Your static caravan is a compact second home. Storage space is, therefore, likely to be at a premium. Magazines and brochures are absolutely full of highly clever ways of better using the storage space in your caravan. Here at Cover4Caravans, we’ve also contributed to that list of storage ideas.

All that’s important because the attractions of caravanning can be mitigated to some extent if you’re constantly falling over items scattered on the floor or needing to regularly sweep up after you’ve made a mess knocking over jars, bottles, and the like.

Before you rush out to buy a whole stack of attractive-looking high-tech storage units, spare a thought or two for the fundamentals of just what it is you want to achieve.

Be ruthless

If we’re honest, all of us have at one time or another looked at stuff in our caravan and thought “why on earth did we bring this with us”?

There’s nothing particularly clever about spending money on innovative solutions to store stuff that you don’t actually need anyway. So, think harshly at the outset and leave stuff behind that you’re going to be highly unlikely to ever use.

Our Caravanning Checklist may help you narrow down what you actually need (obviously, ignoring the items relating to tourers).

Consolidate

The more boxes, cartons, bottles and jars you have, the greater the chances of an errant elbow or knee knocking the lot flying.

So, get some tins, boxes or any other larger receptacles and store all those things like spices and condiments in them rather than individually. It’s not only safer it’s also a lot more space-efficient.

Think laterally about space

Yes, you have your surfaces and cupboards but don’t forget that the walls and ceilings can also be used to suspend various hanging containers – and this solution  can hugely increase your amount of storage space.

True, you have to be careful where to place them and not to overdo it. Walking around constantly banging your head on suspended boxes can very quickly become tedious.

Even so, the ceiling space above beds can be a suitable place to hang suspended containers of one sort or another.

Invest in wireless technology where feasible

Nothing goes together less well than restricted space and technology cables.

There are some great wireless devices out there now and although it might involve spending a little to upgrade your technology, if it gets those cables and connectors off of the floor and surfaces it’ll be money well spent.

Don’t forget the boot of your car

You’ve probably met all those owners of static or touring caravans who unload every last item from the boot of their car and then jam them into every conceivable space in the caravan.

Often, you’ll find yourself asking why?

Driving around in your car with a completely empty boot only to struggle against all the clutter to get into your caravan upon your return doesn’t make a lot of sense.

There are some excellent in-boot storage systems out there now and they can be used for interim storage of a wide variety of items on holiday. They can then be taken out and collapsed so that the boot is available again for suitcases and bags for your return trip.

Consider external storage

At one time, the idea of having a small container attached to the back of your touring caravan would have been prohibitively expensive but prices have fallen, and the technical solutions are now a lot smarter than they once were. There are some excellent bolt-on containers, which can give you a huge amount of additional storage space.

Of course, you’ll need to check your caravan insurance carefully to make sure that such storage units and their contents would be covered against theft – not to mention ensuring that your now longer caravan would still be road-legal – but it’s worth considering!

Further reading: Which caravan gadgets? and Guide to Caravan Gadgets.

Are you looking for the best or the most appropriate touring caravan insurance? In the first instance, it might be a good idea to understand exactly what you have in mind when you refer to the “best” insurance.

At the heart of the “best” conundrum is the fact that the best touring caravan insurance for one person might not be the best for you – there are different ways of weighing up what is best. When you think about your caravan insurance quotes, for example, do you mean:

• cheap tourer insurance; or

• the most expensive, but one that offers the most comprehensive cover; or

• the policy that provides you with the cover that you need and want?

As you can see, the best tourer insurance for you may be completely different to what one of your neighbours on the caravan site considers is the best touring caravan insurance for them. Getting the most appropriate caravan insurance for you is as unique as you are.

So, how do you find the most suitable cover for your tourer?

Shopping around

For many of us, of course, it’s got to be said that insurance of any kind is hardly the most captivating or interesting subject. The problem, then, is that we might often be tempted simply to go with whatever is most familiar.

Despite that overwhelming temptation, you might find that making the effort to periodically compare your existing cover to other touring caravan insurance quotes may yield a number of benefits.

Shopping around lets you compare touring caravan insurance quotes – and the key elements of that comparison are likely to be:

• the cost of the premiums; and

• the nature and extent of the cover provided.

Cost – cheap tourer insurance

Seasoned caravanners know full well that cheap tourer insurance isn’t necessarily the best or one that is even suitable for their particular requirements. Even so, prices in the marketplace vary and it might be possible for you to find more cost-effective cover than you currently enjoy.

If you opt for the cheapest cover, then you may save a little on the policy premiums.

