CHOOSE THE RIGHT
LOCATION
THERE ARE CARAVAN SITES ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, SOME
BIG AND SOME SMALL. BUT THERE’S ALSO A NETWORK OF
SMALL, INFORMAL PLACES TO STAY, CALLED ‘CERTIFICATED
LOCATIONS’. CHERYL FOSTER EXPLAINS
W
HAT’S IN a location? Plenty – CLs are situated directly on walking and on their daily life without giving us a 1. Westley House,
and no more so than when cycling routes, or centrally located in moment’s thought.
Minsterley – tel 01743
applied to a Certificated walking areas such as the Yorkshire Moors. Take a walk along river banks, enjoy
791263
Location: a small, informal site restricted to For the strollers among us, many CLs offer tranquil lakes buzzing with wildlife, thrill to
2. Bowhouse Cottage,
St Monans
members of an organisation, such as The more gentle farm walks, the sights and the sound of the sea just outside your door, 3. Abbot’s Shingle,
Caravan Club, that has been exempted smells of which your four-legged friend can take to the hills or go to the beach. All of
Farnham
from the need to get planning permisssion. also enjoy (on a lead, this and much more is
4. Clifton Suspension
Certificated Locations (commonly of course).
referred to as CLs) come in all shapes and If you like to while
“...they offer
available on the CL
Bridge, near Willis’s
Batch, Bristol
network.
5. Landis Farm,
sizes, but one thing they normally have in away the day with fishing
common, over and above the surety of rod in hand, then CLs
a marvellous
From the Highlands Dumfries
of Scotland to the toe of
6. Bwylch Aeddan,
receiving a very warm welcome from the offer a unique Cornwall, from the
Welshpool
owner, is that they offer a marvellous opportunity for you to opportunity to Welsh coast to the
7. Manor Wood,
Malpas
opportunity to gain access to the enjoy your favourite
countryside where direct access is sport – almost from
gain accessto the
Norfolk Broads, the 8. The Stables, Brecon
variety of CLs on
– tel 01874 665478
often difficult. your caravan bed! offer means there
Most CLs are found out of town, so Many CLs offer fishing
whatever you are seeking – some peace and on site, be it ponds, lakes
countryside”
really is something for
everyone – from those
quiet or an opportunity to enjoy your or stretches of riverside, who enjoy basic sites with no
favourite pastime, be it walking, cycling, with both coarse and game fishing well electric hook-ups to those who want all the
fishing, wildlife, art or photography – you catered for. comfort of home. There are CLs that have
can find an ideal base on a CL site. Even if you are not an angler, staying on shower and toilet facilities the equal of
CLs can also be a place of learning. Many these sites can provide quiet serenity as well main Club sites, even some with ‘luxuries’
are on working farms and smallholdings, and as offering inspiration for painters. Imagine such as swimming pools, tennis courts,
these offer a special opportunity for children being able to step out of your caravan and games rooms and even golf ranges. The
to see at first hand the direct link between face a stunning view of an estuary with its choice is yours.
cow and milk, chicken and egg, etc. attendant wildlife, or staying on a CL What all CLs offer, though, is a quiet,
We were visiting one such smallholding perched on a clifftop with its own pathway restful stay away from the crowds and easy
recently where the owners encouraged down to a beautiful, craggy beach. access to the heart of the countryside. a73
children to meet the animals. The owner You don’t have to find water to discover
mentioned how she had asked one young beautiful surroundings, and those keen on The Caravan Club operates a network of
boy from the city if he knew where eggs photography or filming are not short of around 2500 Certificated Locations aound
came from. “Oh yes”, he importantly choice either. My husband regularly the country. For details see
announced, “They come from Tesco!” disappears into woods, meadows and river
www.caravanclub.co.uk. Cheryl Foster 0
Needless to say he was more than banks, returning with footage and works for Armcher Productions, a company
P
1
e
c
a
n
fascinated when he was allowed to help photographs of dippers, flycatchers and that has produced DVDs on Caravan Club
W
h
e
r
I
s
t
a
y
?
collect the eggs from the hens. even the elusive, spectacular kingfisher. CLs. For further details, see
In fact, one of the big pluses in staying on He even caught a badger on film at the
www.armcher.com
farm CLs is the opportunity to obtain fresh moment it came out of its sett to search
produce. Alongside free-range eggs, on-site for clean bedding before disappearing
farm shops have provided us with such below ground again.
INFORMATION CL APPLICATIONS
delights as venison, organic beef and even For wildlife enthusiasts the opportunity
Certificated Locations can be on a farm or smallholding, at a
rhea and apricot burgers – not to mention all to observe nature is never better than on a
pub or golf course, even on land attached to your house, and
kinds of fruit and CL. Without even stirring from our don’t require planning permission. It’s a great way to make
vegetables. Of course, you can pick juicy caravan, we have seen young foxes playing,
income from an otherwise unproductive plot of land, and
blackberries from the hedgerows at hares boxing and owls hunting, all totally
provides the opportunity to make new friends. The Caravan
absolutely no cost at all. oblivious to our presence. Birds, from the
Club welcomes applications from prospective CL operators.
For keen walkers and cyclists, CLs offer a usual blackbirds, tits and wagtails, to the
Call 01342 336792 or visit the ‘About us’ section on the Caravan
base that’s difficult to equal. Indeed, many more unusual barn owls and ouzels, carry
Club website,
www.caravanclub.co.uk, to find out more.
discovertouring.co.uk DISCOVER TOURING 53
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