Innehållsförteckning för October 2015 från Practical Caravan

Jenny Owen is a regular contributor to Practical Caravan. She spent her formative years in Rugby, and enjoys frequent return visits to the town where her parents still live. 1 Stay here The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Kingsbury Water Park site has large, level pitches set in a tranquil spot near Sutton Coldfield. While you’re in the area, why not pop to Birmingham’s NEC for October’s caravan show? 2 Eat here Rugby has a variety of places to eat. For something spicy, try Casa Loco, an authentic Mexican and Cajun restaurant. The Merchants Inn is the place to go for a wide range of beers and ciders. The Nook in Dunchurch, which was featured in The Restaurant Man on BBC Two, serves an amazing English breakfast from locally sourced ingredients.…

The Motorhome & Caravan Show 2015 returns to the NEC in Birmingham from 13-18 October, and we have an exclusive discount on advance tickets for Practical Caravan readers. The show is the biggest of its kind in the UK, filling 11 giant halls at the NEC; this year it will feature the 2016 caravan models from leading manufacturers and dealers, all under one roof. You’ll also find stands that highlight campsites and destinations, as well as awnings and accessories to browse and buy. This year’s show will be opened by motorcycle racing legend Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty, and you’ll be able to see a life-sized touring caravan made entirely of LEGO bricks, hopefully setting a new Guinness World Record! There will be exclusive show-only deals, new-product demonstrations, advice in the Experts…

www.manfrotto.co.uk…

We’ve some truly inspirational travel content in this month’s issue, from a tour of a favourite Devonshire destination, to the incredible story of one man’s caravan hideaway in New Zealand! Top sites for teeing off IF YOUR family was inspired to pick up golf clubs after watching The Open at St Andrews in the summer, you might want to fit in a round on your next tour. Fortunately, The Caravan Club has come up with five suitable sites! First is Balbirnie Park Caravan Club Site in Fife, a 30-minute drive from St Andrews. Next is the members-only Incleboro Fields Caravan Club Site, near Cromer in Norfolk: it’s a mile from the Links nine-hole course. Then there’s Yellowcraig Caravan Club Site, North Berwick: the area has a total of 19 courses.…

When to go The South Hams is a popular destination and is therefore busy at most times of the year. Visit in early spring, when the floral display is at its best, and you’ll see beds of yellow primroses coating the roadside verges and rolling hillocks. Avoid high summer if possible: the narrow lanes can be full of traffic, making journey times much longer than you might expect. Beach car parks can also be uncomfortably overcrowded and a secluded spot could be difficult to find. Way to go To get to Woodlands Grove: at the southern end of the M5 just outside Exeter, take the A38 towards Plymouth. Leave the A38 just before Buckfastleigh and follow the A384 signposted to Totnes. At the T-junction, turn left to join the A385…

I WASN’T ALWAYS an inanimate object. I know a thing or two about travelling. I have been hitched to the back of many a vehicle and pulled all the way from [New Zealand’s] Pacific isles of Northland, down to the bleak township of Invercargill in the south. But no longer. We all have to retire someplace and here I am, a simple wagon perched on a small scenic hill far from the nearest town. Of [the two caravans of which I’m made], the smaller Kingsway contains a simple kitchen, furnished with a pantry of spices and a temperamental fridge. There’s no oven. Instead there’s a camping stove with two electric hobs, and a microwave that might pre-date the Apollo missions. My second van is a larger Oxford, with panoramic windows…

Join The Club! From just £46 per year, you’ll have access to the best caravan and camping sites in Europe. So why not make the most of touring with The Caravan Club? Tel 01342 488 201 Web www.caravanclub.co.uk/sitesjoin Chatsworth Park Set in a walled garden on the picturesque Chatsworth Estate, this retreat for the family offers lovely walks with views of rolling sheep-cropped countryside. Members’ price £20.20* Buxton Here you will be surrounded by the Peak District National Park, with its extensive cycle network, and enjoy splendid stately homes right on your doorstep. Members’ price from £17.20* Carsington Water An excellent base for walkers and cyclists wishing to explore beautiful Dovedale, and a short stroll from Carsington Reservoir. Members’ price from £19* *2 adults, std pitch, per night…

