Swift announces 2016 financial results

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by Tom Leaning

Swift Acquisitions Limited, the parent company of Swift Group, the biggest leisure vehicle
manufacturer in the UK, has released its 2016 financial results.

  • A record turnover of £252m, an increase of 19 per cent on the previous year, with growth across all product lines (touring caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes)
  • A record operating profit of £17.5m, more than double the previous year’s level

Whilst this level of growth reflects very positive market conditions for the industry, Swift also attributes its profitability increase to a focus on product quality, design and product mix. Careful management of the cost base of the business and efficiency gains realised from investments in manufacturing processes and techniques have also led to profitability improvements. The company has significant foreign currency exposure, which was carefully managed to yield a positive result.

With the profit growth and cash that has been generated there has been considerable investment in the areas of innovation, quality systems, customer choice, the dealer network and the retail customer experience. Investments have also been made in improving and enhancing the manufacturing facilities, with £4.9m spent within the 2016 financial year, and a significant sum of planned capital investment in the forthcoming year, including a new holiday home production line. Shortly after the August 2016 year end, the company became debt free by clearing early the debt taken on in 2012 to strategically grow the business.

Swift attributes the success of recent years to its focus on delivering market leading products in terms of design, technology, content, quality and choice, in what continues to be a very competitive market place.

The outlook for the coming year remains positive, with trade continuing strongly supported by innovative new product launches including the crossover camping vehicle Basecamp, the luxurious twin unit Whistler Lodge, and the S-Pod 4 providing hotel quality accommodation on a park.

“The Directors are extremely pleased at the growth in our business. Significant investments in capital equipment, training, education and technology have been made which further enhance the total Swift offering. We are well positioned to take advantage of future opportunities and challenges in what is currently a buoyant market”, commented James Turner, Managing Director.

“Our financial strength provides security in an uncertain world and also great scope to continue investing and innovating, increasing confidence for retail customers, dealers, suppliers, and employees, and reinforcing Swift’s leadership of the UK market.”

Five star Shrewsbury caravan park gets £100k facelift

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by Tom Leaning

A popular five-star touring caravan park on the edge of Shrewsbury has been given a winter facelift in time for the new holiday season which began on 1 March.

Morris Leisure has invested £100,000 in refurbishing and modernising its 20-year-old toilets, showers and laundry block at Oxon Hall Touring Park to upgrade facilities for caravan and motorhome owners.

The park is ideally located on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, close to a park and ride bus service, which makes it easy for customers to get to and from the town centre without needing to drive.

The scenic park, which is open all year round, enjoys an attractive parkland setting, yet is close to the road network to Mid and North Wales. The park has 100 all-weather pitches, including some especially large ones for RVs.

Edward Goddard, Morris Leisure’s managing director, said the company was looking to build on a very successful 2016 by investing in its parks and brand to provide customers with high quality facilities befitting their five star status.

Oxon Hall Touring Park is particularly popular with people attending major events in Shrewsbury, including the flower show, steam rally, county show and food festival.

Known as the town of flowers, enhanced by its repeated success in the Britain Bloom competition, Shrewsbury is popular with shoppers because of its range of independent shops and interesting streets and buildings.

Morris Leisure now owns six high quality caravan parks in Shropshire and Snowdonia, three of which are prestigious affiliated sites of The Caravan and Motorhome Club

Neil Greentree continues his Scottish test of the Swift Basecamp

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by Daniel Cartwright

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.

Part one saw Neil and son drive 250 miles to Avimore (check it out on the link if you haven’t seen it) and left them that evening to get some well deserved rest.

Day two promises to be even more active with mountain biking and extreme mountain running on the agenda. Let’s find out how the Swift Basecamp and its occupants held up in Scotland in mid-winter!

Final word – let us know who’s the hero? Neil or the Basecamp…

COMPETITION: Win family camping and entry to an All About Dogs 2017 weekend

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by Tom Leaning

Secure your pitch at the on-site campsite at All About Dogs festivals this year and you won’t miss a single trick during these jam-packed weekends of doggy-related fun and frolics!

Even better, we’ve got 2 two-night camping passes for your choice of four available shows up for grabs. Each pass, worth £59, gives access to the campsite the day before your All About Dogs event opens, and includes entry to the show itself for two adults and two children.

All About Dogs is the UK’s largest series of fun festivals for dogs and their families and it returns this spring with a great line-up of entertaining arena attractions, have-a-go activities and hundreds of opportunities to pamper your pet with treats and gifts.

Camping costs just £59 for two nights and includes entry into the show for the whole weekend for up to two adults and two children. Dogs are, of course, welcome too! Campsites open the day before your chosen show starts so don’t delay, find out more and book your pitch for tents or caravans by calling 01702 549623.

The All About Dogs festivals open at Newbury Showground over the weekend of April 8-9 and it’s everything a dog lover could want, from amazing displays of agility and obedience, fast and furious flyball fun to the chance to show off your four-legged friend in dog show competitions, with a chance of winning Best in Show!

