Calling all caravanners! Circle your wagons over here....

[DistantShip]

First thread so be gentle please!

The tent-addicts and campervan people have their own quiches; so I thought we caravan types might like a place to hang out too.

So far, DH, DS and I have been away 4 times this year in our Adria - we are trying to use it at least one weekend a month, on a cheap m cheerful sote where possible, with 2 longer breaks over the summer.

Come tell tales of central heating, an almost-proper bed, and inside toilets ;)

Hello all,

just back from Skye, so so lucky with the weather, warm and very very sunny, can definitely recommend C&CC's Skye Club site :)

Now planning a wee night away in a couple of weeks, probably at Kilvreicht near Pitlochry, just up the road from us.

Oooh hello can I join?

We have an Elddis 556, have had it for 3 years and love it. DS has special needs and we find that he copes really well with our caravan holidays as everything is familar and safe. DD is 14 and very teenage but still enjoys herself!

We mainly go to caravan club sites as the facilities are great and we need hook up and a laundry. We were at Chatsworth at Easter, off to the New Forest at half term, can't wait!

Can I join? We have a 5Berth Sprite Musketeer.

Just geting into rallying and would definitely recommend it to anyone with kids as its a lot of fun for them with all the activities that are arranged.
We have also learned a huge amount about surviving without EHU as most rally sites are just fields with a tap.

Going to Wales tomorrow and for half term, then off to Cornwall (certificated location) over the summer.

Tell me more about Rallying when you have a mo serin. We'd love to try that and temp sites but are a bit reliant on the EHU for technology fixes

DistantShip I have ordered a Bailey Olympus 620-6 We keep looking at the bloomin thing so gave in!! Have to wait a few weeks for it, but gives us more chance to sell our current one.
Is there a specific hotel chain for your vouchers?

I have to say I'm loving the slightly scottish theme this thread has at the mo! We need to compile a great scottish sites list me thinks!

serin rallying does sound great for kids, I'm not so sure about the field bit. How do you find out about them?

Swift Conqueror 530 4 berth 2008 model here! I love and adore it - we've tented for years and I will never go back now. To be able to stick my arm out and turn the heating on and then get up 30mins later to a toasty warm van is my idea of heaven! We've joined both the Caravan and the Camping & Caravan clubs and I must say, the CC is much friendlier and informal than the CCC - we find them very stuffy and really hidebound by their own rules and regulations and their site wardens can be, umm, particular.

To add to the Scottish theme, we're going to the CC Culzean site for the June half term/Jubilee week!

It's interesting that you say the CC is friendlier and more informal than the CCC seeing as the CCC trade on being the friendly club :) I agree though - the CC have been fab and although we used to use private sites we now almost exclusivley use CC sites.

I priced up a stay at a private site last weekend and although the basic stay for two adults was £18 by the time I'd added on the teenagers, the dogs, the awning and the electric hookup it came to £41 per night

I don't think I've ever paid more than £36 on a CC site and that was high season with two friends with us

Hi all - just back last night from a fab weekend at Millarochy Bay. The weather was a bit Scottish, but we managed to visit the Aquarium and Lomond Shores shopping centre and also take a boat trip from Balmaha to Luss (in the drizzle).

I NEED to book our week away in June - and quite fancy taking part in the Guiness Records attempt for the most folks in party hats or some such - so would probably need a CCC site or a Temp Holiday Site. Can feel some research coming on tonight!

MMOM we looked at the Bailey, and I'm officially jealous now; bet you can't wait! We need to use Hotel Connexions for the vouchers and are looking at August for our anniversary (and when DBro can take our DS and dog for the weekend). Any input welcome.

I looked into both the CC and CCC and decided on CCC mainly cos you don't have to go through the same election process to join as far as I could see. The Skye club site was stunning and very very good value too.

Hoping for an overnight close by home later this month, what does everyone else have planned?

I don't remember an election process for the CC I just rang up and paid.

I'm desperate to get away this month but exams are looming and it's a big month for family events so I suspect I'll have to stay here.

