Deer rutting and food foraging

Pitchup.com says camping in autumn is the archetypal British holiday experience

British countryside at its best in autumn

Whether it’s autumn colour, deer rutting, red squirrel spotting or foraging in the hedgerows, the British autumn is possibly the best time of year to be in the great outdoors, says Pitchup.com. 

Dan Yates, founder of the outdoor holiday specialist site says now is a great time to camp: “While most people think of camping and caravanning in July and August, now is the time they really should be giving it a try.  The hedgerows are brimming with berries to be foraged and wildlife is coming into its own.  The deer rutting season peaks in October and is a great opportunity to see deer in their natural habitat: look for them in woodland or enclosed parks with their own herds.”

Camping and caravanning is one of the best ways to get up close, as many sites are located in regions where deer rutting is common – visitors may even be able to watch from the comfort of their pitch.  Pitchup.com has selected three of the best locations to see this show of strength and power by Britain’s largest land mammals, starting at the bottom near Exmoor National Park, heading north to the Peak District then going right to the top in the Scottish Highlands.

• Ruthern Valley Holidays: has camping pods in a pretty valley near Bodmin Moor.  With an emphasis on ‘natural surroundings’ it’s the perfect choice for an autumn wildlife break.  Pods start from £75 for a two night stay.  Wigwam accommodation is also available starting from £70 for two nights.

• Lime Tree Holiday Park: Lime Tree Holiday Park in Buxton, Derbyshire, is only nine miles from Lyme Park, a local National Trust property and regular home of red deer. This picturesque site has plenty to keep everyone occupied including an adventure playground, games room and pool table; there’s also a village style shop. Accommodation options range from hard standing and grass pitches through to cosy holiday homes.  Holiday homes have a minimum three night stay and start from £56.33 per night.

• Loch Tay Highland Lodges: There’s no better place to watch deer than in the Scottish Highlands. Set on a hill overlooking Loch Tay, Loch Tay Highland Lodges is the perfect location to explore the Highlands and its wildlife.  Activities are in abundance on site – archery, canoeing, kayaking, and mountain biking are just a few to keep guests occupied, or hire a boat from the site owners to catch salmon and trout on the loch. Pitch up in a warm camping pod, yurt or woodland cabin.  Prices start from £40 per night for a camping pod.

Yates adds: “Don’t forget that any fruit you do forage for at this time of year can be turned into jams, chutneys or drinks on return home.  We’ve got some great ideas for this in our blog.”

For more information visit www.pitchup.com.

ends

Media information:

Cass Helstrip or Samantha Marsh at White Tiger PR

Cass.helstrip@whitetigerpr.com 07968 255464

Samantha.marsh@whitetigerpr.com 07711 265666

Notes to editors

Founded in 2009 by former lastminute.com man, Dan Yates, multi-award winning Pitchup.com is a free guide to all types of camping and caravanning in the UK, Ireland and France.  The site provides users with a simple platform in which they can search and book a camping or caravanning holiday with total ease.  The customer experience from landing on the home page through to booking a holiday can be completed in as little as four pages.  The site also goes beyond traditional searches by allowing users to search for a site based on more than 80 criteria, such as adults only and campfires allowed, and view nearby events, Good Pub Guide pubs and VisitBritain attractions.  Users can also search on the offers page to find the best deals available.  Pitchup.com features over 5,000 camping and caravanning sites/parks throughout UK & Ireland with France recently added into the equation.  It enables users to search for all types of parks and sites from the major brands right through to one off campsites which may not have previously had a web presence.