Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2019 i Practical Caravan

‘This lovely site looks out across parkland designed by Capability Brown and the estate’s tranquil fishing lakes’ Bryony Symes Where are we? Burton Constable Holiday Park, East Riding, Yorkshire What’s going on? Just across the footbridge is the rest of Burton Constable Hall’s estate, and the Hall itself. It is famously home to the skeleton of a Blue Whale that’s said to have inspired the novel Moby-Dick. This is just one of many grand country houses in Yorkshire’s East Riding, an area that has a history spanning back to Neolithic times. Which outfit? Sprite Super Quattro FB towed by a Volvo XC40…

WRITE TO Letters, Practical Caravan, 1-10 Praed Mews, London W2 1QY 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…

Homely touches Price £3.99-£14.99 Web www.camperandbeachgifts.co.uk The clever crafters at Camper and Beach Gifts have a range of caravan designs, everything from keyrings and fridge magnets through to beautifully framed pictures. We particularly love the wooden etched coasters – these handmade mats have retro caravans etched on them, and are varnished to make them easy-clean. They make a lovely, homely touch for any tourer: a perfect stocking filler for the caravan enthusiast in your life. BS Spick and span Price £149.99 Web www.gtech.co.uk The GTech Multi MK2 cordless handheld vacuum cleaner is a versatile and easy way to keep your caravan in great shape. In such a small space, staying on top of the vacuuming can be especially difficult, but the GTech Multi makes it simple, with plenty of suction…

You will need... Fruitcake10 x 7” 2 x Renshaw White Almond Marzipan 500g 2 x Renshaw Ready to Roll Duck Egg Blue Icing 250g Renshaw Decor Ice Ready to Roll White Icing 250g Renshaw Ready to Roll Poppy Red Icing 250g Renshaw Ready to Roll Yellow Icing 250g Renshaw Ready to Roll Lincoln Green Icing 250g Renshaw Ready to Roll Fuchsia Pink Icing 250g Renshaw Ready to Roll Turquoise Green Icing 250g Renshaw Ready to Roll Teddy Bear Brown Icing 250g Renshaw Chocolate Ready to Roll Icing 250g Renshaw Dahlia Black Flower and Modelling Paste 250g Renshaw White Flower and Modelling Paste 250g FMM Picket Fence Cutter FMM Tree Bark and Brick Wall Impression Mat 2 Pack Renshaw White Royal Icing 400g Wilton Dark Green Candy Melts Wilton Bright…

THE A1 FORMS the artery for reaching the main attractions on the Northumberland coast. I began at Berwick-upon-Tweed, parking in the long-term free car park just off the curiously named Foul Ford. As a border town, Berwick was captured 13 times before being held by the English in the late 15th century – hence the Elizabethan bastions. They are impressive, and if you are interested in military history, you will find the gun emplacements fascinating; but they are high and sheer, so little ones will need watching closely. Along the wall, you will find Berwick Barracks and Main Guard. Today, the early 18th-century building is home to museums and art galleries. The nearby Church of the Holy Trinity and St Mary, one of the few parish churches built in Cromwell’s…

1 Bignor Roman Villa Get an eyeful of some of the best-preserved Roman mosaic floors in England at this large villa in the heart of the South Downs. Open 1 March to 31 October. Stay at Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club Site Web www. campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 2 Richborough Fort This huge fort and amphitheatre located in the East Kent marshes witnessed the beginning and the end of the Roman occupation of Great Britain. Stay at Sandwich Leisure Holiday Park Web www.sandwich-leisurepark.co.uk 3 Verulamium Among the remains of this once great Roman city are the forum, the market hall and Roman houses with mosaics and wall paintings. Find it near St Albans, Herts. Stay at Woodstock CL Web www.caravanclub.co.uk 4 Bath There’s little that can beat the fantastic…

