Ok, back to the thread: have you tried the 'Camp Site Search' option at the top of this page, Mel? Lots of sites are listed, nationwide, and the reviews are invaluable.
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Burnbeck is very very popular and I would not be inclined to turn up in August to be honest especially if the weather is good. My mate goes there all the time with the kids and he loves it. We must try it one weekend.
We went to Merley court in Dorset was not far from beach 5miles i think just outside poole. Kids loved it 5 aged 8 and under and going back next year. Toilets spotless and they have a bar but no entertainemtn when we were there. Maybe worth a look.
Went to a camp site in Cromer a few years ago and rang up to book a couple of days before.
Dont need to book we have acres of fields. I insisted as we had a 450ish mile round trip. We have never been full in all the years we have owned the site, again i insisted as it was over the August bank holiday weekend.
We booked a pitch and drove down there and managed to squeeze in. Sign went up next day SITE FULL!!!!!!
Think this is very very rare but i would never travel without a firm booking. Hope this does not put you off its just a personal experience.........
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
I like Burnbake. It can get busy but we have always got in. We use 3 sites down Swanage way they are Burnbake, Wareham Forest and Pear Tree.
Wareham forest is nice. Big pool, brill play area. shop etc but no evening entertainment which keeps it quite laid back and quiet. 10 minute or so drive into swanage.
A huge thank you to everyone that suggested I book a campsite - I feel so much more confident about my trip. Have booked into Woodyhyde, near Corfe Castle. Anyone else finding themselves camping there second week in August we will be the two very inexperienced looking camper mums (sagging bedrooms and smoking bbqs - and plenty of wine!!!)
OK I said I would let you know whow we got on not booking in advance. We just got back and it was fine we did fine a lovely pitch which was perfect for us, however, we relegated to an off campsite field rather than on the actual campsite itself and were miles away from the loos and showers, not a problem for us as we had buckets and bowls etc, but a few people were complaining about lack of space even though most of us phoned up before we left! lol
So I think from now on I will go to a site where I can pre-book :)
Hope this helps!
------------- Sal x
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Done a few "spur of the moment jobs" without not booking. Yep there is always the nagging thought on the drive there. But they all turned out ok. Then again we did,nt drive far from home anyway so it would be no probs coming back. If I was traveling any distance I would much prefer to book.
THUMPER.
------------- The British soldier must be driven to digging in the moment he occupies a piece of ground,lest he waste time in sightseeing,souvenir hunting & drinking tea.....
Maj Gen F.W. Festing (GOC 36 Inf Div )
Quote: Originally posted by Merry Terrier on 16/6/2006
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 16/6/2006
I hate not having a booking, so much so that I won`t go to a campsite that doesn`t take them. I realise that no-shows cost campsites a lot of money in lost bookings so I`m perfectly prepared to send a substantial deposit. .... I`d rather lose a deposit from time to time than turn up at a campsite after having driven a long way with kids and not be able to get in.
I tried Merley Court but that was booked up for the summer. Tried loads of places,one especially I liked in Norfolk, phoned in the morning to see if there were any pitches, there was one, then phoned back an hour later and it had gone! Summer hols are getting very popular with not being able to take kids out of school so easily these days.
Must be the odd one out... Now have trailer tent/folding camper am booking at the moment because not confident in turning it around BUT prior to this and hopefully again in the future we just up and go where the will takes us and look for a campsite.
A field with a tap is what we look for and somewhere to dump the chemical waste and away we go.....
Don't forget to leave a review of the campsites you have visited this year or last!
Went to Dorset in 2004 without booking - we have a motorhome - went to look at virtually every site on the road atlas and ended up in Swanage at Tourist Information. Asked them if they could ring a few sites - they said something to the effect of "we can't stand here all day ringing sites just for you...." - however the first one they rang was Burnbake and believe it or not it had vacancies - probably because you can't book?! It is a wonderful site - you have to be up early to get those croissants!
It is no fun trying to find sites and I do try to book otherwise you might not end up where you want to be!
Firstly, Burnbake is FANTASTIC with the caveat that the facilities are clean and functional rather than the all singing all dancing variety. I've been going with my now 8 yr old son for the last 3 years and staying pretty much all summer which we will be doing again this year ...and both of us are counting the days!
The best tip I can give you is to try and arrive either latish on a Sunday evening or fairly early on Monday morning thereby missing the weekend arrival. There may well be a 'site full' notice at the end of the drive but I think this is more about preventing it being beseiged rather than it actually being full as the layout of the site means there are always little nooks and crannies crying out for tents to be pitched in them. if you arrive when the shop is open (8.00 - 10.30ish or 5.30 - 7.30ish) and ask them very nicely, I am almost certain that they will say if you can find somewhere to pitch you can stay.
We hate the idea of booking and have only done it once (for a campsite meet). We haven't found it's badly kept sites that get full, just the ones with entertainment, pools etc. You do need to be prepared, flexible and ready to stop at a reasonable hour (usually we start looking at 3 or 4ish). We've done Wiltshire on the fly and found no full sites at all. France is easy as you can rely on the Municipal sites (again it depends on the facilities you want). Spain was a little more nerve wracking but still found a nice site with pool, entertainment and restaurant. Those that don't take bookings obviously are on a first come first served basis so get there early and you should be OK. Oh and we do this in August (accidently hit main French holiday weekend last year too)
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: Campsites that dont take bookings
can't smile without you
