This is the time of year that caravanners new and old, seasoned and beginners, hitch up the ‘van, take to the high road, and pitch up at their favourite campsite or explore pastures new.

If that is you, you’ll want to set out when you’re abreast of the latest UK caravan news – so, here is a brief selection of some of the headlines …

CAMC’s pop-up campsite to return to Holkham Hall

Book your pitch by the end of May, use a special code, and you’ll earn yourself a 10% discount on your stay at the popular Holkham Hall pop-up site to be opened once again this year (from the 16^th of August until the 13^th of September 2024) announced Practical Caravan recently.

That’s not the only saving you’re likely to make by setting up camp at this iconic site in the heart of some of Norfolk’s most popular attractions. If you’re staying here, you also qualify for a 30% discount on the price of entry to the magnificent Holkham Hall itself, its 6-acre walled gardens, and a tour of Holkham Stories – an immersive and interactive tour of the Hall’s past, present, and future.

Holkham Hall is just a mile inland from the inviting north Norfolk coastline, close to the Holkham National Nature Reserve and Holkham Beach – opportunities for walking, hiking, and cycling are boundless.

Celebrate National Camping and Caravanning Week

Monday the 27^th of May until Sunday the 2^nd of June is the National Camping and Caravanning Week hosted by the Camping and Caravanning Club.

It’s an opportunity to celebrate everything about enjoying the pleasures of the outdoor life, including a chance to connect with nature, its flora and fauna, and the serenity of simple daily events such as the sun going down in its unique blaze of glory. All in all, these are the moments designed to increase the regular caravanners’ sense of well-being.

This year’s special week is also a celebration of the recent inauguration of the Camping and Caravanning Club’s new President Hamza Yassin. He will be putting in at least one personal appearance at the Blackmore Club Site in the Malverns – and further events are scheduled to take place at other sites across the country.

DVSA warns hundreds of drivers over speed limit changes

As the new caravanning season gets underway, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has warned those with a caravan in tow to watch their speed – and, specifically, to keep within the limits for vehicles pulling a caravan.

A story in the Birmingham Mail on the 21^st of April reminded motorists that when you have a caravan in tow, you are restricted to 30mph in all built-up areas (remembering that in some places – Wales in particular – that limit could be reduced to just 20mph).

On single-carriageways outside built-up areas, the speed limit is 50mph, rising to 60mph on dual-carriageways and motorways.

It’s worth taking heed of these warnings – exceed the speed limit and you could find yourself with up to six penalty points on your driving licence.

There are very good reasons why so many of the rich and famous have homes in this place. The Cotswolds are at the very heart of England and offer a quintessential idyll of all that’s comfortably easy in a countryside lifestyle.

Caravanning in the Cotswolds

But you don’t have to live there to enjoy these many and varied delights – it is a haven for caravanners. So, where can you find the Cotswolds and what can you do once you get there?

The Cotswolds cover a surprisingly large area – a total of 790 square miles (2,038 square kilometres) with land in no less than six counties (Bath and NE Somerset, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire). This makes it the biggest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the third-largest protected terrain in England.

Things to do

Towns and villages

Thanks to the large tracts of land included within the Cotswolds, there are a host of attractive and historic English towns to visit. Among them, you will find tourist hotspots such as Bath, Cirencester, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Bristol, Oxford, and Swindon.

The real treasures, however, are probably away from the major settlements and are instead found in the smaller, picture-postcard villages of honey-stoned cottages such as Bilbury, Burford, Bourton-on-the-Water, and many, many others.

History

Given its place at the very heart of England, it is hardly surprising that the Cotswolds also include its share of historic estates, castles, and monuments.

While history buffs will be swotting up on all the important dates and events, other visitors to places such as Berkeley Castle, Blenheim Palace, and Sudeley Castle can engage in the gentler pursuit of simply admiring the timeless architecture and marvelling at the beautiful gardens.

Activity

But your visit needn’t be all stately and sedate – the Cotswolds offer a glorious stage for all manner of activities, adventures, and exercise.

