Table of contents for December 2025 / January 2026 in Caravan

“Winter is not a season, it’s a celebration”Anamika Mishra In the run-up to all things festive and feasting, as this issue emerges, it’s great to take a look past the tinsel and Christmas trees – much as we relish the season of sparkle – into the realms of holiday planning. We’ve just revealed our Premier Parks for next year; go to premier-parks.co.uk where you will find the full list. And outandaboutlive.co.uk/campsites takes you to our Campsite Finder, where you will find a vast compendium of inspiration that will set you on the track to booking perfect pitches in perfect places. It’s easy to navigate by campsite type as well as regions: dog-friendly sites, sites ideal for families, sites for adults only, sites open all year, coastal, city, it’s all here.…

Looking ahead to 2026, have you made plans yet for your next UK adventure? This guide pairs iconic sightseeing locations with parks nearby. Each pairing gives you a base with facilities, and easy access to trails, viewpoints and heritage hotspots – exactly the kind of caravan venture that thousands of readers search for every week. YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK (NORTH YORKSHIRE) Covering 1,094-1,353 miles (depending which boundary you use), the Dales gather a jigsaw of limestone valleys, waterfalls and moor-top views into a single paradise region. Six peaks top 700m, but sightseeing joy is just as strong at lower levels: ancient dry stone walls criss-cross the meadows, creating one of Europe’s most distinctive farmed landscapes. Villages surround every dale, with pubs and tea rooms. You’ll also find caves, stepping-stone rivers,…

Sprite ❙ W swiftgroup.co.uk ❙ £21,495 It’s rare to see the invention of a completely new caravan layout – and Sprite has done just that, with the arrival of the DB. And Sprite, the brand that, through caravan history, is known as an icon of affordability and light weight, ticks those two boxes very firmly with this new model. The Alpine 4 DB is a family caravan. What makes its layout so different from all other models is that it has a two-seater dining area in the rear nearside corner – and this makes into a single bed with a bunk above, to fold upwards from the wall. On the offside, there’s the shower and toilet compartment – and it’s every bit as large as one you’d expect to find across…

There’s something special about holidaying on an island, as it feels like you’ve left the hustle and bustle of the mainland behind. The Isle of Wight might only be a short ferry hop away, but the moment you pitch up at the Southland Caravan and Motorhome Club site, life instantly slows down a notch. The site sits just outside Newchurch, a pretty little village in the island’s green heart. That central location is its secret weapon: whether you’re heading for sandy beaches, chalk cliffs, or a decent pub lunch, nothing is too far away. The site has around 100 pitches, a mix of grass and hardstanding, all neatly kept and shaded by mature trees. Washrooms are spotless (as you’d expect from the Club), and there’s plenty of space on the…

Buying a caravan on a £5,000 budget Q We’re looking to buy a caravan with a budget of around £5,000. As it’s going to be an older model, what should we look out for? A A £5,000 budget can buy a perfectly usable pre-owned caravan, but careful inspection is essential. Damp is the biggest concern, so check around windows, rooflights, lockers, and especially the corners of the floor and ceiling for soft spots or musty smells. A basic damp meter can be purchased for less than £20. If the caravan has a service history, check previous reports. Also, check that appliances such as the fridge, heater, and water system all work on both gas and electricity. Inspect tyres and consider changing if they over five years of age. Private sales…

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 eight festive terms crossword ACROSS 7 Resembling a nocturnal bird of prey (6) 8 Reveal for the first time (6) 9 Give off or discharge (4) 10 Indian prince or king (8) 11 Put to practical use (7) 13 Reluctant or unwilling (5) 15 Number after thirty-nine (5) 17 Giving assistance (7) 20 Pure or untouched (8) 21 Living quarters (4) 23 Permanent skin marking (6) 24 Brightly coloured songbird (6) DOWN 1 Move through water (4) 2 Female reproductive part of a flower (6) 3 Cry softly (7) 4 Comfortable and easy (5) 5 Exaggerate or go too far (6) 6 Japanese…

Bailey Pegasus Ancona YEAR 2013 PRICE WHEN NEW £18,640 It’s now available, used, at £12,495 BERTHS 6 Deal found at Grantham’s You can find similar deals at bit.ly/CVNSALE This is what we thought about it when it came out: On the face of it, the Ancona’s six-berth layout is pretty standard. It has two bunks and two more to be made up in a dining area. It’s reasonably light in weight and it’s on one axle, just like lots of its competitors. So what makes the Ancona special? An important factor in terms of layout flexibility is that the settees, at 1.7m, are just long enough to create single beds for people of average height, so parents don’t necessarily always have to make up the double. That’s ideal on stopovers…

The Bothy is the latest invention from the company that created the super-smooth rounded mini caravan called Barefoot. The overall length of the new model is the same diminutive 5m long and just 1.92m wide – but its seating space is immense, for the size of the caravan, with a U-shaped sofa running all of the way around the front end, plus a sofa at the rear. Barefoot caravans are like no others. They have monocoque fibreglass bodies which come with a 10-year water ingress warranty. They are hand-built. Their styling is spectacular and they are extremely light in weigh and aerodynamic. And the manufacturing company, based near Moreton-in-Marsh, in Gloucestershire, offers a vast range of customising opportunities, including equipment and colours. The exterior colour of our review model is…