The amazing Conquest K9 dog display team will wow crowds in the main arena while, an audience-pleasing performance of canine tricks and routines by Britain’s Got Talent finalist Trip Hazard and Lucy Heath will provide a highlight.

All About Dogs is the perfect place to meet and learn about different dog breeds as an astonishing array of shapes and sizes can be found among our Breed Stands. It’s the perfect place to research the habits, traits and personalities of everything from Labradors to Chihuahuas and talk to their owners.

All About Dogs can be enjoyed at the following venues around the country. Lucy Heath and Trip Hazard will appear on the Sunday of each weekend, except at Hylands Park, where they will perform on both days, and the Norfolk Showground event, which they are unfortunately unable to attend.

To be in with a chance of winning one of our camping passes, please fill in the following form:

The 2017 dates and venues are:

  • Newbury Showground, Thatcham, Berkshire, 8 – 9 April
  • Trinity Park, Ipswich, Suffolk, 16 _ 17 April
  • Newark Showground, Newark, Nottinghamshire, 22 – 23 April
  • Brentwood Centre, Brentwood, Essex, 30 April – 1 May (no camping)
  • Norfolk Showground, Norwich, Norfolk, 27 – 28 August
  • Hylands Park, Chelmsford, Essex, 23 – 24 September (no camping)

    • For more information or to book discounted advance tickets to any of the All About Dogs shows, visit: www.allaboutdogsshow.co.uk

Caravan Guard fundraising pays for new night vision helmets

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by Tom Leaning

Fundraising by caravan and motorhome insurance specialists Caravan Guard and Leisuredays has paid for three specialist helmets for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance aircrew.

The Halifax-based company raised £6,000 for the “angels in the sky” last year and the charity has used this money to buy a set of helmets, which are specially designed to fit their night new vision goggles.

Caravan Guard and Leisuredays donate £2 to Yorkshire Air Ambulance for every new Gadget and Leisure and Home Emergency policy they sell to their customers.

A team of 10 staff also ran in the Leeds 10k last year to boost their fundraising even more.

Caravan Guard Director Laura Wilby said the staff were delighted to have funded the helmets to help the aircrew in their efforts to fly longer and become night-capable.

The charity recently bought two state-of-the-art night capable helicopters (Airbus H145’s) and has used sponsorship and donated monies to buy the night vision goggles they need, so they can save more lives by being able to fly in the skies for more hours.

“We’re thrilled to play our part in helping the charity with its life-saving service across Yorkshire,” said Laura. “We know the helmets will make a real difference to their medical team and residents and visitors to Yorkshire.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep its helicopters flying. The charity serves 5 million people across Yorkshire, attending on average, more than 1,000 incidents a year.

Kerry Garner, regional fundraising manager for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “Caravan Guard and Leisuredays have been great supporters of the YAA for a number of years now and we’re very grateful for their generous support. The helmets are an extremely vital piece of kit that our paramedics and pilots wear on every mission and Caravan Guard and Leisuredays have generously helped provide these for us – we would like to thank them sincerely.”

Caravan Guard has a strong commitment to supporting a number of chosen local and national charities.

The company hopes to continue to encourage more of their caravan and motorhome customers to take out their Home Emergency and Gadget and Leisure policies so even more money can be raised for Yorkshire Air Ambulance by August.

#ArcticAdventure: The Return

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by Daniel Cartwright

You may be aware that a few lucky members of the CaravanTimes team have been traveling in two Bailey Pursuits and an Autograph motorhome to the Arctic Circle with Bailey of Bristol and the Caravan and Motorhome Club on an Arctic Adventure.

Our team our back and very thankful to Bailey, the Caravan and Motorhome Club and everyone else involved for a fantastic trip.

Unsurprisingly, the caravans and motorhomes have held up impeccably to everything thrown at them, including what sounds like some pretty hefty driving errors.

So, after over 5000 miles the team are back in the UK and it is time for us to start creating a documentary about the trip.

But like all good movies – there’s an even better trailer and here it is for you to have a little sneak preview of what’s coming.

Glamping: Four Weddings and a Yurt

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by Daniel Cartwright

In our second glamping feature of 2017 we look in more detail at glamping in yurts. That’s right, for those of you that haven’t heard about about yurt glamping, its real. Pre-erected and often stationary circular tents that people can stay in.

The modern yurts are based on the original Mongolian idea but more modern (often plastic) materials are used for the tent’s exterior, rather than the traditional yak skin (if you have yak skin yurts, then good for you and you don’t need to let us know) and the floor is typically a detached floor. Sizes range from the small single bed variety to the huge dormitory multiple bunk bed size, but most I have seen are the size of a good double bedroom.

It is at this part in the article that I must hold up my hand about impartiality – I don’t own a yurt, a yurt company or a yurt farm, but I did spend my wedding night in a yurt, and I cannot help but assign some (maybe unwarranted) romance to this type of glamping.

