The Caravan And Motorhome Club Baking Celeb Member At The NEC

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By William Coleman

This week members of the Club and visitors at the NEC were greeted by a Great British Bake Off competitor who is a proud member herself of the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Cakes and caravans very much go hand in hand, well they do if you’re me. Another person who feels the same way is Karen Wright who was one of the Great British Bake Off competitors.

Combining her two loves together Karen made an extremely unique cake for the Scottish Caravan and Motorhome show. Carrying on that passion she made a one of a kind campervan cake for the Caravan and Motorhome Club stand this week at the NEC show.

Karen is a long standing and keen member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. We hear she loves the touring life and to help launch Club Day this year she brought along a very different type of campervan. Yes you might have guessed it, it was made out of cake.

To find out what kind of cake watch the video and enjoy the cake.

Club Survey Finds Campervanners Holiday Twice More Than The Average Brit

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By William Coleman

Campervanners enjoy double the amount of holidays than the average Brit, according to a recent poll by Censuswide on behalf of the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

The survey looking at the holiday habits of British holidaymakers found that campervanners pack in around eight trips of a weekend away or longer per year, compared to the average Brit, who only manages up to four breaks maximum each year.

For those who want a taste of life as a campervanner, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has teamed up with Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to offer the opportunity to win the ultimate campervan adventure, with one month’s touring throughout August 2020, for up to four people. The winner has access to over 2700 UK and European campsites, for either four weeks in the UK or two weeks in the UK and two weeks in Europe, whilst in the comfort of a luxury Volkswagen California campervan*.

Freedom Is The Key To A Successful HolidayIt’s A dog’s Life In Bristol.

The Brits have long been known as a nation of dog lovers and it seems that those living in Bristol love their dogs the most; three quarters of Bristol dog owners said they would have a better holiday if their beloved pooch could come too. This drops to an average of 70% for the rest of the country.

David Attenborough Is The Nation’s Favourite Holiday Companion

It’s all very well wanting to be with family and friends (including the four-legged variety) on holiday, but if we had the choice, who would make the ideal travel companion? David Attenborough tops the list for celebrities that Brits would most like to go on a road trip with, closely followed by James Cordon and Jennifer Aniston.

US is the top road trip destination but campervan owners prefer staying closer to home
So where would the top road trip destinations be? Nearly a third said the US, however, when asking the campervan audience specifically, nearly half said the UK was their dream destination, followed by 28 percent citing Europe as the place they would most want to go in their campervan.

Meanwhile one in six Brits chose Australia and New Zealand as their dream road trip destination and one in seven chose Canada – only one in 25 chose South Africa as the place they would most want to go on a road trip.

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing at the Caravan and Motorhome Club said: “We have always known that our members take more holidays than the general British public as a whole and it is interesting to see this trend spreads to campervanners nationwide. It is also gratifying to see that the main factor of a successful holiday is having the freedom to do what you want, when you want.

“The best possible way to fill this “wanderlust” is to holiday in a campervan, caravan or motorhome and our fabulous competition is offering the chance to do just that!

2019 was our most successful year in the last ten, as we welcomed a record number of new members to the Caravan and Motorhome Club. More and more people appreciate the flexibility and spontaneity a campervan, caravan or motorhome can offer.”

Club Members Spend Nearly 10 Percent Of Their Time Away From Home

When looking specifically at the holiday habits of Caravan and Motorhome members, it was found they spend at least 32 nights away from home at Club campsites each year, with the average stay being around three to four nights, allowing them to visit between 8 and ten campsites each year.

Nearly a quarter of members take their campervans, caravans or motorhomes abroad with most of them taking between one and two overseas trips each year and 10 percent of them going three or more times! Club members are an adventurous lot with nearly 80 percent saying their main objective in going abroad is to visit new places and countries, closely followed by the lure of better weather!

Club Members Save Over £161,000 On Attractions In 2019 And More

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By William Coleman

The Caravan and Motorhome Club Great Savings Guide helps members get away their way by offering discounts on top attractions to make their touring holiday even more memorable. In 2019, the guide’s discounts saved members more than £161,000 when visiting some of the UK’s leading attractions. The Great Savings Guide is one of the many benefits of Club membership, which costs just £54 per year.

