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Ian Tolfts: A room with a view

We love our escapes away in the caravan," says Ian Tolfts. He and his wife, along with their boxer cross dog, take frequent trips away in their touring caravan to let them explore some hidden gems in the UK.

"We bought our first caravan because we found camping took a lot of time to set up and take down, could be miserable in wet weather and, as we get older, some creature comforts were becoming more important. Since then, we've upgraded to a newer caravan with a fixed bed in it, more mod-cons and a larger bathroom, so we don't have to use the shower blocks on camp sites.

"We've been all over the country, but particularly enjoy our trips to Scotland. We're noh keen walkers an enjoy climbing the Scottish Munros. The Highlands are just so beautiful. Having a caravan allows us to stay in places that have spectacular views and are off the beaten track.

"Our dog Benson loves the caravan. For him, it's like having a giant television to watch as he sits looking out of all the windows at what's going on. We've found some lovely dog-friendly sites close to beaches, riverside walks (he loves the water) and dramatic mountains. We also try to find sites that are within walking distance of a pub that's dog-friendly. He's quite practised at sitting in pubs!

"Once we've decided where we want to go, we do a search online for caravan sites that offer what we want. We often go for adult-only sites that are dog-friendly and have a pub nearby. We don't belong to any particular caravan club, but there are plenty of sites to choose from.

Our favourite is a site in Appletreewick in the North Yorkshire Dales. It's alongside a river with large grass pitches and pretty countryside. It's alongside a river with large grass pitches and pretty countryside. There are great walks all around you and you are in easy reach of two dog-friendly pubs that serve great food. It's a site we return to again and again. 

"Sometimes we book fully serviced pitches. This means you are permanently connected to a water supply so there's no need to keep filling up your water barrels, and you waste water goes straight into the drain. It certainly saves a lot of effort.

"Like any owners, we have an electric motor mover on the caravan. This makes moving the caravan into awkward spaces easy. The mover effectively turns the caravan into a big remote control car. But, of course, you still need to know how to reverse and park the caravan when it is hitched up to your car.

"The old Boy Scout motto 'Be prepared' is great advice for using a caravan. It's good to have a range of accessories, spare parts, and essentials as things always seem to break or run out when you're in the middle of nowhere or when the shops are closed. A little bit of prior preparation and planning can stop a minor crisis becoming a disaster. That said, most site owners are only to pleased to help you out if you hit a problem. 

"There's nothing better than getting away in the caravan. You can go where you like, when you like and explore the countryside or simply relac (preferably in the sunshine) reading a good book or doing a crossword. It keeps you in touch with nature and gets yo away from the stresses and strains of normal life. It doesn't cost a fortune wither. As caravanners say : 'You don't need magic to disappear... All you need is a caravan.'"

Are you a caravanner? Let us know your experiences... 

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