do any of you camp at champ shows??

Not done so, but after a trip at Stoneleigh recently and the very hard beds, which meant no sleep I'm going to camp there next year!! I'll have a comfy bed for the weekend :-).

I love camping, so this would be interesting to know if the northern shows have good facilities? Like toilets and shower blocks.

We motorhomed at Border Union this year, don't know if that counts. Lots of our breed folk there and a very jolly time had!

M.

Caravaned at East Of England and Leeds last year, both great fun, only basic facilities (toilet block) at Leeds, lovely showers at East of England.

Stay over at many shows, here and in Europe.  Generally the UK Ch shows charge an obscene amount for everything from a tent to a motorhome.

We caravan at some shows that my husband stewards at; very rarely do we pay to stay there. Facilities are very basic, at Losley the toilets shut at 11pm and reopened at 7am (!) thankfully we have our own facilities. However I have to say that in general the cameraderie makes up for the basicness (if that's a word!)

I think it's disgusting that if you only want to stay one or two nights you have to pay the same as those who are staying a week.  I think it should be a fee per night and if you are staying the week then a discount.

I stay at Bakewell Show which is an open show, great fun and it's free no matter how long you stay.  Was busy though this year!

We take the caravan to quite a few Ch. shows, since the puppies came out this summer - East of England, Paignton, Bournemouth, WKC, SKC, Driffield.  Driffield is our last one as we find it would be too chilly on a night for the dogs for South Wales (they sleep in the awning). Don't use any of the loos or showers on site so can't comment on them. We've found it's much better for the dogs to be there for a few days before the show, they are more settled rather than doing the marathon trip from the far north of Scotland then straight into the ring.

I rarely now stay over at UK shows, I object to paying £50 or more for one night.  I would, as someone else has posted, stay regularly the night before my classes if they charged per night.  The facilities provided just do no warrant the extortionate cost.  However I do stay on show sites abroad, and generally they are well run, good facilities, and cheap.  I pay no more than 30 euros for most, even the World Show was 28 euro for the whole week.

One thing that shows how exhibitor unfriendly Crufts has become is that they still refuse to have a facility for overnight parking.  The NEC regularly hosts events that caters for attendees to stay over - Horse of the Year Show, Motorhome and Caravan Show (maybe obviously!), plus many others.  I have contacted the KC and the NEC about this and each say it is the other's choice to allow or not overnight parking!   Now if I could stay over this is one show I would definately spend 2 nights at, but I am not going to drive 4 hours there just to shop the day before my classes, or the day after.  All my friends from Europe and Scandinavia cannot understand why the KC is so unwelcoming on this, and many do not enter their qualified dogs for this reason.

i've heard camping at the shows is great fun.  how much space on average  is each pitch on the sites?

i'm looking to buy windbreaks from these people.  http://www.dandt.eu/  (unless any one recommends any others)

and wondered if i get the 16...........1/2 mtr would that be ok for ch shows?

Hi , i have camped at most champ shows and find it excellent value for money , where can you get a week away for £45???  Most travel lodges  charge that per night and £10 per dog. I have been to Paighton for the last 3 years , they have the porto loos on the camp field but in the show ground itself is a shower block . I have looked around for other places to stay while showing the dogs and named sites charge £15+ per night   for 2 ppl ,if more in the party charge extra also charge for the dogs. Give me the show sites anytime , its fun and all doggie ppl!... The pitches are huge . SKC camp site have shower/toilet blocks .......  Downside to camping .............THE WEATHER!

To Sal, we have the windbreaks you mentioned, we have the 16 and a half mtr, also the flooring from them too, with a moroccan mat on top.  The windbreaks are excellent.  The size of pitches at Ch shows is quite good, our caravan is big with a big awning and we manage to get windbreaks up too within the size you're allowed.

do they all have shower blocks on the camp sites  at the shows?

thanks Henri................ didn't want to splash out and then find out the winbreaks were too big for the pitch.

Henri would you be able to do us a list of the shows you've camped at and say whether they have toilets and showers and what if any other facilities?

If I camp, then that would be it, me and a tent and no other facilities so the above are most important.

To Suejaw, because we don't use the toilets or showers I tend not to notice if there's a shower block or not (that sounds really bad!!!!, we have our own), still chuckling from typing that!!

East of England, saw a toilet (permanent not porta loo, but didn't notice showers)
Paignton, shower block on showground, just a short walk away, didn't notice toilet but there must be!
Bournemouth, toilets, didn't notice showers
WKC, permanent toilets, didn't notice showers but I think there would be as it's Royal Welsh showground and it's used for loads of events
SKC, permanent toilets and shower block
Driffield, toilets on campsite, def didn't see showers

To Sal, see my reply to Suejaw re: showers

Hi again .The only 2 places i have camped at where the  ground has shower blocks are SKC  and Paighton ohh and newark showground ! Paighton been 1st class this year in my oppinion as the porto loo was pure luxery ,new security staff manned the camp site all in all excellent

east of england showground (peterborough) has toilets, and shower blocks dotted around all over the place

thanks Henri for taking the time to give us all the details.

OH  just asked my why i asked about showers as our latest caravan has one in it . duhhhhhhhhhhhh.

