It’s a sad fact of biology that, as we age, things might start to become a little more difficult in a number of areas.

You may encounter one of those if you suddenly start seeing problems in finding over 60’s caravan insurance – at least without paying what could be considered huge additional premiums for it.

Why is that? More importantly, how can you get cost-effective, comprehensive touring caravan insurance if you are aged 60+?

Age and insurance premiums

Space doesn’t permit a full analysis of typical insurance assumptions relating to increasing age. However, as a general rule, there may be a tendency on the part of some insurance providers to assume that once you are aged past 60, the risks of you making a claim on your policy increase.

That presumption may be particularly prevalent amongst caravan insurance providers offering cover for things such as touring caravans. In fact, some might decline to cover you at all, once you reach a certain age. With Cover4Caravans, we can accept customers up to the age of 80.

Yet here at Cover4Caravans, we don’t see it that way and are pleased to offer what we believe is cost-effective cover for those aged 60 or over. We take a more rounded view of your experience, lifestyle, and risk profile – rather than simply your date of birth.

In fact, many of our customers over the age of 60 tell us they enjoy caravanning more than ever. With fewer time constraints and more freedom to travel outside peak periods, they often reduce risks by avoiding busy roads, high-crime areas, or poor weather.

Contra-factors

The logic behind that is simple.

As an experienced caravanner and driver, you are more likely to be safer on the road. For example, tendencies towards reckless caravan use or careless driving may be far lower in someone mature than in someone perhaps in their twenties.

So, we believe that it is only sensible that these are considered and used to offset, where possible, some of the increasing risks that might inevitably come with advancing age.

Fortunately, some caravan insurance policy providers hold similar views and outlooks.

The bottom line here is that there are touring caravan insurance policy providers who are willing to offer cover for the over sixties and even in some cases discounts.

There is no obvious reason why you should need to accept as a fait accompli increasing premiums once you pass that major milestone of 60 years of age. After all, 60 is the new 40!

And just because you’ve hit retirement age doesn’t mean you should feel limited. On the contrary – it could be the ideal time to upgrade your ‘van, extend your touring plans, or explore locations you never had time to visit before.

Saving money on your caravan insurance – whatever your age!

Of course, age isn’t the only thing that influences the cost of your cover. So, you might want to take this opportunity to review your current insurance on your caravan and to see whether there are ways in which you might save money on the premiums.

You may find that with just a few small changes – or a conversation with a specialist adviser – you could enjoy improved cover at a more competitive price.

About your caravan …

Perhaps one of the best places to start in any review of your touring caravan insurance arrangements is to take a long hard look at the ‘van itself – getting the most appropriate caravan insurance might make all the difference between the protection you need and unnecessary expenditure.

At the heart of the cover is protection against potentially serious risks that might result in the total loss of the caravan such as during a storm, or fire or theft.

Because the total sum insured for your caravan needs to anticipate such worst-case scenarios, it is important that you determine an accurate and realistic valuation – if you have owned it for a number of years, this means taking into account the inevitable toll of depreciation or you might be paying more than you need for your insurance.

You could also consider whether any recent upgrades to your caravan – such as solar panels, new appliances or a fitted alarm system – should be reflected in the insured value.

… and its contents

Whilst you are in valuations mode, you might also want to review just how much the total contents of your caravan might be worth.

Once again, depreciation may need to be taken into account, but beware the possibility of leaving yourself underinsured if you underestimate values or fail to take into account newly acquired pieces of kit or equipment.

Think about high-value items like e-bikes, satellite TVs, portable BBQs, or camping furniture – and whether they’re included under your current policy or need to be specified separately.

Feel free to consult a specialist

Although you may already have done a certain amount of shopping around to find what you consider is cheap caravan insurance, don’t forget the potential benefits of consulting a specialist caravan insurance provider such as us here at Cover4Caravans:

• we may help to make sure that nothing is overlooked when it comes to identifying your particular, individual caravan insurance needs;
• take advantage of our wide experience and expertise when it comes to valuing your caravan and its contents;
• rely on a specialist provider to suggest some of the most competitively priced policies on the market.

We’ll also take time to explain policy options in plain English – and tailor cover to your specific lifestyle, whether you’re a weekend wanderer or a full-time tourer.