You might want to try exploring the quiet country lanes on a bicycle or even walk the length of the Cotswold Way – the full trail winds an impressive 102 miles (164km) between Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire to the Roman city of Bath in Somerset. The route is not only scenic but will give you a real sense of stepping back in time as you pass through its historic villages, ancient woodlands, and rolling hills.

Whether you’re a beginner or well-acquainted with equestrian sports, horse riding is another way of enjoying this gem of rural England.

Festivals and events …

As you arrange your itinerary of visits to the wealth of market towns throughout the Cotswolds, remember that a host of events and festivals are held throughout the year at many of these places.

One of the best-known is the Cheltenham Literature Festival but there are other, quirkier events such as the Tetbury Woolsack Races, the Moreton Show for a traditional agricultural and horse show proudly hosted by the town of Moreton-in-the-Marsh. Or even the – positively hair-raising and neck-breaking Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling competition down the 200 yard (180m) drop of Coopers Hill.

… and relax!

Remind yourself that you’re at home with the rich and famous when you visit the Cotswolds. So, that means a spot of pampering will not go amiss.

As befits those who will have plenty of leisure time on their hands, spas and wellness centres are dotted throughout the Cotswolds and offer the opportunity to unwind in tranquil surroundings and luxuriate in indulgences ranging from full body treatments, to massages, and facials.

If you have a touring caravan, it might seem that summer lasts longer and longer each year. With summers stretching further and further into the year, therefore, practically any time represents a golden opportunity to reacquaint yourself with just some of the riches you may find in just about any corner of the British Isles.

Destinations

Post-pandemic, you can again be reasonably comfortable about keeping you and yours as safe on holiday as you are at home. Once more, you are free to open and explore the veritable treasure trove of potential destinations for your staycation treat.

It’s not as though you’ll ever be stuck for choice. Just about every region, county, landmark, and town across Great Britain has its own particular draw and appeal. So, let’s take a virtual tour around the country and identify some of your jumping-off points.

The Southeast of England

The Southeast of England is the closest these islands come to our neighbours on the continent, so it is little wonder that this is where you may find some of the oldest remaining evidence of invasions from the likes of the Vikings, the Romans, and the Normans.

A relatively unexplored historical gem from that part of the world is the Isle of Thanet, where there is still plenty of evidence from both the Viking and Roman invasions.

The Viking Coastal Trail, for example, takes you the entire length of Thanet’s coastline from Margate in the north, down to Ramsgate, via Broadstairs,  and then inland through many a picturesque village.

You might be glad of the bike rack you mounted on your caravan since the trail is some 32 miles long – a good cycling distance but one you might want to break into several sections if you are on foot.

The Southwest of England

If it’s a staycation, in summer, with a caravan, you are almost certain to be drawn to the Southwest of England – along with what might feel like the whole of the rest of the country!

It’s certainly not difficult to understand the immense popularity of the Southwest’s beaches, shimmering sands, and glistening waters on a sunny summer’s day. With your caravan in tow, though, you can kiss goodbye to the crowds, head inland, and discover a different kind of Devon or Cornwall.

For somewhere different this year, therefore, why not explore the less well-known Goss Moor National Nature Reserve – right in the middle of Cornwall? Whether you are coming in from Exeter or St Austell, the world-renowned Eden Project is only a short drive away and offers something pleasantly different from the buckets and spades of the innumerable beaches.

Wales

Is it the Eyri National Park (previously Snowdonia National Park of North Wales); the Gower Peninsula; or the Pembrokeshire coast of South Wales that’s likely to host the better staycation?

This year, both North Wales and South Wales have seen more than their fair share of visitors, day-trippers, and holiday home renters. Delightful as Snowdonia, the Gower and the Pembrokeshire coast might be, therefore, perhaps now is the time to discover the hinterland of mid-Wales – the very heart of the Principality.

Here, you’ll find one of the great unspoilt natural landscapes of the UK, where the Cambrian Mountains give rise to two major rivers – the Severn and the Wye.

