By William Coleman
You know the time is coming to start the winter prep when the leaves start to turn brown and the sun starts to become a bit shy. As the years go on the numbers of holiday makers who tour all through the colder months keep. It seems that the turn in weather is not deterring holiday makers.
There are so many reasons to never put the caravan away when the winter months approach, and yes avoiding winter storage prep is one of the biggest there is.
As the numbers of winter holiday makers grow the industry are meeting the demand by extending their opening hours to winter and even hosting special events for occasions like Halloween, Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Years Eve.
If you want to get extended usage out of the van and tour all year round then have a read of these positive excuses as to why you should holiday more.
Autumn Sun Lasts Longer
Not sure if this is a good or bad thing, environmentally speaking, but our summers are lasting longer and are a lot hotter. As of writing this now we face a late September weekend with temperatures set to hit 26 degrees centigrade.
With the weather improving so much during the autumn months you really can get away for that last minute sun. On top of this you get amazing sunsets which are perfect to just sit and watch with a nice mug of tea and a pack of chocolate digestives.
Not sure I would suggest swimming though, unless you have quite a good wetsuit.
The Quiet Season
As popular as it is spending weekends in the van during winter really is not for everyone. This leads to some sites being a tad more quiet coem this time of year.
This will lead as a shorter wait time at the wash block, which we all know can be a nightmare and a much larger choice of pitches on site.
If you favour a particular holidaying hotspot which usually has busy surrounding bars and restaurants then you should be able to walk in without having to make a reservation or being turned away.
Make The Most Out Of Your Investment
Whether you have a caravan, motorhome or campervan, I’m sure you’ve made quite a financial investment. So why not make the most of it and get your monies worth.
I have known quite a few people who will only use the van in absolute peak weather, despite having a grade 3 tested model. It is almost unfair on the van to leave it alone for 75% of the year. Not to mention it does the van no good either, both inside and mechanically.
The Modern Technology Makes It Easier
The modern leisure vehicle manufacturer put their vans through some quite rigorous cold weather testing, most use the cold weather chamber at Truma HQ.
Bailey have so much faith in their weather resistant vans they took two of their Pursuit caravans and an Autograph motorhome to the Arctic on an adventure to test how well they hold up in the extreme temperatures the world can come up with.
It would seem that every single caravan and motorhome is very well equipped to deal with the cold weather we face here in the UK, so make the most of it.
Winter Attractions
Come winter time there are so many things to do and see. I for one love going to a rural area and seeing the autumnal woodlands and just taking a relaxing walk with the camera catching some snaps.
During November and December there are a lot of Christmas markets all over the UK. Some of the best ones are Bath Christmas Market and Winter Wonderland in London. You can also see some great fireworks displays and Halloween events that are hosted on Caravan and Motorhome Club sites as well as many other sites and parks.
The best thing about owning a leisure vehicle is that you do not have to choose between one location or another. You can drive from spot to spot and see them all.
Taking In The Skies
During the autumn and winter months the skies can become extremely clear giving you an amazing view of the stars.
In October last year I went to Loch Lomond for a weekend and can safely say I have never ever seen the stars co clearly, genuinely breathtaking.
So if you into stargazing find yourself a very remote location with no light pollution and just enjoy the view.
I can personally voucher for the Scottish Highlands but also check out Exmoor National Park, Somerset and Devon, Brecon Beacons National Park, south Wales and Snowdonia national park, Gwynedd and Conwy
Cost Effective Touring
A lot of sites reduce their pitch rates and even do deals on week long stays. So when you think of it you can actually save money on taking holidays. Another solid reason to get out more come winter. You can get some down time before the big freeze on a budget.
Seeing A Different Side Of A Location
Once the weather turns the views can change accordingly. There are so many locations across England, Scotland and Wales that look totally different once the leaves have fallen. Same location two different holidays.
If you want some stunning autumn and winter views I would again recommend the Scottish Highlands, Peak District, and the Lake District.