Public liability insurance

One important aspect of caravan insurance which you might easily overlook – but is typically offered by the experienced broker – is public liability indemnity.

Inclusion of this element of cover as a standard feature of your caravan insurance not only saves you money on additional caravan insurance premiums but might also save you many thousands of pounds if a member of the public or a visitor to your caravan suffers an injury or has their property damaged in an accident for which they hold you liable.

You can find out more by watching our short video entitled: Caravan Insurance Liability Cover.

Caravan security

One of the great ways of saving money on your caravan insurance – and for saving yourself a lot of heartache and worry into the bargain – is to improve the overall security of your caravan.

The more you do to reduce the risk of loss or damage, the happier your insurer is likely to be and reward you for your efforts by lowering the cost of the premiums you pay.

Indeed, some simple security measures might be policy conditions. A common measure, for example, is to insist that you use both a hitchlock and wheel clamps whenever your touring caravan is left attended and still attached to the vehicle which tows it. When left unattended and unhitched, wheel clamps alone still need to be used.

Further recognition might be given to your installing other safety measures, such as smoke alarms and motion detectors which give a warning about potential intruders.

Normal, common-sense precautions apply to leaving your caravan with the door and windows securely locked, but even here you might improve matters by fixing deadbolts to the fastenings.

You are expected to play your part in mitigating the risk of any loss or damage, in other words, and your insurer may take into account when considering any claim whether the loss was the result of your own negligence or contributory negligence.

Watch our short video: Caravan Security and Insurance for more information.

We can help

We hope these tips have helped when choosing the most suitable tourer caravan insurance for you – plus reassured you that age is just a number when it comes to our insurance cover.

At Cover4Caravans we believe age doesn’t particularly matter and are very happy to insure the more mature touring caravan owner. Whether you’re planning short breaks, long-term travel or simply want peace of mind while your ‘van is in storage, we can offer solutions that work for you.

Please call us today on 01702 606301 for further information or to get a no-obligation caravan insurance quote.

Further reading: Caravan insurance money saving tips

Date of Visit:    March 2025

Overall View

Ord House is a large, family friendly commercial site based near the A1 to the side of Berwick upon Tweed.  It is part of the Maguires Holiday Park group.  www.maguirescountryparks.co.uk  It is predominantly laid to mobile homes with a smaller section of tourer pitches, both seasonal and touring.

Access is easy from the A1, please see arrival video HERE.

The site grounds are kept immaculate and regularly cleaned, toilet blocks too are always spotless.

This is a site very much aimed at families and being one of the few sites in the area which offer tourer pitches with full service at pitch, this makes a good choice for families.

Dogs are allowed on the site – there is a dedicated dog walk around the permitter of the site.

Facilities

There are the usual range of facilities, one main toilet block, including family bathrooms and CDP point.  There are push button showers in the ladies and gentlemen’s blocks and an ambulant toilet, only, in each section.  The showers were very hot indeed in these and there is no temperature control, care is required.  There is one accessible shower near the front entrance but this is some way from the main touring area.  The room is set out as a wet room, has a shower and grab rails and a rainfall type of shower head, plus a toilet.  Care is required when the floor is wet as it is very slippy.  This is pointed out in the information from the site.  There is no emergency pull cord, however which was disappointing in a site of this size.

The motorhome service point, with drive-over waste water drain, can be found behind the main toilet block.

This is also where the laundry room is situated.  A pay via smartphone or card system is in place and this works very well indeed and prices were comparable with high street launderettes.  You can even arrange for it to text you when it has finished either washing or drying – saving you having to wait round.  There is no seat in the laundry room but there one in the foyer area.  The laundry also has an iron and ironing board.

The tourer pitches are centred, in the main, round the old walled kitchen garden, at the top of this is a large children’s play area with swings, slides and climbing equipment.  There is also a small crazy golf course to one side – one for the young and not so young of us!

Behind this is Ord House and a newer building to one side.  This houses the restaurant, bar and grill for the site.  There is an adults only room within the complex, children area allowed in other areas.  No dogs are allowed in this area at all, however, there is some parking in front where you could park and keep an eye on them in cooler weather.

The Reception is housed in a mobile home in front of Ord House restaurant complex and they were always very helpful and friendly.

