Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i Practical Caravan

Our Reviews Editor Peter hasn’t long returned from the annual Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf – this huge industry show always has plenty to see. This time, though, he tells me that he was particularly impressed by both the fact that there were more caravans on display than usual, and that there was plenty of innovation in evidence, too. You can read more of what he saw on p40, which (spoiler alert) even includes a Hobby tourer with a large washroom but with no shower. Would you buy a tourer like that? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you! Speaking (or writing) about shows: it’s almost time for the annual October NEC extravaganza. There’s a lot to see – don’t miss our full preview on p46! We look…

Over the years, you will have got to know the delights and downfalls of your van – details that other potential buyers would love to know about. How comfortable are the seats and beds after a few nights away? Does the heating keep you warm on chilly nights? Tell us all about it in our Owner Satisfaction Awards, which identify the makes of caravans that owners really love, to help others buy better! Voting is open for the 2026 survey; if you purchased your tourer between January 2022 and now, we’d love to hear from you. As a thank you for your insight, everyone who enters will have the chance to win one of three £100 Towsure vouchers, plus an annual subscription to Practical Caravan magazine. Scan the QR code…

THIS ISSUE WE EXPLORE… MOORLANDS // DURHAM DALES // DONEGAL As we enter October and the heart of autumn, there’s still plenty of good touring to be had. There’s no need to change your travel habits, it’s just your clothing that might need some modification. Now is the time for lacing-up your boots and unfurling your raincoat. Don’t be put off by a bit of rain: according to scientists, walking in the rain can be good for you. Apparently, it’s all down to negative ions – invisible molecules which can be formed by raindrops hitting the ground. When we inhale them it improves our mood. If that’s the case, after a few days walking in Galicia in northern Spain I should be ecstatic, as the rain was relentless. And, you…

WHEN TO GO Barnard Castle C&CC Site is open from March until the end of October. We visited in early April, when the attractions are open but it’s not too busy. FOOD AND DRINK Bowlees Visitor Centre Bowlees, Newbiggin in Teesdale, County Durham DL12 0XE northpennines.org.uk/bowlees-visitor-centre Ramp access for disabled visitors, and you can also hire mobility scooters here. Fish & Chips at 149 36 Galgate, Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8BH 149fishandchips.co.uk/locations/barnard-castle Note there is one step up into the restaurant. FIND OUT MORE Visit Barnard Castle thisisdurham.com/explore-durham/durham-towns/barnard-castle Bowlees Visitor Centre northpennines.org.uk/bowlees-visitor-centre Barnard Castle, Egglestone Abbey and Bowes Castle english-heritage.org.uk OUR OUTFIT Tow car 2022 Volvo XC60 AWD B5 Mild Hybrid Caravan 2017 Knaus Starclass 560…

DON’T MISS… The Devil’s Pulpit, a limestone rock formation with spectacular views of Tintern Abbey. Legend has it the devil would stand here to try to lure away the abbey monks WALK ONE TINTERN AND WYE VALLEY CIRCULAR ■ Level Easy ■ Elevation gain 94m ■ Length 4.3km (1hr 5min) Description This circular trail follows woodland paths with lovely views of the River Wye and historic Tintern Abbey. The route takes you from Tintern, past St Michael’s Church, along the riverside via Brockweir, and then back to the starting point through scenic woodland and over Wireworks Bridge. Along the way, you will pass Tintern Old Station, where there is a café if you wish to stop for refreshments, and you can also extend your day out by visiting the historic…

Salop celebrates two anniversaries One of the team working at reception at Salop Leisure’s Shrewsbury branch celebrated 50 years of service in September. Jean Courtney joined the business in September 1975 when it was based at its old site in Meole Brace with just 20 staff. Now it has grown to a multi-site dealership employing 250. Although Jean, who is 77, now only works two days a week, she says she still enjoys her job. Company chairman Tony Bywater said, “Jean has been an absolute joy to work with for the past 50 years.” Also celebrating is associate director Andy Harding, who joined 30 years ago. He said, “There is very much a family atmosphere at Salop Leisure.” Grantham’s expands awning display Family-owned East Midlands dealership Grantham’s has opened a…

