Multiple cups of tea and lots of chatting meant that we didn't leave Ma-in-Law's until the morning was seriously thinking about transitioning into afternoon.
In all honesty, we did still have time to take the intended short stroll/recce trip on the way to Keswick, but aside from having forgotten to don suitable clothing for such an outing, we completely forgot about that part of the plan until too late. So, straight to Keswick we went to return to George Fisher the shoes that I bought last week, and about which (after much wearing around the house) I subsequently changed my mind.
To save parking fees, it seemed like a good move to book into the campsite first (the plan being to stay at Keswick C&CC).
When they told us that the pitch fee for the two of us in our little tent was £24 for the night we both fell on the floor, shortly after picking ourselves up with our jaws gaping. £24 in February when we've already been told that the ground is waterlogged?! Am I being unreasonable, or is that just a silly price for a patch of mud, even if the facilities are quite good?
We resolved to go to Stonethwaite instead, the only other local campsite of which I'm aware that is open at this time of year.
With our trip to George Fisher complete we left the heaving high street and headed into Borrowdale, only to find when we reached Stonethwaite that the campsite was displaying a big 'Closed' sign. Damn!
What to do? Mick was reluctantly resigned to returning to the C&CC, but I just couldn't bring myself to pay that much for that campsite at this time of year and reasoned that for £30 more we could have a comfy bed in a warm room with an en-suite and with a full cooked breakfast in the morning. It didn't take a lot of persuasion.
So we're now having a night of unplanned comfort. Tomorrow, after setting ourselves up with a cholesterol-fest of a breakfast, a bit of exercise awaits us when we meet up with Martin (phreerunner.blogspot.com) and Mike (northernpies.blogspot.com). Allegedly, we might even have some reasonable weather for it.
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Something not right with that price - we stayed in October 07 and I think the rate was 7.00 per man/tent combo, so even allowing for two of you, a larger tent and inflation....
ReplyDeleteI've checked on the website an it is right. If we had been backpacking it would have been a slightly more acceptable £15 (so right up there with the most we've paid for a backpacking pitch, and some £11 more than the least we've paid for such a pitch).
ReplyDeleteHowever, as non-members it's £8.50 per person this week, plus £7 pitch fee.
Funnily enough, there wasn't a single tent there.
C&CC prices and those of the Caravan Club are becoming absurd, whether you are a member or not. This week is 'mid-season' but it's only £1 cheaper per adult in 'Low'.
ReplyDeleteHopeless.
I've had a look in the 2009 / 2010 C&CC handbook, they charge (off season):
ReplyDeleteAdult: £7.25
Non-member fee, pitch per night: £6.60
Non-member backpacker: £6.75
Member backpacker: £5.25
They do have nice showers though!
JJ