I too always read reviews, if any, and check maps as level ground and a satellite signal are important to us, as is the distance from the local town. We try to avoid narrow lanes and potholed tracks. The existence of loos/showers is unimportant as we have our own, so it's good to know about the CWD, if it's bad, I mention it in my review, which I always do unless there are loads already. We have found many gems and a few horrors.
Thanks for the replies. I do look on the reviews on this forum, but as some of you say, we all have different likes and dislikes. Haven't tried google earth yet though!
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We just put in the post code for the site and then search around that area for a caravan site.
In Google Earth you can pinpoint the site with a symbol and that will save it in the left hand column.
As others have said I always do research on sites I'm considering, reading reviews, Google earth and street view. The latter helps see what local roads and the site entrance look like. Also check out local towns or villages for shops, places of interest etc.
Nowadays we mostly find campsites from any source and then check on UKCAMPSITE.
The more reviews the better and the higher the points out of ten, is usually a good place to start.
If we are in the area we will have a look at a campsite if just passing. Found a lovely campsite but on having a look round (without the caravan on the back) found the access road horrendously steep, twisty and with some extremely narrow bits! I don't mind a difficult access, but that one was MEGAdifficult.
Our favourite campsite was chosen at random, in a rush, one friday and we have been going for seven years now!
Quote: Originally posted by ferretlady on 19/10/2014
Thanks LobeyDosser, seems a bit pointless looking on google earth is thatmuch out of date!
The approach roads to sites don't change nor do the sites and their relationship to the surrounding areas/ towns/ visitor attractions.
Google Earth is just one of a number of tools that we use to determine if a particular site ticks all the boxes for us.
For instance, we were thinking about heading up to Oban in November for a week but there is only one site open then and one "drive" along its approach road using Google Earth has put us off completely.
We will now put the Oban trip off until the Spring when we can use a different site with an easier approach road.