Table of contents for February 2020 in Practical Caravan

At Practical Caravan we never stop touring, no matter what the time of year; but it’s during the off-season that our thoughts turn to trips for the year ahead. My plan is to tour to Alsace in 2020, a region I’ve visited briefly, but never fully explored; and it was thinking about this that inspired our feature on p16, in which all of our team and our regular writers reveal what they want to do, and where they want to go, in the upcoming year. They make for fascinating reading: responses vary wildly, but all are inspirational. Once you’ve read them, do let me know your caravanning resolutions for 2020. From all of us at PC, we wish you a very Happy New Year. sarah@practicalcaravan.com Editor-in-chief SARAH is a keen…

■ In reply to two of the letters in issue 420, I have a couple of suggestions. First, Graham Richardson’s letter about the screws coming loose on his glass cooker-top – I found putting a drop of glue on the threads helped. Second, David Green’s question about the toilet roll unravelling when they were on the road – he might like to try putting an elastic band on the holder next to the roll, bringing the band over, across the roll, and securing it on the other end of the holder. This works for me! Ernie Clayton ■ We are planning a trip to Europe next year, but are worried about my wife’s medication. Our doctor can only prescribe one month at a time, and their hands seem to be…

Have you ever considered joining an owners’ club? No matter which brand of caravan you have, there’s a good chance that there’s a club for you. Events and membership vary, but many clubs offer rallies, other meetings and the chance to visit the manufacturer’s factory. Here are details of some of the most popular: ■ Swift Group (inc Eccles & Sterling) www.swiftgroup.co.uk/owners/ owners-clubs ■ Coachman www.coachman.co.uk/ owners-club ■ Bailey www.baileyownersclub.org ■ Elddis www.elddisowners.co.uk ■ Lunar www.lunarownersclub.net…

WHY CAN’T I FIT MY TOWING MIRRORS? Q I note you are running a Vauxhall Insignia B on long-term test. I have the same car (18 reg) and I’m having a problem fitting my Milenco Aero mirrors, because the door mirror bezel design means the mirror clamps slip off easily. Milenco suggested fitting ‘F’ pads to the clamps; I tried this but they were a worse fit. I’ve tried fitting a retaining strap around the mirror housing but again, owing to the design of the mirror, this didn’t work. Any advice would be welcome. Mike Foster A David Motton answers… For several years now, I have always used the Milenco Grand Aero when towing. I don’t recall having any particular problem attaching the mirrors to the Insignia. I know with some…

› A63 Castle Street, Princes Quay Bridge and Roger Millward Way, Hull (Until spring 2020) Pedestrian footbridge crossing the A63 and roundabout improvements. › M6 junction 19 (March 2020 to September 2021) Junction improvement, part of Smart Motorway. › M62 junctions 10-12 (Ongoing) Upgrading 9.8-mile section to Smart Motorway. Completion scheduled for spring 2020. › M6 junctions 13-15 (Until 2021/2022) Smart Motorway construction. Installing overhead gantries, central reservation work. Contraflows in place. Source Highways England, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales…

Exploring Lynton and Lynmouth is made more fun using the steep, water-powered funicular railway that connects the two. The fun is in seeing how the late-19th-century contraption works. The two cars are attached by four hauling cables that run around a 5ft 6in pulley wheel. Each car has a tank that holds 700 gallons of water; these are filled when both cars are ‘docked’. The lower car releases its water on the way up, making the top car heavier; as it descends it raises the lower car. And don’t worry – the brakes on each are designed to hold the load of both cars. Ingenious!…

When to go December-January, to celebrate New Year Way to go From south Staffordshire via the M6, A74(M) and M8. The route was affected by partial closures, because of traffic accidents in the snow. Check traffic updates and weather forecasts before you get out on the road. Find out more Visit Scotland › www.visitscotland.com This is Edinburgh › https://edinburgh.org Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 19 › edinburghshogmanay.com Edinburgh Castle › www.edinburghcastle.scot Our outfit Car 2015 VW Passat Estate 2.0 TDI Caravan 2002 Avondale Dart 515/4…

‘I really enjoyed learning about WWII at school, so Dad and I decided to go to the Veterans’ Parade in Weymouth, Dad on his BSA M20 and me on a Parabike. I rode through the centre of town, with Dad behind, and I waved at everyone before we all parked up outside Weymouth Pavilion. We stayed at Bagwell Farm campsite, which had a restaurant, and we ate there with our friends. In the big parade, Mum and my sister, Poppy, stood at the side of the road with all of the other people and waved especially at me, which was fantastic. It was a brilliant day out and a time worth revisiting.’…

