Caravanning for adrenaline junkies – where to go and where to pitch-up in the UK

Updated October 2023

Introduction

One of the great things about the British Isles is that they are about a whole lot more than historic monuments, castles, ruins and the tranquillity of some rural idyll – there is also a mountain of adventures and activities throughout the country.

Some of the best spots for activities – whether extreme or otherwise – might be almost on your own doorstep, whilst others might be in new and untravelled corners of these islands.

When visiting the latter in particular and with tired and aching bones, one of the last things you are likely to want is the long slog home or the prospect of roughing it on some windswept mountainside.

If you take your caravan with you, of course, you are always assured of a warm and comfy home from home, where you can rest a while, get a good night’s sleep – and launch off into your next round of wild activities in the morning.

What is more, and however remote a corner your thirst for adventure might take you, you are likely to be surprised by just how many well-organised and well-appointed caravan sites are right next door or a short drive away at most.

Combining some of the best adventure activities and sports which the British Isles have to offer with the freedom and ever-present comfort of a touring caravan to return to at nights might be all that you need for a well-earned weekend break or the holiday you have been promising yourself for some time.

In this brief guide, the aim is to introduce you to some of the locations where you can indulge a hankering for more adventurous activities – and where you will find a handily placed site for your caravan at the end of the day.

Please note that the information provided is correct at the time of writing, but some activities or facilities may change or be withdrawn, so please always check directly with the provider before booking.

Scotland

Even if you have never been there, Scotland conjures up pictures of breath-taking mountain scenery, rugged and windswept moorland, and fast-flowing white water – all the ingredients for some adrenaline-pumped action set amongst spectacular scenery. Here are just a few examples.

bennevis1

Vertical Descents, Ben Nevis

Just the term “canyoning” might give you some idea of the thrills and spills this activity might bring. Imagine doing it down the sides of Britain’s highest mountain and the excitement is bound to rise still further – wild swimming, cliff jumping, abseiling, sliding down natural water flumes, and scrambling beneath waterfalls are all activities you are likely to find memorable to say the least.

Where to stay

  1. Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping Park, a 30-acre site, with fantastic views of majestic Ben Nevis right from the door of your caravan. It is in Fort William, one of the principal access points for Ben Nevis itself and its four fields offer 40 fully serviced (electricity, water and drainage) pitches for caravans and a further 150 pitches which are partially serviced (electricity only);
  2. Glencoe Mountain has 10 microlodges, 4 microlodge plus, 6 camper/caravan hook-up points, 30 camping plots, showers (£1 for 5 mins), drying rooms and an onsite café with a fully licensed bar. Not only is the scenery stunning you can enjoy hill walking and mountain biking in the summer and, for the hardier types sledging in the depths of winter.

Gartmore (near Loch Lomond)

lochlomond1

Lots of activities including water sports and quad biking are listed by Action Adventure Activities at its centre just to the east of Loch Lomond, 23 miles from the centre of Glasgow and roughly an hour’s drive away from Edinburgh.

Where to stay

  1. Cashel Campsite situated on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, the campsite offers a peaceful and tranquil setting that is only a few miles from all the activity at Gartmore. The site offers pitches for tents, motorhomes and caravans with some also offering fully serviced hard standings;
  2. Keltie Bridge Caravan Park is within the beautiful Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, near the town of Callander and, so, a short drive from the activity centre at Gartmore. The site offers a total of 75 pitches for caravans, all of which are on level ground and some of which are fully serviced;
  3. Lomond Woods Holiday Park, as the name suggests, caters for those looking to rent a more permanent holiday home, but there are also pitches for a number of touring caravans. The latter are all on hard standing, with some offering electricity hookup, water, drainage and digital TV connection, whilst others offer electricity hookup only.

Nae Limits, Central Scotland

The name says it all really – no limits to the thrills and spills on offer from this activity centre, located near the southern boundary of the Cairngorms National Park, just three miles south of Pitlochry and about an hour’s drive away, therefore, from either Glasgow or Edinburgh.

On offer is a whole raft of white water based activities to get the adrenaline pumping. There is even a section for younger adventurists – appropriately called Wee Limits.

