Rated 4 of 5

Rated 5 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 4 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 5 of 5

Location

Rated 4 of 5

Good for families

Excellent but with a few minor buts

This is an excellent site and location for our needs, Quiet location, Walking, Road and Gravel cycling. However stupid issues that shouldn't be there and very easily resolved if the Wardens/CAMC admin read this 1: Black Mould on the ceiling of ladies and gents showers, a "flat" mop with bleach on would clean this....simple.... otherwise it is a disgusting and a bio hazard, especially to those with respiratory problems or illnesses . 2: The "Bike/Dog wash is not fit for purpose, I don't own a dogs but it is useless for washing bikes as the hose diameter gives no pressure to blast out the sandy grime from forest roads, nor can you put on your own hoselock fittings as the hose is the wrong size, please fix this to take a hose gun, simple 3: Regarding the above, we "felt told off" by a female warden when told there was a bike wash to use when I was using the supply on my service pitch with "fit for purpose" hose gun. Not sure if I was breaking rules or not?.....be clear as I cannot find anything in the site rules regarding this? More muck and oil will wash off my car and van in a rain storm than I will wash off my bike, all cleaning products I use are bio degradable (a majority are these days) common sense prevails. 4: The wardens (Wardens please take this as positive constructive criticism for improvement) Well we can't really complain but then again we cant really make any positive comments either, they were "unnoticeable" and a lack of engagement or social interaction left us cold, many campers may find this good, we found it a in-personable with a lack of interest in the residents on site. Is being a CAMC warden was more than just a job? Are they better than the campers? One warden in particular has an intimidating physical presence and needs to find a way to engage with the clients on site to overcome this (see previous about engaging with the site customers), further to the bike wash comment, another camper had encountered this warden when washing their bike on pitch as I had and felt intimidated. I feel that from his persona, he is either ex Forces or Police? A bio story of the wardens would help us out here in how to interact with the employees of the CAMC, manage expectations 5: WHY is the information hut labeled as assistance dogs only, it IS NOT a food preparation area and poses no hazard. And we don't have dogs, this is discrimination. 6: There is an over use of labeling throughout, in particular the "don't walk over the cattle grid" is laughable and shows a nanny state attitude from either the wardens or the CAMC....... signs and labels everywhere are ugly and too many get ignored and messages diluted 7: At times we had to help older and more frail campers to open and use the combination lock on the heavy toilet doors. We understand that this level of security maybe required during the months the site is closed but could certainly be managed in a better way during the season when the site is open. Please treat us like grown ups

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Tinwheeler replied on 16/10/2018 17:59

Posted on 16/10/2018 17:59

Did you point out these things to either the wardens at the time or the club itself or just choose to complain in a review?

I've never seen such a load of negative comments about trivial issues.

 

JVB66 replied on 16/10/2018 18:42

Posted on 16/10/2018 18:42

"Interesting Review?" we were on this site in July and found all the site staff very friendly and helpful,and the facilities first class,,and as for label everywhere? i only noticed them in places that if there had been a "problem" it would have been (as seems normal these days)the fault of "the club for not putting a notice up",and there must have been a problem(unacompanied younger children?) as when we were there the toilet door locks were not activated,

 

 

RedKite replied on 16/10/2018 19:07

Posted on 16/10/2018 19:07

We were on site beginning of this month and found nothing wrong with site staff very helpful and chatty each time we spoke to them. As to Tinwheeler  said did you speak to the staff.

We found out that the issues in the toilet blocks will be dealt with during the closed season and generally bleach is not used for cleaning it is not an eco friendly product and it can make some people have breathing problems myself included.  As to the bike/dog wash use a hand brush with the hose and the dirt will come off, a lot of sites do not have this facility.

The toilet number lock is there because there had been a problem in the past with the local forest camp site folk trying to use club facilities.

Snooky replied on 20/10/2018 23:00

Posted on 20/10/2018 23:00

I have never read such a negative and discriminating review - I hope I never stay at this (or any) site whilst you are there

the location of this site in New Forest is wonderful as is the many cycling routes accessible direct from site

richardaubrey replied on 23/10/2018 10:44

Posted on 23/10/2018 10:44

Just back from a fantastic week at Black Knowl, pitch 118,  been several times before the upgrade and although i actually liked the "old" block I thought the new one was superb, clean & warm with no issues whatsoever !

As for the wardens i found them to be friendly and approachable whenever i had a need to talk to them, with the site full they surely can't be expected to show an interest in every person or family that is staying there? they do after all have work to do in keeping the grass areas cut, cleaning, general maintenance & booking in arrivals etc all for our benefit...I witnessed all of the above being carried out. On one particular morning on his 9am bin emptying round I saw/heard the warden have a 30 minute conversation with 2 campers about the local area, I'm sure he most likely wanted to get on, but in no way was this evident from his personae.

I also washed our bikes using the bike wash area, and although the water pressure wasn't "karcher" level it was more than sufficient to clean the days grime and forest dirt off.

Of course you can't please everyone all of the time, and feedback is crucial to improvement, but let's give credit where credits due, and in this case, in my opinion, the site & the wardens were fantastic!!

BxG replied on 30/10/2018 12:45

Posted on 30/10/2018 12:45

We were probably at Black Knowl at the same time as you. Just before half term week, we left on the Saturday just before the rush.
Have to agree on some of your points:
 
1.  We didn’t notice any mould problems in the loo’s/showers – was very impressed by the new toilet block.
2.  Didn’t use the dog/bike wash.  We were also on a service pitch.
3.  Didn’t get told off (only used tap for filling water jug and tank)!
4.  Wardens were friendly in reception when we arrived however we DID notice the wardens were reluctant to look at you or smile as they walked past our pitch.  The water tap on our bollard had been pulled at an angle, perfectly useable so we filled our on-board water tank.  One warden went up to our tap then disappeared to reappear with a tool kit and straightened up the tap without a word or a smile to us.  It really left us feeling like WE had done something wrong!  Just a few words to us or a smile or even a nod would have made such a difference.
5.  Re dogs in info room, would rather not have them in a confined space as if wet they are rather smelly!.
6.  Sorry but I didn’t notice the labelling!
7.  Totally agree about the loo door locks.  As we were so near the loo block we could see the majority of members having trouble with the doors.  Maybe they are too new!
Loved the upgraded site a great improvement on the old.

2L84T replied on 27/01/2019 12:01

Posted on 27/01/2019 12:01

Sorry we cannot agree with any of your observations other than the locks on the toilet blocks being slightly temperamental. As in most cases of most mechanical equipment it comes down to the operator not following instructions correctly and being impatient to resolve the issue.

We have stayed many times at this site before the upgrade and will continue to do so due to the tranquility and location. As for the non contact with the wardens, I suggest that on your check in to the site you consult the wardens diary and book a welcome chat for the following morning just like you would have with a package holiday interfering representative.

Lastly if you find it necessary to complain rather than praise the wonderful sites that the CAMC provide then I think you may have the wrong pastime that you are following. 

As others have said take your issues to the wardens or raise them with the correct department rather than creating a damming review which really is not the correct place.

replied on 27/01/2019 12:05

Posted on 27/01/2019 12:05

I had not the patience to read the diatribe

replied on 24/02/2019 16:29

Posted on 24/02/2019 16:29

Sounds like at least one person will not be going back, perhaps there will be space for us?