£5.5M Resort Attracts 20,000 Guest This Summer

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By William Coleman

Summer 2017 has proven to be an absolute blockbuster for Shropshire’s new £5.5 million caravan and glamping site that opened in May. The successful opening saw a staggering 20,000 guests visit since May. And the booking just won’t stop!

The early expectations for success were high, but the managers at Love2Stay at Emsrey, Shrewsbury had no idea that the summer opening would bring such a massive amount of bookings. The public response to the new holiday resort has been overwhelmingly positive. Not only was the sight a great success but the activities provided were also a smash hit. With guest booking up because of the wide range of activities on offer.

The resort site has 124 touring caravan pitches for those wanting to visit on their staycation and a village of 11 luxury glamping lodges that were officially open for bookings in August. All 11 of the glamping lodges comes with its own private hot tub and fire pit for those evenings that need to be appreciated under the stars.

The holiday resort is aiming to set a new high end standard for holiday resorts across the UK, and 20,000 visitors in a matter of months is certainly a bar raiser. One of the UK’s top tier caravan and leisure companies, Salop Leisure, developed the resort which offers visitors an impressive and luxurious natural retreat.

Laura Plumridge, who manages the site with her husband Geoff, has said “The response has been absolutely phenomenal. We opened the weekend before the Whistsun and the resort has been full every weekend since.”

The site offer a wide range of activities that has been a major attraction for the resort. “One of the things that has surprised us most is the demand for activities. We had no idea just how popular they would be – our record to date is 220 children in one day and we had 60 children on the lake raft building and problem solving.

“We arrange up to 12 activities a day and have families staying with us just to participate. Our guests have really embraced the ‘back to nature’ ethos and there is a hunger for parents to be able to facilitate that for their children.

When visiting you can learn bushcraft and survival skills with their in house forest ranger. A perfect way to keep the children entertained. The site makes the most of its surroundings and bases a lot of the activities on the outdoors. Instead of iPad and tablets the kids can get fully immersed in the great outdoors with fishing, building a woodland hideout and swimming in the centerpiece of the site, the natural swimming pool.

The stunning pool, pictured below, has an amazing backdrop and is flanked on three sides by decking and hot tubs. You can take in the view of the area’s picturesque surroundings while floating around in the cool gin clear water. The pool has the look of a nice lagoon that you would find deep in the woods. The water is chemical free and naturally filtered which gives it its crystal clear look.

Of an evening the outdoor area becomes an Italian eatery where you can get a traditionally made Italian pizza that is cooked in wood fire oven. There is also a cinedrome where guest can relax and watch films.

Following the monumental success of the opening the the months following the pre bookings are coming in thick and fast, word is certainly travelling fast about this site. The site is already taking a lot of bookings for the remainder of the year with slots for the October half term, Bonfire night and New Year’s Eve already being booked ahead of time. With the guest who visit having such an amazing time 65% book another visit before they have even left.

The Love2Stay site strive to provide something more than just a Caravan and Glamping site. They are providing services found boutique hotels. There is a separate reception and concierge desk, a food delivery service and a service where you can book your own personal chef for a outdoor meal.

The resort is set in 22 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds with panoramic views across to Wales from one side and over to the Shropshire Hills from the other.

Salop Leisure’s managing director Mark Bebb, the driving force behind the resort, explained the thinking behind the resort. “We know that we need to put effort into the re-generation of our industry and it’s our vision that Love2stay will accomplish this,” he said.

This certainly does not seem like your normal caravan escape. If you want the freedom of a caravan holiday with the combined luxury of a high end hotel then the Love2Stay site is the one for you. For more information visit their website, Love2Stay Website

The Camera Van Convert

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By William Coleman

Ever since the dawn of the caravan people have been looking at inventive ways to adapt their leisure homes to a higher standard. Over the years we have seen convert concepts just for fun and some purpose built for business like pizza vans and various festival vendor builds. One creative individual has designed a fully functioning camera using a caravan.

