Hot weather is reportedly changing camping habits across the West of England, with some holidaymakers opting for glamping instead of tents. Campsite owners in Somerset indicate that recent heatwaves have led some visitors, particularly families with children, older relatives, and dogs, to reconsider traditional camping holidays.
Jennifer Burgis from Burton Springs Holidays and Fishing near Bridgwater noted that camping and motorhome bookings at her site are down by approximately 25%, while glamping accommodation, including bell tents and pods, has seen an increase of around 7%. She stated that people were cancelling or changing bookings during the peak of the heatwave due to concerns for dogs, children, or elderly relatives, with some moving to glamping options.
Conversely, other campsites in the region are experiencing a rise in visitor numbers. Ruth Powell, owner of Enjoy Elmwicke Camping near Cheltenham, reported being very busy, with bookings up about 7% on last year. Jules Sayer, who runs Petruth Paddocks Campsite near Cheddar, also saw visitor numbers increase by 25% compared to last year, attributing this to greater confidence in booking UK breaks due to sunny weather.
Visit Somerset's chief executive, John Turner, highlighted that camping and caravanning contributes about £55m to Somerset's economy. However, he also mentioned that increasing temperatures are causing people to think twice before camping in the heat, leading to a reported 66% drop in visitor numbers at county attractions compared to last year.