So practicals – are they warm? Yes, assuming they are built correctly. Are they dry? yes assuming they are built correctly that is really all you can say about yurts as a whole, the real romance comes from there interior decoration and location. Yurts are typically a shell and large open plan space so the interior decoration is key, throw in a few carpets, fur rugs and mood lighting and they are wonderful. Likewise location because these tents can be cheaper than building a permanent structure – they suit the small out of the way little sites.

If you’ve never tried it, do. Millions of people over centuries can’t be wrong! Do be aware for all the newbies out there that most yurts don’t come with indoor plumbing.

Could camping in the wild cure insomnia?

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by Tom Leaning

A recent study in Current Biology has found that a couple of nights in the great outdoors could re-set the body’s internal clock.

As a result, insomniacs would be able to fall asleep more quickly, wake up brighter in the morning, and enjoy an array of other health benefits.

The reason, said researchers, is that modern living is increasingly depriving people of sufficient natural light, causing the timing of their circadian rhythm to slip.

But Cumbrian Holiday Park owner Henry Wild says that the report’s suggested cure might not chime with the lifestyles of people who are more accustomed to their creature comforts:

Mr Wild said: “Camping is great fun, but unless you are a lifelong fan, it’s unlikely that you will take immediately to bedrolls, sleeping bags, and possibly chilly nights.

“Tents have the drawback of letting in light which, in summer, could mean your body telling you it’s time to get up rather too early in the morning.

“Dawn is also the waking time for birds, and their morning chorus might not sound quite as sweet with four hours still to go before breakfast.

“But our Hideaways provide a more practical solution as they have curtains which can be drawn, and an outer shell to baffle the song of even the loudest lark.

“Neither are you likely to wake up shivering with cold in the night – which might defeat the whole object – as Skelwith’s Hideaways also have internal heating,” said Henry.

But in all other respects, he says, the experience will offer exactly the same prospect of a sleeping solution as spending nights in a tent.

The park’s Hideaways are sited in a forest glade which, after sundown, provides just the degree of more intents darkness suggested by the study.

Skelwith’s pods even have their own loos, solving the dilemma of campers who must face a yomp to a distant toilet block if the need arises in the night.

Accommodating two people, they also feature a comfortable double bed, shower, kitchen zone, fridge, TV, and large picture windows with exterior decking.

“We have long known that falling asleep in the great outdoors is a great remedy for getting quickly off to sleep, and not waking up feeling groggy in the morning,” said Henry.

“Even better, as many of our guests know, you take those benefits home with you – and can re-set your body clock any time by making a return visit.

“But, of course, there is a risk – and if anyone finds that the cure is working too well, we’ll happily arrange on request a gentle morning tap on the door!” said Henry.

There is more information about the Hideaways at Skelwith Fold at www.Skelwith.com

Neil Greentree tests the Swift Basecamp in Scotland

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by Tom Leaning

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.

After the long journey up to Scotland, Neil sets up camp in the middle of the Cairngorms National Park and reviews how the Basecamp holds up to the conditions and the surrounding environment.

If you’ve holidayed in Scotland or even in the Cairngorms National Park with your leisure vehicles, please tell us about your experiences in the comment section below.

Manufacturers enjoy special night at Motorhome Design Awards

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by Tom Leaning

After a successful week of showcasing their latest vehicle models, motorhome manufactures donned their best attire to attend the annual Motorhome Design Awards, presented by The Caravan and Motorhome Club. Matt Allwright kindly hosted the glamorous event before we interviewed all the night’s winners.

A panel of judges spent all week viewing over 80 leisure vehicles, from micro campervans to huge A-Class models.

Please let us know what models stood out for you at this year’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at Birmingham’s NEC.

Away in Winter: What activities can you enjoy with your Motorhome in the winter months?

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by Tom Leaning

In the third and final part of our Winter Motorhoming series Nick Harding and the CaravanTimes crew continue to explore the benefits of holidaying with your leisure vehicle in the winter months. This week, Nick tries a spot of fishing and visits the local beach.

After a good night sleep, Nick wakes up to a gorgeous morning by this idyllic fishing lake near Grimsby, and tries a spot of fishing himself while chatting with the campsite manager.

Afterwards, Nick makes the short drive with the crew to the seaside resort of Cleethorpes, where he has the whole beach to himself!

We’d love to hear your Winter Motorhoming trips and stories, so please comment below or engage with our CaravanTimes community.

#ArcticAdventure Vlog: The Adventure So Far…

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by Tom Leaning

The #ArcticAdventure is at its halfway point, the team has successfully reached the Arctic Circle in Finland, overcoming numerous obstacles, including gruelingly long days of driving and crossing frozen lakes.

The CaravanTimes team of Sonja and Alessi has been documenting the #ArcticAdventure every step of the way, and we’ve put together highlights of what the team has experienced on their journey to the Arctic Circle.