Table of contents for October 2017 in Practical Caravan

1906 Erich Bachem born (pictured with ace aviator Hanna Reitsch) 1930 Erwin Hymer born in Bad Waldsee MID1930sErich Bachem designs the plywood Aero-Sport caravan, built by the Wolf Hirth glider company. Crucially – after World War II – Erich decides to settle in Bad Waldsee, where his neighbour is Alfons Hymer, an established agricultural engineer and builder of trailers 1954 Alfons Hymer’s son, Erwin, designs the Dornier Delta bubble car, which is later mass-produced by Zündapp. In the original design, the driver and one passenger faced forwards; a further two passengers faced rearwards. Possibly the first Hymer! 1957 The Eriba and Hymer marques become established when Erwin Hymer and ERIch BAchem (from whom the Eriba name is derived) begin production of the Ur-Troll trailer caravan 1958 First of the new…

Llanberis Touring Park has a pretty woodland dog walk, which leads to the village. Tracey Bevis Keswick in the Lake District is the dog-friendliest place we know – most shops, pubs and restaurants allow dogs. Pauline Orr North Yorkshire and the Dales are very dog-friendly. Anne-Louise Broome We’ve found English Heritage (and Cadw) dog-friendly – our dog loves castles! Jackie Nott Dover Castle is great for dogs. We also took ours into a mine at Beddgelert, in Wales. Marie Shipley Lucksall Caravan & Camping Park in Hereford has amazing woodland walks. Robin Gabriel We like Ulwell Cottage Caravan Park, in Swanage. Our dogs love Dorset! Allio Ozzyboys We’ve just been to the Lake District and it was our first time away with a dog. We found the whole area very…

1 Ullswater At the northernmost tip of Ullswater, Pooley Bridge makes an ideal base for exploring the lake and its surrounding fells. Three welcoming pubs in the village are a great attraction, too. Stay at Waterfoot Caravan Park Web www.waterfootpark.co.uk 2 Thirlmere One of the lesser-known Lakes, Thirlmere is an ideal location for getting off the beaten track, with plenty of walking opportunities both near the shore and higher up the fells. Stay at Bridge End Farm Web www.campin cumbria.com 3 Grasmere A smaller but stunningly pretty lake, Grasmere shares its name with the nearby village. Try the home-made gingerbread and buy some totake home as a souvenir. Stay at Skelwith Fold Caravan Park Web www.skelwith.com 4 Coniston Water The village of Coniston lies near the northern edge…

TOP EVENTS... Great Western Brick Show Thousands of Lego models built by enthusiasts in the UK will be on display at STEAM – Museum of the Great Western Railway, in Swindon, for a weekend dedicated to celebrating the iconic building toy. There will be make-stations, unique models, train layouts, shops and competitions for all ages. Date 7–8 October Web greatwesternbrickshow.com Marlborough Big and Little Mop Fairs The ancient annual tradition of Marlborough’s Big and Little Mop Fairs dates back to a royal charter granted to the town by King John in 1204. Originally a hiring fair for agricultural workers, nowadays they are a huge funfair that takes over the whole town, offering plenty of entertainment for everyone. Date 7 and 14 October Web www.marlborough-tc.gov.uk Autumn Classic The Castle…

Caravan dealer fumes at excess roadworks Reading Caravans in Berkshire is seething after having its peak season disrupted by the road it is on being dug up for the second time this year. In February and March, part of Church Lane in Shinfield was closed for eight weeks, which store manager Jim Horrill claims cost the centre £18,000 in lost trade. But the diggers have returned for a further six weeks, and although customers have been getting through, he says deliveries have been disrupted and many walk-up customers will have been put off. Shield now offers extended warranty Shield Total Insurance has launched an extended warranty for new and used caravans that covers water ingress repairs for vehicles up to six years old. You only have to produce a damp…

Buccaneer Barracuda Price £32,999 (2018) The Buccaneer has a dash of silver style, acres of space and a centre washroom. Loaded with kit, it’s less than half the price of the Missouri. Vanmaster V580 SBEW Price £58,250 (2017) Britain’s answer to the Airstream is also handbuilt and hefty (MTPLM is 1800kg). The V580 has a fixed nearside double bed and end washroom. Eriba Touring Troll 550 Price £19,600 (2017) Like a tiny version of the International icon the pop-top Eriba has a fixed rear bed and a side dinette, plus it weighs in at just 1300kg.…

