Club Sites vs Independent sites , are we missing out ?

[Jewellbags]

£200 is no problem providing it’s a nice site, we would go to £450-£500 a night for the top sites all day long.

Concorde owners we are, we like to mix with the upper echelons of society, it’s a different league.

Ah my mistake , with a Concorde you’ll be wanting much more space then . Fortunately just up the road from us we have a site with enormous plots and an equally enormous on site shop with takeaways for the more discerning and even a on site fuel station . It’s very popular and I know of several millionaires that also attend - and ever little difference matters after all

 

[CAB96]

Hi All
Io date we have mainly used CAMH club sites. However , we have just returned from Concierge Camping near Chichester which is an independent site . Wow ! We were amazed at the quality and facilities of this site . It’s now made us wonder ….should we be looking at more independent sites? Hence the question to you guys , do most of you stick with the two big clubs or steer towards independent sites . Are we missing out by using club sites ?
Also if anyone has any recommendations for really nice independent sites in the UK please let us know . I can defo recommend Concierge….. we will be staying there again.

We mainly use club sites.

The trouble (or advantage, actually) is that, you know what you are getting, in terms of site /facilities /last arrival time /rules etc.

Booking is easy, the CAMC website was a bit of a pain but both now work relatively well and it's quick to find a site.

Otherwise it's hours spent on Google /SFS/UKCampsite/Pitchup, and that's for sites which actually let you book online, I can't believe there are still sites which require you to phone them up.

 

[starquake]

Otherwise it's hours spent on Google /SFS/UKCampsite/Pitchup, and that's for sites which actually let you book online, I can't believe there are still sites which require you to phone them up.

Theres a CL website for many CL's (we are CAMC members for the cl's) https://clbooking.co.uk/. We do find that okay.

But I agree the silly sites requiring phoning for booking have never got our money. That says it all.

The issue with the CACC is their network isn't as large as CAMC's -> but however the sites are often literally next door to each other, some even share the entrances on ones we've been to.
And we definitely prefer (of favourite sites) the Sandringham CACC to the CAMC.

 

[TheAleMan]

I only keep the membership of CAMC purely for the Certified Locations. If there is absolutely no other option, I will fork out for a CAMC site, but we go away for the coutryside, the peace and quiet. I dont want or need hookups, and all the facilities of the club sites

We are exactly the same, we only really use 5 van sites and even then we are choosy where we stay. Only ever stayed at one C&MC site ever and that is in the north of Scotland on Loch Naver near Altnaharra. We stayed there a few weeks back for £17.50 pn without leccy, which is not too bad considering.

 

[Pausim]

We find our sites on the searchforsites app. We use club sites infrequently, independent sites reasonably often and CL/CS sites when we can. Choosing the sites is part of the fun. Sometimes the independent sites are pretty much club site clones with disappointing regimented rows but sometimes they offer something very different.

On our recent Welsh tour three sites proved to be good examples of why you should not rule out the independents. Elan Oaks, beautiful riverside location and excellent modern facilities. Nyth Robin, charming and different. Portmeirion, expensive at first glance but the price includes entry to Portmeirion Village including use of the pool and evening access when the day tourists have left.

Using club sites is perhaps an easy option but you may be missing out on variety. A little bit of research could take you somewhere different or even somewhere special.

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[funflair]

£200 is no problem providing it’s a nice site, we would go to £450-£500 a night for the top sites all day long.

Concorde owners we are, we like to mix with the upper echelons of society, it’s a different league.

Are you that bloke on Million Pound Motorhomes that only went to Concierge because you mixed with the right class of people, oh no he didn't have a Concorde though

 

[MisterB]

Also if anyone has any recommendations for really nice independent sites in the UK please let us know .

We've organised a couple of Rallies at Grange Farm Camp site in Thorpe le Soken. Its £26 per night inc EHU usually (though we get it cheaper during the rally)

Everyone who has attended the rallies there have all seemed to enjoy the surrounding area aswell as the site itself.
Might be worth adding to your list if you're ever over this part of the UK....

