Innehållsförteckning för October 2019 från Practical Caravan

‘Near the village of Minions on Bodmin Moor, you’ll find The Hurlers, a set of three stone circles that is, in effect, Cornwall’s version of Stonehenge’Peter Baber Where are we? Bodmin Moor, in Cornwall, and T close to the historic village of Minions. What’s going on? This month we’ve been in search of some of the UK’s most fascinating history, and in his hunt for Celtic monuments, Peter discovered a wealth of brilliant other locations in this popular county. You can read his full story on p28 of this issue. Outfit We towed a Bailey Discovery D4-2 (p70) with our long-term-test Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 4hs (p84)…

Al fresco cooking Price £69 Web www.solarbrother.comHarness the power of the sun and try a new version of outdoor cooking with the Sungood Solar Cooker. This clever idea may take a little longer (add 20-30 minutes to your recipe’s cooking time), but when you’re on tour, that’s a luxury you might well have! The mirror system means you can cook safely and healthily, with no fire risk. Plus, it only weighs 950g. Streaming while you tour Price £29.99 Web www.roku.com/en-gb/products/roku-expressTurn your caravan TV into a smart TV with the small, easy-to-use Roku Express. Simply connect it to a HDMI port and Wi-Fi and start streaming — you can choose from free apps such as BBC iPlayer and subscription apps including Netflix. Plus it comes with its own remote, or you…

The Historic Dockyard Chatham has teamed up with the production company of TV’s Call The Midwife to create a themed walking tour based on the popular show. Visitors will be guided around the 400-year-old site by a costumed midwife to see how Neal Street Productions transformed it into a 1960s setting, with props and costumes. The tour lasts 90 minutes and the ticket price of £25 includes entry to the dockyard. Tours take place up to 31 October. Visit https://thedockyard.co.uk/whats-on/call-the-midwife-location-tours/ to book.…

■ The term ‘Briton’ originally applied to the Welsh, Cornish and Bretons, and was only applied to the English, Scots and Northern Irish in 1707, by the Acts of Union in the Kingdom of Great Britain. ■ If the invading Romans were to be believed, our island tribes were ferocious, bloodthirsty, barbaric headhunters. Roman writings describe blue woad-painted, tattooed, semi-clad male and female warriors bearing mighty swords and unafraid of death. ■ As invaders, the Romans were bound to paint the people of Britannia in the poorest light, but their story was a little more complicated, and the term ‘Celt’ was not applied to the Iron Age tribes until the 18th century. ■ Britain’s Iron Age ran from 800 BCE to 100 CE, when it was supplanted by Roman Britain.…

1 Peace in the Hebrides The wild beauty of the Isle of Lewis is something special, with plenty of small, friendly campsites to choose from. Traigh Na Berie Campsite, for example, is right on a white sandy beach, with barbecue pits in the sand dunes. (Also known as Kneep Campsite.) Tel 01851 672 332 2 Great outdoors If you’re keen on outdoor activities, you’ll love Crannich Holiday Caravans & Touring Site, on the Isle of Mull. The campsite is set in 250 acres of farmland, with Highland cattle, sheep and horses all to be seen. Not only that, it adjoins thousands of acres of Forestry Commission land just waiting to be explored, on foot or by mountain bike. Web www.crannich.co.uk 3 Edinburgh’s gorgeous gardens Those wanting to visit the area…

‘Although we were surrounded by mountains, we sensibly stuck to the lower pastures and woodland’ PICKING THE PERFECT campsite and holiday destination for a group of family and friends aged from two to 74 could be fraught with pitfalls. There are so many things to think about, ranging from suitable leisure facilities and interesting activities to keep the youngsters happy, to gentle strolls and sightseeing for the seniors – not to mention the needs of two very lively dogs. When we plan a half-term break with our wider family group, we tend to head off to trusted and loved destinations such as the Lake District, but this time we fancied a change. North Wales was always a favourite choice for holidays during my childhood, and is only a couple of…

