Wild Camping

We’ve covered quite a few of the UK’s camping hotspots so far in our ‘Where to Camp?’ series of blogs. But sometimes, to really experience the great outdoors in its most natural and primitive state, wild camping is the solution.

Wild Camping is simply camping without boundaries, not being confined to the walls, rules and regulations of a campsite.

If you’ve got all or most of the facilities in your campervan then why pay for a campsite?

Granted there are many advantages to using a campsite which exclude the range of facilities, such as the atmosphere and new people you meet on site, but to really get to grips with nature, wild camping is the ultimate freedom. 

Of course, there are some legalities to get around when wild camping. In England, you must ask the permission of the land owner to wild camp, but there are many exceptions, especially if you are situated far away from a local campsite.

Most land owners simply require you to leave the site as you found it, clearing all litter, burying toilet waste, taking into consideration local wildlife, not making too much noise and keeping your stay to one or two nights.

On the other hand, in Scotland, the rich countryside is your oyster, with wild camping being completely legal, although some landowners may enforce certain rules upon their land or remain except from the law.

It’s up to you to respect landowner’s wishes in both England and Scotland as it’s more than likely you’re the one going to the toilet on their property, so maintaining a high level of etiquette and understanding is essential and you should always be prepared to leave on short notice.

Legalities aside, the benefits of wild camping are in abundance, allowing you the unrivalled freedom of pulling up your handbrake near enough anywhere and enjoy the scenery. It also allows you to make the most of your campervan, utilising each of its features rather then opting for the easy option of going to an on site restaurant or communal showers.

Not only do you get to grips with nature but you also keep costs at an all time low, not having to pay for a campsite or its facilities, leaving you extra money in your pocket to spend on important things like premium sausages and real ale.

Leisure Hubs van conversions are a great way to provide all the essentials for wild camping; our built in rain forest shower especially.

For more information about Leisure Hubs van conversions please visit our website.     

Where to Camp? Part 3

It’s easy to get into a routine, year in year out, visiting the same ‘safe’ campsite which you know and love.

Of course, this may not necessarily be your fault, campsite horror stories can be some of the worst, and nobody wants to be part of a campsite’s Nazi regime, being made to have cold showers in public, eat gruel or be harassed by noisy campers.

It’s safe to say that once you’ve experienced one bad campsite it can put you off spreading your wings, but when a campsite becomes your second home, lovely as it is, it takes away the freedom a campervan offers.

If you’ve not already upped and left the comfort of your own home for one of the amazing locations we’ve featured so far then maybe it’s time to give somewhere new a try, as there are plenty of locations across the UK desperate accommodate you.

Our latest guide covers sites which offer a more commercial setting, guaranteed to please the whole family, so you can visit safe in the knowledge that none of the sites will see you running in terror in some sort of Wickerman-esque situation.

Trewan Hall Campsite

Located in Cornwall, near Newquay, Trewan Hall Campsite is a family run business, rich with 36 acres of lustrous countryside, woodland and buildings, perfect for exploring.

The stunning scenery plays home to a huge array of activities and beautiful visuals, including a 25m heated swimming pool, live entertainment and local musicians, library and writing room with WiFi, camp shop, pool table, table tennis, computer games (ideal for rainy days) and just ten minutes from a beach, makes the site a fully comprehensive experience which has something for everyone.

Providing a modern camping service, perfect for the whole family, Trewan Hall is an amazing social experience, with organised BBQs, football matches and entertainment for adults and children a like, plenty of places to walk and explore, and facilities to entertain.

Balgair Castle Holiday Park

The outdoor swimming pool at Belgair Castle Holiday Park

Situated in the picturesque scenery of Stirlingshire, Scotland, Balgair Castle Holiday Park is a quiet getaway, perfect for those looking for a relaxing escape.

With firm site rules in place, the campsite offers a tranquil stay, best suited to families and couples looking to unwind.

The site offers a great restaurant and amenities but is a short drive away from a shop which can cause problems if you are not full stocked with essentials. 

Sandford Holiday Park

Sandford Holiday Park is the ultimate base if beach holidaying is your main focus, as it is located equidistant from plenty of great beaches.

With easy access to Bournemouth, Poole, Studland and Sandbanks, the beautiful woodland setting of the campsite leaves you spoilt for choice, and that’s before you even see what the site itself has to offer.

Yes, the site is home to a vast amount of facilities and entertainment, with everything from swimming pools and tennis courts to crazy golf and DJ workshops, perfect for kids and grown ups to enjoy.

Stay tuned for more blogs detailing Britain’s countryside, this week we’ve covered sites that are slightly more commercial, with plenty of entertainment and essentials at hand. Next week we’ll check out some wilder sites for you to enjoy your camper. 

www.leisurehubs.com

Camping Recipes

As the sun rises over the rich British countryside, the once shaded grass is gradually illuminated a vibrant green as each of the sun’s rays hits every blade, local wildlife harmonise and compliment the fresh breeze and as sleep eyed children rise from their beds, the smell of bacon and eggs cooked by mum and dad is never far behind throughout UK campsites.   