The mid-Wales Marches are a magical land of small market towns, country houses, gardens, and mile upon mile of walking and cycling trails. Why not make your base at the market town of Machynlleth and explore the surrounding countryside from there?

The Midlands

The Midlands are not just for travelling through en route to elsewhere – the heart of England has surprisingly open and attractive countryside of rolling hills and fertile farms – and with caravan sites aplenty while you rest up for the night or establish your base for exploring the delights of this central region.

The indisputable draw and attraction, of course, is likely to the birthplace of the bard William Shakespeare, whose Stratford-upon-Avon continues to evoke the times he lived in the sixteenth century.

The North of England

Just as the family has finished arguing over North or South Wales, and you’ve already driven through the Midlands, so you might introduce another bone of contention – the Northwest of England’s Lake District or the Northeast counties of Northumberland and Durham.

Once again, there’s so much to be said for both the Northwest and the Northeast that you might want to follow the road less travelled and opt to explore the northern tip of the Pennine Range.

It’s one of the most remote parts of England, with Kielder Water being the largest man-made lake in Northern Europe, surrounded by England’s largest forest – it’s truly a natural paradise for exploring on foot or by bike or challenging yourself in one of the many available water sports.

After a strenuous day of outdoor activity, in the quiet of the evening, you might spark another family debate about whether the nearby border towns of Hawick and Jedburgh are in England or Scotland – in fact, they’re both in Scotland.

Scotland

And, so, across the border we go into Scotland – a staycation that makes you feel that you’ve practically come abroad.

You asked us for inspiration in our suggested destinations, but Scotland is a nation unto itself – with more history, landmarks, geography, forests, mountains, and lochs than you could shake the proverbial stick at. So, we’ll dodge any attempt to highlight the best of an already stunning bunch by suggesting just some of those likely to sound most familiar:

• Edinburgh – the capital, of course;

• Glasgow – not just historic, but now a major European capital of culture in its own right;

• The Highlands – rugged, bleak, romantic, and with a brooding air of mystery;

• Loch Ness – you know that “Nessie” is there, and maybe you’ll be the one to finally capture him (or her!) on film;

• Isle of Skye – gateway to the Western Isles.

Northern Ireland

It’s part of the UK – so, yes, your holiday in Northern Ireland counts as a staycation.

For many of the UK’s caravan owners, however, the trip to the province certainly counts as a route less travelled – and all the more eye-opening and exciting for that. You’ll probably need to do a little homework getting to know just something that the six counties (Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone) all have to offer – and a good place to start is the official Discover Northern Ireland website.

It’s a compact Province – taking only around two hours to drive from one end of it to the other. If you want to tack on some international travel, of course, then it’s easy enough to hop across the border into the Republic of Ireland.

There’s natural beauty galore – not to mention the castles that survive its turbulent and troubled history. The City of Derry is one of the most complete examples of any European walled city.

The museum that goes by the name of Titanic Belfast is a World’s Leading Tourist Attraction.

“Life is like a box of chocolates”

To borrow a quote from film’s Forrest Gump, your staycation choices in the UK can be many and varied. Surprise yourself and discover some of the less visited corners of the country. Wherever you go, you’ll realise that “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get”.

Do you have a spare moment or two for some light reading while you relax on the threshold of your caravan? Then read on for a glimpse behind some of the headlines currently making UK caravanning news.

Buyers mis-sold holiday caravans as full-time homes

One of the questions we’re often asked is whether owners of static caravans bought as second or holiday homes can live there permanently all year round.

The answer inevitably depends on the particular local authority licensing held by the caravan park owners. Unless the park is specifically licensed for mobile homes that can be occupied 365 days a year then the answer to those buying a static holiday home is no, it cannot be occupied as your permanent address.

That fact was made painfully clear in a recent report by the BBC recently detailing the disappointments suffered by numerous correspondents who claim to have been cheated out of their life savings after being hoodwinked into buying a static caravan as a permanent – often retirement – home.