In what started as a giant static camera eventually evolved into the caravan camera pictured in this article. Brendan Barry, who provided these photos via his Facebook, initially wanted to have a giant dark room/camera combination. After some attempts that didn’t go quite the way he wanted he decided to invest in a caravan and the idea snapped into place from there.

One of the early attempts at building his own dark room started with plywood and some black out materials from a fabric shop: ‘I borrowed a 20′ military aerial lens off a friend and took it on the road to Latvia in my camper-van,’ he explains.
‘The problem with it was that I only made one dark slide, and this wasn’t exactly light tight!”

After that attempt Brendan took things a step further and travelled to Latvia for the next stage of his experiment. The basement of a Latvian castle became the new lab due to the darkness that a basement provides: “I could load in the dark, fire flashes to expose and, as I was shooting paper negatives and direct positives, I could develop the print there and then.”

Now that the science behind the idea had been established a casing for the camera was still needed. So Brendan built his new camera inside of a shed. “The [initial] camera itself was rather awkward to use, so when I returned to England I decided it would be easier to build something bigger that I could climb inside and operate from within, so the ‘Shed Cam’ was born.” The only real issue Brendan faced was that the shed was not the most portable of ideas. Once the photo was taken he would then have to transport the photo in a light proof bag to another location to then develop the image.

Then the snappy idea of using a caravan came into play. Brendan took to eBay in search of an affordable caravan that would be suitable for a full conversion. £150 later and the caravan concept was a go. ‘This worked a treat, I could shoot in the shed, put the paper in a light-proof bag and take it to the darkroom at the other end of my studio. The only problem then was, I was stuck inside and confined to the studio (although the camera shed was on wheels, it wouldn’t fit out the door even if I wanted to take it outside!” And just like that the Caravan Cam was born. Not only is the caravan suitable for the camera but the much needed dark room was able to be built inside too. Meaning that the caravan is an all in one camera and development studio.

With such a great idea now becoming a reality it is a winning achievement with wide appeal. Brendan took his newly built Camera Van on tour to and tooks portraits of over 300 people across a long weekend.

This is an idea I really love. I try to take as many pictures when travelling as possible. It’s the best way to capture your surroundings and store great memories. So the combination of the two should go a long way.

Winter’s Coming- Preparing Your Leisure Vehicle

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By William Coleman

As summer starts to wind down the weather goes from bright and sunny to grey and rainy. It’s the time of year we all dread as motorhomers and caravanners, storage season! We all must start to prepare our motorhomes and caravans for the autumn and winter months that lay ahead. Here is a list of basics and essentials you need to consider when storing your vehicle for winter.

Preventing Damp

With the rapid change in temperature from warm to cold condensation will soon start to form anywhere it can. Once the condensation drips down the interior windows and dries you will start to see and smell the effects of mould. Something that has an awful lingering smell and will simply spread if not dealt with swiftly. Some heating with fresh dry air in and out is one way of dealing with it. Or an easier, but more costly way, is to use a dehumidifier. But to be cost effective means a lot more attention or a regular basis.

Interior Preparation

Always remove as many unnecessary items as possible. Clothes, bedding, cushions or anything that might absorb moisture, aids the damp issue too. Leave all the doors and cupboards open to keep them aired as you do not want a musky odor. This is good practice which will aid you in removing anything that does not need to be stored during winter. A full clean will also help out alot, nothing worse than finding old food come spring. Ensure that nothing that will deteriorate over the winter is left inside. A full clean should include surfaces, floor vacuumed, cold storage empties/cleaned and removal of anything that will lead to damp or rot.

Exterior Preparation

The weather is the enemy number one when storing your motorhome or caravan over the winter. Despite the typical grey winters we have in the UK we can get extended periods of sun, without the heat. Although it the heat may not be there the UV rays are still doing their job. Sun rays can fade the colour of any vehicle, especially when left idea for several months. When you are detailing the outside give all the locks a good clean and a spray with WD40 or a suitable lubricant oil.