1 Celtic and Prehistoric Museum In the far west of Ireland, on the Dingle Peninsula, The Celtic and Prehistoric Museum is in an area rich with Celtic history. Its impressive collection spans pre-history, including the Celts, and includes the largest known complete woolly mammoth skull. More information www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/celtic-prehistoric-museum/13166 Where to stay Dingle Camping & Caravan Site Web www.dingleactivities.com/camping 2 Iona The tiny island of Iona, just off Mull, can only be accessed by foot ferry but it’s well worth the extra journey. There’s a wealth of Celtic crosses at Iona Abbey and Nunnery, where it is thought there has been Christian worship since 563AD. While you’re in Argyll and The Isles, don’t miss Kildalton Cross on Islay, which was carved in the 700s. More information www.historicenvironment.scot Where to stay Oban…

ELDDIS HAS MADE few changes to its line up for 2020, concentrating mainly on tweaks, but it has dropped the traditional two-berth layout in favour of a new fixed, transverse-bed design. This layout – with L-shaped lounge, and central kitchen and washroom – looks set to be a popular one for Elddis and sister brand Compass. The Avanté range has upgrades for 2020, including Whale’s next-generation heating system along with new soft furnishings, plus Dometic midi-Heki roof vent and various furniture tweaks. The 454 would sleep four if needed, but it is marketed as a serious tourer for couples and, on paper, it looks to be ideal for two. It also looks as though the L-shaped lounge design is making a slight comeback, as Elddis, Compass, Swift, Coachman and Lunar…

EIGHT-FOOT-WIDE caravans have been unveiled so regularly recently that one is apt to become a bit blasé about them. But there is something a bit special about the Eccles range – which celebrated its centenary last year – being graced with its own versions of them. The 850 we test here is one of four eight-foot-wide models that Swift is bringing out this year as an Eccles X sub-range. Pitch and set up On the road with an eight-foot-wide caravan, you are going to be just as concerned about stability as you are about the Eccles’ timber-free construction. So it’s good to know that the Eccles comes with an AKS stabiliser. The standard Eccles does not, however, include Al-Ko’s ATC trailer control system, and Swift hasn’t decided to make it…

IN A NUTSHELL Great for short towing trips, not so effective for long-haul THIS MONTH, GOING on a mammoth trip down to Cornwall with a new Bailey Discovery (and several other towing journeys) has given us another chance to really test our long-term-loan tow car. We are still getting to grips with the idea of a hybrid as a tow car, but the Mitsubishi undoubtedly has its good points. Chief among these is the almost total silence of the engine when you start up – something that happens even when the battery for the electric engine is virtually flat. This means you can make an early start from a caravan park – or arrive late in the evening – without worrying about disturbing your neighbours with the roar of an…

What’s new? The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is still Britain’s favourite plug-in hybrid vehicle, but Mitsubishi hasn’t been resting on its laurels. The latest model has an uprated petrol engine, greater battery capacity and a more powerful electric motor at the rear. The changes contribute to an all-electric range of 28 miles (tested to the WLTP standard), which is enough for many drivers to complete a daily commute without using petrol power at all. What are we looking for? We know that the Mitsubishi is a tax-efficient choice for a company car driver and promises low running costs. But towing places heavy demands on the car’s engine, motors and transmission. How well does the PHEV cope? Towing ability The electric motors and battery contribute to a high kerbweight: the Outlander weighs…

PEOPLE BECOME ATTACHED to their caravan or motorhome; they’re almost part of the family. And as you would for any family member, you’ll want to protect your caravan or motorhome and keep it safe. The threat of vehicle theft is very real. “We have seen a rise in caravan thefts in the past 12 months,” says Craig Thompson, marketing director of insurance specialist Caravan Guard (www.caravanguard.co.uk). “Motorhome theft is also on the rise.” Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to keep your home-from-home secure. Storage Most touring units spend more time in storage than on tour. When choosing where to store your caravan or motorhome, security should be a priority. A friendly local farmer might rent out the corner of a disused barn, but if the closest thing…