Swift teams up for cheaper insurance Swift owners could be in line for half-price caravan insurance, following the formation of a partnership between the firm and Caravan Guard. Under the deal, anyone buying a new or less-than-three-year-old Swift from an approved dealer could be eligible for the discount. In partnership with Black Horse, Swift has also launched the Swift Advance scheme, designed to spread the cost of buying a van. Sweden gets Sprite Swift has launched three Sprite touring caravan models in Sweden, following the success of its motorhome launch there some years ago. The Sprite Basecamp, similar to the UK Basecamp, and two Sprite Cruzers – specially adapted for the Swedish market, and featuring fixed single beds and an end washroom, or an island bed – were launched at…

Construction Al-Ko galvanised chassis with Euro axle and GRP sidewalls. Polyurethane timberless framed bodyshell with 25mm polystyrene core, 44mm sandwich floor. Hail-resistant fully bonded GRP roof. GRP front and rear panels External equipment LED rear light clusters, high-level marker, brake light, side marker running lights, awning light. Awning rail both sides Heating Truma Combi 4 dual-fuel heating with digital programmable controller Lounge/bedroom Tyrion soft furnishings, Aralie Sen woodgrain, matte-white overhead lockers. Removable carpet, scratch-resistant lino, beech slat seat and bed bases, Duvalay Duvalite mattress. Midi-Heki, LED lighting throughout. Status TV aerial, TV station with mains, 12V and aerial sockets, four additional mains sockets, two USBs Kitchen Slate-grey work surface, granite-effect sink, three-burner hob with glass lid safety cut-out, oven and grill, 100-litre fridge Washroom Thetford C260 toilet with electric flush,…

First drive Suzuki Ignis 1.2 DualJet Hybrid Allgrip SZ5 Price £15,499 Kerbweight 920kg Towing limit 1000kg 85% match 782kg Towball limit 50kg TOW CARS DON’T come much smaller than the Suzuki Ignis. At 3.7m long (34cm shorter than a Ford Fiesta), this is also a featherweight tug, with a kerbweight of just 920kg for the 1.2 DualJet Hybrid Allgrip. But tow it can – legally up to a tonne, although staying within the 85% match figure of 782kg is more sensible. That makes it suitable for the likes of the pre-2018 Go-Pod, or a Freedom Microlite Discovery. Despite the stick-thin kerbweight, this version is four-wheel drive. That helps the Suzuki to put its power to the road in wet conditions, and will be a plus if you need to tow…

How much? £5000-£11,500 Even the oldest Civic Tourers are only four years old, but you can still grab them for the relatively bargain price of £7000. These will be higher-mileage examples, but they will have spent the bulk of their lives on the motorway. As ever, condition is more important than mileage. If you can raise your budget to £11,000, that will net you a 2015-onwards car with fewer than 40,000 miles on the clock. There’s little need to spend more than that, because all you’ll be doing is paying for extra kit that you’re pretty unlikely to need anyway. What will it tow? Kerbweight........................... 1662kg85% match...........................1360kgTowing limit........................ 1400kgNoseweight limit.....................75kg How much is a towball? Witter flange towbar...... £158.22 Witter detachable towbar........... ............................................... £264.40 Fitting extra (From pfjones.co.uk) What about…

CLEANING Give your caravan a good wash and wax before storing away. Waxing helps to protect the bodywork GAS Remove gas cylinders and place them in a cool, well-ventilated place SECURITY Remove all valuables, such as TVs, radios and so on. Fit visible security products, for practical reasons and as a deterrent. If you’re storing the van at home on your driveway, consider a security post COVER It doesn’t take long to pull a cover on or off, and if you have waxed your caravan, it will simply glide over it! POWER Use a solar pulse charger to maintain your leisure battery if you have no access to mains supply TOWING ELECTRICS Inspect and clean the van-to-tow car 13-pin electrical socket, and coat it with a water inhibitor, such as…