WKC had showers.
Bournemouth no.
Richmond no.
Malvern Show ground, yes, draughty ones!
Thankfully we have our own now.

lol draughty ones!!! defo a miss

anyone camped at Windsor?? always looks so lovely

East of England have showers, Leeds don't.

If you have a caravan with shower is there water hook up.

i noticed some charge extra for electric hookup, quite expernsive as well.  Do any of the site charge by the night also, wouldn't want to pay a weeks worth for 2-3 nights.  That's when i get the courage to tow one of course lol.  Contemplated a tent but soon ruled that out.  I think the cold would do my back in.

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN CAMP IN A TENT AT CHAMP SHOWS,  CAN YOU?

Border Union has Showers and Toilets

Have seen tents and I put my awning up when I go.

Some like Southern Counties & SKC I have seen people in tents.  WKC / SWKC they have a big notice up NO TENTS.  

Well people certanly did at Leeds, and my dogs camped in tents.

I know of people tent camping at a lot shows, brave I say.

I'm not surprized if banned from SWKA or SKA, have you seen the weather there lol.  Its usually raining or freezing cold.

There were tents at WKC this year, in fact there was one behind our caravan and awning.

Quite a few tents at Bournemouth this year and a couple in the field down from us at Paignton.

To Reiliangel, You just use the aqua roll to fill up the on board water tank, that's for everything, shower and all sinks.  We will def. use hook up if we go to Paignton next year and others that offer it.  Just used hook up a couple of weeks ago for the first time and it was super. 

As for paying per night SKC do Monday for the whole week or Thurs onwards. 

are generators allowed on the sites?

Most are allowed gennies, I always read schedule. Like most sites it's turn off at 11pm although there are some inconsiderate peole who leave them running for much longer, although looking at some of the flashing lights etc that people bring I am not surprised they need generators :)

lol.  you always get someone going OTT lol

thanks for info K..............  now  i need s recomendation for a generator.  i'm assuming nowt too big

Thing is if you don't have electric hook up you need a genny.

Can say we are very happy with our 1000w invertor generator 92db bought from Machine Mart about half price of the Honda and just as good.

We have a Honda 1000 and also a Honda 2000, we need the bigger one for my hairdryer!!!! and also the microwave.  I know I could buy a less powerful hairdryer and just use the smaller Honda.  The great thing about the Honda is that it's a lot quieter than most of the others.  On a few of the sites this year someone had what I could only describe was a generator like you'd see on a building site and boy was it noisy!!!  I have to say that everyone round about us always adhere to the rule of no generators after 11pm.

I don't think I could bear to camp somewhere that allowed generators.

Hi,
Recently changed our van and have a lot of electrical equipment that we never had before! Had no idea about generators so asked fellow campers because I didn't have a clue or interest in them! Overwhelmingly they reccomended Kipor ig 2000, it's a suitcase type which cuts down on the noise. I bought mine off e bay and picked it up from the sellers warehouse, we paid £349, I would not take the chance and buy one second hand. Honda are very good but very expensive. Just make sure it's powerful enough for what you want to run,
Hope this helps,
Karen

Sorry, this was meant to be a PM!

To Jeangenie, well at Bournemouth, SKC etc where there are no hook ups there is little choice.  After a while you don't hear them, the majority use quiet ones, with only an odd few with noisy ones (luckily never anywhere near us).

Well with many champ show camps only being a bare field there isn't much other option.  Especially if your 12v goes on the fritz despite brand new battery.

When I go camping I don't use any electrical gadgets. Camping gas or battery lanterns and a wind-up torch. I love the quiet.

I'm with you on this 1 jeangenie, if you're going to camp, you have to do it properly. Non of this luxury lark, hot running water, TVs, cooker's, loos, nah you have to go back to nature. Wash in the river, kill your own food, squat amongst the trees.

I've just reminded myself why I hated camping so much.

Dukedog please let us know what shows you are camping at so we can make sure we avoid the bushes :) I'm sorry but I love my shower in our van  ( think the other exhibitors are pleased too especially as we stay a few days!!) and the thick mattress on the fixed bed ( saves a chiropractor visit!)
I'm obviously not a proper camper as I don't use an axe to open my bottle of wine, a proper cork screw for me as I'd hate to spill a drop......

We have been caravanning 6 years and I have only just let hubby buy a TV, he said he got it for me as he found it embarassing watching me hanging around walking the dog and looking through other van's windows to catch a glimpse of Strictly Come Dancing :)

I don't do campin no more Sawheaties, Holiday Inn all the way for me, I just love those bidet's. :) LOL

> he said he got it for me as he found it embarassing watching me hanging around walking the dog and looking through other van's windows to catch a glimpse of Strictly Come Dancing :-)

He thinks you're looking at the TV, Personaly I think those caravan shower units should have frosted glass windows meself. ;)

thanks Karen for info on genny's and everyone else.

we have a few mod cons the tele, satelite dish lol(new expense don't ask, not my idea) fridge . draw a line at using a microwave or hoover lol.

i don't use a cork screw cos i have a 3 litre box......

Dukedog I have been found out! Our shower is clear....... There are times on sites when you have to look the other way as it's amazing what people will wear when walking their dogs, I try to have PJ's that look like jogging bottoms, but when a dog's got to go a dogs got to go!!

Although I might take up camping again though, it's sounds like all you lot do is get razzled...:)
And clear shower windows too...definately.;)

Dukedog.  drinking is a must if you camp.