Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i Practical Caravan

WRITE TO Letters, Practical Caravan, 69 London Road, Twickenham TW1 3SP EMAIL US AT letters@practicalcaravan.com JOIN OUR COMMUNITY AT practicalcaravan.com/forum facebook.com/  practicalcaravan twitter.com/  pcaravan instagram.com/  practicalcaravan The contributors of our Star letter and Star photo each win a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors, worth £50. They’re designed to fit all wing mirrors and offer an outstanding view. If you have a top tip, send it in for a chance to win four Milenco Stacka corner feet, worth £14. For further details and a list of retailers, visit www.milenco.com…

‘We followed the path down to the pebbly beach and walked to where the Cuckmere River meets the sea’ Beachy Head-Singleton Did you see it: that wonderful BBC4 documentary on the South Downs Way, which aired towards the end of February this year and again in late summer? Its presenter was author and parish priest Peter Owen-Jones, who clearly loves the area. I admit to a soft spot for it, too. The South Downs was the free playground of my student days, when we would escape from our studies and head to Brighton’s high, green backdrop for fresh air, long walks and excursions to wonderful old pubs hidden among the folds of the hills. Britain’s newest national park – it became fully operational in the spring of 2011 – covers…

Camping Sainte-Claire The campsite is just off the A28 and its pitches are very spacious, with beautifully kept grass. Address 19 Rue la Grande Flandre, 76270 Neufchâtel-en-Bray Tel 00 33 (0)2 35 93 03 93 Web www.camping-sainte-claire.com Open 1 April-15 October Price (pitch+2+hook-up) €18.60 Camping du Château The campsite is in a magnificent setting at the foot of William the Conqueror’s castle and is only a few minutes’ walk (uphill) from the town centre. Address Rue du Val d’Ante, 14700 Falaise Tel 00 33 (0)2 31 90 16 55 Web www.camping-falaise.com Open 1 May-30 September Price (pitch+2+hook-up) €19.50 Camping à la Ferme La Belle Etoile The campsite is peacefully situated among the vineyards of the Loire Valley. There are six shaded pitches for tourers. Address D761, 49320 Brissac-Quincé Tel 00…

Within easy access of Cambridge’s beautiful city centre, its shops, colleges and museums, Cherry Hinton makes the ideal base. Use the cycle paths from the site into and around the city, or simply enjoy a walk around the nature reserve and the old chalk pits. The nearest pub, the family-friendly Robin Hood, is only a 10-minute walk away, and there are supermarkets a little farther down the road for those extra evening treats. Address Lime Kiln Road, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB1 8NQ Tel 01223 244 088 Web www.caravanclub.co.uk Open All year Pitches 56 Charges (pitch+2+hook-up) £19.90-£28.40…

BAILEY HAS KICKED off the celebrations for its 70th birthday year with the launch at last month’s NEC show of the Pegasus GT70, a specced-up special edition version of its popular mid-market range. This is not the first time that the Bristol manufacturer has celebrated an important milestone with a model range bearing the ‘GT’ – over the past decade, we’ve already seen the Ranger GT60 and the Pegasus GT65. The GT70 range features six models – all of the existing Pegasus range with the same layouts, except for the sub-5m Modena. All GT70 models come with ATC trailer control, a 100W solar panel fitted as standard, and a window in the door. The new interiors include Italian-design locker doors, a sandstone finish to the kitchen and washroom worktops, and…

Chassis Al-Ko galvanised steel, with overrun braking; floor-mounted spare wheel Construction Alu-Tech extruded aluminium frame with no external fixings and concealed awning channels; timber-free upper body panels, with a composite plastic internal skeleton, high-density polystyrene insulation, GRP inner and outer skins; front impact-resistant bumper External equipment 14in alloy wheels; Hartal stable door; LED awning light; double-glazed windows and sunroof; Status 570 directional digital TV aerial Heating Truma Combi 2E dual-fuel water/space heating, with digital control panel; 2kW gas and 1.8kW electric power sources; 30mbm gas regulator Lounge/bedroom Roller flyscreens/blinds, with Remis two-part pleated flyscreen/blind to sunroof; Hartal pleated flyscreen to exterior door; Radio/CD/ MP3 player with speakers; vinyl flooring with drop-in carpets; Ozio sofa bases; sprung bed-box tops; 12V internal LED lighting Kitchen 103-litre Dometic fridge/freezer; Thetford Triplex combined oven/grill;…

