Camping in Cresciano (Read 15366 times)

Dave Flanagan · September 13, 2006, 02:49:40 pm

Whats the story with camping in Cresciano? Is it ok?
What will the weather be like at the end of the month? There is somesort of barn beside the carpark apparently so do you need a tent?

thanks

Jim · September 13, 2006, 02:50:31 pm

I recon it will be boiling hot. don't know about camping tho - soz

dobbin · September 13, 2006, 04:12:43 pm

Cresc will be a hideous sweaty pool of death at the moment. If you are polish its de rigeur to camp in the car park, probably eschewing a sleeping bag in favor of sleeping on the ice in your shreddies.

Its worth noting that sleeping under the cast iron thing with no tent will definately result in wetness if it rains (unless the rain is vertically down), the shelter is quite high of the ground, so you could but its not gonna be much fun. Theres also various derelict farming equipment under there so you might be pushed for space.

Consider also that access is a bit on the tricky side and really noone should be sleeping there. The villagers dont like us climbing types that much as it is and they definately dont approve of naked polish men wandering round in their boxers first thing in the morning. That said, people do it.

For accomodation check out www.interhome.ch

monkey boy · September 15, 2006, 01:34:58 pm

There is a good camp site in cresciano when coming up from belinzona its on your right. Its got good showers and swimming pool i think it is 10 euro a night but like dobbin said with access restrictions at mo i wouldnt camp anywhere not official. www.alcenso.ch for all the camp site info.
There is also a bunkhouse in cresc on the left hand side, this is sign posted but quite expensive and not too good apparently.

I would think most of your days would be better spent in chironico a little higher and not quite as hot as cresc.
Hope that helps

david

LucyB · September 19, 2006, 10:35:37 am

You can rent decent (bunk) rooms over the bar at the bottom of the hill. Doesn't cost much more than the campsite, which is outrageously expensive! Its an easy enough drive up to Chironico if you have a hire car.

I hear the barn is pretty grim, but I've never stayed there myself.

LucyB · September 19, 2006, 10:36:54 am

Sorry, I meant the bunkhouse, not the barn. Some sort of agri tourismo thing, but apparently you sleep on straw, get bitten by lousy things, and its not that cheap!!

Nibile · September 19, 2006, 04:19:38 pm

the barn you can sleep in is the agri turismo "la finca", and a friend of mine told its very not worth.
if you are the right number its far better to call "ristorante degli amici", they rent small apartments or rooms for six. dont know much, tho.

al · September 19, 2006, 10:30:25 pm

Quote

There is a good camp site in cresciano when coming up from belinzona its on your right

I could highly recommend this campsite - hot showers, pool, cafe, fesh buns and coffee for breakfast, 'basil fawlty' style owner etc. (15 swiss francs per night including car - about 8 quid) - it seemed like paradise after the trenches up at magic wood!
also only a few minutes drive to the cresciano (or 30mins to chironico)

Dave Flanagan · September 20, 2006, 10:01:28 am

Thanks for the replies, heading out today, will let you know how it goes...

Fultonius · October 31, 2013, 06:40:53 am

Any beta on van camping in cresciano? We're heading there to meet some friends tonight and possibly staying the next night too. Could we just wild camp in the carpark or is this frowned upon?

andyd · October 31, 2013, 08:32:08 am

The guide book says no camping there. It is frowned upon and it's private land. People do camp there though as it's so out of the way, but it's not a great idea for continued access. Switzerland is not a very sympathetic country for people who choose to bend the rules. It is expected that you comply.

finbarrr · October 31, 2013, 08:41:34 am

Driving up the hill is forbidden, so is wild-camping.
and this being switzerland: anything forbidden is forbidden by law, and more than just frowned upon.
parking in the village only.
don't know if the campsite in Claro (three minutes drive from Cresciano) is still open, but sure you can google it.
(the climbing-hostel in Cresciano is not climbing hostel anymore, but just a hostel.)

Fultonius · October 31, 2013, 08:42:29 am

Quote from: andyd on October 31, 2013, 08:32:08 am

The guide book says no camping there. It is frowned upon and it's private land. People do camp there though as it's so out of the way, but it's not a great idea for continued access. Switzerland is not a very sympathetic country for people who choose to bend the rules. It is expected that you comply.

Yeah, I've read a bit about access issues and don't want to upset the locals. So, seeing as the campsite is closed for the winter - any suggestions on where we can go and not piss anyone off?