Two wheels good Opus Campers will use the NEC show to launch its latest product. Dubbed ‘Moto’, this innovative folding camper is light enough to be towed by a family hatchback, but is capable of carrying two full-sized motorbikes on its roof. The idea is that a couple on a budget can embark on a motorbike adventure, but have affordable accommodation waiting for them when they get back. Opus claims that loading and unloading the bikes is the work of just 20 seconds, thanks to the inbuilt crane. Prices start at £15,995. World’s largest LEGO caravan at the NEC The team behind the Motorhome & Caravan Show is planning to mark 130 years of leisure caravanning this year by attempting to set a new Guinness World Record, building the largest…

Xplore 504 Price £14,894 MiRO 1122kg Payload 178kg MTPLM 1300kg Verdict Not as well equipped, but with comparable beds and a full-width end washroom Venus 540/4 £14,699 1100kg 195kg 1295kg Verdict Lacks the Lifestyle’s spec but, like the Xplore, has a full-width end washroom Bailey Pursuit 430-4 £13,440 1036kg 193kg 1229kg Verdict Similar washroom design to the Venus and Xplore, and really ramps up the value for money How the figures stacks up The facts behind the figures It might come as a surprise to learn that finding a directly comparable layout to that of the Swift Lifestyle 4 involves looking overseas — all of its obvious UK-built rivals switched to full-width end washrooms with separate showers a year or more back, with no appreciable increase in weight.…

4007 2.2 HDi SE I bought my Peugeot 4007 after some research, because I wanted to tow a twin-axle unit. And I’m glad I did: it’s the best car I have towed with — you can sometimes even forget you are towing. I think it’s the best-kept secret on the market, and there are not many on the road so they hold their value pretty well. Jez Clapton 4007 2.2 HDi SE This is an excellent tow car for pulling our Bailey Pegasus twin-axle. There’s very good all-round performance and we’re finding it really practical. There’s loads of interior space for stowing equipment in, and our grandkids love the seven seats. Overall, it’s a very comfortable car and great to drive. Pete Robinson 4007 2.2 HDi GT I have recently…

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BRYONY SYMES is an intrepid explorer who loves finding new and unusual things to do Sept-Oct Burnished lands Discover the amazing colours of the Lost Gardens of Heligan in the autumn light, while enjoying the colours of the vegetables at harvest time. Stay right next door for easy access. Stay at Heligan Woods Web www.heliganwoods.co.uk 3 Sept-29 Oct Personal touch Explore the grandeur of Wales’s Powis Castle’s gardens, including the nursery (not normally open to visitors), on an exclusive tour with the staff who care for them. Stay at Rhyd-y-Groes Touring and Camping Park Web www.ryhd-y-groes.co.uk 13-17 October Seasonal strolls Join a guided walk of the stunning landscaped gardens at Stourhead, near Mere in Wiltshire, and take in the full, dazzling display of autumn colour. Stay at Longleat…

The new-look Autumn Food and Country Fair comes to the East of England Showground in Peterborough this October, and we have 10 pairs of tickets to the event up for grabs. On Sunday 11 October the exhibition hall will be transformed into an indoor food and drink spectacular, with food stalls, sampling opportunities and wine tasting. Celebrity master baker Paul Hollywood will be dropping by to offer cookery demonstrations throughout, too (booking is required if you would like to attend). The jam-packed day out includes a horse show, giant-vegetable competition, canine events, donkey rides and children’s activities, plus there will be classic car and vintage tractor displays, as well as a craft fair. Free parking tops off this fantastic event. For your chance to win a pair of tickets to…

