Sky News recently reported that camping, caravanning, and motorhoming are enjoying a significant boom, due to the economic climate and the rise in popularity of the “stay-cation”.

Our hire figures confirm this fact, as bookings for UnbeatableHire.com are up 200% on this time last year!

In January, the industry as a whole saw a 14% increase in the number of advanced bookings compared to the same time last year, according to the Camping and Caravanning Club.

The sector is said to contribute nearly £6m to the UK economy.

A spokesperson for the National Caravan Council (NCC) said: “The caravan and camping sector has seen a rise in the number of people holidaying in the UK.

Staycations, popularised by cash-strapped Brits holidaying at home, have driven growth, as well as the growing ‘glamping’ trend.”

NCC figures show that 1.5 million people regularly take tourism caravan or motorhome holidays.

It is estimated in the UK there are 510,000 touring caravans, 305,000 caravan holiday homes and 142,000 motorhomes.

Motorhomes are increasingly popular because of the high standard & comfort of the accommodation, the fact that kids love them, and that pets can join the family on holiday too.

One of the best ways to decide if a motorhome purchase is for you is to “try before you buy” by hiring a motorhome and see how you get on.

At UnbeatableHire.com, we keep things simple by making it easy to choose your motorhome for hire … just choose from Small, Medium, or Large.

Before you take your holiday, have a look at our motorhoming tips and our holiday inspiration ideas.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

A motorhome holiday starts as soon as you turn the keys in the ignition and the journey to your campsite is part of the “unscripted” adventure.

If you have never considered a motorhome adventure, read our Top 5 reasons to choose a motorhome rental holiday >>> here.

You can find more holiday inspiration >>> here.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

This past weekend I fulfilled a long time ambition, with the help of Filmore (our motorhome) to climb Scafell Pike in Cumbria. So here are the in and outs of the trip.

Firstly Cumbria is a beautiful place to travel in, especially by motorhome as you have your ‘house’ with you at all times. But I would advise a few things first:

Don’t use a sat-nav ‘in’ the National Park, it will only get you in places you probably don’t want to be in. Familiarise yourself with the road networks before you go in. In extreme cases, where you have to stop and ask, make sure that the route people give you is capable of taking buses. If a bus can go down the road, so can you!

I’m an expert in the above, i.e getting it wrong. The first time I went into the National Park the sat-nav took me down a valley which was very picturesque. However, after patting myself on the back for cool driving on small roads, I got within 3 miles of my destination only to have to turn around and go back out the valley! Doh.

(Photo Link)

If you are heading to Scafell Pike and coming in from Barrow/Ulverston, then you should take the coast road until you get to Holmbrook, then turn in and head in towards Wasdale (the foot of the mountain). I found a charming campsite at Nether Wasdale called Church Stile Farm. It’s very smart and accommodating, pet friendly and has two great pubs/restaurants within a few yards of the entrance.

From there you can break out into the hills and mountains. Wast Water is just down the road and at the end of it is the Wasdale start to the Scafell Pike climb.

It took me about 6 hours to go up and down the mountain (cruising speed).   It’s very easy to navigate when the weather is fine, but I would be careful if the weather is not. However, should it turn nasty whilst on your walk follow the Cairns as they are evenly spaced enough to see them in the low cloud/fog. Also make sure you have a pack with the right gear in as the weather can turn very quickly.

The view from the top is as spectacular as you could, and should, expect. Well worth the effort. Take a flask of coffee and a sandwich with you and take it all in.

(Photo Link)

The way back down is relatively easy, just take your time. I would recommend using walking poles as they keep you steady and help take the strain off your legs.

When you get back to the bottom there’s a pie and a pint waiting for you in the Wasdale Head Inn.

But the best thing is knowing that you can go home to a warm motorhome, with a hot shower and clean clothes. A warm, comfy bed beckons at the end of a memorable day.  Not to mention the stunning view and fresh mountain air on your doorstep.

