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Colchester CC Site (affiliated) Colchester (Lisa Wilson)
Debden House Centre Loughton (Myra Sears)
Epping Forest Site Loughton (David Mansworth)
Kelvedon Hatch CCC Site Brentwood (Myra Sears 2002)- 2nd (John & Jean Haseltine 2006)- 3rd (John & Jean Haseltine 2007)
The Orchards Holiday Village. Clacton-on-Sea (Graham Wilson)
Saltcote Hall CC CL. Maldon (Bill & Marion Harvie)
Steeple Bay, Cinque Ports. St Lawrence Bay (Bernard & Diane Wing) Fishing Site


















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Colchester CC Site (Affiliated)
Cymberline Way
Colchester
Essex
CO3 4AG

Tel: 01206 545 551
Fax: 01206 710 443

E-mail: enquiries@colchestercamping.co.uk
Web site: www.colchestercamping.co.uk

Some images of Colchester Camping & Caravan Park:
Reception/shop-- The site 1-- The site 2-- Our van

2005 price guide:
Prices range from £6.50 per pitch rising to £7.00 in peak season, although caravan club members can get a discount on the price. Adult prices range from £3.80 in saver, low and value times to £4.50 in midseason to £4.80 in peak season, children are charged at £1.30 except in peak season where it is £1.60. Dogs are charged at 50p with a maximum of 2 dogs per pitch.

This site is a family run quiet site and has 251 site pitches for both touring caravans and tents with numerous electrical hookups, with plenty of grass area and next to a nature reserve.
There is a shop, that sells convenience groceries which is licensed to sell wines, ciders and beers, and also sells caravan accessories.
Dogs are allowed on site with nearby dog walks.

A deposit of £10 is required for a card to let you in and out of the camp through the barrier, which is shut between 11.30 pm to 7.30 am each night, this is refundable at the end of your stay.

There are plenty of both hard standings and grass pitches, the site is open all year round apart from the christmas period and hard standings are used mainly until about April time.

There is also 3 caravan storage bays catering for up to 175 caravans, either single or twin axle, small motor caravans and trailer tents and also an area for caravan cleaning which tokens are available at the shop.

Colchester town centre is a walk away, with plenty of car parking spaces if you take the car. There is also a dedicated disabled unit and launderette too.

The site is located just of the Main A12 with the slip road leading to London just by it, but you do not notice the busy road.

Dorections:
From London take the A133 Colchester slip road, take the second exit at the roundabout and the campsite is 100 yards from the roundabout on your right.
From Ipswich turn off on the A1124 junction, take the first exit at the roundabout, follow the road to another roundabout where you take the second exit, follow the road and then turn left and the next roundabout, the campsite is just down the hill on your left.

Lisa Wilson. CLIC. November 2006


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This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Debden House Centre
Debden Green
Loughton
Essex
IG10 2PA

Tel: 02085 083 008
Fax. 02085 080 284

E-mail: Booking via the web site
Web site: www.debdenhouse.com/Camping/Camping.html

In the Camping & Caravanning Club Big Sites Book
225 pitches in 48 acres

Site is owned and operated by the London Borough of Newham and is situated on the edge of Epping Forest in Essex.
There are several large fields (5 of which are used for camping purposes I believe). Grass was longish although they were cutting it.

Fields 1 & 2 have a mixture of electric and non-electric pitches, other fields do not have electric. The site is a mixture of level and partly sloping areas - we had no trouble finding somewhere level.
There are a few seasonal caravans in the first field. Field 3 is reserved for school/youth groups - at the time we were there, there were about 175 teenagers milling around the place! This did tend to up the noise levels a bit, although the general standard of behaviour was pretty good - they could have been much, much, worse!!
We stayed 8 nights - 1 night there was still noise from the next field at 2:30am, but the rest of the time things were basically quiet by 11pm. We were woken on occasion by groups of youngsters making their way to the washrooms at 5:30am, but were able to get back to sleep OK.

There are 2 blocks of toilets/washbasins/showers/dishwashing sinks - one at the entrance to Field 1 and another at the entrance to Fields 2/3 (which is less modern). The block at the entrance to Field 1 was cleaned morning and evening - I presume the same is true of the other block. The staff managed to ensure that there was always a sufficient supply of loo rolls, which was quite an achievement given the amount of people using them! One or two of the toilets did become blocked while we were there, but this was sorted out fairly quickly in each case. There is a disabled toilet in the first block (radar key).