Nothing beats popping a runny yolk over white crusty bread as you tuck into the British classic each morning, stuffing yourself ready for another day of adventure in the countryside or beach but it’s no secret that touring the UK and Europe in a Campervan can often lead to a pretty poor diet. 

Being able to travel for weeks on end in a camper is an amazing experience but a diet of bacon baps, BBQs and eating out everyday is not only expensive but it can do serious damage to your body and energy levels.

Returning home from the trip of a lifetime is a rejuvenating experience, freshly enlightened by the wonders each location offered, your brain has taken a journey as well as your body and will feel healthy and content.

With the brain healthy and at peace, nothing can rapidly counteract that then looking down and noticing a severe increase in your waist line.

Don’t get us wrong, we love bacon and eggs, we would eat it for every meal if it was socially acceptable but when travelling for long periods it is important to maintain a well balanced diet, not just for the sake of your waist line but also so you can feel good while you enjoy all your planned activities.

The reason why most ‘resort’ to fatty fried foods when campervanning is that most campers only have one or two hob rings and rarely feature and oven; with a minimal kitchen to work in it’s no doubt campers run out of recipe ideas, so here’s a series of blogs to unleash your inner chef!

We understand that the standard campervan kitchen consists of just one hob so we’ll start with something highly nutritious, delicious and super easy to cook.

A stir fry is an ideal way of making use of the single ring but they’re not for everyone so why not try this versatile recipe which can be easily chopped and changed to suit your taste.

Caribbean Calalloo and Mackerel (Serves 3-4)

This recipe requires just one hob ring and minimal skill but is rich in goodness and you can optimize the ingredients to suit your taste. We love chilli and garlic so here’s our take on the recipe. 

Ingredients

2 garlic cloves (crushed)

1 red onion

2 large tomatoes

6 mackerel fillets (about 1 pack)

Chopped red chilies (to taste)

1 large tin of calalloo

Crush the garlic cloves, finally chop the onions, chilies and tomatoes and add to the frying pan with a splash of oil.

Fry until the tomatoes are soft and the flavours have infused, peel the skins from the mackerel and finally break up the fillets to bite size portions and add to the pan.

Gently stir so that the flavours combine and the mackerel takes plenty of the chilli and garlic, even add some dried chilli flakes if you like a little extra spice (we do).

Finally, drain the water from the calalloo and add to the pan. This will instantly settle the pan and you can begin slowly stirring until the calalloo has bound all the ingredients.

Simply heat and stir until the calaloo is hot (it doesn’t need to be cooked through from the tin) and season to taste.

The great thing about this recipe is that it requires next to no time, minimal preparation and can be altered to suit your taste. Don’t like mackerel? Try chicken. We like to add green vegetables such as tender-stem broccoli, trimmed beans and peas, for extra guilt free bulk.

…enjoy!

www.leisurehubs.com  

Campervan Hire

Hiring a campervan leads to a world of exploration, nothing beats the convenience and excitement of being able to pull up the handbrake, spend a day at the beach or stunning British countryside, sleep all night in the safety and comfort of a luxury camper and do the say the next day in another great location.

This kind of freedom cannot be achieved through any other method of travel or accommodation, nothing else allows you to travel and live in comfort using the same vehicle.

Of course not everyone has the space or funds to make a lifetime purchase like a brand new camper, but still love the idea of taking a van away for weeks or even months at a time.

Campervan hire is a popular market, deterring from the social norms of purchasing hotels and transport, it rolls both into one and creates a totally new experience; adventure.

At Leisure Hubs we have some of the most luxurious campervans on the market sitting outside our workshop in Birmingham, so why not let people enjoy them?

We’re offering a brand new campervan hire service which promises a premium travelling experience and a unique service for customers flying in from aboard.

For UK customers hiring a campervan is simple, after a few easy steps you can be on your travels, enjoying our stunning conversion with friends and family.

For customers overseas, hiring a camper in the UK can be a daunting process but after the legalities of international driving licenses and insurance are resolved, we offer a service which allows you to relax as soon as you land.

Situated just a short drive from Birmingham International airport, if you choose Leisure Hubs Campervan Hire, we can pick you up from the airport, hand over the keys to your new home for the next few weeks and point you in the right direction of hundreds of the UK’s best locations.

The beauty of this service really lies in the location; based in Birmingham we are equidistant from the UK’s tourist hot spots. Travelling to London then Cornwall, then Norfolk and back to Birmingham poses no problem when your starting point is central.

With all this in mind, it’s up to you get your UK tour on the way! Maybe you just want luxury accommodation at a festival with friends, take a road trip across the whole of the UK or Europe or maybe fly in from abroad and experience Britain in all its glory; whatever you decide, contact us and take the first step on the road to adventure.