Caravan and Motorhome Club Tel 01342 326 944 Web thecaravanclub.co.uk Camping and Caravanning Club Tel 024 7647 5448 Web thefriendlyclub.co.uk CRiS Tel 020 3282 1000 Web www.cris.co.uk Approved Workshop Scheme Web www.approvedworkshops.co.uk Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA) Tel 0843 216 5802 Web www.cassoa.co.uk Towsafe Web www.towsafe.co.uk DVLA Tel 0300 790 6801 Web www.dft.gov.uk/dvla Mobile Caravan Engineers Association (MCEA) Tel 01249 651 036 Web www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk…

Layout finder K This two-berth end-washroom layout is really the one to go for if you want to pamper yourself on your travels. Having a washroom spread right across the back often leaves room for an extended area where you can perform your morning ablutions and get dressed and undressed in complete privacy. There’s often a large wardrobe included, too, so you needn’t have to cut down too much on what clothes you take. Pros The washroom really does feel like a separate room in this arrangement Cons Sometimes, as a result of giving over so much space to the washroom, the kitchen can feel a bit cramped A With the washroom further back, the settees should be long B There is often some kind of sideboard on the nearside…

Do they have caravans in Lapland? Here is something of a seasonal conundrum. I haven’t seen the country that is used as a striking backdrop to the latest campaigns by Bailey, Swift et al, but it strikes me that, as a home for elves, a van would be hard to beat. In fact, if Santa himself were to design a seasonally expandable, yet temporary, residence for his faithful helpers, starting with a blank sheet of (wrapping) paper, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the finished masterpiece didn’t look a great deal like our beloved home from home. Let’s examine the benefits. Santa has a problem. He has a massive seasonal workforce, who spend much of the year doing whatever elves do for 11 months out of 12, before converging…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! I REALLY LOVE a Christmas market – they are such a good way to set the mood for the festive season, especially if they involve handmade crafts and warming Glühwein, and you are togged up cosily in woolly hats, scarves and gloves. For those still touring, there are numerous markets being held around the UK; some just for a weekend, others lasting several weeks, and some – in Bournemouth, Edinburgh and London – going on until January. Belfast, Bristol, Canterbury, Cardiff, Chester, Leeds and Glasgow all have markets running almost until Christmas. Elsewhere, Castle Drogo in Devon, Stowe and Waddesdon in Buckinghamshire, and Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire will all be holding Christmas fairs in December. Severn toll to be scrapped If you…

Heading to East Riding this winter? The market towns will look even prettier with their festive lights strung up, and there are plenty of interesting markets for you to browse. Regular markets are held in Beverley on Wednesdays and Saturdays. As well as these, the annual Beverley Festival of Christmas takes place on Sunday 9 December. You can expect the town to become a veritable wonderland, complete with Santa and his reindeer to add to the atmosphere. Driffield Christmas Festival is held on 30 November, so you’ll have to get your skates on if you want to visit. Meanwhile, Cottingham is holding its first-ever Christmas Festival on Sunday 16 December. Here you’ll find craft and market stalls, live reindeer, a synthetic ice rink, food and drink stalls and children’s rides.…

Everything here is fantastic. We will definitely be back! Everything you could need or want. Dog was very happy, too. Restaurant bar staff were fantastic and facilities for children are excellent. A good quiet location within easy reach of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Excellent facilities. Really friendly staff, clean facilities, and excellent food and service at the pub. Good spacing, private with hedge outside caravan. Everything one could possibly need. Beautiful grounds, excellent toilets, friendly staff! Well laid out, very tidy, great facilities, friendly staff. Superb facilities, especially for disabled people.…

There are several free car parks in Berwick, but waiting time is limited to two hours and you will need to display a parking disc. These cost £1 and are obtainable from the library, tourist information centres and some local businesses. There is no time restriction in the long-term car parks at Castlegate and Foul Ford. Head to nearby Spittal for a glorious beach and fantastic vistas across the water to the walled town of Berwick and the lighthouse. This was a view favoured by artist LS Lowry, who spent many holidays in Berwick. You can follow a three-hour trail of his favourite haunts in the town by downloading a leaflet: http://images.visitberwick.com/routes/lowry-trail/lowry-leaflet.pdf. Just south of Berwick and Spittal is the Pot-a-Doodle Do family activity centre, campsite and restaurant: http://potadoodledo.com. Twenty…

