Visitor Information

CL information | Public Transport | Fuel and cash | Emergency Numbers

CAMC website - West Midlands - Solihull
CL no. 1598 - Sites Directory & Handbook 2019-20 page 478

Gate Farm CL is currently closed due to government restrictions. We are making changes to the CL to increase social distancing and hygiene - please read here.

Please download our map and directions showing recommended routes for towing and motorhomes (A4 PDF). This includes more detailed directions than those in the CAMC publications.
IMPORTANT - DO NOT FOLLOW SAT-NAV when approaching from the north or west, due to narrow single-track lanes with low trees and no passing places.

See also: Recommended Routes to and from NEC.

Susie Hammett and members of her family live on site and will be pleased to help you with anything you need. Please let us know of anything we can do to improve your stay.

Caravan and Motorhome Club members are welcome all year round and all types of outfit can be accommodated - caravans, motorhomes (up to 8.5m), campervans and trailer tents.

Gate Farm is a working farm, so please be aware of machinery, children and animals and drive at walking pace once you enter the farm drive.

Children must be supervised at all times and dogs must be kept on a lead, including while on the CL.

For your safety, do not enter the farm buildings and do not approach or feed the animals. Speed limit is 5 mph (walking speed) at all times.

Footpaths and Dog Walks Map (PDF)

Local Cycle Routes (PDF)

Recommended routes to and from NEC avoiding M42 and A45 (PDF)

• The site is open all year
• Fully serviced hard standings with with EHU, individual drinking water and grey (washing) water disposal point
• Hardstandings have adjoining grass suitable for normal awnings
• Large grass area available for trailer tents and outfits with larger awnings (subject to condition in winter months).
• Pitch fee (from December 2020) is £18 per night. For some busy periods we will require full payment in advance to secure your pitch - we will advise you at time of booking.
• Electric hook-up is included, but only subject to our Fair Use policy (see below).
• Free WiFi internet connection available (log in is required)
• Breathable groundsheets are required on grass area.
• Your own toilet and shower facilities are required.

There are separate disposal points for toilet waste and a grey (washing) water waste suitable for motorhome tanks with a short hose outlet. Please be aware of the environment and use the appropriate disposal point.

4G Mobile and Freeview television reception are both good on the site.

Being close to Birmingham Airport, planes pass intermittently, but at other times the site is peaceful.

Please also note the following:

• Advance booking is required - please telephone 01676 532187 or email (see address below).
• Pitches accommodate caravan or motorhome plus one car - additional cars are by prior arrangement only. Please park your car on the hardstanding alongside your caravan and avoid obstructing the roadway to other pitches. Parking for visitors - by prior agreement only - is provided outside the CL site.
• Long outfits: the maximum length Motorhome we can accept is 8.5 metres, due to manouvering space on the CL.
• Electric hook up is subject to Fair Use for internal caravan purposes only. The pitch fee does NOT include heating of awnings or charging of electric vehicles. Outfits in breach of this may be disconnected.
• Security: the main entrance to the farm is secured at night by automatic gates, which are operated by a smart fob after 7pm. Please remember to take the fob with you even if you go out without your car in the evening. Please return the fob at the end of your stay.
• Farm safety children and animals are frequently on the farm drive to the CL and a strict 5 mph (walking speed) limit is in force at all times. Please observe warning notices around the farm and keep to the drive when going out for walks.

Public Transport

An hourly bus service(except Sundays and Bank Holidays) - see timetable, fares) from the CL site entrance serves Knowle, Balsall Common and Coventry, and also Solihull Station for trains to Birmingham, Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon. The bus will stop on request by giving a clear arm signal to the driver. On return, ask the driver to set down at Gate Farm, between Temple Balsall and Fen End. Buses operated by Johnsons Excelbus - service 87 - last buses from Solihull Station 18.25, Coventry 17.45 (17.32 Sat), Balsall Common 18.34 (18.09 Sat).

Trains from Berkswell (3 miles, free parking) take you to the N.E.C., Birmingham, and Coventry. May save money and time to get to NEC events which have a car park charge. Station car park has hight barrier but there is also on-street parking in Hallmeadow Road, off the roundabout (less than 5 mins walk). The 87 bus stop at Balsall Common Island is about half mile/10 minutes walk from Berkswell Station.

Dorridge Station (4 miles, parking charge) also serves Warwick and Stratford-upon-Avon. There are two car parks, one to the left of the station and the Chiltern Railways one - turn immediately right under the railway bridge on Station Road.

Taxis:

• A2B Radio Cars 0121 733 3000
• CV Cars 01675 446161
• TC Cars 0121 770 2000

Local pubs, places to eat and food shops page
or see Local Information sheet (PDF) for postcodes and telephone numbers.

Fuel

Balsall Common: Shell (2m) CV7 7DN 01676 530 260
Balsall Common: Sainsburys (3m) CV7 7EU 01676 514 700
Knowle (2.5m): Knowle Filling Station (Esso) B93 0JD 01564 770 910

Gas

Countrywide: Gibbs Brothers (1.5m): Fen End CV8 1PY 01676 533 396

Calor :
Knowle (2.5m): Knowle Filling Station (Esso) B93 0JD 01564 770 910
Knowle Wyndley Garden Centre (3m): B93 0DX 01564 777 106

Cash Machines

There are several cash machines amongst the shops in both Balsall Common (2.5m) and Knowle (3m).

Emergency Numbers

Gate Farm: 01676 532187 - or mobile 07812 150 732

Accident and Emergency:

• Solihull Hospital (6m - NOT Children) B91 2JL 0121 424 2000 and ask for Solihull A&E
  
• Warwick Hospital (10m) CV34 5BW 01926 495321

Doctors: Balsall Common & Meriden Group Practice (3m) CV7 7RW 01676 935000

Dentists:

• Balsall Common Dental Care (3m) CV7 7RW 01676 536 888
• Grove Road Dental Clinic, Solihull (6m) B91 2AQ 0121 704 3211 (out-of-hours 111)

Vets:

Balsall Common Vets (2m) CV7 7ER 01676 530792

608 Group Veterinary Practice Solihull (6m) B93 9BL 0121 705 3044 & Bentley Heath (4m) B91 1AA 01564 774 246

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