AA Caravan and Camping awards results announced

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by Ed Davies

With more than 860 campsites in the AA’s roster having been visited throughout the year the winners for Scotland, England and Wales have been announced

Its inspectors made their way around the sites assessing them for touring pitches, facilities and hospitality before grading them from one to five Pennants, including the Gold Pennants awarded to the best parks.

The winner for Scotland was the Blair Castle Caravan Park at Blair Atholl in Perth & Kinross.

For England and the overall winner was the Vale of Pickering Caravan Park, Allerston in North Yorkshire.

The site features a new, state-of-the-art facilities block with six fully-equipped wet rooms and a very smart dishwashing room.

The Welsh winner was the Fforest Fields Caravan and Camping Park, in central Wales located on a long established hillside farm owned by the Barstow family, a few miles from Builth Wells and the Royal Welsh Showground.

Katie Barstow, Fforest park co-founder, said: “We are utterly stunned by this prestigious award. Over the past 26 years, we have grown the site carefully, adding lakes and landscaped areas but always trying to stay true to the beautiful natural landscape of Mid Wales.

“We welcome the most lovely visitors every year, families, couples, walkers, stargazers and those just looking for some fresh air in the wonderful countryside and to enjoy the local area. We are so proud that what we’ve created is something that has become so loved.”

All the winners appear in the new AA Caravan and Camping Guide 2017.

Each entry within the guide includes location, ratings, contact details, directions, prices, opening times, facilities and a description to help select the right site for your needs.

The AA Caravan and Camping Guide is available from The AA Shop for £12.99 and as a free app for iPhone, iPad and Android.

Caravan park wins best touring site award in Dorset

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by Ed Davies

Family and staff at a Dorset holiday park are celebrating after being named as the county’s overall park winner in the keenly contested Dorset Tourism Awards

Wareham Forest Tourist Park scooped the top gold accolade in the competition which celebrates Dorset’s top tourism providers.

The announcement of Wareham Forest Tourist Park’s success was made at the Dorset Tourism Awards’ glittering final in October, held at the Bovington Tank Museum.

For the Birch family, the honour completes a hat-trick of awards received this summer by the park which is based in the picturesque town of Wareham with direct access to Wareham Forest.

In July, the business joined a small elite of UK caravan parks flying the coveted AA Gold Pennant, the most prestigious award given out by the AA to its highest rated parks.

In order to qualify for the award, Wareham Forest Tourist Park was subjected to a rigorous inspection regime which scrutinised almost every aspect of its facilities and services.

The verdict was that the business could truly be described as a caravan and camping park right at the top of its game.

Next came the news that the tranquil 55-acre park had once again received the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its maximum gold level.

The award was made in recognition of the raft of initiatives taken by the family owners to protect its wildlife-rich natural environment.

Wareham Forest Tourist Park was bought by husband-and-wife team Tony and Sarah Birch 13 years ago, and is today run by the couple with help from their daughter Chrissy and managers Adam and Nicky Wake.

From the start they have invested much time and energy into creating first-class surroundings for holidaymakers with their own touring caravan, motorhome or tent.

Their reward has been to see a continual increase in visitor numbers from the UK and overseas, and levels of loyalty which result in some 75% of guests each year making return visits.

As well as acres of unspoiled wooded parkland to explore, holidaymakers also enjoy a popular heated outdoor pool and first-class shower and toilet facilities.

The park also recently created a new children’s play area, new waste disposal points, and a “pooch pampering” facility where guests can treat their dogs to a warm shower.

Tony Birch said that achieving the gold distinction in the Dorset Tourism Awards was especially pleasing as the park had never before entered the competition:

“This is a fantastic honour to win because the awards are judged across a wide range of criteria, including the hospitality provided and the quality of welcome enjoyed by guests,” he said.

“That’s why a large share of the credit should go to our staff, for they help to create the relaxed and friendly atmosphere here which guests so often mention in reviews.

“We have always tried to put our personal stamp on Wareham Forest Tourist Park, and to run the park along sustainable lines – which is why all three awards are a wonderful encouragement.

“I hope the resulting publicity will benefit all tourism businesses in the region by highlighting what a great place Dorset is for family holidays,” added Tony.