There is no shop on site, however a large Tesco Supermarket, including fuel, is about 20 minute walk or 5 minute car drive away from the site.

There is a bus stop close to the entrance of the site.  Buses go towards Kelso in One direction and Berwick-upon-Tweed in the other.

Nearest Railway Station is Berwick upon Tweed on the East Coast Mainline.  Trains travel between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh.

The site has a football pitch, this was currently under re-seeding but was generous in size.  Some wooden picnic benches were sited at the side.

Review of Site Pitch

There are varying types of pitch available up to and including fully serviced with grey water disposal, TV booster and wide pitch.  These are able to accommodate a caravan, full awning and car side-by-side in each pitch.  In the D section, all pitches are separated by a small hedge.

The pitches are relatively level but most require a side-to-side balancing with a ramp.

EE gave an above average signal on Mobile at 5G – streaming was possible, providing you didn’t shut the roof blinds.  Vodafone, likewise was reasonable at 4G in the main.

The site offers Wi-Fi at £4 per 48 hours, per device.  So if you wish to hook up more than one device, you have to pay each separately.

Around and about

A walk around the Ramparts is a superb way of seeing Berwick-upon-Tweed and you are rewarded with some great sea views too. It’s little over a mile and mostly paved.  Guided leaflets and maps are available from the library/tourist information centre just off Marygate which is the main high street of the town.

Another option is to follow the Lowry Trail to see where the artist got his inspiration for much of his work.

A pleasant day out is a visit to Eyemouth harbour, St Abbs and the cliffs which are an official nature reserve.  The latter has a lovely, short and level paved walk to the picnic area which affords you lovely views on a sunny day when we visited.  It is possible to walk further up but this is not accessible.  There is National Trust car parking, blue badge spaces available and next to this is Borders Pottery and a delightful café with toilets including accessible ones.

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is major tourist draw and the drive across the causeway is a real experience, please check tides before venturing across.

English Heritage members get free entry to the Priory while the Castle is in the hands of the National Trust. A walk through the streets and stop for coffee or something stronger – perhaps some of the local mead. Bird watchers should bring their binoculars to view some of the numerous species that have been recorded.

A little further is the attractive Northumberland town of Alnwick. Parking is free thanks to Northumberland’s excellent disc parking system. Pick up disc up at a Tourist Information office or local shop for a quid and display in your car when you park in indicated areas for a specified time.  Blue badge holders can park for free in the main High Street area.

The town was attractive enough in its own right but the surrounding scenery does really make this a beautiful place to visit. The views looking back across the countryside towards the castle were amazing and on a clear day you can see for some considerable distance.

Alnwick Castle – Alnwick Gardens

These are slightly separate to the Castle Tour but still worth a visit.  There are several points of note, the large Waterfall installed by the Duchess of Northumberland some years ago; the funny, if not slightly alarming, short and accessible tour of the Poison Garden.  Everyday plants, if used incorrectly or at the wrong amounts can be deadly!

There is also a sculpture tour of waterfalls and mirrors to one side – great for old and young alike.  There is a café and some shops at the entrance to the gardens.  Again, dogs are not allowed anywhere at all.

Sadly, Alnwick is not served by a railway line due to 1960’s era rail cuts.  It is, however, possible to see the old train station, as it is now home to Barter books – one of the largest second-hand book shops in Britain.  It is a must see visit for book lovers and coffee and cake lovers alike!  Dog friendly too. Comfortable reading areas with open fires, murals, a popular and well-priced café and children’s room too. Barter Books is also the home of the original ‘ Keep Calm & Carry On’ poster.

Another good day out is to the tourist villages of Etal & Ford. The villages lie in the heart of border country and nearby lies Flodden Battlefield, site of a particularly bloody conflict between the English and Scottish armies over 500 years ago.  The Black Bull Inn in Etal is highly recommended and serves straightforward pub food very well indeed, usually has a couple of real ales on tap and is dog friendly.

In 1989, the two owners of the two estates collaborated, in order to try and improve tourism, to install a narrow gauge steam railway between the two and a pleasant hour long return trip can be enjoyed.  There are toilet facilities at either end of the rail but the Etal one is a 5 minute walk up a slope – it is however, pram and wheelchair friendly.  The train is accessible for wheelchairs and ramps are provided.  www.heatherwaitelightrailway.co.uk

Another pleasant shorter trip out is to the Honey Farm and Chain Bridge – one side is England; the other is Scotland. 

