Black Knowl Club Campsite

This campsite was bigger than we thought, but still quiet and my husband just had to wait a while on the first morning for a shower to be free, the staff were friendly and it was well maintained. We did just about reach the electrical hook up with our longer lead when we parked in the markers as asked. My husband said that there was a bid to save electricity so the lights were turned off at some point in the evening, there did not seem to be many lights where we were anyway in the top far right corner, pitch 44 I believe, it is good to save energy but if you did not have a torch it would not be safe to get to the shower/toilet block with out, so maybe leave lights on until at least 11pm, I like not having them shining in the camper all night, like we have had on other sites. I was not a fan of the all grass pitch, we prefer hardstanding but that was availability as we had booked late, it would have been fine, if it had not rained. It was good to have some takeaway options available on this site, but none were available on our stay which was Saturday to Monday, it is a well located, quiet site, despite it's size, we were not over keen on other campers flashing, bright outside lights or the flashing flag poles, a twinkly inside an awning is pretty, not sure if everyone wants the flashing lights outside, it did not affect us as we were further away, it occurs to me now having the grass pitch did mean that we were out of the way, I might not want to have been hemmed in in the middle of the site. The site has good facilities and was well maintained.

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First time here since the refurbishment,previous visits were with the round building which I felt was perfectly adequate. I agree with comments on the new all singing and dancing toilet cistern system particularly when having a movement the flush functioned before I had finished,considering the site fees I did wondered if the club were offering bidets as well. The cistern system engineer was onsite again during our visit and I wonder if although the club is putting its environmental hat on,which costs us the members money,about saving water is that offset by how much it is spending on maintaining this new cistern system,lever actuating flushing water had always seemed to work well in the past and there when wanted unlike this system that obviously has a mind of its own.Plus the old system could be repaired by the wardens should it be required. The previous comment about the access road is not the clubs responsiblity but the Forestry Commissions,that said the road is perfectly usable albeit as with most club site entrances where care needs to be taken. Not sure about the growing trend noticed on site of larger motorhomes who now use a full size free standing tent and car on the pitch,site states no tents also what about vehicle spacings. Again as per previous comments speed on site although clearly signed is a problem,people choose to ignore this issue until unfortunately something happens.Recently I was tailgated on site when staying at the 5mph. Wardens do a excellent job and are very accomodating. Noticed the grass edges of the hardstandings being trimmed something although in need of it I have not seen on any of the sites we have visited this year.

Comment from the Club

We are sorry to hear about your disappointment with the facilities at Black Knowl.

As a Club it is important we take our Environmental responsibilities seriously and as such we are operating a 'trial' at this site to understand how we can reduce the use of water; an increasingly precious resource.

Our trial is very much test and learn and we are working with our partner to tweak the offering until we can optimise it for member experience, operational efficiency and reducing water consumption and therefore they are regularly visible on site to achieve this and supporting our site team. Sensor tap technology is very much the norm now but we are learning how to use it effectively and we have already increased flow rates, simplified the sensor toilet flush, increased the time the water flows and removed the push buttons that were in the showers. We have had some mixed reviews with some very happy with the trial and others less so and we are working to manage this and improve week by week. Our trial is supported by a partner who is as keen as us to see the results in terms of water reduction and a great member experience and is supported by grants from the water companies.

I hope this helps give you confidence in what we are doing and we hope that you will give it another chance and hopefully you will see an improvement.

To find out more about our Sustainability trials please visit camc.com/sustainability

 

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They have replaced the toilet flushes with some electronic sensors that simply don't work. The site was 100% full but the facilities were continuously breaking. The toilets either don't flush at all with a nice present in them, or flush repeatedly when you are sat on them assuming not already an out of order sign. We ended up using our own. £60+ GBP a night and had to use own loo. What a rip off. Why on earth the club felt the need to needlessly waste members money fixing something that was not broken adding unnecessary complexity. The wardens were clearly fed up commenting that at least they could fix the normal toilets and taps, these need specialists! Whom were out everyday that we were there. Sensor taps are no better and don't believe they save water given they were still running after you dried your hands and were leaving (assuming of course yiu could get them to switch on in the first place). Once on it either for 2 seconds or 2 hours on a lottery style basis! You may as well stay at one of the many nearby sites costing far less with working facilities or use your own. If this how the club is spending (sorry, wasting) members money I am afraid we won't be renewing our membership. Avoid. Overpriced with terrible not fit for purpose facilities.

