Situated in the Linlithgow/Lothian area of Scotland, the site is actually run by West Lothian Council and offers good facilities at very competitive prices.

For tourers the car and caravan charge is just £16.80 per night in high season dropping to £14.70 in low season. Trailer tent guests are charged between £12.70 and £14.50 depending on the time of year. The site is well used by local caravanners and holiday makers from further afield with many Scandinavian visitors making use of its facilities.

With hard standing pitches for all caravans and motor homes this makes life a lot simpler with the caravan, although if you are planning on putting up an awning  invest in some rock pegs as the ground is very hard, numerous bent and broken pegs can litter the area for the uninitiated along with very short tempers. The sites are in circles which have room for six units; each little “hand” has its own chemical waste disposal point and refuse area for the 6 units.

The camping part of the site is set apart from the caravan area, and is a slightly sloping grass plot. There are barbecue facilities next to the camping area which are ideal if the Scottish elements are gracious enough to grant a barbecue day.

The shower and toilet blocks are very impressive. They are clean and have family rooms which consist of a single shower cubicle and toilet in a separate room, this is very handy and gives you space to get showered, dried and dressed without worrying about your clothes getting wet as can happen in other camp site showers. Shaving points and hair dryers were also available in these family rooms.

The site is situated next to a deer farm, there are lovely walks and the view is beautiful. Walkers will appreciate hiking round the deer area and around the loch which is a great venue for many water sports and is a favourite with fishermen.

For visitors wanting to go a little further afield Linlithgow is approximately a two minute drive away. Weather permitting visitors can spend an enjoyable day out, there is a small boat which takes you down the canal and back and also the magnificent ruins of Linlithgow Palace which can be visited, the charges are £5.20 for adults and £3.10 for children, and concessions are £4.10.

Close by the entrance to the site is Beecraigs Restaurant, the restaurant provides a good, varied menu and although pricey for this part of Scotland the food is good and well worth sampling.

Remember if you are planning on taking a road trip and camping at this wonderful site, you will need to make sure you have sufficient caravan insurance.

When travelling abroad in a caravan no matter how experienced the driver is and how well he knows his vehicle it is always a good idea to have a trial run out a week or so before departure. Exactly the same applies to travelling with a motor home.

Any niggles can often be spotted on the practice run and even if everything is fine, one can set off more relaxed knowing that all went well the weekend before. Personal experience last year showed how valuable this practise is and just how valuable motor caravan insurance is also.

A run to Anglesey a fortnight before a planned month long sojourn in France came to a grinding halt on the M1 when my 1996 Swift Royale Classic started emitting large clouds of black smoke and steam. Thankfully the breakdown insurance, that was purchased with the motor caravan insurance resulted in a tow back home and the local garage had a fortnight in which to make good the repairs. Fortunately the garage had looked after the motor home for years and the mechanic did his job in time for us to have quick trip out 48 hours before we set off for France.

The ferry crossing from Dover to Calais was a brilliant £54 return courtesy of P&O ferries and once Calais was reached, our Swift Royale did us proud taking us across France to the west coast at Meschers-sur Gironde, across to Confolens via Angouleme, up through the Poitiers area and then a leisurely saunter through the Loire and Sarthe valleys before paying a return visit to the Somme and back to Calais.

A huge tip for travellers in motor homes visiting France for the first time is the use of the aires rest areas, these are fantastic value. Aires are rest areas for motor homes only, where travellers can stay overnight (some allow up to 3 days) and top up with electricity, fresh water and waste water for the toilet etc. They are very inexpensive ranging from no charge to about £9 depending where you are. The aires rest areas are dotted all around France and a book called ‘All the Aires in France’ published in ENGLISH by Vicarious Books can be bought online and is an absolutely invaluable guide for a Motor home holiday in France.

Travelling abroad with a caravan is not for everyone, but it is becoming more popular. Troubles with volcanic ash and airport security have certainly contributed to the appeal of taking the family plus caravan to explore hitherto unknown areas of Europe by sea and road.

Many people choose to avoid the busy channel ports when visiting Europe, and a very popular alternative for caravanners looking for something a little different are the ports along the south coast, served by Brittany Ferries.

