It might be the start of all the fun and excitement of your next caravan holiday – or it could prove a disaster. Choosing the right caravan site for you and your family is likely to make all the difference between success and failure, heaven and hell.

The perfect campsite is likely to be an extremely elusive find. Caravan owners tend to be a pretty special group of individuals, so choosing a campsite for your caravan is likely to reflect that huge range of personal tastes, holiday locations and the kind of atmosphere that different sites may have.

There are nevertheless a few tips which may help it easier for you to make the choice from the huge range of sites in this country and abroad. We’ll even suggest a few of the caravan sites in this country that are open all the year round.

Choosing the right campsite is likely to be a question of choosing the campsite that best suits you – and your family’s – particular wishes.

Home or away

Probably one of the biggest attractions of towing a caravan is having your own home on the move. With a fully-equipped caravan and a suitable towing vehicle, it really is the open road, leading to wherever you may choose.

But that open road may still keep you reasonably close to home – if you are new to the whole adventure of caravanning or simply choosing not to travel too far, for instance. On the other hand, a short hop across the channel may open the doorway to more different and more distant fields anew.

A small collection of islands they may be, but the British Isles hold plenty of contrasts and variety to attract seasoned caravanners year in and year out. The Caravan Club has a large searchable database, organised by the various regions throughout the UK, of approved campsites.

If you are more adventurous at heart and want to see more far flung places, you might want to take your caravan abroad with you. Thanks to it being an island, Britain is a gateway for a surprising number of offshore destinations – as the Camping and Caravanning Club points out, for example, ferries from the UK serve Orkney and Shetland, and the Channel Islands and further afield to Ireland, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, France, and Spain.

To tour or not to tour

You may be towing a touring caravan, but that does not mean that you need to stay on the road every day if you choose not to.

It all comes back to that carefree freedom that caravanning offers – decide to stay more or less in one place and you have with you all the comforts of your own second home; decide to spend more of your time touring and you still have that home to retire to at the end of each and every day.

Deciding whether you want more of the one than other may be one of the key tips to choosing a campsite for your caravan – or, indeed, a whole sequence of campsites.

Activities and events

If you like to combine holidays in your caravan with a variety of activities and events it clearly makes sense to base your choice of campsite on one that offers easy access to your chosen activities and pastimes.

Walking and cycling may be among the most popular activities for those visiting the countryside or coast in this country and in Europe.

Some guides, for example, make particular point of selecting campsites that offer the ideal springboard for exploring the countryside in the UK from bases in some of the most beautiful locations the country has to offer.

One such guide is published by the National Trust, which highlights a whole range of activities from walking and cycling, to running and climbing, canoeing and surfing – and even something called geocaching (a type of GPS-driven treasure hunt).

You may also wish to read our Guide to caravanning for cyclists and Caravanning for adrenaline junkies for tips and destination ideas.

Family fun

Caravanning has a way of bringing together a host of elements that make it ideal for a family holiday. Some sites make it their business to be especially family-friendly and it is these that you may want to look at in the first instance.

Choosing a campsite, therefore, may be oriented towards exactly the kind of holiday your family may be looking for:

• choose a traditional bucket and spade adventure for the tinier tots; or
• a sports and adventure activity fest for slightly older children;
• organise your holiday to take in a few historical and educationally rewarding visits; or
• simply kick back and enjoy a few days away with the children whatever their age.

The website Pitchup.com lists nearly 2,500 family-friendly campsites throughout the UK and Ireland that have been particularly recommended by other families and the searchable database allows you to choose between sites according to the ages of your children or the activities in which they may be interested. Netmums.com offers a similar listing, together with some helpful tips for those new to camping and caravanning with children.

Getting away from it all

Does all the talk of activities, adventure, and excited children tend to put you off the whole idea of caravanning?

If so, your choice of a campsite for a caravan is likely to be dictated by your ability to escape the madding crowd for a little piece of the bucolic English countryside you might almost call your own.