Ford S-Max 2.0 TDCi 180 Titanium Price £29,195 Kerbweight 1838kg 85% match 1562kg Towing limit 2000kg Towball limit 90kg Time on the fleet 12 months MPG (towing/solo) 26.5/42 Likes Practicality. Useful matching weight. Enjoyable solo drive Dislikes Easy to stall. Slightly cramped rearmost row Faults? None Kia Sportage 2.0 CRDi 134bhp KX -3 Price £27,250 Kerbweight 1662kg 85% match 1413kg Towing limit 2200kg Towball limit 100kg Time on the fleet 13 months MPG (towing/solo) 27.5/44 Likes Stable tug. Sharp solo driv e for an SUV. High spec Dislikes No passenger seat height adjustment. Firm ride Faults? Loose fuse in towing electrics…

Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 I used my Seat Alhambra to haul my Compass Corona and it towed like an absolute dream. I averaged 34mpg, too. Happy days! F Scott Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 This engine packs plenty of power and has masses of torque. The combination works well. Well done Seat for making such a brilliant vehicle. Our average fuel economy has been 30-32mpg; I managed to use sixth gear mainly on the flat parts of the motorway. However, small inclines below 50mph require a change down to fifth gear. I truly recommend the Seat. Mark Williams Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 140 The Alhambra is a brilliant tow car, even with my Hobby caravan loaded with a family of four’s holiday essentials. My only note of caution would…

WE HAVE VISITED Blackmore Vale Leisure before, a few years ago, and although it is not a massive dealership, this family-run business has a good selection of pre-owned tourers, as well as new models from Lunar, Knaus, Venus, T@B and Weinsberg. The firm was founded in 1967 by Dawn Hopkins, with a caravan she did up and sold. She quickly began taking on more caravans. Son Paul has been in the business for years and the pair attend most of the shows. They also run a hire fleet of classic 1960s Cheltenham tourers. Some of these come up for sale, including this prized and restored 5m Springbok, which we have added as a wild card here, against a 2014 Xplore 504. The contenders 1969 Cheltenham Springbok Launched in 1956, but…

Bailey’s special-edition Pegasus range marks its 70th birthday and includes new graphite alloy wheels  The cheapest range in Coachman’s line-up remains the same this season, but now includes a sunroof  A roomy end-kitchen two-berth is a feature in the Compass Casita and Elddis Avanté ranges this season Elddis’s mid-market range gets a very modern crisp look inside this season, and a domestic-style rectangular sink  The Eccles range is all that remains from the Sterling brand, and it’s still offering a more Continental look The 660 adds a twin-axle island-bed layout to the Lexon range that has already proved popular elsewhere Layout finder K Featuring a full-width rear washroom and a pair of twin sofas that make up into a double bed up front, this layout is ideal for couples on…

ON THE LOOKOUT for a new caravan? If so, we can help! Just like our travel stories, expert reviews and advice, we reckon that our online classifieds are the best in the business – and now we’ve made them even better with a new search page that makes them even easier to use. So now you can read our review of your chosen caravan, watch the video, then find it online, making www.practical caravan.com the one-stop shop for all your touring needs. We already know that 50% of you access our website via mobile devices, so our classifieds are fully responsive — they will work just as well on your tablet or smartphone as they do on your desktop or laptop computer. We’ve worked hard to make these classifieds as…

Victoria’s favourite haunts I REALLY ENJOYED my trip to the Isle of Wight last summer and in particular, to Osborne House, the summer palace of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. During my visit, a fair was taking place and it was a thrill to meet the actors playing Victoria and her Indian attendant Abdul Karim, wandering the grounds and staying very much in character. Reflecting the interest in the recently released film Victoria & Abdul, Visit Isle of Wight has put together a heritage trail, ‘Explore Victoria’s Island’ (www.visitisleofwight.co.uk/victorias-islandtrail), which includes Osborne House, Carisbrooke Castle and Farringford, the home of Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Egypt Point, Victoria’s favourite viewpoint. The trail is on the list for PracticalCaravan’s return visit. UK is a fun-filled destination The UK is ranked number four…

 CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SHOULD be an enjoyable experience for the whole family, so each year we spend a long weekend away in our caravan. This gives us plenty of opportunity to make a start on the Christmas cards, source gifts and explore somewhere new, while taking advantage of the reasonably priced five-star city centre accommodation – otherwise known as a Caravan and Motorhome Club Site – with our very own well-stocked festive drinks and nibbles minibar open all hours. ‘There’s something quite satisfying and personal about seeing a present in the flesh when you’re shopping for Christmas gifts’ This year, our destination was Cambridge Cherry Hinton Caravan Club Site. Set in an ancient quarry works, the site is of special scientific interest and gives the impression of being located in the…

IT HAD BEEN a busy start to 2017. All of our weekends seemed to have been lost to family and work commitments (as well as a scuba diving instructor course!) and our beloved Avondale had languished in the storage yard. But we finally realised that we were both free for one weekend in April. Which prompted Rosemary to ask: “Can we find a campsite next to a pub?” The White Swan at Newton-on-Rawcliffe – about four miles outside Pickering – was decided upon, and we arrived on Saturday afternoon in glorious spring sunshine. And almost immediately the benefit of having a pub next to the campsite became apparent; setting up a caravan and erecting an awning becomes a great deal more pleasurable when it’s sunny and you have a cold…

Fold-out caravan A concept caravan that folds out to nearly three times its size and rotates to make the most of the sun and wind powering its equipment was unveiled at September’s Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. The 7.8m-long sCarabane is 2.5m wide on the road, but folds out to 7m wide on site, to provide a large kitchen, two dinettes and a deck. One person can fold it up again in half an hour. On site, it can rotate to the best position for the parabolic mirror and wind turbine on its roof. Sadly, developer Green Cat Technologies says it is still very much a work in progress, with no date set for production. Trigano buys Adria Trigano Group has completed its acquisition of Adria. The French company now employs…

‘Over time, cushions lose their firmness or collapse and edges often show signs of wear’ David Terence visits a company specialising in caravan upholstery and interiors, to see a refurbishment being carried out, while I show you how to improve clamp grip rubbers on your towing mirrors CAN REUPHOLSTERING REALLY be done in a day? Yes. There are several firms that can give your caravan’s tired interior a facelift. We visited Regal Furnishings, based in Ilkeston in Derbyshire, which can transform a caravan interior in just one day. Proprietor Barry Hartley reports that the company’s refurbishment services are in constant demand from owners who have made the decision to reinvest in a sound van that is perhaps not looking as good as it used to. Over time, cushions lose their…

THERE ARE PLENTY of end-washroom couples’ tourers on the used market, many from mainstream manufacturers. However, one name stands out for having some top-sellers in the 2000s, and that’s Bailey. Its Senator range reached new heights when Bailey redesigned it, adding new models, and more spec for a bit more cash. The Pageant Series 5 (launched in 2004) began the trend towards the ‘Series’ system, where Bailey altered the way they brought out new ranges, making changes on a two-year cycle, depending on sales. The Vermont was one of the most popular Senators, with a super-large end washroom, great storage and a spacious front lounge. MODEL HISTORY The Senator range was launched for the 1988 season as Bailey’s top-of-the-range tourers. At first, numbers were used to designate the model, but…

The UK is the place to be – it’s official TOURISM IS BOOMING… just before we went to press news broke that a record 40 million overseas visitors are expected to visit the UK in 2017. And we Brits are also holidaying at home in record numbers. Both developments can be attributed in part to the devaluation in sterling since the EU referendum, plus concerns over potential terrorist attacks diminishing the appeal of mainstream Continental tourism. It’s clear that people from both visitor groups found themselves on UK campsites this year, whether as experienced hands or those new to the pastime. If this growth in popularity continues, then we have to hope our roads and sites infrastructure can cope. So touring is on the up, which is good news. Just…

