Innehållsförteckning för June 2019 från 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…

Cherry Bakewell vodkas: 1 part vodka, 2 parts cherry liqueur, 2 parts Amaretto. Phillip Howcroft No barbecue is complete without a large Bombay Sapphire and tonic while sorting the rib eye! David McKendry Whisky, single malt, large one, nuff said. Bob Jones On a warm sunny evening, nothing can beat a cold cider. And you can drink one in less time than it takes to make a cocktail! Sam Johnson Prosecco time at 4pm. Sheila Emsley Gin fizz. Julie Egan Pink gin and lemonade while fillet is on the barbie. Karen Boyd Virgin Bloody Mary. Nigel Fox Just a Budweiser for me! Paul Greenfield I look forward to a bottle of vino on Friday night! Paul Smith Got some great tips you’d like to share? Let us know via Facebook…

Transporting your canine companion requires careful thought, particularly from an insurance perspective. Dogs need regular travel breaks, too, and they can get motion sickness. Make plenty of planned stops during your journey, to give your dog time in the open air. To ensure that you’re covered en route to your campsite, the Camping and Caravanning Club suggests the following checklist: ❏ Valid pet insurance ❏ Crash protection travel harness ❏ A travel crate, preferably with rigid plastic walls ❏ Boot guard ❏ Leave a window wound down at least six inches, or install a pet vent ❏ A small cleaning kit, in case of sickness It’s worth understanding how to regulate the temperature in your vehicle, too. This will prevent your dog from becoming too hot or cold. Excessive heat…

Beeswax Wraps A natural and reusable alternative to film, these beeswax wraps are great for protecting picnic sandwiches, or keeping leftovers fresh in the fridge Web www.beeswaxwraps.co.uk Price From £10 TraVino Spillproof Wine Tumbler No al fresco eating is complete without a drink, but spillages are a nuisance. This cup that looks like a wine glass comes with a travel mug style lid, keeping bugs out, and keeping your drink in! Web www.fruugo.co.uk Price £14.95 Rainbow picnic rug A cheerful blanket with leather carry handle, this can be used for your picnic or for wrapping around cold shoulders in the evening Web www.tollymcrae.co.uk Price £125…

Art editor Simon says Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain was a game-changer for me. I have always been interested in food, but Bourdain’s vivid description of life as a chef in New York showed the other side, the parts of the restaurant hidden from view – and sometimes for good reason! You’ll never look at dining out the same way again. Editor Deanna says Romantic relationships were ruined for me at the tender age of 13 after reading Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Passion on the wild Yorkshire Moors with the brooding Heathcliff – what boy-next-door in suburbia could hope to compete? (Subsequent romantic history pays testament to this!) But my guilty pleasures nowadays are blockbuster thrillers by the likes of John Grisham, Lee Child and Michael Connelly. Can’t get through…

Don’t miss a moment Capture your adventures with a leading name in action cameras, a GoPro Hero7 White. This newest addition to the range has great features, such as voice control, video stabilisation and a photo timer. Price £179.99 Web www.gopro.com Entertainment on the go Keep passengers entertained by putting your tablet or iPad on a TFY mount on the back of your headrest, so they can enjoy films and games while you tow. Price £19.99 Web www.amazon.co.uk Water-powered light Off-grid adventures need light and power, such as the Hydra-Light SC1C-L Supercell lantern/charger. Packed with useful features, it runs on water power for 100 hours. Price $150 (£114) Web www.hydralight.net Not just a watch If you’re serious about hiking, the Casio Pro Trek WSD-F20 smart watch could be your ideal…

Serves Four Ingredients (kebabs) 4 red onions, 2 sweetcorn cobs, 1 small packet of chestnut mushrooms, 2 red peppers, 2 courgettes Ingredients (chimichurri) Olive oil, 1 tbsp red wine vinegar, 1 small bunch parsley, 2 cloves garlic, 1 red chilli, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1 tsp salt, pepper to taste Method 1 Cut all of the ingredients into similar size chunks that are easy to skewer, then make your kebabs 2 Once done, finely chop all of the chimichurri ingredients and mix with enough olive oil to form a loose salsa 3 Brush the kebabs with the chimichurri, and grill until brown and with a bit of give 4 When cooked, plate up with another brushing of chimichurri and serve with rice and pitta bread…