There are, indeed, a number of such campsites – making the focus of their attraction the fact that they are small (many with room for no more than five touring caravans) and tucked away in the quieter corners of the countryside.

Small campsites such as those recommended by the appropriately named website Small Campsites or the small, handpicked Certified Locations reserved for members of the Caravan Club are specifically intended to provide peace, quiet and a relaxed atmosphere in a rural setting.

When choosing a campsite for your caravan, therefore, it may be helpful to return to very first principles by recognising that the campsite of choice is just that – your choice. That personal choice is likely to depend on a host of factors, such as whether you are looking for a holiday in this country or in Europe, whether you want a touring holiday or one that involves rather less travelling, whether you want access to activities and adventure, or a holiday for the family – or simply the chance to get away from it all and enjoy a little peace and quiet.

Our Caravanning for Adults guide details some of the quieter places you may wish to visit.

Open all year-round sites for caravanners

It seems that the caravanning season if often over before it even got started. As the seasons blend into Autumn’s mists and mellow fruitfulness, that doesn’t stop us hardy caravanners who enjoy a trip the whole year-round, however.

And the growing number of campsites that remain open 12 months of the year make Autumn and Winter caravanning every bit a delight as it is in the balmier days of Spring and Summer.

So, here is our brief round-up of just some of those all-year-round sites you might want to visit.

South of England

The more temperate climate of the South of England makes touring with your caravan a perfectly reasonable prospect at any time of the year – even in mid-January.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s site at Brighton is just two miles from the bustling town itself and nestled in a quiet fold of the beautiful South Downs. It’s likely to prove the perfect spot for touring the whole of the southeast of the country.

With a total of 212 pitches (129 of which are on hard standing) to choose from, the winter months are, of course, likely to be the quietest.

Wales

If you want to enjoy the truly rugged landscapes of North Wales during the Autumn and Winter, you’ll find Plas Farm Caravan Park open all the year-round.

All touring caravan pitches are on hard standing and have electric hook-up, allowing you to choose between standard, premier, and super standards of luxury.

For exploring, try the inviting North Wales coastline or head west into the majesty of Snowdonia National Park.

Midlands

The Peak District is beautiful at any time of year, so take advantage of the all-seasons opening times at Lickpenny Caravan Park, in the heart of the Derbyshire Dales, overlooking the village of Tansley, with both Matlock and Bakewell nearby.

The 16-acre site has hard standing pitches for all its visiting touring caravans – and the washroom blocks are fully heated to keep you warm and snug even in the height of winter.

North of England

There are so many scenic spots to visit in the North of England – with the Northumberland coast to the east and the Lake District to the west probably the most travelled.

So, why not make a change and head towards the historic city of Chester? Just 12 miles away, you’ll find Elm Cottage Touring Park is open all year round and a handy base for exploring the whole of this part of England. Oulton Park Motor Racing Circuit is just a mile along the road.

All 35 touring pitches are on hard standing and supplied with a 10amp electric hook-up.

Scotland

Take a trip north of the border to visit Scotland’s magnificent capital. Edinburgh is much more than its famous festival in the summertime. For a special Yuletide, why not visit its many Christmas markets – and stay on for probably one of the nest New Year’s Eve parties you’re likely to encounter.

Linwater Caravan Park is perfectly situated for those wanting to explore the city at their leisure. It is just 4 miles away from the Ingliston Park & Ride scheme, where you can hop on one of the regular trams into the heart of Edinburgh.

We hope these tips and destination ideas have proved useful in your search for the right camping and caravanning site for you. Happy caravanning!