OVER 350 EXHIBITORS will be on hand when the NEC’s doors open on 14 October for the 2025 Motorhome & Caravan Show. Making the most of your visit is easier if you plan ahead, and to help, here’s our selection of must-see caravans, accessories and special events, along with a handy map of the NEC exhibition halls. ADRIA (Stand 7-35/6-36) There’s not much change on the caravan front from Adria this season, but buyers should still be able to see a good selection of the Slovenian brand’s models, including the Altea 612 DL Tyne and 622 DK Avon, the Adora 612 DL Seine and 623 DP Tiber, the Alpina 623 UC Mississippi and 623 UC Colorado, and the sporty Action 361 LT. adria.co.uk BAILEY (Stand 19-25) Bailey’s Phoenix+ and 8ft-wide…

When they were introduced a few decades ago, microwaves changed the culinary world forever – they made cooking much quicker and far more straightforward, while defrosting food was simple. No wonder many of us consider them an essential part of life – and one that extends to your touring lifestyle, too. But with so many different microwaves on the market, which one should you choose? You can find out more about how to select the right microwave to suit your needs (see right), and here’s a round-up of some of the best ovens, which we think are definitely worth a look. TOSHIBA 20-LITRE SOLO SMALL MICROWAVE Price £55.98 (amazon.co.uk) Wattage 800W Dimensions 44 x 35.7 x 25.8cm Capacity 20 litres Weight 11.4kg Pros Simple to use Cons Fairly weighty This…

TECH SPEC Price £75,910 Kerbweight 2579kg What Car? Target Price N/A Retained value after three years N/A Kerbweight 2579kg 85% of kerbweight 2192kg Gross vehicle weight 3050kg Max towing limit 2200kg Gross train weight 5250kg Towball limit 100kg Price of tow ball £1200 Boot size 484-1411 litres Payload 471kg Test conditions Damp Battery size 107kWh (net) Power 483bhp Torque 620lb ft Official range 390 miles Towing range 178 miles CO2 emissions 0g/km First year car tax £10 Second year car tax £620 Insurance group 50 Euro NCAP overall protection rating What’s new? The Polestar 3 is the electric car maker’s luxury SUV. Its sporty styling makes the 3 look smaller than it is, but beneath the skin it shares much with the sizeable seven-seat Volvo EX90. The Polestar has five…

TECH SPEC What will it tow? Kerbweight 1715kg Towing limit 2500kg Noseweight limit 100kg 85% match 1458kg Running costs Insurance group 16 Annual VED £625* *Applies for first five years of vehicle’s life if it originally cost more than £40,000, after which, the annual rate drops to £195 Average economy 42.8mpg Interim/full service £195 Servicing price supplied by Servicing Stop, 0844 324 5262, servicingstop.co.uk Trouble spots Early in the car’s life, it was found a faulty towbar might have been fitted, so 531 had to have this replaced. Then 2495 were recalled because the rear spoiler could detach. A small number were recalled because of brake discs that were the wrong thickness. A faulty fuel tank was the source of another recall. A full list of recalls can be found at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk. BIGGER,…

Choosing a layout People’s needs differ, and your van 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 in Birmingham or Glasgow, where dealerships 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 that you had not 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…

Caravan and Motorhome Club 01342 326 944 caravanclub.co.uk Camping and Caravanning Club 024 7647 5448 campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk CRiS 020 3282 1000 cris.co.uk Approved Workshop Scheme approvedworkshops.co.uk NCC (National Caravan Council) thencc.org.uk Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA) 0843 216 5802 cassoa.co.uk Towsafe towsafe.co.uk DVLA 0300 790 6801 gov.uk/dvla Mobile Caravan Engineers Association (MCEA) 01249 651 036 mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk ■ For the very latest reviews and brilliant buying guides, visit Practical Caravan at www.practicalcaravan.com…

Have you stayed at a standout site this year that you want to shout about? With the 2025 touring season winding down, we’re looking towards the Top 100 Sites 2026, our comprehensive guide to the best of Britain’s touring sites. Whether it was the perfect pitch, outstanding facilities or a friendly welcome that made your trip, we want to hear about it. Your feedback helps fellow caravanners find the best spots for their next adventure and shines a spotlight on the sites and their staff that make our tours so unforgettable. Scan the QR code or go to practicalcaravan.com/vote…

1 Bath Christmas Market Somerset The Georgian streets glow, with 150 stalls and more, mulled wine, and Bath Abbey as the beautiful backdrop. Stay at Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park (adults only, bathchewvalley.co.uk), 12 miles 2 Edinburgh’s Christmas Scotland Markets, ice skating, wonderful lights and traditional rides, all set against the lush greenery of Princes Street Gardens. Stay at Mortonhall Caravan & Camping Park (meadowhead.co.uk/parks/mortonhall), a short bus ride from the centre 3 Chatsworth House Derbyshire The world-famous stately home and its gorgeous grounds bask in the glory of a full festive make-over, inside and out. Stay at Bakewell Camping & Caravanning Club Site (www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk), only a short drive away 4 Lincoln Christmas Market Lincolnshire Historic streets, splendid cathedral views and a huge selection of market stalls selling everything from crafts to bratwurst. Stay at…

