THE RANCH - SELBY [105]

Friday 27th February – Sunday 1st March 2009

This commercial site has it all, level pitches on hardstandings, new shower and toilet block, clubhouse with bar and restaurant. The weekend of our visit was reasonably busy, with many seasonal pitches taken by regulars. I have never been able to make my mind up about seasonal caravanners. They are all helpful and have a good knowledge of local facilities and amenities. However they come across as superior to the common or garden caravaner and usually have their own glasses and seats in the bar. Perhaps it’s me.

I’m pleased to report that my daughter and husband are getting better at caravanning, but they still have a long way to go. My son in law is an ex HGV driver so towing and manoeuvring are not a problem, they just need to get into a routine, which will eventually come, [I hope].

The approach to the site is straight forward, but watch out for the speed humps in Cliffe village. The entrance has an electronic security gate which was open when we arrived. Visitors are given a key to operate the gate for which the owners require a deposit.

Selby is the nearest major town for shopping etc, however there is a pub and convenience store in nearby Cliffe. I believe a bus service to Selby runs from the village. York is a short drive away with a Park and Ride service available to the south of the city.

Analogue TV signal good
Digital signal available

£14.50 per night [This varies with occupancy during main season]

STOCKIN GREEN FARM - SELBY [104]

Friday 20th February – Sunday 22nd February 2009

This site was the very first that I visited on my Mooch back in 2006. Three years and 104 sites later we are back. The main reason for this is my daughter and her family are the proud owners of a new caravan and wanted to test everything on a site not far from home. They would be able to put to test everything they had learned during the last 15 years of caravanning with us. They were useless – but will hopefully get better with practice.

Stockin Green Farm is about ¾ mile from the A19 on the southern approaches to Selby. Easy to find, the final approach road is single carriageway but is quiet with passing places. All the pitches are on hardstandings and are level. There are loads of cats at this site that seem to want to visit your van when you are not looking, so keep your door shut when it is unattended.

A bus service runs on the A19 to Selby one way, and Doncaster and Wakefield in the other. Several supermarkets in Selby with all other services available in the town. The nearest pub is in Burn, about a mile away.

Only stayed two nights, but anyone staying longer will find loads to do. York is just up the A19 with Doncaster the other way

Analogue TV signal good
Digital signal available

£9.50 per night [£7.50 in 2006]

ANNUAL STATISTICS 2008

I still haven't worked out how to move things from Microsoft Excel to the blog, so it looks like I will have to do the statistics the hard way.

The 2007 figures are in brackets

Total nights in caravan 183 [167]
Total site fees £2138.15 [£1527.05]
Average nightly cost £11.68 [£9.14]

Nights on C/Club sites 44 [36]
Total site fees £765.90 [£517.05]
Average nightly cost £17.41 [£14.36]

Nights on C/Club CL's 131 [127]
Total site fees £1118.00 [£1008.00]
Average nightly cost £8.53 [£7.94]

Nights on other sites 8 [4]
Total site fees £254.25 [£28.00]
Average nightly cost £31.78 [£7.00]

I need to add a few notes about these figures.
The average cost for the whole year increased by approximately £2.50 per night, however these figures are dependant on the number of occupants on club and commercial sites. The same theory applies to the figures for Caravan Club Sites. These show an increase of just over £3.00 per night.
A more accurate indication of trends is shown in the CL figures which show an increase of about 60p per night

BACK HOME - GOOLE

Sunday 12th October – Until around New Year

I left Crystal Palace on Sunday 12th October and arrived home 4 hours later after travelling 207 miles. Not bad to say the first half of the journey was through London and involved the Blackwall Tunnel.

Anyway it’s good to be home again and find out what all the gossip is about. One thing that really is noticeable is how the economical climate is affecting local industry. My old business has had to put staff on a four day week, and the company I normally do some driving for during the winter has no vacancies.

Well that’s all for now. I do have some statistics about days onsite and cost etc which I will post in a few days. [When I can get my blog to talk to Microsoft Excel]

CRYSTAL PALACE - LONDON [103]

Sunday 5th October – Sunday 12th October 2008

My approach from Leatherhead was faultless until I got in the wrong lane at Streatham and was unable to get onto the A23. My Sat Nav wanted to send me in all directions to correct my error but after being caught out down a very narrow lane in Devon a few months ago I thought better of it. So I drew on my commercial driving experience from 20 years ago and somehow finished up on the South Circular. After that I managed to arrive about 30 minutes after my wife and son who had been behind me in another car when we left Leatherhead.

