Ending Up Anywhere

If you've read much of this blog you'll know Tony and I don't think much to the club campsites of the Caravan and Motorhome Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club. Yes, you know what you're getting, and that includes great facilities, it just doesn't feel like camping. One of the reasons we continue to be members of the clubs is access to more than 3,500 CLs and CSs. That's Certificated Locations (Caravan and Motorhome Club) and Certificated Sites (Camping and Caravanning Club). These are small sites that are allowed five caravans and motorhomes at a maximum. They may also, if the choose, allow up to an additional ten tents. CL and CS sites are usually in out-of-the-way, rural locations, often attached to a farm or country estate. Since we travel in a campervan we're a little more restricted in our options as we need toilet and shower facilities, but some of the CL and CS sites provide these basics. The peace and quiet isn't the only benefi...

We love Brighton but the campsite on the edge of the town, Caravan Club site Sheepcote Valley, leaves much to be desired. So we were delighted to discover Housedean Farm nestled in the South Downs and just over an hour's cycle from the centre of Brighton. The site is just off the A27 between Falmer and Lewes and we turned off just before those traveling all the way into Brighton itself would become stuck in the nightmare that is Brighton's snail's pace traffic. We were allowed to choose our own pitch and all have great views across the hills. It's a hilly campsite and you'll be hard pressed to find a pitch that's completely level, but we travel with levelling blocks and achieved a nearly spirit-level standard position. Although the views are rural, you can hear the hum of the A27. The blurb tells would-be campers there are 'rustic outdoor showers' which kind of worried us but, while you might have the wind whistling around your ankles, th...