Keep reading to find out if you’ve won one of 15 pairs of tickets the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2015
A few weeks ago, CaravanTimes launched a competition for you to win one of fifteen pairs of tickets to the show we’ve all been waiting for – the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2015.
The show, which takes place between 13 – 18 October, promises exactly what we’ve come to expect from organisers, NCC events, including a sneak peek at all of the new 2016 caravan and motorhome models from leading UK and European manufacturers – all under one roof.
The show, supported by The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club, will also feature every other type of leisure vehicle too, including campervans, trailer tents, innovative folding caravans, luxury lodges and holiday homes. There’ll even be a Guinness World Record attempt taking place, with show organisers planning on building the world’s largest LEGO caravan ever seen.
If that’s not enough to tempt you, undisputed World Superbike racing legend and current I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! king of the jungle, Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty will be in attendance to open the show in true style.
Well the results are in, and we’ve randomly selected 15 lucky visitors to the site who have won a pair of tickets. The winners are:
Steven Murphy, Rose Cox, Julian Davies, Theresa Starkey, Mandy Field, John Halliday, Stephen Foster, Gaynor Hart, R Ludden, Terri-Ann Creighton, Margaret Duffield, Jeanette Archer, Chris Lawrence, Kathleen Wood and Leslie Evans
Congratulations to all of the above named. We’ll be in touch shortly. And commiserations to those who didn’t win on this occasion. Fear not though! Tickets to the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2015 are still available to purchase here.
Alde is giving away ten Alde Smart Controls in a great new competition
Caravan heating specialist Alde is offering you the chance to win one of ten Alde Smart Control devices in a competition to mark being voted the number one heating system in Germany for the seventh year running.
The König Kunde Award, as bestowed upon Alde by German motorhome magazine, Reisemobil International, was voted on by the magazine’s readers who are obviously satisfied with Alde’s range of heating products which have been in existence since the company was founded in Sweden in 1949.
And now, Alde is offering ten lucky caravanners or motorhomers the chance to win their very own Alde Smart Control in a great new competition.
Alde Smart Control enables you to operate your heating using an app on your smartphone or tablet that emulates the control panel interface inside your caravan or motorhome wherever you are and, for that matter, wherever your vehicle is – as long as both have a mobile signal.
All that’s required to be in with a chance is to follow @Alde on Twitter and to Retweet the competition by 12 October. So head over now for your chance to win.
Check out the innovative Coachman Pastiche 470 in our latest video here
When it comes to innovative layouts, Coachman seems to have pulled out all the stops for 2016 with the introduction of the Coachman Pastiche 470.
Based upon some of the more popular European layouts found across the Continent, the two-berth Pastiche 470 features a front fixed double bedroom, providing for an abundance of light – as well as space.
This layout, with centre kitchen featuring low level microwave and spacious dinette, as well as luxury end washroom, also comes with the Alde central heating and water system as standard, truly making it a caravan for all seasons, whilst remaining geared towards couples who like to spend more time outside of their caravan than inside.
Weights have also been reduced for 2016, thanks to enhancements made to Coachman’s ABC construction methods – in fact some of Coachman’s ranges are down by up to 70kgs for the new season. The Pastiche 470 weighs in at an impressive 1295kg.
When it comes to storage, Coachman hasn’t scrimped there either. With an abundance of storage space coming by way of room reserved under the bed, as well as a vast number of overhead lockers, you’ll be struggling to think of what to pack next.
Perhaps one of the most exciting things about the Pastiche 470 is that it joins other models with the Pastiche range, as well as all other ranges from Coachman, with a freeze in price for 2016; all Coachman caravans will continue to remain at 2015 prices.
Luxury seems to be the order of the season with the Buccaneer range, featuring the new Buccaneer Clipper
One of the UK’s most luxurious touring caravans is set to receive a brand new layout for 2016, it has been announced.
The new four-berth, twin-axle Buccaneer Clipper will be joining an additional four layouts for the new season and certainly looks impressive.
Featuring two transverse retractable single beds just before the spacious, full end-washroom, the Buccaneer Clipper, starting at an OTR price of £31,394, also features a spacious centre kitchen and light front living area which transforms into a further bedroom should this be required.
Additional Buccaneer models for 2016 include the Buccaneer Caravel, Buccaneer Cruiser and Buccaneer Cutter, all featuring retractable double island beds, as well as the Buccaneer Schooner with nearside ‘French’ bed. All layouts are four-berth.
