Wales is the perfect place for short and weekend activity breaks. The stunning scenery in such locations as the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Park will take your breath away, and the countryside has so much to offer that every member of the family will find something that appeals to them.

The impressive range of activities on offer means that families can spend some real quality time together while they are here. There are leisurely walks, through to mountain climbing and kayaking and everything you could imagine in between. If you live close enough to take a day trip, check out online what is available and make the most of those days off.

If you have a yearning to experience an extremely active break in a spectacular setting then head off the Snowdonia National Park and sleep in a Mongolian inspired yurt. These round, canvas tents come ready furnished and are available in all sizes so whether you are a couple or a family group there will be a yurt to suit your needs. While here you can try many activities with horse riding, cycling, mountain biking, kayaking and sailing just being a few of those on offer.

This is the ideal place to come if you have lively children or adventurous teenagers, or just if you yourself fancy an adrenalin rush. That’s not all there is to offer at Snowdonia National Park however, as there are many more sedate activities available, and a stroll through the stunning terrain of a gentle cycle ride will appeal to every age. If the latter appeals to you, try the Mawddach Trail that leads to the picturesque George III pub.

Another enjoyable experience is the Snowdon steam train as is a leisurely perusal of the local visitors centre. If a wild and romantic experience is more to your liking, why not stay in a real Romany caravan with a stunning backdrop of the Black Mountains. Alongside the caravan you will have a cabin that is complete with a bathroom and kitchen, but you will want to spend as much time as you can in your unique lodging.

This is the perfect break for a couple, or those with one child. You cannot tire of the stunning picturesque scenery around you, and there are loads of day trips you can take too into the many fascinating local villages and towns that are within the vicinity.

One of these is the picturesque Abergavenny, which has a rich history that is evident in its local fortresses such as the White Castle and Raglan Castle. These are well worth exploring as are many beautiful gardens and parks that are perfect for spending a relaxing afternoon.

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Caravan holidaying is all about optimising your enjoyment while minimising the costs.  There should be no exception when purchasing your static home itself and this article has been authored to point you in the right direction of finding the very best deal for you and your family.

Buying directly from a holiday park is the best way to get value for your money in terms of the accompanying park facilities.  Family holidaying at these parks can be great fun as there are specific play areas for children, swimming pools, entertainment and lots more to provide a temporary sanctuary for the adults whilst on holiday.  Still, there a number of steps to selecting a gem from the wealth of static homes for sale across the UK:

Brand New vs. Pre-loved

There is nothing like a brand new, untouched caravan home.  Unfortunately these can sometimes come at a high price, especially now as more and more homes come fitted with elaborate extras (e.g. built in plasma TV).  However, there are very reasonable finance options available from the major holiday parks and taking the time to visit these could result in you acquiring a luxurious static home for a suitable price.

Second-hand caravans can be much cheaper alternatives and some ‘nearly new’ options offer minimum sacrifice in quality and provide excellent value for money. Be sure to inspect pre-owned caravans thoroughly to ensure everything is in good working order.

Your holiday home should be completely stress free, so many would suggest buying a brand new static home if possible to ensure piece of mind.

Free Roam vs. Secure Home

The location can be the making of your caravanning holiday.  Select from the best holiday home parks and ensure the facilities match your needs.  Equally, question if you are able to relocate your caravan to another site.

There are benefits to being able to move your caravan from one site to another, although situating your caravan in one quality spot you can open the gateway to lucrative subletting options.  Instead of leaving your beloved holiday home dormant whilst you’re not there, rent it out to fellow caravan holiday lovers who will maintain your caravan and keep it fresh until the summer (or whenever you prefer to holiday).  The profits from this could also dramatically elasticise your budget.

Budget

Explore the finance options available, browse the online catalogues of nearly new caravans and weigh up the value for money of caravans for sale from the different holiday parks.  Be honest with your budgeting and remember the accessible renting opportunities, which can actually be very profitable as holidaying in the UK continues to grow in popularity.

Small Print

Finally, the serious stuff – licensing agreements.  The holiday park owner will require you to sign an agreement with them which stipulates your rights and the terms of the contract.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions at this juncture but make sure you read everything on that paper.

The major holiday home parks are extremely trustworthy and can be identified by their credentials – check to see if they are BHHPA certified (80% of UK parks have this qualification).

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For those interested in camping it may, or may not, come as a surprise that the amount of tents on offer is surprisingly large. With everything from festival tents to family and mountaineering tents there is something suitable for all needs. So what are the features of different tents and what do they offer campers?

With such a wide selection of tents it can be hard for those new to camping to understand the differences between different models. Tents are often designed for specific purposes and situations, enabling them to offer more targeted features and services, making them a highly variable item.

