Read, Tour, Explore AND The Big Little Reading Festival

The Caravan and Motorhome Club’s new campaign, ‘Read, Tour, Explore’ -  launched earlier in the year - is encouraging people to develop and expand their love of literature and visit campsites near to the locations of book settings.  As part of the campaign, the Club is delighted to announce two new initiatives - a free one-day festival event in August for those staying at the Club’s Holkham Hall pop-up campsite and a free online reading portal.

Read Tour Explore – Road to Reading - Online portal

The Club has teamed up with leading national charity, The Reading Agency, and is offering members an online reading platform encouraging them to read and change their lives,  30 minutes at a time!   Tourers are being asked to pledge to read every week with the Read Tour Explore: Road to Reading portal and see what a difference it makes.

A little reading can go a long way.  It can connect us to others, spark curiosity, boost our self-esteem and support our mental health.  Books can inform, educate, inspire, transform your life, spark ideas, dreams and entertain you.  Evidence shows that reading expands how people think, opens new worlds and perspectives.  It supports health and wellbeing, increases people's ability to learn new skills and it brings joy. 

That’s why the Club, in partnership with The Reading Agency, are inviting people to join the Read Tour Explore: Road to Reading.

Sign up and each week the Club and The Reading Agency will share advice and tips and brilliant reading recommendations inspired by Caravan and Motorhome Club campsite locations. For more details and to sign up, visit: camc.com/rte

According to research, adults who read for just 30 minutes a week are: 20% more likely to report greater life satisfaction; 18% more likely to have higher self-esteem and 52% more likely to feel socially included and 37% more likely to get greater pleasure out of their social life.

Matt Allwright, TV presenter and Caravan and Motorhome Club member said, “I really love reading. But when you’re busy it’s hard to find the time, space and peace to really commit to a book. That all changes when I’m out in my van, surrounded by nature, with a cup of coffee and something epic to read.  I can go through chapter after chapter without interruption, taking me away to another world entirely.  No other holiday gives you the freedom to do exactly that. Bliss.” 

The Reading Agency commented, “We want to get more people fired up about reading because everything changes when we read.”

Brian Morgan, Head of Communications and Events at the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “Seventy two percent of Club members cite reading books and magazines as their top hobby and pastime and 71% say they love to explore and visit the local sights. Staying at Club campsites enables you to follow in the footsteps of favourite characters and see for yourself the vivid landscapes and locations that were painted in words.  We want to encourage even more people, of all generations - grandparents, grandchildren, parents and children - to immerse themselves in a book, go and enjoy the area for themselves and build lasting memories.”

Join in with the Read Tour Explore: Road to Reading and walk in the literary footsteps of the characters and protagonists in these inspiring books and immerse yourself into a literary other-world.

PLUS!

 

Those staying on the Club’s pop-up campsite at Holkham Hall campsite on Saturday 17 August, can join in with the Big Little Reading Festival  

The day will be filled with literary fun, entertainment and educational activities ranging from  kids and adult face painting, activity packs, books for you to borrow, children and adult reading time in the festival tent, a talk by the Reading Agency and book readings by authors.  There will also be an evening performance by the Dickens Theatre Company - featuring actor Ryan Philpott, known for his roles in the popular tv programmes Rosemary and Thyme and EastEnders.  The play, ‘Charles Dickens and the Stink of Murder’ will be entertaining fun for all the family so bring along your favourite nibbles and drinks to the festival tent to enjoy the evening performance.

There will be a book quiz hosted by Mel and Ryan Philpott (AKA ‘The Overnighters’ on social media), plus a guest appearance from Charles Dickens!  The winning team will get free tickets to watch Dickens Theatre Company’s A Christmas Carol at King’s Lynn Corn Exchange in November or a theatre local to them.

At lunchtime come to the ‘Marquee Theatre’ as Mel and Ryan give a talk about touring the UK’s best CAMC Campsites, with one eye on the road and the other on a classic work of literature. They will ‘tow’ you on their ‘tour’ of Cornwall (Daphne Du Maurier) through Devon (Agatha Christie) to the Gower Peninsula (Dylan Thomas) via the Lake District (Beatrix Potter) across the North Yorkshire Moors (Bronte sisters), down the North Yorkshire Coast (Bram Stoker), taking a detour through Shakespeare’s Warwick and Stratford, diving down to the ‘Garden of England’ Kent (Charles Dickens), before making a well-manoeuvred detour to East Anglia, North Norfolk and Holkham Hall, the setting for the Big Little Reading Festival. 

Not only was the Oscar-winning ‘Shakespeare in Love’ filmed at Holkham Hall, but Norfolk has some incredible literary links. Dickens’ David Copperfield was set largely in Great Yarmouth, while East Anglia gave birth to the likes of Arthur Ransome (Swallows and Amazons), Anna Sewell (Black Beauty), Philip Pullman (His Dark Materials), John Betjeman (Poet Laureate) and the one and only Stephen Fry.  Come and join in for a fun-filled time of inspiration, advice and a lot of laughs, there will also be an audience Q&A.

Brian Morgan, Head of Communications and Event at the Caravan and Motorhome Club said, “The Big Little Reading Festival will be a great event, suitable for all ages, with lots to entertain and inform.  The Holkham Hall pop-up campsite, open from 16 August to 13 September, will be ideal for all the family and offers a unique base to explore the great outdoors.  Club pop-ups offer a wonderfully relaxing environment with plenty to see and do.”

For more details visit:  camc.com/holkhampopup  Come and join in with all the fun of the Big Little Reading Festival!  

Ends

Notes to Editors

About Caravan and Motorhome Club

Championing and helping its members get more from the great outdoors, whether glamping or touring, the Caravan and Motorhome Club represents the interests of over 1.1 million caravan, motorhome, campervan and trailer tent owners across the UK.  With over 116 years of knowledge and expertise, the Club has a wealth of experience and prides itself on offering great value and high quality campsites for tourers and glampers.

Caravan and Motorhome Club membership is just £63 per year and provides members with access to over 2,700 quality campsites across the UK and Europe. As the UK’s No. 1 rated touring club* it makes sure members get the most from their membership, saving them money with great value offers whether touring or at home.

The Club also offers a range of escorted European tours which are protected by ABTA.  Plus escorted and independent tours in Australasia, North America and Southern Africa which are also fully protected, either by ABTA or ATOL when a flight is included. All members can take advantage of expert advice, overseas travel services, cover and insurance and exclusive member offers and discounts.

For further information about becoming a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, please visit www.camc.com  or call 01342 318 813.

*As rated on Trustpilot

About Experience Freedom

Experience Freedom from the Caravan and Motorhome Club provides glamping accommodation in some of the most beautiful locations in the UK. Experience Freedom offers a choice of glamping accommodation, motorhome hire and tent camping, all of which are available to non-members.  Motorhome hire, including some discounted hire schemes can be found here https://www.experiencefreedom.co.uk/motorhome-hire/

Experience Freedom is operated by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, a membership organisation with a wealth of experience in operating high quality campsites.

Caravan and Motorhome Club members can save up to 10% on glamping accommodation for themselves and their friends and family when staying at the campsite with them. It is automatically applied to the booking when the membership number is used. To book friends and family, simply call on 01342 777533 to make a booking with your Club membership card.

To find out more, visit www.experiencefreedom.co.uk

Media Contacts:

For more press information, please email Nikki Nichol at the Caravan and Motorhome Club on nikki.nichol@camc.com or by calling 07771 834443.