The site is situated about 1 mile, (almost completely flat walk), outside the historical Cotswold village of Broadway, Worcestershire and is known as one of the Gateways to the Cotswold.  It is currently the northern terminus of the famous Gloucestershire and Worcestershire Steam Railway. The site itself is situated on the old railway Goods Yard and the Club’s oldest caravan, the 130 year old Wanderer is stored in the Goods Shed and can be viewed there, there is also a little indoor play area in the building.  The site is easily accessible however care should be taken if approaching down off the Cotswold plateau not to tow through the village itself. Please see the Site Arrival Video.

The site is part of the Caravan and Motorhome Club portfolio, it is open all year and is for members only.  You can join the club at the site.    It has 117 pitches, ranging from grass, through hardstanding to fully serviced super pitches and is spread across two levels.

Facilities

There are the usual service points including motorhome service point.  There are two facility blocks which encompasses, laundry, dishwashing, toilet, and shower facilities.  The one situated in the old goods shed, (upper level), is not accessible to people with disabilities.  The Reception and information room is at the entrance to the site and there is a security barrier and key fob system in operation. 

Current COVID-19 precautions are comprehensive and clearly explained upon arrival.  We noted that most people were using their own facilities.

WiFi is available, at a charge, throughout the site from an external provider.  Signal strength is good throughout the site.

There are two dog walks, one at the top of the site, next to the old Good Shed is alongside the heritage railway and is often used as a close-up trainspotter viewpoint.  The second one is in the lower part of the site.  Both are secure enough to let your dogs off lead if you so choose.  There is also a small nature reserve next to the site where you can walk your dogs if you wish.

A small playground, on the lower tier, completes the facilities available and It is nice to see a couple of picnic benches to allow accompanying adults relax whilst children play.

A bonus is that an authentic pizza van visits the site, at least once a week and offers a range of freshly made pizzas and at a reasonable price.  On previous visits we have had fish and chip vans visit as well, although due to COVID-19, it was not there this time.  Their offering has always been to a very high standard and the van usually visits other Club sites in the vicinity.

Review of site pitch

The pitches are, in the main, very level, and spacious.  They are well spaced out and are up to Club site standards, many have benefitted from a recent upgrade.  The super pitches have electric hook-ups, water, and grey waste drainage.  TV strength can be patchy, so aerial booster points are provided on pitches, long co-ax cable required which are usually sold in Reception if required.

A note to Heritage Railway fans, if you want a ring side view of the railway, then you should try and choose a pitch in the top field of the site, if they are available.

Around and About

There is so much to do in both the immediate and further afield vicinities, that you are almost spoilt for choice, depending upon your interests and level of activity.  I have picked a small number of places to visit/see and do.  I would strongly advise you spend some time with either a guidebook or online, web addresses below and see what is on offer.  At the time of writing, many of the venues require online booking in advance.

www.cotswolds.info/

This first webpage is a general one for the whole of the Cotswold area and will give you information on places further afield, such as Moreton in Marsh, Stow in the Wold etc.

www.broadway-cotswold.uk

The second webpage is particular to Broadway itself.  The village has a lovely wide high street, with a range of independent and more familiar shops providing almost everything you would want.  Diners will be spoilt for choice with a comprehensive range of pubs, hotel dining, restaurants, and cafes.  You should note that if you select somewhere off the main high street, prices can be considerably cheaper.  The village is very dog friendly, and many establishments will welcome your dogs without problem.  Children are also welcomed in most places.

www.gwsr.com

The recently extended, to Broadway, Heritage Railway now runs from Cheltenham Racecourse up to Broadway and return.  The newly built, but faithful to the original design, station buildings are now open.  There is also a café on site which is open to non-train users as well.  It is a mere 5-minute walk out of the site and across the road.  Main car park is under the bridge on the opposite side of the road and there are disabled parking facilities on site.  Please visit the website for all the range of events which are usually run throughout the year.

www.broadwaytower.co.uk

This is a famous local landmark which overlooks the village at the top of the high street.  It is possible to walk either uphill, (steep in places) or downhill from the village.  There is plenty of parking available at the landmark, café, shops, and toilets.  A bus does drop you off at the end of the lane to the attraction and is about a ¼ mile walk from the bus stop.

www.visitevesham.co.uk

I have included this webpage as it is an area which can often be overlooked as people focus on the Cotswolds.  The Vale of Evesham is a huge fruit growing area and, in the summer,, there are Plum Festivals held in the villages and you can buy as much fruit and veg as you could wish to eat.  The town of Evesham is the nearest to the site and has the usual out of centre retail park, featuring the usual mix of offerings.  Fuel can also be obtained here at supermarket prices.

