The UK’s oldest caravan festival… with big headline music acts, kids’ clubs and even a dog show
CARAVANS at festivals are nothing new, but entire festival dedicated to caravan owners are few and far between.
But The Caravan And Motorhome Club’s ClubFest is the country’s oldest – having run for more than 90 years.
Set in the backdrop of Bolesworth Castle, Cheshire, the event spans five days from Friday, 23 May to Tuesday, 27 May, with pitches for tent, caravan, or motorhome in the grounds.
And for those who aren’t so keen, there are day tickets too where you can enjoy the events and head home for the night.
Musical headliners include the Lightning Seeds, Boyzlife, a host of tribute acts including Go Your Own Way and Oasish, as well as The Caravan And Motorhome Club’s very own concert band.
There will be plenty of activities, including the Kids Club, which has face painting, balloon modelling, science, and art sessions.
Other activities include the Nature Club where you can try shelter building, fire lighting, carving and willow weaving.
The Family Club is designed to bring people of all ages together with quizzes, bingo and line dancing.
For anyone keen on wellness, there’s a chance to take part in yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, and Pilates.
There are also singing and painting workshops, and a chance to relax with candlelit stretching and rejuvenating sound baths.
The Aqua Club allows for water fun in the lake found on the castle grounds. Enjoy paddleboarding, kayaking, and even yoga on the water.
The Have A Go Club is where you can try tree climbing, axe throwing, frisbee, golf, slacklining and archery.
Dogs are allowed too, there’s even a show where your pet can have a go on the agility courses.
Day tickets for anyone aged 18 and over are £70. Anyone aged 17 and under goes free.
The day ticket price includes parking, your entry to the festival and access to club activities.
As for campers, all standard pitches contain an electrical hook-up so guests can use hairdryers, TVs, kettles and toasters and there’s fresh water around the campsite.
There are different types of pitches available from premium which starts at £530.
A standard pitch for two adults starts at £430 with a campervan pitch at £490.
These prices include a pitch for four days, entry ticket to the festival and access to all the activities.
Three camping tips from an expert
David Scotland owns camping equipment retailer Outdoor World Direct and knows all about how to make a camping trip run smoothly.
When visiting any campsite this summer it’s important to make sure you’re not making simple mistakes that could ruin your holiday.
Check your tent
David recommends putting your tent up a couple of weeks before you’re due to travel to give you enough time to repair or replace any damaged parts.
He told Sun Online Travel: “You’d be surprised how many people turn up with broken tents.”
Test the ground
Picking a good spot to pitch your tent is difficult, with lots of things to consider.
One of those should be the condition of the ground you’re putting your tent on top of, according to David.
He said: “Once you’ve found the perfect spot, test the ground with your pegs before you commit to camping there to make sure the ground is soft enough.”
Don’t nap in your tent
It may seem the perfect place for it, but a nap in a tent could end badly, if it’s done at the wrong time of the day.
David explained: “If the sun’s shining and it’s hot inside your tent – don’t do it!
“One of our friends nodded off in his tent during a heatwave at Glastonbury and ended up at the medical tent with heatstroke.”
Instead, he recommends finding some shade outside or somewhere well ventilated.