NEC Special: Coachman Caravans

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By William Coleman

This years NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show has everything a touring holiday maker could dream for. We will be highlighting what we feel are the go to displays at the show. Make sure you visit the Coachman display for great offers and competitions.

This year Coachman will be putting lots of offers and attractions to get people to visit their stand to see the 2018 ranges. First and foremost they will be giving a £500 deposit contribution towards any 2018 season Coachman caravan. This offer will be available from the 14th-22nd of October at the show and any Coachmen dealer.

Add the deposit offer to the 2018 ranges that will be on display and this makes Coachman a must visit stand this year. They will be showcasing all of their 2018 ranges including Vision and the Pastiche, to name a few. A stand out for me this year is the 2018 Coachman VIP. This new sleek touring home range will wow everyone who sees them.

There is also a chance to win a Coachman VIP 460. That is a competition you will not want to miss out on.

But do not just take my word for it. Go and see for yourself. This year Coachman will be at stand 19.39

JEEP Named Official Tow Car For NEC Show

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By William Coleman

The JEEP is synonymous with outdoor living. From Hollywood movies to the countryside of the UK you will see JEEPs of all ages dotted around these setting. This has been recognised by the NCC who have named the JEEP as the official tow car of the 2017 Motorhome and Caravan Show.

JEEP will also be displaying their 4×4 ranges at the show. You will get a chance to see award-winning vehicles: Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Renegade and Wrangler. These vehicles are not just the ideal ‘Go anywhere, Do anything’ automotive solution, they also make for a great tow car.

The Grand Cherokee’s 247bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine and 3500kg towing capacity is more than enough to cope with a wide variety of caravans, as this Motorhome & Caravan Show event will prove. Specially trained tutors will demonstrate how to get the most out of the vehicle, whether the guests are newcomers or experienced tourers.

Following our coverage of the 2018 Caravan and Motorhome Club Tow Car Award where we said that the awards give great to those who cannot just turn up to a dealer with a caravan to test a vehicle’s towing ability they can come and do it here.

We have towed with JEEP before. Check out our video where we partnered with Swift to tow their base camp the length of the country using the JEEP Renegade.

In the first part of this Basecamp series of videos, Neil Greentree and his son take Swift’s Basecamp caravan up to the heart of the Scottish wilderness to test how it can adapt to harsh winter conditions while accommodating holidaymakers who enjoy outdoor sports.

In the second part of our Basecamp challenge, Neil Greentree, his son Ben and of course the Swift Basecamp catch up with the crew in the Scottish wilderness.

Should Tow Training Be Compulsory And If So When

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By William Coleman

There have been an increasing amount of accidents in Australia and New Zealand involving caravans that are being towed. Reports from New Zealand say that at least 80% of caravan crashes could have been avoided had proper training been implemented. In the past 12-18 months the UK leisure and tourism industry has seen a huge boom. As the numbers grow so do the purchasing of caravans. So should new caravan owners have to take towing courses?

In our opinion the “blanket” answer is no, unless we look our ridiculous driving license and test procedures. We have been on towing courses we think they are fantastic and can help with confidence as much as practical skill and we would highly recommend them but creating more barriers to make it difficult enjoy caravanning or motorhoming is wrong and could have a big negative impact on the industry.

That being said, if the driving test was to include a towing element for all, given everyone is allowed to tow up to 3500KG combined weight then to include this in the test that everyone sits then we would back that whole heartedly. It would also show people who take the towing course how easy towing is. It may also add empathy to every driver who give caravans or motorhomes little to no space or respect on the road. Ask anyone who can tow or drives a big motorhome if they think their driving has improved?

There are a lot of first time buyers entering the world of caravaning. And with this comes a wealth of driving experiences for the newcomers? Driving and towing are two completely different things as should be approached as such. If you can drive car or a large van then you can appreciate the different methods used to operate each vehicle.

Having been at the 2018 Caravan & Motorhome Club Tow Car of Year awards I have seen first hand how much effort goes into towing, from an industry perspective. I always had a knowledge of what was needed but once you get an inside look into what goes into safe towing it does give you a new appreciation for safety and respect that drivers who are towing should get from other drivers.

At one point I am sure we have all towed a caravan without some kind of DVLA involvement. But as the numbers rise will it be a benefit to ensure the safety of towers and and everyone else that uses the roads. Or is self taught enough for the open road?

NEC Motorhome And Caravan Show Competition

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By William Coleman

We are now only 5 days away from the 2017 NEC Motorhome And Caravan Show and we know who have won the 5 pairs of tickets to gain free entry to the show!

