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I am planning a week's tour of the north of England and southern Scotland covering 5 sites in 8 days.

After reading the troubles that others on this Forum had, getting booked in at their favourite sites and all the media hype about how folks were staying in this country this year and the numbers that were trying caravanning/camping holidays, I decided that I should book my sites in advance.

Well today I contacted 4 of the 5 sites that I intend to use and all have places available.

For the 5th site, well I haven't really decided on that one yet and will leave that until nearer the time.

Really I am wondering if booking ahead was really necessary. I suppose it is better to be safe than sorry, but also, perhaps, all the hype about sites being full up was just that, nonsense!

By the by, only one site has asked for a deposit.

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 27/8/2009

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I am planning a week's tour of the north of England and southern Scotland covering 5 sites in 8 days.

After reading the troubles that others on this Forum had, getting booked in at their favourite sites and all the media hype about how folks were staying in this country this year and the numbers that were trying caravanning/camping holidays, I decided that I should book my sites in advance.

Well today I contacted 4 of the 5 sites that I intend to use and all have places available.

For the 5th site, well I haven't really decided on that one yet and will leave that until nearer the time.

Really I am wondering if booking ahead was really necessary. I suppose it is better to be safe than sorry, but also, perhaps, all the hype about sites being full up was just that, nonsense!

By the by, only one site has asked for a deposit.

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I can't help thinking you'd 've had a lot more trouble down south.  Also when are you going as this week is probabvly the busiest it gets anywhere in Britain.  They'll be giving camping pitches away next month!

Probably because the kids will be back in school, even earlier in Scotland I think.

We've definately had more problems booking sites this summer than ever before. We went up to Northumberland mid August and only managed 2 out of a possible 8 campsites (luckily 1st choices in 2 different locations).  Also enquired about the lakes last week & could find only 1 with vacancies from about 5 emails sent...

I was feeling quite paranoid in the end & also annoyed that we'd been campers for more years than i'd want to admit to & all my choices were being taken by newbies....told you I was paranoid - sorry to all the new campers out there, you're more than welcome really!

The only site that had an availability calendar showed it to be fully booked the week I was going there, apart from the 2 days that I wanted. All the rest of the weeks, before I was going and afterwards right up until it closed at the end of Oct, were all available.

Yes the kiddiewinkies are back at school which makes during the week camping more atractive to me and yes, even weekends tend to be quieter too. This means that I do not have to seek out adult only sites, nor pay extortionate rates for campsites that have so many rules that they discourage all but those that demand peace and quiet no matter where they are.

I do all my activities off site so that when I get to a site for the night, a nice well prepared meal, a little TV, a walk around the site with the dogs then bed with a good book.

That is not much to ask for but such evenings are becoming increasing rare during the school holidays. So Sept and Oct are for "Me Time", a chance to enjoy my kind of holiday.