Care Ashore Campsite

Positiv The staff I spoke to were absolutely lovely. But there is nothing about the site or its systems to like, sadly - I was booked in for two nights, but left within 2 hours of arrival . . .

Negativ Before arrival (whilst driving!) I received the following:

Reservation Details
"The following bookings are provisional and not yet confirmed" - odd, as I'd already paid in full and received confirmation.

The reservation number was given as # 5676136, but the booking number was #6286482?!? I was allocated EH Pitch 4...

I was told I needed to check-in before arrival, which required name/address/email/phone number/car registration/time of arrival etc etc - despite having already supplied these details before I left home.

I pulled off the road to complete the form and was then told:

Contactless Check In is unavailable for the following reason.
Outside Check In Window
Registration form Incomplete
Booker Details Incomplete
Guest Details Incomplete

The postcode took me down an unmade, deeply pot-holed dead-end with no turning space! I rang for help, but no-one picked up. A local helped me find the site which was initially sign-posted as Care Ashore Campsite, but after two such signs they disappeared and Springbok Estate signs took over - I didn't know these were the same site!

I arrived at a blank, sterile, un-landscaped, fenced-off rectangle with no greenery to soften the edges or offer shade, to find EH 4 already taken and no-one in sight to speak to. I rang for help again - no-one answered.

Eventually, another camper explained I would find an office in the main house, up the hill 500 metres away. There I met two of the 'residents' of the Care Ashore charity - the first attempted to not to let me in and the second later called me a cheeky, effing b**tard, presumably because I was sitting in the lounge, having been told by the lovely staff that I could enjoy the air-conditioning in the 33 degree heat?!?

I was informed that, despite having been allocated EH4, they 'didn't allocate pitches' and I could park anywhere! They also confirmed that they already had my complete booking details.

I did try to make a go of it, but, after checking up on the facilities (all poor and centred around a mini industrial estate!) decided that home seemed a better option.

The check-out questionnaire (?) I received at home was the icing on the cake - I have no intention of completing it.

Lest you suspect I am one of 'those' people, that complain about everything - please see my reviews of all other sites. EVERY one of them is glowing, including the one I stayed at on the morning before my arrival here!

There is no way this site deserves a 9/10 rating...

Sorry!

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Positiv Very quiet surrounds, Well laid out pitches with plenty of space.

Negativ Limited facilities. OK if you are self contained, otherwise only 3 showers, 1 not functioning, Toilets 300m away down a track.

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Positiv Pitches

Negativ Showers and toilet block. Grubby, inadequate. Very poor.

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Positiv 💚

Negativ 💚

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Positiv The bays are lovely and big in a picturesque setting, very quiet and have never met so many nice and friendly people. The facilities were spotless and lots of lovely walk you can do. We did not go to the bar or enjoyed the food but the offerings look great at reasonable prices as well. Would recommend this place to anyone.

Negativ Did not stay longer

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Positiv Big pitch, everything clean, quiet at night. Lots to see and do in the surrounding area, lovely cool walks in the woods and around the gardens from my tent when it was too hot to go hiking, everything was so easy. Great place for the dog.

Negativ Nothing, though I was worried that there is only one wash hand basin for the whole site. However it wasn’t a problem and I never had to wait for any of the facilities.

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Positiv Lovely spot quiet and a bonus is the Care Ashore bar very friendly and nice guys to talk to. Good walks around the estate.

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Positiv Excellent site with access to Estate walks

Negativ Nothing

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Positiv Lovely surroundings in a peaceful location. Big EHU pitches with large grassy area next to each pitch.
Clean loos, not too far from the pitches.
Didn't use the washing up point or Elsan but it's nice to have them.

Negativ The EHU area is used by tents as well as motorhomes, with tent campers pitching on the grass and parking on the hard standing. Tents are therefore very close to nextdoor campervans in this setup. If we came again we'd probably avoid an EHU pitch knowing that it's mixed with tents and book in the field instead, albeit there's quite a slope in parts of the field.
As others have already said, there needs to be more loos for the number of pitches.
We hoped to have a hot breakfast in the Careashore building but we were told we needed to book it in advance. It would have been helpful to have been told this in the campsite info.

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Positiv Good space, great facilities, perfect for the kids and great local amenities.

Negativ Check-in was a bit confusing….there wasn’t one and as we arrived after 5pm there was no one we could speak to. Some friendly neighbouring campers helped us out in the end.

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