Three Top UK Destinations for a Caravan Trip in the Swift Basecamp

The stylish three-model Swift Basecamp caravan range is the perfect crossover camping vehicle, designed by stalwart manufacturer Swift to comfortably support the adventure lifestyle for solo travellers, couples or small families. Each Basecamp model is more compact in size and lighter in weight than other caravans available on the UK market, so it’s much easier to tow with a domestic car and easy to manoeuvre once on site. The Swift Basecamp is tough-wearing enough to cope with life off the beaten track and features just the right mix of interior comfort and convenience. Now you want one! But where will you go in it? In this edition of our blog, we’ll pick out a handful of great spots...

Three great places to visit in your Swift Basecamp from Wandahome.

1.      Bakewell in the Peak District

This charming market town in Derbyshire is a popular spot, just 15 miles south(ish) of Sheffield and situated on the banks of the river Wye. It’s the only town within the Peak District National Park, and is perhaps known best for its delicious sweet treats - though there’s more to market town Bakewell than just bakeries.

History lovers will find at least some of their fill at Haddon Hall, just a couple of miles south of the town. This wonderful building originates from the 11^th century (though there were additions at various stages between the 13^th and the 17^th). Luckily, due to a long period when it was not occupied, Haddon Hall was unaltered during the modernising period of the Georgians and Victorians so visitors can enjoy "the most complete and most interesting house of its period".

Also nearby is the incredible Chatsworth, said by some to be the jewel in the Peak District's crown. There are more than 30 rooms to explore in this house which dates back to the 17^th century (including the magnificent Painted Hall and chapel, regal State Rooms and Sculpture Gallery), plus 105 acres of impeccable gardens which include water features, outdoor art exhibitions and a woodland playground. TV drama fans will be able to live out their Tommy Shelby fantasy as some scenes from Peaky Blinders were filmed here, with the house doubling as May Carleton’s country seat. Chatsworth has also been used in several period drama films.

Back in Bakewell, the Old House Museum provides some great diversion if you’re dieting and want to limit your tart intake! Built during the reign of Henry VIII, the Museum’s building was originally a tax collector's cottage. Saved from demolition in the 1950s, it features ten splendid rooms to explore, all packed with over 9,000 curious items which tell the story of the town and surrounding area. On display are toys, handmade lace items, fine china and a large exhibit showcasing old photographs and historic cameras – as well as hundreds of other things which are a treat to encounter.

There are several caravan parks in the region, so you will easily be able to conveniently and safely pitch your Basecamp and venture off for a slice of Bakewell fun!

Image Credit: Snapvision - stock.adobe.com 

2.      St. Bees in Cumbria

For a more sedate caravan break in your Basecamp, you can do no better than travelling to St. Bees and surrounding area, in Cumbria. This ‘hidden gem’ is a beautiful coastal village full of character, including St Bees Priory Church, an RSPB bird reserve, with one of the largest colonies of sea birds on the west coast of England, plus an award-winning, mile-long beach.

Nearby towns offer plenty of days out. Cockermouth, 20 miles to the north, was the birthplace of the poet William Wordsworth in 1770. It was in this place that he developed a love for nature and for writing, and the literary minded will be able to visit his childhood home - the National Trust-owned Wordsworth House and garden. This fine Georgian townhouse provides a focal point for a day in Cockermouth, and you can spend the rest of the time exploring the independent shops and eateries. You may even bump into England’s Test Match cricket captain Ben Stokes, as this is his hometown.

A mere fifteen miles south of St Bees is the incredible Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, the first public narrow gauge railway in England, which showcases a fleet of heritage steam and diesel engines. Still in working order, the La'al Ratty (little railway) transports passengers from Ravenglass to Dalegarth for Boot, some 210 ft above sea level on a picturesque seven mile, forty minute journey. The main terminus at Ravenglass sits within two UNESCO World Heritage sites: The Lake District National Park and Frontiers of the Roman Empire. Dalegarth station offers views of England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, while the Eskdale Mill is a must-see at nearby Boot village.

There are several caravan parks in the region, so you’ll easily be able to pitch your Basecamp safely and securely and venture off for some Cumbrian fun!

3.      Hunstanton in the Norfolk Broads

“From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads,” sang David Bowie back in the early 1970s – perfectly illustrating how these two destinations have been popular holiday retreats for decades. Often associated with its famous rivers, the Norfolk Broads has more to offer than just its wetways! The Broads is the UK’s only national park to feature a city (Norwich), and there are picturesque rural villages all along its length.

We’ll unhitch near the unique town of Hunstanton (the only west-facing town on the whole of the east coast, so a great spot to watch the sunset over the sea). There’s plenty to do in Hunstanton including Sea Life, a state-of-the-art marine aquarium including sharks, Humboldt Penguins, seals, otters, turtles and more than 30 species of fish.

History lovers will appreciate nearby Kings Lynn, which showcases the Royal family’s country retreat Sandringham. Its Royal Parkland spans supports an abundance of animals, birds and plants for visitors to enjoy. Eight of the main ground floor rooms used by the family inside Sandringham House, are open to the public from April to October. Visitors can enjoy ogling treasured ornaments, portraits and furniture.

There are several caravan parks in the region, so you’ll can pitch your Basecamp and mosey off for some monarchy or marine life fun!

Swift’s Basecamp, available at Wandahome, offers travellers the perfect camping vehicle. Use it as a hub for adventures, and it will provide you with the perfect home from home. Contact us for more information.