The competition question was: Which iconic American brand relaunches back into the UK at this year’s show?

There were three options to choose from:

  • Airways
  • Airstream
  • Airmobile

The correct answer to this is…AIRSTREAM.

America’s iconic caravan will be on display at this years show for everyone to see over the 6 day extravaganza.

We will also be at the show getting our hands on as many new features and gadgets we can.

The 5 winners have been drawn and will be contacted directly throughout today.

CaravanTimes would like to thank everybody that took part in this competition and to keep checking our website for further competitions. And stay with us during the event for live coverage and content.

Park Site Charity Bake Off

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By William Coleman

We all love a good cause and we certainly love baked goods. The staff at a Devon park have put those two ingredients together to make a charity cake bakers paradise.

The Paignton’s Beverley Holiday park staff were raising spirits, smiles and money in their winning effort for charity. They put their baking skills together last month to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. The light hearted cake off was all part of the annual “World’s Biggest Coffee Morning”.

Once the ovens were off and cakes were eaten the count up revealed that their slice of charity donations were over £350! With a life saving charity like Macmillan everyone taking part to raise money really is helping the lives of thousands of families across the UK.

All the staff taking part in the bake off were all trying to raise as much money as possible as well as win the coveted title of Beverley’s Star Baker. The team’s baking masterpieces were put in front of a panel of judges who all gave their professional cake eating verdicts.

The prestigious judge panel was comprised of local Macmillan volunteer Fay Timblin, White Rock Festival of Learning representative Simon Waugh and Beverley entertainer Aaron Garner.

Once the judges deliberated it didn’t take too long for the coffee morning to get going. The guests at the park wasted no time in putting their hands in their pockets in the name of charity and cake eating. Something I certainly enjoy getting involved in.

The activities didn’t stop there. Local children from the White Rock Primary School also took part in the money raising event. The youngsters were invited down to take part in a cake decoration challenge. The competition was watched over by the park’s mascot Beverley Bear.

There was a lot of praise and thanks for the park’s money raising efforts. The Macmillan’s Torbay Fundraising Group leader, David Shepard, personally praised Beverly for making such an outstanding effort.

Claire Jeavons, park marketing director, said that the staff team and everyone else who attended the cake off had an amazing time:

Park marketing director Claire Jeavons said that both the staff team and the many who attended the cake-off had enjoyed a great time for a great cause: “It’s brilliant that we have been able to raise this sum for Macmillan, and we’re grateful to all those who dug so deeply into their pockets.

“Beverley Holidays has a long tradition of charity fundraising, and members of our team are always enthusiastic supporters of our initiatives.

“On this occasion they really excelled themselves, and wowed both the judges and guests with their baking skills – and without a single soggy bottom in sight!” added Claire.

I think that Macmillan is an amazing charity. The work and services that they provide help so many people during the hardest times they can go through. I urge any and everyone to always keep an eye out for their events and even their counter top charity boxes as every little bit helps.

Set in the heart of the English Riviera, Beverley Holidays is a family-run group of parks offering boutique holiday caravans, luxury lodges, camping and touring, and a wealth of facilities.

There is more information about Beverley on its website at www.beverley-holidays.co.uk

Living Off The Cornish Coast With The Auto Trail Imala

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By William Coleman

Earlier this year we sent our very own Alessi out with celebrity cook and campervan enthusiast Martin Dorey in the Auto-Trail Imala to see if they could live off the land.

The Imala was the hero of the show and wowed the crowds with all its interior and exterior features. Martin was incredibly surprised at the maneuverability the Imala had, considering its size. The pair were able to tour wherever they wanted and even park up at a beach and pick fresh mussels from the beach for dinner.

Alessi and Martin started their day touring the north Cornish coast to get a feel for the Imala. The duo were then off to fend for themselves, with Martin sharing his expert local and foraging advice, from picking seagreens to harvesting fresh cornish mussels all of which was new to Alessi. Speaking to Alessi he hopes it give people more reason and confidence to explore the great outdoors and find what culinary delights are just beyond their front door.

You can tell why the this model is such a hit. The kitchen alone stands out with its design and storage. It has both gas and electric hobs which are ideal for when you want to pitch up and use the sites electric to preserve gas.

But do not just take my word for it. Watch the full video and lets us know what you think.

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Freecycle On Your Holiday

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By William Coleman

A fantastic new scheme is under way at a Cornwall park. They are helping save and preserve the environment by introducing freecycling to their site.

At the end of every holiday there is always a ton of things that I simply cannot be bothered to take home with me, lazy I know. Something that I am sure a lot of people do towards the latter days of the holiday season. This has been picked up on by Newquay’s Hendra Holiday Park and they are really doing something about it.

