Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2023 i Campervan

I still don’t feel like I’m on holiday,’ said Chris, as he supped his beer at the Cock O'Budworth in Cheshire. It was Friday evening and I had picked him up from work to drive to Belmont Hall, on the first leg of our trip to Wales. The sun was shining and we had set up our campervan in the perfect place: a huge pitch with open views and plenty of room for us and our dog, Tommy. Even the walk to this lovely pub had been delightful, the path passing through fields where Tommy could stretch his legs after the drive from Yorkshire. Back at the ’van, I suggested a barbecue, even though it was getting late. As we watched the sun set over the fields and Chris began…

WE’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO MEET SOME AMAZING INDIVIDUALS WITH REMARKABLE LIFE STORIES Monkton Wyld has a countryside location on the Dorset/Devon border, only three miles from the seaside towns of Lyme Regis and Charmouth. It’s a mix of hardstanding, grass and surfaced pitches, and most have electric hook-up. The park is divided into separate areas by hedges so you feel part of a smaller site. Monkton Wyld is dog-friendly, with a dog wash area, dog walk and a separate paddock where pets can be exercised off the lead. There’s also a great children’s play area. Joanna Kewley tells us more about the site. How long have you been running your campsite? We first opened to the public in 1991 in a four-acre field. Over the years this has grown…

When the Camping magazine team asked its readers and online followers to vote for their favourite tent brand, they knew that certain companies would do well because of their loyal fanbase built up over decades. It tells you a lot about Vango’s popularity among the camping public that it landed almost as many votes as both the second and third-placed brands combined. Of course, you only need to visit a UK campsite in the middle of summer to see how popular Vango is as a brand and that was reflected in the vote. The Vango story began with the founding of canvas merchants, Andrew Mitchell & Co, in 1847. The business was taken over by the Moodie family 51 years later, and it passed through the generations until it reached…

UK outdoor brand, Vango, has launched a new augmented reality technology that lets you view and explore full-size virtual awnings before you buy. In an industry first, ViewAR gives customers a 3D augmented reality view of tents and awnings by scanning a QR code. Using your smartphone or tablet camera, you can view, measure and compare different awnings to scale, providing a quick and easy way to size them up against your campervan or see if a tent is big enough for the whole of your family. Launched at the NEC show last month, ViewAR is currently available on the brand’s range of driveaway awnings, plus its Sentinel collection of family tents. Vango’s Marketing Director, Robert Birrell, said: “Vango ViewAR is a landmark moment in the history of Vango, and…

A brand-new guide has been launched to help anyone buying a new campervan make the right choice. Buying Your Perfect Motorhome – by the publisher of Campervan – is a 116-page guide packed with information to help you choose the right vehicle, whether it is your first or you’re upgrading your existing model. It includes information on the types of campervans available, the best layouts for families and couples, what base vehicles are used and the pros and cons of each. There is also expert advice on where and when to buy, how to finance the purchase and what insurance cover is needed. A 2023 buyers’ guide details all the new motorhomes and campervans on the market and a dealer directory. Editor, Peter Vaughan, said: “Buying Your Perfect Motorhome is…

When a major European manufacturer launches a new Fiat-based campervan, you pretty much know what to expect – either fixed single beds or a transverse double at the back and a half-dinette up front. However, this year Laika decided it didn’t just want a campervan that was essentially bedroom transport; it wanted to explore the space at the rear and create something different. What it came up with should go down well in the UK. Up front, the new Ecovip 645 is pretty much the same as the existing 600 model and fairly typical of continental campervans, with a half-dinette lounge and kitchen opposite. At the back, though, instead of fixed beds, you get a rear lounge with sofas long enough (1.92m and 1.75m) to be converted into single beds…

