Anyone been to longleat caravan club site?

Thinking of having a couple of weeks down there in the summer, safari park, Stonehenge and a few other places to visit

What's the park like for exploring on foot or bike?

The site says there is a pub within walking distance, is it any good

Any suggestion would be appreciated, two adults and a couple of kids (7 & 4)



Last edited by npinks on 24th Nov 2012 9:16 pm. Edited 1 time in total

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Been there twice but it's changed a lot recently, the site itself is good but the Earl of Bath has handed the reins to his son and he wants to make loads of money, the locals apparently up in arms as they now charge them to ride their bikes through the estate, an annual licence is required, not that it matters to you but they have also banned you from taking the dog around the estate. If you are going book up soon as it does get busy.

lespes wrote:

Might want to edit your title

oops predictive text strikes again

Going to book as soon as next years availible along with the rest of my hols in the caravan

We go most weekends and have annual pass. £49.00 if your a CC member.

Now gets very very booked very quickly. Its oner of their top ten sites.

Loads to do at park now,

Thinking its a bit far for a annual pass, going to look at two day pass for the 4 of us

Do you know if a two day is consecutive days or can you go one day then go a few days later?

apparently the place is full of vanners avoid At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Hi
The 2 day Passes are for consecutive days !
Stourhead is worth a visit if your NT members as its only 20 mins away. Bath City is 20 mins , do the park n ride from Odd Down.£2.50 Bradford On Avon-& Avon Cliff well worth a visit also about 20 mins away. Mendips-WSMare & Cheddar all within 40 mins.

You cant ride bikes in Longleat any-more or take walks in the evening from the site. They have spent millions on re-vamp and its vastly improved and the Bird shows are fab. Safari is much longer now and mostly new animals so lions and tigers are quite feisty ( just bypass the monkeys ) they have a thing for mirrors and reverse sensors and washer jets as they like the alcohol !

Thanks OG

When you say you can't walk in the grounds on the evening, is that when the park closes, and your confined to the club site and access road and I believe the footpath to the pub

What about through the day ? Can you walk the grounds or do you now have to pay to walk about and explore the grounds and just pay to enter the safari area and house

correct, once the parks closed your not allowed in whereas if you were on site you used to be allowed to walk and cycle around in the evening !

You can wander into the grounds during the day if you have your CC pass and receipt for stay.
TBH the annual pass is such good value for money buying through the club that's the best way to do it. We have met many caravanner's there that have bought the 2 day pass then decided it was that good they were coming back, although you can upgrade. I am surprised how may travel from far up north !

It does get very busy all year now ! you will need to book on the 5th Dec for next year at peak times ! We live 15 mins away so over the years just used to pop down without even ringing but now days its rammed full.

Dont bother cleaning car or van before you arrive as the lane you have to drive down is single track in places and very muddy !. You will see on the club site there are many comments about the lane. Entry used to be via main entrance ! Now you drive in the back way and WATCH OUT for the numpties coming the other way heading for the safari who think its one way !!!!!!!!!! You need to be very careful on the bends !
As the book says do not arrive before 1 if you do you will meet a van coming the other way and you will end up reversing often several hundred yards !!

Reversing several hundred yards, yeh and some, I met two coaches up by the houses near the exit on to the main road, they wouldn't budge an inch, ended having to reverse all the way back down to almost the Safari Park Entrance, not so much as a raised finger in thanks from the pig ignorant Coach Drivers.

I have visited Longleat on a few occasions and have enjoyed it more each time. For me, it's the bat enclosure that is the main attraction. Watching them flying and eating within inches is fantastic. A must for your kids Nick.
If you are visiting the house too, I would recommend the guided tour if its available.

Cheers all

Is there any other sites down that way as a back up plan, ?

Don't want to go as far as Cornwall, but fancy down south towards that way, but needs something like a play park, or something close by like a woodland area to take kids out for walks and burn off energy

Now we have done a Hatchet Job on Longleat, don't be put off booking it, it is still one of the best Family Sites on the network, wouldn't book it for two weeks myself, mainly as it is just the two of us now, perhaps booking a site on the way down for two or three nights, Cotswolds perhaps, arriving at Longleat midweek, then leaving mid week and booking somewhere else for two or three nights on the way back i.e. Tewkesbury.