setting up a motorhome stopover/camp site??

  • Thread starter Thread starter lotty
  • Start date Start date

lotty

Guest
Hi all,
We are currently selling our house and have been thinking of what to buy next and where to move to.
We have often thought about buying something with some land attatched so we can set up either a small CL or use some of the land for you lovely Wildcampers for overnight stop overs?
Has anyone done this or doing this at the moment? Are there any things to avoid or facilities that I should def have.
We do not want to run a big campsite as we want to ensure we can still get out in our own van and we know it is not going to earn enough money to sell up our business and support us but would be nice to earn a little extra and work doing something along the lines of what we enjoy?
Any tips are much appreciated.
Lotty
:wave:
 
Contact Caravan and Camping Club. They will give you all the information you need with regards to setting up a 'Five Van Site' or CL.

You dont have to use this information, but if it's there, take advantage of it!

Good luck with your venture.
 
It sounds like a lovely idea. Perhaps the first thing to think about is to have it somewhere that people would like to stop?
 
DTDog said:
Contact Caravan and Camping Club. They will give you all the information you need with regards to setting up a 'Five Van Site' or CL.

You dont have to use this information, but if it's there, take advantage of it!

Good luck with your venture.
Click to expand...
Excellent advice, the Caravan Club do the same thing and can get all the required certificates you need, this will be for a maximum of five vans and unlimited tents, so you wont make much money out of it methinks, but that is not your main aim is it, I would go and stay on a 5 van site affiliated to one of the clubs and ask the site owners lots of questions, that way the info will be from the Horses mouth so to speak, as to facilities , that will depend on you, hard standing would be good so all weather camping, close to bus stops if possible so one can leave the van and go by bus for a day out, close to a pub doing meals would be good , electric would not be a must for me but others will disagree and putting electric in at a site will be very expensive to do.I read somewhere that the MCC were looking to open more CL type sites so they might be another Avenue to pursue, Good Luck.
 
only thing i would say is once it becomes a job from being a hobby it looses its appeal.

grass cutting/plumbing issues electrical issues recycling waste,waste/recyling bin sorting.

someone on the till until closing time etc.

stewarding the site 5 vans but how long are thet there for and can you move them once there ticket runs out.

if your going to make one understand its a 24/7 commitment not a day stop over and move on
type affair.

sorry to put a dampner on it ,but best you seek your goal knowing whats coming.
 
Last edited:
Teffy said:
It sounds like a lovely idea. Perhaps the first thing to think about is to have it somewhere that people would like to stop?
Click to expand...

anywhere better than here beside the seaside as long as it reasonable peace dont mind traffic but wouldnt like to be under fligh path blow my van over with the jet wash lol
 
oldish hippy said:
anywhere better than here beside the seaside as long as it reasonable peace dont mind traffic but wouldnt like to be under fligh path blow my van over with the jet wash lol
Click to expand...

that rules findhorn out then :)

RAF Kinloss next door :)
 
Wow, good luck with it Lotty!

Important things for me would be

1. EHU (expensive to put in, but many people demand it now, so it would really double up your business)
2. A good location. Trees, woods etc would be nice. But some hardstanding would be important for year round business

The only thing I'd think, is it might be difficult to run both your businesses, and have time away too. Like you say, the site wouldn't support you so you'd still be keeping your main business going. But the site thing would seem better suited to somebody who is at home most of the time and just runs it as a sideline for a bit of spending money. I don't think you'd make much out of each guest when you've considered taking the booking, taking the money, helped them out with any problems and maintaining the site and its facilities, not to mention the initial capital investments and the licenses. £8 or £10 a booking doesn't really go that far.

I did go to a CL last year and the owners seemed to have a very laissez faire attitude. They took the booking on a mobile phone, gave me the combination to the padlock on the gate, said park where you like and put the money through the letter box. We never saw them the whole time! I guess doing it something like this you may be able to minimise some of the time. Just hope your guests will be honest!

Anyway I hope I haven't put you off too much, but I guess it pays to be realistic :)
 
I hate been negative too, but not all campers are like us lot, but you could hire me to sort them out, lol, its a big venture, advice so far i agree with, stop on a site and chat to owners, i have a friend who lives in scotland, he is a crofter, he opened up some of his land to the odd MH, he said it was hard work and very tying, and guests arriving at stupid o clock expecting 5 star facalites for just £5 a night, it sounds iydillic, speak to Magbrin on here, she has a bit of a CL up in Scotland, she's very nice and would be able to tell you the pros and cons
 
Another alternative if you didn't want to be tied down would be to perhaps join Britstops as a host and just offer an overnight stop with the condition of ringing beforehand....minimum work and committment....no money in that though.
 
scenictraveller said:
only thing i would say is once it becomes a job from being a hobby it looses its appeal.

grass cutting/plumbing issues electrical issues recycling waste,waste/recyling bin sorting.

someone on the till until closing time etc.

stewarding the site 5 vans but how long are thet there for and can you move them once there ticket runs out.

if your going to make one understand its a 24/7 commitment not a day stop over and move on
type affair.

sorry to put a dampner on it ,but best you seek your goal knowing whats coming.
Click to expand...


I agree, this is one of my concerns that's why I didn't want to go for an all singing all dancing site. Want to keep it as "wild" as possible?
 
hi Lotty,
Sounds like a wonderful idea!
Lots of good advice above which i don't need to go over - the only thing I would say is: chew over very carefully what's been said above; do the right research; take your time!
We wish you all the luck in the world:wave:
 
sounds like good idea can i reserve a [place in advance you could also do take away fish and chips .on the serious side hope you find the right place dont rush into it what area are you thinking ???? cheers john and old shakey xx
 
A few points which might help:

The two main clubs, Caravan Club and Camping & Caravanning Club both require you to accept only their own members.

The Motor Caravanners Club does not restrict the use of it's CLs to it's members only.

The Exemptions Certificates issued by the Camping and Caravanning Club may allow you to accept tents as well as caravans/motorhomes, if there is sufficient space.

Britstops does not issue Exemption Certificates so it's sites do not comply with planning/site licence regulations.


AndyC
 
Lotty sounds great to me you could just keep it as rustic and simple as you wanted although I know it would involve some work. We would definately pay you a visit ;)
 
lotusanne said:
Whereabouts are you thinkong about Lottie?
Click to expand...

it would have to be in Staffordshire around where we are now because of our business? We have a few choices but it would all depend on what size land is available with the houses for sale in our price band?
 
kellyjohn said:
sounds like good idea can i reserve a [place in advance you could also do take away fish and chips .on the serious side hope you find the right place dont rush into it what area are you thinking ???? cheers john and old shakey xx
Click to expand...

cheers John, You and Shakey are welcome anytime. xx
 
herbenny1 said:
Lotty sounds great to me you could just keep it as rustic and simple as you wanted although I know it would involve some work. We would definately pay you a visit ;)
Click to expand...

thanks Jac, I could do special rates for wildcamping members ;)
 
thank you guys and gals for all the info,
I think we will be doing lots of research on cost to set up and what land is available in different areas?
Might start off with just a plot of land attached to the house and do the odd stopover, either foc or a small donation and then build it up from that as and when we get more time or interest maybe??
lots of thought needed? Will keep you updated as and when, thanks again folk
Lotty
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top