Camping & Caravan Blog

Top Spots For A UK Camping Holiday This Summer

Posted on June 20, 2018June 20, 2018 by leisureplus

It’s just a few weeks until the schools break up for the summer and thousands of families head off for a holiday. But where will you go this year? Although the lure of overseas holiday spots is undoubtedly strong, there are some wonderful places to go in the UK too.

Camping can give you incredible freedom over where you go and how long you stay for – not to mention allowing you to travel on a budget. Out and About Live recently made some suggestions for top camping trips this summer, and we think there’s something for everyone.

Pop to your local camping shops in Kent to stock up on everything you’ll need for your break – if you’re not sure what kit to get chat to the knowledgeable staff and get their advice.

Heading to the coast is naturally one of the top choices for many families. It’s therefore little surprise that this was at the top of the list. The wonderful thing in the UK is that you’re never too far from a stretch of seaside, whether that’s the rugged cliffs of Cornwall, the sweeping sands of Norfolk or the bright lights of Blackpool.

Another part of the appeal of camping is being able to immerse yourselves in nature. Head to Scotland’s Galloway Forest Park and you will be treated to stunning starlit skies once the sun goes down.

This was the first place in the UK to hold Dark Sky Status, which means it’s unrivalled in terms of stargazing. Kids are bound to love staying up late to spot constellations and shooting stars while drinking a hot chocolate around the campfire.

For active families, meanwhile, camping is ideal, giving you access to stunning locations and immersing you in nature. The Yorkshire Dales was named as one of the best places to head to if you’re hoping to spend your days hiking.

There are routes to suit all levels of hiker, many of which begin or end at a traditional country pub.

But the website pointed out that camping doesn’t just have to be about getting back to nature – it can also be a more affordable way to see some of the UK’s cities, including London.

There are actually several campsites on the outskirts of London, where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city but be in the centre in around 30 minutes on public transport. If you’re looking for a more affordable way to show your youngsters the sights and sounds of the big city, this could be it.

You can also mix up your trip by spending a couple of days exploring the countryside outside London, as well as visiting top sights in the city.

If you’re still not convinced, camping was named as one of the top nature experiences to have with your children in a recent article for the Huffington Post. In fact, many of the other activities – rockpooling, wild swimming, seeing nature at night and cycling – are all things that can easily be included in a camping holiday too.

First fitting of an awning for us on a Mazda Bongo / Ford Freindee

Posted on June 19, 2018June 20, 2018 by Kevin

We had a customer call in this week looking for a wind out awning for his Mazda Bongo.

As an ex employee of AVA Leisure I suggested to the customer that we install one of the High Quality Thule 5200 awnings.

Fitted with Van Brackets that were trimmed to fit the B pillar and then trimmed to fit at the end of the vehicle to curve around the glass our customer went away very pleased with his new Thule Awning

How To Kit Out Your Caravan This Summer

Posted on June 18, 2018 by leisureplus

Caravanning offers holidaymakers the opportunity to enjoy fantastic holidays, be at one with nature and embark on adventures in the UK and beyond. To make your experience even more enjoyable, it is worth investing in some top-quality motorhome supplies in Kent.

Here are just a few essentials to kit out your caravan with.

Bike Carriers

One of the most appealing reasons to go on a motorhome holiday is to spend more time outdoors, so don’t forget to bring your bicycles along with you. To avoid your wheels taking up too much space inside the motor, get your hands on bike carriers that attach to the back of the van.

Holding several bikes at once, these enable the whole family to enjoy a fun active holiday away without compromising on comfort within the motorhome itself.

Portable BBQs

Summer is all about enjoying the long warm evenings, and what better way to do this than with BBQ dinners outside?

Even if your motorhome is extremely well-equipped with cooking facilities, having a BBQ is lots of fun, and an easy way to do this without lugging your gas stove around is to buy a briefcase BBQ. These space-saving devices are inexpensive and avoid damaging the pitch like disposable ones do.

Wireless speakers

Ditch the TV on your getaway and listen to some music as a family instead. Going on holiday is a great opportunity to enjoy a sing-along while travelling or play music while you eat outside, so why not buy yourself some wireless speakers that connect to Bluetooth-enabled devices?