WHEN TO GO We visited this hugely popular part of the world in October 2024, when it was a little less bustling, but it is simply beautiful at any time of year. WHY TO GO To catch up with some friends, enjoy the autumn colour and sun together, and experience something a little different. WAY TO GO From Buckinghamshire, we took the M4 and the M5 to J31 and the A30 in Devon. After about 30 miles or so, we turned onto the A386, which took us to the Highwayman Inn in Sourton. From there, we rejoined the A30 towards Launceston and Bodmin for another 30 miles. We turned off at Bodmin Airfield into Cardinham and on to Gwel-an-Nans campsite. WHERE WE STAYED Gwel-an-Nans Cardinham, Bodmin PL30 4EF gwel-an-nans.co.uk what3words…

REVIEWS // NEWS // INDUSTRY UPDATES I’ve been to the Düsseldorf Caravan Salon in Germany more times than I can count, and it’s always a good show. Despite the name, it traditionally features more motorhomes than tourers, which is why it was great to see a number of caravanning highlights there during this August’s event. You can read more about just a couple of them on the opposite page; suffice to say that it’s really refreshing to see such innovation on display. The Karoo, which has been created by a Finnish company, has a clever design that’s really adaptable – it will be very interesting to see how it does. peter.baber@futurenet.com HOW WE TEST VANS Our review types explained In-depth test In our most detailed test, we spend at least…

When it comes to choosing a good microwave for your caravan, there are a number of things that you’ll need to bear in mind. For starters, there’s the question of power. It’s vital to ensure that you have a means of powering your microwave before you buy. These are power-hungry gadgets, so you’ll need a reliable hook-up to the mains electricity (when on a campsite), a portable power bank with a large enough capacity, or an inverter. Most of the microwaves that we’ve included in this guide are either 700W or 800W – they will require more power input than this figure, though, so that’s something else to consider. If you’re thinking about taking your microwave from home, have a look at the specification panel, which will be located on…

Autumn makes for perfect touring Summer may be over, but the touring season isn’t. Lower temperatures and fewer people on their travels make autumn a wonderful time of year for caravanning. Milder weather means it’s easier to stay active and even the most popular destinations are less crowded. As the season progresses, autumn colour in the trees makes a wonderful swansong to the touring year. Towing in autumn has its challenges, though. Care is needed in windy and rainy weather – allow more space for braking and be ready to travel a few miles per hour slower than normal. Those colourful leaves can make road surfaces slippery when they fall! motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a former PC editor, and has towed with more than 500 cars over…

Load up safely for stress-free towing We’ve a great selection of technical content for you in this month’s issue of Practical Caravan, starting with an article on how to load your tourer safely. It’s crucial to stick to your towing limits, of course, but how you pack your gear in your van is also vital – you can find out more over the page. Also this issue, we have the latest updates from former PC editor Nigel Donnelly on the improvements he’s been making to his 1998 Bailey caravan, Penny. And we’ve a step-by-step guide to a simple fix for a submersible water pump (p86). practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Nigel Donnelly and Nigel Hutson…

■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 tow car 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 van’s weight, with all factory-fitted equipment, when it leaves the factory.…

Got a burning caravanning question? Ask one of our team on the email address below! Q WHICH DEHUMIDIFIERS ARE BEST FOR OUR CARAVAN? We’re considering buying a dehumidifier for our caravan this winter, but we’re not sure – should we go for an electric version? David Coombes Peter Byrne replies… The advantages of non-electric units are that they’re more budget-friendly than their powered counterparts, and you don’t have to think about how you’re going to run them. However, you will need to keep buying tabs or crystals (depending on what they use), to absorb the moisture from the air. On average, you’ll need to change these every one to three months. In some cases, such as the hanging wardrobe dehumidifier, you will need to replace them altogether every four to…

