Interview With Lee Davey About His WW2 Caravan Adventure With His Son Charlie

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By William Coleman

A couple of weeks ago Lee Davey and his 10 year old son Charlie used their bank holiday to go on a time travelling adventure in a classic caravan to find out what their family members did during the Second World War.

When I spent 3 week with Lee on the Bailey Bristanbul tour I found our that he was a bit of a WW2 buff and had a real interest in the subject. During our 5,500 miles drive we spent a lot time talking about it, well it was more me asking lots of questions as my knowledge is shamefully low on the matter.

Lee told me about the trip he was planning to take over the second May bank holiday with his son Charlie. So now they are both back and fully recovered I got a chance to speak with Lee and see how they got on.

So, Lee, you recently went on a little time travelling tour with your son Charlie to retrace the footsteps of family members from the past.

We did. Charlie was learning about WW2 at school and we talked about it when we were fixing-up the caravan. This evolved into retracing wartime footsteps of our family in Kent, the New Forest and Normandy.

You went over the bank holiday weekend, how was the traffic?

Apart from the New Forest’s hotspot of Lyndhurst, we were incredibly lucky with the traffic. But, bimbling along at 55/60mph, we didn’t seem to catch the faster traffic!

What was the highlight of the trip for you?

Spending a week with my son doing something that will remain with us forever.

What did Charlie enjoy the most?

Charlie says his favourite bit was riding on the back of my bike as we followed the Normandy coastline. The bike is the same, or similar, to the one my dad rode as a Despatch Rider in WW2 and it gave us both an eerie feeling. Close second for Charlie was Camping Port’Land which we booked though The Caravan & Motorhome Club as it had swimming pools, three fishing lakes, games room and a restaurant.

You used a bit of a classic Bailey model did you not?

We bought a 1967 Bailey Maestro that had been sitting in a hedge for a decade or two and we spent 18-months getting her ship-shape again. When I bought ‘Gladys’, she was just a mile from the Bailey factory where she was made.

What kind of work went into updating the Bailey caravan?

We want Gladys (the Bailey caravan we used) to be usable all-year-round but we didn’t want any ‘mod cons’ to affect her 1960’s looks. We fitted a Whale Expanse water heater as it’s small enough to fit under the relatively low bed bases and a Whale underfloor heating unit fits perfectly between the chassis framework. We want to use it ‘off grid’ so we fitted a 100w Flexi solar panel on the roof. We also have a Dometic compressor cool-box hidden in the wardrobe which can be used on 12v, as can the heating and hot water when used with gas.

What’s next for the father son duo?

Where do I start? Our WW2 family history didn’t end at Pegasus Bridge as Charlie’s great-grandfather took part in Operation Market Garden and was part of the drive east towards Berlin. It’d be great to take Gladys on a Part 2 trip. We’re also touring a handful of countries by caravan this summer, with trips to the Isle of Wight and a 1940’s weekend in Weymouth added for good measure. Learning new skills during the restoration process has turned Charlie into a mad inventor and we have plans to build something that flies!

Camplify Want You To Meet The Owners

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By William Coleman

When I first took over the CaravanTimes news desk one of the first things I reported was the UK launch for a brand new peer to peer touring vehicle renting service. The company was being dubbed “The AirBNB” for the caravan world. Now they want you to meet the people you will rent from.

So if you want a traditional motorhome or caravan or if you want something bespoke and spectacular Camplify are the guys to deliver the goods.

As part of the service you meet the people who are renting you the touring accommodation. This way you know exactly who you are dealing with.

So if you have not bought a caravan or motorhome but want to take a touring holiday try this service. Camplify is the perfect way to try before you buy.

For more on the Camplify team you can read our previous article and visit them directly online Camplify UK.

Holiday Park Boss Insists On Fair Wages For Staff

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By William Coleman

Fair pay is something we all deserve no matter what industry your in. It seems as though, from what I have read, that a lot of the workers that make our industry so special are often very poorly paid. Is this a trend in the industry or just a few random cases?

One holiday park owner truly believes that the idea of underpaying staff is “ironic and perverse that this industry has so many well paid customers with such low paid staff.

These are the words of Patrick Langmaid, the owner of the family run Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park near Padstow. Patrick has been supporting the initiative of fair pay by ensuring his staff are on a real living wage and has done for years. His belief is that you get what you pay for and his business benefits from having well paid staff.

According to Patrick there were only 2, of roughly 10,000, sites in the UK that are fully accredited for paying their staff and realistic living wage. That shocked me when I read that!

