Oyster Sat Tech Christmas Competition

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By William Coleman

It’s that time of year again folks, Christmas jumpers, office parties, gifts, double rate on cabs and amazing competitions to win fantastic prizes! Our good friends at Oyster Sat Techare going to be hosting a Facebook live competition for you guys to try your hand at winning a Christmas Hamper. So come and get involved in the festive fun and see how sharp your Christmas TV knowledge is.

We would like to say a massive thank you to Oyster Sat Tech for running this competition for all of our great readers and subscribers.

We will be revealing the date and time of the competition on Friday afternoon so make sure you stay tuned to CaravanTimes, our Facebook and Twitter for more details on the competition and the prize that’s up for grabs.

Cumbrian Park Ditches Diesel

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By William Coleman

The carbon footprint, emissions, global warming, climate change. There are a majority of people who deny it and an even larger group who ignore it, both of which more than likely benefit from it. Not us in the UK and especially not the touring industry and its communities. More and more parks across the land are doing their best to reduce their effects and this Lakeland park is no different.

Park Cliffe near Windermere are doing their very best to cut down both noise and fossil fuel pollution by going all electric. A change that will positively effects local residents and wildlife. The site, which won the David Bellamy Conservation Award has done away with its land rover and traded it in for the latest green powered transport.

The park sits on a 25 acre space so getting around on foot is not really an option. So until recently Susan and Derek Dickson, along with their staff, relied on diesel fueled vehicles to get around. This raised concerns for the couple: “We did a lot of short, stop-start journeys in the Land Rover, but it proved both inefficient and uneconomical,” said Susan.

“There were also concerns about the effect of the noise and diesel emissions on our wildlife which includes badgers, buzzards and roe deer.

“Our son suggested we look into electric vehicles as an alternative – but we didn’t think that an EV would be able to cope with the terrain as the site is very hilly.

“The demonstration proved us completely wrong, and everyone agrees that our new electric truck is the perfect solution,” said Susan.

There are many sites who do not realise the effects noise can have on wildlife, and that’s not really their fault. There is so much attention to other types of pollution, then add on top of that taking care of the sites and guests, its very easy to have no idea what and who noise pollution effects.

So what is a suitable green solution that will do a similar or better job? The couple decided on an Alke ATX 210E utility truck from ePower Trucks. The new electric powered truck will be a multi purpose utility vehicle. From towing to site maintenance the new Alke will do it all.

The ATC 210E is very versatile with a good amount of power under the hood. The new electric motor can do everything the Land Rover did and can tow a maximum of 2,000kg.

“The truck is much quieter than the Land Rover, so it minimises impact on the wildlife and also doesn’t disturb our guests,” said Susan.

“However, it isn’t completely silent, so people can still hear it coming, which is an important safety element on a busy site like ours.”

Park Cliffe boasts a raft of national and regional accolades, and was last year named as the Lake District’s top holiday park in the annual Cumbria Tourism Awards.

From its stunning lakeside setting, the park provides luxury holiday homes to rent and buy, glamping pod accommodation, and pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents.

There is more information about the park on its website at www.parkcliffe.co.uk.

The Salop Santa Dash Success

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By William Coleman

Christmas is the season of giving. It is very easy to get caught up in the Christmas rush buying gifts and making sure you are all prepped and ready for that one day of the year where everything needs to be perfect. In the true meaning of giving, Salop leisure raised £2,000 for Severn Hospice with the Santa Dash.

The money raising event had a fantastic turnout with over 300 people, or all different age, shapes and sizes, taking part in the Santa dash. There were even 2 year old children running in the dash, all dressed up as Saint Nicholas. Each participant paying their entry fee to take part in the first ever Salop Santa Dash.

The huge crowd of Santas descended upon the 2.5 kilometer course as Salop Leisure’s Emstrey headquarters in Shrewsbury. The course was set around the neighbouring Love2Stay glamping and touring resort, which we covered earlier on this year click here.

The event was supported by Rybrook MINI Shrewsbury and Love Fitness, the Salop Santa Dash was just one of the events and activities organised this year by Salop to celebrate Christmas 2017.

The mastermind behind this new campaign of events is Ed Glover who os Salop Leisure’s marketing manager. Ed was over the moon with this year Santa Dash and is already planning an even bigger dash for the 2018 festive season.