Brittany Ferries operate out of nine ports that offer a service to and from England. The English ports of Plymouth, Portsmouth and Poole. The French ports of Cherbourg, St Malo, Caen and Roscoff. Cork in The Irish Republic and for tourers fancying a bit longer on board, the Spanish port of Santander is also an option.

Travelling out of England, caravanners have six options, they can travel to two destinations from Plymouth; Roscoff in France, a journey of about 6 hours, or Santander in Spain, which is a much longer journey of about 20 hours. Unfortunately to travel to Cork with Brittany ferries one must use the French port of Roscoff. There is an alternative ferry company that operates out of Swansea however.

Brittany Ferries out of Portsmouth serve four ports, three daily ferries run to Cherbourg in France, a journey of 6 hours. Caen in France is also served by three daily ferries and once again the journey is around 6 hours. A daily ferry to St Malo in France takes about 10 hours and the trip to Santander is a full day.

Poole in Dorset has a daily ferry to Cherbourg in France which is very quick, only just over 2 hours and is ideal if using a motor home.

Booking a holiday in a caravan needs to be well thought out. It can be done online and allows the trip to be built around the ferry timetables. Once you enter your party and vehicle details it is fairly easy to start looking for cheaper deals without having to keep going back to base.

It is vitally important to ensure your caravan insurance is up to date and covered for travelling abroad before setting off.

In startling figures revealed by a Government department, the number of people living full time in caravans in the UK has soared. These are not for the main part holidaymakers, but gypsies and travellers living on official and unofficial sites across the length and breadth of the country.

Figures from the Government’s official records for gypsy and traveller population index shows, that in 1997 the number of travellers living on sites in Britain was just short of 13,000. At the beginning of 2010 the number of people living full time in caravans had risen to over 18,000. An increase of approximately 400 caravan dwellers a year.

Many reasons are being put forward for the explosion of people choosing an alternative lifestyle but there is no doubt that both official and unofficial sites are causing rifts and tensions between the traveller communities and local residents in the areas around them.

Local residents say that in some areas, the imbalance of travellers to the incumbent population is having a detrimental effect on the area, while the travellers themselves claim they are often vilified without reason.

Lawyers are putting the Human Rights Act of 2000 as one cause for the rise in numbers of illegal sites. It is now more difficult legally and more expensive financially to evict people from land in general. The Government report also noted that travellers are buying land and putting caravans on site without planning permission. This has seen the caravan population almost treble on sites such as these, from around 800 in 1997 to 2,300 present days, and it infuriates nearby residents, who see the traveller’s tactics as an underhand way of eventually getting planning permission for land that they have bought for a pittance.

Pressure groups representing the travellers explain away the rise in population as nothing more than natural family growth. Gypsies are known to have bigger families in general than normal families.

There is no doubt that part of the growth in caravan dwellers is down to families feeling the pressure of urban life and the expensive lifestyle that goes with it. More, it seems, are deciding to sell up, buy a caravan and the caravan insurance to go with it and set off for pastures new. The freedom experience of life touring in a caravan or motor home is attracting more and more people all the time and who can blame then.

Last week saw the unveiling of Swift Caravan’s much vaunted new look for 2011, and journalists and dealers alike were not left disappointed.

In secrecy more akin to a government surveillance department rather than caravan manufacture, Swift had kept their new model designs under close wraps. No-one was allowed even a peak before the official unveiling, although one intrepid soul did manage to get a few long range shots of the caravans and displayed them on a caravan website the day before.

The four new updated tourer caravan models were presented to the world from an event at Cottingham, near Hull last Thursday, and it must be said the ballyhoo surrounding the unveiling was well justified. The four models, namely the Sterling Eccles and Elite with the Swift Conqueror and Challenger are dramatically different.

All four models have a significantly different exterior profile and all have superior interior design to their predecessors, but the really striking difference is the panoramic sunroof. The window seemingly sweeps up from the nose of the caravan and envelops itself around the roof. The shading is black and provides a stark and sporty contrast to the brilliant white of the rest of the caravan. Inside one gets the feeling of being in the cockpit of a plane as you really do get a panoramic view of your surroundings. The sunroof comes as standard on the Conqueror and Elite models and can be fitted as an extra on the other two. It would be difficult to envisage anyone shelling out the money for a new Swift, purchasing their caravan insurance and not going the extra mile to add the sunroof, it is that striking.

