The Motorhome Market is Booming

One of the obvious affects of the Coronavirus pandemic, is the impact it has had on international travel and holidays. The unsurprising consequence of this has been the rise of the UK staycation holiday market. And of course, motorhome and caravan holidays have been at the heart of this boom. Now, I accept that we do have a slightly biased view on this, but genuinely, it is wonderful to see our beloved pastime getting such a shot in the arm and a whole new wave of owners joining our ranks.

One consequence of this has been the increase in demand for campsite pitches. It's not that there are suddenly a lot more motorhomes and caravans in the UK. It is more that owners are rather forced to use them, because there are fewer holiday alternatives available this year (and perhaps for a while to come).

So, here is a little look at some of the options available to you for staying in your motorhome. If that pitch next to the lake on the big campsite you had your heart set on isn't available, don't worry there are plenty of alternatives.

Big Club and Commercial Sites

The major providers of pitches by numbers and pitches on large sites with facilities include the major clubs, https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/, https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/ and commercial operators such as https://www.haven.com/touring-camping/. Not surprisingly, these providers are experiencing the highest demand and we have heard reports of many sites being fully booked. If you are unable to secure the pitch you want, don't worry, there are plenty of other options and campsite styles to explore and find your perfect camping environment.

Certified Club Sites

The two major clubs have thousands (yes thousands), of small independent sites on their books. They are "Certified" sites, which means they have been checked and approved to maintain certain minimum standards. The range of locations and facilities is endless. If you are looking for hidden gems with an assured level of quality, this is a great pace to start. See Camping and Caravanning Club and Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Independent sites

There are thousands of independent campsites in the UK, covering every conceivable experience. In fact, there are so many, that it helps to be a little methodical when searching for a site to stay at. Making a short list of the things that you consider most important for your stay will help you narrow down the field. For instance, location, near the sea, near attractions, with pool, quiet (no children), with facilities etc. There are many websites to help you choose the right site, including https://coolcamping.com/, https://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/ and https://www.campsites.co.uk/.

Overnight Stops

Of course, you don't have to book a holiday on one campsite. Touring is a great way to see the country and have an adventure. This is the spirit of motorhoming that many long for and there is plenty of help finding overnight stops. You may be surprised to learn there are thousands of places you can overnight in your motorhome and many of them are free! Some of the websites can be downloaded as apps and are easy to use on the road. Book as you go? Now that is an adventure! Here is a couple of websites to get you started: https://www.searchforsites.co.uk/, https://park4night.com/, https://www.campercontact.com/en.

Check the Latest Guidance

There are other options available including wild camping. However, wild camping in particular is applicable to Scotland and at the time of writing, Coronavirus guidance varies across the UK so be sure to check the latest guidance before travelling.

So, there is our quick guide to campsites and overnighting. There is always somewhere to stay and fun to be had in a motorhome. If you haven't bought your dream motorhome yet, start here.