Norfolk caravan park’s cover-up reveals success story

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by Joe Jeffrey

Clothes on rule signals success for Norfolk park

Twelve months after advising guests that they could no longer strip-off on arrival, a holiday park near Norwich is marking its first fully-clothed birthday.

Until last summer, Merryhill Country Park was celebrated by naturists as one of the UK’s most picturesque locations to enjoy their pastime.

In June, however, its 30-year reputation for breaks in the buff came to an end when the park’s new owners, Georgina and John Aisthorpe, took over.

The husband-and-wife team decided they wanted to widen its appeal – and since declaring Merryhill a “textile park” and upgrading its facilities, business has been booming.

Now the achievements of the business have been recognised with special awards for two of its key members from the British Holiday & Home Parks Association.

The park industry body’s Exceptional Service Awards were made to Merryhill’s groundsman Ian Boden, and to Georgina and John’s 16-year-old son Jake.

Both, said Georgina, had gone “far beyond the extra mile” in helping to make the park one of the finest in East Anglia for countryside connoisseurs.

Merryhill’s 20 acres of parkland include wildlife-rich woodlands and plenty of open areas which have benefitted from extensive landscaping.

For activity-minded guests there are two all-weather tennis courts, indoor games, a petanque court, and a newly-installed children’s adventure play area.

Also fresh on the scene is a sauna adjacent to the park’s heated lido swimming pool with its sunbathing terrace which commands delightful views across the parkland.

Meanwhile, Merryhill’s spacious clubhouse is the focus for a wide range of get-togethers throughout the year, from discos to summer balls and professional entertainment.

Guests can bring their own touring caravan, motorhome or tent – or hire one of the park’s new luxury camping pods which sleep up to four people with all home comforts.

There’s also an opportunity to own a high-spec caravan holiday home which can be used throughout the four seasons, thanks to Merryhill’s 12-month opening licence.

Georgina said she was delighted that the park had shed its naturist past, and was now welcoming all visitors to enjoy the picturesque surroundings of one of Norfolk’s loveliest locations:

“Everybody here has worked extremely hard over the past year to ensure that our facilities meet the very highest standards, and we are thrilled at the result,” she said.

“But I think what our guests will also appreciate is the quality of the welcome and hospitality which Merryhill provides – and credit for that must go to our staff team.

“We’re very proud that two of our members have received Exceptional Service Awards, and we’re all looking forward to making even more improvements this year,” added Georgina.

Coachman releases guide for caravanning with kids

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by Joe Jeffrey

Follow these simple tips for pitching up without a hitch

Caravanning with youngsters, whether your own kids or grandchildren, can be a fun and memorable way of spending a family holiday.  However, like any other family activity it requires careful planning to avoid disaster. With this in mind, those friendly people at Coachman Caravans have provided some top tips to ensure everyone has a great time.

1. Choose the right caravan
When buying a caravan, it’s important that you pick a van that suits the needs of your family. When choosing one, have in mind where everyone will sleep. Ideally it’s a great idea to have a separate area for the kids to sleep in, so that you can close the door and have somewhere to relax after they’ve gone to bed.

2. Get an awning
When there are lots of you in a small space, tempers can get frayed. An easy way to overcome this is to have an awning. This way you’ve got plenty of room to store things like bikes and shoes, as well as having space for a large table you can all fit round for meals. An added bonus is that the kids will enjoy sleeping in it when they get older.

3. Limit toys
You don’t want to be falling over toys and treading on Lego during the night, so have a bag of special holiday toys that stay in the caravan. Colouring books, jigsaws, magnetic writing boards and card games are all good ways of keeping the kids occupied and don’t take up much space. Rotating what’s in the box every couple of months will make sure they don’t get bored too. But don’t take too many toys, as you’ll be too busy sightseeing and exploring to need them.

4. Be prepared for rainy days
Wouldn’t it be great to have guaranteed sunny weather for May half term? But as we live in the UK, we have to be realistic and realise it might rain! Always take waterproofs and wellies with you so that you can get outside even when it’s wet weather.

5. Do your research
Make sure you do a bit of research on family friendly caravan sites before booking your pitch. Sometimes it’s nice to stay on a quiet site with no electric hook up or facilities, but if you’re caravanning with small children you’ll probably appreciate having a few creature comforts close by. Many sites have toilet and shower blocks, swimming pools, play areas and children’s clubs all included in the price of your nightly stay, so you’ll never be short of something to do – even if the weather isn’t great.

If you could offer one piece of advice to those looking to set off with the caravan – and kids – in tow, what would it be? Let us know in the comments below.