“We had around 300 people take part this year and I think, through word of mouth, we could double that next year,” he said. “People came from as far away at London to take part and the runners looked very impressive as they lined up at the start in their Santa suits.
“As a company, we love to give back to the local community, run events for families, get local businesses working together and support as many charities as possible.
“We are delighted that so many people of a such a wide age range took part and would like to thank them all for their support. We are still counting the money raised but we hope the final amount will be more than £2,000 for Severn Hospice, which is a charity close to the hearts of many of our staff and customers.”
The Severn hospice need to raise a huge amount of money each year to keep their services going, around £24,000 a day. The charity reaches more than 2000 people across SHropshire and Mid Wales annually.
“We are delighted that so many people turned out to support the first Salop Santa Dash for Severn Hospice,” said Lucy Ruff, Severn Hospice’s fundraising manager.
“The money will go towards helping us to look after patients in the wards and in their homes. A total of 85p from every pound raised goes towards care and the remaining 15p helps to raise the next £1 for the hospice.”
There are a lot of Christmas activities and fun to be had at Salop Leisure this Christmas. If you are light on your feet with good balance have a spin on their 16×9 meter ice skating rink and then some afternoon tea with Santa at the Love2Stay Grotto.
Well done for the effort guys. Such an amazing thing to do for a very worthwhile cause, we look forwards to the 2018 Salop Santa Dash.

Adults Only Site Following New Ownership

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By William Coleman

As we get a little bit older our holiday tastes and needs change, sometimes they change drastically. This is something that is being recognised by a lot of parks and sites are picking up on. Some adults want their staycation to be full of silence, tranquility and relaxation, something they feel cannot happen with children on site.

For those who in search of a child free staycation can now visit this ‘adults only’ touring park following its new ownership. Cherry Tree Springs near the coastal village of Sutton-on-Sea has recently joined Spring Holiday Estates, Lincolnshire’s long established family business, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2018. The family owned group is made of 5 holiday parks and one residential park, all of which are based in Lincolnshire and was established almost half a century ago.

The other sites that are run by the company welcome holiday makers of all ages, Cherry Tree Springs in the only adult exclusive site in their portfolio.

The park has has a large loyal following by appealing to couples seeking a totally grown up environment without families with small children or teenagers, says General Manager of the Group, Mick Wright.

Mr Wright has gone on to explain that the Cherry Tree Springs’ customer base includes teachers and childcare professionals who do not exactly want to go on their holidays and be reminded of the vocations. This is something that I totally understand as I have been two both adult only and mixed age group parks. When speaking with certain holiday makers they have explained that they prefer an adult only park as they have raised kids and or grand kids and just want a break where they can have quiet time.

The location of the park is fantastic. Set in the peaceful countryside and is just a short walk along a coastal path the the area’s sandy beaches.

It has been a child-free environment for over 25 years, accepting bookings only from people aged 18-plus for its touring caravan and motorhome pitches.

There is though, says Mick, a wide age spectrum amongst its adult guests:

“It’s not uncommon on the park to meet both younger couples who have hired a motorhome, and older guests who have been returning here for years with a touring caravan,” he said.

“Many work in occupations which involve children, and they tell us that coming to Cherry Tree Springs is the one way they can guarantee a total switch-off when they escape for a holiday.

“Being set in a lovely but uncrowded location on the coast means that the park can provide exactly the sort of peace and quiet which people come here to enjoy,” added Mick.

The company want to be quite clear that they are not anti children, something that a site can be branded when having adults only. They welcome youngsters to their other 4 well reviewed holiday parks across Lincolnshire. Mick wants to be very clear that they are in fact the complete opposite of anti children. He has mentioned that rely on families with children to carry to business forward and have attributed their success over the past 50 years to children visitors.

The Auto Trail Imala 732 With Martin Dorey

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By William Coleman

Depending on what side of the fence you sit in there is no denying that the ease and maneuverability of the motorhome does have its perk when touring. Auto-Trail wanted to show the experiences that can be had in a motorhome, so they teamed up with Campervan enthusiast and chef Martin Dorey to see what can be done in the UK with an Imala 732.

In this Auto-Trail video Martin Dorey takes us on a journey round the Cornish coast and shows us how to live off of the land. Martin is a self proclaimed camper van user but he didn’t let his allegiance to the camper sway his views and opinions of the new Imala: I am better know as a campervanner. The Imala is big but remarkably versatile. The Imala is nimble and very maneuverable for its size. “With 130 BHP you get enough power for a comfortable motorway drive” added Martin.

