Salop Leisure Have Big Plans For 2018

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By William Coleman
2017 was an extremely good year for Salop Leisure and they are planning to make 2018 even bigger. Tony Bywater, the chairman of the award winning Shrewsbury based caravan dealership, is predicting a lot of success this year with plans for more investment and new developments.
Having enjoyed multiple success in 2017, most notably the opening of the company’s luxury £6.5 million Love2Stay touring and glapming resort which is located right next to the Salop Leisure’s Emstrey HQ, Tony Bywater is very optimistic about what the new year will bring for Salop Leisure and its associated businesses and caravan parks. We actually had to privalige of covering following their massively successful summer opening, Love2Stay Summer Blockbuster,
“There have been some tremendous achievements for the business during 2017,” said My Bywater. “Under managing director Mark Bebb’s guidance, we have totally developed the Love2Stay resort concept which is already renowned as one of the best in Europe.

“Since opening in mid-summer, the resort has proved to be a resounding success, with more than 20,000 people visiting the resort within the first few months.

“We have also added three extra pitches for luxury lodges in our holiday home village display area at Salop Leisure to meet growing demand from customers.”

Another Salop development is already under way. The company are investing £1.5 million in the Glan-y-don Holiday Park and are completely redeveloping the site to provide 68 pitches along the seafront at Tywyn, near Aberdyfi. Imagine the views from those pitches in the summer. The park is scheduled to open on June 1 2018.

Further north along the coast, work has begun on a new £500,000 reception building at Min-y-Don Holiday Park in Harlech, which is set to open in March.

Salop Leisure have created an extra 35 jobs which has grown the company workforce to more than 200 people. On top of that the company saw record sales of touring caravans and motorhomes.

“We remain very excited about the prospects for touring caravan, motorhome and caravan holiday homes sales in 2018,” added Mr Bywater. “We feel that 2018 is going to be a great year of opportunities for our company.

“I think it’s going to be and outstanding year for all forms of self-catering accommodation. The devaluation of the pound against other currencies and the increased expense of flying abroad will persuade even more British people to staycation.

“Investing in a caravan holiday home, touring caravan or motorhome provides excellent value for money for people who wish to enjoy a holiday or short break with their family anytime they wish at a location of their choice.”

Sister business Love Plants, the specialist plants centre, has also enjoyed a record-breaking year of sales. Mr Bywater expects to see the business continue to grow in 2018 as its reputation for quality plants and good, old fashioned customer service spreads.

“We are proud that Salop Leisure has become a destination for people to visit,” he added. “They can come and have lunch in our Love Coffee restaurant and there’s lots of interesting things for them to see.”

So this I am putting a large pin on my travel map marking out this location. Their Love2Stay site will 100% be one of my Spring/Summer getaways. Stay tuned for coverage on the site.

Lunar Grant A Christmas Wish

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By William Coleman

Charity does not just consist of financial contributions. Sometimes the most charitable act can be one of kindness to makes someones dreams come true. For one lucky young boy his Christmas wish came true thanks to some much appreciated help from the guys at Lunar Caravans.

A devoted father, and Lunar Caravan owner, was doing his very best to make his 11 year old son’s dream Christmas present a reality. Martin Tierney decided to build a mini Quasar caravan for his son Dylan, who suffers from severe mental and physical disabilities, so he could tow his own personal caravan this Christmas. What better way to make this dream a reality than ask to professionals for their assistance in completing this project.

Like most 11 year old boys, Dylan is a massive fan of cars, tractores, trailers, motorhomes and pretty much anything that has wheels attached to it. Due to Dylan’s health issues he cannot just go and play with these vehicles, but this is where his dad has stepped in to show that his disabilities will not stop him from doing the thing he loves most.

One of Dylan’s favorite things to do is to go on adventures with Mum, Dad and his little sister in the family’s Lunar Quasar 525. One of the things that Dylan is fascinated by is the fact that you can hitch up your caravan and just set off on your holiday. When the family are towing their caravan Dylan is always over the moon.

Dylan’s father Martin, who is a trained carpenter, decided to put his skills to the test to make this Christmas special for his son. Martin set up his own Christmas workshop, put on his elf hat and got to work making the perfect Christmas gift for Dylan. Martin decided to make Dylan his very own Quasar 525 that he could tow behind his wheelchair.

Martin made this mini caravan an exact double of the real this with a hitch, a door, windows and even lights. The only thing missing from the defining detail of the official Lunar Quasar decals.