IF YOU LISTEN to BBC Radio 2, you may have heard me on the Jeremy Vine show last month, extolling the virtues of towing a caravan for your summer holiday. These little homes on wheels we pull get a bad rap, don’t they? Much maligned on the roads, caravans are oft-called “wobble boxes” and receive eye-rolls from other drivers speeding past on the motorway. But I pity those who don’t know or don’t understand the many joys of camping in a caravan, for they will never feel the utter elation and deep sense of satisfaction that I get every time I finish my set-up and sit down with a cold beer in hand. This charming van My own caravan is a charmer. She turns heads on the roads – and…

15 October to 1 November 2025 Lightpool Festival, Blackpool Blackpool is rightly famous for its annual illuminations, and for the past decade, the seaside resort has also been home to this imaginative, innovative festival of contemporary light art. The event features a mix of stunning light installations, live performances and 3D projection shows. Lightpool is staged at indoor and outdoor venues throughout the town, all free to enter. > lightpool.org.uk Stay at Laithes Lodge Caravan and Motorhome Site > laitheslodge.co.uk Weekends until 26 October 2025 Matlock Bath Illuminations, Derbyshire See a spectacular parade of illuminated, decorated boats on the River Derwent at this family-friendly event. The Matlock Bath Venetian Boat Builders’ Association decorates themed models with an array of lights, which are mounted on boats to parade each evening. Adult…

Barnard Castle is famous for its stunning castle ruins towering over the beautiful River Tees. In recent times, though – during the pandemic – this charming market town became far more widely known as the destination for Boris Johnson’s aide, Dominic Cummings, who drove there to test his eyesight, really putting Barnard Castle on the map. We had a different aim in mind when we arrived at Barnard Castle Camping and Caravanning Club site, to a warm welcome. There was a good choice of pitches, so we asked for one with afternoon sun, because we like to dine in the awning. The plan was to check out both caravan and awning and make sure everything was working as it should at the start of the season. By our standards, having…

WHAT’S ON December 2025 Malin Head Winter Solstice Walk A seasonal event celebrating Donegal’s northernmost point with guided walks and atmospheric local storytelling. malinheadcommunity.ie 28-31 May 2026 Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival Held in Rory Gallagher’s hometown of Ballyshannon, this festival celebrates the iconic musician with four days of free street gigs, lively local venues and a relaxed vibe. rorygallagherfestival.com July 2026 Earagail Arts Festival A two-week celebration of music, theatre, visual arts and street performances. eaf.ie PLACES TO STAY Thelmount Camping Just five minutes away from Donegal town, this campsite provides hook-up, water, showers and washing-up. There are pubs, cafés, a shop and a butcher’s within walking distance, too. govisitdonegal.com/accommodation/thelmount-camping Boortree Rossnowlagh Touring & Camping This family-run campsite in Rossnowlagh provides fully serviced pitches, modern facilities, electric hook-up and…

Opening times The Motorhome & Caravan Show is open between 10am and 6pm every day from 14 to 19 October. Ticket discount offer Tickets for the show are now on sale at mcshow.co.uk. Take advantage of the Practical Caravan Reader Offer for tickets at £13.50 (50p off standard advance/£4.50 off on the day). Use discount code PCVE when you book. Parking and a show guide are included. Entry is free for under-16s accompanied by a paying adult or senior, but they still require a ticket to attend. Note that no dogs are allowed except assistance dogs. Where to stay The Caravan and Motorhome Club will be hosting a temporary campsite at the NEC in North Car Parks 10 and 10a, open between 11am on Monday 13 October and 10am on…

THIS MONTH… ANDY’S PICKS // BAILEY UNICORN CABRERA // PERSONAL SHOPPER Watch out for autumn bargains October remains a good time for tracking down some of those excellent pre-owned deals. In fact, some dealers tell me, they have had to buy in additional used stock to satisfy demand. Others look towards winter and aim to shift remaining models. That means we should see timely discounting, as dealers don’t want too much stock to carry over. Some shrewd caravanners take advantage of this and buy now for next year, as used prices tend to rise at the start of the new season. practical.caravan@futurenet.com…

BUYING TIP 1 Yes, it’s true: layouts with no fixed beds tend to have more space inside. But make sure that you still have a place to store all that overnight bedding during the day. BUYING TIP 2 More caravan models in recent years are now coming with onboard water tanks. But some are so small you may still find yourself needing an Aquaroll. BUYING TIP 3 Remember to check more ‘minor’ aspects such as the position of the hook-up socket. Do you really want it right by the door – and so trailing through your awning? BUYING TIP 4 A couple of dealers have gone under in recent months, so you may spot a bargain among repossessed stock. But be aware that such tourers may not have had the…