There are lots of crazy sports and pastimes that you can take part in this summer, but one of the whackiest has to be zorbing. So what is it? Think strapping yourself inside a giant hamster ball and rolling down a steep hill – that’s exactly what the sport’s founders had in mind when it was conceived a few decades ago. The UK’s Dangerous Sports Club is thought to have created the first zorb – in that instance, a giant sphere with two deckchairs inside. The idea proved impractical, and zorbs weren’t to reappear until the mid-1990s, in New Zealand. It was in the new millennium that ‘zorbing’ entered the dictionary; these days, it’s defined by Oxford Dictionaries as: ‘A sport in which one is secured inside a large transparent…

Remarkably, and despite having reached the ripe old combined age of around 70, our art editor, Simon, and staff writer, Bryony, have never pulled a pint. This was not good enough! Barman James patiently talked them through the essentials – “Hold the glass at a 40-degree angle; straighten it up as it fills; be careful not to give it too much of a head; let it run over, then top it up.” – then left them to it with his final words of wisdom: “It’s all about the right angle, the right amount of head and stopping the pump at the right time.” Bravely volunteering to go first, Bryony’s effort was pronounced “near perfect”, but she was pipped to the top spot by Simon, who was declared the winner of…

An 8.5m-long Eriba caravan unveiled at this January’s CMT show in Stuttgart should be coming to the UK later this spring. Described by the Erwin Hymer Group as the “flagship” of its Touring range, the Eriba Touring 820 is constructed using Eriba’s well-established ‘steel cage’ design, but still manages to provide internal headroom of more than 2m and unusually large windows at both the front and the back. With a wood-free floor, the twin-axle’s interior also includes a futuristic-looking kitchen with a worktop that “continues” on up to the ceiling, hiding a coffee machine fitted as standard, a lounge with higher than usual backrests for extra comfort and a 180-degree view, and V-shaped beds in the rear that can make up a double if preferred. Other standard features are a…

Where tested Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park, Ham Lane, Bishop Sutton BS39 5TZ Tel 01275 332 127 Web www.bathchewvalley.co.uk When Bailey launched the fourth generation of its upmarket Unicorn range last year, one popular model, the Seville, had been given a bit of a facelift. Its washroom, which used to straddle the rear of the van, was squeezed into a corner to allow for an L-shaped kitchen in the rear nearside corner. It seems Bailey aficionados missed that large washroom, because it’s now back in the newest addition to the Unicorn fleet. But the Merida doesn’t replace the Seville, which continues in its new guise. Bailey has gone even further afield to find another Spanish city to name this caravan after. Merida is in the Extremadura, not far from the…

Model tested 1.0 TSI 115 FR Price £20,405 What Car? Target Price £18,567 Retained value after three years 47% Kerbweight 1189kg 85% of kerbweight 1011kg Gross vehicle weight 1660kg Max towing limit 1100kg Gross train weight 2760kg Towball limit 55kg Boot size min/max 400/823 litres Payload 471kg Test conditions Wet Engine size 999cc Power (bhp/rpm) 113@5000-5500rpm Torque (lb ft/rpm) 148@2000-35000rpm Official combined economy 45.6-49.6mpg (WLTP) Towing economy 28.8mpg CO2 emissions 114g/km First year car tax £170 Second year car tax £145 Insurance group 12E Euro NCAP overall protection rating…

This month, Sammy explains why it is so important to have your caravan refrigerator regularly serviced by a professional, while on p104, I fit an Alde external temperature sensor and load monitor YOUR REFRIGERATOR, like any other gas appliance used in your caravan, must be serviced at regular intervals. Major manufacturers, such as Thetford and Dometic, recommend an annual service. However, this only applies to absorption or three-way fridges. First, let’s take a look at the types of refrigerators commonly found in leisure vehicles. Absorption fridges Absorption fridges, also known as three-way fridges (1), can be found in most touring caravans. Heat is used to circulate the refrigeration chemicals around the cooling unit. The heat used to provide the energy comes from one of three sources: ■ A burner that…

