Inhoudsopgave van July 2025 - Practical Caravan

As I type this, summer definitely feels as though it’s on its way – the sun is shining, my season’s touring plans are in place, and we’re not too far off the longest day of the year. One of the benefits of the latter is not having to drive in the dark as much – I’ve noticed headlight glare is a bigger issue than it used to be, particularly when towing. It’s something we were chatting about in the office recently, which is what prompted the excellent article on the subject written by deputy editor Paul in this issue (p78). He’s taken a look at the factors involved, and reveals some hints and tips on what you can do to help prevent it – it’s a must-read. What do you…

We asked you to send in your best lake, river or seaside shots Star photo Our winning entry receives one of these beautifully illustrated maps from Awesome Maps – check out the amazing range at www.awesome-maps.com STAR PHOTO TAG US #PRACTICAL CARAVAN OR EMAIL LETTERS@PRACTICALCARAVAN.COM WIN ME! NEXT MONTH’S THEME… BANK HOLIDAY FUN! Send us your best touring shots from 2025 for a chance to win an Awesome Map…

Sarah Wakely Editor sarah@practicalcaravan.com Paul Critcher Deputy editor paul.critcher@futurenet.com Peter Baber Reviews editor peter.baber@futurenet.com David Motton Tow car editor motty@practicalcaravan.com John Sootheran Consulting editor practical.caravan@futurenet.com Andrew Jenkinson Used-van contributor practical.caravan@futurenet.com Peter Byrne Content editor peter.byrne@futurenet.com Q HOW DO I CHOOSE TOWING MIRRORS? We’re new to caravanning and are a bit bewildered by the many different types of towing mirror available. In your experience, which are the best to go for? Jim Taylor Peter Baber replies… Towing mirrors come in all sizes, shapes and prices. But you don’t necessarily need to splash out for an all-singing, all-dancing pair to get what you need and are comfortable with. The first thing to consider is how you want them to attach to your tow car’s mirrors. Nowadays many towing mirrors attach just by…

1 Cashel Campsite, Loch Lomond You can’t get much closer to the water than this park, which is located right on the loch shoreline. You can even launch an inflatable kayak direct from the site! ❱ cashel-campsite.com 2 Pillaton Hall Farm, Staffordshire If you enjoy wild swimming or stand-up paddleboarding, you will be in your element at this waterside park. Courses are available if you’re a beginner and fancy giving it a go. ❱ pillatonhallfarm.co.uk 3 Riverside Camping, Pontrug, Gwynedd This aptly named campsite in Gwynedd is the perfect spot if you enjoy angling – it’s beside the River Seiont, where you can fish for salmon, and brown and sea trout. Daily rod licences are available at reception. ❱ riversidecamping.co.uk…

Watch the weather Check the tide and the wind. Anything over 10 knots is going to make things tough. If possible, paddle into the wind and tide first, so coming back is easier. Gloves and socks Household rubber gloves offer extra warmth under neoprene ones, and woolly hiking socks are effective under wetsuit boots. Seek guidance It’s best to take advice from a professional before tackling the water on Your own. Visit gopaddling.info to find a course near you and discover great paddling hotspots.…

Church of the Assumption of Mary, Lake Bled, Slovenia 1 Lake Bled, Slovenia This stunning glacial lake in north-western Slovenia is a touring hotspot, with visitors coming in droves to enjoy the fresh air and wonderful views. Walk the 6km circuit around the lake and take one of the traditional pletna boats out to the 17th-century Church of the Assumption of Mary, standing on an island in the lake. Don’t miss the fairytale Bled Castle, built on a cliff by the water (blejski-grad.si/en). Stay at… ■ Kamp Bled This pet-friendly site on the western shores of the lake has pitches of all types. Premium pitches come with a wood-fired hot tub. ❱ sava-hotels-resorts.com/en/sava-hotels-bled/camping/camping-bled 2 Lake Como, Italy Italy’s third-largest lake (right) is a brilliant caravanning destination. Stay at… ■ Camping…