The Great Savings Guide has the biggest selection of offers within the membership touring industry, and members save on average £7.55 per attraction. The guide is both a physical A5 booklet and online search tool that provides Club members with savings at over 1,000 leading attractions throughout the UK.

The 2020 Great Savings Guide, sponsored by the Club Shop in partnership with Prima Leisure, has introduced 40 new amazing attractions to its roster. The Guide now includes a new ‘Food and Drink’ category and a new ‘Pet friendly’ icon within the listings to indicate spots where four-legged friends are welcome.

The Great Savings Guide has something for everybody, no matter their interests and passions. Split into eight categories, members can choose between:

  • Animals – a fun-filled day out for all the family! These attractions include farms, aquariums, animal sanctuaries and wildlife attractions
  • Adventure – exciting days out are guaranteed with adventure parks, theme parks and woodland trials
  • Tours – from sightseeing buses to river cruises and walking tours, these attractions will help visitors see the best of the local area
  • Heritage – these attractions are a dream for history buffs – historic houses and castles, gardens and heritage museums are just some of the attractions on offer
  • Discovery – for those who want to explore the unknown and learn about new things, these attractions will be a great day out. Museums, visitor centres and caves are just some of the fantastic attractions you can visit
  • Railways – who doesn’t love a trip on a steam railway? Plus the guide offers savings on cliff railways, model railways and railway museums
  • Leisure Activities – golf, fishing, laser games, archery, climbing, zip wires, indoor soft play are just some of the options on offer in this category
  • Food and Drink – in this new category, tourers will find chain restaurants offering Italian, French, and American classics as well as cafés offering locally sourced produce and tasty treats

All members have to do to redeem the amazing discounts is present their valid membership card and 2020 Great Savings voucher at the attraction of their choice. In some cases, pre-booking is required and/or a discount code all details can be found on the individual attraction listing.

Apps And Automation With Oyster At The NEC

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By William Coleman

In today’s world half the battle is keeping up with the ever changing technology. On board tech is also coming on in leaps and bounds, and we must with it. One company who is making that transition easier and easier, through automation, is Oyster Sat Tech.

Having satellite TV onboard your motorhome or caravan has never ever been easier. At first all you had to do was reset the box to find the right sat signal, then it was just one button, but now all you need is an app. The Oyster Sat Tech app.

There is an app for everything but there are few that make watching satellite TV so simple to use. We caught up with Julian from Oyster this week at the NEC to find out more, as we needed to know more.

After speaking with Julian and the team we found out that the app was designed to be extremely user friendly and to keep life simple. The app does everything you need to keep connected, and even lets you know when you need to do an update, which is just one button press away.

Camplify Explained At The NEC

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By William Coleman

As the rental market grows more vans are needed to fill the ever growing demand of holiday makers across the UK. To make the most of your van, or find an amazing holiday, call the guys at Camplify and see how your van can work for you.

The Camplify platform has been dubbed the “AirBnb of the caravan world”, and for good reason. Having used both AirBnb and Camplify you can see why the two have been compared. Anyone who has a van that is not in use, or even a second van that they may own, can list it on the site and just sit back and watch the bookings roll in. Oh, and the cash.

For those who do not know who they are, or what they do let me give you a very quick refresher. Camplify is a peer to peer leisure vehicle rental service, it is quite a simple platform. You list your vehicle for free and then Camplify matches it to a renter. All you have to do is sit back and watch the bank account top up.

It does seem like a no brainer for people to list their motorhomes, campers, caravans or trailer tents on the Camplify platform. Despite how easy it is and how much money can be made I do fully understand why some people may not want to just hand over their pride and joy to be rented by strangers.

We caught up with Jake MccGwire, who flew all the way over from Australia, from Camplify to find out more about how the booking system works, how much money can be earned and most importantly, how the insurance will cover your van when it is rented.

