Berkshire is one of the Home Counties that circle the metropolis. It borders Greater London to the east and the counties of Wiltshire to the west, Hampshire to the south, Surrey to the southeast, Buckinghamshire to the northeast, and Oxfordshire to the north. As you can see, Berkshire not only sits at the centre of many of England’s most populous counties, but is also readily accessible from just about anywhere in the country.

It’s that accessibility that makes Berkshire a thoroughly worthwhile place to visit. So, once you’ve pitched up there, what are some of the things to do and see?

Windsor Castle

It’s no accident that the county is often referred to as Royal Berkshire – it has many associations with royalty not least the iconic and world-renowned Windsor Castle.

This stunning building has seen more than 1,000 years of history as a royal residence – making it the biggest and oldest inhabited castle in the world. Its magnificent architecture and rich history make Windsor Castle a must-see on any visit to Berkshire.

The castle’s State Apartments are open to the public throughout the year and in the grounds, you can witness the daily changing of the guard. Take a peek inside St George’s Chapel – where King Charles III (then the Prince of Wales) received a blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury after his marriage to Camila, where Princes Edward and Harry were married, and where Queen Elizabeth II is buried.

Ascot racecourse

Members of the royal family are also known for their love of horses and are closely associated with Ascot racecourse – so, coining the title of Royal Ascot.

Just like many of the other attractions in the county of Berkshire, Ascot Racecourse is also steeped in history. The course was founded as long ago as 1711 when Queen Anne was taking a ride on horseback from Windsor Castle. She spied a stretch of open land that appeared ideal for letting horses have their head by galloping at full speed.

Although the main event is the renowned Royal Ascot – which runs for five days in June – there are no fewer than 21 race days you can attend, along with numerous other non-racing events held here. At any time of the year, therefore, Ascot offers one of the most glamorous days out that Berkshire has to offer.

Maidenhead

There’s an attractive town astride the River Thames that also lends itself to royal connections – the giveaway is in the location of this settlement in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Maidenhead lets you enjoy the River Thames in all its rural glory as it curves around from Bray to Hurley on the very border of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.

As you stroll along the leafy banks of the river, it’s difficult to imagine that London is less than an hour’s drive away. But Maidenhead has created its very own, distinctive sense of community that you can savour as you settle back in one of its myriad restaurants, bars, or lively cafes.

Away from the riverside, you can relax in one of several other parks and open spaces – and if the weather turns inclement, you can take your recreation at the Braywick Leisure Centre.

Reading

The name might not conjure up the most appealing thoughts about places to visit – but in Reading you are likely to be pleasantly surprised.

Reading is the county town, administrative centre, and the most populous location in Berkshire. Its leading role – and the presence of a large university campus – ensures that the city boasts an especially vibrant cultural scene not to mention many opportunities for retail therapy in its numerous shops, or the many dining options across a wide range of restaurants.

In August, the city hosts one of the UK’s biggest music festivals while other enthusiasts can shop ‘til they drop in the Oracle Shopping Centre.

Summary

So, if you’d somehow always managed to give Royal Berkshire a miss, perhaps now is the time to set the record straight. You’ll be given a taste of the history, royal associations, bustling and prosperous town centres, and pleasantly leafy surroundings of a county well worth the visit.

The caravanning season is well underway. But that’s no reason why you should not keep abreast of the latest news, including site closures, extensions, upgrades, and the lowdown on the favourite destinations of your fellow campers.

Here are some of the latest caravan news headlines from around the UK.

Folkestone Camping and Caravanning Club Site shuts amid ground movement and landslip concerns

If you were thinking of pitching up at a popular beauty spot near Folkestone any time soon, sadly you’ll have to think again. The Camping and Caravanning Club’s site overlooking the attractive beach at Folkestone has had to close for the foreseeable future because of dangerous ground movement and landslides, announced Kent Online on the 16th of April.

Ground movements have caused large cracks along the paved promenade below the campsite and across the access road at the Warren. Responding with an abundance of caution, the Club – as the present leaseholders of the site – have indefinitely closed it and the local authority has proposed no new future tenancies until the current problems have been resolved.

The newspaper reported that a neighbouring campsite, Little Switzerland, remains open and appears to be running normally.

Lake District campers to benefit from 4G upgrades

Although the Camping and Caravanning Club may have had a spot of bad news for its site at Folkestone, it revealed a happily different story on the 21^st of May for those visiting pitches throughout the Lake District.