Possibly though, some of the levels of cover provided may be less than sufficient in the event that you have to make a claim. You may also find that continental cover may not be provided as part of the insurance package and that this, if bought separately, may change your ideas about just how cheap the policy turned out to be.

On the other hand, being expensive doesn’t necessarily mean the best. The most expensive policy – or the one that appears to offer the most comprehensive cover –doesn’t necessarily have to be the best. If you are looking for appropriate cover for your tourer, there’s little point in buying cover that you don’t actually need.

Extent of the cover provided

So, if price alone is unable to identify the most appropriate touring caravan insurance to meet your needs and circumstances, how does the nature, extent, and breadth of cover play its part?

The fact is that some policies may simply offer a broader cover base than others – and it’s clearly in your interests to discover those differences.

For example, some but by no means all policies might offer things such as:

• substantial cover for travel throughout the EU as standard;

• no age-limit restrictions for owners (upper or lower);

• no age limits on the caravans themselves (though for older vehicles, the replacement value used in the event of a claim will be that documented in Glass’s guide, rather than automatic replacement on a new for old basis).

Of course, the only way you will ever discover the reality of these things one way or the other is by comparing your existing tourer insurance cover to other options that are available in the marketplace.

At Cover4Caravans we are only too happy to help you review your overall position and to find out what your alternative options might be.

So, would it be worth the effort?

By reviewing your touring insurance cover, you may be opening up opportunities to save yourself money and to increase the financial protection you have available for your caravan.

It’s difficult to see that you have anything to lose – and you might have a lot to gain.  It’s something that’s worth finding out more about.

Touring caravan insurance quotes

The best touring caravan insurance quotes are likely to be the ones that most closely match your requirements and your pocket. Rather than searching out the cheapest, it might prove more sensible to look for good value for money.

Sometimes when you are faced with a page of different quotes for insurance, it may be tempting to stick a pin in the list and go for whichever policy you get. Satisfying as this method may be, you may wish to consider applying a little more thought to the touring caravan insurance quotes that you have selected.

But how can you tell the quotes apart when they sometimes seem so similar?

Look into the detail

Taking a moment to read through the key policy features of any policy that you have been offered for your touring caravan insurance will prove worthwhile. Only when you consider the detail of the cover might you appreciate exactly what you are about to buy.

The detail of the cover may include:

• whether the policy includes continental cover, and if so for how much;

• what exclusions and limitations there are on the policy – for instance, if you bring valuable items with you on holiday in your touring caravan, you may be surprised to learn that some providers may impose a maximum limit on the amount that they will pay out on any single claim;

• you may also find that there are exclusions in the policy for the items kept under the awning of your caravan and clauses that determine whether cover for the awning itself might apply;

• how much the excess is on the policy – if the policy has an excess that is quite high compared to other policies, you may wish to consider whether it is the most appropriate touring caravan insurance quote to meet your particular needs and circumstances;

• after all, you may not be able to afford to make a claim if you cannot pay the amount of the excess;

• whether there are any terms and conditions that apply regarding security –unfortunately, your touring caravan may be at risk of theft, so you may be obliged to put in place certain security measures such as wheel clamps and a hitchlock when attached or unhitched from the towing vehicle;

• how the insurer treats any new for old replacement of your tourer if it is written off – some policies may offer a new replacement for tourers up to 5 years old provided you have been the only owner or up to 3 years of age if your caravan has had other owners  – other policies may not be so generous (at Cover4Caravans, we offer new for old cover on both static homes and tourers up to 5 years old (in some cases up to 10 years for static caravans) regardless of the number of previous owners.

You might also want to bear in mind that your previous claims history may have some bearing on any new insurance quotes you are offered.

What about a discount?

If you have been provided with a straightforward quote, have you investigated whether any discounts may be available? You may find that you can shave an amount off the premium because:

• of your membership of a recognised caravanning club (such as the Caravan and Motorhome Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club);
• of some extra security devices that you have installed (above those which may be obligatory);
• you have taken especial care about where you store your caravan when it is not in use – at a site registered with the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSO).

We help our customers look for touring caravan insurance quotes online and on the telephone. So, whether you feel more comfortable with a computer or a person, we can be of assistance. Likewise, when you have purchased the policy, we can send you the documents by post or by email, hopefully making the whole process as pleasurable and painless as possible!