If you haven’t been to Crystal Palace then you must book as soon as possible. It would take ages to tell you all the good points about this site so you must find out for yourselves. I cannot think of many bad points other than don’t get in the wrong lane when travelling and go careful onsite with long outfits; it can be tight in places. The site is terraced with a central toilet block in the middle and reception at the top. Not many [if any] long distance views except up, where plane spotters can watch aircraft approaching Heathrow. The Crystal Palace mast cannot be missed, except on foggy days and provides perfect TV reception. If you can’t get a picture here you need a new telly. [You may need to unplug your booster if you have one]

Getting about is easy, all you need is a Oyster Card [see http://www.tfl.gov.uk/ for details] or use your over sixty pass if you have one. [Not sure if this can be used on the underground] The No 3 bus leaves from nearby into Oxford Circus and takes about 1 hour. If you wish to save time you can get off at Brixton and catch the underground, but you would miss most of the interesting sights on route. It cost us £13 each for an Oyster card that covered all our bus fares for 7 days. If you don’t have a card the newsagent in Crystal Palace is very helpful.

In Crystal Palace you will find pubs, restaurants, takeaways, shops and a supermarket. The Sainsbury supermarket has free car parking and our visit was the only time we used the car all week.

If you can’t find anything to do from this site you shouldn’t be using a pitch that could be used by someone with a life. Most British people from outside the area think that London is unfriendly and best left alone, but I find that not the case and thoroughly enjoyed my visit. I don’t normally say this but I think I may be back.

Analogue TV signal very good with amplifier turned off
Digital signal available

£20.90 per night [3 adults]

PATSOM COTTAGE - LEATHERHEAD [102]

Thursday 2nd October – Sunday 5th October 2008

The approach to this CL is simple being about a mile from the M25. Just be aware that the entrance is close to the final road junction and the sign may be obscured by trees. The site is a level firm area with a few trees scattered about to give a more pleasant feel. It is sheltered from the A245 by a mature hedge which helps to drown some of the road noise. The owner runs his business from the property.

Leatherhead is a short drive away and has all the services that would be required; there is also a Tesco on an industrial estate at the edge of town. I didn’t see a bus stop in the vicinity of the site however you can catch a train to London from the town rail station. I think the train goes to the south coast in the opposite direction.

Being close to the capital there is plenty to do in the area and I managed to fill all the time available during my stay.

Analogue TV signal variable depending on tree movement
Poor or intermittent Digital signal available

£9.00 per day

WILD RIDINGS - FLEET [101]

Sunday 28th September – Thursday 2nd October 2008

I used the directions given in the members’ handbook to approach this site but this meant that I had to use a roundabout route from junction 4A off the M3. I later discovered that any route from this junction is caravan friendly. This site is a gem. It is in a large lawned area with a few trees scattered around the pitching area. Each pitch is on a hardstanding and the owners ask you to leave your car in the car park which all helps maintain the quality of the grass. Entry to the property is through a security gate so it is important that the owners are aware of your arrival. After that you are provided with a control to operate the gate. The electric hook ups are meter operated by £1 coins which didn’t last long if you use your electric heating which was necessary in the late evenings at this time of the year. There is a free shower and toilet block. Unfortunately I had to use a pitch under a tree which was irritating as the first rain for weeks dripped all night onto the caravan roof.

I tried hard to find things to do in Fleet without travelling too far. I like canals so spent a few hours walking the Basingstoke Canal from the Visitor Centre at Mytchett. Another day I explored the shops in the town centre which are all placed down one street with a fairly modern indoor shopping centre. According to the internet Fleet is a young town built after the London to Southampton railway was constructed. However it has expanding rapidly with the construction of new housing and is now probably a satellite town for London.

I didn’t find a useable bus service near the site however all facilities including supermarkets are available in and around the town centre.

Analogue TV signal good
No Digital signal available

£10.00 per night. [I used £8 on electricity in four nights]