Hire a toilet and tent with your campervan

Whether camping or campervanning one question that often pops up is "what about a toilet?". Even if you're planning to head to a campsite then accessibility to a toilet is still something that concerns many holidaymakers. This is especially relevant during the night - and if you have youngsters with you.

Now Big tree Campervans has the perfect solution to all your toilet concerns. When you hire one of our top quality campervans you can also request a Porta Potti and tent. The tent is robust and comes with good guy lines so that it won't blow away even on a windy night. And as you can see the tent is nice and roomy. It even comes with a toilet roll holder.

The Porta Potti is a modern chemical toilet that does require to be emptied every so often. This is a simple and quick procedure and is more than balanced out by privacy and cleanliness afforded by your very own campervanning toilet. Some families might choose to use the Porta Potti only at nights, so as to reduce the amount of emptying required.

It costs only £15 to hire the toilet and tent with Big Tree Campervans. Now couples and families can use a toilet that is as clean and private as they could wish. And let's not forget the advantage of a toilet tent if you're planning a festival trip this summer!

Another good reason to holiday in Scotland this year

Stay in Scotland... in a campervan Pic thanks to Angus Clyne

So the latest holiday news is that airlines are set to hike prices in an effort to recover some of the costs resulting from the volcanic ash disruption. An article just published on Travelmole claims that prices will soar by 11.5% by 2012 in the wake of the recent worldwide flights nightmare. Figures from the Centre for Economics and Business Research also reveal that UK travellers can expect to pay an additional £1.8 billion for flights or £48 each on average.

But we're wondering if people will actually be more concerned about the potential for more ash havoc, rather than worrying about the higher cost of travel. So many people are talking about giving up their annual summer holidays abroad simply because they can't face flying. There's actually no way of knowing if the volcano eruption will die down or fire up again. And that's without worrying about the volcano's near neighbour, which could also erupt at any time.

What seems to be likely is that last year's "staycation" trend is set to grow in 2010. Of course, this is good news for the Scottish tourist industry, including accommodation providers, retailers, cultural attractions, activity providers – and, we hope, campervan hire companies!

5 campervan hotspots for climbers

Climbers everywhere will be putting away their crampons and dusting off their climbing shoes as the warmer weather brings with it the opportunity for some spring rock climbing. At this time of year, Scotland's wealth of lower crags offer the perfect destination for climbers of all abilities.

These crags also make a great base for a week or weekend of sociable climbing, especially if you're travelling by campervan. Many campervans offer sleeping space for up to four adults, as well as the possibility of two more sleeping beneath an attached awning. And while the days may be sunnier, the evenings can still be chilly so a heated campervan makes even more sense.

Just think of the potential for a get-away-from-it-all campervan holiday that offers endless day-time climbing, combined with evenings spent cooking, eating and chatting in your mini home on wheels.

Of course, Scotland does sometimes feature a little rain. But if you a holidaying in a campervan then it's simply a case of relaxing in the van until the rain eases - before quickly resuming your activity.

Many climbing crags are also located amid some of Scotland's finest scenery and so there are plenty of other opportunities for investigating a more varied range of outdoor activities. You could, for example, combine a few days of climbing with a couple of days of walking. Or why not take your bikes and mix cycling with climbing over the course of a week or so?

In a campervan the options are endless and the range of stunning overnight spots are almost limitless.

Here we bring you five of our favourite campervanning hotspots for climbers.

Glen Etive, Glencoe: The Glen is wonderfully atmospheric and deserves more exploration - but for climbers it's the superb Etive Slabs that offer the main attraction. It's worth making an early start here as the crag catches the sun until early afternoon. Where to campervan: There is a good wild camping spot that is ideal for a campervan at the end of the single-track road some 23km along the glen. If you're lucky you may even catch sight of otters in the sea loch here. There are other overnight spots possible further back along the road towards Glencoe but campervanners should take care not to block passing places on this single track road.

