If you own a bit of land in the countryside and you've ever thought about welcoming a few caravans or motorhomes, running a Certificated Location might be the perfect fit. CLs are one of the simplest ways to get into the campsite business in the UK, but there are still things you need to know before you open the gate for your first guest.

This guide covers the essentials of running a CL, from what one actually is to the day-to-day challenges you'll face once your pitches are live.

What is a Certificated Location?

A Certificated Location, commonly known as a CL, is a small campsite certified by the Caravan and Motorhome Club. CLs are limited to a maximum of five caravans or motorhomes at any one time. They offer a more relaxed, informal alternative to larger commercial sites and are incredibly popular with touring caravanners and motorhomers who prefer quieter, off-the-beaten-track locations.

The beauty of a CL is its simplicity. You don't need a full site licence. You don't need to provide a shower block or a laundry room. Most CLs offer a flat, level pitch, access to fresh water, and a means of waste disposal. Some offer electric hook-ups, but it's not a requirement. Guests tend to be experienced tourers who are entirely self-contained and just need somewhere peaceful to park up for a night or two.

Getting Started as a CL Owner

To run a CL, you need to apply to the Caravan and Motorhome Club. They'll want to inspect your land and check it meets their standards. The ground needs to be firm enough to support a caravan, reasonably level, and accessible by a towing vehicle. You'll also need to provide a drinking water supply and waste disposal facilities.

One of the most common questions is whether you need planning permission. Because CLs are certificated by the Club under specific legislation, they are exempt from the normal site licensing requirements. However, you may still need planning permission for any physical changes to your land, such as building a hardstanding, installing a new access road, or putting up signage. It's always worth checking with your local planning authority before you invest in any groundwork.

You should also speak to your insurer. Public liability cover is essential when you're inviting the public onto your land, and your existing farm or home insurance may not cover campsite activities.

Managing Bookings on a CL

When your CL opens, you'll start receiving enquiries. Some guests will find you through the Caravan and Motorhome Club directory, others through word of mouth or online campsite listings. Most bookings come in by phone, and this is where the paper diary enters the picture.

Thousands of CL owners use a paper diary or a wall calendar to manage their bookings. It works fine when you have just a handful of bookings each month. But as your site becomes more popular, especially during spring and summer, the diary starts to creak. You're juggling phone calls while out in the garden, trying to remember which pitch is free on which night, and hoping you didn't accidentally write something in pencil that's since been smudged.

Peak season is where things get tricky. Bank holidays, school holidays, and sunny weekends can fill your five pitches quickly. If you and your partner both take bookings, you need to make sure you're both looking at the same diary. If you're not, double bookings creep in.

Common Challenges CL Owners Face

Double bookings

With only five pitches, a double booking is immediately visible. There's nowhere to shuffle a guest to. It's embarrassing, stressful, and can lead to a bad review on the Club's website. Most double bookings happen because two people are taking bookings from different phones without updating the diary in real time.

No-shows and late cancellations

A guest books a weekend pitch in July and then doesn't turn up. You've turned other people away for that slot, and now it sits empty. Without a deposit or a clear cancellation policy, there's not much you can do.

Late arrivals

You agree an arrival time, but the guest turns up three hours late. You've been waiting around, unsure if they're still coming. A quick text message or automated arrival reminder would save a lot of hanging about.

Keeping records

The Caravan and Motorhome Club may ask to see your records during an inspection. Keeping track of who stayed, when, and for how long in a crumpled diary isn't ideal. Having clean, searchable records makes your life easier at inspection time and helps you understand your busiest periods.

Going Digital with Your CL

Switching from a paper diary to a digital booking system might sound like overkill for five pitches, but it doesn't have to be complicated. The right tool for a CL isn't a massive enterprise system designed for holiday parks. It's a simple, mobile-friendly diary that does what your paper one does, only better.

A digital booking diary gives you a clear, colour-coded view of your pitches. You can see at a glance what's booked, what's free, and who's arriving today. It automatically prevents double bookings because the calendar knows when a pitch is already taken. And because it lives on your phone, you can check it and add bookings wherever you are, whether you're in the kitchen or in the field.

CampSuite is built with CL owners in mind. It's completely free for sites with up to five pitches, because we believe small site owners deserve proper tools without having to pay through the nose for software designed for 200-pitch holiday parks. There's no card required, no trial that expires, and no hidden fees. If you run a CL, it's free, full stop.

Tips from Experienced CL Owners

After speaking with dozens of CL owners across the UK, a few pieces of advice come up time and again.

Getting Started

Running a CL is one of the most rewarding things you can do with a spare bit of land. You meet interesting people, earn a useful side income, and become part of a community of thousands of small-site owners across the UK. The key is keeping things simple, staying organised, and choosing tools that fit the scale of what you're doing.

If you're still using a paper diary and it's working for you, that's fine. But if you've ever lost a booking, double-booked a pitch, or wished you could check your calendar from your phone, it might be time to give CampSuite a try. It takes about fifteen minutes to set up and it won't cost you a penny.