PITCH PICKER

Offering more than 30,000 pitches, the Caravan and Motorhome Club endeavours to cater for everyone’s needs with a variety of pitch types. Some of us like a little luxury – such as water on tap directly from the pitch – while others prefer to go back to basics. Let’s take a look at your choices...

Standard Pitch

Most members are probably familiar with the Club ’s ‘standard ’ pitches. These can be grass or hardstanding, with or without awning (there’s no extra charge in the case of the former), and users share access to an electricity bollard with another pitch. Standard pitches are popular, particularly those offering room for an awning (if you do not intend to use one, you can help out by opting for a non-awning pitch).

Serviced Pitch

For an additional charge, a serviced pitch offers a little extra luxury. Generally, it will feature a hardstanding surface, an electricity point, a fresh water tap and drainage for grey waste (water from washing up, bathing or showering, brushing teeth and laundering).

The fresh water is supplied via a conventional brass tap with a threaded end. You can buy a brass/plastic connector from most DIY stores and some plumber’s tape will create a better seal. You have various options for connecting from the tap to the caravan. The Whale Watermaster Mains hook-up kit is a 7.5m hose with a tap connector at one end and a Whale plug at the other end. It will fit either a Whale or Truma socket on UK caravans.

Alternatively, you can use a universal mains water adaptor kit. A ball valve fits into the side of the fresh water container which, in turn, is connected to a food-grade reinforced hose that joins to the tap. This set-up will repeatedly fill the fresh water container to approximately half way – the ball valve will stop the water from overflowing (it’s similar to the workings in a toilet cistern). The water pump is then connected to the fresh water container in the usual way.

For the waste water, flexible pipes do a great job and don’t take up much space. Alternatively, you can use varying lengths of rigid pipes and connectors –our son enjoys the challenge of putting it all together! Make sure you have a reasonable slope to drain the grey waste – straps, such as those from Caravan Bright Ideas (caravanbrightideas.co.uk) can help to not only secure rigid pipe in place, but also electric cable.

Super Pitch

Super pitches offer the same facilities as serviced pitches, the difference being that they feature a privacy hedge (please note that some hedges on the network are

Above and below: a serviced pitch with its own electrical hook-up, fresh water tap and drainage for grey waste relatively new and others are at various stages of growth) and a black waste point (a drain into which you empty your cassette toilet – the Club recommends using ecofriendly tablets/liquids). Also, some of the hook-up bollards offer a TV aerial booster, so check with the site staff prior to arrival.

Premium Pitch

Premium pitches are similar to serviced pitches – larger than standard pitches, and on hardstanding. They have their own electrical hook-up bollard, facilities for drinking water, an exclusive-use grey water disposal point at ground level (some hook-up bollards boast a television aerial point). Additional luxuries include a picnic bench, a privacy hedge (see note above) and a barbecue station (except at Clumber Park Club Campsite).

Economy Pitch

If you are looking to save a bit of money and are happy to rely on your leisure battery, you could consider an economy pitch – a grass or hardstanding pitch without electrical hook-up. There are 17Club campsites offering economy pitches, with prices starting from £10.40 per night (one adult). What is more, you still get the benefit of the facilities block and play park (at sites where these are available). If you are able to take advantage of alternative forms of energy, like solar, this sort of pitch could be quite attractive.

Certificated Locations

Covering the whole of the UK, the Club co-ordinates a network of more than 2,200 Certificated Locations (CLs) – independently owned, five-pitch sites. At these you will find many of the pitch types outlined above, as well as a number of ‘off grid ’ pitches, which provide opportunities to stay in locations that are not available through Club Campsites.

By off-grid, I am talking about the sort of pitch where there is no electric hook-up nor toilet facilities. As with a Club economy pitch, the key here is to ensure your leisure battery is topped up (around 12.7V). If the battery starts to fall below 12.2V, it needs recharging.

A fitted solar panel will help offset the power drawn from a leisure battery. Alternatively, you can connect a mobile solar panel and charge controller to top it up – the panel can be positioned to make the most of the sun throughout the day.

Seasonal Pitch

If you enjoy repeat visits to the same location (or perhaps don’t enjoy driving/towing), why not consider one of the Club ’s seasonal pitches? You can book a pitch for between one and seven months (note that you can only stay for 21 consecutive days). Options vary –some seasonal pitches may be on grass, so only available for the spring/summer season. See page 29 of this issue or visit camc.com/ seasonal to find out more.

FINAL THOUGHTS …

There’s a pitch to suit everyone’s tastes and budget. Just make sure you research what additional equipment you might need –otherwise you might not get the most out of your holiday.