WITH the nation set to embrace staycations, the north west has been named the fifth most popular UK destination to visit post-lockdown.

A survey by caravan and motorhome home supplier Kimberley – The Caravan & Motorhome People has revealed the most desired UK locations.

With 20% of the vote, Wales – famous for its rugged coastline and mountainous national parks – topped the list of the UK places where caravan and motorhome owners plan on visiting once coronavirus restrictions are fully lifted on July 19. The north west took home 7% of the vote and sat alongside other popular destinations, including the south coast, Scotland and the east coast.

More than 1,900 adults aged 35 and over were surveyed by YouGov as part of the research in late June. It comes after a record number of leisure vehicles were sold across Europe in 2020 – rising 12% to around 235,000 units, according to the European Caravan Federation.

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Chris Lowe, director at Kimberley, said: “When restrictions relaxed last summer, there was a huge rise in demand for passport-free holidays and once all lockdown measured are fully removed, it’s expected that British people will once again opt to remain on home turf.

“From the iconic Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands to the White Cliffs of Dover and Lake Windermere in the Lake District to the Welsh views of Snowdonia, it’s no secret that people have been enjoying so many of Britain’s beauty spots and discovering a new-found appreciation for what is on our shores.

“Competition is fierce, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see any of locations take the top spot. The north west – home to part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Hadrian’s Wall and some of the most spectacular landscapes you will ever see in the Lake District – will not be saying goodbye to any disappointed visitors after a busy summer of staycations.”

Once coronavirus restrictions are fully lifted, which one, if any, of the following places in the UK do you plan on visiting first?

Location and Percentage of caravan and motorhome owners aged 35 and over

  • Wales 20%
  • South coast (e.g. Brighton, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall) 19%
  • Scotland 17%
  • East coast (e.g. Norfolk and Suffolk) 10%
  • North west (e.g. Cumbria and Lake District) 7%
  • Midlands (e.g. Peak District) 4%
  • Yorkshire 3%
  • Isle of Wight 1%
  • Northern Ireland 0%
  • No plans to travel 8%
  • Other 7%
  • Don’t know 4%

Gill Haigh, managing director at Cumbria Tourism, added: “It’s fantastic to see the northwest featured as one of the UK’s top caravan and motorhome destinations. Cumbria is full of hidden gems perfect for exploring, including the amazing scenery of the Eden Valley, Furness Peninsula and Western Coast.

“Cumbria Tourism has recently launched a brand new #vanlife section of our website packed with inspiration for a great trip, including maps detailing overnight parking locations, wastewater facilities and a motor caravanning code of conduct designed to help visitors and communities enjoy a fantastic staycation summer in Cumbria.”

The south coast – including Brighton, Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall – came second, with 19% of the vote. Scotland closely followed, taking 17%, with the east coast, including Norfolk and Suffolk, coming in fourth place (10%).