Record-breaking year reported for Devon caravan park

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By Joe Jeffrey

Caravan park in Sandy Bay announces record year, breaking visitor records

A caravan park in the Sandy Bay area of Devon has surpassed all expectations for the year, breaking visitor records and welcoming around 36,000 holidaymakers for 2015.

Five-star Devon Cliffs Holiday Park, which boasts an intimate touring area with 43 hard-standing pitches close to an award-winning sandy beach, is now looking to invest £1 million into the resort for next season, with plans to take on extra staff to cope with an increase in visitor numbers.

Over the past four years, the park has reinvested £7 million, including making improvements to he South Beach Café overlooking Sandy Bay, as well as refurbishing facilities onsite.

Further investment will not only see the introduction of additional staff set to welcome more visitors than ever before in 2016, but also see the implementation of a high rope and a zip-wire course, the largest of its kind in the UK.

Dave Bennett, resort director, said of the season ahead: “Our advance bookings for the 2016 season are 35 per cent up year on year – a level of growth which is incredible and meaning Devon Cliffs and Exmouth is their holiday destination of choice.”

North Yorkshire caravan park in flood alert

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By Joe Jeffrey

Flood waning issued over rise in River Swale

A flood warning has been put in place at a North Yorkshire caravan park following rising levels of the River Swale.

Brompton-on-Swale Caravan Park has been placed on high alert following the Environment Agency implementing a top level flood warning in response to this week’s torrential rainfall in the area.

The current level is 1.7m, however it is thought to raise to anywhere between 1.8m and 2m this week.

A representative of the park said: “We will continue to monitor the situation closely as further rainfall is expected to pass through today.”

It is not just Brompton-on-Swale Caravan Park that has been placed on high alert, however, with nearby Brompton Lakes luxury holiday lodge park also being given a flood warning.

Properties along the River Ouse in York have also been issued with a flood warning, and less serious flood alerts have been placed on the upper and lower River Ure, which runs through Wensleydale and the lower River Swale.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said: “The level at Myton on Swale is 4.5m and will remain high throughout the day.

“The level at Crakehill, Hambleton, is 3.2m. We are expecting further rain during Wednesday and this will keep river levels high. Our Incident Response teams are on 24 hour duty.”

Elite Motorhomes sees increase in demand for motorhomes

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By Joe Jeffrey

Stock level increase as Elite Motorhomes celebrates new funding deal

One of the UK’s largest retailers of motorhomes, Banbury-based Elite Motorhomes Group, is to increase levels of stock in response to record demand following a £1.17 million funding deal with Santander Corporate & Commercial. The firm is on track to see turnover grow 20 per cent from £10 million in 2015 to £12 million for 2016 as the UK public looks to buy increasing numbers of used and new motor homes.

Established in 1995 and still family owned by the Maynard family, Elite Motorhomes has become a leading seller and buyer of motor homes with a pan-UK client base. The firm has seen its Banbury site expand, from around 20 vehicles initially on-site to more than 60 currently, and has successfully driven new business by participating in increasing numbers of trade shows, events and proactive marketing initiatives.
 
The funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial has allowed the firm to both increase levels of stock at a key time in the market and also purchase outright the freehold on the Banbury site from non-family members. Significantly, there is flexibility for the funding to increase by a further £250,000 in January next year to help the firm invest for growth and manage cashflow further if market conditions remain positive.
 
Chris Maynard, director, Elite Motorhomes, said: “The business has seen record customer demand across 2015 and I’m confident this will continue into 2016. We are making plans to capitalise further on this, and the team at Santander has been able to deliver a flexible solution which has allowed us to make the necessary investments.”
 

Caravan Club announces Black Friday deals not to be missed

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By Joe Jeffrey

Loads of discounted getaways to be had with The Caravan Club this Black Friday

This Black Friday Brits looking to get away for less can make the most of up to 50 per cent off UK getaways from The Caravan Club, in an attempt to help caravanners across the UK and beyond plan ahead and avoid the post-Christmas blues with some brilliant deals on midweek breaks across the UK in 2016.

Members can enjoy the offer well in to 2016 as nine sites in the UK offer 50 per cent off midweek pitch fees from 4 January 2016 – 17 March 2016.

Burrs Country Park Caravan Club Site

This site has something for everyone including relaxing river and countryside walks and the East Lancashire Steam Railway. The site is in a beautiful rural setting with access to the country park but is also just half an hour by Tramlink to Manchester for great restaurants and shopping.

A caravan pitch at Burrs Country Park Caravan Club Site costs £15.42 (including 50 per cent of pitch fees) based on two adults and two children per pitch, per night.

Castleton Caravan Club Site

Sitting at the heart of the Peak National Park and boasting panoramic views, Castleton Caravan Club Site offers a big selection of outdoor activities to enjoy including rock climbing, potholing and horse riding and there is easy access to numerous walks. The site has local shops nearby and a great pub dinner can be found in the village at the Poacher’s Arms.

