Somerset campsites report mixed fortunes amid heatwave
Somerset campsites experienced varying booking patterns as the ongoing heatwave affected tourism, with some sites seeing cancellations and others benefiting from the weather.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Campsite owners in the UK are reporting mixed fortunes as the ongoing heatwave affects tourism in Somerset. While some holidaymakers are enjoying the dry conditions, bookings have dropped as others stay away. The sector is worth around 55 million pounds to Somerset's economy and is seen as a vital part of the local tourism industry.
For some visitors, the heat is a bonus. Richard and his son Seth travelled from Derby to spend a week at a site near Bridgewater, enjoying camping, fishing and the sunshine. Richard described the experience as 'peace, tranquility, and when you look around you, the scenery and the settings is just relaxation.' He added that they can bring the dog and the whole family, and that the people they meet are 'genuine and all here for the same reason, really, just to have a nice, relaxing holiday.'
However, the lack of rain has caused the lake to run low, affecting oxygen levels and harming the fish. The owner of the campsite said the high temperatures have had a clear effect on bookings. 'We've got the camping and the motorhomes, which is definitely down by about 25%. And then we've got the glamping, and weirdly, the glamping is up by about 7%.' During the peaks of the heatwave, people would phone up a few days beforehand and cancel or ask to move because they did not want to stay in the heat. The owner noted that temperatures over 28 or 29 degrees, and definitely in the 30s, have almost the same effect as torrential rain: 'Everyone's like, oh my God, we've got all this sunshine. It must be great for camping. I'm like, no, not really.'
According to Visit Somerset, camping and caravanning is worth around 55 million pounds to the local economy. They fear increasingly hot summers could put people off. Along with the cost of living, people are and will be continually concerned about their own health and the health of their families, possibly taking even shorter breaks. Despite the challenges, there is no shortage of happy campers in Somerset.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| Camping and motorhome bookings at a Somerset site decreased by about 25%. | |
| Glamping bookings at the same Somerset site increased by about 7%. | |
| The camping and caravanning sector contributes around 55 million pounds to Somerset's economy. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focuses on the mixed impact of the heatwave on Somerset campsites, highlighting both the positive experiences of some campers and the negative effect on bookings. It includes specific data from a campsite owner (camping/motorhomes down 25%, glamping up 7%) and quotes from a visitor and a tourism body. The tone is balanced, showing the complexity of the situation without sensationalism.
- “We've got the camping and the motorhomes, which is definitely down by about 25%. And then we've got the glamping, and weirdly, the glamping is up by about 7%.”
- “Everyone's like, oh my God, we've got all this sunshine. It must be great for camping. I'm like, no, not really.”
- “Along with cost of living, I think people are and will be continually concerned about their own health and the health of their families as well.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.