NCCW is the brainchild of the Camping and Caravanning Club and to mark the occasion invites are being thrown out to the many enthusiasts we have in the UK to join them on one of their many sites. With many experiences to be had during your travels, not just inside your caravan or tent, this is the optimum time to kick start your 2013 season if you haven’t done so already.

Grab the kids, load up your gear, bundle in the dog and head off into the wide blue yonder and enjoy new experiences, possibly meet new friends and discover new places. In days where we spend too much time buzzing around like busy bees, having the chance to kick back, relax and appreciate some down time in wonderful surroundings is a great way to reenergise and recharge batteries.

Activities galore

If you do decide to choose one of the many Camping and Caravanning Club parks to celebrate NCCW then there’s a ’perk’ for everyone – be it a tranquil bike ride, fantastic options for food or family friendly games and competitions – the choices are extensive.

During the week there will be plenty of fun events happening across a selection of CCC sites including a family sports and Devonshire Cream Tea day at Moffat, great bake off at Weston super Mare, a guided walk at Lynton and bacon butty morning in Chichester – to name a few.

With many activities on offer all members of the family will be able to find something to keep them occupied.

Competition time

As part of the week there are a number of competitions being run in conjunction with CCC partners which includes the chance to win two forest adventures with Go Ape, an award winning pair of boots from Hi – Tec, a family holiday in Devon courtesy of Visit South Devon and £500 worth of Vango vouchers – to name a few.

To be in with a chance of nabbing all these goodies, head over to the Camping and Caravanning Club website for more terms, conditions and details.

NCCW 2012

In 2012 the CCC set a new Guinness World Record during their National Camping and Caravanning Week for the most people wearing paper crowns across multiple locations in 24 hours.

The period also coincided with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee which saw much celebration and frivolity in honour of ‘her maj’.

2013 is setting up to be no different in terms of what’s on offer.

Looking ahead

This year features plenty of media events hitting sites including David Bellamy guiding campers along a nature walk at the Hertford site.

You’ll then be able to join Sustrans on a guided cycle ride, have a nose around the local farmer’s market and visit the petting zoo. All visitors will be offered bacon sandwiches to set the day off properly!

Do it with style

Robert Louden, Director General at The Camping and Caravanning Club, says;  ”There are so many ‘Perks’ to experience when out camping – they can be as small as enjoying a glass of wine and watching the sunset, spotting a rare animal when out walking or even popping down to the farmers’ market to taste some local produce; either way, camping has something for everyone.

Where you decide to head and however you celebrate National Camping and Caravanning Week make sure you do it in style.

With temperatures on the rise, more and more sunshine on offer and long lazy holidays on the cards it’s time to get involved and head off with your caravan in tow.

Many cater for the whole range of campers – tent, caravan, motorhome, trailer tent – while others are more specialised. The following gives a brief description of some of the more known clubs, listing their advantages and benefits so that you can decide whether taking out membership will be beneficial for you, and if so which caravan club to join…

The Caravan Club

Now 105 years old, the ‘Caravan Club’ is still perhaps the most familiar club of its kind to most people and is certainly the largest of those on offer in the UK. The club has a vast range of benefits, offers and discounts exclusive to members only which can mean easily and quickly recouping the cost of annual membership as well as genuine and substantial savings elsewhere. All members receive a large full colour sites directory, a monthly club magazine and access to the on-line member’s forum and discussion groups.

The club’s website also allows extensive site searches and on-line bookings.

The essentials:

Cost – £42 per year based on 2 adults at the same address + £10 joining fee (waived if payment by direct debit).

Club sites – 200+ sites where members can take advantage of reduced pitch fees

Certificated locations (CLs) – 2500+ member only sites which can take a maximum of 5 caravans or motor-homes at any one time.

Special offers – includes such things as pitches for £1, 50% off pitch fees, kids for £1 and midweek booking discounts.

Member exclusive discounts/offers – updated monthly and include such things as reduced rates for M6 toll. Discounts and offers on more than 300 attractions and days out. Searchable by relevance to destination and site choice.

Access to dedicated breakdown and recovery service for caravans/motor-homes – operated by Green Flag – cover from £34 per year for caravans, motorhomes, cars and trailer tents.

Reduced rate ferry bookings – only available to members.

Overseas travel service – which includes information on recommended European sites.

Storage pitches – members only access to thousands of options.

Insurance reductions – the club have their own insurance schemes which members can take advantage of or alternatively many caravan and motor-home insurers offer reduced premiums where club membership can be shown.

Technical advice – instant access to the club’s own professional caravan advisers as well as on-line information leaflets and technical pages.

Legal advice – with relation to motoring and caravanning.

Sites directory – 704 page full colour handbook, updated every two years, with photographs and individual site fees.

Caravan Club credit card – holders can earn points which entitle them to claim pitches for free at UK club sites.

The Camping and Caravanning Club

www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

As the second largest club and self-titled as the ‘friendly club’, the ‘Camping and Caravanning Club’ has typically a  rather more informal feel than the ‘Caravan Club’ and gives equal emphasis to tent campers, caravanners, motor-homers and trailer tent owners.

