Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2018 i Practical Caravan

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…

Keeping it cool Web www.domu.co.uk Price £14.99 Nothing says summer quite like a picnic. But you don’t want to be juggling lots of carrier bags and hoping that the sun doesn’t spoil your carefully selected food, so you need to arm yourself with a hamper that is up to the job. The VonShef cooler bag from Domu is a great solution, with an easy-to-carry, double-padded handle and a lightweight aluminium frame. This is a step up from your standard cooler bag, with technology to keep your picnic cool and fresh as you find the perfect spot. Its 22-litre capacity means it has plenty of space for a sizeable picnic, ice blocks and drinks. What’s more, the waterproof outer lining is in a fun, colourful Nordic-style print – a very stylish…

OUR FERRIES HAD been booked for months, but that perennial question of where we would go when we landed in Zeebrugge was still there, only two weeks before we were due to depart. I had visions of us sitting at the docks with maps in hand – and a pin. We’ve had some fabulous holidays in the UK and abroad, but possibly because we both speak a little of the language, we seem to gravitate to France. It’s such a diverse country that no two regions are the same. But where would we go this year? For the past few years, we’ve stayed inland, among the Alps and châteaux, or many places in between. We both fancied a seaside holiday, but the weather in the north can be as iffy…

‘The family welcome, along with a stunning location, has helped this site to win for the past four years’ ANGLESEY CAN SEEM like a throwback after the last few miles of the A55. Cross the Menai Straits from the drama of Snowdonia and you are in a gentle landscape of rolling hills and little villages that harks back to a Britain of many years ago. To a time, perhaps, when the phrase ‘family-run business’ meant just that. Certainly Tyddyn Isaf (www.tyddynisaf.co.uk), a caravan park in the north-east of the island, has kept traditions alive. It is run by a team of four from the same family – Arthur and Beverly Mount, and their daughter Hayley and son-in-law Simon. It must be this family welcome, along with a stunning location, that…

Essential info All you need to know ■ Plas Newydd www.nationaltrust.org.uk/plas-newyddcountry-house-and-gardens National Trust-owned country house and gardens overlooking the Menai Strait. Visit in spring and you can enjoy the splendid five-acre rhododendron garden. For those who prefer painting to gardening, there is also an art gallery. ■ Menai Heritage www.menaibridges.co.ukFind out everything you ever wanted to know about the two famous bridges – Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge and Robert Stephenson’s Britannia Bridge. ■ South Stack Lighthouse www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/south-stack-cliffsThis spectacular lighthouse set amid dramatic cliff formations is also an important RSPB reserve. ■ Llynnon Mill www.llansadwrn-wx.co.uk/gwynt/llynnon.htmlThe only working windmill in Wales, now fully restored and producing wholemeal flour using organic wheat.…

Morocco We have been travelling in Morocco for more than 10 years and have never experienced any hostility from the locals. They are very friendly and helpful, but may expect a tip for any help they give you. The traffic is a little chaotic and takes a while to get used to, but there are few accidents. People drive more slowly than in Europe and you soon learn to expect the unexpected. The motorways are a good way of getting around. They are cheap and in good condition, but beware the numerous costly speed traps. Arriving in Tangier-Med, you will be asked for your documentation, part of which can be done on board the ferry. You need to show your V55 document, fill out an entry form for the vehicle…

1 Caernarfon Castle The polygonal towers help make Caernarfon Castle one of the most imposing in the UK. A World Heritage Site, it offers visitors more than 400 events and days out every year. Stay at Bryn Gloch Caravan & Camping Park Web www.northwalescamping.co.uk 2 Bentley Priory This former stately home was RAF Fighter Command’s HQ in the Battle of Britain. Take in this fine house with a visit to the museum to see recreated wartime operations rooms. Stay at Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park Web www.visitleevalley.org.uk 3 Edinburgh Castle A residence of Scottish kings until the 17th century, Edinburgh Castle houses the crown jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. Stay at Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Site Web www.caravanclub.co.uk 4 Osborne House One…

Construction Al-Ko galvanised steel chassis, 10-spoke alloy wheels, 45mm sandwich construction floor, 25mm sandwich construction sidewalls with polystyrene insulation, 25mm sandwich construction roof, ABS front panel with panoramic roof window, three flush front windows, two gas bottle lockers, ABS rear panel, integral grabhandles, double-glazed windows, one-piece door with flyscreen and security lock External equipment Heavy-duty corner steadies, external mains socket and BBQ point with Easi-Slide lid, spare wheel carrier Heating Alde wet central heating and water heating Lounge/bedroom Durango/Strathmore upholstery in stain-free fabrics, scatter cushions, French Oak floor covering, stain-resistant carpet, soft-close locker doors, chrome furniture handles, soft-close blinds and flyscreens, LED lighting, 12V multifunction control panel, TV station, Pioneer stereo with FM radio/CD player, Status TV aerial, rooflight Kitchen Dometic 115-litre fridge, dual-fuel four-burner hob, Dometic oven/grill, scratch-resistant worktops,…

