National Camping and Caravanning Week 2023

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This week is National Camping and Caravanning Week 2023 (29 May - 4 June) and this year’s event is celebrating the fact that camping officially makes you happier!

The week, which is organised by The Camping and Caravanning Club, will celebrate the fact that camping officially makes you happier, according to the findings of a new study commissioned by themselves.

The Outjoyment Report was carried out by a team of academics at Liverpool John Moores University and Sheffield Hallam University, and looked at the health and wellbeing benefits of camping. The report found that campers are:

• Happy: 97% of campers say happiness is their top motivator for going camping

• More connected to nature: 93% go camping to enjoy being in nature

• Enjoying better wellbeing: 93% of campers value camping for the benefits it gives to their health and wellbeing 

• Less stressed: 88% of campers are motivated to go camping to take time out of their everyday lives and have higher levels of psychological well-being than non-campers

• Active outdoors: 98% of campers take part in outdoor activities. 91% go walking, 39% cycle and 26% enjoy bird-watching

Get involved!

National Camping and Caravan Week is the perfect time to think about embarking on your first adventure! Or to get that trip away booked if you’re already an experienced camper/caravanner. If you’re new to the scene, have a think about what might suit you and best match your lifestyle.

Pros of camping

• Value for money
  Tents are extremely good value for money. You can get a decent polyester family tent from as little as £200 if you shop around. You’ll need to invest in the camping basics such as air beds, sleeping bags, camping stove and gas, kitchen essentials and so on, but you don’t have to get everything at once. The cost to camp per night is reasonable too, with many campsites charging around £20 per night for a standard size pitch. 

• Closer to nature
  There’s nothing quite like sleeping under canvas! It makes you feel at one with nature; you can hear owls hooting, leaves rustling and birdsong first thing - you can’t beat it!

• So much fun!
  Adults and kids alike find camping fun! From the novelty of sleeping on air beds, to cooking on the camping stove to all pitching in with washing up, it’s all a lot of fun and great family time! The kids have so much freedom to play ball games, ride their bikes and make friends with other kids on the campsite. Unlike at home when they’re glued to their screens, outdoor play will keep them busy from dawn until dusk!

• Easy to find a good spot
  When you’re in a tent, it’s easy to find a lovely little spot to pitch your tent. Try to find a secluded place that’s not a through-route for other campers and with some greenery around you. Remember not to settle too far away from the facilities block, especially if you’re camping with young children. Invest in a few windbreaks for shelter and privacy and you’re good to go!

Pros of caravanning and motorhoming

• Ensuite facilities
  The biggest advantage of going for a caravan is having your own private toilet and shower on board. No traipsing to the facilities block in the middle of the night for you! This is such a luxury, especially if you have little ones who need the loo every five minutes. Having to use communal toilets and showers are the number one reason why many people won’t consider camping - so opt for a caravan and this is not a problem you’ll have to deal with!

• Comfy beds
  No blow up beds for you! Caravans come fitted with comfortable beds, which provide a good night’s sleep every time. Having proper beds make caravans suitable for longer holidays too and different models offer different bed options and configurations so you’re sure to find one to suit your family’s needs.

• Shelter from the elements
  If the weather is not great for your trip away, being in a caravan makes it more bearable. You’ll have electricity and heating if you need it and all your creature comforts around you. With a kitchen and washroom on board, you won’t have to go out in a downpour unless you choose to!

• Opt for an awning
  If you feel like you need a little more space than a caravan provides, you can opt for an awning, which could double your footprint! Use this extra space for dining, lounging or for the kids to play!

• Kitchen facilities
  Caravans come with fully equipped kitchens on board to enable you to cook all your meals in comfort. Most come with fridges, ovens, hobs and microwaves so it really is a home from home. You can choose to do as little or as much cooking as you like!

• Electrical hook-up option
  Most campsites offer electrical hook-up options for caravans for an extra fee. This means that you can run all your appliances as you would at home. Invest in a leisure battery so that if you go somewhere that doesn’t have an electric supply, you’ll be able to power yourself - most batteries have up to 11 hours’ charge in them.

• All the good bits!
  Even though you’re in a caravan rather than a tent, you still get all the advantages of a camping holiday - close to nature, freedom, getting away from it all - just with none of the drawbacks of camping due to the essential luxuries caravans provide.

• Your own home on wheels
  The beauty of owning a caravan is that you can make it completely your own, fill it with all the things you like - and then take it with you! It’s ready to go at the drop of the hat, making impromptu trips possible without endless packing and planning! It makes taking regular trips away a pleasure - and let’s face it, that’s what life should be all about!

How to decide between a caravan and motorhome?

Pros of a caravan

• Caravans are very reasonably priced; they cost much less to buy than motorhomes as they are not a driving vehicle and do have working parts in the same way that motorhomes do.

• There’s less maintenance on a caravan as there is no engine and there’s no need for an MOT.

• Once you reach your destination you can pitch and level your caravan and set it up in the way you want, knowing that it will not have to be moved during your trip. 

• Opting for a caravan will mean that once you have detached it, you are then free to go wherever you like in your car, unlike with a motorhome which is both your holiday home and vehicle in one, which can be cumbersome.

• Caravans are very spacious as they do not have the driving area at the front as motorhomes do. They also look nicer on the inside too.

Pros of a motorhome

• It is quicker to move from place to place in a motorhome as there is no pitching and levelling to do. 

• A motorhome may offer more storage, especially if you choose one that has ‘garage’ space.

• Motorhomes are suitable for ‘wild’ camping whereas caravans may not be. If travelling to Europe, motorhomes are permitted at far more sites than caravans are.

• Pre-owned motorhomes hold their value really well.

• As you’re not ‘towing’ anything separately, it’s a nicer driving experience.
  
  

We stock new Bailey and Swift caravans, a wide range of pre-owned caravans from other manufacturers and motorhomes as well! Browse our ranges online and then pop in to take a good look around your favourites!

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