Getting the most appropriate touring caravan insurance

Although your natural inclination might have been to look for the cheapest touring caravan insurance – especially when times are tight – there is likely to be more involved than simply the price of the premiums:

• there is a balance to strike between the cost of a policy and the tourer cover that it may provide;

• getting this balance right may provide you with a more appropriate level of cover in the longer term than may be the case if you rely on just price alone;

• for example, if you regularly take your caravan to the continent then a policy hailed as the cheapest caravan insurance – but which did not provide you with continental cover – may not be of interest to you;

• there may be certain levels of cover that you may need to have before you would consider purchasing a particular policy, no matter how cheap it is;

• what you may consider to be cheap touring caravan insurance may provide you with cover that you consider essential but which another caravanner may not need – so that particular policy may not appear cheap to them;

• paying more for your caravan cover in the belief that you are buying peace of mind does not necessarily mean just paying out no matter what the cost;

• with the ready availability of touring caravan insurance quotes online, you can compare policies offering the cover you need  – you may then be able to identify opportunities where discounts are available and this, in turn, may help you to find more cost-attractive cover;

• getting the balance right and finding cheap tourer insurance may be as simple as just taking a bit of time, deciding what is important to you and knowing where to look.

Cover4Caravans

Finding the most appropriate caravan insurance is likely to involve shopping around, comparing touring caravan insurance quotes, and selecting the policy that offers all the cover you need at a competitive price.

If that sounds like a time-consuming and onerous task, take comfort in the knowledge that it is an exercise that we can conduct entirely on your behalf here at Cover4Caravans.

This year’s caravan season is now well underway, of course, and the headlines continue to shine a light on some of the most recent developments. Here we highlight just a few of those.

Caravan Salon Düsseldorf expands for this year

The German city of Düsseldorf once again hosts Europe’s largest motorhome show.

The Caravan Salon Düsseldorf opens from the 26^th of August until the 4^th of September and is shaping up to be the biggest event yet.

Thanks to an extra three halls of exhibition space, the Salon will present a vast range of new motorhomes, caravans, tents, campervans, and camping gear representing the products of around 600 exhibitors in 250,000 square metres of 16 exhibition halls.

Wick caravan park and campsite to reopen this month under new community ownership

The famed community spirit in the far north of Scotland has come to the fore once again as the community enterprise, the Wick Development Trust, takes on the running of the local caravan and camping site.

With the current owners retiring and no viable commercial interest to take over the running of this important amenity for the region’s tourism industry, the Wick Development Trust re-opened the site on the 27^th of June and is set to plough back its profits into local regeneration projects.

In its story about the community enterprise project, the Highland’s Press and Journal on the 14^th of June noted that the caravan and campsite is the only one in Wick.

Top 20 best touring caravan sites in the UK revealed

The next time you’ve decided on your destination but wonder where there are the best caravan touring sites, you might want to take a look at the top twenty sites selected by Auto Express recently.

The chosen sites are arranged by region, so there are no overall winners, but those coming out on top include:

Southern England

• Golden Cap Holiday Park makes an ideal base from which to explore Dorset’s world-famous Jurassic Coast, with the beach just 150 yards or so from your onsite pitch;

• the site boasts a total of 69 pitches for caravans, all with electric hook-up and 41 of which are on grass;

Northern England

• the wild expanse of the North York Moors lies inland while the sleepy fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay is a bare 30-minute walk away – Bay Ness Farm is the ideal place to pitch your caravan or camper van on the beautiful east coast of England;

• the site aims for simplicity – so all of its pitches are on grass but each one has an electric hook-up;

Central England

• located on the edge of the mysterious vastness of the Forest of Dean is Bracelands campsite – an enticing hub for all manner of adventure sports and a peaceful spot to return to at the end of the day;

• it’s a big campsite – 520 pitches – yet still manages to preserve a great sense of relaxed spaciousness;

Northern Ireland

• too often overlooked when it comes to caravan holidays, but Highview Holiday Park will give you a whole new outlook on the attractions of Northern Ireland;

• it’s close to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Giant’s Causeway and to the unspoilt beauty of White Rocks beach;

Scotland

• of course, there are the Highlands and the outer isles, but sooner or later you’ll also want a taste of the Scottish capital – and where better to pitch your caravan than the Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club site, just a short ride away from the city centre;

• choose from one of 146 touring pitches.

Sykes acquires leading UK caravan holiday company 

Business Cheshire magazine on the 10^th of June reported that Sykes Holiday Cottages has acquired the static caravan rental company UKcaravans4hire, which owns and runs some 6,000 holiday homes across the UK.

Sykes is currently on the wave of expansion having recently also acquired Forest Holidays – one of the main companies offering the rental of eco-friendly cabins in the UK.

You are probably aware that the best way to safeguard your tourer is with caravan insurance – but what exactly does touring caravan insurance cover?

You might be surprised by quite how many owners who are new to the joys of caravanning – as well as a few seasoned old hands – are more than a little hazy about what risks tourer insurance does and does not cover.

