Naturist Holidays
Yorkshire
White Rose Club - 2012
White Rose Club is set in a very pleasant eleven acre site at the end of a no through road about ten miles from the centre of York. The site has around sixty permanent pitches for members' caravans and a couple of areas for visiting caravans and tents. There are also two residential caravans available for hire by the day or the week. The site is well cared for and has many mature trees offering shade on the hottest days.
One possible disadvantage of the site is the main railway line that runs along one of the long edges of the site, although during the four days in August that we were there, the trains did not seem intrusive.
The site is well-equipped, having a clubhouse and bar, a heated swimming pool, two miniten courts, three boules courts, a sauna, showers, lavatories and a washing and washing up room. Attached to the clubhouse there is a small Visitors' Centre which has a selection of leaflets from various local attractions together with a computer connected to the Internet. There is also free wi-fi throughout the site. Each visitors' pitch is provided with a 16 amp electric hook-up.
Access to the site is through two locked gates and visitors are provided with their own key for the duration of their stay.
Visiting the city of York is very easy, with a park and ride service that starts at Monks Cross, around eight miles from the site (N53.9817° W1.0500°) and costs just £2.50 per person for a return ticket (2012) with free parking. For those, like us, with bus passes, the costs drops to 60p, but only after 0900. Near the park and ride car park is the Monks Cross Shopping Centre containing Asda and other large shops (N53.9857° W1.0470°).
Free Wi-Fi included
Yorkshire Sun Society - 2012
Yorkshire Sun Society - YSS - occupies a large site, surrounded by farmland, on the outskirts of Hull. In a 26 acre wooded site there are fifty to sixty caravans and chalets owned by members, with some places for visiting caravans and tents. Entrance at N53.8124° W0.3229°.
There is a large clubhouse which includes a bar; showers and lavatories; a covered, heated swimming pool; a sauna; a jacuzzi; boule and miniten courts; a volleyball court.
The site is very spread out with many mature trees and bushes between the caravans and chalets. This makes for a very rural setting and provides many opportunities for spotting wildlife. There are many paths meandering through the site and strolling around is most enjoyable.
Access to the site is through two locked gates and visitors are provided with a key and the gate code.
We had been told that YSS was a very friendly club and within minutes of us being shown to our pitch, one of the members came over to offer cups of tea when we had set up. We then spent a very pleasant time with one couple, supping tea and eating delicious homemade flapjack while chatting about the club, the weather, and many other subjects.
On the Saturday evening we were invited to join members at their barbecue and on the Sunday morning we joined members for a boules contest. Each of us was drawn to partner one of the members, but unfortunately we were both, together with our partners, knocked out in the second round.
From here we visited Spurn Point, access at N53.6121° E0.1436°, and spent a very pleasant day birdwatching and exploring the area.
Ashdene - 2016, 2017
Our 2016 visit was a short stay of just two nights in September to attend a college reunion nearby.
The sloping club grounds of around seven acres sit in an old clay mine, which has been beautifully landscaped and faces south to make the most of the sunshine. Ashdene is easy to get to, as it lies just a few miles off the M62.
There are forty-six permanent pitches for members, three caravans available for hire and spaces for touring caravans and tents with six amp hook-ups. The club house contains a well-stocked bar, a lounge, a conservatory and a sauna as well as lavatories and showers. There is also a covered swimming pool.
Ashdene is a delightful site which nearly made it into our "Star Site" category. It was only the fixed temperature showers that kept it out. Sometimes, we might want a slightly cooler or warmer shower and when the weather is warm, it's nice to end a shower with a splash of cold.
There are no rubbish disposal facilities at Ashdene, but we found that the local Tesco has large bins that will easily take a small binliner full of rubbish.
As with many naturist sites, the location is not published on the club website, but comprehensive instructions for finding the site are sent to those who have booked a visit. Entry to the site is through a locked gate and visitors are given an electronic key on arrival.
For stocking up the cupboards there is a large Tesco in Brighouse - entrance at N53.7036° W1.7777°.
Free Wi-Fi included
In 2017 we stayed for a whole week in June and July. Unfortunately the weather wasn't very good for much of our stay, but we did go out on several days for walks and had a trip to Holmfirth, where Last of the Summer Wine was filmed. Holmfirth is only twelve miles away and has many reminders of the television programme.
The volleyball court, where we stayed last time was full and so this time we were on the camping field, which does slope a bit, but that didn't prevent us from getting the caravan level. The free wi-fi doesn't extend to the camping field, so we had a short walk to the club house if we wanted to check emails or look for places to visit - not particularly onerous.
We also discovered two more supermarkets:
a Morrisons in Elland, N53.6883° W1.8356°, and a Sainsbury's in Brighouse, N53.7013° W1.7779°.