Some of my fondest childhood memories are of caravan holidays with my family. We loved nothing more than packing up the car with a week’s worth of food and belongings, before heading off on our road trip.

I always felt a sense of adventure as we travelled from Scotland to a caravan park in England.

My sisters and I would each have a backpack full of snacks and things to keep us entertained during the long car journeys. Usually puzzle and colouring-in books and a Walkman with our favourite cassette tapes: the benefits of growing up in the 90s before smartphones and tablets.

Once we got to the caravan, that’s when the fun began and there was always something to do: outdoor activities and most likely a nearby beach – with the arcades one of my favourite pastimes.

I recently got to relive my childhood memories with a weekend stay at Blairgowrie Holiday Park. The last time I had been in a caravan was when I was very young and still able to walk. I was a little nervous about staying in a caravan as a full-time powered wheelchair user for the first time.

Even though this was a wheelchair accessible caravan, I was still apprehensive about just how accessible it would actually be.

There was no need to worry. I had no problems getting in and moving around inside the caravan. I was even impressed by how spacious it was, especially the living room, main bedroom and bathroom with roll-in shower, nothing like the caravans I used to stay in.

This time I got to take my five year-old nephew along. We spent most of our time in the living room playing games, eating sweets and watching movies. I loved how cosy it felt in the evenings with the gas fire keeping us warm.

When we weren’t in our caravan, we were playing outside in the playpark or visiting the local attractions like Camperdown Wildlife Centre. My nephew loved all of it.

Due to my muscle weakness, I’m unable to cook or do the washing up, but the kitchen would be ideal for a wheelchair user who is more independent and physically able than I am. The kitchen had all the essentials including a wheelchair accessible sink with space to roll underneath, as well as a lowered cooker and microwave.

Another great accessibility feature was the sliding doors into each room. The main bedroom and bathroom were surprisingly spacious so I was able to drive in and move around with no issues.

Our breakaway made me realise that it really is possible to enjoy caravan holidays again and I can’t wait to go on the next one.

Search for ‘Blairgowrie Holiday Park’ at: www.woodleisure.co.uk, quoting code: EMMA10 to enjoy a 10% discount when staying in an accessible holiday home.

About Emma Muldoon

Emma created her blog, Simply Emma, to share her life and experiences of being a powerchair user and encourages others to see more of the world, whether that means international travel or being a little more adventurous in your hometown. The blog, founded in 2014, has grown to become one of the UK’s leading travel and accessibility blogs.

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