Innehållsförteckning för September 2019 från Practical Caravan

‘Although you’d be hard pressed to tell its age from the uniform stripes on the outside, the tower is, from the inside, very obviously medieval’Bryony Symes Where are we? Hook Lighthouse, at the tip of the Hook Peninsula, in County Wexford on the south coast of Ireland What’s going on? Lighthouse is among the oldest lighthouses in the Hook dates from the early 13th century. Guided world – the tower floor and there tours take you up the 115 steps to the fourth are fabulous views from the top. Look carefully among the rocks surrounding it and you might spot a fossil or two Outfit We towed our long-term Bailey Phoenix 440 with our Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer 2.0 170PS Auto…

Taken great pics on your travels? EMAIL letters@practicalcaravan.com or HASHTAG us on social media #practicalcaravan I’ve always wanted to win a pair of mirrors with a photo, but I don’t own a dog... I’ve been caravanning for 30 years, and just on cue, a duck walked into our awning, so here’s my picture! Andy Preece Relaxing in a pool room in Cyprus, looking forward to a few trips in the caravan this summer. Lee Marshall Our cat Cher likes to watch TV, even in the caravan. Taken at Huntly Castle Affiliated Caravan Club Site! Gordon Buchanan STAR PHOTO Andy Preece wins a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors…

This new range gives you luxury, style, space and security, with a choice of three fantastic floorplans. Caravanners’ requirements vary, but there’s one thing everyone looks for: space, style, luxury and a great equipment list. Now you can find it all in one brilliant line-up: Bailey’s fabulous top-of-the-range Alicanto Grande offers all this, and more besides. The Alicanto Grande is 8ft wide, so provides an incredible amount of space, no matter which of the three layouts you choose. As such, it’s the perfect choice for couples or families wanting a spacious, high-end tourer that’s ideal for longer trips, or even seasonally pitched and used as a comfortable base throughout the year. The perfect layout for you The three floorplans each offer something very special, so there’s an Alicanto Grande that’s…

A LONDON TO South Wales road was first proposed in the 1930s. Work began in the late 1950s/early 1960s. The Chiswick flyover in west London – built in 1959, not as a motorway – became Junction 1 of the M4 and is now considered the second oldest stretch of UK motorway. The Maidenhead bypass was the next part to open, in 1961. The remaining English section – 119 miles long, as far as the Severn Bridge – was built between 1961 and 1971. The opening of the Prince of Wales Bridge in 1996 and the diversion of the M4 added 10 miles to the English side. £ 848m In 2018, work began on a 32-mile stretch (Junctions 3 to 12) taking in Heathrow, the M25 interchange, Slough/Windsor, Reading and Theale,…

Poolsbrook Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site Poolsbrook Country Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site also welcomes non-members. The site provides 59 hardstanding pitches, as well as 19 grass pitches, and there are eight hardstanding serviced pitches. There’s a fully heated washblock, too. In typical Caravan and Motorhome Club fashion, the campsite and its facilities are kept immaculately clean and tidy by the hard-working wardens and staff. The pitches here are generally spacious and well defined, and above all, are nice and flat. There’s a security barrier at the entrance, and basic provisions are available to buy at reception. For those visitors who might want to set up an awning, steel pegs are recommended. A good alternative is the Camping and Caravanning Club’s Teversal site, only a few miles…

‘Compact size means the Discovery won’t need a large tow car and is easy to pitch’ IN ADDITION TO the launch of Bailey’s super-luxurious, 8ft-wide Alicanto Grande, the Bristol-based company pulled a surprise new line-up out of the hat – enter the three-model, compact Discovery. While the Alicanto Grande is Bailey’s upmarket range, the Discovery sits at the entry-level end of the company’s offering, and is primarily aimed at those who’ve never owned a caravan before, and who are looking to take adventurous tours. All three models are short in length and light in weight (with MTPLMs under 1206kg), so won’t require a large vehicle to tow them. Their compact size also means they should be easy to pitch and store. The smallest of the three new models is the…

