125,000 rural drivers set to benefit from fuel rebate

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

17 areas of UK set to benefit from fuel rebate scheme

Good news for caravanners and motorhomers comes today, following news that approximately 125,000 drivers within rural locations throughout the UK are set to benefit from fuel rebates.

Following approval from the European Commission, the Rural Fuel Rebate Scheme is set to come into effect, which will allow for retailers to claim as much as 5p per litre fuel duty relief on both unleaded petrol and diesel, with savings going straight to the customer.

The rebate scheme, which has been in effect in the Northern Isles, Hebrides, Isle of Scilly and Islands of the Clyde since 2012, looks set to come into force in 17 areas of the UK including Devon, Cumbria and North Yorkshire as soon as it has sought final approval from other EU member states via the EU Council.

News comes at a time where fuel prices have plummeted to the third lowest in 25 years – great news for those wishing to hit the open road and make the most of it while they can.

University of Central Lancashire works with Lunar Caravans to create caravan of the future

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Lunar Caravans teams up with designers of the future to create micro caravan

Students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) are working with Lancashire-based Lunar Caravans to create the micro caravan of the future.

The design students from several courses across the University are looking at ways to make caravanning more appealing to a younger audience by coming up with smart interiors, multifunctional fittings and energy efficient ideas for future designs with a particular focus on small caravans.

Lunar, which has been trading for 46 years, has taken the step of creating and delivering a prototype micro caravan to the Preston campus specifically for the UCLan students to test out their ideas before presenting back to the company next year.

Lunar chairman and CEO Brian Mellor commented: “We are a very proud Preston company so it gives us great pleasure to be associated with our city’s university and working together for the good of local students, local business and the community.”

The collaborative venture means that the final year undergraduate product design students and postgraduate interior design and surface pattern design students can work on a real-life industry projects and potentially see their designs manufactured by Lunar in the future.

Graham Hill, Product Design course leader, said: “The project has allowed all of the students to work with a genuine client and get feedback from industry designers, which is invaluable. Our students will bring fresh eyes to it and Lunar has encouraged them to think freely and not be constrained by current design trends.

“Although we are still in the middle of the project we’re already seeing exciting ideas from students across all courses who are coming up with creative solutions to making small spaces work efficiently, producing energy smart vehicles and devising special functionality designs that will ultimately mean a person can tailor a caravan design to suit their individual needs.”

UCLan final year product design student Urte Jurkeviciute is already working on her designs. She said: “I’m looking at ways to open up the caravan space and align it more closely with nature. With clever use of space and lighting I want to make a small space feel much bigger and airy.”

“It’s fantastic that we have a full-size prototype to work on. It makes it much easier to test our designs and helps us to visualise our ideas. It’s exciting to work with an industry client and have the chance of seeing my work manufactured by them. It’s the ideal grounding for my future career.”

MA Interior Design course leader Steve Bennett added: “This collaboration fits in with the University’s ethos to engage with businesses and communities to prepare our students for the real world. I hope this is just the beginning of a mutually beneficial partnership.”

The students will showcase their final designs later next year when Lunar will also decide whether to take any ideas forward.

In addition, students studying fashion brand management have also worked with Lunar Caravans to conduct initial customer demographics research to analyse the caravan market.

We here at CaravanTimes can’t wait to see the results and wish all of the students involved in the project every success.

Ray Mears hits out at caravans on Room 101 in advance of appearance at Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2015

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Ray Mears expresses his dislike of caravans and caravanners during Room 101 rant

With less than a month to go before the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show 2015, special guest speaker Ray Mears has hit out in a scathing attack on the caravanning community.

Appearing on BBC One show, Room 101, where celebrities compete to have their pet hates banished forever, Mears, 50, nominated the caravan as his number one peeve.

On the subject of caravans, the bushtrail and survivalist expert said: “I just think they’re hideous. Huge swathes of our coastline are just covered in these things.”

Describing caravans as something akin to “mobile breadbins”, Mears went on: “I wouldn’t mind so much if they could be painted green, but they have to be painted white.