 

[TDub49]

Looking at their website, a lot of the motorhome pitches are full or nearly at £62 a night , I’d want a week for those prices, so not for me.

It's Chi don't you know . . . (Pronounced "Chy" if you haven't come across it before)

 

[TDub49]

Ah my mistake , with a Concorde you’ll be wanting much more space then . Fortunately just up the road from us we have a site with enormous plots and an equally enormous on site shop with takeaways for the more discerning and even a on site fuel station . It’s very popular and I know of several millionaires that also attend - and ever little difference matters after all

Er no. We just decide what part of the country we would like to visit and then look for the most convenient site, be it one of the clubs or independent. We then filter by best deal.

 

[Paul Leon]

We’re currently at Rookesbury Park Caravan & Motorhome Club near Fareham and were only booked for 4 nights as we have just collected our new to us AS Clubman but is so lovely here that we have booked another 5 nights to extend our stay. Ideal for us because this is a dog friendly site with a large enclosed dog field and adjacent Forrest through an on site gateway. The wooded paths leading to a disused railway track that leads you to the historic town of Wickham. The price is a reasonable £38 per night at the moment (yes we also use CL’s and private sites) which is not to bad considering the spaciousness of the site & very friendly staff and great facilities.
So all & all a very satisfied camper and bye the way great motorhome bought locally from BTA Motorhomes co.

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[Geistguy]

I’ve booked 4 weeks on concierge all August, it’s £65 a night for under 8m August, you skinflints can camp in the gutter where you belong, we’ll be hobnobbing with the toffs, I’ve heard it’s great can’t wait.
31 nights at £65 a night is £2015, it’s only brass as we say in Yorkshire, tha cant tek it wi thi

I think another good Yorkshire saying is ---- HOW MUCH !

 

[EuroTrotters]

I guess a lot of new, post Covid campers are used to high prices.

Whereas, many of us will remember the £8 CCL/CS’s and £15 campsites .

Even with inflation and massive con of rising electricity prices. We should not be paying £ so much for basic facilities.

The thing with the continent is they seem to have more facilities for less money .


August 2025 prices

UK Campsite in Bakewell with C&CC (bit like Ryanair false advertising as it’s miles away in youlgrave/youlgreave)

£231

There is bigger all there. No showers, nothing. You even have to throw your grey water into the bushes. It’s miles from anything, even the pub if it’s open is a hike.

Consider something like..

Millau in the south of France. 7 nights, fully serviced riverside pitch. Inc EHU, small splash pool, bar and restaurant. Close to town and plenty of safe cycling opportunities.

£90

 

[starquake]

August 2025 prices

UK Campsite in Bakewell with C&CC (bit like Ryanair false advertising as it’s miles away in youlgrave/youlgreave)

£231

£231 as a non-member, but you conviently are pointing out this one stay would in effect pay for your years membership near enough.

In comparison we're booked 4 nights over August bank holiday at a C&CC site, grass no awning (and no electric) for 2 adults for under £100. For one person it would be lower, and even lower still if we qualified for the older person discount.

 

[pelican]

Hi All
Io date we have mainly used CAMH club sites. However , we have just returned from Concierge Camping near Chichester which is an independent site . Wow ! We were amazed at the quality and facilities of this site . It’s now made us wonder ….should we be looking at more independent sites? Hence the question to you guys , do most of you stick with the two big clubs or steer towards independent sites . Are we missing out by using club sites ?
Also if anyone has any recommendations for really nice independent sites in the UK please let us know . I can defo recommend Concierge….. we will be staying there again.

What is a concierge site please?

 

[Bear]

Slightly orf topic but I have renewed with CAMC again this year mainly to get a good price to get off the Little Island to visit the Large Island.1 trip and its paid for my membership.
For sites I prefer to look around to where i am going and go from there, oft rather not on a site, but yes will do just for the quiet sit down time shall we say.
Its different ways for many of vanners / mohoers out there and does it matter in the gret scheme of things if someone is prepared to pay what ever the current asking price is?
I used to oversee a camp site so to a degree know some of the so called "hidden" costs that the people who run have to pay as Quakers stated in his post!

