Archive for the ‘Motorhoming in the UK’ Category

Top 5 Motorhome Sites in the UK

Wednesday, May 16th, 2012

Here at Comfort we love a good camping site for motorhomes and so thought we would share with you our top 5 sites in the UK. As the summer gets closer and more and more of us are planning our holidays, this is a great place to start!

Low Wray, Cumbria

This is site is run by the National Trust and has stunning views of the sun rise over Windermere. Here is also a great place for all you ramblers as it is a great walking destination. As well as taking your motorhome, when you are there you can always opt to stay in a Yurt or Tipi for the night. The site is open from March to October and has a rate of £8-£10 a night plus a booking fee.

Vale of Pickering Caravan Park, North Yorkshire

This site is very close to the Yorkshire Moors and is a great place for families. There is plenty to go and see with Scarborough and Whitby just down the road on the east coast. The site opens on the 4th of March and is open till the end of the year. Prices start at £15.50 a night but do vary depending on the time of year you go.

Invercauld Club Site, Aberdeenshire

This is a great site to spot some wildlife. There are badgers, red squirrels and even golden eagles. As well as this, in the local fields there are red deer. This is again another great place for walking enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. It is situated at the eastern end of the Cairngorms and is near Braemar. The site is open until the 17th October and ranges from £13.50 to £20.40 a night, based on two adults.

Three Cliffs Bay, Gower

This site is just a 5 minute walk from the beach and is on the top of a cliff on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales. There is stunning views and there are a range of activities within just a few miles of the site. These include water skiing, sailing and windsurfing and for all you golf lovers, there are six 18-hole golf courses in the surrounding area. The site is open from April to October and there is a charge of £23 a night.

Glenbrittle Campsite, Isle of Skye

This campsite is perfect for those of you who just want to escape from everything during your holidays and is the definition of wild camping. There are some little comforts available though for those who really can’t so without. There is stunning scenery and sunrises here. The site is open from April to September and has a rate of £6.40 a night per adult and if you want electric hook up there is an additional £5 charge.

No matter where you choose t o take your holiday this year, make sure you have adequate motorhome insurance just in case anything was to happen while you’re away from home. You can tailor many policies to benefit you and this will ensure everything that is important to you is covered this summer.

Choosing a Caravan Park for your Holiday

Thursday, December 29th, 2011

Caravan ParkIn one of our previous blog posts, we blogged about picking the right motorhome, now it’s time to choose the right caravan park to take your motorhome to.

If this is your first time taking a motorhome holiday, then it’s worth considering staying in the UK rather than travelling across Europe as it may be more familiar to you and easier to get help if you need it. However, there are many caravan and holiday parks throughout the UK so you will be sure to find the ideal park for you.

There are a few other factors to think about when you’re choosing a holiday park, these include:

Budget

For most of us, one of the biggest factors when choosing a holiday is the budget. The motorhome itself, along with buying motorhome insurance, will have been quite an expense already. Therefore, it’s worth finding out the caravan’s park price tariff and if there are any discounts for longer stays. You may find some holiday parks offer discounts if you are over 60 or older and are generally cheaper during off peak seasons. The only main expense once you’re at the caravan park, would be food and drink, which can be relatively cheap – depending on how hungry you are!

Facilities and Entertainment

If you are a family with young children, you’ll probably be looking for a different style of holiday, compared to if you were travelling solo or as a couple. Some caravan parks will have swimming pools, a children’s play ground, family entertainment and also a kid’s club. Other holiday parks will have crazy golf, spas and a full leisure activity programme. Most will have something going on, so if you are looking for a more quiet and relaxing holiday, choose a rural holiday park that’s in the heart of the countryside. They are never too far away from the local village if you do fancy going down to the pub.

Other facilities to consider that may be a laundrette, if you are planning to stay for a while or Wi-Fi facilities.
Once you have narrowed down potential holiday parks, look at reviews on the internet and ask other motorhome owners where they have stayed and where they would recommend, before choosing which caravan park would suit you the best.

You’re Not on Your Own

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of owning a motorhome is the number of like minded people you meet and the camaraderie that is evident between the great majority of motor-homers.

