Innehållsförteckning för June 2021 från Practical Caravan

The year ahead looks as though it will be an exciting one for touring, as we’re all keen to hit the road again – but that could come with some downsides, as everyone tries to book pitches at exactly the same time… I recently tried to book into an adults-only site for a weekend in Somerset, but I had to be flexible with my dates – there simply wasn’t space on the days I planned to travel. One way to get around this is, of course, to visit somewhere a bit quieter – and that’s exactly what we had in mind for our feature on p20, which includes seven hidden UK gems that you’re sure to love – just don’t tell anyone else! This month we’ve also got a brilliant…

Now for a change of scenery! Snowdrops, daffodils and flowering trees have offered cheer as we ease our way out of the third lockdown. Gardens, parks and outdoor attractions are welcoming visitors back, so a touring break will offer variety, as well as a much-needed change of scenery. Activities remain outdoors for the next few weeks, but the arrival of spring makes this a pleasure. Businesses and the public have adapted, with mobile eateries, cafés and restaurants serving take-away food and drink, while cycling, walking and nature watching have become ever more popular. Our homelands are rich in coastlines, mountains, river valleys and national parks. There’s much to explore from our pitches. claudia.dowell@futurenet.com Features editor CLAUDIA DOWELL is our touring expert – she’s been caravanning for years, and loves to…

Andria Massey is Footpath Secretary and Access Officer for Ynys Mon Ramblers Group, and a freelance photographer THIS WAS OUR final tour of the year, so we decided to visit Cumbria, opting to base our trip in Penrith, just a few miles north of the beautiful Lake District. We booked into Thacka Lea Caravan Park, a small site within walking distance of this historic market town. Once pitched on-site, we decided to head out in the car to explore. Our first stop was the city of Carlisle; it lies at the confluence of three rivers, the Eden, Caldew and Petteril, and is just 10 miles south of the Scottish border. We headed into the city centre to park and wander around. The first place to find was a café, to…

Who are you? Caroline Mills, travel writer and author specialising in camping, touring and travel in Europe. How do you know the area? I’ve lived on the Warwickshire/Oxford border, known informally as Banburyshire, most of my life. What do you love about it? Banbury has grown in recent years and you have to look quite hard to find its historic character, although the Oxford Canal is a focal point. But nearby villages are picturesque, and set in pretty countryside. What is your favourite place to visit? Broughton Castle, three miles south-west of Banbury. It’s not strictly a castle; more a medieval fortified, moated manor house of perfect proportions and a fascinating history with links to the Civil War. The interior is formidable, particularly the Great Hall, filled with Civil War…

Looking forward to caravan shows When HERCMA, organisers of what used to be called The Lawns Show, decided to move the event to a larger venue, nobody had heard of Covid-19. Now the lockdowns have been going on for so long, the organisation has had to postpone the already postponed show once again (p46). So when the event does open, in September 2022, you really should go if you can. It is at just the right time of year to check out all the new vans, and the weather is still warm enough to enjoy looking at them outdoors, where they should be seen. And now it’s in Harrogate, a great town to explore while you’re there. See you next year! peter.baber@futurenet.com Reviews editor PETER BABER is a hugely experienced…

Dealers will soon be open for business! All being well, dealerships will soon be opening their doors again, and they are expecting a rush of customers. When I recently asked one dealer how he had some 15 used tourers on the forecourt, he told me he had been out buying since the end of last year. He had to pay above-normal prices, he said, but he knew the market was strong. He also said his new stock was slow in arriving and that was a problem – he is selling it and not getting a replenishment, so used trade-ins are also sluggish. Online sales and reserves are flourishing, but I can’t wait to visit my nearest dealer and see how the footfall is looking. practical.caravan@futurenet.com ANDY JENKINSON is a caravan…

Welcome, newbie caravanners! Lots of newcomers have discovered caravanning over the past few months, as other types of holiday have been impossible or perceived as too risky. As our lives steadily return to normal, and foreign travel by air becomes easier, will these caravanners keep up their new pastime? Or will they sell their home on wheels and jump back on a plane? Cheap flights and near-guaranteed warm weather will always have their appeal, and owning a caravan doesn’t oblige anyone to choose just one type of holiday. But caravans have a way of getting under your skin, and I bet most of 2021’s newbies will still be touring in years to come. motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a former PC editor, and has towed with more than…