Where to stay

  1. In Pitlochry itself you will find the Milton of Fonab Caravan Park, a peaceful family-run site with both static holiday homes for rent and pitches for touring caravans. It is the holder of an AA Campsite of the Year award. This large park has pitches for up to 170 caravans and tents, all with electric hookup;
  2. Faskally Caravan Park is similarly close to all the activities based at Nae Limits, since it is also in Pitlochry, on the banks of the River Garry. The site advertises “plenty” of pitches for caravans, all of which have electricity hookup;
  3. Aberfeldy Caravan Park is less than 10 miles away, situated on the banks of the famous River Tay. As a retreat from the day’s exertions at Nae Limits, you are likely to find the park both restful and quiet, with stunning views over the river. 133 pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes are available, all with electric hookup.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is no stranger to adventure activities, many of which are headlined in one helpful guide, Outdoor Activities in Northern Ireland.

4x4

“Open” canoeing, kayaking and mountain biking are some of the activities you might want to try out in the stunning setting of the Castlewellan Forest Park, just an 11 minute drive north of Newcastle – and the same distance from Dundrum – in County Down.

There are beginner level courses and those to suit more advanced adventurers – of whatever age.

Where to stay

  1. Windsor Holiday Park is a short walk from the seaside town of Newcastle. Although the park concentrates on the rental of static holiday homes, there are also pitches for a number of touring caravans, on grass, but each with an electrical hookup;
  2. Strangford Holiday Park is on the shores of Lough Strangford and a dozen or so miles to the east of Castlewellan, ideal for further exploration of the Ards Peninsula and the iconic Mountains of Mourne. Once again, the park concentrates on static holiday homes, but also offers a number of pitches for touring caravans, all of which are on hardstanding with electricity hook-ups, water and drainage points.

Wales

“How Green Was My Valley” is the title of a nostalgic look back at the life and times of growing up in Wales. The valley almost certainly had a river running through it, but these days any hint of white water is going to attract those with the thrills and spills of adventure activities in mind.

Whether your adrenaline fix is best met by white water or any number of other activities, Wales may be certain to come up with many locations worth considering.

kayaking1

Adventures Wales, near Cardiff

It is only a few miles from the Welsh capital of Cardiff, yet Adventure Wales offer white water rafting on the completely wild and natural rivers Usk, Wye and Rhondda. Travel to the relevant river head by minibus and career down its course in specially constructed white water rafts guided by experienced professionals.

Although the centre offers one of the only year round white water rafting courses in Wales, low river condition might mean a last-minute switch to equally exhilarating gorge walking.

Where to stay

  1. Cardiff Caravan and Camping Park, if you want to stay in Cardiff, close to all the white water excitement provided by Adventure Wales, it might be difficult to beat this caravan site on 70 acres of prime land at Pontcanna Fields in the centre of the city. It offers 43 individual and fully serviced “grasscrete” pitches for touring caravans, space for a further 20 touring caravans on grass pitches, and a further 40 pitches without an electric hookup;
  2. Llandow Touring Caravan Park is approximately 20 miles west of Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, only three miles or so from the area’s heritage coast. The site offers a total of 175 pitches for touring caravans in two different fields. Many are grass pitches but those on hardstanding are available at no extra cost

Black Mountain Activities, Brecon, Powys

On land or on water, the huge open spaces of the Brecon Beacons give Black Mountain Activities a head start when it comes to finding and organising adventure activities.

brecon1

It is almost impossible to list all of the activities available here since they encompass everything from rock climbing and caving to white water rafting and open canoeing, from abseiling to high level rope walking, to mountain biking and orienteering – and a lot more besides. The centre is just six miles from Hay-on-Wye and ten from Brecon itself.

mountainbiking

Where to stay

  1. Just one and a half miles from Hay is Black Mountain View for touring caravans. The park makes a special welcome for tourers and offers all level pitches, on grass, with electrical hookup and digital TV connection;
  2. Also just a short walk from Hay – and so only a stone’s throw from Back Mountain Activities – is Ashbrook Caravan and Camping Park. Pitches for touring caravans are all on hardstanding and 16 amp electric hook-ups are available on request;

Anglesey Adventures, Anglesey

coasteering1

If you venture to this island at the very northwest tip of Wales, you might indulge all of your adventure activity dreams, whether they be rock climbing, coasteering, gorge scrambling and mountaineering, abseiling or kayaking – probably more than enough for even the most hardened of adrenaline junkies.