Dog-walk inspiration Price £14.99 Web www.hubbleandhattie.com Many caravanners take their dogs away on holiday with them, and they’ll find this book from Hubble and Hattie a must-read. It features 45 walks from 23 great British campsites, all perfect for your pooch. There are 23 routes of between four and six miles, and another 22 that are longer, and there’s loads of information on other attractions in the area. Even if you don’t own a dog, this is a great book to consult if you just fancy a stroll from a site. SW Squeaky clean Price £79.99 Web www.bosch-do-it.com Want to keep your caravan windows and washroom squeaky clean? Try the Bosch GlassVAC bundle! This clever kit includes a compact yet powerful vacuum, with battery charge that should last for 35…

What does summer mean to you? For me, summer is synonymous with holidays. Those carefree days that defy their position in the week and employ a timescale of their very own; initially slow and languorous as they stretch out endlessly, then speeding up as the threatened return to reality chases after them ever more frantically. In addition to those precious days, weeks, months (lucky you!), much of the pleasure is in the anticipation. The Practical Caravan team has enjoyed brainstorming some of the things we like most about summer: from fun on the beach to festivals inland, from refreshing cocktails to the thrills of zorbing, there’s something for everyone. We hope you enjoy this preview of good things to come and that it will be the perfect companion as you…

from The Camping and Caravanning Club ❏ Microchip your dog ❏ Check pet insurance ❏ Ensure your dog’s vaccinations are up-to-date ❏ Obtain your dog’s veterinary records ❏ Have the dog checked, to ensure it is fit to travel ❏ Administer flea and tick treatments ❏ Practise commands at home to ensure your dog is properly socialised ❏ Check all leads and collars and replace if badly worn ❏ Check ID tags have dog’s name, plus your name and mobile number ❏ Pack a dog first-aid kit…

Latitude A festival for all with music, comedy, theatre, dance, wellness activities, cinema and poetry. Latitude won Best Family Festival in last year’s UK Festival Awards. Caravans will need a pass for each vehicle, and each occupant, including the driver, and must have a weekend ticket. The campsite has toilets, showers and food stalls. When 18-21 July Where Henham Park, Suffolk Web www.latitudefestival.com Camp Bestival (pictured) Family-friendly fun, with dressing up, medieval jousting, theatre, art, music, face painting, circus skills, bouncy castle, soft play area, fairground rides and parades. Caravans have their own area with car parking, eco-friendly toilets and showers, food stalls and recycling points. When 25-28 July Where Lulworth Castle, Dorset Web www.campbestival.net Lakefest Music and entertainment at the foot of the Malvern Hills, with a line-up that…

The one place your caravan can’t go is on the water, but there’s no reason why you can’t take it up to the edge of the water, and explore from there. You don’t have to worry about having a canoe rack on your van, either – inflatable or fold-up canoes fit in a large locker. It’s best to start in sheltered, non-tidal waters. Chertsey, Milarrochy Bay – pictured below – and Keswick are three Camping and Caravanning Club sites where you can hire a canoe, and launch it, or your own, from the site. The slipway at Waterclose Meadows in Cambridgeshire is in the early stages of restoration. British Canoeing has a website for recreational canoeing – www.gopaddling.info.…

1 After dark You’ll need a torch, and you’ll probably have your hands full of keys, bags, dog leads and so on, so a head torch is ideal. You may look like a miner, but your hands will be free to unlock your van, while hanging on to the dog. 2 Clear water Staying on a CL or CS, you usually have some access to potable water, and carrying bottled water in the car isn’t such a problem, but you might want to pack water-filtration tablets if you are going on a hike and don’t want to carry heavy bottles. 3 Get the power Your leisure battery will be charged during towing, but if you need extra power, consider using a fuel-based generator, or better still, solar…

It’s near the end of the working day on a Friday afternoon. It’s been a long week. As you wait for home time to arrive, you take a look at the weekend weather forecast and see it’s going to be a good one. Then you think, “Let’s get outta town in the van!” Sometimes we’re magically able to pull off a last-minute trip and enjoy a top weekend on-site. But there are other times when we are hampered by logistical hurdles and can’t help but wish we were better prepared. To help set you up for success this summer, here are a few tips for that last-minute trip. 1 Make a list One of the main challenges standing between us and a great unplanned trip is getting all of…