Shrewsbury caravan park gearing up for an event-packed 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

If you’re looking for somewhere to stay to see all that Shrewsbury has to offer this summer, Oxon Hall might just provide a good solution

Popular five star Oxon Hall Touring Park in Shrewsbury is preparing for what promises to be a bumper year of events for the town.

First up, Shrewsbury hosts the Shropshire County Show on 28 May, The Nuffield Health Shrewsbury Half Marathon on 19 June, Shrewsbury Food Festival between 25 – 26 June, Shrewsbury Flower Show taking place 12 – 13 August, Shrewsbury Folk Festival between 26 – 29 August and the County of Salop Steam Rally 28 – 29 August 28-29.

These events attract thousands of visitors to the town, including many caravan and motorhome owners who stay at Oxon Hall Touring Park, located on the edge of Shrewsbury.

For caravan and motorhome owners planning a spring or summer break at Oxon Hall Touring Park, there are National Trust properties at Powis Castle, Welshpool and Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury to visit.

“Demand for pitches on the park for all the main events in Shrewsbury increases every year, which highlights its growing popularity,” said Edward Goddard, managing director of Shrewsbury-based Morris Leisure, which owns the park. “My advice to anyone wishing to stay for these weekend event is to book as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

“Caravan and motorhome owners like the quality, parkland location of Oxon on the edge of Shrewsbury. The big advantage the park has is that it is just a short walk from the town’s Park and Ride bus service, which allows customers to travel into town without driving.”

£1.2 billion sale rumoured to be close following merger of Parkdean and Park Resorts

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by Joe Jeffrey

Talks for the sell-off are rumoured to take place as early as this summer

Parkdean, the largest caravan park company in the UK, is rumoured to be preparing itself for sale at a price that could be as high as £1.2 billion.

According to The Sunday Times, the company is set to consider either a trade sale or a float on the stock market in the last quarter of 2016, although a timescale for the sale is not yet thought to have been made.

Rumours of the sale come following the merger last year between Parkdean Holidays and Park Resorts, which saw the two companies team up to provide for a total of 72 holiday parks across the UK, attracting 1.8 million customers last year.

Now, private equity owners of the business, Alchemy Partners and Electra, are said to be entering into talks with investment banks regarding a sale of the business, something which could take place before this summer.

The market for caravanning and camping holidays has been steadily growing amongst those looking for to holiday on UK soil over the past few years, and this summer is expected to be a very good season for the business.

Caravan Club announces booking dates for winter holidays in the sun

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by Joe Jeffrey

Club announces booking details for Spain and Portugal winter breaks

The Caravan Club has announced it is set to open for bookings for the Club’s 2016/17 Winter Escapes programme.

From 1 June, caravanners will be able to book from a number of handpicked campsites in Spain and Portugal offering year-round facilities – certain to enable you to enjoy autumn and winter breaks in the sun.

The Club has alos announced a number of en route stops to break up your journey, providing for a convenient overnight stopover should this be required. And, for 2016, the Club has added two French sites to the programme, Les Bois du Bardelet in Central France, and Camping Indigo Strasbourg in Alsace – an ideal location to explore the famous Strasbourg Christmas market.

A number of sites in The Caravan Club’s winter programme provide for special long-stay rates, allowing the cost of holidaying abroad to be cut. What’s more, when booking sites with a ferry crossing, low ferry fares are also available.

Prices for The Caravan Club’s Winter Escape programme start from as little as £9.14 per night. To find out more about how you can book yours and to order your brochure, click here now.

Motorists want ‘the right to drive’ despite future driverless car plans

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More than 65 per cent of people surveyed still want the right to be in control

More than 65 per cent of motorists want to retain the right to drive even though driverless cars are coming, research from road safety organsation IAM RoadSmart – formerly known as the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) – has found.

IAM RoadSmart conducted an independent survey of 1,000 British motorists and a separate poll among its 92,000 members and the results showed that 65 per cent of motorists
believe that a human being should always be in control of a vehicle, with 53 per cent saying that the focus should be on making drivers safer – not just cars.

Members of IAM RoadSmart have welcomed hi-tech advancements which are improving vehicle safety, but want to maintain their control of a car – even though autonomous technology will be able to do it for them.

Results of the survey also revealed that 20 per cent of drivers thought that driverless cars were a ‘good idea’ whilst 34 per cent disagreed citing them as a ‘bad idea.’

When told that 95 per cent of accidents were down to ‘human error’ and that there was ‘a strong case for taking driver control out of the equation’ 24 per cent of respondents agreed with the proposition, which 15 per cent disagreed and 60 per cent opted for a cautious ‘wait and see.’

Sarah Sillars OBE, chief executive of IAM RoadSmart said: “Technological advances that make driving and riding safer for all road users have to be embraced whole-heartedly – but British motorists and our members, do want the right to drive.