In April, the erection of a new mast near Keswick spread the benefits of 4G internet connections throughout the area.

A government-funded £1 billion programme will see a further 82 such masts erected across the UK so that previously difficult-to-reach areas will be connected through the Shared Rural Network scheme.

The scheme embraces network operations by the big four mobile operators – Three, VMO2, EE, and Vodafone – and will vastly improve the availability and reliability of 4G signals. Although the new mast near Keswick is the first, additional masts will bring stronger connections to an estimated 95% of the UK.

Sussex caravan park to extend season

Winchelsea Caravan Park in East Sussex has successfully applied for local authority permission to extend its operating season from the 1^st of March until the following 14^th of February, reported the BBC on the 23^rd of April.

Previously, the opening times for the site had been limited to the period from the 1^st of March until the 31^st of October.

The extended season was opposed by some local councillors who argued that the site’s reliance on cesspit sewerage would mean that more tankers would congest the approach roads to the site, resulting in an over-development of the location on Pett Level Road.

The successful counter-argument from the owners of the site accepted that there may be fewer visitors during the winter months but that an extended season granted customers greater freedom of choice.

The UK’s favourite camping destinations revealed

Whatever your chosen recreation, there’s always an interest in “favourites”. The Camping and Caravanning Club has obliged by publishing the favourite camping destinations voted in a poll of 750 members.

The top three favourites will probably come as no surprise to seasoned caravanners – namely, the Lake District, Cornwall, and the Scottish Highlands.

Other well-known tourist destinations complete the top ten of favourite places – the Peak District, Devon, the shores of Loch Ness, the Yorkshire Dales, Lake Windermere, the Jurassic Coast in Dorset, and the Cotswolds.

Included in the Camping and Caravanning Club’s top 20 destinations were places such as the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula, and the North York Moors.

If you are a caravanner, you have better reason than many to plan for those good times ahead – the time when you can hitch up the ‘van, take to the roads, and explore pastures new or long-time favourites.

So, here are some destination ideas for the Summer to whet your appetite!

Kent

Not for nothing is this corner of the country described as the Garden of England. The orchards, hop fields and verdant landscape make Kent a county to visit at any time of the year but in particular in the summertime.

In addition to the quiet and peaceful countryside, Kent has more than its fair share of castles and historic monuments, fantastic beaches – some of the best in Europe, according to the local tourist board – and a treasure trove of family entertainment.

The Camping and Caravanning Club campsite at Canterbury makes an ideal base from which to explore the whole county.

Southwest England

There can be only few seasoned caravanners who do not already know the lure of Devon and Cornwall. If you are new to the pastime, you might soon discover the attraction.

An extensive and varied coastline offers mile upon mile of stunning walks and trails, there are any number of glorious beaches with water sports for the more adventurous, and you can escape to the more remote and tranquil corners of rural England inland.

You’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing somewhere to pitch your caravan. It may be among the smaller sites, but Magic Cove Touring Park – between Padstow and Newquay on Cornwall’s north coast  – has just the name to conjure up the allure of the west country at its best.

When the sun is out, of course, the natural place to head towards is the beach – where glistening sands and shimmering seas hold out the prospect of cooling breezes. But even on cooler days, the fantastic views and rugged landscape can be enjoyed.

In Devon, the Camping and Caravanning Club’s Slapton Sands campsite is situated on the impressive South Devon Heritage Coast and makes the perfect base for a family holiday by the beach.

The New Forest

Of course, you might want to play it completely safe and get the best of both worlds – the beach and the sea if the weather forecasts prove accurate, but somewhere more sheltered when unpredictability brings in the rain.

That makes the New Forest an ideal location – offering sheltered woodland walks if it turns to rain, but the nearby south coast beaches of Boscombe, Highcliffe and Hordle when the sun and sea beckon.

The Caravan and Motorhome’s New Forest Caravan Club Centenary Site is set just a mile or two from the village of Bransgore, with forest walks in one direction and beaches in the other!

The Lake District

Also likely to stay cooler than any pitch near the beach, the Lake District remains an all the year-round favourite with caravanners – and for good reason too.

The lakes themselves provide a perfect setting in which to pitch your tourer and, after a drop or two of rain, the rugged majesty of the peaks and fells are softened to a glorious green.

