Innehållsförteckning för September 2015 från Practical Caravan

Where are we? Towing up Bathwick Hill, heading out of the centre of Bath. What’s going on? Bryony Symes and Clare Kelly are in the city of Bath for a break that mixes culture with relaxation, as they take in the spas and eateries of the Regency centre. In the background you can see the spires of St Mary’s, St Swithin’s and St Stephen’s churches, along with the Grade I-listed Camden Crescent by architect John Eveleigh. Which outfit? Our former long-term Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI Elegance made light work of towing the Adria Altea 362LH Forth. Photographer David LF Smith. ‘Such is the history and architecture here that Bath has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site’ Bryony Symes…

STAR PHOTO Peter Murray wins a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors I love my Westfield Air 266. It holds up well in high winds and is big enough to store bits and pieces. Oh, what’s that she is reading?! Peter Murray We have a Vango Varkala air awning, the best invention ever! It takes only minutes to erect and dismantle. The hardest part is feeding it through the awning rail and that’s the same whatever awning you have; would never go back to pole awnings. Eamonn Fountain We bought a Kampa Rally Air-Pro 360 last summer to replace our Isabella Magnum with Carbon-X poles. With just the one bag to carry, it’s quick and easy to erect, taking only a couple of minutes, and is stable in high…

The high back to the sofas offers domestic-style comfort; the cushions can be tucked away when the bed is made up LED perimeter spotlights negate the need for a central light fitting, giving ample headroom The end bolster is only available with the optional ‘Belvoir’ upholstery choice Price.....................................£19,799 Berths...............................................5 MiRO ......................................1573kg Payload...................................187kg MTPLM..................................1760kg Awning...............................1090cm LIFE FOR A mid-market caravan can’t be easy. The entry-level range is always popular because it’s cheap, while the flagship line is desirable for its luxury features; the middle models can be a bit forgotten. Bailey is tackling that mid-market malaise head-on with its all-new Pegasus. The seven-model range boasts three new layouts, headed by the twin-axle Palermo. The fourth-generation Pegasus continues with Bailey’s much-vaunted Alu-Tech construction. In the past this innovative method has been singled…

The single-pane front window and cream cabinet work ensure that the interior is bright With no rooflight at the front of the van, roof locker storage in the lounge area is plentiful Sprung cushions with pronounced knee rolls are covered in the new ‘Daniek’ soft furnishing Price.....................................£15,699 Berths.............................................. 4 MiRO ........................... 1165kg (est) Payload........................185kg (est) MTPLM.......................1350kg (est) Awning............................... 1030cm IT SEEMS AS if everyone who is anyone has a transverse island bed these days. And why not? The benefits of the layout are obvious: it means that couples who still prefer to share a bed but need to use the loo in the middle of the night can do so without disturbing each other, rather than having to clamber over your partner in a fixed nearside bed or being forced…

UNLIKE MORE TRADITIONAL manufacturers, Vango doesn’t make a poled awning, having decided to put all of its eggs into the increasingly popular inflatable basket with its ‘AirBeam’ technology. It’s a more expensive construction (at least for now), but its benefits are clear: lighter, smaller packaging; excellent storm resistance; fast pitch and put-away times; and less potential to damage your van in high winds. The Varkala comes in three sizes, from a weekender porch awning to this 420, the largest (and best-selling) in the range. As its modern colourways and style suggest, this is an awning born of experience in tent manufacture; that also shows in the rugged construction using UV- and tear-resistant 420D ripstop polyester with taped seams, covered heavyweight zips and rock pegs as standard. There’s a PVC anti-mud…

OUR PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER with Nissan’s Pathfinder was five years ago, about the same time the manufacturer facelifted and improved what we already had earmarked as a top tow car. In fact, we concluded: ‘The Pathfinder achieves exactly what it set out to do, which was offer a cheaper, more reliable alternative to the Land Rover Discovery.’ So now seems like a good time for a retrospective look at Nissan’s 2010 changes and to see whether this fairly old model still makes sense. The Pathfinder’s basics haven’t changed: this is a rugged four-wheel-drive seven-seater, still based – unusually – on a separate ladder-frame chassis. That’s real old-school stuff, and the chassis adds a bit of weight compared to modern unitary construction. But the truth is, despite looking pretty chunky at first…

