Sommaire pour August 2022 de Practical Caravan

Returning to caravanning after more than 25 years (and now touring with a Swift Celebration 550 and VW Touareg), it has been interesting to see the many advancements – from gas mantles and foot-pumped cold water to today’s centrally heated, all-mod-cons caravans and fully serviced pitches. So I’m surprised that no sites appear to have adopted safety deposit boxes, such as those that one finds in hotels, particularly when travelling abroad. With today’s caravanners carrying gadgets, tablets and laptops, not to mention other valuables such as jewellery, it would be very handy to lock items up when leaving the site to visit places. And even more so for motorcaravanners, who will often take their vehicles into car parks with them. As with hotels, the boxes could be located in reception…

ARE YOU TEMPTED to try wild camping? It tends to be more popular with motorhome owners, but after a long tow it’s sometimes tempting to stop somewhere quiet for the night (and save on site fees) before moving on in the morning. But if you do, you need to ensure you are doing so in a safe, legal way. If you are caught wild camping in an area that does not permit it you can be fined, making your ‘free’ camping trip not so free. Here, the experts at outdoor holiday booking site Pitchup explain the laws at destinations across the UK and Europe. › United Kingdom Wild camping is only legal in England if you have permission from the landowner. Most land in England is privately owned, with one…

Tested by Peter Baber Price £21,485 Berths 2 MiRO 995kg Payload 114kg MTPLM 1109kg VARIOUS LAST-MINUTE cancellations and changes of plan meant I had a week’s loan of a Škoda vRS estate car (see right), but no caravan to hitch it up to. And despite being an estate, the Škoda’s kerbweight turned out to be a slightly less than gigantic 1545kg, so we were a little restricted in the caravan we could tow. Fortunately the good people at Broad Lane Leisure in Warwickshire let us try their new Fairway Classic Compact 360. Overnight stay I didn’t want to take too much advantage of our dealer’s generosity, however, so an overnight stay near the firm’s Kenilworth branch was in order. Luckily, one of our Top 100 winners this year is Somers…

DEALER SPECIALS have been popular since the 1990s, although back then, there were far fewer around. The past decade has seen more reaching the forecourts. With a history stretching back more than 25 years, one of the longest-running is the Fairway from Broad Lane Leisure. Fairways have always sold and resold very well, mainly because they came with a really excellent selection of kit compared with the standard Swift models on which they were based. Back in the day, Fairways were based on the Charisma, switching in 2012 to Swift’s (then new) Challenger Sport, which added to the brand’s success. Model history In 1997, the first Fairway dealer special emerged as a five-model line-up, sowing the seeds of its popularity. The 442 was launched in 2012, and this end-washroom two-berth…

RATING ★★★★★ DISTANCE 40 MILES (64 KM) The double ascent of Hardknott and Wrynose alone makes this a five-star route, never mind the lesser-known climbs, but the hard work is offset by some truly magical views Route Head south out of Coniston on the A593 to Torver, where not long after passing through the village, you’ll turn right onto Old Rake, at which point the climbing starts, with two short, steep ascents. Arriving in Ulpha at the foot of the second descent, you turn right and head upwards again, crossing Birker Fell on a scenic but tough road towards Eskdale Green. Before reaching the village, turn right and take note of the steep gradient warning signs – this is where the ride gets serious. Ahead lies the double ascent of…

Think of a tow car, and most of us will picture a big 4x4. But the truth is, you don’t necessarily need a big and heavy car to tow with, provided your caravan is light enough to be towed by something that’s a bit smaller. Combining a lightweight car and caravan (or trailer tent) can make a great deal of sense, especially with the rising cost of living. Light cars and tourers are generally cheaper to buy and to fuel than heavier models. Choose wisely, and you won’t be missing much. Small cars can tow well, and lightweight tourers can be comfortable. New or used, these are lighter cars we’d be happy to tow with. SEAT LEON 1.0 ETSI SE DYNAMIC Price £26,625 Kerbweight 1338kg 85% match 1137kg Towing limit…

