Camping in the new forest

[Knuckle dragger]

Booked at roundhill campsite then got a notification that apart from elsan no other facilities would be available. I witnessed the removal of toilet and shower blocks last year and trust me that procedure would not be cheap. However when I asked for a discount this was firmly rejected as they informed me that there will be staff on site - to do what? open the gate when we arrive and shut it when we've gone. Very sharp practice if you ask me!!!!

 

[Itsmcb]

Covid restrictions, campsites are allowed to open but toilet and shower blocks must remain closed for the time being. They may be re-opened mid May

 

[Swifter]

Booked at roundhill campsite then got a notification that apart from elsan no other facilities would be available. I witnessed the removal of toilet and shower blocks last year and trust me that procedure would not be cheap. However when I asked for a discount this was firmly rejected as they informed me that there will be staff on site - to do what? open the gate when we arrive and shut it when we've gone. Very sharp practice if you ask me!!!!

I noticed that on their website. Said the facilities would be closed for the remainder of 2021.
Not really fussed as we wouldn’t have used the site facilities anyway .

 

[Knuckle dragger]

but why pay for something your not getting there are other camp sites run by camping in the forest that
have no facilities and are cheaper.

 

[Swifter]

but why pay for something your not getting there are other camp sites run by camping in the forest that
have no facilities and are cheaper.

Fair play . It’s all an individual choice . If the prices are cheaper in other forest sites , we might have a look at those

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[Kannon Fodda]

Roundhill's toilet / shower blocks are essentially portacabin things. They get taken away each winter, some sort of planning / environmental restriction. In fact they drag them to the other side of the B3055. Problem is that because they are portacabins they don't really stand up to the abuse of the 500+ pitches Roundhill can accommodate. I do suspect there are motives behind the scenes that Roundhill's temporary toilets aren't welcome - the environment pressures on New Forest v tourism are in conflict.

But sorry, they have to staff the other limited facility sites, such as Denny Wood, even Sethorns (some EHU pitches, but no wc blocks), but won't need as many staff if they haven't got the cleaning of shower / wc blocks. So operating costs are less and pricing should reflect that. CITF will deserve to find that site empty this year with the current pricing.

Roundhill is a convenient location, and if pricing was reduced due to no facilities, I would have looked at it. I used it a lot when I was tenting. Now I think I'll be looking at the basic CITF sites of Denny Wood, Matley Wood, Aldrige Hill (limited opening period, Sethorns and possibly Ocknell (which has toilets, no shower) and Longbeech

 

[Swifter]

Interesting about the toilet blocks being removed each year . I didn’t know that . I also think they have a water tower rather than mains water?

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Yep there is a big water tower at Roundhill, but that is mains fed and I'm not sure how much of a backup it provides to the portacabin things. I've been at Roundhill when there was a power failure so, despite the tower, all the pump systems failed, staff were doing bucket runs from the standpipes to enable some basic flushing of toilets.

Worth noting that CITF is a commercial partnership between the C&CC and Forestry Commission. Forestry Commission lease the ground, C&CC runs the operation. Forestry Commission weren't that impressed with C&CC when the sites didn't open last year. Also for those who might hope for a reduction in price, C&CC sites last year (of those that did open) didn't have reduced pricing on sites which kept their blocks closed, only change was for VAT. So I can't see CITF operating with reduced pricing for facility less Roundhill. Only difference here is that most C&CC sites don't have nearby competition from other C&CC sites, whereas New Forest has a number of CITF sites within reasonable proximity so you may have a choice (weekend summer season does usually get full well in advance). Note C&CC members do get some booking privileges with CITF.

 

[LesW]

but why pay for something your not getting there are other camp sites run by camping in the forest that
have no facilities and are cheaper.

Perhaps to try and help business get back on it's feet?

 

[Swifter]

Sorry that’s me being think about the mains water . I don’t know how I imagined they kept the tower full of water . So it’s basically mains fed but the tower is to create enough water pressure for the showers and taps etc I presume ?

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[Wombles]

If you want cheap basic camping in the New Forest https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...-soon-currently-from-£12-15-per-night.228265/

 

[ctc]

Just had a look at the CITF site, bit expensive but as usual the distance to the nearest food store is a secret.

 

[pipkin]

Just make Roundhill smaller. Take away the tents and you only need space for 50 caravans/ vans. Less space = less staff.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Looks like the portacabin toilets and showers aren’t back at Roundhill for 2022. Suspect now they never will be. Pricing has this time dropped a bit but not fully so still a tad more than the basic sites. Perhaps CITF did finally realise the site was very under used last year as too costly.