Showers are free - the shower rooms in the first block are palatial - you could hold a dance in each cubicle! There is no temperature control for the showers. On one occasion mine started out barely lukewarm and was almost too hot to bear by the time I finished, on another it started out very hot and stayed that way. Having said that it was a lot more enjoyable than some I have experienced. The shower is controlled by a push button on the wall below the shower head, like in some swimming pools. You had to push the button on a regular basis to keep the water flowing. There was no curtain between the ’wet’ and ’dry’ ends of the cubicle, but given the length of it, this was not a problem. 2 hooks for clothing and a sturdy bench at the dry end of each cubicle. A grab rail on the wall in the ’wet’ end, in case you are less than stable when standing on one leg trying to soap the other! Hairdryer operated by a token.

There is a launderette with 2 washing machines and 2 tumble dryers - don’t know what they cost, since we didn’t use them. The office also doubles as a shop - not sure how extensive the supplies were - we only bought ice creams! Got the feeling it probably majored on sweets, soft drinks and ices, due to the youth groups. There is a cafe, which seemed to be open for breakfast and evening meals - didn’t try this so can’t comment - choice was OK but not extensive, prices were fairly cheap.

The site road has security barriers operated by a card pass, for which you pay a £10 refundable deposit. Site roads have a number of speed humps. There is also a car park outside the barriers. There is a security guard and a guard dog on duty overnight.
The whole site (including car park) is locked between midnight and 6am - there is a small amount of parking outside if you are likely to need the car during the night for some reason. If you take a second vehicle they charge £2 a night for this and I think it has to be parked in the car park, not on site. Charges are £4.50 pppn (min charge £6pn), £2pn for electric, no charge for awnings.
Visitors on foot are charged £1pp, visitors in a car are charged £2.50 per car, regardless of the number of people.
Dogs are allowed on a lead (didn’t seem to be too strictly enforced once you got away from the main entrance/office/cafe area). Don’t know what they charge for a dog. (June 2000 prices)

They tend not to take bookings unless you are booking for a large group or have a particularly large unit.

There is an underground station at Debden although it is a bit of a walk from the site.

We enjoyed our stay and may go back sometime, although we would probably try to avoid the main school camping season!

Myra Sears. CLIC. October 2000


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Epping Forest
Debden Green
Loughton
Essex
IG10 2NZ

Tel: 0208 508 3008

E-mail: debden.house@newham.gov.uk

a Large natural site owned and run by the London borough of newham.

Although it’s not strictly a fishing site but sited in Epping Forest on the outskirts of London this site is ideal for exploring the 6000 acres of the forest and its trails and many pubs.
The Forest has over a Dozen Lakes and Ponds all holding good Tench, Roach, Carp, Pike and Perch etc, and all are free to fish. also there are many rivers all within a 30min drive from the site.

For the non fishing type there are many towns and villages around this part of NW Essex to explore. Waltham Abbey the burial place of King Harold (reputedly) also nearby is Greensted Church the oldest Saxon church in the UK which is at Ongar (a 30min drive)
London (45 min) is easy to get to via the Central Line Tube (Theydon Bois Station is the Nearest) 2 mile away.
For a trip to London take tube to Embankment station walk to Westminster and take Thames river Bus to Greenwich £20 get a Family rtn ticket for the 45min sailing each way. its the best way to see London (from the river) and the south bank walkway is full of entertainers on a Sunday all for free, as is Covent Garden. a good Sunday out for very little then back to the peace and calm of the forest at night. (remember to take food or buy from Tesco in The Strand elsewhere it will cost a fortune)

All pitches are within the forest with plenty of room and no set pitch rules. roomy showers and usual facilities on site, but no entertainment. Best pubs are to be found in Theydon Bois, although the nearest is 1 mile away at Debden, as are small shops.

Deer and Badgers are to be seen within the forest also 500 Mtr into the forest is the Deer Sanctuary. Ask for details at reception. its up the track at side of site on the Theydon Bois road.

David Mansworth. Internet. August 2006


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Kelvedon Hatch Camping and Caravanning Club site --- Second report below
Doddinghurst
Brentwood
Essex
CM15 0JG

Tel: 01277 372 773

BSB site ref: 167/50

Site visited April 2002

We found this to be a very relaxing site. Trees around the edges of the grassy pitching areas. The hard standings all seemed to be level but some of the grass pitches sloped a bit. If the weather has been wet, the ground can be quite soft on this site.

There are 2 loo blocks, but both in the same area of the site - they’re not ultra-modern, but all in working order, cleaned and stocked regularly. No pubs or shops in the immediate vicinity - nearest are at Doddinghurst (a mile or so away) and Brentwood (about 3 miles). There seemed to be a lot of garden centres in the area which we kept meaning to visit but never quite got around to!

