Just in the process of swapping from tent to tourer - How do you go about getting a seasonal pitch? for 2012? is there a protocol? waiting lists? do you visit site 1st? We are so used to just turning up with a tent, but thought our first season getting used to a caravan & its workings would be best done in one place!! any information would be great.
Top of the page (campsite search) is a starting point, in the menu at the bottom of the page you will find (seasonal pitches).
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=239
Not all sites that take seasonal tourers list it on here - the site where we keep ours doesn't - so it is always worth asking a site you like if they can take your van. Some do have waiting lists but you may be lucky if people are about to take their vans off.
I would DEFINITELY visit a site first if I was going to commit to a season there. We visited several in the area we were looking at, and found that some which looked great on their website were more run-down and scruffy in reality.
Also, you can only get a good idea of how quiet/busy a site is by visiting it.
Get a list of sites you are interested in, plan a route between them, and take a day or two out to visit them. Your hard work will be repaid!
I would agree with Lizzo - we spent a couple of years travelling around staying on sites. It was easy to make our choice but we still went back and stayed again before putting our name on the waiting list. We then waited 2 and a half years before getting a pitch. We thought it was better to do this than spend a whole season on a site that we were not happy with.
You need to look at things like cleanliness and numbers of showers loos, etc, spacing of pitches, shop, launderette, TV reception and is there enough in the vicinity to offer trips out if you want them. Security of the site was also a concern for us.
I hope you find something you like.
Surprisingly when we moved to a van we looked forward to more freedom of movement - it is only lately that we have felt the need to be a bit more 'static'
Sue
Thanks for the info guys, we have our areas and have a couple of sites that we have stayed on on a regular basis with the tent, however I am waiting on them to reply to my request.I agree with you Sue, I now find as I get older & I mean older!! my daughter is mid 30's so you could guessmy age its just too much some trips putting up & breaking down our camp, & dont like to do too much driving these days,as I am the only driver. Hopefully someone will get back to me, I want to be organised so I know where I will be for my hols next season.
If you get to choose the pitch look for one that is sheltered from the wind but not under trees.
summer storms can be very damaging when your not there to put things right.
We have a seasonal pitch in cornwall and its great just pack a bag and were off, all we have to do on arrival is connect the water and electric and put the kettle on.
I would DEFINITELY visit a site first if I was going to commit to a season there. We visited several in the area we were looking at, and found that some which looked great on their website were more run-down and scruffy in reality.
Also, you can only get a good idea of how quiet/busy a site is by visiting it.
Get a list of sites you are interested in, plan a route between them, and take a day or two out to visit them. Your hard work will be repaid!
Lizzo
Spot on some sites we looked at were terrible. The other option is to look for sites with storage on site then move it to a pitch when you go. Then you get the choice of your pitch every time and save money too.
It may also help if you let us know where in the country you are looking for? We may be able to give you some pointers.
You could also update your profile with your location rather than "UK"
Quote: Originally posted by Novice123 on 18/10/2011
Ian - Not sure I follow what your saying re storage? Can you explain a bit more for me.
Wizzo Always like to be by the coast or within a short distance, east coast or Norfolk - does not have to be in that order.
Hi Novice, some sites will let you store your caravan on site, we store ours at a camping and caravan club site and this costs £200 for the period the site is open and £150 for winter storage. So we then book and pay for the dates we want to stay at the site collect our van from their storage area and pull it on the pitch then at the end of our stay we put it back into storage.
My parents are on the same site but only store the van in summer and worked out with the storage costs and the night fees they paid just over £700 this year. My uncle has his van on a seasonal pitch less than 10 miles away from March to the end of October and pays £1450.
So this may be an option for you if you can't find a seasonal.
I would still prefer the option of leaving the caravan on the pitch as then the whole weekend or whatever is free to do whatever you wish. I wouldn't want to have to tow it to the pitch and back every time. To me the pleasure of a seasonal pitch is just to arrive and put the kettle on or open a beer/wine and then shut the door at the end and walk away.
I understand though that decent seasonal pitches are at a premium and the storage may be the only option but I would give it serious thought before committing.
The site I'm on allows awnings to remain up all season (at owners risk) and most of us have the awnings set up as additional rooms. I even have an annex and sleep on my double height airbed complete with electric blanket and 15 tog duvet. You can't do that if you have to keep moving. We stay on the same pitch all year although can still only use the 'van March til October but we're there at every opportunity as it's only an hours drive.
Thanks for all this info, a real eye opener - one thing that has bothered me, having a small caravan sat on a site all year or part year not moving does this have any affect on the wheels siezing?? I obviously am no mechanic so have no idea re this sort of thing.
Park it with handbrake off & wheels chocked & you will be ok. Its also a good idea to cover tyres as well to protect from sunlight. You can buy wheel covers or just use a bit of old canvas & bungee.
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: seasonal pitch for 2012