‘DISTRESS PURCHASES’ are those things that we have to pay for with unavoidable regularity, but see no tangible benefit or life improvement from – insurance, boiler repairs, replacement car tyres… and yes, tow car and caravan servicing. Of course, you have to buy these things – it’ll cost you a lot more in the long run if you don’t – but that doesn’t ease the pain as you swipe your card or hand over your hard-earned cash. Value for money So if you have to fork out for such things, best make sure you’re getting value for money, and in the case of your beloved tourer, that the servicing is thorough and of the highest standard. These days, a good-quality annual van service is likely to cost you from £150-£250,…

THINGS WITH WHEELS are designed to move, but low-season weather, high-season crowds, coronavirus pandemics and more can mean your caravan becomes something of a garden ornament. Idleness causes things to deteriorate, rather than wear out, but being aware of the potential problems and carrying out some preventive maintenance will help to avoid difficulties later on. With some simple potions and tools, you can give yourself a great chance of ensuring the first trip out this season is memorable for all the right reasons. We are taking for granted that your van has been serviced in recent memory, and laid up for an extended period. Essential tools and kit We aren’t doing any heavy lifting here. You won’t need loads of tools or specialised kit, but a few items go a…

❯ Kerbweight As defined by EU Directive 95/48/ EC, the car or other vehicle’s weight with a 90% full fuel tank, all necessary fluids, 68kg for the driver and 7kg of luggage. This is the figure that is used to calculate a tow car match ❯ GTW (Gross train weight) The maximum allowable combined weight of the towing vehicle and the caravan, as specified by the maker of the towing vehicle ❯ Hook-up Cable connection to the mains electrical supply at a campsite. Provides power to mains sockets and appliances ❯ Maximum towing limit The greatest weight that a car can legally tow, as specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle ❯ MiRO (Mass in running order) The caravan’s weight, with all factory-fitted equipment, when it leaves the factory.…

Choosing a Layout People’s needs differ, and your layout choice will depend on your companions and how you want to use your caravan. To understand which layouts are available, spend a day at one of the big shows, where manufacturers and dealers will be showing their latest models. A dealership is also a good place to start, but can be affiliated with a limited number of manufacturers. A chat with a dealer, though, could raise issues or offer ideas you hadn’t considered. Think about your needs: will you want to carry bikes, sports kit, barbecues or outdoor furniture? Perhaps creature comforts are a bit higher on your list; you might want a separate sleeping area, a lounge with parallel sofas and TV points, and an oven. If you plan to…

It seems that the general trend with fixed single beds is to sling the van’s washroom right at the back behind them. But there are still a couple of models out there with fixed single beds where the washroom remains central. The advantage of this set-up is that the washroom acts as a kind of partition, sealing you off from the hubbub that might be going on elsewhere in the caravan. It also allows easy washroom access for all participants overnight. Pros Bedroom is shut off from the rest of the caravan, so ideal for seasonal touring Cons The centre of the caravan can feel dark and cramped A Front lounge might not be large enough for single beds, but it should be roomy B Large windows in the middle…

A caravan layout with a lounge at either end and no fixed bed was a very regular thing until about a decade ago. Although it has died off since, as more and more people opted for a fixed bed, you can see it present in a few models. It does have its advantages, particularly in rainy Britain. There’s enough room for all of you to spread out, without the adults and children treading on each other’s toes, if the weather means staying in is the only option. Pros There’s plenty of room for everyone, and adults and kids can do their own thing Cons You usually have to put together at least one bed every night A You should be able to leave the front settees as single beds if…

LIKE THE TYRES of a car, the most important part of your outdoor gear is the bit that grips the road or trail, and a good quality pair of hiking boots are the critical tools you need to enjoy the outdoors. The very best hiking boots will not only be comfortable, grippy and supportive, but will also be adapted to the type of hiking you’re most keen on. That might be anything from speed walking on low-level, long-distance trails, casual countryside footpath rambles from a campsite, or more serious expeditions into the wilder parts of the world. Either way, there’s a boot at a budget point that will suit you down to the ground. Here we review four to help you find the best boots for you. Jack Wolfskin Force…