One of the main key features, as before, is space. Each Buccaneer within the range is eight feet wide, providing something more akin to an apartment than a caravan. The amount of space has continued to provide designers with more room to manoeuvre and it shows. Features include sumptuous Aquaclean Lexington upholstery with Ozio high performance, lightweight construction as standard, as well as backlit headboards on all fixed beds. A Sky-scape panoramic sunroof adds an extra element of light and space.
Each Buccaneer comes with a 100w Truma roof mounted solar panel, leisure battery, Alde 24 hour programmable central heating and water heating, as well as Phantom ProActive 3 Thatcham Cat 6 approved GPS/GSM tracker system.
Let us know what you think of the Buccaneer range for 2016.
Homeowner shocked to find young fox in the most unlikely of places in their own back garden
It seems even animals are caravan fans, following the discovery of a clumsy fox found with its head stuck in a discarded campervan wheel in a back garden in Hounslow, London.
The seven-month-old cub was found by a homeowner, who has not been named, on Sunday morning with what could only be described as an the worst headache ever.
The female fox cub decided to approach the discarded campervan tyre and soon became properly stuck inside the middle metal part.
The homeowner was shocked to see the fox struggling for freedom when he looked out into his garden and, immediately set himself to free the cub.
Officers from the RSPCA arrived and released the fox. RSPCA inspector, Lauren Evans, said: “This young fox was found head-first and stuck in the middle of this old wheel.
“There is no way she would have been able to get free without help,” Evans concluded.
The fox is thought to have been one of this year’s fox cubs.
In an effort to be more conscious of wild animals and the environment, we here at CaravanTimes encourage all caravan owners to be more mindful disposing of their property.
Make the most of the September sunshine with some exclusive offers from The Caravan Club
With the sun due to make one last appearance across the UK this September, The Caravan Club might just have the perfect solution for those looking to make the most of it, after announcing a number of last minute exclusive offers for a number of sites across the UK including holiday hotspots Cornwall, Sussex and Somerset.
Members of The Caravan Club, are currently being invited to take advantage of the offers by contacting The Caravan Club direct in order to take advantage of lead in prices from just £6.80 per person, per night.
Read on to see if any of the following tickle your fancy. Godrevy Park Caravan Club offers access to a scenic cliff path which leads directly to a beautiful beach boasting views of St Ives Bay. It is the perfect place to kick back and soak up some rays on the shore or catch a few waves in this surfers’ haven. This part of the country has an abundance of quaint Cornish fishing villages to explore including Coverack, Newlyn and Mousehole. A caravan pitch at Godrevy Park Caravan Club Site starts from £6.90 per pitch, plus £6.80 per adult and £1.70 per child per day
Brighton Caravan Club Site is conveniently located just a short distance from one of the UK’s most famous seaside cities. The cosmopolitan city of Brighton and Hove has something for everyone to enjoy in the sun from its long beach, to the infamous West Pier and quirky North and South Lanes which boast an excellent array of shops, cafes and bars. A caravan pitch at Brighton Caravan Club Site starts from £7.80 per pitch, plus £7.10 per adult and £2.00 per child per day
Hurn Lane Caravan Club Site is just a short walk from an expansive safe and sandy beach which has secluded sand dunes, a famous ship wreck and great wildlife to discover. The site offers a tranquil setting which is perfect for a relaxing getaway to enjoy a slower pace of life. The local town of Burnham is a charming, traditional seaside town with a fantastic, traffic-free promenade to wander along and take in the seaside views. A caravan pitch at Hurn Lane Caravan Club Site starts from £6.90 per pitch, plus £6.80 per adult and £1.60 per child per day
To book any of these offers and make the most of the sunshine while it lasts, contact The Caravan Club directly on 01342 488713.
Police launch appeal to find the owner of a caravan that appears to have been dumped into a riverside drain
The origins of a caravan left wasting away on a busy main road has left police baffled, as they continue to investigate how it came to appear.
The caravan, which was spotted by police on Monday in Fenland, Cambridgeshire, may have just arrived there accidentally, but police are thinking there’s more to this story than that, with authorities believing it to be a case of extreme fly-tipping. Police have since launched an appeal to find the owner and culprit.
