Northern Ireland’s caravan parks are experiencing near capacity bookings this weekend as glorious sunshine and good weather are set to continue into next week. Those who have left it late might need to consider alternative arrangements due to the high demand.
The weekend’s weather will likely follow the pattern seen throughout this week, with morning clouds making way for strong sunshine and dry, bright conditions. Highs of around 23 degrees have been forecast over the two days. Carnfunnock Caravan Park‘s Rory McAllister said the weather has provided a significant boost to the site.
“We’re pretty much fully booked this weekend bar one space. The bank holiday was the same – from Friday through to Monday we were completely booked up,” McAllister said.
The caravan park, located in Mid and East Antrim Borough Council-owned Carnfunnock Country Park near Larne, has 30 pitches available for touring caravans. The park itself offers a variety of family-friendly activities, including a fun zone at weekends, according to the Newsletter.
The good weather has brought in a lot of inquiries about caravan pitches and our tent camping. It actually does start for another week. We’re only taking touring caravans,” Rory said. “Last year we started our camping at Easter time, but this year the ground condition wasn’t great because our weather has been unfavorable up to this point.”
Into next week, temperatures across the UK are expected to rise again and could reach record highs for the year so far. Stephen Dixon, spokesman for the Met Office, said temperatures will be higher next weekend, but not at heatwave levels.
“There will be plenty of dry, fine, and sunny weather through the weekend in the UK with high pressure still in charge, seeing some warmer temperatures, possibly in the low-20s, especially in the west. A good weekend for the vast majority of the UK,” he said.
“Areas further east have been experiencing more prolonged cloud, generally in the mid or low teens, and that’s going to continue for the eastern areas,” Dixon added. “As we move towards next weekend, there’s a signal for temperatures possibly getting towards the mid-20s. It’s not anything we’d call a heatwave, but there are some signals for later next week and into next weekend for higher temperatures, particularly in the south.”
With high pressure in place for the foreseeable future, there is a chance of some lighter showers for parts of Northern Ireland and perhaps Scotland for Tuesday and Wednesday, though they will be very isolated.
“As we move into next weekend, although the temperature is looking to increase in the south, that does increase the chance of some isolated showers popping up,” Dixon mentioned.
It is western areas that are looking likely to have the longer sunny periods, parts of Wales as well as the southwest of England, but for the vast majority, it will be feeling very pleasant with sunshine. It will be slightly warmer than average but not beyond what we’d normally see,” Dixon concluded. The highest temperature in the UK so far this year was 25.1C in Porthmadog in North Wales on Tuesday.
The outdoor hospitality industry can leverage such positive weather forecasts to attract more visitors to caravan parks and other outdoor accommodations. By promoting their unique offerings and experiences on social media platforms, businesses can capitalize on the increased interest in outdoor activities during periods of pleasant weather.
It’s essential for the industry to remain adaptable and prepared to cater to fluctuating demands. Implementing flexible booking options, providing up-to-date weather information, and offering on-site amenities tailored to different weather conditions can enhance the overall guest experience.
By staying attuned to weather patterns and guest preferences, the outdoor hospitality industry can optimize its operations and attract more visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of Northern Ireland and beyond.