Sommaire pour March 2018 de Practical Caravan

Taken great pics on your travels? Let us see them! EMAIL letters@practicalcaravan.com  or HASHTAG us on social media #practicalcaravan A short break at the Church Farm campsite in Aldeburgh. Harvey Lyon Tyddyn Du Touring Park in North Wales is a wonderful site with the most amazing views and sunsets! Lucy McGill The smallest caravan I’ve ever seen, in a car park at Fort William. Hilary Ivinson November sunset over Harbury Fields Farm caravan site, Warwickshire. Paul Gibson STAR PHOTO Lucy McGill wins a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors…

LIVE-IN TEST We put our current Best Tourer for Couples – the Bailey Unicorn Cabrera – through a demanding live-in test, and review the Swift Challenger 480 TRAVEL Tours of Portsmouth & Chichester and Shropshire, plus County Counsel focuses on Carmarthenshire in Wales BAG A BARGAIN WITH PC Our Buying & selling classified ads return next month – including March’s listings TOW CARS Tow car tests of the Škoda Kodiaq and Nissan Qashqai, plus we assess the 2005-2015 VW Passat Estate as a used tug DIGITAL MAG bit.ly/pcaravan  & bit.ly/practicalcaravanapp TV Sky 212 and Freesat 161 youtube.com/practicalcaravan…

1 It’s big business The success of the Speyside distilleries did wonders for the local economy, too. Glen Grant’s founder, James Grant, paid for a railway to be built from Lossiemouth up to Elgin, primarily to ensure the stuff could be easily exported. His distillery was also the first place north of Glasgow to get electricity – in 1861. 2 We’ll meet again Such wealth is not surprising when you consider the money involved. The most expensive dram at the Craigallechie Hotel, at £295 a glass, is a Macallan that was distilled in 1940, bottled in 1990, and opened in 2016. Even the barman expressed some bewilderment at the 1940 distilling date: clearly even the threat of Nazi invasion didn’t stop production. 3 It started with a... As you might…

WHEN TO GO Camping La Garangeoire is open from May to September. The site is extremely popular during the school holidays, so plan to visit outside these times if you want a quieter stay. The weather really begins to warm up from June onwards and because of the microclimate, you can usually expect to have good weather right through the summer to the closing of the site. WAY TO GO 1 Nearest port, Saint-Malo, is about 160 miles and four hours’ driving 2 Roscoff is 255 miles and took us about six hours, including stops 3 Caen is about 250 miles and takes about 4.5 hours, including stops 4 Calais is about 415 miles and we would recommend an overnight stop en route FOOD AND DRINK ■ There is an…

The competition Organised by Raymond James Caravans, in association with Practical Caravan and a host of top UK leisure brands, entry to this exclusive giveaway is only available online or by visiting Raymond James on stand 1210 in hall 1 of the NEC Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show from 20-25 February. The winner will be invited to Raymond James Caravans to collect their prize, with a free two-night stay at Atherstone Caravan Site (www.atherstonecaravansite.co.uk) on 21-22 April plus dinner with key supporting partners and the Raymond James team. The competition will be open from 25 January to 26 February; for full details, terms and conditions and to enter, visit www.practicalcaravan.com/win. What’s the prize? • Kampa Ace Air 400 All Season awning, worth £1299.99 • Powrtouch Evolution electronically engaged motor mover,…

Q Why did you start this awards scheme? A We wanted to provide help to potential purchasers by giving them the benefit of the experiences of current owners. This is achieved by highlighting and rewarding manufacturers and dealers who consistently deliver high levels of customer satisfaction. This also hopefully raises standards and makes buying a caravan less of a lottery. Q Why did you decide to feature pre-owned caravans in the survey? A The pre-owned caravan market is large, and many readers and Club members buy them – indeed, pre-owned caravans accounted nearly a quarter of responses this year. We know that many caravanners will not buy new, instead waiting for the first owners to sort out any problems. For some, committing £1000 to a caravan purchase is a bigger…

What’s new? The second-generation Volvo XC60 promises to be even safer, better to drive and more fuel efficient than before. As a tow car, it has big boots to fill – the original XC60 was an overall winner at the Tow Car Awards. There are two diesels, one petrol and one petrol-electric hybrid in the range – we’re driving the entry-level D4 diesel in Momentum specification. What are we looking for? We want to know how the Volvo stacks up as a tow car, in particular whether the least powerful engine in the line-up is up to the job. We also want to find out if it’s good enough to rival the likes of the Audi Q5 and Jaguar F-Pace, which set very high benchmarks for any upmarket SUV to…