A caravan pitch at Castleton Caravan Club Site costs £14.77 (including 50 per cent of pitch fees) based on two adults and two children per pitch, per night.

Ferry Meadows Caravan Club Site

Ferry Meadows is located in a beautiful open country park and has great activities including fishing, walking and cycling nearby. The country park has two golf courses and a great watersports centre for outdoor enthusiasts. Peterborough is just three miles away which has plenty of activities such as bowling, cinema and theatre and shopaholics will not be disappointed as there is a six acre shopping complex nearby.

A caravan pitch at Castleton Caravan Club Site costs £14.52 (including 50 per cent of pitch fees) based on two adults and two children per pitch, per night.

Other sites offering up to 50 per cent off midweek stays include:

Alderstead Heath Caravan Club Site, Surrey

Chapel Lane Caravan Club Site, West Midlands

Clumber Park Caravan Club, Nottinghamshire

Meathop Fell Caravan Club Site, Cumbria

Poolsbrook Country Park Caravan Club Site, Derbyshire

Trdegar House Country Park Caravan Club Site, Newport

The offers are valid from Monday to Thursday for stays between 4 January and 17 March 2016, so make sure you make the most of them to beat those blues! For more information, visit The Caravan Club’s website here now.

New celebrities and expert speakers announced for EventCity Caravan & Motorhome Show 2016

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By Joe Jeffrey

Special guests set to take to the stage at EventCity this January

Due to take place between 21 – 24 January, the EventCity Caravan & Motorhome Show in Manchester promises to present a huge choice of the latest model caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes on display from over 200 exhibitors, as well as savings on essential season products and accessories, live shows, and plenty of inspiration to help you build your next holiday. And now, a whole host of celebrities and special guests have been announced to make it even better.

Joining in with January’s fun, a number of known faces will be on hand including TV presenter and marine adventurer, Monty Halls, who will take the Get Back to Nature Stage where he’ll be giving us his insight into marine wildlife along the British coast. Best selling author and TV presenter Simon Reeve will also be in attendance to discuss his latest adventures travelling around Ireland and Greece on the Food & Travel Stage, as well as editor of Countryside Magazine, Martin Thorpe, wildlife guide and photographer, Russell Hedley, and author and editor of Cycling Weekly, Hannah Reynolds.

There’ll be plenty more to see and do too, courtesy of exciting exhibits plenty more live shows and much more – it’s guaranteed to be one of the caravan and motorhome shows of the year.

Get yout tickets here now.

Top tips for safe winter towing and driving from The Caravan Club

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By Joe Jeffrey

Follow these handy tips from The Caravan Club for a trouble-free trip this winter

With the dark nights finally upon us and the cold weather drawing closer, The Caravan Club has issued a series of hints and tips for those looking to escape in their caravan or motorhome this winter.

It goes without saying that, whether it’s a holiday in Europe or a ‘staycation’ at one of the UK’s best spots, it is important for drivers to ensure that they are embarking on their journeys fully prepared for rain, snow, fog and even the occasional bit of sunshine.

The Caravan Club recommends the following advice to ensure a safe journey this winter:

Towing in snowy/rainy conditions

When towing in adverse weather conditions such as rain and snow, The Club recommends that drivers allow more time and distance for braking, and moderate their speed. Holidaymakers should also consider using winter or all season tyres and in really extreme snow conditions, snow chains should be used on the driven wheels

Be prepared

The Caravan Club recommends the comprehensive pre-journey ‘POWDERY’ checklist.  Drivers should make the following checks before heading onto the roads:

Petrol (or diesel)

Make sure that your vehicle has enough fuel before travelling, keep an eye on these levels throughout the journey so that you don’t run out

Oil

Check levels before travelling and going forward be sure to check levels once a month

Water

Check radiator and screen wash before a trip and once a month going forward

Damage

Check wipers, lights etc. for signs of wear and tear or damage

Electrics

Check that lights, indicators and controls are working properly

Rubber

Make sure that your tyres are well inflated, legal, with good tread and free from damage

Yourself

Get a good night’s sleep the night before the journey. Are you taking any medication(s) that could make it unsafe for you to drive and are you generally fit to drive?

For more information about the POWDERY list, visit Highways England here.

It is also recommended to pack warm clothes, food, drink and a blanket in the car, in case of any emergencies or traffic jams. Don’t forget to check traffic and weather conditions before setting off using online or news resources, and keep up to date with changing conditions while travelling via radio or mobile alerts.

Martin Spencer, technical manager at The Caravan Club, commented: “A motorhome or caravanning holiday is a great option all year round giving holidaymakers the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful spots around the UK and Europe.

