LOW COST CAMPSITES - UK Camping's best kept secrets

The UK has over three thousand Certificated camp sites which are available to members of the Caravan and Motorhome club or the Camping and Caravanning club. Non club members often have never heard of them, and a surprising number of members have never tried them. They almost always lower cost per night than the either the main club or commercial sites. Some are very basic offering a taste of more traditional camping, but others offer facilities rivalling those on offer from the larger sites.
In this video I explain what certificated sites are, what they are like, how to book them and how much you can expect to pay.
For more resources checkout. -
To find CL sites with availability. - clbooking.co.uk/ -
CL sites (caravan club) - www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holi...
CS sites (camping club) - www.campingandcaravanningclub... campsiteTypes=3&isAllYear=false&isBookOnline=false&page=1
CAMOGG (Off Grid advice) - / camogg

[@DTSquared]

Quick correction on sites with electric hookup, actually 80% of CL sites have electric hookup so well over half rather than just over which is what I said in the video.

[@Trevor.Adams640]

A few C&MH club sites do accept tents - Abbey Wood in east London does. We have stayed at quite a few CL’s and most of them are very good. They don’t always have toilets and showers, but you can specify on the app or website if you need these facilities. We have found that they are sometimes well off the beaten track, sometimes along narrow country lanes, which is a consideration if you have a large rig. We only have a small Campervan so they are fine for us.

[@DTSquared]

Thanks that's very usefull feedback.

[@bragg2012]

@@DTSquaredall CAMC sites now also accept car roof tents 🎉

[@peteroberts1863]

Thanks Dave, a lot of work has gone into this informative vlog. We’ve stayed on many many CL and CS sites over the years and found some little gems. As you say with EHP and often with more facilities than people may think, you can save a fortune on a 2 week holiday. Thanks again, keep up the interesting content. Regards Pete & Nicky

[@DTSquared]

Thank you, glad you liked it. There certainly are some fantastic CL sites there, I don't think I'd ever really want to go back to a main site.

[@ottouring]

Hi from Australia. I just read your comment and thought you might like to look at my camp set up, Australian 🇦🇺locations and camp cook ups Cheers Out There Touring

[@busterboy7505]

Cheers Dave T, not tried a CL Site yet but probably will do at some point, thanks for your video 👍👍.

[@DTSquared]

You're welcome. The only problem with CLs is once you've tried them you probably won't want to stay on a main site 🤣. Hope you give them a go and you enjoy it.

[@ottouring]

Hi from Australia. I just read your comment and thought you might like to look at my camp set up, Australian 🇦🇺locations and camp cook ups Cheers Out There Touring

[@PaulintheUK86]

Can you post the link to the faceboom group again? The one in the description just takes me to the facebook homepage. I dont own a caravan but researching. Thanks for this video. Very useful for getting to know locations and prices. 👍

[@DTSquared]

Hmm the link seems to be ok, it may not work correctly if you're not logged into Facebook or possibly because the CAMOGG group is members only. If you just go to Facebook and search for CAMOGG then you should find it and be able to ask to join. Hope that helps.

[@SH-xq4dq]

Good video and we have stayed at a few CL and perhaps might add, we have found sometimes the approach roads can be a bit narrow and access tighter than at a main club site. Nothing to put off a confident driver/tower but it’s worth asking when booking for best route and access details. Solar panels mentioned and we have one built in on caravan roof BUT what put us off CL initially was not knowing what to do without hookup, and how long battery would last even with solar panel. Also perhaps carry a spare gas cylinder as one might need that for running the fridge. Access to Wi-Fi might be limited but that doesn’t bother us nor does TV feed as we tend not to watch TV when away in the caravan , just better things to do and it’s nice not to be digitally connected and enjoy the break and what the location has to offer instead 😊 thanks for the video they are a lot of work to make

[@DTSquared]

Thanks glad you liked it, the videos do take some time to create so it's always nice to hear from viewers that enjoyed them. It's worth noting that whilst I said in the video that the percentage of CL sites with electric hookup is just over 50% it's actually around 80% (see pinned comment). I had some old information and was taking other certificated sites into account. So it's almost becoming difficult to deliberately find a caravan club off-grid site with no EHU. Definitely a good idea to check approach routes onto sites as they are often on more minor roads. I generally get the lat/lon of the site and check the approach using streetview before we leave. We have a fairly big outfit with a Landcruiser towing an 8m twin axle van, and so far we've not been to a site where we couldn't get on. Though there are a few that limit van sizes so it's worth checking that when booking if you have a bigger van.

