campsites

[FrankGill]

Has anyone used Camping and caravanning club sites whilst touring or know their policys regarding Motorcyclists?

[doggone]

They're only 'rated' by the caravan club.
If you arrive and don't look like a load of hooligans they will usually find you a spot.
They will be mindful that one complaint about being woken by motorbikes at odd hours could jeopardise the CC ratings.
More likely they'll be sniffy if nearly full peak season/bank holidays.

[stinkwheel]

There are two entities. Assuming you are talking about the camping and caravanning club rather than the caravan club, absolutely no problems.

I joined the year I did my tour of Britain (see my sig) and when in England and Wales, stayed almost exclusively at C&CC sites.

They are VERY variable on price so check. I liked the smaller ones out the back of peoples farmhouses and similar. They were usually marked as "hideaway" sites in the book. You can get camping for as little as £4.50. A lot of the pub sites don't charge you at all if you drink in the pub (there is a list of pub sites too). Conversely, some of the bigger sites with lots of families in more "holiday" areas (such as on the waterside in the Lake District) could be charging you £30-40 a night.

Most of the sites are privately owned but are for members only to take advantage of a planning exemption. They all have a certain minimum of facilities and I found them to be universally comfortable and welcoming with often basic but clean facilities (for example, everyone mops out the shower cubicle after use so you don't walk into a shower full of grass cuttings and someone elses pubes).

The level of facilities depends on the campsite. Some of them are huge but others will just have a simple shower block and washing up facilities. Others will have recreation rooms and laundry facilities.

There are also "club sites" which belong to the club where you know you will have a certain list of facilities including laundry facilities and at least somewhere you can plug in a phone/laptop to recharge it. While bigger, most of the club sites are pretty pleasant with little tree-lined sections and hidden corners if you want some peace and quiet.

Some of the larger privately owned sites were just a huge field or (worse in my oppinion) carefully regimented rows of pitches, each with a shiny white caravan and a gravel hard-standing containing a silver vectra. I tried very hard to avoid these.

I never had a single problem with either the people running the sites or the people on them when I rocked up on a motorbike. The only place I've ever had a problem on a campsite was on some private ones in North Wales which had "No Motorcycles" signs up.

It's worth pre-booking. If they say they are full, it's worth pointing out the size of your tent. When I told them my tent was only 7ft by 4ft and I was on a motorbike they would usually reply that they'd be able to squeeze me in somewhere. To most C&CC members, a "tent" has more than one room and usually an electric hookup.

Going away for a weekend to camp in a campsite with other C&CC members is an actual thing people do for entertainment. It is thankfully not compulsory.

This is on one of the club sites in Aberdeenshire.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rbr/DSCN0827.png
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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.”
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[Alan 29]

I've used C&CC sites on the bike. No problems at all. The pitches are usually flat and well drained and the loos etc are always clean and warm. Some of them have backpackers/cyclists facilities - drying room etc which can be useful.
But they don't appreciate big loud groups at night.
Special low rates for pensioners out of school holidays - last time it was £8 per night.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

[Marmalade]

[Peirre oBollox]

Are we taking just the UK or Europe wide here??
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[stinkwheel]

[Peirre oBollox]

The ACSI are probably the European counterpart of the caravan club.
Btw the archies camping POI site has recently been updated
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I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[pepperami]

[Peirre oBollox]

Its cheaper to join the Scottish YHA than it is to join the England & Wales YHA
____________________
I accept no responsibility for swearing, drinking, motorcycle riding or your pregnant teenage daughter.

[FrankGill]

Great info, Thanks. We also do camping with the Grandkids so could be worth joining. Most of our touring and family holidays come to that has been in France and have never had any problems with sites on the bike.
Stinkwheel that's a great photo of the bike can't wait for summer ( before anyone comments I do ride all year).

[The Shaggy D.A.]

We joined at last year's caravan and camping show at the NEC and got a discount on the first booking, so if you're likely to want to go to that, it might be worth holding off and joining then.

https://www.thecaravanandcampingshow.co.uk/
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