Caravan And Motorhome Club Launches 2020 Driving Courses

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By William Coleman

For new caravanners and motorhomers, or those who feel they need a refresher in driving their leisure vehicles, the Caravan and Motorhome Club has launched its 2020 practical training courses across 13 locations in the UK. The Club is also delighted to launch its B+E training course in partnership with Go! Driving.

The Club has over 40 years’ experience running training courses that have been designed specifically to give tourers additional peace of mind before they head off on their adventure. Running from February to October, each training course provides helpful safety instructions and techniques. Sessions include:

  • Manoeuvring advice
  • Hitching and towing safely
  • Straightforward safety checks
  • Understanding the laws that affect caravanning and motorhoming
  • Practice in manoeuvring an outfit forwards and backwards
  • Understanding loading and how it affects towing

The training courses are split into: Practical Caravanning; Caravan Manoeuvring; and Motorhome Manoeuvring. The caravan and motorhome manoeuvring courses both take under seven hours, whilst the Practical Caravan Manoeuvring course for people who are completely new to caravanning is completed within 10 hours split over two days.

The Practical Caravanning Course was devised in co-operation with the Road Transport Industry Training Board. Each training centre is staffed by expert instructors and the courses are designed to be as enjoyable as they are informative.

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing at the Caravan and Motorhome Club said; “We are delighted to be able to offer these important courses to tourers. The courses provide excellent value for money and mean that people have the confidence to relax and enjoy their touring adventure with real peace of mind.”

The courses are priced as follows:

  • Practical Caravanning Course – £185.00
  • Caravan Manoeuvring Course – £155.00
  • Motorhome Manoeuvring Course – £185.00

Participants also benefit from the opportunity to save five percent on Club caravan cover, motorhome insurance and car insurance for a new policy or at the next renewal – evidence of course completion is required. They also receive the Club’s Essential Guide to Touring for Free, which is jam-packed with plenty of useful information and normally costs £16.00.

The Club is also delighted to launch its B+E training course in partnership with Go! Driving. A category B+E driving licence entitles drivers to tow trailers with a maximum authorised mass of 3.5t, providing the gross train weight (vehicle, trailer and load combined) is no more than 7t.

Taking the B+E test is great for those with a Category B driving licence who passed their test on or after 1 January 1997. These individuals are limited to driving vehicles with up to eight passenger seats and a maximum authorised mass of 3.5t, plus a trailer up to 750kg.
Prices for one-day courses, including the B+E licence test, start at £440 plus VAT for members.

Club members can get these exclusive discounts off B+E training courses:

  • £25 off one-day courses
  • £50 off two-day courses
  • £100 off three-day courses

The Club Expand Their Experience Freedom Brand In 2020

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By William Coleman

Experience Freedom from the Caravan and Motorhome Club is expanding its glamping offering this year, opening new glamping pods in the Lake District in spring and North Yorkshire in the summer. In addition, a new motorhome pick up location is opening in London in March.

Experience Freedom is opening eight new units at its Troutbeck Head Campsite in Cumbria, Lake District and 12 at its Cayton Village Campsite near Scarborough, North Yorkshire. Both sites will offer a mix of four-berth and six-berth units and there will also be two accessible glamping units at Cayton Village and one at Troutbeck Head.

The accessible pods are suitable for a range of accessibility needs, offering level entry, wide doors, turning circles, a stylish wet-room and custom built kitchen. Dedicated parking is also provided.

Cayton Village Campsite is located just three miles from Scarborough and within a mile of Cayton Bay, making it an ideal base for a beach break. The campsite offers a brand new enclosed play area, multi-use games room, outside dining area, electric vehicle charging points and dog-friendly accommodation is available for furry friends.

Troutbeck Head Campsite in the Lake District is set in the classically beautiful North Lakeland countryside and is just four miles from Ullswater. Nestled in a picturesque valley, the campsite is a perfect location for nature lovers and walkers as it offers easy access to numerous lakes, mountains, valleys and rivers. The campsite has a play area and games room and offers some dog-friendly accommodation.

Experience Freedom already has glamping units in Coniston – Lake District, the Cotswolds, Brighton, London, the Surrey Hills and Kent. The units range from glamping pods and Airstream caravans to yurts and camping pods, and prices start from £39 per night*.

