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Jul 2020

Last Updated: 30/07/2020

Campsite bookings soar as Spain quarantine proves 'too risky' for travellers

by Ami Miller Lifestyle Reporter

| 29 Jul, 2020

The Yorkshire Dales is proving a popular staycation option for holidaymakers deterred by the price or difficulty of alternatives.

The 14-day quarantine rule for holidaymakers returning from Spain to the UK may spell disaster for trips abroad this summer but campsites across the district have told the Stray Ferret they are inundated with enquires.

Camping in the North Yorkshire countryside has become a popular alternative for many who can no longer go abroad, or who may be deterred by the cost of a seaside holiday cottage.

Studfold’s caravan, camping and glamping park in the Yorkshire Dales has seen enquires quadruple. Ian Walker, who owns Studfold told the Stray Ferret he has been "shocked by the surge of interest in staycations".

'We have had quite a few families coming that have never ever camped before, but due to the uncertainty they just didn't feel comfortable going abroad. We have had phone calls this week from people who had holidays booked in Spain but now want to come to us instead.'

We spoke to a family at the campsite who should have been flying to Spain.

"The thought of travelling with the children and having to wear a mask etc just wasn't really an option. As soon at the quarantine announcement came we started to look for staycations. We were lucky to manage to get a pod here for a night and we have also booked a little break at a site in the Lake District later this summer.'

Barbara Bradley, owner of Monk's Meadow Glamping site near Pateley Bridge, said it had noticed a "significant increase" of interest.

"Our glamping pods are booked right the way through until September, which is unusual as people would normally see what the weather was doing and book a couple of weeks in advance. This year if you don't secure a place well in advance you just wont get booked in.

"People have had to change their way of thinking as over the years they have got into the habit of going abroad, but this year this has become a lot more difficult, especially with the Spain quarantine rule. People are just too anxious. I think people are just desperate to get away and have realised that there is so much to offer on their doorstep.

"The busy long weekends are having to make up for the fact that we aren't taking midweek bookings as we are leaving 72 hours between guests checking out and us cleaning the pods."

The Cud Life campsite in Killinghall is only open to motorhomes and caravans as it has not opened the toilets and showers.

Tanya Umpleby, who owns the site, told us they made the decision for safety reasons and because they do not want a surge of campers that "do not understand campsite etiquette". She said:

"We are a quiet site and we just don't want this sort of behaviour in our peaceful setting. We have however seen a huge increase in numbers, as soon as I put the phone down it rings again!'