If anyone would like to fund my hobby please visit www.woodsidefield.co.uk to book in

And on me too visit list there Quackers

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[chaser]

I guess a lot of new, post Covid campers are used to high prices.

Whereas, many of us will remember the £8 CCL/CS’s and £15 campsites .

Even with inflation and massive con of rising electricity prices. We should not be paying £ so much for basic facilities.

The thing with the continent is they seem to have more facilities for less money .


August 2025 prices

UK Campsite in Bakewell with C&CC (bit like Ryanair false advertising as it’s miles away in youlgrave/youlgreave)

£231

There is bigger all there. No showers, nothing. You even have to throw your grey water into the bushes. It’s miles from anything, even the pub if it’s open is a hike.

Consider something like..

Millau in the south of France. 7 nights, fully serviced riverside pitch. Inc EHU, small splash pool, bar and restaurant. Close to town and plenty of safe cycling opportunities.

£90



View attachment 1072311View attachment 1072312

I know that this is unbelievable but it's true, when we were young and foolish and members of ccc we actually went to the Bakewell site and there had been a wind the day before and there wasn't many there , they actually came round and asked if we would help clean up all the twigs and stuff that had blown down , well us thinking we are members of the club we should help out and we did all day do you know what we got for it , zilch not even a thank you , not long after that we came out of it and never missed it.

 

[KASPAR]

What is a concierge site please?

West Sussex Campsite | 5 Star Luxury Caravan Site Chichester

Caravan, camping & safari lodges with hotel standard facilities in South Downs National Park. 5 star campsite in West Sussex near Chichester & Wittering

www.conciergecamping.co.uk

 

[Lenny HB]

The price is a reasonable £38 per night at the moment

I don't see how anyone can say that is reasonable, sounds like extortion to me.

 

[Langtoftlad]

I don't see how anyone can say that is reasonable, sounds like extortion to me.

It took me a long time to accept that prices have gone up - I used to think £300 for 2 weeks in Corfu was expensive.
Prices of everything have had a reset since Covid... and despite this, establishments are still closing because they can't cover costs

 

[EuroTrotters]

£231 as a non-member, but you conviently are pointing out this one stay would in effect pay for your years membership near enough.

In comparison we're booked 4 nights over August bank holiday at a C&CC site, grass no awning for 2 adults for under £100. For one person it would be lower, and even lower still if we qualified for the older person discount.

Yes, I am not a member any more. Only CAMC.

However, what is the price with membership please ?.

Is it easy or are non UK residents allowed to join C&CC?.

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[chaser]

Well I have just looked at the website, I am having a job to get over it I found some dates that were over £125 a night.
Now I don't care in the slightest how much it's cost to set up , that's up to them but from the motorhome side it's ridiculous why would you buy a 100 grand motorhome use your diesel to get there have all the attendant hassel of driving ,, getting your own meals and washing up and whatever and then go a pay more than you could get in an all found hotel by the sea.

 

[starquake]

Yes, I am not a member any more. Only CAMC.

However, what is the price with membership please ?.

Is it easy or are non UK residents allowed to join C&CC?.

It's in the photo you posted, about £170, so a near £50 discount which is close enough the membership paid for.
(the member price is listed as well as the non member). In general you are better being a member on a single 1-2 week stay.

I have no idea on non UK residents joining it (as am resident), but you need to be a member of CACC to use their excellent value THS and Rally sites, of which there are hundreds most weekends, and these are priced per unit not per person, and don't even appear on their website (you use an app which requires the login to display the THS list). The THS sites are £15 per unit per night to £20 range. ie, no per person. yes, it's just a field with water, waste and elsan, but thats all we need, and you are usually allowed to camp so setup chairs, awnings, tends etc.

 

[L' Hobo]

Er no. We just decide what part of the country we would like to visit and then look for the most convenient site, be it one of the clubs or independent. We then filter by best deal.

