Table of contents for May 2022 in Practical Caravan

Top sites, top touring I write this having not long returned from the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC and, while I always enjoy my visit, this one was particularly special. The first such event for two years, it was fantastic to see so many of you there, filling the halls (and the caravans) – after so much upheaval, things finally felt back to normal. And I’m sure that, like us, you’re looking forward to the season ahead. It’s with this in mind that we’re delighted to bring you your copy of our annual Top 100 Sites Guide, produced in association with Raleigh, with this issue. Our guide has become an essential for PC readers. That’s because it identifies brilliant UK campsites recommended by our team and (the…

When to go North Norfolk can be enjoyed at any time of year, although it’s more pleasant without a cold north wind blowing! Way to go We followed the A47 from Peterborough to King’s Lynn, and continued on the A148, which passes close to the campsite entrance. Food and drink We mostly ate at the site, which has a bar, restaurant and take-away pizzeria. There’s also a well-stocked shop if you prefer to do your own cooking. We enjoyed a drink and a snack at the Ferry Inn in Horning (horningferry.co.uk). Our outfit Our 2019 VW Arteon 2.0 TDI towed our 2002 Avondale Dart 515-4. Where we stayed Kelling Heath Holiday Park This is a beautifully well-kept site that also offers miles of walking/running and cycling trails across the surrounding…

Who are you? Susan Taylor, wanderer and keen camper for many years with my husband, Ro. Where are you a local authority on? The Wirral, a peninsula in north-west England, bordered by the Mersey, the Dee and the Irish Sea. Why are you a local authority on this place? I lived and worked in south-west Wirral for around 20 years and still visit family and friends there. What do you love about it? It has a surprising diversity of attractions, from the beaches at West Kirby, Hoylake and Thurstaston to nature reserves including Hilbre Island and the RSPB reserve at Burton Mere – not forgetting its variety of restaurants and bars. One of my favourite shopping areas is the craft centre at Brimstage, or for a good bargain, I love…

Ludlow Spring Festival Ludlow Spring Festival (14-15 May), in the grounds of Ludlow Castle, proclaims itself the UK’s original food festival, and promises a barrel of fun and feasting. › ludlowspringfestival.co.uk Pub in the Park Pub in the Park returns to Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on 12-15 May. This year sees a stellar music line-up, food stalls and cooking demonstrations. › pubintheparkuk.com/marlow Wonderful watercress For something a little bit different, check out the Watercress Festival in Alresford, Hampshire (15 May), where you can also witness the Watercress Eating Championships! › watercressfestival.org Splendid seaweed Head to Clovelly on the North Devon coast for its annual Seaweed Festival (29 May) and you can enjoy talks, craft workshops, stalls selling a range of seaweed products, and a great choice of lively street entertainment. › clovelly.co.uk/events/seaweed-festival-3-2…

Caravanners welcome return of NEC show It was really great to be back at the NEC show this February, at last being able to stroll around and view all of the new models which have been brought out to tempt UK buyers, and many of which we are planning to review in depth in future issues of Practical Caravan. It was also good to see so many visitors – couples, families and individuals – clearly eager to embark on their first experience of caravanning. Now that the dreaded lockdowns seem to be a thing of the past, I’m more hopeful that we can all look forward to many days of happy caravanning ahead. peter.baber@futurenet.com Reviews editor PETER BABER is a hugely experienced caravanner who enjoys touring whenever he can…

Club looks to bumper Easter The Camping & Caravanning Club says bookings at its sites for the Easter weekend are 33% up on Easter 2019, the last time sites could open for what is widely seen as the start of the season. Bookings are particularly strong at sites in Wales (up 180%) and Scotland (up 126%). The Club has announced that this year’s National Camping and Caravanning Week will run from 30 May to 5 June, to tie in with the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. iNet X offered as a retrofit Truma’s iNet X, the second generation of its app-based remote control system that is now offered as an option on a wide range of caravans is available for retrofitting. Launched at last year’s Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, the new system…

Touring has a lively year ahead There’s a real buzz about caravanning at the moment. From sold-out days at the NEC show in February, to healthy bookings at campsites, 2022 is set to be a big year in the world of touring. International travel restrictions during the pandemic have increased interest in caravan holidays, but that momentum looks likely to be maintained as the world starts to open up again. I can’t claim to be optimistic by nature, but I’m hopeful the many newcomers joining us over the past couple of years are going to stick around. If these enthusiastic newbies sing the praises of touring to their friends, then a new generation could be drawn in. motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a former PC editor, and has…

