The UK’s largest digital marketplace for new and used cars, Auto Trader, has reported that views of caravan adverts increased 18% last week and views of motorhomes adverts increased 17%, compared to the previous year. A survey of 2,000 UK adults which the brand carried out to examine this trend further reveals almost half of the population (40%) is planning a 2020 staycation (provided Government guidelines allow), and that caravan holidays are set to almost match stays in hotels this year. Only 40% of those planning a staycation this summer said they would consider staying in a hotel, while 33% say they would consider staying in a caravan - making caravans second only to hotels in popularity amongst those planning breaks.
Caravans are also set to overtake the popularity of rented holiday apartments and houses, which have enjoyed a meteoric rise in popularity over the past few years thanks to a new wave of disruptive rental websites and B&Bs. Demand for rented apartments and houses this summer is set to trail behind that for caravans and hotels, with just 27% of those planning staycations saying they’d consider them. The trend for caravans seems to be being driven by a need to feel safer. 37% said staying in a caravan would mean they could sanitise the environment properly themselves, to limit the spread of germs from those outside their family.
Auto Trader’s Rory Reid comments: “Coronavirus has changed the way we live our lives in so many ways, and there’s no doubt this will extend to our holidays. “Many are unlikely to want (or be able) to quarantine themselves for 14 days after a holiday abroad, so we’ll be seeing UK beaches and other hotspots a buzz with British holidaymakers this summer. He continues: “Caravan holidays in particular will shoot through the roof. The idea of holidaying in a space that you yourself own, which you can clean yourself and which won’t have been used by others recently, is definitely reassuring.”
Consultation has begun on a proposed 200 acre ecowellness resort in Ashwicken, Norfolk, comprising of 154 floating and lakeside holiday lodges including treehouse accommodation, a clubhouse on the water and associated boat house.
There will be a specialised focused on water-based pursuits including rowing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, fishing and open water swimming.
Developer Norfolk Farm Leisure wants to transform Ashwicken Lake near East Winch, with 154 floating and waterside holiday lodges with a £35m investment. The resort has been designed by London-based Baca Architects, which specialises in building on or near water.
The resort will lead to an estimated £8m (£6m in King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, and the remaining £2m in Norfolk) boost to the local economy and the creation of 340 jobs.
Holiday parks and campsites have welcomed the news that they could be given the green light to remain open over this winter. Following a lobbying campaign by the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the Government has sent a message to local authorities in England, asking them to fast-track applications for a longer season.
Scottish local authorities have received a similar signal from the Scottish Government.
England’s Local Government Minister Lord Greenhalgh said he hopes winter opening requests will receive a “sympathetic approach” following huge losses suffered by most parks this year. The association’s Director General, Ros Pritchard OBE, said the lifeline was a step in the right direction to helping prevent wide-scale job cuts and business failures in the sector. “More than a third of all holiday parks and campsites are required by their planning consent to shut up shop in October – and it’s a moment most of them are dreading,” she said. “After being closed from March until July, they have missed out on months of prime trading time, including bank holidays and half-terms.
SURVIVAL HOPES
“This simply isn’t sustainable for seasonally dependent businesses, and especially the hundreds of smaller family-run parks which make up our membership. “At present, only a quarter of holiday parks and campsites are allowed to remain open all year – and many of the rest will be pinning their survival hopes on keeping going over winter. Although the request by the Westminster Government for local authorities to allow winter opening applies only in England, parks in Scotland are also being supported. BH&HPA, which represents around 2,200 UK holiday parks and campsites, says it is also working with the Welsh Government to achieve similar backing for parks in Wales to remain open over winter.
ABOVE: Moss Wood Park’s winning team members are (from left) marketing co-ordinator Neil Darby; seasonal warden Dave Dean; seasonal warden Sue Partington; groundskeeper Chris Peacock, and wardens Sandra and Ian Stokes
Family’s Holiday Park Is A Natural Winner
Moss Wood has been heralded as Lancashire’s torch-bearer for businesses with a conscience. Judges in the Lancashire Tourism Awards named the family-run park as first place in the ‘ethical, responsible and sustainable’ category of the awards, beating a strong line-up of contenders from across the North West. It means that Moss Wood will now be fast-tracked through to the national VisitEngland Awards for Excellence later this year in the same category. An awards ceremony, held at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach Arena, was attended by tourism and business chiefs from across Lancashire.