Summary

Broadway is a very well kept and extremely popular site, ever more so since the re-opening of the railway.  It is now possible to stay and travel to Cheltenham Racecourse and in between without using the car.  Horse racing season is particularly busy.

It is in a good location, close to all the amenities which the Cotswold offers and beyond.  A site which I will return to again.

This review is for the Troutbeck Head Caravan & Motorhome Club site and is based on a visit during Easter 2019, the site and amenity blocks were extensively refurbished in 2019. As with any review of sites in the Lake District its nearby attractions and amenities, there is an almost limitless choice. I have chosen a few options which are relatively close to this site.

The site is based close to both Ullswater, Keswick and Derwentwater. It is easily accessed from the M6 and A66. Please see the Site Arrival video

The site is split into two areas, one to the right of Reception is for non-serviced pitches, the area to the left is exclusively serviced pitches on two tiers.

The site has 156 pitches, 148 of which are hardstanding and is open from March to early January each year. Arrival is from 12 noon and non-members are welcome but there are no tent pitches.

The site has two toilet blocks, one with family room and laundry, the other has a disabled access room.

There is an information room which also has some pool tables and children’s games. There is also a children’s play area adjacent.

Please note that there is no official Club Wi-Fi currently available on site and 4G services are very limited.

TV reception is good and is via a bollard signal booster. You need to bring your cable with you.

There is a small, unfenced, dedicated dog walking area alongside the entrance to the site and there is also a walk from the top of the site which exits out on to Matterdale Forest road and can be part of a longer circular walk. Dogs must be kept on leads at all times due to the presence of livestock.

A fish and chip van, which is very popular, calls twice a week in an evening.

The usual CAMHC services are available and a small shop selling essential provisions and gas refills is in Reception. There is also a late-night arrivals area. Entrance to the site is via barrier key fob.

There is a bus stop, on the A66, about 1.5-mile walk, (where you turn left to drive towards the site).

Rookin House Activity Centre is next door offering a whole range of outdoor experiences including quad bikes, clay pigeon shooting etc.

Next nearest is Aria Force,  car park (charge to non NT members), information room and café. The walk takes about half an hour on clearly marked paths. Please note that on weekends and bank holidays the car park can get very busy. A relatively new steamer stop has opened here and there is a signposted walk from there into Pooley Bridge, about 7 miles. There is also a car park at the top of the falls, which is on the A5091 and which you pass driving from the site.

Pooley Bridge, with its shops, pubs, post office and stopping off point for Ullswater Steamers is about 20 minutes’ drive from the site.

At the other end of Ullswater is Glenridding,  base of Ullswater Steamers  and home to two huge hotels, Inn on the Lake and the Best Western. The latter accepts dogs, at the time of writing, in its bar/restaurant area and has excellent Wi-Fi service. A local grocer and Catsycam shop are also located there.

Slightly further afield is Keswick which has a wide range of outdoor and mountaineering shops, plus the usual range of market town shops and banks. Booths Supermarket is probably the biggest in the area. The Theatre on the Lake also produces a wide range of shows and productions throughout the season. Boat rides are available from by the lakeside. Car parking is available but at a cost. Keswick is probably one of the most dog friendly places you could ever wish to visit. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keswick,_Cumbria

Some views of the town’s main street and the well known Old Keswickman fish and chip shop.