THE REAL BENEFIT of caravans over motorhomes (other than the vast price differential) is that, once you’re at your destination, and your tourer is ensconced on its pitch, you have a lovely, comfortable, frugal vehicle to do your sightseeing and shopping in – not an commercial-sized van! If you are confident about towing (and why wouldn’t you be?), caravanning offers some major advantages. But choosing just the right tow car for your needs is really important; so here’s some useful advice to help you make the right choice, first time. Tow Car Awards I’ve been fortunate to tow with hundreds of different tow cars and outfits over the years, and have owned SUV (Volvo XC60), saloon (VW CC) and estate (BMW 3-series) tow cars myself. In my opinion, there are…

THANKS TO A certain pandemic, the caravan market is booming. Manufacturers can’t make them fast enough and plenty of new owners have come on board to enjoy the many pleasures of this amazing lifestyle. But after you have invested all that hard-earned cash in your caravan, which other items are worth adding, to make the most of your new purchase? There’s so much to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start, but we’ve shopped around and whittled it down to 14 of our favourite things. Some of these are obviously practical essentials, while others are a bit more left-field and might even surprise you. In addition, it’s worth mentioning that these are our ideas for touring – everyone tends to have a different view of how…

ON THE ROAD with your van, consider the change to your car’s characteristics compared to when it is driven solo. Increased length is actually not the biggest issue. We are conditioned by seeing artics with wheels at the extreme rear, whose cut-in is virtually their whole length. A caravan’s wheels are little more than halfway along its length, cutting in much less. You still have to allow for it, taking the car wider and turning late, ensuring the mirrors show where its wheels approach the kerb. But it won’t cut in as much as you first expect. Width is likely to be your main concern, particularly with an 8ft-wide tourer. Sure, your towing mirrors are wider still, but they pass above low hedges and walls which the tourer will strike,…

‘Lake Como is one of the biggest and deepest lakes in Europe – a bizarre Y-shape with three extremities’ (p34) Where are we? Varenna, Lake Como Why tour here? Exclusive, beautiful, historic, inspiring... the list of superlatives to describe Lake Como in Italy comes easy. Varenna, on the east coast of the lake, dates back to the 11th century, when it was best known as a fishing village. Today, tourism is the major attraction, with visitors coming to enjoy the smart bars and restaurants, superb lake views and delightful villas and gardens, such as those at Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi. Read more about Lake Como on p34. Don’t miss… Excellent views from the medieval Vezio Castle Photographer Getty Images…

EN ROUTE // ON SITE // AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN TAG US #PRACTICAL CARAVAN OR EMAIL LETTERS@PRACTICALCARAVAN.COM…

New parking at Pen y Fan WORK IS DUE to start soon on a new car park in the Brecon Beacons National Park, to serve the increasing numbers of visitors flocking to tourist hotspot Pen y Fan, which is the highest peak in South Wales. Additional spaces The new car park at Pont ar Daf will include around 200 extra parking spaces, and have provision for disabled users, electric vehicle charging points, parking for minibuses, coaches and cyclists, and an area for the emergency services and other similarly related users of the Beacons. Tourist numbers to the area have grown during the pandemic, with some 350,000 visitors per year. The new facilities will include toilets with disabled access, and baby changing. Improvements to signage, footpaths and information are also planned.…

With our wings having been clipped for overseas travel during the past couple of summers, writing about our trip through Holland, Germany, Italy and Switzerland is rather emotional as I reminisce about the wonders of journeying through Europe. On our adventures, we like our days to include something for everyone: lakes, mountains and good food – sun always considered a bonus! The Italian Lakes and Switzerland were the obvious destinations of choice, so we planned and saved hard. Are we nearly there yet? Leaving home hurriedly in terrible weather, we caught the overnight crossing from Harwich towards Holland. After a restful, uneventful night, we began to consider the rather long list of items we had forgotten to pack – a map being our main concern! The ferry shop thankfully saved…