Vital statistics Price £8950 Internal length 4.90m Overall length 6.47m Overall width 2.28m MiRO 1137kg Payload 189kg MTPLM 1326kg Kit List ■ Galvanised chassis ■ AKS hitch/ATC ■ Blown heating ■ CD player/radio/TV aerial ■ Awning light ■ Exterior mains socket/barbecue point ■ Alloy wheels ■ Electric-flush loo ■ Microwave ■ Alarm…

MANY READERS WILL remember the Bailey Ranger line-up of tourers (if you don’t, see our Secondhand Shootout on page 106). These popular ’vans were in production from 1996 right up to 2010 and helped re-establish Bailey as a major touring brand. Dealers sold Rangers like hot cakes but when the range was replaced with the Alu-Tech construction Orion, sales took a bit of a dive. And that’s where the Pursuit comes in. It may not have been the saviour that the Ranger had been, but it certainly sold better than the Orion, and by the end of 2016 the company was ready to keep the Pusuit name going in the shape of a second-generation model. This was to last until 2018 when the Phoenix took over and the Pursuit made…

AS A LONG-TIME subscriber to Practical Caravan, one of my first ports of call each month is the letters pages. I felt I had to put pen to paper after reading Phil Tupman’s letter in issue 417, in which he queries how to keep his caravan clean. My first bit of advice, after caravanning for some 40 years, is to purchase a decent cover. The next is to not allow a pressure washer anywhere near your ‘pride and joy’ for the following reason. Five years ago we purchased a brand new, upmarket-level caravan from a main dealer. We chose an ex-demo model produced by the same manufacturer as our previous three caravans, due to the fact that we liked the build quality. On the van’s first annual service we were…

Taken great pics on your travels? EMAIL letters@practicalcaravan.com or HASHTAG us on social media #practicalcaravan We rehomed Fred last October, and this was his first caravanning experience, in West Stow, Suffolk. He loved it, and is pictured here in our Swift Corniche, very happy to have a rawhide chew after a lovely walk! David, Karen and Fred Good job we are having steak on our BBQ tonight! One of the friendly chickens on site. Roy Bond Dave the Dane thinking he’s a lot smaller than he actually is! Dan Campbell…

THIS MONTH WE’RE really thanking our lucky stars! In the days leading up to our departure from Camping du Bois de St Hilaire, in western France, we noticed a ‘wobble’ in our Hyundai Santa Fe. Warren removed all of the wheels, didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, put it down to tracking or wheel alignment, and decided we would book the car in for a service at our next destination, in Limousin. On arrival, when he once again inspected the car, he realised the problem wasn’t tracking, but a small tear and rather large bulge in the back left tyre. We were fortunate enough not to have a blow-out on the motorway, but will definitely be doing more checks in future. The heart of France Since our previous update,…

Many of us have done the annual jaunt down to Cornwall. We’ve joined the throngs driving steadily down the M5; we’ve inwardly gasped at how long it takes to get to Watergate Bay; and we have reassured the kids that yes, we will spend one day at the Eden Project. But do we notice anything else? Like the villages you see signs for, named after saints you have never heard of? Or the occasional Celtic cross you might whizz past on the road? Or the strange formations you can occasionally see in the distance as you finally cross Bodmin Moor? All these should be a sign that there is another side to Cornwall – more mysterious, and more ethereal. The people we have grown to call the Celts attached great…

‘If you believe the legend, the island wasn’t placed, but thrown – by the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill’ Ask any of your well travelled caravan-owning friends where they have been with their van in the British Isles, and one place you’re unlikely to hear mentioned is the Isle of Man. And with good reason. There’s a long-standing myth that caravans are banned from the island. But that’s not true – they are just restricted, as on the fellow island of Jersey. Nevertheless, the need to obtain a permit – and to apply for it in writing – before your caravan is allowed onto the ferry can be a touch too much planning for those who prefer the more-spontaneous ‘just-pack-up-and-go’ approach that owning a caravan allows. But that would be…