Martin wanted to make sure that this mini leisure home was absolutely perfect for Dylan. Martin decided to approach Lunar’s CEO and Chairman Brian Mellor for his assistance. Brian was more than happy to lend a helping hand: “Martin emailed me and explained the very special project he was working on for his remarkable son. We were deeply moved by the motives behind his undertaking and it was an absolute pleasure to be able to help him finish the project by supplying scale versions of the decals for his model year.”.

So Christmas day rolled around and Dylan woke up to the best Christmas present you could get an 11 year old caravan enthusiast. The mini Quasar with all the branded logos was presented to Dylan on Christmas day. Martin was overjoyed with the help Lunar gave him: “The decals added the perfect finishing touch to Dylan’s little Lunar Quasar. He is an amazing and very bright boy and loves spending time in the caravan. It was my dream he would have his own authentic mini version to tow around with his power chair when he’s at home. I’m grateful to Lunar for their help in making that dream a reality.”

Well done to Martin for going through such an amazing effort to make Dylan’s Christmas so great. A moving story made all the more special by the assistance of Lunar caravans.

The Touring Pet Paradise

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By William Coleman
Pets on holiday, something that splits holiday makers across the UK right down the middle. It is hard to find someone who does not love dogs. They make great pets and perfect companions. This Welsh site has been named the perfect holiday spot to take your 4 legged friends on holiday.

If you are searching for a holiday destination for you and your dog look no further than Scampers Holidays. The glamping experts, based in Swansea, are receiving high praise and have been awarded the title of Best Unique Stay in the 2017 Dog Friendly Travel Awards.

The company have a wide range of award winning glamping that your pooch will be delighted to stay in. So once you’ve chosen your Tiki lodge or Shepherd hut you can take a very short troll to dog welcoming beaches in Llangennith and Rhossili, which was voted No. 1 Dog-Friendly Beach by The Times.

This site also treats your pet like a VIP. While your dog relaxes they will be fed treats, have their own dog bowls along with towels and blankets on request. There is a maximum of three dogs per visit. So if you have 4 or more do be aware of this.

Mark Bulson, Scampers Holidays Director, said: “Being pet friendly was a core reason for us to start the company. We loves taking at the time, our own little Westie called Woody on holiday with us and therefore discovered the need for a truly dedicated company to provide a fully pet friendly holiday.

We love how our guests always engage with the area and make the most of all the walks and beaches. Plus a waggy tail and a friendly smile always makes our day. We feel truly honoured to have won an award considering the many first class accommodation providers PetsPyjamas represent.”

The body that assessed the site, which lead to the award win, was a company called PetsPyjamas. Scamper Holidays were assessed on around 5 different categories which included; Super dog loving atmosphere and staff at all times and nearby dog friendly attractions.

For more information or to make a booking go to Scamper Holiday’s website.

Win Your Tickets To The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome And Holiday Show

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By William Coleman

Scotland’s largest exhibition is making its welcome return to Glasgow from 8 – 11 February, 2018.

The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show, which is once again sponsored by one of Scotland’s leading motorhome dealers BC Motorhomes, will take over the entire SEC, Glasgow for another year to welcome over 200 exhibitors and outdoor experts across the four-day period. To celebrate the return of the much loved exhibition, we’ve teamed up with the show to offer readers the chance to win one of five pairs of tickets to the ultimate outdoor extravaganza.

With the exhibition set to be bigger than ever in 2018 with an even bigger family camping area, more accessories and hundreds of models, layouts and specifications all in one place, it’s the perfect destination to find out more about holidaying at home.

And here is your chance to win a pair of tickets to the show. There are 5 sets to give away. Answer the question right for your chance to win the tickets.

Visitors to the show will be able to have first sightings of the brand new models for 2018 as well as a variety of holiday homes from luxury lodges to eco pods. With brands including Airstream, Swift, Elddis, Lunar, Bailey, Coachman, Roller Team and Rapido there is guaranteed to be something to suit all needs and budgets. Back by popular demand, visitors will also be able to purchase the ‘must have’ tents and accessories for their outdoor adventures at the Accessory Superstore. On show will be marine products including jet skis and dinghies, as well as other marine accessories.

If that wasn’t enough, visitors will be able to wander through the Holiday Park Village where staff will be on hand to provide advice and offer suggestions to make sure their caravanning experience is the best it can be.

