Winter caravanning - is it worth it?

[Oldfogey]

I'm stirring a bit, I know, but nevertheless...

Why do you go caravanning in winter?

Financially it doesn't make sense to me. I've just returned from 2 weeks in a lovely cottage in Framlingham, at a TOTAL cost of £170, all in for 2 weeks. This would barely cover pitch fees, let alone extra fuel for 400 miles each way!

Last winter I had five seperate weeks away, in cottages or static caravans, at an average cost of under £70 per week.

I get space, warmth, unlimited hot water, no towing, no mud, etc. etc.

Am I missing something?

 

[BOING]

OLDFOGEY,please can you tell me where you get these prices from cause i would do the same as you .

is there a website?

 

[Oldfogey]

All off ebay - requires patience and flexibility, but the best deal I had was a week in Cornwall in a nearly new static for

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Good luck to you. I personally can't stand staying in hotels ,b+b's ect so caravanning is ideal. We are off to Sandringham on the 21st for 5 days and as it's a last minute thing I am even cooking Xmas dinner in the 'van.

Should be fun ;O)

Brian (",)

 

[Oldfogey]

I also dislike most hotels and B&B's (except when I had a huge suite in the top hotel in Jersey for 2 weeks at

 

[lolly_5087162]

Hi

Brian, I hope that you, Bina and the boys enjoy Sandringham at Christmas, it's fantastic. We used to live 20 minutes down the road and it's a great place.

We too are away for Christmas, (going to Chatsworth Park), looking forward to cooking Christmas lunch in the van after we have taken the dogs for a long walk round Chatsworth Estate.

Have a great Christmas, we will be thinking of you all!

Lolly x

 

[trucker]

Its great fun, snug and its ours. no lumpy B+B beds which 1000s of people have left their dead skin in ect

we are even away for xmas this year we go next Saturday and we cant wait

Happy xmas to you all

Kevin H

 

[Wendy-Norfolk]

Good luck to you. I personally can't stand staying in hotels ,b+b's ect so caravanning is ideal. We are off to Sandringham on the 21st for 5 days and as it's a last minute thing I am even cooking Xmas dinner in the 'van.

Should be fun ;O)

Brian (",)

Brian, we are going to Sandringham as well, 22nd for five nights! :O)

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Thanks Lolly,it's nice to have you back. We were at Sandringham a few months ago and it is a lovely site. Glad to see you can make it at Easter , should be a good one ;O)

Wendy, see you there you can help me cook the dinner ;O)

Please come over for a chat,

Red Ford Maverick reg no TAJ470R ,Elddis Firestorm 630 twin axle.

Brian (",)

 

[Val & Frank]

We are just back from two nights at Invercauld, some snow on the hills, but non down at site level. We had a drive up Glenshee yesterday and saw some of the most magnificent Stags. They are just on the hillside, around 30 of them with Antlers the Queen would be proud to display on the walls at Bamoral.

This wet centeral heating system is something else, it was -2 outside but really snug in the van. What did surprise us was the number of vans on the site, it must have been 65% full. Only problem is now the van needs a wash, it is filthy with all the grit etc off the roads. When we left it at the storage it was really looking very sorry for it's self, so off to clean it one day in the week.

Val & Frank

 

[trucker]

Frank whats wet heating?? I got a fire and blow air you got something different?

Kevin H

 

[Surfer]

Oldfogey, are you allowed to take your dogs and cat with you when staying in the cottage?

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Kevin,

The centeral heating system in the Van comes from the Alde 3000 boiler. It's just a system of radiators that are at floor level in the van, these are supplied with pumped hot water from the boiler, which is under the bed in our van.It runs silently so we use it on 2kw power setting at night, and just give it a boost on gas in the morning. I think a big + for this system is the timer which just works like the one on our domestic system. So if your out for the day you can set it to come on a couple of hours before you return and the van is at a pretty constant temp throughout.

