What is a rally?

Medmenham

Firstly what a rally isn't. It is not some sort of mad speed trial for cars with caravans attached chasing around the countryside at breakneck speeds doing handbrake turns and power slides. Leave all that to the car rally drivers!!

Do you own a caravan, motor home, trailer tent or Tent? Yes, that's right, The Berkshire Centre is one of the few Centres that will accept tents on to a Rally.

Do you always stay on commercial caravan sites?

Do you have your own on washing and toilet facilities?

Ever thought about attending a caravan rally but don't know what a rally is? Please read on…

Frequently asked questions

  • What is a rally?
    Carmel College

    Carmel College

    It is a gathering of Caravan and Motorhome Club Members who enjoy weekends away with fun and fellowship thrown in for good measure. Use your caravan or motor home all year round in lovely surroundings at reasonable prices. You can enjoy a natter, have a laugh and perhaps a drink or two - a real opportunity to make new friends and visit new places. Take a look at the Picture Gallery to see photos taken at rallies during the last few months.
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  • Who goes on rallies?
    Pirates

    Young pirates at Caen Locks

    A complete mixture of people ranging from families with young children, families with teenagers, people without children, people whose children are grown up, retired people, people on their own, people with their dogs (and cats and budgies and hamsters!). One thing all these people have in common is enjoying the freedom offered by caravanning.
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  • Where are rallies held?
    Longleat

    Longleat

    The Berkshire Centre of the Caravan and Motorhome Club holds rallies throughout the year (yes, even during the winter) at a variety of venues throughout Berkshire and the surrounding counties. Most rallies run from late afternoon Friday until late afternoon Sunday. Many rallies are held in quiet fields. Others are held at locations close to a local attraction or event . A few rallies are held at commercial sites. During the winter months, the rallies are usually held on hard-standing in school playgrounds or Village Halls (no getting bogged down in the mud!). See this years Rally Program on the Rallies Tab for details of the rallies being held by the Berkshire Centre this year.
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  • What about holidays? Holiday rallies are held during periods such as Bank Holidays, half term or in the summer. These can be at home or abroad. See this years Rally Program on the Rallies Tab for details of the Holiday rallies being held by the Berkshire Centre this year.
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  • What happens on a rally?
    Rotherfield Peppard

    Group barbecue at Rotherfield Peppard

    Lots! Generally, the day time is available to spend at your leisure although sometimes optional activities are arranged (such as fishing, walks, tenpin bowling, coach or boat trips). Take part in as much or as little as you wish - there is no pressure to join in anything or everything. A competition or quiz is often provided for you to work on over the weekend. On the Saturday evening a social event, sometimes with food provided, is often arranged. Again, attendance is entirely optional but the social can be the highlight of the weekend. You never quite know what to expect - but you can guarantee an enjoyable (if sometimes unusual) evening. Flagpole, normally on Sunday morning, is the formal part of the rally at which forthcoming rallies are advertised, rally officers (the people who run the rally) thanked, raffle drawn and competition winners announced.
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  • Are there any special rallies?
    Lantern Competition

    Decorated window for the Lantern Competition

    Yes. A number of competitions are held at rallies during the year with trophies presented to the winners. These competitions are for fishing, Golf, an observation tour (March Hare Rally) and for the best decorated and illuminated caravan window based on a theme (Lantern Rally) Competitions are held at the Chairmans Rally for flower arranging, photography, baking, pub darts, lawn darts and petanque.
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  • How much does it cost? This is the great thing about rallying. Prices obviously vary depending on the venue, but can be as low as £12.00 per night (plus VAT) plus a small rally fee and administration fee. The optional social is charged for separately to cover any costs involved. Even rallying on a commercial site is at a reduced rate.
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  • How many people attend a rally?
    Proms

    Berkshire Centre's Proms in the Park

    Again this varies. Some rallies are small with less than ten caravans attending. Others, especially those near a popular event, attract over fifty units. At the top of the scale is The Caravan and Motorhome Club ClubFest, a Nationwide Rally run by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
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  • What facilities are there? A fresh water tap is available on the rally field, and an elsan waste disposal point. Apart from the rallies held at commercial sites, no electric hook-up is available. Don't let this put you off though. Modern caravans and motorhomes are perfectly suited to running entirely with bottled gas and a 12V leisure battery.
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  • What are the spacing regulations for outfits on a Rally? Rally Spacing
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  • How do I go on a Berkshire Centre rally?
    Little Marlow

    In the orchard at Little Marlow

    Firstly, you need to join the Caravan and Motorhome Club. You then optionally register with a Centre (hopefully the Berkshire Centre!). On registering with us you will be sent a copy of the Berkshire Centre Rally Programme booklet, which contains full details of all the rallies being held throughout the year by the Centre. Decide which rally you wish to attend and book online or post a booking form (included with the Rally Book) to the Rally Officer running the rally. Then just turn up at the venue on the appointed day. Full directions to the rally site are on the Website under the Rally and Events tab with a link to a map. You will see the venue postcode, co-ordiantes and What3Words data too. The final part of the route will be marked with yellow BCC signs.

    Being a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club also entitles you to attend any rally held by any Centre, details of which can be found on the Caravan and Motorhome Club website or on other Centres' websites.
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  • Are you interested? Yes, we know its hard to make the first move, but be assured you'll be given a warm welcome when you attend a rally with the Berkshire Centre. Give it a try and your weekends will never be the same again!! If you have any questions not covered here, please send an email.
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