Buying any form of insurance, including tourer caravan insurance, can sometimes be fraught with more than a little uncertainty. The terminology may be confusing and, in the way of some insurers, sometimes things are described in unnecessarily complex terms.

On top of that, insurance products change, along with the type of caravan you are using over the years, the nature of the outings you make in it, and the risks that need the protection of appropriate insurance.

That is why it is important not only to regularly review your cover to make sure you have the most appropriate touring caravan insurance available but also to notify your insurer of any changes to your caravan (such as where it is stored) as soon as possible.

Do I have to have touring caravan insurance?

When you are towing a caravan, the law does not require that you have separate touring caravan insurance.

The vehicle you are driving, of course, is subject to the legal requirement for a minimum of third-party insurance – and that cover typically extends to the caravan you are towing too. (Note that we say “typically” – it is imperative that you check with your motor insurance provider as to what cover your caravan has, if any, under your car insurance policy).

But even if you have top of the range, fully comprehensive motor insurance, you are likely to find that it provides protection against third-party risks only for your caravan – leaving the trailer completely vulnerable to fire, theft, or accidental damage.

That is why separate, specialist touring caravan insurance is such a prudent safeguard.

What touring caravan insurance covers

Getting a quote for and buying caravan insurance can be easy. Furthermore, the basic principles of tourer caravan insurance are typically very straightforward:

• cover is typically provided against fire, theft, and accidental damage to your caravan whether it is parked on your driveway at home, stored elsewhere, being towed, or pitched anywhere along the route of any holiday or outing;

• financial protection may also be extended to the contents of your caravan (some policies may impose exclusions for items such as high-value jewellery, electrical gadgets and equipment, or the like);

• cover extends to those times when your caravan is still hitched to the towing vehicle and when it is unhitched – but your insurer is likely to insist that you use a hitch-lock if the caravan and wheel clamps when it is unattended and still connected to the towing vehicle and wheel-clamps alone when it is unhitched;

• your tourer insurance cover reflects the make, model, age, and value of the caravan and some policies may offer replacement as new settlements in the event of a total loss of a ‘van that is less than two years old – at Cover4Caravans, we provide new for old cover for both statics and tourers up to 5 years old, regardless of the number of owners;

• some policies may also provide third-party liability cover – that exists in case you are sued by someone, who believes they have suffered a personal injury (or property damage) through some kind of contact with your caravan.

But remember that cover varies from one insurer to another

Along with common elements of cover, things may vary depending upon the offer that the touring insurance provider is making. It’s therefore important to take the time to read carefully your initial quotation and the policy documentation before you decide to buy the cover.

That is to ensure that you understand the caravan cover being offered, plus any conditions, exclusions, and obligations so as to be clear it is a good match for your needs and circumstances.

It’s also typically advisable to compare the cover provided by different touring caravan insurance policies because some may offer protection that is more suitable for your particular caravan and how you use it.

Reassurance from your specialist broker

If you end up with inappropriate or inadequate cover the resulting costs may prove to be steep indeed. So, you might be reassured by the expertise and experience offered by an independent broker such as ourselves here at Cover4Caravans.

Citizens’ Advice recommends the use of a broker if you are looking for advice about insurance or want a specialist policy – such as touring caravan insurance.

As independent brokers, we put your interests first and foremost by offering a choice of tourer insurance. To make sure that your insurance provides appropriate safeguards against those risks that it needs to cover, it must be tailored to meet your particular needs, requirements, and circumstances.

Renewing your touring caravan insurance

If you already have caravan insurance, you are almost certain to receive a renewal notice each year.

Indeed, some people see buying insurance as such a hassle that they simply renew it every year with the same provider and don’t even bother to see if they could get a more attractive deal elsewhere! That shouldn’t be the case!

As we mentioned previously, policies, prices, and the cover offered change all the time – what is an appropriate policy for you now may not be the most suitable policy for you this time next year.

Working entirely on your behalf, we can get you quotes from any number of specialist tourer insurance providers so that you have them all in one place, where you can also buy your caravan insurance online or over the telephone. If you prefer or need any further help or advice, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01702 606301.

How do policies differ?

There are often significant differences in the levels of protection offered by different insurers and their respective policies. That is why it is important you understand what your cover does and doesn’t entail. We will be happy to help clarify if you have any questions.

Are any discounts offered on touring caravan insurance?

Responsible and careful caravan owners are more than likely to be members of a recognised caravan club – such as the Caravan and Motorhome Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club to name but two – receiving regular tips and suggestions on enhancing security and maintaining your caravan in tiptop condition, for example.