Caravans up to £3000 Abbey 215 Vogue 2-berth, end washroom, fridge, cooker, mover, spare wheel, fully-equipped, plus awning, waste managers, Aquarolls. Serviced. Mr Foster, Colchester. (01206 303 052) Awnings Porch Bradcot Portico Plus 8ft x 6ft, alloy quick-release poles, green/grey, draught skirt, curtains. Slight fading. £120. Mr Lees, Wolverhampton. (01902 884 872) Isabella Minor Type IMM004, CarbonX frame, lightweight, draught skirt, zip-out front panel, mosquito nets, breathable acrylic. £375. Mr Thompson, Worcs. (01294 250 643) Bradcot Portico Plus Easy-alloy frame, green, acrylic. VGC. £150. Mr McCann, West Midlands. (01384 291 259/ 07790 275 631) Apache 200cm x 250cm, folding poles, grey/maroon, curtains. VGC. £120. Mr Jones, Kingswood. (01179 678 966) Bradcot Blue. Good cond. £40. Mrs Ellison, N Lincs. (07751 317 435) Isabella Magnum CarbonX poles, blue/grey, FixOn brackets, wheelarch…

CORNWALL Gwithian Farm Campsite Gwithian, Cornwall, TR27 5BX. Tel: 01736 753127. Website: www.gwithianfarm.co.uk Friendly, family run site in beautiful village location, 10 mins walk from stunning Gwithian beach, St Ives Bay. Excellent facilities, family & disabled bathrooms. Ideally located for St Ives & Penzance. The Red River Inn is just across the road. 2 Miles from A30. Lovely coastal walks to Godrevy, popular area for fishing & bird watching. Dog friendly beaches. Nominated as one of top European campsites June 08 -Saturday Telegraph. Open April - October. 4 AA pennants Check 90 on-line reviews. Hendra Holiday Park Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 4NY. Tel: 01637 875778. Website: www.hendra-holidays.com. Ideal family site within easy reach of Newquay and beaches with entertainment for all including indoor and outdoor fun pools. A30 to Indian Queens,…

AMONG THE ROWS and rows of caravans pitched at this year’s Reader Rally at Stowford Farm Meadows in Devon, my colleagues and I spotted one very interesting-looking van. With a lightning bolt painted across its front, this tourer was definitely unique. I just had to have a peek inside and hung around chatting to the neighbours, friends of Tracey and Chris Greenep who own the van, until they returned from a trip to Stowford Farm’s shop. This is unmistakably a project of love that, with plenty of modifications along the way, has already gone through quite a transformation and continues to evolve as it is used. New challenges Chris, a carpenter by trade, built the teardrop-style van himself in around six weeks, creating the couple’s ideal tourer. It is heated,…

When you visit Bath today, you see a thriving Regency city. But when the healing powers of the world-famous spring waters were first discovered in 863BC, by Prince Bladud, who claimed that it cured his leprosy, it was a very different place. It wasn’t healing that I needed when colleague Clare and I headed to Bath with our Adria Altea Forth earlier this year, but a little rest and relaxation. With the Thermae Bath Spa at its heart, the city is perfect for a pampering break, plus, of course, great shopping, eating and sightseeing. We towed the caravan with little fuss; it behaved well behind our strong ›koda Superb Estate even when changing lanes in heavy traffic. The ›koda is more than comfortable towing this light van, and the van’s…

Bath Marina and Caravan Park is to the west of the city centre and alongside the River Avon. It is just two miles from the main shopping and sightseeing areas, and takes only 40 minutes to walk along the tow path, or you can catch the park-and-ride bus from across the road. Taking your car into the centre is fairly easy, with plenty of parking available. The facilities here are basic, but clean, The pitches are hardstanding and come with electric hook-up and television connection points. Reception has a limited supply of groceries but there are two good riverside pubs within a 10-minute walk. if you want to cycle into the city centre, you can hire your bike on site with the easy-to-use ‘next bike’ scheme. A new woodland area…