‘Smart new exterior graphics include decal strips in silver and gold’ SWIFT’S FLIRTATION WITH wider vans started 18 months ago with the Sprite Super – and that range is extended this year, with the addition of a new transverse-island-bed model. But having introduced three Elegance Grande models last season, this year the company has launched 8ft-wide subranges for both Challenger and Eccles models, and introduced a layout not previously available in either. Sprite expands ‘The company has launched 8ft-wide sub-ranges for both Challenger and Eccles’ The Sprite Super Quattro EB features a midships washroom with a central handbasin and mirror, and a nearside door that leads to the rear bedroom with transverse bed. Along with two bedside tables (rather than wardrobes), a dresser on the rear nearside corner and a…

‘Among its claims are tourers with the largest panoramic windows on the market’ IT’S ALMOST 50 years since Adria first entered the UK market, and since then it’s built up a network of 30 dealerships and 90 service centres, to become one of Britain’s leading caravan manufacturers. The Slovenian firm’s success goes way beyond our borders, too, with 500 dealerships across Europe. Building on a bumper 2018 season, 2019 saw a £450m turnover and production of some 16,000 units. In the past year, the company has also won a string of awards; but as was clear at the recent launch of its 2020 caravan range, the one that it was most proud of was our Owner Satisfaction Gold Award for best manufacturer. Customer service is clearly important to the company,…

THE END-WASHROOM family tourer with side dinette proved popular from its introduction in the late 1980s. Lunar’s ES model, launched in 2008, uses this well-proven layout, which has featured in the Clubman range since 1985. This 2019 version is a three-berth, although there is a £499 option to add a bunk bed if needed. That said, the ES is a good choice for couples, too. The new Clubmans keep to the tried and tested formula, providing a modern interior and high spec. And with some end-of-season deals around, the range is even better value. The ES is a spacious tourer – Lunar’s designers seem to make interiors that look far bigger than you might expect. Very little changed over the 2018 version, but the design tweaks made the ES just…

Tested by Peter Baber Price £40,511 Kerbweight 1945kg Towball limit 75kg Our chosen tow car for the weekend away certainly got us there in comfort and style. The Mitsubishi is a hybrid, and it makes a pleasant change to tour country lanes in near silence. There’s loads of storage room in the car, too. However, it did struggle occasionally. Going up the M40 rise at Stokenchurch, for example, it was hard to keep it above 40mph. You can set the engine to charge the battery, but we found that, with a caravan on tow, this hardly improved the charge at all. Once we unhitched the van, though, it charged up quickly. Over a tow of 275 miles, half of which had the engine set on ‘charge’, we only managed an…

What’s new? The Cross Country is the pseudo-off-roader version of the V60 estate, with a higher ride height and four-wheel drive. It’s available with the T5 petrol engine or the D4 diesel. We think the diesel – the version tested here – is the more likely tow car. Prices start at just over £40,000. What are we looking for? Does this halfway-house between an estate and an SUV make sense for caravanners? Towing ability Volvo quotes both a minimum kerbweight and a running order weight for its cars. The latter includes 75kg for the driver and all fluids necessary for the car to run, so that’s the weight we’d use for matching purposes. At 1854kg, the V60 Cross Country is a heavy car; not quite as hefty as a big…

Vital statistics Price £16,495 Internal length 5.51m Overall length 7.24m Overall width 2.26m MiRO 1289kg Payload 142kg MTPLM 1431kg Kit list ■ Galvanised chassis ■ AKS hitch/Al-Ko wheel lock/ATC ■ Alloy wheels/spare wheel ■ Oven/microwave/dual-fuel hob ■ Fridge ■ Alde heating ■ CD/radio ■ TV aerial/awning light/alarm ■ Exterior mains socket/barbecue point ■ Electric-flush toilet…

BUYING A LUXURY caravan used to mean being limited to heavier models, but Lunar changed all that in the early 1980s, when the introduction of lighter cars indicated a change of direction in tourer design and they went lightweight themselves. The manufacturer pioneered the use of the aluminium chassis, even supplying them on the Buccaneer at one time. Building a reputation for lightweight, yet well-equipped, caravans meant that Lunar’s Clubman range, in particular, would rapidly develop a loyal following. In 2009 blacked-out privacy windows were added, while ATC and blown-air heating were fitted as standard. Clubmans were well-specified and our model here, the CK, had a particularly good washroom and lighting levels. We checked out a trade buy – that is, a model that’s in need of some attention. Now…