Tested by Peter Baber Price £23,999 Berths 4 MiRO 1377kg Payload 155kg MTPLM 1532kg WE RAN A live-in test of our Bailey Unicorn long-termer early this year, so reckoned another trip would be good to assess whether what we thought then still rings true now. With the country in apparent meltdown over that wedding, a visit to Huntingdonshire, birthplace of Oliver Cromwell, also seemed a corrective tonic. The weekend we chose – the first May Bank Holiday – turned out to be a scorcher. On the Friday afternoon, temperatures were well into the twenties. As I arrived at CaSSOA Camberley, I imagined a fair sweat would be worked up getting this 7.36m-long, 1532kg caravan hitched up on my own. I needn’t have worried. The van is beautifully balanced on its…

News Volkswagen launches new Touareg SUV to rival Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Volvo XC90 THE THIRD GENERATION of the Touareg promises to provide more driver assistance technology, improved comfort and uprated infotainment. The new model is also slightly wider and longer than the old car. However, the use of aluminium and high-tech steel means the body weighs 106kg less, so matching ratios will be less favourable. Volkswagen has announced five engine options, with the first UK deliveries due in the autumn. The range starts with a 3.0-litre diesel with 228bhp. For more clout to tow a twin-axle, it could be worth opting for the 282bhp diesel. A 335bhp petrol engine will also be offered. For even more power and torque, there’s a 415bhp V8 diesel. A plug-in hybrid with…

I REMEMBER THE introduction of FM radio transmissions in the 1970s, when you could actually hear music in the car in stereo (if you had more than one speaker!), and the signal didn’t fade each time you went around a corner. How old hat that seems now. These days, we are far more accustomed to great quality DAB transmissions, although there are areas where it isn’t possible to get these yet. We regularly visit relatives in the Derbyshire Peak District and know exactly the corner in the road where the signal will fail. But there’s no denying what a huge leap in quality DAB radio signals bring. Despite DAB having been around for a number of years now (I believe the government was originally going to phase out FM in…

Paul Robinson has been established with his family business selling caravans since the 1980s. From trailer tents to caravans, the company has expanded over the years. It only sells pre-owned tourers. “We keep stock levels realistic,” Paul said, “and rotate our stock, keeping it fresh.” It also services caravans, focuses on good customer care and offers realistic pricing. “We sell well-prepared vans and get through nearly 300 units a year!” he added. Address Tod Point Road, Warrenby, Redcar TS10 5BQ Tel 01642 485 887 Web northyorkshirecaravans.co.uk…

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 there are two of you getting ready at the same time. Pros The island bed is as close to a domestic example as you can get. The lounge usually makes up into a second double Cons Split washroom areas might not be hugely spacious A You'll usually find lots of storage under the island bed B Check that the kitchen is large enough…

Layout finder AA End washrooms spread right acoss the back of the van are usually significantly more roomy than those that have to fit in down the side. That certainly tends to be the case in this layout. where they are also tucked away behind a French bed. Designers often take the oppturtunity this layout offers to provide you with an extra large wardrobe. But, as with all fixed bed layouts, make sure that what’s at the rear hasn’t led to a rather cramped front. Pros End washrooms tend to have large showers and plenty of room to get dressed Cons They can sometimes seem quite cut off from the rest of the caravan, particularly at night-time A End ws hroom windows c n sometimes revel too much! B Make…

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…

Awnings Porch Porch Lite XL awning, light-weight, easy to erect, £30 ono. Tech Lite Pro L light-weight awning, easy to erect, £40 ono. Mr Barnes, Rugby, Warks. (0798 334 9225) Varkala 420 Airbeam, used three weekends only, Vango carpet, electric pump, bad back forces sale, £450 ono. Mr Rees, Burry Port, SW Wales. (01554 834 804) Dorema tall annexe, blue/grey, still in box, £180 ono. Dorema front window canopy, blue/grey, used once, £60 ono. Mr Ferdinand, Bradford, West Yorkshire. (01274 656 280) Dorema Safari XL, 3 x 2.5m, black/ grey, steel poles, used three times, curtains but no skirt, downsizing so quick sale needed, £175 ono, buyer collects. Mr Smith, Wincanton, Somerset. (01963 440 415) Isabella Magnum Moonlight porch awning, Carbon X poles, curtains, little used, as new condition, plus…