The park is a member of the Best of British group which comprises some 50 independently owned parks in Britain which have all achieved recognition for their high quality standards.

Holiday park raises £2,000 for charity

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by Ed Davies

A Windermere holiday park’s bid to raise funds for a cancer charity has received a £2,000 boost after its manager took on a gruelling challenge in China this autumn

Tim Lovatt of Park Cliffe, who is aged 56, joined a five-day trek organised by Pancreatic Cancer UK along a switchback stretch of the Great Wall of China.

Friends, family and local sponsors all pledged contributions for Tim’s bid which he funded himself.

And thanks to Tim, park director Susan Dickson hopes that the business will now be able to make a sizeable contribution to Pancreatic Cancer UK by the end of the year.

The charity was adopted by Park Cliffe as its fundraising cause for 2016 in memory of Susan’s father Frank Holgate who died from the disease in January last year.

Frank was a pioneer of holiday parks in the Lake District, and his original business – Silverdale park – is marking its sixtieth anniversary this year.

Tim and his wife Arlene have worked as managers at Park Cliffe for 13 years, and both are popular figures with holiday guests, many of whom are regular visitors.

They also help organise many of the other fundraising initiatives which take place on the park each year, including celebration nights, wine tastings, a duck race, and other special events.

Tim said the trek was tough in parts, but that there was a great spirit of camaraderie among the 20-strong group which encouraged everyone to press on.

He was congratulated by Susan and her husband Derek on his return, and Tim has hopes that the £2,000 already raised will be added to by other donations.

Not that Tim is any stranger to adventure, for a few years ago he scaled Mount Kilimanjaro – Africa’s highest peak – to bring back thousands of pounds for local good causes.

“I think it’s fair to say that Tim goes the extra mile in everything he does, and he and Arlene are definitely the powerhouse behind our fundraising!” said Susan.

“Pancreatic cancer in the fifth biggest killer with a very low survival rate of just four percent, so we’re grateful to everyone who has supported this very worthy cause,” she added.

Park Cliffe, based on the shores on Windermere, was the overall gold winner in the 2016 Cumbria Tourism Awards for Excellence.

Fundraising fun for Caravan Club members

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by Ed Davies

Members of the Cumbria Centre of the Caravan Club from Workington and Cockermouth have helped to raise more than £25,000 for Cancer Research UK

The charity was chosen by former chairman Stephen Riley and his wife Margaret and club members across the county helped raise the cash over 12 months from October 1 last year.

Nancy Moffat, of Cockermouth, and Workington members Alison Graham, Helen Fowlery and Margaret Smith all had a big input in fundraising.
They organised events including coffee mornings, afternoon teas, a bike ride, a walk across Morecambe Bay and concerts in West Cumbria and ran two pop-up shops in Workington to raise the funds.
Margaret said: “We are overwhelmed and delighted. If someone had told us that we would reach anywhere near that we would have laughed.”
The Caravan Club is an organisation for caravan enthusiasts and its members regularly meet at rallies.
Nancy became the new chairman last month and will pick a new charity to support for the next year.

Swift Group hits customer service milestone

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by Ed Davies

Registrations for Connect Direct, Swift Group’s exclusive online customer service account, last week surpassed one thousand members

Following its successful introduction in 2014 for premium range caravans, Swift Group decide it would increase investment in Connect Direct expanding it across all new caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes for the 2017 season.

The service was developed to be a proactive device for customers and an extension of the existing customer service operation at Swift.

Connect Direct provides a host of benefits for owners: notification of when vehicle services are due; a service history record; updates and links to vehicle information and direct contact with Swift Group amongst other benefits.

Customers contact Swift through either a dedicated telephone number, email address or live link facility.

If a vehicle develops a problem the owner can contact Swift directly who will work with them and their chosen dealer to resolve it.

“The growth in Connect Direct registrations is tremendous news, especially for new owners, who are now benefiting from enhanced customer service,” said deputy managing director, Amy Archer.

“As a company we lead the industry in many areas and to be at the forefront on customer service is especially rewarding.

“Ensuring our customers can enjoy their leisure time with the added peace of mind they have from the direct support of our dedicated customer services team is really important to us.

“Connect Direct takes our customer service offering to new levels, and the registration figures show just how relevant this offering is to our customers today.”

