).
Thanks so much for that Neil, as having looked at all of them that is top of my list unless the weather forecast looks bad. I love coves with pale sand and clear blue sea which seems to be what that area delivers. I'm a happy bunny with a seaview (though the rest of the family are not bothered). Now to see if we can sort out how to power our battery whilst away....
------------- From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
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.