Who are you? I’m Peter Baber, reviews editor of Practical Caravan. How do you know about Calderdale? I wasn’t born here, but I have lived here all this century, first in Hebden Bridge and more recently in Todmorden. What do you love about it? The rugged beauty of the Pennines – and the industrial heritage. Calderdale is not like the Yorkshire Dales proper, with dry stone walls and sheep. The bustling towns around here include Hebden Bridge, and there are fascinating buildings, such as the newly restored Piece Hall in Halifax and Shibden Hall, where Gentleman Jack was filmed. What’s your favourite place to visit in the area? Hardcastle Crags (HX7 7AW), a steeply wooded valley north of Hebden that was saved from becoming a reservoir in the 1960s and…

‘The Acadia line-up features 10 models, all with Alde heating fitted as standard’ COACHMAN HAS MERGED its Vision and Pastiche ranges for 2020, to create one new Acadia line-up, which has Alde heating fitted as standard. The company says this means that it has become the first UK caravan manufacturer to fit Alde heating only. But it also means you cannot buy a new Coachman for under £20,000. As with many other firms this season, there are also 8ft-wide caravans – the Laser range is extended with two new Xcel models, while an 8ft-wide Acadia will be unveiled at this October’s NEC show. Idyllic Acadia The 10 models in the Acadia line-up (the name derives from Arcadia, an idyllic garden) include two bunk-bed layouts from the Vision range – the…

BAILEY HAS BEEN very busy of late, with plenty of new models launched from its base in Bristol. Its surprise offering in July was its new lightweight range, using an old name. In fact, since the Alu-Tech days, no old names have been used (except on a Phoenix dealer special). So the new entry-level range, Discovery, revives a name first used in 1992, then again in 1995. It was the later Discovery models (based on Rangers) that were more successful. So will the new Discovery prove a sales success? With just three models in its line-up at present, that does limit sales; but they do include a fixed-bed model, the D4-4, which we feel could be the bestseller of the three. Pitch and set-up Alu-Tech construction does limit the tourer…

IT’S A TRICKY one. Can you pitch an inflatable awning all season long? Quality of material aside, there’s always going to be the question of how inflated tubes cope with the inevitable changes in temperature you’re going to experience when you are pitched long-term, as well as the risk of losing pressure over long periods. Enter the Dorema Daytona Air. It’s a full awning (roomier, better insulated than a porch, no creeping along the awning rail once up), with the added advantages of inflatable pole technology (easier to erect, obviating any likelihood of accidental damage from wayward conventional poles). Problem solved, then? We’d certainly love to hear of readers’ experiences. Meanwhile, we were more than happy with our initial impressions of this Dorema product. It’s a size 10 (in a…

IF YOU HAVE a large and heavy caravan or trailer to tow, you need a large and heavy car to tow it with; and in this regard there is simply nothing finer than the Land Rover Discovery. This fifth iteration of the range is definitely the best. It’s undeniably large, certainly luxurious, and despite Land Rover’s sterling efforts at weight reduction, still a bit of a chubber at almost 2.2 tonnes. Still, while it is big, it’s also extremely clever, with a four-wheel-drive system that will drag the Discovery up anything short of a wall, and suspension that can be raised and lowered to aid access or wade through deep water. Something else tow car buyers will like is the Advanced Tow Assist, which allows you to control the direction…

AFTER PURCHASING YOUR caravan, an awning or canopy is probably going to be one of the most expensive accessories you decide to buy. An awning can offer you a much needed respite from the elements, providing shelter from the sun and protection from the rain. And for those of you who enjoy long stopovers, the awning can also be a really useful source of additional sleeping space ( 1 ), as well as increasing the room you have for dining, or storing your kit. My first one was an Isabella porch awning, given to me by my father. Having bought a new caravan, the finances were tight, so this was a welcome addition. I would estimate it’s about 28 years old now, but it is still in super condition and…

DESIGNERS TAKE INTO consideration two overriding constraints when equipping a caravan with a mains supply system: ■ Protection from damage and potential fire hazards caused by appliances failing, and thereby exceeding the current rating of the internal mains distribution wiring ■ Protecting the occupants of the caravan from lethal electric shocks in the event of an appliance becoming faulty Overcurrent protection Previously, overcurrent (high current demand and/or short circuit) conditions were handled by wire fuse links designed to melt and thereby isolate the supply should a fault situation occur. Nowadays, households – and caravans – are fitted with current-sensing circuit breakers, known as miniature circuit breakers or MCBs, which isolate the supply once a predetermined steady-state current level has been exceeded or a short circuit occurs. Type B MCBs (used…

