First time at a site with no assigned pitch

[TeaBiscuit]

Headed to the New Forest on the weekend. Usually stay at C&MC site Black Knowl, but decided to go try C&C Hollands Wood over the road as it looked more "foresty".

Booked online - paid for an XL pitch - only to be told there when we got there that there is no such thing and to just park up where we like.

Have to say - not enamoured with the idea of this sort of site in a MH. Firstly, on a busy weekend you're driving around trying to find a good spot. A lot of the time the space is being use inefficiently so if you arrive at the wrong time, you're stuck with not much choice.

We have an 18 month old and two dogs, so we usually like to drive to a National Trust car park and do a planned walk. The problem here is that if we head out for the day, when we come back there will be someone else on "our" pitch again, which means driving round and around again.

I much prefer assigned pitches a la C&MC, no hassle that way. Is it just me?

 

[TheMachMan]

These sites are great when it’s not too busy, we often use them but avoid peak times.
Too often either been boxed in or people pitch up with 6m when you get back after a day out walking.

 

[TeaBiscuit]

All joking aside I think there are a lot of people on motorhomes and vans who would be better served in a caravan. Of course you could get a trailer and vehicle to take with you when you know you are going to places you don’t get a reserved spot if that what you like. Then again now you know what this type of site is like you may not want to use them and just go to your daily attraction then move off somewhere at night to sleep. Hope you get a solution that works for you whatever

Indeed! I did weigh up both for quite a while, however having two dogs and (at the time) a little one on the way, it made much more sense to go the MH way and I do not regret it one bit - a caravan just wouldn't work for us.

You're right, now I know how some sites work I won't have this issue in the future

 

[Off da Grid]

Love Holland’s wood, managed to get the same spot we were on last year, when we visited the week before and over Easter this year the place was almost empty when we arrived.
The staff are fantastic.

 

[Kybod]

Stayed on Denny Wood CIF site in the New Forest last summer, some of residents insisted on walking across my pitch.

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

We are completely the opposite. I spend a lot of time parked next to glorious lakes when fishing and love the fact there is no constraint, confinement or rules. View attachment 618659

Ditto

Normal just me parked in a large field and a stone’s throw from the lake

 

[Gina M]

Headed to the New Forest on the weekend. Usually stay at C&MC site Black Knowl, but decided to go try C&C Hollands Wood over the road as it looked more "foresty".

Booked online - paid for an XL pitch - only to be told there when we got there that there is no such thing and to just park up where we like.

Have to say - not enamoured with the idea of this sort of site in a MH. Firstly, on a busy weekend you're driving around trying to find a good spot. A lot of the time the space is being use inefficiently so if you arrive at the wrong time, you're stuck with not much choice.

We have an 18 month old and two dogs, so we usually like to drive to a National Trust car park and do a planned walk. The problem here is that if we head out for the day, when we come back there will be someone else on "our" pitch again, which means driving round and around again.

I much prefer assigned pitches a la C&MC, no hassle that way. Is it just me?

Could you not leave a chair or table smack bang on the pitch to let people know you have pitched there. We have seen people use traffic cones or if EHU just leave the cable plugged in or a plastic caravan step and leave that on the pitch along with a bin ?

 

[L' Hobo]

That's interesting, I considered that but thought it was akin to leaving your towel on a sunbed all day

That is what the club asks you to do! (leave a marker, not a towel! )

 

[Folkranger]

Headed to the New Forest on the weekend. Usually stay at C&MC site Black Knowl, but decided to go try C&C Hollands Wood over the road as it looked more "foresty".

Booked online - paid for an XL pitch - only to be told there when we got there that there is no such thing and to just park up where we like.

Have to say - not enamoured with the idea of this sort of site in a MH. Firstly, on a busy weekend you're driving around trying to find a good spot. A lot of the time the space is being use inefficiently so if you arrive at the wrong time, you're stuck with not much choice.

We have an 18 month old and two dogs, so we usually like to drive to a National Trust car park and do a planned walk. The problem here is that if we head out for the day, when we come back there will be someone else on "our" pitch again, which means driving round and around again.

I much prefer assigned pitches a la C&MC, no hassle that way. Is it just me?

Opposite to us. We like to choose our own pitch. This happens more on private sites and abroad. Like to think that any form of camping is about freedom, not conformity.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Try Shell Island in North Wales when the kids are still in school, you could park in an area with no neighbours in sight, it's massive.

we have yet to try that