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June 08 issue

If you're looking for wildlife, you'd be hard-pressed to find somewhere in the UK with a greater diversity than Scotland. And now you can get closer to nature than ever, thanks to a new initiative, launched at Atholl Estates in the Cairngorms, home of Blair Castle Caravan Park.
The beautiful estate is home to a variety of wildlife including the rare, red squirrel, peregrine falcons and grouse, as well as an abundance of flora.
To give visitors a better look at this wonderful area, a programme of tours and activities has been created, with events taking place most days. They include dawn Land Rover tours with the estate's gamekeeper, ranger-led walks, pony treks, and tours of an organic farm. Live pictures of a golden eagle nest will also be broadcast to a viewing point at Blair Castle Caravan Park.
The caravan park itself is a lovely place to stay: it boasts lots of walking trails and has 280 pitches as well as a waste disposal point. An overnight pitch for two adults in a 'van with electric hook-up costs £17 (in low-season).
For park details: tel 01796 481263; web www.blaircastlecaravanpark.co.uk. For details of wildlife events on the estate: tel 01796 481355; web www.atholl-estates.co.uk/spring.asp.

I had an email from reader team member Caroline Mills the other day. She had read my feature on shopping in Calais (April issue) and, as an experienced traveller in France, gave me more useful tips. Here's what she told me: "There is a parking area (no height barriers) for 'vans at Cité Europe: it is near the entrance to Carrefour hypermarket,
near Porte de Hollande; follow the signs 'Camping-Carts' for 'Cité Europe Ouest'. Mind you, my husband Paul and I were there at Christmas and found that motorists were using the area as an overflow car park, making it hard for bigger vehicles to use.
"We reckon that Auchan is the easiest French hypermarket to visit: at junction 43, the first exit from the Eurotunnel terminal, heading east towards Paris and Brussels on the A16; or junction 41 Coquelles on the A16 towards Boulogne.
"Auchan is less busy than Carrefour because you don't tend to get day-tripping coach-loads arriving for the shopping centre. Also, Auchan has just enlarged its car park so it's easy to park big 'vans. Sainsbury's wine, beer, and spirits outlet is also there, along with a Leroy Merlin store for DIY goods at a fraction of the cost in the UK.
"As for fuel, certain service stations are more expensive than others. We avoid the first garage coming out of the Eurotunnel, and the garage on the roundabout of junction 43. The fuel at Auchan is among the cheapest in Calais but it is still more expensive than out-of-town service stations. The Champion supermarket in Bois-en-Ardres (a few miles south of Calais on the N43, towards Paris) is cheaper if you're going for a drive, or heading south anyway. And, if you want to avoid the Brits and shop with the French, head for the E. Leclerc supermarket at Lumbres (20 minutes south of Calais on the A26) – diesel is cheaper there than in Calais.
"If you are staying overnight, avoid the Calais aire de service as it's noisy. We prefer to park at Sangatte, which is quieter.
"Sea-France seems to be the cheapest ferry operator at the moment on the Dover to Folkestone/Calais routes [also see the PMH six-page ferry guide, April issue]. Don't be alarmed if customs officers ask to check inside your 'van: they're mostly interested in who might be hiding in your shower or spare bed than how many boxes of wine are spread across the floor. They have checked inside our 'van on every trip we have made in the past 18 months."
 • Caroline's 'Diary' entry this month is about her short trip to Paris – turn to page 36 of the June 08 issue.

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June 08 issue