Table of contents for April 2022 in Practical Caravan

I was lucky enough to grow up in England’s beautiful South-West, and we often toured Devon, Cornwall and Dorset in our Sprite. I know many of you also love this region, so to celebrate the (almost) start of the season, this issue, we’ve brought you travel inspiration from some of the region’s most stunning areas. We begin (as I did!) in Dorset; turn to p22 to read more. No matter where you’re planning to travel, though, it’s crucial to stay at a good site. Over the past couple of months the PC team have been working extra hard to compile our annual Top 100 Sites Guide, which features the UK’s top parks, as voted for by you and our expert team. Your 116-page copy will come with the next issue…

Our beautiful South-West This month’s travel section is something of a West Country special, with trips to Dorset, Exmoor and the Forest of Dean all on the cards. There’s a bundle of reasons why this part of the UK remains as popular as ever, and we plan to reveal some of the best bits over the next few pages. Putting aside South-West England’s incredible natural beauty, exquisite coastline, open moors and picture-postcard towns and villages, it also has fantastic campsites – something I’ve really come to appreciate while editing our Top 100 Sites Guide 2022. There are wonderful sites across the UK, with sizes, facilities and locations to suit everyone, whatever your budget, young or old, families or solo travellers. Keep an eye out for your 116-page guide with the…

Exmoor is the smaller of Devon’s two National Parks, and I first towed a caravan there when my daughter was just six months old. We stayed near Combe Martin, at the superb Stowford Farm Meadows campsite, and enjoyed a magical fortnight, which we remember with great fondness. Danielle is 24 now and we are still taking regular trips to Exmoor – although she rarely comes with us these days! Even though it can be a five-hour trip from our Cheshire home if the traffic is bad, it’s such a lovely area for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy that we don’t mind. It’s mostly motorway for us – we live close to J18 of the M6 so it’s a simple matter to follow it to Birmingham, then take the M5 to Taunton…

THE A361 IS the longest three-digit A-road in the country, at 195 miles, so we decided to cover it in two halves. Last month, we focused on the western half, from Ilfracombe in Devon to Swindon in Wiltshire. This issue, we feature the eastern stretch, running from Swindon to Kilsby, near Rugby, in Warwickshire. Having reached Swindon, the road becomes a less significant route as it heads north and east. Most traffic splits off towards other routes, such as the M4 west to Bristol or east to Reading, the A419 north-west to Cirencester or the A420 going towards Oxford. Cotswold comforts That said, for those heading north towards Burford and the eastern Cotswolds, it makes the most direct route. It’s pretty much farmland along this stretch, other than the occasional…

Our review types explained 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.…

Tracking down elusive used vans As we progress further into 2022, I’m wondering what will happen next for touring. Is the rising cost of living going to put the brakes on folk being able to return to holidaying? If so, will we see tourers coming back onto the forecourts in any numbers? Well, one of my dealer friends reckons the spring will still see high demand, and when I chatted to customers on the forecourt on a snowy afternoon in January, everybody was hoping to buy. Used stock is still a bit thin on the ground – another dealer I know has taken on a new employee with the sole purpose of searching for it! practical.caravan@futurenet.com ANDY JENKINSON is a caravan expert and historian – he loves pre-owned and classic…

PET-OWNING CARAVANNERS will have guessed this already, but research reveals that more than 65% of people like to take their dogs away on tour with them. It makes perfect sense… with a van, you have total freedom to head wherever you want, the space is your own, hundreds of sites welcome well-behaved dogs (and other creatures), you save a bundle on kennel fees and you get to share excellent quality time with the whole family. Dogs are great ice-breakers, too – a really brilliant way to initiate conversations with fellow caravanners. We’ve also found that these impromptu chats can often lead to acquiring very useful information from other dog-owners, particularly if we’re visiting somewhere new. Pets on tour can enhance your sense of comfort and security, too, especially for solo…

THIS MONTH WE DISCUSS… CARAVAN CLEANING // COVERS // CURTAINS AND BLINDS This is the time when many caravanners are preparing their tourer for the season ahead – there are lots of adventures to look forward to! With that in mind, this issue, we’ve brought you a comprehensive guide to cleaning your van. From the best way to tackle it (top to bottom?) to the most effective products to use, it’s all revealed in our handy feature, which you can find over the page. Also, are you giving your caravan’s blinds and curtains the attention they deserve? If you’re not sure how, we have everything you need to know (see p104)! practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy Faircloth and Nigel Hutson…

■ Test all new cleaning products and solutions on a small area first. ■ Never use high-pressure jet washers directly on caravan surfaces at close range. Many are powerful enough to remove decals, damage sealant or force water through window seals or locker hatches. ■ Change the water regularly, so you’re not rubbing dirty water, containing damaging grit, into your paintwork. Over time, this grit creates swirls on the surfaces. ■ Rinse your cloth or sponge frequently, to avoid any grit build-up. My old faithfuls (pictured below) are microfibre wash mitts and drying cloths from Paragon. ■ Invest in a cleaning bucket with a raised grid in the base, which lets grit drop to the bottom of the bucket, while the water remains free from grit, minimising the risk of…

