Research signals surge in caravan holidays over stress of leaving pets behind

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by Joe Jeffrey

Surge in caravan holidays may just be attributed to our furry, four-legged friends

As if we needed any more reasons to hit the great outdoors in our trusty caravans as opposed to hopping on a plane abroad, a new survey has revealed that the holiday season can actually be more stressful than exciting for 46 per cent of households that own pets in the UK.

According to new research conducted by pet-sitting search website, Pawshake, 87 per cent of Brits admit to checking on their pets’ wellbeing when on holiday.

Additional findings show that more than a quarter of pet owners admit that they like to speak directly to their pet while on holiday, choosing to do so via phone, Skype and FaceTime.

And some pet owners consider going to even further extremes when they’re away and might even opt to stay at home.

It seems as though our pets play such an integral in family life that an astonishing 82 per of pet owners admit they have gone as far as considering cancelling their holidays having failed to find a reliable option for taking care of their furry family members while soaking up the sun.

Additionally, for some families, the cost of boarding kennels can be as high as £50 per day, adding another £300 per week to the price of a holiday.

These cost factors, as well as our love for our four-legged friends, may have also influenced the increase in staycations, enabling not just humans to enjoy pastures new. And, with a surge in caravan holidays including a whopping 550 per cent increase in holiday bookings to Cornwall.

With a surge in bookings in caravan holidays and a recently reported 550 per cent increase in holiday bookings to Cornwall alone for 2016, it seems that pet lovers are making sure that their pets get a bit of a deserved break too.

What do you think of these recent findings? Do you take your pet along for the ride when you go on holiday? Let us know in the comments below.

Caravan park battles with insurance company over destruction caused by Storm Frank

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by Joe Jeffrey

Insurance company refusing to budge on payout in flooding vs storm discrepancy

Owners of a caravan park in Scotland are facing a fierce battle for compensation with their insurance company six months after the devastating effects of floods caused by Storm Frank took hold.

Mobile Homes Insurance Service (MHIS) is refusing to pay compensation on the grounds that damage caused by Storm Frank at Ballater Caravan Park was the result of flooding and not storm damage.

Ballater, on Royal Deeside, was among the areas worst hit by storms over Christmas and New Year which swept away roads and destroyed houses.

Right Claim UK’s Neil Forbes weighed in on the situation, saying: “It’s a scandalous situation. Our argument is that the cause of the incident was Storm Frank. We’re very hopeful about succeeding in the claims.”

MHIS said the clause relating to flooding was brought to the attention of policyholders. A spokesperson for the insurance company said: “It should be noted that each policyholder willingly accepted the cover on the basis that any flood damage would not be covered.

“All the policies exclude any cover for damage caused by floods whether or not this is as a result of storm.

“This exclusion was brought to the attention of every policyholder when they purchased their policy.”

Alastair Ross from the Association of British Insurers said: “Insurance companies need to make sure people understand the products they’re selling them and for their part people really need to understand what they’re buying into.”

Do you think the MHIS are within their rights to hold off from paying compensation? Let us know in the comments below.

Julia Bradbury camps overnight on top of The O2 to kick start National Camping and Caravanning Week and Duke of Edinburgh Awards Diamond Challenge

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by Joe Jeffrey

Camping and Caravanning Club president reaches dizzy heights to promote campaign

TV presenter Julia Bradbury has spent the night camping on top of London’s O2 Arena as part of a joint celebration of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award’s diamond anniversary and The Camping and Caravanning Club’s annual National Camping and Caravanning Week.

Bradbury completed the 350m walk to reach the top of The O2, in Greenwich, South East London, at dusk on last night (24 May), before pitching her tent on a platform 52m above ground level, the equivalent of almost 12 London buses. After waking up to a 360 degree view of London, Julia made her way back down at around 9am this morning.

As a passionate supporter of both organisations and of the great outdoors, the ambassador for The Camping and Caravanning Club took on the challenge as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Diamond Challenge, a one-off initiative encouraging people of all ages to do something adventurous and get out of their comfort zones in 2016, the Duke of Edinburgh charity’s diamond anniversary year.

Speaking ahead of her challenge, Bradbury said: “I hope my night camping on the roof of The O2 inspires everyone to get out there and challenge themselves with an outdoor adventure of their own. I’m proud to be supporting two iconic organisations in the outdoor world. Both the DofE and CCC are doing inspiring things to motivate people to get outside. I’m looking forward to being one of very few people to have spent the night on top of The O2!”

