Campsite Reviews (index)

Specifically for cycle touring subjects & questions
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andrew_s
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by andrew_s »

Kirkwall campsite

In Kirkwall, just north of the leisure centre at HY441112

phone: 01856 879900
good flat grass, fairly sheltered
lounge in reception block, with toilets/showers. free wiFi, in within range
£9.95 per person, high season (JJA)
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andrew_s
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by andrew_s »

Stromness, Orkney

At the end of the road through town, at HY256080.
Approach through town, rather than follow the signs for vehicles up the hill.
If you arrive when unmanned, the site plan to go with the booked pitches displayed in the window is on the noticeboard inside.
lounge in reception block, along with toilets & showers. Free WiFi if within range
Good flat grass, fairly exposed to any wind
£7.65 for 1 person in a small tent (2016)
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andrew_s
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by andrew_s »

Rousay campsite

Camping in hostel garden, using hostel facilities
Up the road from the ferry, turn left, and the hostel is the first house on the left, at HY430276
Reception, such as it is, is in the farm buildings at the next gate, in the far right corner after going through the arch. Also does bike hire.
There's reasonably flat grass for 3 or 4 tents, after that, it might be a bit sloping
Pub by pier, kitchen closes early (5 or 6 pm), pub a couple of miles further on (HY406274), normal hours.
Shop at Essaquoy on the NE corner of the island at HY435316
I got charged £5, though the notice seemed to say £6
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andrew_s
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by andrew_s »

Melvich campsite

A small campsite adjacent to the Halladale Inn, on the north coast between Dounreay and Strathy Point, at NC887641
Good grass, fairly level, space for 8 tents
tents are £5 per person
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andrew_s
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by andrew_s »

Durness Campsite

A large campsite on the edge of Durness village, at NC406677
Good grass, many areas with a slope, but free choice of location
2 shower/toilet blocks, possibly on the smallish side. I couldn't get hot water out of the shower I tried, though it was obviously possible as the water was warm to start with.
£8 per person
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andrew_s
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by andrew_s »

Achmelvich Campsite

4 miles north of Lochinver, at NC055247
good grass, free choice of pitch
small shop at reception, chip shop at weekends, cafe hut at Clachtoll campsite (5 miles north), shops in Lochinver (4 miles)
£7 for a cycle camper
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andrew_s
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by andrew_s »

Lairg campsite

On the Golspie/Dornoch road, 150m past the Lairg Hotel.
Mainly caravans & campervans, with a smallish tent area. Midges. Restaurant adjoining.
Paid for WiFi, but I got BT Openzone from a neighbouring house.
£7.50 for a cycle camper
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andrew_s
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by andrew_s »

Talybont Farm campsite.

In Talybont village, up a short lane opposite the canal half way between the Star Inn and the shop/cafe.
Good flat grass, lots of room. Could be a fair walk back to the toilet block if you get put at the far end.

EDIT Graham - solo tourers be aware that the minimum cost appears to be £16 ( 2016 )
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foxyrider
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by foxyrider »

Dodwell Park
Evesham Road
Stratford upon Avon
Warks
CV37 9SR
Phone 01789 204957
Fax 01926 620199
Web www.dodwellpark.co.uk
E-mail enquiries@dodwellpark.co.uk
Price £15

The touring site occupies a gently sloping field hidden behind a mobile home park. There is a small shop but opening is very restricted so don’t rely on it. The grass was a little longer than ideal but in good condition and the facilities clean and well maintained with no hot water / shower charges.


Salisbury C&CC
Hudson’s Field
Castle Road
Salisbury
Wilts
SP1 3SA
Phone 01722 320713
Web www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
E-mail membership services@campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Price £7.95

Very easy to find, signed from the city centre it lies between the city and Old Sarum. The price I paid is for backpackers / cyclists and includes showers and hot water. No kitchen but washing up sinks available and the laundry / information room can provide refuge in bad weather. Fast food (pizza/chips etc) are available at advertised times on site plus you may be able to get breakfast sandwiches/coffee from 8.00am. the site shop has limited opening but there is a supermarket a few minutes away. Grass was short and in generally good condition.

Oxford C&CC
426 Abingdon Road
Oxford
Oxon
OX1 4XG
Phone 01865 244088
Web www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
E-mail membership services@campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Price £7.95

It is signposted but not well or from all directions. The price I paid is for backpackers / cyclists and includes showers and hot water. It’s a small level site, the facilities are clean but starting to show signs of age. Can be a bit boggy and noisy, its close to a river, railway yards and major roads. Shops and food outlets are only a few minutes away including a bike shop – just as well as the site shop is rarely open. Its about a thirty minute walk into the city.
Convention? what's that then?
Airnimal Chameleon touring, Orbit Pro hack, Orbit Photon audax, Focus Mares AX tour, Peugeot Carbon sportive, Owen Blower vintage race - all running Tulio's finest!
Bmblbzzz
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by Bmblbzzz »

Field Barn Park, nr Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire

This campsite is situated just off the road from Northleach to Bourton, about 2 miles south of Bourton, on the left as you're heading north (towards Bourton). There's only a small sign, rather tucked away, which doesn't actually say it's a campsite; you have to known in advance, really.