A CARAVAN TOUR is always an enjoyable experience, but if you’re not careful, costs can add up surprisingly quickly. However, following a few simple steps could help you keep your spending to a minimum. To set you on your way, here are some top money-saving tips for your next journey! 1 Save on food and drink Heading off-site for the day? Then think about the food and drink you can take with you, so that you won’t have to worry about finding a place for lunch. This takes a bit of preparation, but is well worth it – you also get to choose where you stop for a picnic each day, which can give you the chance to relax in truly picturesque surroundings and green spaces, while you enjoy your…

Getting a reasonable price for servicing and repairs should be a little easier than it has been, thanks in part to the Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS), run by the National Caravan Council in partnership with the Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club. The scheme’s 570-plus members must show that all workshop staff have gained four separate training certificates connected with caravan repairs. They promise to provide written estimates for any service-related repairs that come to more than £150, and should give realistic timescales for completion. The AWS could potentially help if you want to buy from a show, but don’t want to have to go back to the dealer you bought from there. Through the scheme, you can arrange for a local workshop to carry out…

A VOLUNTARY ACCREDITATION scheme for trailer training courses is currently being developed by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The aim is to provide motorists with the necessary competency, skills and knowledge to ensure that they are towing safely. The DVSA and the Department for Transport are collaborating with the trailer training industry to create the National Council for Accredited Trailer Training – this will “oversee the scheme and set good towing practice”. Training bodies The DVSA is also working with trailer and training organisations who have said they would like to become an accrediting body. These would then be responsible for accrediting the trainers and running the scheme. The Government scrapped the B+E test in 2021, but continues to encourage drivers to receive some professional training before they…

> 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…

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…

SEPTEMBER 1983 Bang on! Step into our time machine with a cover featuring a topless dad, a huge mallet and a brown awning that takes us back to the ’80s... ah, memories! We also took a look at the new Land Rover Matching pair Our Outfit Test saw us pairing a Toyota Tercel 1452cc with a 1979 Piper 1200CT caravan. The stylish but sturdy 4WD Toyota certainly lived up to our “Strong and traditional” headline. We found the steering “light but accurate”, but were less happy with the “degree of wheelspin” when pulling away Flying home Weaving our way west, this travel feature by Bob Musker followed the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Castles, seagulls and kittiwakes were among the delights on view, and Bob expressed his relief at seeing butterflies returning…

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 HOW DO WE TOW IN WINDY WEATHER? Q We took our caravan away to Cornwall and Devon during February for a couple of long weekends, but we had a few scary moments while towing due to the weather. What advice would you give for towing in windy weather, so we can be better prepared in the future? Jonathan Martin David Motton says... If you are planning to go away and a gale is forecast, I would recommend delaying your journey if possible. Even if that means your holiday is a day shorter, it’s the safest course of action. However, if…

Enjoy the sunshine, wherever you tour! Let’s hope that the recent storms are done with and we can all look forward to the arrival of calmer days and warmer weather. I’m sure everyone welcomes the change of season, but this is a particularly special time for caravanners, who can shake off those winter lockdowns and enjoy the very best of the great outdoors. Some of you might be thinking about a 2022 adventure abroad; if so, don’t miss John Sootheran’s article on Euro Road Trip planning – turn to p48 for some brilliant tips, advice and suggestions. Those of you looking to tour a little closer to home will be pleased to know we’ve got that covered, too, with fabulous features on the Isle of Wight (p24), Norfolk (p32) and…

Find out more ■ Wightlink Ferries › wightlink.co.uk ■ Isle of Wight Tourism › visitisleofwight.co.uk ■ The Old Smithy › theoldsmithy.com ■ Osborne › english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/osborne ■ Carisbrooke Castle › english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carisbrooke-castle ■ Robert Hooke Trail › roberthooke.org ■ Brownsea Island › nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea-island Where I stayed Adgestone Camping and Caravanning Club Site Address Lower Road, Adgestone, Isle of Wight PO36 0HL › 01983 403 432 › www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk Open 21 April – 3 October Charges From £8.60 South Lytchett Manor Caravan Park Address Dorchester Road, Lytchett Minster, Poole BH16 6JB › 01202 622 577 › southlytchettmanor.co.uk Open 1 March – 2 January Charges £16-50-£34.00 Stoats Farm Address Weston Lane, Totland, Isle of Wight PO39 0HE › 01983 759 608 › stoatsfarm.com Open 1 March – 31 October Charges £25-£50…