While I welcome all the home comforts that we have at our disposal in modern caravans – hot water, shower, television and so on – I can’t help feeling they are slowly changing the social side of caravanning! Doing the washing-up in the communal dishwashing area, or waiting for the next free cubicle in the shower block, offers the opportunity to meet, and chat to, other caravanners, and is a perfect way to make new friends. Although many people do still make use of site facilities, I feel that many others are now happy to do these things in their caravan. Nothing wrong with that – it’s merely my own observations – but I wonder if, in years to come, we might lose more of the social side of caravanning?…

Buckets and spades Price £23.15 Web www.amazon.co.ukNo trip to the seaside can be complete without a bucket and spade, but why not go one step further for even more fun in the sand? The seven-piece Hape Beach Basics Backpack has everything you need and more for the children to enjoy a great day by the sea, with a bucket, spade, rake, sieve, watering can and fish mould, all in a fun rucksack. Making memories Price £13.50 Web www.leisurelogsjournals.co.ukKeep track of all the adventures that you’re having in your caravan this summer with these beautifully illustrated Leisure Logs Caravan Journals. There’s plenty of space for everyone to get creative, as well as a map of the UK so you can mark the places you’ve visited, and lighthearted cartoons about touring life.…

Two new campsites have joined the Tranquil Parks network of adults-only sites. In Cambridgeshire, Fields End Water (www.fieldsendwater.co.uk) has two fishing lakes and an on-site café, while near Carlisle, in Cumbria, Green Acres (www.greenacrescumbria.co.uk) makes a great base for exploring Hadrian’s Wall (five miles away), the Scots Borders (10 miles) and the Lake District (25 miles), or as a stopover for tours further afield. Fields End Water is open all year, with prices from £17 to £23, and Green Acres from 1 April to 31 October, at £19 to £26.…

‘The original ship took six months to build, the replica, five years’ Like many people in the UK, my family tree is firmly rooted in the green hills of Ireland. Unlike some, though, many members of my family have more than a passing interest in genealogy. Thanks to a distant cousin, my dad’s side of the family has been traced as far back as the 16th century and linked to several others in County Wexford – the Gifford, Glascott, Elmes and Brownrigg families, to name but a few. There has even been a book published about the family connections, An Irish Lineage. The co-author, Rosemary Gifford, regularly organises clan gatherings that bring families together from all over the world; what better reason did I need for a trip to Ireland?…

Who are you? I’m Sarah Wakely, editor in chief of Practical Caravan magazine and long-time devotee of caravanning. Why are you a local authority on South Dorset? I was born in Weymouth and lived there until I was 18, before leaving for university in London. I still have family there, and often visit the area. What do you love about it? Weymouth’s beautiful beach is one of the main reasons that many people visit, but there’s so much more to this part of the world – not least the rolling hills and pretty villages that surround the town. The air is clean and fresh, and then of course, there’s the Jurassic Coast, the town of Dorchester and Portland Bill – I can’t think of anywhere better to take a tour!…

Robinsons Caravans has a new owner, after 54 years of family ownership. Saalbach Equities, an Asia-based private equity firm, has bought the company; the latter has branches in Worksop and Chesterfield, and is a regular exhibitor at the NEC, and known for its dealer specials. Saalbach, which is backed by a £1bn hedge fund, has been investing in the engineering, marketing and recruitment sector. Robinsons is its first investment in retail. Saalbach joint chief executive Jordan Hastie said: “Robinsons Caravans is one of the oldest dealers in the north, and with incredible year-on-year numbers we are excited to take this business to a bigger, better place.”…

THERE’S A CERTAIN romance to naming caravan ranges after mythical creatures – Phoenix, Pegasus and Unicorn – rather than numbers. And Bailey continues in this vein with its latest launch: the Alicanto, named after a mythical Chilean bird, said to feed off gold and silver, whose eyes emit a strange light. There’s perhaps even more romance to naming one of the models in the new line-up – the transverse island-bed end-washroom model – the Sintra, after a town famed for its royal palaces and glitz. But does this 8ft-wide caravan – one of three in Bailey’s new range – live up to expectations? It certainly has all the magic of the Unicorn, but with some really sparkling new additions, including the cabinetwork and upholstery, and the latest high-tech fridge. We…