[@TheMarleyboy2]

FYI C&MH DOES allow tents on some of their sites. I should know my Vango tent looks nothing like a caravan.

[@DTSquared]

Hi yes I'm aware, someone else had already pointed it out in the comments. The main reason for mentioning tents re C&MC was that a lot do not allow tents and so the camping club makes more sense if choosing a club to join. Also a lot of CLs are less suitable for tents.

[@ellenmendoza7246]

I just brought a small generator..it's fantastic you can put it on a long lead so it's not to nosy

[@cholseygrangecl2684]

An excellent overview of the 5-van network. Lets hope this video will help caravan owners book more CL and CS sites and help to boost the rural economy. As you point out, most sites charge per pitch, rather than per person, so providing you are not a solo traveller the headline price will be closer to what you pay than many commercial and club sites which base their headline price on 1 adult and then might add £10 a night for your partner..

[@DTSquared]

Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. I think the CL and CS networks are the most compelling reason to join either of the main two clubs. There is such a diverse range of 5 van sites in beautiful locations, and you only have to share them with four other vans. What more could anyone want ? They even cost less on average!!

[@ottouring]

Hi from Australia. I just read your comment and thought you might like to look at my camp set up, Australian 🇦🇺locations and camp cook ups Cheers Out There Touring

[@andyn6266]

Damn it Dave,now a load more people will know about these hidden gems. Thanks a lot.

[@DTSquared]

Yeah the secret is out now I'm afraid 🤣🤣

[@andyn6266]

@@DTSquared At least we still have adults only sites.👍👍

[@ottouring]

Hi from Australia. I just read your comment and thought you might like to look at my camp set up, Australian 🇦🇺locations and camp cook ups Cheers Out There Touring

[@tonyglasstv2685]

Top job my man - Love the solar panel stand, looks like a guitar stand?

[@DTSquared]

Yes I think it is a guitar stand though I'm sure it was sold as a solar panel stand.

[@ottouring]

Hi from Australia. I just read your comment and thought you might like to look at my camp set up, Australian 🇦🇺locations and camp cook ups Cheers Out There Touring

[@robhayes6121]

Been towing caravans for a few years, but as time goes by you have thoughts towards what you pay for, when you book a caravan pitch they ask you the size of your caravan, so you pay for the pitch, then they ask will you be putting an awning if you say yes you get charged for that even though the pitch isn’t any bigger, so in theory you pay for the extra work you are making, but no one says although I’m here for X number of nights I’m taking it down the day before I go so you’ve been charged xtra night for the awning, the camping and caravan club fee are the price you pay to belong as the site fees are getting ridiculous for being a member, but do you need to belong may as well give a private site the income. Looking forward to your opinion besides don’t go if you don’t want to pay it🤷‍♂️

[@DTSquared]

I’ve always wondered about the whole awning fee. It kind of makes sense for the unmarked pitches type site where larger outfits and awnings mean less pitches overall. But on marked pitches it doesn’t make a difference and on CLs they have a five van limit anyway. Though most CLs we’ve stay at don’t charge extra for awning. I guess one way to look at it is that the option to not have an awning and not pay the charge is a discount? Kind of a “pitch half full” thing 😊. In terms of club site prices we haven’t stayed at one for years and I was amazed when I saw what the prices were. Which was part of the reason I made this video, CL’s and CS’s really are so much better value especially when you are only having to share the site’s resources with up to four other units.

[@tonyglasstv2685]

It's snowing caravans...

[@DTSquared]

LOL

[@ottouring]

Hi from Australia. I just read your comment and thought you might like to look at my camp set up, Australian 🇦🇺locations and camp cook ups Cheers Out There Touring

[@neildixon6134]

wrong camc site some take tents !!!!

[@DTSquared]

Apologies I stand corrected I should have said that they are more aimed towards caravans, motorhomes etc. For example of their 200 club sites just over 50 accept tents and "tent pitches" on those sites are more limited. Some CL sites may be more or less suitable for tents so members would have to check before booking. So it may be less beneficial to pay for CAMC membership than with joining the camping club.

[@orvilleclisby6748]

I think it would be a huge embarrassment to have the colonies running the country.