campsite recommenda...
 

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campsite recommendations for winter camping in van

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With winter approaching I want to make sure I keep camping during the year (I have a van with a diesel heater and solar power!).

Many sites I use close for winter and I tend to use grass sites as cheaper, but wouldn’t now want to risk my van getting stuck in the mud.

hopefully somewhere with gravel or not too technical mtb routes or hiking and preferably a no frills (just need loo access) so cheap place !
Ideally max 1.5 hours drive from Leamington in Midlands


 
Posted : 31/10/2023 7:55 pm
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Check out pub stopovers. It’s a great way of staying in places in your van. Buy a meal and stay in the car park for free. Can be cheaper than camping sometimes

There are groups on facebook


 
Posted : 31/10/2023 9:46 pm
IHN and IHN reacted
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Any passing place on a single-track road north of Perth surely?


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 8:30 am
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We use search for sites, read the reviews carefully and do a drive by rather than presuming it's going to work, or as suggested, stop in a pub car park.

We've been away since last Friday with one stopover at my sis in laws caravan, the rest in car parks.

We were hoping to stop in a campsite or two but have found nowhere open.


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 8:48 am
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The camping and caravan Club have some sites that are open all year.


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 9:35 am
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preferably a no frills (just need loo access) so cheap place !

This will be much harder. For a campsite to be open over the winter requires more infrastructure and running cost. Hardstanding alone and tracks. Even keeping a toilet block going for less people with more mud and greater water heating requirements is a bigger expense even if this is no heating.

Having said that off season will still be cheaper than summer holidays at the same site.

I would checkout nearlywild club and see if any of Thier members have sites open over the winter. Worth the membership anyway as it's good sites for the summer


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 9:44 am
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We stayed at https://bracelandscamping.co.uk/ in the Forest of Dean last Friday - nice clean and warm toilet block and well drained grass pitches. I imagine its pretty busy during the summer, but was nice and quiet last week (even with half-term). It's close to a good mix of mountainbike trails at https://pedalabikeaway.co.uk/home-pedals/.


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 9:55 am
 5lab
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Find somewhere you want to ride then use pitchup.com to find a site that takes vans, has a good rating, is open with space and is nearby


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 10:06 am
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I keep meaning to go here over the winter, https://duftoncaravanpark.co.uk/ bit further than 1.5hrs from Midlands but it's lovely up there.

Cheap as well, £25 per night inc electric.


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 10:07 am
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We tend to default to the Caravan and Motorhome sites over winter. They are typically £20-25 per night for members at this time of year. And yes they do attract a certain clientele, and the wardens can be a little officious, but the ones that stay open over winter have warm, clean bathrooms and good hard standing, which allow us to keep riding elsewhere through the winter. 


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 1:37 pm
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Two sites we love:

Lake District:  https://thequietsite.co.uk/

Peak District:  https://newfoldfarmedale.com/


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 1:46 pm
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the Caravan and Motorhome sites

@ahsat Are they the organisation to join then?

There's a few....
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/

https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/

https://www.themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk/


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 2:17 pm
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We are in 

It's a fall back for us especially through the winter months

Probably use the Castleton one more than any other.


 
Posted : 01/11/2023 2:27 pm

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