Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2016 i Practical Caravan

I AM INCREDIBLY saddened to report the passing in December of our much-loved and respected technical guru John Wickersham, after a typically hard-fought battle with illness. John was a true institution within the caravanning world, having contributed to all of the major club and independent magazines, authored the ‘bible’ of the hobby, The Caravan Manual, and become particularly well-known in recent years for his entertaining appearances on The Caravan Channel. On screen, as on paper, John oozed passion for the subject, with his deep knowledge backed up by an infectious enthusiasm and an innate ability to make the most complicated technical stories easy to understand. He will be hugely missed, and we send our deepest sympathy to his family. alastair.clements@haymarket.com…

TiV flasks With a nip still in the air, a warm cuppa is essential on a walkabout from the van. These fetching flasks from Lifeventure will do the job. Available in a rainbow of colours, these high-performance vacuum flasks should keep drinks piping hot for up to eight hours. They come in four sizes, from 300ml-1000ml, and feature robust metal shells, stainless-steel stoppers with useful pouring spout and a stainless-steel lid that doubles as a cup. Price From £12.99 Web www.lifeventure.com Dremel multitool kits For those emergency repairs, keep a decent toolkit on board. Dremel has introduced its popular 3000 multitool into a range of kits, with interchangeable accessories. They are designed to suit a variety of budgets and needs: the most-affordable Bronze kit has five accessories to tackle everything…

Tickets to Glasgow show up for grabs WE HAVE 10 pairs of tickets to the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show to give away, worth up to £24 a pair. Now in its 29th year, Scotland’s largest caravan show will take place from 4-7 February at Glasgow’s SECC (Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre). The region’s major dealers will be rolling up to exhibit the latest offerings from a host of leading manufacturers, including Swift, Bailey, Lunar and Elddis. It’s the ideal opportunity to browse a number of makes and models under one roof and take advantage of exclusive show-only offers and discounts. If it is simply some new accessories that are needed to freshen up your kit for the start of the season then the selection of suppliers and…

THE FERRY HAD been booked for a while, but my wife, Kay, and I couldn’t decide where to go. With only a couple of weeks before departure, we settled on Camping Le Coin Tranquille at Les Abrets in the Isère department of the Rhône-Alps region of south-eastern France, because it seemed to be central to a few places that we’d passed before but had not visited. We also intended to give France’s public transport system a go. Our preferred ferry crossing is P&O’s Hull to Zeebrugge route, which is like a mini-cruise and always gets us into holiday mode. As an overnight crossing, it also gives us a full day for travelling and, with an overnight stop, Le Coin Tranquille was reached comfortably in a couple of days. We weren’t…

Campingplatz Am Schwimmbad The owners of this site are friendly, the washblocks are good and access from the motorway is convenient. Address Theodor-Storm-Strasse 37, 53639 Konigswinter Tel 0049 2244 6418 Web www. camping-imsiebengebirge.camp Open All year Pitches 40 Charges Pitch+2+hook-up €22 (+ €0.55/kWh) Almühlsee Camping Herzog You’ll be within walking distance of Gunzenhausen and Lake Altmühlsee here. Facilities include toilets, a restaurant/pizzeria, large shop and play area. Address Seestrasse 12, 91710 Gunzenhausen Tel 0049 9831 9033 Web www.camping-herzog.de Open March-October Pitches 150, most grass Charges Pitch+2+hook-up €20.90 (+ €0.50/kWh) Familien Activcamping Allweglehen This five-star, family-run site is built on a hillside. The excellent facilities include a restaurant/takeaway, swimming pool, free Wi-Fi and clean washblocks. Address Allweggasse, 483471 Berchtesgaden Tel 0049 8652 2396 Web www.allweglehen.de Open All year…

