CaravanTimes Judge The Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Of The Year 2019

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By William Coleman

Each yeah The The Caravan And Motorhome Club put in a tremendous amount of effort into testing anywhere up to 35+ different tow cars to ensure that you, the consumer and general public, get the most informed opinion of which vehicle on the market is the very best for towing your caravan. This yeah myself and Daniel Cartwright were invited to participate, well I was a spectator and Daniel was an actual judge, which is a very big deal for CaravanTimes.

This was the first time that I had attended The Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Of The Year testing and I was blown away by just how much time and effort goes into the testing. After all it is this kind of feedback that helps a lot of people pick the right towing car for them. When making such a large investment, or purchase, you are going to want to make sure that the cars you are looking at have been put through their paces in a practical setting.

The caravans that were used for the testing were provided by Bailey Of Bristol, and believe me those caravans can hold up when it comes to towing. Before each towcar is attached to the next caravan The Club’s technical team was checked both the caravan and vehicle to ensure that every towcar was tested under the same conditions. This is why the testing takes place over 5 days. 35 cars tested thoroughly over this time period ensures that each test is carried out impartially. They had it down to a fine science.

The Millbrook site is used to test everything from your local bus all the way to the high end super cars, which makes this an ideal site to test a towing vehicle. From the almost vertical hill slopes to the test bowl the vehicles are really put through their paces, all while towing a weighted caravan. Each test had real life obstacles to the vehicles can be tested in the most realistic setting possible.

At first I really did wonder why it was going to take so long to test 35 cars. Well it is all due to the technical details, which is why you can really trust the feedback. Each caravan had the same nose weight and onboard loads to reflect the weight of the caravan that a family will take with them on holiday.

Even the cars themselves are loaded to meet a realistic weight. The boots were packed with baggage and the front and back seats were also loaded with ballasts to reflect the weight of a family of 4.

Once a vehicle came back from a test The Club’s technical team thoroughly checked each vehicle before handing it over to the ‘caravanability’ and driving judges.

Caravanability judges tested whether a car’s boot could swallow the bulky accessories normally needed on a caravan trip. They also measured the towball height, both solo and hitched up, and checked the towing information provided in the manufacturer’s handbook.

The cars were then hitched up to caravans ballasted to 85% of their kerbweight, or towing limit if lower. Using specialised apparatus the technical judges then measured the cars’ acceleration and braking capabilities. The car/caravan combinations were then passed over to the driving judges who set off around the Millbrook circuit to put the vehicles through their paces.

The cars were tested at speeds of up to 55mph on the ‘Alpine route’, which featured various gradients culminating in a 17% hill start and a 26% downhill brake test. The ability to join fast traffic from a standstill was also assessed.

Judges then took the vehicles to the high-speed bowl to further assess their capabilities at speeds in excess of UK legal limits. In the safety of a controlled environment, the judges could induce some instability at 60mph to see how the cars reacted. The vehicles were also put through reversing examinations. All-important issues of driver and passenger comfort and visibility were also assessed.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club had a whole range of test drivers as well as their technical team to ensure each vehicle was tested correctly but there was more to it than just the physical driving. Behind the scenes at Millbrook were the team who were tracking the results, compiling feedback as well as ensuring everything was captured so if could then be fed back to the public. It really is an extremely involved process from start to finish.

As an online publication we were extremely honoured to be asked to be a judge. Being able to take part in an event such as this is something that does not come around very often so we were honoured to be part of the testing. Dan had this to say following the testing: The testing process is extremely thorough from start to finish. Each vehicle and caravan is checked before each to test to ensure the towing conditions of each rig is the same.

To be asked to take part was fantastic as I got to see a side of the industry I hadn’t seen before. And lets to be honest, who wouldn’t be excited to test drive 35 of the best vehicles on the market around the a testing track for 5 days!”

So after the extensive week of testing the results were finally in and ready to show to the public. We were also at the award show last week and you can read all about it here, The Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Of The Year 2019 Awards Results

Each model that was tested is a brand new 2019 model which does come with a price tag. Do not let that put you off. Each year the Club do these tests and bring you the very best feedback on each vehicle, and the Club still stand by their previous winners. Here is a list of each car that won Towcar Of The Year, so if your budget does not stretch to a brand new towcar you can still get one of the competition winners as most of them are on the market at a very good price.

THE CARAVAN CLUB TOWCAR OF THE YEAR

1984 Citroën BX 16 TRS
1985 Volvo 360 GLEi
1986 Ford Sierra XR 4×4
1987 Renault 21 GTS
1988 Vauxhall Senator 3.0i CD
1989 Vauxhall Cavalier SRi Saloon
1990 Vauxhall Cavalier 4×4 2.0i
1991 Rover 416 GTi 16v
1992 Volvo 940 SE Turbo
1993 Vauxhall Calibra Turbo 4×4
1994 Citroën Xantia 1.9 TD VSX
1995 Renault Laguna RT 2.0
1996 Vauxhall Vectra 2.0i 16v GLS
1997 Peugeot 406 GLX DT 2.1
1998 Citroën Xantia V6 Exclusive
1999 Audi A6 Avant 2.5 TDi
2000 Seat Toledo V5
2001 Volkswagen Golf V6 4motion
2002 Peugeot 406 2.2 GTX HDi Estate
2003 Skoda Superb V6 2.5 TDI Elegance
2004 Subaru Forester 2.0 XT
2005 Mazda6 2.0-D Estate TS2 (136ps)
2006 Kia Sorento 2.5 CRDi XE
2007 Volvo V50 D5 Sport
2008 Ford Mondeo Titanium X Estate
2009 Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI
2010 Volkswagen Golf SE 2.0 litre TDI
2011 Skoda Superb Estate Elegance 2.0 TDI CR
2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0 TDI DSG
2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sport 2.0 TDI DSG
2014 Skoda Superb Elegance Estate 2.2 TDI DSG 4×4
2015 SEAT Leon ST FR 2.0 TDI
2016 Land Rover Discovery HSE LUX
2017 Volkswagen Passat Estate Alltrack 2.0TDI 4MOTION 150PS
2018 Skoda Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4×4 DSG 190PS

