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We had booked this campsite some time ago for Wed & Thur 30th & 31st December 2015 and Fri & Sat 1st & 2nd January 2016. The weather forecast on the morning of departure was for more heavy rain -again - for the North East so we phoned the site warden at 9 am to find out how bad it was. We were told there were some pools of water but everyone was getting about. So we set off intending to go via the A90 to Stonehaven then cut across to the A93 to Aboyne then up to Tarland. It was raining very hard and there was a LOT of surface water on the A93 and it was just passable in places.
We got to the site OK. Perhaps the warden had an off day and we though he was a bit short with us but anyway he showed us to a small hardstanding backing onto the road. We could not have one of the bigger pitches in the centre close to the facilities as they were for the 'Rally'. We were surprised to hear about this as there was no mention of it when booking. There was a reasonable sized social/function/games room which was taken over by the Rally members and others were not invited.
On the 1st January 2016 the forecast was for more heavy rain and flooding - there had been extensive flooding in the area. We decided we would leave the next morning cutting our stay by one night as we did not want to get stranded or our van stuck in the floods.
We were very surprised the next morning when we were told we could not get a refund.
Spent two nights here in the fantastic October sunshine. Really nice site. Easy to find and in great location with good walks nearby for dogs. Wardens were very pleasant and helpful. Toilet block is a wee bit old, but it was spotlessly clean. Very quiet at night this time of year, and even though weather was glorious, it got very cold at night. No problems though. Close by is the nice little village of Tarland. Couple of pubs and a few shops, so really all you need. Food at the Commercial Hotel was really good and was dog friendly as well.
This is the 3rd Camping and Caravan club site we have used this year (getting our money's worth from the membership!) and it was one of the poorer sites.
We were shown to our pitch (small grumble about why, when the tent field is empty do they put all the tents together in the one corner, our neighbor was able to see directly into our tent) by the warden. The pitch was small and very close to the next tent.
The toilets were clean and spacious but once more the push button shower ruins the experience. The water was warm, a stool was provided but there was very little space in the cubical, some of the space around the washbasins could have been put to better use.
The dish washing area was clean, however there are no waste bins around the area, meaning you have to go out to the recycling area at the entrance to put your rubbish in the bin, I'm all for recycling but a food waste bin at the dishwasher area would not go amiss.
The whole set up of the site and the way customers are treated made us feel very much like second class citizens, not sure who would be top dog but I think that tourers in general are a bit of an inconvenience for the site owners.
The area was lovely and I did like being able to walk to the village.
Our first visit to a C&CC Club site, but about 10tgh club site for my dad who was also with us. Nice welcome from a female warden in the office then show to site by a 'strict' male warden (turns out he is the site Manager), who told us everything again the female did as though he didn't trust her! Site was rather damp due to recent flooding along the Deeside area, so tent field was closed and ment the tents where all mixed up with Caravans etc. Toilet facilities all though very clean are very dated and closed for 1. 5 hours over dinnertime every day. Also showers are push button and very small. Far to many sinks and toilets for the size of the site, this building needs a major rethink. Also on site are Holiday Homes and we did feel second class too them. Wasnt impressed with wardens cutting the grass with literally inches to spare to our units. On one very quiet day played frizbee with the dog, the Warden saw us but didn't 'pull us up on it' till the next day when supposedly someone else who he pulled up for playing with their dog complained, he was looking at the floor as he said it, couldn't even look us in the eyes. When all they offer on site is a dog walk that's all on 30 yards long how can it be dog friendly. After that day 'grumpy' warden never once acknowledged us again, not even when we left. Some of the staff there need a course in Customer Service! Also you cant hang anything on a tree or put up a washing line! It was like we were second class citizens and dogs pretty much can't go anywhere due to their no dog signs! On plus side all usual facilities on site, decent information room and Spar in walking distance and other supermarkets about 20 mins drive. Won't be going there again unless the site Manager Changes !
