Caravan Sites with Farm Shops

How could you improve on a beautiful caravan site? Offer an on-site farm shop brimming with glorious local produce! Here are our tops picks. 

Kelsey’s Campsite

Kent

Kelsey's Farm 

Kelsey’s Campsite is spread over 35 acres in Kent and has been owned by the Kelsey family for over 60 years. Kelsey’s farm is perfectly positioned for easy access to the South Coast, with Dover just an hour away.

As well as the farm shop, the site offers EHU, welcomes dogs, and provides freshly prepared meals from Kelsey’s Kitchen.

The farm shop offers a huge range of home grown farm produce, meat and bread, not to mention supplies from Spitafields Market for more exotic produce.

Torworth Grange

Nottinghamshire

Torworth Grange

Torworth Grange not only offers a farm shop, but also camping, fishing and freshly cooked food, in the central location of North Nottinghamshire.

The farm shop stocks a great range of fresh produce, from meat and vegetables to bread and cakes, as well as showcasing specially selected ranges of local and national products.

The site is a Caravan and Motorhome Club CL Certified Site and is members only. All five pitches are serviced with EHU, water and waste and have beautiful views of the fishing lakes.

Perfect for a secluded getaway.

New Lodge Farm

Northampton

New Lodge Farm 

For over 100 years, the Singlehurst family have looked after New Lodge Farm. As well as the award winning farm shop, the site provides adults only plots for caravan and motorhomes. Facilities include EHU, hardstanding and grass pitches, heated facilities and no restrictions on pitching orientation.

Situated between the old market towns of Oundle, Market Harborough and Stamford, New Lodge Farm is ideal for exploring central England.

The farm shop provides good quality local produce as well as a range of delicious home cooked food to take away.

Bargoed Farm

Bargoed Farm

Wales

Bargoed Farm offers 50 fully serviced hardstanding pitches in the heart of Cardigan Bay.

The Moody Cow farm shop is fully stocked with a wide selection of local produce, as well as homemade cakes, pies, bread and quiches, and if that wasn’t enough, the onsite butcher supplies a range of different meats and cuts.

Facilities include an award winning toilet block (winning Loo of the Year in 2019), private hot tubs on selected pitches, a custom built dog wash and a washing machine for your use.

Denfurlong Farm Caravan Site

Cotswolds

Denfurlong Farm 

Chedworth Farm Shop sits amongst Denfurlong Farm Caravan Site in Gloucestershire. The farm shop offers local, seasonal produce, freshly baked bread, dairy produce and a range of free range meat.

The site is a dark sky site which means that there are no lights apart from by the shower block. This means that you get a spectacular view of the stars at night.

EHU is available, as are washing facilities, elsan disposal, and drinking water.  The site is pitch anywhere so you can choose exactly where you want to be.

The Mile Campsite

Yorkshire

The Mile Campsite

With beautiful views of the Yorkshire Wolds, The Mile Campsite offers camping for caravans and motorhomes on hard standing pitches with EHU, free Wi-Fi, washing facilities and chemical toilet disposal points.

The farm shop stocks all the essentials, plus specialist produce from around Yorkshire, and an extensive range of local gin and beers.

There are hundreds of caravan clubs out there, offering great benefits, events, rallies and discounts. Whilst there are far to many to mention in detail, here are a few of the top clubs you can join.

The Camping & Caravanning Club

• Over 100 club sites
• 30% off club sites
• Discounts at attractions, caravanning equipment, motoring services
• Over 1300 exclusive small sites
• European sites and tours
• Members only social events and meets
• Technical advice & support

From £41/year

The Caravan & Motorhome Club

• 2700 sites in the UK and Europe
• Discounts at club sites
• Savings at 900 UK attractions, services and products

From £54/year 

Historic Caravan Club

If you’re interested in vintage or classic caravans, this is the club for you. With the aim of promoting the preservation and use of vintage and classic caravans, this club organises rallies, encourages the rescue and restoration of old caravans, and provides a bi-monthly magazine.

From £25/year 

International Caravanning Association

The main aim of the International Caravanning Association is to encourage international caravanning in all parts of the world by all nationalities.

Members can join rallies throughout the world, receive a regular magazine and get access to the members only area of the website.

From £20/year

The British Caravanners Club

This club is a section of The Camping & Caravanning club (of which you must be a member to join this group) and welcomes tents, caravans and motorhomes.

Each area group is run by a committee of its own members who run all their own meets. If you’re looking for a smaller, more personal club, this could be the one for you.

You’ll need to be a member of the Camping & Caravanning Club first, which costs from £40/year. This club will then cost you £5/year.

Caravanning Etiquette

You'd think it would just be common sense, but given the number of grumbles we found when writing this blog post, it would seem that some need a reminder about how to behave on caravan sites!

Image via pngkey.com

Here are our top tips to ensure you don't get in trouble on your next caravan holiday.

