What Is A CL Caravan Site? (And CS site)


Summer is fast approaching and you’re probably looking to take a break from it all, get on the road and enjoy your caravan. But when you’re looking at the best caravan sites in the UK, you’re often confronted with terms and abbreviations that don’t seem to make a lot of sense. 

If you’ve looked at any UK caravan sites, you may have noticed that some are marked as CL; some are also marked as CS caravans sites. But what do these terms mean and do they make a difference to the site?

A CL caravan site means a Certified Location site while a CS caravan van refers to a Certified Site. They are affiliated with the Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club respectively.

So, when you’re next looking for a trustworthy and well-respected caravan site, look out for these abbreviations as they’ll usually tell you that the site is worth using. These clubs would not associate themselves with the sites in any other case.

CL Caravan Sites

Certified Location sites, as deemed by The Caravan Club are located all over the United Kingdom in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

These are caravan sites that are recommended by The Caravan Club because of several factors. The main attraction of these sites is that they only have five or less caravan pitches. These privately owned sites do not allow tent camping, other than things like an additional pup tent or a toilet tent so you can be sure you won’t be overcrowded. 

In order to stay at one of these sites, you have to be a member of the club, so they’re pretty exclusive and well worth a visit. 

CL caravan sites are normally more secluded and offer privacy and a chance to explore the local natural area. You’ll get beautiful views and the great thing is that you have a choice of more than 2200 sites; this figure is correct at the time of writing. Each site offers different things in terms of facilities but all have dry rubbish disposal, chemical emptying and drinking water. There are some very basic sites while others are more luxurious.

There are CL sites near beaches, out in remote countryside and even on functioning farms so there’s a diverse choice that will suit every taste. Just remember that when booking, while you can contact the site directly, they will request your Caravan Club membership details. If you’re not yet a member, you can sign up for as little as £56 per year

CS Caravan Sites

The Camping and Caravanning Club is another reputable club for those who love exploring the country. In this club, the same concept applies and there are several privately owned and managed small campsites that are exclusively for members of this club. 

Again, you will find these sites all over the UK and there is a five caravan or motorhome limit on each of them. Moreover, these caravan pitches have at least six metres between them so you will have plenty of space and privacy for your group. It is important to keep in mind that the pitches can only be rented for a maximum of 28 days at a time. There are also tent pitches, but this is a maximum of ten. 

Much like the CL caravan sites, CS caravan sites have at least drinking water, dry rubbish disposal and chemical emptying but you’ll find there are often other facilities like showers and toilets. 

Since you do have to be a member to stay on any of the Certified Sites, you will have to ensure that your membership is up to date before booking a site. If you aren’t already a member of the Camping and Caravanning Club, you can sign up online for just £45 a year. 

Conclusion

If you are looking for an exclusive caravan site where you can guarantee privacy, seclusion and a gateway to the local area then using a CL or CS site is the way to do this. CL and CS sites are affiliated with the Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning club respectively and these privately owned sites must meet club requirements. In order to stay on one of these sites, you must be a paying member of the club.