The site is inviting guest to do more than just chuck their unwanted holiday accessories. They want anything unwanted that can be used again to be left at designated areas around their site. This way they can be reused by other guests instead of taking up at dump sites and landfills across the country.

The freecycling scheme was introduced in the 2017 summer season and there has been a great following for the idea. The things that have been left behind are all you need for a great day at the beach. Buckets and spades, beach balls, rubber rings and many other items have been left for the enjoyment any and everyone at the park.

This season saw over 3,500 guest come to the site and take part in ensuring that anything that can be reused was left for other guests. By using posters around the park to remind visitors what they can do, how they can take part and where the drop sites are.

By making sure that guest take part they are doing their part and taking responsibility for reducing the waste and pollution that a touring holiday can create. Most of, if not all of our readers do their part to leave as small of a carbon footprint as possible by being responsible tourers. And this site is taking positive steps to reduce theirs and increasing the sites charity appeal.

It is hard not to love the idea which is a win win for everyone involved. I think we can all remember the heartbreak that came with a broken bucket or snapped spade at the beach as a child. But now with this scheme you can pop to one of the drop sites and either replace it or find something better for kids.

Hendra’s general manager Matt Way has said: “Our aim was to try and reduce the number of reusable items which people bought for their holidays, but then threw away because they had no use for them back home,” he said.

“Now they can leave their unwanted but undamaged goods at one of our freecycle stations, and new guests can come along and help themselves at no cost.

“Often these families will then return the items after their stay has finished, meaning that a single item can be freecycled many times in one season.

“The take-up has been fantastic, and has also given us the opportunity to engage more closely with our visitors on Hendra’s philosophy of sustainable management,” added Matt.

This innovative scheme has not gone unnoticed and is getting a lot of attention from other accommodation providers in the region. I can see this being used a lot more by many other sites and parks across the UK in 2018.

Hendra’s investment into environment-friendly initiatives has gained it many green awards, including the Sustainable Tourism Business gold at the Visit Cornwall Tourism Awards for 2017.

Also this year, the business was named as Holiday Park of the Year for Cornwall and for South West England – and was honoured with top gold awards from VisitEngland and the AA.

More information about the park, and details about its successful efforts to protect the natural world, are published on Hendra’s website at www.hendra-holidays.com

New Luxury Lodges And Horse Riding Attraction For York Site

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By William Coleman

It’s full steam ahead for one site near York who are making big positive additions to their already impressive sight. This new development follows a high demand from the public for get aways with sport and adventure themes.

Thornton Lodge Country Retreats are planning an expansion with 20 bespoke lodges that will be up for both sale and rental.

The park which is family owned and has been in the family for over 70 years spans an impressive 220 acres. The site is a farmland site that is nationally recognised for its high calibre grounds and country sport activities.

There range of activities are extremely varied. They span from fishing on one of their extensive lakes to clay pigeon for your inner marksman. All these exciting activities comes with experienced tuition and are offered to all ages.

Another new addition are the horse riding facilities. These include stabling, cross country and show jumping. There is also instant access North Yorkshire’s cycling and walking routes all round the site which are some of the best routes to take the family out on for some good exercise before settling down to a nice dinner.

The new luxury lodge development is being lead by Matt Bessey, who is a family member of the park owners, he has commented on how privileged the position of the park is in the amazing surrounding countryside.

The site is perfectly located near the picturesque Georgian market town of Easingworld, which is around 13 miles north of York. Some of you may actually recognise the area as it was made famous by the books and TV series of James Herriot.

The new top notch lodges feature many luxuries such as hot tubs, high end furnishing, glass fronted decking and views that truly have to be seen to be believed. The views from the lodges are a stand out feature themselves. As you look out of the lodge you get to gaze across the park’s lakes and the surrounding Howardian Hills.

The site also boasts touring pitch facilities and farmhouse accommodation that will run alongside the new lodges being developed. While you visit you can pop into the Thornton Lodge Farm for a great day out.

According to Matt, there has been a fasting-rising enthusiasm for activity holidays in recent times: “We are finding that an increasing number of people are keen to take up traditional outdoor sports which have been enjoyed by rural folk for many years,” said Matt.

“Many live in towns and cities, and see such sports as a great way to quickly unwind from their busy lives, and to come closer to some of Britain’s loveliest countryside.

“That’s why, over recent years, we have been expanding the number of instruction and skills development courses on offer to both youngsters and grown-ups.

“This is also idyllic countryside to explore on bike or foot with the popular Foss Way footpath running through the park, and a picturesque national cycling route passing our entrance.