Who are you? Sam Johnson, caravanner and freelance contributor to Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome magazines (pictured here with wife Rosemary). Why are you a local authority on Pembrokeshire? I grew up there during my teenage years and, while I no longer live in the area, I return frequently to visit family and friends. What do you love about it? Its relative lack of large commercial development. There are some busy towns, particularly in the summer. However, none of these is very far from the beautiful, unspoilt coast and countryside. What’s your favourite place to visit? Skomer Island in springtime. This marine nature reserve is especially famous for its puffins, but Manx shearwaters, razorbills, seals and even dolphins and porpoise can also be spotted here. And if you are fortunate…

Well, it looks as though I was not alone in voicing my doubts in the previous issue about the new ‘smart’ motorways being introduced onto our roads system, particularly when it comes to towing. Many of you suggest that such motorways – which dispense with a hard shoulder in favour of intermittent refuge areas – are not very smart at all. While you shared my concerns about how a broken-down car in an inside lane that has not made it to a refuge area could be a hazard for a caravanner, you also wonder how long it would take emergency services to get to any accident if all four lanes are clogged. Do keep your comments coming! peter.baber@futurenet.com Reviews editor PETER BABER is a hugely experienced caravanner who enjoys touring…

Borders warning In the Scottish Borders, police are warning visitors to be vigilant following three caravan thefts from sites at Thirlestane Castle and Coldingham. They suggest fitting additional deadlocks to doors and windows if owners have not already done so. Wales empty vans alert Police in North Wales are advising caravan owners who store their van in the area over winter to make sure they remove valuables. This follows the theft of a number of leisure batteries from the Gwynedd South area. Owners should leave the battery compartment unlocked to prevent thieves from causing damage, Service station rip-off Evidence has emerged of why stocking your van with prepared food is a good idea if you stop at service stations. A mystery shopper survey commissioned by Admiral Insurance found that a…

If you passed your driving test on or after 1 January 1997, you are required to take an additional test to attain B+E accreditation. Without this extra qualification, you’ll be limited to tow car/caravan combinations with a combined weight of under 3500kg. The crucial thing here is that the tow car weight you must use in the calculation is not its kerbweight, but the gross vehicle weight (GVW), aka maximum authorised mass. The problem is, the GVW tends to be about 50% heavier than the kerbweight, which in turn limits the MTPLM of any caravan you can tow. For example, the Škoda Superb hatchback has a kerbweight of just 1480kg, yet its GVW is 2128kg. That means you have only 1372kg of weight to allocate to your caravan.…

Model tested 2.0 TDI 190PS 4Drive Xcellence DSG Price £36,545 What Car? Target Price £32,767 Retained value after 3 years 47% Kerbweight 1845kg 85% of kerbweight 1568kg Gross vehicle weight 2550kg Max towing limit 2300kg Gross train weight 4950kg Towball limit 80kg Boot size(min/max) 230/1775 litres Payload 705kg Test conditions Damp Engine size 1968cc Power (bhp)/rpm 187@3500-4000rpm Torque (lb ft)/rpm 295@1750-3250rpm Official combined economy 37.2-38.2mpg Towing economy 26.3mpg CO2 emissions 147g/km First year car tax £530 Second year car tax £145 Insurance group 25E Euro NCAP rating…

Winter is well and truly upon us, but the colder weather doesn’t stop our team from tackling everything technical – in fact, this is the ideal time to do it! You’re less likely to be out and about touring, and it means that any problems can easily be resolved before the season starts again in the spring. This month, our experts have been repairing an Omnivent, and revamping upholstery to create a whole new look for one lucky caravan. Meanwhile, Sammy Faircloth explains how to go off-grid in your van – don’t miss her article if you’re planning to tour without hook-up during the year ahead. practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy Faircloth, Nigel Hutson and Tony Brown…

1 Pitton Cross Caravan and Camping Park, on the Gower Peninsula, has a Winter Getaway deal for next year, allowing you to book a two-night stay for £50; additional nights are only £25. Offer valid 13 Sept 2020-26 March 2021. 2 Work continues on a new site in Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire, to be run by Camping in the Forest. It’s going to have 150 pitches (63 hardstanding), and facilities will include bike- and dog-wash. 3 Adults-only Wells Touring Park in Somerset has opened a coffee lounge. You can also get a site loyalty card; stay for five nights (each stay costing over £36) and you’ll receive a night free. 4 Warren Farm Holiday Centre in Somerset has declared its first year offering en-suite pitches “a success”. The pitches have a…

