Easy One Pan Van Meals

Posted by

By William Coleman

I will be the first to admit that I am not overly keen on doing the washing up after dinner, especially when I am on site trying to relax and get away from it all. One way round that is simple- use as little kitchen equipment as humanly possible. So here are some meals that requires a pan, a chopping board and maybe a small bowl for mixing. Easy peasy.

These meals have been tried and tested by the CaravanTimes team and never disappoint. They work perfectly for friends, family and take no time at all to prepare and cook. Best of all, very little tidying time is needed once you’re full up.

The Breakfast Of Champions

When it comes to breakfast time in the van I usually go for the classic egg and bacon sandwich, or if I am feeling particularly hungry its the fried English Breakfast with all the trimmings. But as I get older I have realised that the fry up is no good for the waistline, so here is filling healthy option.

The 2 Ingredient Pancake

Ingredient-
-2-3 eggs (add more accordingly if cooking for more than 2 people)

-2 fully ripened bananas. The bananas can be a tad brown, too fresh and they will not mix well.

-Ground cinnamon

Method

Step 1- Add your banana to a small bowl or measuring jug and then use a fork to press the banana into a soft mush, leave some bumps and lumps as this will help to create the pancake texture.

Step 2- Crack your eggs into the banana and then thoroughly mix the two together. Make sure there is no yolk visible, folding the mixture is great way to blend it all together and will help the ingredients bind together and create a batter like texture.

Step 3- Add contents to a well oiled pan, unsalted butter works the best and adds an extra bit of rich flavour.

Step 4- Cook on each side for 3 minutes until golden. Once both sides are golden simply serve and enjoy.

This one is fun, simple, cheap and healthy. From 3 eggs and 2 bananas you should get around 4-6 small to medium sized pancakes. A portion of 3 pancakes is only around 80 calories and should have you full up until lunch.

Brunch- The Cheeky Cheese And Ham Toastie

The afternoon snack is an important one, a build up to lunch if you will. So why not use a small window of time to whip up something quick, easy and not too filling. This is a bit of a cheeky one though and not something you want to eat too often. The Cheeky Cheese And Ham Toastie was once only possible with the Breville style toasting makers. Now all you need is a pan, a spatula and a potato masher.

Ingredient-

-Sliced ham, crumbed or honey roast is top of my list

-Mature cheddar or grated mozzarella. These two cheeses tend to melt the best without becoming very oily and soaking the bread.

-Sliced white bread, brown works too but white is the classic way of making a toasties.
Butter or cooking oil- all down to preference.

Method

Step One- If you are using butter to cook with make sure that you butter both sides of the bread evenly and generously. If using oil just coast the pan very lightly.

Step Two- Warm the oil or butter in the pan on a low to medium heat. If the pan is too hot the butter will burn, turn brown and smell very sweet. If this happens start over.

Step Three- Add the filling to the sandwich and firmly press the bread into the pan. This is where the masher comes in handy.

Step Four- Get yourself a small plate and place it on top of the sandwich and apply pressure with the masher so that the toastie gets an even cook. This way the cheese melts and gets that cinematic effect of stringy cheese. Cook until the bread is toasted to your liking and serve.

The best thing about the toastie is how dynamic you can make it. Add pretty much anything you want and it will probably work. The warm peanut butter and jam toasties is also quite the snack and works for pudding too, especially with some added custard. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it.

Lunchtime or Dinner

Make the most of the on board cooker and stretch those culinary legs with a 1 pan Mexican delight with just 3 ingredients and some spices. The Chicken Fajita Bowl!

Ingredient-

-Chicken breast, I would recommend 2 for a pair and 4 for a family sized portion.

-1 red, yellow and orange pepper.

-1 large white onion

-Spices/seasoning- Paprika, chilli powder, salt, pepper, cumin and garlic powder.

Method

Step 1- Cut the chicken breast into cubes and then slice all the veg. The more prepared the veg is the easier and quicker cooking will be.

