UK: Camping and Caravanning Club

Subject: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 12:51 PM

Is it worth joining, or not?

I hear they have folk music gatherings? Any good, or to be avoided?

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Girl Friday
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 01:27 PM

Hi from Kent. We joined the basic club for £30.00 a year. Never used their sites,as where we wanted to go didn't match up, or wasn't available.We got bombarded with mags and emails. They do have a Folk Section which may be worth looking at, but we find enough to do without it.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: nutty
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 01:36 PM

More info here .................

Camping and Caravanning Club

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: jeddy
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 01:40 PM

the caravan club do the same sort of thing, but we haven't been to any..yet. sorry i can't be more helpful.

take care
jade x x x x x

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 02:33 PM

Joined both clubs. Both have good sites and back-up should you need it. If we were doing it all again, we would go with the Camping & Caravanning Club.

Best wishes,

Peter

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Howard Jones
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 02:44 PM

I prefer my campsites to be a bit more basic and informal, so I don't use CCC sites very often. However there are a few (usually without caravans) which are more to my taste, and I did once join to get the members rate for a week's stay. Don't get me wrong, they're very friendly and the rules are necessary for everyone to co-exist, it's just not quite my thing.

There seem to be some members who use it as a real club, and go on weekends to socialise with other members. If that's your cup of tea, then fine.

I've no experience of their folk music gatherings. I have played for ceilidhs for a caravanning group, who were a good crowd but who didn't seem to be expert dancers, but I'm not sure if they were CCC.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: jeddy
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 02:49 PM

we only stick to the lttle sites where only 5 vans are allowed. will you be in a tent or caravan? even in a tent i recommend taking a porta potti or bucket, it is a long way to a loo in the middle of the night!!!

what ever you are doing HAVE FUN!

take care all

jade x x x x

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 03:10 PM

We camp with tent not a van. Recently 'upgraded' (woohoo!) to a bit bigger tent with 'porch type bit' rather than the uber-minimalist backpacking & fest tents we were used to til now... "Luxury"

Got a bit fed up with hunting down the wee 'field in the middle of no-where with no kids' type pitch we really want and then finding we don't get what we want, so thought if we joined a club it might help sort out the wheat from chaff.

All fine with no frills Jade, as we're used to roughing it. In fact it's what we tend to prefer - "basic and informal" as HJ say's above.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 03:43 PM

When I was married to Mingulay we were in the CCC and only used their "CLs" (certified locations) where there was a limit of 5 vans. We had lots of fun but didn't really do any "cluby" things - rallies etc.

Oddly enough, Mick and I were talking recently about investigating the folk part of CCC so would be interested to hear about any experience other Catters have.

Hey - we could set up a Catters Section!!!!!!!!!

Blessings
Rhiannon

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 04:06 PM

We were in it for a few years but only used it once or twice. Got lots of ideas from the myriad publications they thrust at us, but nothing was ever really quite 'right'... The one pitch we did use in Norfolk was lovely, good facilities on site but the local pub was too far away to be of any use if you had a small child in tow and didn't want to drive. The highlight of the week was when the chip van came round.

Never did get to find any 'folk' through it - I think they have a funny idea of what constitutes traditional music.

LTS

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 22 Aug 09 - 04:19 PM

Ah! We used a CL near Hunstanton a lot of the time.   It was in a walled garden belonging to a small manor house that had become a pub. Great landlords, peaceful site, good food. A great way to spend a weekend recovering from the week. Ah ... happy days.

Blessings
Rhiannon

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: mandotim
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:52 AM

Caravan Club is well worth it if you want to travel to the Continent. Cheap ferry fares and a brilliant insurance setup. Caravan Club 'rallies' however I see as hell on earth, and avoid them like the plague. The Camping and Caravan Club is a bit less 'cliquey'.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:15 AM

I've been a member for years and have somewhat mixed feeling. The CCC does tend to attract the more dilletante kind of camper. IE., the sort of people who arrive cluttered up to the eyeballs with everything including the kitchen sink, and then start making barbecues and complaining about the creepy cawlies.

Against that, their sites are excellent, with first class facilities, and they are devoid of rowdies, although they are often in uncommodious locations. EG., the one in Salisbury is right on top of a housing estate!