Other improvements that feature on the new models include low energy LED lighting, the lighting itself now being concealed above the lockers, iPod and mobile phone recharging stations, mains panel with a 12v socket, two extra mains sockets and TV Ariel socket. The main idea inside seems to have been ease of access. The microwave has been lowered slightly, the table top mechanism improved and the door bin made slightly bigger. The vinyl floor covering has been upgraded as well.

In all, there will 8 new models of the Swift Challenger and Sterling Eccles and 5 new types of Swift Conqueror and Sterling Elite. Prices will be announced on the first of September with the public invited to view the range from the 4^th and 5^th of September.

Motor home and caravan enthusiasts should be getting ready for the UK motor home and caravan fair to be held at Newark Showground, in Nottinghamshire.

The event will take place on the weekend of September 4^th and 5^th and is a must for caravanners all over Britain. This year the fair promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with trade stands selling everything the camper could wish to buy.

There will be two giant indoor exhibition halls as well as an outdoor section. A craft fair will also be on site.

New and used caravans, accessories, essentials and spares will top the list for many, but there is a whole lot more on offer.

Water and waste systems, towing equipment and reversing aids will prove popular buys, and for inside the van, stands will provide opportunities to buy cleaning agents, refrigeration, cooking and other kitchen requirements. Assorted gadgets and portable satellite systems will also be available for the discerning customer.

Outdoor clothing stands will attract plenty of attention with the autumn and winter months approaching, and sales of outdoor furniture should attract discounts now the summer is behind us.

Just looking at the above list makes one realise how much valuable equipment is tied up in a caravan, providing a compelling reason to secure caravan insurance.

Day tickets for the show are £5 for adults (if pre-booked) and children under 14 go free. Fido the dog is welcome so long as he is kept on a lead at all times. For tourers wishing to make a weekend of it, a pre-booked weekend ticket costs £35 (this covers two adults) pay on the day costs £45. The camping is on-site, and the booking fee includes admittance to top class entertainment on both Friday and Saturday evening. All camp facilities come with the booking fee.

For those wanting to take a stroll around Newark town, there is a complimentary shuttle bus service at the weekend. Newark certainly has enough interest to pass a pleasant morning exploring. The historic market place and Newark Castle are both worth seeing. The gardens in the castle are very pretty and the ruined walls of the castle create a perfect backdrop for the herbaceous borders and trees.

Disabled badge holders with weekend passes will have a dedicated part of the site allocated to them, and there will be a disabled car park for day visitors.

If you’re serious about Caravanning, then you’ll probably believe that a good caravan is money well spent. Should that be the case, then this caravan will probably appeal t0 you.

The Pegasus 514 comes with a very impressive list of equipment as standard and cutting edge body construction, as well as low body weight. Made of a world class strength alu-tech material, the manufacturers claim the caravan is so strong it would be able to withstand the weight of a family sized saloon car on its roof.

Bailey offer a ten year body warranty on the Pegasus, which is something that has yet to be matched by any other manufacturer. One of the reasons they can do this is because the frame has no wood and less joints, using this technology goes a long way to stop leaks and damp. The Bailey 514 has a water tank, aluminium windows and insulated pipe runs, which help to keep the heat inside the caravan in the colder UK months; all of this makes it a great all year round caravan. They have also included an alarm and tracker system should anyone try and take the caravan away from the owner, a definite plus when it comes to getting caravan insurance.

Stepping inside is like stepping inside the TARDIS, as the extra space is instantly recognisable. This has been achieved by increasing the headroom, which is now a very impressive 6’5” throughout the entire caravan. The unique body shell also allows extra room at the front giving a bigger lounge, and a window shelf which is big and wide enough to hold a television, or a digital music system.

The Pegasus is a 4 berth caravan, the side bunks are made up in the usual way and the main bed is huge thanks to their being no chest in the centre, and this is made up simply using the pull-out bases. The lounge has standard seating with good seat support which makes the room comfortable and ambient. Lighting is okay but could be much better. As for the side lounge, well the seating is not as good as the main lounge. The seats are too upright and only really suitable for short periods, and the table can be awkward.