Step 2- Brown off the chicken over a medium heat, take your time browning the chicken so it remains tender.

Step 3- Once the chicken is browned simply add all of your vegetables and seasoning and give it all a good stir. Add salt and pepper throughout to taste. Add some tomato paste if you have it to get it a bit more liquid.

Step- After about 12-15 minutes, depending if you like your veg with a little bit of a bite to it, you could be ready to serve. Cook for longer if you like your peppers and onions soft.

This is another dish that ticks the healthy options and is very wallet friendly. This is always good with a few wraps or pita breads on the side for dipping.

Are there any one pot/pan meals you can suggest?

Loch Lomond Parks New Crown

Posted by

By WilliamColeman

Lomond Woods Holiday Park has been named at this month’s Scottish Hospitality Awards as Scotland’s finest park, beating hundreds of other businesses to the title.

Stepping up to receive the accolade in front of VIP guests from Scotland’s tourism industry at the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow were members of the park-owning Wood family.

Lomond Woods is one of six parks owned by Wood Leisure, and this year’s glittering awards ceremony also saw two of its other parks nominated for the Best Park in Scotland award.

They were Campsite Glen Holiday Park near Stirling, and Blairgowrie Holiday Park near Perth which gained a “highly commended” status in the category.

The Scottish Hospitality Awards highlight tourism enterprises which offer exceptional standards of facilities and services, and take into account the feedback given by customers.

Wood Leisure has been welcoming guests since 1981, this year sees the 25th anniversary of Lomond Woods under the family’s ownership.

Since acquiring the park, the group has invested heavily in new facilities, accommodation and landscaping to create a first-class destination for holiday guests.

Boasting a top five-star rating from Visit Scotland among its many awards, the Lomond Woods provides luxury holiday homes to buy and to rent, glamping accommodation and touring pitches.

Manager at Lomond Woods Tricia Farragher said that everyone at the park was thrilled to have taken the ultimate accolade of the Best Holiday Park in Scotland at the awards:

“We owe a big debt of thanks to all of our many loyal customers whose votes helped to take us to the number one position,” she said.

“A big factor in this competition is the hospitality which is provided to holiday guests, as well as the friendly atmosphere and warmth of welcome which customers receive.

“Delivering this is entirely in the hands of our staff team, so they deserve a big share of the credit for this wonderful achievement,”www.woodleisure.co.uk

Cornwall Park Hands Over £600k To Fair Pay Firm

Posted by

By William Coleman

The minimum wage was introduced to ensure that companies had a base level for what they could “legally” pay an employee. But over the years what was the bare minimum has now become the norm, where as some companies fail to even meet that. One park in the South West is doing its part to make sure the living wage is met by other parks by handing over a £600,000 contract to a caravan company sharing its ideals.

Padstow holiday park owner Patrick Langmaid has handed a £600,000 buying contract to a UK holiday caravan manufacturer – because it believes in paying its staff a living wage.

Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park will be taking delivery of 25 luxury holiday homes from the firm, ABI, which recently became an accredited member of the Living Wage Foundation charity.

The deal was finalised at the Royal Cornwall Show this week (06 June) when ABI’s chairman Mel Copper travelled down from the company’s HQ in Beverley, near Hull.

But the celebrations at the Wadebridge show were two-fold because the previous day in London, Patrick Langmaid was in the spotlight at the annual Living Wage awards ceremony.

There he was announced as the winner of a Living Wage Champions Award 2019 for his tireless work to promote the principles of ethical employment and the Living Wage.

In January 2015, Mother Ivey’s became the first holiday park in Britain to be accredited by the Living Wage Foundation, and Patrick has since campaigned for other businesses to join him.

ABI, which employs around 550 staff, is one of the latest firms to win accreditation from the charity – and Patrick said that this was a major factor influencing his purchasing decision:

“We regularly update our holiday homes at Mother Ivey’s with the latest models so that guests can enjoy the very best standards of accommodation on offer,” he said.