The official government website warns holiday homeowners that they could be forced to leave the site if they are living on one without the necessary licence and local authority planning permission. Nevertheless, the BBC estimates that “thousands” are living permanently on sites that are licensed only for holiday use.

Read our FAQs section and find out more about living permanently in a static home and the insurance implications here.

Plans for caravan park on medieval site refused

Yorkshire’s East Riding Council Planning Authority has turned down an application to develop a medieval monument as a 64-pitch caravan site, according to a report by the BBC last month.

Fort Paull – near Kingston-Upon-Hull – was built by the Tudor King Henry VIII as a fort and gun battery on the banks of the River Humber. The 10-acre site hosted a military museum until economic difficulties forced the owner, Brian Rushworth, to close it down in January 2020.

Mr Rushworth insisted that he had tried desperately to identify alternative uses for the site but had concluded that a caravan site would best preserve the monument and its surrounding environment.

The local council disagreed and rejected the planning application.

Riverside Caravan Park in Bleadon planning application

Meanwhile, North Somerset Council has been asked to consider an application to extend the permitted opening times for the Riverside Caravan Park in Bleadon, just to the south of Weston-Super-Mare.

In a story on the 9^th of March the Western Mercury explained that the park is currently licensed for opening between March and December each year but must be closed to visitors during January and February.

The current planning application aims to lift that restriction so that the park’s 191 static caravan pitches and 61 touring pitches can be used throughout the year.

Greater support for drivers without off-road EV charging required

Do you tow your caravan with an Electric Vehicle (EV)? It is clearly the more environmentally friendly option but a story in Fleet News on the 26^th of March echoed a plea for better help and support for all those who live in built-up areas where their only option is to park on the street.

The journal gave the example of the 75% of homes within the circumference of the M25 circular motorway that have no permanent EV charging point in the homes they occupy.

According to Fleet News, the solution lies in granting greater and more widespread ability for residents of those homes to access “cross-pavement” solutions that allow households to connect to a charger at home – while saving the local authorities any additional work in digging access trenches.

Cross the border from England or Wales, and you’re immediately into a different country – a country of stunning panoramas, rugged coastlines, and unique cultural traditions and history. In fact, we think Scotland has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world! That’s what makes towing your caravan to Scotland such a rewarding and satisfying adventure.

So, let’s explore just a handful of those glorious opportunities.

Climb the highest peak

If there’s a single vista that best sums up all that you expect Scotland to be it is probably one sketched by stunning hills and mountains – landscapes that are among the most captivating in the world.

If you’re after a personal record, of course, the highest mountain in Scotland – and the whole of the UK for that matter – is Ben Nevis in the Cairngorm range. Its summit is an impressive 4,413ft (1345m) above sea level.

But there is a very wide selection of hills and peaks in this most mountainous part of the UK. There are no fewer than 282 mountains more than 3,000ft high – and charmingly called “Munros”. Other classifications of hills and mountains include Corbetts, The Fionas, Donalds, and Marilyns.

Beaches

Once you’ve scaled the heights it’s time to return to sea-level, of course. And in Scotland, that invites you to explore some of the loveliest, sandy, sheltered, and unpopulated beaches in the world.

These are the stretches of coastline where you can truly relax – just wandering along the shoreline, leaving just your footprints as a fleeting reminder in the pristine white sands.

Just to whet your appetite, the Scottish tourist authorities have published a selection of some of the country’s finest beaches but you’ll almost certainly lose no time in discovering your own favourites, such as:

• East Beach, Lossiemouth

In the north eastern part of the mainland, the harbour at ‘Lossie’ is bordered by two magnificent beaches to the east and west. The eastern beach features charming sand dunes and extensive stretches of white sand, providing a delightful setting for walking the dog or simply taking a leisurely stroll with scenic views overlooking the harbour town.

Alternatively, consider exploring the Covesea Lighthouse located on the western side.

• Rockcliffe Beach, Rockcliffe

Rockcliffe is a picturesque Scottish beach offering a delightful coastal experience. Embark on a leisurely stroll during the morning or afternoon along the wooded coastal pathway spanning approximately 5 km between the villages of Kippford and Rockcliffe.