Poolewe & Loch Tollaidh, Ross-shire: The low-lying crags here offer a great selection of different aspects and easy access so you can follow the sun. There's a good mix of trad climbing and sport crags, which means you can choose how brave you want to be! Where to campervan: An idyllic wild camping spot for campervans – and only a few minutes' walk to either the sport routes on Creag nan Luch, or the trad routes on Lower an Upper Tollie Crag – can be found right next to Loch Maree at Tollie Bay. It’s a tiny spot, right by the water’s edge, and reached by a singletrack road 2km south of Poolewe. The singletrack road goes past Tollie Farm and you must ask permission there first, before carrying on past the farm to Tollie Bay. If you don’t fancy wild campervanning the Gailoch Holiday Park campsite in Gairloch itself is lovely. The Mountain Coffee Company in the village is also well worth a visit for fab coffees, huge hot chocolates, cakes and a great browsing library of climbing mags.

Cuillin traverse, Isle of Skye

Isle of Skye: Spring and early summer are Skye ridge seasons. Whether you’re aiming to complete the full Cuillin traverse, pick off a few classic rock routes, or Munro bag the In Pinn, a campervan trip is ideal. You'll relish the flexibility to overnight close to your start point, or else drive close to the day's climbing. And if the climbing happens to be rained off then you will value the ability to relax in a heated campervan – and wait until the next break in the clouds. Where to campervan: Sligachan campsite is beautifully located at the head of Loch Sligachan. The pub/hotel is so close it feels as though it's an integral part of the campsite. Or try Glenbrittle Campsite if the southern Cuillin is your goal. The classic rock routes on Sron na Ciche are amongScotland's best.

Glen Clova, Angus Glens: This gorgeously scenic area offers great early season low-level climbing. There are also a number of newly opened Angus sport climbing venues, such as Rob’s Reid and Kirriemuir. Where to campervan: A basic but beautifully located and peaceful campsite opposite the car park and Carn Deag Mountaineering Hut at the head of the glen.

Glen Nevis, near Fort William: A premier Scottish cragging venue, the Polldubh crags at Glen Nevis give a whole variety of routes at different grades. Linking the end of one route to the start of another is one of the pleasures of climbing at Polldubh. Where to campervan: Glen Nevis campsite. This is a great site with easy access to the crags higher up the glen.

For more tips about great spots for Scottish climbing, and where to overnight in your campervan, contact Big Tree Campervans. We know many of the hotspots personally.

The cheaper way to enjoy your campervan holiday

Suddenly there's another very good reason to hire one of our Toyota campervans - cheaper fuel. Two of our vehicles are equipped to run on LPG Autogas, which means you can enjoy your great Big Tree Campervan adventure at half the price. With the cost of LPG now an average 64.6p, as compared to the highest ever price of £120.30 per gallon for unleaded petrol, it's easy to see how the fuel savings mount up.

There are other advantages to LPG, too. One thing, it's greener. LPG Autogas offers 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to equivalent petrol run engines, and 10% compared to diesel vehicles. LPG is also a cleaner fuel and offers approximately 20 times lower Nitrogen Oxide emissions than unleaded petrol or diesel. Our environment doesn't like Nitrogen Oxide, by the way.

Drivers find that they get slightly more miles to the gallon when using LPG as compared to ordinary petrol, which means you pay much less to drive even further.

And if you thought that LPG wasn't readily available fuel then you'll be surprised to find out that it's now widespread in Scotland. We can even provide you with a list of the places where you can buy the fuel during your campervan holiday. Filling up is a straightforward procedure, too. Rather like filling up with petrol except you find yourself paying out 50% of the cost when you reach the check-out.

Now your only concern is how to better spend the money you've saved on fuel. Might we suggest a few bottles of celebratory Champagne (to drink after you're parked up for the night)? Or an extra night's campervan hire? Or why not simply leave the unused cash in your bank account for your next, aherm, cheaper campervan holiday?

And just so you know: if you want to switch back to petrol then our two campervans have the advantage of being converted to run on both LPG and petrol. So where do you plan to head for your cheaper campervan holiday? To find out more check out Big Tree Campervans at Bankfoot, near Perth, Scotland

Your pet dogs are welcome, too

Paws for thought: Your dog will love a campervan

holiday as much as you (Pic by Angus Clyne)

Your pet dog is likely to be a much-loved part of the family so it can seem a little unfair to leave him/her at home (or in kennels) when you head off for an exciting holiday. While many accommodation providers and travel operators will turn their nose up at the mere mention of your favourite pooch, at Big Tree Campervans we welcome dogs.

