Caravan April 2022

WELCOME CLARE KELLY EDITOR ″There is no fragrance in April breezes till breathed with joy as they wander by″ – William Cullen Bryant Hello there! I′ve just got back from the NEC Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show and, I have to say, it was packed. It is pretty obvious that you′ve all been cooped up for too long and are now ready to get out there. I love seeing all the new caravans (testing out the beds is always recommended), and meeting so many excited people who just love this hobby so much. And, of course, there′s lots more of you who might well have taken out a subscription at the show. If so, welcome – we′re happy to have you. If you′ve not yet subscribed to Caravan, we′ve got…

TRAVEL DORSET go wild on… THE ISLE OF PURBECK David Chapman reckons this Dorset peninsula is one of the most wild liferich places in the UK, famed for butterflies and special orchids We woke to the sound of a cuckoo, the first of the year and quite an early one. It was April 2021. I always make a note of the date of the first cuckoo. This was also the date that I had carefully chosen to be the start of our trip so as to see something very special; I’ll explain in a moment… Our destination was a fascinating corner of the beautiful county of Dorset; the Isle of Purbeck. This ‘isle’ is not actually an island, but its wonderful coastline, rolling chalk downs and varied heathlands are separated…

TRAVEL THE HIGHLANDS HIGHLAND adventure It’s not often you get the chance to go on holiday to a town named after you. Camping Editor, Iain Duff, raises a glass to his namesake town as he follows Scotland’s whisky trail as part of a Highland tour For obvious reasons, Dufftown has been on my bucket list of destinations for as long as I can remember. In fact, I don’t know why it took this long to visit – but, as my fiftieth birthday approached, I felt it was time to meet my public. After all, if they had gone to all the trouble of naming their town after me, surely the very least I could do was grace them with my presence? With the ongoing Covid situation I knew that a tickertape…

TRAVEL SHROPSHIRE SHROPSHIRE’S the tops There are plenty of highs as Helen Werin explores lofty towns and castle towers, ancient hill forts and medieval alleyways Words Helen Werin Photography Robin Weaver Confession: I don’t like shopping, I hate crowds and I’m certainly not one for lying on the grass in the sunshine watching the world go by. My husband feels the same way (thank goodness). Which is how we came to have the back streets of two of Shropshire’s popular towns almost to ourselves. Whilst the historic centre of Ludlow was thronged with sightseers spilling out of the wonderful food emporiums and cafés, we were wandering through quaint streets lined with hundreds of listed buildings from medieval, Tudor and Georgian times, or sitting on Whitcliffe Common looking over the rooftops in…

Competition Win a WiFi system for your caravan A good internet connection when you are travelling is more essential these days, for checking the weather and researching places to stay, visit and eat. Many of us also like to keep up to date with family and friends through social media and emails. Plus, it’s ideal for streaming catch-up TV (BBC/ITV, etc), and not forgetting keeping the kids entertained. The Maxview Roam kit provides a secure and reliable internet hotspot with a 3G and 4G router to keep you connected in your caravan. The Roam uses a powerful antenna which is designed to be fitted to the vehicle’s roof, and a 4G router. This uses 3G or 4G mobile data to create a reliable WiFi hotspot. By using the antenna, it…

TRAVEL ANGLESEY fantasy ISLAND Camping magazine Editor, Iain Duff, explores Anglesey Anglesey lies off the northwest coast of Wales within sight of the awesome summits of the Snowdonia National Park. It is an absolute charm – winding back lanes combined with modern fast roads, hidden coves and sandy bays and great coastal hiking combined with a bit of easy hill walking. Anglesey’s attractions include castles like Beaumaris, overlooking the Menai Strait, boat trips to Puffin Island, an abundance of stately homes and National Trust properties such as Plas Newydd near the southeast coast and a wealth of Bronze Age and Neolithic remains. A coastal path of around 125 miles circles the shoreline so there are plenty of walking opportunities, too. Add in Anglesey Sea Zoo, South Stack Lighthouse and RSPB reserve,…