MAY ISSUE ON SALE 20 APRIL ALSO IN THE MAY ISSUE PLUS NEWS, VIEWS, REVIEWS AND MUCH MORE DIGITAL SUBSCRIPTION Get Campervan for just £19.99 a year and enjoy the latest digital issue before it goes on sale in the shops, plus instant access to every published issue of Campervan – that’s thousands of pages of searchable campervan content. What’s more, it’s the most environmentally friendly option and can be read whenever and wherever you want! Subscribe now motorhome.ma/exdigi22cpvn SEE PAGE 36 FOR MORE DETAILS…

The tourist hotspots of Cornwall’s north coast can be unbearably busy in summer. But venture a little further west and you’ll find similar coastal scenery without the overwhelming crowds. That’s not to say west Cornwall isn’t popular, but it’s noticeably quieter, particularly in the central area between St Ives and St Agnes. Backed by grassy dunes, Gwithian Towans Beach is a favourite destination for surfers. Then there’s Chapel Porth Beach and Porthtowan, both with access to the South West Coast Path. Wheal Coates, the former tin mine, sits on the clifftop between Porthtowan and St Agnes. Further along the coast is Godrevy Lighthouse, a 26-metre-high beacon located on an island three miles out to sea. Tehidy Country Park has more than 250 acres of woodland and lakes to explore. Great…

Our trip along the Norfolk coast gets off to a bad start when, early on a Saturday evening in Wisbech, we discover that my bike has been pinched off the back of the ’van. Thanks to Jen’s expert Googling, an hour later we are standing in a chap’s garden in King’s Lynn and weighing up a pink mountain bike with white pedals and handlebars, one careful lady owner (his mother-in-law), £40. I hand over the money, strap the bike on the ’van and off we go, problem solved. It helps that I am a man who is not easily embarrassed. We explore King’s Lynn the following day in the rain. It is one of those places, like Boston in Lincolnshire, which has a fascinating history but has rather gone to…

'You’re so brave, aren’t you scared?’ I heard quite a few comments like this when I got my own campervan. Truth be told, I actually went straight out so I wouldn’t have to think about it. I did also get lots of positive comments and had lots of women saying they were inspired to get their own ’van! I have definitely had moments on the road where I felt nervous, or was listening to every noise and couldn’t settle. I’m not always a great sleeper, so I’m usually armed with relaxation videos and rescue remedy spray! But in those instances where I really couldn’t relax or something felt off, I moved on to another stopover. It didn’t really feel like a big deal. But on a recent weekend away with…

Volkswagen has announced a new trim level for the iconic T6.1 line-up – the California Surf. Sitting between the Beach Tour and Ocean variants, the new Surf features a two-burner gas hob, stainless-steel sink, removable washing-up bowl and heated front seats. As with the rest of the California range, the Surf sleeps four, with a pop-top double and another double converting from the back-seat bench. Powered by a 2.0-litre TDI 150PS seven-speed engine with direct-shift gearbox and featuring 16in Clayton alloy wheels, the California Surf also includes three-zone climatronic climate control and an 8in Ready to Discover infotainment system – featuring eight loudspeakers, Bluetooth connectivity and wireless App-Connect – as standard. The whole California line-up also comes with adaptive cruise control, park assist and crosswind assist as standard.…

Tickets are selling fast for the brand-new Campervan Campout event. The festival will take place between 5 and 7 May at the South of England Showground in West Sussex, and features a DJ set from Trunk of Funk legend, Craig Charles. Visitors will also find a campervan shopping village, artisan food and drink hall, a Wellness Sanctuary, Vanlife Theatre, a street food area, a gin festival and a funfair. A selection of bloggers, vloggers and podcasters – including Campervan columnist, Tash, from Life Beyond Bricks – will be sharing their experiences and advice in a packed timetable across the three days. The Wellness Sanctuary will offer visitors yoga sessions, foraging courses and mental health talks. Live music on the main stage, brought to you by Campervan magazine, starts at 11am…