What Makes The Ideal Caravan Holiday?

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By William Coleman

The CaravanTimes team are a very mixed bunch of people all doing very different things within the publication. What seems to be even more varied are our tastes in what we look for in a caravan holiday.

We get to visit sites and locations all across the UK and Europe all in the name of caravan journalism. From Caravan and Motorhome Club sites in a Bailey Pegasus to Loch Lomond in an Auto-Trail Tribute, we really do get to see it all. But what does we like individually in our own leisure time? I pulled them all together to find out what makes the perfect getaway for them.

I will start off by going through what I look for in a site/location/holiday. Over the years my needs have changed somewhat. As I child it was all about the big bold sites like Haven Holidays with a funfair, arcades and a pool. As I get a little bit older I seek to find locations that are secluded but not too far away from good walking trails, activity days, a good pud and oddly enough some kind of zoo.

What is most important to me, in regards to a site, is that there a good washing facilities and enough space so you are not invading your neighbours when you open your door. I have been to sites where they have made the pitches so small so they can cram in as many holiday makers as possible. Suffice to say many of them have either been taken over or turned into housing or retails parks etc.

So what do look for in a caravan holiday?

Tom Evans- Managing Director

For me it is all about location. Depending on the reason I have been drawn to an area I sometimes really do not mind what type of site I stay on. I look at the caravan as accommodation I use when I am not out and about seeing what the world has to offer. I make sure that I pack everything I need just incase the site is not the best, but I have never really found a site I would not revisit. But I have heard some horror stories so I am always prepared.

As I get a little bit older I have become a bit of a creature of habit, or stuck in my ways if you ask my partner, but I know what I like and where it is. So I do tend to revisit the same locations from time to time. Scotland holds a special place in my heart. There is such a wide choice of sites to stay on that have views that we just do not get where I live in London.

My most recent trip I spent a few days on the shores of Loch Lomond. The weather was not the best but I had enough creature comforts onboard that I was able to stay very comfortably and sit and watch the world go by.

I am partial to a Caravan and Motorhome Club. They put a lot of time, money and effort into their sites so you know what you are getting when you turn up. Clean site, great facilities and a good onsite atmosphere. The onsite WiFi helps too as I am never too far away from an email that needs replying to.

So to round it up, it’s all about how comfortable you make your caravan and the activities you want to do. Oh, and always make sure you have a big box of tea bags and some chocolate digestive biscuits.

Daniel Cartwright- Director

I have been on more caravan and motorhome holidays than I can remember. It feels like I was raised in a caravan we were away so much. What I love about caravanning is just how easy it is to get away. Leave work on Friday jump in the van and come back Sunday night. A weekend away that can cost less than a meal in a restaurant. What’s not to love about that.

I have 2 small children now so the types of caravan holidays we take is very different. For me it’s all about my son and daughter. Both are under 3 years old so you have to make sure that where you go has enough to keep them entertained, otherwise you are in for a bit of a battle.

When picking a site we look at what the on site facilities are that will keep us entertained, as well as the little ones. Indoor swimming pools, or outside if the sun is out, are always a good one, teach the kids to swim all while ensuring they are worn out enough to go to bed early. Haven holiday parks are fantastic for a week away with the kids.

When it comes to the needs of the wife and I all we want is a well kept site where we can relax with the kids. We also want to make sure that the time we spend as a family is fun so when we are older we can have memories to look back on and cherish.

James Lee Warner- Video and Content Editor

I like to be near the sea. Being based in East London it can sometimes feel like you are landlocked in a concrete jungle. I do live very close to the Thames, I can see it from the front of my house, but it’s not the same as being by the sea.

When ever I book a site it’s either next to the sea or a very short drive away. Even in winter I love being on the coast. There is just something about the air by the sea. Also it seems every single site by a coastline in 5 star.

I do tend to use a motorhome more so than a caravan due to the storage and I sometimes find it a bit quicker to get out and about. Once you’ve been in the sea surfing, or flopping around as I tend to do, being able to jump aboard and have a shower followed by a cup of tea and a bacon roll is what it’s all about. And it is a lot cheaper than going to a cafe or pub for lunch everyday. The price really does start to rack up if you are away for a week.

Tomas Diaz Velasco- Production Manager

Variety! I have a son and daughter who are almost teenagers so we have to make sure they are entertained. It’s not like when they were smaller and we could go to the beach every day or play outside on the site. The older they get the lower their amusement threshold gets.