Another good day out, a short 10 minute drive from the site, is Paxton House. It’s a private charitable owned large Palladian building situated right on the Scottish Border.  Houses fine Chippendale furniture and portraits from the National Gallery of Scotland. Guided tours are available but I am advised a lot of stairs involved.  Very dog friendly with only the house itself out of bounds.  Stable yard houses shop, accessible toilets and cafe.

Summary

In terms of location for touring around this border area – Ord House is very conveniently located.  The reverse of this is that it is suburban in nature and there is both vehicle and rail noise – this is not so noticeable in the van.  Facilities are very family friendly and should appeal to families.  There is a great range of activities for people of all ages and abilities.  The site, similarly has good facilities but there could be the odd improvement.  The on-site restaurant is great as there is no need to drive if you do not wish too.

Tetford Road, Greetham, Lincolnshire.  LN96PT

Date of Visit:    March 2025

Overall View

This is a CAMC members only 5-pitch site near the village of Greetham in Lincolnshire.  It is an adults only site.  This CL also won CL of the year in 2013.  

Access is from the A158, please see arrival video HERE.  Please note the site is not in the village of Greetham itself.

The site is very peaceful and relaxing.  This is an agricultural area, so some farming noise is expected and also due to its proximity to a number of RAF bases there is some intermittent aircraft noise.  Neither of these detracted from our stay in anyway.  

Finally, the site is almost blackout at night and star gazing was very clear.  You do need torches.

Facilities

Each of the pitches has 16amp EHU included within the pitch fee.  The usual Club standard service point is at the bottom end of the site.  The site also offers an exclusive use shower and toilet room, these are kept immaculately clean and the shower is a domestic style which is very helpful.  

There is also a well-stocked information room, with dog friendly activities indicated by labels on the relevant stand.  To the side of the information room is a fully equipped laundry room with domestic standard washer and a dryer.  Ironing board and iron are also available.  There is an honesty box system for paying for these services and at the time of writing, £4 each per wash and drying.  They provide an eco friendly washing liquid and softener which is compatible with their sewage system.  Again, these are kept at the highest standard.

There are also a number of self-catering units incorporated within the whole block which are available to rent for non-caravanning friends and family.  You do not have to have someone staying at the CL to use these units, again they are adults only.

There is a BBQ area – you can use your own BBQs here with tables and chairs too.  To one side is a large, floor level chess and draughts board for you to use if you choose.

The site is dog friendly with lovely mown grass walks to use with plenty of dog poop bins as well.  Dogs must be on leads at all times as there are geese and other animals around.

Access is through a wooden gate system, this is not locked however.

TV Reception was good and there is free on-site WiFi.  We found the latter to be good during the day but the signal dropped off considerably once the caravan blinds were down at night. We were furthest away from the mast however.

Mobile service was full 5G on EE, Three fluctuated between 5G and 4G but was perfectly acceptable.

There is no bus service direct from the site – the nearest bus stop we could find was in the village of Greetham itself – a good 25 minute or so walk along the country lanes. This is a request only stop and the bus must be booked a minimum of 2 hours in advance for both the outward and return journey. www.lincsbus.info  This operates on a Monday to Saturday only.  Regular bus services operate along the A158, again a 10 minute or so car drive away.

The nearest fuel station is a Shell Garage, Spilsby Road, Horncastle on the A158.  There is a basic shop and it is open 7am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

Review of Site Pitch

The five pitches are tiered on a small slope and each is completely level.  The pitch will take a caravan and awning by the side, cars parked to the front although there is plenty of space to park your car close by.  There is one grass only pitch – this is available during the summer months only.

The pitches are laid to fine gravel and using awning pegs was straightforward and the level nature of the pitch meant the awning sat very well.

Around and about

The site is quite centrally located for a number of visits – www.visitlincolnshire.org.uk is a good starting point.

