Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Practical Caravan

Apologies to those of you who abstain from over-indulgence, but last month’s trip to Slovenia – and particularly the availability of lots of good, sensibly priced wine – raised something of a crucial question for a greedy caravanner like me; namely, what’s the best way to store your vino on board? Our tourer had an open cupboard close to the axle line – ideal for weight distribution – that was perfect for storing bottles upright, but would they be better stored on their sides? And while we’re on the subject, does the jiggling of a tourer on tow spoil a good wine? Is it better to stick to cheap plonk, or is there a perfect price point – good enough to be more than drinkable, but cheap enough not to…

AlcoSense Pro This device uses sensors developed from UK police units, so you can be sure you’re safe to get behind the wheel if you’ve enjoyed a few drinks the night before. Features include details of alcohol limits for every country in the world, an ‘estimated time until sober’ predictor and advice about whether you are using the machine correctly. If you’re heading to France you’ll still need the NF-approved breathalyser kits, though. Price £149.99 (launch price £129.99) Web www.alcosense.co.uk My Buddy Tag While wearing this tracking wristband, children can run free on the campsite without you worrying when they disappear out of sight. You’ll receive phone alerts when your child is out of your proximity, if the wristband is submerged in water, or if your child hits the panic…

‘All seemed quiet, until a spider the size of a saucer bungee-jumped across the pelmet’ I HAVE AN idea for David Attenborough’s next natural history series. Forget Life on Earth – there’s enough material for 12 one-hour episodes of Life in and on My Caravan. I popped up to where it’s stored yesterday for a mid-winter check and, in the short period since I’d kissed it sweet dreams for the shutdown, it had become a haven for a wide variety of flora and fauna. My suspicions were aroused as I neared. I could have sworn I’d seen the curtains twitch and heard the scurrying of tiny feet. I imagined a scene like that in Toy Story, just before the human’s return, when all manner of things inside scramble to find…

I use a map to plan the route and check Google Maps for access and any roads l’m unsure of. I do have the sat-nav on in case of road closures, though. Gary Barnett Use a bit of common sense. If you are unsure, carry on; your sat-nav will compute a new approach. Andrew Fletcher Sat-navs are only as good as the driver. If the shortcut seems too good to be true, throw the sat-nav out of the window and get out the maps. They never fail. Clive Beaver Most sites have directions on the website — or speak to them over the phone. I also use Google Street View to see if it’s suitable. ‘Boggy Marsh’ The only problem is, if I don’t go the route it wants, it…

‘I wondered what The Bard would make of the Theatre today’ At 9am in late autumn it was cold outside the Royal Shakespeare Company’s complex in Stratford-upon-Avon, and I was wondering how to get in. I was excited. After exchanging gesticulations with a chap cleaning the glass on the other side of the firmly closed entrance, a door opened and I was beckoned inside and asked to wait. The RSC is a very modern building: it’s the result of a three-year refurbishment of the original, 1932 Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, and was completed in 2010. The building houses two theatres, the 1040-seat Royal Shakespeare and the much smaller, more intimate Swan, and I was about to see inside them both during a back-stage tour – production directors permitting, and hence the…

WELCOME TO THE fourth Practical Caravan Owner Satisfaction Awards, which are based entirely on owners’ experiences and judgements. We’re not only interested in new models, but in pre-owned caravans, too, and in the supplying dealers of both. Buying a caravan is not an insignificant investment and, speaking from my experience over the years, there’s little that is more disappointing than going to collect your purchase (whether new or pre-owned) only to find defects due to poor manufacturer quality control and/or insufficient pre-delivery inspection by the supplying dealer. It will be interesting to see whether the new Consumer Rights Act has a positive bearing on the caravan industry in years to come. We hope and suspect that it will, and will likely banish some of the more laissez-faire attitudes of the…