Anglesey Adventures is based in the island’s main town of Holyhead.

Where to stay

  1. Pen-y-Llyn Caravan Site to the west of Holyhead, and a 10 minute drive away at Llanfair-yn-Neubwll, this small, low-density touring caravan site is for adults only and offers just five fully serviced pitches;
  2. Home Farm Holiday Park or Parc Gwyliau to give it its proper Welsh name, is situated on the coast directly east of Holyhead and offers 3 individually named fields for touring caravans (Maes Isaf, Maes Canol and Maes Maes Uchaf) on a mix of hardstanding and grass pitches, many of which are fully serviced;
  3. Plas Uchaf Caravan and Camping Park, also on the east coast of Anglesey in the small town of Benllech, this site is listed by the Caravan Club and has RAC approval. On a mixture of both hardstanding and grass pitches it offers ample space for a good number of touring caravans.

England

England is not all about lazy days around the village cricket green, messing about in boats or just dozing in your deckchair. You probably don’t need to look very far to discover a far more active world of adventure activities certain to get the adrenaline pumping – whatever your age.

Crags Adventures, Windermere, Lake District

The Lake District, of course, has more than its fair share of adventure activities and from your base at Crags Adventures, in the centre of Windermere, it is possible to join like-minded individuals for climbing tours, canyoning, rappelling, abseiling and many other outdoor activities in these craggy wilds of the country. You can even add to your list of activities one that your friends might not yet have heard of – ghyll scrambling.

Where to stay

  1. Amongst the countless number of touring caravan sites in the Lake District, Park Cliffe is on the shores of Lake Windermere just a few miles south of the town itself and the base point for Grags Adventures. It is a large park, spread over 25 acres with one area set aside for the 70 pitches for touring caravans, on either grass or hardstanding, but all with electricity hook-ups and mains water supplies;
  2. Hill of Oaks is an award-winning park with its own mile-long frontage onto Lake Windermere. Pitches available for touring caravans include standard pitches and premium, lakeside pitches. All have electric hookup, with parking space for your car alongside and for your caravan’s awning.

The Midlands

The heart of England is also a place where you can find plenty of adventure activities to satisfy even the thirstiest of adrenaline junkies.

Ultimate Activity Company, Hereford

Although based in Hereford, the Ultimate Activity Company arranges a huge range of adventure activities throughout the Midlands. Fancied your chances as a member of a SWAT team, storming buildings in order to arrest criminals or terrorists? Or maybe you would like to learn how to drive a tank, test yourself with some rock climbing or explore white waters in your canoe for the day? The Ultimate Activity Company arranges all these and more.

Where to stay

  1. Just five miles from the city of Hereford is Lucksall Caravan and Camping Park, situated in the beautiful Wye Valley. The park extends for 28 acres of mixed woodland and offers a total of 139 flat and closely mown grass pitches, including some on hardstanding, all with a 16 amp electrical hookup;
  2. Poston Mill Country Holiday Park is only a little further along the Wye in the appropriately named Golden Valley. There is a wide variety of pitches for touring caravans, with tariffs depending on hardstanding or grass and the level of services provided;
  3. The delightfully named Cuckoo’s Corner Campsite is only a few miles from Hereford. It offers 16 pitches for touring caravans, all on hardstanding and with electric hookup and mains water nearby. It is an adults-only site.

Ackers Adventure, Birmingham

It might be in the heart of the Midlands, but Ackers Adventure Pingu Ski School is open the year round and offers, skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing on its artificial slopes. The ski centre offers facilities for winter sports enthusiasts of all ages, but makes a special effort to encourage younger, fledgling skiers.