Plans for a new caravan site in Bristol rejected

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by Ed Davies

Plans for a new caravan park on the site of a former police dog and horse training centre have been rejected
The Caravan Club had applied to build 62 pitches on the Bower Ashton site in Bristol but Bristol City Council planning officers said it was at risk of flooding, had poor access and was an “inappropriate development in the green belt”.
The club would not say if plans would be resubmitted but confirmed it is in “ongoing dialogue” with the council.
The current caravan club site in Baltic Wharf, which has been open since 1978, is due to close in 2018.
The council owns the site and initially wanted to build a primary school on the land but is now considering other options.
The Caravan Club said it had considered 59 alternative sites within a five mile radius of Bristol and the Bower Ashton site was the only suitable one.
In the planning application it said the site would bring an estimated £1m into Bristol and support employment in tourism.

The biggest northern caravan leisure show to return

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by Ed Davies

The north’s largest outdoor leisure show for caravan and motorhome owners will be back next year and hype is building as to what is on offer

The Caravan and Motorhome Show, which kicks off on January 19, will have more than 200 exhibitors including leading manufacturers and is set to pitch up at Manchester’s EventCity.

Handy snippets of advice will be given by the region’s premier dealerships and the show will provide a place visitors can come and compare caravans and motorhomes side by side.

The four day show will come to an end on January 22 and this year will host its largest ever selection of accessories.

Rob Debenham, show manager, said: “We are really excited about the 2017 show, as we have some brand new attractions in store for our guests – I think we are on track to deliver our best show yet.

“It really has something for the whole family, and with kids under 16 going free, it is a great value day out and of course, it’s the perfect chance to find your ideal caravan or motorhome.”

Tickets to the show also include a free show guide and free entry into the co-located destinations: The Holiday & TravelShow.

Last year the show saw 33,907 visitors over four days and exhibitors indicate that it was responsible for approximately 30% of all caravan sales in the north of England and 10% of all Motorhome sales in 2016.

The box office is now open and tickets are available online or by calling 0844 873 7349.

Booking transaction fee applies; advance booking closes 18 January 2017, 9pm. Standard advance ticket £8.00; on-the-door £9.50. Calls cost 7ppm plus network extras.

Competition to win a £180 Pioneer car stereo

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by Ed Davies

In our latest competition, CaravanTimes is giving away two £180 Pioneer car stereos

The catchily-named single DEH-X7800DAB has a DAB/DAB+ tuner, is compatible with both Apple IOS and Android devices and its Bluetooth connectivity allows for hands-free calling and wireless music streaming.

The stereos are available for two lucky winners, who need only fill in the form below to get a chance to win. They will then be announced in our newsletter on November 25.

A spokesperson for Pioneer said: “We have also invested heavily in audio technology meaning that the DEH-X7800DAB really does punch above its weight in terms of audio output.

“This impressively loaded unit even boasts a 13-band Graphic EQ and FLAC compatibility, so it is no exaggeration to say that the DEH-X7800DAB represents all the in-car audio control you will ever need.”

Competition rules:
The lucky winners will be picked at random at midday on November 25 and will be notified via the email address supplied in the entry form
Only one entry per person
No purchase necessary
No cash or alternative will be offered
No employees of CaravanTimes or StantonPace Ltd may enter
The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over

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IAM RoadSmart backs harsher punishment for using mobile phones

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by Ed Davies

IAM RoadSmart has welcomed an increase in the punishment for drivers caught using hand-held mobile phones while driving – saying drivers need to know that their actions could kill

This morning (8 November) the Government announced that anyone caught using a hand-held mobile phone while at the wheel of a car would be fined £200 and receive six points on the licence – a doubling of the existing penalty.

The issue was brought into sharp focus last week when lorry driver Tomasz Kroker was jailed for 10 years when he killed a family of four in a crash caused by him being distracted by his mobile phone.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart director of policy, said: “Addressing the growing problem of smartphone use whilst driving will require a combination of enforcement and education as well as drivers, passengers, companies and individuals taking more responsibility.

“IAM RoadSmart is disappointed that the government did not support our calls for first time offenders to be sent automatically on a re-education course specifically tailored to mobile phone use and breaking our apparent addiction to being constantly connected.

“We also want to see car companies, mobile phone makers and social media providers working together to develop technical solutions to hand held mobile phone use in vehicles.”