1 Use masking tape to label the exact position of each leg before removing any of the fixing screws 4 Modern double-sided tapes are incredibly strong and will successfully supplement the screw fixing 2 Tap the tapered, glued matchsticks firmly but gently into place in the screwholes with a small hammer 5 Use a small bradawl to provide a centre starting hole for each self-tapping fixing screw 3 Degrease both contact surfaces with methylated spirits before applying your self-adhesive tape 6 Back in its place, the table is now as firm as it ever was – and hopefully will stay that way indefinitely!…

Vital statistics Price £7450 Internal length 4.45m Overall length 6.12m Overall width 2.18m MIRO 1002kg Payload 175kg MTPLM 1177kg Kit List ■ Galvanised chassis ■ AKS hitch ■ Alloy wheels ■ Microwave ■ CD player/radio/TV aerial ■ Mover ■ Blown heating ■ Electric-flush loo ■ Mover ■ ATC…

When to go I visited in August, although outside hotspots such as Tintagel and Fowey, the countryside wasn’t as crowded as I had feared. There were still plenty of places were I could enjoy solitude. As long as you aren’t necessarily bothered about going for a dip, Cornwall is great at any time of year. You can certainly be surprised at how warm it can get, even in shoulder season. Way to go This trip settled a question for me: the M3/A303 route for getting to the South West from the Home Counties is definitely quicker than taking the M4 to Bristol and turning left. For those from other areas, Cornwall is always going to be quite a schlep down the M5, and then onto the A30. The latter remains…

When to go Unless you are a motorbike fan and have booked a campsite a year in advance, it’s best to avoid the time around the TT Festival, the Classic TT and the Southern 100. Dates are on the Visit Isle of Man website. Way to go The way to the island with a caravan is via the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company (www.steam-packet.com). Caravans are only carried on the slower Ben-my-Chree vessel, which travels between Heysham and Douglas. Bookings with caravans can only be made via telephone (08722 992 992) and you’ll need to produce the written permission from the Isle of Man government in order to board the ferry at Heysham. Getting permission While motorhomes and campervans are welcomed on the island without issues, towed caravans have…

WHEN PRACTICAL CARAVAN went to the Erwin Hymer Group UK (EHG (UK)) launch this time in 2018, it was to see the first collection of Elddis, Compass, Xplore and Buccaneer tourers produced under the full management of the German giant. Since then, developments have continued apace in County Durham: this year sees the addition of a few new models – taking the company’s offering to 40 in total – that should prove tempting to fans of the brands. All-new Avanté models Of the four brands produced here in Britain by EHG (UK), perhaps the best known is Elddis; within that are three ranges which continue for 2020 – the mid-range Avanté and Affinity, and the upmarket Crusader line-up. Avanté will feature seven models this year: four in a ‘regular’ width,…

IT SEEMS WE can wave goodbye to the Coachman’s Vision range, and the Pastiche too, which was essentially just the Vision with Alde heating added. For 2020 Coachman has amalgamated everything into one range, all of which comes with Alde heating as standard (see p64). The twin-axle 675 we are looking at here is new for 2020. As a 6m-plus layout with a rear transverse island bed and an end washroom, it has previously only been available in the more upmarket Laser range. But a word before we start about the brand name. Acadia is not a misspelling of Arcadia: it’s the name of a stunning national park in New England. So does this Coachman caravan live up to the pedigree? Pitch and set-up Not much has changed in terms…

THE ALTEA RANGE has been around for 16 years, and in that time, it’s brought entry-level buyers into the Adria brand, often as a stepping stone to the more expensive Adora. The Altea has proved a solid performer for Adria in the UK and 2020 sees the range receive an interior freshen-up. It’s been a while since the last revamp, and the Altea was probably ready for a new look. The exterior seems pretty much the same, apart from new graphics, but Adria buyers tend to be attracted by the almost bullet-proof build, rather than the latest interior design developments. But don’t let that lead you into thinking the Altea isn’t up-to-date, because it is, although it still has that entry-level feel. For 2020, the spec has been beefed up…