JANUARY 16-19 January Shopping for a new caravan, awning or essential accessory? Head to Manchester’s EventCity Caravan and Motorhome Show 2020, and take advantage of show-only discounts from the region’s dealerships. If you’re new to caravanning, you’ll find plenty of support and advice if you sign up for a towing test drive, and you’ll learn more from expert speakers at the Food and Travel stage. With more than 200 exhibitors, there’s plenty to peruse, and parking is free. Find out more www.caravanshows.com 21 January to 9 February Once every 76 years, the Chinese New Year and Burns Night align (25 January), and Edinburgh is celebrating with a festival. On the agenda are ceilidhs with Chinese drumming, Chinese and Scottish traditional music, bilingual whisky tours, giant lanterns, feasts and workshops. And…

Harbury Fields Caravan Park Harbury Fields Farm, Middle Road, Harbury CV33 9JN › 01926 612 457 › harburyfields.co.uk Open 12 February to 29 November 2020 Price £29 (high season) This lovely campsite has 58 flat hardstanding pitches, set in rolling countryside. It’s just 15 minutes from Leamington Spa, making it the ideal base for visiting the county’s many great attractions. The pitches are spacious, and full-service pitches are available. Facilities are clean and modern, and there’s a cosy reception area with seating. CAMC members receive a £1 discount on fees. Warwick Racecourse CAMC Site Hampton Street, Warwick CV34 6HN › 01926 495 448 › camc.com Open 6 March 2020 to 6 January 2021 Price £29.20 (high season) Another site that’s ideally located for Shakespearean touring! It has 55 pitches, 24…

Mortonhall Caravan & Camping Park The site is located within an 18th-century arboretum, which is easily accessed from the Edinburgh City bypass and situated on a direct bus route into the city centre. Excellent facilities include a launderette, games room and on-site bar/restaurant. It was unfortunate that two of the four shower blocks and several of the drinking-water taps were closed for the winter, especially as prices hadn’t been reduced accordingly. But the facilities that were open were clean and warm. Address 38 Mortonhall Gate, Frogston Road East, Edinburgh EH16 6TJ › www.meadowhead.co.uk › 0131 664 1533 Open All year Charges Pitch+2+hook-up £35.50…

In-depth test In our most detailed test, we spend at least one day (usually more) in the van, to bring you our verdict. The score is based on the opinions of the PC team. First look Each month, we test new models of all sizes and report back to you in our regular review pages. This is the place for the quick low-down on a model! Our vans, our month Our long-term-test tourers are loaned to PC by the manufacturers, allowing us to give you warts-and-all reports over the months.…

ON THE LOOKOUT for your next 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, featuring a host of caravans, both new and used – you’re sure to find the right one for you. If you’re looking for a new van, you can also read our expert reviews, making www.practicalcaravan.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 to use as possible, with filters…

The number of electric cars approved for towing keeps on growing. As well as the Jaguar I-Pace last year, the Audi e-tron, the Mercedes-Benz EQC and the Tesla Model X are legally able to tow. In fact, all three can pull a much heavier weight than the Jaguar’s 750kg limit. The new Tesla Model 3 just shades the I-Pace, with a 910kg maximum. In recent years, hybrids have become more popular as tow cars, and in time the same will be true of fully electric vehicles. Right now, you’d need a pioneering spirit and a willingness to put up with frequent recharges to tow with an EV. But in 10 years, it could be the norm. motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a former PC editor, and has towed…

Price £41,325 What Car? Target Price £38,912 Retained value after three years 41% Kerbweight 1790kg 85% of kerbweight 1522kg Gross vehicle weight 2255kg Max towing limit 1800kg Gross train weight 4055kg Towball limit 75kg Price of towball and electrics £850 Boot size min/max 500/1510litres Payload 435kg Test conditions Damp Engine size 1995cc Power (bhp)/rpm 187@4000rpm Torque (lb ft)/rpm 295@1750-2500rpm Official combined economy 47.9-49.6mpg Towing economy 32.3mpg CO2 emissions 124g/km First year car tax £210 Second year car tax £465 Insurance group 31E Euro NCAP protection rating…