Surge in orders leads Coachman to expand Coachman has announced a major investment in its factory, after taking £10 million of orders at the NEC show. Production and storage space will be enhanced at the company’s Cottingham headquarters, including the installation of new CNC technology. The improvements will allow Coachman, currently running at full tilt, to increase production as demand for models across its four ranges grows. “A larger storage area and machine shop will enable us to increase space by 456m2 , reorganise the factory and become more efficient,” says production director Alan Roberts. Major investment by Newport Caravans South Wales dealership Newport Caravans has invested £550,000 in a new body shop and repairs hub. The Swift, Sprite, Elddis and Buccaneer retailer acquired a 1020m2 building next to its…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH CaSSOA Bailey Pegasus Ancona Tested by Alastair Clements Price £17,999 Berths 5 MiRO 1296kg Payload 179kg MTPLM 1475kg IN A NUTSHELL Families rejoice at the arrival of our new five-berth ALTHOUGH IT’S A layout more commonly associated with couples, our Bailey Unicorn Cadiz tended to spend the majority of its time with us ferrying around families. So when we began looking for a replacement, a family-friendly floorplan was key; and what could be better than the winner of our Best Tourer for Small Families gong in the 2016 Tourer of the Year Awards? We were tempted by its twin-axle big brother, the Palermo, but the Bailey Pegasus Ancona’s lower weight (1475kg when laden) opens it up to a far greater range of tow cars and it shares…

How much? £2850-£10,000 Surprisingly for cars that are five to nine years old, there is a high number of one-owner examples about; that’s usually a good sign. It’s best to steer clear of the cheapest, but we did spot a tempting one-owner 2007 2.0 CRD with 85,000 on the clock and full dealer and specialist history — all for £3950. The book says petrol models ought to be cheaper, but sellers seem to disagree and there are a lot fewer to choose from. There are even fewer 2.2 CRDs being offered; the cheapest we could find cost £8390; most are close to £10,000. They’re always going to be more desirable, and will hold their value better. What will it tow? Kerbweight .......................... 1685kg 85% match........................... 1432kg Towing limit .........................1500kg Towball…

WARNING Only undertake this task if you are competent to work with mains electricity. Before starting, ensure that all electrical supplies are disconnected and all the switches are off. THERE MUST BE little that’s more embarrassing (or annoying to others) than tripping a site’s electricity supply. It has only happened to me a couple of times over the years. The first time was at a CL, and the second was in France (both supplying only 6A). Fortunately, only our supply was tripped, so it was easily reset. However, imagine this occurring on a site where only the owners or wardens can reset it, and they are sitting down to an evening meal (as are those around you), and the bollard supplying another two or three caravans trips. The problem is…

Layout Layout finder finder J This is a compact layout that you’ll usually find in the shortest vans on the market; the double bed is made up from the pair of sofas at the front. You’ll sometimes find that the sofas aren’t long enough to be used as single beds, so be sure to check this if it’s important to you. The washroom is located in the corner, and as a result is often narrow. Pros No inch of space is wasted here: you’ll have everything you need in a small space. Cons The washroom is unlikely to have a separate shower, and can be narrow. The kitchen may have limited work surface, and storage is likely to be at a premium. A Check that the lounge area and the…

Focus on… Eriba Eriba may now be under Hymer’s giant corporate umbrella, having been manufactured in France for years, but very little else has changed in more than 50 years. Styling tweaks aside, the instantly recognisable bullet shape is much as it was back in the day, the pop-top roof still affords good headroom yet allows for straightforward storage, and, of course, the famous tubular steel frame gives these little tourers legendary build quality and impeccable towing manners. They are really beautifully engineered, too — you only need look at the latest models’ gloriously over-done gas-locker lid and main entrance door to realise that these caravans are very much built up to a standard, and not down to a price. Speaking of which, you might want to sit down before…

27 Dec-7 Feb Secrets uncovered The hidden treasures of Hinton Ampner’s attics are revealed after 30 years. The rebuilt manor house sits amid tranquil gardens in Alresford, Hampshire. Stay at Morn Hill Caravan Club Site Web www.caravanclub.co.uk 13-14 February Hauntings at Hoghton Take a guided tour of reputedly the third most-haunted building in Britain. Walk through its underground passages and finish with a sit-down meal at Hoghton Tower in Lancashire. Stay at Red Rocks Fishery CL Tel 01772 877 277 6-14 February Brodsworth Hall and Gardens Learn about the etiquette of a country house and pick up the skills of a Victorian butler at this English Heritage property outside Doncaster. Stay at Nook Farm Caravan Park Web www.nookfarm caravanpark.co.uk 20 February Under siege Take a free guided tour…

OK, SO THERE are some times in your life when you just have to say it like it is, and meet difficult and somewhat embarrassing subjects head-on. So here goes... I hate cleaning my teeth next to complete strangers. There, I’ve said it. Much as I love 99% of the communal spirit you encounter on sites, the one aspect I struggle with is doing my ablutions in the close proximity of others. And, while I am normally fairly open-minded and un-shockable, I’m really not keen on my fellow campmates doing theirs in front of me. It’s a bit like nose pickings. You’ll tolerate yours and those of your young children, but you wouldn’t want much to do with other people’s. I think I may have become somewhat sensitised by a…