I would recommend giving the home a good clean with a wax to finish. This will give the home an extra layer of protection from the elements. When cleaning the exterior check for any cracks or dents that may have occurred without your knowledge. If you don’t spot a crack then you run a huge risk of leaks. And the best advice and the most simplist will be to invest in a good cover. Keep the home nice and tucked up for winter.

Engine Care/Batteries

A battery can die a death if left unattended for an extended amount of time. So a regular engine turn should do a world of good and ensure that the battery doesn’t seize up on you. Plugging the home into store power once a month, for around 8-10 hours, will help keep coach batteries in good shape. If you are not planning the use the home after winter I would advise you to simply remove the battery. You can charge it at home and if the temperature plummets you will not have a frozen battery. A discharged battery will freeze a lot quicker than a full battery.

These are just a select few of the checks that you can do. Most people have their own routine that they like to stick to but it is always good to check the basics listed above. Once winter is over and you want to start using the leisure vehicle, provided you’re not a winter motorhomer, it is always advisable to get a service done to check everything is in full working order.

Wales Becomes The New Hotspot For Motorhomers

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By William Coleman

Wales has some of the most picturesque scenery that our country has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a stunning coast line or a secluded woodland setting that looks straight out of a Lord Of The Ring movie, Wales has it all.

It seems that the secret escapes Wales have to offer are now longer so secret. There has been a large increase, reports say, in the ownership and rental of motorhomes in Wales. From both Welsh natives and visiting tourist.

The beauty of a motorhome holiday is the huge variety of motorhomes to choose from and locations to stay at. The motorhome comes in so many different shapes and sizes, there will be one to suit any need. If you want to take the other half away on a last minute get away or the whole family during the school holidays, you will be spoilt for choice.

Why has Wales become such a haven for people looking to take a motorhome holiday? Pronto Motorhome Hire say they are seeing a large increase in visitors from abroad who want to tour around Wales to get a totally unique experience, something that Wales has plenty of. Naunton Dickens, Managing Director of the Caerphilly-based firm, tells Business News Wales what business is looking like for them: “We have seen an 8.5% increase in the number of motorhome hires made from last year, with some exciting new trends taking shape. The gains have been made outside of the high season, with many more people hiring motorhomes from Easter onwards this year. The good spring weather really helped.”

Pronto has also noticed the average age of customers highing being younger than usual. Pronto feels this is due to the new “Hipster Generation being a lot more interested in staying in the UK for their holidays and the financial savings that come with the modern Staycation.

It also appears, as I have mentioned in previous articles Brexit Boom For Staycation Industry, Brexit has a large part to play in the recent surge in UK based holidays. Pronto believes that European visitors from Spain, Germany, Holland and even as far as New Zealand are taking full advantage of the weak pound to get the most bang for their buck when they are on their vacation.

For me Wales has always had a special place in my heart due to wide range of locations. The variety of the landscape is so unique. From the Snowdonia National Park to the amazing coastline of Llyn Peninsula If you have never visited Wales I urge you to.

Eddie The Eagle To Open The NEC Caravan And Motorhome Show

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By William Coleman

A British legend will be officially opening the 2017 Motorhome and Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC on October 17. Michael ‘Eddie’ Edwards has now been confirmed for the show.

Eddie ‘The Eagle’ who represented Great Britain in the 1988 Winter Olympics will be featured alongside the iconic VW campercans. Something he has a long history with. ‘The Eagle’ was fortunate enough to have been given a VW camper conversion by his father which was his home away from home during his ski-jumping career. “I’m really looking forward to opening the show,” says Eddie. “I travelled over 50,000 miles in my beige VW caravanette. It wasn’t super-fast, but I got there. It had an extendable roof and boiling my kettle on the stove helped me keep warm in the mountains at minus 20 degrees!”

There will be a full showcase of the VW Campervan. There will be 3 decades of models starting from the 1950s. There will be over 700 of these iconic camper vans on display over the three day event. Personally I’m most excited to see the new 2018 VW range. Hopefully they will have some new concepts for the modern VW camper.

