Spring will be here soon and maybe you’re planning a few camping breaks to make the most of school holidays or those precious days off work.
As a member, you’re not just able to use the network of Club Sites. You’re also welcome at any of the meets organised by the Club’s District Associations, Sections and Regions.
Some meets are held over a weekend, while Temporary Holiday Sites can be available for several weeks, in beauty spots and tourist destinations around the country. Some will have a full social programme and maybe a few games and races, while others will offer the chance to relax on a quiet site.
Social camping with the Club is great value for money, as Colin Farnworth explains in this 2016 blog post - and it’s a chance to make new friends who share your love of camping.
Read on for a few comments from Club members who love it, and would like to persuade you to join them at a meet or Temporary Holiday Site this year.
As far as Terence Belton is concerned, there’s simply no other way to camp. He said: “The Club is a nationwide family. When you arrive on any site you are arriving home - the camaraderie is unbelievable, unlike some commercial sites that are cold and personality-less and lonely. Camp with or without your family, be active or quiet, do what you want when you want. You owe it to yourself to at least try for a few meets. Oh! I almost forgot, it is a lot cheaper.”
Dianne Palmer says the best thing about DA camping is: “Friendly, helpful stewards, ready to help if you have any problems. They are usually local to the area so have lots of inside info.”
Lynda Payne used Temporary Holiday Sites during an extended break in England and Scotland last summer. She said: “I researched a rough route before leaving home and then looked for suitable THSs in Out & About. We did around 2,000 miles from our south-coast home in Portsmouth all the way up to John O’Groats, and mainly used THSs. It was great as we had the freedom to stay as many or as few days as we felt like in each area, plus the cost compared to using commercials sites was infinitely lower! Without them, we couldn’t have afforded such a wonderful summer in our van. I couldn’t recommend THSs more, and there was always a friendly welcome.”
Diane Walsh enjoys the chance to relax on Sunday morning when she DA camps: “There’s no need to be packed up and gone before lunch on Sunday, as is the case at most campsites - something that never seems fair, when you arrive late on a Friday. Yet most commercial sites want you gone before noon (or earlier) on the Sunday.”
Norman Elkington loves THSs for “the mixture of old, new, young, canvas, caravans, general camaraderie and stewards’ sense of humour. It’s a good opportunity to meet folk from other parts of the country and other DAs.”
Kerry Mackinder says: “It’s a lot cheaper than commercial sites, it’s friendly, the locations are great, the Youth section is amazing, and you can stay all over the country and feel like you’re camping with friends. If your gas or battery runs out there is always someone there to help. We have even been offered food by stewards we had never met before when we asked where the nearest supermarket was.”
Club National Councillor Geoff Payne came up with a list of the things DA and Section camping has given him over the years:
· Watching my girls run freely in the countryside
· Making lasting friendships
· Developing the courage to get up and be part of the entertainment
· Quiet times when I need them
· The option to camp without travelling too far and for a small site fee
· The ability to camp almost every weekend throughout the year
· The confidence to address a large audience from the various committees I’ve been a member of
· And finally, no regrets for leading my family into what became a very worthwhile lifestyle
If you’re tempted to give social camping a try, check your Out & About magazine, or have a look at the DA, Section and Region websites for a meet that catches your eye.
When you’ve spotted a great meet, remember you can get in touch with the DA or the meet Steward if you have any questions in advance. And when you arrive on site, it’s worth letting the Stewards know it’s your first time at a meet.
Get set up, get the kettle on and relax - you’re in good hands.