Motorhoming in the Cumbrian National Park is well worth the effort. The views you get are stunning, the adventures you’ll have will be memorable, but the main thing is knowing that whatever the weather you have a roof with you.

If you have never considered a motorhome adventure, read our Top 5 reasons to choose a motorhome rental holiday >>> here.

You can find more holiday inspiration >>> here.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

As thoughts turn to Summer holidays, wearing flip flops instead of snow boots, the long summer evenings, the smell of fresh cut grass mingled with the bar-b-eque, the chink of ice in your drinks instead of under your feet, and the day when you can run into the freezing sea … to cool down …, now is the ideal time to consider a motorhome rental holiday and all that it offers.

Here are our top 5 reasons to help you make your mind up:

1.  Your holiday starts just that little bit sooner:

With our depots located conveniently around the U.K., you are never very far from picking up your rental motorhome.  We like to say that “your holiday starts as soon as you turn the key in the ignition!”.  No airport checking in queues … your are on the road and on your way as soon as you pick up your vehicle!

2.  Wake up to a different view each day:

Your motorhome holiday is as individual as you are.  Choose to stay in one place or wake up to a different view each morning!  A motorhome can take you to places where there are no hotels or holiday cottages.  Fall asleep to the sound of waves on the beach or wake up to stunning landscapes.   There are no limits other than your imagination.

3.  Pets can come too:

Pets are an important part of the family and, with a motorhome holiday, they can come too!  This saves on cattery/kennel fees and your pet gets to enjoy your holiday with you.  Great for dog & cat owners who can’t bear to be separated from their beloved pets.

4. Tour with friends and family:

If you are a larger group of friends of family, why not each hire a motorhome?  You all have your own space & privacy, but can park together on campsites and enjoy the gathering.  We have different sized motorhomes for different groups – from 2 people to 7 people.

5.  Your “home away from home”:

Your rental motorhome is your personal space with loads of storage … so no 23Kg “luggage allowance” to worry about.  Turn it into your “home away from home” for the duration of your holiday.  Bring books, DVD’s, games, iPad, cards, Playstation, and stock it with your favourite food & drink to feel right at home.

You can find more holiday inspiration >>> here.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

Walk in the footsteps of King Arthur and Merlin at Tintagel, explore St. Michael’s Mount, take a day out to visit the Eden Project, or be inspired by the magical town of St. Ives!

But Cornwall is not just a traditional “bucket and spade” holiday.  The county was recently voted by The Guardian as Britain’s “new foodie capital”.

We caught up with Cornish holiday expert, Sara Cross, to find out just how “motorhome friendly” Cornwall is:

Our new Bristol Depot is the ideal place to pick up your motorhome for a foray into Cornwall, meaning that your holiday starts just that little bit sooner!

Be sure to check out BritStops to find FREE overnight stop-overs in Cornwall too!

Summer is coming and our bookings are up 200% on this time last year, so don’t leave it too late to book your motorhome holiday hire to ensure you get the vehicle you want in the location you want!

You can find more holiday inspiration >>> here.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

We took the opportunity to find out more about Alan Rogers Camping Guides … a great resource for anyone planning their motorhome adventure.

Experts in camping and caravanning since 1968, Alan Rogers write popular independent guides to the best campsites throughout Europe.

As mentioned, Alan Rogers have a free camping helpline which you can call on 01580 214 000, Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

You can find more holiday inspiration by clicking >>> here.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

We were delighted to be able to catch up with Grenville Chamberlain, Chairman of the Caravan Club, to hear his views on the rising popularity of motorhoming in the U.K.

You can find more holiday inspiration by clicking >>> here.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

With Brit Stops you can enjoy safe, welcoming motorhome stopovers at hundreds of host sites all over Britain.  And they’re FREE! What’s not to love about that?!

We asked Steve of BritStops to tell us more ….

What is Brit Stops and how did you come up with the idea?