“Intelligent cars will deliver a step change in road safety by targeting the human errors we make from time-to-time. At IAM RoadSmart we believe a well-trained driver and an ever-vigilant car is a win-win scenario for the future.

“This technology will also prove to be a major boost for business and keep UK PLC at the very edge of technological advance.

“IAM RoadSmart is the leading specialist in the interaction between human and machine and will play a significant role in this fundamental shift – which will see UK roads the safest, most business friendly and connected in the world.

“The government is due to consult this summer on how the UK can lead the development of autonomous vehicles; we are ready, willing and able to participate fully in this discussion.
“One could see a time when motorists might be restricted to driving on designated roads – and possibly just for pleasure rather than for work or getting from A to B.”

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Man jailed for dangerous driving after stealing £14,000 caravan

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by Joe Jeffrey

Thief who stole car and caravan sentenced to 15 months

A man who led police on a dangerous chase on the M6 motorway driving a stolen car with a stolen caravan in tow has been jailed for 15 months.

Andrew Cribbes, 41, from Oxford, pleaded guilty to stealing the caravan from storage premises at Old Arley, near Nuneaton, handling the Mitsubishi L200 he was using to tow it, and dangerous driving.

During the police chase, which took place after the caravan owner was alerted to the fact that her caravan was on the move by the company responsible for the tracking device installed within it, officers laid down a stinger mat in a bid to halt Cribbes’ escape. Cribbes , however, drove over it deflating one tyre in the process, and continued his attempt to escape on the M6.

During the police chase, Cribbes travelled at speeds of up to 60mph, whilst swerving across all three lanes of the motorway before being boxed in by a number of police cars.

Matthew Brook, defending, told the judge: “Mr Cribbes is well aware you’re going to be imposing an immediate term of custody. The only question is the total length of that sentence.”

And he conceded: “Of course, there was some degree of planning in handling the car to steal the caravan.”

Mr Brook said that in 2012 Cribbes had been jailed for three years for wounding, and after his release he was living in a hostel, but working and looking forward to finding a flat.
“But the probation service in Oxford felt it appropriate, when he had just four weeks left on his licence, to have him recalled to prison for having an empty beer can.

“So when he came out four weeks later, he had no job and no accommodation, and at the time of this offence he was living in a tent in Oxford and using Class A drugs.”

Jailing Cribbes, Recorder Michael Burrows QC told him: “You were driving a car which had been stolen, and which you had dishonestly received, and you stole a caravan.

“You drove onto the M6 and you drove over a stinger and rammed several police cars to try to get away. You know there has to be a custodial sentence.”

What do you think of this sentencing? Let us know in the comments below.

Moment caravan is blown off mountain road and plummets down cliff caught on film

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by Joe Jeffrey

Wind blows caravan off mountain road in heart-stopping video

Picture the scene. You’re going away for the weekend, soaking up the scenery as you climb a winding mountain road in your car with your trusty caravan following on behind. Then blam. A freak gust of wind decides to scupper your plans for your weekend getaway by indiscriminately ripping your caravan from its towbar to send it plummeting down a mountain range.

The above is exactly what happened to one family as they travelled along the southern slope of Mount Esja, near the Icelandic capital Reykjkavik. And the heart-stopping moment has been caught on film.

The footage, taken by another road user following on behind on the stretch of road shows how the caravan begins to rock back and forth as it is clearly caught by gusts of wind, before blowing over and tumbling off a cliff.

The road, however, situated within Iceland’s capital city, is well renowned for being hazardous for larger vehicles owing to being one of the windiest stretches of road in the world, which begs the question: should these caravanners have attempted to tackle it with their caravan in tow?

Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Top European tourism post for Dorset holiday parks director

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by Joe Jeffrey

Dorset holiday park director assumes the position

Members of the international body which represents more than 20,000 holiday park businesses across Europe have elected Dorset parks owner Martin Cox as their new president.

Fellow members of the European Federation of Campingsite Organisations & Holiday Park Associations (EFCO&HPA) voted Martin into its most senior role in spring this year.

The election took place at EFCO&HPA’s general assembly in the central Portuguese city of Viseu, and Martin will serve as the federation’s president for two years.

Martin is a director of his family’s West Dorset Leisure Holidays which was established 45 years ago and now comprises five multi-award winning holiday parks in the county.

As president, Martin will play a key part in helping shape tourism and job creation policies affecting holiday parks in membership of national trade associations across 22 EU countries.

He will also help steer EFCO&HPA’s lobby work with the European Commission which aims to ensure the sector’s interests are taken into account during decision-making processes.

Martin will be supported in his role by the federation’s vice president, Linda Gedink of Luxembourg, and by the retiring president, Guylhem Féraud of France.