The Duke of Edinburgh Award’s chief executive, Peter Westgarth, said: “We’re delighted Julia agreed to support us in our Diamond Anniversary year. Camping overnight in the outdoors can be daunting to some, but to camp on top of a London landmark is certainly a first! Doing a Diamond Challenge this year is the perfect opportunity for everyone to have a go at something new while raising much-needed funds for our charity to help us reach out to even more young people. With seven months left, it’s still not too late to sign up and do your very own Challenge.”

To find out more about the Duke of Edinburgh Diamond Challenge and get involved, click here now.

Salop Leisure helps son towards father’s cancer charity target

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by Joe Jeffrey

Salop Leisure climbs on board charity challenge for great cause

A son’s mission to raise £8,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support to say thank you to the charity for supporting his father who is battling terminal cancer, has this week received a £1,000 boost from his employer.

Max Ball, 24, a marketing assistant at Shrewsbury-based caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure, has seen the total raised towards his target rise to in excess of £6,000 following the company contribution.

The £1,000 is made up of donations for tea and coffee served by Salop Leisure at the recent West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome Show and a sponsorship from a charity football match the company played against Greenhous Group at the Greenhous Meadow Stadium.

Max set himself 12 different sponsored challenges – MaxAndTheMac12 – during 2016 after his father, Steve, was diagnosed with oesophagus cancer last October. Steve has recently completed a course of chemotherapy at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The support from workmates, family, friends and sponsors has overwhelmed Max and he’s now very confident of exceeding his £8,000 fundraising target.

“The money raised by MaxAndTheMac12 will help Macmillan to reach more people with cancer and improve the quality of care and support available to them during their cancer journey,” he said.

He has already taken on a solo bungee jump at Tamworth Bungee Club, tackled the Dash of the Titan mud run in Nottinghamshire, joined a team from Salop Leisure to sit on half the 9,875 seats in Shrewsbury Town’s Greenhous Meadow stadium and performed a scene from ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ in The Square in Shrewsbury for Shakespeare Day.

When he, workmate Adam Franklin and friends Ash Piele and Steve Wright took on the Rough Runner Challenge near Oxford last week, things didn’t go exactly to plan. For Steve ended up in hospital for the night after gashing his forehead after falling on one of the obstacles. Max and the other two contestants managed to complete the challenge.

Next up for Max is the Shrewsbury Half Marathon on June 19, followed by the National Three Peaks Race from July 1-3, a foot golf tournament on July 24, white water rafting in Llangollen and a 24 hour squashathon at Kingsland Squash Club, Shrewsbury in August, Shrewsbury Sprint Triathlon on September 4 and a 106 kilometre ride at Ludlow Cycling Festival on September 18.

As an extra fundraiser, he’s planning a bake-off amongst Salop Leisure staff to coincide with Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September 30.

Salop Leisure workmates Tony Cooke and Ed Glover also raised £1,200 by taking part in The 2016 Macmillan 4×4 Challenge earlier this year.

Anyone wishing to support Max can donate by clicking here now.

Moment caravan crashes caught on film

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by Joe Jeffrey

Moment caravan careers out of control captured on lorry driver’s dashcam

A lorry driver’s dash cam has caught the terrifying moment a caravan jackknifed and spun out of control on a busy stretch of road.

The footage showing the incident, which took place on the A90 four miles north of Dundee, Scotland, on Friday evening shortly before 7pm, shows the caravan being towed along the road by a VW Passat before the caravanner decides to overtake the lorry at speed. The result, as you will see from the footage captured below, was catastrophic – at least for the caravan – but thankfully no one was injured.

Traffic delays were imminent, however, following the crash, and vehicles were blocked on the southbound carriage way as emergency services attended the scene. The wreckage of the caravan was removed from the side of the road later that evening.

Make sure you check out the footage below and let us know: what do you think the caravanner could have done to avert crashing? It would be interesting to know your thoughts.

France takes the top spot as most popular overseas destination

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by Joe Jeffrey

Sun, sea and emails all the way as increase in French bookings continues

France remains the most popular overseas destination with British campers and caravanners, according to bookings made through The Camping and Caravanning Club.

In 2015, 50 per cent of bookings made through the Club’s European travel service were for pitches on sites in France, making it the Club’s most popular European destination.

