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my cousin and i have got 14 days in july to go on a motorcycle trip with our camping gear.  i have been looking at the caravan and camping club sites which are all reasonable rates and look like they are good standard sites. 

we are thinking of coming from reading to bridgewater and onto somerset and maybe staying around minehead for a few nights then moving down to cornwall staying around bude/bodmin area and right down to sennen cove for a few nights each. finally coming back up to devons south coast to a site like slaptop sands.

has anyone any advice for such a trip, would it better to go to less sites and stay longer or is it common to move between sites every few days.are we trying to cover too big an area in 2 weeks?  originally we were just going to go to minehead for a week but i thought of making it more of a motorbike journey.

thoughts welcomed!!

First of all the CCC is great and has many benefits!

I camp using a scooter. I tend to go to sites for several days at a time, only using "overnights" to get to the area I'm interested in.

For instance, in a a few weeks time I'm off for a month.The main purpose of the trip is to "chill", walk the canals, and have a good holiday.

As I live in Orkney, I have a 500 miles journey to get to my desired area.I'll be on the road a day, take a two night stop and finish the initial journey the following day.

In the area itself I'll be three weeks using two sites.Then I'm reversing the journey home using a different en route site.

So even though I'll be away maybe 30 nights I expect to use only 4/5 sites.

Saves setting up camp too many times.

However I have some cycling friends( push bikes!) who never stay more than one night at a time!

Your choice!

hi ian

we are going the 2 weeks before the schools break up so hopefully it wont be too busy. do you think there is any need to book in advance? could i book the first site and then we can decide when we're there how long to stay and when we want to move just go along the coast roads til we find another site that we like the look of?

is it risky not booking in advance?

Quote: Originally posted by beno on 13/6/2006

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hi ian

we are going the 2 weeks before the schools break up so hopefully it wont be too busy. do you think there is any need to book in advance? could i book the first site and then we can decide when we're there how long to stay and when we want to move just go along the coast roads til we find another site that we like the look of?

is it risky not booking in advance?

 

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I've booked my lengthy stay sites for convenience and because I know where I'm going but my "en route" sites I'm taking my chance.

My own experience when I ring up sites and say its a small tent/scooter is that the site say "just turn up".

However the advice generally is to book.I think that may be more relevant if you have large tent/group/cars.

In you case the only sites you might consider booking are any you are likely to stay at for several nights.

You don't want to be completely tied down to a programme.

exactly! it's like most things in life, it's more fun to deal with things as they come up, not plan everything!

we did work out a kind-of plan which was to go to minehead and see lynton, exmoor then bodmin as its central for cornwall. i also like the look of sennen cove, its like camping right on the south west edge of the country! its right next to lands end....

then maybe devon, a site like slapton sands so we can see some of dartmoor and torbay/brixham area. before returning to berkshire.

Enjoy your  trip.

By the way don't discount camping at youth hostels

Some of the English youth hostels allow camping( including Lands End and Penzance). You pay half the normal rate, camp on site, but get to use all the indoor facilitices.

Great for solo/small groups.