Rheged Centre,  which you pass when leaving the M6 is a Discovery Centre. There are a regular range of activities aimed at families and young children and is a good wet day spot to visit.

Penrith is the nearest large town and has the full range of services, including the mainline rail service from London to Scotland.

For a slightly longer day trip, you might want to consider a visit to Gretna Green, the world famous place where you have been able to get married over the anvil for hundreds of years. The site is split over two main areas, plus several hotels in the area. The first area you will encounter after leaving the M6/M74 will be the Outlet Village, free parking, you can easily spend a couple of hours there, cafes and a good variety of shops.

Dogs are allowed in the open air mall and seating is provided.

A couple of miles further on is the main Gretna Green visitor attraction area. Here is where the anvil room is located, we were unable to visit this on the day as there were weddings taking place. There is a café/restaurant/specialist food shop plus a historical room and a tourist shop selling whiskey, keepsakes and even your very own kilt, sporran and jacket!

Easter 2019 was blessed with uncharacteristic excellent weather, the site is just as good a place to kick back, relax and enjoy some peace, quiet and fresh air.

You’re probably thinking that summer 2020 was over before it even got started. Sad to say, with the winter nights inevitably drawing in, that’s already the case.

It’s that time of the year once again, therefore, to consider how – and where – you’ll be overwintering your caravan in a way that keeps it in as peak a condition as possible for the eve of what must surely be a longer and more satisfying season next year.

If we do get a break in the weather these wintry days, however, you’ll no doubt be tempted to give your caravan an outing too. So, we’ll also round off with a few winter driving tips.

Let’s start with our tips and suggestions about preparing your caravan for the coming winter:

Location

• if you remember how critical it was when choosing the home in which you live, finding where to store your caravan during the winter months could turn almost as important;

• your choice is likely to fall into one of two broad categories – your own driveway at home, or a purpose-designed storage site;

• your own drive may have the apparent advantages of being conveniently close to home and cheap – but it might remain a winter eyesore as far as your neighbours are concerned and may be difficult to secure against vandals and other intruders;

• this leaves the option of choosing a purpose-designed, secure storage site – such as one of the network of more than 500 such sites around the country which are registered with the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA);

• these sites are regularly inspected and graded according to the level of security offered – being especially welcome as far as caravan insurance providers are concerned;

• so welcome, in fact, that here at Cover4Caravans, we offer an attractive discount on your policy (up to 15%) if you intend storing your caravan on a CaSSOA-approved site;

• when selecting a storage site, security is likely to be one of your principal concerns, so it is helpful that CaSSOA grades its accredited sites according to security standards and provisions;

• although you may prefer that your caravan is stored under cover, the Camping and Caravanning Club points out that storage sites providing such shelter are few and far between.

Covers

• in the absence of such shelter, you might be tempted to cover your caravan with a tarpaulin or polythene sheets to protect it from the elements;

• longstanding advice from the Caravan Club, however, is to avoid such covers, which may end up preventing your caravan from “breathing” and therefore encouraging the growth of mould from condensation – in addition, the restraining ropes and cords may also scratch or damage the windows and skin or your caravan;

• besides, your caravan is going to breathe more easily if as many of the air vents as possible are left open to freely-circulating air;

Preparing the bodywork

• whether you have found a secure site that offers protected undercover storage, or somewhere out in the open, the bodywork of your caravan is likely to benefit from a thorough washing down to remove the summer’s grime and dirt before you apply any protective wax or put the trailer under cover;

• the work also provides an excellent opportunity for checking for external damage generally – just be careful when reaching from steps or ladders across the roof, which is not designed to take your weight;

• the underside of the chassis may also benefit from the same kind of attention, especially if you have been out and about when roads have been salted to deal with ice in the winter.