SOCIAL BEING AS I am, there are some times when I cherish a bit of privacy. Admittedly one of the delights of caravanning is the camaraderie, and it’s unfair to expect any campsite to provide Howard Hughes levels of separation. However, following a recent touring break, I’m considering what level of exclusion zone it’s acceptable to create around your van, and the most practical ways of achieving it. Imagine the scene: early-evening sunlight glints through the trees, made visible by a fine haze of barbecue smoke that drifts aimlessly around the serene setting. Squirrels gambol. Fellow campers sip on wine-o-clock drinks… all is good with the world. Cue the arrival of a family of campers. I watch as they survey the available pitches, willing them to carry on driving as…

The Lake District — we are going to our favourite site at Keswick soon. Amanda Leetham It has to be the New Forest, in Hampshire, with the North York Moors coming a very close second. Mel Blyth The North York Moors, up around Goathland and Beck Hole. Richard Mackay It has to be my home… The Lake District! Carol Slater As a Wintonion, my heart is with the New Forest. Martin Bailey Exmoor and, although not a national park yet, the Purbecks. Claire Bramley The Cairngorms National Park! Andrew Ronald…

1 Martin Connolly Along with his wife, Annika, Martin runs the Discovery surf school in Bigbury-on-Sea. “Surfing and stand-up paddling are very popular sports here in South Devon,” he says, “and Bigbury is the perfect spot to learn — we have a variety of locations and great waves.” Not only does Discovery offer lessons, but it also hires out a selection of boards along with single and double kayaks. What little free time the couple has is taken either lunching at Gara Rock after walking down to the cove, at the Oyster Shack in Bigbury, or with the children at Woodlands Park. 2 Andy Pratt Andy is head of the Field Study Centre and manages the National Nature Reserve at Slapton Ley. He recommends the cliff-top walk from Little Dartmouth…

“WONDERFUL, I LOVE Bakewell tart!” was my response to my husband’s suggestion of a weekend away in Bakewell, Derbyshire. But after a spot of pre-holiday research, I was surprised to find that the town of Bakewell is more famous for its pudding than its tart. John and I were taking our 12-year-old granddaughter, Erin, on a weekend away and wanted to show her as much of the Derbyshire countryside as possible during our trip. We were staying at The Camping and Caravanning Club Site in Youlgreave, a pretty village three miles from Bakewell. It’s a popular tourist spot in its own right because of its location on the hillside of Bradford Dale, within the Peak District National Park; it’s perhaps most famous for the well-dressing event that takes place in…

Things to do 1 Jurassic Coast 2 Clouds Hill 3 Dorchester Roman Town House 4 Winterbourne Poor Lot Barrows 5 Highcliffe Castle 6 Swanage Blues and Roots Festival 7 Abbotsbury Swannery 8 Portland Castle 9 Dorchester Literary Festival 10 Hardy’s Cottage Sites featured 1 South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping 2 Bagwell Farm Touring Park 3 Springfield Touring Park 4 Bingham Grange Touring & Camping 5 East Fleet Farm Touring Park 6 Highlands End Holiday Park 7 Monkton Wyld Holiday Park 8 St Leonards Farm Caravan & Camping 9 The Inside Park 10 Wareham Forest Touring Park DORSET’S JURASSIC COAST holds a wealth of hidden treasures, and seeking them out is part of the fun of a coastal holiday. Head inland, though, and you’ll find plenty to intrigue you among…

Bailey Pegasus Rimini Price £17,999 (2016) A fresh exterior, domestic-style beds and seating, and new Truma heating lead a good spec. Still, there’s no ATC or alarm system. Coachman Pastiche 574 Price TBC (2016) The interior has been redesigned; Alde wet heating and sunroof are added. It costs and weighs more, but the build quality is hard to beat. Swift Challenger 564 Price TBC (2016) This carries on the range’s reputation for sporty and practical design. Its washroom cannot compare with the Lexon 570’s, though.…