IT WAS A gloriously weird start to the weather year, wasn’t it? In early April, I was digging my car out from beneath a six-foot snow drift and the army was parachuting food parcels in to my west country village. And in late April, I was sunbathing in the garden, drinking Pimm’s and reading about how it was ‘hotter than Barbados’. I was half expecting a hosepipe ban! You’ve just got to love the UK, haven’t you? The blistering heat we enjoyed last month has now subsided and it’s raining. Can you imagine trying to plan your life if any other element of it was as unpredictable? “I’m not sure whether Tesco is open today. I think it might have suddenly turned into a petting zoo…” “White wine or red,…

Pitch up with an en suite THE TEAM HERE at Practical Caravan Towers is pretty excited by this innovative move from the Warren Farm Holiday Centre at Burnham-on-Sea in Somerset. The site has introduced en-suite ‘pods’ for its seasonal hardstanding super pitches. Each pod houses a toilet, shower, handbasin and storage area. The new pods are adorning pitches that can take vehicles up to 30 feet in length, have a hardstanding base, fresh water tap, waste water and storm drains, and provide enough space to park your car and put up an awning. En-suite facilities are already available in some campsites in mainland Europe, but this is the first for the UK. Although this facility is only available on seasonal pitches at present, it will be extended to touring pitches…

We loved everything about Tyddyn Isaf. It is clean, well maintained, well appointed and with an excellent management team who obviously love their job Facilities for children are brilliant, having a spacious park with a helter skelter. The stunning beach is a 5-minute walk through a private key-fobbed gate. We loved it so much after staying for five days that we came back again two weeks later for another five days! Tyddyn Isaf is perfect for us – it’s peaceful, close to the sea and coastal walks, and has great amenities on site. Perhaps most important is that it’s a family-run site with perfect hosts They can’t do enough for you at Tyddyn Isaf and we will definitely be returning next year…

IT’S FAIR TO say that Brighton isn’t one of the most car-friendly places in the UK, but that’s no reason to deter caravanners from making a trip to this buzzing south coast hotspot. A well-located campsite to the east of the city is served by a good bus service to the centre, so you can let someone else take the strain. For those who do need to drive, though, Brighton’s main shopping areas have an abundance of car parks. I was making the relatively short trip from CaSSOA Camberley to the south coast to attend a first-birthday party. Accommodation options in Brighton are extensive, often quirky and usually expensive, as most establishments insist on a minimum two-night stay at weekends. Keen for more flexibility, my preference was to take a…

Van-friendly TomTom TomTom has launched a standalone sat-nav for caravans. The Camper Go includes ‘lifetime’ camper and caravan world maps highlighting roads suitable for towing and caravan-specific points of interest. Wi-Fi connectivity is included. The unit has an RRP of £379.99. Caravan Guard finalist Specialist insurer Caravan Guard has made it to the final of the 2018 British Insurance Awards. The Halifax-based company is up against four others for the Insurance Broker of the Year title. The award commends firms that show innovation, customer retention and professionalism. Mobile fitting surges Online searches for mobile tyre fitting have more than doubled in three years – some 60,000 searches were made in March this year, compared with 25,000 in March 2015. Ray Fernandez, CEO of TyresOnTheDrive, said his company, which offers two-hour…

Six cars were in the running for this year’s Fuel Economy Award, one from each weight class and one contender for the Best Ultralight Tow Car award. They were all chosen for their performance in official economy tests. We brimmed the car’s tank, then spent an hour towing on two parallel straights, at 60mph on the straights and 40mph on connecting bends. Then we refuelled to calculate the fuel economy. We tested the Kia Optima hybrid twice, once with a fully charged battery, then with it partially discharged. The three figures listed below for this car are the first and second run, and an average. This year’s winner is the Hyundai i30 Tourer (pictured below) – not only the most economical, but stable, too. Make and model .................................................................................... MPG Volkswagen…

The six-strong Swift Elegance range is the ultimate in touring luxury, lovingly constructed using the proprietary SMART HT bodyshell technology (see facing page) and featuring a specification that leaves buyers wanting for nothing. As pictured in the four-berth Elegance 530 (left) standard equipment includes dimmable LED lighting, opulent ‘Falisolle’ soft furnishings, acrylic kitchen worksurfaces and a suite of high-quality Dometic appliances. The four fixed-bed models in the Elegance range have Duvalay Duvalite mattresses, and further comfort comes courtesy of Alde wet central heating, which can also be operated via the pioneering Swift Command intelligent control panel. Discover Elegance and Swift’s other caravan ranges by visiting www.swiftgroup.co.uk…