The rooflight is wider than that in the 2015 model and has lights and speakers sunk into its surround The pod on top of the central chest of drawers holds a pair of power points Longer settees should accommodate four people each. They feature reprofiled back boards, too Price.................................................................. TBC Berths......................................................................4 MIRO........................................ 1498kg (est) MTPLM.................................. 1654kg (est) Awning.................................................. 967cm WHEN WE TESTED the 2015 Conqueror 645 a few months ago, we could find little in the way of criticism to aim at the caravan itself. It looked great, it was well-equipped and the layout was pretty much spot on for couples. However, we couldn’t avoid the elephant lurking in the room: the Challenger SE 645 had a lot of the Conqueror’s appeal, but for £2000 less. While our verdict reflected…

Good-sized bolsters punctuate all four corners of the bench seats, and a blade support helps, too Tinted windows, stain-resistant upholstery and a panoramic sunroof make the lounge an ideal place to pass the time The lounge has room for four to sit comfortably — but if you try entertaining more, they’ll have to squeeze onto the sofas THE TOP LINE in the three-range Elddis portfolio may not have had the farthest-reaching makeover among its 2016 models, but it is arguably the most dramatic. And Elddis should be applauded for doing something different – whether or not the new ‘Champagne’ sidewalls and bronze gas-locker lid are to your taste. We were unsure at first, but the more time we spent with this new Aurora, the more we liked it. Under that…

BARBECUES ARE MORE or less de rigueur on warm summer tours, but it’s almost impossible to mention the ‘B’ word without triggering a debate about which is better: gas or charcoal. The aficionado’s argument is pretty sound: charcoal as a heat source gives food a unique flavour that gas units simply don’t, and units capable of burning charcoal are as at home with any wood. Using hickory or apple/pear wood can add subtle flavours to pork and beef, for example. But gas barbecues are certainly practical – there’s no ash to clean up, no black art to getting the thing alight in the first place, and the convenience of being able to cook within minutes of igniting the flame. Using lava rocks, or strategically placed bars, means that fat dripping…

Model tested 2.2 CRDi KX-3 Price £35,845 Kerbweight 1932kg What’s new? Plenty. This is no facelift, it’s a new-generation Sorento. Kia says it offers more space, better fuel economy and more equipment than before. It’s an altogether more sophisticated car, Kia claims – hence the more ‘sophisticated’ price tag. The range begins from £28,795, and our KX-3 manual test car costs £35,845. Go for the top-spec KX-4 and you’ll pay over £40,000. What are we looking for? We want to see whether the improvements justify the higher price. Those seeking a no-nonsense 4x4 at a bargain price will be disappointed. Can the Kia be a creditable rival for prestige-badged SUVs? Will today’s Sorento live in the shadow of the much-loved original? Towing ability This is where we usually write about…

An L-shaped lounge — such as in this 2004 Sterling Eccles Opal — is a variation that suits some caravanners. It has been offered for the past 15 years The provision of a rear washroom, toilet, shower and dressing room is a key feature in this 2005 Avondale Argente. In the past 10 years, many other models have adopted this layout, too Coachbuilt motorhomes have offered fixed double beds for quite a long time. Now they are hugely popular with caravanners. This island-bed version was fitted in a Bailey Pegasus Florid patterns in upholstery fabrics, like this with fluffy cut ruche trim, were specified in this 1996 Abbey Iona. This particular pattern was offered by other manufacturers, too Plush velvet curtains were fitted in this 1997 Avondale Avocet. Similar ones…

To take up minimal space, many caravans built in the 1990s adopted a system in which a fold-up washbasin was mounted directly above the toilet. Some found the arrangement clumsy Manufacturers later increased the size of their toilet/washrooms. So, even early bench-style fixed cassette toilets were easier to use if the washbasins were fitted elsewhere In the late 1990s, Thetford introduced swivel-bowl toilets and, while cassette capacity was slightly reduced, the unit gave versatility in tight spaces, as in this 2006 Bailey Pageant Repairing faulty components inside toilet cassettes was very difficult so two new versions featured a large access port and distinctive colours. These were first fitted in 2009 models…