KAY AND I love touring in North Yorkshire. This beautiful part of the world seems to have everything, including two national parks, with North York Moors to the east and Yorkshire Dales to the west. We’re not infrequent visitors to the latter, and take every opportunity to go whenever we can. For me, there’s a rugged beauty and simplicity about the Dales where you almost get the feeling time doesn’t matter, while for Kay, there are many reminders of her childhood on the family’s farm in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District. The Caravan and Motorhome Club has a lovely site on the outskirts of the small market town of Hawes, Upper Wensleydale, which is 30 miles from the Bedale exit of the A1 (our quickest route). That 30…

ALL YOU ROAD geeks out there: this should interest you! Our route this month is the UK’s longest four-digit A-road, stretching for some 53 miles. If you haven’t heard of it, that is not surprising, because it passes through some pretty remote countryside. It doesn’t start out that way. Everyone knows Bury St Edmunds as a charming county town, and when you head out of it on the A1101, you see everything you’d expect to find in such a place, including thatched cottages and the fine Tudor mansion that is Hengrave Hall. Just past Leckford Green, you pass West Stow Anglo-Saxon Village, a reconstruction of a time when this area was perhaps more populated than it is now. There are two useful laybys beyond here, if you need to pull…

I CANNOT RECOMMEND Euro-touring highly enough. The towing is easy, the weather is better and there are so many new places to discover and delicious foods to devour! Given that many of Britain’s tourist hotspots seem oversubscribed following Brexit and Covid-19, it needn’t cost you any more to tour abroad – even cross-Channel travel can be bagged at great rates if you buy carefully. Follow our advice and we promise you a fantastisch/fantastique/fantastico caravanning holiday. GETTING THERE Ferries When travelling to Europe, you have numerous ferry options, depending which country or region you’ll be aiming for. For northern Europe, Scandinavia, Poland and the Baltics, consider crossing to Amsterdam, Rotterdam or the Hook of Holland, because this will minimise the towing time to your destination. Towing from Calais to this area…

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.…

DOMETIC HUB This single-point inflation ‘activity shelter’ from Dometic promises to be the “centre of your outdoor adventure”, and we reckon it makes a brilliant standalone alternative to a regular awning. Optional zip panels are available, as are a sleeping annexe and other accessories, including tunnels to connect to your estate or SUV tow car. You can even take it to the beach; it inflates in seconds, and weighs just 13.8kg. Price £575 > dometic.com DOMETIC TRT120E ROOFTOP TENT We loved the look of this rooftop tent, which is surely a unique way of enjoying life under the stars. Setting up the unit is simple and can be done in minutes with a 12V operation and wireless remote. The 5cm-thick foam mattress is large enough for two, and there are…

HAVING YOUR CARAVAN professionally serviced on a regular basis is essential, but it’s not cheap – so how can you save money while you’re doing so? The answer is to carry out some basic maintenance and checks before your tourer goes to the workshop, which could save you time and labour costs – and will also help to minimise the need for expensive major repairs in future. Here are a few key areas: > Regularly check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change them as needed. > Check tyre pressures before every journey (don’t forget the spare). > Keep an eye on the age of your tyres. You’ll find the date imprinted inside a small lozenge on the tyre wall. These two numbers indicate the week…

1 Breakaway cable When was the last time that you had a close look at the breakaway cable fitted to your caravan? Its condition is something that is often overlooked, but this is a vital piece of safety equipment. If the worst should happen and your van becomes detached from the car, it’s all there is to pull on the caravan’s brakes. And don’t be fooled into thinking that a caravan will otherwise stop in a few metres if it is detached at even 30mph, because it won’t do so unless and until it hits something – very hard! There are essentially two kinds of breakaway cable. First, there’s the type that has a clip on the end (with a flat piece of springy metal), which is designed to loop…

This kind of layout is clearly one for large families. You might think having four bunks at the back is a waste of space, but it does have its advantages. The kids get a room of their own, particularly if the nearside bunks fold to become a dinette. A door, or even better still, a sliding partition across the middle means they can go off to bed at night and you don’t need to worry about disturbing them. And everyone has equal access to the toilet! Pros Clear separation between adults’and kids’ spaces Cons The bunks can feel a bit redundant if fewer than four childen are travelling A The front lounge should still be large enough for the whole family at dinnertime B If there is a partition, ensure…

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…

IN JULY 2020, we felt incredibly lucky to have been able to enjoy a planned summer holiday in Cornwall, during which we met up with some relatives and were blessed with mostly glorious weather. Unfortunately, our luck didn’t last. A four-week lockdown in November scuppered our plans for a final short break before the winter. By late February, even we – as healthy 40-somethings – had received our first doses of the vaccine and reasoned that enough people would have been vaccinated by Easter to allow at least some reopening of the hospitality industry. We took a chance and provisionally booked a week’s stay at Kelling Heath Holiday Park, on the North Norfolk coast, immediately after Easter. We had never been to this area before, but loved the look of…