WHEN TO GO We visited in February, when the area was quiet, although many of the attractions were closed for the winter. If you plan to visit houses, castles and gardens, summer is best. The scenery is always stunning, though. WAY TO GO The site was a two-hour drive from our home in Buckinghamshire, taking the M40 and M42, then the M5 to J7 and the Worcester South exit. From there, we followed signs to the Three Counties Showground on the A4440, then brown site signs on the B4424 towards Hanley Swan, turning left into the site just before reaching the village. Some of the side roads are narrow and winding, but all the approaches to the site are easily navigable. WHERE WE STAYED Blackmore Camping and Caravanning Club Site…

ONE OF THE North-East of England’s biggest leisure vehicle dealerships is hoping to get business back to normal as quickly as possible this month, after a fire at their premises which police are treating as suspicious. Durham Police and the County Durham and Darlington Fire Service have launched a joint investigation into the incident at Durham Caravans on Belmont Industrial Estate on the evening of 4 April. The fire caused significant damage to several caravans on the forecourt and to the company’s main showroom. Craig Goodenough, one of Durham Caravans’ directors, said the police investigation was still continuing, and it would be “quite a few weeks” before the dealership was fully back up and running because, although none of the vehicles inside the showroom at the time of the fire…

Bargain vans are being snapped up! Enjoying a stroll around my local dealership recently, I noticed that there were quite a lot of used vans with sold stickers in the window. I could also see that very few discounted used models were in evidence. It seems that used stock is moving quite well at present, so don’t expect any substantial price cuts for now. Family-sized models are shifting fairly quickly, too, resulting in fewer examples on the forecourts. So you’ll need to move fast to bag that tourer of your dreams! practical.caravan@futurenet.com ANDY’S PICKS OF THE MONTH 1 Back to base 2019 Swift Basecamp We spotted this tempting two-berth up for grabs at just £15,450. The Basecamp was impressively clean and well looked after for its age. With an MTPLM of…

Bring me sunshine! I reckon we’re going to get some good weather this summer. I suppose that almost goes without saying, but I’m not just thinking about working on my tan. It has been a tricky couple of years for the caravan industry. Good weather boosts interest in caravanning in general, and consistently sunny days increase UK campsite bookings. Why travel all the way abroad to the sun, if the sun comes to us? There’s just something about lazy summer days spent in the sun that really puts the true sparkle into caravanning. So come on, British summer – we’re relying on you. I, for one, think that it’s going to be a great one – see you on site! motty@practicalcaravan.com FIRST LOOK MERCEDES E450D ESTATE Price From £83,345 Kerbweight…

Campsite electrics and bright lights We’ve a packed Technical section for you this issue: for starters, our Consulting editor John Sootheran takes a close look at electric hook-up and how you can make best use of it onsite. That’s not all – our Deputy editor Paul is addressing the issue of glare. Modern car headlights seem brighter than ever, so what can be done? Find out on p79! Also, former editor Nigel Donnelly brings us the latest updates on his project van, Penny (p82), and we pass on hints and tips about touring with youngsters (p86). No matter what you’re planning, PC has you covered! practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy Faircloth and Nigel Hutson HOW TO find the right size awning BUYING AN AWNING…

◆ Kerbweight As defined by EU Directive 95/48/EC (which still applies), 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 van’s weight, with all factory-fitted equipment, when it leaves…

Choosing a layout People’s needs differ, and your van 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 in Birmingham or Glasgow, where dealerships and manufacturers show 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 that you had not 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…

Where are we? Herefordshire Beacon, Malvern Hills Why tour here? Rising high above the Severn Plain on the border of Herefordshire and Worcestershire, the Malvern Hills offer splendid views over the countryside. Famous for spring water from spa towns such as Great Malvern, the range of hills is now a place of recreation for the many hillwalkers who come to explore the countless footpaths, bridleways and riverside paths. Don’t miss… The Iron Age hill fort known as British Camp at Herefordshire Beacon is thought to date to the fourth century BCE. You can read more about the towns and attractions of the Malvern Hills in Susan Taylor’s trip report on p34. Photograph Neil Bussey/Getty ‘There are so many attractions here. There are gardens to stroll in, towns for browsing, and…