Crazy as it sounds, the boffins from King’s College London say we are not applying enough suncream – only 40% of the amount we need, to be precise. But the answer is simple – the humble spoon. To ensure you are protected, the NHS suggests using these average amounts, measured out in readily available cutlery: ■ Two teaspoons of sunscreen for your head, arms and neck ■ Two tablespoons to cover your sun-exposed body So, regarding sun protection (and life generally, perhaps), it’s good to err on the side of generosity. Just make sure you wash the spoons before having your tea! Did you know? If you plan to be out in the sun long enough to risk burning, suncream should be applied twice: once, 30 minutes before going out,…

Let’s face it, there’s usually a day or two on holiday when the great British weather lets us down. But rather than letting this spoil your break, the secret is to embrace it. And the way to do that is to change your mindset. Rather than being disappointed that you can’t get out and about, it’s time to celebrate what really separates caravanning from the camping fraternity. While our tent-based friends are enduring a pretty soggy and cold holiday experience, we can luxuriate in the cosy, warm and (crucially) dry environment that only a caravan provides. Don’t view the noise of rain on the roof as a disturbance; instead, curl up with a book and a cup of tea, perhaps turn the heating up a notch, and enjoy the cosy…

It’s not often that our editorial staff can be accused of shirking their responsibilities, so when the idea surfaced of helping out at a campsite for a day, we like to think we rose to the challenge. From cleaning toilets to washing dishes; from making espressos to pulling a pint, no job was too big or too small for our team. After all, if the owners of Eye Kettleby Lakes are happy to muck in like anyone else, who are we to say no? We got down and dirty so that you don’t have to, and you can read all about how we got on here. 7.00am The cookers are lit and the fresh produce deliveries are taken in, as the site begins to wake up. 8.00am Reception transforms into…

We were aiming for a relaxed, leisurely break in southern France. We took the Dover-Calais ferry crossing and checked in at our usual site overlooking the Channel, intending to spend a few days there. We always start with a plan for our trips, although it tends to change as the weeks go by, but this time, on hearing the weather forecast for northern France, the plan went out of the window on day one. Instead, we set off next day in a mixture of snow, sleet, rain and temperatures just above freezing – this was almost May, so definitely a first for us! We headed to a campsite we’ve been to before, at St-Rémy-sur-Avre, between Evreux and Dreux, west of Paris. A Dutch caravan was parked at the gate; the…

TOP EVENTS... Country Fest Celebrate all things rural at this weekend festival, with great food and drink from Cumbria and the north-west, a food theatre, equine and rare breeds displays, crafts, children’s activities and more. Date 1-2 June Web www.westmorlandshow.co.uk/country-fest Summer Solstice Starlight Swim Head to Fell Foot Park and don your wetsuit for this celebration of summer, with a night-time wild swim lit only by glowsticks and buoys. Date 21 June Web www.sleekerswim.co.uk/event/summersolstice-starlight-swim-2019 In Wordsworth’s footsteps Take the steamer across the lake to Aira Force waterfall, then join a free guided walk around some of the places in Ullswater that inspired Wordsworth’s best-known poetry. Date 13 July (and various other dates) Web www.wordsworth.org.uk Holker Chilli Fest Test your tastebuds at this gathering of specialist companies from across the UK,…

GMC in the US has fitted camera technology in one of its new trucks that will allow the driver to “see through” any trailer they are towing, to have a view of the road behind them. The GMC Sierra HD uses a combination of a camera mounted on the tailgate and an accessory camera which you mount on the rear of the trailer to provide a view that, in effect, makes the trailer invisible. The view is one of 15 provided by the truck’s camera system. At present, GMC could not say if it planned to include this in any of its other vehicles.…

Construction Al-Ko one-piece galvanised chassis, alloys, heavy-duty corner steadies at rear. Alu-Tech GRP bodyshell. External equipment Single-piece highline front bumper and rear bumper with full-width grab rail, two-part door with window, exterior mains socket, satellite connection and BBQ point, Status 570 TV aerial, 100W solar panel. Heating Alde Hydronic Compact 3020 with combined water heating and control panel. Lounge/bedroom Eucalyptus furniture with freestanding table, slatted bed system, Brompton soft furnishings, loose-fit carpets. TV station with 12V and TV sockets, USBs in two of four directional spots, ambient lighting, DAB radio/CD/MP3 with USB and Bluetooth. Kitchen Basalt Stone work surface including hob cover, 103-litre Dometic fridge, Thetford Caprice oven and grill with dual-fuel four-burner hob, 800W microwave, stainless steel sink, swan-neck tap. Washroom Thetford C260 cassette toilet, lined shower cubicle with…

