Queensberry Bay Holiday Park, Powfoot, Annan, Dumfriesshire DG12 5PN, Scotland [
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Wigwam Holiday
Questions about the Heated Wigwams at Queensberry Bay Holiday Park ...
The Wigwam Frequently Asked Questions (and answers of course) ...
- What is the Wigwam?
- Where is the Wigwam?
- How many wigwams have you got?
- Is it plumbed in?
- So you won't be getting a whole load more?
- What's in your Wigwam?
- Are there beds?
- Do you do offer Wigwam mini breaks?
- Can I book online?
 No Minimum Stay |
Maximum Stay, 14 nights |
1. What is the Wigwam?
Pam says: The wigwam's a wooden thing that looks like an upturned boat. Do you know – this is harder than I thought!
Lauren says: It's easy once you've seen one!
Pam says: And once you've cleaned one – you soon get to know what’s inside!
Lauren says: So – it's an upturned boat that sleeps up to 4 on a raised platform. So why's it called a wigwam?
Joanne says: We bought this unit back in 2005 I think from Wigwam Holidays – they named the unit. Luckily they have their own website so you can see better pictures there. They marketed them as "wigwams" and on their main park in Crianlarich they even sell red indian gifts.
Pam says: It’s not like anything else we've got – why did we get it?
Joanne says: John and I saw one at the SECC show that year and thought it was a great novelty thing. We thought it would be a cheaper form of let for camping guests, walkers and cyclists. Certainly at Crianlarich they’re in terrific hiking territory and the wigwams work well there. For us it was always a novelty first and foremost.
Cathy says: But "glamping’s" all the rage now of course.
Joanne says: I know – ahead of our time again! But it’s not a market that fits well here. Wigwams work well in undeveloped locations – a farmer’s field or woodland – as a kind of hillside bothey. Our park's too manicured, we're too close to major amenities and too far from the major walking routes for it to really take off. It's popular with families though, looking for something different and for people whose tent has blown away!
For further information, please also see the Wigwam Holidays web site: www.wigwamholidays.com
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2. WHERE IS THE WIGWAM?
Pauline says: Here we go again – I said you were asking for trouble on this one.
Joanne says: Thanks, Pauline. The wigwam is located in the Paddock with the Kiddies Corner pitches.
Pauline says: You’re going to have to say why you've moved it, like. I told you to leave it where it was!
Joanne says: Thanks again, Pauline.
What would I do without you!! The wigwam used to be on the front row – Shoreside. It sat well there. But over the years the park’s evolved and the wigwam’s primarily a family unit. So it belongs with the pitches on Kiddies Corner.
Lauren says: Guests who have used it before say they’re quite happy it's moving. They said the views on the front were great, but with younger children they’re happier to be further back and not right on the shore front.
Joanne says: Whenever John and I change something we’re always aware of the impact on our regulars. So if regulars are happy, that’s a relief. We will have upset someone, I’m sure, but the intention and the thought behind the move were right.
Pauline says: You’re always upsetting someone, you.
Joanne says: Tell me about it!
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3. HOW MANY WIGWAMS HAVE YOU GOT?
Cathy says: This is the second most asked question ever! I swear I’m going to get a placard made up and parade up and down the park.
Joanne says: And who'd answer the phones, then Cathy??
Cathy says: I could divert them I suppose – if I could remember how ...
Joanne says: We currently have one wigwam. However demand has always said we should put on another so two families can stay together. Now we've moved the wigwam that’s become possible – there wasn't room before - so we’re looking at putting on another unit in the same area (the Paddock). It won’t be a "wigwam" – but it will be something similar.
Lauren says: Why not another wigwam?
Joanne says: It’s a brand – and not a brand that we've bought into – but the idea is good. Another type would give a bit of variety.
Cathy says: They do say variety is the spice of life.
Pauline says: I used to use spice in my cooking. Brought tears to my Jim’s eyes. No sense of taste, me!
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4. IS IT PLUMBED IN?
Joanne says: No – the wigwam really is nothing more than a solid tent.
Pam says: It is a bit more than that – you've just got a downer on it just now.
Joanne says: Not a downer – but it's our cheapest form of accommodation, we put loads of extras in to make it a bit more special and then we get complaints that "there isn't a toilet". You can’t even get a budget hotel locally in peak season for less than £29 per person and that’s "if you book in advance, subject to availability and with a minimum 2 night stay, terms and conditions apply" job – so that’s £58 per night for 2 adults and that’s the best I've seen locally.
We charge from £12.50 per adult and £7.50 per child per night.
Pam says: Have you finished??
I know other sites charge a lot more than that – why so cheap?
Joanne says: Because it's not part of our main business and it’s there for families with young kiddies or campers in distress – so putting charges through the roof isn't right. If you have a park full of "wigwams" as some do, they’re your core business and you’re geared up for them. For us, rightly or wrongly, the wigwam is a quirky extra. And we charge it as such.
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5. SO YOU WON'T BE GETTING A WHOLE LOAD MORE?
Joanne says: Probably not ... although we have been talking to one manufacturer about siting wigwam type units on pitches that were for sale.
Pam says: So you like the idea in general?
Come on – tell the truth. Why do you have a downer on this particular wigwam?
Joanne says: OK – because we don’t take the "Wigwam" as seriously as some of the other parks we’re not invited to the annual "powwow" any more. And then we didn't take that seriously enough. To be honest, life's too short!
Pauline says: If you asked me ...
Joanne says: Right – come on then Pauline – let’s have your pearls of wisdom . .
Pauline says:There's no need to be funny.
Joanne says: Pauline – you've always been like a mum to me – of course I’m going to be "funny". It's what daughters do. Even surrogate ones.
Pauline says:Well, since you ask – I’d not use the wigwam. I’d far rather stay in a touring van or a static van. At least then you've got some home comforts – a toilet, a shower.
Joanne says: OK – that's a fair comment. And we make a huge effort with our touring and letting. But this is really aimed at the camping market – and for that market it's great. Especially now we have moved it.
Pauline says: You'd never catch me in a tent.
Cathy says: When you're on a mission we'd be hard pushed to catch you anywhere Pauline!
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6. WHAT’S IN YOUR WIGWAM?
Pam says: I'll answer this. We don’t want another tirade!
Pauline says: You think that’s a tirade – you should have heard her back when we used to turn 250 vans in 25 minutes and all before 9.30am.
Joanne says: Sorry!
Pam says: We put in the following:
• Fridge,
• Microwave,
• Kettle ,
• Crockery and cutlery,
• Washing up bowl,
• Small TV
Cathy says: Do we still hire out sleeping bags and pots?
Joanne says: Yes – though most people do bring their own. It’s part of the fun. We also hire out an air mattress if required. Although again most people choose to bring their own.
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7. Are there beds?
Pam says: Yes – in the form of a raised platform. The coffee table gets slotted into some sort of krypton factor puzzle and the end result is an Ironhide transformer.
Joanne says: Now who's having a tirade?
Pam says: Sorry – just getting into the spirit of things! The photo gallery (at the top of this page) gives a better idea of how it all slots together. You don’t sleep on the floor but also there’s no mattress – unless you bring your own or hire ours.
Joanne says: To be fair, most guests come equipped for camping and use air beds.
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8. Do you do offer Wigwam Mini Breaks?
Lauren says: We do – in the sense of spa mini breaks.
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9. CAN I BOOK ONLINE?
Joanne says: Yes - book online here >>
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