If you’re taking an out of season caravan holiday in a holiday park with static caravans then these days they’re pretty well kitted out and quite well insulated. However, if you’re making the most of the late summer sun camping or caravanning then you might find it’s getting chilly in the evenings, you don’t need to worry with the right planning you can enjoy the warm days without your break being spoiled by cold, miserable nights.
While the weather is changeable it’s unseasonably warm across much of the UK and the Met Office is saying this warmer weather could last into next month. If you can get away it’s really cheap at the moment, but the evenings can still get chilly, particularly by the coast.
Clothing – Even if you don’t want too many clothes for the day, you may find layering the clothes on in the evening is what keeps you warm. While many of us think of thick jumpers, layers of natural woven fabrics are actually warmer and more effective at trapping body heat.
For sleeping, a onesie might seem the perfect idea for sleeping, but if you are camping, getting out of one at 3am for a wee isn’t much fun, especially in the cold. Bed socks are a must!
Sleeping Bags – Whether you’re in a tent or a caravan you want to make sure your bedding is effective. You can get some really great grade sleeping bags suitable for really cold temperatures, and while supermarkets and all sorts now stock standard sleeping bags for summer, these probably aren’t suitable for out of season camping.
Even if you’re in a touring caravan you’ll want to ensure you have extra bedding to keep warm, and in fact even if you’re renting out a caravan in a holiday park, a few blankets brought along in the boot might not do any harm and put you well prepared for a colder night.
Keeping Dry – There’s no denying that this time of year often brings cold snaps and with that can come the rain. Now no one minds being caught in a shower when they have somewhere warm to come back to, but coming back to a soggy tent and soggy clothes is no fun.
Thankfully those in caravans and holiday homes don’t have to worry too much here but for those camping it’s worth making a waterproof part of the tent to keep fabrics in and even buying a waterproof zip up bag to stop the damp getting in.
Staying entertained – Even in the nicest holiday home it can get a little chilly in the evenings, they are after all built for summer but with plenty of space in many of these static caravans, there’s plenty of room to move around. It’s amazing how a game of charades, or a similar game can warm up a chilly evening, and at least make the time go faster.
It’s bad enough when the kids are bored, but for out of season holidays, games and indoor entertainment for rainy days is a must.
There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy an out of season holiday as much as a summer holiday, in fact with quieter beaches and attractions it can sometimes be nicer to enjoy many of the UK’s most beautiful places in the early autumn than it is in high season. All you have to do is ensure you’re organised, and you can pretty much face whatever life throws at you, but the forecast is good and you might as well make the most of that if you can!
By: Kath Cross