“In Britain we have a world-class holiday caravan and lodge manufacturing industry, and there are a number of other excellent suppliers we could have opted for.

“However, ABI is the only firm accredited with Living Wage status in this sector, and holds the same beliefs as us about the value of paying a real living wage.

“Like us, I’m sure they will find many long-term benefits in terms of retaining staff, building their enthusiasm and loyalty, and widening the number of satisfied customers as a result.

“We are not anticipating placing future orders with any company other than ABI,” added Patrick whose park employs around 25 full and part-time staff in high season.

The Living Wage Foundation says the real living wage is £9.00 an hour outside London, based on an estimation of how much people need to live, including housing costs, travel and childcare.

Over the past few years, Patrick has been championing the real living wage across Cornwall, and especially to businesses engaged in tourism and hospitality.

“Cornwall is a fantastic holiday destination and a premium brand which attracts many thousands of visitors each year, and there is really no excuse for low pay,” he said.

Mother Ivey’s provides caravan holiday homes, both privately owned and for hire, plus touring pitches. There is more information about the park at www.motheriveysbay.com

Dethleffs Event UK Mountain Bike Champ Appearance

Posted by

By William Coleman

The Erwin Hymer Centre Travelworld in Stafford will be hosting their National Dethleffs motorhomes event which will feature all the best the brand has to offer as well as a very special UK sporting champion.

The Stafford based luxury leisure vehicle company will have Scott Beaumont, the UK mountain bike champion, attending the event to speak with guests and visitors who will be attending from all over the UK.

The event will be taking place from 17th-23rd of June with Scott attending on the 17th and 18th along with the prestige Dethleffs 7877-2 model. Scott will be bringing his hi-spec race winning bikes with him as well as screening some of his favourite team films.

Scott, or “Boom Boom” to his friends, competes in race events all across the UK and Europe with the help of what he describes as his ‘house on wheels’ Dethleffs motorhome. Scott has been competing since the ripe old age of 4! Just more proof of how vital motorhomes are to the sporting world.

He says: “I am no stranger to motorhomes, and the Dethleffs range is by far the most superior brand I have had the pleasure to use. It’s the crème de la crème of motorhoming, so it’s no wonder the Erwin Hymer Centre are dedicating a full week to highlight the range – there really is that much to talk about!”

During the motorhome event you will be able to get a hands on look all the newest 2019 Dethleffs products as well as lots of brand goodies available too.

Managing director, Ross Edwards said: “It’s great that Scott can join us for a second time after coming along to our opening event in February – it makes such a difference when visitors can see with their own eyes exactly what Dethleffs motorhomes can do.”

If you are interested in attending this event you can register for tickets here- Dethleffs Event Tickets.

MP Meets Wales Parks Family Driving Quality Tourism

Posted by

By William Coleman

The “entrepreneurial spirit” of a Wales park-owning family was praised this spring by MP Simon Hart during the celebrations to mark 2019 Wales Tourism Week.

Mr Hart made his comments during a visit to Meadow House Holiday Park in Amroth, Pembrokeshire, which is currently undergoing a multi-million pound makeover.

The MP was invited to preview the developments taking place in the grounds by Huw Pendleton, managing director of family-run Celtic Holiday Parks.

Now marking its 20th year in business, the three-strong Pembrokeshire parks group is owned by Huw Pendleton together with his parents Vic and Ann.

Mr Hart heard how Meadow House, with its dramatic cliff-top setting, will soon be opening a new bar and restaurant plus a guest reception and a holiday home advice centre.

Tourism, said Mr Hart, sustains the local community and accounts for thousands of jobs in the area – and relies for its success on the entrepreneurial spirit of people like the Pendleton family.

During a tour of the park, Huw Pendleton told the MP that his group was immensely proud of its contribution to the thriving tourism industry of Pembrokeshire.

Recent independent economic research on the parks sector, he said, showed that families staying on campsites and holiday parks in Wales are now generating £1.33 billion of annual spending.