Where tested Stowford Farm Meadows Camping and Caravan Site, Berry Down, Combe Martin, North Devon EX34 0PW When tested May 2015 ‘There’s no arguing with the shorter, lighter body this old-school layout allows’ DIFFICULT AS IT may be to believe now, there was a time when fixed-bed caravans were the sole preserve of Continental manufacturers; the prevailing opinion here in the UK being that such layouts were, quite literally, a waste of space. How times have changed. From the earliest days of the first trickle of UK fixed-bed vans, we now have a host of options: rear island bed; transverse rear island; twin singles; and bunks. There’s now even one with a transverse double slung across the front, where the lounge should be. But the original design – that of…

This month we put Ford’s Mondeo and Suzuki’s SX4 to the test. Find out if the new Mondeo can match former generations as a tug on p89, and how well the lightweight Suzuki tows on p95 First drive Škoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI 150PS Price From £23,390 Kerbweight 1505kg 85% match 1279kg Towing limit 2000kg Towball limit 90kg ŠKODA RECKONS THE new Superb is the best car it has made, but will it appeal to caravanners like its predecessor? It looks promising. In a world where everything is getting lighter, the 2.0 TDI 150PS Estate (with 148bhp) we drove weighs in at 1505kg, 4kg more than our old 140PS (138bhp) long-termer. Other weights are up, too: the towball from 80 to 90kg, and the towing limit from 1800 to a…

John Wickersham is widely regarded as the leading expert on caravanning and caravan care. His books in the field are more than essential reading — they are the ‘bibles’ of touring UPHOLSTERY UPDATE WHEN ENTERING A caravan, one of the first things you notice is its upholstery, and there’s no way to predict how it will look. A wide variety of colours and patterns are on offer, which is a good thing because personal tastes vary – as the photos below confirm! Appearance matters but so does practicality. For instance, owners with young children or canine companions often want seat fabrics whose patterns can disguise grubby marks. Comfort is also important; less costly fillings soon lose their resilience. Don’t be dismayed, though, because help is at hand. Many first-time caravan…

Caravans up to £3000 1998 Bailey Magenta 2-berth, with Aquaroll, Wastemaster, gas cylinders, battery, mains lead, awning, groundsheet, more. £2500. Mr Sach, Stanway, Essex. (01206 547 371) Awnings Porch Isabella Magnum CarbonX poles, extra window pole. Good cond, £350, buyer collects. Mr Coombs, Lincolnshire. (07833 126 101) Dorema Alpha StarCamp 250cm x 200cm, steel frame, burgundy/grey. Used twice. £225, buyer collects. Mr Westwood, Doncaster. (01709 863 182) Quest Kensington Plus 230cm (d) x 340cm (w), easy-alloy frame, blue, storm straps, awning extension, inner tent, pegs. £300, buyer collects. Mr Hand, Kent. (07561 526 521) Isabella Magnum Black/white, curtains, skirt. Exc cond, used twice, ill health forces sale. £600. Mrs Thomas, Huntingdon. (01480 890 123) Dorema Toronto 290cm x 240cm, fibre poles, green, draught skirt, storm straps. More. Exc cond. £160.…

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. Website: www.hendra-holidays.com. Tel: 01637 875778. Ideal family site within easy reach of Newquay and beaches with entertainment for all including indoor and outdoor fun pools. A30 to Indian Queens,…

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STACIE PARDOE enjoys touring with her family and loves to put the latest gadgets to the test. This month, she reveals what to see — and where to see it — at the NEC Show EZA 130 Lithium Power Pack The latest EZA power pack from RoadPro is an essential piece of kit for caravanners who rely on 12V power. The EZA replaces leisure batteries and can provide up to 120Ah without the need for charging. A solar panel can be connected, and running the car’s engine for 20 minutes will put around 20Ah into it. It can also be used with an inverter. Visit RoadPro on stand 12.70. Price £2332 Web www.roadpro.co.uk Champion generators The top generator brand in the USA is now available in the UK, thanks…

