Anybody joined the camping and carvan club?

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I'm planning a long UK tour next year. I was considering joining the C&CC. Anyone a member? Is it worth forking out the £46 to get access to the additional "members only" sites? Do you get much of a discount for being a member?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

kitty kat · World Chat Champion Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Karma :

I am not a member, but have found the site uk campsites to be very good at finding camping sites and a lot have reviews from people who have used them. I have never been disappointed with any site I have used from their listings.
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Enjoy everyday, tell those you love everyday you love them
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Dom · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Sep 2004 Karma :

How many members only places do they actually have? I only came across one when I went touring this year and there was a non C&C one another 10 minutes up the road anyway. That said, I did stay at one of the ones that allow the great unwashed in and seem to remember it was on the more expensive side - maybe a tenner for a night's pitch - so if you were going to stay at a lot of them and the discount is decent it might be worth doing. Doesn't seem like it should be necessary though.
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stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Charlie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2007 Karma :

From my experience with C&CC campsites is that they can be petty over the rules. We where camping with a trailer tent, parents stayed in there, me and my brother each had our own 1/2 man tents. We put them up near the trailer so that they would be classed as 'pup' tents and therefore avoid having to pay for an extra pitch. People running the place came round later on, not too happy about these tents, they are too close to the main tent, fire hazard, blah blah, C&CC rules state they have to be X distance apart. Apparently they told us this when we arrived... Also they aren't great on open fires. We (family) have been told off a couple of times for being noisy, (we aren't a noisy family, however when they are 3 families together and the parents where university friends, it can get a bit more noisy) and they seem to enjoy having a lot of power. I'd imagine the C&CC only sites bring out the 'worst' of the C&CC members, the really arsey kids you hated at school, caravanners.

While I am on a bit of rant I shall rant some more about UK campsites...

Why do they insist on closing the toilets to clean them?!?! At a campsite in Spain they had a lady that went around to the different blocks (quite a large campsite) all day, she cleaned one and them moved onto the next. The toilets never closed, and she would clean around you, wait for your to finish etc. Ok it was a bit weird having a piss in a urinal while there was a women cleaning the urinal next to you, but you soon got used it.

I agree with Dom, how many member only places are there? I wouldn't bother joining personally as there are plenty of other campsite. Although I do think some campsites have a member and non-member tariffs. And some of the sites are quite nice.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

Pernig · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Karma :

Charlie · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 May 2007 Karma :

Have you seen the certificated sites though? I thought they had a maximum of 5 people and quite often little to no facilities.... except a water/electricity hook up for caravans.

Could be wrong though.
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Past: Honda x8rs, Honda City fly, Honda Hornet 250, Honda VFR750, Yamaha xt600e.
Current: Honda CBR929RR & Yamaha XT660Z Tenere

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

I remember my parents were in it when I was a kid as we had a motorhome, from what I remember though they are mainly geared towards caravans rather than tenters, no doubt some are but I'd of thought there are plenty of campsites without the need for membership to meet your needs.

panamaniac · Derestricted Danger Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Karma :

If your going to do a fair bit of camping then it is well worth the money to join the C&CC.
It works out cheaper than most private commercial sites, the facilities are generally far, far better than the private sites, and they are well kept, the staff are normally very helpful and if your on a bike they always manage to find you a pitch, (I've been turned away from loads of private sites - with "it's too wet" or "we're full" - never on a C&CC site though.
They have a well spaced network of sites and the 'rules' work!

Reading some of the stuff above, I would imagine that there's been a lot of time past since these people have been on a C&CC site.

I camp on the bike all through the Spring/Summer/Autumn when doing the Round Britain Rally (as do most of the other RBRers) and none of us have moaned about any of the sites.
Give them a try, you may be surprised!
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Want a reason for getting out and using the bike,
www.roundbritainrally.co.uk

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

panamaniac · Derestricted Danger Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Karma :

You'll enjoy it Thumbs Up

I suggest you invest in a 'Airhawk' seat cover if you don't have one already, it doubles the amount of miles you can cover before the pain gets too bad to continue Shocked

Also are you doing anything in the 'Iron Butt' catalogue of challenges?
If not visit their web site and see if you can earn yourself a certificate or something.
You may like to look at the Round Britain Rally as well, if your wanting to get loads of use out of the bike and need a good reason/destination for taking the bike out, (as opposed to driving round the block every week!)
____________________
Want a reason for getting out and using the bike,
www.roundbritainrally.co.uk

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I meant, I intend to do the RBR.

I don't think the Enfield will manage the Iron Butt though, it does 60mph flat out. I'm used to distance though.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

panamaniac · Derestricted Danger Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Karma :

Excellent!
I look forward to seeing you out there
We have a meet each year at the 1st landmark (LM) on the list on the first week-end of the rally called the Annual Rally Start Event (ARSE)
May see you there, or there's a camping week-end at the C&CC site in Hayfield (Piss-up) normally the week-end after the English National rally in 2010 it should fall on the 10/11th July
____________________
Want a reason for getting out and using the bike,
www.roundbritainrally.co.uk