Adria Altea 472 DS Eden Tested by Bryony Symes Price £16,985 Berths 5 MiRO 1205kg Payload 165kg MTPLM 1370kg Awning size 925cm IN A NUTSHELL Spacious and comfortable for two on tour OUR LONG-TERM Adria Altea 472 DS Eden has been out on two trips in recent weeks, starting with an appearance at our Eye Kettleby Lakes ‘campsite take-over’ photoshoot in Melton Mowbray. Colleague Claudia and I had managed to head up to the site in Leicestershire just before the high winds of Storm Gareth really picked up, and although neither of us stayed in the van, we were both impressed by the ease with which it towed. However, we did have a slight struggle with the steadies; the bolts for winding them are set quite far back, with no…

Price £24,810 What Car? Target Price £23,319 Retained value after three years 41% Kerbweight 1505kg* 85% of kerbweight 1279kg Gross vehicle weight 2135kg Max towing limit 1500kg Gross train weight 3635kg Towball limit 74kg Price of towball and electrics £500 Boot size min/max 775/3000 litres Payload 630kg Test conditions Dry Engine size 1499cc Power (bhp/rpm) 129@3750rpm Torque (lb ft/rpm) 221@1750rpm Official combined economy 45.2-50.1mpg (WLTP) Towing economy 31.3mpg CO2 emissions 114-120g/km First year car tax £210 Second year car tax £145 Insurance group 15E Euro NCAP overall protection rating Perfect partner With a match figure of 1279kg for 85% of kerbweight, you can safely tow a Xplore 422…

AN OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE sensor and a load monitor are well worth fitting. The latter is especially useful if you tour abroad, where electricity supply can vary a great deal. Before starting either job, make sure the 230V mains and 12V battery are disconnected from the caravan, and the Alde system is turned off. Temperature sensor Tools required for the job are: ■ Screwdriver ■ P-clips ■ Small screws ■ Small cable ties First, find a suitable place for mounting the sensor, ideally, away from any heat source, but close enough for the lead to plug into the Alde boiler unit. Extension leads are available from Alde if the latter is difficult. I mounted ours under the floor just inside the skirt, at the bottom of the sidewall, and under the…

BAILEY’S RANGERS ARE a legend in the world of tourers – lightweight, excellent spec, a good choice of layouts from two to six berths, and affordable pricing. They have always sold well. From their launch in 1996, the Rangers stayed at the top of their market until they were dropped in late 2010 and replaced by the Orion in 2011. By 2005, the Rangers had been revamped as Series 5, which ran for several years before becoming the Series 6 in late 2008. This new range was joined by the upmarket GT60 model, which carried more spec and had a triple front window arrangement, rather than the base Series 6 full one-piece. So with six layouts available, including a twin-axle six-berth, the Rangers were set for success. Even basic models…

Layout finder G In this layout, fixed twin beds towards the rear of the van are accompanied by a central kitchen and an end washroom, plus a lounge up front. This floorplan is great for couples who want to relax in the lounge without having to disassemble a bed every morning. You’ll usually find a curtain or screen separating the rear beds from the lounge. Pros The pair of single beds means that you both have access to the washroom at night. The washroom is often quite spacious Cons The side kitchen may not have much space for preparing meals. The fixed single beds cannot be made up into a double A Square showers are more roomy than circular versions B There’s often an external hatch to access under-bed storage…

Awnings Porch Isabella Minor porch awning, very good condition, steel/granite/stone colour scheme, buyer to collect, £350 ono. Mr Fluen, Hampshire (01425 612857) Tuscany porch awning, blue, buyer to collect, £100. Mr Rowell, Peterborough (01832 280473 or 07749 388636) Isabella Minor awning, excellent condition, carbon frame, curtains and groundsheet, used four times, slate grey, buyer to collect, £250. Mr Garwood, Essex (01268 772986) Apache Monte Carlo awning, blue, 28mm alu frame, depth 2.5m, width 2.5m, buyer to collect, £125 ono. Mr Wadhams, Sittingbourne (01795 431537) Fiamma CaravanStore Deluxe awning, 1.9m, silver-grey, never used, ideal for caravan or motorhome, cost £229 new, fittings, bag and manual included, £99. Mr Young, Dover, Kent (07840 898112) Vango Varkala III 360 air awning, grey, never used, still in bag, everything included, cost £749 in September…

