Caravanning in style

Too posh to pitch? Caravans are enjoying a revival, with chic trailers for hire across Britain

Glamping? It’s so over. The staycation may be here to stay, but so is the British weather, and being damp and cold under canvas is never a fun experience, even if you’re in a cowhide yurt from deepest Mongolia. We Brits may have fallen back in love with the great outdoors, but the truth is that most of us crave a little warmth and a proper bed on our rural adventures.

So it’s no surprise that caravans are making such a comeback. The Caravan Club saw record levels of bookings in 2009/10, and the National Caravan Council is predicting a bumper year in 2011. 


Caravanning has come a long way from the days when it was dismissed as the holiday choice of the perennially uncool. Thanks to innovations in van design and a growing market in refurbished retro trailers, it’s got a whole new look. According to Visit Britain, 35-44 year-olds go camping and caravanning more than any other age group. And there are plenty of campsites and companies out there proving that there’s mileage in stylish holidays on wheels.

From family holidays to festivals, there’s a cool caravan out there to suit you this summer, whether your taste is for vintage chic, sleek modernism or all-out luxury. Here’s our pick of the best.

Airstreams

An icon of 1950s Americana, Airstreams are the undisputed kings of retro caravanning – gleaming aluminium capsules that have become a design classic and attracted a sizeable cult following. The ‘silver bullets’, as they’re known, were first built in the 1930s from the designs of Hawley Bowlus – the man responsible for Charles Lindbergh’s Atlantic-crossing, record-breaking plane. Celebrity owners have included Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn and Matthew McConaughey. There’s even a caravan in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Modern Airstreams are between 16 and 34ft in length and have a separate bedroom area, proper kitchen facilities, wet rooms and a unique vintage feel.

Fortunately, you don’t have to cross the Atlantic to stay in one; sites around the UK offer refurbished trailers, combining retro furnishings – think Bakelite and Fifties cocktail cool – with contemporary fixtures and fittings, and even central heating.

Where to hire one
Vintage Vacations (vintagevacations.co.uk) caravan site on the Isle of Wight has six beautifully restored Airstreams from the 1940s-1960s (from £475 per week). Airstream Camping (airstreamholidays.co.uk) in Cornwall has two vintage and two contemporary Airstreams (from £600 per week). Or escape to the tranquil Welsh countryside to stay in a 1970s Airstream at Ty Cefn Tregib (tregib.co.uk) (from £270 for four nights).

VW camper vans

Hippy vans, kombis, classic campers, call them what you will – no van has more enduring appeal than the VW Type 2 camper van. First made in 1950, the vans became synonymous with Sixties culture, brightly painted with flowers and murals. The iconic pop-up top, which allows sleeping space for four, made them ideal for families or friends to plan an affordable road trip.

Unfortunately the good old British weather has meant that a large number of the older ones have fallen foul of rust, but you can still get hold of one (or a new, modified, imported version) if you know where to look. Many companies throughout the UK now hire out VWs and allow you to plan your own itinerary. There can be no better way to tune out from the stresses of everyday life and channel that Woodstock vibe than by setting off in one of these.

Where to hire one
Hire Lola or Matilda from Devon Happy Campers (devonhappycampers.co.uk) to explore the West Country (£650 for a week). Or discover the Yorkshire Dales in a retro van from Liberty Campers (libertycampers.co.uk) for £695. Pembrokeshire Classic Campers (pembrokeshireclassiccampers.co.uk) has vans from £649 per week.

Gypsy wagons

There’s something enduringly romantic about the image of a Romany caravan; brightly painted and horse drawn, with steps leading up to the small living space inside. They are cosy rather than spacious, making these enchanting holiday homes ideal for couples. Inside, you’ll usually find them beautifully equipped with flower vases and patchwork quilts. For extra comfort, many wagons have wood-burning stoves that will keep you toasty on a cold night. Most vans that are rentable are set up with an external cabin with your bathroom and kitchen, or are part of a campsite that offers communal facilities. At Roulotte Retreat on the Scottish borders, there’s even on-site massage, yoga and beauty treatments.

Where to hire one
Gypsy Caravan Breaks (gypsycaravanbreaks.co.uk) in Somerset sleeps two on a farm (from £75 per night). Roulotte Retreat (roulotteretreat.com) has wagons with log burners (from £111 for three nights, two sharing). The wagon at Alde Garden (aldegarden.co.uk) in Suffolk costs from £75 per night.

T@bs and Teardrops

If you crave style rather than space, the German-designed T@bs are functional works of art. The two-wheelers are constructed from seamless sheets of aluminium. They’re aerodynamic, lightweight and easy to tow. Clever design allows every last inch to be put to good use. Even the smallest van can seat four adults round a table, while the largest can sleep four. All come with a washroom, heater and fridge.

Alternatively, hire a Teardrop trailer, which squeezes in a double bed, fitted kitchen and plenty of storage. It’s the most ingenious use of space since Mary Poppins’ handbag.

Where to hire one
Blackmore Vale Leisure (bmvcaravans.co.uk) can deliver T@bs anywhere in the UK (£432 for a week). Clever Camper (clevercamper.co.uk) rents Teardrop trailers in East Anglia from £95. For more information, contact the Teardrop Club of Great Britain (tcgb.org).

Motorhomes

Also known as RVs, motorhomes are the most luxurious mobile holiday homes. Winnebago is the best-known brand – its huge vans are often seen on film sets. Their size, usually around 35ft, offers a step up from conventional caravanning, and you can expect a wood-panelled interior, a spacious lounge, a kitchen with freezer and full-size hobs and double beds. They’re thirsty for fuel but for travelling in comfort, there’s nothing better.

Alternatively, a smaller type of motorhome will be considerably easier to navigate down country lanes.

Where to hire one
Drive me Baby (drivemebaby.com) can deliver motorhomes anywhere in the UK (prices on request). A 35ft trailer from winnebagohire.co.uk costs from £1,600 for four nights, plus £499 for insurance. A week in a motorhome from Freedom of Scotland (fosmotorhomehire.co.uk) costs £820.

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