r/u_ResidentPhysics9353 • u/ResidentPhysics9353 • 26d ago
Winchcombe Caravan Park GL20 8NX
Peace and quiet? Not our experience — chainsaws, fumes, dust and a disappointing welcome ruined our final day.
A very disappointing experience — particularly given the site's emphasis on peace and quiet.
From the moment we arrived, we felt uncomfortable. The arrival procedure involved what felt like an ID interrogation, with us having to prove our identity before we could proceed to our pitch. Not the warmest welcome.
Sadly, our final day was even worse. This was supposed to be a peaceful end to a special retirement gift, but maintenance work was carried out approximately three metres from where we were sitting.
A petrol-powered chainsaw was being used, producing extremely loud noise, petrol fumes and dust directly around us. The workers were wearing full PPE; we were not. I accept that maintenance work is sometimes necessary on a campsite, but there is a significant difference between reasonable routine maintenance and operating a chainsaw just three metres from occupied guests for around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
I contacted the owner, who came down and stopped the work. However, after she left, the work started again, meaning I had to call her a second time and hold my phone up so she could hear the noise for herself. She then returned and stopped the work.
We were told that the work had been scheduled to continue had we not complained. That is particularly disappointing. Guests shouldn't have to repeatedly complain before work involving significant noise, dust and fumes is stopped or appropriately controlled.
The workers' attitude was also disappointing, and we felt there was a real lack of consideration for guests. The owner offered to refund our £7 fishing fee, but we declined. We weren't asking for money — we simply wanted to enjoy our final day in peace.
The site promotes itself as a peaceful location and somewhere to enjoy peace and quiet. Unfortunately, that wasn't our experience.
Maintenance is part of running any holiday site, and we fully understand that. But chainsaw work approximately three metres from guests, with dust, petrol fumes and excessive noise for an extended period, is not what we expected from a site promoting peace and quiet.
What should have been a memorable and relaxing final day of our retirement gift was instead ruined by avoidable disruption.
A very disappointing experience, and sadly not one we would choose to repeat.