IF YOU’RE LIKE me, when you buy a caravan you take all the fixtures and fittings for granted, says Nigel Hutson. It would be unthinkable for a caravan not to come equipped with a cooker, fridge, toilet and a heating system for both water and comfort, wouldn’t it? One of the most complex parts of a caravan is the water and heating system, and that is especially the case with Alde wet heating. The pipework has to go right around the perimeter of the caravan, with convectors in particular places, a header tank and towel rails, to say nothing of the actual boiler and overcoming obstructions such as doorways and wheel arches. I recently followed an Alde hydronic central heating system (to give it its correct title) from the initial…

TA * Twin-axle * Practical Caravan top pick Layout finder R Flexibility is one of the strongest points of this popular front-lounge, rear-washroom layout: if you're travelling as a couple, you can choose to leave the lounge bed made up during the day, because you can still relax and eat at the side dinette. Those with children, meanwhile, will find that the dinette can often be made up into bunk beds, creating an extra berth over the single below. The full-width washroom is usually large enough to use as a dressing room. Pros A great-sized washroom. Two places to dine and lounge Cons Shorter vans can sometimes have a smaller front lounge A You'll usually find a great-sized shower cubicle in this layout B There should be lots of storage…

Interesting times for electric cars THERE HAS BEEN a great deal of debate since the government announced the end of the internal combustion engine and the coming of the electric car in just over 20 years, which is only as far back as 1998, so in the grand scheme of things, not really that far away. All of the concerns about the electric car seem to focus on towing capabilities and distance. So I read with interest that Tesla has launched the first 42-tonne articulated truck with a 500-mile range. This vehicle goes into production in 2019. The technology is coming and I don’t suppose it will be long before we see cars and vans on the market that are capable of fulfilling the requirements of the internal combustion engine.…

The Outwell Pebble 300A is our reigning Awning of the Year and wowed the judges with its technical smarts and good looks. A 3m x 2.5m inflatable made from special polyester, the Pebble 300A is part of the Nordic Coast Collection and retails for £799. So what could be better than Practical Caravan getting together with Outwell to give away one of these fantastic awnings, plus a selection of complementary Outwell accessories worth £910, to one lucky reader? Here’s what’s up for grabs in this exclusive £1700 giveaway: a Pebble 300A inflatable awning (£799); Fleece Carpet (£89.99); Continental Carpet (£89.99); Sailshade M canopy (£149.99); EVA height adjustment discs (£19.99); Duncan bamboo chair (£59.99); Kimberley bamboo table (£69.99); draught skirt with built-in storage (£59.99); Etna patio heater (£87.99); Windstorm tent pump…

‘Most impressive of all at Glen Grant is the waterfall that tumbles through the gorge’ Call it a quirk of mine, but I like to think the map of Scotland looks like a startled rabbit, with the far north as its ears and the Grampian region its nose. If you can bear that conceit, then Speyside is roughly where the rabbit’s eye would be. That seems a fitting focus, because the region is, of course, a major centre for Scotland’s most famous export – whisky. In fact, many of the most well-known, less peaty (some would say more palatable) brands come from here. So it seemed an appropriate place for a quick autumn tour for someone like me, who has recently discovered the pleasure of a wee dram and wants…

modern, clean toilet blocks and, well, pretty much everything about the place! As with many Castel sites, it is based around a small château and most of the old outbuildings now house the reception, bars, shop, takeaway and restaurant. The site has two heated swimming pools, one covered This is one of the many excellent sites that make up the famous Les Castels chain of luxury campsites throughout France. We have stayed here several times in the past – we love it for its location, the generous size of the well-defined pitches, the excellent on-site restaurant, the accommodating staff, the and one with slides. There is also a small pool for toddlers. If that isn’t enough, there is a delightful lake just a few minutes’ walk away from the main…

This is a small, pretty and secluded site about three miles outside Garstang. There are 15 gravel-surfaced pitches to be found here (five of which are restricted to Caravan Club members only), each with electric hook-up, water supply and TV points. Other facilities include a new heated washblock, family room, laundry room, battery charging, small shop, Calor gas bottle sales, and a hot tub that can be hired for £10 per hour for two people. Bath robes and towels can also be hired. While you are visiting North View, be sure to say hello to Kiki, the owners’ very friendly cat, who will very probably accompany you if you decide to walk from your pitch to the reception area! Address Skitham Lane, Pilling, Lancashire PR3 6BD Tel 01995 602 612…