And now, with new French sites included for 2016 among the Club’s 90 hand-picked partner sites, strong advance bookings are indicating France’s popularity is set to grow further.

Bookings for the 198-pitch La Bien Assise campsite, around eight miles from the ferry port and handy for Boulogne and the Opal Coast, make it one of the most popular sites with Club members for the second consecutive year.

But topping the table, Le Letty campsite in the Finisterre department of western Brittany was the Club’s most popular holiday site in 2015 and offers direct beach access and a large indoor and outdoor pool complex.

With more than 40 World Heritage Sites including fine cathedrals and stunning châteaux, prehistoric monuments, three very different coastlines, several major mountain ranges, it is easy to see why many caravanners are venturing out further afield.

Richard Grimsdale, the Club’s travel services director, said: “France holds a unique appeal and charm with our customers, and many choose to return year after year to take in the unique food and culture of the country.

“Our Travel Service makes it easy for our customers to book all components of their camping trip safely, quickly, easily and securely.”
The Camping and Caravanning Club’s 2016 European Camping Holidays brochure is now available and features more than 140 hand-picked sites in 12 European destinations.

To download the brochure, click here now.

Caravan Guard up for major insurance award

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by Joe Jeffrey

Caravan Guard in the running for UK Insurance Broker of the Year award at 2016 British Insurance Awards

Caravan and motorhome insurance specialist, Caravan Guard, has been announced as a finalist in the 2016 British Insurance Awards for UK Insurance Broker of the Year.

The company will go head-to-head with four other UK insurance intermediaries at a prestigious national awards ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall in London in July, where the industry’s top performing and innovative companies will also be headlining. Additional nominees in the running include Carole Nash Insurance Consultants, Centor Insurance & Risk Management, Qdos Broker and Underwriting Services, and Staysure.

The Halifax-based company, made the shortlist after showcasing its efforts in delivering excellent customer service and how they have continued to keep more loyal customers, as well as achieving profits in 2015/16.

The Insurance Broker of the Year award commends companies that demonstrate profitable growth, customer retention, staff professionalism, and product innovation. 
Caravan Guard managing director, Ryan Wilby, is thrilled that Caravan Guard had made the shortlist for a national insurance award. He said: “It’s a fantastic achievement for us and shows that we are committed to investing in our people so they continue to deliver fantastic customer service and top quality specialist insurance products,” he said. “Our hard work has paid off as our customers have remained loyal and our business has celebrated another successful year.”

Couple win Nissan Qashqai in Club Care insurance giveaway

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by Joe Jeffrey

South Wales couple drive away with Nissan Qashqai in Camping and Caravanning Club’s latest prize offering

One lucky couple look set to travel in true style this summer following winning a brand new Nissan Qashqai Tekna 4WD in the latest prize draw promoted by The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Club Care insurance.

Owen and Andrea Morris from Newport, South Wales, were the lucky recipients of the prize, one of many offered over the years from Club Care Insurance, including a Bailey Pegasus caravan, a Club Caravan Holiday Home in the Lake District and an Elddis Autoquest motorhome.

The couple, who have been members of the Camping and Caravanning Club for 15 years, plan to use their new, state-of-the-art tow car to tour with their four-berth Swift Challenger caravan, which they purchased last year.

Both travelled up to the Club’s Coventry HQ to claim their prize. The car won What Car? Car of the Year in 2014 and Best Small SUV in 2015.

The Qashqai was also announced overall winner in the Tow Car Awards 2014, which is the annual test programme run by the Club in partnership with What Car? and Practical Caravan.

Owen said: “Now we’ve finally worked out how to use the controls of the car we’re thrilled to have it – it’s certainly the most modern car we’ve ever had.”

Andrea said: “Even when we were driving away in the prize, I was still saying to Owen that I couldn’t believe it.”

And where do the couple plan on taking their new outfit? “Road trips and breaks away, in mid-Wales,” said Owen. “Close to the border with Herefordshire where we’ve enjoyed lots of wonderful holidays in the past.”

And the couple have even more to smile about too: the prize comes with a year’s road tax and insurance courtesy of Club Care Insurance, plus a year’s Club membership, providing discounts of up to 30 per cent on each of the Club’s 108 Club Sites.