They also supply what is probably the best campsite guide you could get anywhere, which lists the overwhelming majority of sites in Britain and Ireland, with comprehensive information on every one of them.

I've never been to one of their folk bashes, although I was a member of the Mountain Activity Section at one time, and wouldn't enjoy one of their caravan rallies if you held a gun to my head.

Overall, I regard being a member in rather the same light as I would being a member of a trade union. IE., for the cost and for the facilities you enjoy, you're probably better off in than out.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:22 AM

Well, I had been wondering if there was anywhere within Taxi-ing distance of Broadstairs at which I could tent or caravan next Broadstairs, and so I have looked at both the CC and the CCC and the answer seems to be NO!

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Jane Bird
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 05:28 AM

Second hand information, but ...

Friends of mine have been going to a CCC folk event for a several years, and really enjoy it. There were various workshops running, and as a result of last year's event, our morris side is learning long sword in our spare time.

Cheers,
Jane

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: romanyman
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 09:41 AM

caravan club i find a bit snobby, but the certified location sites are very handy for camping at festivals when they are full, a lot are near the festival locations, the camping and caravan club are i find a bit more friendly,

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Marje
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 09:55 AM

We're members of the Camping & Caravanning Club, mainly for the big campsites guidebook which lists hundreds of little Certified sites on farms etc. These are cheap and quiet, and suit us fine, although for some of them you need your own toilet (we have one in the camper, but it's trickier in a tent). The Club sites are well organised (maybe a bit too much..) and good value, especially out of season and/or if you're over 55.

But like most people here, I've never tried their Folk Section. We're not interested in the rallies and the clubbier aspects of it, we just join for the services and information.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 10:00 AM

Well, RM - what have they got near Broadstairs and near Sidders - my internet activities are drawing blanks...

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: G-Force
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 10:18 AM

We looked at the C&CC, but its folk section seems to be stronger in some regions than others (useless round here). I suspect 'folk' means barn dancing.

So as we were already in the CC we stayed with that (don't want to have to mix with mere tent campers!!!).

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 10:35 AM

Richard, check http://www.siteseeker.co.uk/aspx/search.aspx. It's the CCC's own site finder. I couldn't see anything for Broadstairs, but there are several listed for Sidmouth.

A word of warning though, the locations listed aren't always a reliable guide. EG., a Simouth listing doesn't necessarily mean it's anywhere near Sidmouth. It could be that the camp site propietor has given that as the name of the nearest postal town.

On the other hand, you may find a site which has been listed under the name of the nearest village, and could actually be closer to Sidmouth.

The best thing, if you can use an OS map, is to check the grid reference. They're always quoted in the CCC guide. Alternatively, key the post code into Google maps. That will show you exactly where it is.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 10:38 AM

I think my fella would probably rather chew his own legs off than go to a 'folk dance and song club', so despite my curiosity that's likely to be something of a non starter... also having looked at the provided link, it doesn't exactly look 'me' either.

Marje, cheap and quiet is what we want. Plus we actually have a teeny portaloo from when we had a camper, though as you say, not quite sure how that would work out in a tent, even our new improved one...

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 10:44 AM

Thank you Fred, I am OK with OS mapping.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Mr Happy
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 10:54 AM

Crow Sister,

try one of these http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3409251.htm - we've had one ages, a real boon!!

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies)
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 11:08 AM

Oooer, well there's a thought. And at 5.99 what's to lose!

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 11:09 AM

Sorry folks. Can't resist this. But the canvas loo shown in the Argos catalogue. Is that the bog standard model?

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Geoff Wallis
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 12:26 PM

Slightly off-topic, if anyone's planning on camping in Ireland, the two best sources of information are:

1) for The Six Counties - http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/downloads/CaravanAndCamping.pdf;

and,

2) for the Republic - http://www.camping-ireland.ie.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 01:29 PM

Wait for Sooz to get back from Moira - they do folk stuff with one of the caravanning clubs - proper folkie stuff not just barndancing.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 02:20 PM

My only experience of the Folk Division of the Camping Club is forty years old ! USED to be an annual camp at Blockley (As in the Old Song -When I kept sheep on Blockley hill) - Cant renmember who ran the Dance side of things - A Barndance to records in the Village Hall
but the SONG asprct was run by the Wonderful Ron Shuttleworth and was in the pub ! We had a great time the three years we were involved
but LORD knows what happens these days !