Family Gatherings

Take this weekend for instance. A Christmas break in UK weather is not the ideal place to hold a “Jamboree” but the annual motorhome rally in Hamble near Southampton is fully booked, and for many is a New Year experience they look forward to year after year. It may not be a beach in the South of France but the pitches are taken up every year and although attendees can’t say they have spent Christmas with relations, they certainly can say they have spent it with family. The motorhome fraternity are close knit and welcome newcomers readily. Just glancing at internet forums will show just how tightly bonded the motor caravan community is. For the Hamble event, food and entertainment comes from those attending. Everyone brings a bite to eat that can be shared and the events such as line dancing and folk singing are all organised and executed by the attendees, no-one gets paid.

Listen and Learn

A “meet” such as the one at Hamble really will serve new motorhome enthusiasts well. They will save time and money just listening to experienced travellers talk to each other, and help and advice is always available. The seasoned travellers will spend hours at Hamble planning and exchanging routes for the coming year and tips on where to go and where to avoid will be plentiful. It’s the same with accessories and insurance, motor-homers are only too happy to share the secret of a good buy and will be delighted to tell fellow travellers how they saved a few quid on their motorhome insurance for instance.

Join the Club

The best way for newcomers to find their way into the fold is to join a club. The Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravan Club are well known throughout the UK, but there are dozens of clubs, many aimed at owners of specific motorhome manufacturers, in every region of the country. Ask your motor caravan insurance provider to give you details of clubs in your area (they may offer a discount for club members) or simply carry out a quick internet search. You are guaranteed to find like minded people and in some cases it will result in friendships that last a lifetime.

Capital’s new Low Emissions Zone could force older Motor Homes off the roads

Wednesday, December 28th, 2011

London’s Low Emissions Zone comes into force on the 3rd January, and owners of older motor homes will have to dig deep into their pockets or stay away from the streets of London. The changes apply to vehicles registered before October 2006.

Owners of motor homes that do not comply will have to fit filters costing as much as £3,500 as well as undergoing a £32 yearly inspection by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. The Low Emission Zone will be enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras that will enable Transport for London to identify every vehicle entering London and, by a simple cross check they will see if a filter has been fitted. The purpose of the Low Emission Zone is to improve air quality in the capital. However, while it is supported by environmentalists, the draconian penalties have caused widespread concern among those affected.

A spokesman for the caravan club said: “We have lobbied long and hard to impress upon Transport for London and the Mayor’s Office that the inclusion of motor caravans in the LEZ is unfair, as affected vehicles are not significant contributors to air quality deterioration. Caravan Club members that are within the zone face costly options to replace or modify their vehicles, or pay for storage outside of the LEZ at significant cost and inconvenience.” This is, of course, a cost that will be lumped on top of the vital motor home insurance that owners take out each year.

Motor home owners in London appear to have been most caught out by the new rules and mechanics say there is a backlog of motor home owners waiting to get their vehicle updated, and many won’t be able to comply with the new rules before they come into play. Owners have also complained that it has been very difficult to get information on what their vehicle requires to meet the new rules. Transport for London has said it will not penalise drivers of non compliant vehicles brought into the zone if they can prove that they had ordered the necessary filtering equipment before 3rd January.

Staycations are on the Rise!

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

For those of us who own a motorhome, we already know the beauty of a staycation in the UK, where you can enjoy beautiful countryside, glorious beaches and stunning monuments without having to shell out a fortune for flights or endure the torture of the busy airport.

But it now seems that more and more people are discovering the low cost, stress free alternative to going abroad and planning trips to the Lake District, Cornwall and other scenic places across the UK in 2012, and as motorhome enthusiasts we say good on them!
According to recent research, a massive 91% of British people are planning to take a holiday in the UK during 2012, which is a 23% increase on the last 12 months and means a lot more people travelling up and down the country in motorhomes, caravans and campers.

Staycations can be a lot of fun for the whole family, save you a bit of money and can be a lot less stressful than going abroad, but there are still a few things you should take into consideration if you are planning a holiday in the UK.

Location

Obviously the first thing to consider is where you are going to spend your staycation, as you need to find somewhere that’s practical yet fun for the whole family. The Lake District has become one of the most popular UK destinations in recent years, but can get quite busy during peak periods and is known to be on the pricier side.

However, The UK does have a number of other beautiful national parks, such as Dartmoor, Snowdonia and the Yorkshire Dales, all of which have an abundance of scenic natural attractions, quaint towns and fun days out. If the countryside isn’t for you, why not try one of the beautiful coastal towns in Devon, Cornwall or Dorset where many people are finding they can enjoy warm weather and sandy beaches without travelling abroad.

