Tats

Forgive me my ignorance - very very new to this! Got ourselves a family van (Compass Avantgarde 180) to go away with our 4 kids (9,6,4,1). Most of the time expect to use it for weekends away - just an hour's drive to the start of the Highlands :) - and for longer spells during school holidays. While some nights we hope to wild camp, also no doubt some nights we will want to use sites. Will venture south now and then, but mainly want to explore more of Scotland. With that in mind do you advise joining a club, if so is 1 better than another? I see on the Camping and Caravan Club website they offer motorhome service points in some places:
The Camping and Caravanning Club - Motorhome Service Points
which sounds a great idea especially not having to book an overnight pitch. Do you get this type of facility anywhere else? does the Caravan Club offer this service?
Is 1 club more geared towards motorhome owners than another? What's your recommendations?
Any advice appreciated/experience shared. Have no idea how this new venture will turn out, but figured if we didn't try it we'd never know! Can't really afford foreign trips anymore with 4 kids, flights for 6 of us are prohibitive! So we'll give it a go and if all goes pearshaped then we can sell the van and try again!....but really excited about going places as soon as it warms up a bit!
Thanks in advance for your help. Tats

GregM

Welcome to the FUN site.

We have done similar this year, we joined both clubs when we got our Autoquest 180. We have not used sites of either club but we have stayed at Caravan and Camping club District Association (DA) weekends.

There are generally based in a field with elsan and water, out of the 7 or 8 weekends we have been on just one had EHU.

We found these weekends gave us a great chance to 'learn the van', knowing if we got really stuck there was plenty of experience around to help us out.

We have not used any of the Caravan Club facilities as of yet.

Greg

vera

Hi Tats and welcome to " FUN"
The caravan Club does not allow you to fill and empty on their sites.We are a member of both .Before joining look at where all the CL and CS sites are in the area you think you would go to that is where you get the savings. I know when we toured Scotland last year we did not use many we mainly wild camped in the forests but there is only 2 of us.
Take a look at the temporary holiday sites that both clubs run they are great for families.

My choice of the 2 would be the caravan club, their Club sites are a little bit cheaper for a service pitch and we save lots on our ferry booking by booking Camping Cheques in with our fare,also saved on our Motor Home insurance.
Sure there will be more along soon with lots of other ideas Have fun and enjoy your van.
Sue

MAUBRI

Welcome,

Its a matter of choice which will become more apparent as you go to each clubs sites.

However the CAMPING AND CARAVANNING CLUB have the advantage that they have a very comprehensive list of sites throughout the UK private and of course there own, also hideways for 5 vans with modest facilities.
The Caravan Club has a dedicated list of there own sites and CL sites similar to CCC hideaways.

The MOTORCARAVAN CLUB dosen't have any sites, but they do hold loads of Rallies throughout the UK in fields and Commercial Sites.

When I first started touring I joined ALL the 3 clubs but we now tend to visit CCC & CC sites and go to MCC Rallies

All the best

Brian

nomadic

Welcome to the forum

The advantage of the C&CC motorhome stop of service, for a small fee, allows you to shower and also use the laundry, although this is subject to availability, as well as take on fresh water and service the toilet.

If you intend to use any pup tents, then I would suggest the C&CC would again score over the CC. They also offer "family deals" which produce cost savings for families, worth checking out on the webb site.

Having said that both clubs offer a very good service, and as said, the temperory holiday sites, run by the C&CC's DA's offer very good value for money, for families.

Both offer insurance services,recovery services, technical support etc, at the end of the day I would suggest the C&CC has more to offer the family camper/motorhomer.

Good luck and enjoy your motorhoming

Nomadic

hilldweller

Be warned about the Big Two. Half the time you can't get a pitch. Part of the problem is the number of MHs out there and partly because of the t%$ts out there who, as soon as booking opens in January will book every weekend away and then turn up for a few of them. So when you try and get a pitch a bit later - FULL.

That was our first shock two years ago when we became MHers.

I don't know what the answer is. Well, we ALL know what the answer is, non-refundable deposits but they haven't the balls to implement this.

If you have a good idea when you can get away book very early. Oh, and pay a lot too.

Best bargain in Scotland is Haughton Park, Alford. Brilliant site for kids and not too expensive.

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Brian.

barryd

All those islands to Explore from Arran up to Shetland and it sounds like your on the doorstep! You will pay a bit in ferry fares but once your there you can pretty much wildcamp till your hearts content. Ive done 17 now apart from the odd CL have never paid for a site on any of them!

CL's are great value on the mainland.

Wildman

not quite correct as the MCC do licence CL's not many I must admit as they leave it up to the local planners to decide thereby making a mockery of the CL system ah well never mind.

Using the CL system (5 van sites with minimal services), these will always have fresh water and a black/grey dump point. At £3-8 per night can work out cheaper than a dedicated motorhome service point at a fiver.

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best wishes from Roger, given up looking for the sun in Devon
"lifes journey is easier when you hear a friend's footsteps beside you"