In an effort to find the owner(s), officers posted pictures of the caravan on social media hoping that someone might recognise the caravan and be able to identify the owner.
On twitter, police reported: “Lost a caravan? We found one.
“Might need a bit of TLC,” they added, tongue in cheek.
However, there aren’t many people that would own up to having committed the act. And it also seems that no one has recognised the caravan as police later took to twitter to write: “No one has come forward to claim their caravan from this morning as of yet. Not surprised!”
Despite the dilapidated appearance of the old and battered caravan, the police are urging people to speak up. They are appealing to anyone with information to call 101.
Although caravan owners coming up with creative ways to dispose of their vehicle is always amusing, like this caravan dumped in a skip, we here at CaravanTimes urge you to be a bit more mindful.
VW Tiguan proves popular in Tow Car Awards, as Mitsubishi Shogun and Skoda Superb take second and third places respectively
The Volkswagen Tiguan has been voted best overall Tow Car in the Simple Caravan Insurance Tow Car Awards 2015 which had more than 800 respondents, with the Mitsubishi Shogun and Skoda Superb taking second and third places respectively.
The survey, in conjunction with CaravanTimes, saw the German-made Tiguan beat 21 other cars altogether to place in the top percentile for towing power, stability, traction, comfort and economy.
Individual comments from survey respondents showed the Tiguan got the thumbs-up for a number of reasons, with most who voted for the model describing its towing abilities as ‘excellent’ whilst one voter said: “when you accelerate you have to look behind to make sure you haven’t left the van behind.”
Other winners in their class were Mitsubishi Shogun with Best Towing Power and Best Comfort, Skoda Superb with Best Economy and Land Rover Discovery with Best Traction and Best Stability.
One respondent said the of Shogun: “When towing it has no trouble at all – if you get stuck you know it will be able to get out and you feel safe at all times.”
Others said of the Discovery: “You do not even know you are towing a caravan – excellent”, and, “an excellent all round towing vehicle that is not phased by anything.”
So there you have it. What do you think of the results of the survey? Did your tow car cut the mustard?
Autumn caravan and motorhome show to reveal 2016 models
Grab your diaries and save the date. The West Midland’s Caravan and Motorhome Show is set to return in just over three week’s time.
The show, being held from October 3-11 at Salop Leisure‘s impressive sales centre and holiday home village in Shrewsbury, will offer customers the chance to see around 40 new caravan holiday home and touring caravan models for 2016.
Among the new models on display will be the Willerby Shrewsbury holiday home, which is a special edition designed by and made exclusively for Salop Leisure.
Apart from previewing the 2016 models, the show will also be the prelude to a special birthday celebration at Salop Leisure next year. The company will be celebrating 50 years in business in Shrewsbury, having been established in 1966, the same year as England won the football World Cup.
“It’s an important show for the company because we are hoping to make 2016 extra special to mark our 50th anniversary,” said chairman Tony Bywater. “The show is a great place to come to see all the latest innovations and advances in touring caravan, motorhome and caravan holiday home design.”
The popular, free event, which attracts visitors from across the UK, aims to be a one stop shop for existing owners and newcomers wishing to buy their first caravan or motorhome. Family entertainment, including a falconry display, will also be provided during the show.
To find out more about the show and what to expect, click here
Search thickens as border collie, Bella, disappears from Bideford Bay Holiday Park
Over 1,000 people have joined together in an appeal to help a couple of caravanners find their missing dog.
Border collie Bella disappeared from the Bideford Bay Holiday Park at Bucks Cross in Devon on 28 August during a family caravan holiday with owners Katrina and Matt Lovering from Trowbridge in Wiltshire.
People across the Bideford area have since joined the search after details of Bella’s disappearance spread on Facebook.
Katrina’s sister, Michelle Turner, set up a group on the social network called ‘Please help find Bella’ which has since attracted over 1,000 members.
Michelle said: “Everybody from Devon has been amazing – the holiday park let them stay an extra two nights and put up posters for them.
“A lot of people have been helping and loads of people have been in contact to say they’d seen her.
“We think Bella may have been back to the caravan but she ran off when the security man tried to approach her.
“There are a lot of woods and cliffs around there and she has obviously lost her bearings.
“Katrina is heartbroken and the children are upset too.”
Anyone with any information as to the whereabouts of Bella is asked to call 07454 245 378 or 07568 187 434.