Experience Freedom also offers camping at over 50 campsites plus motorhome hire via its partner Swift Go. Customers can currently start their motorhome hire adventure from Manchester or Edinburgh and from March this year they will be able to pick up their motorhome from London too.

Motorhome hire starts from just £100 per night based on a minimum three-night hire and customers have access to over 2,700 quality campsites in the UK and Europe via the Caravan and Motorhome Club along with exclusive discounts on ferries.
Caravan and Motorhome Club members and their friends and family get a 10 percent discount on Experience Freedom glamping bookings. Members also receive a 15 percent discount on motorhome hire plus free collision damage waiver.

Lock n Level Unveil Second Levelling Innovation At The NEC

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By William Coleman

The NEC shows are full of innovative solutions for every aspect of caravan holidays. There are so many that it can be hard to pick one over the other which can lead to you ending up walking away empty handed. To help sift through levelling options check out the Lock’n’Level team and their brand new product.

I first noticed the Lock’n’Level about 18 months ago when I was walking around the October NEC show. At first I was not sure what I was looking at, all I could see was a big crowd and a blue object that looked like a heavy duty inflatable. As I got to the stand what I saw was pretty much an inflatable, but one that does a great job with a lot of ease on your part that will have you leisure vehicle perfectly level no matter what surface you’re on.

Levelling a caravan can sometimes be a right pain, especially if you are using blocks or if you are on a more….”rustic” site. So why not try something that is easy, safe and reliable?

The Lock’n’Level is basically an airbag, a British made product that will have your caravan level within a few minutes while you stand and wait. They are available for both single and twin axle caravans. .

This year the team has taken the product to the next level and designed a new product that will use the existing technology to level the massive American 5th Wheel caravans. The new Hi-5 can lift a 3500kg “5er” up to 5″ high and anywhere in between with a very minimal effort.

Using these products will make life easier and all you need is an air pump, electronic is possible. So if you are visiting the NEC this week make sure to head over and see Derek to find out more about how Lock’n’Level can save you a lot of time and effort.

The Caravan And Motorhome Club Embark On The Bailey of Bristol Sahara Challenge

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By William Coleman

Bailey have now officially announced their next globetrotting adventure which will take the team, along with the Caravan and Motorhome Club and list of industry folk on a 3,500-mile intercontinental journey to the Sahara Desert.

The ‘Sahara Challenge’ will set off from the company’s South Liberty Lane production facility in Bristol, travel through Spain and Portugal across the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco over the Atlas Mountains and as far south as the edge of the Sahara Desert before returning home

The journey will be undertaken using two Bailey caravans, pulled by SsangYong towing vehicles, and one motorhome. The Sahara Challenge will take 20 days to complete with the team experiencing a wide range of road and weather conditions en route

Bailey’s patented Alu-Tech design technology creates vehicles which are more robust, more durable and yet light, offering greater protection against the elements – they will be perfect to meet the varying challenges on the trip

To date over 65,000 leisure vehicles have been built using the ground-breaking Bailey Alu-Tech construction system

This will be the fourth real-life long distance test Bailey has undertaken in recent times. The Sahara Challenge follows successful trips across the Australian Outback (‘West to East Challenge’), to the Arctic Circle (‘Arctic Adventure’) and to Asia (‘Bristanbul Challenge’)

Regular updates on the team’s progress will be posted on the Bailey of Bristol website as well as on the company’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds (#SaharaChallenge). Updates will also appear on all Caravan and Motorhome Club social platforms

Bailey of Bristol, in association with the Caravan and Motorhome Club, will be embarking on a new and inspiring 3,500-mile intercontinental caravan and motorhome adventure in March.
The ‘Sahara Challenge’ will set off from the company’s South Liberty Lane production facility in Bristol, travel through Spain and Portugal across the Strait of Gibraltar into Morocco over the Atlas Mountains and as far south as the edge of the Sahara Desert – the birthplace of the original caravans – before returning home.