AA: Lytchett clinches it SOUTH LYTCHETT MANOR Caravan and Camping Park in Dorset is a firm favourite of Practical Caravan readers and often appears in our annual Top 100 Sites Guide; last year it even took the regional win. So we were delighted to hear this month that many others agree with us (and you!): South Lytchett has just been awarded the AA’s prestigious AA Campsite of the Year 2016 award, putting it top of 900 inspected sites across the UK. It’s a cracking site that covers 20 acres and boasts tidy washrooms, deluxe pitches, an adventure playground and games room, and a well-stocked shop. It’s open from 1 March to 1 January, and is perfect as a base for exploring Dorset. For more on South Lytchett, visit www.southlytchettmanor.co.uk. And…

When to go Summer in Slovenia can be very hot, but for many that is a big part of the appeal – though be aware that sites get very busy in August thanks to local school holidays. We travelled towards the end of August and early September and found plenty of company both on the roads on the way down and the sites once we arrived, but we never failed to find a pitch. Do remember to secure sites on your route, however, because these get booked up well in advance. Way to go Despite dire reports in the press about the situation in Dover and Calais because of the refugee crisis, we suffered no disruption at all in either port and our crossing with P&O Ferries was a breeze…

Le Coin Tranquille (The Quiet Corner) was established by the parents of the current owner, Martine Vallon, in 1972; Martine took over in 1988. Martine’s husband Gilles is a chef who takes care of the excellent restaurant. Their daughters Nadège (25), and her husband, and Elodie (21) now also take an active role in the business. The first thing that you see upon reaching the site is the wonderful flora, which is a legacy of Martine’s mum. It really is beautiful. All of the good-sized 177 touring pitches are separated by hedges and have 10A electricity supply. There are two amenities blocks, with the main one housing laundry facilities too, and all are kept spotless. As well as the site’s restaurant, there’s a take-away service, pizzeria, bar and TV room.…

Things to do 1 Belleek Pottery 2 The Dark Hedges 3 Marble Arch Caves 4 The Old Bushmills Distillery 5 Dunluce Castle 6 Lough Navar Forest Drive 7 Giant’s Causeway 8 Mourne Mountains 9 Titanic Belfast 10 Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge Sites featured 1 Six Mile Water Caravan Park 2 The Rock Caravan Site 3 Dundonald Touring Caravan Park 4 Blaney Caravan Park 5 Ballyness Caravan Park 6 Rushin House Caravan Park 7 Kilbroney Caravan Park 8 Chestnutt Holiday Park 9 Clare Glen Caravan Park 10 Cranfield Caravan Park WHILE NORTHERN IRELAND may have had a troubled past, its future as a touring destination is first-class, with the most beautiful of unspoilt coastlines, rocky shores, gorgeously soft, sandy beaches and dramatic seascapes – and that’s just the outline of the province!…

First drive Renault Kadjar 1.6 dCi 130 Price From £18,180 Kerbweight 1415kg 85% match 1203kg Towing limit 1500kg Towball limit 75kg WE HAVEN’T HAD the chance to tow with one yet, but the Renault Kadjar has the makings of a very good tug. For starters, it shares many mechanical parts with the Nissan Qashqai, the 2014 Tow Car Awards winner. It may resemble the Qashqai under the skin, but Renault has given the Kadjar its own look; 95% of the parts you can see or touch are unique to the model, and to our eyes Renault has created a handsome car. More importantly, the Kadjar drives well. We’ve driven two diesel versions. The 1.5-litre delivers a modest 184lb ft of torque; that should be enough for towing a light tourer…

Patriot 2.0 CRD What a good tow car this is. The VW diesel engine pulls strongly and returns an overall consumption of 36mpg. This was over 230 miles towing and 120 miles solo. This beats my Suzuki XL7 and that was a reasonable tug. Max allowed to tow is 1500kg but this Jeep feels as if it could tow more. Steve Aldridge Patriot 2.4 16V I embarked on a 450-mile drive from Leicestershire to Aberdeenshire. The Jeep pulled the caravan fine on the flat or slight inclines, but on steeper motorway inclines it really starts to struggle to maintain a decent speed. We recorded an average of 20mpg by the time we reached Aberdeenshire. I will definitely buy a Land Rover next time. N Hetterley Patriot 2.0 CRD This is…

