[Closed] Are campsites open?

Pretty sure they should be closed

is it a tourer site or statics?

Some people's permanent residences are static caravans and these are allowed to stay open for them.

These are touring sites

Definitely 'leisure' caravanning? Not allowed. At all.

I suppose it might be travellers who have arranged to hunker down on a particular site, and some sites are more 'permanent' in terms of statics, but even then they can't normally be your primary home.

I do feel sorry for the police having to sort all this out.

Well according to the interweb they are closed.

https://www.thenewforest.co.uk/accommodation/camping-and-caravan-sites

Seems very strange?

Doubt anyone is actually towing a caravan around. More likely to be seasonal pitches, but still against the rules, same as holiday homes.

I'd be tempted to report it, as the inference is that people have travelled in to be there.

But I'd obviously be threatened with stiches for snitching 😆

But I’d obviously be threatened with stiches for snitching

It is the right time of year for cutting the grass

Camping and Caravan Club sites are currently all closed including to seasonal pitch holders.

Loads of sites have seasonal pitches which I assume some are letting people stay at. All the sites I have booked this year and ones I know of are closed though.

all camping and caravan sites on Gower are closed, even those with "permanent" residents

Lots of NHS staff isolating. If someone in my household was on the front line.

Id certainly be looking to protect the rest of the family by moving into other accomodation.

-or moving them into the other accomodation.

Either way it might not be as simple as recreation.

Campsite we had booked for the end of May BH is closed.

I understood all sites were closed, the two major clubs shut their sites nationwide till the end of June, and we've had other private sites close too cancelling our bookings.

Campsite nearby has allowed folks living in statics to remain if they were there before lockdown. Reckons that as both the pitch and the van are private there's not much he can do if they were already there.

All closed up here and any on site when the lock down kicked in were told to go home.

The one I am meant to be going to for the first bank holiday in May is definitely shut. I can't see it reopening in 10 days time either.

Certainly closed for leisure use but there are plenty of legitimate users before you start sharpening the pitchforks. You could use the online reporting form if you really are concerned.

The OP states it's a touring site and not residential.

Unless this is frontline staff self isolating, there's a breach of lockdown regs and/or licensing by the sound of it.

There was something in the local press (New Milton & Lymington) about this - apparently it is site staff and some people who have been there semi-permanently! Still, a gathering of 20 or so does seem to stretch the family group concept a bit far....

It may be an arrangement for some front line staff - even front line staff get a break now and then so that might look like people enjoying themselves to anyone else . There are instances. up here of camper van hire co's parking up campers outside care homes for the staff to use as there are quite a lot of instance of staff just moving into work for the duration. The camp sites you're seeing might be close enough to care facilities to be used in the same way

The local site (on the border of the New Forest) has about 5 units setup. From memory I think they have all been there about 3 months (or more). It is definitely not the owner/staff as it is owned and run by a local farmer who lives about 1/2 a mile away up a farm track.

I think they are transient workers or people who think that they are going to cause less issues staying put that hitching up and moving. I have seen some of them outside enjoying the sun recently, but it cant be much fun being in a small relatively small caravan today :-/

There's a guy living in a campervan up here. He's been here a year or more so I'm guessing he has no other "home". He's had a couple of niggles as folk report him for being parked up along some cul-de-sac or other.

Some people work away from home and live in a caravan whilst they do.

The closure of CCC & CAMC sites was frustrating for me - I work away from home and am still doing so - highway electrical/construction.

I was staying on a site in Welwyn Garden City and my close contact with anyone on the site was zero. My next option was a Travelodge, where I would be in closer contact with people, but subsequently these closed. I could still get an air bnb, but my work in North London came to a halt anyway.

I'm currently working on the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon and ideally would have my van down there nicely isolating, but as I can do it in 2 hrs from the Derbyshire Dales, I'm travelling - racking some miles up on my motor though.

That said, I understand why they've done it - communial shower blocks etc - albeit, I use the shower and toilet in my van

Lots of rumours about campsites reopening from 4th July. The Government's document last week mentions that as a date for several things IF things are going well

The Guardian did an article on this over the weekend.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/may/15/englands-campsites-prepare-to-open-in-july-summer-government-relaxed-lockdown-restrictions

I think July re-opening is massively over-optimistic.
R rate is a bit crude but gov place (some) reliance on it and it appears to be edging closer to 1; if/when it rises above 1, shutters will come down.