BMW 5-Series GT 520d SE Beautiful. Sleek. Chic. Words that cannot be applied to the 5-Series GT. But while it’s no stunner, it is based on the 7-Series luxury of the same vintage, so offers vast cabin space. The 520d is strong enough and should manage an average economy figure starting with a ‘5’. SE models provide dual-zone climate control, DAB radio, cruise control and panoramic roof. MERCEDES-BENZ CLS 250 CDI AMG Line Arguably, the CLS was the car that started the whole four-door coupé genre, and this second-generation model took all that was good about the recipe and enhanced it, with more cabin space, a fine interior and lots of kit. The 2.2-litre diesel can be gruff in acceleration, but smooths out at a cruise, and the CLS, with…

IT NEVER CEASES to amaze me how many tow cars I see without towing mirrors. People will happily spend thousands on a caravan, yet won’t invest in a set of towing mirrors. Over the years, we have owned numerous outfits, and adding to that the 500 or so I’ve driven at the Tow Car Awards, there’s not one that I remember that hasn’t required towing mirrors to be fitted. I’m not just talking about caravans with 2.5m-wide bodies (I’ve towed relatively few of those); the huge majority have been standard-width models. Nor am I speaking about only towing with narrow cars – our own tow car is a Land Rover Discovery, which could hardly be classed as narrow. Legal requirement The law states that you must be able to see…

JUNE 2015 Wild thing! Our early summer issue saw a return to France with a trip to the wild Atlantic Coast. We also put the new VW Passat through its paces, and picked out some essential advice from our experts It’s a cracker! A journey to Stilton, Cambridgeshire, was going to be something of a cheesy pilgrimage for writer Janice Sadler and her husband, but it turned out the famed cheese’s origins were elsewhere. That didn’t stop the couple enjoying the best of the Fens Shooting masterclass Shutter speed and aperture were the two functions that we recommended as the most important elements to master, to improve your photography on tour What a waste! Our regular Caravan Genius slot saw expert caravanner John Wickersham explain all you need to know…

★ Star letter ★ This photo from August 1953 shows three generations of caravanners! I’m the baby, with my maternal grandmother sitting and my mother standing. I’m still caravanning with my husband, 68 years on. Jacqueline Wileman MILENCO The contributor of our Star letter wins a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors, worth £50. They’re designed to fit all wing mirrors and offer an outstanding view. For further details and a list of retailers of Milenco products, visit www.milenco.com WINGING THEIR WAY INTO SPRING SPRING SEES THE return of migrant birds from warmer climes, and the RSPB has put together a great list of seasonal arrivals to keep an eye out for: ▪ Chiffchaff One of our earliest migrants to return, you might already have heard this charming bird…

Sarah Wakely Editor sarah@practicalcaravan.com Paul Critcher Deputy editor paul.critcher@futurenet.com Peter Baber Reviews editor peter.baber@futurenet.com Claudia Dowell Features/Travel editor claudia.dowell@futurenet.com David Motton Tow car editor motty@practicalcaravan.com John Sootheran Consulting editor practical.caravan@futurenet.com Andy Jenkinson Used-van contributor practical.caravan@futurenet.com ‘A key advantage of the 4x4 is the extra traction that is gained by sending power to four wheels, rather than two’ DOES A 4X4 MAKE A BETTER TOW CAR? Q I’ve decided to buy a new Volkswagen Tiguan as my next tow car. I’m in two minds whether to buy the two-wheel-drive version or the 4x4. The 4x4 weighs more and has better traction, but the two-wheel drive is more fuel-efficient. Which would you recommend? D Craig David Motton replies… Judged purely as tow cars, the 4x4 versions of SUVs will usually perform better.…

1 CORNWALL Trewethett Farm Tintagel combines all of the things that make the county of Cornwall so incredibly alluring – dramatic coastline, gorgeous countryside and a history packed full of exciting myths and legends. And wonderful views across the cliffs and out to sea. The Caravan and Motorhome Club Site at Trewethett Farm offers easy footpath access to Tintagel, and you’ll also find the harbour of Boscastle nearby if you follow the South West Coast Path north. The big attraction here is the fabulous view from the site over Bossiney Cove’s long sandy beach – simply delightful. The beach is covered by the tide at high water and it’s a steep descent, so you might prefer Polzeath, just down the coast. › Trewethett Farm › caravanclub.co.uk 2 CORNWALL Pentewan Sands…