Travel

One of the main reasons people are choosing to stay in the UK for their holiday is to avoid the cost and annoyance of travelling abroad, but that doesn’t mean travelling in the UK is always a breeze, what with the risk of traffic jams and the cost of petrol.

If you are driving a long distance across the UK you will want to make sure that your car, motorhome or camper etc is in good working order and can handle the drive. It is also worth considering setting off and returning on weekdays to avoid the hectic weekend traffic.

Insurance

As you are not going abroad you may think there is no need to check your insurance policies, but if you are taking the whole family away and travelling in a motorhome, caravan or camper, it is crucial to check that you are covered by your Motorhome Insurance policy.

No one likes to think about holidays going wrong, but it is a risk we all face and with insurance, it is always better to be safe than sorry. It may seem like common sense, but follow these simple tips and you can be sure of a fantastic staycation that is a lot less stressful and costly that going abroad but still fun for you and your family.

Motorhomes in Scotland

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

Tour Scotland’s regions in a motorhome to retain the comforts of home as you travel. You can either use your own vehicle or rental services are available at various locations. Motorhomes are the ideal solution for a great holiday, offering the freedom to visit the country at your own pace and enjoy welcoming holiday parks.

VisitScotland Holiday Parks Quality Assurance scheme now has a requirement that all parks accepting motorhomes which have more than 50 touring pitches provide a motor vehicle waste disposal point. Take the hassle out of your trip and stay at one of these sites, safe in the knowledge that you are doing your bit for the environment at the same time.

Head to the east coast for some fantastic smaller sites such as the Sauchope Links Caravan Park in Crail or the Deeside Holiday Park, which is just six miles from the granite city of Aberdeen. Whether you are looking to walk the Fife Coastal Path, want to soak up the maritime heritage, or simply wish to enjoy city attractions which include the Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums, there is plenty to choose from.

The Highlands is a great destination for outdoor activities with walking, cycling and fishing on offer and you can venture to touring parks which include Invernahavon Caravan Site at Newtonmore. Why not journey to the Isle of Skye to absorb the tranquility of island life during your break?

You might find it hard to believe that you can enjoy a holiday park just four miles from Edinburgh Castle at Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park, a great base for exploring Scotland’s beautiful capital city with its stately architecture, old cobbled streets and the wonderful Georgian New Town.

Whether you want to enjoy Scotland’s scenic landscapes, prefer culture in the city or wish to mix and match, visiting with a motorhome couldn’t be simpler.

Before you set off though, check your motorhome insurance policy!

Motorhoming in the UK

Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011

We are trying to put together an information ‘hub’ for our readers here at the Comfort Blog. This is because we want you to get something out of your visits here – beyond a great deal on your motorhome insurance. Hopefully, you’ll feel inspired to offer tips of your own about out of the way places, great parks you know and love or even just your favourite travel destinations. Any tips or information you can offer will be greatly appreciated!

But, to get the conversation started, and to begin this epic adventure, we’d like to offer some of our thoughts on the matter of motorhoming in the UK. After all, this is where we are based, and where the majority of our customers are based, so it makes sense to start at home.

The UK countryside offers great diversity, we have beautiful beaches with wonderful white sand and calm turquoise sea,… We also have dramatic clifftops with crashing waves and a wide array of wildlife and weather. And that’s just the coastline… Inland is just as diverse, with wide areas of flat land, with nothing to interrupt the horizon but a few wind-swept trees and lonely cottages, to high peaks and mountains offering wonderful views from the top. There are many nature reserves throughout the country, and every county you visit is likely to offer something special, whether it’s a rare bird or plant, or a wonderful view – there is something for all nature lovers to see.

Then there’s the history. A country as old as Blighty is going to have some history! We have majestic and incomprehensible Stone Age monuments, such as Stonehenge (how did they get those stones there?); religious buildings aplenty with cathedrals and churches, abbeys and priories… Then there are the battlegrounds, forts and other Norman Castles, in all different states of repair.

All this without even mentioning Shakespeare and the rest of our literary heritage…

The UK is a tremendously exciting and interesting place to visit. I truly believe that one could spend a lifetime touring Britain, and still not get bored.

Have something to add? Been on a great UK motorhoming trip and what to share your experiences? Don’t be shy! Send us an email to share your travel experiences with us. Of course, if you have any fabulous photos, send ‘em along too!

Happy touring!