Why the caravan holiday is back in fashion
We all cherish our memories of caravan holidays – and now they’re more popular than ever
THE kids are kicking up their heels with schools closing their gates and the holiday spirit is in full flow.
For more families than ever that means mobile homes, not phones.
Our love affair with caravans and motorhomes is rampant, with new figures showing the 755,000 currently in use is set to rise to more than 800,000 within five years. And by 2030 it’ll be almost 900,000.
The motorhome surge is such that it led to the 110-year-old Caravan Club changing its name to the Caravan and Motorhome Club in February.
And soaring demand to take a break in either is bringing a welcome boost to tourism and businesses.
Figures from the club showed their members spent £37m off-site in Scotland last year, with 70% of those staying on its sites coming from outwith the country.
Overall caravanning, motorhoming and camping is worth an estimated £700m per year north of the border.
It has an increasing all-ages appeal, but a third of a million people in the UK over 50 go on trips every year.
To cope with the demand, the club opened two new multi- million- pound developments, near Glasgow and in Aberdeenshire.
“Interest is at an all- time high,” said Nikki Nichol of the Caravan and Motorhome Club.
“Part of the boom in popularity is because people want more regular holidays these days.
“Rather than one two-week break, they want to be able to get away more often to ease the stresses of modern life.
“Caravans and motorhomes let you experience the great outdoors, while having great family time and building memories.”
That appeal is clear to leading caravan journalist Andrew Jenkinson.
“It’s a lifestyle as well as a way to holiday,” explained Andrew.
“People really buy into caravans but like a lot of lifestyles you can put as much into it as you want.
“It gives you freedom, and you don’t have to buy an all- singing, all- dancing model to enjoy it. For £3000-4000 you can get started.”