Here at Cover4Caravans, we recognise the potential value and benefits of your belonging to a recognised touring club and grant an attractive discount on the premiums you pay for your insurance.

More specifically, our policies also recognise that caravans are at perhaps their most vulnerable when they are not in regular use and effectively put into storage for, say, the winter months. A further discount on your premiums, therefore, is also available if you agree to store your caravan at one of the high-security sites recognised and registered with the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA).

How much does tourer insurance cost?

Inevitably, price is a subject for serious consideration, but it may be advisable to pause a little before presuming that advertisements for cheap caravan cover will necessarily offer a suitable or appropriate solution for you.

Cheap caravan cover may not offer the same match to your requirements as another, perhaps marginally more expensive policy. If it does then fine but if it doesn’t, keep in mind that if you need to claim, you won’t be bothered at all about how cheap or expensive your policy was – you’ll only want to know the cover provided and the settlement reached with your insurer.

The bottom line may be that what proves to be cheap caravan insurance for someone else may not be suitable for you or prove to be cheap in the event you need to make a claim – so keeping the price in perspective may be advisable.

In summary

Tourer caravan insurance need not be complicated, but you may have to allocate a few minutes to sitting and reading the detail if you want to avoid missing out on a cost-effective and suitable solution.

Alternatively, please get in touch, either on the telephone or via email, and one of our professional (and friendly!) team will be able to help you find suitable, cost-effective cover for your touring caravan.

The Lake District is home to Britain’s largest national park, its biggest lake, and its highest mountain. Whether you’re moved by those superlatives to get out there and test your strength and stamina walking the fells. Or, simply admiring the stunning scenery from the comfort of your caravan or motorhome, the Lake District has places to visit in abundance.

Where to stay

The official website for the national park issues a reminder that you can only legally pitch your touring caravan or park your motorhome on official campsites – so-called “wild” or “fly” camping is definitely not on.

There are plenty of sites from which to choose and, with your overnight stays safely booked, let’s look at some of the places to visit:

1. Grasmere

• if you want the very essence of the Lake District summed up in poetry, you’ll go no further than the words of William Wordsworth – and the place those words were written, his home at Dove Cottage in the village of Grasmere;

• step inside his small home and you’ll be stepping back in time – to the early part of the 19^th century to be precise – and find the interior of Dove Cottage pretty much just as he lived it with his sister Dorothy;

• even the Garden Orchard outside the cottage has been carefully restored to reflect once again that little piece of England that Wordsworth himself described as “the loveliest spot man hath ever found”;

2. Windermere

• for many people, the centre of the Lake District – the Lake District itself – is England’s largest inland expanse of open water, Lake Windermere;

• historically, Windermere has been the most popular and well-visited part of the Lake District and around its shores, you will find everything from leisurely ambles to the sound of the gently lapping water along the banks to hikes to the very top of the fells where you’ll feel that you’re on England’s very own roof of the world;

• there are many small towns to visit along Windermere’s shoreline, including the village of Windermere itself, Lakeside at the southern end of the lake, Waterhead at its northern tip, and Ambleside, which is the bustling centre for many of the Lake District’s outdoor activities;

3. Keswick and Derwentwater

• Keswick is one of the jewels in the crown of the Lake District with its charming Market Square in the centre of the town, the manicured gardens of Hope Park, and is just a short 15-minute walk from Derwentwater;

• Derwentwater is one of the Lake District’s most picturesque stretches of water and. It is entirely within even the least energetic person’s reach to walk all or part of the 10-mile well-marked flat and easy paths that circle the lake and lead you through the ancient woodlands along its shoreline;

4. Tarn Hows

• if all that walking has given you an appetite, where better to lay out your picnic blanket than in sight of the majestic views at one of Lakeland’s classic spots, Tarn Hows;

• the site overlooks Coniston Water (where you can also board the lake’s Steam Yacht Gondola) and is maintained by the National Trust, with an easy-going, circular short walk that has been made accessible even to those with mobility issues, thanks to the Trust’s “Tramper” all-terrain mobility scooter;

5. Wray Castle

• for some people, no visit to any place of interest in the UK will be complete without a tour of the local castle;

• fitting that role is the Lake District’s Wray Castle – though a closer inspection will reveal that it’s a neo-Gothic Victorian construction near Ambleside on Lake Windermere – in fact, you can take a Lake Cruise from Ambleside and the Brockhole National Park Visitor Centre to Wray Castle.

Summary

In this very brief synopsis, we’ve just dipped our toes into all that the Lake District has to offer. There’s only one way to discover one of England’s most iconic national parks and that’s to visit it yourself – and compile your own list of favourite places to visit.