In addition, a number of clubs and associations will be there to help you pick out your next destination whilst free caravan towing or motorcaravan manoeuvring sessions are on offer from the Caravan & Motorhome Club.

Tickets on sale now, book yours and find out more about this year’s exhibition at www.caravanshowscotland.com

Terms & Conditions
This competition is open to all adults over the age of 18. All entries must include the name and contact details of the entrant. Entries will not be considered if they do not have all

information specified. Winners will be chosen at random, this decision is final. Prize is one pair of tickets to the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show 2018. Prize is valid for one day entry only and can be used on any one day between Thursday 8 February and Sunday 11 February 2018. This prize has no cash alternative, is non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Travel and Parking are not included. Please note that you must provide a full driving licence to participate in the free towing and manoeuvring sessions.

The competition will close on The 1st of February 2018.

Childhood Caravan Stories And The Bodmin Beast

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By William Coleman

Last week I was visiting a few sites and locations in Devon, Exeter and Dartmoor. While I was there I took the opportunity to have a look around my old holiday destinations and the memories came flooding back.

A month or so back I wrote an article about my early memories of my caravan holidays, almost 20 years to the day I actually last visited the location, Devon memories. Every time we went to Devon on holiday to Devon I was convinced that I was going spot and possibly capture the Beast of Bodmin Moor.

As a child the stories of legends and creatures are what made being a kid on a caravan holiday so amazing, well to me anyway. When I went to Scotland for a family wedding I was convinced I saw the Loch Ness monster, I clearly did not as I was nowhere near the Loch Ness and I was looking at a stream outside the hotel we were staying. But at the time it seemed like a very real sighting and my dad was happy to tell me I had seen it.

The difference between Loch Ness and the Bodmin Beast was that there was some kind of physical evidence of the beasts existence. On top of that there are some possible reasons as to why it could actually exist. Instead of it being some kind of monster it was clear that it may have been some kind of big cat that had either been set free or escaped from a local zoo. To a 7 year old boy this was the most exciting thing in the world.

Back in 1995 there was no internet, not that I could access anyway, so there was a lack of images for me to see to put my mind at ease or stop me from trying to chase and track this monster. From time to time you would see pictures in shops or in local papers. Every image I would see was unclear enough to keep me believing there was a real monster roaming my holiday hotspot.

The more I would talk to my mum and dad about it the more they tried to reassure me thats it is just a cat that had escaped or someone who was confused about what they had seen. Maybe they thought I was worried about there being an actual monster but that was not the case, I was extremely excited. As I thought that I would be the one to prove to the world that this monster was real. And yes a part of me thought that if it was a big cat I would tame it and have a new pet, the logic of a 7 year old rarely makes sense.

Despite our holiday park being nowhere near the sightings I used to look out of the side of our static caravan and keep a keen eye open, in the off chance that the beast decided to stroll through the park in search of a sheep. Something there was an abundance in the fields surrounding the park site.

On one of the last days of the holiday we had spent the day horse riding and walking around Dartmoor taking in all the beautiful scenery. On our way back as the sun was going down behind the large hills I am 100% convinced that we spotted something. Right on the apex of the hill with the sun backlighting what ever saw was a silhouette of something, an animal, on all fours strolling along the top of the hill.

I am not saying what we spotted was the legendary beast but its tail flicked up which would rule out a dog. The body was long and slender and its head was bobbed down as if it were sniffing the ground. Part of me believes that we did see some kind of cat which could well have been the Beast of Bodmin Moor.

I turned to mum and dad and asked what they thought, I mean they were shocked enough to stop the car and jump out to take a good look. As a 7 year old I was still being told that Father Christmas was still real so if they told we saw it they may have been appeasing my young imagination. Years down the line, over 23 in fact, I still bring up time we saw something prowling the moors and the story from the parents are still the same. So maybe they believed we did see the Beast of Bodmin Moor.

As an adult male with access to the internet at my fingertips pretty much 24/7 I have done some research. So there seems to be no real definitive evidence to support the existence of a big cat roaming the moors. That being said the moors are a large place and there have been photos of what looks like a panther or leopard. Add to that some attacks on wildlife and you have a pretty compelling argument. The main reason given by experts as to why there would not be a Bodmin Beast was the lack of food on the moors. For an animal like a big cat there needs to be quite a good amount of food to keep them going. So after decades of no sightings it has been labelled an urban legend. If there is lack of food then maybe that it was ended the animal or maybe it never existed. I have never been able to rationally explain what I saw roaming the moors 23 years go.