Along the way, you’ll encounter charming houses, vibrant flora, and playful squirrels darting about. At Rockcliffe, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Rough Island, a bird sanctuary accessible on foot during low tide throughout the year, except for May and June when the birds claim the island as their own.

Perched atop the hilltop lies the ancient citadel, Mote of Mark, believed to date back to the 5th or 6th century.

Woodland walks

Wellness and wellbeing are a pair of terms very much in fashion these days. And the many Scottish woodlands offer the perfect backdrop to calming both mind and spirit in an almost ethereal way.

Scottish woodlands are truly places of wonder. Stroll beneath the leafy canopy or simply while away an hour or two as you rest upon a moss-covered stone – and you’ll come away refreshed and rejuvenated.

·      Rothiemurchus Forest, Cairngorms National Park

Located in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park near Aviemore, this forest offers a diverse range of landscapes and wildlife, as well as numerous activities to enjoy.

Explore the enchanting surroundings amidst native Caledonian pine trees, with opportunities for lochside strolls, cycling, hiking, horseback riding, tree-top adventures, clay pigeon shooting, and watersports ensuring there’s never a dull moment.

The forest provides convenient amenities such as caravan and campsites and a reindeer centre. Serving as the gateway to the Cairngorm Ski Centre, it’s a must-visit destination if you find yourself in the Highlands.

• Ariundle Oakwoods, Sunart, North Highlands

Ariundle is a captivating destination to explore year-round, boasting an abundance of primitive plants, diverse wildlife, and breath-taking scenery.

This serene nature reserve stands as a precious remnant of the once-extensive native woodlands that adorned Europe’s Atlantic coastline.

Within this verdant sanctuary, a rich tapestry of mosses, lichens, and liverworts thrives alongside a remarkable assortment of wildlife and insects, including the rare the northern Emerald Dragonfly and the Chequered Skipper butterfly. Keep your eyes peeled for Ariundle’s more elusive inhabitants, such as otters, pine martens and wildcats, who may grace you with a fleeting glimpse.

Visitors can enjoy facilities such as woodland and nature trails, adorned with interpretation boards detailing the area’s history, culture, and wildlife.

History

Scotland boasts a fascinating history and vibrant culture, with ancient castles, historic cities, and traditional festivals waiting to be discovered. Explore Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, visit the medieval Stirling Castle, or experience the vibrant music and dance scene at a Highland Games.

There are places where the land itself seems to have soaked up some of the drama and stored it up for you to witness still today. Feel that history in your very bones as you spend an hour or two on the windswept fields of Culloden retracing the final footsteps of the Jacobite uprising in 1746 as the rebel Scots met their match at the hands of the English army.

Alternatively, feel the eery and enveloping doom of betrayal among the clans as you wander the looming mists of Glen Coe.

Castles

If the landscape fails to paint vivid enough pictures of Scotland’s rich history, its treasure trove of castles will do more than fill any gap. Indeed, you’ll be spoilt for choice because it has been estimated that there are more than 1,500 castles dotted about the country’s rugged landscape.

Since the earliest remaining monuments date back to the 12^th century, it is hardly surprising that some lie in ruins. Yet equally surprising is the fine state of repair of some of the best known and majestic of Scotland’s castles – from the iconic Edinburgh Castle to the late Queen’s favourite at Balmoral, from Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire to the home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll at Inveraray Castle.

Visit a distillery

If you have some time left after cramming so much in to your Scottish adventure, why not visit a distillery? Scotland is renowned for its whisky, and no visit would be complete without a tour of a traditional distillery. Learn about the whisky-making process, sample a variety of single malts, and immerse yourself in Scotland’s rich whisky heritage.

We hope this brief blog has given you some ideas of where to visit in Scotland.

This beautiful country offers a unique blend of natural beauty, rich history, outdoor adventure, and warm hospitality that makes it a must-visit destination in the UK.