I think it's good that you stay in those places, it makes it easier for us Serfs to get a pitch on the ones we think reasonably priced.

Well done and keep it up!

 

[Barchetta47]

We are touring the Balkans at the min and some of the pn charges are eye watering without the use of ACSI. A number of sites in Croatia currently are €60, with ACSI €30. Peak season over €120, no discount. Nice site with pool, restaurant etc but still a bit much.

Arrived in Bosnia yesterday and stayed at a nice riverside site which has ACSI advertised. It was €36 inc tax. The owner explained they had an agreement with ACSI that they did not have to offer discounts. The reason being it’s so much cheaper on his site than anywhere in Spain and France, something being from the UK we would understand!!

Personally I can’t wait to get back to France with all their expensive sites!!!

 

[Happy Jack]

We find our sites on the searchforsites app. We use club sites infrequently, independent sites reasonably often and CL/CS sites when we can. Choosing the sites is part of the fun. Sometimes the independent sites are pretty much club site clones with disappointing regimented rows but sometimes they offer something very different.

On our recent Welsh tour three sites proved to be good examples of why you should not rule out the independents. Elan Oaks, beautiful riverside location and excellent modern facilities. Nyth Robin, charming and different. Portmeirion, expensive at first glance but the price includes entry to Portmeirion Village including use of the pool and evening access when the day tourists have left.

Using club sites is perhaps an easy option but you may be missing out on variety. A little bit of research could take you somewhere different or even somewhere special.

Busy planning a trip to North Wales.
Will be visiting Bodnant gardens, Caernarfon castle and Powis castle, as well as enjoying the scenary.
Checked out Elan and Nyth. Both look good although Elan is £35 a night and Nyth is £28 a night.
Thanks for pointing them out.
Most we've ever paid is £30 a night and that was this year.
Last year we were getting ccc club sites at £12 to £14 a night but that was booking minimum 3 nights and at least 14 days in advance. This year we are following the weather so booking at last minute almost. Been ok up to now but have to time it right, the nice sites sellout quick.
We often use cs sites.
Have never used free sites. We often pass through Barnard Castle in County Durham and there is a lay-by a mile or 2 out of town which always has motorhomes/campervans in it.
That colours our perception of free park-ups.
It just looks minging and it's right on the road virtually!
Any recommendations on places to visit while in North Wales?

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[philann]

Stayed 3 nights at Cofton park in Dawlish the other week, £52 total (including electricity) with ACSI, £88 without. Very good value for a really nice site!

 

[ChrisL]

If you're into walking there's plenty around Snowden, I did some of these as a teenager, beautiful scenery but ware the right clothing/shoes and pay attention to the weather forecast.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/walking/top-10-walks-in-snowdonia

 

[starquake]

Yeah, we've walked up Snowdon on the Pyg route, then back on the easy(ier) router down (I wouldn't go down the Pyg route). Can reccomend, but you do need to prepare for all weathers and all conditions, take food and drink (and space to store rubbish).

Do allow a day for it, and start early if the weather is good to avoid the sun.

 

[ChrisL]

Yeah, we've walked up Snowdon on the Pyg route, then back on the easy(ier) router down (I wouldn't go down the Pyg route). Can reccomend, but you do need to prepare for all weathers and all conditions, take food and drink (and space to store rubbish).

Do allow a day for it, and start early if the weather is good to avoid the sun.

We did the miners route which joins the Pyg route a bit further up.

 

[starquake]

We did the miners route which joins the Pyg route a bit further up.

Yeah I think next time we'd do miners, although I think I recall its a lot steeper at the 3m point where the Pyg route is a constant climb throughout.. I think miners may be more challenging path from when I saw the join and the steep bit.

I would reccomend either going down the easy (think its Llanberis) route or take the train if puffed after 4 ish miles of walking (including 1km up). There are toilets, hot drinks and food at the train station at top.

If you want the eas(ier) path it's Llanberis both ways I think, which is a easier path, but arguably having walked both I think the Pyg/Miners routers both have the better views.

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