What’s new? The new T-Cross is the smallest member of Volkswagen’s SUV family. It’s closely related to the Seat Arona and the forthcoming Skoda Kamiq. For a small car, the T-Cross is big on safety, with a wide range of driver aids and a five-star Euro NCAP rating. What are we looking for? Is the little petrol engine up to towing? Is the VW good value for money? And, for such a small car, is the T-Cross a practical choice? Towing ability The T-Cross is a small car, only a little longer than a Volkswagen Polo or a Ford Fiesta. That’s reflected in a low kerbweight of 1270kg, giving an 85% match figure of 1080kg. Given the car’s modest power (113bhp) and torque (147lb ft), you probably wouldn’t want to…

CROCKERY IS OFTEN kept in a top cupboard in the kitchen area, where manufacturers provide plastic-covered wire racks for this purpose. Unfortunately, plate racks are also often fitted in cupboards facing the direction of travel, with doors that have non-positive catches. In the event of an emergency stop, the plates might land on the floor in a heap of fragments, and even if not placed in this direction, wire racks waste a great deal of space. In our caravan, I did think the original wire cupholders looked promising; but when I reached my destination, the top cup had been jumping up and down on the one stored below, with quite disastrous results. A much better system would be to remove any shelves from your cupboard, preferably side-facing, and fit your…

IF YOU’RE A first-time buyer and want a couple’s tourer, then we reckon one of these two Baileys we found at Golden Castle Leisure could prove ideal. We didn’t want to go above £9k, yet wanted something with a decent spec and in a more-than-decent condition. Not easy. However, ace sales executive Chris Howell steered us towards two recent landings on their forecourt. Judging by their exteriors, both the Baileys had seen careful ownership over the years, so things were looking promising. The contenders 2010 Bailey Pegasus 462 The Pegasus range that emerged in late 2009 was Bailey’s crowning glory. Not only did its Alu-Tech construction represent a breakthrough for the company, the model also sold well right up until the MK2 version appeared a year or so later. That…

Formerly employed in the workshop but now in sales, Chris clearly knows the score at GCL. He told us that both new and used sales have been moving nicely of late. With its indoor showroom, large accessory shop and well equipped workshops, Golden Castle offers a wide range of new Swift, Venus, Sprite and Lunar tourers, plus a constantly replenishing stock of used ’vans. Address Golden Castle Leisure, Tewkesbury Road, Twigworth, Gloucester GL2 9PX Tel 01452 730 100 Web www.goldencastle.co.uk…

“How do I match my car and caravan?” The most commonly asked question in caravanning is whether a certain car is appropriate for pulling a certain caravan. To answer this, you must know the kerbweight of your tow car (X), the legal towing limit of your tow car (Y) and the maximum technically permissible laden mass (MTPLM) of your caravan (Z). Car details are often found in the handbook, but if not, you can contact the car manufacturer. The weight of the caravan can usually be found on a chassis plate, by asking the seller or, if it is a new model, by checking the brochure. “Is my combination of car and caravan legal?” Your car and caravan are a legal match if: Z is equal to or less than…

1 In which section do you want your entry to appear? Tick ONE section only Caravans up to £3000 Awnings Porch Awnings <850cm Awnings 850-950cm Awnings >950cm Parts and accessories Wanted 2 Write your ad (maximum 30 words) in these boxes. One word per box. BLOCK CAPITALS, please 3 Fill in your details 4 Send to the address below Post to: Buying & selling, Practical Caravan Editorial, Future Publishing, 1-10 Praed Mews, London W2 1QY, or email practical.caravan@futurenet.com. Photocopies accepted. Phone numbers count as two words. We will insert your entry in the next available issue of Practical Caravan. We reserve the right to edit or omit entries where necessary. No notices will be accepted for commercial enterprises. We cannot take responsibility for errors in the description of goods or…