CUMBRIA Tourism has launched its brand new 2009 Caravan, Camping and Holiday Home Guide in time for this year's National Camping and Caravanning Week which takes place from May 23 to 29.

The guide details the wide range of quality camping accommodation on offer in the Lake District and the rest of Cumbria and features more than 60 businesses across the county.

These cover everything from tent pitches near England's highest mountain and caravan parks near England's deepest lake, to alternative 'glamping' options such as stylish yurts and cosy camping pods.

Twenty thousand copies of the guide have been produced and 10,000 electronic versions have been emailed to camping enthusiasts throughout the country.

The guide is also available to download from www.golakes.co.uk making it easy for campers to arrange their Cumbrian accommodation in readiness for National Camping and Caravanning Week.

The annual event, now in its ninth year, is run by the Camping and Caravanning Club which boasts seven sites throughout Cumbria.

The festivities coincide with the spring bank holiday and will adopt an activities-led theme this year, providing the opportunity for campers to try a range of outdoor pursuits.Activities such as Ramblers Association walks and Sustrans cycling will be available from Camping and Caravanning Club Sites, plus there will be competitions and games to enjoy with lots of prizes up for grabs.

The camping and caravanning industries are flourishing in the current economic climate as people seek a cost-effective and nostalgic escape.

Advance bookings for Camping and Caravanning Club Sites are up 27 per cent on last year and this Easter saw their occupancy rate up by an incredible 50 per cent.

One Cumbrian site that is already experiencing increased bookings is Park Cliffe Camping and Caravanning Estate.

This picturesque independent park occupies 25 acres of tranquil countryside near Bowness-on-Windermere and boasts numerous accolades including AA Regional Campsite of the Year for the North West of England 2009, Practical Caravan Magazine Top 100 Parks Award and the David Bellamy Gold Conservation award.

Park Cliffe is also a finalist in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2009 and will find out this week whether they have beaten off national competition to win the title of Caravan Holiday Park of the Year.

Susan Dickson, owner of Park Cliffe, said: "We are enjoying a good year and our advanced bookings are actually up on the same period last year, so we are looking forward to National Camping and Caravanning Week.

"It provides the perfect opportunity for both camping novices and enthusiasts to enjoy our award-winning facilities and will help to spread the word about how affordable and enjoyable camping is."

Keith Jackson, chairman of The Camping and Caravanning Club, added: "NCCW is a celebration of camping, caravanning and outdoor activities so we'd like to see as many people as possible enjoying themselves.

"Whether it's on our award-winning Club, Certificated and independent sites or at locally organised events or even in back gardens, there is certainly something for everyone during the week.

"Our members were out in their thousands last year and we want to see even more enjoying themselves under canvas this time around."

Source: lakelandecho.co.uk