The highlights of the generations of VW Camper on display will show the T1 with its split-screen. The classic ‘van with a face’ is the definitive look for the much loved motorhome. They were manufactured from 1950 to 1967, with its air-cooled engine outputting just 25bhp: around half the power of a 50cc moped. In the 1950s camper conversions were designated as commercial vehicles with a speed restriction of 30mph; this was successfully challenged in court in 1956 and campers were reclassified as private vehicles.

Eddie the Eagle joins a line-up of celebrity chefs who will cook from the kitchens of newly-launched leisure vehicles in the LIVE Theatre at the show.

Carvantime will be at the show for the entirety of the event. And I will be paying special attention the icon VW Campervan. Keep an eye on our Facebook for live broadcasts and competition.

The Touring Barber

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By William Coleman

Everyone loves a caravan conversion. You can’t go to a festival without buying a pizza or a nice cocktail from the side of an old school caravan convert. How about a nice trim or a brand new hairstyle on your front door.

With life being as hectic as it and combined with extortionate parking prices, if you can find a space, making a trip into town to get some hair pampering can almost seem more like a day at work rather than luxury. That is all about to change for the people of Warwickshire.

Julian Rahau has decided, following his window cleaning retirement due to injury, to become Bravo Barbers, the mobile barber and hair stylist. Following a fall from a ladder than lead to quite a nasty injury he decided that a career change was on the cards. After the injury Julian started training with a hairdresser his landlord introduced him to. After that tutelage he decided to take it a step further take a course at Warwickshire College where he became fully qualified.

Julian says: “I’ve always been good with my hands, so I started to train as a hairdresser, took a college course, worked as a barber in a salon and that has got me to this point – ready to begin my journey with Bravo Barbers.
“I’m going to reach people in areas without a hairdresser – they don’t have to drive or find a parking space, watch the time or be in a rush. They can just walk in and relax. “You have to have the courage to take that step but I have always thought myself as an entrepreneur with a lot of creativity.”

Cats On Tour

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By William Coleman

When planning a trip away you always need to make sure you have arranged care and accommodation for you pets. They’re a very important part of the family and you always want the best for them. Well why not take them with you?

Yesterday I wrote about a new concept for a dog friendly caravan. Well what about cats? The argument can me made that cats are a lot more self sufficient than dogs, making them a much easier travelling companion.

Bailey even designed a specialised caravan for our feline friends for when you’re relaxing on your latest staycation. Take a look at the full article Bailey’s Cat Caravan

So when you’re away and you want to take your kitty with you why not get them their own small indoor carava, you don’t want them feeling left out do you? Click this link to see how to get a cost effective cat caravan to keep them in the stayction spirit, Cat Caravan

With the amount of locations now advertising being pet friendly you may never need to pay for your cat to be looked after during your UK based holiday ever again.

Take a look at our facebook to see what everyone else thinks, Cat On Holiday

Green Energy Fuelled Motorhome

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By William Coleman

Motorhoming is adored in the UK. It is something most us have all experienced and has a yearly economic contribution of a staggering £500m. Being green and protecting the environment is something that we are all responsible for as caravan and motorhome owners. But as of yet there is no real green alternative that is a suitable replacement for our diesel powered vehicles, until now.

Until recently the only green energy motorhome was the Nissan e-NV200. Which due to its small size does not really appeal to many motorhomers. Seeing the need and demand for something bigger bigger which is green powered German motorhome manufacturer Dethleffs have utilized solar energy for their latest creation, the e.home, based on Iveco Daily van. The e.home concept is a fully sized 4 berth motorhome with a large lounge area and fully furnished kitchen.

What gets the Daily moving is a 107bhp electric motor that will power the motorhome for up to 174 miles per charge. This millage will differ depending on the weight loaded into the vehicle. But this is where the e.home concept kicks into gear. The shell of the motorhome is covered with thin-film solar panels that span 31 square meters. Dethleffs say they can generate up to 3kW of electricity to keep the 228aH sodium-nickel-chloride battery charged.