1 Abbey Wood C&MC Site, London One of the things we like most about Abbey Wood Caravan & Motorhome Club site is that, despite being hidden in south-east London’s suburbs just 30 minutes from the city centre, once pitched up, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were in a much more rural setting. The site is beautifully landscaped and surrounded by trees, with the great expanse of Abbey Wood moments away. Here you’ll find the historic remains of the abbey, as well as a great space for kids to play and dogs to exercise. There is also a dog walk on site, although your four-legged friend will probably enjoy the expanses of Abbey Wood, Bostall Heath and the nearby recreation grounds, as it is fairly small. You can expect the…

Price £1679-£2742 Web www.isabella.net Weight 36.8-65.7kg Dimensions 2.5 x 6.5m Pack sizes 120 x 20 x 15cm and 120 x 15 x 15cm Access Four opening panels Key selling points Breathable fabric, carbon fibre or steel poles Optional extras Annexe £560 (Zinox steel), £640 (CarbonX); three-berth inner tent (£108); side net (£76); partition panel (£331); door canopy (£94); gutter set (£125); front net (£89-£103); inner roof (£443-£553); storm straps (£17 each); canopy (£463-£742); sun canopy (£394-£686)…

Model tested 2.0 TDCi 310 LWB Titanium Price £39,748 What Car? Target Price TBC Retained value after three years TBC Kerbweight 2429kg* 85% of kerbweight Not legal Gross vehicle weight 3140kg Max towing limit 2050kg Gross train weight 5240kg Towball limit 112kg Boot size 2000-2800 litres Payload 711kg Test conditions Dry Engine size 1995cc Power (bhp)/rpm 128@3500rpm Torque (lb ft)/rpm 284@1500-2000rpm Official combined economy 44.8mpg Towing economy 21.4mpg CO2 emissions 164g/km First year car tax £830 Second year car tax £140 Insurance group N/A Euro NCAP overall protection rating…

SPOTLIGHT ON… WINTER LAY-UP Preparing your van for storage involves a few key tasks, says Sammy Faircloth THE COLD, DARK evenings are not for everyone, and some of us like nothing better than to snuggle up at home in front of the fire. Nothing wrong with that, but it is advisable to carry out some simple jobs before storing your caravan for the winter, or you could find it costing you when you return to it next spring. Indoor tasks ■ Cleaning It would be remiss to leave any caravan in a mucky state, so give it a thorough clean before putting it away. Be very careful about which products you use on plastic fixtures and fittings. Avoid household bleaches: these will damage the plastic. Products such as Thetford Bathroom…

IF YOU HAVE the Alde heating system in your caravan, you’ll know that from time to time, you have to reset the clock on the display unit. This usually occurs when the caravan’s 12V battery has been disconnected. But now you can stop this happening. Alde’s Battery Backup unit comprises a 2 x AA battery holder and the means to plug it into the rear of the control panel. This is what I fitted in our van, but it’s quite simple (and a bit cheaper) if you fancy making up a unit from scratch, or if the cable on the Alde version isn’t long enough. To make your own unit, you’ll need: ■ 2 x AA battery holder ■ T-shaped PP3 clip ■ Twin-core 6A figure 8 cable ■ Two-way…

BAILEY STIRRED THINGS up in late 2009, when it launched its Alu-Tech tourers. The new Pegasus was offered as a complete departure from its Ranger, Pageant and Senator line-ups. Pegasus was to take the caravan world by storm, although other manufacturers would take very different directions in design and construction. The idea was for a tough shell that wouldn’t leak, with interior walls in GRP and a composite-material framework. It got mixed reactions, but paved the way for the next-generation Bailey ranges. We came across a later model, the GT65, which was launched to celebrate Bailey’s 65th anniversary. Spec for the original Pegasus line-up was good – alarm, blown-air heating, ATC, and heavy-duty corner steadies at the rear. By 2013, the Pegasus was on Mk3, with the GT65 offering extra…

