Did tour of Wales this year, started booking in March for end August -September. Lucky with weather mostly, but the problem was that having booked every site, some I would have left earlier and others would have stayed longer. Planning for next year - should I book on route sites (we're N.E Eng) and then book ahead one by one as we go?
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It depends on what kind of site, we always use CLs/CSs unless there is no alternative. We did a tour last year, 2 in Hampshire, 1 on the border of Wiltshire/Somerset. Booked in advance but no site was full.
We tend to stay in one place these days, but when we were younger and fitter we used to tour more. We only ever booked as we went, ringing up our selected sites from the one we were about to leave. We don't book more than a few days ahead these days either, unless we have a very specific reason for wanting to go to one particular site. For us that is one of the attractions of caravan life, being able to go spur-of-the-moment often down to weather conditions. We would hate to have booked a site months ahead only to find a few days before we were due to go the weather was forecast to be awful. We would rather postpone our plans or go somewhere else where the forecast was better.
That is how we play it these days, Colin.
We decide roughly when we want a trip, get some ideas of places in different parts of the country, then after seeing weather forecasts, phone sites 2 or 3 days before we travel. If the weather does not look good, we stay at home.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
As has been said, it depends upon when and importantly, where you're thinking of going and what type of sites you like.
We've been to sites (a mixture of both club sites, private sites, CLs and CSs) this year. We've camped in Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, the Isle of Wight, West Sussex, East Sussex and Kent this year (we've also been to Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire but coming from the south coast I don't really count those as southern counties , but as Cambridge and Oxford may be on your route I thought it best to mention them).
We've found sites that are near to or have good access to popular towns/cities/locations have been pretty much fully booked (this includes times outside of the school holidays). The same applied to a number of CL/CS.
Having said that, we've been to some sites where there have been pitches free.
I would suggest you book for any weekend or any particular location you definitely want to visit, after that CL/CS are the best bet. If you are going to wing it, leave yourself plenty of choice (and time).
The sites where I'd definitely recommend booking are Cambridge Cherry Hinton (CAMC), Oxford (C&CC), Salisbury (C&CC), Moreton for Dorchester & Weymouth (C&CC), South Lytchett Manor for Poole & Bournemouth (private), Brighton (CAMC) and Canterbury (C&CC), all of these have been either full or close to when we've visited them.
Who knows? If Covid restrictions get lifted, some of the more popular locations might not be so busy as people venture abroad again but that's a big uncertain if.
If you fancy a CL in South Devon, try Rose Coombe Farm near Seaton. It ‘s in a really peaceful location with a huge field for dog walking if you have one, but handy for Sidmouth, Beer, Lyme Regis etc. We went between lockdowns in2020 so not much in the village was open, but there’s a hotel with public bar and sandwich shop /deli about half a mile from the site.
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: southern england tour
via mobile 02/12/2021 at 11:25am
, but as Cambridge and Oxford may be on your route I thought it best to mention them).
