There’s more to booking your VW campervan on to a campsite than you may think. Here are some top tips to help you find your perfect pitch.
Believe it or not, campsites come in a surprising variety of shapes and sizes. Or more specifically, there is a wide range of factors to consider when searching for the perfect pitch for you and your VW campervan.
Over the years, in both a personal (holiday) and a work (er, work) capacity I’ve pitched up on and visited well over 100 campsites. And quite possibly more than 200. To be honest, I stopped counting some years ago.
VW campervans – given their size and driveability – are fantastic for helping their owners to be impulsive, meaning you can decide to get away from it all at the drop of a hat. And remember, you don’t have to go far from home for a change of scenery.
CamperKing's VW campervans are easy to pitch
A campervan pitched up on a hardstanding later in the evening
Consider what you want close by
Ask yourself whether you want a remote site or be close to the hustle and bustle of a local town or city with its pubs and restaurants.
If you plan to leave your van pitched up on site, consider how walkable those local amenities are. Do some research about the location, walking routes and the frequency of nearby public transport. My wife and I have got more into public transport recently because we can often combine a good walk heading out somewhere with a return trip on the bus.
Having just mentioned pubs, think about whether you want one within easy walking distance of the campsite. I use the term ‘easy’ because sometimes the pub close to a campsite is along a country road or lane that might not have a footpath, which is then even trickier to use as a pedestrian at night, of course. So if a local pub is important, check with the campsite staff as to how safe it is to get there on foot.
Going green
Sustainability is rightly at the forefront of people’s minds, and camping in all its forms is a great way to put you on the doorstep of the countryside. Successive academic studies have evidenced the importance of people being active in an outdoor setting and how that benefits our health and wellbeing.
Add into that the fact many campsites have rewilding areas and nurture local wildlife, and you can soon seek out those that put the natural environment into the centre of their world.
My wife and I recently enjoyed pitching up at eco sites including a wildflower meadow in a VW T7 Freedom campervan. We had no hook-up and relied on the off-grid capabilities of the van – very successfully.
The local birdlife was lovely, as were the sunsets and that feeling of being immersed in a back to nature environment.
Take that a step further and you can also find out whether the site has more eco credentials such as rain-water harvesting, solar power and self-composting toilets among many other features.
Family-friendly or adult-only?
Answering that obviously depends on your domestic situation and how busy you want your campsite. When my family was young, we enjoyed holiday parks usually featuring an onsite clubhouse complete with kids entertainment team.
However as we have got older and the kids have grown into adults, we have still enjoyed pitching up at family sites. That said, now they have flown the nest my wife and I do sometimes just want total peace and quiet. That’s where adult-only sites come into their own. So remember to check what type of campsite it is.
Pitch sizes and awnings
Pretty much all campsites I’ve encountered will want to know the dimensions of your leisure vehicle. If you want a pitch with plenty of space around you, factor that into your research too.
Do you want a hard standing or grass pitch? You may not have a choice in wet weather or outside of spring and summer because the site team may want to protect the grass or ensure your van doesn’t get bogged down at the end of your stay.
Campsites will also want to factor in the size and type of your awning, so bear that in mind. Drive-away awnings are useful with campervans as they act as pitch markers if you go out in the van for the day. They also avoid the need for it to be packed away, and then re-erected once back. CamperKing sells drive away awnings specifically created for VW Transporter campervans – simply get in touch with our service team for more information.
If you plan to use a small tent as overflow storage once pitched up, check if the site manager will see it as a ‘pup tent’ because that will probably cost less, if anything. Pup tents are often classed as a ‘minor pitch accessory’.
And a few more tips to consider…
Many campsites close as the autumn progresses so even if you want to enjoy your campervanning all year round, your choice will be more limited.
Why not consider joining a club like the Caravan and Motorhome Club, of which CamperKing is a Dealer Partner? You’ll get a consistent quality of campsite, access to discounts and be among like-minded folk, among a range of other benefits.
Don’t forget to check out online reviews to see what others think of the campsite.
And if you have any questions, we always find a call to the site team is worthwhile too for that extra bit of local knowledge and insight.
Enjoy your travels!