Where to stay

  1. In the Wythall district of Birmingham, the Chapel Lane Caravan Club Site has the twin benefits of being close to the city yet also enjoying a rural setting. Its 117 pitches for touring caravans include 85 that are on hardstanding;
  2. Just a stone’s throw from the city itself, in the suburb of Sutton Coldfield you will find Marsten Caravan Park. Since it is in the very heart of England, the site is easily accessible from any direction and offers both hardstanding and grass pitches for touring caravans, with the option of those with an electric hookup;
  3. An adult’s only caravan site, in the Forest of Arden between Coventry and Birmingham, may be found at Somers Wood Caravan Park. The site offers a total of 48 pitches for touring caravans, all with 10 amp electric hookup, with some on hardstanding and the remainder on grass.

Southwest England

With just a shade under 300 miles of coastline, it probably comes as no surprise that the southwest’s Duchy of Cornwall packs in a host of sea and water-related adventure activities. Here are just two of them.

canoeing1

Coasteering combines wild sea swimming with scrambling over the rugged rocks and taking a plunge into the waters below when your route on land becomes impassable. Cornish Coasteering is based near Polzeath on the road to Wadebridge on the north Cornish coast.

Where to stay

  1. The obvious choice to stay when you are visiting Cornish Coasteering is the latter’s base at Dinham Farm Camping and Caravans. Near the beach at Polzeath, the site offers easy access to the two principal stretches of coastline used by Cornish Coasteering and gives visiting touring caravans the option of an electric hookup;
  2. Also close (200 yards or so) to the beach at Polzeath is one of the oldest campsites in Cornwall – Valley Caravan Park, which first opened in 1945. Today, it offers a variety of pitches with varying levels of service for touring caravans, tents and motorhomes.

Vertical Descents, St. Ives, Cornwall

Vertical Descents in Cornwall offer a range of land and sea-based activities including surfing and eco-coasteering, power kiting and kite buggying.

kitesurfing1

Where to stay

  1. Polmanter Touring Park is within walking distance of St Ives and caters for touring caravans, tents and motorhomes. There are non-serviced grass pitches, hardstanding serviced pitches, multi-serviced grass pitches and multi-serviced hardstanding pitches;
  2. Trevalgan Touring Park is only two miles away from St Ives, nestling between the green fields of open farmland. More than 130 pitches are offered, with some having basic services, some multi-serviced and others with no services supplied;
  3. Higher Penderleath Caravan & Camping Park the coast as well as unspoiled countryside. Pitches for caravans, tents and motorhomes are all on grass and electric hook-ups may be available.

Southern England

One of the attractions of southern England, of course, is that it is likely to offer longer hours of summer daylight – not to mention the sun – to help you stay warm during whatever adventure activities you choose to pursue.

Go Ape Wendover Woods, near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Choose a scrambling net or climbing wall to reach the treetops of this airy adventure land and take in the views over the unspoilt landscape of Aylesbury Vale before negotiating the high ropes crossings, tree-top high wires and down to the ground zip wires.

Where to stay

  1. In the Chiltern Hills about 15 miles from Aylesbury you can find Home Farm Camping and Caravan Site. It offers up to 12 pitches for touring caravans, 5 of which are on hardstanding and electric hook-ups are also available;
  2. 26 miles south of Aylesbury, on the River Thames at Maidenhead, there is Amerden Caravan and Camping Park. (Currently closed for 2021 due to the widening of the M4). If your adventures at Go Ape Wendover Woods have given you a hearty appetite, you might be reassured that this caravan site is within walking distance of the village of Bray and its famous restaurants. Touring caravan pitches are on grass and come with or without electric hookup.

Renting out your static home

If you own a static caravan, your holiday home is almost certainly too good to let go to waste whenever you’re unable to use it. However, tempting it might be, there are occasions when neither you nor your family are able to enjoy your static home.

Those are the times when you might think about renting out your holiday home – and earn yourself a little extra cash into the bargain.

How do I do it?

Your static holiday home sits on a site that you lease from the caravan park’s owners – and you have a lease agreement to that effect.