SPRITE SUPERS ARRIVED 18 months ago, offering the luxury of wider living space in family-friendly layouts. Last year, the range comprised two twin-axles, both six-berths with a second dinette opposite the side kitchen. For 2020, however, they have been joined by the Quattro EB; another twin-axle, but this time with only four berths. In place of that second dinette, the EB has a washroom spread across the van, and behind that, a fixed transverse island-bed. Pitch and set-up You only get an AKS 3004 stabiliser on a Sprite Super if you opt for the £610 Diamond Pack. As this includes a microwave and DAB radio, most buyers do, and our test model included the pack. However, ATC trailer control doesn’t even come as an option – this really is an…

IT’S NOW MORE than 45 years since Slovenian company Adria’s caravans started being imported into the UK. Early 1970 saw the first attempt by one UK dealership to import Adrias, then in late 1970, Adria set up a subsidiary in Bedfordshire to import their tourers, which used several UK components, such as the Carver SB1800 flued heater (later becoming the Truma Carver). Already gaining popularity after being shown at the 1968 RAI show in the Netherlands, Adria began to break into more export markets. By the 1980s they were a firm favourite in the UK, with 30-plus dealerships. But in the early 1990s, the downturn saw imports slowing. Dealers were lost and in 1995, so was the importer; it was then down to husband-and-wife team Stuart and Jenny Cook to…

Price £25,299 Berths 3 MiRO 1257kg Payload 143kg MTPLM 1500kg Awning size 1010cm Specification highlights • Alloys • ATC • Heavy-duty steadies • Spare wheel • TV aerial • AKS hitch • Offside light • Night light grab handles • Alarm • Alde heating • CD/radio • Microwave • Full oven • Fridge • Glazed door • Skyview roof vent • Barbecue point • Exterior locker • Exterior mains socket and shower Contact Lunar Caravans, Sherdley Road, Lostock Hall, Preston PR5 5JF Tel 01772 337 628 Web www.lunarcaravans.com Measurements A Shipping length 7.06m B Interior length 5.51m C Overall width 2.32m D Front double bed 2.10 x 1.92m E Front single beds 1.92 x 0.74m F Side single bed 1.83 x 0.70m…

Price £2899 Weight 17.8kg (claimed) Range Up to 40 miles Charge time Seven hours Folded size 880 x 390 x 615mm (pedals folded) FOLDING BIKES MAKE a lot of sense on tour. Their compact size allows for easy storage, and they’re perfect for nipping into the village for a pint of milk. Unless, that is, the nearest shop is at the top of a steep hill. Step forward, the Gocycle GX. The latest addition to the Gocycle range, the GX combines the ultra-modern design and smart looks of the other models with a more compact fold. While other Gocycles have removeable wheels and a folding handlebar stem, the GX is hinged in the middle of the frame and there’s no need to remove the wheels. It will easily fit under…

What’s new? The subtle exterior changes underplay some extensive improvements to the latest Dacia Duster. Today’s car has a better interior, cleaner engines, more equipment and improved safety. But other things haven’t changed: the Duster is very affordable, starting from £9995. Even our diesel 4x4 test car is a modest £17,400, significantly undercutting almost all rivals. It should be affordable to run, too, with a low insurance group rating and modest fuel consumption. What are we looking for? Does the new Duster maintain the old model’s strengths, while smoothing off its rough edges? Can it compare with more expensive rivals, and how well does it cope with the demands of towing? Towing ability The Duster is a small and light car. Petrol versions weigh as little as 1254kg (including 75kg…

WHEN YOU ARE starting out in the world of caravanning, there is a great deal of new knowledge that needs to be acquired and put into practice, and occasionally, mistakes can be made. Personally, I prefer to see these mistakes as something of a learning curve! So, without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most common errors. Tyres The tyres are your only contact with the road and if they are not in good condition, or serviced regularly, you could end up anywhere but on the road. Checking the tyres’ condition is often overlooked, so if your caravan has been left stationary for a few months, do a visual check of the tyres (and the spare tyre). Are there cracks in the side wall? Has any…