“Now we have taken the decision to add luxury lodges to the accommodation options so that guests – sporting or not – can enjoy a truly pampering experience here,” added Matt.

For the keen anglers among us the lakes, which span over 2.5 acres, have a good stock of rainbow, brown and blue trout as well as many other sizeable specimens. So be sure to pack your rod and reel. For those who are not yet expert fishermen there are tutorials for guests at any and all levels.

There really are a lot of things to do when visiting this site no matter what your hobbies are. This is a perfect reason to visit the site, to try things that you’ve never done before.

There is more information about the park at Cwww.thorntonlodgecountryretreats.co.uk

The Squirrel War Of Cumbria

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By William Coleman

Cumbria’s Skelwith Fold caravan park, working with a local red squirrel charity, are fighting the good fight and defending the native red squirrel against the big grey invaders.

Now guests of the site are getting involved to help in the battle to stop the grey squirrel from taking over and eradicating the little native red. The area used to be a safe haven for red squirrels but that is slowly starting to change as the greys close in.

Families visiting the park are being asked to keep a keen eye out and inform staff if they spot any grey troops on the move. Not only are the grey squirrels a lot bigger and more aggressive than the native red but they are also carrying a squirrel pox virus which is fatal to reds. There have been reports that the greys have gotten into Grasmere which was a sanctuary for the red squirrel due to the surrounding mountains, something that the greys never usually ventured past.

There is real risk of the grey squirrel population rising in Skelwith Fold’s 130 acre ground near Ambleside where a conservation area is being run for the returning population of the reds. With a rise in the grey population there is a much larger threat of viruses being spread and the reds being forced out of the area and more than likely actually being killed off.

There have been a lot more sightings of the red squirrel, says park Director Henry Wild, which means the conservation efforts are succeeding. With the park working closely with the Westmorland Red Squirrels charity they are combining their efforts to protect one of Britain’s best loved icons.

As well as getting guests to blow whistles if they see the grey invaders the ,family owned, park are also getting a head start on a winter feeding programme to help the red squirrels maintain their energy levels before the colder months as squirrels do not actually hibernate. They just sleep a heck of a lot more during winter. They are using a special seed blend containing oil of anise which is a huge attraction for the red squirrel.

Henry is confident that the grey will squirrel not decimate the red population like they have been doing since their introduction into Britain in the 1870s: “For over a decade, we have minimised our grey population with a woodland management scheme to ensure that the natural environment of the park remains red-friendly,”he says.

“Key to seeing off the invaders will be prompt action if there is any evidence of them attempting to colonise the woodlands, and here we have an advantage.

“That’s because we can recruit the help of staff and hundreds of guests to tell us of any sightings, after which we can move in and act quickly,” added Henry.

The park has been rewarded for its efforts in preserving the British wildlife by being given environmental accolades which include the David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

These efforts will continued by guest until November when the site closes for the season. After that the staff will triple their war efforts in their campaign to ensure the red wins the fight!

Skelwith Fold was this year crowned as Lakeland’s top holiday park in the Cumbria Tourism Awards, and provides luxury glamping pods, touring pitches, and holiday homes for private owners.

Extended Deadline For 2017 Satisfaction Survey

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By William Coleman

Friday 3 November is now the deadline for the 2017 Owners Satisfaction Survey. The survey covers tents, motorhomes and caravans to ensure that the public opinion gives the best feedback for people wanting to go on staycations.

The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Tent Owner Satisfaction survey is now in its third year which joins the Caravan Owner Satisfaction Survey which was launched in 2012 and the Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Survey which started in 2004.

In what has been a fantastic year for the industry, there has been an increase of 13.7% in the production of caravans in the first six months of 2017 when compared to the same time period in 2016. Motorhomes have also seen a production increase of 11.3%, means that the audience for such surveys are increased significantly.

The main aim behind the extension is to give more time to newcomers to cast their vote. Newcomers to the industry have such an important part to play in the progression of the UK tourism industry and their votes and opinions are key the right people being rewarded with votes and recognition. With such a large increase of Brits staying home for their holidays the number of votes gathered will sky rocket.

Robert Louden MBE, The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Director General, said: “There’s still time for manufacturers and dealers to promote the 2017 Owner Satisfaction surveys to their customers, get feedback on their products, and be in the running for category wins at our Owner Satisfaction Awards in January.

Insights gained from the surveys will help manufacturers to better identify their strengths and weaknesses in the eyes of the consumer so they can improve their products accordingly. As a Club it’s our goal with these surveys to help our members shop smarter and buy better.”