The Lusatian Lake District

Posted on June 12, 2018 by leisureplus

The Lusatian Lake District in Germany, the largest man-made water landscape in Europe, is an area of more than 20 flooded lakes and navigable channels. As outlined in the Oxford Mail’s account of one of Europe’s Great Railway Journeys, the Lusatian Lake District is situated in Saxony at the gates of the European city of Görlitz. A new natural and recreational resort which has sprung up with the flooding of the almost 1,000 hectares from the Berzdorfer Sea Lake.

Travelling with the family in and around this region is a pleasure in itself, but to experience the best the area has to offer, the smart move is to park up the campervan and unhitch your bicycles from the cycle rack. As a bike carriers UK supplier, we offer a diverse range of models to suit your campervan or motorhome. Huge water surfaces sparkle in the sun, stand-up paddlers make their tracks, boats sail on the lake and families start their bike ride in two attractive destinations situated between Berlin and Dresden.

While the traces of the mining industry are barely visible at Görlitz, one can still experience the fascinating transformation from mining in north-eastern part of Saxony. On the “Lakeland Route”, a 186-kilometer long cycle path, all stages of the flooding – from disused open pit to the finished lake – can be seen. In five daily stages you will travel on wide, flat paths from the Großräschener Lake in the north to Bärwalder Sea in the south, past rugged shores and picturesque beaches, marinas with sailboats, canals and locks, castles and museums.

The landscape can also be observed from the water. Over the next few years, navigable canals will be formed connecting ten lakes. Today, leisure captains can travel across the Koschener Canal from Senftenberger to Geierswalder. The two lakes are also popular sailing areas. In addition, the young destination offers numerous opportunities for water-skiing, surfing, rowing or paddling.

For further information on any of our products, please contact Leisure Plus Direct today.

Fire Safety Tips For Caravanners

Posted on May 31, 2018 by Kevin

There’s nothing like packing up your old kit bag and heading off in your trusty caravan, hitting the open road for a well-earned holiday. But whether you’re new to the world of caravanning or are old hat it, what you do need to do is make sure you prioritise health and safety throughout the duration of your trip, especially where fire is concerned.

Bournemouth firefighters have just issued a stark warning to holidaymakers about the importance of this after three caravans were gutted by a blaze at the Sandford Caravan Park near Wareham, according to the Bournemouth Echo.

Apparently, a gas cylinder exploded in a touring caravan, with the fire then spreading to two other vehicles nearby. Luckily, no one was inside any of the vans when the fire took hold and no one was injured, but it’s still a reminder about the importance of staying fire safe when you’re on your holidays.

It doesn’t take much to be fire safe when staying in a caravan, thankfully. You should make sure that there’s a smoke detector fitted in the vehicle, as well as a carbon monoxide detector. Take particular care when cooking and never leave pans unattended (much the same as you would at home) and always keep lighters and matches well out of the reach of children.

If you smoke, use a metal ashtray and never smoke in bed. Make sure all air vents are unblocked as this can be fatal and don’t leave children alone inside the caravan at any point. Keep a fire extinguisher to hand by the door of the vehicle and always store gas cylinders outside. Check that all appliances are turned off before you go to bed or go out for the day and never use the heater or cooker while the caravan is in motion.

Where gas cylinders are concerned, you might be wise to install a gas detection system if you can. If you think there may be a leak, turn all the appliances off, as well as the main cylinder valve and quickly open the windows and doors to let the gas out. Only change your cylinders when they’re completely empty and always check that the new one is secure before you connect it.

To change the cylinder, ensure that all valves are turned off before you disconnect it and never turn the valves on before you’ve completed the connection. Store your spare and empty cylinders outside in the open air and secure them using a safety strap.

If a fire does break out in your caravan, get everyone out immediately and call the fire and rescue service straightaway. Don’t try to tackle the fire yourself – and always know exactly where you are so you can give accurate information to firefighters when you call.

For caravan equipment in Kent, take a quick look at the Leisure Plus Direct website today. We have all you need and more.

THE ROYAL 3 WAY FRIDGE – BACK IN STOCK AFTER MONTHS!!!

Posted on May 17, 2018May 23, 2018 by Kevin

The long awaited for Royal 3 way fridge is back.