Coachman VIP 575 Price TBC This transverse island bed, end-washroom van is perhaps the closest Coachman gets to the Bailey’s layout on a single axle. Lunar Clubman SE Price £24,999 The nearest rival to the Valencia is from this desirable range. A tad shorter and dearer, the Clubman SE includes an excellent kitchen. Adria Adora 613 UT Thames Price £22,495 This van for book lovers (it has a large shelf by the bed) is nearly 1m longer. Has Alde heating but a lower kitchen spec.…

First drive Volvo XC60 D4 Price From £37,205 Kerbweight 1877kg* Towing limit 2400kg 85% match 1595kg Towball limit 110kg CARS TEND TO have pretty short lifespans these days, so the original Volvo XC60 has done well to last almost a decade in showrooms. The second-generation XC60 promises improved safety, new high-tech driver aids and a more luxurious cabin. It also has the makings of a very solid tow car. With so many anti-diesel headlines, you might expect Volvo to be predicting a big switch to petrol and hybrid power. However, despite the presence of the T5 petrol and the T8 petrol-electric hybrid in the range, Volvo thinks most XC60 customers will choose one of the two diesels. The more affordable D4 is expected to be the best-seller. It has 187bhp…

Toyota Avensis Tourer 2.0 D-4D I’ve been really surprised by this outfit, which has less power than my old car on paper, but in reality it tows really well. However, you need to be prepared to work the gears to make good progress; third is needed for 60mph on steeper slopes. Pulling off from a standstill is quite slow because of the long gearing – but tolerable. Pete Richardson Toyota Avensis Tourer 2.0 D-4D I recently towed with my Avensis for the first time and averaged 27mpg. I managed to stay in top gear on the motorway, although the dash lights told me to change down. Stuart Lee Toyota Avensis 2.2 D-4D My Avensis is a brilliant car to drive solo. However, when I hook up my van it’s a…

WHETHER THIS IS a DIY job depends mainly upon access to the rear of the fridge unit. On our own caravan, the external vents are in a position that prevents such access, so for the purposes of this article, the fridge was moved forwards in its housing, which meant disconnecting the gas supply. This was done by certified engineers at Couplands Caravans, and we would never recommend carrying out this procedure yourself. However, a good number of caravans are suitable for this DIY upgrade. Why do we need it? Last summer, we were fortunate enough to take our van to the warmer climes of the South of France, where the temperatures were often over 30˚C. We found that the fridge struggled to cope, with items in the freezer being barely…

Caravans up to £3000 2001 Bailey Pageant Imperial, two-berth, one owner from new, new upholstery, curtains, motor mover, full service history, three awnings, alarm system, gas bottles, £3000. Mr Gough, Redditch. (0759 202 4428) Avondale Leda Chiltern, two-berth caravan, power mover, central heating, fridge, double glazed, oven, shower, excellent condition, stored under cover, £15,500 ono. Ill health forces sale. Mr Walton, Middlesbrough. (01642 826800) Must sell: 2003 Elddis Avante 362, two-berth, vgc, fully serviced, new tyres, motor mover, awning, all accessories, TV, etc, £2750. Mr Leaver, Bognor Regis, West Sussex (01243 582477) Awnings Porch Fiamma caravanstore, 3.6m, complete awning, front, sides, skirt, pegs, storm straps, in very good condition, £425. Mr Wright, Barry, South Wales. (0782 470 2295) Outdoor Revolution Compactalite 250, 250 x 235cms, maroon/grey, good condition, roof and…

Prepare your garden Get set for autumn with ideas for seasonal colour in your garden at the RHS Harvest Festival Show, at Lindley Hall, central London. Entry is free. Date 3–4 October Web www.rhs.org.uk Stay at Crystal Palace Caravan and Motorhome Club Site Web www.caravanclub.co.uk Gourds galore Prepare for Halloween at the Spalding Pumpkin Festival, where you can find cooking demonstrations, entertainment, a market, a costume competition and a parade. Date 7 October Web www.sholland.gov.uk Stay at Lake Ross Caravan Site Web www.lakeross.com Urban harvests Capel Manor Gardens is hosting a harvest festival with London’s community farms and gardens. A honey show is among the many attractions. Date 30 September Web www.capel manorgardens Stay at Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park Web www.visitleevalley.org.uk Comfort food The cobbled streets around Lincoln Castle will be…

