Discover Halloween half-term activities in Ireland

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Half-term is here and there’s no better destination for a Halloween-themed family touring jaunt than Ireland. 

Halloween’s origins can be traced back to Ireland, where pagans celebrated the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain to mark the beginning of winter some 2,000 years ago. If you want to get away with the kids in a caravan or motorhome for the half-term holiday and do some trick-or-treating further afield, the Emerald Isle has plenty to offer.

The team at Irish Ferries has come up with a list of the top Halloween-themed activities to enjoy in Ireland this spooky season. 

Tayto Park After Dark 

Tayto Park is a much-loved family theme park and zoo located a 45-minute drive from Dublin port. Head over in your leisure vehicle on the ferry and enjoy all of the fun-filled activities on offer. 

From October 28th to the 30th, the park opens its doors at nighttime so guests can experience a range of rides and roller coasters in the dark. If you’re travelling with young children, you’ll be glad to know that this is a “no scare” event – so you don’t have to worry about the kids being unable to sleep once you pitch up for the night. 

Bram Stoker Festival 

This four-day festival takes place in Dublin over Halloween weekend and celebrates the legacy of Ireland’s most famous horror writer, Bram Stoker.  

As part of the celebrations, visitors can participate in haunted tours, cinema viewings and much more before watching the Borealis at Dublin Castle, an immersive light installation inspired by the Northern Lights. 

Once you’ve had enough of vampires, you’ll be well-positioned to embark on a road trip to explore some of the best natural attractions Ireland has to offer, such as the Cliffs of Moher. 

Púca Festival

Every Halloween, Púca Festival celebrates the pagan origins of All Hallow’s Eve and takes place in some of Ireland’s most historic locations including the Hill of Ward, the village of Slane and Drogheda, one of the oldest towns in the country. 

Enjoy folklore, myth, music, food and installations as you steep yourself in fascinating history and explore the best of Ireland’s Ancient East. 

Hurloween at Croke Park 

Croke Park is bringing back its famous “Hurloween Tours” between the October 29th and November 4th. 

Ideal for Halloween-loving kids, the tour lasts for 90 minutes and includes a visit to Croke Park’s dressing room, a pitch-side stroll and a “Warriors and Hurlers Workshop” where kids can learn about Cú Chulainn, a mythological master of hurling and son of the sky god Lugh. 

If you’re planning a Halloween half-term trip to Ireland, rest assured that there’s plenty to enjoy aside from all the spooky activities on offer. 

Home to incredible natural wonders, fascinating culture and great spots to pitch up – Ireland offers some of the best destinations in the British Isles to explore in a caravan or motorhome. 

 

Image credit: Saad Chaudhry / Unsplash

Cumbria in Bloom awards for Lake District caravan parks

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Caravan holidays are a great opportunity to get inspiration for your own garden at home. You may want to include one of the UK’s grand stately homes on your itinerary to influence your green-fingered activities or you might even find some show-stopping floral displays at your holiday park.

The chances of that are increased greatly if you’re staying at one of the six sites owned by Lake District Estates in Cumbria. All of them have recently bagged accolades in an annual competition that sees hundreds of participants getting involved.

Hill of Oaks Park and Buck Yeats Lodge Park both took gold in this year’s Cumbria in Bloom awards for their stunning displays. These two sites are located close to the shores of Windermere, making them great places to be based if you enjoy outdoor activities.

The judges noticed that the shrubs and trees chosen for Hill of Oaks Park provided both interest and privacy for guests. They added: “The park has established a young and enthusiastic horticultural team which has worked hard to create colourful planting around the café along the waterside to good effect.”

Nearby Newby Bridge Country Caravan Park bagged itself the silver-gilt medal, while Woodclose Park in the vicinity of Kirkby Lonsdale, Waterfoot Park not far from Pooley Bridge and Clea Hall Holiday Park near Wigton all won silvers.

The awards are judged in person with inspections made of each of the parks and strict criteria applied to distinguish the very best planting. As well as the beauty of the displays, the environmental value of the choices made is also taken into consideration.

George Kemp, head of parks at Lake District Estates, said: “Everyone here is delighted that the hard work of our green-fingered maintenance teams and holiday home owners has been recognised in the awards.”

Lake District Estates is a family-owned business that focuses on providing connectivity to the great outdoors while preserving it for future generations. From touring pitches and glamping facilities to holiday homes, there are accommodation options to suit all budgets and needs.

The most picture-perfect stately homes in the UK

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Despite the weather getting colder, there are still plenty of reasons to hop in your caravan or motorhome and get away for a while. Holidays are great for mental health and they’re particularly important when vitamin D levels are low due to the lack of sun. 