The report also showed that parks account for 15% of Wales’s entire tourism income, and are helping to sustain over 24,500 full-time jobs throughout Wales, largely in rural areas.

Mr Pendleton told the South Pembrokeshire MP that the new developments at Meadow House alone are creating six new permanent jobs, bringing the group’s total staffing to over fifty.

He said that everyone in the park was delighted that Simon Hart had taken time out to help mark Wales Tourism Week at Meadow House.

“Mr Hart clearly understands the importance of this region’s visitor industry, and the beneficial effect which it has on the local economy and employment,” he said.

“Pembrokeshire is a sublimely beautiful part of Wales, and a quality destination which attracts guests not just from the UK, but also from overseas.

“Our aim has always been to make our parks a perfect match to our surroundings, and to deliver a first-class holiday experience with the aid of our committed staff team,” added Mr Pendleton.

As well as Meadow House, his group includes Croft Country Park in Narberth and nearby Noble Court Holiday Park where a new £1 million glamping and lodge development recently opened.

Celtic Holiday Parks was last year crowned the best holiday park business in Wales at the National Tourism Awards.

There is more information about Celtic Holiday Parks, and the accommodation and holiday home ownership opportunities provided, at www.celticholidayparks.com

Site Review- Daleacres Caravan And Motorhome Club Site

Posted by

By William Coleman

At the beginning of May my better half turned 30 years young. To help celebrate we decided that a getaway in Kent was a great way to spend an extended weekend all in the name of birthday festivities.

After seeking out some things to do it was decided that the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Daleacres site was the best spot due to the sheer number of things that are just a short drive away. If you spend a weekend here you will be spoilt for choice for what to do.

The Daleacres Club site in Hythe is surrounded by so many little hidden gems that could stay there for a week and not have to worry about doing the same thing twice. From safaris to seaside live music, the area really does have it all.

‘<' . strtolower('Array')> The Daleacres Site

The site is has a lot of similarities that are now a network standard for Club sites and have everything you’d expect from a site run by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Upon arriving we were greeted by the very friendly staff who gave us and rules of the site and a map with directions to our pitch. All the staff we met were very friendly and welcoming.

The one addition to this site that makes it stand out from most others in the Club’s network is the addition of their Experience Freedom glamping yurts, which is actually where we stayed for the weekend. There is also a dedicated section for those who want to go camping.

The site is very family and pet friendly and provides a football pitch for a quick kick around and a dog walking trail to keep the pooches healthy.

The site is extremely spacious considering there are 104 pitches and the views from the entrance of the site are stunning. Most people on site really were making the most of the space provided and have their pitches set up with awnings, small fences, garden lights. It gave a really cosy feel to the site.

Due to the several different types of accommodation that the site has it is very inclusive for those who do not own a motorhome or caravan but still want to outdoors holiday. So if a group of friends want to go away but do not all have a tourer then this site is ideal.

As I mentioned before there really is a lot of space on site and there BBQ areas available if you have not brought one of your own.

On the weekends you can get fresh croissants from the reception and on a Saturday afternoon you can also get fresh oven baked pizza from 5pm. Who doesn’t love a fresh pizza on a Saturday night?

As always you have a functional shower and toilet block with a separate washing up area for your dishes.

‘<' . strtolower('Array')>Things To Do Near By

This site is pretty much a stone’s throw away from everything the area has to offer. The main reason we chose this site was because of how close in proximity to the Port Lympne Zoo and Safari Park, a day out I cannot recommend highly enough.

Once you’ve finished the safari tour and seen rhinos, bison, camels, springbok, ostriches, wildebeest and giraffes you can then go around the rest of the zoo on foot and feast your eyes on lions, tigers, gorillas and much more.

On a side note, we saw a 1 month old baby gorilla doing its very best to be naughty and annoy its older brother and mum. A total once in a lifetime experience, unless you fancy popping over the Congo for a week or two.

If you are looking for a location that has it all you will be hard pressed to top this one. Just a 10 minute walk from the site is a little privately owned pub that sells locally brewed beers, ciders and wines which is such a fantastic little hidden gem. Just beware the mango cider, one pint packs quite the punch.

