Dorset resorts in joint holiday marketing campaign

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Caravan owners heading to Dorset may be interested to hear that the resorts of Bournemouth and Poole have launched a joint campaign to attract water sports fans.

The English seaside sites have a lot to offer caravanners, including eight blue flag beaches, Europe’s first artificial surf reef and a choice of more than 25 water-based activities, all within a ten-mile radius.

British Resorts & Destinations Association director Peter Hampson explained that the concept of the two resorts joining together to promote their assets makes sense.

“Particularly in terms of maximising limited marketing spend and in getting a clear message to a particular market segment that is interested in water-based activity [it is a good move],” he said.

Mr Hampson added that Bournemouth is more “upmarket” than the traditional “kiss-me-quick” resorts, while still being an established holiday destination.

Travelsupermarket.com recently revealed that 16 per cent of Brits are expected to holiday in the UK this year.

Scots couple reunited after enforced caravan stay

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Around a month after leaving to buy a turkey for Christmas, Kay Ure has returned to her home in the Lighthouse Keeper’s cottage in Scotland’s Cape Wrath.

The 54-year-old was left stranded and living in a friend’s caravan after her way home was blocked by heavy snow.

She was separated from husband John for 30 days after embarking on a pre-Christmas grocery trip 30 days ago.

Poor weather conditions blocked the last 11 miles of her journey, meaning she was forced to spend Christmas in a friend’s caravan in Durness.

Her husband was left at home with their six dogs and no turkey for Christmas, although he was visited by two walkers who popped into the couple’s cafe on the north-west tip of the UK.

The couple have now been reunited and plan to have a belated Christmas dinner together.

Meanwhile, the caravan-friendly resorts of Poole and Bournemouth are marketing themselves as water sports destinations as part of a new joint campaign to attract visitors.

Welsh caravan park flooded

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A St Ishmael caravan park has fallen victim to the floods caused by thawing snow and torrential rain in Wales.

According to the Llanelli Star, Carmarthen Bay Holiday Village caravan site near Kidwelly was hit by the same floods that have affected dozens of homes and businesses across the country.

Park sales manager Mark Webber told the newspaper that the water has affected the main car park and that the emergency services have been called in to help resolve the problem.

Fire crews used two high-volume pumps to remove water from the site after floods hit it earlier this week.

“Unfortunately, as we are located on low-lying land by the estuary, when there are severe weather conditions such as heavy rain, the car park tends to be affected,” Mr Webber said.

He revealed that the site’s operators can do little to protect it from the flooding other than minimise the problem by pumping out the water.

Meanwhile, the Exeter Express & Echo is to offer caravan holidays for just £10 from tomorrow.

Exeter newspaper offers £10 caravan holidays

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Exeter newspaper the Express & Echo is set to launch a series of £10 caravan holiday offers.

Beginning tomorrow, the initiative will give readers the chance to spend a vacation in a mobile home this summer.

St Thomas residents Chris and Nicola Harris have taken advantage of the scheme in the past and plan to take their two children on one of the bargain breaks this year.

“We have been doing it for years and I have to say we really enjoy our times away,” Mrs Harris told the newspaper.

“We have a dog and we love to take him with us and a caravan or chalet is the ideal base for us.”

She added that the breaks are great value for money and that there is lots to do for both adults and children.

The family usually head to Shaldon caravan park on the River Teign and enjoy the walks around the area.

Meanwhile, caravan sites in the south-west have been given the chance to attend a number of health and safety events ahead of the summer season, the Bideford People revealed.

Caravan sites offered health and safety advice

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Caravan owners heading to sites in the south-west may notice an improvement in health and safety standards this summer.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and South West Tourism have teamed up to offer caravan parks advice ahead of the new season, Bideford People has reported.

A number of events will take place at sites throughout Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, with information available on a range of subjects.

Topics include gas and electricity safety, risk assessment, fire regulation, asbestos and legionnaires disease.

Further optional sessions will be offered covering swimming pool management, play equipment, crime prevention and marketing.

“The caravan, camping and holiday park sector is a very important part of the tourist industry in the south-west and looks after thousands of visitors each year,” explained HSE head of operations Max Walker.

He added that health and safety should be paramount for anyone working in the industry and said this is especially important during the peak months.

The south-west is popular among caravan enthusiasts thanks in part to its good weather, beautiful scenery and surfing opportunities.

New motoring law to affect those with caravans

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Caravan holidaymakers heading to Devon and Cornwall this summer have been reminded about a change in the law relating to rear view mirrors.

Motorists driving vehicles first used after January 26th must have at least two exterior view mirrors fitted, both on the driver’s and passenger’s side, BudePeople.co.uk reported.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesperson told the website that the change in the law was brought about to make it safer for drivers towing a caravan.

“One way drivers may be caught out is if they are towing a caravan which is considerably wider than the car. When the caravan is detached, the mirrors stick out more than the 25cm allowed and so could be dangerous to other road users,” the representative told the site.

Police also advised that, given the number of caravans found in the region during the summer months, motorists need to remember to remove their mirror extensions upon reaching their location and parking their caravan.

Caravanning could become even more popular among Harry Potter fans this summer as Daniel Radcliffe, who plays the boy wizard in the film series, told the Sunday Mail earlier this month he thinks caravan holidays are “great”.