DO YOU HAVE problems trying to store stemmed glasses safely in your caravan? Wine glasses made of glass are so much more satisfying to use than plastic and it is worth finding a way to secure them in your crockery cupboard. All you need is a short offcut of 20mm to 25mm aluminium or plastic angle, a small offcut of vinyl flooring, some impact adhesive and three small screws. Set out the glasses upside down in a row, with about 5mm between each glass and 15mm to 20mm at each end. Slide the angle in behind the stems to check it is a suitable width. Measure the length of holder required at the height of the stems and cut the angle to length with a hacksaw. Mark out the vinyl…

Layout finder B This is a relatively new layout in the caravanning world, but one that’s proved popular: it combines the comfort of a fixed bed with practicality, because that bed can be retracted a short distance during the day. As a result, it’s much easier to access the rear washroom – which stretches across the whole of the rear of the caravan – during the day. The space eaten up by the washroom and fixed bed means that the lounge can be small, so check this if it’s important to you. Pros The fixed bed should be a good size, and comfortable. Plenty of room in the washroom Cons Guests sleeping up front will find it tricky to access the washroom at night A There will be room for…

1 Join in the fun There’s entertainment for all at Bucks County Show. Don’t miss the Home and Garden marquee for hands-on demonstrations. Date 30 August Web buckscountyshow.co.uk Stay at The Old Dairy Farm Camping & Caravanning Site Web www.the-old-dairy-farm.co.uk 2 Tricks on bikes The star of Denbigh and Flint Show is quad bike stuntman Kangaroo Kid. There’s also a Food Festival and vintage/classic vehicles. Date 18 August Web denbighandflintshow.com Stay at Station House Caravan Park Web www.stationhousecaravanpark.co.uk 3 Cheese please! Frome Agriculture and Cheese Show makes a great family day out, with music, stalls, livestock and a dog show. Plus lots of cheese. Date 8 September Web fromecheeseshow.co.uk Stay at Longleat Caravan and Motorhome Club Site Web www.caravanclub.co.uk 4 The best of Scotland Experience the best of Scottish rural life at the…

How far would you travel on one individual tour? Derbyshire to Dover, Calais, Ypres, south of France, east and south coast of Spain, the Algarve, through Portugal, into northern Spain along Pyrenees, along south coast of France to Italy. Through Switzerland, into Germany, then Czech Republic, back to Baltic coast, North Sea coast, Holland, back to UK. Cath Wall Scotland to the south of France and back... we’re doing it again this year, but with a slight detour to the Vendée on the way home! Julie McIntosh From Gloucestershire to the European Classic Caravan Rally (ECCR) in Falkenberg, Sweden, via the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark, with our 1967 Safari. This year the ECCR is in Germany. Jane Wathan From Orkney overnight to Aberdeen, then Dover. Ferry to Calais, then to…

What does scooping the Regional Winner for Wales award mean for you? We welcome the attention and the extra business it brings, but wouldn’t want it to spoil the atmosphere! We have guests, mostly from north-west England, returning year after year, who make this a very special community. For example, there is a game called ‘Manhunt’ that children have played for generations here. I don’t know the rules, but they play it on fields left vacant as wildflower meadows. You are David Bellamy award winners, so an eco-friendly environment is clearly important. How have you achieved this? We are very proud to have planted more than 100,000 trees on the site, and our beehives should produce their first honey this year. We’ve set aside one field for solar panels producing…

WHEN TO GO We’ve always travelled in the British winter, when Morocco’s weather is great. WAY TO GO This is a good route for your first trip to Morocco. From Tangier-Med, take the motorway to Moulay Bousselham, which is only a two-hour drive away and a good place to stop. Then head south towards Agadir, stopping off on the way. There are some good sites near the motorway and there are books you can buy that will show you where they are. After Agadir, you could go to Marrakesh for a few days and from there, you can decide which way you would like to head back to Tangier-Med. Most sat-navs offer Morocco mapping and it does help. Diesel is cheap, at around 90p per litre; the motorways are all…