In 2015 Patrick became a fully accredited living wage employer after trialling the idea out in 2014. One huge benefit that was apparent was how much it helped with recruitment in an industry that has a large seasonal turnover. Also the boost in moral of the staff went up and retention of staff went down. All these positives improvements reflected on the gustes experiences which in turn made revenue increase and added more return bookings.

“It’s a huge irony that tourism requires low wages to function, but you need high wages to go on holiday, go to the restaurant or do activities. For some businesses to think that their customers are well-paid, but it’s OK for their staff not to be is perverse.” says Patrick.

Patrick took the company over from his family in the 1990s. He wanted to make sure that the company was successful but not at the expense of the staff. After seeing what goes on Patrick felt uncomfortable with the way the tourism and hospitality sector works in regards to what staff get paid.

It would seem that there are some people/companies that are comfortable to pay a low wage so they can take a higher amount home at the end of the month. The thing that I have found in every sector I have worked in is that paying a poor wage does not help productivity, all it does is increase staff turn over.

Patrick said: “When I started running the business and took it off in 1996 I was totally focused on marketing and strengthening the business and the brand. But I did have a nagging feeling about my team. I wasn’t running the whole place on my own. The team was delivering the guests’ experience, not me.

“With that nagging feeling in my mind I cricked my neck in 2013 and, while seeing my osteopath in Padstow, I was reading the Guardian newspaper in the waiting room. I’m not a Guardian reader, but it had been left there and as it turned out to be on that quiet November day, it was Living Wage Week.

“I didn’t know anything about it but there were a lot of stories about the real living wage in the paper. It got me thinking. I got back to the site and looked at what we were paying our staff and what it would cost more to pay the Real Living Wage.”

Wanting to see if it was financially possible for him to bring up wage levels up Patrick visited his financial consultant. After looking into it he was shocked to find out he had the backing of both his money man and his parents are on the business’s board of directors.

“I thought I would have to champion the real living wage with my parents. I expected a full-on battle. But they welcomed it and thought it was a fantastic idea.

“I was already paying £7 an hour at the time and to pay the real living wage of £7.65 an hour it would have cost me £20,000. It was a real cost to the business, but it worked brilliantly.

“I find recruiting staff so much easier now. I can pick and choose who I recruit because I receive so many more applications,” Mr Langmaid said.

“I feel more empowered in that way too. Staff retention is less of an issue and we are now able to offer an even greater guest experience.”

When these changes were being made by Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park there were 800 accredited real living wage employees in the UK and now there are over 4000.

During the peak season Patrick employs 25 staff with a maximum of 15 all year round.

As I mentioned before fair pay should be standard practice for everyone who is employed. To see an employer taking a stand and drawing a line in the sand is very refreshing to see.

Pictures courtesy of Mother Ivy Bay’s Holiday Park and Oliver Vergnault.

Perthshire Park Takes Top Scottish Awards

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By William Coleman

There were cheers for Scotland’s park-owning Wood family this summer when their Blairgowrie Holiday Park in Perthshire took first place in a major awards final.

Blairgowrie was named as Scotland’s Best Caravan Site of the Year at the Scottish Hospitality Awards which took place at Crowne Plaza, Glasgow.

In front of VIP guests from Scotland’s tourism industry, members of the family and its management team stepped up to receive their honour from popular STV radio presenter Zara Janjua.

The annual awards highlight hospitality enterprises which offer exceptional standards of facilities and services, and take into account the feedback given by customers.

Wood Leisure started life just almost 40 years ago when husband and wife Colin and Margaret Wood acquired picturesque Blairgowrie Holiday Park.

The couple invested much time, effort and resources to create what is now one of Scotland’s most highly regarded and multi-award winning holiday parks.

Building on their success, Colin and Margaret then went on to develop five other parks using the same business formula of combining high quality surroundings with excellent customer service.

Their other parks are Corriefodly Holiday Park in Perthshire, Deeside Holiday Park near Aberdeen,
Lomond Woods Holiday Park in Ballock, and Campsie Glen near Stirling.

The family’s portfolio was added to earlier this year with the acquisition of Callander Woods Holiday park – formerly Gart caravan park – in Perthshire.

At Blairgowrie Holiday Park, guests have the choice of a wide range of accommodation options including luxury lodges with private hot tubs as well as touring pitches.

Not that the Wood family are any strangers to receiving accolades for their parks, and all have graded by VisitScotland at the top level of excellence.