Mountaineering Tents

These tents are designed to be strong and durable, offering increased protection for those intending to camp in exposed areas which are subjected to harsher weather conditions. Whilst their primary function is to offer support and protection during winter months or camping expeditions to places such as Mount Everest, they will also be suitable for summer camping holidays as well.

Backpacking Tents

Backpacking tents offer ultimate design features within lightweight and easy to assemble casings. The whole intention of a backpacking tent is to provide users with a reliable and easy to assemble shelter. Backpacking tents are designed to be erected and deconstructed everyday and need to be lightweight in order to be carried during expeditions.

Festival Tents

Simplicity and style are the two words which sum up festival tents. These are designed to offer affordable, temporary shelters to those set to enjoy large camping events such as festivals. A number of varieties will be on offer, many of which will be classed as cheap tents – offering functionality alongside affordability. Festival tents are designed to be easy to assemble so that you can get on with enjoying the event. Colourful or luminous guy ropes are often included with the tent to make it easier to spot on large camp sites.

Pop Up Tents

Perhaps the simplest form of tent structure, pop up tents does exactly what the name suggests. These tents are some of the most versatile available and are used for a number of events – such as camping in the back-garden, festivals and summer holiday camping.

Single Birth Tents

Designed for the solitary man, single birth tents offer comfort and protection for those enjoying festivals or holidays. These tents will be large enough to accommodate a single person and will have some extra room for the storage of equipment and clothes etc. Alternatives to single man tents are bivis, a smaller tent structure that is more resembles a sleeping bag and provides warmth and protection for campers. Bivi’s are especially popular with mountaineers and those on expeditions.

Family Tents

With an increased birth capacity of six to eight people, family tents often offer luxurious comfort to its campers. The interior will often be compartmentalised to offer separated spaces for living and sleeping and multiple doors and storage pockets will also be common features.

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Geologists are also interested in the area because of Barrowdale Volcanic rocks and Skiddaw Slate that dates back over 500 million years. The features in the area came about during the glaciation where a U-shaped ice covered valley in the earth. This area is great for holidays that are for walking in the UK where you are able to explore this ancient place.

The dampest part of the UK is where the Lake District is located, with mid-summer temperatures reaching15C during the day with this being ideal for hiking in the UK. You do not need extra jackets nor will you stress from exercising in high heat.

The area in and around Lake District National Park is home to loads of wildlife and there are a number of protected animals with many species that are indigenous to the area. A walking holiday gives you the chance to see the wildlife not see anywhere else.

There are pathways along the lake to walk on and you can stop to see red squirrels as they scamper by. The only pair of golden eagles in England is found here, and maybe you will be lucky enough to get to see one.

For the botanists in the group there are two extraordinary flowers here, the Butterwort and Sundew flowers that native to England. The plants eat insects by luring them and trapping them which gives them the majority of their nutrition.

Below the waters in the lake there are many interesting things as well with at least three endangered fish species in the lakes. The Vendace is in the waters of Derwent and Bassenthwaite; the Artic Charr is in Coniston Water, Buttermere and Ennerdale and the Schnelly is in Red Tarn, Haweswater, Brothes and Ullswater.

The famous author of children’s books, Beatrix Potter, lived in Hill Top Farm where she received inspirations for a number of her stories of the area. Look out for Peter Rabbit you may just see him bobbing through the undergrowth.

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Caravan holidays were once thought of as cheap home alternatives to the more so called glamorous holidays in hotels or resorts. In recent years the industry has adapted itself to offer an amazing experience and in return has raised the public image of the caravan holiday ten fold.

You can expect exceptional entertainment every night and have the use facilities such as swimming pools, golf courses and even wireless internet connections included with your caravan holidays. With all of this in mind it’s proof that the caravan holiday is becoming a very attractive offer to holiday makers of all ages because of its value for money. Just like hotels and guesthouse rooms there are many different types and sizes of static caravan types available to holiday makers with inclusive extras to add to their luxurious feel.

Staying in a caravan can give you a greater sense of privacy and often they are situated within scenic locations with wonderful views around the local areas.  Most people see caravans as a home away from home rather the anonymous feel of a hotel or guesthouse room, this being the reason so many people return to the same site year after year for their family holidays.

Once you decide to try a caravan holiday you can be assured of being so impressed with the experience that you will never want another type of holiday!

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Beat the credit crunch in 2009 with Red Funnel’s exclusive camping packages to the Isle of Wight. Packages start from just £26 per person for four sharing (plus up to two dogs!) and include return Ferry travel with Red Funnel and five nights’ pitch. Choose from four award-winning four and five star campsites set in stunning locations, all of which have won awards in recognition of their green credentials.

The Isle of Wight is the perfect destination for a family holiday or a cosy get-away, with gorgeous scenery to explore, restaurants and shops selling fresh local produce and a packed events calendar. Whatever the weather, there are over 60 great places to discover, from Carisbrooke Castle and its famous donkeys, to Amazon World, the indoor rainforest experience. Plus, you can buy tickets to seventeen top Island attractions from Red Funnel, many of which are available at a discount.

