The staycation is here to stay

Scotland the best!

The “staycation” is not last year’s news. In fact, it seems that many people in the UK travel industry have been witnessing a growth in the stay-at-home holiday market for a few years now. And this summer a number of factors are contributing to an even bigger increase in holidaymakers choosing not to fly abroad.

First there has been the threat of renewed Icelandic volcano activity. No-one knows if Eyjafjallajökull has spewed out its final clouds of ash – or if there will be continued problems with no-fly zones in Europe for a long time to come.

Then there are the strikes at British Airways. One side says it’s business as usual while the other points out the level of disruption already taking place.

So it’s no wonder that many people in the UK are reconsidering their usual summertime overseas travel. This is especially true of families who do not cope so well if there is air travel disruption. Business people do not like to worry about being stuck overseas either.

In any case, many more Brits and Scots are realising how much this country has to offer when it comes to holidays. For too long overlooked in pursuit of holidays abroad, the UK has now become trendy again for one or two week holidays.

The fact is, too, that people are still keen to spend money on holidays, including food and drink and accommodation, which is great news for our home tourism industry.

We’re delighted to see this change taking place. The UK has a wealth to offer the holidaymaker. Scotland, in particular, is rated one of the best small countries in the world for holidays and is also a leader in outdoors activities, including walking, mountain biking, sea kayaking and surfing.

To take in the wide range of landscape and activities on offer in Scotland why not hire a campervan this summer? It’s a great way to travel and with everything on board for your holiday you’ll enjoy home-from-home comforts during your adventures.

A Big Tree Campervan holiday could be the perfect way to volcano-proof your summer holidays!

Big Tree Campervans welcomes Bob the Dog

Meet out new dog, Bob. The kids, Sarah and myself are thrilled to welcome the 14-month-old working Border collie into our family. He has come from friends who have a farm with four dogs in Glen Clova, in the Angus Glens, but who are moving to a new farm that only has space for two working dogs. So Bob has moved to live with us.

Sarah with Bob the dog

He's already settled in really well at Big Tree Campervans. The kids love him and I've been enjoying having Bob around all day with me. He's great company while I meet guests, clean out campervans and sit at my computer.

And now I have a companion for my regular runs. In fact, the first time I took Bob for a run with me in a local forest I was amazed by his fitness. There I was running at a pace that I felt was pretty fast. I was actually putting a lot of effort into the outing. And then I looked down at my side to find Bob sauntering along, not even out of breath, and kind of looking at me as if to say: "Is that it Mr Big Tree? I'd call that an easy jog not a proper run." Still Bob seemed happy enough to "jog" alongside me.

Bob is also getting used to other dogs now (he was a bit nervous to start with) and he's just about tolerating our hens and cats.

Oh, and don't forget that if you own a dog you can bring him/her on a Big Tree Campervan holiday. One of our campervans is pet-friendly. You'll also get to meet our dog, Bob!

The Big Tree Campervan flapjack recipe

B.T.C flapjack: Too good to resist

At Big Tree Campervans we know how to keep our customers happy. As well as sending everyone out in high quality Toyota campervans with a host of mod cons and luxuries we also make sure that every campervan is kitted out with an essential item: Big Tree Campervan Flapjack. (BTC Flapjack.)

Sarah has been practising long and hard to create exactly the right recipe for exactly the right flapjack for our campervans. It's just sticky enough, just chewy enough, just fruity enough and just perfect for a snack when you're out on the road/stopped at the perfect campervan spot/short of breakfast/needing a scrummy snack to go with a cup of tea.

We make sure each person in the party has a piece of flapjack when they set out on their holiday (so there's no good in telling us there are 14 people in your party as we're the ones who take the booking!)

Lots of people have been asking us for the recipe for the BTC Flapjack. We thought we'd let you into the secret so you can make more for yourself at home. This flapjack is nut-free. It's adapted from a Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall recipe, but with a Big Tree Campervan twist.

Ingredients:

1 orange

½ lemon

100g raisins

100g golden syrup

200g unsalted butter

100g soft brown sugar

350g jumbo oats

100g plain flour

You'll also need a 23cm square baking tin, baking parchment, a big pan, a small pan and a mixing bowl.

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160C. Grease baking tin with a dab of butter & line with baking parchment

2. Grate orange & lemon zest, and put in the big pan.

3. Meanwhile put the juice of the orange & lemon into the small pan with the raisins. Simmer gently for a few secs, then take off heat and leave so the raisins plump up.

4. Add golden syrup, butter and brown sugar to zests in the big pan. Heat very gently until dissolved. Take off heat.

5. Mix oats & flour together in mixing bowl, then add everything from the big pan and the small pan. Give it a really good mix.

6. Spread mixture over the lined baking tin. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown.

7. Take out of oven, leave for a few minutes to cool slightly, then mark into squares. Leave to cool and set.

The delicious BTC Flapjack is best eaten with a fantastic view and a feeling of relaxation. So why not hire a campervan from us this summer?

