Table of contents for February 2022 in Practical Caravan

I’ve just had a look at what I wrote here this time last year – we’d come to the end of an unprecedented year, during which many weren’t able to get away in their van at all. But here at PC HQ we remained positive, as I said: “Onwards and upwards, and with news of a vaccine about to reach its first UK recipients, there’s definitely light at the end of that long, long tunnel.” Back to the present and I’ve just had my third vaccine – we’re certainly in a much better place than we were 12 months ago. To celebrate, we’ve been busy producing a comprehensive guide to the best things to do and the best places to go for the year ahead – you’ll find our month-by-month…

May the road rise up to meet you What a mixed bag this year has been: not quite back to touring overseas, but able to rediscover the delights of our homeland. Plenty of us took the opportunity to explore parts of the UK we’d not visited before – Scotland was particularly popular, while old favourites Devon and Cornwall were busy, busy, busy! There’s a lot to look forward to – check out our guide to 2022 (p21), in which we offer inspiration for a year of adventures. Elsewhere we have reports on trips to Dumfries (p34) and Chesterfield (p46), and a round-up of some of the UK’s finest pubs (p38). These national treasures should be cherished – there are few things better than a bracing winter walk with friends, followed…

‘The children (and most of the adults) were more than happy to head off through the puddles’ The squelch of mud underfoot can only mean one thing: it’s October, it’s half-term and we are off on another trip, simply determined to make the most of our time away despite the weather, which hasn’t exactly been kind. Over the past three years we have been unlucky when going away in October; not that we expect sunshine and blue skies at this time of year, but it would be nice not to have to need an umbrella every time we set foot out of the van. That said, at least on this trip, which has seen us travelling to Malvern to meet up with Kim’s sisters, we have had breaks in the…

Let’s get the show back on the road! Well, despite the reintroduction of compulsory face masks, and rules on self-isolation now extending until March, as I write this, the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show is still scheduled to take place at the end of February 2022. I’m sure I am not the only one looking forward to a return to near-normality. Those of you who don’t like the trek to Birmingham and preferred to head to a show in the north will no doubt be disappointed by the news of the Manchester show (right) – although the Scottish event is still on. But the organisers are adamant the former will return in 2023. Is it possible that Covid-19 will be a distant memory by then? Here’s hoping. peter.baber@futurenet.com Reviews editor…

Demand stays high as winter sets in The colder weather is here, and dealers’ forecourts are becoming a little quieter, as you’d expect at this time of year. What is unusual, though, is that customer interest remains high. Visiting a local dealer recently, I spoke to one couple who had bought their first caravan after the lockdowns. They told me that after making their decision, they sat in the van to make sure nobody else tried to buy it! They were looking to upgrade to a new model, but availability was the problem. It will be very interesting to see whether this eases early next year, as the show season begins. practical.caravan@futurenet.com ANDY JENKINSON is a caravan expert and historian – he loves pre-owned and classic tourers!…

NORTHERN IRELAND Rushin House Caravan Park Belcoo, County Fermanagh BT93 5DU › rushinhouse.com In an absolutely prime position, right on the shores of beautiful Lough MacNean, this AA five-star-rated campsite is a worthy Northern Ireland Regional Winner. The panoramic views and rural farm setting, in combination with the exquisite loch itself, attract returning visitors year after year to this lovely location. SCOTLAND Myrus Caravan Park Banff, Aberdeenshire AB45 3QP › myrusholidaypark.co.uk The site has excellent credentials, including a five-star award grading from Scotland’s National Tourist Board. It offers a selection of fully equipped pitches, with hook-up, and water, sewage and TV connection. The touring section is adults-only. The heated toilet block includes a disabled suite and there’s a fully equipped, spacious laundry. WALES South Wales Touring Park (Llwynifan Farm) Llangennech,…

Websites Practical Caravan’s Top 100 › www.practicalcaravan.com/locations You’ll find all of the winners of our annual Top 100 Sites awards on our website – it’s easy to search by region or facility. While you’re there, you can download a free PDF of the latest Top 100 Sites Guide to keep on your device for easy future reference. UK Campsites › ukcampsite.co.uk Thousands of campsites across the UK feature on this comprehensive website, which also provides handy search filters – such as adults-only, dog-friendly and open all year – to help you find the right site for you. There are plenty of informative user-generated reviews for you to read, too. Tranquil Parks › tranquilparks.co.uk If you’re thinking about booking a great adults-only site for your next tour, take a look at…

What will it tow? Kerbweight 1571kg Towing limit 1800kg Noseweight limit 80kg 85% match 1335kg Figures for 2016 2.0 TDI Running costs 2.0 TDI SE Insurance group 17 Annual VED £155 Average economy 60.1mpg Interim/full service £83/£122 Servicing prices supplied by Servicing Stop, 0844 324 5262, www.servicingstop.co.uk Trouble spots Early models were afflicted with problems with the side airbags, and seatbelt tensioners that could fail to operate in a crash. There was also the possibility of a short-circuit in the LED module of the panoramic sunroof. Later cars were recalled because of the possibility of a faulty headrest, and a fuel tank which had walls that were found to be too thin. A full list of recalls for the Touran can be found at www. check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk.…

