March, 2011

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More Top 10 Campsites (by category)

 

Certificated Sites, care of the Camping and Caravanning Club (C&CC), are for me what camping is all about. Back to nature, back to basics and a chance to explore a tiny envelope of Britain in beautiful peace.

The number 1 in this list represents all of that. But don’t get hung up on it. The C&CC has more than 1,400 of these little sister sites to explore, with more being added each month.

A list of the 95 waterside CS camps I like best is here. They took a while to compile. By the time you read this some of them will have vanished. That’s the magic. If you go discover some new ones for yourself, let me know and I’ll add them.

I’ve also listed what I consider C&CC’s 20+ best full service pitches here. My top 10 faves from that list is here.

What follows is my top 10 favourite Camping and Caravanning Club Certified Sites in 2012. Hope you like them.

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1) Sunk Island, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, East Yorkshire

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Until now, the best kept secret in UK camping – but here it is! Sail on the Humber Estuary from the campsite entrance, canoe on the canals to the rear. more info

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2) River Tame, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Staffordshire

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Fishing, walking and cycling beside river and lake, as well a great base for Drayton Manor. If you can get the right pitch, enjoy views across the river or lake. more info

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3) River Avon, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Worcestershire

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A private members social club on the River Avon, with camping, canoeing, sailing and overlooking the Avon valley and Bredon Hill. more info.

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4)    Loch Lomond, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Argyll

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Scenery that will take your breath away. The Number 1 site for many campers. Shops are a short walk. Bring the kayaks and fishing rods. more info

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5)    River Frome, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Wiltshire

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Traditional camping on the River Frome, next to the UK’s last official river swimming club. New members are always welcome, so why not take a plunge into the unknown. more info

 

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6)    River Ivel, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Northamptonshire

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Riverside walks, lakes and footpaths. A site for anglers, with an onsite tackle shop, combine camping, fishing, walking and conservation. more info

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7)  River Trent, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Staffordshire

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No sailing or canoes allowed here, but this is a place for walkers. Take a 45 minutes ramble around the lake that sits in front of the campsite or head off along the adjoining River Trent. more info

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 River Cleddau, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, New Shipping Farm, Pembrokeshire

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Bring canoes, kayaks and fishing rods to camp riverside. The River Cleddau provided a great opportunity to launch, but check the wind and tides. more info

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9) Thorn House Lakes, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Lincolnshire

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Lakeside next to Boston Golf Club. more info

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10) River Twrch, Camping and Caravanning Club CS, Gwynedd

 

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Free fishing on the River Twrch and close to Lake Bala. more info

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On the shores of Loch Lomond and overlooking Queen Elizabeth Forest Park. Boats can be launched directly from the site towards the loch’s small islands, some of which are privately owned. Two pubs are nearby. An onsite shop includes a coffee shop. web link

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A campsite on the banks of the River Thet, that’s can be used as a base to explore the Norfolk Broads. web link

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More Top 10 Campsites (by category)

 

The Camping and Caravanning Club is the oldest camping organisation in the world.

With almost 500,000 members, and hundreds of wardens and volunteers, The Camping and Caravanning Club manages more than 100 main sites and 1,400 smaller ones, known as Certificated Sites (CSs).

Like its main rival the Caravan Club, The Camping and Caravanning Club has hundreds of  pitches beside beaches, rivers, lakes, fish ponds and canals. There are also 20 sites in Forestry Commission woodland – five of them I’ve listed here.

What I consider to be the club’s 15+ best full service pitches are here. I’ve also visited many of the privately owned CSs. A list of 95 waterside CS camps I like is here and my Top 10 is here. Please let me know if you have a favourite of your own. Visit the Club website if your want to join.

My Top 10 Camping and Caravanning Club favourites for 2012 features an unusual geographic mix – three from Scotland and three from Surrey. Here they are (not including CSs):

 

1)  Loch Lomond, Cashel Caravan Park and Campsite, Rowardennan

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It’s possible here to launch a small boat, to explore one of Scotland’s most beautiful lochs, from waterside pitches. more info

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2)  Loch Long , Ardgarton Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Arrochar, Dunbartonshire

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Catch sea trout or take to your kayaks directly from the camp. more info

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3)  Folkestone Camping and Caravanning Club, The Warren, Kent

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A cliff-top site that’s the perfect stop over en route to the either the Channel Tunnel or ferries, and mainland Europe. more info

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4)  River Ure, Boroughbridge Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Roecliffe, North Yorkshire

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Fish for roach, perch, dace, pike, chub, trout and grayling from this riverside site. more info

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5)  Derwentwater, Keswick Camping and Caravanning Site, Crow Park Road, Cumbria

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Pitch beside Derwentwater, within a short walk away of the town centre. more info

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6)  Loch Greshornish, Skye Camping and Caravanning Site, Portree, Isle Of Skye

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A working croft on the shore of Loch Greshornish. more info

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7)  The Great Ouse, St Neots Camping and Caravanning Club, Eynesbury, Cambridgeshire

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On the banks of the Great Ouse. The town of St Neots is less than two miles away. more info

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 River Thames, Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Fieldcommon Lane, Surrey

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Fifteen minutes from London, on the banks of the Thames. more info

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9)  Horsley Lake, Horsley Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Ockham Road, Surrey

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Lakeside on the edge of the North Downs, with fishing available. more info

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10)  River Thames, Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Surrey

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Launch canoes and boats next to the Thames Path National Trail. more info