Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Practical Caravan

This is always one of our most popular issues of the year and it's easy to see why. Not only has the touring season started in earnest, but we also include your copy of the 2024 Top 100 Sites Guide. As ever, there are some wonderful sites featured, and we've increased the size of the directory at the back, so you'll be sure to find a park to suit you, wherever you plan on touring in the UK. Of course, choosing a park to visit is one of the fun parts of caravanning, but an equally important element is selecting the correct towbar for your outfit. After all, this is the apparatus that keeps your vehicle and van coupled together, so it's a vital and important piece of kit. Fortunately,…

PICK OF THE MONTH Light My Fire platters Great for displaying a barbecue feast or plating up a delicious dinner in your van, these handy platters measure 5.5 x 10 x 1” and are made from durable, scratch-resistant Bioplastic. Price £8.95 Web berryuseful.co.uk Canella Duvet Good for summer or an extra layer on a chilly night, Outwell's new duvet is made from brushed polyester with a recycled filling, offering 5.4 Tog of warmth and comfort. Price £66.99 Web outwell.com Penguin C51 fridge This compact compressor fridge, which can run on 12V or 24V, is equipped with a 3.6-litre icebox and ChromeLock catch. It's suitable for operating on solar power and stashing away under a sink. Price From £797 Web penguinfrigo.co.uk Motion Scramble hiking boots Stylish and sturdy, these fully waterproof…

Park life! I love this time of year. As soon as the Top 100 Sites Guide comes out, it feels like Easter is upon us and we're in the swim of several Bank Holidays. Many of you will be getting away with the kids and/or grandkids; others will be setting up seasonal pitches. Dogs will be walked, National Trust properties visited and seafronts promenaded – all's right in the world once more! I hope you find the Top 100 Sites Guide, which accompanies this issue, useful. It's always good to see the wide variety of quality parks operating across the UK. You can also read a companion piece in the magazine, which details some of the many events taking place in each of the regions featured in the guide (see…

TRAVEL GETAWAY IN LATE SUMMER we had an accident, which set our touring plans back for a few months, because Joe was injured and our car was written off. Fortunately, Joe made a full recovery and three months later, with a replacement car and our caravan repaired, we were back on the road and keen to visit our friends Helen and Roy in Suffolk, who had kindly looked after our ebikes during that time. We overnighted at Kingsbury Water Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site, in Sutton Coldfield, treating ourselves to a meal at the nearby Dog and Doublet Inn. Best of Britten The next morning we were off to Suffolk, heading for Jaydene, just a few miles south of Lowestoft. This adults-only touring caravan park has 12 gravel pitches…

Food and drink Castle Inn Warwick (above) castleinnwarwick.co.uk Tilted Wig Warwick tiltedwigwarwick.co.uk Find out more Warwick Castle warwick-castle.com what3words soil.sculpture.season Hook Norton Brewery hooky.co.uk what3words challenge.bleat.torso Rollright Stones rollrightstones.co.uk/stones what3words circus.highs.helpless Cotswolds Wildlife Park cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk what3words defers.voucher.atlas Blenheim Palace blenheimpalace.com what3words delays.reacting.closer…

■ 1998 Saving Private Ryan Tom Hanks and a star cast, directed by Steven Spielberg, memorably recreate the drama of D-Day and the push into France in this gritty and hard-hitting movie. ■ 2001 Band Of Brothers This single-season mini-series has been called ‘the finest 10 hours of television’. It tells how Easy Company of the US Army 101st Airborne Division prepared for war, were parachuted into D-Day and fought their way to the end of WW2. Spielberg and Hanks excel once again. ■ 1962 The Longest Day This epic war movie, starring the likes of John Wayne, Henry Fonda and Sean Connery, was shot in a docudrama style and offers a hugely detailed recounting of the build-up to D-Day and the heroic invasion itself. ■ 2023 The Great Escaper…

Interest in touring remains keen The Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC in February seemed to be completely pulsating for the two days I was there. The eagerness of people to look and buy – not just caravans, but plenty of accessories, too – appears to belie some of the more negative stories we might have heard elsewhere. Sure, overall visitor figures were down, but in February 2023 we were still, in effect, weaning ourselves off the effects of two years of lockdowns, and everyone had gone caravanning mad. An event that can attract around 95,000 people clearly indicates there is still a healthy interest out there. PETER peter.baber@futurenet.com Reviews editor PETER BABER is a hugely experienced caravanner who enjoys touring whenever he can HOW WE TEST VANS…

