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Topic: AA names Campsites of the Year 2012
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Page: 1 2
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05/2/2012 at 10:18am
Location: Buckinghamshire Outfit: VW Campers and Tents
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The overall winner is Ross Park in Newton Abbot Devon They also announced winners for each area in the UK, and an award for most improved site.
Full details of the overall, and regional winners for 2012 can be seen at http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=526
What do you think, is your favourite site listed?
Ian
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05/2/2012 at 11:27am
Location: west country Outfit: None Entered
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Ross Park is a very good site indeed and I wouldn't knock it at all but different people look for different things. Not sure how we can have an overall winner.
------------- Steve
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05/2/2012 at 1:12pm
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I am afraid I would never pay those prices
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05/2/2012 at 6:23pm
Location: Severn Valley Outfit: Aztec Galeria 4 Outwell Virginia 5
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Ross Park looks beautiful, but not wild enough for us, I'm afraid. Less is more in our family... and that includes price. Crikey, thirty-five quid a night for a family of four?! <:-O)))
FoO
------------- FoO
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05/2/2012 at 8:42pm
Location: Glossop - Gateway to the Dark Peak Outfit: KAMPA Frinton 5 Outwell Nevada S
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Ross Park appears to be the sort of site that I describe as being too "manicured" for my tastes! Didn't even bother looking at the prices.
Just did. Double no-way!
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05/2/2012 at 9:29pm
Location: None Entered Outfit: None Entered
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Campsite of the year 2012 ??????? they must be good?? its only February and not even open yet.
War does not determine who is right,it determines who is left.
------------- alpiner
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05/2/2012 at 9:54pm
Location: Glasgow Outfit: sometimes a tent. So
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£28.50 a night just for the pitch!!?? You've got to be kidding! Doesn't even have a pool! Love that the Skye site is there.
How do they judge a site? Do they visit every site in the country?
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06/2/2012 at 11:28am
Location: Outfit:
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They visit the parks that sign up for the AA grading, the pennant system is on the facilities on the park and you also receive a % score on standards of facilities.
We are a 4 pennant park as we do not have any toilet cubicles with sinks in, but we have a score of 85% which is highest in our area (including St Helens, winner of North East Caravan Park of the Year).
I dont think its the best system as there are other parks in our area who have 5 pennants but scores of 70%. So they have the facilities, but they arent in a very good condition. The problem is that everyone advertises the pennants i.e. 4 or 5 but not the score, it doesnt really give the whole picture of the park.
Congratulations to Ross Park who have 5 pennants and 96% so well deserved!!
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06/2/2012 at 11:36am
Location: Outfit:
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I think it is time we got back to camping as it should be...a cheap holiday for those who can't afford the luxury of hotels and foreign packages, or simply want a holiday with a difference in the countryside.
If they did away with all these awards and issues about conservation etc; etc; etc; and just had campsites with clean and sufficient washing and toilet facilities without going overboard or trying to compete with the campsite down the road we would all be much better off!
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06/2/2012 at 12:09pm
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...but Bob61 there are are parks just like that. There are also plenty of people who can afford to go abroad but choose to stay in our country. They want the best facilities possible, i cannot see the problem with something for everyone.
The problem with the parks that you like is that as they do not charge much, they cannot afford to invest in websites and marketing and as such are much harder to find.
As for your complaints about improving to be better than the competition, is that not in every business??
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06/2/2012 at 12:17pm
Location: Milton Keynes Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome
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Interesting that those not keen on the awards or the campsite chosen seem to be tenters. If the C&CC figures recently published are correct tenters only make up 25% of the pitches booked on C&CC sites. If that followed through to the commercial sector then its pretty obvious that a site like Ross Park would win as the majority voting would be caravanners/morothomers? An ex colleague has a seasonal pitche there and she loves it.
David
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06/2/2012 at 4:20pm
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I think the fact that fewer tenters than caravanners use C&CC sites speaks for itself. I would suggest it has more to do with the quality of tent pitches on C&CC sites or the fact that more pitches on C&CC sites are provided for wheeled units rather than tents. What the C&CC does or doesn't do has no bearing on general campsites.
The point I am trying to make, Jasmin Park, is that many campsites think that by gaining stars and points and awards they are going to make more money, otherwise what is the point. To gain points, stars, and awards they have to spend money on creating campsites which then become holiday parks...a Butlins with tents. They even call them parks, Jasmin 
Whatever it costs them has to be passed down to the camper so the tariffs become more and more expensive. They also feel that having gained awards they are somehow better than all the rest and therefore have no qualms about charging high fees.
Yes you are right. There are plenty of sites that manage to keep their prices down and still have decent facilities. It is also right that there should be choice and if people want to pay high prices they should be free to do so. My annoyance is having to pay high prices on sites which aren't a Butlins with tents because they are striving to keep up with the higher priced sites or become one.
Yes, this does happen in all business. That's why we no longer have corner shops and the big supermarkets have taken over.
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06/2/2012 at 4:44pm
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Just comming up to 40 years caravanning and been on many sites including the winning site, but it is no better than a lot of others which are not as expensive.
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06/2/2012 at 5:23pm
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Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 06/2/2012
Interesting that those not keen on the awards or the campsite chosen seem to be tenters. If the C&CC figures recently published are correct tenters only make up 25% of the pitches booked on C&CC sites. If that followed through to the commercial sector then its pretty obvious that a site like Ross Park would win as the majority voting would be caravanners/morothomers? An ex colleague has a seasonal pitche there and she loves it.
David
What has the membership of the C&CC got to do with the AA camping awards?
Most campers dont have membership as it caters more for caravan/motorhome owners
So your logic is that if 25% are tenters on C&CC sites, they must also be on all other non C&CC sites? 
I think you'll find the more scenic, get away from it all, non ehu, no chemical cesspits and back to nature sites are largely campers
These are the type of site awards that would be of interest.
But in retrospect perhaps not, as advertising resulting in over populating of them in the busy months, leading to price increases would destroy them anyway
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