Grab this item whilst you can

•Cools up to 25 degrees C below ambient temperature
•Powerful three-way absorption cooler with 12V DC / 240V AC and gas connection
•Ideal for camping, caravan or motorhome
•Fridge must be operted in a well ventilated area at all times
•Cooler runs on a powerful 90W AC/DC unit, without using a fan for noise reduction
•Ice tray and levelling aid

Camptoo Launches In UK

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Kevin

An innovative platform designed to help more people enjoy motorhome holidays in the UK has launched this month.

Camptoo is the brainchild of Martijn Peeters, who founded the site in the Netherlands four years ago. It’s a way for motorhome owners to rent their vehicles when they’re not in use, and for those who want a weekend away in a campervan to find one that offers greater flexibility than the standard rental options.

There are nearly 1,500 vehicles available to British users, with these motorhomes dotted throughout Europe, FTN News revealed.

Mr Peeters described exploring in a motorhome or campervan as a “truly unique experience”, and one that he wanted more people to be able to enjoy.

“Since you are not tied down by conventional transport schedules you have the opportunity to go with the flow on your travels and encounter sights you would only ever see on the road,” he enthused.

Owners of motorhomes who want to join the Camptoo website can sign up quickly and easily. You simply need to make sure you have the appropriate insurance cover, then put the availability of your campervan, details about its features and any house rules, and the price on the Camptoo website.

Other users can then search based on everything from the size of the motorhome to the pick-up location.

If you’re thinking of sharing your motorhome with others, you may want to invest in some new motorhome equipment in Kent to ensure it’s in top condition before it hits the road.

Given that a growing number of people in the millennial generation are embracing camping as a holiday option, this could be a great way to get a return on your campervan while enabling others who can’t afford their own vehicle to enjoy exploring in this flexible way.

10% Of Brits Discard Travel Insurance

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Kevin

A tenth of Brits who go on holiday do not bother buying travel insurance, leaving them vulnerable and out of pocket if things go wrong on their break.

According to the latest research from Sainsbury’s Bank, nine per cent will not buy travel protection when they holiday this year, whether from their vacation provider or an independent insurance firm.

Karen Hogg of Sainsbury’s Bank Travel Insurance said: “Good quality travel insurance is imperative should you or one of your party become ill. It will also cover loss or theft of personal belongings.”

The financial services provider reported that 23 per cent of those planning to go on a package break bought their travel insurance from their holiday supplier, even though this might not have been the best deal available. Nearly a fifth of these say they do not have the time to search around for a better deal.

Ms Hogg stated that booking a package break for “ease and security” does not mean you can forgo travel protection.

She suggested shopping around for the best policy as all travel insurances are different and will cover varying activities and expenses.

Indeed, only 13 per cent of people have an annual travel insurance policy, which is probably the best one to get for those who enjoy last-minute breaks in the UK, such as caravan holidays.

While you might not necessarily think you need protection for these ‘staycations’, if your valuable caravan equipment went missing on a UK break, you will want to know your travel insurance provider can cover any lost possessions.

More Millennials Embracing Camping

Posted on April 20, 2018April 23, 2018 by Kevin

Camping is rising in popularity, particularly among the millennial generation, in the US and given the reasons behind the boost, it’s reasonable to assume that more people in the UK could also be spending time under canvas this summer.

Forbes reported on the data released as part of the North American Camping Report, which is sponsored by Kampgrounds of America (KOA). It noted that millennials account for 40 per cent of all campers in the nation.

The main reasons behind the upturn in campers is that it’s a great way to de-stress and relax. Speaking to the news provider, KOA president Toby O’Rourke commented: “With reduced barriers and the desire of campers to connect with nature and each other, it is no surprise that camping is fast becoming a fundamental component of an outdoor lifestyle.”

With so many more camping options – from basic pitches to glamping – as well as the rise of motorhomes and campervans, it’s easy to see why a whole new generation are embracing this way of having a break without having to go too far.

Before you head off on an adventure in the great outdoors though, you should make sure that you have all the camping accessories you’ll need in the UK for a trip.

And if you have young children, going on family camping trips could be the ideal way to instill a love of the great outdoors in them that will last a lifetime.

A recent survey by Little Tikes found that camping was one of the top 15 outdoor activities that children enjoy, according to the youngsters the organisation spoke to for the research.

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