As autumn trails into winter, it’s time to start considering the best locations for touring in the chilly seasons. 

The UK is home to over 3,000 stately homes that have played host to kings and queens, prime ministers, literary greats and other sorts of illustrious guests. But with so many options, choosing where to go can be a challenge. 

For this reason, the team at Stokemont have compiled Instagram hashtag data for over 50 famous stately homes in the UK to narrow down the most picture-worthy choices. When planning your next touring adventure, why not add one of these picturesque heritage sites to your itinerary as you explore the British countryside? 

Blenheim Palace – Woodstock, Oxfordshire

Blenheim Palace was rated the most Instagrammed stately home in the UK, with 186,777 hashtag mentions. 

Built in the early 18th century on the edge of the Cotswolds, this heritage site is where one of the UK’s most memorable prime ministers, Winston Churchill, was born. Now, it’s a UNESCO heritage site that’s home to various exhibitions and a wonderful park and gardens. 

Combine a touring trip through the Cotswolds with a visit to the UK’s most stately home. Explore the countryside on foot and visit quaint towns before settling down for the night at one of the many pitching sites available throughout the region. 

Chatsworth House – Derbyshire Dales, Derbyshire

Ranked second overall, Chatsworth House amassed over 132,000 hashtags on the popular social media platform. 

This stately home dates back to the mid-16th century. It was built on the edge of the River Derwent for the Devonshire family and now houses a huge art collection and is surrounded by parkland and curated gardens.

If you’re planning a touring adventure to the Peak District, be sure to check out Chatsworth house and snap some photos for your Instagram account.  

Castle Howard – Henderskelfe, North Yorkshire 

The third most picture-worthy stately home in the UK is Castle Howard, which has accumulated over 60,000 hashtags on Instagram. Located in North Yorkshire, this 18th-century estate is home to many art displays and stunning gardens waiting to be explored. 

Yorkshire is one of the UK’s most popular touring destinations and offers an incredible coastline and an expansive national park ideal for a spot of hiking.

 

Image Credit: Simon Godfrey / Unsplash

M&C Show: The CAMC’s driving experts show Annabel Croft the ropes

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One obstacle most new touring enthusiasts face is getting to grips with manoeuvring the vehicle.

At the 2022 Motorhome & Caravan Show, Annabel Croft and Harvey Alexander, Director of Marketing and Membership Services at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, discuss how to become confident on the road.

Annabel participates in one of the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s manoeuvering training course taster sessions and Harvey shares his top tip for staying safe when touring.

Watch our video coverage to learn more.

M&C Show: Annabel and Nick play a game of “Would you rather…?”

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You might be familiar with this fun conversation starter, but have you ever played a game of “would you rather” with a touring twist?

Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, and Annabel Croft, tennis legend and recently appointed motorhome enthusiast and member, get to know each other with a series of fun “would you rather” questions related to campervans and touring.

Watch our video coverage to find out whether Nick prefers levelling or emptying the cassette and what Annabel would choose between a trip to the UK or Europe.

Watch our video coverage of this year’s show to find out more.

M&C Show: Getting to know Annabel Croft with Nick Lomas

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Annabel Croft is a former professional British tennis player and current tennis coach, radio host and TV presenter. She has recently embraced the touring lifestyle and is a special guest at this year’s Motorhome & Caravan Show. 

At the show, Annabel and Nick Croft, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, get to know each other a bit better. They discuss the weirdest places they’ve slept in a motorhome, their dream touring destinations and their must-have gadgets for life on the road. 

Watch our video coverage to learn more.

M&C Show: Nick Lomas welcomes Annabel Croft to the CAMC

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Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, chats to Annabel Croft, recent member and special guest at this year’s Motorhome & Caravan Show. 

You may recognise Annabel as one of Britain’s tennis champions. Now, she’s a successful radio host, TV presenter and tennis coach. But did you know that when she’s not busy doing all of this, she loves to explore the world in her campervan? 

Find out what inspired Annabel to get involved in the touring community, her best experiences to date and where she would like to go in the future.

Nick also explains the unique perks available to members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, including access to more than 200 sites in the UK and other services, training courses, offers and discounts. 

Watch our video coverage of the event to find out more.

Welcome to the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2022

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Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, welcomes you to this year’s Motorhome & Caravan Show. Find out what to expect at the event and where to find Nick if you want to say hello. 

