UK couple buys old caravan instead of foreign holiday

A caravan of unknown origin has been discovered abandoned in a woodland in the South Hams district. The circumstances of how it came to be there and its owner are not known. Local authorities are investigating the incident.

Interest in motorhomes and campervans in the UK has surged by 133% since the start of 2026, defying tighter parking and overnight bans in some areas. Data from Gumtree shows this growth is four times faster than the general car market, with the peak season beginning early due to warm spring weather. Demand is strongest in coastal and countryside regions like Fife and County Antrim, as buyers plan staycations and road trips to avoid rising accommodation costs.

Authorities are considering a permanent ban on overnight motorhome parking in Scarborough and Whitby. Some councillors supported the ban, citing safety and visual amenity issues, but many residents objected, pointing to displacement effects. Signs notifying of the ban in Cayton were ripped down and thrown over cliffs shortly after being installed.

Elddis will cease caravan production at its Consett plant in the UK after over 50 years. The focus shifts to campervans and motorhomes, to be manufactured at Erwin Hymer Group facilities in Germany and Poland. The move is part of a strategic shift towards motorised leisure vehicles amid declining caravan registrations.

UK-based Sussex Campervans has announced a custom conversion of the Kia PV5 electric van. The donor vehicle reportedly has a range of up to 430 miles on a single charge, reduced to an estimated 258 miles after conversion. Standard features include a pop-top roof, with a payload capacity of approximately 1,466 lbs.

Volkswagen has launched the Multivan Camper as a factory base for creating custom camper vans. The vehicle comes with two front seats, empty rear space, and a factory-installed pop-up roof, but without interior finishing. Starting at £43,900, it is cheaper than ready-made California models but requires additional certification after self-conversion.