Alderstead Heath C C Site
Dean Lane
Mersham
Redhill
Surrey
RH1 3AH

Tel: 01737 644 629

To Find Site:
Leave M25 at junction 8 onto A217, signed for Reigate. Within 300 yds fork left for Mersham and after a couple of miles at T junction turn left onto A23. After half a mile turn right into Shepherds Hill, signed for Caterham. In one mile take sharp left and watch out for International campsite sign. To exit back onto M25 from A23 speak to the warden who will advise.

Alderstead Heath is a large campsite covering 30 acres and open all year and non members are accepted. It is a well wooded site and almost park like in appearance There are 150 pitches of which 68 are on hardstandings. Tents can also be accommodated. Some of the pitches are given over to seasonal use. There is a playground for smaller children and an adventure style one for older ones plus a kick about area. The site has two toilet blocks. Second generation WiFi is available and is site wide but anyone using a mobile broadband dongle could experience difficulties with reception, that was certainly the case with Vodafone. Ice creams and soft drinks are available from Reception and newspapers can be ordered. The site has a large storage facility. Date of latest visit early May 2011.

We used this campsite as an overnight stop on the way to the Channel Tunnel. However the campsite could be used as a convenient place from which to visit London. Its a 35 minute journey from the station at Mersthow. Apparently this is the only campsite within the M25 that is not in the Low Emission Zone.

David Klyne. CLIC. July 2011. This replaces an old report written in 1999
For images of this site, and other reports, go to Caravantravels

Basingstoke Canal Visitor Centre
Mytchett Place Road
Mytchett
Surrey
GU16 6DD

Tel: (UK) 01252 370 073
Fax: (UK) 01252 371 758

E-mail: info@basingstoke-canal.co.uk
Web site: www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/cancent.htm

Visited September 2006

The site is just a rough field beside the canal, with the field further away from the canal being used as a rally field.

Dogs are supposed to be on leads on the site, but not everyone kept to this and one dog in our party was attacked by an uncontrolled dog whilst sitting outside his van (on a lead). He was badly enough injured to need a vet.

Loos/showers are some distance from the further edges of the rally field so if you are parked there you can get fit into the bargain!! Ladies has 1 toilet/1 shower, disabled 1 toilet/1 shower, but gents apparently only have loos, no shower.
Key code for access to the facilities. When the facilities block is closed for cleaning you can use the loos in the visitor’s centre.

Visitor’s centre has a small cafe with a playground nearby and you can book boat trips.

Family type restaurant opposite the entrance to the centre did reasonable food.

If we had a rally there again I would be happy to attend, but it isn’t a site I would rush back to.

Myra Sears. CLIC. February 2007

Chertsey C & CC Site--- Second report below
Bridge Road
Chertsey
Surrey
KT16 8JX

Tel: 01932 562 405

Wardens: Linda & Dave Branscombe.

The sole purpose of our stay at Chertsey was , to be close enough to London to enable us to take our 9 year old grandson Ben, to visit both ‘The Dome’ and ‘The London Eye’.

The wardens here were all very helpful and their suggestions of the best way into London assured us of two delightful days out. Most people we were told drive to Weybridge Station, about 5 miles away. The cheapest way to buy your fare is a Travel Card. There is a very large car park there, that is free at weekends and you can get a train in to Waterloo Main Line station. This is perfect for ‘The London Eye’ just a couple of minutes walk and you’re there right under the wheel. You can also catch the boat from below ‘The Eye’ to ‘The Dome’. The ride is an awesome experience and we can’t wait to go again. From Waterloo Station, it’s only a few stops to North Greenwich for ‘The Dome’. Despite the media’s sabotaging of ‘The Dome’ we all enjoyed it very much, especially the fabulous arena show. In fact we stayed on and watched it a 2nd time!! We were very impressed that all the food outlets were charging High St. prices.

The site itself has all the normal high standards expected of our Clubs. Immaculate loos, showers etc. Although very busy we didn’t have to queue for very long the showers etc. Laundry and dishwashing facilities, a recreation and TV room. There is a play area for kids too. Although there are launching facilities at this site the river in June/July was heavily in flood and was a rushing torrent. There is just a very small gate between the site and the fast flowing river. If you had been sited at the back , where the pitches are by the river, you wouldn;t be able to take your eyes off small children for a second. The site has 200 pitches, some are all weather, for campers, caravans and motorhomes. At the time our visit the site was full and the wardens were having to turn people away, we were lucky as we had booked in advance.

Several riverside pubs are just a couple of minutes walk from the site, on both sides of the bridge.

The site is situated just off the M3, which makes it an easy drive for folks like us travelling up from the West. We also managed to fit in going to Runnymede and Windsor from Chertsey. For families it’s a very good location for visiting ‘Legoland’.

We would definitely use this site again if we wanted to go sightseeing in our Capital!

Date of visit : June/July 2000

Lin & Kevin Hemmings. CLIC. October 2000

Chertsey C & CC Site
Bridge Road
Chertsey
Surrey
KT16 8JX

Tel: 01932 562 405

Map Ref 176/052667 GPS Ref TQ 0520 6670

200 pitches, open all year.

Dates visited: January and February 2006

An attractive site right next to the river Thames. Grass and hard standing pitches, great facilities, reception stocks tinned-type food.
Disabled facilities near reception (which isn’t that near any pitches). Staff friendly. Security barrier at entrance for which they give you the code (changed every Monday). Electric hook-ups.

Site is frequented by squirrels so they warn tent campers to keep all food in tins - plastic boxes are NOT squirrel proof! Presumably for the same reason, the water points do not have the usual array of dustbins - all rubbish has to be taken to the large rubbish containers near the motorhome service point. There are recycling facilities here as well.
Towcars must remain on site overnight due to possibility of flooding.