The kitchen however scores well; it has a good sized sink with impressive work space and storage. Anyone who loves cooking cannot fail to be impressed with the hob and its choice of small and large burners. A 115 litre fridge along with a detachable full width freezer compartment is more than adequate, and a microwave oven makes the kitchen complete.

The washroom has lots of space, the shower is large and the electric-flush Thetford C250 toilet has adequate legroom. It has a huge wardrobe with shelves giving enough room to store all clothes away. Outside storage is good as well, thanks to the wet lockers on either side of the gas locker.

At just over £16,000 the Pegasus is more expensive then a family car but far cheaper than a family home. Make sure caravan insurance is purchased as it could be an expensive mistake to ignore the need for protection. The Pegasus is also an award winner, gaining recognition from leading industry observers, plus repeatedly impressive showings in surveys carried out by independent firms on both quality and reliability.

Bailey has also improved its reputation for market leading value for money caravans after announcing a price freeze on their Pegasus and Olympus new season models. This means that the recommended retail prices for these caravans will remain unchanged from current levels going into the 2011.

This year the number of people taking a driving holiday in Europe has increased, and many will love the unrivalled flexibility and freedom that a holiday with a caravan brings. It is much more comfortable than camping in a tent and is much cheaper than staying in a guest house or hotel. However, taking a caravan to Europe is not as straight forward as you may think. It is certainly not just a case of ‘coupling’ the caravan to the car and setting off.

Before departure, make sure that the caravan is fully functional. Chances are the caravan will have been static for a fair amount of time, because of this it is not the best idea to take it out onto the road without giving it a service. It is vital that the brakes and tires are checked to make sure they are in good working order.

If the caravan is large, some extended wing mirrors will need attaching to the car before setting off on the long journey.

If it’s the first time a caravan has been taken out on the road, a good idea is to  practice the ‘coupling’ and ‘uncoupling’ of the caravan to make sure this will not be a problem during the holiday. Even more vital is to ensure that the drivers are fully competent at reversing. Reversing a caravan is a much more difficult manoeuvre than backing up a car, it is absolutely vital to practise this skill. Also check that the towing vehicle is in good working order, towing a caravan can be dangerous if the equipment being used isn’t up to the job. Check the towing cars handbook to confirm the maximum towing weight and always factor in a margin of slack. Most experienced tourer’s work on the 85% rule.

Make sure that everything is covered by insurance. Caravans today are not cheap, so having caravan insurance in case the worst happens is money well spent. If there is any doubt then do not go out on the road with the caravan until speaking to the insurance company. It would be bad enough having an accident in the United Kingdom and finding out the caravan is not insured. If it happened in Europe the ramifications could be much worse. Caravan insurance is an essential purchase and it does not cost a fortune, if all the required security measures have been taken then great savings can be made.

With the above checks carried out you can set off on holiday without having to worry. Driving a car with a caravan will require more knowledge and skill than driving a car on its own. Remember to allow for the greater length when entering traffic. Also allow for a longer stopping distance and stick to a gap of at least 60 metres from the vehicle in front.

There are few healthy pursuits as enjoyable as cycling.  Whether you’re a fan of leisurely river-bank meandering or racy downhill slalom riding, biking can make for a brilliant holiday.  What better base for your biking holiday that your caravan, parked up in a scenic spot?

Biking holidays and caravan holidays are, in fact, perfect partners.  Many sites are actually specifically set up to cater for those wishing to park up, hop on a bike and ride out.

Firstly, you’ll need to get your bikes to your chosen spot.  There are a number of options for doing this.  If you and your family are regular bikers, you may well already own a rack which fits on to your car.  Roof racks for bicycles are ideal for caravan-biking holidays; you won’t even notice the difference when you’re driving.  If you’re thinking of getting one of these fitted, make sure it’s done securely, and ensure that all bikes are properly tied down before you hit the road.  The great advantage of this fixture is that you can still drive away from the site with your bikes when you arrive, giving you greater flexibility about location.