Nigel Coppen, client director at Club Care Insurance, said: “We’re delighted our winners are over the moon with their brand new Qashqai – it’s a fabulous tow car, and perfect for two avid caravanners.

“We wish them many happy caravan holidays in the months and years ahead, and hope the draw has encouraged more people to find out about our great value camping insurance policies and the extensive benefits they provide, for all types of camping unit.”

Travelworld to host official Hymer BDL exclusive launch

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by Joe Jeffrey

New Hymer B-Klasse DynamicLine set to be launched in true style

Shropshire motorhome mainstay, Travelworld, is set to host an exclusive launch event to welcome Hymer’s latest luxurious motorhome into the fold this July.

The Hymer B-Klasse DynamicLine, or BDL for short, is Hymer’s latest offering arriving just in time for summer and, as we’ve come to expect from the premium motorhome manufacturer, it shouldn’t fail to impress. Quality made in Germany, the BDL will feature both high tech Alu and PUAL-body construction, as well as GRP lightweight double floor, GRP hail-protected roof coating, GRP framed windows and a whopping 450kg garage payload with 122cm clearance height. Furthermore, dependent on which country you decide to drive the BDL, larger garage doors on either side of the vehicle should certainly make things easier to access irrespective of which side of the road you’re driving on.

Coming with Hymer’s standard sleeping comfort system, which is far from ‘standard’, the new BDL will come with an integrated pull-down bed with solid locking (a single bed feature is optional), additional temperature control in the bedroom for Truma heating, and also additional temperature control in the bathroom for optional Alde heating.

For your convenience, an electric waste water tank emptying system is also integrated into the vehicle which comes with an optional service camera. The fresh water and waste water tank come with insulated trays.

When it comes to entertainment, Hymer have got this covered too, and the BDL will come fitted with six speakers with an optional Hymer smart multimedia system with Bluetooth, 22-Zoll-TFT and DVD drive.

Although official prices are yet to be confirmed, it is thought the BDL’s price will be positioned between Exsis i and B-Class Premium Line.

Two Hymer B-Klasse DynamicLine models will be available from launch, namely the BDL 444 and BDL 588, and both will be available to view at the official launch weekend, taking place at Travelworld between 8 and 10 July. From what we hear, this is going to be a launch like no other and the weekend will give visitors the opportunity to take part in a Q and A session with Hymer’s export manager, Andrea Kibler on both Saturday 9 July and Sunday 10 July. A Goldschmitt presentation is also being planned to accompany the unveilings also so there should certainly be plenty to see, including Travelworld’s comprehensive line up of the rest of the brands under their roof, including 4×4 vehicles, Starlines, New Van and many more.

In order to attend Travelworld’s exclusive launch event, customers are asked to register on line for entrance passes here.

Norfolk caravan park’s cover-up reveals success story

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by Joe Jeffrey

Clothes on rule signals success for Norfolk park

Twelve months after advising guests that they could no longer strip-off on arrival, a holiday park near Norwich is marking its first fully-clothed birthday.

Until last summer, Merryhill Country Park was celebrated by naturists as one of the UK’s most picturesque locations to enjoy their pastime.

In June, however, its 30-year reputation for breaks in the buff came to an end when the park’s new owners, Georgina and John Aisthorpe, took over.

The husband-and-wife team decided they wanted to widen its appeal – and since declaring Merryhill a “textile park” and upgrading its facilities, business has been booming.

Now the achievements of the business have been recognised with special awards for two of its key members from the British Holiday & Home Parks Association.

The park industry body’s Exceptional Service Awards were made to Merryhill’s groundsman Ian Boden, and to Georgina and John’s 16-year-old son Jake.

Both, said Georgina, had gone “far beyond the extra mile” in helping to make the park one of the finest in East Anglia for countryside connoisseurs.

Merryhill’s 20 acres of parkland include wildlife-rich woodlands and plenty of open areas which have benefitted from extensive landscaping.

For activity-minded guests there are two all-weather tennis courts, indoor games, a petanque court, and a newly-installed children’s adventure play area.

Also fresh on the scene is a sauna adjacent to the park’s heated lido swimming pool with its sunbathing terrace which commands delightful views across the parkland.

Meanwhile, Merryhill’s spacious clubhouse is the focus for a wide range of get-togethers throughout the year, from discos to summer balls and professional entertainment.

Guests can bring their own touring caravan, motorhome or tent – or hire one of the park’s new luxury camping pods which sleep up to four people with all home comforts.

