Oh-so-cool motorhomes are keeping Lancashire young

A Lancashire holiday park says that the on-trend image of motorhomes is driving up the number of younger people visiting Lancashire.

Moss Wood Caravan Park near Lancaster credits the latest generation of campervans with encouraging couples and families with small children to make holidays more of an adventure.

Park employee Jess Sutcliffe says that motorhomes are in the fast land

Many, believes park director Henry Wild, have discovered that exploring the UK can provide a much more enjoyable experience than simply sitting on a foreign beach.

In contrast to a decade ago when touring caravans reigned supreme, says Henry, around half of his park’s pitches are now occupied each night by motorhomes.

They vary from budget second-hand campers to the latest super-luxury models which can cost close to £100,000 – some privately owned, and others rented for the holiday.

The chic image of motorhomes, believes Henry, is being buoyed up but their association with music festivals, film sets, and the spirit of laid-back living.

But long gone, he says, is the notion of having to endure cramped living spaces and back-to-basics facilities in order to create a holiday with ever-changing horizons.

Among the long list of refinements now on offer in modern motorhomes are full-size beds, luxury bathrooms, fully-fitted kitchens, central heating and generous living areas.

A recent analysis of over stays at Moss Wood over the past year, said Henry, revealed that average ages weren’t the only difference between motorhome and touring caravan guests:

“We found that motorhome users are more likely to make just one or two night stays on parks before re-joining the road to discover a new view to wake up to,” he said.

“Touring caravan owners, by contrast, often prefer to base themselves for all or a major part of their stay in one location, and to get to know the area in greater depth.

“Motorhome owners also tend to come from further afield, and often book their stay closer to the holiday date which perhaps suggests they are more inclined to seize the moment,” said Henry.

But one common bond between touring caravan and motorhome owners, he says, is a strong sense of curiosity about each other’s accommodation.

Inspecting the neighbour’s “rig”, often over a glass of Chardonnay, remains one of the traditional social contact points at Moss Wood, said Henry.