Taking place from the 18th to the 23rd of October 2022 at the NEC in Birmingham, this year’s show features over 350 exhibitions showcasing the UK’s largest display of new campervans, motorhomes, touring caravans, trailer tents and accessories. It’s guaranteed to be an event to remember. 

CaravanTimes was at the event to bring our readers all the latest from the 2022 edition of the Motorhome & Caravan Show. 

Watch our video coverage of this year’s show to find out more. 

Spooky caravan getaways for Halloween

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Halloween is fast approaching, so why not give yourself a break and explore one of the UK’s spookiest getaway locations to celebrate? 

The team at Ropers Leisure have come up with five scary hotspots to give the whole family fright. Whether you want to pitch up in a tent or a caravan, these bone-chilling destinations are home to plenty of caravan parks where you can rest assured the ghosts can’t get you. 

Whitby

If you’ve read Bram Stoker’s classic Gothic novel Dracula, you may be familiar with the Yorkshire town of Whitby. The seaside location and the dramatic Whitby Abbey are what inspired the author to write about the vampire. 

The town’s eerie atmosphere and towering ruins make it a popular destination during the Autumn season. Be sure to visit the town’s most famous landmark, along with St Mary’s churchyard, Green Lane and Bagdale Hall. 

Windmill Inn is a great campsite to pitch up at once you’re well and truly spooked. 

Warwick

Warick’s most iconic landmark, Warwick Castle, has a reputation for hosting some of the best Halloween events in the UK.

If you’re feeling adventurous this Halloween, why not try out one of the haunted tours or scare mazes? Kids can also enjoy trick-or-treating inside the castle grounds. Hatton Country World is a great spot to settle down for the night. 

Somerset

Somerset is home to one of the most exciting Halloween destinations: Wookey Hole Caves. This historic site has a hair-raising atmosphere with plenty of dark passageways to be explored. The caves are believed to be haunted by witches who are said to have spent many nights performing rituals in its depths. Do you dare? 

Once you’re sufficiently frightened, head to Bucklegrove campsite in Cheddar to park up for the night. 

Inverness

Scotland is often associated with ghosts, ghouls and strange goings-on and Inverness is no exception. 

The city was the site of the bloody Battle of Culloden and visitors can still see evidence of the event and even, supposedly, hear gunshots on the battlefield. 

Oh, and if you’ve ever heard of the Loch Ness Monster, why not try to spot Nessie while you’re in the area? 

Despite its terrifying, bloodstained history, Inverness was also recently chosen as one of the cosiest cities in the UK for autumn touring. Fortrose Bay is a great spot to pitch up in Inverness.

York 

This list wouldn’t be complete without York. Considered one of the most haunted cities in Europe, York has a rich history filled with murder, ghostly sightings and inexplicable events. 

There are countless creepy locations to explore in the city, such as the Shambles, a mediaeval street that’s meant to be haunted by more than 20 ghosts, and All Saints Church which is said to be a regular haunting ground for ghoulish monks and nuns.  

If you can sleep at all, we recommend turning in at the Robin Hood campsite. 

 

Image credit: Александар Цветановић / Pexels

 

Touring holiday popularity surges despite the rising cost of living

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Research carried out for the Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC) by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has highlighted a surge in UK touring holidays and a growing interest in the outdoors. 

The cost of living crisis has put a strain on families around the country and many are considering swapping overseas vacations for motorhome or caravan trips closer to home. 

Time away with family or friends is essential for mental health, which is why – despite the rising price of expenses – many outdoor enthusiasts aren’t letting the current crisis dampen their enthusiasm. In fact, the number of Brits considering a touring holiday has increased by 20 per cent over the last two years, and interest in owning a leisure vehicle is predicted to grow by 43 per cent by 2030. 

There are many reasons for this growth in popularity, one of the main motivations being that motorhome or caravan owners feel much more in control of the cost of their holiday than other travellers. Moreover, almost one-third of those interested in the activity said that rising fuel costs haven’t deterred them. 

Those needing more incentive to invest in a leisure vehicle will be glad to know that people who embark on touring adventures are 46 per cent more likely to spend time with their family and 37 per cent more likely to have increased exercise levels. Furthermore, 75 per cent of mobile home owners or those looking to purchase one report feeling less stressed on holiday. 

Their research also pointed to the fact that touring holidays help people to digitally detox, with motorhome owners (78.9%) and caravan owners (77.9%) reporting they spend less time on their digital devices when on the road. This is likely due to the fact that caravanning offers the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors and reconnect with nature. 