If you are into your history you should spend some time at the medieval Dover Castle, which is around a 30 minute drive along the coast. It is a tad expensive to get in but you really can spend the whole day there and lose yourself in all the rich history dating back to the Roman occupation.

Being in this part of Kent means you are very close to a lot of coastal towns, which makes for a great day out exploring as you can cover 3 different seaside towns in one day.

The one little seafront I fell in love with was Folkestone. At first glance it did seem a bit dilapidated, dare I say a bit Margate-ish, but once you start having a walk around we uncovered so much more.

A walk along the pier led us two the old rail line that has now been fully restored (without the actual train service) with plaques showing the history of this once busy rail line.

Along the concrete marina you will find lots of modern pop up style container bars and restaurants as well as live music. The whole area had a seaside festival vibe to it which made for a fun afternoon in the sun. Not to mention a nice pint of cherry beer, sound awful but it really is a taste sensation.

For those who may like to do a little bit of shopping will be happy to know you are only around 12 miles away Ashford Designer Outlet.

Of an evening if you want to venture out and have some food you will be spoilt for choice on the streets of all the little local towns and sea fronts.

All in all I would say this is a great choice for your next getaway, the only real criticism is that due to the site of the site the shower block can get very congested in the mornings, but other that that this is top notch.

Roller Team Pegaso And The Edinburgh Marathon

Posted by

By ‘<' . strtolower('Array')>William Coleman

Recently some friends of CaravanTimes was curious about dipping their tow (see what I did there) into the world of the leisure vehicle. The reason being they wanted to drive to Edinburgh and take part in the Edinburgh Marathon all in the name of charity.

The friends in question are two firemen from London names James and Liam. When the pair aren’t saving lives and tackling fires they are usually trying to keep in shape and do their part for charity.

The pair wanted to make the most out of their trip to Scotland and decided to turn it into more of a touring experience than a quick flight there and back. So how did the 2 first time leisure vehicle users do on their trip to Scotland?

The Pegaso Instead Of A Hotel With James & Liam

Can a motorhome really be a viable alternative to a hotel room when competing in a marathon? Two intrepid runners set off to Edinburgh in Rollerteam’s budget friendly A class Pegaso 590 to find out.

Surely spending the weekend in a motorhome after running 26.2 miles is not something that anyone would be thrilled at the prospect of? My first impression of the Pegaso was that with its compact length, coming in at just 5.99 metres it was a pleasure to drive and manoeuvre around town.

The coach style mirrors are fantastic and made it incredibly easy to keep a check of what was happening around you. The inclusion of a rear view camera made reversing effortless. Inside the cab it felt much larger than the exterior dimensions would have you believe, and the living area was spacious and comfortable, belying its diminutive size.

Once on the road, the driving position, captain chairs and extra space in the cab made the miles to Edinburgh a pleasure. Taller drivers may find the leg room slightly lacking for the driver though.

Once we were on site, we made the two beds, one drop down double in the cab, and the other by rearranging cushions and the dining table. Once fully set up you have created another large double in the living area. The sleeping arrangements were far better than expected, maybe this wouldn’t turn out to be such a bad idea after all?

The next morning, after a quick breakfast prepared in the compact, but practical kitchen, we set off on a rainy Scottish morning to run the Edinburgh marathon. After a successful, if a little wet and windy race for us both we soaked up the marathon atmosphere for a few hours in Edinburgh.

Somewhat weary, but freshly adorned with our hard earned medals we headed back to the campsite. This would now be the real test. Would it still be as comfortable as the previous evening with sore and aching bodies? Or would we wish that we had booked into a hotel with all the extra space and a bath?

Both of the Pegaso’s two double beds were incredibly comfortable and even after miles of running offered a welcome place to spend the night. The level of comfort and convenience far surpassed our expectations of what we thought possible for an affordable motorhome.

