Table of contents for February 2024 in Practical Caravan

Perth Museum Perth Museum opens at Easter following a £26.5m redevelopment project. It will showcase objects associated with Perth and Kinross, including the 3000-year-old Carpow Logboat and the Stone of Destiny (used in Scottish coronations, and returning to Perthshire for the first time in 700 years). perthmuseum.co.uk Stay at Faskally Caravan Park faskally.co.uk Scottish Crannog Centre This new museum on Loch Tay is due to open in spring. A crannog is a house built over water, with a bridge or causeway joining it to the shore, and visitors can step inside one for unique insight into daily life in the Iron Age. crannog.co.uk Stay at Cruachan Farm Caravan & Camping Park cruachanfarm.co.uk Braemar Castle, Aberdeenshire Built in 1628, Braemar Castle in the Cairngorms National Park is undergoing a £1.6m restoration…

GRAVETYE MANOR, WEST SUSSEX gravetyemanor.co.uk Glorious Gravetye Manor, near East Grinstead in West Sussex, was originally built for a local family in 1598, and has been operating as a country house hotel (currently four stars) with a fine dining restaurant for more than 60 years. The manor stands majestically in 1000 acres of beautiful countryside, with 35 acres of gardens that were first laid out in 1885. The award-winning Dining Room has a Michelin star and is led by Executive Chef George Blogg. Marcus Wareing, of Masterchef fame, worked at Gravetye earlier in his career. Visitors can enjoy a three-course seasonal lunch for £75. Top dish Monkfish, Jerusalem artichoke, caviar and citrus Stay at Long Acres Caravan & Camping Park longacrescamping.co.uk Nearby attractions Explore the splendid gardens at Wakehurst kew.org/wakehurst/visit-wakehurst…

Cornwall's heritage dates all the way back to Neolithic times and beyond, although one of its most enduring industries is mining, which began in the Bronze Age. Tin, copper and gold have all formed the bedrock of Cornwall's output at one time or another, reaching their zenith during the Industrial Revolution. Did you know, for example, that at the beginning of the 20th century, half of the world's tin originated there? With increasingly high demand for metal, Cornwall's landscape was transformed by the equipment needed for deep extraction, and the remains of those mines are still very much in evidence today. These days, that rich industrial history has earned the county World Heritage Site status for 10 of its great mines. ‘Cornwall has more than 70 museums where you can…

Eye-catching new colour scheme joins the line-up BAREFOOT, THE MONOCOQUE caravan company, has extended the colours you can have your caravan decked out in by launching a new model in a striking shade of lilac. Barefoot founder Cathy Chamberlain says the colour was suggested to them by a solo woman caravanner, called Pam. Cathy said, “There is something quite adventurous about this colour choice, and it seems that people are really appreciating a bit of cheer while times are difficult and uncertain. Lilac is becoming fashionable again. It is optimistic and cheerful, and reminds people of happy times.” CARAVANNERS “NEED TO CHECK COVENANTS” Caravanners planning to store their van on their driveway during the winter need to make sure their property deeds allow them to do so, Ripe Insurance is…

FIRST LOOK SHOWROOM Price £43,495 Berths 4 MIRO 1674kg MTPLM 1871kg SWIFT HASN'T STOOD still over the past 12 months, adding extra models for 2024 to the 8ft-wide Elegance Grande range. This single-axle, split-washroom tourer with rear island bed offers a truly luxury tourer for two, although it is a four-berth. Pitch and set-up The 760 is a single-axle, but still looks big. Perhaps that's down to the super-smart styling. The front end is very aerodynamic, with a sunroof and a GRP moulding that houses a large gas locker. The well-finished sidewalls are also GRP, and we particularly like the way the elegant grey colour scheme blends in with the overall white panels. Smart graphics are employed on the exterior, while the rear GRP back panel comes with LED roadlights and…

THERE HAS BEEN something of a debate both online and off in recent years, about whether caravan towing mirrors are strictly necessary, as modern cars have large mirrors that can do the job for you (or so some people would argue). However, the latest edition of the Highway Code is quite clear. It says: “If your vehicle is narrower than your trailer or load, or your trailer or load obstructs your rearward view, towing mirrors MUST be used.” And there is a perfectly good reason for this. The best towing mirrors give you full sight right down the sides of your tourer, not just the front section, so you can rest assured the way is completely clear before you turn or change lanes. For every journey We would strongly recommend…