Just over a year ago, we bought a secondhand caravan. As we are aged 70 and 73, we thought the time had come to bring a little more adventure to our holidays. Sheila had never toured and it was years since I towed anything bigger than a garden trailer. So it was a bit of a gamble for us. A shakedown trip proved all systems worked. From there, our adventures have been, well, adventures! We’ve spent time in Suffolk, Lancashire, the Lake District, Northumberland, Yorkshire and the Cotswolds. We’ve also been to Belgium, Holland, Germany and France. Sheila has learnt to tow, too. A bonus is that our two working dogs have taken to touring as well. You’re never too old to join the fantastic caravan community!…

Win Feetz pocket wellies! We’ve got three pairs of Feetz wellies to give away to lucky readers. These handy overshoes will keep your feet safe from mud and puddles, while being compact and lightweight for easy storage. Price £9.99 Web feetz.co.uk Enter here practicalcaravan.com/win Geonaute Compact 50 snap-hook orienteering compass Get the family orienteering in the fresh air, and this compact compass will keep you on track. Price £3.99 Web www.decathlon.co.uk Dog Food and Water Bottle This clever bottle has a bowl that lays flat for on-the-go pet refreshment; it attaches to your belt loop, making it easy to carry. Price £12 Web www.colapz.co.uk Snugpak Essential Wash Bag Keep your toiletries in order for trips to the wash-block with this compact organiser, with hanging hook and detachable mirror. Price £11.95 Web…

The year 2020 has a certain ring to it. It feels momentous – a date that will always be remembered, like 1066 – a year of change (or not, depending on Brexit). As such, New Year resolutions are very much to the fore. Is it time for that big adventure, buying a new caravan, or trying a new activity? Is it the year some bright spark will come up with a hover-caravan, resurrect the two-storey tourer, or reinvent corner steadies and the jockey wheel? We’ve asked some of our contributors what they have planned for the coming year (p16). In the meantime, we would love to hear about your 2020 touring resolutions. Happy New Year! claudia.dowell@futurenet.com Features editor CLAUDIA DOWELL is our touring expert – she’s been caravanning for years,…

WARWICKSHIRE WAS THE county of my birth. While I may proudly claim Yorkshire citizenship, having spent my formative years there, I lived near Leamington Spa until I was seven years old. I have many vivid memories of long, hot 1970s summers, playing outdoors or visiting Warwick and Leamington. There was no need to go much further. My wonderful world was a circle, radius four miles. So 40-odd years on, it felt like a good time to head back there. I hitched up the caravan, booked a pitch and planned to spend two days exploring the area. As I drove into the historic county, the first thing that struck me was how green it all is – there are mature deciduous trees absolutely everywhere. Down by the river On my first…

HAVING REALISED THAT work schedules gave us both several days free at the end of the year, choosing to celebrate New Year in our caravan for the first time was a decision that neither of us questioned. But deciding where to go involved just a little bit more thought, and the idea of finding a site local to us that provided some entertainment was briefly considered. However, readers might have realised by now that doing things by halves just isn’t for us. Instead, we wanted our experience to be something special. We wanted to spend Hogmanay in Edinburgh. Fireworks and music A quick internet search revealed that for the not-inconsiderable sum of £70 per ticket, we could see Rag’n’Bone Man in concert in Princes Street Gardens, as well as enjoying…

OUR CARAVAN HAS allowed us to visit some remarkable places, but when we bought our first van a decade or so ago, I didn’t envisage the 1940s being one of those destinations. Fast-forward to a 1967 Bailey Maestro that Charlie (11) and I bought on eBay, where we began chatting about the WWII project he was studying at school and the part our family played during this far-reaching conflict. When the caravan was ready to tour, we followed the journey my father and Charlie’s great-grandfather took from a camp in Kent to a D-Day holding area in the New Forest, and an airfield in Dorset to Pegasus Bridge in Normandy. With our voyage of discovery behind us, and the vintage van in storage, we widened our net of remembrance to…

1 Scottish beauty Take on the mighty Cairngorms from Glenmore Campsite, which has direct access to the shores of Loch Morlich and plenty of scenic trails. Walkers should keep an eye out for deer, otters and golden eagles. › www.campingintheforest.co.uk 2 Dawdle around Dartmoor The adults-only Woodland Springs Touring Park is surrounded by farmland in the heart of Dartmoor National Park, where you can stroll the moors accompanied by sheep, ponies and other animals. The site shop can provide local cider for an evening tipple after a long walk! › www.woodlandsprings.co.uk 3 Take in the sights of Snowdonia From the charming Graig Wen campsite, there is direct access to the Mawddach Trail, perfect for those wanting to explore the estuary on foot, and the site is surrounded by the stunning…