My memories of our early 1970s caravan holidays are somewhat blighted by my dad’s snoring – a noise that made the caravan windows shake, and sounded like he was trying to kickstart a stubborn two-stroke motorcycle (every 10 seconds). Snoring is a complex issue, which is not helped by drinking too much alcohol, consuming a very large meal too close to bedtime or not adopting a good position for sleeping. To minimise snoring, it’s best to sleep on the left side, and to stretch out straight (with a pillow between your knees to stop you rolling over). Keep your head supported at a natural angle, neither propped up nor drooping down. Your neck should always remain in line with your spine. Blocked noses commonly cause snoring. Whether you’re a hay…

> 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 towcar 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 caravan’s weight, with all factory-fitted equipment, when it leaves…

A front lounge and a rear island bed separated by a central washroom spread across the width of the caravan is a layout that has been taken from motorhomes. It’s popular because it provides adults with some privacy thanks to the proper bedroom at the rear, and you get a decent size washroom, too. Just make sure that everything else hasn’t been squashed up front to make room. Pros The caravan feels more like a home, with separate rooms divided off Cons The central area can feel dark thanks to all the partitions A The front lounge should feel airy and spacious with plenty of room B The kitchen should still have plenty of room to work in, and be well lit C Some washrooms have central basins. This can…

SEPTEMBER 2016 Back to the future We may be stepping back to look at this cover from 2016, but then, our thoughts were very much on 2017 and the new crop of tourers just launched – we took a tour of the top newbies What’s the Pont? Troublesome tyres and warning lights couldn’t distract Elaine and Joe Ormerod from a wonderful break in Avignon, south-east France, with its alluring views and World Heritage Site Cleaning up! Ten of the best pressure washers were put to the test by James Stanbury, with the Kärcher K4 Full Control Home model coming out on top Sport star Top marks for the Land Rover Discovery Sport: our reviewer judged it an absolute delight, awarding it five out of five stars MISSED AN ISSUE? Want…

Crossfit Fill in the grid using the words listed here. The highlighted letters will spell out the answer. 3 letters Bye Paw Phi Wit 4 letters Epic Fond June Moss Pass Ruby 5 letters Ensue Erupt Essay Idler Proud 6 letters Neaten Router Stumpy Update 7 letters Elderly Muezzin Satiety Staffer 8 letters Buddleia Dampness Executor Mouthful Sudoku To solve the puzzle, each 3x3 box, column and row must contain the numbers 1 to 9. Read down the shaded squares to find the answer. Bitesize Fit the words into the grid, using the clues given, across and down. The shaded squares spell out the answer. ACROSS 1 Over (4) 5 Viola’s pitch range (4) 6 Highland grouping (4) 7 Wheel covering (4) DOWN 1 Understanding (4) 2 Brother in arms…

› M6 junction 10 Until 2022/2023. Lane closure, 60mph limit › M6 junctions 13-15 Until 2021/2022. Smart motorway upgrade › M6 junction 19 Until late 2021. Work on junction improvement › M621 J7 Stourton Widening of junction › A1(M) junctions 6-8 Until 2021/2022. Smart motorway upgrade › M54 to M6 link road Until late 2021. Survey work between junction 11 of M6 and junction 1 of M54 Sources: Highways England, Traffic Scotland, Traffic Wales…

Who are you? Nigel Hutson, life-long caravanner and regular contributor to PC. Why are you a local authority on Chesterfield? I was born in Chesterfield, and my parents still live there. We’re only a few miles away, and for the past 43 years I have been in the choir at the famous Crooked Spire parish church. My wife, Kay, is from Hope Valley, but we both regard our nearest town as being Chesterfield. What do you love about it? Chesterfield is a lively, bustling market town, with regular outdoor markets. Of course, personally, I love the musical tradition of the Crooked Spire – choral and organ. There are also great industrial links, too. The Midland Mainline railway runs through the town, and steam locomotive hauled ‘specials’ are a common sight,…

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.…

WHEN IT COMES to choosing the perfect place to stay while you’re on tour, there’s rather a lot to assimilate. With more than 12,000 sites listed by UKcampsite.co.uk, 5000 holiday parks and sites by Pitchup.com, 2000 by The Camping and Caravanning Club and 2200 by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, deciding can be more than a little overwhelming. But it is important: being unhappy with your campsite choice can ruin your trip. Holidays are about creating memories and you don’t want them to be bad. So how do you narrow down the selection? Who do you think you are? Start by considering the needs of your family. A family with a couple of teenagers will require a different set-up to one with under-10s, or comprising just adults. Interests are important,…