We arrived as a family of 5 in our motorhome. The site entrance has a good security gate. The reception was very welcoming and the gentleman warden even walked our van to the allocated pitch, which backed on to a quiet country road. The traffic was very light so there was minimal noise. The pitch was hardstanding and level but not the biggest, if I had put my awning up it would have been half on gravel and half on grass. The site is nicely laid out with good spaced pitches and wonderful views of the surrounding countryside and well maintained. There is a nice small play area for kids a recreation/information room with a pool table and table tennis and a lounge area with television. The room is in need of a new carpet and seemed very dusty. The toilet block is nice and clean and heated. But dated and with 3 push button showers with duration of push varying from 4 seconds in one shower to 30 in another. The village is a short walk away and there are 2 hotels. We were given a 10% voucher from the warden, for the Commercial Hotel restaurant which we had previously booked, it was very good. There is also a Spar shop and some other small shops. We cycled on the Tarland Way to Aboyne a 6 mile route half on minor roads and half on cycle/walking paths, highly recommended. We also did 2 of the many local walks from Tarland which are all waymarked with signs taking in interesting local sights. This is a lovely area and I would certainly go back to this site.
We've stayed at Tarland on a number of occasions as it's close enough to home for a quick, easy weekend break. It's always seemed a very quiet site when we've been there, but probably because we tend to visit out of the main summer season.
The site is well maintained with a selection of grass or hard standing pitches. We've always been on the grass as it's easier to put up the awning and it's never been too soggy even when it's been raining. The toilet block is quite dated but is always spotless. The additional small toilets near the tent field are useful if you're on that end of the site. There's not a lot of other facilities but there is a short dog walk and some play equipment for kids.
The village of Tarland is quiet but has a shop & pub. The main advantage of the site is it's proximity to Deeside and the surrounding towns and countryside. Banchory, Aboyne, Ballater & Braemar are all within easy reach, as is of course the castle at Balmoral.
If you've never visited the area it's well worth the effort, and the site at Tarland is as good a place to stay as any.
Lovely site with friendly managers and assistants. Good walking for short to long walks straight from site. Village 10 minutes walk with 2 hotels, Spar, craft, toy and hairdressing shop. There is also a kilt maker and tailor. There is a folk night at one hotel and theatre at the Mcroberts Hall. The people who live in Tarland and the area are very friendly and used to visitors.
The site itself is nicely laid out with hardstanding and grass pitches. There appears to be plenty hook ups and areas for fresh and grey water. The tent area looks really nice and had been looked after well considering the recent heavy rain.
The toilet and washing block is old but clean and the washer and dryer on par with other sites. Actually the dryer is better and cheaper than most places visited. There is also a dog walk on site.
There are also static caravans both white and green and some nice wooden lodges. These are all in little cul de sacs which is very unusual. There are about five or six to a cul de sac with lots of room in between.
We have been here before and will return again. Oh yes there is also a very nice children's playing area. This is a quiet site where birds can be heard easily ie woodpeckers, pheasant, various garden birds and there are many squirrels and rabbits. Roe deer can be seen on some of the walks.
Stayed at Tarland for 11 nights. Our welcome was warm and friendly by the Site Assistants who, ironically, were also from West Yorkshire as we are. Our pitch with electric was on the field to the right of the hardstandings and, usefully, close to the separate small two toilet / dishwashing area above the 'tent field'.
The 'tent field', appeared to be out of use as they have drainage problems. It had standing water all the way down on the right hand side.
The main toilet / shower / laundry / dishwashing block is next to the hardstanding area. Never understand why the main facilities of a CCC site are always in closest proximity of those who probably don't need them the most.
Whilst all of the facilities were very clean they were without heating. Also, as with many CCC Club Sites, the showers are of the push-button variety. They are irritating to say the least. You have to adopt a position of pressing your back against the button to receive a constant flow of water. If not, you need to press every 15 seconds or so.
We found the site itself an attractive place to stay. Not in the least claustrophobic. Whilst it's true that the CCC has constructed wood chalets which dominate the higher ground, we didn't feel they were intrusive. Nor did we feel they blocked a view. They look out on to rough gorse, which you can only see if you walk up past their position.
We did have two niggles. One, we didn't understand why the Site Manager told us on our first day that we couldn't dry towels from a plastic clothes hanger from a tree. He said 'Next, we'll have ropes between trees. ' Secondly, why the site insisted on having the entry barrier gate closed at all times of the day. Usually, on CCC sites they are closed between 11pm-7am. Granted it wasn't locked but it meant having to get out and open and close before and after travelling out.