We were inspired to create Brit Stops by “France Passion”, the original free stopovers scheme that has been running in France for over 20 years. We spent a summer touring France in our motorhome with our teenage boys and young daughter, stopping at farms, vineyards and other interesting spots, enjoying local hospitality and great fresh produce. We based Brit Stops firmly on the French scheme that is well known around Europe.

What is your mission for Brit Stops?

Our mission is twofold: to enable motorhomers to use their motorhomes in the way we believe they are meant to be used – free to roam at will; and also to promote local producers and support regional food and drink.

Free overnight stops … how have you arranged these?

We contact each of the potential hosts and explain the system to them, and of course how it can bring extra custom to their doors. The scheme is meant to be mutually beneficial to both hosts and motorhomers, so there is a Code of Conduct for our motorhome members, and Terms and Conditions for hosts. This reassures hosts that our members will not abuse their hospitality, and members that the hosts will not pressure them to buy as a condition of the stopover.

Do you think the U.K. should become more motorhome friendly and are you campaigning for that?

It really would be great if the UK could be as motorhome friendly as our European neighbours are, with aires in most towns and villages, and we do include the few British aires in our book. However we’re not a campaign group – recruiting new Brit Stops hosts takes up all our spare time!

How can people use the Brit Stops guide to get the most out of their motorhome holiday?

It really is up to them, but we love the fact that as you don’t have to book a long way in advance, you can take off for a weekend at the drop of a hat and visit somewhere a few hours away that you’ve never been before, enjoy a nice meal out (subsidised by the fact that you haven’t paid any camp site fees) and maybe stock up on farm fresh produce for the next week at home! Another way members use the scheme is to add a day to either end of their holiday, or to break a long journey.

What are your top 3 Brit Stops?

Apart from the fact that it wouldn’t be fair for us to choose, in all honesty there are so many wonderful sites in the book that it would be impossible. How do you choose between a sea food cafe on the banks of a Scottish loch, a vineyard in the Kent countryside, a small independent brewery and a pub by the riverside?

What do you personally love about motorhoming?

We love the freedom a motorhome gives you to travel. Although we’ve nothing against caravans, for us stopping on one site for a fortnight with a motorhome defeats the object of being able to up sticks at a moment’s notice and move on somewhere new. The journey and the new people we meet are the holiday for us.

What is your No. 1 tip for a happy motorhome holiday?

Go where the road takes you – and don’t forget the corkscrew!

Competition:

We have a copy of the “BritStops” Guide book to give away.

Just cut and paste this ready made up-date to your Twitter or FaceBook page to be included in the draw!

I’ve entered a #competition with @unbeatablehire to #win @Britstops Guide to free #motorhome stopovers. Enter > http://ow.ly/hSqud

You can find more holiday inspiration >>> here.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

Video reporter, Travis James, AKA The Indiana James has been travelling around the U.K. in one of our motorhomes, and sent back this report about his visit to Hadrian’s Wall.

If this blog has inspired you, you may like to read some other related material:

New Year’s Holiday motorhome ideas (from January 2012)

Top tips for taking pets motorhoming

Top tips for taking kids motorhoming

Top tips for happy motorhome holidays

Taking pets abroad – the PETS Scheme

So book your motorhome holiday now!  Our prices are the cheapest in the U.K. – Guaranteed!

Click >>> HERE.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.

Reporter David Barry was keen to discover more about motorhome holidays and spoke to UnbeatableHire’s Alastair Hilton.

See more of UnbeatableHire.com at the World Travel Market >>> here.

Meanwhile, intrepid Reporter, The Indiana James, travelled to the Nevis Range in Scotland in his UnbeatableHire motorhome to try a bit of snow ski-ing.  He sent us this report:

Feeling inspired to try a holiday with a difference?

Book your motorhome holiday now!  Our prices are the cheapest in the U.K. – Guaranteed!

Click >>> HERE.

UnbeatableHire is the U.K.’s leading rental company and we have a motorhome to suit your needs. Get in touch by visiting our website or call us on 0800 612 5654.