At last year’s Scottish Outdoor Leisure Awards, the group won the “Best Glamping Experience” prize, and it has previously taken the award for Scotland’s Family Business of the Year.

Among those stepping into the spotlight at this summer’s Scottish Hospitality Awards ceremony was Margaret Wood who spoke of her family’s gratitude:

“We are absolutely ecstatic to have won this award, and our team and family are delighted that their hard over the years has truly paid dividends.

“What makes the award extra special is that it is voted for by our loyal customers, and we can’t thank them enough for their support and loyalty,” said Margaret.

There is more information about the Wood family’s parks at www.woodleisure.co.uk

Travelworld Gains Prestigious Award

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By William Coleman

When it comes to receiving accolades and awards there is no doubt that the touring industry pull out all the stops to ensure they deliver the best to in turn receive the best. Now Travelworld have been awarded most prestigious accolade from the parent group of the brands it represents and will be rebranding the dealership and the business as ‘ERWIN HYMER CENTER – Travelworld’

The award followed after the development of Travelworld’s brand new state of the art Motorhome and Caravan dealership in Stafford. The relocation announcement came in early 2018 as the company decided to expand into new premises later on this year.

Having been given this award means that Travelworld are 1 of only 3 designated centre in the world to achieve this status.

Ross Edwards, managing director of Travelworld said: “As you can imagine, this was a big decision for us to make, but it’s simply a continuation of the strategy we have had in the business for the last five years: ‘ever greater ties with our supplier”

The group strategy is to build and strengthen their relationships with dealers and when possible make deals with dealers to offer them their products exclusively.

In 2017 Travelworld celebrated their 40th anniversary and became an exclusive EHG dealer in 2015. Since they they have flourished by focusing and specialising on one supplier.

Ross continued: “Although it is the logical ‘next step’ for us, achieving ERWIN HYMER GROUP status was not made easy. EHG has created a strict set of terms and conditions to qualify for CENTRE status, varying from logos to minimum brands in each price segment and Goldschmitt and Rent Easy partnership”.

Ross continued to explain that although the announcement is being made now with new adverts appearing soon to give people a glimpse of the new logo, the main rebrand will not be happening until the new dealership development is complete.

So it seems that 2018 is going to be a massive year for Travelworld and the Erwin Hymer Group. I can’t wait to see what they have on display at upcoming shows.

Why Diesel Is Not A Dirty Word When Buying A Motorhome

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By William Coleman

Recently CaravanTimes spoke to Ross Edwards, Managing Director of Travelworld, who wanted to share his thoughts on the diesel engine and why they are not as bad as some people may think. The below article comes directly from the man himself.

Ross Edwards Article

With the recent news that Hamburg will be the first German city to ban older diesel engines, coupled with a flood of ‘dirty diesel’ media coverage over recent years, it’s understandable that customers have been prompted to think cautiously about diesel when considering a new motorhome.

But, there is an important distinction to be made between ‘dirty’ diesel engines and cleaner diesel engines in new motorhomes; a difference that prospective buyers can benefit from knowing.

Older diesel engines, i.e. those that were built before the Euro 4 standard in 2005 are those considered to be the most harmful to the environment and are commonly referred to as ‘dirty’.

Conversely, new motorhomes are fitted with diesel engines that comply with the new European Commission standards of Euro 5 and Euro 6, introduced in 2009 and 2014, respectively, with the aim of reducing harmful levels of exhaust emissions from both petrol and diesel engines.

Both Euro 5 and Euro 6 are fitted with particulate filters and Euro 6 engines have emissions control technology that converts up to 99% of combustion engine exhaust pollutants and particulates.

What does this mean when entering low emission zones in cities?

Many motorhomers are concerned about their eligibility to enter cities with low emission zones and it is understandable that there is some confusion as the rules and limitations within each city do vary for drivers of all types of vehicles.

However, it is key to remember that your motorhome, if it is compliant with Euro 5 or Euro 6 standards, will not, in the large majority of cases, prevent you from entering low emission zones in European cities.

A recent change in this area will be the introduction of a new ultra-low emission zone in London which will take effect on 8th April 2019. Even in these circumstances, diesel engine motorhomes that meet Euro 6 standards will be permitted to enter without incurring a charge.

In addition, the London Toxicity charge which commenced in October 2017 and spans the same area as the congestion charge only excludes owners of the most polluting vehicles which do not meet Euro 4 standards.

And the future?