This is a large touring site overlooking Derwentwater with spacious and level pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents. Wooden camping pods are also available to hire. The washblocks are immaculately maintained and there is a well-kept play area for little ones to let off steam. In the well-stocked information room you can get ideas on activities nearby. Keswick town centre is a five-minute stroll from the site and there is a large supermarket nearby. Address Crow Park Road, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5EP Tel 01768 772 392 Web www.campingand caravanningclub.co.uk Pitches 250 Open All year Charges (pitch+2+hook-up) £22.75-£34.75 (2017), £23.30-£35.60 (2018) (minimum stay 3-5 nights) Non-members are welcome…

Gloucester Cathedral The cloisters of the stunning Gloucester Cathedral appeared in three Harry Potter movies. You can join a tour of the crypt: damp, musty and very spooky! Hear about the Catholic faith, purgatory and the lives of monks who trained as apprentices from childhood. Some ghost-hunters say rooms below the tower are haunted. Find out more www.gloucester cathedral.org.uk Stay at The Red Lion Riverside Camping and Caravan Park Web www.redlioncaravan campingpark.co.uk Alnwick Castle Enjoy an afternoon of Broomstick Training at Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. Harry’s first Quidditch lessons took place on the lawns and you might recognise parts of the castle from the early Harry Potter movies. Join an ‘On Location Tour’ exploring the castle’s appearances in film and television. Elsewhere, the Knights’ Quest whisks you…

Adria Alpina 613 UL Colorado Price £26,495 (2017) Looks like a single-axle, but Adria’s flagship has the size – and weight – to rival big twin-axles. Lunar Delta TS Price £27,799 (2018) The lightest van here, at 1730kg, and competitively priced given the high spec levels. The rear beds are each 6ft 2in. Large end washroom. Elddis Crusader Supercyclone Price £27,399 (2018) Like the 674 but not the colour scheme? Its Elddis twin offers an identical spec, but with more traditional interior colourways.…

NOBODY WILL BE surprised when we proclaim that a flask is an essential piece of touring kit. After all, they mean drinks – hot or cold – are available in-car on all journeys. So needless stops at pricey service stations can largely be avoided. Once you get on site, flasks are again worth their weight in gold when going out for the day. But in the right hands, flasks are much more than this. Pre-filling them with very hot water is a great dodge to bring a pan up to the boil rapidly at that critical part of cooking a meal. Especially on sites without hook-up, where boiling a kettle is slow. Flasks are also great makeshift tea and coffee pots. The drink inside won’t go cold after a few…

Great lakes to discover by van IT’S VERY SATISFYING to discover a new place to tour, especially one that doesn’t appear to have been colonised by everyone else. And that was exactly the case with Bala Lake in Wales, a gem of a location I stumbled on a couple of years ago, while on non touring-related business. In fact, taking a caravan there was the ideal way to enjoy this area, as waking up on a misty Glanllyn Lakeside site and watching Mount Aran Benllyn gradually appear as the sun burned off the haze was a magical moment. Find out more about Bala, its lake and the surrounding area, from p28, and don’t miss our round-up of great lakes to pitch up beside, on p38. If we’re in for some…

Boost your power Price £34.99 Web www.scanstrut.com If you spend a lot of time sitting outside your caravan, you will probably be familiar with the annoyance of having to pop back in to charge devices. An easy solution to the problem is to have a caravan with external mains sockets, but not every van has them. Instead, you could install the ROKK Charge+ dual waterproof socket. It has two standard USB ports, and charges up to three times faster than standard USB sockets. Installing the socket is simple: just screw it into the sidewall and connect your 12V supply to the pins – be mindful that your caravan warranty may be affected by doing this. With neoprene backing and a click and lock lid, the ROKK Charge+ socket is designed…