1 Fireworks at the castle Proms in the Castle returns to Pontefract Castle for an evening of magical music from the West Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, finishing with spectacular fireworks. Date 22 June Web www.pontefractcastle.co.uk Stay at Squires Caravan Park Web www.squirescaravanpark.co.uk 2 Music at the waterside There’ll be singing and dancing for free at Leicester Riverside Festival, with all sorts of music and entertainment in Bede Park and the Piazza. Date 1-2 June Web www.visitleicester.co.uk Stay at Ryecroft Farm Certificated Location Web www.caravanclub.co.uk 3 Eclectic Yorkshire Enjoy folk music and dance at Beverley Fringe Festival, with a programme of art that knows no borders. Date 21-23 June Web www.facebook.com/pg/beverleyfringefestival Stay at Butt Farm Caravan & Campsite Web www.buttfarm.co.uk 4 Rock out! Into cover bands? Derby Fake Festival, the fourth…

For the best European tour this summer, you might want to scan the Campsite of the Year Awards 2018 from camping experts Alan Rogers and the Caravan & Motorhome Club. The Alan Rogers Campsite of the Year goes to Camping Séquoia Parc in France’s Charente-Maritime, while C&MC Campsite of the Year is Nature Parc L’Ardéchois in the Ardèche. Spain’s Camping Las Dunas, on the Costa Brava, won the Seaside Award, while Kiko Park, Valencia, took the Innovation Award for its beach bar and special events. Camping De Papillon in the Netherlands triumphed in the Country Award for its beautiful grounds and excellent amenities. For a full list, go to https://bit.ly/2T6dvib. Popular paths in the Peaks Edale, in Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park, is the most popular starting point for walks,…

what3words Price Free Web www.what3words.com Trying to meet up with friends on site can be complicated, but this app makes it easier. It divides the whole world into a 3 x 3m grid, so you can simply share your location using a unique three-word address. Caravan Buddy Price £1.49 Web Android and iOS This one app contains so much information for caravanners! Here you’ll find everything you might need to know, from campsite searches and caravan levellers, to a handy TV signal finder. Indispensable. Camping App Eu Free Price Free Web Google Play More than 20,000 European sites are listed on this useful app, ranging from full-service campsites to basic car parks that allow overnight stays for campers. Don’t tour on the Continent without it. Spotify Price Free Web www.spotify.com…

Lunan Bay, Montrose, Tayside This mile-long sandy shore features a cave and an archway, along with numerous historic sites that are within easy walking distance. Dunwich Heath, Minsmer e, Suffolk This gorgeous beach, which is owned by the National Trust, offers plenty of great opportunities for scenic walks and wildlife spotting. Drigg, West Cumbria Although the Lake District is better known for its rolling landscapes, there are some tremendous beaches to explore in the region, including this one.…

1 No-go areas How would you feel if people started using your front garden as a shortcut? It’s the same on site – walking across someone else’s pitch is the height of bad manners. In other words, it’s a no-go area unless invited. 2 Personal space For fire regulations, vans on pitches are required to be 6m apart, but personal space is important, too. You’ve come to a campsite to get away from the hurly-burly, so ensure there’s enough space between your van and the next, and respect your neighbour’s privacy. 3 Peace and quiet Some sites are disinclined to take on large same-sex parties and many are adults-only. Sites often state guests will be asked to leave without compensation if there is excessive noise. You’re here…

Geocaching has taken off over the past decade, and for good reason – it livens up every stroll, it’s great exercise and fun for the whole family, and it can be made as difficult or as easy as you like. All you need is a GPS system (or mobile phone app) that allows you to enter co-ordinates or access www.geocaching.com, and you’re off on your high-tech treasure hunt. If you’ve not heard of geocaching, here’s a run-down of what you need to know. Back in May 2000, the data from satellites orbiting the Earth was made available to everyone. One canny computer analyst came up with the idea of hiding a container in woodland, noting the co-ordinates, then sharing them online. Others could then visit the co-ordinates to hunt for…

