Table of contents for November 2024 in Caravan

“You’re brave, going away over Christmas!”. There were plenty of raised eyebrows amongst those we told that we were heading off for a festive break. It was as if people thought we were going to be shivering in a field, and tucking into lukewarm beans for Christmas dinner. Fortunately, as we were heading to the luxurious Concierge Camping in West Sussex, nothing could be further from the truth. We’d chosen our destination for a couple of reasons. First, it was an area of the country that we’d never visited before, and second, we wanted somewhere not too far from our base in Wiltshire. So, we loaded presents and Christmas decorations – and hit the road. Setting off under a grey sky to Noddy Holder proclaiming, “It’s Christmaasss”, we trundled eastbound…

Gloucester is a historic city, known for its rich heritage. The city dates back to Roman times, originally established as a fort in AD 97. City highlights include the stunning Gloucester Cathedral, and its bustling docks area – once the hub of the city’s maritime heritage, and now home to shops and restaurants. Gloucester occupies a lovely location along the River Severn and is also famous for its quirky local tradition: the annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese Rolling event, taking place in May, on the spring bank holiday. So, with its blend of history, culture and modern development, Gloucester offers much to explore, from its Roman roots to its contemporary attractions. Stay Briarfields Motel & Touring Park An adults-only site, on the edge of the Cotswolds, just seven miles from Gloucester.…

Bailey of Bristol | W baileyofbristol.co.uk | £38,699 As luxury levels grow, sometimes, so do caravan names… Bailey’s flagship range has now added ‘Deluxe’ to its name, suggesting a new level of luxury. As well as a longer name, two new models arrive for 2025. These are the single-axle Sintra and the twin-axle Alvor. And, you’ve guessed it, both are named after gorgeous places in Portugal, as is the rest of the range. Alvor is a spectacular resort of quiet quality on the coast of the Algarve; Sintra is an opulent place of palaces, mansions and spectacular villas. Do these new eight-foot-wide models live up to their namesakes that have reputations for stunning vistas? Our review of the Sintra would establish that pretty quickly. This model was unveiled to the…

How much you have available to spend on a caravan may depend on the way you finance it. Just like buying a car, there are lots of options. You could arrange a loan through your bank or through a caravan dealer. But there are also many other options out there. BUYING ON FINANCE Black Horse is the market leader in providing finance for caravan purchases, offering a range of options including spreading the payments over a period of between one and 10 years. Most caravan retailers have dedicated finance managers who will give detailed advice, and will also submit your loan application for you. Buying on finance means you decide how much you’re comfortable with spending each month, and then tailor the length of the agreement to that figure. So,…

Looking to buy a caravan? We’ve got thousands to choose from so you can easily find your perfect vehicle. caravan.ma/vfs The UK’s 100 finest campsites, all independently assessed Find your perfect park with exceptional campsites that offer the ultimate holiday experience. caravan.ma/premier Plan your getaways with Warners Shows Camp with us or visit for the day, there are plenty of shows across the country. caravan.ma/shows Expert reviews – whenever, wherever! Join our thriving community, enjoy comprehensive reviews and plan your next adventures. caravan.ma/youtube Get the most from your caravan With a subscription to the UK’s longest running caravan magazine with over 90 years of expertise. Enjoy 5 issues for just £5! caravan.ma/carasub Buy your outdoor gear and equipment From brands you can trust, including products tested by our expert editors.…

In December 2018, we had spent one night at Bellingham Camping and Caravanning Club site on our way to Kielder Water and had found it so peaceful that we wished we’d booked to stay longer. So, a few years later, we had no hesitation in signing up for a weekend meet there with friends. It was a spring equinox event: a Star Camp with two nights led by an astronomer. The campsite franchisees organise several different events at the campsite through the year. During the day we would have a chance to explore the characterful village of Bellingham, set on the verdant banks of the River North Tyne. From Scotland we climbed through the Cheviots then followed the recommended route in the pre-arrival guide that we’d received with our booking,…