This time the company will be taking two caravans (a pair of Discovery D4-4 models) pulled by SsangYong towing vehicles and one motorhome (an Alliance SE 76-4T). The marathon journey will take 20 days to complete with the team experiencing a range of potentially extreme road and weather conditions along the way.
As with all Bailey leisure vehicles, the ‘Sahara Challenge’ caravans and motorhome are built using the company’s patented Alu-Tech body shell construction system. This award winning technology creates vehicles that are more robust, more durable and yet lighter than those manufactured using conventional methods to keep owners comfortable, safe and secure all year round. To date over 65,000 Bailey caravans and motorhomes have been built using this method and are currently being enjoyed all over the world.

The Sahara Challenge vehicles will be driven by, amongst others: Simon Howard (Marketing Director, Bailey of Bristol); Nick Lomas (Director General, the Caravan and Motorhome Club); Lee Davey (Freelance Journalist and Bailey Brand Ambassador); and Andy Torbet (Outdoor Adventurer and new Bailey Brand Ambassador). Throughout the journey, the core team will be also joined by a wide range of guests including media representatives from both inside and outside the industry.

Talking about the forthcoming trip Bailey Marketing Director Simon Howard, said:
“Since the introduction of our Alu-Tech construction system over ten years ago we have continued to put our leisure vehicles through their paces both on the proving grounds and cold chambers, as well as on a series of real-life tests across the globe.”

“In addition to providing a thorough technical examination of our products, the twenty-day adventure will also show that you are really only limited by your imagination as to where a caravan or motorhome can take you, and that we love using our vehicles as much as our customers do.”

Nick Lomas, Caravan and Motorhome Club Director General said, “We are delighted to be supporting the Sahara Challenge. Here at the Caravan and Motorhome Club we want to encourage as many people as possible to have leisure vehicle adventures – whether they are touring 3,500 miles or 35 miles – we want to inspire future generations of new touring holidaymakers.

The Sahara Challenge will be the adventure of a lifetime, there will be varying weather and road conditions, there will also be so many iconic sights and landmarks to experience along the way. Leisure vehicles really open up the world for adventure.”

As they travel towards the Sahara, the team will post regular blogs/vlogs and social media updates via the Bailey and the Caravan and Motorhome Club social media channels using #SaharaChallenge

Bailey of Bristol would like to thank the following organisations, in addition to the Caravan and Motorhome Club and SsangYong, for their support of the Sahara Challenge: AL-KO Kober, Avtex, Bodyrag, CGI Graphics, Caravan Times, Dometic, Gaslow, Milenco, Nextbase, PRIMA Leisure, rCup, Thetford, TyrePal and Wheel Solutions Ltd.

Puncture Proofing At The NEC With Puncture Control

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By William Coleman

There is a product out there that will remove so many levels of danger that are presented by getting a tyre puncture. Having seen it being used in Scotland I was keen to find out more, so we interviewed Puncture Control.

Over the years I have had far too many punctures due to the huge amount of debris on the roads of the UK, something I am sure you have experienced yourselves. Every puncture you get can cause huge amounts of damage to both your car and caravan, not to mention how dangerous it can be while driving.

It seems that getting something like a nail in your tyre is an inevitability, but the usual outcome does not have to the same as it once was if you use Oko Puncture Control.

So, what is Puncture Control? To put it simply, it is a sealant that will save you from harm and added expense if your car to caravan tyres get punctured.

This tyre sealant will work against pretty much anything that will pierce your tyre, with some obvious exceptions when it comes to structural damage, and will keep you on the road for longer in the event you run over something sharp. In some cases this sealant will keep a puncture unnoticed because it has sealed the hole so effectively.

There are some out there who will say that putting tyre sealant into the tyre is not a good idea, having seen first hand how this works I can safely say this product works and is safe. Any doubt you may have can be easily cleared up with one call to the team, ask for Gary.

Not only will this save you from running into danger but it will also improve fuel consumption, maintain the correct air pressure, help the tyres run cooler and reduce the tyre side walls from cracking. Oh, and it can help your tyres gain upto 20% extra life, which is great considering how expensive some motorhomes or tow car rubbers can be.