“You go down to Devon and all you can see are cities of these displaced urban people in their ghastly white caravans.”

Ironically enough, Mears also chose to send “fakes” to Room 101, stating: “I can’t stand fakes of any description.

“I like reality, and the world seems to be increasingly full of make-believe fakery and I think we should be aware.”

Hmmm. so let’s get this straight; Mears can’t stand fakery of any kind, but is more than happy to stand in front of a sea of caravanners whilst talking about the virtues of this popular pastime, having previously expressed a strong dislike for them? Pot, kettle Ray?

In light of Mears’ comments, show organisers, the National Caravan Council (NCC) exclusively told CaravanTimes: “We were planning promotional activity at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show using Ray Mears and we were disappointed to hear his recent comments made on television about caravans.

“Consequently the activity with Ray is under review. Having said that we would like to extend an open invitation for Ray to take a holiday in a caravan which will show him what a fantastic experience it actually is and how it enables millions of people to enjoy the great outdoors.”

If the NCC does decide to allow Mears to remain as special guest speaker at the show, we can’t help but feel as though the outspoken toff may need to bring the best of his survival skills to the stage in order to fend off the swathe of angry “urban people” in attendance. Isn’t that worth the admission price alone? If so, get your tickets here now!

CaravanTimes has reached out to Mears for comment and we’ll be sure to update you, should he decide to come down from his tree house anytime soon.

Thieves target Dickens Festival caravan

Posted by

by Tom Walsh

Owners of caravan used for the Dickens Festival left devastated after thieves steal vehicle containing rare and expensive memorabilia

The Isle of Thanet’s annual Dickens Festival has been dealt a blow after thieves stole a caravan containing rare and expensive memorabilia.

Owners Mark Hemmings and Louise Woodcock were left devastated when they discovered the distinctive 1970s Avondale Perle Orestes caravan had been taken on the morning of 15 January.

The caravan not only had some rare items relating to Charles Dickens but also provided facilities for a dressing room and office for when the festival is on.

Police are now appealing for any witnesses to the incident which took place between 22:40 GMT on January 14 and 09:15 GMT on January 15 to get in touch. The van was stolen from a driveway in Brooke Avenue, Garlinge.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Kent police to help them with their ongoing enquiries.

The Dickens Festival takes place in the Isle of Thanet every year, celebrating the life works and novels of Charles Dickens.

Westfalia Pinpointpal set to stop thieves in their tracks

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Innovative Pinpointpal GPS tracker device offers real time tracking for your caravan or motorhome

Ever woken during the middle of the night in a cold sweat, having dreamt that someone’s just towed your beloved caravan away only to go and check on it to ensure it’s safely where you left it? Well, that situation may never need arise, owing to a nifty little innovative and affordable GPS tracking device known as Pinpointpal.

With various stories trickling through in recent weeks surrounding caravan theft, it goes without saying that ensuring our caravans and motorhomes are secured when parked up or stored away for the winter is a must, and Westfalia, world’s leading suppliers of towbars and vehicle-specific wiring kits, may just have the perfect solution.

Designed and developed in Britain by experts in mobile communications, the Pinpointpal GPS tracker is an easy-to-install tracker system, which connects to a free downloadable app on any smartphone. Providing you with real-time information on the whereabouts of your pride and joy 24-hours a day is something that needs to be accurate and reliable and, having seen the Pinpointpal in action, it’s certainly both of those things.

Included in the subscription based service for two years from purchase are movement alerts which send automatic notification to you if your vehicle has been moved outside a virtual ‘geofence’ boundary set, enabling you to inform the authorities should someone wish to try their luck and pinch your home on wheels.

For more information, head over to Westfalia’s official site now to find out more.

Swindon Caravans takes first place in Dealership of the Year category in CaravanTimes Caravan & Motorhome Awards 2015

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Swindon Caravans voted best dealership in CaravanTimes Awards

Swindon Caravans has won the Dealership of the Year category in the CaravanTimes Caravan & Motorhome Awards 2014.

