COURT FARM - EXETER [90]

Friday 15th August – Tuesday 19th August 2008

This site is conveniently close to the M5 that it must be considered as an overnight stop for people travelling to Cornwall or the ferry. However it makes a superb base for exploring the surrounding area and is close to the Exeter Park & Ride system for those who want to visit the city centre. There’s also a theme park close by for younger visitors.

Situated off the A376 dual carriageway, if approached from the M5 it is advisable to do a U turn at the Clyst St George roundabout and return to the farm road, this is because the central reservation is not wide enough to accommodate a car and caravan.

The pitching area is on mown grass at the flattish top end of a sloping field with good views out towards the west. There is a His and Hers toilet and shower block which the owner described to me as basic. However I found them to be as good as many that I have come across. The charge for showers is 30p on an honesty basis and the total charge for your visit is calculated when you leave.

Eggs are on sale from the site owners and there is a supermarket on the other side of the M5. There is also a bus stop on the A376 between the Clyst St George and the Topsham turning roundabouts.

Analogue TV signal is good
Digital signal available.

£7.00 per night plus 30p per shower

CHIPLEY MILL - NEWTON ABBOT [89]

Monday 11th August – Friday 15th August 2008

The weather tried its hardest to spoil my visit to this CL. There was plenty of rain with high winds and gales. All this made the site very wet underfoot and caused vehicles to cut up the grassed pitching area. I have in the past seen cars banned from pitching areas during wet weather and I think using the car park at the entrance would have helped on this occasion.

The site is set amongst trees with a river running down one side so children need to be supervised. The trees interfered with television reception during the high winds although analogue and digital reception was satisfactory during calm conditions. There is a toilet and shower block with a few brochures about the surrounding area. The shower is operated by tokens that are available from the owner at 50p.

Inspite of the weather I managed to find something to do every day of my stay. There is a bus stop outside this site on the A383 and the Trago Mills shopping complex is within easy driving distance. Newton Abbot has a busy shopping centre and I found two supermarkets, one in the town centre. The racecourse is not far away for those who enjoy horse racing.

Analogue TV signal ok during calm conditions
Digital signal lost during high winds

£9.00 per night [had to pay deposit on booking]

WHITEHILL COUNTRY PARK - PAIGNTON [88]

Thursday 7th August – Monday 11th August 2008

Once again this commercial site could not be faulted. The approach road was narrow in places but did not present any problems. Check in was swift and we were guided to our pitch by one of the staff. Many of the pitches are sloping but are generous in size. From the beginning of August the weather has been atrocious with heavy showers or longer periods of rain. However the sloping nature of this site helped drain most of the water away.

This site had everything including a bar and evening entertainment. Some of the guests needed a bigger car park as they found it impossible to move around the site without using their cars. I think it would have been beneficial to everyone’s health if the owners made a charge for people who used the car park without justifiable cause.

The main attraction in the area is Paignton Zoo but there is plenty to do for visitors of all ages. I believe that the owners of commercial sites need to make an effort to make their business a success and this and the previous site certainly achieved this. I would certainly recommend them both to people who enjoy this type of site.

Analogue TV good
Digital signal available

£29.82 per night [3 adults + 1 infant]

CARLYON BAY CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK - ST AUSTELL [87]

Sunday 3rd August – Thursday 7th August 2008

I don’t normally visit commercial sites for no particular reason except that it would take too long to visit them all. My main reason for touring the country is to explore what different areas have to offer and consequently only need to use basic C/L type sites that are a lot cheaper than big commercial ones, with the occasional Club Site thrown in to do my washing.

Anyway my daughter, son-in-law and grandson had joined me and it was thought they may enjoy a site that had a lot more to offer than my usual choice. They also have a baby that needs facilities and the Caravan Club sites were all booked up

Reception was faultless and we were quickly shown to our pitch which was enormous. Enough room for caravan, awning and two cars. The grass had suffered from previous guests but the site owners seem to accept this and I didn’t see any notices about lifting ground sheets. This is probably impossible on some tents that have built in ground sheets. If you are a windbreak salesman you’ll make a fortune on this site. Everyone seemed to erect windbreaks around the perimeter of their pitch as if they are their castle walls and beware anyone who enters. Everyone to their own, I noticed that some people would look anywhere rather than make eye contact.