If you are a National Trust member then there are a number of sites around the area.  We visited one at Tattershall Castle, a different type of castle to the one you would normally expect.  There is level access to the ground floor and there are staircases to the top of the castle and into the basement.  Toilets are available but you should note that the pathways are of a fine deep gravel and pushchairs and possibly wheelchairs may find it difficult to transverse.  www.nationaltrust.org.uk There is no café here but the entrance lodge does have a limited cold drink offering and the usual range of National Trust shop items for sale.

It is quite possible to combine this with a visit to nearby RAF Coningsby.  Home to the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon group.  There is an official ‘spotters’ car park – this can fill up very quickly indeed – especially if there are operations underway – as they were the day we visited.  We saw part of the Eurofighter Typhoon display team at work and also a couple of  Battle of Britain Memorial planes including a Spitfire.  There are no catering trucks available so best to take drinks and lunch with you if you want to stay a while, no toilets too.  There are also a couple of roadside places to park unofficially to get a really close up view.  Please note that the noise when these jets take off, up close, is considerable.  www.raf.mod.uk 

The site is pretty equidistant between two towns, Spilsby and Horncastle.  Spilsby is the home of the nearest vets, Fenwold.  (Please note that this is not a recommendation or otherwise).  There is a small Sainsburys next door and there is a pleasant hour or so to walk round the main part of the town which also holds local markets on various days of the week.  www.spilsby.info   There are a few independent shops, a PO and several bars and restaurants.  The White Hart Hotel is a lovely olde worlde pub, dogs are allowed in the bar area.  However on a hot and sunny day it is great to sit outside overlooking the square.  A coffee or tea and a cake is a special offer – cake was homemade and delicious.  Real ales are also available.  Please check Facebook for further details and it is also listed on the visit Lincolnshire website above.

A visit to Lincoln is a full day out and there are any number of car parks around and inside the city.  www.visitlincoln.com 

Horncastle – this is a market town with regular markets on various days.  Plenty of shops and the occasional smaller version of the main supermarkets.  There is a free heritage trail – the site has leaflets which self-guide you and give you plenty of information. 

Mablethorpe – a straightforward drive to the coast and can be done as a round trip driving down the coast and back via Alford.  Mablethorpe is a traditional seaside resort with the usual amenities and a fairground which operates on a seasonal basis.  The beach is lengthy and there is parking overlooking the beach at cost.  www.mablethorpe.info 

Cleethorpes – this is the furthest day out from the site we undertook but it was well worth it.  Cleethorpes does have a small central area of traditional seaside amenities but overall much quieter than Mablethorpe and certainly Skegness.  There are plenty of car parks around the area and there is also a road train at weekends during the year and daily during the summer months.  www.visitcleethorpe.co.uk   

One of our main reasons for visiting was to have a ride on the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway www.cclr.co.uk  – a miniature set up which runs up and down part of the front of the town.  The engines are gleaming and accessible and dog friendly.  There are cafes at either end of the line but the main one, where the car parking is, Lakeside is the main terminus.  A bar and café are situated here along with a souvenir shop.  A fun 9 hole crazy golf course is to the right of this and a joint ticket can be purchased – great fun for all ages!

Skegness – where to start, probably www.visitskegness.co.uk It is a large and very traditional seaside resort and attracts many visitors each year.  There are a couple of fun fairs with all the traditional fairground rides.  There is also a very large Tesco Supermarket by the Railway Station.  Definitely a full day out to be had.

Gunsby Hall – NT.  We had passed this on our way back from Skegness, as a member of the National Trust is it usually good value, we were not disappointed.  The weather played fair again and we spent a good few hours viewing the house, a stroll round the kitchen and flower gardens.  We were lucky enough to find a bench by the greenhouses in the sun to eat our lunch.  The house tour is very interesting and helpful guides, not intrusively so, provided a good commentary on the history of the house.  There is the usual stable yard café, facilities and second hand bookshop.  All easily accessible.  Interestingly, on the day we visited they were trialling a wheelchair lift trolley, good to see that they are increasing their accessibility. Pathways were good and there is a shuttle bus running between the car park and the house/gardens.  This is wheelchair accessible too.  A lovely visit, helped by the glorious weather.

Eating out – a significant number of the pubs in rural areas here close on Monday and Tuesday, however we found the Leagate Inn, a twenty or so minutes’ drive from the site. Good food – Tuesday night is pie night but the full menu is available too. Dog friendly as well.