And to be honest I quite enjoy doing different things each time. It has certainly opened my eyes to how much is out there for people to do. Sometime we do not even take the van, what with the new glamping craze. This year we have stayed in a static American Airstream caravan and a 5 person yurt. Both were so different and great. We were able to take our dog Chewie with us to the yurt and spend a few days out in the woods. We had everything we needed inside the yurt and it was extremely comfortable for start to finish. I used to joke about glamping but having tried it I would recommend everyone gives it a try at least once.

Once location the kids love is Devon, there is just so much to do and see. You can spend a whole week down there and never do the same thing twice. Crealy Adventure Park is one place that really does have it all so make sure you visit there, especially if you have children.

Rob Key- Production and Video Editor

Me and the better half are quite active and love the outdoors. On weekends we tend to not sit still for a second. We like to get out on our bikes or go canoeing down a river to find somewhere nice to stop off for lunch. So for us caravan holidays are all about the activities. The Lake District is great for that sort of thing. The walking trails are particularly good, especially as they allow bikes on most of them now.

Once thing that a caravan holiday provides, site specifics dependant, is peace and quiet. There really is nothing better than waking up to the sound of the countryside and being surrounded by really friendly people who want the same thing as you.

Once we pack up the car and van we just set off and relax the whole time we are away. We get to see the country from a unique perspective all while staying fit and healthy. What more can you want out of a holiday.

So there you have it, we all love caranning but for very different reasons. The great thing about caravan or motorhome holidays is they offer such freedom and variety. You could go away every weekend of the year and never stay in the same place twice. One thing we can all truly say is “variety is the spice of life”.

What makes your ideal holiday? Caravan? Motorhome? Tent? Static? Whatever it is let us know as we may just go and do it!.

Caravanning Vital To UK Tourism

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By William Coleman

So today, the 27th of September is World Tourism Day and with that comes a whole wave of festivities. To help kick things off with a bang the Great British Tourism Survey results have been released to reveal that last year 9.8 million domestic caravan holidays were taken across England, Wales and Scotland. Many of which were taken by you guys, the readers.

The latest GB Tourism Survey results, which were jointly sponsored by VisitEngland, VisitScotland and VisitWales, have shown that a staggering 7.48 million caravan “staycations” were taken in England 2017, which was a record year across the whole UK holiday industry in purchases of leisure vehicles. 2017 also saw 762,000 trips taken in Scotland and 1.56 million trips made in Wales.

With so many UK based holidays taking place there must have been some kind boom for the UK economy? All these holidays generated a gargantuan £1.64 billion for the UK tourism, and overall, economy. Something we can all agree the UK needs at this current time.

Out of all the types or caravan holiday it was the rented caravan holidays that were, by far, the most profitable in England. This type of holiday accommodation generated £645 million across the region.

Trips involving touring caravans, campervans and motorhomes – sometimes alleged to bring low levels of spend to their destination – accounted for over half a billion pounds (£526m) in England, Scotland and Wales.

John Lally, Director General of the NCC (National Caravan Council), said: “These figures confirm that caravanning, in all its forms, is vitally important to UK tourism. Caravan holidays clearly remain as popular as ever and our joint awareness campaign, Freedom to Go, continues to attract younger leisure vehicle users to the benefits of caravan and motorhome holidays.

“Many of the 550 companies represented by the NCC will have helped contribute to these impressive figures by offering consumers a fantastic choice of holiday destinations. The good weather experienced throughout 2018 coupled with strong product investment will ensure the caravan parks industry remains a British success story.”

So with so many people opting to stay home for their holidays and so many more choosing the ever growing “try before you buy” caravan holiday it would seem that caravanning has never been more popular. As I sit here now it’s 25 degrees outside and the sun in shining brighter than ever. Who would have thought that we would be having such great weather this close to October. Looks as though you may not need to start the winter storage preparation after all.

Love Is In The Air On The Isle Of White

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By William Coleman

It seems that the love of touring extends further than loving your caravan. After 20 years of history between them one couple have returned to The Orchards holiday park in Newbridge, Isle of White, where they first met as children with a very serious proposal.

Shortly after the couple arrived and pitched up it became very clear that this was not going to be your average caravan holiday with a stroll down memory lane of where it all began.

That’s because Rachel Hughes’ childhood sweetheart, Jonathan Palmer, had brought with him not only a tent and cooking stove, but also a proposal of marriage.

The couple had met as 12-year-olds while on holiday with their families at The Orchards – and it was beside the park’s heated outdoor pool that they had exchanged their first kiss. So this really was love at first (camp) site, sorry I couldn’t help myself with that one.

Jonathan displayed his romantic side as he covered the pool with crimson roses, arranged a pianist and singer and engaged right there where they first kissed. And it was all captured by a professional photographer.

After leading Rachel to the water’s edge – and to the delight of other holiday guests present – he went down on one knee – and received just the answer for which he’d been hoping!

After their first fateful meeting all those years ago Rachel and Jonathan’s families would go on to plan further holidays together. From there on friends, families and futures were made.

Once the young couple were old enough they started to go on holidays of their own. Sticking to the tradition they took camping and caravanning trips together and eventually moved in together in the town of Bedford.

Now both aged 30, their next visit to The Orchards will be as man and wife – thanks to a pool, some petals, and a proposal.