It really was not only a viable alternative but actually a very comfortable and convenient choice over a hotel. Although it has to be mentioned that a bath wouldn’t have gone a miss!

Seems Like A Success

Apert from giving the old knees a soak in a warm bath it seems like the pair had a winning weekend in the Pegaso.

The benefits of using a leisure vehicle for an activity like this are plentiful, a fridge full of food and drink at all times being the main one. Touring accommodation is quickly becoming the go to for weekend trips, especially for the young adventurers and thrill seekers out there.

Have any of you guys used caravans, campers or motorhomes to take part in a sporting event? And what do you think of guest posts like this? We feel quite inspired after reading it.

Pet Friendly Round Of Ap-Paws For The Club

Posted by

By William Coleman

Taking the pets on holiday is an essential part of a lot of family holidays here in the UK, but there are still a lot of sites that are not very pet friendly. To keep the holiday location options open the Caravan and Motorhome Club are launching a brand new “Paws of Approval” campaign to award their best dog friendly sites.

Celebrating our four legged friends and recognising the importance of taking them away on holiday CAMC have introduced a new “paw rating” for the best dog friendly locations, as voted for by members.

With dogs going free on all Caravan and Motorhome Club UK sites, there has never been a better time to travel with the beloved family pet and put the Club’s dog friendly sites through their paces.

Latest figures show that over 40% of Caravan and Motorhome Club members are dog owners and the Club is expecting a great response to its campaign, designed to highlight the sites that cater best for dogs.

With ratings from one paw to five paws for the top sites to visit with a four-legged friend, the Club will ensure those sites that go the extra mile for their doggy guests will be clearly recognised.

A recent visitor survey run by the Club has asked members how they rate their most recently visited Club site in terms of “dog friendliness” and out of the 1,233 members that have already responded, 94 percent rated the site excellent/very good/good.

The accessibility of dog walks, dog friendly people, cleanliness and the availability of a dog wash all rate highly amongst dog owners who have recently treated their companion to a Caravan and Motorhome Club UK stay.

More than 30 percent of members say that being able to travel with their pets is a major motivation to go on touring holidays and 32 percent of them always take their pets with them on holiday.

Harvey Alexander, Caravan and Motorhome Club director of marketing said: “We know there is a high demand from dog owners and we already state on our website which sites are dog friendly and those sites that offer exercise areas and dog walks etc.

“However this is the first time we have asked members for their feedback to help us formally rate sites. The “paw” logo will make it immediately visible which sites are judged the best for our four-legged friends.”

All the signs are that the Club will have a bonanza summer this year with UK bookings already significantly up; many of these will be from dog owners who will be encouraged to leave their feedback and reviews to ensure the success of the scheme.

NCC Adds Further Measures For Dealers And Consumers

Posted by

By william Coleman

The National Caravan Council (NCC) have recently announced and launched a new set of model terms and conditions for caravan and motorhome dealerships across the UK to help protect the dealer and consumer.

As part of the NCC’s ongoing determination to implement the best practices across the industry the new T&C’s will ensure that the dealer members of the UK trade association will continue to operate fairly within current consumer legislation and deliver high levels of customer satisfaction.

The dealers who choose to adopt the new revised terms will also receive added protection of Primary Assured Advice afforded by the Primary Authority Coordinated Partnership between the NCC and Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards.

Across the UK the NCC currently have over 100 touring leisure vehicle dealerships in membership, and under the NCC Approved Dealership Scheme dealers will offer quality products and unequalled peace of mind for you, the consumer.

The new scheme will embrace respective touring caravan and motorhome Consumer Codes of Practice and has established a benchmark for industry best practice and minimum standards for the sale of new and used leisure vehicles and associated services.

Jo Chubb, Head of Member Relations at the NCC, explains why the revised terms and conditions are so important: “With the changes in consumer legislation, it is important for NCC members to be operating to the highest possible standards. As part of our support for dealer members these model terms and conditions offer reduced business risk for our members, with the protection of Primary Assured Advice through Trading Standards.

