Choosing your campsite

I have stayed at sites where public access is permitted – public rights of way. In all honesty, there was only one site where it felt unsafe and to which I would not return. Filter your choices when searching – see below for a list of websites to use.

If you’re travelling solo, making sure that you are secure in your choice ultimately goes a long way to ensuring enjoyment – no-one wants to move in the middle of the night if they don’t feel safe!

EHU –electric hook up

Check if pitches have electric, how much does it cost, and do you really need it? (If you’re working on the move, like me, there will be an author blog covering this very soon, it’s a need for some of us at times.).

Level pitches

If not level, it can prove uncomfortable. No-one wants to fall out of bed in the middle of the night! Unless you have levelling blocks, then you’re sorted. There are site owners who will allow you to choose where you pitch but bear in mind that this isn’t always possible during peak, busy times. Check reviews.

Grass or hardstanding

It can be difficult on grass in wet weather, but carry rubber/similar car mats (there are specific mats for this purpose) just in case. Most people are helpful and will get you out of a pickle. Working farms will have a tractor or something similar and CAMC sites have gear to move you off pitch.

Hardstanding pitches are also level (the ones I’ve stayed at have been, although check the reviews just in case) so this alleviates two problems here. However, hardstanding pitches are more expensive than grass ones.

Toilet

You may have your own arrangements. I have a chemical toilet but it’s there purely for emergency use only. This is my personal preference. Everyone is different, so do what you’re comfortable with.

Shower

You may be fine without – you’ll either have your own showering set up (do your research, there are all sorts of ways to do this) or you may have considered going to a local gym or leisure centre regularly to swim or to work out, then showers aren’t necessarily a need for you. At some point, there is hope that I may use the solar shower bag which cost me barely six pounds to save me paying extra for sites with facilities like this. However, I’m still cautious of showering in front of whoever happens to be going past.

Distance to toilet/shower

Consider being closer if you have IBS or a similar medical condition, or if you are older and need to pee at the most inconvenient times.

Downside, if you’re too close, you may get woken up in the night. If you’re a heavy sleeper then it’s no problem and there are always ear plugs. Also, some people may use your pitch as a convenient parking space when it’s raining. Trust me, it happens.

Noise levels

Check reviews – most I’ve stayed at are good, however there is always the exception!

If you’re on a family orientated site, then what do you expect? But, I have to say that in most places, even where there are lots of children, it’s almost like un unspoken rule that when it gets to 10pm, they miraculously go quiet. I’m sure this benefits parents as much as it does all the other campers, regardless of age.

Of course, it will always be busier in the holidays. If it’s possible, consider travelling around during term time. It will also be cheaper.

Amenities

Always check beforehand what’s available on site and how far away you are from shops, etc. Personally, I like to get out walking and exploring so even looking for a local shop, allows me to ‘see’ the place.

However, not everyone wants to do that, so visiting supermarkets ‘en route‘ to stock up is something to think about. Also consider public transport. I’ve caught many a bus on my travels and it gives you a chance to explore more than you probably thought.

Laundry Room

We all need to do washing at various points. If there isn’t a laundry room, consider searching for launderettes in the local town (they do still exist). Cost must be considered here too. Since the cost of living has increased over the past few years, prices for laundering clothes, whether self-service or full-service, have increased overall. However, there are areas of the country which are more expensive than others. Oh, and you’ll need to buy tokens – check when you get to the site, or you’ll need coins depending on what the site requires or if in an established launderette in a town or city.

Distance to walking routes

Check for busy roads near the campsites – I park up and do not like to move so need to be somewhere where access to walks does NOT require driving to a specific starting point. Most sites will have guides and an information room, (or the owners are really helpful and informative) especially if the site is located near to popular walks or paths/pathways which attract hikers. However, there are often starting points. This can put people off if you’re not prepared to ‘move’ every day.

Pitching up can be stressful, so what with packing everything up again, securing all your loose items, putting the bed away or whatever you have to do to get moving again, it’s sometimes worth moving to different places each day if you’re going to go to all that trouble.

There are people who do this for the very reasons I’ve stated. Why would you park up and then move everything the next morning only to come back to the same place? It also helps to move around if you’re ‘charging up’ your solar panel(s) and want to reduce costs with minimal use of EHU.

The bigger motorhomes sometimes have a car in tow, or bikes on the back which alleviates the problem of exploring without having to move the van.

Deposit or paying in full

It’s always good to be able to pay a small fee in case you change your mind or your plans alter suddenly. CAMC and various PitchUp campsites allow this – check the terms and conditions of booking. It can depend on how far ahead your booking is.

I do not book weeks in advance. There is no way I’m planning to the nth degree when routine is one of the things I am steering away from.

Websites for campers

There are always campsites available, you just need to find them:

CAMC
(membership required – worth it in certain places and allows access to certified locations (CLs) which can work out much cheaper).

Pitch up

Campsites UK

UK Campsites

And if you’re really stuck:

Park4night – These are often lay-bys, where there is no signage to indicate that it is illegal to park overnight. The downside is that traffic can make the van shudder; it really depends on where you are. Useful though, especially when desperate. If someone has parked there before, at least you know it’s reasonably safe, but do check the reviews!

Consider that there are campsites which are ‘pop-ups’ – sites open only for a brief period (it will usually state when booking, just check for the availability period), OR they may be grass-only pitches. Limited opening times or those which will close at the end of September or October due to the expected weather conditions at this time of the year.

There are campsites that are open all year round. I plan to do my first ‘winter’ in my van this year, so I’ll let you know how it goes!

DO NOT forget the pubs, good as one-offs, but not long term, although, if you’re going to pay for a big fancy meal, you may want to weigh up what a campsite offers. There are pubs utilising their facilities. I am seeing pubs offering more than just a ‘pitch’, such as providing 24-hour toilets or chemical waste disposal.

Make sure you check ahead and DO NOT assume you can just pitch up then leave before anyone notices. I am seeing posts about this and now some pubs are refusing to offer places at all.

At the end of the day, for most people, it comes down to cost and your personal circumstances as to which places you choose to stay, but please consider the facts mentioned above.

Until next time.

Choosing your campsite