York Rowntree Park

There are 33 sites listed on UKCampsite within 5 miles of York. If one chucked me out I would drive to another. It doesn’t strike me as the biggest problem I have ever faced.

I think most Members who book into YRP do so with a view to simply parking up, and a 10 minute stroll into the city centre though ET. This is very much it’s unique selling point, and possibly why it can command quite high pitch prices. Even we, the most dedicated of cheap pitch locators acknowledge this is YRPs USP, and even we don’t drive off site when we go there. BG is ok if you don’t have a dog, don’t mind standing traffic and might want to visit Castle Howard, further up the A64, but YRP remains by far the easiest place to sleep in if on a mini city break. If you like cycling, or a decent walk, there’s a nice site at Nether Poppleton, but then who’s going to look after your bike while you go in Minster, or spend hours in Museums. I’ve tried it, and it’s a horrible place to cycle round is the inner city, death on the roads, and zombie tourists everywhere else. And no way would I leave my multi thousand pound ebike shackled to a railing. It’s not cheap to park anything in York either, they are currently considering £20 per day I think, that’s if you can find an empty bay.

Rowntree Park itself remains closed at the moment. Guessing the river walkway will be filthy as well.

I’d be livid if we were ‘chucked’ out but that is not the case at all in these circumstances. The site is a gem in our opinion when conditions are good but all the club is trying to do is protect folk and their property safe, they have to take the lead from the local authorities and flood agency. It’s built on a flood plain, the latest flood protection measures actually increase the chances of flooding around the park area, that’s the whole idea, to save locals and their properties. I’m sure permission these days to allow a camp site to be built there would not be allowed today. I’m sure everyone who books this site are aware of the ‘risks’ and possible outcomes and work with  the T&Cs currently in place.  We really need to take some responsibility for the part we must play in making our own informed decisions given the information available to us. That’s what we do.

We’ve made an informed decision since deposits were introduced. We simply don’t book YRP any more. It’s not as busy and booked up as it used to be, if we are desperate to visit York, we’ed check late availability. Last time I looked seriously, could have had a full week there pre Xmas.

Apart from weekends, lots of nights free currently. (None awning pitches) Just spotted fee for one night coming in at £58.50 for a couple! Cheaper for us to commute🤷‍♀️

Talking to a fellow member recently, a motorhomer of the old ilk, he suggested they had returned to what he called ‘off roading’ (just turning up on the day) which negates any need for a deposit. Now I understand this won’t be easy at weekends at YRP but according to bookings on various other sites it now seems much easier to do than in past years. Not for all I understand but many sites may now be available to those of us willing to adopt this old practice. Once on site you may even be able to extend your stay if so wished.

That’s how we operate Micky, most of the time. Last couple of times we stayed at YRP (pre deposit) we were able to extend our stays. It’s a place we usually visit midweek anyway.

We always stay at beechwood there is local bus every 2 hours or coastliner no that far a walk or park and ride down road we love it 

I would suggest that the OP cancels if there is a flood warning.

contact CMAC head office and insist on a full refund.  If there is a flood warning for just one night of a stay, surely that is in effect met office advice not to travel to a site right by the river.  No matter what the site manager says.

It’s too far to travel for a three night stay when the holiday would be spoilt by worries about flooding.

That’s just my view, but if the Club refused a refund in these circumstances I would be very disappointed.

R

I think that’s exactly what the club does do and suggests what ‘bookers’ should do, they take the lead from ‘those who know best’! After all, that’s what we would expect to happen and what does happen, we wouldn’t expect them to make it up and guess would we? 

It will be good to hear from fatbelly what he decided to do and the outcome of any phone call he made to HO.