“This update adds further to our role in leading and promoting the industry. The NCC Approved Dealership Scheme is the benchmark for best practice and those dealers within the scheme continue to offer a commitment to treat customers fairly and provide high levels of consumer protection and satisfaction when buying a new or used leisure vehicle.”

Swindon Caravans Prize Give Away

Posted by

By William Coleman

Who doesn’t love a good give away! This coming weekend marks the beginning of the 9 day extravaganza that is Swindon Caravan’s Summer Show. From the 1st of June across all three of their branches you can take part in the festivities and enter their prize giveaways.

The annual summer show will be taking place across their branches in Swindon, Oxford and Reading where you can enjoy a day out and possibly walk away with a high value prize.

As well as hosting a free BBQ, on the weekends, and refreshments there will be some amazing offers available for people to take advantage of on the 2019 range of Lunar, Bailey and Swift, just in time for summer too.

If you are in the market for a new van or accessory head down to the Summer Show, you may just walk away with your dream accessory for free.

Here is the list of all the other great offers on over the Summer Show;

  • £300 vouchers when you purchase one of our special edition caravans; a 2019 Bailey Ridgewayor 2019 Swift Vogue
  • Savings of up to £2,000 off selected used caravans. We have over 100 used caravans for sale! And still receive either £500 vouchers or a free accessory pack when you purchase, to be spent on any product or service available across our 3 branches
  • Flexible finance rates will be available throughout the show: 6.6% APR on new caravans & 7.6% on used caravans
  • We will be offering a free goodie bag to everyone who visits one of our 3 branches (whilst stocks last)
  • There is a free prize draw where 3 lucky winners will win a Kampa Rally Air 400 (RRP £1312.49)

    • Powrtouch Evolution manual motor mover (RRP £1045) or a Cadac Safari Chef Lite RRP £100.

    Please enter online (1 online entry per person) and you can also enter in store during the Summer Show up until Sunday 9th June (1 in store entry per person).

And finally there will be lots of accessory offers:

  • Elsan blue & pink toilet chemical. Was £15.98. Now only £10
  • Kampa Lusso Milano chair & footrest. Now only £45 (Swindon only)
  • Kampa Comfort chair. Now only £36.99
  • Economy Aquaroll / Kampa Water Stroller (branch dependant). Was £45. Now only £38
  • Economy Wastemaster / Kampa Waste Stroller (branch dependant). Was £45. Now only £38
  • Kampa /Quest Rotary Airer. Was £27.50. Now only £22.50
  • Tow Pro Front towing Covers. Now only £145
  • Buy a Kampa awning and receive a free roof lining worth up to £90

    • Wildlife Drama Unfolds At Lancashire Park

    Posted by

    By William Coleman

    Due to being humans and moving about quite a bit we do tend to encroach onto a lot of areas that houses wildlife. Knowing the effects that holiday sites can have on nature this Lancs park is going to extreme measures to help the local wildlife, and even live stream some dramatic wildlife goings on.

    Guests were left agog this spring at Moss Wood holiday park near Lancaster where the undercover secrets of a tiny bird were screened live for all to see.

    Star of the show was a great tit which had chosen one of the park’s bird boxes to make its nest, little suspecting that it was going to be under constant CCTV surveillance.

    For the box had been fitted with a miniature covert camera which will stream wireless a 24-hour video feed to a monitor screen in the park’s reception building.

    Guests were able to watch the great tit carefully build its nest, and then to lay four brown-speckled white eggs upon which it sat while its male partner brought regular deliveries of food.

    Fourteen days later, to everyone’s delight, the pair were rewarded with four great tit chicks.

    Henry Wild, whose family has owned Moss Wood for over 40 years, said the unfurling drama was thrilling to watch, and was especially enjoyed by younger holiday guests:

    “We’re very fortunate here to have a very wide range of resident and visiting birdlife, but great tits often nest in tree cavities, so can’t normally be observed at close quarters,” said Henry.