Unfortunately, if your existing bike rack attaches to the back of your car, you may experience problems when towing your caravan.  Users often report problems when attempting to connect everything up for travel, even if – technically – the two should fit together.

Thankfully, there’s an excellent solution – and probably the ideal option if you don’t already own a bike rack; purchase a purpose-made caravan bike rack.  These fit directly to the back of your caravan and are adjustable to fit the specific design of your vehicle.  Best of all, you won’t be able to notice the addition at all when you’re on the road.

Of course, another option is to pack the interior of the caravan with your bikes.  Whilst this is entirely possible, you should always take great care to tie the bikes down so that they do not move about and cause damage on route.  Consider, too, that after a trip out on the hills your bikes might end up a fair bit dirtier than at the start of your holiday, which might end up spreading throughout the caravan on the way home.

Once you’ve arrived, look out for cycle maps, routes and paths around the site.  It can be great fun to follow the suggested routes, but if you’re feeling adventurous then ask the locals where to head for their personal tips on the best routes and spots.  Be sure to take parts, spares and first aid equipment, and keep a good extended stock back at your caravan in case you need to make any repairs at the end of the day.

Even on friendly and secure campsites, theft is always a risk.  If you transported your bikes on a rack, make sure to lock them back up and to lock the rack itself down.  If not, ensure that you lock everything down carefully to another secure anchor point.

For those who don’t fancy taking bikes with them, many campsites even hire out bikes by the hour or the day, or will be able to recommend local bike hire shops.  This removes the hassle of taking bikes with you, and ensures that you’ll find good routes nearby.

Whatever the style of caravan holiday you decide to take, it’s always advisable to purchase good quality Caravan Insurance before you leave.  You’ll be ensured the peace of mind you need to enjoy your holiday fully.

For many unfortunate reasons, caravans are often at high risk from fire.  Owing to the size of standard caravans, any fire is likely to cause major problems as it would not take long for the entire vehicle to become engulfed.  Minimizing this risk, then, should be a priority task for any caravan user.

Thankfully, newer models of caravan are usually designed with fire-safety in mind, and are therefore built from fire-retardant materials and fitted with safety features.  Older caravans, however, can be constructed from extremely flammable materials, and are not necessarily designed with fire precautions in mind.

Likely causes of caravan fires range from the obvious to the more subtle.  Of course, cooking, smoking and using candles are all possible fire hazards.  Other ignition possibilities include faulty wiring, convection heaters or hairdryers – all of which could ignite flammable materials nearby if left unnoticed.

So what precautions can you take to minimise the risk of fire in your caravan?

Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, pay close attention to any naked flames you light in your caravan.  Although this piece of advice seems obvious, it might be tempting to leave your pot of water boiling on the stove while you nip out to the toilet.  Remember that it takes only seconds for a fire to escalate to an uncontrollable level.  In particular, if you use heaters, hairdryers or other potentially hot appliances, do not leave them anywhere near to flammable materials and pay attention to their safe use.

In addition to these standard precautions, it is also highly advisable to put your caravan though professional electrical and gas inspections regularly.  These inspectors will be able to spot any potential problems and alert you before they become an issue.  If any problem is found, get it fixed straight away to make sure you eradicate the threat.   Gas cylinders should be checked and, if necessary, changed.

With limited space, fire precaution equipment can seem like an unnecessary addition to your caravan’s stock.  However, the only way to stop fire spreading through your caravan – should one start – is to quell the fire source immediately.  Fire blankets and small extinguishers do not need to take up vast amounts of space, but can end up saving your entire caravan from going up in flames.

Even if your caravan is specifically designed with fire precaution in mind, new additions such as furniture or appliances can add risk to the caravan.  Check the standards which your caravan conforms to, and also check the standards followed by any additional extras you bring into the vehicle.  This can be a particularly important factor to remember when travelling abroad, as some of the stringent British standards are not necessary for foreign markets.

Clearly, preventing any kind of damage to your caravan has to be the first priority.  Even if it means spending some extra time, or compromising some indoor space, it’s far better to minimise the risk than to take a chance.  However, unfortunately it is never possible to completely eradiate risk, so in addition to all your precautions, make sure you’ve taken out Caravan Insurance too.