Campsite owners are such a diverse bunch of people, from the youngest-at-heart to those with young families. What’s apparent is it’s cool to own a campsite – some have had long-held dreams of owning one.
Hundreds of campsites across the country were visited to make the selection for the first edition. One or two of the sites chosen have sadly closed down due to retirement or changed direction – they don’t allow caravans or motorhomes any more! Most continue to thrive, evolve and get better with the passing years. But I’ve visited many more sites since the first edition was published. Very few would I have wished to include in the first guide in place of that original selection. Others are, indeed, wonderful, but there are not sufficient pages in a book to include them all. A first visit though, is always an attempt to establish whether the caravan park’s website that says it ‘nestles in the heart of …’ really does, and whether, when they mention the sea view, they also forget to announce the roar of the motorway, the railway line that carries cargo all night long or the sea view that includes a nuclear power station – and there are some! If there is a downside to any of the campsites written about in Cool Caravanning, then I’ve not omitted to mention it, confident that the good points will far outweigh any niggles. And, because I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to live with my family in an incredible rural place, it takes quite a lot from a campsite location to really impress us enough to be somewhere we’re prepared to pay to stay in our own ‘van!
I make no apologies for being averse to TVs in ‘vans. Travelling and holidays are all about getting away from the latest political troubles or the latest reality TV ‘star’ to fall victim to whichever knock-out programme they happen to be on. All caravans have giant picture windows and these sites are specially selected to make the most of them. And if it rains too much for the cagoule and boots, set out a board game and have some good old-fashioned family fun. So, for lovers of the great outdoors, or even for those who like to curl up on the sofa with a good book and a mug of cocoa while parked up in a nice spot, this book is for you.
There is such a diverse range of sites covered in Cool Caravanning, from tiny, almost exclusive, sites, such as Highside Farm (see page 52), to large sites like Pentewan Sands (see page 210), which, although bordering on a kind of commercial holiday park, still has something pretty special to offer. Most are independent sites, although a few are club-owned, run by The Camping & Caravanning Club or The Caravan Club, but are open to non-members and don’t have that cloned feeling that so many club sites can have. There are three small five-van certificated campsites as well, where only members of the relevant associated club can stay, but that feel so special they are worthy of obtaining club membership just to use them. And 25 per cent of the sites covered in the guide are open all year, so you can keep exploring through the winter months.
Each description provides details of the facilities, in brief, but also gives an insight into the whole of the campsite, the things to do and the places to go while staying, as well as useful information on special places to eat and drink or buy food, plus there’s an alternative campsite should things get busy.
Above all, Cool Caravanning is about inspiration; to inspire you to pack up the caravan and spark a desire to visit one – or all – of these very special places, more often than not run by special people.
Happy travels – I hope you enjoy visiting these campsites and look forward to seeing you there.
Top Tips for Touring
What to Expect When You Arrive at a Campsite
Hopefully a very warm welcome!
At medium-sized and larger touring parks plus club sites, you’ll almost certainly find a short-term parking area in which to pull up with your motorhome or caravan while you check in. Make sure that you’re not blocking the main entrance and exit. All of these parks will have a reception area, which may only be open at certain times of the day – in the morning for checking out and a couple of hours in the evening for checking in. If the reception is closed, there will be details of what to do – either a specific pitch will have been allocated for you, or you’ll be advised to find a vacant pitch you like the look of so you can set up and return to check in later. Wardens live on site 24 hours a day on all club sites.
Small, certificated five-van sites are linked to a specific organization and, as such, you must be a member of the relevant club to stay. Often you’ll be able to join upon arrival and, in any case, these are certainly sites that you make contact with prior to arrival. You may be asked for an estimated time of arrival to ensure that someone is around when you appear. But as these are generally people’s homes, a quick knock at the door to say ‘Hello’ before you pitch up is courteous. That said, as many five-van sites are on farms, you may find the owners busy so, pitch up in the designated area and return to the front door later – or you’ll find that the owner visits the site every evening.
At the very largest holiday parks (of which none are included in Cool Caravanning), where check-in may be on a specific day – with Saturday to Saturday bookings taken in peak season, for example – you may find check-in staff waiting on the approach road to direct you to the check-in area. Otherwise there will be a reception where you can check in and be provided with details of your pitch.
A ‘van for all seasons’
There’s no need to lock the door, shut the curtains and put your ‘van into storage for the winter. With so many campsites open all year, take time to make the most of the chilly season with these top tips and advice for winter touring.
1. Check all water pipes for leaks; it’s important to keep them above freezing to avoid costly damage. In below-freezing conditions, keep the waste drain tap open. If your ‘van does not have Grade III classification (see opposite), where the water tanks will be insulated, a fish tank heater can be placed in fresh water tanks to prevent freezing. Make sure that you drain down both the fresh (including the water heater) and waste water systems and keep taps open when the ‘van is not in use. If you’re using an external waste-water tank with a caravan in really cold weather, it’s worth purchasing an insulation blanket to prevent the contents from freezing. Keep a roll of ‘Rescue Tape’ (www.rescuetape.co.uk), used by the US military, in your ‘van for emergency repairs to leaking pipes. It’s self-fusing, and creates a permanent water- and air-tight seal around pipes.
2. Your ‘van heater may have the option to use gas or electric power. Be very careful using additional electric heaters on site to keep your ‘van warm; unless very low wattage, ideally they shouldn’t be used at all. Check the rating of the campsite hook-up first, or you may find that you overload the circuit and leave fellow campers out in the cold!
3. Airing all soft furnishings in addition to bedding prior to a trip away will prevent them from feeling damp when you get into bed. Remember to keep some ventilation in your ‘van during your stay or condensation will build, causing mould and damp upholstery/bedclothes.
4. Keep an eye on air vents to ensure they don’t become blocked by fallen leaves or snow. Don’t be tempted to cover up external vents; they’re there for a purpose. It is possible to obtain a winter cover for fridge vents that aids performance in cold weather.
5. Add additional rugs and carpets to the floor for extra insulation and incorporate scatter cushions and throws into a living area to make it feel cosy. Keeping the blinds and curtains pulled during the day when it’s not sunny will help to insulate the ‘van and keep warmth in. Don’t forget the roof blinds too.
6. Use products to keep the exterior of your van ‘healthy’ such as Fenwick’s Overwintering Exterior, which will provide a protective wax coating and will protect your ‘van from winter dirt.
7. Ensure that you’re using propane gas rather than butane, which won’t work below freezing – and make sure that
