Hi, currently at Dartmouth campsite, simply can't believe how quiet it is. Looking around it is less than half full, this is very unusual and slightly worrying as we come here twice a year. Given the good weather and concerns about going abroad to some countries, I am baffled as why this is the case.
I was wondering how other people were finding things.
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We’ve just come back from Poston Mill, Hereford and it was the same there. We were saying it was a bit sad there was so many empty pitches after the weekend guests left. However…… on Friday everyone just seem to descend, summer holidays had started! We both said we picked the right week. Glad for the campsite it got busy as it was a beautiful site. Review has been left.
A lot of sites get a huge influx on Fridays and Saturdays, then they are half empty on Monday. That's why we always start our caravan holidays on a Monday, all the weekenders have gone home! Retirement is wonderful.
We've been away twice this year so far, but neither time was with our caravan. One trip was to Copenhagen, a place we had been meaning to visit for years, and the other was to stay with my sister-in-law in Cornwall. Looks like September will be the first and only caravan outing this year.
I'm inclined to think that many sites are pricing themselves out of business. I'm sure that a lot of "Covid campers" have given up on it. They are either going back to package holidays or not having holidays at all because they can no longer afford it. A lot more people have to watch the pennies these days.
I suspect working parents/guardians could only take up to 2 weeks holiday in one go during the summer school holidays.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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The two sites we have been at so far this summer have both been full (CMC Black Knowl and CCC Derwentwater) but they are both always full due to their location. If either of them was only half full in peak season I would be really worried about the state of camping/caravanning in the UK. In a few weeks we are booked on a CL for 9 nights and when I spoke to the owner last week he said that unless things change between then and when we arrive, there will be another unit on site on the day we arrive but it leaves the following day, and for the rest of the week, we are the only unit on the site. However, I don’t think that this is particularly unusual for this CL as it is very basic and doesn’t have good reviews, we are using it because we are with a group who are using other accommodation on the site. This will be our first experience of a site with only a standpipe and CDP so it should be interesting!
Last couple of years I've been away end of July through Aug, and sites have only been full over Fri-Sat, mid week probably no more than half full!
One was the CAMC site on Derwentwater, which is opposite end of lake to CCC site.
I've also booked late, not long before my stay, and had no trouble getting in.
I've also been one of only 2 or 3 vans midweek on a 12 pitch site in the Peak District at the beginning of Aug.
I think a lot has to do with the general transition from caravans to MHs over past few years, they don't seem to stay for more than a day or two, and often just do a w/e, that messes up anyone trying to book a week or more stay, so that may account for the vacancies.
It's true based on my own observation that MHers and campervaners are more get up and go compared with caravanners.
Also IMHO, there are less tenters compared with say 10 years ago, hence more and more sites converted their grass with EHU to hardstanding with EHU. This way they can extend their camping season by allowing more MHers to come and stay.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Four days into our stay and the place is still very quiet, I'm guessing only 40% full. I raise this point because this particular site is usually extremely busy, a couple of times on previous visits we have tried to tag on a day or two, but as because it's always running at full capacity its generally been touch and go.
Probably over reacting, but we do not wish this place to go the same way as other sites in this area that have become building plots.
I suspect as has already been mentioned here, weekends are usually quite busy which makes it difficult for those who would like to stay longer. I see no way around that problem. We have just returned from a stay at Salisbury ccc which did tend to empty Sunday morning but soon began to fill again Monday, especially the grass pitches undoubtedly because of the special discount.
I have noticed the past couple of years that Walton on Thames ccc is nowhere near as busy as it used to be and I suspect cost is the main cause of this. It is quite expensive for a no facility site. Surely it would be better to reduce fees and attract more units?
We favour independent sites - there are no club sites where we usually want to go, and club sites are £10 more expensive pn (even as members), with no difference in what’s provided. (Yes, CCC has a special offer of £19.50 grass & EHU, but try finding one.) So we’re paying £35 on this independent site with everything included, and a security barrier too. On a Wednesday, it’s got about 5 free pitches out of 30 - not quiet, not full. School holidays up here, so there are a good number of children with grandparents.
And, unusually, about half the pitches are tents. Some with cars, some with walkers (Larick is on the Fife Coastal Path). Most tents we’ve seen for some time.
We have also noticed that MH folks often stay one night then move on; it becomes a tiring trip that way (we find) but it suits hire vehicles to see the most in the week, as hiring is expensive.
Quote: Originally posted by Ancient Uncle on 29/7/2026
I suspect as has already been mentioned here, weekends are usually quite busy which makes it difficult for those who would like to stay longer. I see no way around that problem. We have just returned from a stay at Salisbury ccc which did tend to empty Sunday morning but soon began to fill again Monday, especially the grass pitches undoubtedly because of the special discount.
I have noticed the past couple of years that Walton on Thames ccc is nowhere near as busy as it used to be and I suspect cost is the main cause of this. It is quite expensive for a no facility site. Surely it would be better to reduce fees and attract more units?
I have never found it difficult to stay for a week or even two by starting on a Monday. I think the algorithms that sites use for booking tend to go by the start date, so if you try to book starting Friday or Saturday for a week, the result will come back "fully booked". Try again starting on the Monday and it's no problem. Even the weekend at the end of the stay is fine if you are already there. Even a two-week stay is usually no problem even though the two weekends your stay goes through were supposedly fully booked. I've never tried this in the school holidays though as we never go away then. Too crowded and too expensive!
------------- Best Regards,
Colin
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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: Campsite so quiet
via mobile 27/7/2026 at 9:14am
