Shame it changed owners, pre 2009 it used to be great!

“Shame it changed owners, pre 2009 it used to be great!”

Written on: 05/06/2011 by ladyfox73 (1 review written)

Used to camp here years ago, it's quite a drive from home but always felt it was worth it, couldn't fault the previous owners. How things have changed! Just got back from a 2 night stay and was glad to be leaving. It reminded me of an american war movie where the commander whizzes round the base in his little open top jeep. They tell you where you can pitch your tent and which way to have the door facing. What a nightmare it is carrying all your stuff from the car, especially when you have children too young to leave unattended, having to take them to and fro and keep them safe whilst carrying tent, sleeping bags etc. For goodness sake, do not think about going out for the day, you will find yourself having to park in the overflow field on your return! UNLESS YOU HAVE A CAMEL LANDROVER!!!! Nobody is allowed to park on the grass, or make a noise into the early hours UNLESS YOU OWN A CAMEL LANDROVER!!! Oh yes, they can park right next to their tribe of tents, they used to yrs ago when everyone could, and they still do!! One rule for everyone?? NOT!!! STAY AWAY from this place, the owners seem to think they are running a military base. Yrs ago, you used to buy your logs from a house further up the road, not a problem, the people who sold them were so nice and friendly. Now you buy them from the campsite owners, but think carefully before you do. We watched and have realised why they continually drive around the site in the quad....they are collecting any unused wood so they can rebag it and sell it again!!! Personally I have always either given any unused wood to another camper or taken it home to keep for next time, so please, if you do feel you must stay here and buy their wood, don't leave it lying when you leave, give it away. The facitities aren't great, if you have young children, there is grass and a stream. For the older ones there is a playground and a pond which they enjoy but any younder than 6yrs old, and really theres nothing safe. The little railway is lovely, but not cheap, check the prices on the railways website before you go so you don't get a shock when you get there. Heard another camper saying a 50 pence piece was worth a pound at this site, had to laugh but you do need to start collecting them before you go as you will need a couple if you want to shower and be in long enough to rinse shampoo out your hair. Not enough toilets, showers or dish washing sinks, queues of people standing holding their dirty dishes and looking pretty fed up. Don't bother putting any ice packs in the freezer, they won't freeze, its not cold eough in there. So, what are you paying for? Suppose it has to be the view, and thats about it. You may have quite a distance to walk to where you are ordered to put your tent, bear that in mind, think of how many trips back to the car you will have to make, is it worth it? I can see the reasons for not parking on the grass, child safety (been to a site once where an idiot was driving around narrowly missing tents), possibility of getting stuck (in wet weather) but surely people could park on the grass at their pitch while they unload the car, then park on the gravel or overflow field once the car is unloaded?? Don't bother staying here, its not worth the bother...unless you have a CAMEL LANDROVER ;-)