Mr Grieg pressed that it was in his eyes essential that drivers get the clear message that if you are on the phone and have a fatal crash you can expect to go to prison for a long time.

“There is a lot of support among the driving public for stronger penalties and more enforcement focus on mobile phones, but also a feeling that this is not always reflected in sentencing,” he added.

“The Home Office must also review its policing priorities to ensure they reflect the risks that new technology can bring on the road.”

Glastonbury 2017: camper van pitches sell out in under an hour

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by Ed Davies

Punters were stunned when Glastonbury Festival’s Campervan areas Tipi Village and Worthy View camping have sold out for 2017 in less than an hour

The £1,000 a time six person Tipis appeared to be the most popular buy, selling out in just a few minutes. Their prime site on the hill at the top of the festival made them popular.

Also sold out were the £100 a plot campervan pitches and the pre-pitched Worthy View tents.

This year’s mud may have prompted festival goers to pick the slightly less soggy options on offer.

Worthy View is based at the southern end of the farm up the notorious ‘hill of death’ adjacent to Strummerville and offers those who want to take the pressure off lugging hoards of belongings with them a simpler option with a dedicated car-park nearby.

A resale of unwanted accommodation is likely to become available next spring.

A number of completely unofficial alternative sites have sprung up around the festival – some are rough and ready fields with portable toilets, some are campsites with yurts or camper van pitches next to pubs and some are exotic glamping options like the exotic Camp Kerala where five nights luxury camping costs thousands of pounds.

Several other nearby farms offer high-class accommodation for the long weekend, from colonial tents to classic tipis and classy motorhomes.

All these super-sites offer showers, toilets, meals and drinks, and easy access to the festival, while their exclusivity appeals to celebrities, music business people, and past festival fans who now have enough to indulge themselves.

These sites are not approved by the festival.

And if you can’t face life with the great unwashed there’s always a brand new Premier Inn opening a few miles away in Wells in February which has yet to take bookings, but a comfy bed is hardly part of the spirit of the thing.

Glastonbury Festival returns on June 21-25 2017.

Behind the scenes at The Caravan Club awards dinner

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by Ed Davies

At the end of the Motorhome and Caravan Show the annual Caravan Club awards dinner is held and CaravanTimes have gone behind the scenes to catch a glimpse of the process

Our team spoke to the judges and club officials before voting at the Caravan Design and Lightweight Leisure Trailer Awards.

During the NEC show the judges inspected 105 different caravan models before they made their judgements at the awards ceremony at the National Motorcycle Museum on Friday.

Caravan Club events manager, Sarah Simmons said: “We are looking at caravans for our caravan awards design competition.

“We are also looking at the dealer special end of the market and that is a part of our caravan design awards and we are also looking at trailer tents, folding campers, lightweight caravans for the lightweight camper trailer awards.”

Watch the video to see who won

Letter of advice for Jeremy Clarkson before new show

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by Ed Davies

With the latest Clarkson bore-fest, The Grand Tour, set to hit our screens on November 18 we wanted to give the beleaguered television star a few workplace tips

Having previously offered the Doncaster-born presenter a job after his legendary fracas with producer Oisin Tymon, CaravanTimes is yet again holding out an olive branch to the former Top Gear presenter.

Find below our letter:

Dear Jezza,

We here at CaravanTimes desperately want your new show to succeed but feel that you may need a few pointers on what to do and what not to do before the big day, so here goes:

First of all, purchase Kung-Fu classes for all staff members working on your show and perhaps throw in a few gym memberships for prevention’s sake. Maybe a little too much but you never know.

You could also just not hit anyone.

Secondly, I am sure Amazon will have anti-discrimination clauses in place, so some of your gaffes over the years may not be advisable.

I am not telling you to tone down your legendary banter, Jezza, but maybe just nothing too on the nose:

So maybe none of this, and probably nothing like this, you might also want to avoid this topic and absolutely certainly none of these, but as I say I am not quite at your level.

Thirdly, pre-order cooked food and make sure before time that it gets there. For most people this is not necessary but for you it seems key.

Lastly, could you make the show a little bit funnier and slightly more interesting as frankly the other one was utter balls.

Best wishes,

Ed

Good luck!!!