THE A10 RUNS north in a straight line from the City of London, through Dalston, Stoke Newington and Tottenham, passing through Edmonton to eventually become the Great Cambridge Road. It crosses the A406 North Circular at Great Cambridge Junction and continues towards Enfield, where it passes close to the Jacobean Forty Hall Estate (fortyhallestate.co.uk) and Capel Manor Gardens (capelmanorgardens.co.uk). Woods and wildlife It meets the M25 at Junction 25. At Cheshunt, it passes through the Lee Valley, close to the Paradise Wildlife Park and Broxbourne Woods. Bypassing Ware and Puckeridge, it follows the route of the Roman road, Ermine Street. At Puckeridge, it joins another Roman road, Stane Street, heading to the east. At Royston, the A10 meets the Icknield Way, an ancient trackway; here you will find Royston Cave…

Caravan searches on rise The number of customers looking to buy a caravan ha risen by a third between this year and last year, according to a survey conducted by Devon holiday park operator Cofton Holidays. Comparing internet searches from January and February this year with the same period last year, the firm found a 37% increase in searches using the phrase “buy a caravan”. Looking further back to 2019, the data also suggests a 64% rise in the number of people looking at caravan holidays in that time OLPRO offers discounts Awning and camping firm OLPRO is offering a special 10% discount to carers, teachers and charity workers to mark a year of lockdown. To verify your eligibility and access the discounts, simply go to the relevant website: www.discountsforcarers.com,…

CHOOSING A TOW CAR has never been more complicated. Not so long ago, you might have been pondering the merits of petrol versus diesel, and manual or automatic gearboxes. Now there are hybrids, mild hybrids and plug-in hybrids, as well as cars powered by an internal combustion engine alone. Even some pure-electric cars can tow, although those with high enough towing limits to be practical for towing a caravan tend to be prohibitively expensive. Of all these types of powertrain, arguably the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) shows the most promise. Prices tend to be more affordable than the cost of pure-electric vehicles, and kerbweights and towing limits are often high enough to make suitable matches for ‘proper’ caravans. The environmental credentials are set out by exceptional economy and low…

Getting ready to hit the road The lockdowns and stay-at-home message over the past year or so mean that most of us have barely used our caravans for many months – if at all. This necessary break could result in problems when you come to take your van back on the road again, particularly if you’ve been unable to carry out any maintenance on it, either. With that in mind, we asked former Practical Caravan editor Nigel Donnelly to write a comprehensive article on everything you need to know about getting back on the road post-lockdown – you’ll find his excellent guide on p92. practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy Faircloth and Nigel Hutson TOP TIPS! HOW TO… POWER UP OFF-GRID Going off-grid, with no…

In-line island beds, which stretch from the back forwards, rather than to the side, have tended to be reserved for motorhomes, as these vehicles are usually narrower than caravans and so cannot house a transverse bed. In-line beds tend to make caravans much longer, too. But sometimes that can be a good thing, particularly if you are mainly looking to use your van as a seasonal pitch. Such beds can be better than transverse beds, because access to both sides of the bed is easy. Pros A bedroom with an in-line island bed will feel much more like home Cons The caravan can be quite a length to tow, so you’ll need to make sure you’re happy with that A Front lounge should not feel squeezed because of what else…

Caravan and Motorhome Club ❯ 01342 326 944 ❯ thecaravanclub.co.uk Camping and Caravanning Club ❯ 024 7647 5448 ❯ thefriendlyclub.co.uk CRiS ❯ 020 3282 1000 ❯ www.cris.co.uk Approved Workshop Scheme ❯ www.approvedworkshops.co.uk NCC (National Caravan Council) ❯ www.thencc.org.uk Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA) ❯ 0843 216 5802 ❯ www.cassoa.co.uk Towsafe ❯ www.towsafe.co.uk DVLA ❯ 0300 790 6801 ❯ www.dft.gov.uk/dvla Mobile Caravan Engineers Association (MCEA) ❯ 01249 651 036 ❯ www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk ❯ For the very latest reviews and brilliant buying guides, visit the Practical Caravan website – you’ll find us at www.practicalcaravan.com…