Layout finder K Accounting for around 10% of caravans supplied to the British volume tourer market, the parallel-lounge, end-washroom floorplan is popular with those who go to rallies. There’s room to socialise, and the end washroom will compensate for a lack of site facilities. This floorplan also appeals to those who are happy to make up the lounge bed. The seats are usually long enough to work as single beds, too. Pros Tidy layout within a small footprint. Spacious washroom with dressing area. Cons Making up the double bed, and breaking it down, can be a chore. The kitchen can be squeezed for space. A Choose a U-shaped lounge over a centre chest for more space B It should be possible to use the lounge sofas as single beds C…

Awnings Porch Isabella Magnum Blue/grey. £250. Mr Hurrell, Cornwall. (01503 230 887) Base Camp Panorama Family 260 Fibre poles, black/white, lightweight. Dorema Steel poles, green/grey. Both good cond. £50 each, buyer collects. Mr Hirst, N Yorks. (01845 522 790) Dorema Toronto Alloy poles, green, draught skirt, storm straps. Used three times. £150. Mr Hallsworth, Derbyshire. (01332 882 625) Isabella Magnum Carbon poles, terracotta, curtains. Good cond. £150. Mrs Wicks, Norfolk. (01485 528 493) Kampa Rally 200 Rear upright pole set, monsoon pole, integrated windbreak, tie-down kit. Used once. £150, buyer collects. Mr Taylor, Lowestoft. (07710 334 350) Isabella Magnum 320cm x 230cm, CarbonX frame, blue/cream, four doors. Exc cond. £400, buyer collects. Mrs May, Bristol. (01275 846 508) Trio Maxi Sport 4m wide, steel poles, blue/silver. VGC. £50. Mr Lenton,…

1 Stay here Wyatts Covert Caravan Club Site sits alongside the Northmoor Hill Nature Reserve, one of the Colne Valley’s many nature spots. 2 Eat here The Old Orchard in Harefield is a paradise less than 15 minutes from the M40. The pub overlooks lakes that were once gravel pits — and not one building. The food can give London restaurants a run for their money; wash it down with something from the ever-changing selection of local ales. The resident basset hound adds to the charm of this old public house. 3 Walk here Many of West London’s best routes —including the Grand Union Canal towpath and the Hillingdon Trail — pass through the vast Colne Valley Regional Park. The park covers 43 square miles, including Staines, Rickmansworth, Uxbridge and…

STAR PHOTO Amanda Regan wins a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors This is our 2000 Eriba Pan Duo showing off its new ‘Devon Daisy’ windbreak. We were at a party in West Devon and camped in their field. We use it for weekend trips and festivals. Julia Devitt This was taken at the Camping and Caravanning Club site overlooking Loch Greshornish on the Isle of Skye. We explored unclassified single-track roads (without the van!) and were rewarded with big skies and dramatic landscape. Amanda Regan Here’s Meg, my springer spaniel, and my friend Carrie’s cocker Olly in the awning of my dad’s van at Warren Farm in Brean Sands, Somerset. The young lovebirds recently had their first litter of ‘sprocker’ spaniels! Sam Sherwood The view of Trewethett Farm…

Waterrow in Somerset. I spent a chilly New Year there! Kay Sumpner Setthorns in the New Forest. You need your on-board facilities but there are water and chemical disposal points. The pitches are set perfectly and there’s a cycle path. Sharon Fae Court Northfield Farm in Ashton under Hill, near Evesham. It has a toilet and shower, and generous hardstanding pitches. It is £9 per night. Joe Croft The Quiet Site at Ullswater. Very nice views from the campsite. Plenty of places to walk and visit, too. Anniemarie Chuck Meathop Fell at Grange-over-Sands. Sheltered and tranquil. Bryan Wild Mount Pleasant Farm in Honley, Yorkshire, and Beechcroft Farm in Bakewell, Derbyshire. Quiet and lovely, with roomy pitches. Tricia Hewitt…

Ljubljana Resort The main appeal of this busy three-acre site by the River Sava is its proximity to the Slovenian capital, just a short bus ride away – with a bus stop by the site entrance. The dusty, grass pitches are tightly packed, with tents and tourers sharing space, while motorhomes occupy the hardstandings. All pitches have hook-up and plenty of trees provide shelter from the sun. The sole washblock is a little tired, but large, and more water points would have been good, but the basic facilities are offset by the adjoining, excellent swimming pools; site entry includes one visit per day to this complex. An on-site restaurant serves local fare, and there are tennis and volleyball courts, plus fishing permits for the river available at reception. The site…