• Try to resist waking across someone else’s pitch as a shortcut. After all, you wouldn't want people cutting through your back garden.
• Shouting, loud music or dogs barking continuously is a no-no. Whilst you may be enjoying Queen's Greatest Hits, your neighbours might not.
• Leaving rubbish outside your caravan is not only is this eyesore and potentially smelly, it’s likely to attract vermin.
• Don’t tip hot water onto the grass. That lovely green pitch won't be around for the next residents.
• TVs in awnings – will it really come as a surprise that an awning is not soundproof! Be mindful that your neighbours may not want to listen to your preferred boxset with you.
• Keep to the speed limit on roadways. Whilst this is primarily for the safety of pedestrians, it'll help to keep noise levels down too.
• Clean up after yourself – your pitch, toilets, laundry and washing up facilities. No-one wants to find a leftover bit of pasta in the sink. 
• Kids will undoubtedly be loud and excited when they’re on holiday, but not all your fellow campers will want to hear their glee. If you’ve got children, try and help them understand they need to keep the volume down.

Caravan Vloggers

There's a huge amount of video content available on You Tube for caravan and motorhome lovers.
We've collated some of our favorite vloggers.

The Trudgians

Caravan reviews, DIY tutorials, holidays and product reviews. This Wiltshire family has a wealth of content which is both entertaining and useful.

Popular vlogs include How to Set a Caravan Up On Site, Cleaning a Caravan Roof, and How to Level a Caravan.

Caravan Vlogger

Mandy and Graham started cavaranning in 2006 and now travel throughout the UK and France, documenting their travels, reviewing products and making useful ‘How To’ guides.

Caravan jockey wheel comparisons, getting a ferry from Dover to Calais with a caravan, caravan buying guides and sites are all compiled on their website and YouTube channel here .

Make Way with the Morleys

A family of five from the West Midlands who share their adventures throughout Europe and the UK, as well as reviewing caravan sites, caravan equipment and even crème egg challenges!

The Camping & Caravaning Club

This regularly updated channel includes a ‘How To’ series, caravan motorhome and accessory reviews, camping recipes and site tours. Whether you’re a beginner, a seasoned pro, or a member of the club or not, this channel with keep you occupied for hours!

(Get Your) Legs Down

We’ve been a fan of the blog for ages, and the vlog is just as good. The site arrival videos are particularly useful, as are the site tours and there is travel inspiration aplenty. Head over to the Legs Down blog for more.

Bailey of Bristol

The Bailey of Bristol vlog does include plenty of Bailey caravan content, but there is also a wealth of useful information for new and experienced caravanners. From the grand Bristol to Bosphorus tour, to beginner’s guides and Tow Car of the Year updates, this channel is worth subscribing to.

Poshcats Camping

Trev and Sue travel with UK and further afield with their Swift motorhome all year round, and have over 35 years’ experience with both caravans and motorhomes. Expect travel tips, ideas, site reviews, days out and more.

Next Stop Everywhere

Claire and Sam travel throughout Europe and the UK recording their adventures, as well as reviewing all the latest caravans and motorhomes. Highlights include the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, a Christmas trip to Amsterdam and a drive across the Outer Hebrides. You can also follow then on Facebook and Twitter.

Caravanning with the Cox’s

The Cox’s are a Somerset based family who are weekly vloggers, sharing their travels, tips, advice, repairs and general updates. For a wealth of useful information and entertainment, including caravan recommendations, a trip to Glastonbury, and how to use a motormover, make sure you subscribe!

What Do I Need To Start Caravanning?

Towing License?

First things first, you’ll need to check when you passed your driving test. If it was before 1 January 1997 you’ll be able to tow. If it was after that date, you’ll only be able to drive a vehicle up to 3500kg and a trailer (caravan) up to 750kg behind it. So, if you want to tow a heavier caravan you’ll need to pass an additional test. For more information, head over to the Camping & Caravanning Club information page.

Towbar

Choose the right towbar for your car. To do this, check manufacturer’s websites (Witter, Westfaila, AL-KO) to find one suitable for you.

Caravan Hitch Lock

Security

There are various devices on the market which can help to protect your caravan.

• Hitch lock
• Wheel clamp
• Alarm
• Tracker
• CRiS

Check out this useful guide to Caravan Security Devices for more information.

Insurance

Your car insurance will usually provide third party cover for towing your caravan, so would cover any damage to other cars if you had an accident. However, you would have to pay for any damage to your caravan, so make sure it’s protected against accidents, breakdown and theft with adequate insurance.

Caravan Awning

Awning

Extend your living space with a caravan awning. Our guide to caravan awnings may help you choose.

Motor mover

Caravan motor movers allow you to easily manoeuvre your caravan into position whether that be into a driveway, storage or touring pitch, or even hitching up. This guide gives more information.

Water Carrier

You’ll need to have a container suitable for collecting water to bring back to your caravan. An Aquaroll is a great option which can be rolled along the ground.

