Innehållsförteckning för May 2023 från Caravan

"All things seem possible in May"Edwin Way Teale Welcome to this special celebratory issue of Caravan – we’re celebrating our ninetieth birthday. When the magazine was first launched back in 1933, the hobby was in its infancy and, despite the threat of war, caravanning was taking off in a big way. The magazine was originally called The Caravan & Trailer and it even continued to be printed during WWII. Time has marched on and we’ve been through so much and, as we find ourselves in the digital era, I’m delighted to tell you that, for less than 3p a day, you can get a digital subscription to Caravan plus access to years of back issues. See below for details. Thriving for nine decades is a big deal but we couldn’t…

My husband, Anthony, launched his ambition to climb all 214 Wainwright Fells over 20 years ago as we ascended the Old Man of Coniston on his fortieth birthday. Back then 214 fells felt daunting. Fast-forward to a frosty January day and the snowy summit of Froswick – a hill that had previously thwarted us – and we realised that the end was in sight. Anthony had only five Wainwrights to complete his quest, just three days of walking. So, a Lake District holiday was planned for early March and we crossed our fingers for good weather… The big central fells had been ticked off in the early years, but progress was slow with the lesser-known and more remote Wainwrights – until three things came together. Our holidays in our ‘van…

Many years ago, I cycled the length of Britain, from John O’ Groats to Land’s End, and discovered one of the joys of living in a small country. Every 50 miles or so the landscape changes. I have been reminded of this as we travel around the coast of England. Each year we do another two counties and, as we go, the scenery gently evolves. Last year, in Norfolk, tidal creeks and million pound second homes gave way to caravan parks and then the Broads. In Suffolk, we are moving on to reedbeds, heathland, shingle beaches and elegant towns. We have opted for Covehithe as our first port of call. A few miles south of Lowestoft, it is a hamlet boasting little more than a few houses and a small…

TRETHEM MILL TOURING PARK St Just in Roseland, St Mawes, Truro, Cornwall TR2 5JF T 01872 580504 W trethem.com OPEN 1 April – 1 October This rural site on the Roseland Peninsula is surrounded by farmland and less than three miles from the fishing villages of St Mawes, where there’s a sixteenth century castle, and Portscatho. Not only are there a choice of shops and places to eat in these villages, but they are also picturesque with their whitewashed buildings lining the harbourside. Trethem Mill is also only one mile from the coast at St Just in Roseland and there are many beaches and coves to be discovered on the peninsula. The campsite covers 12 acres, with a choice of grass and all-weather pitches with electric hook-up, or fully serviced…

The transverse bed, rear shower room layout is a best-seller for several manufacturers. Chief among them is the Erwin Hymer Group, which makes the lightest caravan of this layout, the Xplore 554 – and offers a choice of six more caravans with this layout. These are in its Elddis Avanté, Affinity and Crusader ranges, and also in its Compass brand ranges, Casita, Capiro and Camino. Other single-axle, standard-width tourers of this layout include Bailey’s Unicorn Vigo and Phoenix+ 644; Coachman’s Acadia 575 and VIP 575, and three from the Swift Group, the Sprite Major 4 SB, Challenger 580 SE, and Conqueror 580. Each of the variants of this super-popular layout has its own character and, although the Xplore 554 is the lightest, at just 1,325kg MTPLM, many of the higher-spec…

The Event Shelter Performance L is a complete shelter set, including one event shelter, three sunwalls and one sunwall with a door, all in one wheeled carry bag. A steel-poled event shelter with an aerodynamic and durable design, this is made to last. Protection against the elements is a priority, shown by the 3,000mm hydrostatic head and taped seams, the well-thought-out design of the roof ventilation which prevents the structure from lifting in gusts of wind and the use of storm straps and multiple guying points for securely pegging into the ground. The roof ventilation also includes clear windows, allowing light and slight airflow in even when all four sunwalls are attached and zipped up. A silver lining on the flysheet reduces the temperature under the shelter on a hot…

What’s a CL? Q I’ve just joined the Caravan and Motorhome Club, and I’m looking at CL sites. Do they all provide drinking water, electric hook-ups, toilet facilities, and hardstanding pitches as standard, or are they fields with basic amenities? A CL – or Certificated Location is a great, way to get away and the Caravan and Motorhome Club has more than 2,200 in its network. Each site is privately owned, and therefore the facilities vary from site to site. All will have at least a fresh water filling point and somewhere to empty the toilet. It’s becoming increasingly common for these sites to offer electric hook-ups and perhaps a hardstanding pitch. That said, some of our favourites have been very basic indeed, and, as an example, I recently stayed…