Way to go From the east, turn right off the A684 Leyburn-to-Hawes road as you enter Hawes, onto the road signposted Muker and Hardraw. The site is on the right in 0.25 miles. From the south-west, leave the M6 at Junction 36 onto the A65. In Ingleton, turn left onto the B6255. Turn into Hawes’ main street and then left onto the road signposted Muker and Hardraw as above. From the north-west, leave the M6 at Junction 40 onto the A66. Turn onto the A685 and then onto the B6259. At Garsdale Head, turn left onto the A684, signposted Hawes. Then as above. Food and drink Green Dragon Inn Bellow Hill, Hardraw, Hawes, North Yorkshire DL8 3LZ › 01969 667 392 › greendragonhardraw.com Our outfit Land Rover Discovery towing a…

■ Check out www.gov.uk/brexit. ■ It’s recommended to have six months’ validity left on your passport. ■ You cannot stay in the EU for more than 90 days in any 180-day period. ■ You need to affix a UK sticker to your car and caravan (not a GB one). ■ You should take your vehicle log book (V5C) with you, and proof of insurance for towing abroad. ■ If you’re taking a leased or hired vehicle, you need a VE 103 certificate. ■ Your European Health Insurance Card will remain valid until its expiry date, when it should be replaced with a Global Health Insurance Card. You should consider taking out travel/health insurance, too, especially if you have pre-existing conditions. ■ Check with your phone provider about roaming charges –…

There was a great set of speakers at the show, including EastEnders actor Adam Woodyatt (aka Ian Beale), who chatted about living in a motorhome while he tours the Peter James play Looking Good Dead. He was joined on stage by surprise guest and fellow EastEnder Shane Richie, who told the audience he had to rush off at the end of the talk to don high heels for a role in the hit musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Shane suggested he ana Adam should put together their own leisure vehicle TV show – watch this space! One of the most popular talks came from President of The Camping and Caravanning Club Julia Bradbury, who gave a personal insight into why the great outdoors has never been more important for our…

Lightweight vans prove popular Spring is just around the corner, and at last we can look forward to a great new season of touring. Things are also looking up on the forecourts, I’m told. One dealer I visited recently said demand for used vans had been very healthy from the off, and he had sold several in the past week. Another said business had been quiet earlier in the year, but they were now seeing growing customer interest. Family models are being sought after, especially lightweight vans. With fuel costs rising and competitive pricing in the pre-owned sector, this looks like being the flavour of the summer season. practical.caravan@futurenet.com ANDY JENKINSON is a caravan expert and historian – he loves pre-owned and classic tourers!…

CUT OUT AND KEEP GUIDE! 1 Andrew’s Field Worcestershire An attractive if basic site, Andrew’s Field has a fantastic location on the Avon, in the delightful village of Eckington, and offers direct access to the river. Facilities are limited, with no electricity on the site, but there is a tap for drinking water and a waste-water disposal point. Wildlife abounds and you can see deer at the riverside, along with birdlife such as kingfishers, cuckoos and woodpeckers. The village is on the outskirts of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and you’ll find an abundance of excellent walks in the vicinity. Price £11 per night > avoncamping.weebly.com 2 Parc Farm Caravan Park Montgomeryshire Ideally located in the beautiful Tanat Valley, in Powys, and with the River Tanat running through…

WHAT’S THE BEST way to save money when you are looking to buy a caravan? However big (or small) your budget is, it’s likely to be a significant outlay. But we do love caravans, and many of us particularly love owning them. If you are among that huge group of enthusiasts, the only answer is to track down the very best deal you can find. Bagging a bargain Luckily, despite the fact that demand for new and used caravans remains high, there are still excellent bargains to be had. So how can you get hold of such a deal? First things first: stick to your guns. If, for example, you decide, after much research, that an end-kitchen model is what you are looking for, you should only look for one…

THIS MONTH WE DISCUSS… DIY TASKS // MARQUIS LEISURE // ALDE FLOW Now’s the time for a bit of DIY Here at Practical Caravan we love a good DIY project, and we know you do too – so this month, we’ve five tasks for you to get your teeth into, prior to the start of the main touring season. With everything from adding USB ports to checking your breakaway cable, there’s plenty to keep you busy – simply turn the page to get started! And if you’ve recently completed a DIY project that you’d like to shout about, do let us know – we’d love to feature the best ones in the magazine. Just drop us a line at practical.caravan@futurenet.com with the details! practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to…

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…