With a motorhome comes a lot of freedom to travel around and find out what local activities are on offer. Martin was able to just pull, stop, jump out and crack on with his coastal food hunts. If you had a caravan towing along behind you, you would have to be a bit more careful and plan ahead. Living off the land is made easy when you have a fully moverbale kitchen with a mind for what can be gathered from the land.

From watching the video you can see how a campervan user could be swayed to change their touring vehicle to a motorhome.

Devon Holiday Park In The Award Spotlight

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By William Coleman

For me Devon goes hand in hand with holidays, holiday parks and touring getaways. So it’s no real surprise that a Devon park is firmly under the spotlight this award season. With well over half a million votes Devon’s Beverley Holidays are the highlight of the British Travel Awards.

The verdict came in this winter at the 2017 British Travel Awards where he Paignton park went home with a bronze accolade following the nights results. The park beat thousands of other sites, who were eligible for nomination, to make the final line up of tourism superstars competing in the Best UK Family Holiday/Holiday Park operator category.

The family members, who own the park, stepped forward into the spotlight to receive their award at the winter wonderland gala night that was staged at London’s Battersea Park. The event which is known as the “holiday Oscars” attracts hundreds of thousands of votes each year from holiday makers who provide feedback on their experiences.

Director and third generation Beverley Holidays owner Nicola Furneaux said: “We are all incredibly proud to have taken a top place in this competition.

“Knowing that this prestigious award has been voted for by our guests makes it especially touching, and we owe a huge thank-you to everyone who helped us walk the red carpet.

“Next year sees our holiday park celebrate its diamond anniversary as we move into our sixtieth year of welcoming guests to the English Riviera.

“This award is confirmation that our commitment to providing the best possible holiday experience for families is as strong now as it was six decades ago,” added Nicola.

British Travel Awards’ chief executive Lorraine Barnes Burton, said: “The British Travel Awards is the largest consumer voted awards programme in the world.

“This year over seven hundred thousand votes were cast by the travelling public to determine the winners – and to win is truly an accolade of excellence.”

Beverley Holidays comprises three holiday parks offering boutique holiday caravans, luxury lodges, camping and touring, coupled with a wealth of leisure and entertainment facilities.

If you’ve been to any one of the three, or even all three, of the Beverley site you can see why they have won many accolades over the years. Well done guys keep up the good work.

There is more information about the park at www.beverley-holidays.co.uk

Gold And Grades For Glastonbury Site

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By William Coleman

It has been a great month for a lot of parks and sites across the UK. Award season has highlighted the very best this great land has to offer to tourists from all over the world. I have written about this site before but now there is ever more praise for the site as the site manager received two top student awards and another AA accolade.

Glastonbury’s Old Oaks Touring Park named as England’s top spot for campers, glampers, caravaners and motorhome owners. The second major AA awards for this site this year. Have a read of my previous article where the AA awarded them the rare top holiday award click here

This family run business bested several hundred other sites that were eligible to take the overall Campsite of the Year title in the AA’s 2017/18 Caravan and Camping Awards. This has really made this a stand out must visit site for anyone who is searching for a perfect site to pitch up at, especially if you are visiting the mammoth Glastonbury Festival.

The end of the season had a lot more in store for this top tier site. Tara White who manages the site, along with her husband James, manage the award winning Old Oaks was awarded two top award following her successful graduation this autumn from Bournemouth University with a degree in Tourism Parks Management.

Tara received Best Student Awards from both Bournemouth University and Kingston Maurward College in Dorchester, the two institutes involved in running the degree. It’s easy to see why this site is doing so well with such industry dedication by its management team.

Running the site at such a high standard is a full time job in itself, even if you have a great staff on hand, yet Tara was able to juggle the running of the site and the three year course. Tara was over the moon with delight with the awards.

The AA only give out its highest awards to a small elite group of sites across the UK. The sites go through an intensive set of testing which sets these sites aside the rest the country has to offer.

Guest facilities, services and levels of hospitality are all under the microscope to make sure they reach the high levels expected by the AA. The Old Oaks met all levels with gold standards.

Even still there is more to come for the site. The park has had an amazing 2017 award season winning a five star gold grade from the national tourist board VisitEngland.

The Old Oaks has been in the same family for over 30 years and is a strictly adults only site. The site has more much more than touring pitches. The Old Oaks have now introduced new ways for visitors to make the most of their stay. There are now glamping options for those who want to relax in the tranquil surrounding the site has to offer.