“During the chillier months, just make sure your vehicle is well-prepared, check traffic and weather conditions before setting off, and allow sufficient time for the journey itself.”

Do you plan on travelling this winter, or will you wait until next year once things warm up a bit? Let us know in the comments below.

Survey reveals caravanners and motorhomers prefer fry ups over anything else

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By Joe Jeffrey

Fry ups order of the day for majority of caravanners and motorhomers

The Great British Bake Off might have taken place under canvas, but a recent survey by caravan insurance specialist Caravan Guard has revealed that the Great British fry up was the dish of the day for most caravanners.
 
Following conducting an online survey with 200 caravan and motorhome owners, just four per cent of respondents chose to bake when at the campsite, with more than 50 per cent opting for the frying pan over the cake tin.
 
Barbecued meals came in second place with 37 per cent of the votes, followed closely by stew (29 per cent) and then pasta (22 per cent).
 
In fifth place, despite many caravans and motorhomes now having all mod cons on board, a fifth of owners simply like to relax and get away from it all and go out for their meal, leaving the washing up and tidying up to someone else – always a bonus!

One thing’s for certain though, a must-have piece of cooking kit, aside from a BBQ, seems to be a slow cooker or mini-oven to cook up delicious stews, casseroles and curries. And then a steamer for healthy veggies and fish.

Of those surveyed, many bragged about cooking full blown Sunday roasts and puddings in their touring caravans. One, Liz King, said: “I’m a keen cook and anything that I cook at home, I can cook in the caravan. With four burners, a grill, a microwave and an oven, nothing is off limits.

“The first meal I ever cooked in a caravan kitchen was a full roast beef meal with roasted veg, boiled vegetables, gravy, Yorkshire puddings and apple pie for dessert – the full Monty. We’d had the caravan for just one day and haven’t stopped cooking in the caravan since then!”

What do you like to rustle up when you go away?

Nominate now in the CaravanTimes Awards 2015

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By Joe Jeffrey

Nominate now to see your favourite caravan, motorhome, towcar, park and much more make it onto the list of nominees for the CaravanTimes Awards 2015

Awards season is upon us and nothing says it more than the CaravanTimes Awards 2015, set to take place next month.

Similar to previous years, CaravanTimes will be asking for your vote under a number of different categories, including Caravan of the Year, Motorhome of the Year, Towcar of the Year, and many more exciting categories to name just a few. But before we do that, we want to hear from you.

Each and every year, our main aim is to get you – our dedicated readers – involved. We want our readers’ opinions to count, so we are bestowing it upon you to decide who you think deserves to enter into the nomination round for 2015.

Your hard work won’t go amiss though. As well as being instrumental in determining an ultimate winner in each category, every single person who casts their vote once voting opens will be entered into a prize draw to win an amazing bundle of goodies, more of which we will have details on once voting begins.

The rules to nominating are simple. Visit our forum here and use the corresponding numbers to determine what you think should take the top spot in each category. Remember though, where applicable, each answer must be for a product launched in 2015 (excluding the Used Caravan and Used Motorhome categories of course).

Remember, these are YOUR Awards, and you determine the winners, so keep checking back on CaravanTimes, as we’ll be using these nominations to set up our annual CaravanTimes Awards poll, which will be launched soon with a whole host of exciting prizes to get you voting in your droves!

All that remains to say is get nominating!

To nominate in the CaravanTimes Awards 2016, click here now!

Taking a closer look at the 2016 Compass Rallye

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By Joe Jeffrey

Take a step inside the new Compass Rallye in this latest video

The Compass Rallye has been unveiled in a brand new video detailing all that is new for 2016.

Entering into its third year since the reintroduction of the Compass brand, 2016 sees the addition of a popular layout to the award-wining seven model Compass Rallye range, namely the all-new four-berth twin-axle Rallye 636.

Creating a bright and airy interior, the Rallye features a Skyscape panoramic lounge window, really bringing the outside in wherever you are. Add to this the ‘Montalcino’ craftsman built cabinetry and ‘Darcy’ upholstery and you get the perfect combination.

Constructed using SoLiD construction, the Rallye features high strength one piece aluminium sides and is built to last. The Rallye also comes with Alde’s 24 hour central heating and hot water system, which can be conveniently programmed by your mobile phone, as well as a 40 litre on-board water tank providing eight litres of continuous water supply – ideal for the whole family.

To find out more, check out the video accompanying this piece and let us know your thoughts.

New Euro NCAP study to reveal best Autonomous Emergency Braking systems

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By Joe Jeffrey

New study will concentrate on vehicle collisions with pedestrians

Effective Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) systems built into passenger cars could prevent one in five fatal pedestrian collisions according to data collated by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP).

The organisation’s announcement centering around pedestrian detection in cars has highlighted that new car technology has already been developed, in time for when driverless cars are introduced across UK roads.