Don't get lost finding us

We want our campervan customers to find us. But we're also aware that we are based in a tucked-out-of-the-way place in the lovely Perthshire village of Bankfoot. If you do follow our directions (we will give you a set of directions on your booking form) then you shouldn't have any problems finding Big Tree Campervans.

But this is one place where you can't rely on your GPS. Even using a good, old-fashioned map might flummox you. Instead we have come up with a set of written instructions that might seem a bit old-fangled and way too simplified but will be sure to help you locate the Big Tree Campervans HQ.

We love where we are based, tucked down a quiet lane that also has a one-way system and we want you to find us.

As an example one customer who admits to being navigationally challenged even at the best of times - she admitted: "I can get lost going home in my own town" - found Big Tree Campervans first time thanks to our direction instructions. She added: "I did have to stop a few times to go back over the instructions and to check I was making the right turns each time but, you know, I made it there without making any mistakes. And when you arrive, you can see why Big Tree Campervans like where they are. To be honest, if I can make it there then anyone will."

And if all else fails, just give us a ring. We can come out and meet you and guide you in if necessary. Just don't waste precious moments of your holiday trying to find us!

Eggs-cellent start to your campervan holiday

Our hens are being very good to us. We have six – three black, two lovely brown and one black and white. They’re a bit of a mix of colours, characters and breeds but they are fun to have around – and above all they’re great layers.

Recently we’ve been trying out a new menu of organic mixed corn rather than pure corn. They seem to like it. When our kids go out to feed the hens (they live in a big run in our garden in sunny Perthshire) there is a great deal of competition to see which one can make it to the feed first.

On average we’re collecting about three eggs every day, which means we can send out most of our campervans with a few eggs on board for our guests’ first breakfast. There’s little to beat the taste of a freshly laid egg cooked on a campervan stove somewhere in the middle of Scotland. Our favourite is fried egg and bacon rolls on a cool but bright Saturday morning in a campervan overlooking a stunning west coast beach.

Hmm. Just now one of our hens is a bit broody so she’s sitting in the nest box all day. Girls, hey?!

We quite often include a few slabs of homemade flapjack on board the campervans, too, as well as a little milk, tea bags, coffee and a few other essentials to get our guests started on their way.

If you want to order a complete starter food pack, or even a champagne hamper for a special occasion, you only have to ask and we’ll be happy to oblige. Sometimes it’s just so much easier to start your Big Tree Campervan holiday with a little assistance. Happy campervanning!

If you love cycling - you'll want to be in Perthshire this weekend

Come and take a look around a

Big Tree Campervan this weekend

Perthshire is going big on cycling this weekend as the region hosts both the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival Day tomorrow (May 15) and the Etape Caledonia on Sunday. Big Tree Campervans is supporting both events and you'll see us there in our distinctive Big tree Campervan.

Why not come along and meet us and our campervan. We'd love to show you around the van, which we have kitted out to our own specific spec. We'll have our fab Maxx Raxx bike racks on display, too. Imagine the freedom you could have on a campervan holiday in Scotland this summer, travelling from cycling hotspot to cycling hotspot in a high quality van that is both your living quarters, your overnight accommodation and your transport?

Scotland is huge on cycling. As well as a host of cycling events, challenges and sportives we are a world leading country for mountain bikers. There are numerous mountain bike centres across the country and many are ideally located for campsites. Watch out for a blog in the near future about great cycling hotspots for campervanners.

Anyway, if you fancy meeting me (Simon) and my wife Sarah tomorrow we'll be at Victoria Park, Aberfeldy, from 11am to 4pm. We might even have some homemade flapjack to give out - and we'll be selling that wonderful midge zapper, Avon's Skin so Soft, at ridiculous prices.

It's "snow" problem in a campervan!

It might be snowing in parts of Scotland. In May, for goodness sakes! But then that's another reason why happy holidaymakers should choose a Big Tree Campervan for their next adventure. Forget the cold and unpredictability of sleeping out under canvas, in a campervan you can simply turn on the heating.

Fitted as standard in all our campervans is a Webasto warm air heater. It's powered directly by the engine (even when the ignition is off) – and so you can use it whether the campervan is hooked up to the mains, or running off the leisure battery. For added reassurance you can also hire one of our snazzy solar panels in case you want to wild camp... and keep the battery charged up ...for extra heating.

It's a really powerful heater with responsive controls and will have the campervan toasty warm in only a few minutes. There's also the benefits of a built-in thermostat (just like home-from-home heating), which means you will stay warm and cosy all night, even when there's snow outside!

A recent customer commented: "I was warmer in the campervan than I usually am at home. It felt really cosy. In fact, in the middle of one night I started imagining how nice it might be to simply give up my home and live in a campervan permanently!"