Opposite the site entrance is a Jet garage which sells bread, milk, eggs, papers etc. and has an off licence. p A walk through the houses opposite will bring you to the Marina and subsequently Chertsey Meads, an open grassy area beside the river which has picnic tables and would no doubt be great for exercising dogs.

Canoes can be launched from site and you can fish in the river. There is a pub either end of Chertsey bridge, both serving food. Menus looked OK but we didn’t try them - reception have discount vouchers for the one nearest the site Mon-Thurs.

We’ve been twice so far and will quite likely go back.

£6.05 - £8.40 per adult.
Service pitch: hardstanding/electric £3.25pn

Myra Sears. CLIC. March 2006

Horsley Camping & Caravanning Club Site--- Fishing site
Ockham Road North
East Horsley
Surrey
KT24 6PE

Tele: 01483 283 273

Wardens: Gordon & Sandra Thorpe.

Date of visit: 11th - 14th April 2000

The good lady ?-- One of the lakes-- The play area-- The toilet/shower block-- The camping field ?-- Part of the site layout

Directions:
a) From M25 (Jct 10) take the A3 south to the B2039 (on left). The site is approx 2.5 miles on right along the B2039.
b) From Guildford follow the A3 North to the B2039 (on right).The site is approx 2.5 miles on right along the B2039.
c) From Leatherhead, follow A246 south to B2039 (East Horsley). Site is approx 2 miles on left.
Whichever route you take be careful not to miss the site as the sign post is partially obscured.

Very popular fishing site with a number of gravel pitches arranged around the lake. The are three other areas with some hard standings and there are plenty of electric hook-ups.

There is a central amenity block of a very high standard with toilets, showers, family wash room, wash-up/laundry room and chemical disposal.
Disabled facilities are located in this block and the fishing swims are equally accessible.

There is a recreation room with tables, chairs, table tennis and dart boards. A children’s playground is situated on the larger field.

The reception has a few small items for sale but the village of East Horsley is only 1.5 miles from the site where there are grocery stores, banks, butchers, greengrocers and takeaways.

Situated close to the M25 this site is ideal for trips into London or alternatively check the train service from Horsley. The larger towns of Reigate, Redhill, Leatherhead and Guildford are close.

As I said above this is site is very popular for fishing but it is also a tidy and relatively quite site for the non-fishing fraternity. There is plenty of wildlife and local walks.

Phil Berry. CLIC. May 2000

Walton-on-Thames C & CC Site--- Second report below
Fieldcommon Lane
Walton-on-Thames
Surrey
KT12 3QG

Tel No 01932 220 392

Wardens: David & Maureen Blundy.

Big Sites Book page 229

Our pitch --- Riverside view

I had business reunion in Surbiton, and this site was very near, so we decided to have a weeks stay and see places within the area without going into town.

The lane into the site is quite long, and not wide enough to allow two cars to pass let alone caravans. In busy times I’m told, the safest way is for your partner to walk to the end of the lane to stop any one entering before leaving with the van.

David and Maureen were very friendly, and we were told to park any where, there were pitches free by the river, and that is where we unhitched and plugged into the hook-up point. There are no facilities apart from the water tap. Although a large site 100 pitches, there are no toilets or showers, so basic is the word, but the view was good and peaceful, (see photo.) There is a recreation room, but nothing was happening at the time we were there.

I think it rained every day at some point, and I mean rain. I don’t think I will be going back, unless there is another reunion in the area. Of course if you like the races Sandown Park is close by.

John Stanford. CLIC. April 1999.

Authors note. I asked John about any fishing from this site, but as he is not an angler, he didn’t know. It might be worth checking this, as the site is on the Thames.

Walton-on-Thames C & CC Site
Fieldcommon Lane
Walton-on-Thames
Surrey
KT12 3QG

Tel No 01932 220 392

Wardens: David & Maureen Blundy.

Big Sites Book 176/20

Visited: August 2002

We spent a long weekend there over the August Bank Holiday and the site had a peaceful feel to it even though it was peak time. This is a members-only site which has 100 pitches, CDP, fresh water and electric hook-ups (not sure how many - ours was number 30). We enjoyed our time there and may well pay it another visit in the future.....

Pros:
* Peaceful, not crowded.. (site pitches)
* riverside site (we were fortunate enough to get a riverside pitch but there are only a limited number of those).. (riverside pitches)
* for those with dogs, I would say the dog walk is much better than at some club sites.. (the dog walk)
* seemed to be quite a few birds around if you are into bird-watching (we like watching ’em but don’t usually have a clue what we are looking at!). There is a flock of parakeets that frequent the site.
* fishing for those who want it
* age concession applies all year
* cheaper than a lot of club sites

Cons:
* No loos or showers
* There is a sewage works on the opposite bank of the river and very occasionally we got a whiff of it! Not enough to be a problem
* Can sometimes get a bit of noise from local rugby club and some other club nearby - didn’t carry on much after 11pm though.
* The lane to get to it is not maintained by the council since they only recognise it as a public footpath. Consequently it has plenty of potholes. Also it’s rather long to not have any real passing places, especially since it goes round corners and you can’t see what is coming! I walked down the lane to check no-one was coming through then phoned back to give the all clear, before we tried towing the folding camper down there - decided discretion was the better part of valour!
* Apparently gets quite soggy in wet weather.
* No entertainment etc. if that is what you want (there is a clubroom which advertised a Disco one night and Bingo another but not sure whether they got any takers or not.....)

Myra Sears. CLIC. August 2002

Update from Myra
Revisited May 2003, likely to go back again cos we still like it!

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