Aberdeenshire caravan parks could potentially be improved if more community groups were willing to take responsibility for their management, it has been claimed.

However, despite strong interest in taking the running of sites out of the hands of Aberdeenshire Council, many bids seem to fall by the wayside when groups or individuals are asked to come up with a business case, the Press & Journal reported.

According to the local authority, many are worried about taking on what is perceived to be risk, despite the recent increases in the popularity of caravanning.

“We have done some work to upgrade the basic facilities available within some of the larger parks, including sewerage and water,” explained council officer Graham Wall.

He added that as site users now require additional facilities, the council has identified areas where investment is needed to try to match demand.

Attractions in and around Aberdeenshire include the city’s promenade and seaside amusements, as well as Loch Ness and the Scottish highlands further west.

British caravan owners worried by the recent flooding in Cumbria have been reassured that much of the area is still “open for business”.

According to Cumbria Tourism, the widely-reported disasters caused by last month’s excessive rainfall have only affected small pockets of the county.

Cumbria Tourism chairman Eric Robson explained that the pictures of Cockermouth and Worthington may have people worried, but attempted to put their minds at rest.

“A lot of people come up to the Lake District this time of year to go walking in the sharp winter weather,” he said.

Mr Robson revealed that of the 892 footpaths in the region, just 21 required serious repairs after the flooding.

Meanwhile a recent OnePoll survey found that the Lake District was the fifth most popular holiday destination in Europe.

Barcelona, Paris, Rome and Venice made up the rest of the top five, with the UK capital of London also making it into the ten-strong list.

Caravan owners who use pitchup.com to help them find suitable sites for a holiday may have noticed that the website has joined forces with The Good Pub Guide.

The union has created a “pitch and pub” application with which caravanners can choose a campsite based on its proximity to the nearest recommended bar.

It contains The Good Pub Guide’s recommended watering holes, which have been reviewed by readers and visited by at least one member of the editorial team.

Lucky Dip pubs are also listed, however these are generally only recommended by readers and have not been verified by the guide.

A further 50,000 bars are included in the search, while caravan owners are also able to check whether the sites allow campfires or pets.

Pitchup.com managing director Dan Yates explained that having a warm pub nearby is a “key part” of the winter camping experience.

“This new functionality gives users further insight into camping and caravanning locations which, along with the site’s independent user reviews, make Pitchup.com an invaluable research tool,” he said.

Meanwhile, those planning on camping at the Isle of Wight Festival in June can expect to see Doves and Ocean Colour Scene, who were recently added to the line-up.