Comment from the Club

We are sorry to hear about your disappointment with the facilities at Black Knowl.

As a Club it is important we take our Environmental responsibilities seriously and as such we are operating a 'trial' at this site to understand how we can reduce the use of water; an increasingly precious resource.

Our trial is very much test and learn and we are working with our partner to tweak the offering until we can optimise it for member experience, operational efficiency and reducing water consumption and therefore they are regularly visible on site to achieve this and supporting our site team. Sensor tap technology is very much the norm now but we are learning how to use it effectively and we have already increased flow rates, simplified the sensor toilet flush, increased the time the water flows and removed the push buttons that were in the showers. We have had some mixed reviews with some very happy with the trial and others less so and we are working to manage this and improve week by week. Our trial is supported by a partner who is as keen as us to see the results in terms of water reduction and a great member experience and is supported by grants from the water companies.

I hope this helps give you confidence in what we are doing and we hope that you will give it another chance and hopefully you will see an improvement.

To find out more about our Sustainability trials please visit camc.com/sustainability

 

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Thank you all for the wonderful welcome we received, and the outstanding way this site is looked after. From the beautiful flowers at reception to the friendly and helpful staff we met throughout our stay, this is the best site we have stayed on in our twenty plus years with the Caravan Club. In spite of the site being full most days it was so peaceful and well organised. Just outside the gate there were so many beautiful foals and so many lovely walks in all directions. Any thoughts of giving up caravanning due to our age have been ‘blown out of the water’ !!! Many thanks!!

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Not even a pea would survive under the proverbial mattress here; everything has to be perfect and pretty much is kept that way. For a large site it is distractingly peaceful with hardly any evening noise and just lovely fellow campers. Shower stalls thoughtfully designed with large dry areas, toilets have extravagant water saving technology. Perfect position, very rural and a decent walk into Brockenhurst with good shops, restaurants and pubs, and popular with the ponies who can't access the site but patrol the perimeter with great persistence.

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We are regular visitors to the site and recently spent a lovely two weeks there. It’s all been said before that the location and facilities are excellent. Huge thank you to the hard working team of wardens who have battled wet weather and numerous storms to make sure the site is in tip top condition for us to enjoy. They are a really friendly team who were unfailingly cheerful and welcoming even when battling against issues such as speeding on site which seems to get worse year on year. We are already looking forward to our next visit.

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What a fantastic welcome Megan and I got when we arrived .The site as usual is beautifully maintained.I love the Bug Hotel and the short walks that Peter has copied for less regular visitors then me . My only concern is that before the refurbishment it was a 3 couple run site and after was made a 2 couple plus a groundsman This year no groundsman It is a very busy site and despite how very hard the wardens work they are still cheerful and very willing to help anyone The atmosphere on the site is so welcoming. See you in July

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I'm not normally a fan of the bigger sites but this one is laid out well and it doesn’t feel as big as it is. Lovely welcome from the helpful team. I didn’t try the various food vans that visit the site but friends said how good they all were. About a two mile walk into Brockenhurst itself, definitely need waterproof footwear if it’s been wet. Some delightful eateries in the village, including one bakery who did amazing takeaway cream teas! No handy bus stops nearby but there are taxis around. Very nice site and I will be back!

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Lovely site, friendly staff, in an excellent location. Step beyond the site entrance and your surrounded by the New Forest. A very busy site but wasn't a problem.

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It would be difficult to suggest a better location in the New Forest. From here we visited wonderful Exbury Gardens, walked at Bolderwood, Wilverley Plain and more, photographed ponies holding up traffic in Burley and had a wonderful dinner at "The Snakecatcher" in Brockenhurst, but what was extra special were the bicycles we hired from the site. The first day we cycled into Brockenhurst largely using tracks rather than road and on our return took the staff's recommendation of another track up into the bluebell woods. It was so good we hired two again the next morning out through Brockenhurst to the track on the abandoned rail line to Burley. I still can't get over how you hold your phone right by the bike and that unlocks it! Clever stuff, and a grand facility at Black Knowl.

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