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

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

JULY 2003 Abbey Road This month’s dip into the archives sees us return to 2003, when we took an in-depth look at family vans, including the new Abbey. We also found top sites for car lovers and a trio of great escapes Safe as houses Fire safety is a hugely important issue for caravanners, and it was good to see a detailed investigation into the risks and how to guard against them Ooh la la! This wonderful series of articles on all things French is a reminder of just how much we’ve missed travelling across the Channel over the past couple of years. This third part focused on touring holidays for couples and adventure A new sheriff The ‘hefty’ Nova 555 was the subject of this travel test, which saw…

Where are we? Valley of Rocks, North Devon Why tour here? Formed during the Ice Age, this U-shaped dry valley is half a mile west of Lynton, from where you can look out over the valley and towards the Bristol Channel. The combination of high cliffs and magnificent rock formations make this a popular stretch of the South West Coast Path. It’s also an accessible and easy walk. Find out more about the Valley of Rocks and Exmoor National Park on p26. Don’t miss… The herd of feral goats that have made their home in and around this wonderful part of Exmoor. ‘The valley was visited by both Wordsworth and Coleridge, and RD Blackmore set part of his classic novel Lorna Doone here’…

This was our first trip of 2021 and coincided with the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions in England, allowing outside entertainment. We have always wanted to visit Symonds Yat, in the beautiful Wye Valley – it is one of those places that’s so near, yet we’d never visited. It is now a mantra of ours to see those places we have always meant to visit but never got around to. In the first lockdown, we started keeping a list of such locations and have since begun ticking them off. We decided we would stay at Bracelands Campsite, near the River Wye at Monmouth. This Camping in the Forest site offers much in the way of walks and cycle rides. We did feel that signposting to the site could do with some…

‘The role provides a rewarding mix of indoor and outdoor work in really scenic environments’ After 23 years as enthusiastic members of Europe’s largest touring club, we thought that it was high time for us to go a step further and apply to join their team of Assistant Site Managers. So before long, we found ourselves on the other side of the desk, working for the Caravan and Motorhome Club on the edge of the 500-acre nature wonderland that is Pembrey Country Park in South Wales, just one of many gorgeous scenic locations in the Club’s UK network. Now, you might wonder what enticed us into this outdoor lifestyle, involving every hands-on task from toilet scrubbing and bin emptying to grass cutting and drain cleaning. Well, I can honestly say…

What will it tow? Kerbweight 1836kg Towing limit 2400kg Noseweight limit 110kg 85% match 1561kg Figures for 2018 XC60 D4 Running costs XC60 D4 Momentum Insurance group 31 Annual VED £490 Average economy 55.4mpg Interim/full service £103/£163 (Prices supplied by Servicing Stop, 0844 324 5262, servicingstop.co.uk) Trouble spots The XC60 has been recalled a few times during its life. One of the biggest was for almost 32,000 cars that had windscreen wipers that were insufficiently tightened. Then more than 13,000 were recalled because of tailgate lifting arms that could freeze in cold weather. Software issues accounted for a couple of recalls, and 28 cars were recalled for replacement of a hydraulic unit in the brake system. A full list of recalls can be found at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk.…

■ Muc-Off Caravan & Motorhome Cleaner (now marketed as Nano Tech Bike Cleaner) Price £8.99 (one litre) > muc-off.com ■ Aldi Black Streak Remover & Aldi Caravan Cleaner Price Both £2.99 > www.aldi.co.uk ■ Autoglym Caravan & Motorhome Cleaner Price From £8.22 (one litre) > autoglym.com ■ Care-avan No Water Wash & Shine Price £15.99 (one litre) > care-avan.co.uk ■ Cara Finesse Caravan Wash & Wax Price £9.97 (one litre) > www.ebay.co.uk ■ Fenwick’s Caravan Cleaner Price £9.21 (one litre) > fenwickscaravan.com ■ Astonish Mould & Mildew Blaster Price £4 > astonish.co.uk ■ Erase Away cleaning sponge Price £8.89 > amazon.co.uk ■ Paragon microfibre mitten and drying towel Price From £6 > paragonmicrofibre.com ■ Paintseal Direct > paintsealdirect.com ■ Diamondbrite > diamondbrite.co.uk For more top products, see www.practicalcaravan.com/cleaning…

Two fixed beds at one end and a lounge at the other, as seen here, is possibly what anyone still new to caravans might expect. With this arrangement, the washroom is out of the way, so that the centre of the caravan feels open. The beds can even double up as a second lounge. Bear in mind that at night, whoever will be sleeping in the front needs to wander past the beds to get to the rear washroom. Pros The centre feels open, and the beds can double up as another lounge Cons It’s a long way to the toilet if you’re sleeping up front A The front lounge should be long enough for two single beds, not just a double B To save weight, if there is any…