Henry Wild accepted the award on behalf of his father Syd who first started the park over 40 years ago, and who still plays an active part in its running. Moss Wood, judges said, puts sustainability and care for the countryside at the heart of its business culture, bringing great benefits to the natural environment. The park was also praised for the way it encourages holiday guests and members of the local community, especially children, to engage with nature and to help protect its wildlife.
Henry Wild said that everyone was absolutely delighted to have taken the top sustainability prize: “We are very fortunate to be able to attract staff who share our enthusiasm for the natural world, and for doing everything possible to protect our flora and fauna. “Their knowledge and skills mean we are never short of new ideas for safeguarding wildlife, and for helping youngsters to enjoy making new outdoor discoveries,” Henry continue. “Our family feels very privileged to live and work in this beautiful part of rural Lancashire, and I hope this award will help raise awareness of its very special qualities,” he added.
Moss Wood provides holiday homes to buy as well as pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes. The park has been presented with the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level for more than 20 consecutive years, recognising its raft of conservation initiatives. These include a recently created 1.5km nature discovery trail, and a 3000 square-foot wild flower wilderness providing vital foraging for honey bees and butterflies.
There is also a spring-fed lake at Moss Wood which acts as a magnet for birdlife, dragonflies, water fowl and a host of other different aquatic species. In addition, the park plays host to thousands of bees in hives on its grounds, and supports bee-keeping charities with the sale of its own artisan beer produced by a local micro-brewery.
Wish You Were Here? Beachcombers Idyll With Winter Walking Breaks
Visitors to Cornwall this winter will be enjoying stunning views, watching the sunset over Holywell Bay and cosying up by the fire while enjoying winter breaks at Trevornick Holiday Park near Newquay. Crisp sea air, deserted beaches and quiet coastal paths make for an invigorating walking holiday at the locals’ favourite time of year and one that remains relatively unexplored by holiday makers.
Trevornick Holiday Park is situated just a short walk thor ugh the sand dunes to Holywell Bay beach. The iconic setting has frequently been used as a filming location, most recently becoming BBC Poldark’s favourite beach. Offering statics, glamping, camping and touring, Trevornick has a choice of three cosy cottages to make guests feel at home home in for the duration of their Cornish getaway.
Trevornick is situated within a beautiful area on a section of the South West Coast Path, a 630-mile-long route, originally carved out by the coastguard to keep a watch over the shoreline, which now provides walkers with endless opportunities to explore the best Cornwall has to offer. Brand new for 2019, the Gull Rocks Beach lodges make living the beachcomber’s lifestyle a breeze. Choose from the Harlyn or Sennen lodges; both finished to a very high standard, designed entirely with the guests’ comfort in mind.
After a day of walking the coast paths and enjoying cosy pub lunches head back to the decking and jump in the hot tub on a crisp winter evening. There is a host of things to do in the UK’s most southerly county during the colder months. From hopping between art galleries, sampling the region’s finest seafood or heading to the clifftops for a brisk hike.
Trevornick Holiday Park and Cornwall are also extremely dog friendly, so there is no need to leave the four-legged family member at home. With the ‘bark and bath’ wash stations located on-site and many local pubs welcoming pooches, they’ll love Holywell Bay too. On site amenities at Trevornick Holiday Park include a shop stocking local produce, places to entertain the youngsters and the Farm Club Bar which is open daily throughout the winter season.
Top Of The Camping Pods Award winners in the annual camping and glamping awards….
A selection of popular camping and glamping sites across the UK have picked up gongs in the latest Campsites.co.uk camping and glamping awards. Yorkshire came top with more awards than any other county, followed closely by Cumbria.