Summary

A beautiful site, location, standards is all you can want in a CL site.  The owners are friendly and helpful and the one site facilities are a real plus point.  It is one to which we would definitely return.

Springtime is probably one of our favourite seasons – and it’s just around the corner.

Wherever you are in the country, new life will soon be waking from its winter sleep, flowers will bloom and the countryside and National Parks beckon caravanners once again.

As it’s likely to be one of your first outings of the year – and Spring weather may be as unpredictable as ever – you might not want to travel too far away from home just yet. So, let’s group our suggested destinations this Spring on a regional basis that suits caravanners wherever they live in the UK.

1. Southern England

For the lucky ones living in the south of the country, of course, Spring comes earlier than elsewhere – and the southwest offers special attractions at this time of year.

The countryside, its hedgerows and coastal cliff paths are all splashed with the colours of bright flowers and caravan sites abound.

The south of Cornwall is probably one of the most beautiful places in the UK from late January onwards. Trethem Mill Touring Park is a 5-star, adults only, site on the Roseland peninsula and offers fully-serviced pitches on gravel, all-weather pitches and serviced grass pitches, each secluded within its own hedged area.

If you want to save yourself the drive down to the southwest, the New Forest is even more conveniently situated just an hour or so from London and much of the southeast. You’ll find wildflowers carpeting the open heathland, birds calling, and reptiles basking in the year’s first sunshine.

Lytton Lawn Touring Park is a 4-star site conveniently situated between the natural centre of the New Forest in Lyndhurst and the coast at Milford-on-Sea.

2. Northern England

The Lakes, Pennines, Moors or coast – you are pretty well spoilt for choice with a touring caravan in the north of England.

Take a springtime trip to the Lake District, avoid the summer’s throngs, and get away from it all as you “wander lonely as a cloud”. On the eastern shores of Lake Windermere, in the heart of the National Park, is Bowness on Windermere Club Site, a Camping and Caravanning site which offers 65 pitches for touring caravans.

If you prefer the rolling hills of the Pennines, then Pennine View Park in the aptly named Eden Valley in the Yorkshire Dales, may be the ideal base for walking, cycling or simply relaxing.

Still further east, you have the North York Moors and the coast, all of which may be explored from the touring caravan site at Jasmine Park, between Scarborough and Pickering.

3. Wales

Bluebells and daffodils – why not discover that Eryri/Snowdonia National Park is not only bleak, rugged mountains, but gently soothing glades and dells too? To whet your appetite, take a look at some of the springtime photos taken in and around Eryri (Snowdonia) here.

In the very heart of the National Park is the Caravan Club’s Riverside Touring Park – a 5-star, 8-acre site for 60 tourers – just a short walk from the quaint village of Betws-y-Coed.

If it’s the gentler scenery and coastal walks you are after, the Gower Peninsula in south Wales might be your choice and Skysea Caravan and Camping site near the popular village of Port Eynon fits the bill perfectly.

4. Scotland

Scotland emerges from its harsher winters towards the end of Spring and a short drive from either Glasgow or Edinburgh will find you transported to an altogether different, natural world in the Trossachs National Park and the shores of iconic Loch Lomond.

Situated close by the eastern shores of the Loch, Cashel Campsite has 168 pitches – many on hardstanding and with electric hookup – and is ideally situated for exploring the surrounding Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.

5. Northern Ireland

Green at practically any time of the year, the Province of Northern Ireland seems greener than ever in Spring.

Breathe in the scents of Spring, with notes of wild garlic in the air and daffodils in bloom, while hares box in the meadows and woodlands come alive.

Six Mile Water Caravan Park  – with 37 hardstanding pitches, all with electric hookup – is near Antrim Town, on the shores of Lough Neagh, in the very heart of the Province, so a perfectly placed from which to explore all that Ulster has to offer at this glorious time of the year.

Once upon a time, you only really had to worry about being bitten to death by pesky mosquitoes, insects and other nefarious bugs when you took your caravan abroad. With the sub-tropical summers we’ve experienced in the UK of late, the dangers may be somewhat closer to home.

So, whether you’re looking forward to your next Summer holiday in your caravan in this country or on the Continent, here are a few tips on keeping all those bugs at bay and avoid getting bitten.