If you want to rent out your static caravan, therefore, your first question is whether such a move is permitted under the terms of your lease. You can get the answer easily enough simply by asking the management or owners of the site.

Indeed, by asking the question, you may well find that the site owners are very much on your side. With their support – but probably at the cost of a commission on any rental income you earn – site owners or management may often offer to advertise and make any lettings on your behalf. That could be a convenience well worth any commission you need to pay.

Either way, of course, you must be prepared to comply with any conditions applied by the owners whenever you rent out your holiday home – whether your tenants can bring pets with them, for instance, or any restrictions on the number of cars that can be parked on or near to your caravan’s pitch.

Insurance

You will want to be assured that your holiday home remains fully insured whenever you have holidaymaking tenants in your static caravan. Your static caravan insurance typically may not include this cover as standard.

Checking whether you are covered for these periods is a simple matter of picking up the telephone and giving us a call on  01702 606301.

Your obligations as a landlord

It might not have been something that occurred to you but whenever you rent out your holiday home, you automatically become a landlord for the duration.

As the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) notes, the definition of a landlord is extremely broad and embraces not only standard houses and flats but also caravans.

As a landlord, you are bound by a wide range of legal responsibilities bearing on the health and safety of your tenants.

Although there are slightly different rules for landlords in Scotland and Northern Ireland, in England and Wales, you must ensure that:

  • all gas and electrical installations and appliances are safe and properly maintained;

Summary

It would be a shame to see your static holiday home go to waste with no one using it. Renting it out will allow others the enjoyment of your caravan – and may earn you some valuable extra cash.

Although the business of letting it out is likely to prove fairly straightforward, you must get the permission of the site owners or management, abide by any conditions they might apply, and ensure that you continue to be covered by the relevant static caravan insurance policy.

Remember, too, that however short-term the arrangement might be, you take on the legal responsibilities of a landlord once you rent out your static holiday home.

Gas hob checks, Coachman price freeze, vintage caravan hotspots, caravan crime busters and other UK caravan news

Here we round up some of the latest caravan-related news stories from across the UK …

Caravanners urged to check their gas hobs

The government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is urgently investigating a range of gas hobs from various suppliers following an explosion and fire in a caravan earlier this year.

Given the potentially very serious nature of any faulty gas appliance – with the risks highest from LPG gas hobs installed in caravans – the OPSS has issued Suspension Notices that have the effect of temporarily banning the supply of the relevant equipment. The manufacturers, too, have agreed to carry out the necessary modifications to the gas hobs in question. The corrective measures mainly call for the replacement of a defective elbow joint in the supply line to the hobs.

So, check the gas hob in your mobile home or motorhome today. Immediately disconnect the appliance from your LPG cylinders if the hob is from one of the following suppliers:

  • Statesman Gas Hobs;
  • Russell Hobbs Gas Hobs;
  • Kitchenplus Gas Hobs;
  • Electriq Gas Hobs;
  • Cookology Gas Hobs;
  • Cooke and Lewis Gas Hobs;
  • Cata/Cuilna Gas Hobs;
  • Caple Gas Hobs; or
  • Belling/Stoves Gas Hobs.

Coachman 2024 price freeze

Wherever you look, all around you, prices are going up. Against a background of relentless increases in the cost of living – not to mention the pleasures of a holiday now and then – it is especially welcome news that Coachman has put the prices of its sought-after caravans on hold.

In an article describing two new layouts of trailers in the Coachman range, Practical Caravan magazine on the 9th of August revealed that the manufacturer would be freezing its 2024 prices at 2023 rates – “for a limited time” at least.

Renowned for the quality of its craftsmanship and innovation of design, the Coachman range has been tailored back just a shade for the new year – with a slightly more restricted choice of models.

Nevertheless, the current attractive price freeze is also accompanied by a free giveaway on each sale of a caravan motor mover from Powrtouch.

Top 10 best vintage caravan stays in the UK revealed

Retro or vintage caravans have become all the rage of late – especially when they are parked up against some of the most bucolic of rural or wooded settings.

Spotting just how popular these camping treats have become, the Guardian newspaper recently published a top ten of the best vintage caravan sites.