Bradcot Bradcot's Modul-Air awning, which like all of its products is fully made in the UK, has the great benefit of being able to be used as a porch or a full awning. Instead of buying another awning, you simply add zippable sections to increase the size. The awning is made with fully breathable Tencate fabric, and has five years of UV degradation cover and a lifetime guarantee on all of its beams. It also features a cleverly designed adjustable pegging-point system – should you hit a rock while pegging out the awning, you simply slide the peg along and then try again. bradcot-awnings.co.uk Coleman Camping specialist Coleman's stand featured a couple of camping shelters, including the new Shelter Air M (above right) . The inflatable Air M (£499.99) measures…

Tow-Trust Towbars is a fast-growing British manufacturer based in Atherstone, north Warwickshire. Tom Miller, CEO of this family business, says that in recent years, the company has moved into the number one spot in the UK for the production of high-quality towbars. “I did my apprenticeship in race-car engine building and I brought the desire for very tight tolerances and precision engineering into the towbar market – it's no longer a ‘blacksmith industry’. What we now have is a very tactile and beautiful piece of kit, it's not the old-fashioned, dirty towbar. “Tow-Trust was the first company to have its entire towbar range fully laser-cut – that gives us less than 0.02mm tolerance, and it also gives us consistency. “Our next technological progression will be to scan everything to ensure…

HOW TO BUY NEW Choosing a layout People's needs differ, and your layout choice will depend on your companions and how you want to use your caravan. To understand which layouts are available, spend a day at one of the big shows in Birmingham or Glasgow, where dealers and manufacturers show their latest models. A dealership is also a good place to start, but can be affiliated with a limited number of manufacturers. A chat with a dealer, though, could raise issues or offer ideas you hadn't considered. Think about your needs: will you want to carry bikes, sports kit, barbecues or outdoor furniture? Perhaps creature comforts are a bit higher on your list. You might want a separate sleeping area, a lounge with parallel sofas and TV points, and…

OUR TOP BUYING TIPS Many people choose to retain their awning with a new caravan. But you still need to make sure it fits – not just for the length, but also for features such as where the caravan windows are USEFUL INFO Caravan and Motorhome Club › 01342 326 944 › caravanclub.co.uk The Camping and Caravanning Club › 024 7647 5448 › campingandcara vanningclub.co.uk CRis › 020 3282 1000 › www.cris.co.uk Approved Workshop Scheme › www.approvedworkshops.co.uk NCC (National Caravan Council) › thencc.org.uk Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA) › 0843 216 5802 › www.cassoa.co.uk Towsafe › towsafe.co.uk DVLA › 0300 790 6801 › www.gov.uk/dvla Mobile Caravan Engineers Association (MCEA) › 01249 651 036 › mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk ❯ For the very latest reviews and brilliant buying guides, visit the Practical Caravan website - you'll…

When to go We were pleasantly surprised by the number of places that were open when we visited in November, and on the whole it's quieter in the low season. On the minus side, of course, the days are shorter and the weather less reliable, although we were very lucky on our visit. Food and drink Iconic Bar & Grill 2 Royal Plain, Lowestoft NR33 0AL 01502 585 642 iconiclowestoft.co.uk Livingstone's Freehouse and Restaurant 4 Whites Lane, Kessingland, Lowestoft NR33 7TF 01502 218 090 livingstones-freehouse.co.uk The Chocolate Teapot 110 High Street, Aldeburgh IP15 5AB 07825 553 583 chocolateteapot.co.uk Find out more thesuffolkcoast.co.uk Where we stayed Jaydene Touring Caravan Park Address London Road, Gisleham, Suffolk NR33 7PG 01502 800 718/07570 931 569 www.jaydenetouring caravanpark.co.uk Open All year, adults-only Pitches 12 Charges…

Caravan and Motorhome Club Warwick Racecourse Grass and hardstanding pitches, 15 mins from Warwick. Address Hampton Street, Warwick CV34 6HN 01926 495448 caravanclub.co.uk/club-sites/england/west-midlands/ warwickshire/warwick- racecourse-club-campsite What3words salt.hands.thanks Open 1 March to 4 January Pitches 59 Prices £18.60-£26.50 (pitch+2+hook-up) Other campsites www.cotswoldhillscountrypark.co.uk fieldbarnpark.com caravanclub.co.uk/clubsites/england/cotswolds/gloucestershire/cirencesterpark-club-campsite wysdomtouringpark.co.uk…