First drive Suzuki Vitara S Price £20,899 Kerbweight 1210kg 85% match 1029kg Towing limit 1200kg Towball limit 75kg THE SUZUKI VITARA is a very capable crossover, but until now the engine options have frustrated in different ways. The diesel is clearly the better choice for regular towing, but it sounds rather noisy. The 1.6-litre petrol is cheaper to buy and quieter, but performance is underwhelming. Step forward the Vitara S. It’s powered by a new 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine, which Suzuki rather excitedly calls ‘Boosterjet’. There’s 138bhp and 162lb ft of torque, up from the 1.6’s 118bhp and 115lb ft. Just as important as the extra poke is the change in how the pulling power is delivered, with the 1.4 turbo developing peak torque from 1500rpm all the way to…

How much? £1200-£9500 Values really have plummeted: our top price applies only to exceptional range-toppers with one owner, perfect history and around 30,000 miles. Shop around and you can find something almost as good for a thousand pounds less. At the lower end, sub-£2000 cars are mostly small-petrol-engined or very leggy early diesels, but you can find really appealing examples for as little as £2200. As a nice little bonus, the five-seater models, which make more sense, cost around a 10% less than the seven-seater. What will it tow? Kerbweight ......................... 1600kg 85% match ..........................1360kg Towing limit....................... 1500kg Towball limit ............................75kg (2007 Touran 2.0 TDI SE) How much is a towball? Witter flange towbar ........ £87.55 Bosal detachable.............. £156.72 Fitting extra (www.pfjones.co.uk) What about servicing? Touran: Interim service £126.43, Full…

THE CARVER CASCADE gas-fired water heater was a revelation when it was introduced in the 1980s. It was efficient and fitted neatly under seats. Rather than unsightly, ‘on demand’ wall-mounted water heaters (that supplied hot water to a single tap where it was mounted), the Carver Cascade sent it to kitchen sinks, washroom basins and, practically unheard of before, caravan showers! Years later, the GE version added an electric heating element — a useful feature at a time when touring sites were fitting electric hook-up. The Carver Company was bought by the giant German firm Truma, and inevitably production of the Cascade (GE) ceased because it was in competition with Truma’s own water heater. Today, Truma retains the lion’s share of the market, but many upmarket caravans have the Alde…

Layout finder J This is a compact layout that you’ll usually find in the shortest vans on the market; the double bed is made up from the pair of sofas at the front. You’ll sometimes find that the sofas aren’t long enough to be used as single beds, so be sure to check this if it’s important to you. The washroom is located in the corner, and, as a result, is often narrow. Pros No inch of space is wasted here: you’ll have everything you need in a small area. Cons The washroom is unlikely to have a separate shower, and can be narrow. The kitchen may have limited work surface, and storage is likely to be at a premium. A Check that the lounge area and the sofas are…

I always enjoy reading the column written by Martin Roberts, especially that in the January 2016 issue about tractors versus caravans. I drive around the Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset area most days, and come across a tractor everywhere I go, all year round! The last time I was behind a caravan was quite a while ago, and I had a job keeping up with it. I think the only thing that us caravanners have in common with tractors, Martin, is that we sometimes use farm CLs. I’m retiring in mid-March and I hope to do a bit more touring. With any luck, I won’t get stuck behind too many tractors. Ron and Anne Yardley WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR REVIEW? I usually turn to the contents page and check out which…

25-28 March Historic celebrations Step back in time to a traditional Tudor Easter at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum in Singleton, West Sussex. Stay at Graffham Camping and Caravanning Club Site Web www.campingand caravanningclub.co.uk 25-28 March On the Easter trail After you’ve seen crafts people at work, join the Easter egg hunt at St Fagan’s National History Museum in Cardiff this March, with riddles to lead you to mystery prizes. Stay at South Lodge CL Tel 01446 760 889 26–27 March Green fingers Visit the grand Georgian Somerley House in Ringwood, Hampshire, for an Easter craft and garden fair. You’ll enjoy spring-time treats in acres of elegant parkland. Stay at Red Shoot Camping Park Web www. redshootcampingpark.com 9 February Skip to your own beat Scarborough’s 89-year-old…