The Best Holiday Park national award went to stunning Cofton Holidays in Devon, closely followed by commendations for Wooda Farm Holiday Park in Cornwall and Highlands End Holiday Park in Dorset.
Cofton’s extensive camping facilities include grass, hard standing and fully serviced pitches with newly-refurbished toilet and shower blocks. Nearby, the camp shop stocks everything campers need from freshly baked croissants to tent pegs.
Facilities include a heated indoor pool with a splash pad area and hydrotherapy loungers, a gym, restaurant, pub, steam room, sauna, fitness studio, soft play area, playground, sports wall, outdoor pools and much more. Guests also have access to five coarse fishing lakes, miles of cycle paths and nature trails that take visitors through woodland to the golden sands of Dawlish Warren beach and nature reserve.
ABOVE: Attractions at Cofton include both an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.
TIRELESS WORK
Helen Scott, Director at Cofton Holidays, is thrilled with Cofton’s success, saying: “Starting 2020 off with this prestigious accolade is a very positive sign for things to come, building further on the success of last year.” Helen added: “The Cofton team work tirelessly throughout the year to deliver an unforgettable experience to all of our guests, and being recognised independently for that is testament to our fantastic staff.” Cornish site Hendra Holiday Park has received the Popular Choice national award for 2019.
CORNISH DELIGHTS
Located in glorious countryside just outside Newquay in Cornwall, with 80-acres of landscaped parkland, Hendra welcomes from approximately 1,000 to over 3,500 people a night during the peak season, in a range of accommodation options, including camping, touring, glamping, holiday homes and lodges.
The super deluxe Shepherds Hut Retreat was the winner of the national award for Best Glamping Site 2019. Its lakeside hot tub and sauna are the perfect finishing touch to its high end glamping. Grooby's Pit took home the Best Caravan Park award 2019 at national level (winner) and is in the Skegness area. Its 5 star pitches are adult only, hard standing, serviced and set beside a stunning lake. With excellent facilities and great fishing, it’s an ideal touring base for the sights of the coastline.
Family friendly Umberslade Adventure near Hockley Heath was awarded Best Family Campsite national winner 2019. Most Unique Site 2019 went to The Private Hill, a stunning set of boutique geodomes tucked into the Yorkshire Wolds, with an experience that’s far from the norm.
ABOVE: Hendra welcomes between 1,000 and 3,500 people a night during the peak season
BOOKABILITY
Launched in 2015, Campsites.co.uk makes it easy to find and book great camping and glamping sites. The platform allows users to filter their search depending on their requirements, as well as search for the best camping holiday deals. The Sussex-based company currently lists more than 2,500 camping, glamping and touring sites across the UK and its Campmate iPhone app is one of the most popular camping apps on the App store. Martin Smith, founder of Campsites.co.uk said: "Every one of our winners has brought their best to the table this year and they deserve every success that comes their way."
ABOVE: Hendra welcomes between 1,000 and 3,500 people a night during the peak season
POPULAR CHOICE AWARD
NATIONAL WINNER: Hendra Holiday Park, Cornwall Found in tempting countryside just a short distance from Newquay's buzz, beaches and surfing, this family-owned 5-star park makes a cracking base for your next break. With award winning facilities, landscaped parkland and indoor and outdoor pools (complete with water flumes!), a holiday here is sure to make a splash.
ABOVE: Hendra's Oasis indoor fun pool boasts three flumes, a rapid ride, water cannon, waterfall and toddlers’ pool and an outdoor heated pool.
BEST GLAMPING SITES
NATIONAL WINNER: Shepherds Hut Retreat, Somerset These shepherd's huts are a whole new level of decadence. With stunning nature to enjoy alongside the plush accommodation, the lakeside hot tub and sauna is the icing on the cake. Each of the huts has had an interior designer work their magic on its vintage decor – and it shows - and guests rave about the luxurious details. An ideal base for couples to explore the Jurassic Coast.
ABOVE: Best Glamping Site went to the Shepherds Hut Retreat.
