Table of contents for March 2025 in Caravan

We love to eat and cook on tour using local produce and had heard friends sing the praises of San Sebastián as a foodie paradise, so we knew we had to move it up on our list of travel destinations. Add to this our favourite pastimes of walking and photography and this trip to northern Spain was born. After crossing the Channel via LeShuttle we spent a few days in the Dordogne before embarking on our journey to this wonderful part of northern Spain. San Sebastián is world famous as a food destination, for its abundance of Michelin-starred restaurants, for the quality of its local produce and for its traditional food markets. For our exploration of San Sebastián, we had chosen a campsite further along the coast, at Orio. A…

Nestled along the banks of the River Nene, Northampton is a town rich in history and natural beauty. There is a pretty marina situated along the river, and easy access to the Grand Union Canal for walks along the towpath. Historically, Northampton is synonymous with shoemaking, earning it the title of Britain’s shoemaking capital. Dating back to the thirteenth century, and flourishing due to the availability of oak bark for tanning, by the nineteenth century, Northampton’s shoemakers were globally renowned. Today, modern amenities such as a selection of restaurants, retail plazas and a popular theatre, sit alongside country parks and wildlife havens, meaning Northampton offers something for everyone to enjoy. Stay Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park The go-to place for easy access to Northampton and with plenty of activity on site,…

Bailey of Bristol ❚ W baileyofbristol.co.uk ❚ £33,399 Twin bed layouts enjoyed a popularity phase a few years ago. Now, there are only a few from which to choose. Yet this layout offers useful versatility in terms of family use. Far from merely a layout for couples who prefer single beds, this configuration is ideal for families with teenage offspring; they’ve grown out of bunk beds, and they want beds that are wider and more comfortable. Parents, of course, can transform the lounge into their bed. So, what’s out there on the market for seekers of twin beds? An Elddis Affinity, the 574; Adria’s Tyne, Seine and Colorado; three Coachmans, the VIP 565, the new Lusso III and the Laser 665 – and two Baileys. That’s the Phoenix GT75 642,…

How can we select sites to suit our budget? Q With the cost of living crisis still being felt, I hope to stretch our touring budget further. Can you recommend any sites or types of sites that will allow us to enjoy a holiday without spending a fortune? A CL (Caravan and Motorhome Club) and CS (Camping and Caravanning Club) sites offer outstanding value for money. As with most sites, operating costs have increased, so prices may have increased, but most still offer attractive per-night rates. Sites can be found on the relevant Club website, or Caravan and Motorhome Club CL sites can also be found on the CL Booking app. Or why not try a rally? Again, details can be found on either Club’s website. Finding the Wight deal…

Televisions are an integral part of caravan holidays – but, in some locations, obtaining good signal can be a challenge. Enter: a caravan satellite system; our guide will tell you everything you need to know about what to buy. You will need a caravan satellite system, a satellite decoder (unless your caravan television has one built in), the relevant cables, a satellite signal meter, and a satellite finder app or a compass. If you use a compass, you’ll also need direction and elevation angle. HOW DOES A PORTABLE SATELLITE DISH WORK? The Earth is surrounded by orbiting satellites, some of which bounce TV channels back to Earth. In Britain, we mainly use Astra 2, which is in a geostationary orbit (it moves with the Earth’s rotation) in the southern sky.…

To the south of Colchester is a land in thrall to the rhythm of the tides; an area we knew absolutely nothing of before our visit. At the heart of this land is the estuary of the River Colne, and its five wide tidal arms that curl far into the low-lying countryside. At low water, those arms are mudflats, populated by waders and other wildfowl, while, as the tide rises, little boats that were moored far inland make an easy escape to the ocean. Huge flocks of migrating birds make landfall here to feed and rest, and the rough, muddy seashores are renowned for their shellfish and, most of all, oysters. Mersea Island, a little over nine miles from Colchester, is an island with a causeway that gets cut off…