Coachman ❙ W coachman.co.uk ❙ £53,240 The twin-axle Lusso II is Coachman’s best-selling caravan. This model, with a double bed, was initially launched in 2021 and has received updates and lounge layout changes along the years. Now, a new Lusso II has been unveiled for 2026, and takes this model to a higher level of luxury, with awesome fabrics and finishes that combine to create true wow factor. Among the new features are reverse-curve top lockers, acoustic wall panelling, and marble-effect splashbacks, in an eye-catching pattern of browns and creams, in the kitchen and the shower room. An air-conditioning unit is now standard, along with an automatic levelling system. There is one feature of the new Lusso II that you can’t see, though. And it’s a key element. The payload has…

HELIGAN CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK, CORNWALL St Ewe, St Austell, Cornwall PL26 6EL T 01726 842714 W heligancampsite.com OPEN 31 January – 16 November While technically not a hidden gem, as the Lost Gardens of Heligan is quite well known, this attraction is included in our feature because the gardens were hidden from view during World War I, until they were discovered and restored in 1990. Today, there are 200 acres of paradise for those who love to explore and those who love plants. Another reason to include these gardens is for the close proximity of a campsite to stay on. Heligan Caravan & Camping Park is directly across the lane from the gardens and there’s also a discounted Lost Gardens entry offer to anyone staying on the campsite. The…

HOW CARAVANS KEEP OUT THE COLD Today’s tourers are designed to be used throughout all seasons. Efficient insulation and construction, plus advanced heating technology mean you don’t need to fear the winter months. Depending on the make and model, caravans are fitted with a system that warms the air directly, or one that circulates hot fluid through radiators. Power comes from gas or electricity – or both. PROPANE VS BUTANE Not all gas behaves the same, particularly in low temperatures. Propane remains effective in sub-zero conditions (all the way down to around -40°C), making it the go-to choice for anyone planning trips during the colder months. Butane, on the other hand, starts to struggle when the temperature dips to around freezing. Both are widely available – propane in red bottles…

To immerse yourself in the Christmas spirit, can you ever really find anything better than a Christmas market? Traditional log cabins, festooned in decorations, a range of artisan gifts and unique products to buy, surrounded by the sights and smells of delicious seasonal treats, all with well-known Christmas songs and carols playing in the background. As the festive season draws near, we’ve put together our top 10 choices of Christmas markets, and also the best campsites to stay at nearby, for a pre-Christmas break to remember. EDINBURGH’S WINTER FESTIVAL 15 NOVEMBER – 4 JANUARY World-renowned, Edinburgh’s Winter Festival brings the city’s streets to life over the festive period, with traditional Christmas market stalls, an ice rink and fairground rides. The festival incorporates the famous Hogmanay celebrations from 29 December until…

Bailey ❙ W baileyofbristol.co.uk ❙ £29,799 The idea of introducing a black edition is to bring in new styling designed to create wow-factor. Bailey’s new Pegasus Black Edition range has lots of black elements. Small details such as taps and spotlights combine with larger elements including locker frames. But nowhere in the list of new features is the style more stunning than in the optional fabric scheme for the Pegasus range. It’s called Sierra. The seat bases are dark and the backs are pale. Our First Look Pegasus Black Edition review model Portofino is a single-axle model with a rear bedroom and central shower area. Its lounge shows off the Sierra scheme in which black is combined, for the seat bases, with an ultra-pale gold shade. It’s exotic, it’s memorable and…

When the darker nights set in, and the clocks have gone back, it’s all too easy to neglect getting out and about in the great outdoors, but we love this time of year. The last of the yellows, oranges and browns of the leaves and trees lure us out to find rich pickings of the earlier season conkers and, of course, offer a great opportunity to kick through some fallen leaves as the cold sets in. Given that we’re both teachers, we make the best of our holidays together as a family, but weekend breaks offer good winter opportunities, too, as does the Christmas school break. We were due to visit some friends in Clacton-on-Sea, in Essex, and were yearning for a mini break on our return journey; somewhere we…

Welcome to Manor Wood Country Caravan Park, a tranquil retreat nestled in the heart of Cheshire’s countryside. Owned and operated by Angela and Nigel Dutton, this park offers a peaceful haven. With 10 acres of well-maintained grounds, the site provides a variety of pitches, including fully serviced pitches and hardstandings, all set amidst scenic views of the Clwydian Hills and the surrounding farmland. We spoke to the owners to find out more… How long have you been running your campsite for? We have been managing Manor Wood Country Caravan Park since 2003, bringing our vision of a welcoming and well-maintained campsite to life. Tell us a little about your site and how it first began The park began as a small family project, aiming to offer a peaceful camping experience…

Premier Parks reveals the best UK campsites for 2026 Premier Parks, the high-quality campsites collection, now in its eithteenth year, has just announced the top campsites selected for its 2026 line-up. See the full list at W premier-parks.co.uk Each site in the collection is personally inspected and handpicked by a member of the Premier Parks team, ensuring only the best in touring and camping experiences. Launched in 2008 by the editorial teams behind Caravan, MMM and Campervan magazines, the group was created to showcase the finest campsites and touring parks across the UK. From peaceful, adults-only countryside escapes, to lively, family-friendly holiday parks by the sea, Premier Parks offers something for every type of holidaymaker. There are plenty of dog-friendly options, too – so no member of the family gets…