60 electric hook-ups. 9 hole mini golf course on site. Children’s play area. Reception sells ice cream.

Just one word of warning - when we were there (Easter 2002) a couple of the local dogs had discovered that you could often find nice things to eat in tents & awnings - make sure all edibles are safely out of their reach if you visit this site. Attempts were being made to find out where they came from but they were proving pretty elusive!

Myra Sears. CLIC. April 2002


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Kelvedon Hatch C & CC site --- Third report below
Warren Lane
Doddinghurst
Brentwood
Essex
CM15 0JG

Tel: 01277 372 773

Web site: www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

Grid reference: TQ 5770 9760

Open to all units, and to non-members.

This is an old-established site within easy reach of the M25 Junction 28. It is tucked away down a lane, and because of this there is virtually no traffic noise.

The site has two fields, with pitches outside the perimeter track of each, plus pitches in the centre. There are a limited number of hard standings, the remainder being grass pitches. The two facility blocks are by the junction of the fields. There is a childrens play area by a stream, and a secure storage area.

In Doddinghurst there is a pub and a shop. In the opposite direction, in Hatch Road, Pilgrims Hatch is a Fish & Chip shop which I would recommend. If you want a supermarket there is a Sainsburys in Brentwood. Adjacent to the site is a golf course, and one corner of the site has a ‘flying golf balls’ notice! There is a Chinese restaurant at the golf course.

The night that we were there only the hard standings were being used because the site was saturated following heavy rain. If you plan to go in a wet period it would be wise to phone first.

John & Jean Haseltine. CLIC. June 2006
(Visited May 2006)


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Kelvedon Hatch Camping & Caravanning Club Site
Warren Lane
Doddinghurst
Brentwood
Essex
CM15 0JG

Tel: 01277 372 773

The site is about 4 miles from Brentwood, travelling NW along the Ongar Road (A128). After the ’Straight Mile’, which is as its name suggests, the road curves right, passing Nicks Tyres. Shortly afterwards you will see a signpost to the site. Turn right here and follow the road and you will see another sign for the site. Turn this corner and the entrance is on your left.

The site comprises 2 fields, with hardstandings both sides of the site track, and has 2 facilities blocks which are located together at the top of the site, handy for both fields.

There is a children’s play area opposite reception with room for ball games, as well as swings.

We found the site noisy in the day and evening due to traffic noise, and frequent aircraft flying over, either to Heathrow or to Stanstead.

There is a farm shop a mile or so away, and a Budgens Local in Doddinghurst. If you go into Brentwood you can shop at Sainsburys. If you want to go to London the nearest station is also in Brentwood.

An interesting place to visit is the ’Secret Bunker’ about 4 miles towards Ongar, and is well worth a visit. Another interesting visit, albeit further away, is Tilbury Fort, owned by English Heritage.

John & Jean Haseltine. CLIC. August 2007


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The Orchards Holiday Village
St Osyth
Clacton-on-sea
Essex
CO16 8LJ

Tel: 01255 820 651

Getting to the site:
Once you get to St Osyth on the B1027 you will find a large brown tourist sign directing you to the campsite, ignore the sign and carry on down the B1027 until you turn Right on a big easy T junction on to Clacton Road. You'll need follow this through the village and when get to the cross roads go straight across.

The Site:
There are 30 pitches for tents and caravans. The caravan pitches are reinforced grass. The electric hook-up is 16amps most pylons cover 3-4 pitches. Some pitches have 2 water taps as well. Whilst not for permanent connection when the site is not busy it is allowed.
There are grass tent pitches also, but whilst we were there most tents were on some of the reinforced grass plots.
The toilet block is new and of a very good standard (as long as the customers treat it with respect - - it shows signs of this NOT happening already) Security is the usual Haven CCT and patrols, you are given a code to get into the toilets at night but when we visited one door was already broken.

The site warden has his office in the block that houses the laundry showers, toilets and Elsan point.
For a change on a Haven site the Touring site is well placed and has its own shop and pub. There is also a dedicated children's play area, although it is still a 5–10 minutes walk from the main entertainment complex.
It should be added that not all the staff are the same as Stephanie reports that the site warden is not a normal Haven employee –– For him nothing was too much bother, he was very helpful when I fell seriously ill whilst on holiday there

The rest of the site is standard Haven operating regime – that is to remove the contents of your wallet completely.
The site has entertainment programmes throughout the day so ensuring that holidaymakers do not leave the site and visit any attractions locally and in fact there are very few other places worthy of a visit.
These are:
The Martello tower at the end of the Point Clear Road where the site is situated, which houses an aviation museum.
Clacton-on-Sea which is almost 4 miles away.
Redwings Horse Sanctuary.
Most other attractions are over 10 miles away.

