Some people are reluctant to fly at the moment or would prefer to holiday in the UK, and others are attracted to the self-contained nature of a caravan holiday – the fact that the accommodation is yours and not shared with anyone else, makes it easier to maintain social distancing.

Whatever your reasons for wanting to try a caravan holiday, you’ve made a fantastic choice. A caravanning adventure is a great way of travelling the country and reconnecting with nature and there are some amazing sites to enjoy in fantastic locations.

They’re also proving hugely popular with all generations, families, couples and solo travellers, and are especially good for those who like to travel with their pets.

And don’t think you have to rough it. Yes, some sites are basic, but others are packed with facilities – from luxury washrooms to multi-functional gyms and leisure centres. Whatever you’re looking for, there truly is a site that is perfect for you.

No doubt you have a lot of questions – What’s the best car for towing a caravan? Can I tow a caravan? Where are the best caravan sites? Here, we aim to answer them all and provide some top tips for your first time out on the roads

We hope you enjoy your return to or first time caravanning and recommend you use the many useful links and resources available on this website. Be sure to check our our Forum where you can chat with like-minded people, ask advice and share top tips and insights. And check out our excellent feature A beginner’s guide to caravanning which is packed full of expert advice. Happy caravanning!

Join a caravan club!

One way in which you can find out a lot more about caravanning and become part of the community is to join one of the many caravanning clubs – the two largest national clubs being the Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan and Motorhome Club (formerly the Caravan Club). Both of these organisations will provide you with access to several member benefits including access to sites and membership discounts on site stays, insurance and breakdown cover and access to driver training. 

The Camping and Caravanning Club was formed in 1901 and now has more than 700,000 members – membership costs £41-£47 a year. Benefits include:

• Club shop with exclusive discounts for members

• Free car and caravan matching service

• Manoeuvring and B+E training courses

• StaNav campsites points of interest file

• Club publications

The Caravan and Motorhome Club was formed in 1907 and membership costs £54 a year. Benefits include:
• The largest network of over 2,700 sites and locations in the UK and Europe

• Members save £140 on average per year on site pitch fees when staying at Club sites

• Great savings on over 1,000  UK attractions, whether you’re touring or at home

• Save up to 50% on Club site pitch fees for each night’s stay

How to tow a caravan

For some people, towing a caravan is the most daunting part of a caravan holiday – but don’t despair, there are lots of options. For a start, many sites allow you to hire static caravans which in itself will give you a sense of what a caravan holiday has to offer. Alternatively, some people choose to have their caravans driven to a site where they can happily spend the summer season.

If you are happy towing a caravan but need a little confidence building why not sign up for a training course? Both of the clubs listed above offer driver training courses, and across the country there are many private driver training agencies. Check out Caravan and Motorhome club courses and Camping and Caravanning Club courses

One thing to note is that if you passed your driving test after 1997, your total outfit weight is limited to 3500kg. If you want the flexibility to choose your perfect caravan and tow car combination, you’ll have to take a test to get your ‘E’ entitlement, which will allow you to drive an outfit of up to 7500kg. Practical Caravan writer Bryony Symes explains how to pass your B+E test

The relationship between tow car and caravan is a crucial and you’ll need to make sure you have the right set up with a car that is powerful enough to legally tow your van. Writer David Motton is on hand to explain how to match a car and caravan

And while we’re at it here are a few other things every new caravanner should know

Caravan brands and manufacturers

Caravans are particularly popular in the UK and Scandinavia and many of the best caravan manufacturers are based here in the UK.

Check out our Buying Guides where you can see round ups of the best performers – you can see the best models based on number of berths, price and other factors such as the most innovative or the best caravans for families or couples.

Take the time to familiarise yourself with what’s out there and what would best suit you. It’s also well worth reading our individual reviews of the very latest models.

Whether you’re looking to buy new or used there are plenty of options with large network software dealers across the country. Exhibitions are also a great way of seeing lots of different models and meeting dealers and manufacturers. You get a good sense of what’s available – although some shows have been postponed during the pandemic they are well worth considering in the future – How to buy a caravan at a show

Choosing a caravan park or campsite

When you’ve got a whole country worth of caravan parks to choose from it’s difficult to know where to start, but your first stop should be our Top 100 sites guide – you can see the individual reviews here and download a full copy of the guide here. Choose from the best 100 sites as voted for by the public across 12 regions. You can also pick out individual sites that best suits your needs from dog friendly to adults only.  

 

 

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