Set up a site with The Camping and Caravanning Club for pitch peace of mind

As the cost-of-living bites, The Camping and Caravanning Club is on hand to help large landowners and small smallholders alike to set up a campsite on their land and generate extra income.

Certificated Sites (CSs) are small campsites that can accommodate up to five caravans or motorhomes and up to ten tents a night that are run exclusively for members of The Camping and Caravanning Club. There are more than 1,200 CSs across the UK, ranging from basic sites with standard grass pitches to sites with on-site facilities including toilets and showers and a mix of pitch types. The Club can advise landowners on all aspects of setting up a site and has a team of people on hand to answer any questions, such as when a site should open throughout the year to appeal to most campers and which facilities are preferable, practicable or a legal requirement.

Damien Field, Exempted Camping Manager at The Camping and Caravanning Club said: “Setting up a Certificated Site is simple with our support – it can take as little as six months from getting in touch with us to welcoming the first campers on site. We have a dedicated team on hand to answer questions and help landowners through the process.

“Thousands of Club members book and stay at more than 1,200 Certificated Sites across the UK each year – campers who enjoy getting out into the great outdoors and understand how these small sites operate. Landowners who set up a site with us have access to our large customer base from day one and what’s more, they can be reassured that they’ll welcome guests who understand and respect their campsite set up.”

Susan Slocombe, owner at Northwick Farm Certificated Site near Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset, who has run a Certificated Site for 22 years welcomes many campers throughout the year. She said: “The three things you need to set up a site are a field, room and good access.

“We are open from April through until October so it’s a short season, but you get a nice clientele as everyone you welcome to your campsite must be a member of The Camping and Caravanning Club. Small sites are nice and really popular with couples.

“Many of our campers stay on our standard grass pitches but we charge the same fee regardless of the pitch type. Our gravel pitches tend to be booked by people just staying for the night who want to pitch quickly and depart the following morning. Occupancy is good on our site throughout the summer.

“Our campsite has been part of the Club’s CS network for 22 years, so a long time. It’s a lovely thing to run a campsite – if I had a pound for everyone who said this is what I’d like to do, I’d be a millionaire!”

Against the backdrop of rising utility prices, Jean Preston who owns and manages Dutch Cottage Certificated Site, a short distance away, set up with the Club 13 years ago, has installed new card operated electricity meters to help manage costs. Campers appreciate that they only pay for the electricity they use whether they are low or high users.

Jean said: “We are open year-round, offering just a couple of hardstanding pitches for out of season hardy types, with a full complement of grass pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents during the season. With so many returning customers, we now have friends in all corners of the UK and some from abroad.”

To request a copy of The Camping and Caravanning Club’s All You Need to Know Guide, which includes information about how to set up a site and the steps involved from first point of contact with the Club through to opening the gates for campers, visit www.setupasite.co.uk.

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Notes for Editors

1. The Camping and Caravanning Club is 121 years old and is the UK’s oldest and largest Club for all forms of camping.
2. Join the Club from £45 a year. Club members get up to 30% off pitch fees with further discounts for over 60s. What’s more, members get discounts in retail stores, on days out and attractions www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/jointheclub.
3. For a 2-year Subscription Fee of £165.00* + VAT the Club provides Certificated Site owners with access to over 750,000 Club members, branded signage and access to a dedicated team of advisors based out of the Club’s Coventry Head Office.
4. Get involved: for the latest news, information and inspiration from The Camping and Caravanning Club, and to engage with those who’ve enjoyed holidays with the Club, visit www.facebook.com/thefriendlyclub, www.twitter.com/campandcaravan or check out our Instagram page www.instagram.com/campandcaravan.