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 19 makes of car crossword ACROSS 7 Wander and feed (6) 8 Football team suffix (6) 9 Annoy, irritate (4) 10 Trophy competed for by England and Australia at cricket (3,5) 11 Inhabited by, or as if by, apparitions (7) 13 Sudden outburst; volley (5) 15 Pallid-looking; savoury pastry (5) 17 Touch up; hand back (7) 20 Gangrene or localised death of living cells (8) 21 Retro hairdo (4) 23 Manly (6) 24 Kind of sauce; unwanted crusty build-up on teeth (6) DOWN 1 Fizzy drink (4) 2 One from SE Europe, hemmed by the Adriatic, Aegean and Black Seas (6) 3 Atmospheric…

I must admit that the Fens didn’t come immediately to mind when planning our next trip, but I was on a mission to understand this area better. I was brought up in Lincoln, less than a mile from the River Witham, one of the great Fen rivers. At the time I saw myself as a townie, not strongly associating with the Fens, which were ‘the sticks’ where my grandma and several cousins hailed from. In a sense, this was an exploration of my roots, inspired by the book, Imperial Mud, where Tasmanian historian James Boyce, outlines the history of drainage and enclosure of the wild Fenlands. We drive east from Cheshire with our Norfolk Terrier, Bosworth, passing Derby and crossing the rolling hills of the East Midlands. Picking up the…

When someone mentions Oxfordshire, one of the first attractions that springs to mind in this central England county will probably be the city of Oxford itself. Full of the stunning architecture of many historic buildings and famous the world over for its university, the city certainly is somewhere you should spend a lot of your time. But did you also know that Oxfordshire includes parts of three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty? First is the Cotswolds, noted for its chocolate-box villages with buildings of honey-coloured stone. Then there are the open chalk hills of the North Wessex Downs, along with the wooded hills of the Chilterns. And don’t forget, the River Thames makes its way through the county, hosting beautiful waterside paths. So, whether you prefer the hustle and bustle…

South Wales Touring Park – Llwynifan Farm is an adults-only touring park, situated in Llangennech near Llanelli. The site is one mile from junction 48 of the M4, centrally located to visit any attraction in south and west Wales. And close to Cardiff and the valleys to the east, all parts of Pembrokeshire to the west, the Brecon Beacons to the north and the Gower Peninsula to the south. All pitches are hardstanding, and all have a view. There are spacious heated shower rooms, toilets, dishwashing and laundry facilities. The site also has 10 fully serviced pitches. Standard and seasonal pitches remain open all year – perfect for all seasons. Q How long have you been running your campsite? A We first opened our doors back in 2011. Q How…

Awnings are a valuable addition to any caravan, offering an extension to living space, and can be used for a variety of purposes – it is essentially a tentlike structure that is attached to the side of your caravan, providing extra relaxing or dining space when you’re away. In fact, some awnings can more than double your undercover space so they really are worth considering, especially if you tour as a family and/or have kit such as bikes, watersports gear or even just want somewhere undercover for your wet dog and walking gear to dry out. Indeed, the extra space awnings provide can offer an extra sleeping area, a dining area, a food preparation zone and a relaxation area or a combination of all of these things. Whether you are…

This is a lightweight inflatable awning that can be erected in minutes thanks to its single inflation point. Made from sturdy 280HDE polyester fabric, it’s perfectly manageable to pack and transport so no need to spend hours wrestling it back into its bag. There’s an option to purchase an annexe, too, that can be zipped onto either side of the awning, providing a further bedroom – perfect if you’ve got older children who require their own space. PRICE £949 W outdoor-revolution.com…

The Caravan and Motorhome Club has added three new escorted tours across the UK. Exclusive to Club members, prices start from £849 for an outfit and two people, including campsite pitch fees, Blue Badge guided tours, and entrance and transport to and from excursions. The three new tours for 2023 include: Edinburgh Military Tattoo Escorted Tour – a three-night break starting on 8 August (priced from £849), taking in all that this historic city has to offer. The tour is based at Edinburgh Club Site and includes a walking tour of the city and a pre-show dinner ahead of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Note, this tour is now sold out – email the club to join the wait list. Royal Palaces and Historic Buildings Escorted Tour – a nine-night…

The Balletto Air range suits the needs of any caravanner. It’s spacious, while still being lightweight, thanks to the new Elements 150 fabric. This makes the Balletto Air ideal for family holidays. The large Diamond Clear windows keep the living area bright and airy while an oversized carry bag makes packing away easy. Additional space can be created for storage or guests with the addition of an annex. These awnings also include a draught skirt, wheelarch covers and the Vango Draught Seal System. PRICE From £900 W vango.co.uk…

If you’re looking for an awning that’s easy to erect, Isabella’s air awning – the Air Cirrus North 300 (300cm width) and 400 (400cm width) are great options for both weekend breaks and long tours. Developed by the experts, this awning can be put up without any fuss, instantly maximising your living space and giving a homely, domesticated feel to your trips. If you want a quick way to create extra room then the Air Cirrus North is ideal and, once it’s inflated, you’ll have more time to do the things you enjoy doing while on holiday, like getting out and exploring. PRICE £2,449 W isabella.net/uk…

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