Great Gransden camp site CCC CS
Gt Gransden
Nr Sandy
Bedfordshire
SG19 3BB

Tel: 01767 677 251

BSB 153/75
Open March - Oct

Visited August 2005

This is a CCC Certificated Site, so members only. Very nice, garden-type site, well-kept, level grassy areas with Netlon under some parts. Friendly owner.

One toilet/basin and one coin-operated shower (coin box inside cubicle, 50p IIRC). Both clean - didn’t use shower so can’t comment on its performance. Electric hook ups. Apparently has a rally field, but didn’t see that.

Unheated swimming pool, £1 for adults 50p for children. Open for 1 hour am and 1 hour pm.

Very relaxing site - we sat for ages watching the gliders from the Cambridge gliding club circling overhead!

Only stayed one night but we are likely to return for longer at some point this season assuming we can get in - I gather it is pretty popular and can well see why.

Myra Sears. CLIC. January 2006

Henlow Bridge Lakes--- Fishing site
Arlesey Road
Henlow
Bedfordshire
SG16 6DD

Tel: 01462 812 645

Web site: www.henlowbridgelakes.co.uk/
E-mail: info@henlowbridgelakes.co.uk

Open all year

This site started life as a certificated site which has been, and is being, upgraded – so far they have added quite a few extra pitches, camping pods and a very nice new facilities building. It is unashamedly a fishing site, so there will be fishermen around during the day who are not staying on the campsite – separate parking and facilities are provided for them. This does not mean you will be unwelcome if you don't fish – far from it, they have made us very welcome each time we have visited.

The upgrade is very much still in progress so I can’t guarantee there won’t be work going on during your stay – so far we've been lucky........ 2 more fishing lakes are being created, and there are plans in future to upgrade the reception building/shop and build a tea shop.

That’s the background story...... so what’s the site like?

Access is via the narrow slip road from the A507 to Arlesey station – it feels very tight but is one way and actually no problem. The one corner that might have been an issue has had the kerb lowered to make cornering easier.

It’s an attractive little site, mostly hardstanding but some grass pitches. There are some mature trees on the original part of the site, the newer part has many shrubs and young trees which need time to settle in and grow. In time it should look great. Our 24ft’er fitted on fine, we saw one that was definitely longer than ours on site, but if you have a long van I would check with the site. Warden on site overnight.

Water tap and electric on each pitch, I think some pitches you pay flat rate per night, where we were was metered (worked out much cheaper than usual cost of ehu – we used £2–worth in 2 nights and we were cooking on electric as well as using heated floor).

Pitch fees: we paid £17pn for 2 adults and motorhome in October but it varies depending on length of stay and time of year. One night stays seem to be discouraged – they are quite expensive.

The new facilities block is surrounded by hanging baskets and potted plants – looked lovely. The area around the block is lit at night, facilities are open during the day but locked at night (£20 cash deposit required for key to these and the site gate). There is a small library area with books for sale/exchange, tourist info stuff, walks leaflets and a desk area with seats, electric sockets and wifi if you want to use your laptop (wifi was stronger on our pitch than in the building but can’t say whether it reaches to all pitches or not).

Lights and radio come on automatically when you enter the block. Disabled facilities and baby change. Toilets/Showers etc. are heated and are spotlessly clean. Washbasins are not in cubicles and are too close together – if they were all in use it would be very crowded.

They also have a rally field and meeting room available for hire.

The 3 camping pods looked very nice with their own parking space, bbq and picnic table.

The shop is angling stuff, not groceries, although it does have hot/cold drinks and ice creams. I don’t know whether this will change when they get the extended version.

There is a children’s play area photo 1 photo 2 , and if the rally field isn’t in use I would imagine that may be available for ball games, but check with the site.

Various walks around and from the site. Pubs, Food places and shop within walking distance in the village I’m told, but we haven’t been. Bus stop on the bridge over the railway line. Arlesey station in walking distance.

The site is located where the A507 crosses the main railway line so unless the wind is blowing the noise away from you, you will always hear traffic and/or railway noise (does calm down at night and wasn’t noticeable inside the van). If you like to relax on site during the day and value quiet, this may not be the site for you. Having said that, it does, however, still manage to feel a peaceful and relaxing site, so gets our vote regardless. I’m not a great fan of Leylandii but I do wonder whether this might be a suitable location for a row of them near the road bridge, to block some of the noise out, if it could be done without putting the whole site in shade!

Fishing:

There are currently 2 fishing lakes, one of which may be in use for match fishing at any time. It says fishing is available on the river too, but that looked seriously overgrown with weeds/reeds to me (non-angler!). Night fishing is available but must be pre–booked. Various rules about dipping nets, type of hook etc..

www.henlowbridgelakes.co.uk/fishing/ and www.henlowbridgelakes.co.uk/resources/hbl_angling.pdf for further info.

Disabled access:

2 pitches are designated for disabled, with access to the facilities block via solid surface – the other pitches have access via gravel roads.

Doors to the facilities block are locked at night – the keyholes are set lower than usual. On the plus side, I would assume this is for it to be reachable from a wheelchair. On the down side, if you are tall and not as flexible as you would like, it could be an issue getting down to it! They have disabled facilities but I did not investigate them.

The existing fishing lakes both have at least one swim for disabled anglers. One of the new lakes will be completely accessible for disabled anglers, but that is not yet completed.

They say “Access to the riverside can be arranged for the less abled persons to appreciate this part of the countryside. Please contact us about this”.

Last Visited: February 2012

Myra Sears. CLIC. February 2012

Tythe Farm
Silver Street
Stevington
Bedfordshire
MK43 7QR

Tel: 01234 888 828

We have just got back from a weekend at Tythe Farm, a lovely little family owned site.
It’s a CS site for the Caravan & Camping club. It cost £7 per night, is very quiet and has lovely views. It has the Harrold Odell country park just 3 miles away, and Bedford has lots of things to see and do, including the Butterfly Park.
I really enjoyed my stay and will definitely be going back.

Penny Dewhurst. Internet. June 2004

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