Provision for caravans at new Suffolk development

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Some 15 touring caravans will be catered for at a new countryside development in Suffolk.

Permission has been granted by Suffolk Coastal District Council for the construction of 12 log cabins, toilet facilities and a shop at the site near Halesworth, the Beccles and Bungay Journal reported.

Caravans will also be permitted at the New Farm location, which is situated on Blackheath Road near Wenhaston and is just 600m from a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

Chairman of the local parish council Bernard Orme told the newspaper that the majority of locals believe it will be “a positive development”.

“We very much hope it will bring jobs to the area and encourage people to visit,” he commented.

“We only have one pub in the village – which we very nearly lost at the beginning of last year, but now seems to be doing very well.”

Suffolk is popular with caravan owners thanks to its award-winning beaches, such as those at Kessingland and Dunwich.

Park Holidays UK presses ahead with winter improvements

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The coldest winter in years has not stopped Park Holidays UK from pressing ahead with its improvement plans.

Commercial director Tony Clish recently wrote to the caravan site operator’s customers, explaining that while some members of staff had to dig their way through the snow to get to work, the upgrades are still very much on track.

Among the improvements is a new swimming pool at the company’s Seaview site in Kent, which has just received planning permission and will see work begin as soon as the weather permits.

Park Holidays UK is also looking forward to a busy year, with a record number of advance bookings taken towards the end of 2009.

Furthermore, a large number of holiday home owners have signed up to stay with the company for another year.

“At many parks we have held pitch fee prices for a second year – together with cuts in insurance costs, electricity costs and finance interest rates we are doing everything we can to make ownership as affordable as possible,” Mr Clish explained.

Meanwhile, Park Holidays UK recently launched its new website, complete with a £10 cashback offer for those who spot a mistake.

Parkdean to be represented at Boat & Caravan Show

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Holiday site operator Parkdean has confirmed that it will have representatives at a major industry event taking place in Birmingham next month.

The National Exhibition Centre will host the Boat & Caravan Show from February 23rd to 28th and will see a number of top companies displaying their wares.

With 24 holiday parks around the UK, Parkdean claims to have something for everyone, whether they prefer the beach, the countryside or a forest setting.

Many of the sites have pitches for touring caravans and tents, while all offer a full range of entertainment, bars, restaurants, kids’ clubs and swimming pools.

The company is keen for potential customers to come along to the show and check out what it has to offer by chatting to its advisors.

It also intends to give away a short vacation at one of its eight Cornwall parks.

Earlier this month, the company redesigned its website to allow potential customers to book online.

Northampton caravan park set to play host to popular balloon festival

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A Northamptonshire caravan park will again play host to one of Europe’s most popular hot air balloon festivals this summer, it has been announced.

The Northampton Balloon Festival has been held in the town for more than 20 years, attracting large crowds and enthusiasts from all over the world.

However, over recent weeks, speculation has been mounting over the likelihood of this year’s event going ahead, with the cost of £250,000 believed to be unfeasible now that it no longer has the backing of the local borough council.

But it has now been confirmed that the festival will be going ahead, in spite of the financial concerns, with the Billing Aquadrome holiday park and camping and caravan site to be the host once again, the BBC has reported.

At present, however, exact dates of the popular summer family event have not been confirmed.

Billing Aquadrome boasts some 400 electrical hook-up points for touring caravans, while it also plays host to the annual Spirit of the Horse show and the world’s largest Land Rover rally.

Bailey Caravans enjoy record year, thanks to popular Pegasus range

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The massive popularity of its new Pegasus range helped Bailey Caravans enjoy a record year for sales in 2009, it has been announced.

Reporting news of its performance over the past 12 months, the company has revealed that the Bailey Retailer Network sold just over 9,500 new caravans over the course of last year, a record high achieved in spite of the tough economic climate.

Notably, of these, 65 per cent were caravans from the ground-breaking Pegasus range launched towards the beginning of the year, making these models among the most popular on UK roads and at campsites across Europe.

At the same time, however, Bailey has confirmed that it has discontinued its Senator Series with immediate effect.

“[The success of the Pegasus range] has been to the detriment of the performance of Senator Series 6 – to the extent that this established range no longer generates enough orders to justify its continued inclusion within the portfolio,” a company statement read.

Bailey will, however, continue to carry on with its after-sales and replacement part service for caravanners with any of the Senator models.

Bristol-based Bailey celebrated its diamond anniversary in 2008, making it the longest-established UK caravan manufacturer.

Caravan owners to be given towing tips at NEC show

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Caravan owners are to be offered taster courses in manoeuvring their trailers at the upcoming NEC Boat and Caravan Show, it has been announced.

Due to take place in the last week of February, the annual event will once again see thousands of caravanning enthusiasts head to Birmingham to view the latest models and learn of the latest tourist hotspots, both in the UK and overseas.

What’s more, it has now been confirmed that the Caravan Club will be offering informal classes on manoeuvring caravans for the duration of the week.

However, the club has stated that, as well as only being available to its members, the taster courses will only be offered to caravanners able to produce a valid driving licence on the day.

Further information and other pointers regarding best practice when it comes to towing a caravan of any size will be available at the Caravan Club’s stand at the NEC event.

This year’s Boat and Caravan Show will also feature a canoe and kayak pool, a climbing wall and a mini marina, while visitors will be given the chance to try their arm at a number of new pursuits, including scuba diving.