To this end, two of our fleet of roomy Toyota campervans are dog-friendly – and all we ask is that you keep the interior of the vehicles as clean as possible during your holiday. To assist we provide comfy dog-rugs that should be used by your dog when inside the campervan. And at the end of your holiday we request that you ensure the vehicles have had a good clean.

Of course, we'll give the campervan a further thorough clean before hiring it out to another customer. And, just so you know, our other four campervans are kept as "pet-free" vehicles.

As you can see from the photograph below, one doggie customer Darcy made himself at home during a recent campervan holiday with his owner.

Five hotspots for family campervan holidays

Take it easy: Campervan holidays are great for families

Families are ideally suited to campervan holidays. The multi-use vehicles offer flexibility of transport and accommodation for both grown-ups and children. Our campervans comfortably sleep two adults and two children.

A campervan break is also great for budget-conscious family holidays, with prices as low as £75 per day. Remember this includes your mode of transport, a place to cook, eat and relax, and great overnight accommodation for up to four people. And thanks to a campervan it’s possible to head off for a multi-destination trip, as well as enjoying the flexibility of moving to a new place if the weather looks better elsewhere.

Now you’ve seen the advantages of a campervan holiday, we thought you might like to know about our top five favourite campervan campsites for families.

Five family hotspots

Forest Holidays Glenmore Caravan & Camping Site

Where: Loch Morlich, near Aviemore, Strathspey.

Why?: Not only is this a fabulous campsite with lots of great play facilities on-site it also offers the advantage of the safe and scenic beach on Loch Morlich. This is a great place to head if you’re an outdoorsy family. In the near surroundings of Rothiemurchus estate you’ll find a wealth of family-friendly activities, such as canoeing, mountain biking and nature safaris. While the wider Cairngorm area has endless outdoorsy options, including Munro bagging, watersports, sailing and, in winter, skiing.

Contact: www.forestholidays.co.uk or ask Big Tree Campervans for details.

Gairloch Holiday Park

Where: Gairloch, Wester Ross

Why?: The views from this campsite are truly fabulous and there is even an opportunity to spot whales. The couple who run the site are really friendly and the facilities are wide-ranging and modern. Families will enjoy the chance to get out and about and one recommended walk is to Ardessie Falls (rich text link to http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/ullapool/ardessie.shtml).

Contact: www.gairlochcaravanpark.com

Loch Tummel Caravan Park at Ardgualich Farm

Where: Loch Tummel, Perthshire

Why?: What this site slightly lacks in terms of facilities (we’d advise taking your own food and drink) it more than makes up for in location. Situated deep in splendid Perthshire countryside, and on the edge of beautiful Loch Tummel, you’ll enjoy wonderful views whatever the time of year. This is the ideal place for families to live out a Swallows and Amazons dream. Bring your canoe or kayak and spend your days paddling at the loch edge or heading out to the islands for your own adventures.

Contact: Tel: 01796 472825.

Fidden Farm Campsite

Where: near Fionnphort, Isle of Mull.

Why?: This is not so much a campsite as a large patch of grass but it is a wonderful, get-way-from-it all destination for campervanners. Bring bikes, canoes, kites and make your own family fun in the surrounding area, which includes awesome granite beaches, a nature-filled coastline and the chance to visit Balamory, aka the town of Tobermory. This is also the ideal site for accessing the sublime island of Iona. The farmyard site does have a portacabin for showers and toilets but we’d suggest this is more of a wild camping spot.

Contact: Tel: 01681 700427.

Kippford Holiday Park

Where: Near Dalbeattie, Dumfries & Galloway

Why?: One of the smartest holiday parks in Scotland, it makes a fabulous destination for families looking for lots of on-site facilities and a wealth of things to do in the area. Kippford itself is a beautiful seaside village and just a short drive away is an amazing beach at Sandyhills. Adventurous families might like to take in the lovely coastal walk round to Rockcliffe and the tidal causeway out to Rough Island. And don’t forget the famous 7stanes (rich text to www.7stanes.com) mountain biking centres in this area that are fun for all abilities and ages of riders. You could easily stay at this site for weeks at a time.