Park Cliffe Touring Park is a stone’s throw from the largest of the lakes, Windermere, and the section for touring caravans is on a slight hill to maximise the lakeside views from hardstanding pitches which come with 10-amp electric hook-ups.

Mid Wales

Both North and South Wales have their steadfast caravanning champions – so why not break the mould and visit Mid Wales?

Mid Wales offers you paths and trails less visited – and some breath-taking views along the way. Whether you choose to sit back and take these in from under the shade of your tourer’s awning or take to horseback, a mountain bike, or good old shank’s pony, Mid Wales holds many a treat in store.

Fforest Fields, near Llandrindod Wells, in Powys, offers a mixture of all-weather, hard-standing and grass pitches in a peaceful and tranquil setting, with free use of canoes and kayaks on the nearby lake.

Yorkshire Dales

Kick back and enjoy and altogether quieter pace of life as you pitch your caravan on one of the many sites in the Yorkshire Dales.

You can be certain of a more peaceful and more relaxed break away from home than the beaches to the east or even the ever-popular Lake District to the west. The Yorkshire Dales offer the perfect escape from it all.

For beautiful views across the whole of Wharfedale and the prospect of outings to Bolton Abbey and Skipton, pitch your caravan at the Howgill Lodge Caravan Park.

Northern Ireland

Once you’ve boarded the ferry, it’s almost like venturing forth on some foreign holiday – with the blessing that everyone still speaks English.

Make Northern Ireland your destination this summer and you’ll be likely to claim a holiday that’s different to many taken by the caravanning fraternity. Rolling farmland and valleys, rugged coastlines and historic castles and monuments all put their unique stamp on the province.

At the end of a busy day’s exploring, retire to your touring pitch at Ballyness Caravan Park, near Bushmills, Coleraine and Portrush on the coast.

Scotland

Yet another “foreign” holiday within the British Isles is just north of the border into Scotland.

It’s a big country, too, that deserves a whole chapter all to itself if you are planning your next summer holidays.

For now, then, let’s just suggest that you first make yourself the welcome guest of Scottish hospitality in the Border Country at the Melrose Gibson Park Caravan Club Site near Melrose in the scenic Eilden Hills.

From the far southwest to the north of the British Isles – and everywhere in between – you can be assured of variety and contrasts wherever you take your touring caravan.

For many caravanning families, of course, sun, sea and sand might not be all they’re cracked up to be, and cooler climes in more majestic settings may be the order of the day.

Loch Lomond is probably one of the most recognised destinations when you travel north of the border and Lomond Woods Holiday Park is a beautiful place to pitch up.

Or you might want to visit Loch Ness Shores in Scotland – it offers a total of 99 pitches and is one of the few places along the shores of the famous loch where you can launch small boats.

For more destination inspiration, check out some of our Guides here.

However much you might love your tourer, static caravan, or motorhome there’s always likely to be something that could be improved. Nine times out of ten, that’s probably going to pick up on the inevitable shortage of space in your home away from home.

If that happens to be your issue, at least there’s something that can be done about it – you’ll not have to just grin and bear it by accepting that cramped living conditions are part and parcel of any caravanning holiday. After all, the smaller and lighter weight your caravan, the easier it is to tow up hill and down dale.

The solution

One obvious solution, therefore, is to invest in an awning for your caravan. The versatility of an awning is demonstrated by the many different uses they serve:

• the additional space which it is always helpful to spill over into, even if you have quite a large caravan;

• as a place to store additional pieces of kit and equipment which might otherwise clutter the interior of the caravan;

• a “wet room”, where you can shrug off wet clothing and muddy boots when the weather turns foul;

• when weather conditions are unpredictable, an awning offers shelter from rain, wind, and intense sun, allowing you to enjoy outdoor activities regardless of the weather;
  

• an awning creates a private outdoor space, which can be useful in crowded campsites. It provides a secluded area where you can relax without feeling exposed to other campers;
  

• modern awnings come with modular features, allowing you to customise the space according to your needs. You can add or remove panels, or use it as a sleeping area etc.;
  

• an awning can help ventilate your caravan, reducing condensation and keeping the interior fresh. You can leave windows and doors open without worrying about rain getting inside;
  

• with the added shelter and comfort an awning provides, you can extend your camping season into the cooler months, making the most of your investment in your caravan;
  

• as a shady retreat when the sun is high – but still open to gentle breezes if the awning’s walls are rolled up; and
  

• choosing an awning with a little individual taste and style and it may even be a way of putting a distinctive personal touch to your touring or static caravan.
  