Lake District granted World Heritage Status It’s where the idea of conserving beautiful landscapes began; it’s Britain’s largest National Park, having been granted this status in 1951; it’s one of the top holiday destinations in the UK and in July, it joined 30 other British sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. England’s Lake District, long admired by artists and poets, is Britain’s first National Park to receive WHL designation. Since the late 18th century, visitors have been drawn to its stunning lake and mountain landscape, with its heritage of sheep farming and mining, and today, the National Park attracts more than 15 million visitors a year. Attractions include the homes of poet William Wordsworth, author Beatrix Potter, and poet and art critic John Ruskin, while its walks, plotted by fellwalker…

When to go My visit was in late May, just before the bank holiday. The fields were full of sheep and lambs, I had fantastic weather and there were no crowds. Way to go When towing, it’s best to come into the area on the A5 via Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Corwen, avoiding the B4391 mountain pass. My trip from Camberley took me via the M40 and M54. I returned via the M5. Find out more • Visit Wales www.visitwales.co.uk • Visit Snowdonia www.visitsnowdonia.info • Visit Bala www.visitbala.org • Bala Lake Railway www.bala-lake-railway.co.uk • Rug Chapel www.cadw.gov.wales/daysout/rugchapel • Aberdovey www.aberdovey.org.uk Harlech Castle www.harlech.com www.cadw.gov.wales/daysout/ harlechcastle • Mary Jones World www.bydmaryjonesworld.org.uk Food and drink • Rhug Farm Rhug Estate, A5, Corwen LL21 0EH Tel 01490 411 100 www.rhug.co.uk • The White…

FOR A LATE summer pitch with a view, the Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club Site takes some beating – sitting as it does on the shores of Derwent Water in the Lake District. To the north are majestic mountains, to the south the lake and, just a stone’s throw from the campsite, the bustling town of Keswick, which has historic links with the poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. The town is very much a honey-pot destination for day-trippers. Lakeshore activities and views One look around the site reveals a lot about the folk who come here. Boats, canoes, bikes and boots are much in evidence; it’s clear that those seeking a rush of adrenalin on the lake and fells are regular visitors. The Keswick site is popular with…

Ham House Ham House in Surrey is a 17th-century mansion, reputedly haunted by at least a dozen ghosts! One is the woman in black, said to be Elizabeth, the Duchess of Lauderdale and daughter of the royalist Murray family. By befriending Oliver Cromwell, while reporting to Prince Charles, she wielded a lot of power until ill health and finance problems saw her luck run out. Some visitors report an oppressive atmosphere and there’s a large mirror that gives people the creeps; they say strange apparitions appear in the glass and then vanish. Ghostly screams are heard: could it be the young man who committed suicide after he was rejected by a servant girl? Ham House’s darkened rooms are full of shadowy corners, cold spots, strange sounds and unexplained odours. Sightings…

Enjoy special pumpkin-carving events, crafts and Halloween trails at National Trust Properties this autumn. • Waddesdon Manor (left) has a fun-packed Halloween Week, culminating with A Fête Worse than Death on 28–29 October. • There are Halloween Trails at Stowe Landscape Gardens, Croome , Alfriston Clergy House, Emmetts Garden, Ightham Mote and Canons Ashby. • Cliveden has Woodland Sprites and an Autumnal Art Tent. • Coughton Court have Family Fun Days and a Fawkes Feast to celebrate Halloween and Bonfire Night. • Newark Park has a Creepy Kids Evening. • Baddesley Clinton (below left) has a spooky trail with kids’ activities. • Winchester City (below right) Mill has Halloween baking demos, plus spooky storytelling. Check out what’s happening at a property near you. Web www.nationaltrust.org.uk…

LATE LAST YEAR WE were granted access to a customer focus group offering feedback on the development of Bailey’s fourth generation Unicorn range – the brand’s best-seller. More than a few months later, with the new vans having just broken cover, the revised lineup appears to have met with general approval from the panel as well as members of the Bailey Owners Club – the next big test will be the general public at October’s NEC show. Unicorn IV comprises 10 models (for full details, go to http://po.st/98Mu1x) and, as we report on p82 of this issue, there are plenty of changes. Perhaps the most radical one is the removal of the bulkhead at the front of the caravan – Bailey believes its Alu-Tech construction method is strong enough for…