The site itself offers:
Golf (money required).
Carp fishing (money required).
Swimming pools with lots to do for the kids (money required).
Football coaching (money required).
Pedal powered carts for 2, 3, 4 or 6 persons (money required).

In the evening to get to the “family entertainment” you obviously follow the yellow brick road through the amusements to get to the shows and bingo (wallets keel over and die at bar prices over £3 a pint).

Graham Wilson. CLIC. September 2010


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This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Saltcote Hall
Caravan Club CL Site
Goldhanger Road
Heybridge
Maldon
Essex
CM9 4QX

Tel. 01621 853 252

D. W. Wager

We arrived at the site at around 4pm and found the directions in the book pretty straight forward. We presented ourselfs to the owners and paid our money (£4.00) for the night.

The site was in a 1/2 acre field and 4 others were already there. The owner asked us if we had stayed there before and upon being told it was our first visit, the instructions were as follows:

"The toilet and shower are in the brick building and the fresh water tap is on the side. If you need electricity you will need to park near a box!"

Now we are pretty new to this camping thing so we failed to ask some pretty basic questions. We parked up and plugged in, but there was no electric. After a few minutes bickering back to the house only to be told that inside the box was a coin operated meter! £1 later and we had electric.

Next came the showers. Bit of a disappoint there. One toilet and one shower to be shared by all - fair enough but it had been some time since they had been cleaned. Still we were hot and sticky and wanted a shower so in we went (together of course to save water!) It was ice cold! Aha! we thought there must be a meter here too! But nooo.. We needed a token! One of us had to get dressed and go back to the house now for the token (and it wasn’t me!) well the other sat buck naked waiting and shivering from the blast of cold water that had originally come down! Back comes the old man (mine) with token in hand.
Shower taken, back to van windows open, bottle open, just relaxing when the most enormous invasion of flies I have ever seen found us. I have never seen the like! I don’t know what we were near but the flies loved us!! Of course we don’t have any blinds so it is roast or wave flies away. We opted for the waving, had an early night and left early the next morning. Not the best weekend we have had away actually! Better luck next week hopefully!

Marion and Bill Harvie. CLIC. July 1999


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This is an old report. We would welcome an up-date if you have visited this site. Please do not use this link to contact the camp site

Steeple Bay Cinque Ports--- Fishing site
Steeple
Southminster
Essex
CM0 7RS

Tel: 08458 159 765

E-mail: enquiries@steeplebaypark.co.uk
Web site: www.steeplebaypark.com/index.php

Hundreds of static caravans, a tourer area of 21 hardstandings.
This tourer area is badly neglected with deep ruts in the ground and little grass, nil maintenance I would guess.
For non-electric pitches there is a large field between the clubhouse and a fishing lake towards the river Blackwater, but there is no access to it apart from a boat slipway from the site.

The clubhouse has a bar, a family clubroom, a pool table and a large screen tv.
Take away meals of the fast food type are available from the end of the bar in the evenings. There is an entertainments programme for children and adults all in the clubroom area.

The toilet block houses four showers, two toilets, a urinal in the gents, washbasins and a hand dryer. This was cleaned thoroughly daily but as no-one bothered to lock the block door anyone used it and the area soon became dirty.
The whole touring area and tent/non electric clientel (approximately 150 units when busy) were to be served by this one block. There is one water tap and one waste disposal point but plenty of waste bins.

The barrier of the site was always open and people were tearing up and down the road to the clubhouse all evening and on Saturday until 2am.
The road approaching the site is horrendous as it is a single-track road a mile long with about five passing places and 21 road humps. A really rough group of thirty-somethings with very old and beat-up caravans and cars/commercial vans took over the pitches across the front of the touring area and they all knew each other. It was like being in the middle of a gypsy travellers site, all grouping together with no space to get through, walking or driving. Their behaviour was ignorant, noisy until the small hours of the morning and the area soon became a litter strewn toilet. There was no consideration on this area regarding respecting other people’s space and some caravanners could not have left if they wanted to because they were hemmed in. Their children were no better behaved and swearing loudly was the order of the day.
There were some other caravanners who, like us were visitors for the first (and last) time and we consoled each other. One poor soul was booked in for a week and paid then left after the first night. You may ask why we didn’t do the same but we discussed it and decided that our two grand-children were enjoying the excellent heated swimming pool and playground so much that we would stick it out for their sake as children don’t see these sites as we do.

Bernard and Diane Wing, July 2001

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