Choosing the right caravan is never easy. It's not just selecting the right layout, it's making sure the weight of your desired van isn't more than 85% of the weight of your car. And then of course, there is your budget to consider. Fortunately, we're here to help! We've got the ball rolling here with four scenarios from different sets of caravanners. If you'd like us to sort out your conundrum and track down the used caravan of your dreams, see p69 for how to get in touch! The Kennedys, a growing family A family made up of mum, dad and two kids aged 11 and eight, the Kennedys are essentially looking for a caravan to go away in and enjoy some adventures. Their top priority is a layout where…

TOW CAR ADVICE TOYOTA LAND CRUISER On sale Summer 2024 Price From £55,000 (est) Toyota is doing a Defender with the new Land Cruiser. Just as Land Rover looked to the past for inspiration with its Defender, so Toyota has recalled earlier generations when designing the latest Land Cruiser. Improved handling While retro in style, the new Land Cruiser is thoroughly modernised under the skin. It continues to use body on frame construction, but the new frame is said to be 50% more rigid than the old one and the combined body and frame is 30% more rigid. That should improve the new car's ride and handling, areas in which the previous Land Cruiser had long been outclassed by newer designs. The new Land Cruiser also switches from hydraulic to…

THE BIG SHOT SCOTLAND ‘One final iconic scene awaited us on the way home, a slight detour to drive through the awe-inspiring valley of Glencoe’ (p22) Where are we? Glencoe, Scotland Why tour here? This magnificent deep valley amid towering mountains is about as classic a Scottish scene as you can get. Famous for its incredible geology and superb hiking and climbing, it's a wonderful, historical place to start an exploration of the western Highlands. Find out more about touring here in this issue, from p18. Don't miss… As seen here, the iconic Three Sisters of Glencoe (the peaks of Aonach Dubh, Beinn Fhada and Gearr Aonach) have become one of Scotland's most famous landmarks, and were featured in the 2012 Bond movie Skyfall. Photograph Getty/Chunyip Wong…

Whether you're on tour or at home, relax with a cup of tea and some brain-teasers to ponder! SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. No single digit can appear twice in any one row, column or 3x3 box WORDWISE You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: Aggrieved 8 = average More than 16 = well done HALF & HALF Which currency takes its name from a word meaning ‘ridge’? Cross…

Does it get any more quintessentially Scottish than Ben Nevis or Loch Lomond? Oh, maybe midges and heather. And whisky, mustn't forget the whisky, very Scots. Which is why, on a trip to Scotland this summer, we decided we had to experience these (okay, not the midges, but definitely a drop of the whisky!). A river runs through it The adventure began at Lomond Woods Holiday Park on the southern tip of Loch Lomond, amid tuneless renditions of ‘The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond’ – singing is not our forte but good fun, nevertheless! The pretty campsite is just a stroll away from the small town of Balloch, and it was here we spent our first afternoon. Not only is the town on the shores of Loch Lomond (the largest…

GETAWAY TRAVEL GETAWAY “BUT WERE YOU warm enough?” was the question that most people asked after they heard we'd stayed in a caravan for our first family skiing holiday. And by the way, the answer was a resounding “Yes!” It's a fair question and the first thing my wife asked about when I suggested a skiing holiday by caravan. She also worried about coping with damp ski outfits in the van and wasn't thrilled at the prospect of walking to the facilities across a snowy campsite. Thankfully, the reality was much better than expected and we all agreed that we'd do the trip in a caravan again – success! I was very impressed by how the Truma Combi blown-air heating kept us snug in the van. Some evenings, we actually turned…

Part of Cornwall's infamous history is that its many coves – Prussia Cove, for example – were perfect for smuggling. The deeds of the ‘free traders’ were memorably recorded in Daphne du Maurier's classic 1936 novel, Jamaica Inn. Smuggling in some form has existed ever since customs duties were first established in the 13th century, but the ‘trade’ reached its peak during the 18th century. Bleak and isolated Bodmin Moor was taken advantage of as an unmonitored route, and the canny smugglers regularly moved their contraband across the moor on its way to customers up-country. Jamaica Inn, midway between the north and south coasts, was notorious as a stop-off point for smugglers travelling this route, and became steeped in tales of treachery and debauchery. When I toured in Cornwall, I…

