By William Coleman
This week me and the team got the chance to spend a day and a night at the Caravan And Motorhome Club Alderstead site where you can use multiple pitch types, camping and even some glamping.
At the Club’s Alderstead Heath site you would never know you were so close to the M25, which is actually very handy for getting in and out of major visiting locations in the South East.
When we arrived it was like we entered a winter wonderland of fog and mist, call me weird but it looked absolutely amazing. When a site is cloaked in fog it just feels like the perfect winter touring setting, some say snow it but that causes far too many dilemmas when towing and touring.
As you’d expect from a Club site things are very well kept from the generous sized pitches all the way to the spotlessly clean shower block. Despite the washrooms being almost perfect the deep clean still took place leaving the whole building smelling wonderful.
Even though we are in the dead of winter and the temperature is quite low, reaching minuses overnight, the site was still on the busy side. It just goes to show that keeping a location open during the “off season” can be worth it.
The site location is a hidden get away from the hustle and bustle of the M25 and local towns such as Croydon and Coulsdon. If you like your coffee houses there is also a large Starbucks a few moments down the road from the site.
If you do want to venture out by car or rail you a few minutes drive from Coulsdon South station that can have you in the heart of London within about 30 minutes or so, service depending.
If you want to take a drive you can pop over to Reigate where you will find a cinema as well as lots of shops and independent tea rooms, cafes and restaurants. And if you want some shopping or a lot more variety for places to eat you are about a 15 minute drive from central Croydon, where I grew up. Here you will find major rail stations, bars, shopping and in South Croydon you have a “restaurant quarter” which every cuisine you could think of.
For those who are looking for a more peaceful stay and want to make the most of the site you can take full advantage of the site’s surroundings. The location is flanked by lots of woodlands and walking trails that look amazing in both winter and summer, just bring your wellies if you are going in January.
The site is pet friendly so you can take your four legged friends out for a stroll across the North Downs or through Pilgrims Way which is a short distance from the site.
If you are a motorhome user or caravanner there are 181 pitches to choose from which are perfect for both vehicles as well as a camping area, 10 tent max capacity, with an electrical hook.
Another thing that has been added to the site are glamping pods. The Swift S Pods are great for a comfy overnight stay if you fancy something different, or if you want friends without caravans to come and join you for a weekend.
Our newest production team member Sion stayed in an S Pod overnight, his first time in any kind of glamping accommodation, was thoroughly impressed by his lodgings: “I had no idea it would be so comfortable. I thought glamping was just extremely nice tent stays. The S Pod is compact but spacious with its own washroom which means no cold walks to the wash block that is a bit of a distance from the pod, especially when it is that cold outside.
It is a great way to be part of the caravan community, despite not having a caravan myself. I think the Caravan and Motorhome Club have just opened up a lot of different holiday opportunities to a lot more people by adding their Experience Freedom brand to lots of sites. Next on the agenda is an Airstream weekend stay.”
The site has a long list of facilities for couples and families to ensure you have the perfect stay and features both a play area and playground for children.
Another great thing this site allows are BBQ, charcoal, gas and electrical. So when the sun comes back you can grill the nights away.
Overall this is a little gem of a site which I would recommend. It is well hidden from the world but close enough to be able to visit shopping areas and central London via a small commute.
To see just how foggy and mesmerising our morning there was click here.
