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  5. Lovely site - BUT come prepared to battle the Wee Black Beasties(!)

Rated 4 of 5

Rated 4 of 5

Peace and quiet

Rated 5 of 5

Facilities and cleanliness

Rated 4 of 5

Location

Rated 3 of 5

Good for families

Lovely site - BUT come prepared to battle the Wee Black Beasties(!)

Very well maintained, tidy & peaceful site. Lovely views of Blencathra (Saddleback). Of particular note are the excellent, newly-refitted (2018 Season) modern showers and toilet blocks - HOWEVER it does have a significant issue with mosquitos, horseflies and (especially) tiny black biting midges (the type that are tiny enough, it seems, to pass through flyscreens...arrrgh). The answer, as we found, after being badly bitten for the first few nights - was to acquire a 'Jungle Formula' brand plug-in electric vaporizer (£8 on Amazon - the type that has a 2-pin Euro style fitment, so also grab a UK plug adaptor for another £2 odd) - and to leave it gently fuming away in the van (completely odourless) - the liquid reservoir claims to last for 45 days. (Happily) the first morning, after deployment - there were around 50 of the wee beasties in various stages of rigor mortis on the windowsill. Also be aware that the on-site grocery shop is (for some reason) cash only. Equidistant for both Keswick and Penrith - at an easy 15 mins drive to each, the latter with several large Supermarkets (Sainsburys, Morrisons, Aldi, etc.) ** Bonus Marks to the kindly Warden Team for their forbearance with my frequent recourse to Amazon Deliveries (mostly for insect killing remedies - see above!) **
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Tinwheeler replied on 27/07/2019 17:54

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Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 27/07/2019 17:54

I assume the on site shop you refer to is the items on sale in Reception. If so, these are supplied by the warden staff and paid for from their own pockets out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s the same on all club sites and cards cannot be used to make purchases as it’s not funded by the club.

 

Aitch22 replied on 30/07/2019 19:31

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Aitch22

Caravanner
Posted on 27/07/2019 17:54 by Tinwheeler

I assume the on site shop you refer to is the items on sale in Reception. If so, these are supplied by the warden staff and paid for from their own pockets out of the goodness of their hearts. It’s the same on all club sites and cards cannot be used to make purchases as it’s not funded by the club.

 

Posted on 30/07/2019 19:31

So, they could also invest (for a modest amount) in one of these: https://sumup.co.uk/ - connects via most Smartphones - and also take plastic? If anything, it would potentially increase their sales?? To my mind, there's not really any good reason to be 'cash only' in 2019. Rule #1 of Sales: 'Don't make it hard for your clients to transact with you...' ;-)

JVB66 replied on 30/07/2019 19:40

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JVB66

Campervanner from Hertfordshire
Posted on 30/07/2019 19:31 by Aitch22

So, they could also invest (for a modest amount) in one of these: https://sumup.co.uk/ - connects via most Smartphones - and also take plastic? If anything, it would potentially increase their sales?? To my mind, there's not really any good reason to be 'cash only' in 2019. Rule #1 of Sales: 'Don't make it hard for your clients to transact with you...' ;-)

Posted on 30/07/2019 19:40

I think cash is still king in thousands of small and even medium size outlets ,yet to find a mobile ice cream or fish and chip vans that visit sites or many market traders who take cards as mobile signals are not good in thousand of places also,

Ps just remembered they take cards in the very large and busy Ferry Meadows sitesmile

Tinwheeler replied on 30/07/2019 19:47

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Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall
Posted on 30/07/2019 19:31 by Aitch22

So, they could also invest (for a modest amount) in one of these: https://sumup.co.uk/ - connects via most Smartphones - and also take plastic? If anything, it would potentially increase their sales?? To my mind, there's not really any good reason to be 'cash only' in 2019. Rule #1 of Sales: 'Don't make it hard for your clients to transact with you...' ;-)

Posted on 30/07/2019 19:47

A little OTT in the circumstances, I think. 

The wardens may not even be there after the current season. 

moulesy replied on 30/07/2019 19:51

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moulesy

Caravanner from Wiltshire

Posted on 30/07/2019 19:51

Given what one is likely to buy in the site shop - milk, bread, maybe an ice cream - I  can't really see the necessity for making it cash free, convenient though it undoubtedly would be.

Aitch22 replied on 30/07/2019 19:52

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Aitch22

Caravanner

Posted on 30/07/2019 19:52

Device currently cost £19...and has zero monthly fee. Charges 1.69% on transactions...personally, I'd be happy to pay (say) 5% on top, simply to be able to avoid carrying cash...if sites are aiming to attract the younger generation, increasingly they're 'actively cashless' - as am I.

Tinwheeler replied on 30/07/2019 20:00

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Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 30/07/2019 20:00

No cash carried! You’re taking a chance there. Have you never been involved in circumstances where a retailer’s card machine fails or your card has become damaged? Cash is definitely king then. It’s not always possible to walk away and shop elsewhere. 

replied on 30/07/2019 20:14

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Posted on 30/07/2019 19:31 by Aitch22

So, they could also invest (for a modest amount) in one of these: https://sumup.co.uk/ - connects via most Smartphones - and also take plastic? If anything, it would potentially increase their sales?? To my mind, there's not really any good reason to be 'cash only' in 2019. Rule #1 of Sales: 'Don't make it hard for your clients to transact with you...' ;-)

Posted on 30/07/2019 20:14

So, they could also invest (for a modest amount) in one of these: https://sumup.co.uk/ 

Why would they? laughing

Like many I suspect I am likely to buy little from the onsite reception on any site. Possibly an ice cream, occasionally a gas refill and maybe a rare pasty on some sites. If they only accept cash then how likely am I to drive 2 miles to buy an ice cream to bring back to site on a hot day? Am I likely to drive five miles for a gas refill when available on site for cash?