I grew up as one of four children – Mark, Eamon, Angela and Clare. We were fortunate to have parents who were able to take us on regular holidays in whatever accommodation took their fancy at the time. We braved the British weather for years in a range of tents, boats and caravans before eventually making it across the Channel to Brittany in France for the first time in 1979. It was our last holiday all together and we fell in love with the food, the culture and the sense of adventure, as we ran along white beaches and sailed around the coastline. It was a holiday that none of us would forget, and one that inspired our love of travel ever since. We tragically lost Eamon last year after a…

PENTEWAN SANDS Pentewan, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 6BT T 01726 843485 W pentewan.co.uk OPEN 24 March – 28 October For a selection of places to eat on site, and a varied menu to satisfy even the fussiest of eaters, head for Pentewan Sands in Cornwall. Firstly, there’s The Seahorse, a restaurant, bar and café with an al fresco terrace with views over Mevagissey Bay. The second is the Hub Box beach restaurant. The Hub Box brand has restaurants in Devon and Cornwall, including at Pentewan Sands. Set on the beach, the menu here includes handmade burgers, gourmet hordogs and other barbecue specials that are slow smoked over hickory wood chips. There’s also a fish and chip takeaway, and a supermarket too. Pentewan Sands is right on the beach – some…

Few cars make you feel special when you hop aboard, but this Volvo, which feels more luxurious, more powerful, larger and more refined than its price tag would suggest, is one of them. In fact, we’d go so far as to say in comparison to some of the other towcars we have tested recently, this Volvo outshines them in almost every aspect. First is that price tag – under £55,000 for a prestige, luxury family SUV with a massive towing capacity (2.25 tonnes) and environmental credentials – it can (and did in our test) travel over 25 miles without emitting anything from its exhaust pipes. OK you need to add the retractable towbar £1,400 option to that price but, even then, you could buy this car and still buy a…

We’ve all been there, setting off on a caravan holiday, filled with excitement, yet fretting over how to pack the caravan. Correctly loading a caravan is essential for towing safety, and makes for a much more relaxed and enjoyable experience. This guide will walk you through a series of simple steps that will have you loading your caravan like a pro. Here’s how to transform your next caravan adventure… CARAVAN WEIGHTS Your caravan will have a maximum payload, which is the maximum additional weight it can carry. On the side of most caravans is a data sticker. This sticker, often called a weight plate, has an MIRO figure and an MTPLM figure. MIRO stands for mass in running order and is the caravan’s weight, including one gas bottle (approx. 10kg)…

Wooda Farm Holiday Park, a Premier Park that is close to Bude in Cornwall, celebrates 50 years this year. As part of the celebrations, from 12-14 September, Wooda will be hosting WoodaFest, a weekend of music, entertainment and local food. Entry will be free to guests staying on the site that weekend, but you do still need to book tickets. As an extra anniversary year treat and a thank you for guests being part of Wooda’s half-century journey, there will be special discounts and deals in 2025 which will be announced on the site’s social media channels. The site overlooks Bude and a dramatic, coastline, giving breathtaking views and natural surroundings.…

Hobby has unveiled the Beachy 420+, the latest addition to its Beachy range of caravans. This new model introduces innovative space-saving solutions, including a multifunctional wall that can transform into a toilet compartment, dressing room, or partition. It also features a bunk bed addition, bringing more versatility to the caravan’s design. The Beachy 420+ offers four berths. It includes a rear seating area that converts into a 2m by 1.70m bed and a smaller front seating area that transforms into bunk beds, each capable of supporting up to 100kg. Storage comprises a wardrobe, compartments, and under-seating storage. Kitchen equipment includes a 39-litre coolbox and is strategically placed for convenience. A fresh colour scheme has been inspired by the beach, with options like Ocean and Ocean Midnight corduroy fabrics, accented by…