The risks

The risks of becoming seriously ill following an insect bite or sting in the UK is thankfully quite small, according to reassuring advice from the NHS.

There is less room for complacency when you travel abroad. Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals an increase in mosquito-borne infections linked to overseas travel, including dengue and malaria – both of which can lead to severe illness. Cases have been identified in various areas of the UK among people who have recently returned from trips abroad.

Avoid being bitten

Whether it’s a tiresome and irritating but minor complaint, or something more serious, the most important steps to take are to avoid being bitten in the first place:

• be very British and keep calm and carry on – don’t jump about, or try swatting the wasps, bees or hornets;
• keep exposed skin covered by wearing loose clothing, especially when mosquitoes are likely to be most active, such as at sunset or sunrise;
• you can also buy insect repellent clothing – clothing manufacturers such as CragHoppers, Cotswold Outdoor and several other companies provide a range of tops, shirts, shorts and trousers;
• wear your shoes when you go outside;
• never disturb an insect nest;
• take extra care around flowering plants, compost, rubbish, stagnant water, and in areas where food is being served outside;
• if you want to keep the windows and doors of your caravan open, make sure to cover them with netting or use door beads to stop the insects getting inside;
• avoid pitching your caravan close to lakes, ponds or rivers, since these are just the places that insects are likely to congregate; and
• avoid healthcare and beauty products – such as deodorants, shampoo and soaps – which have strong perfumes, since some might attract insects.

Repellents

It is important to use insect repellents – night and daytime, inside your caravan and when outdoors – on areas of exposed skin. The active ingredients need to be either DEET, lemon eucalyptus extract or PMD, or Picaridin (20%).

These repellents may be bought over the counter as creams or sprays, but many of the active ingredients are also available for slow, vaporised release in small plug-in electric devices.

If you want to stick to an entirely natural repellent, slow-burning citronella candles or other essential oils (such as oil of lemon eucalyptus) might be your preference.

Extra caravan-specific tips

If you’re touring in a caravan, it’s worth taking a few extra precautions to make sure your mobile home stays bite-free:

• Seal up the small spaces – Bugs love sneaking in through tiny gaps in window seals, under doors, and even via the undercarriage. Use weather stripping, sealant, or foam tape to block these off, especially before long summer trips.

• Install fine mesh screens – Properly fitted mosquito netting or mesh screens on windows and roof vents allow for good airflow without inviting in unwanted guests.

• Keep food sealed – Sweet smells from open food and drink can attract flies and wasps. Store perishables in airtight containers and keep sugary drinks tightly closed when not in use.

• Keep your awning clean – If you’ve got an awning attached to your caravan, be sure to clean it regularly. Spilled food or drink and general grime can attract insects, and awnings often become perfect hiding spots for them.

• Choose your campsite wisely – When planning your stay, research campsites with good drainage. Pitches with poor drainage tend to have more stagnant water – a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

• Tidy up outdoor areas – Keep the area around your caravan free from litter, food waste and long grass. The fewer hiding and feeding places there are for bugs, the better.

• Pack a fly swatter and bug vacuum – Sometimes, despite all your efforts, an insect or two will make it inside. A quick swat or a battery-powered bug vacuum can be a caravaner’s best friend.

• Use magnetic or hook-on insect screens for doors – These are an easy-to-fit, non-permanent solution that works brilliantly for keeping bugs out while letting fresh air in.

• LED lighting – Traditional bulbs tend to attract insects, whereas cool white or yellow-toned LED lights are less appealing to flying pests. Consider swapping out any old bulbs inside or outside your caravan.

• Dry herbs and lavender sachets – Some caravanners swear by placing dried herbs like lavender or bay leaves in cupboards and corners. While not foolproof, they can help deter certain insects naturally.

With a little preparation, there’s no reason insects should spoil your next caravan getaway. Whether you’re heading to Cornwall, the Lake District, or crossing the Channel, being bug-aware means you can focus on what really matters – relaxing, exploring, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for guidance on preventing and treating insect bites, especially if you have allergies, are travelling to high-risk regions, or are experiencing symptoms following a bite or sting. Any products, brands or companies mentioned are provided as examples only and do not constitute endorsements or recommendations. Please use your own judgment and seek professional advice when selecting any insect repellent or protective gear.