Camp Chef Universal Flat Top Griddle Upgrade your cooking on tour and avoid adding to your payload with this universal steel grill that sits on top of your hob, designed with a carrying handle and a lip for minimal mess. Price £39.99 Web funkyleisure.co.uk Easy Camp Lupin Stringlight Lantern This rechargeable device can be used as a torch, a lantern, string lights or even a powerbank. It provides up to 250 lumens, with multiple lighting modes and a 9m light chain neatly stored within the lamp. Price £15.99 Web leisureshopdirect.com AeroPress Go Plus Brew smooth, rich coffee anywhere with the AeroPress Go Plus. Its three-in-one technology, tough materials and insulated, leak-resistant tumbler make it perfect for enjoying hot or cold drinks on the go. Price £84.99 Web aeropress.co.uk Lifeventure SoftFibre…

There must come a moment in every caravanner’s life when, newly arrived on a perfect day on what appears to be a perfect campsite, they sit back and wonder, “Wouldn’t it be nice to do this forever?” Come on, admit it: the idea of possibly running your own caravan park must have popped into your head, even for just a couple of seconds, when you’re touring. You might have dreamed about having your own patch of heaven, welcoming people onto it, getting paid to do so, and then seeing them all head home afterwards, knowing that you can stay there forever. Or almost forever. Then I guess you might wake up from your pleasant reverie and realise some of the stumbling blocks reality puts in the way of this. There…

BEST FOR CANOEING River Wye Powys, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire Straddling the border between England and Wales, the 134-mile-long River Wye runs from the Cambrian mountains in mid-Wales to the Severn Estuary at Chepstow. It has become hugely popular with canoers and kayakers, who gravitate to Ross-on-Wye, Symonds Yat and Monmouth for water-based adventures (monmouthcanoe.co.uk). Hikers will delight in the Wye Valley Walk, which follows the river for 136 miles, and there are plenty of historic sites to explore, including Hereford Cathedral and Tintern Abbey. Keep an eye out for riverside birds. Where to stay ■ Dark Orchard If you’re happy to go off-grid, this CL is only a few minutes’ walk from Hay-on-Wye. What it lacks in facilities, it makes up for in wildlife, with otters regularly spotted. ❱ caravanclub.co.uk…

Caledonian Canal Inverness-shire BEST FOR WALKING Cutting through the valley of the Great Glen, the 60-mile Caledonian Canal runs from Fort William in the west to Inverness in the east and takes in the lochs of Oich, Lochy and Ness. This is glorious walking country, amid mountains, lochs and wildlife such as kingfishers, swans and even otters. Walk or cycle (neviscycles.com/bike-hire) the towpath, or canoe the Great Glen Canoe Trail (iye.scot/canoe-kayak-equipment). At Banavie, visitors can see Thomas Telford’s amazing Neptune’s Staircase, the longest staircase lock in Scotland. Where to stay ■ Ben Nevis Holiday Park Just four miles north of Fort William in the village of Banavie, this site is in a great spot for exploring Neptune’s Staircase and mighty Ben Nevis. ❱ highlandholidays.com/type/touring-pitches ■ Glen Nevis Caravan and Camping…

My Tide Times Check the times of the tides, wind speeds, weather forecasts, currents and much more. Price Free of charge Available on… iOS, Android RiverApp Everything that you could wish to know about rivers, including water levels, current flows and water temperatures. Price Free (in-app purchases) Available on… iOS, Android Open Canal Map This informative app employs user input to provide details of points of interest along the UK’s canals – perfect for a waterside walk. Price Free of charge Available on… iOS, Android…

Dress sensibly Wear appropriate clothing, including a wetsuit if needed. For stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking, we would highly recommend a lifejacket that fits properly – it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Scout out the area Speak to a local guide or lifeguard to check for any dangers before heading out on the water. You should also check the weather forecast (and tide times if on the sea), and remember that conditions can change very quickly. Keep in touch Take your phone with you. “Always carry a means of calling for help, such as a mobile inside a waterproof pouch, so in an emergency, you can call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard,” says Samantha Hughes, from the RNLI’s water safety team.…

