Disabled caravan fans pointed towards Stratford-upon-Avon

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Disabled caravan enthusiasts may be interested to hear that Stratford-upon-Avon has been tipped as a good choice of destination for them.

According to Tourism For All, the level land around the town makes it easily accessible, meaning those with disabilities will find it possible to visit the birthplace of William Shakespeare without too much difficulty.

Shakespeare Houses & Gardens won the Heart of England Tourism Excellence Awards 2009 title of Best Tourism Experience.

Tourism For All head of consultancy Brian Seaman explained that other towns, such as Birmingham, Brighton and Hove have been tailoring their activities to less-able guests.

“Some destinations have been making a real effort to encourage disabled and older people to stay, by assessing what they have, how it could be improved and [they have] developed into an inclusive and welcoming environment for all,” he said.

A new OpenBritain guide from Tourism For All and RADAR includes a range of easily-accessible accommodation, attractions and services.

New tourism accessibility guidebook launched

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Elderly or less-able caravan owners may be interested in a new guidebook, which lists accessible facilities across the UK.

Released this week, the OpenBritain publication was created by Tourism For All and RADAR in an effort to collate information on the towns and attractions that are aiming for inclusion.

Also included in the guide is a list of providers of accommodation, equipment hire and other services that may be useful to those exploring Great Britain.

Tourism For All head of consultancy Brian Seaman revealed that the guide is specifically aimed at meeting the needs of disabled and elderly tourists.

“[The towns and businesses included] have either already been independently assessed to check the degree of accessibility or they are subject to visits to check that the information supplied is accurate,” he said.

The government has also set up the National Accessible Scheme in order to help tourism providers improve their offerings to the less-able in the community.

It is a voluntary scheme that allows participating businesses to promote how they cater for disabled and elderly guests.

Canada is “great for camping”

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While Brits may be used to camping and caravanning at home, the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has explained that they can enjoy similar pleasures in North America.

CTC vice-president of strategic initiatives Susan Iris said that there are tents that allow intrepid holidaymakers to explore the country’s wilderness while still providing the same home comforts often associated with caravans.

She said that such products allow Brits to connect with Canada’s outdoors without forgoing “gourmet meals after they have done their day of hiking” – a pursuit known as glamorous camping, or glamping.

Ms Iris added that the nation’s culinary expertise was underestimated and that it offers a “sophistication” that few realise exists.

“You don’t see the wine outside Canadian borders, because you don’t realise the regions but we create ice wine which is world renowned,” the expert revealed.

The nation will soon host the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, which will take place at Cypress Hill and Whistler Blackcomb resorts.

Man keeps art collection in caravan

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A pig farmer who moved into a caravan due to unfortunate circumstances after his partner died has been using his mobile home to store his art collection.

According to BBC News, David Pike used an interest-free loan scheme set up by the Arts Council to fund his artistic purchases.

His favourite is a Peter Howsen piece which he explained he bought as it reflected the intensity and gentleness of his own personality.

Mr Pike revealed that he used to own the period farmhouse which he can see from his caravan window, but was forced to sell it and some of his land after his partner Janice passed away.

However, he intends to build a log cabin on the land he has retained, which will give him room to display all his purchases.

The pig farmer is one of 12,500 Brits to have taken advantage of the Arts Council initiative to fund otherwise impossible purchases, the online resource revealed.

Meanwhile, the Guardian has reported that 11 people were rescued from flooded caravans in Yorkshire on Sunday (November 30th).

Prince praises caravan park for squirrel work

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The attempts of a Lake District caravan park to encourage the repopulation of red squirrels in the area have been met with royal approval.

According to the Prince of Wales, Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside has set a prime example of what should be done to attract the critters.

The Westmorland Gazette revealed that Prince Charles wrote to the site’s owner Henry Wild to praise him and his staff for their “efforts to preserve this wonderful creature”.

“News that our efforts have also won the support of Prince Charles has come as a tremendous spur to our work – and we have offered to provide advice to others hoping to win back the red,” Mr Wild told the newspaper.

The royal support comes after the Red Squirrel Survival Trust spread word of the caravan site’s efforts to bring the animals back to the Lake District.

Prince Charles is a patron of the charity and was keen to endorse the good work in the hope that others would follow the site’s example.

Skelwith Fold is home to 300 privately-owned static caravans and also has space for touring caravans and mobile homes.

Camping tickets go on sale for T in the Park 2010

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Although the recent flooding in Cumbria and storms across the UK may not be the best environment to get music lovers geared up for the summer festival season, a number of camping tickets were made available today (November 27th) for a major event.

Scotland’s T in the Park festival welcomes campers to Balado Air Field in Kinross every year for a weekend of music, tents, food and drink.

Originally hosted in Strathclyde Park, which featured its own caravan and camping ground, the event outgrew the old venue and was moved to Kinross around a decade ago.

According to eFestivals.co.uk, organisers have made special early-bird tickets for next year’s festival available at 2009 prices.

Although the line-up is yet to be announced, four-day camping passes went on sale this morning (November 27th) at 09:00 GMT priced £180.

A Saturday and Sunday arena pass costs £145, meaning those who decide to pack themselves into a tent for the full event will get an extra two day’s partying and one day of acts for an extra £35.

Last year’s line-up included Kings of Leon, Pendulum and Blur, who arrived on stage late and announced that it would be the last time they would perform live.

Year-long caravan challenge almost complete

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The year-long challenge of a man who vowed to live in a caravan without money is set to end on Saturday (November 28th).