Apple Orchard Campsite, Westbury on Severn. It’s a 10-minute drive to Cinderford and there are lots and lots of walks through the Forest of Dean. Fantastic new site facilities and a café/bar on site. Craig Carlton (Facebook) Site essentials Pitch up among the apple trees on this peaceful, level site and you can enjoy beautiful views of the surrounding hills, including May Hill, an iconic landmark. The central amenity block includes toilets, showers, a disabled/family wet room, dishwashing and chemical disposal. There is also an on-site shop for camping essentials. The jewel in the crown, though, is the Horse Shoe Tea Room, where you can enjoy hot and cold drinks, homemade cakes, breakfast (including full English), lunches and evening meals on Fridays and Saturdays. It is also licensed, and you…

ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED for the 2008 season, the Xplore range didn’t take off very quickly, but it has gradually strengthened its position in the market. Now in 2018, it is a well-established value-for-money caravan brand. Having dropped the two-berth 402 late in 2016, parent company Elddis has now come back with a new couples tourer – the 422, with an L-shaped end kitchen layout. We think this has been a clever move by Elddis – the L-shaped end kitchen has become a popular layout and the 422 offers it in an affordable package, so this model could do well. Not for nothing is this bargain-priced lightweight our current budget tourer of the year. Pitch and set-up All Elddis models ride on Al-Ko chassis, with smart alloy wheels. The Xplore has an…

AN AWNING FOR £1000?* That sounds about right, if you want the very latest in inflatable technology, and then some. The Varkala Connect range is just one of a number of new offerings from Vango for this season, all featuring its pioneering AirBeam (inflatable tube) technology and building on what is already a degree of pedigree. The original Varkala was our Awning of the Year 2016. Varkala Connects come in four sizes for the season ahead, spanning £850 to £1100. The colouring is new, too, although it doesn’t depart far from the greys that are considered the norm these days. Of all the Varkalas, it’s the Connects that represent the biggest change. What is already a voluminous model can now take annexes to either or both sides – perfect if…

Model tested 1.4 T-GDI 140PS Premium SE Price £24,155 Kerbweight 1337-1500kg* What’s new? The old Tourer accounted for just one in every 10 i30 sales, but Hyundai expects the new model to account for closer to two in 10. That’s partly because it has dropped the premium for the estate over the hatchback from £1500 to £500. We’re driving the 1.4-litre petrol in the range-topping Premium SE spec. What are we looking for? How well does the petrol engine tow? And does the i30 Tourer do enough to stand out among its many talented rivals? Towing ability Hyundai offers the i30 Tourer with a choice of petrol and diesel engines, with outputs ranging from 108bhp to the 138bhp of the turbocharged petrol model we’ve been driving. Perhaps the 134bhp 1.6-litre…

CARAVAN LAYOUTS COME and go, and are then often reintroduced as being new, but one layout that has never gone out of favour is the end-washroom two-berth. An ever-present in almost every range of caravans since its introduction in the 1980s (thanks to the advent of the cassette toilet and water heaters to provide hot water for showers), the end-washroom two-berth is still a big seller. Owing to their popularity, there’s always a good selection on the used market too, and they offer pretty much everything for caravanning singletons or couples – spacious lounges for entertaining, a reasonable kitchen and generously sized washrooms. Let’s see how these sub-£12,000 models compare. Will the Amara, which is one year older and comes with Coachman’s enviable reputation for sound build quality, win through,…

‘IN GENERAL COMPING RESORT SANGULF SALOU HAS A VERY GREAT ENTHUSIASM IN EVERYTHING THEY DO’ FOR SANGULÍ, THE family is the most important thing, that’s why from the start we have focused on attracting a family audience. Over almost half a century, the resort’s services, facilities and schedules have been rethought and adapted to the needs of children (and the peace of parents). As a result, today we are 100% kid-friendly. In addition, due to our location on the Costa Daurada – 15 minutes from Port Aventura and Ferrari Land, and just one hour from Barcelona – this is an ideal destination for those families who want to enjoy a few days of good weather on the beach. Our team strives to offer the very best facilities We are always…