Now, Euro NCAP will be introducing a new test which will check how well vehicles fitted with the above technology will detect and prevent collisions in an attempt to enable vehicle manufacturers to determine which systems work best.

The tests, which are the first type in the world to be conducted, will assess highly automated vehicle features and driver assistance systems from the pedestrian’s perspective, whilst enabling consumers to check Euro NCAP’s website before choosing the right AED option for them.

Although this seems to be a step in the right direction, the AA feels as though any future technology incorporated into vehicles should be done so in a way which would assist drivers and not exclusively replace them.

Edmund King, AA president said: “While the autonomous car debate has so far  focused on who is to blame, manufacturer or driver, when or if the technology fails, Autonomous Emergency Braking doesn’t absolve the driver from responsibility in an accident but could reduce the consequences considerably. Twenty per cent of pedestrian fatalities could be avoided with uptake of effective autonomous braking systems. However neither drivers nor pedestrians, cyclists and other more vulnerable road users should depend on all cars stopping automatically and so will still need their wits about them and shouldn’t take unnecessary risks.

“Euro NCAP has an impressive track record in showing what is possible in reducing road collisions and encouraging manufacturers to adopt the new features. Hundreds of thousands of road users owe their lives to this nearly 20-year-old programme.”

Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts.

Meek Family continues adventure with new Elddis Autoquest for 2016

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By Joe Jeffrey

Meek family set to hit the roads of Europe in a brand new Elddis Autoquest

A family from Nottingham looks set to continue their adventure into 2016 thanks to the loan of a brand new Elddis Autoquest motorhome.

Tim and Kerry Meek, who gave up their teaching jobs and sold their house in order to embark with their two children, Amy and Ella, on an adventure of a lifetime, have since travelled the length and breadth of the UK in their trusty Elddis Xplore whilst centering their journey on educating their two daughters in the process.

And now, Elddis has switched things up a notch, by inviting the Meeks to continue with more of their ‘Ed-Venture’, as it has been dubbed, in a bid to extend their journey courtesy of the new 2016 Elddis Autoquest.

The Meek family’s story began in 2014 upon being presented with a four-berth Elddis Xplore, when they were set a challenge to visit 20 Caravan Club sites in 20 week, completing 100 tasks along the way.

Inexperienced in caravanning, the Meeks accepted the challenge under the premise that they would travel around the UK for one year, but the caravanning bug soon took hold and the Meek family has not returned to what could be considered reality since.

For 2016, the Meeks will be taking things further, as they plan to travel across Europe in their Elddis Autoquest, something having a motorhome should help aid.

Mum, Kerry, said: “The 6 berth motorhome provides a different flexibility and we are looking forward to a different way of travelling and living in the UK and Europe. The girls’ learning will be extended to take in other cultures, language and life skills.
“In 2016 we will be visiting Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavia as well as wild camping in the more remote parts of Scotland, on a quest for more Ed-venture.”

“The first trip abroad, in January, will involve taking the motorhome on a ferry over to Spain and then spending a couple of months travelling through Spain and France, learning languages along the way and returning to UK in March,” Kerry continued.

“We then plan to head up to Scotland and spend about six weeks wild camping in the more remote parts.

“As Summer approaches we are going to head over into Europe again but this time take the ferry over to the Netherlands, travel up through Scandinavia taking in parts of Germany and hopefully more countries on the way back.”

To keep abreast of the Meek Family’s ‘Ed-venture’ make sure you follow their blog here. Jealous? Us?! Never! Ahem.

Elddis Crusader scoops Tourer Range of the Year Award

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by Joe Jeffrey

All-new Crusader named Tourer Range of the Year by Scottish Caravanner

The new Elddis Crussader has been voted Tourer Range of the Year by Scottish Caravanner.

Totally remodeled for 2016, the Crusader range is available in four twin-axle and two single-axle layouts, including the new Crusader Aurora complete with island bed.

From the sporty, head-turning exterior to the impressive and lavish interior, each Crusader is built upon high strength one piece aluminium sides in a new ‘Champagne’ colour scheme whilst, inside, new Aquaclean ‘Vinci’ upholstery featuring Ozio hi-performance construction complement the ‘Marone’ craftsman built cabinetry with ‘Ash Prato’ feature strips.

Scottish Caravanner’s Bob Mather said of the Crusader: “Our Awards are now in their tenth year and they are judged by long standing caravanners who are respected in our industry for giving true and factual information.

“The Elddis Crusader Range won our Upper-Range section of our Awards and also went on to win our Overall Tourer Range of the Year Award.

“It is forty years since the Crusader name was first introduced and it has been a favourite with many caravanners since.

“We were very impressed with this range after its re-vamp in 2014 and it had us very excited again when we first saw the 2016 offerings.

Congratulations to Elddis on a job well done.