2009 Avondale Dart 525 vs 2012 Venus 490/4 Caravan close-up AVONDALE The offside gas locker, set near the axle, allows more floor space in the lounge area, but intrudes on cupboard storage in the kitchen Caravan close-up VENUS The kitchen has two mains sockets, a 12-volt socket and television aerial sockets. The trim in this area will need glueing back into place FIXED-BED LAYOUTS tend to sell better in the upper echelons of the caravan market, but entry-level models with the floorplan are also popular with those new to caravanning. And with more pre-owned caravans readily available, the choices for the rookie caravanner are good. We spotted two budget fixed-bed tourers – a Venus and an Avondale – on the used-vehicles forecourt of Dorset dealership Blackmorevale Leisure. The firm was…

STAR LETTER Alan Bicknell wins a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors Two years ago we were planning our journey home to Cornwall after enjoying a lovely holiday at Windermere in Cumbria. The trip was just under 400 miles and we wondered whether to book a stop somewhere en route but couldn’t decide where. Instead, we made the decision to pick up a snack feast in the village and prepare numerous small snacks for the duration of our drive home. We set off early, at around 7.15am, and rolled gently out of Cumbria, deciding on a short stop every 50 miles or so depending on the available services and pull-ins. Also, we restricted our speed to 50mph – we had no time deadline and weren’t in any hurry. The…

The Motorhome & Caravan Show 2015 returns to Birmingham’s NEC from 13 to 18 October and we have bagged 25 pairs of tickets to the event to give away. It’s the UK’s national leisure-vehicle launch show, where you’ll see the 2016 caravan models from all the leading manufacturers including Swift, Bailey, Elddis, Lunar, Coachman, Adria and Hymer. You’ll also be able to enjoy exclusive show-only deals, new product demonstrations, the Experts’ Theatre, manoeuvring lessons, browse all the accessories you’ll ever need and benefit from free parking, a free show guide and free entry for children. For more information on the show, visit www.motorhomeandcaravanshow.co.uk. For your chance to win a pair of tickets, enter online at www.practicalcaravan.com before midnight on 26 August 2015.…

Our readers go further… CARAVANNERS Bryn and Janice Sadler CARAVAN 2006 Avondale Dart Mayfair 380-2 TOW CAR 2014 VW Golf Match WE LOVE the unique scenery and atmosphere of Provence THE PRETTIEST ROAD in France, eh? That’s quite a claim, especially because the road I’m thinking about doesn’t offer breathtaking views over the Mediterranean Sea or the snow-covered Alps. The road is very photogenic, though. Every few hundred yards, a new vista shouts, “Take my picture!” It’s lined with olive groves – lots of them. Horses graze in centuries-old fields. Ancient stone farmhouses called mas are tucked behind hedges and at the end of long driveways. OK, there must be dozens of roads in France that could lay claim to being the prettiest. But, unlike the road I’m talking about,…

OF ALL THE tributes being paid to the bravery of the Allied forces as we mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, one band of secret warriors has caught the public’s imagination. The work of the Bletchley Park codebreakers, for so long kept under wraps, has been popularised by dramatisations such as ITV’s The Bletchley Circle and Oscar-winning The Imitation Game. Emma and I were swept away by Benedict Cumberbatch’s portrayal in the film ofAlan Turing, the brilliant yet ultimately tragic computing pioneer, and promised ourselves that we would find out more about this fascinating period. So when a weekend with grandma took the children off our hands, we hitched up the caravan and headed for Bletchley Park. We stayed at the Rose & Crown, just…

RAILEY CARAVANS As ever, the UK’s sole southern volume caravan manufacturer has avoided the wholesale range changes of its rivals, and has chosen to dedicate all of its resources on one major model overhaul. Following last year’s revamp of the flagship Unicorn, this time around it’s the turn of the mid-market Pegasus (with the GT65 tag dropped for 2016). Bearing in mind the success of the latest Unicorn range, it’s no surprise to find that the fourth-generation Pegasus follows its lead with fresh Polar White sidewalls and the new Bailey family look, featuring ‘flying B’ graphics and much-improved front and rear styling, with a rounded rear roofline. There has been a thorough revamp to the line-up as well. The four- and six-berth twin-axle Bologna and Turin models, which both featured…