THIS MONTH WE’RE TALKING ABOUT… ŠKODA SUPERB // AUDI Q7 // VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN If you set out to do something, finish the job or don’t do it at all. Unfortunately, the Government has only carried out half the task of reforming the towing rules. Changes to allow drivers who passed their test from 1997 to tow heavier vans without taking a towing test were due on 15 November, but have been delayed. The DVSA says they will be introduced, subject to parliamentary approval, “in autumn 2021”, although delaying the change halfway through November doesn’t leave a lot of autumn... By the time you read this, I hope the mess has been straightened out so caravanners and instructors know where they stand. motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a former…

FORD Grand C-Max (2010-2019) The Ford Grand C-Max is the MPV tow car to choose if you want a car that’s enjoyable to drive solo, too. The 2.0-litre TDCi engine is strong and smooth, linked to a gearshift that’s a pleasure to use. The Ford copes well with the practical side of life, with seven seats and reasonable space. It also has sliding rear doors, which makes accessing the rear seats much easier. MERCEDES B-Class (2012-2019) The VW has a classy badge, but the Mercedes B-Class has a better one. And Mercedes backs this up with an interior that feels truly first-class. It’s roomy, too, albeit for five, not seven. If that suits you, the B-Class is a fine option, helped by a second row that slides to adjust legroom…

Choosing a layout People’s needs differ, and your 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 (once they are back on), where dealers 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 you hadn’t 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 oven. If…

Star letter After 20-plus years away from caravanning, my wife and I decided to revisit our hobby, and in June we ordered our new caravan. We spent an enormous amount of time and money buying accessories, joining clubs, finding storage and arranging insurance. I’m pleased to say that since September, when we took delivery, we have visited five sites and had a fantastic time doing so. Choosing insurance wasn’t difficult, as the manufacturer offered a 50% discount on our first-year premium. I included the fact that we had a tracker, alarm system, wheel lock and hitch lock, and took advantage of the discounts offered for these. All seemed well! When I started looking for a storage site, a friend who runs a caravan repair business from a local farm told…

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 Andy Jenkinson Used-van contributor practical.caravan@futurenet.com SHOULD WE BUY AN INFLATABLE AWNING? Q We are in the process of buying a new awning for the caravan we bought this summer. Are we right to think that inflatable awnings are always a better option? David English Peter Baber replies… Not necessarily. On balance, inflatables are probably quicker to assemble overall; but they can take longer to put up than you might realise, particularly the larger ones, which will require a fair amount of pumping, unless you bring along an electric pump (with the extra weight that incurs). They can also be quite laborious to deflate, because you have to…

CLOCKING IN AT just over 70 miles in length, Northern Ireland’s A6 connects the two biggest cities in the province, Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. Like its namesake in England, it has been partially superseded by motorways in recent years. But if you stick to it all the way, you are likely to find more places to pull over, because the route has plenty of substantial laybys. There are also crawling lanes on most uphill stretches, so you won’t get hassled by impatient drivers, and most of the little towns en route have bypasses, so you shouldn’t have to worry about narrow city roads. North out of Belfast The A6 starts as the Crumlin Road in Belfast, and heads north out of the city past the Belfast City Academy and Belfast Zoo.…

ALL OF US will have stayed on a campsite at one time or another, and it’s very clear that a great deal of work goes on behind the scenes: from cleaning the toilets to staffing reception or cutting the grass, there’s a lot to attend to. We wanted to find out exactly what goes on during a typical day at a campsite, so we paid a (pre-pandemic) visit to our 2021 Top 100 Sites Guide overall winner, family-run Eye Kettleby Lakes, in Leicestershire. Once there, our team took on some of the many roles that were required – no matter how challenging – to really live the campsite life. Here’s how they got on… 7.00am The cookers are lit and the fresh produce deliveries are taken in, while the campsite…

THIS MONTH WE DISCUSS… GOOD SLEEP // ALDE FLUIDS // THERMOSTATIC MIXING VALVES One of the many great things about caravanning is that it allows you to kick back and relax – so it can be frustrating when you don’t sleep as comfortably as you might like. Fortunately, there are some simple solutions to getting a better night’s rest, and with the help of Consulting Editor John Sootheran, we’ve brought you some great advice in this month’s issue – you’ll find it on p96. If your caravan has Alde heating, don’t miss our feature on p102, with helpful advice on servicing that all owners should be aware of. practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy Faircloth and Nigel Hutson *Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical…

As caravan manufacturers have tried to differentiate their models from rivals’, the quality of the beds has become a focal point, with mattress brands such as Ozio and Hypnos joining their armouries. Companies such as Duvalay have upped the ante. Discerning customers demand higher-quality mattresses and toppers, recognising the huge importance of sound sleep. Bailey Bailey now offers larger beds in a range of styles, from huge make-up doubles to side and central fixed doubles in the rear of the tourer. Each range also offers a twin-bed layout. The company fits memory foam-topped mattresses, and its springy beech-slat bed bases increase levels of comfort, too. Coachman Luxury brand Coachman uses sprung construction upholstery. For its fixed beds, it provides high-quality, foam-construction mattresses, ensuring excellent levels of comfort. Elddis Elddis caravans…