Meet the dealers Teesside Caravans Teesside Caravans, based in Thornaby, claims the largest indoor display area in the country, at 250,000 sq ft. Pretty impressive, given that it only started selling caravans in 2011, specialising in new Adria, Bailey and Swift models. Before it started selling caravans, the company had been storing them for 20 years, and now has capacity for 1000 units. The dealership finds there is a good crossover between storage and sales, and the ratio of new vans it sells is higher than average. But it also has a 14-bay AWSapproved workshop and is expanding awning sales, too. Although most buyers come from Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland, you’ll find Teesside at the NEC as well. Address Fleck Way, Teesside Industrial Estate, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees TS17 9JZ Web…

IT’S ALMOST THE new year, and it’s all change at Practical Caravan – I’m delighted to be taking over the hot seat at this fantastic magazine, after the sad departure of Niall, who has left to work elsewhere. Regular readers may remember me from these pages in the past – I’ve worked on the magazine in various roles for years, so I’m thrilled to be able to take the reins now. Caravanning really is in my blood: as a child, we travelled far and wide as a family in our brown Sprite Alpine, and since then I toured for many years in an aging Bailey Pageant Champagne. I just love the caravanning lifestyle, and can’t wait to immerse myself even further for my new job. But this is your magazine,…

1 Skate on holy ground Winchester’s Christmas Market is packed with festive cheer. The skating rink is surrounded by food, drink and gift stalls, all under the gaze of the great Cathedral. Date 17 November-2 January Web www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk Stay at Beverley Farm CS Web www.beverleyfarm.co.uk 2 Family festivities Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland has a skating rink with a clear roof, covered in lights, and lots of other activities. Date 15 November-6 January Web cardiffswinterwonderland.com Stay at Cardiff Caravan & Camping Park Web www.cardiffcaravanpark.co.uk 3 Never mind the weather Hestercombe Gardens in Somerset once again hosts an undercover artificial skating rink, so you can glide around the ice whatever the weather. Date 1 December-6 January Web www.hestercombe.com Stay at Cornish Farm Touring Park Web www.cornishfarm.com 4 Around the monument Among Edinburgh’s many festive attractions is…

1 Put the water, sugar, spices, treacle and golden syrup into a saucepan and bring slowly to a simmer, stirring regularly. Do not let it boil furiously or stick to the sides of the pan. 2 Once it’s all combined, take it off the heat and add your chopped butter, stirring continuously until it has all melted in. Allow the mixture to cool slightly. Sprinkle the bicarbonate of soda into the bottom of a large bowl and pour the warm mixture on top. Use a wooden spoon to mix the bicarb in thoroughly and then stir in the flour. You will end up with a nice ball of gingerbread dough, but if it feels too wet, add in a little bit more flour – don’t let it get too dry…

York South Caravan Camping Site, in Selby. It’s a fairly new site with excellent facilities, and it’s easily accessible from the A1 and the A19. PaulnYvonne Dickinson We’ve spent many happy times in the van at Christmas, at the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Melrose Gibson site. Karen Boyd I’d say Sandringham! Sophie Clarke Anywhere in Spain… Alison N’Gary Mercer It’s perfect anywhere at that time of year! Martina Linehan The Caravan and Motorhome Club Site at Broadway, Worcestershire. Gareth Bytheway-Thomas Camp Waipu Cove, New Zealand, 1.5 hours north of Auckland on the east coast. Shaun Nicholson Cromwell, New Zealand! Freedom camping on the edge of Lake Dunstan. Craig Grundy Got some great tips you’d like to share? Let us know via Facebook (see p9)…