We are members of CCC, but only took it out in Feb so been to one of their sites so far. We are heading off on Friday to Kippford Holiday Park near Dumfries, may be our last trip with this van :) :(

I am quite excited DistantShip bt sad too, do love my current van.

There is a lot of choice for your hotel break, wouldn't know where to recommend!

Distantship....

Both clubs do rallying but ccc call it meets rather than rallies....

Basic idea is same though - organised events for weekend or longer, usually on a field, show ground or similar... Cost is usually from £5 upwards per night for a "unit" in CCTV speak or van in cc speak....

That gets you a space or pitch And access to a tap for drinking water and variable options for toilet emptying or "elsan"... Waste water is emptied at edge of field, and take your rubbish home....

Sometimes there will be entertainment or a "social" organised - and it may be include in the price or it may cost extra - eg Christmas party, bonfire etc usually cost extra but some stuff - eg a quiz night may be organised for free or donate a prize etc

Aim is to be family friendly and children are usually welcome at socials (incl events such as disco's and parties in village halls etc) so no need for kids to go to bed or to get a babysitter

Only downside is kids get used to not going to bed at weekends

For cc info, their website has details of local centres and their activities and for ccc their DAs are the local groups that organise meets.....

A very cheap way of caravanning all year round.... Cc centres usually rally all year, ccc DA's seem to pack up mid November and start again in Feb/march....

Oh and both clubs do stuff for teenagers or youth.... And kids can have small tent outside the van too makes for a really peaceful weekend if yours are older

Can I sort of join in? We have the loan of a caravan for 2 weeks to tour north of scotland. If we really like we will look to buy our own one next year.

Which is best to join caravaning club or camping and caravaning club?

I'd look to see who has the most sites in the areas you are likely to go to. We're in the caravan club because we get cheap insurance for the caravan. If we were planning on using a ccc site for a week or more we'd join that as well as it would pay for membership.

I don't think there's much between them but the caravan club website is much easier to use for online bookings

Hi, Please can i join this little Caravanning group?

This is my first year caravanning, I have a luna Ulitma 615. We have sited it for the season at goldensands Mabelthorpe and so far have been every weekend.
This is all new to me as I work with Caravans and always swore I would never caravan myself but I love it!

I'm tempted by rallying but I'm going to need a much better battery before I even consider it. Ours doesn't last long since we put a motor mover on the van.

I'm a bit keen on my creature comforts though and have no idea how I'd manage without all the technology that our van is loaded with

Thanks hamster for decoding the meets/rallys dark art for us . Off now to look and see what's local for a couple of nights here and there later in the summer

Booked for early June - darned high season rates - few days near Oban then 2 near Callander en route for home.

Looking forward to a longer break than usual with a well-stocked "bar" and lots of junk food and lots of outdoor activities.

jins. I used to have a gizmo that plugged into the car socket and had a standard power socket on it . Used to have a job with lots of travel and this thing nope I can't remember it's name was good for charging all sorts of kit.

Shame it went back when the job ended ...

Sorry for multiple posts. On the phone and band read back

gregs. We did a 2 week tour last year, of northern Scotland - including Orkney - would love to explore Sutherland at some point. What area are you visiting?

Not band. Can't

We did Dumfries and Galloway last year with a stop in Ayr to start the holiday off. Stunning part of the world. We stayed at Garlieston which is possibly my favourite site yet but I really wouldn't recommend it for young children as there's no playground and deep water nearby as it's right on the harbour.

possibly the lack of children was why we liked it so much

lol Jins I can see that appeal!

Just returned from Kippford Holiday Park and would recommend it. 2 play areas for kids, nice wee shop, woods, golf course across the road....very peaceful weekend :)

Hello from Witches Craig after 3 days we had lovely sunshine today, had awalk with the dogs across Sheriffmuir

Lovely site here, stopped off on way up at Elm Cottage just outside Chester, a eco site, it was lovely too, and cheap at £16.00 per night