Staying in June 2012, we didn't exactly have the best of the weather. Indeed, it rained every night and I don't mean light showers. As our pitch was at the top right of the field, with the benefit of a slight incline, we didn't suffer. However, lower down it was evident the field is not good at draining. One couple in their tent relocated as a consequence. In addition, the gravel track which borders the 'tent field' to the left of our pitch and beneath the two-toilet block was a pool of water where it levelled. One motor home had the water up to its wheel rims.
One night during our stay we endured a thunder storm and the electric went off. No staff came to advise. It was only when the weather abated was I able to walk down to the site office to find a note in the window which said the electric was off. No other information and no site staff on hand. In the morning we learnt that lightning had struck an electric transformer in the village. I do think that site staff should have come round to all units to check everyone was ok and not left it to us to check on each other.
Niggles aside and notwithstanding the weather, I would stay at this site again.
This was a surprisingly small site, as the grass area EHUs were not in use for motorhomes (ok for car parking). We got the last hardstand pitch, midweek. It was a double pitch, it was in heavy shade under conifers, and had a fence at the back: it really didn't suit our way of camping, as we (husband, dog and I) prefer to sit outside on sunny grass. So, despite the friendly welcome, we moved on next day with no regrets.
The laundry was relatively expensive - £3. 50 a load, up to £1. 50 more expensive than other sites this week; the laundry closes at 9pm. Toilets and showers of the usual CCC standard.
The on-site dog walk is small, but you can easily get over the fence up onto the adjacent moors for a better runabout - judging by the height of the heather, and the young trees, it wasn't grazed by deer or livestock and we were well outside bird nesting season. We wouldn't have gone over otherwise.
New timber chalets now occupy the higher ground overlooking the site and they benefit from the sun and the open views out. Most of these were not occupied while the campsite was full, and it seems a pity that campers have lost the distant views that made the site so attractive in the past. CCC is increasingly going over to the holiday park side of business, we've noticed.
Plenty of local walks, and lots of pretty back lanes for cycling up into the surrounding hills. However, it's unlikely we'll be back except as a stopover, as the site felt dark, hemmed in and quite claustrophobic.
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Common Questions
Is Tarland Camping And Caravanning Club Site child friendly? YES, it accepts children View all facilities
Where is the nearest shop to Tarland Camping And Caravanning Club Site? There is a shop within 1 mile View all facilities
Is Tarland Camping And Caravanning Club Site dog friendly? YES View all facilities
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Tent Pitches 
Caravan Pitches 
Motorhome Pitches 
Small Campervans 
No Glamping Units 
No Statics for Hire 
Holiday Homes for Sale 
Seasonal Pitches 
Electric Hookups 
Hardstanding Pitches 
No Fully Serviced Pitches 
Families Welcome 
Not Members Only 
No Rallies 
Not Naturist Site 
Dogs Welcome 
No Dogs Allowed 
Groups Welcome 
Toilet Facilities 
Hot Showers 
Washing Up 
No Bathroom 
No Baby Changing 
Laundry On Site 
Drinking Water 
Disabled Friendly 
Chemical Disposal 
Battery Charging 
Gas Exchange 
Recycling Facilities 
No Kitchen Facilities 
No Freezer / Fridge 
Motorhome Point 
Wifi Access 
Shop <1 mile 
Bar <1 mile 
Restaurant or Cafe or Takeaway <1 mile 
No Playground 
TV Room 
Games Room 
No Evening Ents 
Fishing <5 miles 
No Wild Swimming 
No Indoor Pool 
No Outdoor Pool 
No Horse Riding 
No Cycle Hire 
No Golf 
No Tennis 
No Beach 
No Watersports 
No Boat Launch 
No Sea Views 
Not Working Farm 
No Campfires Allowed 
No Waterside Pitches 
Public Transport <1 mile
Offroad Dog Walk On Site or Direct Access 
We had booked this campsite some time ago for Wed & Thur 30th & 31st December 2015 and Fri & Sat 1st & 2nd January 2016. The weather forecast on the morning of departure was for more heavy rain -again - for the North East so we phoned the site warden at 9 am to find out how bad it was. We were told there were some pools of water but everyone was getting about. So we set off intending to go via the A90 to Stonehaven then cut across to the A93 to Aboyne then up to Tarland. It was raining very hard and there was a LOT of surface water on the A93 and it was just passable in places. 