Yep, I agree it's very optimistic but campsites are just behaving like many small businesses... They need to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Up to now there's only been darkness and misery. Having a plan to reopen is probably just to keep them occupied and sane

The media are reporting that campsites are preparing for reopening the weekend of July 4/5th but they can't really do that yet. There's a lack of clarity on how to safely do this. Good campsites already use the 6m rule to keep units apart but there aren't any plans in place for toilets, showers etc. They are awaiting guidance.

I'd expect sites might open for motorhomes that are fully self-contained, ie they have their own toilet and washing facilities.

We've been told that's the date the sites we're booked onto are working towards. Totally agree though, how they'll manage the shared facilities is the big issue they'll have to grapple with. We're lucky I guess as you said above, self contained in the caravan.

Have been told same by some operators and a friend owns a site and we were discussing over the weekend. They might do phased opening - self contained (m/h and caravans) first with rules around water taps. grey and chemical bog emptying etc bit nothing OTT. After that, who knows.
This has got all the VW California crowd revved up as they can't possibly not use their 60k vans and how dare sites not accept them with toilet and shower tents, amusing.

We are booked for 1st August. We have received email from the site saying they are planning to open from July, but, no shared facilities will open on site at all. You have to be completely self contained. Swimming pool will be shut. Restaurants will provide a delivery service.

We are weighing up if its still going to be worth going.

Booked up one for end of July. Hopefully be open by then. TBH can't see any problem with social distancing, got to be easier to organise on a campsite than anywhere else! (Proper campsite btw i.e. just a massive field with a few bogs liberally scattered about, not a holiday park so no real shared facilities to worry about)

This has got all the VW California crowd revved up as they can’t possibly not use their 60k vans and how dare sites not accept them with toilet and shower tents, amusing.

It's not just the Cali crew. The self builders who prioritised not having a bog on board are up in arms too.

Fwiw Ive no intention of taking the bus anywhere any time soon even though it with certainty falls with in the self sufficient catagory.

What's the consensus on campsite deposits paid pre- lockdown for stays prior to July 4th?

Suck it up princess? Demand a full refund? Or politely request 50% back?

Small-ish old school campsite, paid by bank transfer for tent pitches, so not mega bucks.

it cant be much fun being in a small relatively small caravan today

Depending on many factors. Am finding (for a number of reasons) that I miss mine more than ever. #jessesdiets

They should refund as until that time they can't open. If it was you couldn't travel there then suck it up. Or ask them to defer dates instead of a refund.

The one we were booked on for spring bank holiday week, offered refund or deferral, so they can keep some cash in the business. We've deferred as hoping to go when we're able.

For a recent booking we had, the site contacted us and asked us to help them out. They kept 50% of the fees and gave us a voucher for the other 50% (to be used within 18 months). We didn't mind them keeping 50% as we want these nice places to be there when we exit this mess.

Yeah, thanks folks. I'm thinking along the same lines, i.e. I'd quite like the campsite to be around in 2021 too.

C&MC sites to be re-opened in phases from 4th July.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/reopening-our-campsites/

I think the others large groups of sites, or owners of large sites will follow this approach but the small independent sites will probably be closed until some Govt guidance comes out

Brilliant, hadn't seen the C&MC announcement yet. Fingers crossed Government issue guidance later this month for the sector.

If not can't be long now.

Anyone visited any of the ones on Mull, towards the peninsular end, west coast maybe
Er... south west 😳 says theres a site thereabouts

Ferry from Ardrossan, and its only 5 or 6 miles across east to west the mull itself.

The Ardrossan ferry goes to Arran not Mull.

The Ardrossan ferry goes to Arran not Mull.

Theres a route on the chart, from Ardrossan to Campbeltown
https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Ardrossan/Campbeltown

That's Kintyre not Mull.

When you say "Mull" most people think of the island, especially in the context of ferries.

Maybe you needed Wings backing music for your post?

😉

Campletown route is shut for now.

https://www.calmac.co.uk/service-status?route=36

Interestingly CalMac's website shows that they will refund any non-essential trips booked up to 18th October. That looks ominous.

I've always referred to it like that from sailing round it taking the boat up for the 3 peaks. On the chart it is the Mull of Kintyre lighthouse - I have that here.

I shall endeavour in the future to be more exacting 🙂 .

Having regularly sailed the west coast from being a mere toddler over 50 years ago I can clarify that it is known as ‘The Mull’, as in ‘going round ‘The Mull’ as against through ‘The Canal’

Lets mull it over

^^😂