Devon caravan park set for £3.8m upgrade

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A Devon caravan park has announced £3.8 million plans to expand its facilities in order to accommodate more guests.

Cudleigh’s Finlake site intends to increase the number of pitches as well as invest in new sports facilities, according to the Herald Express.

The 130-acre park will build an all-weather sports pitch, create room for 38 static caravans and relocate its staff accommodation and tennis courts.

“This planning application is part of a long-term strategy to re-site older accommodation and replace it with new landscaped communities of modern timber-clad lodges,” explained park manager James Gourlay.

He added that the award-winning site is constantly endeavouring to provide the best for its patrons.

Meanwhile, those staying at the site may be interested in attending a ghost tour at Pendennis Castle in nearby Cornwall.

The attraction is said to be haunted by numerous spectres, including the spirit of a former head cook called Maud.

Chris Malone

Caravan sites scoop tourism awards

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The North-East England Tourism Award winners have been announced, with a Seahouses site taking gold in the Caravan/Holiday Park of the Year section.

Seafield Caravan Park took the top prize at last week’s (October 15th) ceremony in Newcastle.

The site’s online resource claims it offers “peace, tranquillity stunning coastal scenery, golden sandy beaches that stretch for miles, and breathtaking sea views”.

Seahouses is a Northumberland coastal town filled with quaint pubs and eateries, while the holiday park promises a relaxing time.

Haggerston Castle Holiday Park in Berwick-upon-Tweed took silver in the competition, while Northumberland’s Heathergate Country Park in Hexham was awarded bronze.

While Seafield offers a serene break, Haggerston Castle is packed full of activities for kids and adults.

A large indoor pool and golf course should keep caravan enthusiasts of all ages busy.

Meanwhile, Heathergate Country Park also claims to be a great place to relax in acres of parkland, while being close to the city of Newcastle.

Stonehaven caravan site wins award

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A Stonehaven caravan site has won a coveted regional award for its greeting area.

Queen Elizabeth Caravan Park scooped Aberdeenshire Council’s Reception Area of the Year Award for its welcoming nature, the Mearns Leader reported.

The award was presented by director of corporate services Charles Armstrong at a customer service conference as part of National Customer Service Week.

Formartine area manager Keith Newton congratulated staff at the park for their part in the success.

“The judges were impressed with their reception area, which is both welcoming and manned by helpful staff,” he said.

Judges visited the reception areas as mystery customers and noted how informative the entrances were, as well as how they were greeted by employees.

Stonehaven is a port town on the east coast of Scotland, located approximately 15 miles south of Aberdeen.

According to Undiscovered Scotland, it has benefited from the North Sea’s oil wealth, while still maintaining its character.

Lossiemouth caravan customers await their fate

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Customers at a site in Lossiemouth, Scotland, are waiting to hear whether they actually own the caravans they believed they had paid for.

According to the Press and Journal, a number of people handed over thousands of pounds for mobile homes at Silver Sands Leisure Park.

However, a fraud investigation by Grampian police has revealed that a number may have been duped, with several having been given hand-written receipts.

Around 70 customers had a meeting with the directors of Green Parcs – the firm that owns the site – where they were asked to submit paperwork to help establish the truth.

A number of customers had claimed ownership of the same caravan, but Green Parcs director Deepak Johar promised the matter would be cleared up within two months.

However, this was not good enough for one customer, who told the newspaper: “It’s been seven weeks now. I just want to get rid of the caravan and have nothing more to do with the place.”

The news comes after the publication reported on a separate campsite – Arbroath’s Red Lion Caravan Park – which knocked back a family as their camper was a brand often associated with travellers.

Kent caravan numbers on the up

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The number of holidaymakers staying in caravans in Kent next year is expected to rise.

Following the publication of figures from the Caravan Club, which showed bookings increased by 40 per cent in summer 2009, Kent Online has reported a rise in reservations for 2010.

Bearsted Caravan Club warden Sue Greenaway told the online resource that the Hollingbourne site had noticed a record number of new caravanners.

She said people have purchased either a new or secondhand model and are making the most of it when they can.

“At sites such as those run by the Caravan Club, there are good showers and loos, tidy sites,” she claimed. “You have the freedom to just pitch up.”

According to Park Holidays UK, advance bookings are up by more than 65 per cent year-on-year, thanks to a combination of the low value of the pound and the recession.

Aside from Kent’s array of Blue Flag beaches, it boasts a range of gardens, castles and cathedrals just waiting to be explored.

Caravan maker celebrates bumper sales

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The recent International Caravan and Motorhome Show has helped boost the fortunes of a number of manufacturers.

Romahome and its retail partner Freeborn Motorhomes are celebrating strong sales at the event, with more orders taken than in any other year.

The firm used the exhibition to reveal its R25 model and sold nine of them, while eight R10 orders were taken.

In total, the company sold 32 campervans – a “fantastic achievement”, according to Romahome managing director Brian Bailey.

“The high volume of sales, many of them achieved directly by Freeborn Motorhomes and Romahome staff, was augmented by our national dealer network bringing in a dozen orders,” he explained.

Mr Bailey added that the news will be a boost to staff at the firm’s Isle of Wight factory, with the knowledge that their order book is double the size it was before the expo.

The International Caravan and Motorhome Show took place in Birmingham’s NEC last week.