BRITAIN’S TRANSPORT HERITAGE is second to none. Some of the finest cars, buses, shipping and aircraft have been designed and made in this country. It’s a history of which we are rightly proud, and celebrated in many specialist transport museums up and down the land. These are some of our favourites. We’ve put the emphasis on four-wheeled travel, but other forms of transport are also represented in our list. These museums are in regions worthy of more attention than a day trip, so we’ve also suggested some nearby campsites as bases for exploration. 1 National Motor Museum, Beaulieu For car fanatics, there are few museums to compare with the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. There are more than 400 cars on display here, charting the industry’s development from the earliest…

TECH SPEC Price £30,799 What Car? Target Price £30,799 Retained value after three years N/A Kerbweight 1290kg 85% of kerbweight 1097kg Gross vehicle weight 1720kg Max towing limit 1500kg Gross train weight 3220kg Towball limit 75kg Price of towball TBC Boot size 362-642 litres Payload 430kg Test conditions Dry Engine size 1373cc Power (hp/rpm) 129/5500 Torque (lb ft) 173/2000-3000 Official combined economy 52.3mpg Towing economy 26.2mpg CO2 emissions 128g/km First year car tax £440 Second year car tax £195 Insurance group 22A Euro NCAP overall protection rating Expired What’s new? Suzuki has updated the Vitara, providing it with new looks and revised safety tech. Further tweaks reduce emissions and improve fuel economy. We have been driving the 1.4 Mild Hybrid Ultra Allgrip, priced at just over £30,000. What are we…

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

Wet, wet, wet! This month’s travel section is dominated by our special feature on watery getaways (p23), in which we pick out some of the best rivers, lakes and canals to visit across the UK, peppered with a few from Europe. I was impressed with the sheer number of waterways that make for good touring. Whether it’s Welsh aqueducts or Scottish salmon rivers that take your fancy, there is bound to be something in this feature that will catch your eye. We’re not neglecting coastal resorts, though. On p40 we spend 48 hours in Worthing, West Sussex, and watch out for our next issue, when we’ll be including a report on some classic UK seaside destinations and different ways that you can experience them! Elsewhere this issue, we have Sue…

1 Loire, France France’s longest river rises in the Massif Central and heads north to Orléans before cutting across the centre of the country through Tours and Nantes. The Loire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and hugely popular with tourists, who come in search of abundant vineyards, fine food, medieval architecture and fantastic countryside. Visit the Gothic Sainte-Croix Cathedral (tourisme-orleansmetropole.com) in Orléans and the medieval town of Tours, or explore the beautiful landscapes in the Loire-Anjou-Touraine Regional Nature Park (parc-loire-anjou-touraine.fr/en). Stay at… ■ Huttopia Le Châteaux Ideal for exploring nearby castles and vineyards. ❱ europe.huttopia.com/site/camping-les-chateaux 2 Douro, Portugal Don’t miss the fine scenery (right) and fabulous wine of this stunning region. Stay at… ■ Welcome Douro ❱ welcomedouro.pt 3 The Danube, Hungary Budapest (right) is one of four capital…

1 Kinderdijk, The Netherlands The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Kinderdijk in the Netherlands is a network of canals, dykes, windmills and pumping stations, nine miles east of Rotterdam. Visitors can view the 19 windmills built in the 18th century, two of which are open to the public. Take a Hopper boat trip and entry to the Wisboom pumping station and the mill museums at Nederwaard and Blokweer are included in your ticket. ❱ kinderdijk.com/tickets Stay at… ■ Camperpark Kinderdijk A well-serviced park with large 10 × 6m pitches. You can cycle or sail to Kinderdijk from the site. It borders the cycle path network of Alblasserwaard and Krimpenerwaard. ❱ camperpark-kinderdijk.com 2 Burgundy Canal, France This 150-mile waterway (right) features 189 locks along its length. Stay at… ■ Camping Vert Auxois…