Co-owner of The Orchards Julie Gray said that it was a perfectly executed plan, and one which she and her husband Tim had known about in advance:

“We were thrilled when we heard of Jonathan’s idea and gave him all the help we could – but, of course, we could only cross our fingers that Rachel would say yes,” said Julie.

“We’re so delighted that The Orchards was able to play its part in the couple’s romantic journey, and that the story had such a happy fairy tale ending!” she added.

Julie and Tim acquired the park 15 years ago and have since gathered a raft of awards for its high standards. There is more information about The Orchards at www.orchards-holiday-park.co.uk

This is another fantastic example of why caravan sites really are the best places to take your holidays. They bring a sense of community and belonging to everyone who visits, and here is a prime example of what can happen when you bring like minded people together.

I believe that the caravan holiday is so unique to any other form of holiday, not just because of the tin tent we choose to stay in. I know that whenever me and my better half escape for a few days we come back a lot happier than before. Breaking away from the hustle and bustle of life and making new friends, in this case family, really is what life is all about.

The Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Of The Year 2019 Awards Results

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By William Coleman

On Friday 21st of September myself and the CaravanTimes Team had the pleasure of attending the The Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Of The Year 2019 Awards. The event that brings you an unbiased look into what are the stand out towing vehicles on the market and what manufacturer’s vehicle is the overall winner.

This year marks the 36th edition of the Club’s competition which featured some significant changes to previous years. Why the change to the previous tried and tested format? Each year The Club try to deliver the best and most informed opinion on each vehicle. As times change so must the way in which things are done. The Club strive to provide the most relevant information for those thinking of buying a new towing vehicle. After all word of mouth is the most powerful form of advertising.

New for this year, vehicles were put into caravan weight categories – rather than listing them by price – to make it easier for buyers to tell which cars could tow their caravans. Cars were entered into classes using their 85% kerbweight figure or by their towing limit, whichever was the lower. The Club also introduced two new categories – ‘Best Family Towcar’ and ‘Best Large Family Towcar’.

So here are the categories and the winners of each;

  • Caravan Weight Under 1100kg – Volkswagen Polo SEL 1.0 TSI 115PS DSG
  • Caravan Weight 1100kg – 1350kg – Peugeot 3008 Allure BlueHDi 180 EAT8
  • Caravan Weight 1350kg – 1500kg – Volvo XC40 D4 AWD First Edition
  • Caravan Weight 1500kg – 1700kg, Best Family Towcar and Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2019 – Volvo XC60 D5 PowerPulse AWD R-Design
  • Caravan Weight over 1700kg – Volkswagen Touareg R-Line Tech 3.0 V6 TDI SCR 4MOTION 286PS Tiptronic
  • Pick-Up – Volkswagen Amarok Highline 3.0 V6 TDI 4MOTION 258PS Auto
  • Best Large Family Towcar – SKODA Kodiaq Edition 2.0TDI 190PS 4×4 DSG

There are your category winners, but what was the overall winner of the The Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Of The Year 2019 Award?

The The Volvo XC60 D5 PowerPulse AWD R-Design is your winner and champion of this year’s event. 3 awards in 1 evening! There really is no surprise that this gem took the top spot.

The Volvo XC60 fended off some very impressive vehicles in the competition as it pulled of a hatrick to take the top spot as overall winner.

This year’s competition was comprised of 35 entries and each car was put through their paces at the Millbrook Proving Ground near Bedford. A couple of us CaravanTimes chaps were in attendance during testing, and one of us was even a judge in the competition. But we will cover that more in detail a little bit later.

Millbrook provides a variety of testing driving environments. Manufacturers were invited to submit for testing any vehicle that was capable of towing a trailer over 750kg and on sale on 1 October 2018.

Grenville Chamberlain, Caravan and Motorhome Club Chairman, said: “Here at the Caravan and Motorhome Club we are committed to driving forward positive change within the motoring industry and to providing our one million members with relevant information for them to use as they make their next towcar purchase. Our congratulations go to all the winners.”

Matt Allwright commented, “This was my second time being at Millbrook Proving Ground for the competition. It was great to see how the event continues to evolve in order to get the best independent information for car buyers. The testing is so thorough, the winners should rightly be proud of their achievements.”

Simon Howard, Marketing Director of Bailey of Bristol, which provides the caravans for the event, said, “Vehicle testing for the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year competition really is leading the way. We are extremely proud to have been supplying the caravans for testing for over 20 years.”

Last September was the first time I had attended the The Caravan And Motorhome Club Towcar Of The Year Awards and was thoroughly impressed with the amount of work, effort and man hours that go into giving the best and most informative opinion possible. Buying a new car can sometimes be a very daunting prospect, especially when you are going to tow with it. These tests eliminate a lot of the searching and really does give a non biased industry opinion.

Our very own Dan Cartwright was a driving Judge at this years TCOTH and he drove and assessed every entry. We have a feature coming about the experience but before that these are Dan’s comments: “The The Volvo XC60 D5 PowerPulse AWD R-Design is an incredibly accomplished tow vehicle. Rather than standing out in any one area it was great in all aspects of towing and comfort.

Towing on narrow twisty roads and hilly roads really tests a tow vehicle and this is where you will appreciate the XC60 D5. Even with a big twin axle Bailey Unicorn hooked the Volvo is relaxed and capable. It’s almost too good and you can forget your towing.