There were 21 Shakespearean theatres in London before civil war closed all playhouses in 1642. The most famous is The Globe (inset), which was funded and rebuilt in a project led by American actor/ director Sam Wanamaker, and re-opened in 1997. A more recent collaboration has brought about the Shakespearean London Theatres project, which pieces together the story of London’s playhouses from the 1570s until their closure. Take a look at www.shalt.dmu. ac.uk to find out more about the theatreland that was the precursor to today’s West End, and download walking maps. There are five routes to choose from and, as well as theatres, they include Shakespeare’s residences while in London, churches that were important to the actors, and public houses that hosted performances. The Globe is on Route 5,…

1 Highland adventures Enjoy some stunning views of the Scottish landscape from the 9½ miles of Strathspey Steam Railway. Stay at Glenmore Camping in the Forest Site Web www.camping intheforest.co.uk 2 Short, but very sweet The 4½-mile Dean Forest Railway even offers a ‘footplate experience’ for those who fancy lending the driver and fireman a hand in the engine. Stay at Hawthorn Cottage Caravan Site Tel 01594 563 117 3 Stepping stones Follow the trackbed of the former Giants Causeway Tram to this mystical site aboard the Giant’s Causeway and Bushmills Railway. Stay at Ballyness Caravan Park Web www.ballyness caravanpark.com 4 Cheesey does it in Yorkshire Wensleydale Railway runs through the spectacular Yorkshire Dales, and it would be rude not to try the local delicacy! Stay at Pembroke…

A blast from the past at the NEC THE CARAVAN, CAMPING and Motorhome Show returns to Birmingham’s NEC from 23-28 February, promising more than 350 exhibitors. In addition to the full 2016 ranges from the UK’s leading brands, there will be the Discovery Theatre – showcasing top tips from industry experts – dog agility, the Woodland Trust’s forest-themed ‘Country Park’ activity area, and the Guinness World Record-breaking Lego caravan (read all about it on page 20). One of the most exciting arrivals at the show will be the return of a famous name, as the Knaus Tabbert Group continues its significant investment in the British market with a bespoke range of UK-specific tourers. These feature entry doors on the ‘correct’ nearside! The new premium range, StarClass, revives a model name…

Nick Page, commercial director, Swift Group Gold Award for manufacturers of new caravans (Sprite) We are delighted to have done well in the survey. What is most important, though, is the recognition that our customers really enjoy and highly rate Sprite caravans. This means that we are definitely working on the right lines. But, here at Swift, we never rest on our laurels and are always looking at different ways to improve and enhance our products and services. It is always fantastic when we receive high levels of satisfaction and excellent feedback from our customers. This is really important to all of us at Swift Group, because we always strive to improve in all areas. There are a number of different areas that I believe have contributed to this. Areas…

Volkswagen has confirmed that a handful of models do not meet their official economy and emissions figures, and will shortly publish new data for the cars in question. The announcement is part of the ongoing VW emissions scandal, which first focused on NOx emissions following an investigation in the USA. But in November of last year the Volkswagen Group announced that it had found irregularities in the certification of some models in Europe. In December the Volkswagen Group’s internal investigation announced that nine VW model variants will have their official economy and CO2 figures revised. According to Volkswagen, the cars account for just 0.5% of the manufacturer’s production, or around 36,000 cars annually – far fewer than initially feared. As we went to press, the number of Audi, Seat and…

Touran 1.9 TDI Reversing up any kind of gradient is a grind and I had smoke billowing from the clutch when reversing up a slight hill. All-round visibility is good and once up to 50-55mph in fifth gear it drags it along at a reasonable rate, and with an Al-Ko stabiliser on it doesn’t move around. A great tow car, but just needs a little something extra under the bonnet. Craig Parkinson Touran 1.9 TDI Towing is a bit of a stretch for the 1.9 TDI engine. You are certainly always aware of the van, but the outfit feels stable. I live in the Lakes, and the lack of grunt on hills was too much. So I have tuned the engine to 130bhp (‘Bluefin’ from Superchips) and the result is…