Each of the four holiday parks has fantastic facilities and its own unique appeal. Choose from Appuldurcombe Gardens Holiday Park in Wroxall, Waverley Park in East Cowes, Whitefield Forest Touring Park on the outskirts of Ryde and The Orchards Holiday Park in Newbridge. Visit www.redfunnel.co.uk/camping for more information.

Packages include a standard pitch at your choice of park, including electric hook-up if required, and travel with Red Funnel from Southampton to East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, for a car and tent, car and trailer-tent, car and caravan or motorhome. A 10% discount voucher at Southampton’s Towsure store is included with each confirmed booking.

To book or request a copy of the Camping, Caravan & Motorhome leaflet call 0844 844 2688 or visit www.redfunnel.co.uk/camping

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2008 was a record year for UK site bookings for The Caravan Club, and advanced bookings for the 2009 season are up by 40% on the previous year. A massive 50,623 bookings were made in five days alone during December with Club members planning and booking their holidays for 2009.

Nearly 55,000 households joined The Club in 2008 and 1,311 families joined in December alone. The Club represents the interests of one million caravanners, motor caravanners and trailer tenters.

The Caravan Club offers a choice of some 3,000 destinations UK-wide and people are making the most of this choice and ensuring their bookings are already made for the 2009 holiday season.

Quarterly travel and tourism figures released by the Office of National Statistics show that the number of visits abroad by UK residents was down by 6% for the three month period between August and October 2008 compared with the previous quarter; and in a recent survey by VisitBritain, the majority said they would consider British holidays.

Caravanning is the most popular paid-for holiday option, with a 19% share of the market – second only to staying with friends and family. Although the UK offers many different options for those wishing to holiday here, records show that in the previous 12 months, sales of caravans and camping accessories have reached levels never achieved before. An annual 10% increase in membership applications for The Caravan Club at October’s International Caravan & Motorhome Show 2008 at the NEC is indication that, despite fears of national recession, the UK’s domestic touring and caravanning industry is in great shape.

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One of the best cheap holidays you can find in the United Kingdom is a camping vacation, and there’s little wonder why – it’s affordable, it’s easy, and it can be done in your local area or as far a field as you like.  Camping is a great way to introduce young children to outdoor activities such as starting and maintaining a camp-fire, collecting firewood, pitching a tent, cooking without electricity, and even how to identify wild foods which are safe for consumption.  Camping is also a brilliant way to spend time with one another away from the distractions of television, computers and game consoles – rather than watching TV, you and your family can play a game of cards, tell ghost stories or make sweet melted creations in the coals of the camp fire.  During the day you can explore the local area on foot or if you’re nearby water you can fish, swim or go for a sail or boat ride.  All this at minimal cost!

Another great way to spend your holiday time is by challenging yourself to reach new heights of achievement.  This may mean simply getting a bit more exercise in an enjoyable way, such as going for a walk through the forest or along the shore.  It may mean finding a mountain to climb, or a challenging hiking path to explore.  You may want to try sailing, or to practice your swimming skills, or even to have a go at abseiling or rock climbing!  One of the most popular outdoor activities to partake in within the United Kingdom is golf – and of course there are a number of multi-award winning golf courses spread all over the countryside which are ideal for such a hobby.  There are so many different activities you can try whilst holidaying in the great outdoors which would simply be impossible to do whilst cooped up in the city.  The best part about such activities is that you don’t necessarily have to camp-out in order do them – you can in fact stay in the comfort of a luxury hotel, providing it’s within striking distance to the outdoor location you’re planning to visit.

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Britz is expanding its fleet of campervans, 4WDs, motorbikes and cars with the launch of its sensational new campervan, the Britz Escape, available for travel from 22 September, 2008.

The Britz Escape is the first campervan on the market designed specifically to sleep five people – in two double beds and one single bed – providing the perfect get away for the average family.

Built on the state of the art Mercedes 515, this full automatic vehicle features world class design and outstanding technology with a focus on bringing the family together. The vehicle boasts a front dinette, so passengers are closer to the driver for all the fun of family sing-alongs and car games, while safety is paramount with features to fit two baby or booster seats.

The Britz Escape showcases a range of unique design features, not available in any other Britz vehicle, such as an external storage locker for outdoor camping equipment and a fixed awning.

The single bed located at the back of the Britz Escape ensures more living space and comfort while the vehicle also features every family’s must-have for keeping children happy on the road – a TV and DVD player.

The Britz Escape comes equipped with all the standard Britz mod cons, from a fridge and freezer, microwave, gas stove, shower, toilet, air conditioning and heating, to a fresh water tank, gas bottle, power steering and a radio/CD player.

For more information on Britz visit www.britz.com.

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