By Emma Dodd
Days and weeks may have blended into each other for many over the past few months, but for families, the start of the summer getaway has been eagerly anticipated.
This weekend marked the date when schools in England would have broken up for the summer had they been open, and therefore saw the end of homeschooling instead.
On Friday, roads across the country became congested, as the start of the traditional holiday combined with more relaxed rules on trips away and overnight stays.
Mike Newton, Devon and Cornwall police control room supervisor, commented on the situation on Twitter: “The M5 south currently looks like a cross between a caravan and boat show between [junctions] 30 and 31.”
Caravan holidays have been widely accepted as the best option for a safe break this summer, stretching the UK’s staycation infrastructure in a way that would usually be mitigated by families travelling abroad.
This year, the usual scenes will not be played out at airports but on roads and in caravan parks instead.
While many have set off for seaside destinations in the south, including Cornwall and Devon, the situation is similar elsewhere.
Caravan parks in Scotland have reported being full to capacity, which is not surprising when guidance dictates they must keep numbers lower to ensure social distancing.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Culloden Moor at Newlands near Inverness and Queen Elizabeth Park in Stonehaven have both been inundated with bookings since they confirmed they were reopening.
Keith and Lisa Jeffs, site managers at Culloden Moor, told The Press and Journal: “For the club that we work for it’s been challenging times for all of us and it’s just good people are coming out.
“We could tell from our bookings it was going to be healthy, numbers wise, but I think people are just glad to be back out.”
It’s a timely reminder that caravan enthusiasts who are used to being able to turn up at sites without a booking will not be able to do that this year and can expect the experience to feature some significant differences.