East Anglia enjoys tourism surge

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Caravan owners looking for a new UK destination to explore may be interested to hear that East Anglia has seen a surge in domestic tourism this year.

According to Hoseasons, the region has benefited from a growing number of Brits choosing to take a holiday in the UK.

Chief executive Richard Carrick explained that the area has broken records, with the holiday company noting a marked increase in enquires.

“That’s part of the recession – people are hunkering down and looking inwards at their families and going back to basics,” he stated.

Mr Carrick added that financial factors would continue to see people spend their holidays in the UK.

A recent British Hospitality Association study showed that vacations were the main purpose of UK tourism trips by Brits.

More than four-fifths (81 per cent) of the total number of trips and 75 per cent of spending was for this purpose.

Meanwhile, trips abroad declined by 15 per cent in the first half of 2009 compared to the same period last year, while 1.2 million more holidays were taken in the UK.

Bailey celebrates caravan show sales success

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Caravan manufacturer Bailey Caravans has unveiled its new Pegasus model at the International Caravan & Motorhome Show.

The model has been responsible for helping the company achieve its best ever sales performance at an exhibition, with £12 million-worth of retail orders taken.

It equates to double the figure taken at last year’s sale and will help consolidate Bailey’s status as the top provider of touring caravans in the country, it claimed.

Around 65 per cent of the orders taken at the event were for the Pegasus – a statistic the company said it was “delighted” to report.

“Particularly encouraging is the fact that included in the many new Pegasus owners are a significant number of senior caravan journalists and other leading industry figures,” Bailey said in a statement.

The range also scooped two top prizes – Practical Caravan Magazine Tourer of the Year for the Pegasus 534 and Which Caravan? Caravan of the Year for the Pegasus 624.

The International Caravan & Motorhome Show took place at Birmingham’s NEC during 13-18 October

Staffordshire school to use caravan as classroom

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A Staffordshire school has come up with a novel way to make lessons more interesting by using a caravan.

According to the Sentinel, St Michael’s First School in Stone has come up with a plan to procure a second-hand caravan to use as a class room.

The mobile holiday home would be decked out with different displays to help children envisage the country they are pretending to visit during their lessons.

Pupils will get their wish if the school wins the Barclays Class Act competition, which would provide it with £5,000 in funding.

“It is going to be so exciting for the children,” explained teacher Hazel Weddell. “They’ll think they are going on holiday. Some are already asking if they can sleep in the caravan.”

The school plans to deck out the mobile classroom with colourful cushions and create an area for pupils to read quietly.

Nominations for the Class Act competition will run until November 30th, with three winning schools or colleges being awarded £5,000.

‘Wrong sort’ of campervan knocked back from holiday site

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Owners of Hobby, Quest and Talbot brands of motorhome planning a trip to Arbroath’s Red Lion Caravan Park should look elsewhere.

The Press and Journal recently revealed that the site has a policy of refusing these models as they have a reputation for being used by travellers.

It came to light when Calum and Elaine Jaffray took their daughters on a caravan holiday in their grandmother’s vehicle.

On arrival at the site, they were told there was a problem as the Hobby vans are banned.

Mr Jaffray explained that he had to take his family to another facility at Tummel Bridge, where they were granted entry and allowed to continue their holiday.

Staff at the Red Lion also told the family that the position of their £58,000 mobile home’s door on the opposite side from most other models was a privacy issue.

Meanwhile, caravan fans in England are able to attend the Caravan and Motorhome Show at Birmingham’s NEC, which is taking place until October 18th.

Chris Malone

Camping tickets go on sale for Beautiful Days festival

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Camping enthusiasts may be aware that a number of the UK’s top music festivals welcome tents and caravans to their sites.

One such event is Beautiful Days, which takes place in Devon’s Escot Park.

Tickets for next year’s weekend – which runs from August 20th to 22nd – went on sale this morning, according to eFestivals.co.uk.

Adult camping tickets are priced at £100, while the children’s versions start at £5 and increase depending on their age.

Campervan passes are £35, while car parking permits will cost £15.

Everyone at the festival will be camping, as there are no day passes available.

Organised by and featuring the Levellers, the event will welcome up to 12,000 people and host music on each of its five stages.

Beautiful Days has been nominated for the Family Festival Award, Best Toilets, Best Medium-Sized Festival & Grass Roots Festival Award for its 2009 instalment.

Other UK festivals which welcome campers include T in the Park, Reading, Leeds and the renowned Glastonbury.

Chris Malone

Caravan enthusiasts could see road rules change

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Caravan enthusiasts may be interested to hear the Climate Change Committee has suggested a number of methods for cutting transport carbon emissions.

The government advisory body recently published a report stating that eco-driving lessons, tougher speed limits on motorways and increased road pricing could help drive down greenhouse gas levels.

Backing the proposals, WhatGreenCar.com managing editor Ben Lane explained they would be likely to have a positive effect over the longer term.

“We are supportive of the fact that road pricing is one of the measures which will help to control carbon [emissions] and fuel use more efficiently,” he said.

However, Mr Lane added that the governments should also invest additional funding into the UK public transport system.

The expert concluded that other options had to be available if people are to be encouraged to leave their cars at home.

The measures could affect the UK’s thousands of caravan enthusiasts who spend their summer weekends holidaying in their mobile homes.

Chris Malone