GETAWAY TRAVEL GETAWAY CAMBRIDGESHIRE is a county of many delights – dramatic architecture, stunning waterways and wonderful countryside. We enjoyed a summer break at Fields End Water Caravan Park in Doddington, an adults-only site with a small shop, good facilities and excellent fishing lakes. On our first afternoon there, we decided to visit RSPB Ouse Washes Nature Reserve, where bird hides look out over wetlands. Grebes, cormorants, herons, swans and exotic ducks were enjoying the warm weather. We heard a bittern booming and saw reed warblers, blue tits, dragonflies and damselflies. It's a great place to practise your wildlife photography – take a zoom lens with you! ‘We heard a bittern booming and saw reed warblers, blue tits, dragonflies and damselflies’ Peterborough and Flag Fen Next day, we headed into Peterborough…

Used bargains are even more popular It's looking very much as though quality pre-owned family tourers will be in high demand, as the prices of new models encourage more customers to opt for nearly new family-sized vans instead. But with fixed-bed layouts dominating the sector, smaller tourers are not so easy to find at the newer end of the market. So will prices firm up? Some dealers think demand for family models – even older, cheaper examples – will remain strong as buyers’ budgets are stretched. At the moment, that seems to be the trend on the forecourts. ANDY practical.caravan@futurenet.com ANDY JENKINSON is a caravan expert and historian – he loves pre-owned and classic tourers! IN THE USED VANS SECTION… 62 Bailey Phoenix Plus 420 (2021) Comfortable and affordable two-berth…

Towing mirrors are a safety essential You know those stickers on HGVs that say: “If you can't see my mirrors I can't see you”? I've been thinking of having some made for caravanners, but reading “If you don't have towing mirrors, you can't see me.” I would lurk in motorway services like some road safety vigilante, stickering any tow car that didn't have extension mirrors fitted. On second thoughts, I might end up with a bloody nose, but the law is clear: you must be able to see 4m to the side of the caravan, 20m behind the driver. Unless you own an unusually narrow tourer, that means extension mirrors are vital for everybody's safety. MOTTY motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a former PC editor, and has towed…

All you need to know about towbars Let's face it: there are few more important bits of caravanning kit than a towbar. After all, it's what allows you to arrive at your campsite safely – getting this wrong could have disastrous consequences. That's why, this issue, we've asked Consulting editor John Sootheran to take a look at everything you need to know about this crucial item. You can find his comprehensive guide on p78 – don't tow without reading it! Also this month, our former editor Nigel's 1998 Bailey revamp continues. Turn to p83 to see how he's getting on! practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy Faircloth and Nigel Hutson AT SKILLS SCHOOL THIS ISSUE… Caravan genius 78 Key questions about towbars John Sootheran considers…

SKILLS SCHOOL THE PENNY PROJECT WHILE WAITING for parts to get Penny's plumbing up and running, we looked at the other items on the to-do list that we could crack on with. As the new touring season is just around the corner, we turned to making her look a little bit sharper and easier to use, by carrying out work around the A-frame. Penny's jockey wheel makes moving her around a chore, because it's noisy and stiff to operate, and long overdue for some close attention. We began by removing the jockey wheel assembly from the van. More modern vans typically have a jockey wheel that mounts through the A-frame, but Penny had an older, simpler arrangement, where the jockey wheel tube is just clamped to the outside of the…

OCTOBER 2008 New model army Van reviews were the order of the day in this autumn issue that saw us highlight the release of 34 new caravans. Plus, fixed-bed twin-axles on test and a simple yet vital question: is your caravan too heavy for your car? The answer was inside! ’Allo ’Allo! Mark Bigault found that a spot of gentle canoeing was the perfect way to explore the beautiful Dordogne while in search of his French roots Taxing work Our favourite tow car expert, David ‘Motty’ Motton, was finding driving something of a taxing issue as he grappled with the costs of VAT and fuel duty. He also found time to review the Citroën Berlingo Multispace Hot stuff If the idea of wrestling with firelighters and bags of coal is…