Contact: www.kippfordholidaypark.co.uk

Why worry about the weather this spring?

Spring snow? Sometimes it happens!

Okay so we’re all hoping for a warm spring and a toasty summer this year ­– but in reality our dreams aren’t always realised in Scotland. In a Big Tree Campervan holidaymakers do not need to worry about the weather, however.

All our hi-tech Toyota campervans have been kitted out to offer the best comfort for holidaymakers – and this includes top-end heaters. The high quality German Webasto Air-Top hot air blow heaters provide as much or as little heat as you require.

Holidaymakers can also stay warm whether they are on the move or overnighting. What makes our campervans even smarter is that they work directly from the carburetor, rather than taking all the power from the leisure battery. This is key to your happy holiday if you plan to stay put for more than a few days.

As one of our customers said: “In Scotland, even in spring or summer, you have to expect some colder weather. But we were amazed just how little this affected our holiday. When we felt a bit chilly outdoors we simply got in the van, turned up the heat and relaxed and enjoyed ourselves. This just wouldn’t happen on a camping holiday!”

To find out more about Big Tree Campervans why not give us a cal for a chat – or pop in to take a look around the vans. You’ll be surprised at the attention to detail, including the heating, layout, facilities and comfort.

Don't miss our flexible campervan deals

One of the great benefits of a campervan holiday is convenience. Campervans offer a great holidaying package as both the transport and accommodation are taken care of in one comfortable and flexible vehicle.

It’s no wonder then that campervan hire is becoming an increasingly popular choice for shorter or weekend breaks in Scotland. Holidaymakers can forget the hassle of having to put up a tent for a shorter period and, indeed, the higher price of booking into a hotel. There is no need to worry about the weather, either, and with only a few days in which to enjoy your holiday you’ll relish the lack of time wasting offered by your ready-for-action vehicle.

With a campervan, a weekend break is oh-so-simple. Just pick up the van as you head north or south, drive off, head to an overnight spot, eat and sleep – and then wake up the next morning to plan your next day and night of adventure.

Now Big tree Campervans is making your shorter break even easier to book. During May and June, holidaymakers can take advantage of a “no minimum seven-day hire period” with us. This means you can book a short break, or a 10-day break, during early summer. Choose the holiday that is most convenient for you.

With two long weekend Bank Holidays in May there is likely to be a high demand for our fabulous campervans so we are advising early booking. Now you can choose the campervan adventure that best suits you.

The rise and rise of campervan holidays

So. How to start our shiny new blog? Well, we reckon the continued strengthening of holidaying at home in the UK – and, as a result, the growth in bookings for leisure and travel-based companies – is a great place to begin. Of course it is!

The latest on the industry news front is that campervan breaks are on the increase, on-trend and budget-friendly. Many UK campervan hire companies have revealed a greater demand from holidaymakers. Reports show that bookings increased last year thanks in part to the “staycation” trend – and this year with a continued growth in the holiday-at-home market it’s predicted that campervan breaks will be hot news.

Photo courtesy of Angus Clyne

Already the first quarter of this year has seen an increase in campervan hire across Britain. A rise in the number of campervan rentals in March also marks an earlier start to the holiday season in 2010 and most hire companies. Many companies are reporting stronger bookings for Easter and summer 2010 than ever before. It’s apparent that people are people are keen to secure their campervan holiday sooner rather than later.

But perhaps this increased demand is not so surprising when you think about the benefits of campervanning. For many holidaymakers, and especially families, a campervan break is the ideal, budget-friendly choice especially in economically uncertain times.

Campervans also offer flexibility in terms of destinations and duration of holiday (from an overnight to many weeks at a time). In a campervan it’s possible to move to a new overnight spot every day, or set up camp for a longer period, and all according to desires and the weather.

Added to this campervanning has becoming an increasingly “cool” holiday choice. It’s enough to witness the greater number of campervans on our roads – but a peek at most campsites will show the large numbers of pitches now taken by campervans.

So if you’re thinking about booking an on-trend campervan holiday this year, our advice is to enquire early. In any case, many hire companies are offering a range of great deals and incentives. Where will your campervan adventure take you next?