The ensure they are fully powered by green energy they have opted to use an electric cooker and heater instead of gas. Both of which are actually connected to the battery that powers the engine. So be warey that when you’re cooking your fry up for 4 that you are taking away millage.

Despite the e.home being in its concept stages for now it does show what can be done be done outside of the diesel motorhomes we have been used to.

Staycation For Dogs

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At the latest Lawns Caravan Extravaganza for the UK’s first ever bespoke dog friendly caravan was revealed by holiday home manufacturer Willerby. A kennel load of pups and pooches ventured the Lawns Caravan show to get their paws on the dog welcoming new design.

The new caravan has lots of specifically designed features to make taking your pet on holiday with you a lot more comfortable for both you and your pooch. Britain has always had a special place for man’s best friend in its heart. Now with an estimated 40% of UK households having pets the number of pet friendly holiday locations is on the rise.

After a day out in the country you can bet that your dog will have found its fair share of puddles and ponds to jump in. The last thing you want is to bring the dog back and have it run amok and covering your holiday home in the wilderness it has stuck in its furr. Well not to worry, this new home comes intact with an outdoor hose to clean off the muck and critters.

After the evident increase of pet friendly locations being chosen Willerby saw a big gap in the market. And that’s what sparked the idea and which is now a reality.

The idea has incorporated the needs of both pet and owner. A caravan is not the biggest environment to share with a pet. So with that in mind Willerby adapted a fitted gate that allows you to close of certain areas from pets. There is nothing worth than having your dog under your feet when you are trying to cook for the family. During the hot weeks of summer you can use the stable door to let the air flow in while keeping your dog from charging outside.

Space saving is one of the main drives behind the new home. You may not want to dog sleeping on the sofa or the bed. You also do not want them on the bare floor or taking up space in a doggy bed. So to ensure compatibility for the pet and practicality for the owner there is a specially designed space in the kitchen for the dog to sleep. And the interior is furnished with adorable personal touches – handy hooks in the shape of dog tails and dog-themed bedding.

John and his wife Jean visited the caravan with their dog Benji. Mr Parkes said: “This is the first holiday home we’ve ever seen that’s been designed specifically for dogs. Benji was into everything. He loved it and we think it’s brilliant.”

Kirtsen Bolton, Marketing Director at Willerby said: “Our new pet friendly holiday home is perfect for those who can’t imagine taking a break without their furry friends.The holiday home is fitted with a number of adaptations to suit pets. We’ve even built a mini replica of the model in the form of a kennel that sits on the porch, so dogs can enjoy some peace and quiet in their own private surroundings!”

Huge Staycation Campaign Aimed At UKs Youth

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By William Coleman

Following the recent boom in the UK’s leisure and tourism industry VisitBritain has launched a UK-wide campaign to get the youth of our country to take their holidays and weekend breaks at home.

The campaign has launched over digital and social media by Join the World-Discover the UK, who are spending £2.5m on the venture. The launch took place on 11th September and will use aim to use overseas social media methods to reach, what VisitBritain, is calling the “Lost Generation”.

Despite the recent boom in the UK tourism industry is seems that there has been a dip in 16-34 year olds taking their vacations in Britain. The statistic show that 1.4 million 16-34 year olds took UK based holidays last year. That may seem quite a high amount of holidayers but it is actually down quite a lot when compared to the numbers from a decade ago.

The campaign has brought together the national tourism organisations from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in an effort to get an additional 1 million overnight which will have an estimated boost of £80m to the economy. The social media will campaign more than just trips. You can expect to see physical activities, nightlife and clubs, restaurants and food from around the country.