At motorway speeds the whole set up is incredibly stable. Even trying (and even violently trying) to get the caravan moving the Volvo just settles the van down with little movement or panic and no electronics taking over and slamming on the breaks.

If you can afford the The Volvo XC60 D5 PowerPulse AWD R-Design and your caravan of choice you can buy with confidence. If you have every struggles, worries or even found towing difficult then consider this…. The biggest challenge towing with the XC60 is reminding yourself that you are towing.”

After last year’s awards I was able to get my hands on 2018’s overall winner, SKODA’s Kodiaq SE L 2.0 TDI 4×4 DSG. Not only did I test drive it but I also drove it over 5 thousand miles. What did we think of the Kodiaq? Watch our exclusive review, Here

Make Living Local Your Holiday

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William Coleman

At CaravanTimes we pride ourselves on bringing you news and information not just from the industry but from our first hand experiences of actually getting out there and experiencing what we report. As part of our job we come up with ideas for companies to help test their vans in a practical setting. So how about picking a holiday destination where you can use the local surroundings for your food shopping? Think more local independent dairy farm than Tesco Superstore.

Auto-Trail sponsored our adventure and suggested we take the 2019 Tribute 736G and it’s easy to see why. We will have full review coming but the Tribute 736G is a new coach built Tribute layout which can sleep 6 but still has an amazing kitchen, even in an entry level motorhome. Whilst being big the Tribute is very capable on the little local paths and roads and has that feeling of fun provided by a more affordable motorhome. Highlights for this trip were:

  • Huge garage to keep everything from motorbikes, guitars, BBQ and anything and everything you need when exploring an area.
  • Reversing camera perfect for maneuvering around these little farms.
  • Sun awning as standard it was 30 degrees at times and being able to drop the sun visor and relax in the shape was amazing.

I am sure I have shared my love of food before with you guys, but now CaravanTimes have taken it to an all new level all thanks the Martin Dorey, his wealth of food knowledge and Auto-Trail. We got the cook, the mobile kitchen and the area that can provide all the food we could wish for. This is not the first time that CaravanTimes, Martin and Auto-Trail have teamed up to live off the land. To see our previous adventure Click Here.

I have travelled all over the UK with the CaravanTimes team trying to find destinations that we can review and recommend to you, the readers. But what drives someone to visit a location? The beaches, the fishing lakes, the food, the walking trails or all of the above? Well on our most recent trip it was all about making the most of the surroundings and trying as many locals things we could get our hands on.

After doing some research and brushing up on local knowledge we all decided on picking the CL Caravan & Motorhome Club site in Catley Cross, The Paddock. What made this location so special was the abundance of local producers that we found within in a very small radius of our pitch. This part of Suffolk is like a little treasure chest of delights, and the CL Site is marvelous. This CL is open 365 days a year so it can can cater for summer and winter touring. On our visit the temperature met the mid 30s as this area always seem to have highest of temperatures. Once local called it the “Costa Del Col as it is so close to Coln Valley is always gets the very best weather

The area is known for its farmland and agriculture, as well us an amazing river system with a string of independent pubs serving the best pub grub. We also found that we could source everything we needed to live off during our trip. Fresh milk, cheese, vegetables, meat, wine and beer, you name it we found.

We want to show you how easy it is to avoid the retail giants and almost “live off of the land”. This is the excuse I use to gorge or clotted creams and scons when I visit the South West. But imagine being able to literally buy everything you need without having to reach for your club card. This, for me, really is what touring is all about. Finding local places to visit, eat, drink and then take away some goodies to eat later.

It is all well and good knowing where to shop when you arrive at your chosen holiday spot but what are you going to cook? As I mentioned before we had the privilege of Martin Dorey being with us who thrives on living off the land. As soon as we sat down with a cup of tea and showed him where we would be shopping the cogs soon got turning Martin had a meal in mind almost instantly. All locally produced and purchased, as fresh as it comes and very healthy, yes even the beer.

The Menu

Hand Reared Rib Eye Steak- Sourced from a local farm who usually sells to friends and family. Word of mouth sourced us this prime cut.

Mint and Sheep Milk Yogurt Potato Salad- The sheep milk yogurt was sourced from from Boydells Dairy Farm.

Seaweed Sheep Cheese Salad- The seaweed crusted sheeps cheese was a first for us at CaravanTimes and was also sourced directly from Boydells Farm.

All the vegetables used were purchased from Spencers Farm Shop which is literally right round the corner from out site.

The Drinks

Stour Valley Gold Ale- Purchased from Nethergate Brewery. This Suffolk based producer makes their beer 20 feet from where they sell and serve these local specialities.

Within one day we had a picture perfect site thanks the Caravan & Motorhome Club’s CL site, the most perfect cooked meal thanks to Martin Dorey, the ideal vehicle for touring and cooking thanks to Auto-Trail (the Tracker 736 motorhome) and food grown and sold within a 20 minute drive of our site. The best part of buying local? Less time shopping and more time relaxing.

This is part of a series or articles and videos that CaravanTimes will be bringing you. As part of the CaravanTimes team Martin will be showing you exactly where we went and how he whipped up a storm in the Tribute 736.