Investment into diesel technology is nothing new and research and innovation into lowering emissions continues. As a response to the Euro 6 emissions regulations, the use of AdBlue in Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) processes has risen enormously and the imminent arrival of the Euro 6+ engine which will reduce emissions even further marks another new chapter in improvements.

Manufacturers such as Fiat, Iveco and Mercedes Benz are making a difference too. Iveco offered its Euro 5 emission levels four years before it became mandatory and it continues its research into optimising diesel engines to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. Similarly, Mercedes Benz is working extensively on a full range of diesel technologies, for example, software updates to reduce NOx emissions.

Manufacturers also have plans to electrify some of their commercial vehicle ranges. However, it is crucial to note that although diesel engine innovation and development is high on the agenda for motorhomes, it will not be following quickly in the footsteps of the car industry when it comes to alternative fuel generation.

At present, diesel remains by far, the wisest default choice for those using vehicles for long journeys and customers should still feel free to enjoy the benefits of diesel engines i.e. low Co2 emissions and greater fuel efficiency and performance.

Rightfully, customers are demanding cleaner engines, increased reliability, lower running costs and most of all, an assurance that their diesel-engine motorhome will continue to hold its value. It’s safe to say that all these needs are being met and will continue to be met. The long-term plans and high level of investment into diesel technology by leading manufacturers is testament to a solid and long-term future for diesel.

Dales Park’s Great Green Day Brings Charity Windfall

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By William Coleman

Crafts, cakes and eco-friendly cups have helped raise over £1,000 for charity at a North Yorkshire holiday park’s green-themed fete this summer. Riverside Caravan Park in the village of High Bentham was the setting for the annual event which drew hundreds of local residents and holiday guests.

This year’s theme was “living in a sustainable world” which was mirrored by many of the stalls and activities set up in the grounds of the family-owned park.

Hand-made jewellery, cards and gifts were among the handicrafts on offer, all produced in the region, along with locally-sourced food and snacks from cakes to bacon butties.

Also being lapped up were reusable bamboo cups from the Bentham Environmentally Sustainable Town (BEST) group which coffee-lovers can use to strike a blow against plastic waste.

All of the proceeds from the gala day, just over £1,000, are being donated by Riverside Caravan Park to the British Heart Foundation, one of the charities the business supports.

The park first began welcoming camping guests in 1969, and today provides holiday homes to own as well as pitches for touring caravans and motorhomes.

Thomas Marshall, whose father founded the business, said that sustainability was a subject close to many people’s hearts, and fitted very well with the fete’s focus this year.

Riverside Caravan Park has been praised by botanist David Bellamy for its care of the natural world, and has been presented with his prestigious conservation award at its highest gold level.

“Our fete is an eagerly awaited event, both by holiday home owners and the local community, and this year’s was about the biggest and best-attended to date!” said Thomas.

“We particularly wanted it to showcase crafts and skills from the area, as well as items of delicious local produce which hasn’t had to travel hundreds of food miles.

“But best of all, everyone had a really good time and put their hands deep into their pockets for a very worthy cause,” he added.

Thomas and his wife Jane are helped in the running of their business by their daughter Isabel. There is more information about the park at www.riversidecaravanpark.co.uk

Keep Calm And Keep Blooming This Summer

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By William Coleman

Cumbria’s Holgates Holiday Parks have returned from the North West in Bloom awards with a whole bunch of floral and conservation accolades.

The six-strong group scooped no fewer than nine top prizes in the annual competition which saw hundreds of businesses and communities take part from across the region.

But there was a tenth fanfare after the glittering ceremony when parks owner Michael Holgate gave special thanks to a member of staff who helped make it all possible.

Kim Hodson-Walker, warden at the Holgate group’s Netherbeck Park, was praised by Michael for her “amazing energy and inspiration” in laying the ground for the awards.

Green-fingered Kim, assisted by other park staff, helped all six Holgates parks gain top gold honours in the North West in Bloom awards.

There was another gold too for the fantastic floral displays at The Royal gastro-pub in the village of Silverdale which the Holgates group owns.

But the judges still hadn’t finished, for they then went on to name the company’s flagship Silverdale park as the overall winner in the “Best Caravan Park” category.

And the spotlight continued to beam on Silverdale as it was announced that it had been awarded a discretionary trophy for its outstanding conservation and environmental achievements.

The judges noted the raft of work undertaken at Silverdale to protect and benefit the natural world.

It includes the planting last year of eight miles of new hedgerows as well as thousands of native trees, and the creation of numerous wildlife habitats in its grounds.