Is or was the Beast of Bodmin Moor real or was it just a fable made up my confused locals who saw a lost domestic cat?

A Weekend Away With The Auto Trail V Line

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By William Coleman

Freedom is what comes to mind whenever I think of a touring holiday. Pack a bag, crab the partner, jump in the car, tow the caravan or like the young couple in this video, experiment for the first time with an Auto-Trail V Line for a long weekend.

The world is your oyster when you have a motorhome you can get away in. A lot of people do prefer a motorhome over a caravan because of the towing element. With a caravan you would need to, ideally, pitch up and then hop in the car to take a little tour around town.

With the V Line, as these first time motorhome users found out, is a lot easier and more convenient for just setting off. Both Simon and Faye, who are features in the video, we very surprised at how easy using a motorhome was, especially down tight country roads.

Have a watch of this video and see how devout caravaners found using a motorhome for their little adventure.

Bailey Unicorn Segovia Wins Caravan Of The Year Award 2018

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By William Coleman

The touring community award season may have ended in back in November but that has not stopped the Caravan Magazine from crowning a new champion in their Caravan Of The Year Award 2018 category.

Bailey’s flagship Unicorn range is now a notch above the rest as they produce and deliver their first ever 6 berth in that range. An ambitious move that has clearly paid off as the Segovia is already winning awards.

The 6 berth is ideal for families with 4 children or if you take some friends away with you on your travels. Not only did the Segovia take home the Caravan Of The Year Award but it also took the Best Layout For Families Award too. Which just goes to show that when Bailey say the Bailey Family it’s not just a clever slogan, they really mean it.

The leisure vehicle is split up into 3 seperate rooms or spaces, depending on how you like to word it. Room 1 being the family bedroom which is located in the lounge. Room 2 is a long lounge with room 3 being the perfect sized washroom which is located in the centre of the caravan.

Apart from the sleeping and lounge area this home also provides a lot of storage. When travelling with children and up to six people it is key to have as much storage as possible, there is nothing worse than cramming as much in as possible and then having to sort through as soon as you arrive at your holiday destination. The fridge freezer is ginormous too with a whopping 190 litre capacity, the largest of any caravan.

The lounge is geared towards family space. It is so perfectly spaced that you will have no issue having all 6 occupants in the lounge at any time. Perfect for the family film of an evening.

The rear bedroom has a double bunk bed as well as a two seat dining area. The rear bedroom has a solid door which separates it from the rest of the caravan and helps keep it private and comfortable..

To keep the family warm Bailey are using an Alde heating system. To keep a 6 berth home well heated with such a silent heating system is a stroke of engineering genius.

I was lucky enough to speak with Simon Howard, Bailey’s Marketing Director, who was over the moon with the win; “We are delighted to win this award. We only launched this range in August and the Segovia is already winning awards. We’re also so pleased with everyone who was involved in making this range a success. We listen to customer feedback and use focus groups to get as much feedback fed into the designs as possible.”

It is clear that Bailey and everyone who has taken part, in what is virgin territory for the company, in creating their first ever family 6 berth caravan are over the moon with the result “This is our first ever 6 berth caravan and for it to win the Caravan of the Year Award means a great deal to me and everyone involved. It also helps us expand into an entirely new market”, Simon continues.

When you see this tourer, you can really see why it has bagged such a prestigious award. To have created such a luxurious 6 berth which feels more like house than a caravan just goes to show why their British based engineering works so well as they enter their 70th anniversary.

Goodyear Motorhome Tire Safety Concern

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By William Coleman

Safety is the number one priority for every leisure vehicle owner. We spend a lot of time on the road covering a lot of miles in hour touring homes and the last thing that you want is a tire blowing out on you while you’re doing a good speed on a motorway or A road.

Over in the States, and possibly here some time soon, a US safety regulator are launching an investigation into whether Goodyear’s motorhome tires can fail while in use and cause accidents, collisions, crashes and possibly fatalities.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have begun a probe into Goodyear after a court ordered the release of Goodyear date from lawsuits, which were previously sealed under court orders which were settled with confidential agreements.

Once the date was opened it revealed that the G159 tires had failed while being used which had lead to injuries and deaths. The document was posted on January 1st, not the best start to the new year for Goodyear, say that a lot of claims against the company could be caused by a safety defect on the tires.