We visited Woodlands on a number of occasions when our children were younger, because it has a wealth of amenities and an adjacent activities park, together with a small zoo/farm that makes it the perfect place for a young family to holiday. Covering a good few acres, there is perhaps no better place in the South Hams region for children to be entertained. Entry to the park and zoo is free when you book your pitch, and you can easily spend the best part of a day on the various rides and climbing apparatus, as well as getting aquainted with — among others — the llamas, racoons, meerkats and some sizeable snakes! There is also a falconry centre where you can see owls and other birds of prey in action.…

Three fields of immaculately kept grass are divided by dry-stone walls in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District National Park, and form the Bakewell Camping and Caravanning Club Site. It’s a very quiet location, with stunning views over rolling hills and farmland. Hardstandings have been cut into the hillside to provide level pitches. The small site office, manned by friendly wardens, stocks walking guides, basic groceries and camping essentials. There’s no washblock and TV reception is poor (you can hire a satellite dish) but there is a playground and Wi-Fi vouchers are available from reception. There are three dog-friendly pubs, a bus to Bakewell and two butcher’s shops within one mile. A fish and chip van calls on Friday evenings and Maazi Indian restaurant in Matlock will deliver to…

Have you got your tickets for the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC this October? It’s a brilliant opportunity to view all the new launches under one roof. We’ll see you there! Showtime for new models at the NEC With the Swift and Explorer Group new model launches completed, we now know what all the main UK caravan manufacturers will be unveiling to their customers over the coming months. No sooner has the preview season ended, however, than it’s time for us all to prepare for the first big national show of the year: the NEC Motorhome & Caravan Show (13-18 October). This is the first time we’ll see everything – together with lines from Continental importers and smaller manufacturers – all under one roof. And it promises to…

Model tested 2.0 TCi 150PS Econetic Zetec 5dr Price £22,845 Kerbweight 1578kg What’s new? We’ve been waiting a long time for the new Ford; its European launch was delayed when production was moved from Belgium to Spain. Now it’s here, the Mondeo faces competition from the updated Mazda 6, the revised ›koda Superb and the new Volkswagen Passat. Is it still a frontrunner against so many strong rivals? After towing with it at the Tow Car Awards in the spring, we’ve had the chance to spend longer behind the wheel of the 150PS (148bhp) 2.0-litre TDCi Econetic Zetec. What are we looking for? Is the Mondeo still one of the best family cars? The previous generations have all towed well. Does the latest car continue that tradition? Towing ability The…

How much? £4250-£12,000 The lower end of our price scale covers the stuff you probably won’t want; for a 2007 car with full history, and less than 100k on the clock, the starting price is more like £5500. That’s for an SE; you can expect to pay £300-£500 more for a GT of that age, and up to £1000 more for a newer model – they cost an extra £2800 when new. Sport XSs still fall between the other two in price. Though they cost an extra £1300 when new, the DCS autos don’t command much of a premium over manual cars, probably because of fears about their complexity as they age. What will it tow? Kerbweight ...........................1825kg Towing limit ........................2000kg Noseweight limit ................. 100kg 85% match ............................1551kg (Figs for…

FIXED BEDS NON-FIXED BEDS BUNK BEDS Spotted any errors? Tell us and get paid! We do our best to ensure the data in our Buyer's Guide is accurate, but even we make mistakes. If you spot an error in the data tables, please email norm@practicalcaravan.com with the details or write to Buyer's guide, Practical Caravan, Teddington Studios, Broom Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 9BE. We will select one correction at random from any submitted each month and reward the sender with a cash prize of £25. Entry level New to caravanning? On a tight budget? These ranges of tourers are for you Adria Adora Loire Adria's smallest Adora model comes in at 6.41m in length Compass Rallye 482 The Rallye 482 has an Al-Ko chassis and a 40-litre on-board water tank…