Tyres

• at the same time, make sure that the tyres are sound are inflated to the correct pressure – and, preferably, turn the wheels every month or so to avoid their being left resting on the same tread of rubber throughout the winter;

• the ideal solution may be to use axle jacks and supports so that the whole caravan is off the ground – but secured still with steadies on each corner and with the handbrake off (to prevent it sticking into the applied position);

• unless your caravan had been jacked up on axle supports, you might also want the added security of wheel clamps;

Lubricate and protect

• if it moves, grease it – this is a way not only of ensuring adequate lubrication of all moving parts but also an element of protection against the corroding effects of wind, rain, ice, and snow;

Electrical connections

• check the electrical connection between your caravan and the car that is going to be towing it;

Steadies

• the caravan needs to be stored with the corner steadies lowered and with the handbrake off, so that it does not stick shut;

The interior

• there is plenty of work to do on the inside of your caravan too;

• it might seem obvious, but it is no less important to stress that the gas cylinders must be disconnected – and the supply taps left open so that no gas is trapped within the pipes;

• cylinders then need to be stored away from the caravan in a separate, secure storage compound – a security measure upon which most storage sites are likely to insist;

• when reconnecting the service come spring, remember to check – or have professionally checked – the integrity, safety, and good working order of the gas appliances;

• be sure to leave air vents open in order to allow air to circulate and help prevent condensation – and the mould it may cause;

• you might consider removing cushions and other light furnishings in order to prevent them from absorbing the moisture in the air;

• a further aid to dehumidifying the air is to create a “water-trap” in an open space in the caravan using a bowl of salt and rice or bags of silica gel;

• drain down the water system and empty it thoroughly, taking special care to dry fittings and fixtures which are vulnerable to freezing when it gets really cold;

• in addition to the heating and drinking water systems, also remember to clean and drain down the toilet – again to prevent it from freezing and to keep bugs and germs at bay too of course;

• a guide to overwintering published by the Camping and Caravanning Club, warns that batteries continue to discharge when not in use, so recommends that you take the caravan’s battery home with you, where you can recharge it from time to time.

What next?

So, you’ve worked your way through our suggested list of tips – it’s neither unduly long nor onerous, after all – and everything is now prepared for your caravan’s winter “hibernation”, pending its reappearance in tiptop condition come the spring.

That is all but for one exception, of course – the glorious unpredictability of the British weather. Just as you’ve finished tucking up your caravan for a warm and cosy lockdown against the worst that winter can throw at it, the skies brighten, the sun comes out, and you’re raring to get back out on the road for some mid-winter outings.

Winter driving tips

Caravans these days tend to be made for all weathers and towing your tourer in the wintertime is likely to prove perfectly safe and hassle-free. Road conditions are likely to be different, of course, so here are a few winter driving tips that just might come in handy one day.

At the heart of those tips, is a recognition that a little bit of common sense and advance preparation can make all the difference when it comes to safer winter motoring:

• think about fitting tyres that are specially designed for winter conditions and which might offer you a lot more road-holding when it’s a little icy and snowy out there;

• remember the antifreeze – yes, it’s incredibly old advice but every year lots of people forget it and end up with potentially disastrous results for the engines of their cars;

• if you are in any doubt about the seriousness of road conditions, however “borderline” they may be, don’t take the chance of venturing out with your caravan in tow – listen to government, police and motoring organisation advice from the Met Office and if they say to stay at home, then make sure you do;

• check your windscreen wiper blades – it’s dangerous if they are not efficiently clearing the rain off your windscreen and much more so in slushy and muddy conditions when your glass may get plastered very quickly if your blades aren’t doing their job. Keep your washer liquid topped up for the same reason;

• when not garaged, try to keep your car covered if possible.  Today it’s comparatively rare to see the tarpaulin or plastic sheeting covering cars which were commonplace yesteryear. That’s a pity because it can be sensible.  When parked overnight, it might help keep some of the damp and cold out of your engine making it easier to start and it’s less of a challenge to clear the windows of ice and snow;

• stick to main roads.  Much as we might all love our favourite short cuts via small side roads and country lanes, in wintry conditions they can become quickly impassable – so give them a miss even if you think they just might be clear;

• be cautious about fords and floods. Remember that the depth of a ford might be much higher in winter than in summer. Floodwaters on the road might also be much deeper than may appear at first glance.  So even if you have a big 4×4, exercise extreme caution and try to avoid going through the water if you can;

• check your battery – this advice is almost as old as remembering your antifreeze and it’s also just as likely to be overlooked until it’s too late.