The combination of a wild and woolly backwoods plot, with a retro caravan to sleep in, makes for a list of sites as varied as:

  1. Towed Town Camping, Bristol;
  • Tilly, Cornwall;
  • Club Jupiter, Kent;
  • Cerys, Gwynedd;
  • Van Goff, Powys;
  • Fishing Hut, Scottish Borders;
  • Tina, Highlands;
  • The Bluebird Penthouse, Devon;
  • The Scrumpling, Somerset; and
  1. Mad Dogs & Vintage Vans, Herefordshire.

Lincolnshire Police use drones to tackle caravan crime

Every season seems to bring its spate of caravan crime. It’s sad, annoying, and costly for those affected. But this year sees a new weapon in the arsenal of a police force tasked with catching at least some of the wicked culprits.

The BBC revealed that Lincolnshire Police have this year taken to the skies with remote-controlled drones to catch the thieves in a part of the country where some 40% of all residential burglaries are from caravans and other holiday homes.

The new technology has already met with some degree of success, says a spokesman for the force – 30 of the incidents reported to the police so far this year have resulted in arrests.

10 places to visit in Suffolk

It’s only an hour or so from London – either by road or rail – but you’ll be entering what seems like a different world completely when you visit Suffolk. A host of varied destinations offer plenty of natural beauty, history, and unique charm.

Bounded by Essex to the south, Norfolk to the north, and Cambridgeshire to the west, Suffolk is an ancient county and the hub for important trade routes across the North Sea on the east coast of England.

Here is our list of the top ten places to visit.

1. Ipswich

The county town is the most populous and continues to thrive not least because of its proximity to the container ports of Felixstowe and Harwich.

But the town retains an attractive blend of ancient and modern – with a waterfront home to the historic Old Custom House and a vibrant community of cafés, shops, and galleries.

2. Bury St Edmunds

In the rural heartlands of Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds also oozes history in the shape of its medieval abbey, exquisite cathedral, historic architecture, and streets and markets seemingly just made for browsing.

3. Aldeburgh

For a more contemporary take on the arts, you’ll not want to miss the charming seaside town of Aldeburgh, which fronts the attractive Suffolk Coast and Heath Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

To catch the famous Aldeburgh Music Festival – which has been staged every year since 1948 – you’ll need to visit in June.

4. Southwold

Further north along the coast – but still within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – you may also find time for a leisurely walk along the beach at Southwold, admiring its quirky pier, lighthouse, and jumble of bright beach huts or a stroll through the charming town itself.

5. Framlingham Castle

Just inland from both Aldeburgh and Southwold sits the stunning 12th-century castle of Framlingham.

Set among manicured parkland and a peaceful lake, the castle is extremely well-preserved and will make the perfect day out for the entire family.

6.  Sutton Hoo

If your quest for history goes back still further in time, then you’ll certainly not want to miss a visit to the archaeological site of Sutton Hoo – an ancient and fascinating ship burial site from Anglo-Saxon times.

7. Lavenham

Lavenham is another village imbued with the richness of its very English history – and preserved today in its picturesque collection of timber-framed buildings.

It’ll maybe come as little surprise that Lavenham is frequently acclaimed as Britain’s most perfectly preserved medieval village.

8. Dunwich Beach and Heath

Returning to the Suffolk Coast and Heath Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, probably the best place to appreciate the vibrant landscape of this part of the East of England coastline is at Dunwich Beach and Heath – it’s everything you’d want for picnicking, hiking, or simply relaxing in nature’s glory.

9. Orford Ness National Nature Reserve

An exposed, remote, wild – and once secret – shingle bank just south of Aldeburgh and to the north of the busy shipping lanes around Felixstowe forms the Orford Ness National Nature Reserve.

From the abundance of wildlife and rare flora that makes this one of the most important shingle banks in the world, it is difficult to remember that in its fairly recent past, it was the site for testing Britain’s nuclear weapons.

10. Clare

For the final stop on our list of ten – which is by no means an exhaustive list – let’s take afternoon tea at the café within the ruins of the 13th-century priory at Clare.