Art editor Simon says “Avoid the pricey motorway service stations at all costs. Make sure you brim your vehicle before leaving home (and before hooking up the caravan, to make life easier). Then, while en route to your destination, if you see that your gauge is getting low, try to find a refuelling spot off the motorway. You might add a few miles to your journey, but it will be worth it in the savings you make. If you use one of the many supermarket filling stations, you can even top up your loyalty points at the same time!” Reviews editor Peter Baber says “When considering which caravan park to stay in, nowadays it is almost always worth finding out whether Wi-Fi is free, and if not, how much it…

1 Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales 2. Elan Valley International Dark Sky Park, Wales 3 Exmoor National Park, England 4 Galloway Forest Park, Scotland 5 Isle of Coll International Dark Sky Community , Scotland 6 Isle of Sark International Dark Sky Community , Channel Islands 7 Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, Ireland 8 Mayo International Dark Sky Park, Ireland 9 Moffat International Dark Sky Community , Scotland 10 Kielder Water and Forest Park, England 11 Snowdonia International Dark Sky Reserve, Wales 12 South Downs International Dark Sky Reserve, England…

No matter where you’re touring, it’s always worth taking a quick look in your app store, to see if there are local travel guides available – they’re often free! 1 England Originals Some apps are VR- and AR-enabled, such as England’s Historic Cities, which guides you while you explore 13 heritage cities, using augmented reality to bring the past to life. Web www.heritagecities.com 2 Self-guided walks Don’t forget self-guided walking tours; most major towns and cities offer something, even if it is just a map or leaflet to follow. They don’t cost much and you can walk at your own pace. Go to the tourist information office to see what’s available, or check ahead with VisitBritain. Web www.visitbritain.com 3 Bristol Dockers Visiting Bristol? Don your headphones as…

Paying homage to the campsite’s farming roots are these rather lovely rare breed, Longhorn cattle. English Longhorns are said to have originated in Craven in the Yorkshire Dales, as far back as the 17th century and almost died out, but their numbers had been restored to ‘adequate’ by 1980. They were raised for their beef and milk, the latter being used in the production of Stilton, a Melton Mowbray speciality, and Red Leicester. The Eye Kettleby Lakes Longhorns are ‘pets’, though. Despite having horns, which can be filed if they curve too far into the animal’s face, they are very docile and, as they are able to graze the land in the spring and summer, there’s a chance they may photo-bomb your holiday snaps.…

WHEN TO GO We started our travels at the end of April and encountered wintry conditions, but we have travelled in early April in the past and had much better weather. This year was the exception. The Tarn gorge is very busy in summer, but was blissfully quiet when we visited. And if you want to see the snow-capped mountains of the Pyrenees, you need to visit in May. WAY TO GO We took the Dover/Calais crossing, headed towards Rouen and then south through Chartres and past Orléans. We took the mainly toll-free (except for the viaduct) A75, stopping off at Millau. We then continued on the A75, pausing at Narbonne, before taking the A61 and A64, exiting for Lourdes. The D821 took us to Argelès-Gazost, then we followed the…

NEC visitor numbers keep on growing Some 91,303 people visited this February’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at the NEC in Birmingham. That’s an increase of 1.4% on the same show last year. Jenny Summers, NCC events marketing director, said: “This year, we have also seen an increase in younger families attending the show, lowering the overall visitor age.” Kimberley expands with new workshop Kimberley Caravans has opened a new workshop at its Darlington site, adding six extra bays for servicing caravans and motorhomes. The extension is part of the £750,000 investment the business has made over the past 18 months. Swift Group teams up with Yuasa Swift Group has added battery manufacturer Yuasa to its value added partner programme. The company already supplies its batteries for motorhomes. The new…

