Spa - best campsite?
Discussion
We (me and the heir to the Norfolkit empire) are off to Spa for the first time in August and we'll be camping which not something I've done in a while. Now we've done some camping at the Windmill campsite at Silverstone and NK junior was a regular festival goer in his Uni days but neither of us has done it for a few years. We're looking for a campsite that's fun but not too mental, something that might offend the Caravan Club but wouldn't actually need the attendance of the of the riot squad, So close(ish) to the track, with a bar and hot food and a good friendly atmosphere (and if it had toilets so clean they wouldn't look out of place in an operating theatre, that would be a bonus).
Seem to be four main options, official campsites (green/yellow etc), F1 camping, Elephant and Camping l'Eau Rouge. Looking at feedback for them all, they all seem to divide opinion, some people love them, some hate them.
Just looking for some personal experiences of the good and bad about them.
Seem to be four main options, official campsites (green/yellow etc), F1 camping, Elephant and Camping l'Eau Rouge. Looking at feedback for them all, they all seem to divide opinion, some people love them, some hate them.
Just looking for some personal experiences of the good and bad about them.
Based on your requirements, I would rule out the Elephant, having camped there myself. There's not much atmoshphere - it's mainly continental Europeans in huge motorhomes keeping themselves to themselves.
Apart from that, during one night our car was broken into and all my camera gear, including photos from the pit lane walk, was stolen. Site security didn't want to know.
All in all quite disappointing given the number of positive reviews I had read prior to booking.
Apart from that, during one night our car was broken into and all my camera gear, including photos from the pit lane walk, was stolen. Site security didn't want to know.
All in all quite disappointing given the number of positive reviews I had read prior to booking.
I'm going back a bit now from when I attended the race...
If you imagine driving straight on at the first hairpin of the circuit, the road then heads uphill.
This leads to a bit of a village at the top. This road was lined with temporary merchandise, bars and food outlets.
If going up the hill, we camped on the left hand side as the road bends to the left into the village area.
We just pulled in at the first camping sign we saw.
The village had a couple of hotel/restaurants/bars.
The field and camping facilities were really basic. The toilets were just about acceptable and I didn't shower for a couple of days as i think that was cleaner than using the showers! I think the cows had only just been moved out the field, it wasn't a pretty camping area. The camping was just noisy.. constant bangers/fireworks/flares, massive sound systems, engines on trailers just revved for the hell of it, milk churns firing out footballs, cars revving.
It was also cold and rained non stop from thurs to sunday.
But I'd go back. It was great fun!
If you imagine driving straight on at the first hairpin of the circuit, the road then heads uphill.
This leads to a bit of a village at the top. This road was lined with temporary merchandise, bars and food outlets.
If going up the hill, we camped on the left hand side as the road bends to the left into the village area.
We just pulled in at the first camping sign we saw.
The village had a couple of hotel/restaurants/bars.
The field and camping facilities were really basic. The toilets were just about acceptable and I didn't shower for a couple of days as i think that was cleaner than using the showers! I think the cows had only just been moved out the field, it wasn't a pretty camping area. The camping was just noisy.. constant bangers/fireworks/flares, massive sound systems, engines on trailers just revved for the hell of it, milk churns firing out footballs, cars revving.
It was also cold and rained non stop from thurs to sunday.
But I'd go back. It was great fun!
and show her how to properly do Spa. 
I've been to this one a few times:
https://goo.gl/maps/FeGWm8CWZfN2
Reasonably lively but not insane and everything quiet usually by 12/1. There is a mobile shower (with plenty of hot water) and toilet block there with cleaners keeping them nice and clean. From what I remember it is quieter further north from the entrance. Plenty of bars and restaurants near by but not really any shops if you wanted meat for a BBQ. There is a very nice pizza place up the road on the corner and the hotel right next door does an all you can eat buffet where the food isn't too bad. They also have a decent menu.
Only other one I went to was further away on the same road. Proper showers in the building next to it but very quiet.
https://goo.gl/maps/FeGWm8CWZfN2
Reasonably lively but not insane and everything quiet usually by 12/1. There is a mobile shower (with plenty of hot water) and toilet block there with cleaners keeping them nice and clean. From what I remember it is quieter further north from the entrance. Plenty of bars and restaurants near by but not really any shops if you wanted meat for a BBQ. There is a very nice pizza place up the road on the corner and the hotel right next door does an all you can eat buffet where the food isn't too bad. They also have a decent menu.
Only other one I went to was further away on the same road. Proper showers in the building next to it but very quiet.
gruffalo said:
That was the one we went for but they're full. They did email a couple of alternatives to me though, sounds from their reply as though a couple of campsites used for F1 have closed this year. We ended up booking F1Camping.Norfolkit said:
gruffalo said:
That was the one we went for but they're full. They did email a couple of alternatives to me though, sounds from their reply as though a couple of campsites used for F1 have closed this year. We ended up booking F1Camping.Gassing Station | Formula 1 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff