Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Caravan

"July is hot afternoons and sultry nights and mornings when it’s a joy just to be alive"– Hal Borland Welcome to our July issue – this will be my last one as I am off to pastures, or should I say, pitches new. I’ve loved being Editor of Caravan and have met so many amazing people and had some incredible adventures! Before I go, I wanted to remind you that we’ve got some amazing offers for those of you who are yet to subscribe, and, get this… you can take out an annual digital subscription to Caravan for just £9.99. Getting so much content for so little is practically unheard of these days so do take advantage if you’ve not already. Find out more at caravan.ma/exdigi22 As I write this,…

It feels very incongruous walking along London streets, then turning into a green oasis of a campsite – but that’s how it was at Abbey Wood Caravan and Motorhome Club site. Who knew this existed so close to central London? Well, plenty of folks, actually, as the site was virtually full. And what a site – with very large, well-spaced pitches, friendly and welcoming wardens, and a slice of London habitat with parakeets, owls at night and urban foxes on the prowl for odd shoes. Yes, you read that right. It was very amusing to see the pile of odd shoes in reception rescued by or from the foxes. But I am getting ahead; after just over an hour’s drive from our home in Essex, we arrived unsure as to…

It all started at the NEC show in October 2022. Covid-related travel disruption seemed to be sinking into the past and thoughts of adventures abroad were bubbling back to the surface. Images of French boulangeries, Swiss Alps and Italian pizzerias, drenched in summer sunshine, were fighting for top billing. But the Sahara Desert? That hadn’t even crossed my mind. When I met up with Bailey of Bristol’s Marketing Director, Simon Howard, I was expecting to talk about new models for seasons ahead, but the question that followed was “Would you like to join the Sahara Challenge?” It didn’t take long to say ‘yes’. Then, the months of waiting followed, with regular email updates along the way. First, I’d need a 1968 International Driving Licence (a quaint cardboard document costing £5.50…

INGREDIENTS 200g pork neck or shoulder750g grilled potatoes3 grilled peppers1 onion Fresh parsley, chopped Sprig of fresh thyme2 tsp ground mustard seeds1 tsp garlic powder1 tsp ground bay leaves1 tsp sugar2 tbsp vinegar1 tbsp mustard1 tsp runny honey8 tbsp sunflower oil Salt and black pepper METHOD 1. Mix the mustard seeds, garlic powder, bay leaves, sugar, a little salt and 1 tsp of black pepper together in a bowl to make a rub for the pork. 2. Beat the pork a few times with a tenderiser before generously sprinkling the rub on the meat with three tbsp of oil. Allow it to marinate for at least 90 minutes at room temperature. 3. Cut the potatoes and peppers into small cubes and place into a bowl. Thinly slice the onion and…

It takes a certain sort of person to enjoy the sound of rain pattering on the roof and the wind whistling through the trees and there are few places where these phenomena can be enjoyed more than at Hawes. A westward drive along Wensleydale, taken in very welcome sunshine, though, accentuates the natural beauty of this long valley (unusually the dale is named after the village of Wensley, as opposed to the River Ure). The hills, dotted with sheep munching on the copious, lush green grass, in a patchwork quilt of fields created by their enclosing dry stone walls, are the epitome of rural Richmondshire, as the locality is known. Once pitched, we can survey our surroundings and enjoy what the nearby town has to offer. “Why would someone, anyone,…

The light was so wonderfully clear and bright as I drove down the A95 towards Grantown-on-Spey that I couldn’t resist stopping for a closer look at the picturesque old Bridge of Avon. Its setting was gorgeous, enclosed by the River Avon’s steep banks, where winter beeches reached up to a deep blue sky. With an entrance arch to Ballindalloch Castle and a Gothic-style gatehouse attached to the far end of the bridge, the scene had an entrancing atmosphere. Like all the stone bridges to be seen today around Strathspey, the Bridge of Avon is a survivor of repeated floods. Opened in 1800, a plaque records that the river rose 7m during the Muckle Spate (big flood) of 1829, which destroyed numerous other bridges over the River Spey and its tributaries.…

WOODYHYDE CAMPSITE Valley Road, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5HT T 01929 480274 W woodyhyde.co.uk OPEN 1 March – 31 October Nestling amid the Purbeck countryside, you can walk from Woodyhyde campsite to the dramatic hilltop ruin of Corfe Castle in just 30 minutes. The site is also set within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with both the coastal town of Swanage, and the National Trust’s Studland Bay and nature reserve all less than 15 minutes’ drive away. You can take the Swanage heritage railway into Swanage from a station at Corfe Castle – it’s a scenic vintage steam train ride like no other! Woodyhyde has mainly grass electric hook-up pitches across three fields, with one field bordered by the steam railway train track, and a dog-free touring and…

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Not many years ago, the phrase ‘caravans for couples’ simply meant two-berths. Now, with the rise in the number of small, lightweight caravans that have fixed double beds, the choice in the small caravans for couples’ category has broadened significantly. While there is a good selection of classic two-berth caravans available, couples now have much more to consider than whether they would prefer an end shower room or favour an end kitchen, instead. So, how small is small and how do you define lightweight? Small caravans can be loosely defined as those that have an overall length (also known as shipping length) of 6m or less. Lightweight caravans can be defined as those with an MTPLM (all-up, laden, weight, maximum technically permissible laden mass) of around 1,450kg. Now, a selection…

Jack Wolfskin partners with Bear Grylls German outdoor brand, Jack Wolfskin, has announced a new collaboration with outdoor adventurer, TV presenter and author, Bear Grylls. Bear joins the Jack Wolfskin Discovery Team of explorers, researchers, educators and creatives, who work together with the brand to educate and inspire people to have great experiences in the outdoors and advance environmental responsibility. Bear says, “Jack Wolfskin is one of the most dynamic but approachable brands in the outdoor space with long-lasting apparel that will benefit anyone who heads outdoors. “I share their commitment to empowering more people to experience their own personal adventures and to build a greater appreciation of the wild places and our wider society. This is going to be an amazing adventure to collaborate with such an experienced, dedicated…

We booked this site well in advance and were keen to explore the immediate area and revisit Lydford Gorge, where we hadn’t been to for many years. We were also hoping to explore Dartmoor – a favourite haunt of ours and to see the mares with their foals, which we knew would be there at this time of year. The lambs had had their turn to wow the visitors, as had the carpet of bluebells earlier in the year, now it was the turn of the equines. The weekend was hot, dry and sunny, an added bonus as we knew how the weather could change on the moor so quickly. Previously we have climbed a tor starting off with clear visibility, only to be shrouded in mist at the top,…

With over 350 miles of beaches, cliffs and coves, Kent has one of the longest coastlines to explore of any county in Britain. And with golden sands and stunning white cliffs, it can boast some of the UK’s best beaches, too. Whether you want full-on facilities, rock pools to discover, or a more secluded beach for a peaceful stroll, Kent certainly delivers. Whitstable is a fishing village with a rich maritime history and a shingle beach that even has a pub on it! And for a traditional seaside town, head to Margate with its iconic amusement park that is home to the UK’s oldest wooden roller coaster. Visit Lympne Hotel & Reserve With over 900 animals, Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a family adventure like no other. With authentic…

The Swalwell Holiday Group owns Auchenlarie Holiday Park which overlooks the gorgeous Wigtown Bay, with views across to the Isle of Man. There are pitches for motorhomes, tents and tourers. Facilities include three bars, a restaurant and takeaway, and a function suite with daily entertainment. These are complimented by an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, solarium, gymnasium and amusement arcade with a soft play area. Adjacent to reception is a shop and 24-hour launderette. Auchenlarie also boasts several outside play areas and six courtyard cottages, with hot tubs. Marshall and Helen Swalwell purchased Auchenlarie in January 1986, followed by another site, Anwoth, in 1993. These were both combined with the courtyard cottages in 2009 to become part of the Swalwell Holiday Group. Q How did you first become owners of…

INGREDIENTS 4 mackerels, washed and gutted½ bunch of parsley2 tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano1 garlic clove½ red onion1 small red chilli pepper2 tbsp red wine vinegar1 lime1 tsp lime juice100ml olive oilSalt and pepper METHOD 1. Start by making the chimichurri sauce. Chop the garlic and red onion finely. Then remove the seeds and white innards from the chilli and finely chop then add the herbs. Transfer ingredients to a bowl and mix with the red wine vinegar, lime juice and olive oil. 2. Place the mackerel in a deep dish. Slice up your lime and place a few rounds inside the mackerel where it has been gutted. 3. Pour half of the chimichurri over the mackerel. Cover with foil and let it marinate for at least one hour. 4.…

INGREDIENTS 300g fresh almonds½ tsp cinnamon½ tsp ground cardamom2 eggs140g wheat flour40g sugar6g baking powder1 pinch salt1 pinch baking soda15ml buttermilk60g butter125g frozen blueberries40g fresh blueberriesIcing sugar METHOD 1. Prepare the almond butter by placing the almonds in a food processor and pulsing it until it’s a creamy consistency. It’s important to do this slowly to make sure the almonds don’t heat up too much. When you’re happy with the consistency, add the cinnamon and cardamom. Make this at home before you go. 2. Crack the eggs and separate the yolks from the whites. Whisk the egg whites until fluffy. 3. In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Add the egg yolk and buttermilk. 4. Melt butter in a pan and let it…