1 Central celebrations See the streets of Lincoln lit up by hundreds of Christmas lights at a family-friendly event in St Marks Shopping Centre, Waterside Shopping Centre and Lincoln High Street. Date 17 November Web www.visitlincoln.com Stay at Shortferry Caravan Park Web www.shortferry.co.uk 2 Sparkling small town spirit Watch the children’s parade in Falmouth before listening to the schools’ performances and other live entertainment before the big switch on. Date 30 November Web www.falmouth.co.uk Stay at Menehay Farm Touring Park Web www.menehayfarm.co.uk 3 Calling all shoppers Colchester will be full of good cheer, with brass bands, choirs and street performers. Santa rides in at 4pm and the lights go on at 4.30pm. Date 26 November Web www.christmas incolchester.co.uk Stay at Colchester Holiday Park Web www.colchesterholidaypark.com 4 Starring pantomime Stroll around Melton Mowbray’s Victorian…

Dog walking. Two Labradors keep you reasonably fit. Dave Whitfield Cycling – I do a 20-mile sprint for an hour in the morning to burn off the alcoholic/food guilt of the previous evening. Gary Barnett I start with a few beers, then go to the pub for a few more. Terry Goodchild We walk our dog three or four times a day, otherwise lots of exercise exploring new places. Hilary Chaplin I can’t remember towing the van without all the bikes. Love it when we can just cycle and leave the car on site. Simon Wright Kayaking with our Border Terrier; also a bit of walking and cycling. Philip Hewitt Cycling, running, swimming, trekking and in winter, skiing. Dick Donovan I train hard to lift three or four Magners a…

WHEN TO GO Early September is a good time to visit the northern half of France – although the weather is still good, the campsites aren’t nearly as busy as in August. WAY TO GO 1 Camping Sainte-Claire in Neufchâtel-en-Bray Take the A16 (direction Abbeville) and then the A28 (direction Rouen). Come off the A28 at Neufchâtel-en-Bray Sud. Follow the road into Neufchâtel-en-Bray and turn left at the roundabout immediately after crossing the river. Camping Sainte-Claire, which is clearly signposted, is at the bottom of Rue la Grande Flandre. 2 Camping du Château in Falaise Continue on the A28 to Rouen. In Rouen, follow the signs for the A13 Caen. In Caen, follow the ring road N814 and take the N158 south. Take the D658 into Falaise. The Camping du…

1 Edinburgh The Scottish capital exudes plenty of excitement at Christmas, with a programme of events to entertain the family, including Christmas markets, fairs, balloon rides and a Christmas maze. Stay at Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park. Web www.meadowhead.co.uk 2 Chester Head to the town hall for the turning on of Chester’s Christmas lights on 16 November. Then shop the 70 wooden chalets in the atmospheric Christmas market. Stay at Chester Fairoaks Caravan and Motorhome Club Site. Web www.caravanclub.co.uk 3 York The medieval city of York puts on a splendid show at Christmas. Shop the St Nicholas Fair, then follow the ice trail of 40 frozen figures, and don’t miss the living advent calendar. Children will love a stay at Millbridge Farm. Web www.millbridgefarm.co.uk 4 Cardiff The…

1 Home Farm Camping and Caravan Park A site that provides fantastic views over the Chiltern Hills and easy access from the M40. At the end of the drive is The Crown, which serves great home-cooked food and local ales. Web homefarmradnage.co.uk 2 The Limeburners Just to the east of the South Downs National Park at Newbridge, Billingshurst, in West Sussex, you will find The Limeburners, serving fine ales and great food. Behind the pub is the campsite, with 30 touring pitches. It’s open all year. Web limeburnersbillingshurst.co.uk 3 The Huntsman and Hounds Thursday is fish night at this picturesque thatched pub in Maldon, with beer garden and extensive grounds. The five-acre grass site has electric hook-ups, water points and a toilet block. Web huntsmanandhounds.co.uk 4 The…

