The Sunday Post (Inverness)

Motoring!

- Mazda Bongo Friendee £3000-£15,000 Citroen Romahome £4000-£23,000 Autocruise Starquest EL £17,000-£25,000 2015 Chausson Welcome 718EB £ 45,000 RS Endeavor £145,000 RS Emotion £600,000-plus eleMMent Palazzo £ 2.3 million

available and other facilities so that they can get rid of waste etc.

“That is meeting a demand and they see it as a business opportunit­y as well.”

Mr Lafferty said camping was by no means a thing of the past and sales of tents had gone up “significan­tly” with one of the main causes being a rise in music festivals “which has introduced a new audience to camping”.

He added: “The other thing is the provision of more ‘glamping’ – yurts, camping pods, wigwams and teepees – there are a lot of families turning to that now.”

But the real growing market is campervans and motorhomes.

At the luxury end of the market motorhomes can cost more than £100,000.

For that you get double beds, leather sofas, a television and a fully equipped

Penny and John Cawley. kitchen with fridge, freezer, oven and gas hob – even a wine cooler to enjoy a perfectly chilled glass.

National Caravan Council director general John Lally said: “We believe strong demand for motorhomes will continue for the foreseeabl­e future.

“As manufactur­ers increase production capacity and build even more attractive and innovative products that can be used year-round, consumers will keep being drawn to the motorhome propositio­n.

“Staycation­s are due to have another good year too, boosted by the preference to take shorter breaks.

“Whether it’s a last-minute weekend away, supporting an outdoor activity like mountain biking, or indeed the longer annual summer holiday, motorhomes make it all possible.”

A sharp rise in holiday prices after Brexit, made worse by a weak pound, has also encouraged more people to opt for a holiday at home.

Fears over terror attacks have also made many people unwilling to leave Britain. Bookings for Egypt, Turkey, Brussels and Paris have dropped after they were targeted by extremists.

So far this year, a record-breaking 7.3 million Brits have chosen to holiday at home rather than go abroad.

Norfolk and Yorkshire are said to have seen the biggest increase in bookings.

A spokesman for the Camping and Caravannin­g Club – which runs 108 sites and certifies another 1600 – said tent camping was an integral part of its membership but added: “The Club saw an increase of around 2% compared with in tent campers on its club sites from 2014 to 2015, but an increase of 7% in campervans and motorhomes over the same period.” IF you fancy getting out on the open road yourself, here’s what your money will buy... Also sold as mere vans, Mazda also produced this vehicle as a campervan – complete with a kitchen.

Other dealers in the UK have bought the vans and converted them into campervans.

We found second-hand models on sale for between £3000 and £15,000. Originally sold as vans, one firm converted them into campervans.

They can sleep two people and come with a gas stove, grill and sink.

We found second-hand models on sale for between £4000 and £23,000. With space for two people to sleep, this motorhome has a front lounge, two long bench seats with a full-size cooker with four-burner hob, grill, oven and sink.

There’s a washroom with a hand basin and shower.

We found second-hand models for between £17,000 and £25,000. A luxury motorhome, this accommodat­es six or seven people.

Sold by RS Motorhomes, it costs £145,000 and has a full kitchen area with gas oven, grill and hob as well as a flatscreen TV with integrated DVD player in the lounge.

It can come with a double bed over the front cab area and all models have a full-size shower cubicle, vanity basin and electric flush toilet. Priced from £600,000 upwards, this top-of-therange motorhome is 40ft long.

Sold by RS Motorhomes, it can sleep between four and seven people and has a shower and toilet area.

It has a gas oven, grill and hob, a microwave as well as a fridge/freezer.

It comes in a selection of wood-effect finishes inside and has a high-gloss laminated kitchen area as well as leather upholstery throughout.

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