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Bluegrassman
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 03:36 PM

Richard, this site looks about four or five miles from Broadstairs


Manston Caravan & Camping Park         
Manston Court Road
Manston
Ramsgate
Kent   (Browse area)
CT12 5AU   See Map         Tel: [phone]

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:12 PM

Thank you so much Bluegrassman. I was told there was a little 5 van site about 3 miles out of Broadstairs on the Ramsgate road, but the only one I can find it a bit further. My aim is to be able to camp, not on the school field, at a location that is affordably taxiable in and out of Broadstairs FFest. So far no joy.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Sooz
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:16 PM

We do indeed go to selected folk group events - we'll be going to one next weekend. It will cost us the sum of £30 for the two of us (Thursday to Tuesday.) It is a small event but there will be workshops, fairly sedate ceilidhs to a live band every night, a singers room and workshops during the day with instruments to borrow so you can have a go. It probably wouldn't be to everyones taste but we find it very relaxing and friendly. You do need to take your own booze as the venues aren't licenced.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:19 PM

100

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 23 Aug 09 - 04:20 PM

Oops, wrong Fred

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: GUEST,John J....notaguest!
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 05:14 AM

I'm a member of both CC & C&CC for access to their excellent sites. We use a caravan, and I use a tent for backpacking so the C&CC sites are very useful.

I've been to a number of the C&CC Folk Section rallies but they weren't to my taste. I prefer British traditional music & singing, hairy ceilidhs and lots of proper beer. Without wishing to sound precious, the Folk Section rallies I've been just don't float my boat I've found them all a bit twee and it's very unlikely I would go to another one.

I used the Caravan Club Sidmouth Folk Festival rally a couple of times just to get access to their temporary site. I was amazed how few people actually went into Sidmouth during the folk week, they all seem very happy to stay on their site and have their own entertainment - which certainly couldn't be described as folk.

The mountain section don't seem to cater for those who get into the mountains, when I mentioned 'Wild Camp' I got a quizzical look in reply.

Can't comment on other sections. Having said all that, I find both actual clubs to be good and I wouldn't consider not being a member of both.

These are MY opinions gleaned from MY experience, others WILL have different views.

John

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Mr Happy
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 05:21 AM

...........& then there's these http://www.folkcamps.co.uk/
anybody been?

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 05:25 AM

I was a member up to a couple of years ago but my prime objective, as others have stated, was that their sites guide was excellent. I was interested in the Folk Music section but it appeared to be very caravan orientated and very dance biased - therefore I never followed any of the events up.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Mr Red
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 06:14 AM

MAny years ago, in a former life before divorce, we joined the Motor Caravan club and went on a couple of meets. It was really about a particular type of tribe, populated by children and dogs. As we had neither it was not appropriate.

I would guess the Camping, and the Caravanning versions would be similar. The Folk sections must be rather limited in personnel. A bit like a singers' Folk Club but involving a lot of travel.

more cosy and less variable than a festival. And no ceilidhs worthy of note. If that is your bag I would consider Folk Camps. No exerience personally, but more folkie oriented than a camping group I would guess.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: G-Force
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 06:20 AM

Ah, Folk Camps. Yes, we've done several, mostly years ago when the kids were growing up. They loved them, and it was a good way for them to see and get involved with folky stuff.

I have to say, though, that they don't really suit us now, but we still do their musicians weekend if it doesn't clash with something else.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: glueman
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 06:28 AM

Crow Sister, we take most of our holidays camping and when we go to a hotel or B&B, generally wished we'd camped instead. We use a large dome tent with cooker, inside table and portaloo and enough internal distance between ourselves and the children and dog. We used to hike and cycle-camp and go in winter but have become too nesh and old so fill a trailer with our gear now.

However camping sites in the UK fall broadly into two types, the chavtastic holiday park type where you may get someone nice and you may get an asbo family next door, and the anal retentive ones where retired couples curtain twitch because someone hasn't parked their Apollo Apocalypse at the approved angle and tut at anything and anybody that isn't beige.