Even when driving on short urban journeys, when there is snow around make sure you keep extra warm waterproof clothing somewhere in the boot of your car in case of emergencies.  Likewise, keep a good sturdy pair of waterproof boots in the car at all times.

If you are driving in isolated areas, some experts recommend keeping some non-perishable food in the car plus some matches and a couple of candles – the heat from one or two candles might keep you alive in an emergency, though remember to make sure the inside of your car is well ventilated and watch out for flammable materials if you need to use such a solution if you are marooned in a snowdrift.

Since the middle of this summer, into the autumn, and well beyond that, caravanning is riding the crest of an unprecedented wave of popularity.

It’s a popularity which sees its fair share of news stories, of course, so here are several that caught our eye.

New static caravan age limits planned at Lincolnshire site

Caravan parks in Lincolnshire are introducing specific new rules about the maximum age of any static holiday home granted a pitch on their sites, according to a story in the Express newspaper on the 16^th of September.

Noting that caravan holidays throughout the UK are enjoying something of a boom at the moment, the story revealed that Fantasy Island family amusement park, on the Lincolnshire coast, plans to limit the maximum age of its onsite static caravans to 22 years.

Existing caravan owners are being given advance notice that the new rules come into effect at the beginning of 2022 – so that any holiday home after that date will need to have been manufactured no earlier than this year, 2000.

Kingfisher Caravan Park, in East Lindsey, Lincolnshire, last year also introduced a 20-year age limit on static caravans using pitches on the site

Leisure park owners, Park Leisure, on the 28^th of August 2020, noted that while many static caravans are these days built to last 30 years or more – and could be used for quite literally a lifetime – it is usual for operators of static caravan parks to exercise age limits of between 10 and 20 years.

Old caravan turned in to a teenager’s garden retreat

Unsurprisingly, many families this summer have yearned for some kind of summerhouse in which to relax in their garden.

For one family of five – featured in a story in the Sun newspaper last month – the cost of a new summerhouse was simply beyond their means.

Instead, they picked up an old touring caravan from the 1990s for £1,100, spent a further £900 or so on renovating and sprucing it up, to make it the perfect getaway space for their teenage son.

Caravan site, petting zoo and activity centre planned in Preston

Pitches for up to 27 touring caravans are included in plans to develop a family activity centre at Whitestake, near Preston.

The centre will be built on the site of the existing Turbary House Nursery and will feature pursuits such as laser tag, bazooka ball, and archery, together with a range of additional activities including airsoft, laser clay shooting, zorb games, mini-jeeps and mini-tanks.

A shower block, laundry, and small play area will also serve the 27 touring caravans that may be accommodated within the proposed development.

New holiday park with 420 caravans could bring millions into East Yorkshire village

Plans have been approved for the development of a major new caravan park at Skipsea in the East Riding of Yorkshire, according to reports in the Yorkshire Post earlier this month.

The holiday park will provide pitches for 420 static caravans and include a clubhouse, bar, restaurant, swimming pool, and a lake offering water sports and other activities.

The developers argued the case for the park’s contribution to local tourism – to the tune of an estimated £4.3 million – and the creation of 71 new jobs directly tied to the resort and a further 41 jobs indirectly related to it through the provision of local services.

A local farmer was among those raising objections to the plans on the grounds that the development of a new holiday park would increase traffic on surrounding roads, generate an unacceptable level of noise, and put pressure on local services. These would outweigh the claimed economic benefits, he argued.