We here at CaravanTimes hope Bella is reunited with her owners soon.
MPs visit The Lawns event to learn more about how the caravan industry contributed £1.8bn to the UK economy last year alone
Members of Parliament have met with representatives of the National Caravan Council (NCC) and Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Caravan Manufacturers’ Association (HERCMA) for a tour of the caravan trade show which takes place every year in the grounds of the University of Hull’s main halls of residence at The Lawns in Cottingham.
The show, which was open to the public over the weekend (5 – 6 September), featured new touring caravans, caravan holiday-homes, lodges and park homes.
During the visit David Davis, MP for Haltemprice and Howden; Diana Johnson, MP for Hull North; and Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, also learned about the huge contribution that the caravan industry makes to the Hull and UK economy. Last year over £1.8 billion was spent on caravan holidays across Great Britain with over 50 million nights spent in caravans.
NCC Deputy Director General Alicia Dunne said of the visit: “We were thrilled to welcome David, Diana and Graham to this year’s Caravan Extravaganza weekend. All three have been huge advocates for the sector and their visits gave us an opportunity to talk about some of the new initiatives that the NCC has launched, including VIN Chip and TowCheck.
“The UK caravan industry is worth £6 billion to the UK economy and supports around 130,000 jobs, including thousands in the Hull and East Riding area. It remains a British manufacturing success story – over 95% of touring and holiday caravans in the UK are made here.
“The NCC is committed to promoting the caravan industry to politicians and policy makers to ensure that it receives the positive recognition that it deserves.”
Organisers welcomed over 20,000 people to the show over the weekend, proving the mainstay event remains as popular as ever.
37 per cent of new car purchases are influenced by kids, survey reveals
We don’t know about you, but when we here at CaravanTimes were kids we’d be lucky if we could influence our parents into switching television channels, let alone choosing their next car purchase. But now, all that seems to have changed if the results of a new survey from Auto Trader are anything to go by.
More than a third of parents (37 per cent) have claimed that children are a key influence when deciding which car to buy next.
Results of the survey have also revealed that more than three quarters of parents (78 per cent) claim that having kids forced them into buying a new car.
Pooling the views of 1,000 parents and children aged between five and 11 years, the key findings came when, in August, Auto Trader asked parents and children about what they looked for in their perfect family car – and to what extent children influenced their parents’ buying decision.
Findings of the survey certainly point to a number of differences in the success of pester power though, with more than half of Londoners, (55 per cent), saying they are more likely to be influenced by their children. Compare that to just 24 per cent in the North East and maybe it’s true what they say about southern softies.
When it comes to the sexes, the research suggests dads should probably be the target of lobbying, as 39 per cent of dads said they were open to influence compared with 33 per cent of mums.
“A substantial amount of research has been done looking at how the decision of the car buyer can be influenced and at what stage in the buying journey,” commented Nathan Coe of Auto Trader, “but few have really considered the role that children play, or the influence of pester power. If one of the kids doesn’t like the shape or colour of your next car, or it doesn’t come with plug-in for an i-Pad, then you’d better be prepared for some serious pestering!”
It might be said that kids are becoming more influential over our car purchases, but only to an extent. Overall, colour is the most likely area for successful persuasion by children, with 26 per cent influencing their parents’ choice of colour. Children are most likely to push for red (28 per cent), followed by blue (21 per cent), black (14 cent) and pink (13 per cent). Perhaps unsurprisingly, boys tend to favour red cars (28 per cent v 23 per cent) and girls preferred pink (26 cent v one per cent). However, only two per cent said they’d prefer a white car, despite white being the most popular new car colour, according to SMMT new car sales data.
It’s not all about colour though, and children also influenced a number of other factors, including comfort (13 per cent), size (12 per cent) and design, clocking up 12 per cent – after all, no one wants to be laughed at after being dropped off at the school gates, right?
Unsurprisingly, safety came top of the list when it came to the parents having their say, with 27 per cent agreeing this was the main contributing factor.
On a lighter note, however, kids also provided an interesting take on what their top ten wish list for their parents’ next car was, including turbo buttons, flame fuelled exhausts and ejector seats, decisions perhaps indicative of the Batmobile being considered the most popular car by those kids surveyed.
What do you think of the results of this survey? Have you ever made – or would you make – a car buying decision based upon your little nippers? Check out Auto Trader’s video below and let us know.