A handy bedside shelf stretches the full width of the Pastiche and reading lights are provided The removable drainer eats up a lot of work surface when it’s in use The only seating is in this dinette for two; if you want to kick back and relax, you’ll have to go to bed Price............................................TBC Berths...............................................2 MiRO ...........................................TBC MTPLM.................................. 1295kg Awning.......................................TBC IT TAKES A lot to get grizzled old caravan journalists excited. So learning at the Coachman 2016 launch in July that the company was planning a new fixed-bed model didn’t exactly get our pulses racing. That changed as we stepped aboard the caravan. Coachman, that bastion of British reserve and tradition, has built the most jaw-dropping UK tourer you’re likely to see this year. The 470 is a new addition…

A traditional design is used for the end dinette table, which hooks onto a bar on the rear wall The end lounge is surrounded by roof lockers whose doors are faced in the same attractive wood effect used elsewhere Some couples may opt to keep the rear transverse double made up and use it as a fixed bed Price.....................................£15,390 Berths ..............................................5 MIRO ...........................................TBC Payload......................................TBC MTPLM.......................1350kg (est) Awning.......................................TBC WITH A COUPLE of notable exceptions, most UK manufacturers are keeping change to a minimum for 2016. Adria seems to be treading a similar path, electing to give one existing model (the Adora Isonzo) its long-awaited ‘Silver Edition’ treatment, and to unveil another in the same livery. That new model, the latest addition to the entry-level Altea range, is called the Eden. Like…

Swift Lifestyle 4 Tested by Paul Regan Price £16,295 Berths 4 MiRO 1105kg Payload 145kg MTPLM 1250kg IN A NUTSHELL Couple’s van passes the ultimate test: Glastonbury! THERE’S A TWO-MAN tent buried in my loft at home that bears the scars of many a music festival visit over the years – comical graffiti plus stains from spilt drinks, food and careless cigarettes. You might imagine that it’d be best retired to landfill, but there’s a charm to its battle-worn patina that reminds me of hedonistic weekends in Hampshire fields and more ambitious European adventures. One place I never quite managed, though, was the biggest – Glastonbury. We didn’t have high hopes for 2015 – and when we did get tickets, I’ll admit to having been a little conflicted. Much as…

Model tested 3.0 V6 CRD Overland Price £48,195 Kerbweight 2328kg ‘Such is the torque that you’ll have to be in a real quagmire to need low-ratio gears’ What’s new? Jeep refreshed the Grand Cherokee’s styling in 2013, improved the interior and unveiled an eight-speed auto gearbox. Think of it as the advance landing party for a new range, which includes the smaller Cherokee and Renegade. We’re testing the high-spec Overland with a powerful 3.0-litre V6 diesel. What are we looking for? A facelift is all well and good, but the Jeep faces more recent redesigns such as the Volvo XC90’s. Can it rival more up-to-date vehicles? Towing ability A good tow car needs more than heft and a powerful engine, but they certainly help. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has both.…

This efficient wall-mounted space heater made by Carver is fitted in a 1996 van. Unfortunately, this UK company ceased producing heaters in 1999, but there are still specialist repairers Truma, a German manufacturer that worked with Carver, produces similar wall-mounted units and other heaters. Dealers can fit one of these if a Carver product is beyond repair The compact, well-insulated Carver Cascade water heater can still be repaired — or replaced by a replica product called the Henry GE. This Cascade in a 1998 Swift Challenger still works The Truma Ultrastore water heater was often fitted when Carver Cascades were unavailable. The one shown is in a 2006 Bailey Pageant. Though reliable, its insulation jacket is modest…

THE BESSACARR BADGE has been around for more than 60 years and, although it has passed through many managerial hands, it has always been known for the luxurious tourers that wear it. The 2007 Cameo range was no exception. It had been fully revamped in 2005, so the only change two years later was updated soft furnishings. A smooth GRP panel defined its characteristic profile, and one-piece, high-impact aluminium clad the sides. A grabhandle stretched nearly right across the GRP rear panel. Other exterior features were alloy wheels, ATC, exterior mains and gas points, and heavy-duty steadies. The traditional décors brought together superbly finished cabinet work and high-quality build – which made these tourers heavyweights. The list of interior equipment includes the most aspirational components: radio/CD player, dual-fuel hob, luxury…