THIS MONTH, WE are visiting the charming city of Utrecht, in the heart of the Netherlands. Our van is pitched at the end of a long driveway, overlooking the expertly manicured gardens of Borneman Buitenhof B&B. Of course, the further north we go, the colder it gets, and we are once again managing the moisture and damp. Although our caravan is in incredibly good condition for its age, it is now permanently inhabited by five people and two cats, so this is never going to be an easy task! Other difficulties that we’ve encountered recently include a cracked shower tray and a water heater that no longer works on electric, meaning we are getting through gas at an alarming rate. All that aside, we are still extremely happy in our…

Shorter days and colder weather aren’t ideal for selling tourers, but if you’re willing to part with your cash ahead of spring, now’s the time to look at what’s on the pre-owned forecourts. Dealers want to keep sales ticking over, so some are cutting prices. Looking around several dealerships, used stock is seeing up to a grand taken off the price. So that pre-owned tourer you had your eye on looks even more tempting. Some dealers might go that extra mile to secure a sale and you’ll come away even happier. With fewer customers about in the winter months, striking a bargain now could be the key to your next upgrade! practical.caravan@futurenet.com ANDY JENKINSON is a caravan expert and historian – he loves pre-owned and classic tourers!…

How much? £5700-£35,000 The earliest cars will set you back less than £6000, but will have done a whole lot of miles, and could well bear the scars of such a life. However, raise the budget by only a couple of grand and you’ll be able to get yourself into a 2016 car with a five-figure mileage. And if you can dig deep enough to spend a little bit more than £12,000, you’ll end up with a car that’s only about 18 months old or so, and with a sub-40,000 mileage. It’ll also have plenty of warranty remaining, and (basically) someone else has done the running in for you. What will it tow? Kerbweight 1716kg Towing limit 2100kg Noseweight limit 100kg 85% match 1459kg How much is a towball? Witter…

WHEN YOU CONSIDER what caravans have to go through in their lives, it’s a wonder that they last as well as they do. They’re battered by all kinds of weather as you drive to and from your destination, and often sprayed with grit and debris from the road surface, flung up by your tow car or other vehicles. Scratches or worse Perhaps the most vulnerable parts of the caravan’s exterior are the windows. It doesn’t matter how careful we might be, we always seem to end up with small scratches on them (or worse), particularly those on the side of the van. Several years ago, when my parents were the custodians of our ‘project’ Abbey caravan, the front centre window was damaged from the inside. They lent the caravan to…

MOST CARAVANNERS PREFER the reassurance and comfort of electrical hook-up when they pitch their van, but others enjoy going back to basics. ‘Why do it?’ I hear you cry. The main reason is the cost. Sites without hook-up and washrooms can cost as little as £6 per night, as opposed to the average £15 per night on hook-up campsites. Pitching at these places can be more relaxed, allowing you to position your van anywhere on site and in any direction (1). It is far more pleasing to have a view of the open countryside, rather than the interior of someone else’s leisure vehicle. Off-grid camping can also take you to the more remote corners of the country, with spectacular views. What’s not to love? But what do you need to…

■ Curtain fabric samples Pandoras Upholstery, A4 samples (£1.99 inc postage) ■ Fabric purchased Orla Kiely Early Bird Granite cotton (£21 per metre, total £105) ■ Kayleigh Grinstead £260 for curtains and cushions ■ Sprung Classic Upholstery £800 for removable cushions, including fabric ■ Piping fabric samples Modelli Fabrics, maximum seven samples, 11cm square ■ Fabric purchased Modelli Fabrics, Pickled Samphire Flat Weave (2m, £63.85, next-day delivery) ■ Safety All seating fabrics to be flame-retardant…

Superb sites and more We celebrated our Top 100 Sites – a scheme that we still run – in this issue. Other stars of our colourful cover were Dreamy Devon, towing courses and a reader trip to the Med Euro stars We crossed the Channel to source one of our test vans for our triple review in this issue – all featured a side dinette and four berths, as well as a good dose of Continental style. Brands featured included Geist (a German brand), Fleetwood and Avondale Top tow cars Jaguar’s first estate was tested in this issue – it was “a perfectly sensible addition to the Jaguar portfolio”. Other stars of our page included the Mazda MPV (“despite a bland image, it has loads going for it”) and the…