This week during the NEC Gary, from Puncture Control, will be on stand giving demos and explaining just how this product works. Before speaking with him I did not have that much knowledge and was a bit of a skeptic. Following the interview and finding out how many industry leading companies are backing this product I will be adding this to my car’s wheels.

Aquaforno II Free Giveaway

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By William Coleman

To help celebrate the new 2020 touring season and the NEC Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show we have teamed up with Aquaforno to give one lucky winner the brand new Aquaforno II so they can tour with a difference. All you have to do is fill in the form and you’ll be in with a chance to win and all those who enter will automatically receive a discount code worth £50.

The Aquaforno II is an extremely versatile cooking tool, calling it a BBQ seems like an oversimplification. With a regular BBQ you cannot have roast a chicken and make a stone baked fresh pizza at the same time.

The highly desirable Aquaforno II adds split level grill, rotisserie, smoking hangers and a double insulated lid. On top of all that you also get a BBQ grill, pizza oven, smoker and water boiler in one collapsible unit.

This new ‘Swiss army-knife’ of outdoor cooking has been received with incredible enthusiasm since it was unveiled at the UK’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show the home of Britain’s RV sector.

The portable kitchen has yet another fantastic feature, a 3 minute assembly time. So if you are super hungry you can get cooking in just 3 minutes flat.

The Aquaforno II can cook anything from a Sunday roast to a paella, with consummate ease. It is the ultimate combination or cooking method and a product that can cater quickly and efficiently for large groups, e.g. cooking as many as twenty delicious restaurant quality pizzas per hour.

This will more than likely be one of the easiest competitions you’ll take part in this season. No quiz, no questions. All you have to do is fill in the form and you’re on your way to cooking heaven.

On top of that everyone who entered will automatically get a £50 discount code for an Aquaforno II.

The competition will run from 18/02/2020 to 23/02/2020 and the winner will be announced on 24/02/2020.

T&Cs

  • 1 Aquaforno II will be given for free to one winner chosen at random
  • £50 discount per 1 order+free delivery to the UK
  • All those who enter will be sent an email with the code for £50 off of an Aquaforno II BBQ
  • To receive the offer code you must enter a valid email
  • To win you must fill out the entire entry form
  • Accessories listed online are not included in the prize
  • All who enter will be contacted via the email address they have entered

Scottish Caravan, Motorhome Holiday Home Show Breaks Record

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By William Coleman

Over 26,000 tourers flocked to the SEC, Glasgow last weekend for the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show’s busiest event to date.

The show welcomed over 200 of the UK’s biggest touring brands, displaying the latest must-have motorhomes, caravans, campervans, holidays homes, tents and accessories. Despite the blistering winds of Storm Ciara which caused travel chaos across the country, thousands of visitors attended the four-day event, gaining holiday advice and insider tips for their next holiday.

As well as breaking footfall records, the caravan and motorhome industry continues to boom. With the rise of staycations and touring breaks, the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show saw exhibitors reporting strong sales throughout the event.

Clydebank campervan convertors, Caledonian Campers, also made history at the show, completing its ground-breaking four-day live build in the all-new Campervan Hall. The team took on the ultimate conversion challenge of converting a simple van into a state-of-the-art campervan, finishing the on-site build in a total of 28 hours.

Darren Brechin, Show Director said: “We’ve noticed a rise of holiday-maker interest in the industry and our record-breaking footfall numbers prove that more and more people are looking to explore the benefits of touring.

“We pride ourselves on being the biggest and best caravan, motorhome and holiday home show in Scotland and we’re thrilled that the event has been such a success for both our visitors and exhibitors. There is no other event that offers such an array and diversity of outdoor brands and we’re pleased to have hosted more exhibitors than ever before.

“The purpose of the show is to inspire visitors to get outside and enjoy exploring the natural wonders of the UK, as well as locations further afield, and we hope we’ve done just that.

“We’re already looking forward to next year and have a few exciting ideas in the pipeline to make our next show even better.”

The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show will be returning to the SEC, Glasgow next year on 4th – 7th February 2021 with booking already open for exhibitors.