Star letter Van insurance is a minefield I am changing my caravan storage to a CaSSOA Gold site. “Brilliant,” I thought, because the site does not let the public into the compound at all (it's a ‘store and stay’ site, so they bring the caravan out for you). They have all the things necessary for a Gold site – perimeter fence, CCTV, gates, ANPR camera, staff on site 24/7. They only allow a hitch lock on the caravan in storage. “OK,” I thought, “why have anything else on?” I have now contacted my insurance company to tell them I am changing my CaSSOA site. However, because I only have a hitch lock on, will they refuse to insure me? They stipulate that there must be two security methods on the…

Q WHAT IS THE RIGHT STOPPING DISTANCE? We started caravanning last year and have enjoyed some great trips in our new van. However, we did have one scary moment when a car pulled out in front of us and we had to make an emergency stop. This really made me think, do I need to leave a bigger gap between my vehicle and the car in front while towing? I remember the saying, “Only a fool breaks the two-second rule” from learning to drive, but is two seconds enough while you are pulling a caravan? Name withheld David Motton replies… Stopping distances do increase while towing. As the caravan has its own brakes, you are not relying on the car's alone, but it will still take further to stop than…

GREAT ESCAPE TRAVEL GREAT ESCAPE The statistics are incredible. On 6 June 1944, 133,000 allied troops landed on the wide, sandy beaches of Normandy, attempting to establish a beachhead from which Britain and its allies could punch their way into mainland Europe and take teh fight to Hitler. Some 7000 ships transported them there, with 195,000 crew on those boats and British battleships pounding the shoreline defences in preparation for the landings. Against all odds, a beachhead was created, but the price paid was incredibly high, with the operation resulting in 10,300 allied casualties. Now, eight decades on, we are commemorating and celebrating the bravery and sacrifice of those lost souls, and it is the emotion of that act that makes Normandy such a special place to visit, beyond its…

TOP 100 SITES 2024 Northern Ireland STAR ATTRACTION Giant's Causeway This iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site comprises more than 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns, formed some 60 million years ago by a volcanic fissure eruption. Combine your visit with a trip to the dramatic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge (nationaltrust.org.uk) 27-30 June ■ Foyle Maritime Festival A free nautical festival on the River Foyle. A range of boats will be on the water, while on the riverbank, there will be stalls and entertainment. › foylemaritime.com 21-28 July ■ Belfast TradFest This celebration of traditional music takes place across the city, with a programme of workshops, concerts, talks, lectures, sessions and céilís. › belfasttraditionalmusic.com 24-28 July ■ Fiddlers Green International Festival One of Northern Ireland's oldest folk festivals, this County Down event hosts a…

Audi A4 Avant (2008-2015) If you want an estate car to tow with that also conveys the feeling you've ‘arrived’, the A4 Avant is that car. It's roomy inside and has a sizeable boot, while the 2.0-litre diesel is strong, smooth and economical. If there's a downside, it's that this generation was never a class leader for build quality, so make sure everything fits and works. BMW 3-Series Touring (2012-2019) When BMW began building the 3-Series Touring, it was classed as a ‘lifestyle’ estate (not very roomy). Not so this version, which has space for five adults and a 495-litre boot for their stuff. The 320d with its 2.0-litre diesel is smooth and economical, but we'd recommend an automatic, because the manual can be notchy and awkward. Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate…

1 What is a towbar? The towbar forms a vital link between your tow car and your caravan or trailer. It provides a pivoting, secure metal-on-metal connection through the towball, but also includes an electrical link via the caravan's towing cable, in effect, making the tow car and the caravan one fully integrated unit. A standard towbar has a 50mm diameter steel towball (a size conceived by towing gurus, Al-Ko). This is securely connected to the chassis of your vehicle by a strong steel structure, capable of withstanding the rigours of pulling two tonnes of caravan along bumpy British roads. 2 Are towballs a standard size? In the UK and Europe, towballs are standardised at 50mm diameter. Variety in towbar design comes in the way that they are fixed to the vehicle,…

OUR TOP BUYING TIPS Your needs – and your party size – might change over the years. Remember that when you consider the size and number of beds you need in your caravan ❯ MTPLM (Maximum technically permissible laden mass) The maximum weight that the caravan chassis can take, as stated by the chassis manufacturer. On pre-1998 caravans, it is referred to as ‘maximum gross weight’ (MGW) ❯ Noseweight The weight applied to the car's towball by the caravan. A car also has a towball limit, which is the maximum weight that can be applied to the towball. The lower of the two figures is the maximum you are permitted. Legally, it needs to be 4% or more of the weight of the trailer, or at least 25kg, whichever is…