The site is clean, tidy and well kept. It's on a very gentle slope, good for drainage but not enough to pitch you at an angle! The pitches consists of marked bays, separated by small hedges and with reed banks growing behind. Apparently hares live in these uncut areas and come out at dusk, but I didn't see any. It's a quiet site, not noisy at all. The showers, toilets and kitchen are very good indeed; clean, enough of them, lots of hot water. The kitchen has a microwave but no kettle (can't remember if it has a cooker but don't think so), fridge, sinks.

It is an expensive site though: £18. I'm not sure though if this is a strict per-tent charge or per-pitch (each pitch is caravan size, so can hold about three one- or two-man tents). No charge for the showers, at least, unlike some places!
Slowroad
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by Slowroad »

South Derbyshire
Marchington
Forestside Farm 01283 812868
Lovely site, two paddocks next to the farmhouse buildings. Tents plus a few caravans and two pods. The 'facilities' are four spacious bathrooms with loo, sink and shower. There's a kitchen room with kettle and microwave. £8 for 1 person, small tent and bike.
Last edited by Slowroad on 11 Sep 2016, 9:31pm, edited 1 time in total.
“My two favourite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library.”
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Slowroad
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by Slowroad »

Staffordshire
Near Penkridge
Dunston Heath Farm 07785 535730
Useful site, very cheap, welcoming, facilities OK but rather dated and not super-clean. £5 for 1 person, small tent and bike.
“My two favourite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library.”
― Peter Golkin
Slowroad
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by Slowroad »

Shropshire
Ironbridge
Irongorge Camping 01952 433047
Super site, tents only, cars in separate car park. Lovely views. Nice facilities block.
It's up a hill, make sure you do your shopping down in Ironbridge first!
Very much a family site, I went when it was busy and they fitted me in.
“My two favourite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library.”
― Peter Golkin
Slowroad
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by Slowroad »

Warwickshire
Aston Cantlow
Island Meadow 01789 488273
Large site with lots of statics and a pleasant separate area around the house for tents. £6 for 1 person, small tent and bike. Aladdin's cave of a shop! Facilities fine. Lovely cycling area.
“My two favourite things in life are libraries and bicycles. They both move people forward without wasting anything. The perfect day: riding a bike to the library.”
― Peter Golkin
bretonbikes
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Re: Campsite Reviews (index)

Post by bretonbikes »

bretonbikes wrote:
MrsHJ wrote:A quick run down on the campsites we used along the Nantes Brest Canal which is also part of Eurovelo 1 from 14 to 22 August.

The opinions are my own and inevitably reflect busyness/ mood of reception on the day and probably the weather. None of the campsites was terrible, I'd use them all again if necessary but some we preferred to others. On our first night in Redon on arriving by train we stayed at the Hotel le France which is nothing special but adequate,central and next to the canal.

prices ranged from 10 euros to 24 euros for us which is 2 adults, an 8 and a 10 year old, two small tents and the velos. Typical price about 13/14 euros. Comments re difficulty of access are based on the response of the 8 year old, there is nothing to be concerned about for adults campers who will probably cover the same route in 2-3 days.

1. St Congard ( East of Maelstroit). Small municipal, adjacent to the canal, well set up, super clean, mature campers with caravans all in bed by 9pm, very quiet. Central play area for the kids, individual emplacements separated by hedges. Ratio of facilities to campers very good as only 3 lots of non caravan campers. Bar in the village with depot de pain but no real shopping. Lovely cycle shop in the village. The village to the east, St Martin sur Oust had a nice little supermarket and a campsite and more eating places.

2. Les Cerisiers, 2km east of Josselin. Private, facilities a bit meh and ratio of facilities to campers not high but washing machine and dryer. Open field camping in woody area, more relaxed and younger crowd. A number of fixed cabin type options. Short but steep climb from the canal (well signposted). No shops in the very quiet hamlet although the bar did snacks and ice creams. 5 -10 minute cycle to Josselin for shops and restaurants but J has no supermarket in the town, it is a little to the North.

