Daily Record Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Page 31
summerstartshere!
travelnearandfar
Caravan parks
have moved
with the times
and they can
provide luxury
places to stay
at some great
locations
`Fully equipped kitchens, twin rooms and en suites are now common'
Home from home
T
HINK caravans are all
about wet weekends
playing scrabble?
Well, it's time to think
again.
During the last 10 years, caravan
parks have moved with the times
and these days you are much
more likely to find top-notch
accommodation with lots of
activities nearby.
In fact, some of Scotland's static
caravan sites are proving so popular
that places are often booked up
weeks, if not years, in advance.
Being both affordable and fun,
caravanning now takes up a 17 per
cent share in the UK holiday market,
according to the Caravan Club.
Forget cold and cramped
conditions, too. Static caravans
have also been upgraded over
the years to reflect the nation's
desire for something a little bit
more luxurious.
Now you are much more likely
to find yourself in a comfortable,
modern holiday home that can
sometimes cater for as many as
eight people.
Fully equipped kitchens with
ovens, microwaves and hobs,
separate dining rooms, twin
rooms, ensuites, shower rooms,
and even verandas and decking
areas are now common in many
of Scotland's static caravan parks.
And many have gas central
heating, hot-running water,
double glazing, PVC windows,
TV, DVDs and mini bars.
What's more, caravan sites
tend to be based close to popular
attractions such as castles and
forts, golf courses, local walks,
beaches and cycle paths � making
them even more tempting for
families with young kids.
Whether you are looking for
rural retreats in amidst the
Highlands and Islands or seaside
getaways dotted along Scotland's
shores, many parks now offer
luxurious static homes that can
cater for your every need.
In areas such as Ayrshire, the
north Aberdeenshire coast, Loch
Lomond, the East Neuk of Fife and
the Colvend coast in Dumfries and
Galloway, many sites also have
plenty of facilities in park grounds.
Landscaped children's play
areas, games rooms, facilities for
the disabled,TV rooms, laundry
rooms, washrooms, toilet blocks
and barbecue areas are standard
in modern caravan parks. And
some have activities such as pony
trekking, quad biking and other
amusements to keep kids happy.
The majority of parks also
provide serviced pitches for those
who want to bring their own
caravan or motor home � providing
essentials like electrical hook-up
points for a reasonable price.
Off-season, you can stay in a
six-berth static caravan for as
little as �100 for a week. During the
summer, this can rise to about �600
or more for a large luxury caravan
in the height of the season.
But when you consider the cost
of travelling abroad � especially if
you have children to pay for and
accommodation to find � it's not
much for a week of guaranteed
family fun without the usual hassles.
So if you have family and friends
who already enjoy caravanning
and camping holidays, it's easy
enough to plan a relaxing
get-together without worrying
where you'll all end up.
However, like any holiday
destination, it pays to book up well
in advance. Because static caravans
offer so much at a reasonable price,
many couples and families return
to the same sites year after year
and book up as soon as they can.
During the school holidays,
they try to spend as much time as
possible at their favourite sites �
making competition for some
of Scotland's more picturesque
destinations quite fierce.
The annual influx of
international tourists to Scotland
means that many parks are fully
booked during the holiday season
� especially in areas like the
Highlands and Islands.
But no matter what area you
plan to discover this summer,
there's a park nearby that will be
able to accommodate your
every need.

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