There’s also an opportunity to own a high-spec caravan holiday home which can be used throughout the four seasons, thanks to Merryhill’s 12-month opening licence.

Georgina said she was delighted that the park had shed its naturist past, and was now welcoming all visitors to enjoy the picturesque surroundings of one of Norfolk’s loveliest locations:

“Everybody here has worked extremely hard over the past year to ensure that our facilities meet the very highest standards, and we are thrilled at the result,” she said.

“But I think what our guests will also appreciate is the quality of the welcome and hospitality which Merryhill provides – and credit for that must go to our staff team.

“We’re very proud that two of our members have received Exceptional Service Awards, and we’re all looking forward to making even more improvements this year,” added Georgina.

Coachman releases guide for caravanning with kids

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by Joe Jeffrey

Follow these simple tips for pitching up without a hitch

Caravanning with youngsters, whether your own kids or grandchildren, can be a fun and memorable way of spending a family holiday.  However, like any other family activity it requires careful planning to avoid disaster. With this in mind, those friendly people at Coachman Caravans have provided some top tips to ensure everyone has a great time.

1. Choose the right caravan
When buying a caravan, it’s important that you pick a van that suits the needs of your family. When choosing one, have in mind where everyone will sleep. Ideally it’s a great idea to have a separate area for the kids to sleep in, so that you can close the door and have somewhere to relax after they’ve gone to bed.

2. Get an awning
When there are lots of you in a small space, tempers can get frayed. An easy way to overcome this is to have an awning. This way you’ve got plenty of room to store things like bikes and shoes, as well as having space for a large table you can all fit round for meals. An added bonus is that the kids will enjoy sleeping in it when they get older.

3. Limit toys
You don’t want to be falling over toys and treading on Lego during the night, so have a bag of special holiday toys that stay in the caravan. Colouring books, jigsaws, magnetic writing boards and card games are all good ways of keeping the kids occupied and don’t take up much space. Rotating what’s in the box every couple of months will make sure they don’t get bored too. But don’t take too many toys, as you’ll be too busy sightseeing and exploring to need them.

4. Be prepared for rainy days
Wouldn’t it be great to have guaranteed sunny weather for May half term? But as we live in the UK, we have to be realistic and realise it might rain! Always take waterproofs and wellies with you so that you can get outside even when it’s wet weather.

5. Do your research
Make sure you do a bit of research on family friendly caravan sites before booking your pitch. Sometimes it’s nice to stay on a quiet site with no electric hook up or facilities, but if you’re caravanning with small children you’ll probably appreciate having a few creature comforts close by. Many sites have toilet and shower blocks, swimming pools, play areas and children’s clubs all included in the price of your nightly stay, so you’ll never be short of something to do – even if the weather isn’t great.

If you could offer one piece of advice to those looking to set off with the caravan – and kids – in tow, what would it be? Let us know in the comments below.

Shrewsbury caravan park gearing up for an event-packed 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay to see all that Shrewsbury has to offer this summer, Oxon Hall might just provide a good solution

Popular five star Oxon Hall Touring Park in Shrewsbury is preparing for what promises to be a bumper year of events for the town.

First up, Shrewsbury hosts the Shropshire County Show on 28 May, The Nuffield Health Shrewsbury Half Marathon on 19 June, Shrewsbury Food Festival between 25 – 26 June, Shrewsbury Flower Show taking place 12 – 13 August, Shrewsbury Folk Festival between 26 – 29 August and the County of Salop Steam Rally 28 – 29 August 28-29.

These events attract thousands of visitors to the town, including many caravan and motorhome owners who stay at Oxon Hall Touring Park, located on the edge of Shrewsbury.

For caravan and motorhome owners planning a spring or summer break at Oxon Hall Touring Park, there are National Trust properties at Powis Castle, Welshpool and Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury to visit.

“Demand for pitches on the park for all the main events in Shrewsbury increases every year, which highlights its growing popularity,” said Edward Goddard, managing director of Shrewsbury-based Morris Leisure, which owns the park. “My advice to anyone wishing to stay for these weekend event is to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

“Caravan and motorhome owners like the quality, parkland location of Oxon on the edge of Shrewsbury. The big advantage the park has is that it is just a short walk from the town’s Park and Ride bus service, which allows customers to travel into town without driving.”