A BBC documentary, Attenborough and the Giant Sea Monster, chronicles a tricky expedition to extricate the skull of an enormous fossilised pliosaur (the Tyrannosaurus rex of the seas) from 12m up a sheer cliff face. The 150-million-year-old sea monster skull has since been put on display in a museum in Dorset, and we thought it would be fascinating to see it. In fact, we decided on a leisurely trip along the Jurassic Coast – starting in Weymouth and ending up at Corfe Castle. To start off with, we’d booked a pitch at East Fleet Farm Touring Park, just outside Weymouth. Our pitch overlooked Chesil Beach – a shingle ridge roughly 180m wide and 12m high, made up of around 180 billion pebbles. This huge pebble bank stretches east to the Isle…

Back of Beyond Touring, Camping & Glamping Park is a 30-acre park nestled in Dorset woodlands, close to the New Forest National Park. A site exclusively for adults, Back of Beyond prides itself on its tranquillity and proximity to nature. Choose from fully serviced pitches, cosy glamping units or wild camping. A dog-friendly site, there are 18 acres of woodlands for off-lead adventures. Monty’s Bar, built as a lockdown project, has gone from strength to strength and is a popular addition to the site, serving locally made spirits and ales. The site is owned by husband and wife team, Martin and Victoria Bowrey. How long have you been running your campsite? In 2025 we will celebrate our twelfth season of running Back of Beyond. Tell us a little about your…

In line with the feasting theme of this issue, we’ve selected six caravans with kitchens that excel; models to consider if cooking is a priority during your holidays and shorter breaks. We sought out caravans that have plenty of kitchen surface, and also those that offer superb kitchen storage provision. Inevitably, larger kitchens are usually found in larger caravans – but not all, as our widely varied selection shows… Swift Elegance Grande 835 L-shaped kitchens almost always give vast amounts of surface space, and the Swift Elegance Grande 835 is a prime example. The kitchen juts out into the centre of the caravan – but, of course, there’s still plenty of floor space in the central area, because this caravan is eight feet wide. Here’s chapter and verse on the…

Beyond a little TLC during the annual service, the role of a caravan jockey wheel – an unsung hero and an essential ingredient – is often overlooked until it’s time to hitch up and head off to your favourite campsite. However, supporting loads ranging from 60kg to 125kg while being pushed or pulled through a hardstanding or grass pitch by a motor mover can take its toll. From tips to prolong the life of your jockey wheel to the pros and cons of the different types, this guide aims to answer the questions you have yet to consider… until now. All you need to know is here – especially valuable if you are new to towing. WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A JOCKEY WHEEL? Simply put, a caravan jockey wheel…

Gaslow International has issued a safety warning to all gas cylinder users highlighting the dangers of not fitting a genuine refillable system when attempting to refill exchange cylinders at LPG forecourts. Attempting to refill a gas cylinder without a genuine refillable system is illegal. Gaslow said it has seen a worrying increase in people attempting to refill their gas cylinders with illegal and dangerous systems. “We are witnessing a huge rise in unlawful installations and hearing some very alarming stories about how exchangeable gas cylinders are being refilled,” said Carl Orton, Technical Manager at Gaslow International. “Exchange cylinders must only be filled in a dedicated filling plant by the gas supplier or their authorised filling contractor – they should not be filled at LPG filling sites such as petrol station…

sudoku If you are looking for a way to exercise your mind, sudoku is great and will certainly get the cogs turning! just for fun Find the 25 food and drink-related terms crossword ACROSS 1 Entry (6) 4 Climb (6) 9 Chorus (7) 10 Coach (5) 11 Map feature (5) 12 Oil source (7) 13 Do the voice of (11) 18 Overly confident (7) 20 Embedded pattern (5) 22 Off-white (5) 23 Geometric figure (7) 24 Allow (6) 25 Uproar (6) DOWN 1 Nimble (6) 2 Police accessory (5) 3 Surprise (7) 5 Become established (3,2) 6 Implore (7) 7 Mock (6) 8 Woodwind instrument (7,4) 14 European country (7) 15 Stinky (7) 16 Accommodate (6) 17 Plaster of Paris component (6) 19 Happy place (5) 21 Actionable words (5)…