1 Stay here The riverside Camping and Caravaning Club site in Chertsey is an oasis in the suburbs. It has a rural feel yet is just a 30-minute train ride to London from Weybridge station. It’s an ideal base for visiting Legoland, Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures, as well as Kew, Wisley and Savill gardens. 2 Eat here La Casa in Weybridge serves some of the best traditional Italian cuisine. The prices are reasonable and the portions ample. Check out the photos on the walls, you may see a few celebrity diners that have frequented this establishment in the past. 3 Walk here Just a short drive from Weybridge is RHS Wisley, with its impressive gardens, tropical glasshouses, shows and courses to attend all year round, it is…

Win tickets to the West Country spring show We’ve teamed up with Apple Tree Exhibitions to offer Practical Caravan readers the chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to the West Country Caravan and Motorhome show. Taking place at Exeter’s Westpoint Arena on 11-13 March 2016, this is a great regional show that is ideal for local caravanners who don’t want to travel hundreds of miles to a national event. The arena is 40 minutes’ drive from Plymouth and under an hour from Bristol. Local dealers will be exhibiting new and used tourers from a number of leading manufacturers. A more intimate affair, this show is a great chance to browse stands and talk to dealers in detail without competing with the crowds of the big shows. For…

More sites celebrate LAST MONTH I mentioned that it was the time of year for campsite awards, and there’s more news to report. First up, the AA has revealed its Small Campsite of the Year: adults-only Long Acres Touring Park in Boston, Lincolnshire. It has 40 touring pitches, all with 10A hook-up, plus clean washrooms and even an eco-friendly dog loo! An overnight stay costs from £18. Find out more at www.longacres-caravanpark.co.uk. On the opposite side of the country, you’ll find Woodovis Park in Devon, which has won a couple of gongs in the county’s Tourism Awards 2015. The popular site at the edge of the Tamar Valley has a heated indoor pool, electric-bike hire and hog-roasts on certain evenings. It won Gold in the Camping and Caravanning Park category,…

1 Bath Literature Festival 26 February-6 March 2016 The beautiful city continues its long history of inspiring great writers with this festival: it’s set to host some of the biggest and brightest names in literature. Web www.bathfestivals.org.uk 2 Hay Festival 26 May-5 June 2016 Rock up to ‘the Woodstock of the mind’ (according to a certain Bill Clinton) in the beautiful Brecon Beacons for stories, debates, music and laughter, plus talks, children’s events and much more. Web www.hayfestival.com 3 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 21-24 July 2016 It may be a rather niche event, but this Harrogate festival is packed with writers and readers sharing their interest. Web www.harrogate internationalfestivals.com 4 Edinburgh International Book Festival 13-29 August 2016 Plan a tour to Scotland’s handsome capital next…

When to go I went in mid-November, when there were few tourists around but, aside from Mary Arden’s Farm, all of the houses were open. However, it’s a shame to miss out on the activities at the farm, which is open between March and 1 November; there will be more campsites open then, too. Way to go From Junction 15 of the M40, take the Stratford Road, then Warwick Road into Stratford. From there, follow signs for the racecourse, which will take you on to Evesham Road and Dodwell Park. Food and drink SA&I Café Take a break for breakfast, coffee and cake or a light lunch at this small café in the antiques centre. Address Dodwell Trading Estate, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9ST Edward Moon This English brasserie serves reasonably priced…

FOOD AND DRINK Two Mile Oak Bar & Restaurant This is one of several local attractions for which Dornafield offers money-saving deals. Address Two Mile Oak, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6DF Tel 01803 812 411 Web www.twomileoak inn.co.uk Smith Street Deli This deli-cum-café offers local products, and serves lunches and cream teas. Address Smith Street, Dartmouth TQ6 9QR Tel 01803 833 616 Web www.smith streetdeli.co.uk Torre Abbey Café Beautifully decorated, with comfortable seating, the café serves light lunches and refreshments next to the Christie festival hub. Address Torre House, The King’s Drive, Torquay, Devon TQ2 5JE Tel 01803 293 593 FIND OUT MORE International Agatha Christie Festival Web www.agathachristie festival.com National Trust Greenway Web www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway English Riviera Tourism Web www.english riviera.co.uk Visit Devon Web www.visitdevon.co.uk OUR OUTFIT We towed the…

This pretty terraced site is open from March until November and non-members are welcome. Hebden Bridge itself and Haworth Parsonage are both close by, but you’ll need a van with a decent washroom here because there’s no toilet block on site. Address Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire HX7 5RU Tel 01422 882 531 Web www.caravanclub.co.uk Pitches 42 (34 hardstanding) Open 4 March-7 November Charges Pitch+2+hook-up £15.50-£18.80…

Get a warm feeling — and win a new Bailey Practical Caravan has learned that heating specialist Truma plans to give away a new Bailey Pegasus loaded with the latest Truma goodies — mover, air conditioning and solar panel — at the NEC in February. This is to mark the new Bailey Pegasus Verona’s recording the fastest-ever Grade 3 pass for thermal insulation in the UK (at 64 minutes), To find out more and for a chance to win this huge prize, pay a visit to the Truma stand. Enabling caravanners Two new exhibitors this year have made it their mission to help disabled holidaymakers on tour. Coachbuilt GB and Nirvana Mobility are offering conversions to overcome the challenges that face disabled touring enthusiasts. Nirvana will unveil its new six-strong…

Škoda Octavia Scout 2.0 TDI 150 4x4 Tested by Claudia Dowell Price £25,530 Kerbweight 1526kg Towing limit 2000kg Towball limit 80kg IN A NUTSHELL Farewell to our superb Scout, with a trip to Stratford OUR TIME WITH the compact, pseudo-SUV Škoda estate is nearly at an end so, when I needed a comfortable tow car for this month’s cover story, I jumped at the chance for a farewell drive. Loading was a doddle: the boot is simply vast and swallowed up all of the bedding and kit I needed for my trip with ease, though frustratingly someone has been a bit ham-fisted with the boot cover, making it stiff and slow to retract. When several members of the team joined me for an evening run into town for dinner, we…

Q Why did you start this awards scheme? A We wanted to provide help to potential purchasers by giving them the benefit of the experience of current owners. This is done by rewarding manufacturers and dealers that consistently deliver high levels of customer satisfaction. We hope that this also raises standards and makes buying a caravan less of a lottery. Q Why did you decide to feature pre-owned caravans in the survey? A Pre-owned vans comprise a huge market, and many of our readers buy them. For some, committing £1000 to a caravan purchase represents a bigger proportion of their disposable income than for those spending many times that amount. Also, first-time buyers may want to ‘test the water’, but (sensibly) don’t want to commit huge amounts to something that…

ON THE LOOKOUT for a new tourer? If so, we can help! Just like our travel stories, expert reviews and advice, we think that our new classifieds are the best in the business. So now you can read our review of your chosen caravan, watch the video, then find it online, making www.practical caravan.com the one-stop shop for all your touring needs. We know that 50% of you access our website via mobile devices, so our classifieds are fully responsive – they will work just as well on your tablet or smartphone as they do on your computer at home, making it simple to search on the move. We’ve worked hard to make these new classifieds as easy to use as possible, with categories to help you to narrow your search…

VOLKSWAGEN HAS BECOME a bit of a dirty word of late, but away from the emissions scandal these remain the same cars we’ve grown to respect for quality and reliability at reasonable prices. Regardless, values of diesel VWs have taken a bit of a hit in the past few months – some Tourans are down 10-15%. That’s about a year’s worth of depreciation in double-quick time. So this could be the perfect time to bag a bargain. The Touran is a mid-range people carrier with five or seven seats and is based on the Golf platform, so the running gear is about as straightforward and familiar as it gets. It’s not exactly exciting to drive, but it is easy to drive and surprisingly roomy. It was criticised when new for…

‘As a presenter for The Caravan Channel, John brought his enthusiasm for the subject to a new audience’ PRACTICAL CARAVAN’S HIGHLY respected and much-loved technical guru John Wickersham passed away on 5 December after losing his private battle with cancer. His loss came as a shock to us all, not least because the Sussex-born author and lecturer was about the fittest 70-something you could wish to meet: his reputation within the PC office was legendary after he took on (and beat!) a confident youngster in a one-armed push-up contest! John’s love for sport and the great outdoors began at school, and he would later combine his passion for touring Spain and Cornwall with orienteering, climbing, walking, canoeing, gymnastics, trampolining (for which he represented his university team), skiing and running. After…