For a more detailed consideration of these and other benefits, you might want to review our Guide to Awnings about buying, installing and using your awning.

These days, they come in all shapes and sizes and typically consist of a steel or aluminium framework over which a waterproof cover is stretched. They can no longer be looked upon as being just a glorified tent.

They come with windows and zippable doors and can easily be fitted onto the frame of your caravan. You may find that your awning can double the living space your caravan provides and might be a more cost-effective and flexible way of increasing your living space than buying a bigger caravan would be.

Types of awning

What makes an awning still more versatile is that it may be bought in assorted sizes and designs to suit a range of different purposes:

• a full awning, for example, typically runs the full length of your caravan, to which it is attached by the built-in channel of the caravan itself – your handbook normally specifies the length of this channel, making it easy to determine the size of the awning you need;

• a full awning may even give you the option of creating a tent within a tent – also known as a “pup tent” for use as an additional bedroom;

• a porch awning, on the other hand, is a more compact version and may be appropriate if payload weight is an issue when towing a touring caravan;

• lighter still is a straightforward sun canopy, which might extend the full length of the caravan but is designed simply to provide shade and may or may not come with removable side walls or those which may be rolled up out of the way.

If you cannot afford a new awning or simply want to try one out before committing to such a purchase, there are a number of websites – including Preloved Caravan Awnings, to name just one – where you might find an appropriately affordable deal.

If you are planning to buy a used awning, of course, it repays to give it a careful inspection, paying particular attention to any tears in the canvas and ensuring that seams are still watertight.

Awning insurance

With so many potential uses and versatility, it may be easy to imagine how your awning quickly becomes an indispensable piece of kit.

As with anything you do not want to go without for long, awning insurance, therefore, may be seen as a priority – such a priority that we have devoted a blog all about the subject entitled Awning insurance: need to know.

The problem is that not all caravan insurance providers may offer cover for awnings at all, and you’ll typically find that those that do might attach specific terms and conditions to their cover.

It may be sensible, therefore, when looking at caravan insurance, to compare what provision is or is not made. At Cover4Caravans for example, our policies typically have a separate listing on your policy schedule relating to your awning.

This is needed because while it may, of course, be very tempting to regard the additional space that an awning provides as just another part of your caravan, it is a separate and less secure structure.

You might wish to keep in mind therefore that even the most sophisticated awnings may be easy prey for thieves and that there may be specific conditions laid out in your policy document, including:

• the contents of your awning, apart perhaps for camping tables and chairs, might not be covered at all; while

• storm damage to the awning might only be covered if you are using it at the time that it happens.

It may simply be plain common sense to get into the habit of not keeping any valuables under the awning and of stowing it away when you are not actually present at the caravan itself.

If you need further help or advice on cover for awnings or what your obligations are, please feel free to contact us.

Date of Visit:    First May Bank Holiday Weekend 2024

Overall View

This is a 54-pitch site, 19 of which are fully serviced.  The site is situated on the edge of the village of Llanberis, Lake Padarn in North Wales.  It is part of the Morris Leisure Group, www.morris-leisure.co.uk  Members of the CAMC receive a discount when using their parks.  It is generally open from beginning of March to beginning of January each year.  Arrival is permitted after 1pm, there is very limited parking should you arrive too far in advance of this time.  Departure is between 8.30am and 12 noon.

Access is good from the A55 to the North, East and West.  The A5 is available from the South but it is highly recommended that you use the A55 if towing a caravan.  Please see site arrival video HERE

The non-service pitches are closer to the main road into Llanberis and, as result, there is some road noise.  However, it is only at specific times of the day, and we did not find it too intrusive.  Serviced pitches are further away from the road and are not subject to the same level of noise.

Facilities

This is a full facilities site with a facilities block at the entrance.  It consists of the usual services, toilets, showers, small shop, reception, laundry and fully accessible shower room.  Entrance is via a key with a separate key for the disabled access room.

Security is very strong here with key fob operated barriers on entering or leaving the site.  The barriers are locked between 11pm and 7am each night.

There is free on-site Wi-Fi and on test showed 10.2Mbps download speed and an upload speed of 10Mbps. 

EE showed a strong performance at 5G and Vodafone at 4G.

There is a good dog walk to one side of the site and this also encompasses the short pathway from the site direct to the bottom end of the High Street.