Price £27,399 Berths 4 MiRO 1617kg Payload 159kg MTPLM 1776kg Awning 1080cm Contact Erwin Hymer Group UK, Delves Lane, Consett, County Durham DH8 7PE Tel 01207 699 000 Web www.elddis.co.uk Measurements A Shipping length 7.96m B Interior length 6.34m C Overall width 2.3m D Front double 2.04m x 1.4m E Front singles 1.74m x 0.7m F Rear single beds 1.88m x 0.71m Or try these alternatives Compass Camino 674 Price £27,399 Not every Crusader gets a a body double in Compass’s top-notch range, but the 674 is a good alternative Supercyclone Lunar Delta TS Price £28,699 The TS has a rear washroom, but it is a twin axle, and in terms of weight and length it’s a close match. Closer than it is on price Bailey Unicorn Cadiz Price £23,699…

How much? £7300-£35,000 The Seat Alhambra is a decidedly desirable MPV, and its prices reflect that. A budget of around £7300 is needed for even an early example, but beware that the mileage will be into six figures, and the interior will be battle-scarred. If you can up your spend to £12,000 you’ll be in the market for a 2013 example with a decent spec and a mileage of around 60-70k. Pay £16,000 and you’ll be able to get a 2015-16 version with a decent spec and 40k miles. What will it tow? Kerbweight...........................1845kg Towing limit.........................2200kg Noseweight limit..................100kg 85% match............................ 1568kg (Figures for 2015 Seat Alhambra 2.0 TDI 184) How much is a towball? Witter flange towbar...... £135.00 Witter detachable towbar............ £227.34 Fitting extra (from www.pfjones.co.uk) What about servicing? Interim…

AS RESPONSIBLE caravanners we have a duty (as well as a legal requirement) to have ‘adequate’ rear view vision. My interpretation of that is that I need to clearly see down either side of the caravan, including seeing the sides and rear corners, without moving from my normal driving position. Personally, I like to see as much of what is happening around me as possible. In 99.9% of cases that means the fitment of towing mirrors. I cannot understand why people are prepared to spend tens of thousands of pounds on a car and caravan, but won’t spend £50 on a pair of good towing mirrors when they’re there for their own (and others’) safety. Tow Car tests Milenco kindly provides the towing mirrors for our annual Tow Car Awards.…

This year’s Tourer of the Year offers you a useful family layout with a spec level that is surprisingly high. In short, it’s a great value van for a family on a budget  Proving that the market for two-berth budget vans is still vibrant, the Xplore 422 offers great value with a high spec for what is meant to be an entry-level van Layout finder DD Island-bed layouts are, for many caravanners, the height of touring luxury – they offer a domestic-style sleeping area in which you don’t need to make up a bed from cushions each night. Elsewhere the floorplan can vary, but one popular variety is to have the washroom split across the van's central aisle. It usually means that the shower and toilet are separate: handy if…

Tourers for the discerning buyer that provide a bit more luxury and comfort TA Twin-axle ✪ Practical Caravan top pick Layout finder G In this layout, fixed twin beds towards the rear of the van are accompanied by a central kitchen and an end washroom, plus a lounge up front. This layout is great for couples who want to relax in the lounge without having to disassemble a bed every morning. You’ll usually find a curtain or screen separating the rear beds from the lounge. Pros The pair of single beds means that you both have access to the washroom at night. The washroom is often quite spacious. Cons The side kitchen may not have much space for preparing meals. The fixed single beds cannot be made up into a…

‘I managed to squeeze in a question about our summer holiday. To be honest, it was a bad move’ AHHH… IT’S THE time of year for sweet reflection on the year gone by. How was it for you? Well, let’s hand this over to the person who actually matters… my wife. She’s here at my side, fuming about the confusion over what to wear to a dinner event we’re going to this evening. “What kind of dress code is ‘Glamorous’?” she’s spitting. “Is it a black tie do or not?” “I’m afraid I don’t know, dear,” I respond, nervously. It’s odd, isn’t it. When you’re asked a question sometimes, about things that have nothing to do with you, it’s somehow turned around on you when you don’t know the answer.…