The glamping options include high end luxury shepherds huts with a wide range of comforts. You can get shower rooms, kitchen facilities, sun loungers and a full sized double bed. And if you fancy an extra spot of relaxation ones comes with its very own wood fired hot tub. That will be the one I would be heading for, for journalistic purposes only of course.

This year has been a huge success for the Old Oaks. On top of the wave of awards they have received it has also been the busiest year in the sites history to date which saw visitors from across the UK and abroad.

“Although these awards look at the quality of our park’s facilities, they also put a big emphasis on the standards of hospitality we supply,” said Tara.

“Our aim has always been to create a warm and friendly atmosphere for guests, so it’s great to receive these independent endorsements for our efforts.

“A highlight for me was graduating from my university course which, as it was part-time, required me to put in many hours of study and tutorials whilst co-managing the park.

“But it was a fantastic learning experience from which the business is already benefiting – and the best student awards really came as the icing on the cake!” added Tara.

So this site not only has a fantastic location with fantastic grounds and woodland but it’s also a multi award winning site run by a group who are investing their lives into providing the best levels of staycations possible.

The park is a member of the Best of British group of top-rated independent parks with the highest quality standards, and is described on its website at www.theoldoaks.co.uk

TravelWorld New Site Sneak Peek

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By William Coleman

Our good friends at TravelWorld have given us a little sneak peek at their new dealership site headed our way in 2018. The new site is absolutely massive and is so much more than a showroom.

The new locations will be the place to go for all your touring needs from purchase all the way through to service and aftercare. Do not just take my word for it. Have a look at the CGI video they have shared with us.

There are so many things to look forward to in 2018 from TravelWorld. This new 5 acre site is going to be a 2018 highlight for the industry.

Also check out first hand what they guys at TravelWorld, we got a chance to interview them at this years NEC Caravan & Motorhome Show, Click here

CAMC Report Large Winter Holiday Numbers

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By William Coleman

As I have said many times there really is no excuse to not go camping, caravaning or motorhoming. We even went to the Arctic for a caravan stay. It would seem that I am not the only one who feels this way. The Caravan and Motorhome Club have witnessed record number of tent campers travelling to their sites this autumn and winter, with record breaking booking numbers for January.

2017 has been an amazing year for the UK leisure and tourism industry across the board. It has been the best year ever for The Club when it comes to tent camping. With an increase of 13% on 2016’s numbers. The numbers were also up for the usual summer months of May to September, which were also record breaking.

As you can imagine it is not only the tough camping lot who are braving the winter winds for their winter breaks. The Club have experienced a record November for touring caravans, motorhomes and campervans with an 11% increase in pitch nights from 2016. It seems people cannot get enough of the great services that CAMC provide.

Harvey Alexander, marketing director of the Caravan and Motorhome Club said: “Our members love an adventure whatever the time of year and we are here to help and inspire them. Our Sites have fantastic facilities and over 50 of them are open all year round. We also have an extensive five-van site network – Certificated Locations (CLs) – so the range of Sites and CLs enables members to enjoy the best of the UK countryside or explore some of our most vibrant cities throughout the seasons.”

With so much choice and variety available across the UK there really is something for everyone. They have so many locations with so many different variations of landscape and activities. So this winter make the most of your holiday time with the Caravan and Motorhome Club. You can get a membership for two people from just £49 a year.

The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to winter touring. There was a time when going away during the colder times of the year would be met with laughter and jokes. Now it seems to be the go to activity during the winter. I feel that some of the view you get during the winter can trump any of the summer. Frosty morning, low morning sun shining through the trees and an open clear winter sky with all the stars, unbeatable.

Caravan And Camping Clubs Winter Guide

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By William Coleman

We have had a few frosty mornings over the past couple of weeks which can only mean one thing, winter is almost upon us. I have given my personal thoughts and ideas on what to do to prepare for the off season. Now that we edge ever closer to winter and the Christmas season the Camping and Caravanning Club’s expert Technical Team have produced a three step guide to motorhome and caravan owners.

Step one: ‘Winter touring’ comprises two Data Sheets with easy-to-follow guidance on how to ensure caravans and motorhomes are roadworthy and well-protected against the worst of winter conditions so the joys of winter camping can be explored to their fullest.

Another Club Data Sheet called ‘Winter care for your caravan’ includes important information about overwintering a caravan or motorhome and addresses key considerations, such as where owners can store their units, how to protect the body work and the all-important draining of water systems.