‘A remarkable landscape, shaped by Neolithic occupation, Roman settlement and Viking invasion’ ON THE SURFACE, Keswick is another attractive Cumbrian market town, home to stunning views and an awe-inspiring lake. Dig deeper and you'll find a remarkable landscape, shaped by Neolithic occupation, Roman settlement and Viking invasion. Its scenery inspired the Lake Poets, while its graphite gave us the humble pencil. This gem of the northern lakes is replete with natural beauty, vibrant local business and an intriguing history. HOUR BY HOUR DAY 1 10am Off to market Surrounded by views of the fells and mountains beyond, the town's cobbled streets are lined with independent shops, traditional pubs and charming cafés. Grab a cake and a cuppa in the modern-rustic Elm Café, then take a gentle stroll beside the River…

FIRST LOOK SHOWROOM Price From £25,320 Berths 2/3 MiRO 510kg MTPLM 750kg IF YOU HAPPENED to step anywhere near Icelandic brand Mink's stand at the recent NEC show, you won't have failed to notice the popularity of its latest model. The new Mink-E – designed to be lighter and more environmentally friendly than its brand stablemates – attracted a large crowd, keen to take a peek inside. But what sets the Mink-E apart from its siblings? Here, we take a closer look. On the road ‘Compact’ is the name of the game here: the Mink-E shares the same dimensions as the other Mink models (including the Highlander, which we reviewed in issue 464 and which has now been renamed the Mink-X), with a length of 4.12m. The E is the lightest…

SHOWROOM USED TOW CAR USED TOW CAR WHEN IT CAME to the mid-sized SUV marketplace, Citroën was like a shy person at a disco. It sat on the sidelines for a long time, before deciding it had seen enough of rivals getting all the attention. So in 2018 it got up and strutted onto the dancefloor with the funky-looking C5 Aircross. Citroën had clearly studied the sector well, because the Aircross turned out to be rather talented, in its own quirky way. And with prices as low as £11,000, it makes a value-for-money used tow car. What's it like inside? First things first – if you need more than five seats, walk on by, because the Aircross has no seven-seat option. If you don't need the extra seating, there's lots…

1 Are caravan heating systems effective? A properly maintained heating system in a modern, well-insulated caravan is very effective indeed. It will not only heat the interior space quickly – typically reaching your target temperature in around 20-60 minutes – it will also be able to maintain that level of warmth very efficiently. UK caravans are frequently tested in industrial-size cold chambers, which can generate temperatures below -20°C. So a modern tourer could keep you very warm, cosy and comfortable, even in those conditions. These days, they really are four-season leisure vehicles. 2 Are caravans fitted with separate heaters for hot water and space heating? Many modern caravan heating systems will heat both the interior space and the water in a single combi unit. Clever engineering means that these combination heaters are…

Star letter Stop thief! Having read your recent article on vehicle tracking systems (issue 472), I write in the hope of making readers more security-conscious when it comes to protecting their vehicles. As a retired police officer, I was always amazed by responses I got when attending a victim of vehicle or caravan theft. My questions for caravanners were: “Does the vehicle have a tracker fitted?” – “No,” was the usual reply. “Did the vehicle have a wheel clamp?” – “No.” “Leg locks by any chance?” – “No.” “Roof markings?” – “No.” “What security was fitted?” – “A hitch lock.” And in the case of car theft: “Was a steering wheel lock fitted?” – “No.” I then had to explain the likelihood of them getting their vehicle back was low,…

Avtex AMR985 Mobile Internet No need to forgo your favourite shows with this new internet solution from Avtex, offering 3, 4 and 5G connection on the go from a simply installed roof-mounted unit. Price £381 Web outdoor-world.co.uk PackTowl Made from sustainably sourced natural fibre, this super-soft 42 x 92cm towel can absorb 10 times its weight in water and folds down into a pocket-sized bag. Price £15 Web outdoorpeople.org.uk Portable Table Tennis Bring out your competitive side with this portable ping pong set, including four bats, six balls and a net that can be used on any surface up to 180cm wide. Price £44.99 Web prospin.net Garmin Camper 795 Garmin's new caravan- and motorhomespecific sat-nav offers custom routes, preloaded guides and satellite imagery, all displayed on a bright 7” screen.…

10 February to 6 May 2024 Outi Pieski at Tate St Ives Discover the work of visual artist Outi Pieski in this unique exploration of the identity, culture and environment of the Sami people, who live in the region of Sapmi, which includes the northern part of Scandinavia and the Kola peninsula in Russia. Gallery entry is £10.50. tate.org.uk Stay at Ayr Holiday Park ayrholidaypark.co.uk 8-11 February 2024 Spectra Festival of Light, Aberdeen Spectra, the magical Festival of Light, returns to Aberdeen for the 10th time. Each year, the festival brings a spectacular programme of works by some of the world's leading visual artists, studios and companies to transform the Granite City with light, sound and art. Entry to the event is free. spectrafestival.com Stay at Deeside Holiday Park woodleisure.co.uk/our-parks/deeside…