Val & Frank

 

[trucker]

Frank that sounds well cool (or Hot)what van have you got to get that system in, we got one of the new vouges its a nearside fixed bed 495 model very pleased with it. going away for xmas this year and cant wait till next Saturday

Kevin H

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Kevin,

We have a Bessacarr 645 Cameo.

I think this system is fitted into quite a few vans now, but it is good !!!

You off to any place nice at Christmas?? At Invercauld quite a few vans had Lots of Lights and Father Christmas was lit up out side a few vans. It looked like a good time was brewing, along with the snow. It was bleak looking up Glenshee just like it was about to empty down with snow.

Val & Frank

 

[trucker]

Were off to a site called Dornafield near newton abbot in devon, we dont live that far away, about an hour in Tiverton. The owners have invited all who are staying to a party next saturday during the day which is nice, free as well (in the price for the week)Weve got the lights and miniture tree ready alas no santa to watch over us though, a bit over the top for us he he

 

[MalcolmL]

Hello Frank,

Saw you at Invercauld (it had to be you - Bessacar, LC and cats) but when I wandered round today about lunchtime to say hello, you had gone! We were pitched in the loop behind the toilet block.

I thought the seasonal 'vans were looking very festive. We always seem to have too many calls on our weekends to justify taking a seasonal pitch but those folk who do seem to have a good time.

Malcolm

 

[Val & Frank]

Malcolm,

You would have been more than welcome to call round, we left just before lunch. You are right we had bessie and the LC along with the cats. I thought the site was looking festive, I would think people will have a good time over the festive period!!. Did you see the Hobby that pitched next to us???. I have never seen an outfit so long with a Navara towing.

Val & Frank

 

[Val & Frank]

Kevin,

Know wonder you are not upto date with heating systems. From your part of the world you don't need it !!!. Just the odd log on the fire in deepest winter. Enjoy your Christmas I'm sure you will have a great time.

Val & Frank

 

[Oldfogey]

Ian,

It depends on the cottage whether you can take pets - some do, some don't.

The one in Framlingham did, but with no enclosed outside area it was not very suitable. Last winter we stayed in one in Cornwall that encouraged dog owners.

Don't have any pets ourselves as we are away too often, but when we get too old to travel we will probably have some chickens!

Re central heating, the Alde system has been common on narrowboats for some time, so interesting to see it turning up in caravans. My only query would be the weight penalty vs blown air?

 

[Val & Frank]

Ian,

It depends on the cottage whether you can take pets - some do, some don't.

The one in Framlingham did, but with no enclosed outside area it was not very suitable. Last winter we stayed in one in Cornwall that encouraged dog owners.

Don't have any pets ourselves as we are away too often, but when we get too old to travel we will probably have some chickens!

Re central heating, the Alde system has been common on narrowboats for some time, so interesting to see it turning up in caravans. My only query would be the weight penalty vs blown air?

Hi Oldfogey,

I think the weight is worth it. The system really is very good. It must be nice to achieve the rank of oldfogey!!! hope I am getting there !!!

Frank & Val

 

[MalcolmL]

Hi Frank, I did see the Hobby! We didn't leave until c.1500 and were home in Aberdeen before 1630. Will need to check the calendar to see when we can next get away. We have a new Oklahoma arriving in February so it may need to wait until then.

Malcolm

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi malcolm,

We also stay in Aberdeen, are you getting your new van from Dyce ??

Val & Frank

 

[Val & Frank]

Kevin,

Know wonder you are not upto date with heating systems. From your part of the world you don't need it !!!. Just the odd log on the fire in deepest winter. Enjoy your Christmas I'm sure you will have a great time.

Val & Frank

Kevin

No wonder, not know, more drink for me

val & frank

 

[MalcolmL]

We are indeed. There are so few Bailey dealers in Scotland that I don't think it's worth going elsewhere. I think we get a good enough deal. We bought our first Bailey in '95 and when we went back to trade it in in 2000, they remembered our name and where we stayed! I was well impressed. Same at JR Weir - I have an ML270 - whereas at T&C, I felt I was a complete stranger whenever I took the Discovery in for service.

Malcolm