GERMANY IS ONE of our favourite countries, full of historic cities, soaring mountains, majestic forests and endless lakes. Besides its spectacular natural beauty, the people are warm and friendly. We should know, having holidayed here for more than 20 years. We were heading for the Bavarian town of Berchtesgaden near the Austrian border. Years ago we visited the area for a day and were so impressed by the stunning scenery and historic landmarks that we vowed to return. It’s about 700 miles from Zeebrugge – too far for one day’s journey – so we broke up the trip with two stopovers en route. Königswinter was our first port of call. This beautiful old town on the Rhine is a health resort. It’s also a favourite among day trippers, who come…

AS returns to tourers CELEBRATED MOTORHOME MAKER Auto-Sleepers has dipped a toe back in the caravan market, with the retro-styled Barefoot (see First look, page 68). A collaboration between the Cotswoldsbased company and Cathy Chamberlain, the Barefoot features a one-piece GRP shell fitted to a specially designed chassis. The interior layout comprises a front lounge and end washroom, all on a 5m shipping length. Auto-Sleepers is no stranger to caravan production, as regular readers will recall. In 2010, the firm launched a range of premium tourers named after upmarket districts of London. The Grosvenor, Mayfair and Kensington models came with impressive kit lists, including motor movers as standard. But the Barefoot collaboration won’t lead Auto-Sleepers back in the caravan segment any time soon. “The bespoke Barefoot project is as far…

ONE OF THE great things about touring in the summer or in warmer climates is that laundry ceases to be an issue. After washing up, drenched tea towels go on the line and they’re bone dry within an hour. On extended breaks, when you can’t bag up used clothes to launder when you get home, it’s the same story for any washing you hang out. Going away in the autumn, winter, or early spring, however, is a different story. Opportunities to dry anything outside are rare and, when they do arise, you’ll have several days’ worth of stuff to get dry. So those six feet of line strung between your awning and the car’s roofbars won’t suffice. Worse still, the UK’s regular downpours guarantee that you’ll have coats, trousers, and…

EUROPEAN REPORT DO WE NEED AN MOT? ON A RECENT trip to The Netherlands I visited Van der Vliet Recreatie, a well-known caravan dealership at Weteringbrug, to the south-west of Amsterdam, and witnessed a caravan being serviced. A very popular caravan in The Netherlands is the Kip Greyline, an example of which was on a hydraulic lift inside Van der Vliet’s large workshop, being attended to by a mechanic. He explained to me that the Dutch service is almost a cross between UK servicing and MoT testing. Each to their own There are a number of differences between tourers in The Netherlands and those in the UK. For starters, there are the obvious things such as usually being much more sparsely equipped, with only bare essential cooking facilities (no ovens),…

Layout finder DD The island-bed with split washroom is one of the most luxurious floorplans you’ll find – occupants get the comfort of a fixed bed, with the flexibility of lounge sofas that can be made into another double. The washroom is usually divided into two areas, meaning that the toilet section remains free when the shower is in use. If you’re planning to use the front bed, make sure that the sofas are long enough for your needs. Pros The island bed has side access for both partners, meaning it’s easy to get in and out. Cons Island beds swallow a large amount of the van’s footprint, so you may find that space is limited elsewhere. A You’re sure to enjoy a good night’s sleep on the island bed…

CORNWALL Hendra Holiday Park Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 4NY Tel. 01637 875778 www.hendra-holidays.com Ideal family site within easy reach of Newquay and beaches with entertainment for all including indoor and outdoor fun pools. A30 to Indian Queens, take A392 to Newquay, Hendra is 0.5 miles past Quintrell Downs roundabout. Gwithian Farm Campsite Gwithian, Cornwall, TR27 5BX. Tel: 01736 753127. Website: www.gwithianfarm.co.uk Friendly, family run site in beautiful village location, 10 mins walk from stunning Gwithian beach, St Ives Bay. Excellent facilities, family & disabled bathrooms. Ideally located for St Ives & Penzance. The Red River Inn is just across the road. 2 Miles from A30. Lovely coastal walks to Godrevy, popular area for fishing & bird watching. Dog friendly beaches. Nominated as one of top European campsites June 08 -Saturday Telegraph.…