The agency who are launching the investigation have received 10 consumer complaints that are allegedly linked to two crash incidents. The document also reveals that Goodyear had reported 9 claims to the agency that had involved 1 death and 13 injuries.

This investigation covers around 40,000 tires from 1996-2003. It is not clear if these tyres are limited to US distribution so if you have Goodyear tyres it may be worth checking your tyres if you have purchased them between 96-03.

Always make sure that you do your checks before and after your winter storage. Even of you are continuing to use your touring home throughout the winter keep checking, especially the tires. God forbid they cause an issue or the police deem them unfit and issue fines and points.

The Auto-Trail Introduce The V-Line Sport

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By William Coleman

Once again Auto-Trail are giving us, and you guys, an exclusive look at another one of their fantastic motorhomes. Auto-Trail have given us an in depth look into what can be done when using this signature motorhome for your staycation.

This new model seems to be ideal for couple and families. The home is packed with design features such as bow fronted locker doors, flush fit side windows and GRP moulded rear back panel with a gas strut boot.

Auto-Trail took there motorhome on a an extreme sport tour and ended the day with beers and a BBQ. Take a look at the video and see the unlimited possibilities that come with owning a motorhome.

We Visit The BBC To Talk Winter Touring Holidays

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By William Coleman

Over the Christmas break I was invited to the BBC to do an interview with Connie Fisher and BBC Wales News on why jas winter caravanning and motorhoming has becoming so popular.

As we all know 2017 was a bumper year for the industry, with record breaking numbers across the board seen during the summer period, but I do not think that anyone expected to see such high numbers of people flocking to sites during the winter. What is the reasoning behind it, why are people going away more in winter and what do people do during the winter in their motorhome or caravan?

I have a large passion for getting away in winter, as it helps me avoid the winter storage preparation for leisure vehicles. That being said there is still a large amount of the public who think that as soon as the sun goes away so do the holiday opportunities. People could not be further from the truth. There is so much to do in the winter, especially leading up to the Christmas season.

So that’s enough from me, have a listen to my interview with Connie Fisher from BBC Wales. Thank you to the BBC for providing the link to the radio segment, I hope you all enjoy.

Club Chairman Awarded OBE

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By William Coleman

Being awarded an OBE is one of the highest honours someone can be receive. For his services to the industry and charity The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Chairman, Grenville Chamberlain has been given this prestigious title which was announced in the New Year’s Honours 2019.

Grenville Chamberlain said, “I am deeply moved and honoured to receive this award which I believe reflects the outstanding contribution our Club makes not only to society today but also to those less fortunate than ourselves.

The benefits are clear from the results of the work of our staff at East Grinstead and across the sites network, the dedication of our many volunteers and our loyal members who all do so much to enable their fellow members to enjoy themselves to the full.

Across the Club many people work incredibly hard to raise much needed funds to help charities, both national and local, and although this award bears my name it is clear recognition of the efforts of them all.”

Grenville has a long and deep history within the caravan world and has been using caravans for his holidays since the early age of 7. Grenville joined the Caravan and Motorhome Club way back in 1981 and throughout his 37 years of service he has been dedicated to organising and participating in the full breadth of Club activities, not only in the UK, but also internationally with the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to champion road safety initiatives and awareness.

Grenville didn’t stop there either! He has served on various Club Centres, Councils and Committees and was then elected to be the Club’s Chairman in October of 2007.

Being Club Chairman is more than just a job role for Grenville as he tours some 12,000 miles a year with his family and spend over 40 weekends a year attending Club events and supporting members.

Nick Lomas, Caravan and Motorhome Club Director General said, “Grenville is admired and held in high regard by Club members, staff and fellow Committee members because of the care, patience, skill, leadership and long hours that he devotes to the Club.

He is a true example of one who is more than worthy of a lasting recognition for his selfless devotion to the Club and to charitable causes.”

One of Grenville’s sporting passions is cycling and he led a Club team of 140 riders in the London to Brighton Bike Ride in 2010 that raised £42,000 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which was his Chairman’s nominated charity. He then raised £103,000 over a three-year period for BHF.

Caravan Holiday New Years Resolutions

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William Coleman

2019 is here and before you know it the new holiday season will be too. January is a month of kicking out the bad habits and doing your very best to stick to those all important New Year’s Resolutions. As we speedily approach the 2019 season we have vowed to make a few changes to our touring habits in 2019.