Deep in the countryside of Suffolk, this quintessentially English village marks the perfect way to wrap up any day trip.

Summary

Although it’s a relatively easy part of the UK to access, Suffolk is often given a miss among those exploring the delights of the country. But the county is most certainly worth a visit – and you may be taken aback by some of the pleasant surprises that lie in store.

Buying a caravan FAQs

Recent figures show that in 2022:

  • sales of touring caravans increased by 23.5% compared with the previous years – with a total of 17,639 being sold;
  • sales of campervans and motorhomes increased by 12% – to reach a total of 14,074 vehicles sold; and
  • there was a 38% increase to a total of 19,624 holiday homes or static caravans sold during 2021.

This increase was undoubtedly fuelled by the pandemic where overseas travel was restricted and staycations came in to their own.

Against this ever-growing popularity then, here are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about buying a caravan.

Why buy a caravan?

If you are thinking of buying a touring caravan or a static caravan, you are likely to have one thing in mind – holidays.

Whether it is a tourer or a static holiday home, it makes it so much easier to plan your holidays – and you can set off any time you choose. With a touring caravan, you simply hitch it up behind your car – and follow your planned route to the campsites you’ve booked beforehand. Trips to your holiday home will be to the park or resort you have been to before and have already grown to love.

When you own a caravan, you immediately cut the costs of your holidays at a stroke. For one thing, of course, you no longer have to pay for what is often the most expensive component – your accommodation.

But you might also make savings by having the equipment on which to make your own meals, and also cut the cost of travel from one hotel or bed and breakfast to the next.

If you want to learn more about the relative benefits of owning either a touring caravan or a static holiday home, then look no further than the whole bookcase of easy to read guides we have published.

What do I need to consider when buying a touring caravan?

The frequently asked questions become more detailed, of course, once you have chosen the type of caravan you want to buy. If it is a tourer, for instance, you must consider:

Please also refer to our: Cover4Caravans’ Guide to buying a tourer.

What do I need to consider when buying a static home?

If you choose a static home, you have none of the potential worries about learning to tow a caravan behind your car or wondering just where in the country – or abroad – you decide to take your holidays.

A static home is just that. It stays in the one place – somewhere that becomes ever more familiar with each visit and that you look forward to returning to again and again. For that very reason, of course, the location of your holiday home, the part of the country it is in, and the type of amenities offered by the site, park or resort on which it is pitched may become greater considerations than the overall size of the static caravan itself.

Along with that, of course, you also need to choose the park or resort on which the static caravan is berthed. You will be paying for the lease of your pitch, so that is one of the running costs which you need to add to the purchase price of your holiday home when preparing your budget and arranging suitable finance.

Do I have to take the site owner’s insurance?

When it comes to insuring your static home against loss or damage, you are almost certain to be offered an insurance package by the managers or owners of the park or resort on which your static caravan is berthed.

In the vast majority of cases, you are not obliged to buy that insurance but may look for competitively priced static home insurance cover elsewhere. One of the conditions of your lease agreement, however, may be a requirement for adequate third party, owner’s liability indemnity insurance – and you might need to furnish evidence of your having arranged such cover.

Can I live permanently in my static home?

One of the biggest and most frequently asked questions is whether you can live in a static caravan or holiday home all the year round. The answer is almost certainly not. The site on which your holiday caravan is berthed is subject to local authority licensing which is almost certain to ban year-round residence and require holiday home owners to maintain a permanent residential address elsewhere.

The current licensing regime is subject to the Mobile Homes Act 2013 and explained in more detail in official guidance published in March 2015.

Further reading: Guide to buying a static home.

Summary

Owning any type of caravan, therefore, opens the door to as many staycations as you desire.

With a touring caravan, of course, you have the freedom of the open road and the possibility of exploring any corner of these beautiful islands. If you choose a holiday home, you never have to worry about choosing the location for any staycation again.

Either way, buying a caravan not only gives you the freedom to take a holiday whenever the fancy takes you but also significantly reduces the costs of those holidays – the accommodation is already taken care of and paid for.