For those considering a holiday on the road, there are plenty of remarkable destinations that you can enjoy without breaking the bank. Whether you’re looking for a tranquil staycation spot, you’d love to discover some of the country’s best wildlife trails or you simply want a cheap location to pitch up and relax – the UK has something for everyone. 

If you’re planning to invest in a motorhome or caravan, be sure to brush up on the rules around towing and the proper maintenance procedures to avoid incurring additional expenses while on the road. 

 

Image credit: Boudewijn Huysmans / Unsplash

The UK’s most haunted destinations for Halloween touring

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The days are getting shorter and the temperature is dropping, but there are still plenty of reasons to hop in your leisure vehicle and get out on the road.  

With Halloween just around the corner, why not give your next autumn touring adventure a spooky twist with a visit to one of the UK’s most frightening regions? 

The experts at PsychicWorld.com have uncovered which areas in the UK have the strongest paranormal presence. To do this, they collated a list of 11,700 ghostly sightings in 59 counties across the country to reveal which spots are the most haunted. 

Whether you believe in the supernatural or you’re planning a family road trip and want to give the kids a good scare this Halloween, a visit to one of these eerie locations will surely be a holiday to remember. 

The sightings they collected included various paranormal activities, such as phantom horses and riders, legends of folklore, fairies, headless ghosts, women in white, animal ghosts and more. 

Yorkshire was named the spookiest location in the UK, with over 797 hair-raising sightings to date. 

There are lots of creepy spots to check out including East Riddlesden Hall, a 17th-century manor frequented by the spirit of the Grey Lady who roams its halls in search of her lost lover. If you want to learn about the area’s dark history, the original “Ghost Walk of York” is a must-do. 

Once you’re sufficiently spooked, you can explore the natural beauty of the Yorkshire Dales before pitching up at one of the best caravan sites on the coast. 

Unsurprisingly, London was the second most haunted region in the UK with a reported 701 chilling sightings. Home to ghostly pubs and spectres such as the Red Lady, Jack the Ripper, and the Highgate Vampire – London is guaranteed to frighten even the most laid-back trick-or-treater. 

Although the spine-chilling capital is often considered too expensive for touring holidays, there are numerous spots to pitch up in the surrounding countryside. Head to Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire or Canterbury and make London a day trip on your touring itinerary.

Essex snagged third place on the list with 507 spooky activities recorded. The county is associated with many ghost stories about some of its most iconic buildings such as Layer Marney Tower and Hadleigh castle.  

Other areas with a strong paranormal presence include Sussex, Dorset, Devon and Northern Ireland. 

The full results of their research can be seen in the infographic below.

 

Image credit: Rythik / Unsplash

Why canned food is perfect for caravanners

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One of the best things about going away in your caravan is enjoying a simpler way of life and that applies to food too.

Instead of planning complicated meals, you can whip up warming creations with just a few ingredients and pared back cooking appliances.

This is an ethos promoted by Canned Food UK, which is keen to show caravanners how easy it is to make meals based around store cupboard favourites.

Among the benefits of taking canned ingredients on your next caravan trip are:

  • Time saving, as produce is pre-prepared
  • Can be stored at room temperature – perfect if your caravan fridge is small
  • Long shelf life, so you can stock up your cupboards well in advance
  • Contents are protected in the tin

Canned Food UK offers advice on all sorts of recipes you can cook up in your caravan, including prawn tacos, herby potato cakes, salmon tagliatelle, mixed bean chilli, corned beef hash and tuna bean pasta.

It doesn’t have to stop there either, as it recommends cinnamon pineapple fritters as an easy camping dessert created from tinned goods.

If you’re keen to embrace this way of cooking, then why not start with cowboy stew? Here’s the recipe, which serves four:

Ingredients

1 tbsp of oil
1 onion, diced
2 sticks of celery, sliced
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 can potatoes – 567g drained and diced
1 can of adzuki beans – 400g drained
2 cans of chopped tomatoes – 400g
1 can of sweetcorn – 200g drained
1 beef stock cube
1 can of beef in gravy – 400g
Cracked black pepper and salt to season

Method

  1. Heat the oil and fry the onion for five minutes.
    2. Add the celery, peppers and sauté for a further few minutes.
    3. Mix in the chopped tomatoes, beef stock cube, adzuki beans, diced potatoes, sweetcorn, and simmer on a low heat for around 15 to 20 minutes.
    4. Add the beef and heat through for a further few minutes.
    5. Season to taste.

The final word on cowboy stew goes to Canned Food UK: “Great served with crusty bread – and a glass of red wine for the adults – this is a hearty, high protein dish perfect for filling hungry campers.”