The club, which has been operating for more than 100 years, has very similar benefits, offers and discounts to the ‘Caravan Club’ and also produces a comprehensive site directory every two years, called the ‘Big Sites Book’ and a monthly club magazine.

The club’s website allows site searches and on-line bookings and has a wealth of information on all things camping and caravanning.

The essentials:

Cost – £40 per year based on 2 adults and up to 4 children (under 18) at the same address + £10 joining fee (waived if payment by direct debit.

Club sites – 110+ sites where members can take advantage of reduced pitch fees. Extra specific reductions also apply and include:

Over 55s – save up to 30% (not applicable in high season)

Children go free – under 6s are free year round and 6 to 17 year olds are free in low season

Backpackers – tent backpackers’ rates start at only £2.35 per person per night.

Certificated sites (CS) – 1500+ member only sites which can take a maximum of 5 caravans or motor-homes at any one time and up to 10 tents.

Special offers – includes such things as 4 nights for the price of 3 as well as all the club site discounts some of which are listed above.

Member exclusive discounts/offers – offered on both UK and worldwide destinations and include discounts on theme parks, free adult entry to Disneyland Paris, discounted hotel breaks and ‘members marketplace’ where savings on a range of products are listed and updated constantly.

Access to dedicated breakdown and recovery service for caravans/motor-homes/trailer tents and campers vehicles – operated by the RAC – cover from £41 per year.

Reduced rate ferry bookings – only available to members.

international travel service – called ‘Carefree’, this service includes on-line e-brochures, camp site listings from more than 20 countries and on-line booking.

Storage and seasonal pitches – members only access to many options.

Insurance reductions – the club have their own insurance schemes (including caravan/motor-home, car and home) which members can take advantage of or alternatively many caravan and motor-home insurers offer reduced premiums where club membership can be shown.

Club classifieds – which allows members to offer items for sale or buy from other members.

Technical advice – instant access to the club’s own professional help desk advisers as well as on-line information leaflets, articles and data sheets.

Legal advice – with relation to motoring and caravanning.

Independent financial advice – service exclusive to club members.

Sites directory – full colour handbook, updated every two years, with photographs and individual site fees.

Motor Caravanners Club

www.motorcaravanners.eu

Established in 1960, the MCC are an organisation which co-ordinates meets for motor-homers and have a small range of member exclusive benefits. The club welcomes motor-homers of every category whether factory build, self-build or conversion.

The essentials:

Cost – £28.50 per year + £5 one- off joining fee

Sites – offers a network of small privately owned sites which allow a maximum of 5 units at any one time. Additionally, there are around 500 organised meets and venues which cost approximately £8 per unit per night.

Other benefits -insurance discounts, ferry booking savings, exclusive members’ offers and discounts, reduced rate recovery service, monthly club magazine

The Auto Camping Club

www.acceastmidlands.co.uk

This club has been running for almost 50 years now and is essentially about getting camping, caravanning and motor-home enthusiasts together regionally at all kinds of social gatherings, rallies and parties and organising budget pitches for those events.

The essentials:

Cost – £25 per year

Benefits – reduced insurance rates and discounted equipment.

The Touring Caravan Club

www.touringcaravanclub.com

Open to trailer tent owners, caravanners and motor-homers, the Touring Caravan Club has existed in one form or another since 1937, organising rallies and events for enthusiasts.

The essentials:

Cost – £27 per year

Benefits – UK and continental breakdown and recovery at concessionary rates, discounted ferry bookings, club magazine produced 6 times a year.

The Historic Camping Club

www.historiccaravanclub.com

Formed in 1993, the aim of this club is to bring together owners of vintage, classic and historic caravans which pre-date 1961 through organising rallies and sharing information and expertise.

The essentials:

Cost – £17 per year

Benefits – co-ordinates a ‘caravan hire register’ for members who are happy for their caravans to be available for film, TV and media hire. Also produce a news sheet for members every 6 weeks which includes offered/wanted items.

The Coast and Countryside Camping Club

www.coastandcountrysidecampingclub.info

Established in 2005 and with only 100 members the ACC’s aim is to bring together campers, caravanners, trailer tenters and motor-homers who enjoy greenfield camping around the south coast area of Britain.

The essentials:

Cost – £5 per year

Benefits – organises meets at various venues which start at around £4 per unit per night.

There are many more small clubs most of which offer similar benefits with comparable membership costs but differ as regards the areas in which they operate (such as the ‘Irish Camping and Caravanning Club’) and also the client groups they are targeting (such as the ‘Deaf Caravan and Camping Club’ or ‘Classic Camper Club’). Additionally new clubs are being formed all the time while some existing clubs cease operations. There are also exclusive area and caravan make clubs you can join too.

We also have a further list of caravan clubs in our directory.

For those who regularly use their caravans and motor-homes there is no doubt that the larger clubs usually offer the best deals with the largest range of fringe benefits. However, only you can decide which club will offer you personally the most financial advantage and holiday opportunities depending on what, how and when you use your unit.

Any clubs you’re in and would recommend? Let us know in the comments below!