There are adventures like this that can be had all across the UK. All it needs is a little bit of research and you’re halfway there. So if this little trip has inspired you to take an adventure let us know, also if you think you have something that would inspire us we’d love to hear from you.

Park Conservation Attempt Gathers Award Steam

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By William Coleman

Honey bees, butterflies and bats have helped a Lancaster holiday park to wing its way into the finals of this year’s prestigious Lancashire Tourism Awards. Moss Wood in the village of Cockerham has been shortlisted in the “sustainable tourism” category of businesses making exceptional efforts to protect the natural world.

Now the final hurdle for the park will be a face-to-face interview with the judging panel before the winner is finally revealed at November’s glittering awards ceremony.

Family-owned Moss Wood has already had its environmental policies and green tourism credentials put under close scrutiny in the competition.

Judges noted that the park became home earlier this year 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 planted last year.

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

Henry Wild has planted a wildflower wilderness for the honey bees

Moss Wood also launched its own craft brewery beer in spring this year, 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.

Henry Wild, whose family has owned Moss Wood for over 40 years, said it was a fantastic honour to see their business named as sustainable tourism finalists in the awards: “We’ve always considered ourselves fortunate in being able to live and work in this glorious part of rural Lancashire, and to share it with our holiday guests,” said Henry.

“That’s why we do all we can to encourage the abundant flora and fauna here, and we’re always keen to explore new ideas to make the park a perfect fit to the natural environment.

“Reaching the Lancashire Tourism Awards shortlist is superb news, and we owe a great debt of thanks to our staff for all their hard work on our conservation programme,” he added.

According to the award organisers, tourism is worth £4.13 billion each year to the Lancashire economy, and supports over 59,000 jobs by welcoming 67 million visitors annually.

There is more information about Moss Wood Caravan Park at www.mosswood.co.uk

Welsh Parks Flourishing Success

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By William Coleman

A Flintshire holiday park have been busy exercising their green thumbs this summer as they receive the golden bouquet in the Wales Bloom awards.

During the award ceremony judges described the North Wales holiday park “inspirational”. The hard work and effort the park put in really did pay off as they landed the gold honour at yearly content which is very keenly contested.

The Tree Tops Caravan Park at Gwespyr, near Holywell, walked away with the coveted top spot in the 26th year in a row at the annual flower power event.

Director Andrew Walker, who runs Tree Tops alongside his parents Maureen and Harry, said that his park’s green-fingered staff deserved a major share of the credit: “We pride ourselves on our landscaped gardens, and have a dedicated team who go the extra mile to make sure everything is perfect for the people who come and stay with us,” he said.

“But we’re not complacent, and this year overhauled and redesigned our Japanese garden area to include new blooms and extra touches such as an arbour seat.

“As we’re open for nine months of the year, we plant for the seasons with an array of spring flowers at the start before moving on to a riot of summer colour which carries on into autumn.

“Tree Tops has always prided itself on being an oasis of calm, somewhere to relax and unwind, and the gardens are central to that experience,” added Andrew.

Some 16,000 plants a year are used throughout the park grounds, and Tree Tops’ gardening team has its own shrub nursery and grows the blooms on site.

The Wales in Bloom judges commended the park’s ‘inspirational’ approach to design and plant selection, and said it had set the standard for other park businesses to emulate.

Andrew said that this year’s award had come as a surprise and delight to everyone at the park:

“We were thrilled when we won our very first Wales in Bloom award, and never imagined that we would still be picking up the accolade more than a quarter of a century later!

“But nothing stands still in gardening, and we are already planning and propagating in readiness for our entry into the 2019 championships!” added Andrew.

There is more information about Tree Tops on its website at www.treetopscaravanpark.co.uk

The Bailey Pegasus Grande

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William Coleman

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being invited to Stanton House Hotel in Swindon by the guys at Bailey Of Bristol. The reason for the invite was so I can have the first look at their brand new Bailey Pegasus Grande range which will be officially launched at the October NEC Caravan and Motorhome Show in October. But before then you can have a read of my first thoughts on the new 8ft wide Pegasus model.

So, where to start? Well first of all let me start by saying I REALLY like the new 8ft wide Pegasus models, of which there are 6 to choose from. The new 2018 models include the Brindisi, Bologna, Messina, Rimini, Palermo and the Turin.

The models 4 and 6 berth and range from £22,999 to £24,499, with some additional extras than can be added on which will or course change the end price. What Bailey have done is give some additional options for upholstery, which are free of charge! There are 2 to choose from to ensure you start you personalisation for free.

Bailey have recently delivered the Phoenix range to the market, which is more “first choice” than an “entry level” caravan. The Phoenix is very close to the current Pegasus model, which means that a lot more people could go for the cheaper Phoenix over the Pegasus. So what did Bailey do to ensure their mid level van stays relevant? They went big!

To revamp the Pegasus range Bailey knew they had to do something radical to make their mid level range an industry stand out from their other 2 models, as well as other manufacturers. They have decided to go with 6 new 8ft wide models, which I think is a great move.

Why move into the 8ft area of caravans though? Yes it is very different to all the other Bailey models, but they have actually applied a logical thought process to the design. Inside you have 20-25% more leisure space to make the most of your holiday time. Having looked around all of the models on display I can safely say that the interior design of these new 8ft’ers really does make a world of difference. It is not just a gimmick it a total redesign with the customer in mind.