The North West awards are in addition to other accolades won by Holgates for its many green initiatives, including the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

However, said Michael Holgate, these latest NW accolades have a special significance:

“We were up against literally hundreds of contenders in this competition, and it was wonderful to see Kim and her team take centre stage time after time!” he said.

“Holiday guests often comment on how visually stunning our parks look, not just in spring but also right throughout the year, thanks to Kim’s careful planning.

“She also gives priority to high nectar-bearing blooms, including wild flowers, which provide valuable foraging for butterflies, honey bees and other pollinators,” added Michael.

The business was started over 60 years ago by Michael’s father Frank who is remembered in the NW bloom awards with a special prize for biodiversity.

The Frank W Holgate Memorial Trophy was this year presented to a village community from Garstang, near Preston, which transformed a wasteland into a thriving public garden.

Football Fever Is In The Air At Park Holidays

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By William Coleman

The 2018 World Cup is almost upon us, 4 days for those who are counting, and it seems the football fever has gripped the touring nation. Football fanatics are boosting bookings over the World Cup period for the major holiday group.

Footie fans are showing the red card to their bosses this year during the World Cup, a bold maneuver, and taking additional time off to enjoy the World Cup, according to Park Holidays UK.

Park Holidays UK have said they are experiencing a booking increase of 20% during the tournament. The event kicks off on the 14th June for four weeks and numbers are up from the same time period from 2017.

But, says the group, later summer bookings are as buoyant as ever, suggesting that many people are taking an extra break to cheer on the England squad.

Park Holidays UK director Tony Clish confirms that the company is going all out to create a festive atmosphere of football fun at its 29 parks in southern England.

Large flat-screen TVs will bring live action screenings of around 50 world cup matches to its bars and clubs, along with soccer-themed quizzes and competitions.

Because the World Cup is taking place outside the school holidays, says Tony, holiday prices are especially keen across all types of its accommodation.

Week-long stays in the period from mid-June to mid-July can still be booked from just £199.00 for a family of up to six people in a fully-equipped holiday home.

There is, however, no question of side-lining any holiday guests who might be less keen on the football feast being served up by Park Holidays UK.

They won’t have to suffer any penalties, says Tony, because while soccer-passionate partners get their fix, the group’s parks offer plenty of other attractions.

The leisure facilities include swimming pools and outdoor and indoor play areas, plus a day-long programme of activities and games for youngsters of all ages.

Each member of the family will, in addition, be provided with a free entertainment pass which includes entry to evening cabaret shows featuring professional acts.

Tony does suggest, though, that families keep their eyes on the ball when it comes to availability.

There would not normally be a risk of the group’s parks having to hang the “no vacancies” sign up before high summer, he says, but this year could be different.

Bailey Of Bristol Bristanbul Documentary Part 2

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By William Coleman

Part 2 of the the Bailey Bristanbul Tour, or leg 2 as we were calling it during the tour, may have been more epic than the first. It was on part 2 of the tour where we ran into the majority of the issues that occurred during the 21 day intercontinental journey.

During this leg we had another wave of new team members, 1 of who is a celebrity chef, Dean Edwards, who was cooking up a storm in the Pegasus and actor Ryan Philpott, border control issues, man made paperwork issues and memories that will last a lifetime.

The second part of the tour took us to a lot more “less popular” destinations across the Europe. The only reason I say that is I have never heard of anyone going to Bosnia or Albania for a holiday in recent years. Crossing through these countries showed many things, the most important being how beautiful the landscapes are and how some are still quite underdeveloped.

Our time in Turkey was fantastic as we crossed over the Bosphorus. The main aim of our mission was to make it to Istanbul, and we did in style. 5+ hour stand still traffic through the centre of Istanbul’s trading back streets while towing caravans and driving motorhomes. Living the touring dream!

Some of the more beautiful places on leg 2 were Budapest and the Prague, if you have not visited these places I urge you to do so. If you do go to Budapest make sure you visit the ruin bars, as seen in this documentary. Prague is also packed with things to do and see from museums to bars to cultural walks around Prague Castle. On a trip like this you really are spoilt for choice.

Watching part 1 and 2 of these documentary brings back loads of great memories, and some harrowing ones. This tour was such an amazing experience and I hope you guys enjoy the documentary. Also keep an eye out for a certain handsome CaravanTimes team member…

Somerset Park Raises Its Rex Factor

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By William Coleman

A Somerset holiday park could soon become one of the UK’s most popular doggy destinations after it opened a new cafe which is welcoming both humans and hounds.