Established in 1988, family-run Swindon Caravans secured 13.60 per cent of the voting share in the Awards, voted for by readers of CaravanTimes.

In second place came Read Caravans in Blackburn, with a respectable 12.20 per cent of votes, whilst third place was awarded to Sharman Caravans in Suffolk who received 8.80 per cent of the voting share.

The CaravanTimes Caravan & Motorhome Awards, saw an unprecedented number of people cast their votes for 2014, far surpassing previous years’ awards, and voting in the Dealership of the Year category proved more popular than ever before.

The relationship between caravanners and motorhomers and their preferred dealership isn’t just determined by the choice of ranges on offer, but more so by customer experience, as well as quality of customer service received, whether that is before, during or after making a purchase as our Awards have shown.

To take a closer look at all of the results in our Awards, visit our forums by clicking here.

COMPETITION: Win tickets to the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Enter our latest competition to win a pair of tickets to the Scottish show of the year

As one leisure show opens, another one begins to build up pace and that’s how we here at CaravanTimes like it.

This time, however, caravanners, motorhomers, holiday-homers (is that even a word?) and lots more will convene north of the border for all the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show has to offer.

The Show will give visitors the chance to see all the latest models, accessories and will even have a Park Village area, providing you with ideas on the next big caravan and motorhome trips. Free parking has also been thrown in, along with exclusive offers and deals only available at the show, so there’s really no better time to be at the SECC.

CaravanTimes is offering you the chance to be part of the action in our latest competition where we’re giving away 15 pairs of tickets to the show, which takes place between 5-8 February.

Now here’s the easy bit. All you need to do to take part is like our Facebook page and complete the form below.

All that remains to be said is good luck! Hurry though, the closing date is 30 January 2015, which is also when we’ll be announcing the winners.

Competition rules:
The lucky winners will be picked at random at midday on 30 January 2015 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
This competition is open to new or existing CaravanTimes members and Facebook fans only
No employees of CaravanTimes or StantonPace Ltd may enter
The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over

Bailey Approach Advance: designed to be driven

Posted by

CaravanTimes takes a closer look at Bailey’s new entry-level motorhome, and finds out what makes it designed to be driven

For 2015, Bailey of Bristol has introduced the Advance Approach to add to its stable of motorhomes.

The entry-level Approach Advance sees the same design as the award-winning Approach Autograph range, but at a lesser price and with narrower body width (2.35 metres).

Bailey has kept weight to a minimum on all four Advance models, with a maximum weight of 3,500kg – making the range an ideal choice for anyone with a full UK driving licence, with no B and E entitlement required.

As with other Bailey offerings, when released in April, the Advance will come with Bailey’s lighter bodyshell and GRP outerskin, as well as Alu-Tech construction system. And with protection also coming by way of its grade III insulation properties, the Advance looks set to truly be a motorhome for all seasons.

Better driving characteristics come by way of an ultra-low profile AL-KO AMC chassis and lower entry step, set to improve driving control owing to a lower centre of gravity.

CaravanTimes caught up with Bailey to find out more about the new Approach Advance and what exactly it is that makes the Advance designed to be driven.

Check out our video above and let us know what you think. Also, make sure you check out our prices, weights and layouts article on the Bailey Approach Advance here.

Matt Baker launches Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

BBC’s The One Show presenter kicks off Manchester’s Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015

Television presenter Matt Baker officially launched the Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015 yesterday at Manchester’s EventCity.

BBC’s The One Show presenter, Matt – himself an experienced traveller owing to time spent on Blue Peter – is also no stranger to travelling the length and breadth of Britain in his capacity as co-presenter on BBC One’s Countryfile, a popular teatime programme which makes the most of what the UK’s countryside has to offer.

Matt said of exploring all what the UK countryside has to offer: “I love it, it’s a home from home. You can go where you want, when you want.

“You can be in the middle of nowhere, sitting enjoying a sandwich and a cup of tea and the rain can be lashing down outside – that’s absolutely amazing and I think anyone should experience it,” he continued.

