Caravanning, Holidaying With Freedom
The much maligned caravan can be seen on nearly every road in the UK during the summer months as couples and families seek out a little area that they can call their own for a few days. For some people the sight of a caravan makes the hair on the back of their neck stand on end, especially when they drive up behind one on a narrow ‘B’ class road with no passing spaces as it meanders 20 miles to the coast.
Some people would much prefer to stay on a holiday park or hotel but the caravan owner is looking for a bit more freedom; obviously some prefer large static caravans that can be found on holiday parks but that is a different type of caravanning altogether.
So why do people caravan? Well there are probably thousands of reasons why but caravanning gives people the chance to choose exactly where they would like to stay on their holiday and if it does not work out they can just pack up and move on.
One reason people prefer using their own caravan to holiday is because it is an extension of their home, but on wheels. This allows the caravanner to know exactly where everything is and gives them that homely feeling wherever they are.
There are over half a million touring caravans in the UK plus another 100,000 motor homes. It is believed there is in excess of 3100 caravan sites scattered across the UK. The Caravan Club was first established in June 1907 and it is hard to believe that at that time there was sufficient interest in motoring to warrant a national association for caravans.
Caravan parks come in all different shapes and sizes; from parks housing just a few caravans to ones that hold a hundred or more. Parks can be found with very little by way of facilities, some are lucky if they get electricity; then there are sites that have every conceivable facility and form a holiday park of their own, some even have their own swimming pools and clubhouses.
Children are well catered for on a large number of caravan parks but if a peaceful time is required when away then there are many adult only caravan parks where they can relax with no fear of interference.
As to where a caravanner can stay in their caravan the skies the limit; well not quite the sky but certainly a caravan can be taken far enough up a mountain to pitch it in a low cloud. Caravan parks can literally be found in any location, near points of interest, the seaside, farmland, and even in the middle of towns.
There are many listings for caravan parks; simply looking on the internet will reveal hundreds, so finding one that is suitable should not be a problem.