I am a self confessed creature of habit, I know what I like and I tend to stick to that. But this year will be a year of change for me and I urge everyone to jump on board and broaden your holiday horizons. I am going to list some new things I will be trying in 2019 and why they are, for me, the way forward.

So if you are doing the dreaded Dry January or cutting carbs, cakes and cookies to drop the extra few pounds you may have put on over Christmas why not extend that mentality to your leisure time and change the way you holiday?

Spend More Time In Scotland

I have gone out of my way to avoid caravanning in Scotland. The one and only reason for this is the time it takes to get there with a caravan attached.

Living in the South of London means that I am pretty much as far away from Scotland as possible. Yes I have been quite a few times, but always as a passenger never behind the wheel. The drive for me takes roughly 10+ hours when towing, a lot less if driving a motorhome, which means you need to pretty much add another day or so just for the travel time.

This year that will change! Scotland has some of the most beautiful scenery the UK has to offer and the people are always so friendly, certainly more friendly than the average Londoner.

I have been to Scotland a handful of times and really love it, especially the countryside. For the sake of adding an extra day to your travel time really will pale in comparison to the holiday experience.

Loch Ness, Loch Lomond, Edinburgh Castle or even a hike up Ben Nevis, there is just so much to do and see all across Scotland and this is one of my “go to” destinations for 2019.

Be More Active On Holiday

I do consider myself quite an active person in my day to day life but when it comes to my leisure time I am very much guilty of staying very stationary and becoming a bit indulgent when it comes to snacking. One 10 day trip away I managed put on a good few pounds due to some of the onsite homemade baked good and local public house.

As part of the health kick we all go through in the New Year I want to push it through and actually make being active part of my holiday time.

There are so many sites out there that are surrounded by walking trails, wildlife parks and forests that should be taken full advantage of. What is the worst that can happen? You become more healthy and see more of the world? Win win in my book.

No matter where you are during your holiday time you should be able to find bike trails, canoeing locations or even the mountain walks all of which are good fun and great for your well being.

One activity I am desperate to try, once the weather warms up, is some river system canoeing. I dabbled last year during the heatwave when I stayed at a CL site in Catley Cross and really cannot wait to try it again.

Pick 5 New Sites To Visit In 5 New Locations

As I said I am a bit of a creature of habit so to break my biggest trend I have set myself the target of visiting 5 new locations and staying at 5 new sites that I have never stayed in before.

As of yet I have not picked the 5 locations but I do have a rough idea of what areas I want to visit. Scotland being at the very top of the list and Wales coming in at a close second, it’s the next 3 I am struggling to choose.

The amount of variety out there is astonishing, almost too much to choose from. One idea I had was to use a compass type idea: Somewhere north (Scotland), Somewhere East, Somewhere South, Somewhere West (Wales) and finally somewhere bang in the middle. This is a lot easier said than done that’s for sure.

It is just finding the ideal site with enough near it to keep me and the family active while we are away. This way I get to tick 3 of my resolutions in 1 trip, smart thinking if I do say so myself.

Try A Different Outdoor Holiday

Being in the warm comfort of a caravan with your feet up and a nice cup of tea is what I tend to think about on a daily basis. But what else can be done with your holiday time?

Last year I did push the boat out a little bit by trying some glamping, yes it was still inside an Airstream caravan but it still counts. One thing I am keen to try is some wild off grid camping!

A lot of people opt to camp onsite where there are set pitches, washing facilities and a toilet block. I have done this but I want to challenge myself and see how well I can cope and channel my inner Ray Mers out in the wilds of the UK.

Camping in the wild is a totally different kettle of fish to your normal on site tent holidays. No gas, running water, electricity or heating. Just you, a tent and whatever kit you have packed in the back pack.

One of the main reasons for wanting to try this is to see just how easy, or hard, making a fire from scratch is. You see the experts like Bear Grylls set up a fire in seconds but those shows are edited to make it look super simple. I was given a fire lighting set for Christmas that came with some cotton wool, a magnesium flint striking stick, oh and a whistle?

Now I have set myself the challenge of cooking dinner on a fire I made from scratch with my own two hands. So there’s a new holiday with some new experiences which I am sure I will regret as soon as I have to wait for my fire making skills to kick in before I can have my tea or coffee.

What new challenges are you setting yourself this year? New van? New holiday? Let us know what you’re most excited for this holiday season.