‘Walkers and cyclists will love the access to abundant paths, notably along the coast, and there are plenty of watersports’ SITTING PRETTY ON the north-west coast of Wales, the Isle of Anglesey is a truly remarkable refuge for nature and a wonderful getaway for those looking for gorgeous beaches, outdoor adventures and views, views, views! The island’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was designated in 1966 and now covers most of Anglesey’s 130-mile coastline, along with Holyhead Mountain and Mynydd Bodafon. This lovely part of the world has a great deal to offer visitors, whatever your interests; but in particular, walkers and cyclists will love the access to safe and abundant paths, notably along the coast, and there are plenty of watersports for enthusiasts to enjoy, including windsurfing, paddleboarding and…

Price £85,000 Berths 4 MiRO 1600kg MTPLM 1900kg INSTANTLY RECOGNISABLE, AIRSTREAM caravans have acquired a reputation not far off that of Winnebago motorhomes. In both cases, they are the US brands the public seem to latch onto, even though you rarely see them on British roads. Airstream’s future in this country looked doubtful a few years back, when Adventure Leisure Vehicles pulled out of importing them. There was a brief spell when Swift took over UK distribution, then the baton passed to Lowdhams. With new Airstream ranges due on its Nottinghamshire forecourt, we thought it was time to check out one of the brand’s more mainstream models, the Tourer 534, a four-berth with a rear fixed transverse bed. Pitch and set-up There’s only so far you can go in discussing…

RATING ★★★☆☆ DISTANCE 37 MILES (60KM) At a comfortable length and with one proper climb of note, this is an achievable ride for many cyclists, especially those who might be using an ebike Route Head northwards from the idyllic Clachtoll Beach Campsite on the B869 towards Clashnessie and Drumbeg. You’ll stay on this undulating road for about 27km, taking in some of the most remote and beautiful coastline in all of the UK, none more so than from the lookout in Drumbeg itself. Turn right when the road joins the A894, at which point the road rises steadily for 4km, leading up to and past the picturesque Loch na Gainmhich, before a sweeping descent brings you to the very edge of Loch Assynt. Turn right here onto the A837, following…

Price £39,680 Kerbweight 1818kg 85% match Not legal Max towing weight 1350kg IT MIGHT NOT have a very high towing limit – you’ll need a caravan weighing 1350kg or less – but in all other respects, the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid is a capable tow car. Between the petrol engine and the electric motor, the Tucson has 261bhp, enough to really get a shift on, even when hitched up. In fact, our brief stint towing a tourer weighted to the car’s legal towing limit suggested that it could cope with a much heavier caravan. Even as the battery charge drops low, performance is still strong, and the Tucson always seems to have something in reserve while towing. It’s stable, too, pulling straight and true at motorway speeds. In everyday driving,…

KISS. NO, NOT the long-lived glam-rock ensemble. We’re talking Keep It Simple, Stupid, which is precisely the ethos that Dacia has adopted for its vehicles, with the Duster SUV a prime example. However, what some tow car drivers would describe as ‘simple’, others might call ‘unsophisticated’ or ‘cheap’. After all, when new, some versions had no radio, nor even paint on the bumpers. All very 1970s. But less stuff also means fewer things to go wrong. What’s it like inside? Jumping into the Duster isn’t the driving equivalent of donning a hair shirt. Yes, the budget origins are clear, but it feels like a car you could comfortably do miles in. It’s reasonably spacious in the front, with good headroom, but a little more legroom would be appreciated. The story…

CARAVANNERS REALLY ARE an inventive lot. Whether it’s because we spend hours relaxing in our vans and have the time to think about how something could make life easier, I don’t know. But what is a fact is that much of the touring kit we take for granted has come from the minds of other caravanners. One such invention is the inflatable LocknLevel caravan levelling system. Like so many things, its basic principle is so simple, yet it’s very clever. I remember years ago seeing recovery companies righting overturned lorries using little more than steadying ropes and big inflatable airbags. Surely, if these things will lift 40-tonne lorries, two tonnes of caravan should be easy? These must have been the thoughts of LocknLevel founder Derek Ibbotson in 2012. I recently…