Kimberley Caravans listed in London Stock Exchange 1000 Companies to Inspire Britain

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by Joe Jeffrey

Caravans coming to the forefront as dealership placed on 100 companies to inspire Britain list

Nottingham based Kimberley Caravans & Motorhomes have been listed in the 2016 edition of the prestigious ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ compiled by the London Stock Exchange.

The report is an annual celebration of some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK.

The inclusion of Kimberley Caravans and Motorhomes in the list was welcomed by the Minister for Small Business Anna Soubrey who recently visited the company’s Kimberley site.

Soubry said: “I am delighted to see Kimberley Caravans within this report as it recognises those businesses which are doing so much to keep Britain thriving as the economy continues to strengthen.”

The report from the London Stock Exchange also examines in detail the opportunities and challenges facing SMEs and looks at the sectors and trends that will shape the future of the UK economy.

Kimberley Caravans is a family-run business, which currently has a turnover of over £10m. It was established in Nottingham in 1984 and employs 33 staff at its 2-acre Kimberley branch, just off Junction 26 of the M1.

In 2012 the company expanded into the North East, opening a seven-acre Darlington branch just off junction 58 of the A1. The Darlington branch currently employs 37 staff.

According to Chris Lowe, the managing director of Kimberley Caravans, the business attributes its success to developing lifetime relationships with his customers.

Lowe, said: “I am very proud for all our team here that the business has been included in this report.

“We’ve continued to grow steadily, putting quality customer service at the forefront of our development. The team are aware of the fact that customers are becoming much more discerning and will look for the best service and price.”

“The economy has been challenging but we have seen more people wanting to invest money in caravans to holiday in this country, many of our customers are new to caravanning and have decided it’s much more fun to take your holiday where you want to take it, “he continued.

Emmerdale star opens Cumbria caravan park’s new pub

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by Joe Jeffrey

Emmerdale’s Charity Dingle opens up new pub affiliated with Cumbrian caravan park

Television star Emma Atkins, perhaps better known as Charity Dingle in popular soap, Emmerdale, has officially opened a caravan park’s new public house by pulling the first pint of many set to be served up in Cumbria in the Lake District.

Silverdale Holiday Park‘s owner, Michael Holgate, decided to rescue local pub, The Royal, situated in nearby Silverdale, after it had remained empty for six years in a bid to encourage caravanners to utilize nearby facilities within the park’s local area and for those who fancy a change of scenery.

Until recently, local options for visitors to the park were rather limited – but now, following on from giving The Royal a makeover estimated to be worth over £300,000, The Royal has been redesigned to create a warm, welcoming and stylish ambiance.

The Royal’s re-fitted kitchens also now boast state-of-the-art catering technology, and will provide meals both in the bar and the pub’s second-floor dining room.

There will, says Michael, be a strong emphasis on Cumbrian sourced ingredients, complementing the regularly changing selection of different craft ales brewed in Lakeland.

Silverdale Holiday Park has been owned by the Holgate family for 60 years, and provides
over 500 caravan holiday homes, plus touring pitches, and luxury timber-built camping pods.

As well as Silverdale – which won Cumbria Tourism‘s overall holiday park of the year award two years ago – the group also owns five other parks in the region.

“Although we bought The Royal with our own customers in mind, we’re delighted that it will also provide something of a social hub for the local community,” said Michael.

“We are well aware, of course, that in recent years many local pubs have been calling time and closing down – so in some ways we are bucking a national trend.

“However, all the evidence shows that pubs which offer a distinct identity and first-class hospitality, as well as high quality food and drink, will survive and prosper,” he added.

Emma Atkins, whose parents still live in Silverdale, said she was delighted to see The Royal re-open in the village where she grew up, and which holds many happy childhood memories.

Caravan park ravaged by Storm Frank set to reopen

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by Joe Jeffrey

Ballater Caravan Park set to reopen to tourers this week

A Scottish caravan park destroyed during this year’s flooding caused by Storm Frank is set to reopen, with bookings in excess of £70,000 having already been made.

Ballater Caravan park, in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, was forced to close in January after an estimated £1 million worth of damage was caused to the park, resulting in 60 caravans being wrecked and 40 more being swept away in the floods which ravaged the local area. An estimated £20,000 in booking fees was also lost.

Toilet and shower facilities were also destroyed, leaving a reparation bill estimated to be in the region of hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Although most of the caravans destroyed were static, the touring section of the park, which is made up of 72 hard-standing and grass pitches was also hit hard, and the aftermath of the storm left the park looking like a warzone as can be seen in the footage below.

But now, following extensive repair works carried out, Ballater will reopen its doors and open up part of the park to touring caravans this Friday.