Tell me about the best static caravan sites

[Dogsaresomucheasier]

I know they are not the most economically sensible purchases, but we have decided the convenience would be worth it shared between the extended family.
Needs to be in North Devon, Dorset, Somerset or South Wales. Must accept dogs, be close to the beach and a few facilities, not too hilly.
Please tell me about your favourites!

I was going to suggest North Wales - there are thousands of sites but not the right location. There might be something in Charmouth on the Devon/Dorset border?

North Wales is lovely, but we are looking at under 3 hours travel so weekends are realistic. Thanks, though!

It depends what you want
At our stage in life we wanted
1 tranquil
2 no facilities we would be paying for the upkeep of but not using..ie swimming pools/
3 no clubhouse
4 low rent...as we’d be paying it for years to come
5 near enough to visit a large town or city
6 no time limit on the years your caravan van stay on site

We found ours 20 minutes from york and it’s perfect for us but anyone with kids might want pools, children’s playground etc clubhouse

We pay the same price as we paid for our permanently sited tourer on a site with the above so we are well pleased

It’s worth checking fb for unhappy static owners . A lot of people have been badly ripped off by some of the big Park companies
So as with all things do your homework first and even then there’s no guarantees

We are going halves with bil and sil. They have just retired and have been recruited as childcare for their impending first grandchild. (Niece is in NHS and will need over nights, she has been consulted but I’ve got an eye on Aibu!) They want a bolt hole by the sea to take grand child to. We are slightly younger and still have a six year old. Pools and kids stuff will be used, but not if grim! The one we are currently at is brilliantly situated but had sticky tables and a children’s co ordinaries who...lacks charisma!

Any fb owners groups you’d recommend?

I mean “renting one on holiday” sort of at!

Unhappy static caravan owners is a good place to start
They will tell you sites to avoid
Usually ones with Park in title
Please don’t spend more tHan you can afford to walk away from
Especially if
A I’ll health forces sale
B family circumstances change dramatically, sudden death, terminal illness, lost main income stream
C park changes ownership....rules can change in a heartbeat...the site that says you can have your caravan on as long as you wish
Well all that can change if a new owner comes along
D you might think you’re buying a caravan but you’re only renting a plot...something to bear in mind
E owner decides to move your van to make room for new lodges
F you don’t get on with new park manage

Remember a new caravan costs about £30k from the manufacturer
Your £50k jobbie might only be worth £20k if you have to / decide to sell in two years

Anyway it’s all on that site
There’s a class action going through atthe moment

I misread the thread title as Satanic caravan parks ....but looking at the last post maybe it was right ..

We stayed at Devon cliffs once, it's a heaven site. It was really lovely and had great facilities. Definitely worth having a look at!

Gin, I’ve read loads of heartbreaking stories on there
Retirees investing their pensions in all singing all dancing tin boxes...and the files changing
People get beyond their eyeballs in debt to have the latest tin box...on the sirs with all whistles and bells and get lured in free rent for a year,
Then the second year they wonder how to make the £7k rent
So, in desperation they start to rent it out..they may be ok doing it themselves..but I’ve read stories of people handing them over to the parks to rent and still having to makeup the shortfall at the end of the year..on account of the huge cut the park takes
The parks will work your treasure to death... even renting it for low rent in off peak season ( thinking sun holidays here) and you’ll maybe see £20 out of a £150 rental and maybe have a lot of damage to contend with.

They are never an investment.
The only investment is in your lifestyle
We are here 4 days a week Feb to November...sometimes more
If circumstances change we can walk away . I bought a cheap second hand van, did it up. Ripped up flooring, reupholstered it myself, new beds, new curtains, new shower surround
Paid extra for a huge solid wood deck...but even so I’m in for £25k but all paid for.
Should shit hit the fan or van for that matter.
If it does we’ve have had two amazing years.

Freshwater bay is a lovely quiet site on its own beach dog friendly.

Never been to Freshwater, but definitely one to visit! Thanks so much, Dowser, that’s really helpful. We are trying to look at it as an “investment in holidays,” rather than make money out of it.

Misread this topic as "satanic caravan sites"

As you were...

Dogs...really hope you get one and it turns out to be fabulous for you.
Best thing we ever did..although together we have had three tourers
Been in all day watching it pour down...
No thoughts of going home..got central heating on and have my electric blanket for bed tonight
( oh yes, be sure to get one with dg and ch as it will save you a fortune on gas bottles in cooler months. They are literally tin boxes..so boiling in summer and freezing in winter)

Oh and do Get a damp meter ..about £20 from amazon...if the seals go, very easy for them to end up damp
Dg cuts down on condensation as well

Dowser, that sounds amazing! Thanks very much! We’ve just booked another short break at Freshwater to try it out!