Store & Stay
Store & Stay is similar to seasonal pitching, providing a kind of ‘lite’ version of it. This service is offered by many sites that have storage facilities attached, and can be more cost-effective than seasonal pitching, because you only pay campsite fees when your caravan is on a pitch – the rest of the time, you pay the lower storage fees (typically £5 to £10 a week).
When you want a caravan break, you simply ring up the site where your tourer is stored, book your favourite pitch (advance booking is recommended), then, when you arrive, your van will be waiting for you on its pitch.
Some campsites might make a small charge for your caravan to be positioned, levelled and connected, but this will vary from site to site. Contact the campsite owner to discuss their terms.
It’s just as simple when you leave, because your caravan will be towed back to the secure storage and kept there safely until your next visit.
TV touring star Rowland Rivron stored & stayed in a site on France’s west coast, visiting for a month each summer with wife Monica and their kids. He told me how they met the same families there each year, building friendships and creating many brilliant memories.
Two of my favourite UK Store & Stay sites are the beautiful and tranquil, adults-only Waterrow Park in Somerset, and Keal Lodge in south Lincolnshire.
Both offer Cassoa-rated storage (Keal Lodge was the very first Platinum-rated CASSOA site in Britain) and both storage facilities are connected to peaceful and immaculately kept campsites.
“Before they arrive, we move the customer’s van from storage to pitch, level it for them and refit the security devices,” says Helen from Keal Lodge.
“On departure, we simply return the caravan to our secure storage.” keallodge.co.uk waterrowpark.co.uk