YOUR VAN BUYING QUESTIONS ANSWERED Please check model details with the manufacturer or dealer before travelling to view or buy WILL YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CAR? Q First and foremost – and especially if you are new to towing a caravan - you should follow the 85% guideline. This states that when fully laden, the caravan should not weigh more than 85% of the tow car’s kerbweight – so you’ll need to find out the latter figure before you can start to consider which caravan you might want to buy. If you find a caravan that complies with the 85% guideline with your existing vehicle, then all you will need to do is have a towbar fitted (if it doesn’t have one already). That way, you save yourself all…

THIS MONTH WE CHAT… CAMPSITES // TOWBALL CARE // POP-UPS CARING FOR FRICTION PADS Your DIY article about cleaning Al-Ko stabiliser friction pads (issue 451) mentions contamination of friction pads. However, you don’t discuss where the initial (main) contamination comes from in most cases. When you have a new towbar (towball), or perhaps on a used car purchase, you’ll notice the whole towball is painted (usually black). This paint will rub off onto the friction pads. This will impair the stabiliser operation and also produce a ‘groaning’ noise. Before first use of the towball, the paint should be carefully removed, using emery cloth, and wiped clean. Dave Hollins JOIN THE VENUS OWNERS’ CLUB! I recently read your article on the Venus 460/2 and the Venus range as a whole (issue…

Folding drainer This handy drying rack folds flat in seconds and comes with a spouted draining tray to catch excess water. Perfect for use inside and out, it’s easy to clean and has plenty of space. Price £12.49 Web homesteadcaravans.co.uk Quishion cushion/blanket Short on space and can’t choose between an extra blanket or a cushion? Take both! This 45 x 45cm Quishion unzips into a stylish quilt. Price £24.99 Web ibeani.co.uk Hanging toiletries bag Keep your bits and bobs organised with this Carttiya toiletries bag. It’s durable, portable and has a range of pockets for essentials. Price £17.99 Web amazon.co.uk Sleeping mask This eye mask is fully adjustable and thoughtfully made to ensure comfort, so you’re certain to get a good sleep on tour. Price £17.99 Web echor.co Kobo Libra…

IN SOUTH WALES we are blessed with a wide variety of superb touring destinations, most within a drive of an hour or so. We enjoy being by the sea, so we often head towards the coast; but this time we opted to venture inland and drove north, our destination being the charming rural market town of Brecon. A short drive on the M4 brought us to the outskirts of Cardiff, where we turned off and headed up the A470 towards Merthyr Tydfil. We always enjoy the journey almost as much as arriving, and this particular route is fascinating. As you leave the urban area of Cardiff and drive up the valleys past the former mining regions of Pontypridd and Abercynon, the industrial landscape slowly gives way to greenery, before passing…

When to go We travelled during the school holidays – end of July to late August. Lake Como can get very busy in summer, as the weather and the location make it really popular, especially at weekends. Brienz is another favoured spot, central for exploring nearby Interlaken and with good transport links for going further afield. Way to go We took the overnight Harwich-Hook of Holland ferry, heading through Holland into Germany via Cologne, then on to Lake Como. From Italy, we drove to Brienz. You’ll need to buy a vignette to drive on Swiss motorways, costing 40CHF (£32). Bear in mind, there is a heavy fine if a vignette is not clearly displayed on your windscreen. From Brienz, we headed back into Germany and to Holland for the ferry…

Bailey nears 50% rise in turnover Bailey of Bristol saw turnover increase by 45.9% last year to £97.2m, despite the impact of the ‘pingdemic’, which at one stage forced 20% of its workforce to self-isolate. The rise helped the caravan and motorhome manufacturer’s operating profit on continuing operations back into the black, at just under £50,000, compared with 2020’s £1.2m loss. Once losses on discontinued operations, including its now closed Australian subsidiary, are taken into account, the company made an overall pre-tax loss of just under £500,000, down from just over £1.5m in 2020. ‘The company stands to benefit from the continuing strong market demand’ In a statement accompanying the annual figures, Bailey said it saw business particularly impacted by staff absence in July last year, when some 20% of…