In between are a few clean but chilled sites that you must never, ever tell anyone about if you find them. The Cool Camping guides are okay but publishing such a guide is the kiss of death to the advertised ambience generally speaking. We were members of The CCC for a few years purely to extend camping possibilities but most are open to the public and/or resemble a garden of remembrance.
A camping club folk section sounds like country dancing to kumbaya. I only know one person who attended such a gathering and he sold the caravan he'd just bought immediately afterwards saying he was never going again.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: banjoman
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 09:58 AM

For the past 2 year we have been to the South East Folk Group section of CCC annual camp at Sandwich in Kent and had a great time with plenty of opportunities for singing and playing with dancing most nights. We also enjoyed the Quiz night. However, we were a bit disappointed this year when we found that most of the "Folk" activities had been replaced by Bingo/Beetle Drive and silly games with very little else apart from a dance on the Saturday evening. Having lugged a large part of our PA stuff there (as did others) we were under the impression that we would be able between us to make a live band each night. We were told in no uncertain terms that the band on the Saturday night was too loud and that people preferred dancing to tapes. On the couple of occasions when we did play accoustically we played mainly to ourselves. On raising all this with the organisers we were told that this was not a camp just for folkies and that they had to cater fo those who just wanted to use the site as a holiday base. Didn;t see any of them around at the evening events.This seems a complete reversal of previous policy.Doubt I will be going there next year. The only saving grace was that we used it as a chill out week prior to Broadstairs where we were booked to play.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 09 - 10:23 AM

You wouldn't get that with the Ridings Group or North Central - they always have live bands.
The events are all a bit dance orientated but if more people went who wanted to sing...............
About 600 people went to the Easter Meet this year at Uttoxeter Racecourse. There were two ceilidhs each night plus a concert and singers room. A group of teenagers worked on a Mummers play through the weekend and performed it in various venues on Monday. There were workshops through each day (including some crafts) for adults of all abilities and children.
Mike and I played the last spot in the Music Hall concert to an audience of approx 200 (the room was full by 7pm) who had been entertained for three hours by a variety of acts.
As I said before, not to everybody's taste but worth a try.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: GUEST,Mr Red
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 08:20 AM

Sounds encouraging, a bit like a do-it-yourself festival.

And that IS folk.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 08:22 AM

Speaking of which, where are Mr Happy and his band of fiends?

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Sooz
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 08:30 AM

That guest was me on a different computer. They are indeed like a do-it-yourself festival.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Mr Happy
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 10:33 AM

Mr Happy and his band of fiends, aka Mr Happy and the Gloom Band, aka Mr Happy and the Miserichords are all orf to Shrewsbury FF on thursday 'til tuesday, Yeeeeeee-Haaaaaaaah!

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: romanyman
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 06:29 PM

sorry richard only got to puter today, there are a couple of sites around manston etc just a short drive to broadstairs, i will list them in a pm if you want, around sidders there are three sites and another couple a bit further out, dunno what they are like never used em, and cant be bothered

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Aug 09 - 07:11 PM

Yeah, thanks RM - that'll make the Broadstiars taxi a bit dear - I was told of one just out of Broadstairs towards Ramsgate but can't find it and one on North Foreland would be nice (but seems not to exist).

Sidders a maybe next year...

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: Marje
Date: 26 Aug 09 - 10:03 AM

Mr Happy, Folk Camps are well worth trying, especially if you have a family. They're somewhere between a do-it-yourelf festival and a scout camp, but much better than that descritption suggests. We went to Folk Camps throughout our daughters' teenage years, and it made camping holidays as a family much more enjoyable for all of us, as they could find friends of their own age (and so could we!). We all have fond memories of thsoe holidays.

Marje

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: GUEST,Anon for obvious reasons
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 03:19 AM

There's a major Mistery Shop project going on at these sites all over the country this year, so most of these problems should be being addressed.

Subject: RE: UK: Camping and Caravanning Club
From: John J
Date: 27 Aug 09 - 08:41 AM

If you're refering to the C&CC official club sites then I don't regard that as a problem - they're consistently pretty good.

The issue is whether the Folk section is worth considering. The sites where the Folk section events are held tend to be very basic: a field with a tap and somewhere to empty your loo. An adjoining or very local hall is often available for the event.

John