The Camping and Caravanning Club is a United Kingdom

not-for-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

organisation involved with all aspects of

camping Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home, either without shelter or using basic shelter such as a tent, or a recreational vehicle. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more nat ...

based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1901, the club now represents over half a million members.

History

The Camping and Caravanning Club started in 1901 as the Association of Cycle Campers.

Thomas Hiram Holding Thomas Hiram Holding (1844 – 1930 ) was a British tailor and often considered the founder of modern camping. He wrote the first edition of '' The Camper's Handbook'' in 1908 and founded the Association of Cycle Campers, now the Camping an ...

, one of the founders, is considered by many to be the father of modern camping. He also founded the Bicycle Touring Club in 1878, which became Cyclists' Touring Club, now renamed

Cycling UK Cycling UK is a trading name of the Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC), which is a charitable organization, charitable membership organisation supporting cyclists and promoting bicycle use. Cycling UK is registered at Companies House as "Cyclists’ ...

. Holding wrote ''The Campers Handbook'' in 1908, to share his enthusiasm for the great outdoors. His love of camping derived from his experiences as a boy, which dated back to the mid-1800s. In 1906 the Association of Cycle Campers (now The Camping and Caravanning Club) opened its first camping site, in Weybridge. By that time the organisation had several hundred members. In 1909 the association split into three separate organisations, which joined again in 1910 as the National Camping Club. Two more name changes followed, in 1919 (The Camping Club of Great Britain and Ireland) and in 1983. In 1967 its membership rose to 100,000 and more than 300,000 by the end of the 20th century. The club now represents over half a million campers in the UK.

Membership from a modern club

The club offers a paid membership service to tent, campervan, caravan and motorhome owners – in fact, the club accepts units of any shape and size, including motorbike campers. Benefits of being a club member include discounts on its UK and European campsites, money off attractions worldwide and offers on some outdoor retailers.

Structure

The Camping and Caravanning Club is a membership organisation. The club's board of directors, The National Council, are appointed to serve the interests of all club members and manage the club and its policy. The National Council consists of 18 nationally elected councillors, 13 regional councillors, and an honorary treasurer. Regional elections are held to elect club members onto region councils; these councils oversee the operation of the district associations within their region.

Site classifications

There are currently more than 1600 campsites owned, managed or certified by the club.

Club sites

The club has 106 club sites throughout the UK. These are owned, maintained and run by the club.

Camping-in-the-forest sites (CITF)

The club works alongside the Forestry Commission to run 15 sites in Britain's forests and woodland. The New Forest is home to the majority of these campsites. CITF also have sites in the Forest of Dean, Savernake Forest, Loch Lomond, and Aviemore.

Certificated sites

The club is recognised as an "exempted organisation" within the terms of the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960. This means that the UK government allows the club to issue a certificate to land owners, giving them permission to operate a small campsite on their land without specific planning permission. The club has over 1,550 certificated sites open to members.

Independent listed sites

These sites are not owned or run by the club. They are commercial sites which are promoted by the club under the condition that they meet the standards expected by the club members.

Club-approved campsites in Europe

Opening up a world of choice for campers, the club's travel service promotes over 150 sites in 12 European countries.

Other products and services

The club also offers insurance, Arrival (a comprehensive breakdown cover undertaken by the RAC) and travel booking in other countries.

Notable presidents

Julia Bradbury Julia Michele Bradbury (born 24 July 1970) is an Irish-born English television presenter, employed by the BBC and ITV, specialising in documentaries and consumer affairs. Her passion is the outdoors and more recently following her cancer diagno ...

– current president *

David Bellamy David James Bellamy (18 January 1933 – 11 December 2019) was an English botanist, television presenter, author and environmental campaigner. Early and personal life Bellamy was born in London to parents Winifred May (née Green) and Thoma ...

– 2001–2013 * Robert Crause Baden-Powell – 1992–2001 *

Robert Baden-Powell Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, ( ; (Commonly pronounced by others as ) 22 February 1857 – 8 January 1941) was a British Army officer, writer, founder and first Chief Scout of the worl ...

– 1919–1941 *

Robert Falcon Scott Captain Robert Falcon Scott, , (6 June 1868 – c. 29 March 1912) was a British Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the ''Discovery'' expedition of 1901–1904 and the ill-fated ''Terra Nov ...

– 1909–1912

Annual events

The club holds events throughout the year, catering to both members and non-members. National Feast of Lanterns (NFOL) – the club's annual national camping rally – is held in different locations each year.

References

{{Authority control Camping in the United Kingdom Clubs and societies in the United Kingdom 1901 establishments in the United Kingdom Recreational vehicles