    “They are very distinctive birds with their white cheeks and yellow underparts, and our camera gave a rare opportunity to study the bird close-up and to witness its amazing nest-building skills.

    “Some of our holiday guests even made special return visits during the nesting period so that they could see the action, and we also sent email updates to customers who asked.

    “Many of the children here were fascinated, and hopefully will be inspired to go on and make other wildlife discoveries in our grounds,” he added.

    Last year, Moss Wood was shortlisted in the Lancashire Tourism Awards in the “sustainable tourism” category. thanks to its exceptional efforts to protect the natural world.

    The park, situated in the village of Cockerham, recently became home to more than 100,000 honey bees after it installed three traditional timber hives in its grounds.

    Their thriving future is assured thanks to the large number of high nectar-bearing blooms at Moss Wood, including a 3000 square-foot wildflower wilderness.

    The bees are sharing their food sources with many types of butterflies and other pollinators, and there are plans to harvest the honey for sale in the park’s shop.

    Moss Wood also has launched its own craft brewery beer, and every bottle sold is providing a cash donation for the British Beekeepers Association education charity.

    Other natural attractions at Moss Wood include a 1.5km nature discovery trail, a spring-fed lake attracting many bird species, and events such as pond dipping and bat-walks.

    The park provides holiday caravans for sale, and pitches for motorhomes and touring caravans. There is more information about Moss Wood Caravan Park at www.mosswood.co.uk.

    Club Member 5 Thousand Mile Walk For Charity

    Posted by

    By William Coleman

    I once travelled 5,543 miles on the Bailey #Bristanbul tour, but we used cars and motorhomes to get us around. One Caravan and Motorhome Club member is covering the same amount of miles on foot to help raise money for two different charities.

    Covering over 5000 miles is no small task, it is literally from the Bristol to Turkey and back, so I could not imagine undertaking that adventure on my own two feet. One person who is certainly not afraid of the challenge is Caravan and Motorhome Club member Commander Jane Allen.

    Jane will be doing a solo walk and covering 5,500 miles while walking around the coast of mainland Britain, raising money for two naval charities. Accompanied by her former Royal Marine husband Frank in their self-financed support motorhome, known as the Victory Van, Jane is staying at a number of Club sites on the way.

    Jane, who served for 37 years in the Royal Naval Reserve, is raising funds for two causes close to her heart – the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and the Women’s Royal Naval Service Benevolent Trust.

    “Between us, Frank and I have almost 70 years’ service in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, from Aden to Afghanistan,” said Jane. “The Victory Walk seemed a good way of marking the end of my career, by taking on a year’s challenge and ‘giving back'”.

    Jane’s trek started from Portsmouth, outside HMS Victory on 21 October 17, Trafalgar Day. Walking anti-clockwise from Portsmouth, Jane arrived in Scotland at the end of April 2018 and returned to England six months later.

    In Scotland alone she walked 2,183 miles, wore out four pairs of boots and the Victory Van covered almost 4,000 miles in support. She crossed back into England on Sat 10 November and then headed down the north west coast to enter Wales before Christmas 2018.

    Disaster struck in February when she suffered a fracture and severe dislocation of her right shoulder while on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. After 10 weeks off the Walk, she restarted again at the end of April.

    Initially doing short distances and maintaining a strict physio routine, Jane clocked 4,600 miles just before crossing over the River Severn back into England. She has now turned towards Land’s End and will walk the South West Coast Path as she heads back towards HMS Victory in Portsmouth – she hopes to arrive this summer.

    Speaking about the challenge that Jane has undertaken, Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said: “We are always delighted to see our members getting out in the great outdoors and raising money for special causes by going the extra mile, let alone 5,500 miles!

    We’re pleased that Jane and Frank are able to enjoy some well-earned rest at some of our sites along the way and it just shows what amazing adventures you can have with a motorhome.”

    To find out more about Jane’s Victory walk, visit www.victorywalk.uk

    To make a donation, visit Virginmoneygiving.com/victorywalk17-18