3. Rohan. Municipal site adjacent to the canal and 1 minute walk from the little supermarket, boulangerie etc. Facilities were nice and clean and with a reasonable ratio of loos and showers to campers. Many cycle campers, super smelly ladies loos that seemed to me to be a drainage issue. Washing machine in the laundry room. Open area with trees. Mixed ages and people. Very quiet town but very noisy late night revelling and teen type motorbike revving activities somewhere close to the campsite.

4. Pontivy. Municipal site adjacent to the canal, slightly longer walk into town as it's a larger place. Cycle campers were clearly stretching the facilities here and were asked to camp in a little strip of land with trees behind the main campsite and next to the town football pitches. Not enough loos (2 male and 2 female) and showers really compared to the number of campers but a decent quality and a really valiant effort being made to keep them clean. There were probably 25 cycle camping tents on the night we stayed here, including an organised group. Plenty of shops and restaurants about 10 minutes walk away although on a quiet Sunday the town didn't really grab us.

5. Mur de Bretagne. Blimey, steep haul from the canal up to the campsite Point de Vue which is next to a large lake. Once you've made it over the hill turn left at the t junction instead of right into town. Private campsite with pricey washing machine and dryer but not much in the way of food except ice creams and sweets. Beach is adjacent to the site. Largish site with plenty of facilities which were in reasonable but nothing special condition. Open, tree areas with intermittent hedges. Quite a lot of organised kids holiday camps from the look or it.fair number of cycle campers. Shopping is five to ten minutes cycle, stick to the cycle path signed "centre ville" which takes you almost exactly to a nice supermarket and avoids most of the climbing to the top of town. The supermarket is one more street to the west from the old railway station you arrive at on the bike path. Mixed crowd camping with a younger element using the public BBQ facilities.

6. Gouarec. This was the most expensive site we stayed at and absolutely rammed with cyclists and tandems (mostly British). It was a tandem festival and this put a fair bit of pressure on the facilities which put them at the poorer end of the scale we stayed at. It felt like time for a new shower section as the walls were very dated and grubby paintwork especially given the relatively high price of the site. It was nice seeing so many other cyclists but we probably prefer a quieter site with fewer English. We hadn't intended to stop here but a review of the map suggested the next day would be too long otherwise. The site is adjacent to the canal and the village has a little supermarket, boulangerie, bars, pizza places and a British shop as well a a tourism office and banks all within a couple of minutes walk so it's well set up for cycle touring. The town hall has beautiful public gardens.

7. Glomel. This site was a bit difficult to access and the main road through the town from the canal is busy with lorries and is a climb for the canal. We opted to follow the canal through the cutting around the town and cycle back on quiet roads. It was still a bit of a climb up and then a descent from the town to the lake. We timed it badly as all the shops are shut on a Wednesday afternoon but there is a boulangerie and small supermarket. Lovely setting right next to the lake with water views, it was the cheapest site with probably the best facilities ( one of those Swiss chalet style shower blocks which was clean and spacious). Fabulous pizza place (must be booked) in the town which was a few minutes walk or a couple of minutes cycle up the hill. 6 lots of cycle campers, including a family of 10, stayed the night we were there and the ratio of facilities was good. Quiet at night.

8. Carhaix Plouguer. valley d'Hyeres municipal. Again slightly difficult access, it is 4.7km from the canal at Carhaix Port along a cycle track that mostly runs next to a main road or you leave the canal at lock 200 and cycle back roads up a reasonable climb to town, through town and down to the valley on the other side. It was a probably ten minutes cycle into town, mostly uphill. The campsite had a bar and did an evening BBQ thought and depot de pain so no need to go into town. Right next to an adventure park place for the kids where they do zip wires, climbing walls and other tree surfing type activities. Facilities were reasonable in number but not great in cleanliness. No hot water the night we were there, but we saw the guy fixing it the next day. Large group of inner city teens and younger on an organised trip were fairly well supervised. Overall the beautiful setting next to a river in an area of open woodland made for a great first impression but the clientele was a quite varied - we locked our bikes more carefully than usual. Having said that it was very peaceful at night. Again plenty of cycle campers.


Just a quick note on the Gouarec campsite as the one responsible for the tandem rally there! Normally it is very, very quiet and being in the village has everything on your doorstep (and is actually on the canal). It's also on the V6 cyclepath from Carhaix -> Loudeac so uniquely at the crossroads which means a fine place to be based at the crossroads. I've put up the some of the rides the tandems used here - http://www.bretonbikes.com/homepage/cyc ... ny?start=8 but I have many more if anyone wants to get in contact - especially easier ones for children.


EDIT - Since I wrote this (2015) we have actually taken over the running of the Gouarec campsite. Hopefully any cyclist will approve of the changes we've made.
38 years of cycletouring, 33 years of running cycling holidays, 8 years of running a campsite for cyclists - there's a pattern here...
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