The 570 looks sleek, with decals that tail off almost to the back of the van, three tinted windows and a hugely extended sunroof THE IDEA OF a caravan with a children’s den – a mini-dinette at the end, which your offspring can call its own – has become popular of late. Venus included it in its line-up last year with the 590/6, and Bailey followed suit with the Pursuit 570-6. Both of those ranges, however, are towards the more affordable end of what their manufacturers have to offer, with the emphasis, as you might expect, focused on budget-conscious families. Nobody, at least in the recent past, has tried this execution in a more upmarket range. Until now, that is. In fact, Hull manufacturer Coachman claims it was the first…

Strange how quickly first impressions can change when you get into a car. Our new Vauxhall, in 2.0 170ps Turbo D 4x4 BlueInjection S/S flavour, looks impressively sleek from afar, with a beautifully curved and hunkered-down roof profile that’s a million miles away from the boxy estates of old. This Insignia Country Tourer comes with an impressive list of driver assistance features too, including front and rear parking sensors, sat-nav, ESP, ABS, a forward distance indicator, lane departure warning system and forward collision alert. Our model also has lane change and park assist fitted. But one thing it did not have was a rear view camera – this is only cost option on certain models. As a caravanner, that is one extra you just might like to have – particularly…

How much? £5000-£11,500 Depreciation was not the first owner’s friend, but it is the used buyer’s best mate. That’s because early 508s can be had for around £2700. They’ll have done a fair few miles, but most of those are quite likely to have been done on the motorway, which is easy on cars. A budget of £6000 will get you a high-spec early car with less than 70,000 on the clock. Double that to £12,000 and you can net a 2016 car with less than 25,000. Basically, someone else has run it in for you and done the first service. There is little need to spend more on a 508. What will it tow? Kerbweight .......................... 1618kg 85% match ...........................1375kg Towing limit .........................1775kg Noseweight limit ...................75kg How much is…

I FONDLY REMEMBER our very first caravan step, which my Dad made out of a milk crate and some 9mm ply. This doubled up as storage for bottles on the journey, preventing them from spilling their contents on winding roads. Nowadays, milk crates are not only hard to come by, but also made of a rather flimsy plastic that would struggle to take the weight of the average person. That said, caravanners are an ingenious bunch, and I’m sure many budding inventors out there have fabricated some wonderful step designs. However, for those of us who prefer to buy off the shelf, there is a huge array of ready-made ones on the market (1). With this in mind, let’s take a look at a selection of steps, and those all-important…

‘It is important to remember we are all on holiday. Obeying site rules and using common sense ensures we all have a great time’ YOU’VE SET UP your caravan and settled in. But while you relax and enjoy your stay, there are still a few things to keep an eye on. In the caravan ■ The liquids The water will run out in the van – always at the worst possible time. How quickly it runs out depends how much is used. If a family of four are having showers each day, along with washing up and making drinks, you can expect to go through one or two 40-litre containers, such as an Aquaroll, every day. But if, like us, you use on-site facilities and carry out minimal washing-up and…

Layout finder D A fixed bed with a sort-of ensuite corner washroom at the rear of the van is good for the sanity of the adults on tour, because it means you can have a bit of private space you can retreat to if need be. Yet the corner washroom isn’t really out of bounds to anyone else, because it’s still relatively accessible to everyone when the partition is pushed back. The centre kitchen adds to the van’s conviviality. Pros A fixed corner bed at the rear is a welcome luxury and provides a private space for the grownups, without cutting off the washroom. Cons As with all fixed-bed layouts, the rest of the van sometimes appears cramped. A Corner beds can offer you the chance to have a second…

Layout finder AH When fixed single beds first started appearing in caravans, there was usually an end washroom at the rear of the caravan. This season, however, some manufacturers have been producing new layouts that bring the washroom forward, and spread it across the centre of the caravan, near the axle. In such a position it is more easily accessible to everyone at nighttime. Pros Central washrooms are usually much larger than end washrooms, and more luxurious Cons If not designed well, they can end up making the centre of the van feel dark and narrow A Make sure that fixed beds and a large washroom don’t make the front lounge too small B The kitchen shouldn’t be forgotten either. Make sure there is enough space to work C Central…

Kerbweight As defined by EU Directive 95/48/EC, the car or other vehicle’s weight with a 90% full fuel tank, all necessary fluids, 68kg for the driver and 7kg of luggage. This is the figure used to calculate a tow car match GTW Gross train weight – the maximum allowable combined weight of the towing vehicle and the caravan, as specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle Hook-up A cable connection to the mains electrical supply at a campsite. Provides power to mains sockets and appliances Maximum towing limit The greatest weight a car may legally tow, as specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle MiRO Mass in running order – the caravan’s weight, with all factory-fitted equipment, when it leaves the factory. MiRO replaces the old terms ‘ex-works…