What a busy year!

Was updating the website when I suddenly saw it's been several months since I put a blog on the site - how has it been so long? Well where to start? After a racing start to the year with a new apprentice in our workshop, we successfully gained NCC Approved Workshop Status in Spring 2011. That has been followed by the development of a new accessories shop which will officially launch on 3rd September 2011 (although you're welcome to pop in any time before then as we are actually open). The hire fleet has been as busy as ever, but 2011 has seen a huge increase our sales dept, with a growing number of customers able to turn the dream of owning a campervan into a reality plus we also now offer a marketing service to private owners looking for help in selling their motorhomes. There are lots of extra photos and information on our Facebook page, plus Stephen tweets his 'job of the day' on Twitter (@HighlandCamper). Will try to update the blog again soon, but please have a wander around our website and you should see lots of development and changes as the year progresses... No off to help plan the official shop opening and the staff BBQ afterwards (I promised everyone a celebration for their help and support effort in gaining NCC AWS and they're holding me to it!)

Press release: Early Christmas Present for Inverness Business Highland Campervans had an early Christmas present this year when planning permission and a £25,000 loan from Highland Opportunity Fund, both arrived the week before Christmas. The company, based on the A96, had applied for planning permission to convert the old dairy farm at Kerrowaird into a dedicated workshop and sales showroom for servicing motorhomes and caravans. Steve Bunn, Workshop manager and co-founder said “I do have a workshop already but it’s just not big enough for the larger motorhomes and caravans which I need to have full access to. The low interest-loan from Highland Opportunity is also fantastic news and will enable us to purchase a vehicle lift to give me improved access when servicing vans”. Highland Campers is a great example of a successful Inverness business which started in a recession but has gone from strength to strength, recently identifying a gap in the market for motorhome servicing. The company is fast gaining a reputation as the motorhome specialists for the Highlands and specifically looks after the internal habitation units of motorhomes and caravans. The updated premises will include a larger workshop, a shop with parts and supplies, plus a new office unit for campervan & motorhome sales and the hire fleet. The company is also looking for an apprentice to start work in the New Year. Interested applicants should look at the business website www.HighlandCamperans.com for details on the apprenticeship which will involve learning a multitude of skills from joinery to electrics. Catherine Bunn, co-founder said “It’s a very exciting time for us at the moment. We are hoping to get everything ready before the spring when there is high demand to get the vehicles serviced in time for summer – we are encouraging all of our customers this year to beat the rush and book their vehicles in for servicing during the winter months - it’s especially important for any vehicles with possible frost damage”. If anyone needs any advice on winterising vehicles, just get in touch with the Highland Campers office.

10 things we love about Autumn in a Highland Campervan

Autumn is coming - you can sense it in the air and see it in the sky. At the Highland Campervans office we're getting excited - for Autumn is a time when the staff get to take some extra days off and head out into the Highlands and these are the reasons why: 1 - The changing colours of the autumn leaves - Glen Affric has to be a must-head destination. 2 - The crisp fresh air and the morning dew - waking up in the campervan and peering out to see the world waking with you - unlike summer when the birds are singing at 5am... 3 - Quieter, peaceful roads with less traffic - Tourists are good for business, but there's nothing quite like driving along a road and truly not meeting anyone else at all... except maybe a Highland coo! 4 - The morning har's - park up high on a hill and look down onto the sea, rivers & glens shrouded in a silky mist. 5 - Hear the call of the Red Deer rut - peaking in late September/October the call of the red deer stags fighting for the females is one of natures best autumn treats. 6 - Salmon leaping - October and November see the salmon heading back to their breeding grounds to spawn. There are loads of great salmon rivers in the Highlands and early morning or evening is the best time to catch the greatest fish aerobatics. 7 - Food festivals - harvest time is here and so are the food festivals - the 'Living Food' festival at Cawdor Castle is a tasty treat for all the family... 8 - It's the end of the midge season - hurrah! Not that they got much to eat anyway when we were tucked up in the campervans! 9 - Climbing mountains in the cool fresh air without the scorching summer sun on your back. 10. Sit and watch in awe at the light levels - with the sun rising & setting lower in the sky Autumn brings an amazing spectacle of light. Catch it on camera with a photography workshop.

Spring is in the air!

Finally... at long last after what has seemed like an eternity of winter, the threat of spring is in the air! Don't get me wrong, the views from a campervan in winter are fantastic and with the webasto heaters our campervanners keep toasty warm - the hard bit of winter is for the Highland Campervans staff trying to wash the vans when it's -8C and the car shampoo bubbles are freezing to the vans before they can be rinsed off.! Ah well, it made it an interesting winter with challenges to overcome, but we are looking forward to the warm and light spring/summer evenings. For anyone looking at buying a campervan this summer our advice if you haven't already booked one is to hold off now from the pre-summer rush and do your research to get the campervan that is truly right for you. It may take a little while longer but when you have the right vehicle that contains just what you need at the quality that you want it, then you'll never regret waiting a couple of extra months. Another great option if you're not sure whether the campervan lifestyle will suit you is to have a try before you buy. Working with Wellhouse Leisure we can offer 'try before you buy' special weekends so please get in touch if it interests you. Hope to see you in Scotland this summer!

Glasgow SECC - 4-7 Feb 2010

We will be exhibiting on Stand E10 at the Scottish Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Show at the Glasgow SECC from Thursday 4th to Sunday 7th February 2010 in conjunction with Wellhouse Leisure. Please come along and visit us if you are attending the show.

Scottish Thistle Award Winners 2009!

Highland Campervans is delighted to have won a Scottish Thistle Award in October 2009 . Organised by VisitScotland, these prestigious awards recognise Scottish businesses which showcase business excellence and quality. Catherine Bunn for Highland Campervans scooped the 'Young Tourism Entrepreneur' award. We were also shortlisted in 2008 so to win in 2009 was fantastic.

Highland Campervans in the News!

Well it's been an enormously exciting year and I hope you've had a chance to look at some of our news articles online. First I was shortlisted for Young Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award by VisitScotland (the official Scottish tourist board agency) and that was a great honour - with drinks receptions on the Royal Yacht Britannia and a glittering award ceremony in Edinburgh. I was pipped to the post in the end by another outstanding business. I took on board the judges top tips though and have been focusing on developing certain aspects of the business to help it grow stronger so it was a great business experience all round. We've also had a lot of media coverage about the businesses success during the economic downturn - but it all required a lot of hard work from everyone involved. There are now two other members of staff helping ensure Highland Campervans vehicles are hired out in a spotless condition, so if Elaine or Stephanie answer the phone please don't be surprised. I even became a cover girl for the Executive magazine so if you want a laugh and to see pictures of me freezing in the winter snow - have a peek at the article, available via our website. Finally, Easter this year saw our move to new business premises on the A96, just 2 minutes from Inverness Airport. It's given us a fantastic base from which to expand the business and we've now ventured into caravan and camping equipment hire. There was some major excitement this weekend though when flash floods raced through the fields above the house and carried our driveway and parking area down onto the A96 - along with a load of soil from the fields. 250 tonnes of debris had to be removed from the main road and it was closed for 12hrs during the clean-up, so if you want to see a great video of racing floodwater just check out our 'In the News' web page and you can look at the articles there. So, it's back to work now and time to don muddy wellies and continue with the clean-up. We at least have a driveway now after emergency repairs but the garage was flooded and still needs sorting out so best get going. Hope to see you here at some point!