‘The sound coming through the caravan’s speakers has a much better quality than that coming from the TV’ *Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Caravan, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information.…

THERE WILL BE many keen caravanners who are in the same situation as my wife and me. We have been touring for years, and yet the only thing that Kay has ever towed is the Aquaroll, to and from the campsite taps. That’s not for any bad reason, because she is a very competent driver, but I always end up in the driving seat. Perhaps the fact that I’m not the most relaxed of passengers doesn’t help? However, there’s always the chance that for some reason, I might be unable to drive, and Kay would find herself behind the wheel. We’ve often spoken about it, and I’ve seen the fear in her eyes when we have. I’m sure there are plenty of people who really love the idea of caravanning,…

Vital statistics Price £11,995 Internal length 5.50m Overall length 7.22m Overall width 2.31m MiRO 1487kg Payload 163kg MTPLM 1650kg Kit list ■ Galvanised chassis ■ AKS hitch/mover ■ Alloy wheels/spare wheel ■ Oven/microwave/dual-fuel hob ■ Fridge ■ TV aerial ■ Alarm ■ Exterior mains socket ■ Alde heating ■ Electric-flush toilet…

‘We have towed our Bailey Senator an additional 2362km, from Aljezur to Evora in Portugal, then to Vera and Oria, in Spain, and now to France’ WHAT A MONTH it’s been! Since our last update, we have volunteered at three more projects, stopped over at two more campsites and even had an overnight stay at a Repsol garage, by the side of the motorway in Spain. We have also enjoyed some of the most incredible local cuisine, visited numerous beaches, rivers and historic monuments, got our first glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea and witnessed how quickly the landscape is transformed when you are travelling through Portugal, Spain and France. Building skills We’ve all been learning, too – the children have learnt how to mix cement, plaster walls, operate a pneumatic…

Way to go From the UK, there are several ferry crossings to Ireland. We took the Stena Line service from Fishguard in Wales, which docks in Rosslare. It was then an easy 45-minute drive to our campsite in Duncannon. Alternatively, you could go for the Holyhead-to-Dublin crossing, or start in Northern Ireland with the Liverpool-to-Belfast or Cairnryan-to-Belfast routes. When to go The busiest time of the year on the southern coast of Ireland is late June to August, but at other times, you can expect it to be pretty quiet. May and September are generally dry and sunny. Food and drink ■ Roches Bar & Restaurant www.rochesbar.ie ■ Templars Inn www.thetemplarsinn.com ■ Hook Lighthouse Café www.hookheritage.ie ■ The Captain’s Table Restaurant, The Dunbrody Famine Ship www.dunbrody.com/restaurant Find out more ■…

NEW BAILEY RANGE TAKES FLIGHT Bailey’s latest luxury line-up, all 8ft wide, is named after a mythical South American bird. Peter Baber finds out if it lives up to the legend ANYONE WHO IS a regular reader of this magazine will know that 8ft-wide caravans are all the rage at the moment. Only a few seasons ago, such a width was only really available – at least when it comes to UK firms – from Buccaneer. Then, what used to be the Explorer Group began including family-friendly 8ft-wide models in its Elddis and Compass ranges. Lunar caught on, at its second try, with its upmarket Alaria. So Bailey wasn’t exactly the first off the mark in launching its own 8ft-wide models, in the summer of 2018. What was unusual was…

Price £28,499 Delivery charge £565 Berths 4 MiRO 1441kg Payload 155kg MTPLM 1624kg Specification highlights • Alde heating • Thetford Caprice Mk III oven and separate grill • Dometic 10 series 153-litre fridge with two-way opening • Four USB sockets • Six mains sockets • External lockers • Alloy wheels Contact Bailey of Bristol, South Liberty Lane, Bristol BS3 2SS Tel 0117 966 5967 Web www.baileyofbristol.co.uk Measurements A Shipping length 7.38m B Interior length 6.11m C Width 2.45m D Front nearside single 1.80 x 0.64m E Front offside single 1.83 x 0.64m F Front double 2.03 x 1.52m G Rear double 1.91 x 1.42m…