“There is an incredible amount to see and do across the whole of the UK and we want to inspire more young people to take in our world-class attractions, sites and cities,” said tourism minister John Glen
“By showcasing the exciting and diverse range of trips on offer I hope it will encourage many more young people to explore the UK.”
With such wide range of things to do in the UK this campaign will be highlighting the very best on offer. The launch will kick if 5 short films showcasing experiences in London and Yorkshire in England, Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland, Glasgow in Scotland and Elan Valley in Wales, through the eyes of international travellers.

Yellow Weather Warning Issued

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By William Coleman

As England prepares itself for the upcoming weather that storm Aileen will be bringing us the Met Office has issued some warning for certains parks of the country. Nottingham has been issued a Yellow Weather Warning by the Met Office for the next two days. From around 4pm today the Met Office are expected extremely strong winds across the region. We can expect strong winds and heavy rain over the next couple of days.

Be sure to check the weather before travelling over the next two days. Highways England have urged anyone travelling in a high-sided vehicle such as caravans and motorhomes to be very cautious as the expected high winds could blow these vehicles over.

As we have seen in recent footage from the storms in America these winds can be devastating to smaller cars and trucks, so the impact on larger vans, motorhomes or caravans could be worse due to their size. So if you are planning a journey in your leisure vehicle leave plenty of time for this weather, as you may be faced with delays or obstructions.

The winds should ease off on Wednesday morning so we will not be faced with this awful weather for too long. But the heavy rain will be an ongoing issue. There could be flooding and excess water on the roads creating adverse driving conditions.
Anyone who is planning a get away please be sure to leave a bit earlier, check the weather before and do all your safety checks before setting off.

Caravan & Motorhome Club Site Visit

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By William Coleman

Today I had the pleasure of being invited to Battle to visit the Normanhurst Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC) site. What I found when I visited really impressed me. I was very impressed by everything that I saw that day.

I arrived at 8am, after setting off at half 6 from London, to find the sun was already up and shining beautifully through the trees and woodland that surrounds this idyllic location. Speaking with a site member who has been visiting this location since the mid 80s, she told me that before the storm in 1987 there were a lot more trees surrounding the site. But due to the force of the winds a lot were completely torn out of the ground. The large trees give the site a nice secluded feel. Like your own personal escape from the world that’s being protected by a luscious tree line.

With a secluded feel to this site also come a very calming quietness. Once you are in the park all you can hear are bird chirping and the occasional movement of motorhomes. Having spent the whole day at this location I found the silence gave it a very tranquil and relaxing atmosphere. Absolutely ideal for anyone who wants to escape the 9-5 routine and just relax in the solace the natural surroundings provide. Walking round and taking in the beautiful park will lift anyones mood and provide a sense of calmness and positivity.

The site features a play area for the kids which comes with a climbing frame, swings, slide and a mini castle with climb. Just opposite the children’s park is a court which has basketball hoops and goals combined with some benches for a post game picnic. Just beyond the pitches is a walking path that drops you directly into an amazing stretch of woodland. Surrounded by fields filled with sheep and views that have to be seen to be believed. The walking path is lined by big oak trees that are coming to the end of their bloom on one side and a stunning landscape on the other.

The park is not the biggest CAMC site available but the pitch sizes are extremely generous. Each pitch has space for any size leisure vehicle with a good size orning, your tow vehicle, and then there is still space for you chairs, tables and BBQ.

Not only are the pitches well size they are also immaculately kept. The whole site is in amazing condition. All the lawns were mowed, edges were trimmed, bathroom/wash areas were spotless. There was not a single blade of grass out of place on the site. You can see the care and dedication that goes into maintaining its high standards. It was very impressive to say the least.

Most of the spots are located in the centre of the site but there are several little hidden spots around the park for people who would like a more private stay. These spots can hold 2-3 motorhomes or caravans. Whereas the main part of the park has the majority of the visitors together.

Despite it being almost the middle of September the site was at full capacity. Each one of the beautifully kept pitches were occupied but there was still tons of space left which is a testament to its well positioned and well sized pitches. The visitors were all out relaxing, sunbathing and taking in the great weather. That’s how you make the most of the stunning 2017 summer.