Price £78,980 Berths 4 MiRO 2050kg MTPLM 2500kg THE ERIBA BRAND has been well known in Europe for many years, but has never sold in the UK in big numbers. Although price and weight might initially deter some UK buyers, Eribas do offer good resale values. So could a new model in this year’s line-up, the 8m-long twin-axle 820, make a difference? Pitch and set-up The big Eriba is instantly recognisable, with its smart silver exterior and contemporary interior. Large wraparound windows and the V-shaped front add a distinctive look. The gas locker offers useful extra storage, and there is an auto-levelling system and heavy-duty corner steadies. Reflective triangles are placed just above the rear bumper, while the road lights are neatly designed in a smart moulded unit with the…

1 Jubilee celebration 2008 Ace Jubilee Viceroy Ace Jubilee was a favourite brand for many customers. We spotted this super five-berth double-dinette family layout for a fiver short of £10,000. It was in good overall condition and the spec included Status TV aerial, radio, blown-air heating and dual-fuel hob. > rlcaravans.co.uk 2 Tourist attraction 2014 Dethleffs Tourist Nico Examples of this four-berth are rare, with few imported into the UK. It’s a well-built caravan, with a double dinette. Looking like new, this Continental-style tourer would appeal to those who don’t cook big meals in their van - there’s no oven. Still a tempting buy at just £11,495. > rlcaravans.co.uk 3 Monarch of the road 2010 Pageant Series 7 Monarch Light yet well equipped, this end-washroom two-berth was in excellent condition.…

RATING ★★★★☆ DISTANCE 43 MILES (70 KM) The difficulty of this route comes in the shape of the iconic and imposing Bealach na Bà climb, one that will test the legs of the fittest cyclists - but an ebike should help ease the pain Route This loop can be followed in either direction, it all comes down to two things: which side of Bealach na Bà you want to climb, and when in the ride you want to actually take on this tough climb. The most recognised ascent of this Alpine-style climb comes from heading south from Shieldaig, which also means you’ll be able to enjoy the rest of the loop without worrying about it at the end. Follow the A896 for 13km past Loch Dùghaill and Loch Damh, shortly…

Basil Mosse Rain Parka Beat the worst of the weather with this stylish jacket in a waterproof, breathable fabric, to keep you comfortable on even the longest ride. The fish-tail design means your legs stay drier, too. There’s a choice of colours, black and olive green. Price From £72.99 Web bikester.co.uk Axa Linq City 100 Bike Lock A good lock means you can leave your cycle in confidence, and the Axa Linq City 100 should do the job. It’s 1m long, with an anti-drill plate in the cylinder, a symmetrical key for ease of use, and rubber grips. Its Sold Secure Silver rating gives additional peace of mind. Price £45.99 Web raleigh.co.uk Vaude Aqua Pannier Bike Bag This stylish pannier bag is easy to fit onto the rear of your…

Price £54,695 Kerbweight 2099kg Towing limit 1500kg What’s new? We’ve driven the Sorento before in hybrid and diesel forms, but this is our first chance to drive the plug-in hybrid (PHEV). If you tow a caravan with your company car, favourable tax rates mean the PHEV is likely to be your first choice. For private buyers, it could still make sense if most of your trips are short and can be completed on electric power alone. The downside here is that, despite being heavier than the diesel Sorento, the PHEV has a legal towing limit of 1500kg, a whole tonne less than the diesel’s. What are we looking for? As a car to tow with and to live with every day, how does the PHEV compare with the regular hybrid…

CITROËN C4 Cactus (2014-2021) The Duster isn’t the only bargain-priced off-the-wall car. The Citroën C4 Cactus is a good choice so long as you tow nothing heavier than a trailer tent. Like the Duster, it has soft suspension, reasonable kit – and a few quirks, such as the ‘Airbump’ panels to stop car park dents. But performance is leisurely, and the 55kg towball weight isn’t as good as the Duster’s. KIA Sportage (2016-2021) The Kia is a capable rival for the Dacia. Spacious and great to look at, it also comes with a range of punchy and frugal engines and the sort of kit that Duster owners can only dream of, including auto lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, and ventilated seats in some models. The Kia had a seven-year…