Malibu is a brand from Carthago and was originally focused solely on campervans, but now also includes low-profile and A-class motorhomes. Here, we’re concentrating on the latest line-up of Van models which are built at the company’s Slovenian factory. Carthago’s first Malibu campervans date back as long ago as 1979, when the VW T25 Transporter was the basis, but today all of the Malibu range is based on the Fiat Ducato, in medium-wheelbase, long and extra-long forms. The current range aims to be ‘best in class’, says its maker, with large functional storage areas, comprehensive insulation for all-year use and strong, stable furniture construction. Roofs and floors have 20mm-thick RTM hard foam insulation, which doesn’t absorb moisture, as well as 20mm polyurethane insulating mats in the rear doors. Malibu furniture…

Every year, our friends at Camping magazine celebrate the best camping and outdoor kit of the year. The annual Camping Awards are the biggest and best in the UK – covering tents, gear and accessories for every type of camping activity. Every year the Camping magazine team spends hours testing trailer-loads of the latest camping gear, long before it hits the shops. And, in the 2023 awards, the team also invited readers of the magazine to vote in a range of categories, including favourite tent brand and best campsite. The annual awards are all about helping readers decide how to spend their hard-earned cash. When money is as tight as it is now, you need to know that the gear you’re spending your money on is worth the outlay. It’s…

LANCASHIRE CAMPSITE AND HOLIDAY PARK SOLD Fylde-based Bank Lane Caravan Park in Lancashire has been sold to Sunset Leisure Resorts. The site, which currently has 59 touring pitches – plus planning permission to expand further – spans 14.1 acres and, having been owned by the same family since the 1960s, has been sold due to the owner’s retirement. Richard Prestwich, Director in the Leisure and Trade Related team at selling agent, Savills, said, “We are delighted to complete the sale of Bank Lane Caravan Park on behalf of our client. The new owners are experienced holiday park owners and will be upgrading the park in line with their five-star vision.” ADRIA ENTERS POP-TOP CAMPER MARKET Slovenian motorhome manufacturer, Adria, is to join the growing UK market for pop-top campervans with…

Ever fancied touring the places where your favourite film or TV show was shot? Set-jetting is a growing trend where people combine a holiday with visits to filming locations. Now the Caravan and Motorhome Club is offering members the chance to visit screen locations in Scotland, while staying at its campsites. The initiative is aimed at travellers who have been inspired to visit a destination after seeing it on the screen. These include staying at the Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park, to allow visits to a number of nearby locations from The Crown, including Ardverikie Estate – otherwise known as Balmoral Castle in the series – or Rothiemurchus Estate, where the lively Braemar gathering is filmed in season four. It also suggests staying at its Strathclyde Country Park Club site to visit…

Fancy a bespoke campervan based on Ford’s Transit Custom, with more than enough details to set it apart from what seems to be an ever-increasing crowd? Put Tiger Moth on your list. Based in Melksham, Wiltshire, here’s a relatively new converter backed by a strong pedigree. Tiger Moth is a subsidiary of Nortree Motor Company, a long-established and well-regarded car dealer in the Melksham area – it’s been in the same family ever since it was founded back in 1952. Come 2016, and the decision was made to get into campervan manufacturing, under the name of Tiger Moth. Daniel Phillips is the grandson of the Nortree founder, and one of the third generation of the family in charge of it all today. To explain the name, Tiger Moth was one…

OUTWELL CONNECTORS Add a bit more flexibility to your Outwell Summer or Event Lounge with the new Outwell Connectors. Acting as a fitted bridge between your campervan and Lounge, the Connectors create a covered area for shaded play, meals and socialising. Linking up to four campervans, the Connectors allow your Lounge to act as an existing hub for a big social get-together – perfect if you’re planning a trip with friends and family this summer. The Connectors, which clip onto the Lounge poles with adjustable pegging points for flexible pitching, are available in three variations: the Lounge Tent Connector (from £60.99), Air Shelter Tent Connector (£71.99), and Lounge Vehicle Connector (from £61.99), with different sizes specific to each Lounge model. W outwell.com PRICE From £60.99 WHITBY KENT+ EDC Based on…