To be part of the Owner Satisfaction Surveys are very simple, all you need to do is buy or own a tent, caravan or motorhome from new since 2014. This year will have some new inclusions; questions for trailer tent owners.

For those who enter the Club’s Tent Owner Satisfaction Survey will automatically entered into a prize draw to win 28 nights free camping at one or more of a total 98 Club Sites around the UK. Worth buying a brand new tent just for the chance of winning!

The award ceremony, where the results will be announced, will take place in January 2018

Bailey Unicorn Scores Hat-trick Award

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By William Coleman

Bailey is at it again! Their beautifully designed Unicorn range has swooped in and won three awards at the 2018 Practical Caravan Magazine’s Tourer of the Year Awards.

At this years awards the Unicorn Cabrera bagged the Best tourer for Couples’ title, the same category where the Unicorn Seville was highly recommended. The Best tourer for Families went to the Unicorn Segovia whilst the overall Unicron design quality was awarded with the Best Innovation award for its USB “sockets with pockets”. The were also commendations for the Pursuit 570-6 (Best Tourer for small families) and the Pursuit 400-2 (Best Budget Tourer). This all adds more power to the already impressive Bailey caravan portfolio.

There was continued praise for the Unicorn Cabrera by Niall Hampton, Practical Caravan Magazine editor: “A revamp both inside and out has improved the look and functionality of the Cabrera, while inside a larger lounge, a central washroom and innovation in the shape of a hinged bed end give more space and added privacy. This is a van that delivers on all fronts – build, comfort and styling.”

He went on to express more positivity for the Unicorn Segovia: “It can be difficult to innovate in tried-and-tested layouts, but with the Segovia Bailey has done just that. By adding a fashionable centre-washroom, it has created something you can’t find anywhere else: a caravan that offers true privacy for both parents and children. It might have taken Bailey a while to consider families with its flagship range, but its first six-berth Unicorn is a triumph.”

There is no real surprise that the Unicorn is the UK’s most popular premium caravan range and these 3 awards just add to the prestige of the range. The effort that have gone into designing this 4th generation is evident in the reviews of all the new models. After 18 months of effort they completed the designs after input from the customer, the retailer and focus groups. On top of that there were rigorous life track and cold chamber testing to ensure the highest level of quality before the designs were completed for release.

With such dedication going into these caravans there really is no stone uncovered during their design process and it’s this kind of dedication that gets awards one and units sold.

Commenting on the receipt of these coveted awards Bailey of Bristol Managing Director Nick Howard said:

“Naturally we are delighted that our new Unicorn range has received this award recognition from such a respected source, and it is testimony to the amount of work that has gone into the development of the fourth-generation models”

“We would like to congratulate everybody involved, including our focus group members, for their contribution to this success” he added

All ten models of the new Unicorn range, including the award-winning Cabrera and Segovia, will be on display for the first time on stand 19-29 at the forthcoming Motorhome & Caravan Show 2017 from Tuesday 17th – Sunday 22nd October.

Marine Commando Leads Holiday Park

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By William Coleman

Devon’s Ladram Holiday Park has strengthened its ranks by recruiting a former Royal Marine Commando. The vacant senior management role has been filled by Steven Harper-Smith. Smith will now head up the position of general manager having swapped a career in the armed forces to one in the ever growing leisure industry.

The site which, in its peaks, has around 175 employees will now be be overseen by Smith who will ensure smooth running of the day to day activities and facilities at the 5-Star site. The extensive accommodation will need constant care and attention to maintain its strong star rating.

Having taken many holidays close to this area as a child it has a special place in Steven’s heart. Now he calls it home as he moves there with his wife Marta and their two children Edmund (13) and Noah (12).

Stevens does has some background in the leisure industry having joined Ladram Bay from a major holiday park group which he lead the charge in one the West Country’s busiest operations.

After spending 8 years as a commando in the Royal Marines he began his journey into the leisure industry. Now 17 years on he is bringing his experience and know how to Ladram Bay. Beyond being in Britain’s elite amphibious fighting force he also have an enthusiasm for rugby and golf.

Stevens will be joining Zoe House and Robin Carter who are both directors whose family have owned Ladram Bay since the 1940s. The site started as a farm that was owned by the Carter’s which had its own private beach access. From there is has flourished into Devon’s largest and most celebrated park with 70 full time positions and well over 100 seasonal jobs.

The site is open all year round and does almost all of its recruitment locally. Following the season rolls available some become full time jobs once the season has finished.

The park also has its own staff training programme which helps a lot of younger people to develop their skills which they can then transfer into other roles and sectors in the leisure industry.