Layout finder B Transverse-island-bed tourers are the height of luxurious touring, given their large end washrooms, and his-and-hers wardrobes. However, the double beds are not necessarily 'fixed'. They must often be retracted during the day to permit unhindered access to the washroom. Some caravanners consider this too much trouble. These can sometimes be twin-axle tourers. Pros This layout is close to that you'd find in a domestic bedroom. It's now available at a variety of prices. Cons The lounge may be smaller. The island bed sometimes requires setting up. A Washroom is spacious with features and storage you need B It should be relatively easy to access either side of the bed C Kitchen space can be compromised to allow for the bed D The lounge can be turned into…

Layout finder G Fixed twin beds towards the rear of the caravan are accompanied by a central kitchen and an end washroom, plus a lounge up front. This layout is great for couples who want to relax in the lounge without having to disassemble a bed every morning. You’ll usually find a curtain or screen separating the rear beds from the lounge. Pros The pair of single beds means the front double doesn’t always need to be made up. The washroom is often quite spacious. Cons The side kitchen may not have much space for preparing meals. The fixed single beds cannot be made up into a double. A Square showers are more roomy than circular versions B There’s often an external hatch to access under-bed storage C If there’s…

Focus on… Eriba Eriba may now be under Hymer’s giant corporate umbrella, having been manufactured in France for years, but very little else has changed in more than 50 years. Styling tweaks aside, the instantly recognisable bullet shape is much as it was back in the day, the pop-top roof still affords good headroom yet allows for straightforward storage, and, of course, the famous tubular steel frame gives these little tourers legendary build quality and impeccable towing manners. They are really beautifully engineered, too — you only need look at the latest models’ gloriously over-done gas-locker lid and main entrance door to realise that these caravans are very much built up to a standard, and not down to a price. Speaking of which, you might want to sit down before…

Awnings Porch Bradcot Portico Automatic locking poles, green/grey, curtains, pegs, bedroom annexe. Good cond, new van forces sale. £150, buyer collects. Mrs Haseldine, Milton Keynes. (01908 563 112) SunnCamp 390 Carbon poles, grape, all accessories. Exc cond, used once, illness forces sale, will erect for inspection. £150, buyer collects. Mr Barre, Kings Lynn. (01553 812 160) Bradcot Portico XL Blue. Good cond. £225. Mr Maplethorpe, North Lincs. (01652 655 680) Kampa Rally Air 390 Storm straps. Used twice, as new. £450. Mr Dold, Kent. (07719 905 022) Kampa Rally 260 Lagoon blue. Exc cond. £180. Mrs Hearson, Stoke-on-Trent. (07754 322 219) StarCamp Mistral Weathertex 4000 250cm x 250cm, grey. VGC, seldom used past 2 years, seasonal van forces sale. £95, buyer collects. Mr Stocker, Essex. (07966 351 292) 2013 Quest…

CORNWALL Hendra Holiday Park Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 4NY Tel. 01637 875778 www.hendra-holidays.com Ideal family site within easy reach of Newquay and beaches with entertainment for all including indoor and outdoor fun pools. A30 to Indian Queens, take A392 to Newquay, Hendra is 0.5 miles past Quintrell Downs roundabout. Gwithian Farm Campsite Gwithian, Cornwall, TR27 5BX. Tel: 01736 753127. Website: www.gwithianfarm.co.uk Friendly, family run site in beautiful village location, 10 mins walk from stunning Gwithian beach, St Ives Bay. Excellent facilities, family & disabled bathrooms. Ideally located for St Ives & Penzance. The Red River Inn is just across the road. 2 Miles from A30. Lovely coastal walks to Godrevy, popular area for fishing & bird watching. Dog friendly beaches. Nominated as one of top European campsites June 08 -Saturday Telegraph.…