BEST CARAVAN PARK
NATIONAL WINNER: Grooby's Pit, Lincolnshire It's five star all the way with a waterside pitch at Grooby's Pit, perfect for a spot of fishing. Enjoy the peace of the adult only park, rod in hand, or use the site as a well maintained base for trips along the Lincolnshire Coast. The amenities are immaculate and there's plenty of space. From seaside Skegness to the seals at Mablethorpe, it's a caravanner's dream
ABOVE: The deluxe camping pode at Grooby’s Pit helped earn them the Best Caravan Park award
BEST FAMILY PARKS
Take the kids camping and make some memories that'll last your family a lifetime. Whether it's the fun of playing in the fresh air, building a den with new friends or toasting a treat in the glow of the campfire, these sites have mastered the art of family friendly breaks.
NATIONAL WINNER: Umberslade Adventure, Warwickshire 50 acres of glorious space should be enough for even the most active little ones, and this site adds its own adventure park with 140 foot zip wire, commando course and 4x4 off roading experience. Talk about a cure for the school holiday doldrums! You and your little 'uns can camp out under the stars or try a spacious bell tent, then enjoy getting some sausages a-sizzling on the BBQ.
ABOVE: Top family-friendly accolades for Umberslade Adventure.
BEST COUPLES’ CAMPSITES
You'll soon forget traffic and city streets in favour of endless sunsets, pretty countryside and some quality time together.
NATIONAL WINNER: Greendale Farm Caravan and Camping, Rutland It's an adult only zone at this peaceful site, so pick a spot and soak up the relaxing vibes. Start with a dip in the pool, or wander to the local village pub and cosy up with that special someone. Nearby Rutland Water is truly romantic at sunset and any good cheese lover will find a few nibbles in Melton Mowbray hard to resist.
MOST UNIQUE LOCATION
Fancy something quirky, out of the box and unique? These sites are anything but run of the mill - and we bet your friends and family won't have seen anything like it!
WINNER: The Private Hill, North Yorkshire Commended: Myrtle at Larchfield Estate, County Down
Commended: Windmill Campersite, Isle of Wight
ABOVE: The most Unique Site award went to The Private Hill and its boutique geodromes.
BEST HOLIDAY PARK
From unbeatable locations to high end facilities and activities that'll keep the whole family buzzing, these holiday parks are the cream of the crop. Whether it's making a splash in the pool, boogieing to top entertainment at night, or being just moments from a popular beach, they've got you covered.
WINNER: Cofton Holidays, Devon Commended: Wooda Farm Holiday Park, Cornwall
Commended: Highlands End Holiday Park, Dorset
TOP DOG AWARD
We're a nation of dog lovers and there's no way we're leaving Fido behind to chase his tail! Fortunately these pet friendly havens will put a smile on your face and a wag in your pooch's tail.
WINNER: Polmanter Touring Park, Cornwall Commended: Meadow Falls, North Yorkshire
Commended: Welltrough Hall Farm, Cheshire
BEST NEWCOMER
Brand new in 2019, these sites have got off to an excellent start with plenty of happy campers. They've started as they mean to go on and the future's looking bright!
These eco-friendly sites can't be beaten when it comes to caring for the incredible British countryside, and all without compromising on the fun of camping.
Family holiday park managers will converge in Leeds for the second InterFun Expo to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday April 28 and 29.
Family holiday park managers will converge in Leeds for the second InterFun Expo to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday April 28 and 29. The B2B event will offer, holiday operators, inspiration and ideas to help attract new and repeat business.
The latest in indoor and outdoor play facilities will be on view. There will also be an opportunity to investigate bolting on new facilities, including mini-golf, rope courses and indoor amusements.
The series of free seminars will offer tips and advice on how businesses can benefit from current trends. InterFun Expo’s managing director, Christine Butterworth, said: “Last year’s InterFun Expo proved hugely popular and our free seminars were packed out.