First drive DS3 Crossback PureTech 130 Price From £24,550 Kerbweight 1280kg* Towing limit 1200kg 85% match 1088kg THE DS NAME may or may not be familiar. Francophiles and classic car fans will think of the Citroën DS of the 1950s, while others could be asking: “DS who?” Perhaps that’s unsurprising – DS was only established as a separate entity to its Citroën parent in 2014. Company bosses say they expect it will take 20 years to fully establish the brand. The next step in that plan is the DS 3 Crossback. A smaller sibling to the DS 7 Crossback (which we’ll review for the Tow Car Awards in the August issue of Practical Caravan), the DS 3 Crossback is a rival for the likes of the Audi Q2 and the…

Model tested 1.0 TSI 115 FR Price £20,405 What’s new? The Arona is the smallest of Seat’s SUVs. It promises a practical cabin, an enjoyable drive and a healthy list of standard kit. Most buyers looking for a car of this size opt for petrol power, so we’re testing the 1.0 TSI 115 FR, priced at £20,405. What are we looking for? Can a 1.0-litre engine handle towing duties, or will the Arona struggle to pull a lightweight caravan? Is the Seat stable at speed, and is there enough space for holiday luggage? Towing ability Being a small, light car (the kerbweight is just 1189kg), the Arona is only suited to towing lightweight vans. We matched it to a Swift Basecamp with a MiRO of 916kg. Even with a caravan…

How much? £5000-£11,500 As mentioned, you can pick up a C5 Tourer for less than a grand. However, you need to bear in mind that the cheapest cars will have spent the bulk of their lives on the move, and not always in the most sympathetic hands. These are the cars that will require the closest inspection. However, a budget of just £5000 will still net you a good model with less than 80,000 miles on the clock. Even the most expensive cars (bar a couple of exceptionally hopeful dealers) are available for around £10,000, so there’s scope for a late-year high-spec model that’s been well cared for. What will it tow? Kerbweight........................... 1845kg 85% match ........................... 1568kg Towing limit ......................... 1670kg Noseweight limit....................80kg How much is a towball? Witter…

MANY CARAVANNERS assume that if their van can no longer be towed, because of accident or breakdown, here or abroad, their insurance company or car recovery organisation will always bring it home for them. In fact, the situation is a lot more complicated. If you have car recovery, either in the UK only or also abroad, the company will probably tow your caravan home in the event that the tow car has broken down and requires recovery. What it won’t normally do is recover your caravan if the tow car is still fine, but the van itself has become unroadworthy. The following circumstances need to be considered if you want to make sure that you are fully covered for recovery home for your caravan following an incident (all either UK…

Glossop Caravans always provides an excellent selection of tourers in all price ranges, along with a well-run service centre, an awning showroom and a well-stocked accessory shop. Sales executive Martin Allison told us the Glossop presence at all major shows means they get a really good cross-section of pre-owned tourers on the forecourt. “We also offer friendly sales staff and back-up service and repairs,” he says. Address Glossop Caravans, Main A57, Brookfield, Glossop, Derbyshire SK13 6JF Tel 01457 868 0111 Web www.glossopcaravans.co.uk…

Meet the dealers Bardsea Leisure Family-run Bardsea Leisure, in Ulverston, Cumbria, has been in business for 35 years, dealing in Bailey since 1998 and Swift since 2008. It is also the main dealer in the north-west for VB air suspension and E&P Levelsystem. In this location, it’s not surprising the site includes a five-star caravan park with 176 pitches. Associate director Jason Varley says this is one of the reasons why customers come from across the country – they know they can stay the night. But they are no doubt also enticed by the fact that the workshop bays and body shop operate seven days a week. Bardsea Leisure also goes to the NEC shows, and has a stand at the Manchester and Glasgow shows. Address Priory Road, Ulverston, Cumbria…

There’s something that’s been really bugging me for as long as I can remember. I mean, really bugging me. Not quite on the same scale as, “Who on Earth invented a toilet paper dispenser that is designed to dispense only one sheet at a time?”, but bugging me, nevertheless. Imagine the scene for a moment. You walk in to a car showroom. You eye the sparkling motor of your dreams. You select the model and optional extras… and now the big decision… the colour! Should you go for Moroccan Midnight blue, Moulting Camel beige, or Sri Lankan Sunrise burnt umber? “Sorry, Sir,” explains the salesperson. “We only have one option available.” You stare, aghast. “And that is?” “Grey,” they reply. “Shades of Grey?” you ask, hopefully. “Nope,” they confirm. “Just…