Readers will recall that, a couple of issues ago, I highlighted the methods used to test a caravan’s insulation and heating system by putting a Bailey Unicorn into a giant-sized freezer and subjecting it to temperatures of -15°C. However, real-life testing is equally important – and this was one of the reasons behind an ambitious trip to one of the world’s most inhospitable places. The Arctic Circle is an imaginary line located at approximately 66°33’46.5” north of the equator. In Finland, it passes through the northern region of Lapland, near the city of Rovaniemi, which happens to be home to Santa Claus and his village. The area above the Arctic Circle is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, particularly during the long, dark…

AYR HOLIDAY PARK Alexandra Road, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 1EJ T 01736 795855 W ayrholidaypark.co.uk St Ives is one of Cornwall’s most popular harbour and seaside towns. The pretty harbour with its fishing boats floating in a turquoise-coloured sea makes for a great place to stop, have a coffee, and relax and unwind. And you can take a boat trip to see a seal colony. Wander the narrow streets, browsing the independent shops and explore the many art galleries, such as the Tate St Ives. There is also the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Ayr Holiday Park is the closest campsite to the centre of St Ives. It has a spectacular view looking out over the beach and town. It is less than half a mile to the beach…

The five-model, eight-foot-wide Elddis Crusader range gets star status for 2025 – to celebrate the sixtieth year since Crusader was first launched. To mark this milestone, Elddis is introducing a special edition 60th Anniversary Diamond Edition Pack for the Crusader for 2025. The instantly visible element of the special edition is the new exterior graphics scheme, with a unique 60th Anniversary logo. Inside, the celebration continues, with a new upholstery scheme called Mara; a combination of fawns and creams – attractive neutral shades that are sure to meet with approval from most potential buyers. Even the cushions get the anniversary treatment, in the form of tags that remind you of the occasion, with the 60th Anniversary logo. It’s the small elements that count – and add up to a memorable…

Winter is the time of year when caravans need to be cleaned most often – because, just like cars, they accumulate road dirt, especially when you are towing in rain. So every time you take your caravan out during the coming months, it is going to need a serious clean as soon as you can after your return. Our guide will show you how to get it looking as good as new every time. WHY CLEANING IS IMPORTANT There’s more to cleaning than simply getting rid of road dirt. It’s an important process in caravan ownership for other reasons, as we outline here. Most caravan owners will consider changing their unit at some time in the future and shabby bodywork and interior will wipe hundreds of pounds or more off…

Ask anyone to name an iconic caravan brand and, almost without exception, the name Airstream will come from their lips. Just the mention of its name brings images of open roads, sunshine, freedom and that iconic silver bullet to mind. There is no other caravan marque that has such a distinctive look and those silver bullets have become a design statement on both sides of the Atlantic. So, what better caravan to partner with the 2024 Towcar of the Year than an iconic Airstream and not just any Airstream but the flagship model – the Tourer 25IB? This Airstream is a statement in itself – £109,950-worth of shining riveted aluminium with distinctive curved tinted front windows and pill-shaped side windows all on a twin-axle frame with, of course, motor movers…

If you’re in the market for a new caravan, no doubt you’ll have started your search online. However, with so many manufacturers offering similar layouts, it can be hard to know where to take your first step from screen research to actual shopping. Do you go to your nearest caravan retailer? That’s always a good plan, but you might want to cast your net a lot wider, initially. That’s where the two caravan shows at the NEC come in. And the next one takes place from 15-20 October. The Motorhome & Caravan Show attracts most of the major manufacturers – and some smaller, niche ones, too. It’s a platform for new models to be unveiled. The amount of choice at a show like this can be overwhelming – which is…

Gas is a vital caravanning ingredient, allowing us to heat and cool various appliances with minimal fuss or bother. If you only book pitches with an electric hook-up, you may only use butane or propane to heat a gas-powered hob or to fire up the bbq if the weather plays ball. However, when used with a refillable system, LPG or Liquefied Petroleum Gas opens up a world of opportunities. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A REFILLABLE GAS SYSTEM? For the cost-conscious, refill prices are a fraction of what you may be used to paying. At the time of writing, the RRP for a Calor 6kg propane refill (bottle exchange) is £32. As a guide, 1.96 litres of LPG weighs 1kg, which means a 6kg propane gas bottle contains approximately 11.76…