Holiday Resort Unity near Burnham-on-Sea is putting pooches on a pedestal by offering them their own food and drinks menu when they visit with their owners.

The new cafe, called Coast, is located on Brean Leisure Park which is adjacent to Holiday Resort Unity, and provides a raft of fairground rides and other attractions.

Bonzo’s special menu includes starters, main courses and desserts – plus, of course, a selection of drinks such as Pawsecco and Bottom Sniffer Beer, both made for dogs.

And instead of being forced to lie on a hard floor, Tyson will have his creature comforts provided for by a soft blanket on which to recline.

Holiday Resort Unity, which has been family-run for over 70 years, is one of the Somerset coast’s largest and most popular parks with holiday homes to let and buy.

Director Alan House said the park has always been pet-friendly – but until now, dogs had to wait patiently outside its food and drink venues. which didn’t seem fair:

“We listen very carefully to our customers all the time, and their feedback on this issue was that they didn’t want their four-legged friends separated from the family at meal-times,” he said.

“So when we created Coast, we decided to go the extra mile and not only invite dogs in to the café, but to present them with their own three-course menu to chew over.

“Now we have solved everyone’s doggy dilemma at a stroke, and customer reaction has been brilliant!” added Alan.

He said that with a new stretch of the England Coast Path just opened alongside Brean Leisure Park, an increase in the number of dog walkers would be inevitable.

All pet owners would be welcome, said Alan, whether staying on the holiday park or not.

Touring, Camping And Keeping The Kids Entertained

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By William Coleman

As a child when I went away on a touring holidays with friends and family the one thing I always looked forward to was being able to sleep in a tent. Although there was enough space for us to sleep in the motorhomes, statics or towing caravans the idea of having our own space/fought/castle was all part of the adventure.

Now that I am in my 30s I now see that the tent provided was actually a tool to keep us entertained, which really worked. Having a tent felt like we were living out in the elements and it was like we were given responsibility to look after ourselves as little adults.

It is also quite important for mum and dad to have their own space when they go on holiday. I’m sure that every parent loves their offspring to bits but when on holiday it is nice to have some calm, down time. A tent can provide that freedom you need all while making sure the kids have a great time.

Another aspect of the tent accommodation that I loved was the kit that my parents provided me to make sure I had all I needed. It was almost like a little loot box of handy tools and gear from torches to sleeping bags.This little toy box of tools was the most exciting part of staying in a tent as a youngster.

So for mum and dad here’s some first hand knowledge and tips for you if you want to take a tent with you on your caravan holidays.

The Tent

The age of the little ones will determine what type of tent you use. I was not allowed to stay on my own or with friends until I was around 9-10 years old. So at that age I wasn’t too interested in a bright gimmick tent, I was an adult at ten, in my mind, so I wanted the real deal.

A two room is always a good choice if there are 3 or more staying in the tent. They are not that expensive and it gives the children enough space and avoids any petty squabbles.

If you really want to make the kids smile, and remove the stress of putting a tent up, you can buy those great little pop up tents. One throw and the tent us up and ready to use. Easy to put up and pack away and they take up very little space when they are stored away.

‘<' . strtolower('Array')he Tool/Toy Box

So when you go camping one of the first things you do prior to leaving is lay out all the kit you need. This can be turned into a super fun activity for kids; it gets them involved, they get to pick their own gear and most of all it teaches them what they actually need for a touring or camping trip.

As I mentioned it was the torch that blew my mind as a kid. You could keep the tent illuminated as well as make sure there are no monsters roaming around outside the tent. Now the torch is packed you then add the fun stuff like hanging lights, seating and actual toys.

Then you move on to your bedding. Every kid loves a sleeping bag, I have no idea but kids go mad for them and they really do not mind what they have on them. Thankfully you can buy many different types for all ages online for not a lot of money. Also invest in the camping floor mats, I’ve woken up after sleeping on the floor and been a little bit cranky.

Safety Items

There is a little bit of fear of leaving the children to their own devices and alone in a tent outside the van. So what do you do to make sure the children are safe and sound.

It may seem simple but a whistle goes a long way. If you hear that sound at the early hours of the morning you are going to spring out of bed. If you want to keep in contact, I would because I’m a worrier, get yourself some walkie talkies.

Not only will they give you peace of mind but children find them super exciting and will be able to contact you instantly should anything go wrong.