Step two: ‘Getting ready for the new season’ gives campers an advantage when it comes to a glitch-free start to next year’s camping season. With Data Sheets available on servicing, getting ready for the road and tyre care, all potential obstacles to a speedy start to the season are addressed, with suggestions on how to overcome any issues.

The Data Sheet covering ‘Servicing’ includes information on owner-checks and maintenance, plus advice on which dealerships or workshops to approach when booking a service.

Step three: ‘The finer points’ comprises Data Sheets on leisure batteries and tyre care, and includes a useful buyer’s guide.
Ian Hewlett, the Club’s Technical Manager, said: “There are several things caravanners and motorhomers can do to make the most of winter, be that touring through the season or putting a unit into storage so less time is then needed to be spent in spring before the first camping trip.

“Club Data Sheets have been written with campers in mind – we cut through the jargon with easy-to-understand advice that helps people with a range of subjects such as buying a leisure battery, booking in a service or sorting out storage for their pride and joy.”

To view the full set of Club Data Sheets and follow the three-step plan visit: www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/datasheets Tips on preparing awnings and tents for storage are also available.

The Club has 17 campsites that are open year-round to cater for campers who want to carry on touring throughout the winter. To find out more about the Club’s year-round campsites visit: www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/year-round-sites

CAMC Ferry Meadows Site Visit

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By William Coleman

With the ‘season’ behind us we all look for ways to make the most out of the winter. Why spend all that money on motorhomes, caravans and other leisure vehicles to not use them during the winter season. Last week, on an extremely cold morning, I ventured up the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Ferry Meadows site to see first hand what The Club can provide during the big chill.

The first thing that I noticed was just how busy the site was. It was not at full capacity but it was not far off. Having a walk round and taking in the perfectly frosty site I would guess that 75-80% of the park was full. A good example of people making the most of their touring homes during the winter.

Like most CAMC holiday parks it was in great condition and clearly very well kept. Each pitch had its edges expertly cut in with a very generous amount of space between each pitches.

The onsite facilities were very clean, warm and inviting. For those who like to take advantage of the onsite showers could take the short walk in the cold to the enter the warm cosey wash area, from chilly to warm within a few steps.

For those taking the children or grandchildren away there is a new play area that has recently been added. There are multiple zones to suit any age from the toddlers to the teenagers. The area has everything a youngster could ask for like climbing equipment, tunnels, ropes and bridges to charge over. On top of that there are spaces for balls games.

The site sits on an ideal location on an open country park with lots of wildlife. Whilst having a walk round I saw rabbits, birds of prey and even an owl, perched on top of a tree on the hunt, at around 5pm. There are lakes that can be fished, steam trains, cycling and walking trails plus every sporting facility you can imagine. The country park have 2 golf coasts and even Watersport Centre for sailing and windsurfing.

Having seen the owl I also noticed that the country park that the site sits on has bird hides, located by the river, for you to actually try some bird spotting in ideal locations. So if you like to see the wildlife of this great land.

If you venture out and about there is so much to do and see as you are a stone’s throw from the town centre.

All in all I would highly recommend this site. If you are in search of a quiet seclusion with lots to do and see then this is one to look out for.

Auto Trail Introduce The Imala 732

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FBy William Coleman

We at CaravanTimes have the absolute pleasure of introducing the brand new Auto-Trail Imala 732. Auto-Trail have even given us a feature video showing off the 732 in all its glory. Auto-Trail show how great this motorhome can be when you take it on an adventure with the family.

The Imala 732 is the first of the award winning Imala range to have a transverse island bed, which was a leading factor in the home winning the Practical Motorhome’s Best Family Motorhome.

The innovative layout of the interior provides a lot more space for the practical and relaxation times. All this space at 3500kg, which means you can drive the 732 with whatever licence you have. The Imala 732 also comes with new rear panel and light clusters.

Built using Auto-Trail’s fully bonded construction technique, the Imala 732 is a robust and reliable motorhome which offers the luxurious touring experience that you’ve come to know and love.

With 4 travelling seats and 4 berths in the Lo-line model, with an additional double bed in the Hi-Line options, this is perfect for family getaways or couples who like a great spaced leisure vehicle.

The perfectly places show room and kitchen are located in the centre of this Imala, which creates a great natural divide between the sleeping and living areas.

Do not just take my word for it. Watch Auto-Trail’s video to see the Imala 732 in all its glory. I think my list to Santa has just grown substantially.