Motorhomes are well catered for with a drive over service point and general use service points are distributed around the site.

A food van visited whilst we were there over the bank holiday weekend, they offered the usual range of fast food, including vegan offerings.  These times do vary so you are best advised to check with the Wardens on arrival.  We did not try the food on this occasion, in part as their prices were somewhat expensive.

There is a bus service which operates in the area, https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Parking-roads-and-travel/Bus-timetables/Bus-timetables.aspx and there are services to Bangor, and this is where the nearest National Railway station is.  Connections are to Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey and ferries to Dublin,  and Chester and beyond in the other direction.  Direct trains do run to London Euston, but it is essential you check the timetables as services do change frequently.  www.nationalrail.co.uk

Review of Site Pitch

The pitch was of the usual generous proportions and level.  They use the peg system similar to the CAMC sites.  There was ample space to park the caravan, awning and a car.  Wider or larger awnings may require you to park the car in front of the van & awning but there is sufficient space to do so.  The grass areas surrounding the pitches is kept to a very high standard.  There is a 16-amp bollard, and you are recommended to use the TV booster point here too.  We were able to receive a good amount of channels, including the Welsh language service.

Around and about

Llanberis is a small village, situated in the foothills of Snowdon.  It is due to this that the village can become very busy and congested as a result.  This is serious hiking, mountain biking, cycling and other adventure sports countryside.  https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/llanberis

The small High Street has a couple of pubs, takeaways and a One-Stop shop.  There is no petrol station in the village itself although you will pass a Texaco garage on the way to the site.  The nearest supermarket is Tesco in Bangor – a twenty minute or so drive and just off the A55.  Tesco has a fuel station.

At the opposite end of the village from the site is the starting point for the Snowdon Mountain Railway.  You are strongly advised to book ahead as it does get very busy, especially when the weather is clear.  Dogs are not allowed on the train, other than assistance dogs.

Llyn Padarn is a lake which is used by the Port Dinorwigg Power Station, (aka Electric Mountain).  Guided tours are available and there is a very interesting visitor centre explaining how the whole system works.  Good facilities for young people too.  It is possible to kayak on the lake as well.  The lake also has two further attractions to offer, as well as some level walking trails. https://snowdoniawatersports.com/

The first one is the Lyn Padarn Lake Railway – this is a miniature railway with fully enclosed carriages if required.  It runs from the main station at the far side of the lake from the village.  There is ample paid parking here, blue badge holders are exempt.  The station also has a cafe and a visitor information room.  Toilets are available for customers.  Again, as most of these attractions are on the coach tours itinerary they can be very booked up – booking ahead is advised.

The second attraction, across the road from the railway is the National Slate Museum for Wales.  This was free to enter when we visited, and dogs are allowed apart from the inside of the period houses.  It has a cafe, toilets and a gift shop.  It was well patronised, and the exhibits were both interesting and thought provoking.  It is not necessary to book in advance for this.

In between these two attractions is a Wi-Fi hotspot and a small range of craft shops and an independent coffee shop.  There is seating outdoors under a weatherproof veranda and we can highly recommend their coffee and Bara Brith, (a traditional Welsh fruit cake eaten with butter slathered over it).  There are also a set of public toilets with a fully accessible toilet if required.

Slightly further afield, both pretty equidistant – 20-25 minutes’ drive, depending upon traffic are the towns of Bangor and in the other direction Caernarfon.  It is here where you will find the usual bigger stores and services. 

During our short visit we went to Bangor and opted to take a stroll on the pier, entrance fee payable, dogs are allowed.  There is a car park, (pay as part of entrance fee) and toilets although not a disabled one by the entrance.  It has been restored a great deal over recent years but sadly some of the little shops are still suffering in the post COVID era.  There is a cafe right at the end with outdoor seating, the leeward side being most populated!  You are ¾ of the way across the Menai Straits at this point and the wind can certainly howl down the Straits between the mainland and Anglesey.  On a clear day, as it was when we visited, it possible to see the old Menai Bridge in one direction, Beaumaris and the Great Orme in the other.  https://bangorpier.org/

Summary

A very smart, well-presented site as you would expect from Morris Leisure.  The site is easily accessible which makes it an ideal destination for both a short and longer stay if you wish.  There are a good range of attractions and activities, but nightlife is very limited indeed.  It is a site to which we would return.