Way to go If you’re heading north, the M1 is the most direct route, although you’re bound to find roadworks en route. When to go This part of Yorkshire isn’t a huge tourist trap, so whatever time of year you decide to visit, you shouldn’t come across too many crowds. We visited in late autumn and found the weather still very pleasant, although, like much of the UK, this can be rather changeable in nature! Food and drink ■ The Wolds Café and Coffee House www.facebook.com/TheWoldsCafe Find out more ■ Visit Yorkshire www.yorkshire.com ■ Visit Hull and East Yorkshire www.visithullandeastyorkshire.com ■ Burton Constable Hall www.burtonconstable.com ■ Beverley Guildhall www.museums.eastriding.gov.uk/beverley-guildhall ■ Beverley Minster www.beverleyminster.org.uk ■ Burton Agnes www.burtonagnes.com ■ Discover Yorkshire Coast www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com ■ Flamborough Head Lighthouse www.trinityhouse.co.uk/lighthouse-visitor-centres/flamboroughlighthouse-visitor-centre ■ Yorkshire Wildlife…

What do you think makes this campsite one of our Regional Winners? We are a family-oriented park. We see the owners, the Maguire family, a lot; their values are projected and kept through our staff, right down to the cleaners. This is a job-for-life sort of place. How does it work with a large static area and the section for tourers? Having a touring section puts a different feel on the park; with new people coming in, it’s transient, giving the park more vitality. A lot of people who come here start off with tourers, take up a seasonal pitch and like it so much that they end up with a static. The new clubhouse has only just opened, which means the people who voted for you have yet to…

WE WERE HEADING for Haltwhistle in Northumberland, which sits alongside the northernmost edge of the Roman Empire, a frontier marked out by Hadrian’s Wall. For us, this would not be a long drive south, and on the recommendation of friends, we stopped off at Gretna Green. While there, we did a little shopping at the Gateway Retail Outlet, but it was far too busy for our tastes, so we decided to look elsewhere for lunch. We were travelling down the A6017 to Longtown when we spotted the Old Toll House. We pulled in to the large car park at the rear, plenty of room and an easy drive out at the other side – wonderful. Inside, it was very comfortable, the service was great and the food fantastic. I couldn’t…

THE FINAL MODEL in Swift’s new luxury 8ft-wide Elegance Grande range was one of the star attractions at October’s Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC. The Elegance Grande 655 – which wasn’t ready to be unveiled at the time of the Swift season launch in July – includes an unusual wall bed that drops down at the rear end of the very large L-shaped front lounge. The 7.98m-long vehicle also has two fixed bunks towards the rear, on the nearside opposite the kitchen, and an end washroom. But the new model wasn’t the only item of interest on the Swift stand. To celebrate the centenary of the Eccles brand, Swift showed off an Eccles model from 1938. The Eccles President has two doors, but no insulation, and only a…

Where tested Burton Constable Holiday Park and Arboretum, The Old Lodges, Sproatley, Hull, East Yorkshire HU11 4LJ Tel 01964 562 508 Web www.burtonconstableholidaypark.co.uk EIGHT FEET SEEMS to have become the magic width for British caravan manufacturers in recent years. Continental firms have turned out such vans for many years – Adria’s more upmarket ranges are all 8ft wide, for example, as is the Knaus Starclass line-up. We don’t even want to begin to talk about widths they might be towing across the pond. But with the exception of Buccaneer, British firms have preferred to stick to dimensions closer to the more conventional 7ft. Until recently. First, what was then the Explorer Group opted to take what it was already doing with Buccaneers and apply this further down the market,…