Swift Challenger 590 Price £21,085 OK, it’s more of an alternative than a rival, but this van will appeal to buyers who prefer their interiors to sport a wood finish. Compass Casita 866 Price £23,054 A tad wider, heavier and dearer than the Eccles. Well optimised for family touring. Similar layout, save for a corner washroom. Bailey Pegasus Ancona Price £18,899 Don’t need sleeping places for six, or Alde central heating? Lighter and more affordable than the 590, this five-berth is our Pegasus star van.…

Compass Camino 550 Price £24,299 Not a twin axle, so possibly not such a good payload or towing experience, but the same layout and similar spec at over £4000 less. Bailey Unicorn Pamplona Price £25,999 The popular Unicorn range has just been relaunched for its fourth generation, and now includes upgrades like a solid wooden hob cover. Swift Conqueror 650 Price £29,285 The Conqueror range for 2018 has been slightly widened, while every model now comes with a 30-litre internal fresh water tank.…

ON THE LOOKOUT for a new caravan? If so, we can help! Just like our travel stories, expert reviews and advice, we reckon that our online classifieds are the best in the business – and now we’ve made them even better with a new search page that makes them even easier to use. So now you can read our review of your chosen caravan, watch the video, then find it online, making www.practical caravan.com the one-stop shop for all your touring needs. We already know that 50% of you access our website via mobile devices, so our classifieds are fully responsive — they will work just as well on your tablet or smartphone as they do on your desktop or laptop computer. We’ve worked hard to make these classifieds as easy…

How much? £3000-£23,000 Even though early Avensis Mk3 models are only eight years old, you can pick them up for around £3000. It’ll have high miles, though. Upping the budget to £6000 can ( just) net you a 2012 facelift car with a still-fairly-hefty mileage, but if it’s in good nick a large number on the odometer needn’t be a turn-off. If you can afford £10000 or upwards you’ll be able to get one of the 2015-onwards examples. It’ll still have a huge chunk of warranty intact, too. What will it tow? Kerbweight ...........................1675kg Towing limit........................ 1800kg Noseweight limit ....................75kg 85% match...........................1424kg (Figures for 2015 Toyota Avensis Touring Sports 2.0 D-4D) How much is a towball? Witter flange towbar £118.26 Witter detachable towbar £211.14 Fitting extra (from www.pfjones.co.uk) What about…

CARAVAN WATER SYSTEMS have become very sophisticated. Most modern caravans now come with electric pumps, hot and cold water, and complete shower units. We all like our luxuries these days, and caravan manufacturers are responding to that demand from their customers. However, occasionally things can break or become damaged. With this in mind, I am going to look at how to replace a kitchen tap and cartridge in my Bailey 2013 Orion 460-5 tourer. Buying a new tap Purchasing a tap seems such a simple thing to do, but they come in many shapes, styles and materials – plastic and metal, traditional and contemporary, single-lever taps to double mixer taps. To make it even more confusing, the connecting water pipes also come in different diameters! If you are thinking about…

‘The breakaway cable’s job is to provide protection – to apply the caravan’s brakes in the event of a detachment’ I HOPE THAT none of you have seen the result of a caravan coming adrift from a tow car. Fortunately, instances are very rare, but have generally been down to not being hitched properly. Don’t be fooled into thinking that a caravan will drop off the car’s tow ball within a few metres either. I recall one serious crash where the outfit had travelled several miles before they parted company. The law requires that all braked trailers built on or after 1 October 1982 are fitted with a safety device – a breakaway cable – to provide protection in the unlikely event of the separation of the main coupling while…

‘All around me, awnings are rising from the ground like strange oversized balloon animals’ WHILE RESTING MY eyes in the caravan on our pitch, I’m rudely woken from my mid-afternoon slumber by a strange puffing sound. ‘HUMPH... HUMPH... HUMPH... HUMPH...’ I drift in and out of sleep, in that delicious state of semi-consciousness, as my mind contemplates the source of the noise. It sounds a bit like a frantic parent trying to resuscitate a child’s inflatable crocodile, ahead of a trip to the beach, or perhaps breathe life into last year’s yellow-and-blue plastic dinghy (which is never going to happen!). ‘HUMPH... HUMPH... HUMPH... HUMPH...’ And then: ‘HISSSS...’ There’s definitely air being inserted into something. A bike tyre, perhaps? Or maybe an inflatable mattress. Eventually, my curiosity overcomes my desire to…