The facilities were good with a heated pool [no lifeguard], a shop and a restaurant/takeaway, but there is no bar. The toilet blocks are adequate and cleaned daily, however it is prudent to use them before the kids manage to spread paper all over. The Eden Project is within walking distance and discounted tickets can be bought onsite.

Analogue TV good
Digital signal available

£33.75 per night [3 adults + 1 infant]

CROSSLANDS - OKEHAMPTON [86]

Wednesday 30th July – Sunday 3rd August 2008

I had all sorts of problems arriving at this CL. The entrance is quiet steep off the narrow approach road and I was concerned that the back of my caravan would ground as I entered. Whilst watching this I failed to notice that the blind rear corner was scraping along a stone wall that was hidden in the hedgerow. When I finally noticed it was too late, the damage was done. It is advisable to get a passenger, if you have one, to watch you in. The owner told me he had not heard of anyone else having problems entering with long caravans so perhaps it was me, coupled with the fact I was on my own. In my defence I can only say that I have towed vans of this length since 2000 without problems and I am aware of were everything moves to when corners are turned. I eventually used a convenient crossroad junction opposite the entrance and reversed in.

During my stay, someone else, with a much smaller van, managed to scrape the ‘dreaded wall’ and I also discovered that someone with a twenty-six foot caravan had been warned by the owners when they booked to be careful at the entrance. All this made me feel a great deal better!

The pitching area is a mown part around one side of a large field that is big enough to exercise your dog. One unusual aspect of this site is the electricity is metered and is the third I have encountered on my travels. Including inherited credit I used £2 during my four night stay. Any unused credit is passed on to the next user.

Okehampton a few miles down the road is a pleasant little town with all services, including a few supermarkets. A bus service passes the lane end for those that require it. The Dartmoor National Park is adjacent for those that enjoy walking, and good views of the surrounding area can be glimpsed through the occasional gaps in the hedgerow. Road noise from the nearby A30 can be heard but is not intrusive.

Analogue TV good
Digital Signal available

£6 per night + electric meter

ORCHARDS - BRIDGWATER [85]

Saturday 26th July – Wednesday 30th July 2008

When you leave the A39 and make the final approach to this CL you get a strong feeling of anticipation. The narrow roads presented no problems, there is very little traffic, however if you do meet something coming in the opposite direction there are plenty of passing places. The site is full of character; set in a mature orchard, the friendly owners were on hand to point me in the direction of the pitch they wanted me to use. This is necessary as length determines which pitch is best suited for your unit, and they always ask for details when you book so as the correct pitch can be allocated to your needs.

There is a toilet and shower block which doubles as an information room with a folder showing details of local attractions. The showers are free and one feature that is unusual on a CL is the provision of a washing machine [only the second I have come across on a CL] and that is also free. [You can make a donation to a local charity if you wish].

The nearest pub is about 1 mile away on the A39 with plenty of other hostelries which serve food within easy driving distance. Nearby Bridgwater has shops and supermarkets to fulfil all needs. Didn’t spot any bus stops in the local vicinity; however Bob the CL owner told me he has in the past ferried motorhome owners to bus stops a little further afield.

Analogue TV good
Digital signal available

£10.00 per night

PASSAGE FARM - SLIMBRIDGE [84]

Tuesday 22nd July – Saturday 26th July 2008

The piece of land formed by a horseshoe shaped sweep of the River Severn is home to this wonderful CL. Situated a few hundred yards from the end of the road that leads to the former Newham Ferry and within a mile of the village of Arlingham. The flat grassed pitching area is situated behind the owner’s home and wonderfully kept gardens and is adjacent to a fenced course fishing pond, which, according to photographs is the home of some very large fish. The toilet block doubles as an information room and library and has a folder with advice on local attractions and places of interest.

The last time I spent any time in this area was in the mid 1980s when I worked on a ship loading waste just south of Gloucester on the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. I asked a few of the British Waterways staff if anyone could remember the occasion but no one could. I think it would cause problems if anything of that size used the waterway now, although pleasure craft and commercial traffic manage to exist side by side on the Aire & Calder Navigation in Yorkshire.

The nearest shop is in the village of Arlingham with a small supermarket, other shops and banks in Stonehouse. There are bus stops in the area but I didn’t see a bus during my stay. The Old Passage which is close by on the banks of the Severn and was probably once a pub, now seems to be a restaurant specialising in seafood. The Red Lion less than a mile away in Arlingham is more of a village pub and offers a menu which should suit most needs.

Analogue TV good
Digital signal available

£10.00 per night