Way to go The M6, A74, M80, A9 and A95. The roads are all easily navigable, but make sure you have enough fuel before you leave the motorways. Food & drink The distilleries tend not to have cafés, prefering that trade to be directed at the local communities. ■ Craigellachie Hotel Victoria Street, Craigellachie, Speyside, AB38 9SR Tel 01340 881 204 Web www.craigellachiehotel.co.uk Open All year This is a wonderful place to spend the evening; the food downstairs in the Copper Dog pub is delicious, with a good selection of beer, wine and, of course, whiskies. There is music on Wednesdays, Fridays and the weekends in the summer and Fridays and Saturdays in the winter. Upstairs in the Quaich Bar is a prodigious number of whiskies to choose from and cocktails…

WE FIRST VISITED the Vendée region of western France back in 1995 and have returned several times over the years, before grandchildren started arriving to keep us busy on the home front. But our forthcoming ruby wedding anniversary seemed as good an excuse as any to return, and Elaine and I were looking forward to revisiting old haunts and discovering new places. We travelled on the overnight Brittany Ferries service from Portsmouth to Saint-Malo and after enjoying our first taste of France in the on-board restaurant, got an early night in readiness for the next day. By 8am we were heading south towards Rennes, and then via Nantes on to La Roche-sur-Yon, turning off at La Mothe-Achard towards our campsite, La Garangeoire, on the D21 north of St-Julien-des-Landes. The day…

“DURING ALL THESE YEARS LAS DUNAS HAS BEEN AND CONTINUES TO RE A BENCHARK IN THE SECTOR” FREDERIC SUÑÉ ARTIGAS, and their children Josep and Alfredo, founded Camping Las Dunas around Mas de la Devesa, a typical Catalan building. The adjoining six hectares of agricultural land were allocated to the pitches and the first washblock. More new buildings were built after 1975, and the camping area was extended from six to 12 hectares. In the 1980s leisure facilities were added – including swimming pools, tennis courts, mini-golf, a cavern-style pub, the Fata Morgana nightclub and a mini-club for children – and camping provision was extended to 16 hectares, reaching 35 hectares by the end of the 1980s. In the 1990s the existing facilities, including the famous nightclub, were modernised and…

WITH A BODYSHELL closer in size to the single-axle four-berth Unicorns, rather than that of the two-berth Seville, the Madrid has always been spacious. This time, it shares the design changes featured in the other revised Unicorns – no front bulkhead, a wooden cooker top and a redesigned gas bottle locker. Although it has the same side dinette by the washroom, Bailey is no longer offering as an option the fourth bunk that you could have fitted above the bed here. Demand was apparently too low, so the 2018 Madrid is a three-berth only. Pitch and set-up We found the Madrid a pleasure to tow, even in windy conditions. It helps that it comes with an ATC trailer control system, an Al-Ko AKS stabiliser and shock absorbers as standard. The…

‘We make sure that dressings are backed up by adequate sundries such as tapes, plain bandages and a conforming bandage’ ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN. Which means it’s always best to go away with a decent and up-to-date first-aid kit, whatever type of holiday you prefer. But this is especially true with touring holidays, thanks to them being part motor tour, rather more hands-on than most breaks and often very outdoors-based. What’s less clear, though, is the best type of first-aid kit you should buy. Shop around and you’ll find motoring kits, typical holiday packages and even domestic-based sets. And, in truth, a touring holiday kit should be a mix of all of them. In other words, buy the most comprehensive kit you can and add essential extras to cover all eventualities.…

BACK IN 2008, the world of the family SUV was just starting to take off and the huge popularity of new cars such as the Nissan Qashqai proved that it was only going to grow more popular. Ford needed to get in there, so came up with the Kuga, a stylish SUV based on the dependable underpinnings of the then-current Ford Focus hatchback. When it came out, the Kuga was one of the best-looking small SUVs out there, and while time may have dimmed its style a touch, there’s no denying it’s still a looker, especially in the right colour and with the right alloy wheels fitted. Initially, it was available with a choice of two 2.0-litre diesel engines, one with 134bhp and the other with 161bhp, plus a 2.5-litre…

WE SEE SOME smashing pre-owned tourers on our travels, but this Compass was one of the most impressive we can recall. It was in superb condition, not just on the outside, but the interior too. It had clearly been much cosseted and items such as soft furnishings were in prime condition. The Rallye from 2007 came with all the kit you would expect 11 years ago. Built on a BPW chassis with alloy wheels plus a spare steel wheel, the Compass had a noseweight indicator in the jockey wheel for 2007. A Truma dual-fuel blown air system, full oven with three gas burners, separate fridge/ freezer and microwave were all part of the spec. Other features included an exterior locker, CD/radio, barbecue point, exterior mains socket and awning warmer, plus…

TA * Twin-axle * Practical Caravan top pick 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…