It’s fast becoming an essential date to put in the diary for holiday park managers who want to expand or update facilities or who are looking to network and catch up on the latest trends in our seminar sessions.” The InterFun Expo takes place at the New Dock Hall, Armouries Square, Harmonies Drive, Leeds, and is free to attend by registering at www.interfunexpo.com/register
ABOVE: A packed shop window of park accommodation is promised at this year’s West Sussex event.
Following the huge success last year of the first ever World of Park & Leisure Homes ‘South of England’ Show’, the organisers have confirmed that not only will the event be returning but promises to be even bigger and better!
Held at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex, on Thursday April 2, from 10 am to 4 pm, the event offers free entry and free parking. Combined trade and public access will continue from Friday to Sunday, April 3 to 5.
The trade-only Preview Day provides a perfect platform to do business and find the best deals in privacy and comfort. The special day provides a unique and exclusive opportunity for park owners and operators to spend quality time discussing specific requirements and options.
On display will be an outstanding collection of the latest park homes and lodges from the UK’s leading manufacturers plus, new for 2020, visitors are invited to explore the range of ‘Pods’ and alternative leisure living ideas too.
INDUSTRY NETWORK Complementing the range of Park and Leisure Homes, the visitor experience is further enhanced with a broader and extended range of products to discover and consider.
There are also carefully selected experts, service and product suppliers on hand, all waiting to discuss latest developments, innovations and products in a relaxed and professional environment.
Just turn up with your business card and enjoy this unique shop window, believed to be the South of England’s biggest collection of park and leisure homes on display at any one time.
Hoburne Holidays has been awarded the Feefo Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence that recognises businesses for delivering exceptional experiences, as rated by real customers.
Created by Feefo, the Trusted Service Award is only given to those businesses that use Feefo to collect genuine ratings and reviews. Those that meet the high standard are based on the number of reviews collected and their average rating.
As all reviews are verified as genuine, the accreditation is a true reflection of a business’ commitment to outstanding service. Rosie Kennar, chairman of the Hoburne Group, said: “It’s a real honour to receive the Feefo Trusted Service Award for the second year in a row. “To be recognised for delivering exceptional experiences to our customers is a great achievement.,” Rosie continues. “We’ve been working hard to ensure our customers receive the best service possible, going that extra mile to provide truly memorable experiences for our holidaymakers across our parks.”
Hoburne Group was established in 1912 in Dorset and is a family business now in its fifth generation of the Burry family, creating one of the south’s largest and most successful family-owned tourism companies, offering high quality holiday experiences and holiday home ownership.
Hoburne owns eight holiday parks across the south and south west of England, plus three golf clubs under the Hoburne Golf brand and a residential and commercial development operation under Hoburne Development.
ABOVE: Camp Manager 2.0 offers the complete end-to-end process for bookings management
One of the most significant changes to Camp Manager since its creation 14 years ago, market leading Camp Manager has launched Camp Manager 2.0 as a cloud-based booking and park management system.
The all-singing and all-dancing CampManager 2.0 offers the complete end-to-end process for managing your caravan park or campsite. Camp Manager 2.0 provides a perfect roadmap for the hundreds of new features and enhancements with feedback from their customers. These include:
• An all-new dashboard • Multiple bookings in one simple transaction • Increase direct bookings and compete with online travel agents • Responsive Interactive site map from any device • Camp Manager automated communications
“With over eighteen months in development, hundreds of new and enhanced features, we are extremely proud to have released Camp Manager 2.0,” says Andrew Norris, Technical Director for Camp Manager.
“We are now introducing it to, more than 450 clients, and so far, the feedback has been extremely positive,” Andrew continues. “Camp Manager is dedicated to understanding the needs of each customer, we pride ourselves on delivering a tailored system that works for every business.”
With outstanding customer service, the host of new features and functionality, sites are challenged to put Camp Manager 2.0 to test by logging on in the first instance to www.campmanager.com
Consultation has begun on a proposed 200 acre ecowellness resort in Ashwicken, Norfolk, comprising of 154 floating and lakeside holiday lodges including treehouse accommodation, a clubhouse on the water and associated boat house.
WINTER OPENING LIFELINE
SURVIVAL HOPES