Irishman Mark Boyle decided last November to move into the mobile home and shun any form of cash for 365 days, living off the land and bartering.

The 30-year-old told the Sun that he has “never been happier” and that there is little to miss about his old life.

He sourced his home from giveaway website Freecycle and has been living rent-free at a farm commune, where he also grows his own vegetables and goes foraging for food.

“There’s loads of stuff you can eat if you know what to look for – mushrooms, berries,” he told the newspaper.

“Then there’s waste foraging, where you ask supermarkets and restaurants for their leftover food.”

A self-built compost toilet and old free newspapers for loo roll allow Mr Boyle to relieve himself, while cooking is done on a DIY stove made of olive oil containers.

His challenge has been about showing people how to avoid wasting food and other consumables and was inspired by the story of Gandhi, who said you must be the change you want to see in the world.

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed in Caravan Times that dozens of families in Yorkshire are facing their third Christmas living in caravans after flooding hit the area in 2007.

Caravanners urged to check tyres

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A tyre firm has warned motorists and caravan owners to pay attention to the only part of their vehicles that should come into contact with the road.

Protyre explained that it is important that drivers maintain this part of their autos as it is essential for their safety.

It advised carrying out a winter check to ensure the treads are fit for next spring and summer – especially if long journeys to a caravan site are planned.

As well as testing the tread depth and looking for signs of sidewall damage or misalignment, the valves should also be checked to ensure they are in good working order.

“Reports indicate that tyre failure is a major factor in accidents involving towed caravans,” explained Camping and Caravanning Club spokesman Barry Norris.

“It therefore makes sense to take care of this vital component of a caravan.”

When checking caravan tyres, the mobile home should be jacked up to take the weight off the wheels and allow a thorough examination.

Owners looking to protect their tyres over winter should cover them in a dense, breathable material such as hessian, Protyre advised.

The Camping and Caravanning Club has more than 4,000 sites across the UK.

Elderly caravan resident to take on billionaire in court case

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An 85-year-old static caravan resident is taking on one of the world’s richest men as she battles to stop her home being seized by compulsory purchase.

Donald Trump is facing legal action from Molly Forbes, who lives in the unit named Paradise next to her son Michael Forbes’ home near Aberdeen.

The mother and son have opposed the American’s plans for a new golf resort that would see their property bought by the local council.

However, Trump has claimed that the pensioner is being exploited by her son and used in a “personal vendetta” against him.

“His property is a disgusting blight on the community and an environmental hazard, with leaking oil containers, rusted shacks and abandoned vehicles dumped everywhere,” the businessman said in a statement.

Refusing to mince his words, he continued by claiming that Mr Forbes’ land currently presents a “very poor image” of Scotland.

Trump hosts the US version of The Apprentice, which is fronted by Sir Alan Sugar in the UK.

Families face third Christmas in caravans

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While many families may enjoy a number of breaks to a caravan park throughout the year, some in Yorkshire are facing spending their third Christmas in a mobile home.

However, this is not through choice as the families are still homeless after their properties were ravaged by flood water in June 2007, the Hull Daily Mail revealed.

A total of 25 households in Hull and a further 44 in East Riding were forced to seek alternative accommodation following the first round of flooding, while more than 100 more were affected by the second bout.

The newspaper focused on Jan and Dave Tanton, who have been living in a caravan since 2007.

Mrs Tanton explained that they have both lost heart after numerous problems with their insurers and builders.

“We are hoping the building work will be finished a fortnight before Christmas, which will mean we will have walls, lights and ceilings. At least it will be a step forward,” she told the newspaper.

However, with the house having been a building site for the best part of three years, the Tantons will have a lot of redecoration work in front of them.

The Met Office has revealed that the 314.4 mm of rain that fell in Seathwaite in Cumbria earlier this week is the most ever recorded in a single 24-hour period.

Scottish caravan park hit by flooding

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As Cumbria attempts to recover from the effects of this week’s torrential downpours, the Carluke Gazette has revealed that other parts of the country have also felt the force of mother nature.

It explained that Clydesdale has been soaked by rain, leading to flooding at Kirkfieldbank Caravan Park, as well as numerous other locations in the region.

In Rosebank, flood water came “perilously close to buildings”, while public transport and schools have also been hit with the difficult weather.

On the roads, six accidents were reported on the nearby stretch of the M74 motorway, while part of the A72 Clyde Valley road was closed for hours after the river burst its banks.

The Met Office noted that the rainfall recorded in Cumbria could be the greatest amount to fall in a single location over a 24-hour period since records began.

Meanwhile, the Hull Daily Mail recently revealed that dozens of families displaced from their homes in Yorkshire during the June 2007 floods are still living in caravans.

Police hunt caravan thief

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Police in Lancashire are hunting a caravan thief who stole a mobile holiday home from a farm earlier this month.

The criminal made off with a caravan worth £10,000 from the Oswaldtwistle site, but was caught on CCTV.

According to thebee.co.uk, the incident occurred on November 5th and police are searching for the occupants of a dark-coloured Vauxhall Omega, which towed away the Bailey Ranger caravan.

“This caravan was taken in broad daylight and I am confident that someone will have seen it being towed away along Haslingden Road and beyond,” PC Neil Pugh told the news provider.

He added that anyone who believes they may have seen anything suspicious should get in contact with the police or Crimestoppers.

Meanwhile, the Peterlee Mail recently explained how a man decided to found a caravan repair service after his previous workplace began shedding staff.