Having not been before - this "not driving up the hill" and "parking in the village" etc. - would be possible to park in the village overnight?

andyd · October 31, 2013, 08:54:10 am

What I meant by 'frowned upon' is expect the locals to give you a good going over and not back down until you leave or the police show up. People don't turn a blind eye. That's why the system works so well (or appears to on the surface

).

Fultonius · October 31, 2013, 08:57:06 am

Ok, but just to be clear:

1. Where is it frowned upon? In the village? In the woods?

2. What is frowned upon? Wild camping in tents? Or van-camping?

I've just done a bit more googling and it seems that technically "overnight parking" is allowed unless local signs say otherwise. Wild Camping is forbidden. Apparently this means you can stay for 1 night in a campervan as long as you don't run a generator or have anything "outside" the van.

I'm confused

Oldmanmatt · October 31, 2013, 10:05:17 am

There were several guys "Van camping" in the the big car park at the bottom of the village, last time I was there (Jan/Feb 2012). They certainly had no issues, buying a drink or having a meal at one one the bars probably helps, if you do it often enough. Como (and Italy in General) is only an hour down the road and much cheaper for accommodation. There were a lot of complaints in the bar about Italians driving up and it can get pretty crowded on the narrow, dead end, road.
Quiet place, follow suit and you'll be ok.
If you were to rough camp, above the bouldering area, I can't imagine anyone realising...

finbarrr · October 31, 2013, 12:37:43 pm

I don't know about van camping in the village, but certainly not allowed near the boulders (as I said, not allowed to drive up anymore).
I think there are also "no camping" signs up there, but not sure.
As for rough-camping in around the boulders (think someone mentioned the option): small chance of being found out but would you really want to risk "access issues"?
There are lots of hostel/holiday homes around, with fireplaces and comfy things for long nights (not that I can afford Swiss prices).

Fultonius · October 31, 2013, 12:42:46 pm

Quote from: finbarrr on October 31, 2013, 12:37:43 pm

I don't know about van camping in the village, but certainly not allowed near the boulders (as I said, not allowed to drive up anymore).
I think there are also "no camping" signs up there, but not sure.

If the signs do, indeed, say "No Camping" than apparently we're fine. As long as they don't say "No Overnight Parking". We'll stay away from the boulders for sure.

andyd · October 31, 2013, 04:48:35 pm

Quote from: Fultonius on October 31, 2013, 12:42:46 pm

Quote from: finbarrr on October 31, 2013, 12:37:43 pm
I don't know about van camping in the village, but certainly not allowed near the boulders (as I said, not allowed to drive up anymore).
I think there are also "no camping" signs up there, but not sure.

If the signs do, indeed, say "No Camping" than apparently we're fine. As long as they don't say "No Overnight Parking". We'll stay away from the boulders for sure.

Better brush up on your Italian

Doylo · October 31, 2013, 05:00:46 pm

That's a sack having to walk up that big hill every time. Can see why they've banned parking up there though

old cheese · November 01, 2013, 07:23:45 pm

I think that some peoples recollection of camping prices at the cresciano campsite is slightly out of date.

I was there in August and I had to pay CH54 per night which is about 45 euros. That was for a car and one tent. It is a good site though and if you are within 5 meters of the office you get WIFI.

Richie Crouch · November 01, 2013, 07:55:47 pm

I'm sure when me and Laura went to the cresc campsite in Sep 2012, he let use kip in our small Peugeot van for 20 francs a night each. Good showers and an outdoor pool with loungers too.

douglas · November 01, 2013, 11:03:52 pm

Quote from: old cheese on November 01, 2013, 07:23:45 pm

and if you are within 5 meters of the office you get WIFI.

On that note, does anyone know where I can get wifi in ticino or brione?

Fultonius · November 04, 2013, 04:58:51 pm

So, we dropped in for a day and can provide you with the latest beta. Officially the road up to the boulders closed to non-locals; however, while reading the sign a local woman walked over and told us it was fine to drive up and waved us through...

With regards to camping - we wouldn't have stayed up the hill. Seems too risky with regards to ensuring access is maintained. We ended up staying in the van in a village around 30 minutes away from Cresciano where friends had rented a place. I'm pretty sure we could have parked up in Cresciano village for the night though.

Minor yyfy - managed to flash Harry Spotter, making it my first ever 7A flash! A complete shock to the system since I have barely bouldered this year.

Doylo · November 04, 2013, 05:27:17 pm

Quote from: Fultonius on November 04, 2013, 04:58:51 pm

Minor yyfy - managed to flash Harry Spotter, making it my first ever 7A flash! A complete shock to the system since I have barely bouldered this year.

Effort, not an easy one either..