Don’t let the sun go down on summer: Brits are camping for longer this year 

Monday 6th September 2021

TV presenter Andy Torbet recommends his top autumn sites with The Camping and Caravanning Club

Brits are extending their staycation this year and are making the most of the chance to enjoy the great outdoors by camping for longer.

Bookings on The Camping and Caravanning Club’s network of campsites around the UK have doubled for September and October compared to what would normally be expected.

The growing popularity of camping this autumn tops off a successful summer season in which the Club celebrated record membership of more than 350,000 households – or more than 750,000 people.

The Club’s Simon McGrath said: “Despite seeing 100% growth in our Club Site bookings for September and October, there are still plenty of pitches available. The autumn is a lovely season to go camping, caravanning and motorhoming – campsites are usually quieter as kids are back at school, while the countryside colours begin to change in readiness for the winter. The plants and wildlife in autumn provides a very different backdrop on campsites while the night skies can be crystal clear for a spot of stargazing so it’s a fantastic time to consider heading to a campsite.”

The Camping and Caravanning Club has teamed up with TV presenter and adventurer Andy Torbet to reveal his five favourite campsite locations to extend your camping season.

Andy, a former paratrooper who has presented on adventure subjects for the BBC One Show and often uses his motorhome as a mobile office, said: “Getting out camping is no longer just for summer. In the past year or so we’ve all grown to appreciate nature a little bit more and taken time to live in the moment, both things that camping in the autumn can help us with. 

“It’s so hard to narrow down my favourite places to pitch up but I’ve tried to pick spots from north to south, so you can start with the russet reds and first signs of change in Scotland before working your way south to take in the oranges and browns of mid and late in the season.”

Here’s Andy’s five top locations for an autumn getaway to enjoy the changing of the seasons together with a recommended Club Site. 

1. Scotland: Cairngorms

The most northerly national park and where you can catch autumn early. Forests surround the foothills of the second, third and fourth highest mountains in the UK.

Stay at: Tarland Camping and Caravanning Club Site.

2. Yorkshire: Dalby Forest

Dalby Forest is found at the southern edge of the North York Moors National Park and boasts over 8,000 acres of woodland. The area is also a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site so you can look up at the stars and spot much more with the naked eye than you can in big cities nearby.

Stay at: Scarborough Camping and Caravanning Club Site.

3. East Anglia: Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 

This stretch of the north Norfolk coast is a mix of marshland, sand dunes and woodland with plenty of wetland areas perfect for spotting waders, geese, ducks and thrushes as they migrate north and set up home for winter.

Stay at: Sandringham Club Site.

4. West Midlands: Cannock Chase

“The Chase” is mainland England’s smallest Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with a unique ecology and contains a mix of broadleaf forest, conifer plantations and heathland.

Stay at: Cannock Chase Club Site. 

5. Wales: Brecon Beacons National Park 

The National Park is home to the second highest point in Wales and cycle routes around the shores of local reservoirs such as Talybont are much loved. At this time of year views across to the nearby Talybont Forest are stunning.

Stay at: Rhandirmwyn Club Site.

To book an autumn Club Site break visit www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/escape. 

-Ends-

For more media information or images contact:

Simon McGrath simon.mcgrath@campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk.

Andrew Robson andrew.robson@campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk.

Notes for Editors

1. The Camping and Caravanning Club is 120 years old and is the largest and oldest Club in the world for all forms of camping. It has 103 award-winning sites throughout the UK.
2. Andy Torbet is an underwater explorer, cave diver, freediver, skydiver and climber as well as professional Stuntman and BBC Presenter. He is also an enthusiastic camper, often camping on projects and adventures. Camping, and more recently motorhoming, is also a big part of his personal life and he and his family are always out in their motorhome on family adventures. He has contributed a monthly column for the Camping and Caravanning Club magazine since 2017. To learn more visit www.andytorbet.com.
3. According to the National Caravan Council, a total of 16,608 new motorhomes were registered with the DVLA in the 12 months from 1 July 2020 to the end of June 2021, an 8.25% increase on the previous record of 15,342 in the same period in 2018/2019 (pre-COVID) www.leisurevehicleshub.co.uk/2021/08/14/record-number-of-motorhomes-and-campervans-sold.
4. Get involved: for the latest news, information and inspiration from The Camping and Caravanning Club, and to engage with those who’ve enjoyed holidays with the Club, visit www.facebook.com/thefriendlyclub, www.twitter.com/campandcaravan or check out our Instagram page www.instagram.com/campandcaravan. 
5. To view the Club’s comprehensive video directory, visit www.youtube.com/thefriendlyclub.