Over the past two decades, I’ve towed my Bailey caravan, Bernard, to many far-flung places – Croatia, Montenegro and Morocco among them – but as the cost of living crisis continues to nip at my travel budget, exploring closer to home, out of season, has become increasingly appealing.
On my last trip, in late March, I decided not to visit any major cities, instead taking in two smaller destinations in very different parts of England. And, as it turns out, I’m one of a growing number of holidaymakers who are choosing to explore more compact towns and villages instead of major metropolises.
It’s a trend that has been labelled “townsizing”, and while the name may be questionable, the allure of visiting quieter, less crowded environments – particularly off-season – is undeniable.
The UK Government seems to agree, with its new “Town of Culture” competition promising to celebrate the value of these smaller places, championing the unique characters and lesser-known local attractions that deserve recognition alongside better-known destinations. The first UK Town of Culture will be announced early next year.
The first destination of my trip was Weymouth. The drive from home – also in Dorset – was less than an hour and served as a warm-up for the longer journey I’d be taking afterwards.
In summer, Weymouth is a bustling seaside town packed with visitors, queues snaking out of shops and every cafe table occupied. But at other times of year it becomes a completely different place. The beach stretches out empty and windswept. The harbour feels calm. Staff serve food at a slower pace, and this relaxed feel rubs off on the patrons; some take time to chat, striking up conversations that would have been impossible during the busy height of summer.
Bringing Reggie, my black labrador, is also much easier off-season, as more places welcome four-legged friends when the crowds have thinned. And one of the benefits of caravan travel is that once you’ve arrived and unhitched at your chosen campsite, you can explore the local area by car.
Together we visited the extraordinary Chesil Beach, with its 18 miles (28km) of pebbles making it the world’s most extensive shingle barrier beach, and spent a fascinating afternoon at the Castletown D-Day Museum in nearby Portland, learning about the area’s crucial role in the Normandy landings. I’d pitched the caravan at nearby Bagwell Farm, where low-season fees on a grass pitch can be less than £30 per night for two adults.
After three nights on the Dorset coast, Reggie and I headed north to Leek, a market town on the edge of the Peak District. The M5 made the five-hour drive a doddle, especially when towing. A correctly loaded caravan makes for a super-stable outfit, and the miles flew by with ease.
While nearby Bakewell and Buxton draw the crowds, Leek remains refreshingly under the radar. It’s the kind of place where you can window shop without feeling like you’re part of a tourist conveyor belt. The town’s Victorian heritage is evident in its industrial architecture, and the weekly market still thrives, offering local produce and handmade goods.
It’s also a fantastic hub for quieter corners of the Peak District, including rolling moorland and stone-built villages like Bullerton, all seemingly my own at this quieter time of year. The nearby Blackshaw Moor campsite provided a peaceful base, and with off-season rates (£30 a night for a hard-standing pitch – 20 per cent less than in summer) I could afford to stay a little longer.
Travelling out of season doesn’t just mean cheaper accommodation. Some attractions also offer discounts, as do certain pubs and restaurants – although, with our nation’s pubs under financial threat, I’m happy to pay full price. There are other ways to cut costs, too, such as free apps. Fuel has become much more expensive since the start of the war in Iran, but mapping app Waze allows me to spot cheaper prices along my already-plotted route.
These savings mean I can travel more often, stay longer and spend money where it matters: supporting local businesses, trying regional food and investing in experiences rather than just ticking off larger destinations. And even though I’m spending less than I would in July or August, smaller, tucked-away businesses still benefit from receiving customers at quieter times.
The Caravan and Motorhome Club has not only reported a boom in townsizing, but record winter bookings, with more campsites staying open year-round – suggesting I’m not alone in embracing off-season travel.
It does have its quirks, though. It means accepting that some venues will be closed, opening hours might be shorter, and you may need to plan ahead if basing the trip around a must-see attraction. I have arrived in towns to find that smaller points of interest don’t open until spring, or that the local pub closes on Tuesdays.
But these minor inconveniences are far outweighed by the rewards. There’s a freedom in not having to book months in advance, and in discovering a walking route or mountain bike trail that’s blissfully empty. Exploring smaller destinations at a slower pace forced me to be more present and open to whatever might unfold.
