Christmas in the van
For the first time since we started caravanning we are able to go away at Xmas so have booked 3 nights at the Hawes in Yorkshire. Advise or suggestions for getting the most out of the experience? Never winter caravanned before and there will be just the two of us and our two small dogs.
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Take brandy - and dog food.
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Just get a few bottles of the local brew in and a chunk of Wensleydale cheese, to go with the Christmas cake (a Yorkshire thing) and of course do not forget the Yorkshire Pudding.
Then it is team work, I cooked the Christmas Dinner the wife did the washing up.
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It will be lovely. Quiet all over on Christmas Day, won't be anything open, but take a look on local websites to check on any events or walks.
Warm and waterproof clothes, make sure your aquaroll is frost proofed, (wrap an old jacket around it with pipe up a sleeve!) take a smaller container in case things do freeze up, Wardens will be able to advise if Site taps freeze. Check your gas canisters if you intend cooking with gas, last thing you want is to run out Xmas day! Games, a wee tipple after a nice walk, and a cosy nest to return to, you can't beat it! Enjoy!
We were out and about a good bit of December last year (Bolton Abbey Site). Had a dusting of snow, enough to make it feel like Christmas, but no hassle on roads. You are from Derbyshire anyway, you will be able to cope!
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We had a problem once in the water freezing in the drain/outlet pipes under the van but it was very, cold. Suspect Christmas day will follow all the others in Dec - a balmy 7 or 8 C and you won't have many problems. I'm assuming you have propane bottles though - just in case. Enjoy.
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Definitely do it!
Take a disposable BBQ too, great fun at -2 when you are bored of turkey leftovers.
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Make up a strong solution of salt water last thing at night and tip down waste in kitchen and washroom. If your waste has a bend in it (many do) you will find just a small amount of water will freeze and block your waste outlet. Apart from that enjoy, you won't regret it.
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We've spent the last two Christmases at a CL near Flamborough and are booked in again for this year. Freezing weather hasn't been the problem (probably to do with the East Yorkshire Coast) but rain has - in bucket loads, especially two years ago!
Nice walk on Brid beach with doggy on Christmas morning and then back to the 'van to cook lunch. We cheat a bit and cook the turkey the day before we leave home, but everything else is prepared in the 'van. Boxing Day morning we walk into the village and have a pint outside one of the pubs and watch the sword dancing which takes place there every year.
We always decorate the awning with lights and have a very small tree in the front window of the van - all to add to the spirit of things. It's great fun - enjoy.
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Some good tips, salt water down the pipes and the old coat for the aqua roll.
Eating out would be cheating JVB but might get some lights for the awning.
As for the cold we live in Buxton, say no more!!
Thanks for the advise.
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Ho ho, coming from Buxton you will know all about snow! You will have no problems.
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That's a good idea JVB. Spending Christmas on a caravan site in a village of only 900 people, nearly 1000 ft above sea level in the northern Pennines, in inevitable rain and wind, and darkness by 4 pm. strikes me as far from fun. I think I would get very drunk to blot out the boredom.
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Probably the I.o.W again this Christmas,lots to see and do.Live music abounds.Good festive atmosphere in eateries and pubs.Will take an emergency meal on board ,just in case .
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We haven't spent Christmas in the van but have spent New Year at Hawes. It was wonderful. We got very cold and frosty weather and everything looked beautiful. We walked across the fields to the pub for a drink at lunchtime. We loved it. There are some very good tips on here - cladding your aqua roll and salt water down the sinks. You absolutely must take Christmas lights because everyone does. The site looks very festive. Have a wonderful time.
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We've spent Xmas at Hawes in the past, and enjoyed every minute of it. The weather was cold, but dry, and we went for a lovely walk late morning before starting to cook dinner, rescuing a sheep which was stuck in some fence wire en route!
I'm sure you'll enjoy the experience, we had a total of 4 nights and it was really nice.
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Haven't spent Christmas in the van yet, but have done a couple of pre Christmas breaks in December, lots of lights and decorations . Working up to spending Christmas Day in the van slowly.
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We've been away nearly every X-mas & the New Year in our caravan for at least the last 20yrs. We try and go for a decent walk on X-mas day with a packed lunch of smoked salmon buns and mulled wine. Back to cook a full X-mas dinner, often a pheasant instead of the more traditional turkey, followed by x-mas pudding. Love it.
Late December is more often wet than freezing cold, so be prepared for all weathers.
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We haven't been away in the van over Xmas, but only because of family commitments. But we have been away in cottages and log cabins, and had a brilliant time. Yorkshire is lovely at Christmas time, villages have displays, towns are very festive, lots of events, some lovely welcoming pubs, festive walks. Not done Dales, but Rievaulx, Helmsley, Pickering area is superb.
If you are really lucky, you might get snowed in at one of the remote pubs!
We tend to tour just before Christmas, taking in an Xmas Fair or two, maybe a " big house at Christmas Event"
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Hi there Juschilling you certainly have the right name!! We are spending christmas at Hawes meeting up with sister and hubby and having lunch at a pub. We spent christmas at Castleton a few years ago and we had 8ins of snow whilst there it looked so lovely with all the vans decorated with lights. No problems with freezing water as long as you insulate well - in fact the snow on the van actually acts as an insulater! You will have a fabulous time no matter what the weather - might see you there!
Bod
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Hi Bod, we have two small dogs (see pic) so will be cooking in the van but won't be turkey. Current thought is slow cooked shoulder of lamb, put it in the oven on low first thing before going for a walk.
If you see us walking the dogs say Hi and maybe share a little drink!
Not worried about snow, we are used to it!!
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