Having been fully redesigned from the ground up to bring you more than just additional space Bailey have been able to utilise the extra width to bring you much larger living spaces and wider single beds in the Rimini. Bailey have also introduced the island beds to Brindisi and Bologna, a decision that was made from customer feedback. With more space you really can have more holiday.

The interior layouts have also been given a complete revamp. Not only will you benefit from an additional 25% more space you will also be able to choose from a G-shaped front lounge or a U-shaped central dinette.

All versions of the Grande have been rigorously tested and come with an Alu-Tech bodyshell. To ensure that you can use the Grande all year round Bailey tested the range with Truma using their cold chamber. With grade 3 temperature tested and passed you can have a toasty winter inside your van.

As standard the Grande’s come with all the newest innovation and tech. Truma heating, Truma solar panels, AL-KO ATC trailer control system, Tracker retrieve and AL-KO 3004 Stabiliser as standard. So you really are getting a lot of bang for your buck.

I could go on forever going over all the new techs and specs of these 6 new 8ft models but I will leave that down to the guys at Bailey. So if you are at the NEC be sure to visit their stand. At this year’s NEC Bailey will have their largest stand to date.

So if you are the market for a new and improved caravan for the family, 2 wide single beds and and bunk bed options available, or for a couples holiday the Grande range will suit all of your touring needs.

For more info visit Bailey Grande

Swift Win Big At Business Awards

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By William Coleman

Swift are known for their annual awards to highlight and celebrate the dealers and companies that they work with. Now they are getting some recognition of their own following a sweeping victory at the UK Private Business Awards.

Swift Group took home the big one as they were named ‘Private Business of the Year’ at the UK’s Private Business of the Year awards at last week’s gala evening held at the Brewery in London.

The awards, which are sponsored by PwC, have been designed to recognise businesses who aim higher, have a compelling vision, strong long term strategy and are committed to supporting the local and wider community. And above all the awards highlight companies that punch above their weight in the UK or internationally.

As I am sure you already know Swift Group are the leading leading manufacturer of Leisure Vehicles in the UK. On the continent of Europe they are the number one brand for motorhome and caravans. Back in 1964 the Swift Group was established and have grown steadily ever since. They go from strength to strength each year through their focus on product development, design innovation and their excellent customer service.

Over the past few years Swift’s success has accelerated through market innovation and international expansion resulting in a record financial performance in 2017 with turnover of £273m. A major manufacturer, the Group now employs over 1,200 people at its Cottingham and Mexborough facilities.

Reflecting on the success Swift Group MD James Turner commented: “We are thrilled to win the award and thanks must go to my fellow directors, Chairman Peter Smith and all colleagues for their ongoing commitment and hard work. Since 2012 we have invested millions in facilities, product innovation and our people, all designed to strengthen our leadership position and facilitate expansion in the UK and overseas. It is tremendous for this to be recognised by this prestigious award.”

Ian Plunkett, PwC’s Yorkshire Private Business Leader, who has advised Swift Group for many years added: “I am thrilled for Swift Group, it has been a pleasure to support the business over the years’ during which time they have been on exciting journey of development and expansion. To have a Yorkshire business such as Swift named ‘Private Business of the Year’ is testament to the quality of private businesses in our region and I look forward to Swift enjoying many more years of success.”

Silverdale Exercise Future Work Perk Plans

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In previous articles we have mentioned various ways to keep fit while on holiday. A lot of which usually involved leaving the park and going on walks, bike rides and water activities. Well one site is ensuring that the staff that make your holidays so good also stay fit to make sure you guys get the level of holiday you deserve.

Each year more and more people are flocking to caravan sites to make the most of their leisure time. This means that the staffing numbers will have to increase so sites can keep up with the demand and also maintain high standards. As a way to entice new team members Silverdale Holiday Parks are offering free gym memberships as part of their new work perks.

Following what has been a record year the Cumbria based company, Silverdale are now getting a head start on their 2019 season. The staff recruitment plans have stepped up a gear to ensure that come the 2019 season they will have the staff needed to meet the high bookings they are already receiving.

How do you help attract new team members? By giving some amazing work perks of course. Silverdale are now offering free sauna, spa and pool sessions to their staff, both new and old. As well as that all staff will have access to the latest keep fit technology in their on site gym. On top of that there is free parking for staff, something us London folk could only dream of.

Having onsite facilities like this for staff to use free of charge shows a real dedication to your staff. Studies have proven that regular exercise improves someone physical and mental health as well as productivity. So a very worthwhile investment by the Holgate team.

The family owned park is looking to expand the team by adding an additional 20 full time position. By adding these 20 new members the staff will be able to cope with the rise of holidays makers following what was the busiest year, by far, in the park’s 60 year history.

The businesses owner, Michael Holgate, has said that he is very keen on giving priority to applicants from south Cumbria and will only be announcing the job adverts locally and on his website.

Personally I think this is a very smart, and positive move. Not only are you directly supporting your local community and economy, you are also stocking the team with a wealth of local knowledge. This is something you cannot put a price on.

As of now the staff are 95%, of the 160 strong workforce, locally recruited. In Michael’s experience recruiting locally has always worked best for all involved.

But Michael Holgate believes local people will benefit most from the career opportunities: “This fabulous summer has been a real boon for tourism in Cumbria, and our county’s visitor and hospitality industry has never been in better shape,” he said.