When to go We visited in the summer to experience some of the many famous sights in Western Scotland. Bear in mind that this is midge season, and you'll need to pack suitable clothing and repellent. It is also wise to carry wet-weather gear! Food and drink Tullie Inn pubanddining.co.uk The Balloch House vintageinn.co.uk Ben Nevis Inn ben-nevis-inn.co.uk Black Isle Bar blackislebrewery.com Castle Stalker View Café castlestalkerview.co.uk Find out more Visit Scotland visitscotland.com Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park lochlomond-trossachs.org Sweeney's Cruises sweeneyscruiseco.com Loch Lomond Shores lochlomondshores.com Balloch Castle Country Park west-dunbarton.gov.uk Firkin Point seelochlomond.co.uk West Lomond Cycle Path trossachs.co.uk The Jacobite steam train westcoastrailways.co.uk Glenfinnan Viaduct visitscotland.com Glencoe National Nature Reserve nts.org.uk The Oban Distillery obanwhisky.com Where we stayed Lomond Woods Holiday Park woodleisure.co.uk A pretty stream runs…

FINAL REPORT IT'S BEEN RATHER a sad month here at Practical Caravan HQ, because we waved goodbye to our Bailey Discovery D4-4, which we've had on our long-term loan fleet for a couple of years now. In that time, the comfortable, fixed-bed, rear-washroom tourer has been on a huge number of adventures with various team members, all of whom have reported back in previous issues of the magazine. As we say a fond farewell to the caravan, we take a look back at what some of our testers thought of the Discovery D4-4. Nigel Donnelly As we pulled onto the site, we immediately became aware that people really notice the Discovery's distinctive appearance. It looks great, but if you prefer your outfit to blend into the background, you might want…

USED VANS SHOWROOM USED VAN BUYER THE COMPASS BRAND dates back to 1979 and has had a long and varied history. The Camino, launched for 2017, became a popular choice for caravanners looking for luxury touring. The Camino stood out, with its smart metallic-blue aluminium sides and tinted windows, and the spec included Alde heating, an onboard water tank, a radio/CD player and plush soft furnishings. Four layouts were available, offering various fixed beds. Model history Compass as a brand came and went over time, with the Rallye at the top of the range. The 2017 season was to see a big shake-up, however, after just a few years back on the scene. A set of new ranges was introduced, a way of basically reinventing the brand. Casita, Capiro and Camino…

TOW CARS QUICK TEST QUICK TEST *includes wing mirrors What's new? VW has revised the Touareg with new LED headlights, a full-width illuminated strip at the rear and uprated infotainment, with the option to wirelessly mirror your phone. Petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrids are available. We're testing the 286hp diesel. What are we looking for? Will these updates keep the VW Touareg competitive with other big SUVs? Is the cabin classy enough for such a costly car? Towing ability The updated Touareg is available with petrol, plug-in hybrid petrol, and diesel power. Perhaps surprisingly, given the shift away from diesel, VW still expects the 286hp diesel to be the bestseller. Its appeal for caravanners is easy to understand. As well as having plenty of top-end power, the Touareg has 443lb…

TOW CAR TIPS THE RIGHT TOW CAR isn't going to make your caravan holiday, but the wrong one could quite easily break it. A car that's stable, practical and reliable means every trip should start and finish without stress. But choose a car that's sluggish, unstable or unreliable, and every towing journey will be something you simply have to grin and bear. Making the right choice is important, whether you are shopping for a new or a used vehicle. If you are looking at the secondhand market, though, there are extra pitfalls to be aware of. You'll need a car that's suitable for the task, and one that's been well looked after by previous owners. Older cars may not come with any warranty, so choosing a vehicle that won't let…

Includes new 2024 models on UK sale! FIND THE PERFECT FLOORPLAN FOR YOUR NEEDS Please check model details with the manufacturer or dealer before travelling to view or buy There are a wide range of caravan layouts to choose from (pictured below), all with their own pros and cons. When you're trying to settle on the arrangement that will suit you, there are some points to think about that can help you decide. Here, we take a look at a few of the most popular floorplans out there, and what they can offer you. B TRANSVERSE ISLAND BED, REAR WASHROOM Island beds are a surprisingly recent addition to caravans, and were really introduced from the world of motorhomes. Caravans are usually a bit wider than motorhomes, though, so it is…