Ford Galaxy 2.0 TDCi PowerShift AWD Titanium X Tested by Alastair Clements Price £38,645 Kerbweight 1841kg 85% match 1565kg Towball limit 90kg IN A NUTSHELL A superb people-carrier (and tow car) HAVING ALREADY TOWED hundreds of miles with the big Galaxy, I was very familiar with just what a superb tug it is. The high kerbweight makes it a match for sizeable tourers (up to 1565kg if you’re sticking to the 85% recommended by the two main caravanning clubs), and its stability and four-wheel-drive traction mean that it is up to the task of pulling them, too. But when my wife decided she needed a long weekend to herself to finish an essay for her course, – and best pal Alex suggested we take the kids to his folks’ cottage…

Price £34,970 What Car? Target Price £33,785 Retained value after three years 50% Kerbweight 1735kg 85% of kerbweight 1475kg Gross vehicle weight 2250kg Max towing limit 2100kg Gross train weight 4350kg Towball limit 110kg Price of towball and electrics £1075 Boot size min/max 460/1336 litres Payload 515kg Test conditions Dry Engine size 1969cc Power (bhp)/rpm 187@4000rpm Torque (lb ft)/rpm 295@1750-2500rpm Official combined economy 56.5mpg Towing economy 23.1mpg CO2 emissions 131g/km First year car tax £515 Second year car tax £140 Insurance group 29 Euro NCAP overall protection rating…

THERE HAVE BEEN any number of times when I’ve arrived at a pitch, only to be confronted by awning pegs still in the ground, left there by previous occupants. Having hammered in their pegs, they find that they can’t get them out when they are ready to depart, so they just give up and leave them behind. The pegs are invariably in the way for the next occupants of the pitch, and the main option has been to hammer them right into the ground until they are flush. However, I have also been forced to abandon pegs that have locked themselves solid in the ground and won’t come out, for love nor money. So, what to do? The main culprits here are the widely used (because they are good and…

Dave King and daughter Alicia run Select Caravans, near Mansfield, in Nottinghamshire. As a keen caravanner, Dave used to trade to dealers, then opened up his sales to public buyers, too. Dave told us they are always on the look-out for pre-owned tourers in good condition and at the right price. They also aim to pass on savings to customers, with competitive pricing. Big on buyer satisfaction, Dave has a good selection of used tourers on offer, all at affordable prices. Address Rob Lane, Old Rufford Road, Nr Mansfield, Notts NG22 8EW Tel 01623 656 090 Web www.selectcaravans.co.uk…

Meet the dealers Broad Lane Leisure With branches in Kenilworth and Alcester, Broad Lane Leisure has been running since the 1970s, when it was founded by Jack and Colin Brown. Over the years it dealt in Swift, Bailey and Lunar, among others. Now run by second-generation Browns, Steve and Darren, it currently sells Swift and Coachman, with dealer specials in both brands. Sales manager Richard Bulmer, who has worked for the firm since the late 1980s, has seen great changes, particularly in van spec levels, and, more recently, in making them lighter. “There’s much more plastic now, less aluminium,” he says. The dealership has built up a loyal customer base, with buyers coming from across the country. Address Birmingham Road, Kings Coughton, Alcester B49 5QD Web www.broadlane.co.uk…

Awnings Porch Ventura, 3 x 2.5 approx, Carbon X frame, groundsheet, £75. Mr Bishop, Surrey (01737 556156) Bradcot Aspire Mini awning, Easy Alloy extending poles, used eight days, complete with instructions, skirt, wheel cover, curtains, pegs, storm straps, £50. Mr Martin, Suffolk (01787 210866) Vango Air Sonoma porch awning, 2.5m wide, 2m deep, plus sun canopy, used once, as new, complete with carpet, storm straps, wheel covers, draught skirts and pump, £400. Mr Pye, North Eltham (01533 659570) Inaca Palma porch awning, green, 2.5m x 2.0m, aluminium poles, storm guys, good condition, £80, buyer collects. Mr Wyatt, Holyhead (01407 741320 or 07714 720524) Isabella porch awning, poles, skirt, instructions, green/cream, in carry bag, £150 ono, buyer collects. Mr Rice, Sherborne (01935 816788) Kampa Rally Air 260, blow-up awning, heavy duty,…