Ullswater Cumbria BEST FOR SAILING The Lake District has an excess of options, but we’re highlighting exquisite Ullswater, England’s second-largest lake. It’s a superb touring destination with beautiful mountain scenery and breathtaking walks all around. Boat cruises are available from Ullswater Steamers (ullswater-steamers.co.uk); each pier connects with the 20-mile Ullswater Way walking route around the lake. Enjoy sailing and windsurfing at the Glenridding Sailing Centre (glenriddingsailingcentre.co.uk), and a short distance from the north shore is Aira Force waterfall. Where to stay. ■ Ullswater Holiday Park This large, beautiful site just a mile from the lake has easy access to Aira Force and Pooley Bridge. There’s a range of pitch types available, all set in a magnificent landscape. ❱ ullswaterholidaypark.co.uk ■ The Quiet Site This award-winning site, not far from Ullswater…

WHAT’S ON 21-22 June 2025 Worthing Festival and Fringe This free two-day festival at Homefield Park has an emphasis on live music and the arts. There are three stages, hosting a range of talent and entertainment. Donations welcome. ❱ worthingfestival.org.uk 12 July 2025 Worthing Rowing Club Regatta The town’s annual regatta can be viewed from the beach east of the pier, as rowing clubs from across the region compete in an exciting day of racing. Events start at 10am. Free entry; donations welcome. ❱ timeforworthing.uk/events/worthing-rowing-regatta-2025 20 September 2025 Firewalk Fundraiser Face your fears at Worthing Rugby Club with this unusual fundraising event in which you walk across hot coals to raise money to support the provision of care and rehabilitation for disabled ex-armed forces personnel Registration is £25. ❱ careforveterans.org.uk/firewalk-fundraiser/…

Time to keep calm and carry on Durham Caravans is currently dealing with the after-effects of a serious fire at their premises – it’s always sad news when this kind of thing happens, particularly when the worldwide financial climate is looking a little uncertain, so we wish them all the best with getting back on their feet. There’s still plenty of good news this month, and by all accounts lots of people out there are interested in acquiring a caravan or replacing their existing one. Perhaps the launch of a self-inflating awning (see right) will spur them on – I am really looking forward to trying one out! peter.baber@futurenet.com HOW WE TEST VANS Our review types explained In-depth test In our most detailed test, we spend at least one day…

TRUMA EXPANDS INET X A new module that lets you remotely control devices connected to your Truma iNet X system almost anywhere in Europe via an app has been launched by the German company, and should be available at selected retailers from this month. Truma iNet X Connect links to the iNet X system and can be controlled via an app on your mobile phone. CARAVAN THIEF CAUGHT WHILE STEALING BEER Police chasing a suspected caravan thief last month eventually caught up with the offender after he broke into a café and helped himself to a beer. Durham police officers were initially called when a caravan that had been reported stolen from Chester-le-Street was spotted parked up in Crook. While they were investigating, a man in a suspected stolen Mitsubishi…

TECH SPEC What will it tow? Kerbweight 1189kg Towing limit 1100kg Noseweight limit 55kg 85% match 1011kg Running costs Insurance group 12 Annual VED £195 Average economy 45.6mpg Full service £191 Servicing price supplied by Servicing Stop, 0844 324 5262, servicingstop.co.uk Trouble spots First, 30,794 vehicles were recalled after it was found that the double buckle on the left rear seatbelt could unfasten of its own accord. Then, almost 20,000 cars were recalled because the adjuster nut for the parking brake lever could loosen, causing more movement at the lever when the brake was applied. After that, 81 cars were recalled to have faulty rear seatbelt buckles replaced. A full list of recalls can be found at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk. ACCEPTED WISDOM is that if you need to tow a caravan or…

I love driving. As soon as I was old enough to learn, the L-plates were fitted and I was heaving my Dad’s old Maxi around the corners of my local highways and byways without a care in the world. I’m sure that for many of you, like me, driving is a hugely liberating experience. It expands your universe, freeing you to explore the world around you – including, of course, by towing a tourer. I still love it today, 35 years or so on, but lately there’s been a bit of a niggle, something that’s made life on the road a little less fun. So what’s the problem? In short, it’s headlight glare. Yes, the blinding lights from oncoming vehicles, particularly at dusk and at night – but sometimes even…