“We offer training opportunities to all staff to equip them for progressing in this sector, and we also have a policy of promoting from within our ranks whenever possible.

“In addition, recruiting from the local area gives many younger people a reason not to move away from Cumbria to seek long-term careers, and helps keep communities together.

“We need to recruit now in order to get everyone ready for next year which, with repeat visits and recommendations, is likely to be even busier than this,” added Michael.

Silverdale is the Holgates group flagship location, which was actually founded by Michael’s grandfather in 1956. Since then the group now has six multi-award winning parks.

As if you could not get more local the new job opportunities are available in both sites and in The Royal gastro-pub in the village of Silverdale, which was bought by Holgates almost 3 years ago.

The roles available are all very varied and include opportunities in food and beverage, housekeeping, customer service, technical support and groundwork.

The CaravanTimes Editors First Year In Review

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By William Coleman

Having joined the CaravanTimes team last September I was totally surprised how quickly my first year has gone. It has been a year of many different experiences from travelling around the UK seeing everything the industry has to offer to driving almost vertically up hill in the Albanian mountains in a Bailey Advance and getting stuck in no man’s land for for 15 hours. It has been a real roller coaster of a year.

My first week was pretty much a trial by fire. Day 3 and there I was placed in front of a camera reviewing the Mercedes Marco Polo, and just like that I became the literal face of CaravanTimes. Editor, journalist and presenter all in one small package. Since then I have actually become quite comfortable on camera which means you will always see my face, sorry for that.

Shortly after taking over the editorial desk I learned that the touring industry was a lot bigger than I had previously thought. Yes, I kept an eye on the industry and took caravan holidays year in year out but I was blissfully unaware just how huge it was and how much money it generates the UK economy. 2017 being one of the biggest years in the industry with a record amount of leisure vehicles being sold.

The biggest example of just how big it was is the NEC show in October and February. A few weeks into job the team spent a week in Birmingham filming a video special newsletter for exhibitors to show you lovely readers some highlights before you headed up, or down, to the show.

I had never seen so many motorhomes, statics, tents, trailers tents, campers and caravans under one roof, it really was a great learning experience. It was at the NEC where I got to meet the Caravan And Motorhome Team who are a great bunch and really do seem like they just want to provide a good service.

So now that I had the presenting and my first NEC under my belt I was starting become very comfortable reporting on the news and stories of the touring industry. And not long after the NEC I was going to be offered the an experience of a lifetime.

A large part of CaravanTimes is making exclusive content for both our readers and manufacturers within the motorhome and caravan industry. One of those manufacturers that CaravanTimes has a good relationship is Bailey of Bristol, a team I had yet to meet. We went to have a meeting with the Bailey team regarding some coverage they would like from a trip they have coming up. All I thought was going to happen is me receiving some weekley press releases to then create articles from.

Before I knew it, and out of the blue, I was being offered a spot on Bailey’s Bristanbul tour. I can openly admit now that I was a bit worried about accepting the offer. I had never driven on the other side of the road, let alone towing a vehicle and staying part of a convoy on very unfamiliar roads. After a quick thought I knew that I would be crazy not to accept this phenomenal offer.

The tour was absolutely amazing. Not only did I get to meet people from all aspects of the caravan industry but I had some crash courses in some very unique towing situations. The best part of the tour was seeing so many countries from a very unique perspective. 21 countries travelled in 21 days, absolutely fantastic.

Travelling across Europe and seeing what touring on the continent is like was very eye opening. What stood out to me was just how different each site was from the next. I have been to lots of sites across the UK that all follow a certain generic pattern, but the sites across Europe and Asia we visited were all totally unique. There were so many highlights, and lowlights, on this trip that I could write about it for days on end. But instead of that I will just place a link for you to watch the videos we made while on the tour, Part 1 and Part 2. If another trip comes up I will certainly be throwing my name in the hat to go again.

The last year has sent me all around Europe, which was amazing, but it is the trips in the UK that I love the most. I been to every corner of the UK visiting sites, reviewing leisure vehicles and meeting manufacturers and dealers. The one thing that has stood out is just how many people in the UK love to take caravan holidays.

During the colder winter months all the sites I visited were between 75-100% booked up. So it seems that the weather does not put the UK holiday maker of off winter touring. It was at that point I was invited BBC Radio Wales for an interview on winter touring. Another career first for me which was a great experience.

Learning about everything the industry has to offer is quite a large learning curve. Having used touring products for most of my life I soon learnt that I really do not know as much as I thought I did. Meeting Truma, CAMC, Whale Pumps, Marquis Leisure and many more really does give you a very different view of the industry. I had previously been a consumer so I looked at things from that angle. Now understanding the design and business side of thing I have a totally new understanding of just how much work goes into providing us the perfect holiday experience.

So now a year on I am preparing for the next NEC show in a few weeks I am going into the UK’s biggest show a lot more prepared than before. It really is mad just how much difference a year of learning can make. So I hope everyone has enjoyed my first year as much as I have and I look forward to many more.

Now that I have my first year in the bag I would love to hear from you guys about the content you have enjoyed as well as anything you have not enjoyed. We always appreciate any kind of feedback and would love to hear any ideas you may have or content you’d like to see.