Price £22,440 Berths 4 MiRO 1500kg Payload 205kg MTPLM 1705kg Specification highlights • Truma heating • Thetford three-burner hob • Dometic 100-litre fridge • Ecocamel shower head • Status 570 TV aerial • Diamond Pack Contact Swift Group, Dunswell Road, Cottingham, East Yorkshire HU16 4JX Tel 01482 875 740 Web www.swiftgroup.co.uk Measurements A Shipping length 7.98m B Interior length 6.27m C Width 2.46m D Front double TBC E Front singles TBC F Rear double bed TBC…

Price £23,995 OTR Berths 4 MiRO 1593kg Payload 157kg MTPLM 1750kg Awning size 1072cm • Alloy wheels • Spare wheel • Heavy-duty steadies • AKS hitch • GRP sides • TV aerial • Alde heating • Glazed stable door • Heki roof vent • Exterior barbecue point • Exterior locker • 140-litre fridge/freezer • Oven and grill Contact Adria Caravans, Drury Drive, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 1WH Tel 01717 868 980 Web www.adria.co.uk Measurements A Shipping length 8.24m B Interior length 6.14m C Overall width 2.45m D Front double bed 2.12 x 1.54m E Rear fixed double bed 1.96 x 1.40m…

IN A NUTSHELL Splendidly comfortable and stylish home from home WE ALL KNOW there are lots of things about caravanning that make it way better than any other kind of travelling. The knowledge that you can stretch out in bed for a relaxing lie-in, without having to worry about a chambermaid knocking on the door – or check-out times and when breakfast finishes. You also don’t have to worry about any property that isn’t yours, and you can dress up your spacious caravan to look just like home – something that’s not quite as easy in a motorhome. Sleep in luxury One weekend last month, we found the Bailey Phoenix 440 we currently have on long-term loan perfectly lived up to those expectations. Its rear corner bed is so comfortable,…

FOR MOST OF its life, Citroën has been known as a producer of avant-garde machinery. Its vehicles have long been known for quirky design, in overall cars and individual components. For example, which other manufacturer could come up with the 2CV, or the incredible dashboard on the Citroën CX of the 1970s, with its ‘rotating drum’ speedometer (it’s worth an internet search – honest)? Then there’s the amazing magic-carpet hydropneumatic suspension that populated numerous models late in the previous millennium. However, early in the 2000s, Citroën had comprehensively lost its mojo. Cars such as the C3 supermini and C5 family car had all been put through some sort of corporate ‘blander’ in the firm’s kitchen, and plummeting sales were the result. Then in 2014, up popped the C4 Cactus. It…

CARAVANS ARE FITTED with a variety of external doors and lockers (garage, gas, toilet cassette and so on). Invariably, they have some form of catch to keep them open while you are rummaging about inside. In most cases, these catches use friction as the retaining medium. Some are assisted by springs (nylon or metal), but still have a friction action as their mainstay of operation. I have a wide assortment of door catches spread around the outside of my (older) caravan, but they all have one thing in common. They’re not particularly great to start with and their operation deteriorates over time, owing to frequent use and exposure to the elements. Magnetic force This project shows you how to assemble a magnetic door or locker catch, thus removing the reliance…

THE END-WASHROOM family layout has been around for more than 25 years now, and apart from a bit of a lull in sales, it is still a sought-after floorplan, especially in the pre-owned market. We found two great examples of this layout at Marquis Preston, where for less than £12,000 we could bag a smart 2011 Sterling Elite Emerald with all the trimmings, or a 2015 Elddis Affinity 530 with good spec, at £16,495. So would spending the extra cash on the Elddis be worthwhile, compared with that classy looking Sterling? The contenders 2015 Elddis Affinity 530 The Affinity range has proved popular with customers who want to buy a luxury tourer with good kit, without spending a fortune. This 2015 530 layout appealed to us, too. In super condition,…

General manager Shane Smith says: “We offer customers great choice, with new models from Caravelair, and a special by Lunar, the Venus Deluxe. We have a selection of pre-owned models and customers can buy from our other branches and have the van delivered to Preston. Our workshops are well equipped and we make sure tourers are well prepped before they go on sale.” Address Riversway Leisure Village, Chain Caul Way, Preston PR2 2PD Tel 01772 731 313 Web www.marquisleisure.co.uk…

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