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 Andy Jenkinson Used-van contributor practical.caravan@futurenet.com WHICH ROAD TO THE WESTERN ISLES? Q I have just bought a new two-berth caravan and plan at some point to tour Western Scotland. I recently watched a BBC Panorama programme which said that the A82 is Scotland’s most dangerous road, so narrow in places that it is almost impossible for a lorry and a caravan to pass each other. Are there any safer routes that you or your readers can recommend for reaching the west coast of scotland and the Western Isles? We’d be travelling from the Midlands. Any information or advice would be appreciated! David Bramwell Sarah Wakely replies... There’s a good reason why…

In March 2011, we stayed at Hunter’s Moon Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, near Wareham, Dorset, and had the most wonderful weather. Two years later, also in March, we woke to a dusting of snow and bitterly cold winds. This time, visiting again in early autumn, we were hoping for an Indian summer. The first day dawned sunny, so we drove to Studland Bay, which is managed by the National Trust and offers visitors gorgeous beaches and heathland bordering Poole Harbour, just perfect for birdwatching. We parked near the mouth of the harbour and walked along a boardwalk to beautiful Shell Beach, which is sheltered by dunes. Magnificent views Returning towards Studland, we turned down a lane to Knoll Beach. Here, you can hire boats, canoes and paddle boards and…

Who are you? Peter Hales; my wife, Janet, and I have owned a van and been keen explorers since 2003. Where are you a local authority on? Axminster, a thriving market town in East Devon, near Lyme Regis and the beautiful Jurassic Coast. Why are you a local authority on this place? We have lived here since 2010. What do you love about it? It’s an attractive town just off the main tourist area in East Devon. A great weekly market, lots of unusual shops, and plenty of places to eat and drink – cafés and inns. This is a lovely area for walking, offering great views in unspoilt countryside. The town is friendly, with a Heritage Centre, and to this day still produces the famous Axminster carpets, with an…

Time to head for the show halls! As you are reading this, final preparations should be well under way for the doors to open once more at the NEC, and for visitors to be welcomed back. I have a feeling that those halls might be a litttle emptier than they have been in the past. But even if you have been thoroughly converted to online viewing in the past two years, I’m sure you will agree that the fact the show is on again must be a sign of at least some light at the end of a very long tunnel. Don’t miss our show guide, from p48. I’m sure that we’re all itching to get away – I’m already planning 2023’s trips, as well as this summer’s. Happy touring!…

OLPRO plants new trees Awning and tent specialist OLPRO has planted almost 4000 trees in the first year of an initiative that sees one tree planted for each tent or awning sold online. Between the scheme’s launch in January 2021 and last month, some 3862 new trees have been planted worldwide. Recipients include reforestation projects in Madagascar, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Uganda and Kenya. Police score a double Warwickshire’s Rural Crime Team recovered two stolen caravans in a week in January. One was retrieved near Nuneaton before the owner even knew it was missing, while the other was found in Stratford-upon-Avon.…

THIS MONTH WE’RE TALKING ABOUT… BMW IX // BUYING ONLINE // VOLVO XC60 I recently went touring in a campervan. We had a great time, but the trip also served to remind me of the many advantages of a caravan. A £20,000 caravan would have been roomier than the £70,000 camper. What’s more, nipping to the shops for a pint of milk meant disconnecting the electric hook-up, lowering the roof and packing away. If we’d been in a caravan, I’d have left my daughter to relax indoors and popped to the shops with no hassle. Campervans are perceived as the cool choice for touring, often by those who’ve never tried a caravan instead. I enjoy both, but I know which I prefer! motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a…

JAGUAR F-Pace Jaguar’s first SUV was a really cracking effort, and remains a great car to this day. What’s more, not only is it good to live with day-to-day, but it also makes a very good tow car. It is largely unaffected by a heavy van, coping with lane-change manoeuvres and accelerating briskly. Minus points reside in the cabin quality, no match for German rivals, and only average wet-weather stopping distance. LAND ROVER Discovery Sport The Discovery Sport is great to live with and drive each day, and strong when needed to tow. Whether you go for one of the earlier cars, or the later versions with mild-hybrid assistance, you’ll be getting a car that easily deals with the miles and feels confident when towing. And you can be sure…

THERE’S NO DOUBT about it, over the past few years towing covers (and full covers, for that matter) have become extremely popular with caravanners. I admit, I used to subscribe to the “Why bother? The van will wash,” brigade, but after one particularly grimy trip, I began to change my mind. My opinion was completely altered when I found out how much a replacement window would cost should a flying stone hit it. Given the state of the country’s roads at the moment, that’s a distinct possibility. Even the most expensive towing cover looks positively cheap when you compare it to a replacement window. Market choice There are plenty of covers (both full for storage, and towing) on the market these days, many that are cheap and perhaps not so…

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 (now 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…

There are some advantages to not having a fixed bed, and they often become apparent in caravans with this layout. The washroom itself tends to be huge, with enough space for you to get dressed. There is also often a large sideboard unit opposite the kitchen. That provides plenty of extra storage and a perfect place for a TV that you can watch in comfort. Pros The lounge area is so huge it feels like home, as does the washroom Cons You still have to make up the bed if you want to sleep in a double A Even with no fixed bed, the settees should be long enough to make single beds B The wheelarch shouldn’t intrude too much into the sideboard unit C The kitchen proper should still…