So when do the PH campers think sites will reopen?

[Robotron-2084]

I know guessing is a bit like pissing in the wind, but campsites will make great places to socially isolate.

There's already a firebreak between pitches, the only issue would be the toilet/shower blocks, but with a little creativity this could be managed surely?

Myself and family are booked in for July 15th, it's been a terrible year in general and some time away in the caravan would be great and well deserved.

What are people thinking about sites reopening?

[Chrisgr31]

Hoping for a similar opening time as we are booked in from the 13th, and were pondering going 2 days earlier.

I am guessing the issue is communal toilets and shower blocks and how you maintain cleanliness between users.

Maybe I need to take the Le Mans shower tent with me.

[JJ55]

Don’t see why they can’t reopen over the summer. If a problem they could just keep facilities like showers/ toilets closed. Most have these facilities onboard anyway.

Our camper is sitting gathering dust & we are desperate to go somewhere pretty & get some use out of it!

[Uggers]

I can't really see how they can solve the distancing issue for the campers using the sites toilets and showers.

Maybe open to only customers who can provide their own cleaning and toilet facilities.

So basically caravans and camper vans unless campers get quite creative?

And don't open the haven type sites at all, but only because I don't like them

[Chrisgr31]

Uggers said:

I can't really see how they can solve the distancing issue for the campers using the sites toilets and showers.

Maybe open to only customers who can provide their own cleaning and toilet facilities.

So basically caravans and camper vans unless campers get quite creative?

p

I’d best look at the shower room floor in our van. Seem to recall it might have a hairline crack in it. Will need fixing if using it for showering!

[GSalt]

Germany has set out dates for re-opening the leisure and tourist industry to local markets. Campsites and stellplatz will be capped at 50% occupancy. The UK model could be similar (except for the lack of Stellplatz).

There's a report in the Guardian from the weekend that some parts of the holiday industry are already taking bookings for June. I think July might be a more realistic date, but the industry is going to need a lot of support - the summer season gives them the cash to survive the year and pay-off investments made over the winter.

[Robotron-2084]

But even the showers are usually in cubicles, so if you wore a mask on the way in/out would that be suffice?

All the germs/snot would get washed off or are hot steamy showers a breeding ground for germs?

[HorneyMX5]

I hope they open in the summer as well. I invested in a canvas Bell Tent last year and fully intended to get lots of use out of it. 2 weekends away have already been and gone.

I'm happy to poop in bucket and shower with baby wipes if it means a few days under the trees and starlit night skies in the new forest.

[JagBox]

Most sites are looking to reopen around the beginning of July if allowed. All CCC and CAMC site shut until 30 June so July is a realistic opening time. With clubhouses and shower toilet blocks closed, camping should be fine for those with their own facilities.

[mrtwisty]

Fingers crossed I'll be getting at least a week of wild camping/sea kayaking done in June, somewhere suitably remote.

All you soft lads with your showers and toilets, I don't know

[mike9009]

We were booked for end of May in Charmouth which obviously won't happen.

We are booked in Vendée and Normandy at the end of July. I am assuming it won't happen this year.

[Johnnybee]

We should have been in Cornwall this week

But we've also got the first two weeks booked in July so might be able to get away for one of them, be interesting to see if the locals get the pitch forks out

[PushedDover]

Nailed on to our village is a Caravan site - normally heaving. There is maybe 70% occupancy of year round caravans

The village pitchforks will be waving I am certain if the caravan park opens and the normal flood of campers hit the village facilities.

Perhaps that needs to be thought of : the bringing of outsiders to a Zero contagion village ........
Should we as a village be able to veto outsiders... ?

Edited by PushedDover on Tuesday 12th May 10:47

[neutral 3]

Chrisgr31 said:

I’d best look at the shower room floor in our van. Seem to recall it might have a hairline crack in it. Will need fixing if using it for showering!

Have the same, any ideas re how to repair it ?