Caravan Water Container 

Water Pump

Connect your Aquaroll to your caravan taps with a waterpump. Popular brands are Whale and Truma.

Waste Water Container

Waste water, or ‘grey’ water needs to be collected by a waste water container, which plugs into your caravan waste drain points. Wastemaster is a popular brand.

Leisure Battery

Whilst most campsites will provide EHU (electric hook up), it’s still useful to invest in a leisure battery so you can power your fridge, heater and lights. There are several types of leisure battery, and all have their pros and cons, so make sure you do your research before you purchase. This guide to leisure batteries is very useful.

Gas Bottle

Power your fridge, heating, gas cooker and shower with gas. Bottles are typically butane or propane and come in 6kg or 7kg bottles. Butane gas is ideal for the summer months, but for winter, propane is better as it’s unlikely to freeze in cold weather.

Electric Hook Up Mains Lead

Mains Lead

To connect to an EHU, you’ll need a mains lead which costs around £50. Make sure it has an IP44 rating which indicates the level of protection given to sockets from water penetration.

Step

Don’t forget to pack some portable steps to make getting in and out of your caravan a whole lot easier.

Corner Steady Jack

When you pitch up you’ll need to lower your corner steadies. Wind them down with a corner steady jack.

Toilet Chemicals

Reduce unpleasant smells, break down all the nasty stuff, and keep your toilet working effectively with toilet chemicals. Pink chemicals are added to the fresh water tank to keep the flush clean and provide a nice aroma. Blue or green chemicals are put into the waste tank and break down waste matter.

Towing Mirrors

Caravan Towing Mirrors

If you’re towing a vehicle wider than your car, you’ll need towing mirrors. You can buy stick on towing mirrors, strap on towing mirrors or bracket style towing mirrors. Prices range from around £15 to about £150.

Easy Caravan Recipes

Essential Caravan Equipment

So, what do you need to start caravanning? Our guide should help.

Towing License?

First things first, you’ll need to check when you passed your driving test. If it was before 1 January 1997 you’ll be able to tow. If it was after that date, you’ll only be able to drive a vehicle up to 3500kg and a trailer (caravan) up to 750kg behind it. So, if you want to tow a heavier caravan you’ll need to pass an additional test. For more information, head over to the Camping & Caravanning Club information page.

Towbar

Choose the right towbar for your car. To do this, check manufacturer’s websites (Witter, Westfaila, AL-KO) to find one suitable for you.

Security

There are various devices on the market which can help to protect your caravan.

• Hitch lock
• Wheel clamp
• Alarm
• Tracker
• CRiS

Check out this useful guide to Caravan Security Devices for more information.

Insurance

Your car insurance will usually provide third party cover for towing your caravan, so would cover any damage to other cars if you had an accident. However, you would have to pay for any damage to your caravan, so make sure it’s protected against accidents, breakdown and theft with adequate insurance.

Awning

Extend your living space with a caravan awning. Our guide to caravan awnings may help you choose.

Motor mover

Caravan motor movers allow you to easily manoeuvre your caravan into position whether that be into a driveway, storage or touring pitch, or even hitching up. This guide gives more information.

Water Carrier

You’ll need to have a container suitable for collecting water to bring back to your caravan. An Aquaroll is a great option which can be rolled along the ground.

Water Pump

Connect your Aquaroll to your caravan taps with a waterpump. Popular brands are Whale and Truma.

Waste Water Container

Waste water, or ‘grey’ water needs to be collected by a waste water container, which plugs into your caravan waste drain points. Wastemaster is a popular brand.

Leisure Battery

Whilst most campsites will provide EHU (electric hook up), it’s still useful to invest in a leisure battery so you can power your fridge, heater and lights. There are several types of leisure battery, and all have their pros and cons, so make sure you do your research before you purchase. This guide to leisure batteries is very useful.

Gas Bottle

Power your fridge, heating, gas cooker and shower with gas. Bottles are typically butane or propane and come in 6kg or 7kg bottles. Butane gas is ideal for the summer months, but for winter, propane is better as it’s unlikely to freeze in cold weather.

Mains Lead

To connect to an EHU, you’ll need a mains lead which costs around £50. Make sure it has an IP44 rating which indicates the level of protection given to sockets from water penetration.

Caravan Step

Don’t forget to pack some portable steps to make getting in and out of your caravan a whole lot easier.

Corner Steady Jack

When you pitch up you’ll need to lower your corner steadies. Wind them down with a corner steady jack.

Toilet Chemicals

Reduce unpleasant smells, break down all the nasty stuff, and keep your toilet working effectively with toilet chemicals. Pink chemicals are added to the fresh water tank to keep the flush clean and provide a nice aroma. Blue or green chemicals are put into the waste tank and break down waste matter.

Towing Mirrors

If you’re towing a vehicle wider than your car, you’ll need towing mirrors. You can buy stick on towing mirrors, strap on towing mirrors or bracket style towing mirrors. Prices range from around £15 to about £150.