[velocemitch]

I think the problem with campsites is the wide variety of them.
I can well understand the point made above about the Pitch Forks coming out when a big site is opened next to a village. And of course the Haven type, which I see as a Butlins with tourers!.

But those are a complete contrast to the site we have ours on as a seasonal, it’s 24 pitch site, with a nice clean shower block and a couple of miles from a town. We could easily social distance there.

But I am sure the Government will not open them before July, possibly August or later.

If they did the occupants of the plastic butlins sites would not be social distancing, either on the sites or in the towns close by.

[bonerp]

the local tourism reps are already raging. Pitch forks for sure. Can't see it happening. Ask farmers if you can rent a corner of their fields. Holidays will be interesting this year!

[RizzoTheRat]

My 75 year old mother is already watching camper van prices and reckons this would be a good time to buy
Good point about local near campsites though.

[PurpleTurtle]

My missus is aching for me, her and 5yo son to get away in our Eriba caravan.

We have a standalone toilet tent for the PortaPotti so the only shared facilities we need to make use of are fresh water and Elsan disposal. Both could generally be filled/emptied with social distancing quite easily. Even on a busy campsite in summer it's rare that you have to mix with others whilst enjoying the delights of emptying your own khazi. Nobody wants to watch someone else do their's!

However, my missus' two must-haves for a campsite are a good pub within walking distance and a playground for our 5yo son. Both of those options are rightly off the table for the immediately foreseeable future.

I'd be happy to go to a large spaced out site with our own supplies and not interact with anyone. However that means being largely stuck in and around the site, if you are go wanting to visit tourist attractions then those places may either be shut, or you might not be welcome there (see aforementioned pitchforks).

I guess a lot will depend on the gradual withdrawal of the furlough scheme. It's one thing to be sharpening your pitchfork and painting 'GO HOME, UR NOT WELCOME!" signs on a sheet of old plywood if you're sat on your arse in a village with Rishi Sunak paying your wages, but as soon as that rug gets pulled a lot more rural types who depend on visitor income might be forced to be a tad more welcoming, whether they like it or not.

(hot off the press: I see Furlough extended to August, with likely tapered changes after that) If that is 'end of August' it takes us through school holidays, so above may be able to buy a second pitchfork if they wear out the first one!)

Joking apart, like everything, it is going to be a carefully trodden path back to something like normality.

I was expecting sites to open on an 'adults only/limited capacity' basis, but given that they want my 5yo back in school at the start of June they can't reasonably say he can't go camping in August. I'd speculate that slots will fill up fast, once they are given the green light to reopen under certain restrictions, especially given the collapse in European travel.

ETA ... Furlough extended to October, generally the end of the camping season. At this rate nobody is getting a summer holiday. I know, first world problems and all that.

Edited by PurpleTurtle on Tuesday 12th May 13:34

Edited by PurpleTurtle on Tuesday 12th May 17:23

[PushedDover]

velocemitch said:

I think the problem with campsites is the wide variety of them.
I can well understand the point made above about the Pitch Forks coming out when a big site is opened next to a village. And of course the Haven type, which I see as a Butlins with tourers!.

But those are a complete contrast to the site we have ours on as a seasonal, it’s 24 pitch site, with a nice clean shower block and a couple of miles from a town. We could easily social distance there.

But I am sure the Government will not open them before July, possibly August or later.

If they did the occupants of the plastic butlins sites would not be social distancing, either on the sites or in the towns close by.

and therin lies the rub with all points of the compass in Lockdown. All scenarios (and IQ levels) are different. Unfortunately we have to use the lowest points as the baseline and set the rule book at it.

[towser44]

At the end of the day, they've announced the furlough scheme to carry on until October Therefore, it is expected that some people in some industries are going to need support of that nature to that point at least. I can't therefore foresee that if certain industries still need support because they can't work until October, that we'll see a return to 'normal' in other areas such as being able to go away camping before that point.