The 37-year-old father-of-two also explained the virtues of holidaying at home – a pastime that has become more popular over the recent years with many opting for staycations as opposed to breaks abroad.

“It is amazing to witness how different each place can be, from the breathtaking views on the west coast of Scotland to little villages in the Lake District,” Matt went on.

“I say to my kids, the countryside is there for you, go out and see it. Enrich yourself. Get out in the fresh air.”

The Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015 is on now until Sunday (18 January). To book your tickets for what is absolutely guaranteed to be a great day out, click here

The Camping and Caravanning Club teams up with Shaun the Sheep

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

The Camping and Caravanning Club teams up with Shaun the Sheep to promote, yep, you guessed it, camping and caravanning

The camping and Caravanning Club has teamed up with Aardman Animations to support the studio’s new film, Shaun the Sheep The Movie, and promote camping and caravanning to families with young children.

The film, which is released on 6 February 2015, has been produced by the Oscar-winning creators of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run and features a caravan alongside the much-loved children’s character.

When Shaun’s mischief leads to the farmer being taken away to the Big City in a caravan, the flock leaves the farm to rescue him, setting the stage for an epic adventure.

The story highlights how we sometimes forget to appreciate the things we have in life and the people who love us. It is also a celebration of outdoor rural life – values that the Club identifies with and actively promotes through its camping and caravanning experiences.

There will be opportunities for families to enjoy Shaun the Sheep themed activities with the Club at upcoming industry shows. The Club will also be offering Shaun the Sheep The Movie games and activity packs for all of the family to experience and enjoy.

Robert Louden MBE, Director General at the Club, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for families to be able to relate to camping and caravanning – and we hope the film and the promotion around it encourages young people to experience our popular pastime.

“These young children are our future Club members and it’s important for the industry as a whole to support initiatives such as this to ensure we pass on our enthusiasm for the great outdoors to future generations.”

Check out a prevewe of Shaun the Sheep The Movie below.

Mogo Freedom leads the way for innovative leisure travel at Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

Could the Mogo Freedom revolutionise the way we travel?

If you’re anything like us at CaravanTimes, one of the main things we love about caravan and motorhome shows are the innovative things we stumble upon by way of smaller featured exhibitors. The Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015 is no different, and the Mogo Freedom is one of those innovations.

The Mogo Freedom was conceived after a period of downsizing when founder, Matjaz Korosec, started looking around for alternative, cost effective solutions that would enable him to continue taking holidays irrespective of economic constraints.

Having spent years working in the caravan industry, Korosec and his team set to work in creating something that could be ethically produced which enabled the user to utilise space with total flexibility.

The construction method used is said to provide the Mogo Freedom with limitless movement and more flexibility when it comes to getting out and about and handing trickier terrain. It’s also rather lightweight, weighing in at just 350kg empty with a further loading capacity of 400kg, meaning it can be towed by lightweight cars or even tricycles, enhancing user experience and not just limiting the Mogo to car drivers.

Each Mogo Freedom is built in accordance to an individual customer’s needs, with CAD models for each Mogo built to ensure accuracy. Built using ultra lightweight sustainable Banova balsa wood from plantations in Ecuador and Paraguay, the Mogo is also heavily insulated using newly developed plastics used in the building and housing industries, as well as bonding technology based on Sika products which are said to be leading the way in solutions for monocoque structures. In addition, all seams and doorframes are strengthened with brushed aluminium profiles that are incorporated into the framework. Coming complete with a bed that hides in the ceiling when extra storage space is required, this is innovation at its best.

For more peace of mind, the Mogo comes with ALKO breaks, suspension and jockey wheel.
Sleeping two comfortably and small enough to fit inside a garage, the Mogo is a truly versatile vehicle. Be it for business, leisure or pleasure – or anything else you could possibly think of – even simply an escape from the rat race when it’s time to hit the road.

To find out more about the Mogo Freedom, visit the official website here.

Let us know what you think. Would you consider buying one of these lightweight wonders?

No Comments

filed under: News

Bailey Approach Advance unveiled at Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015

Posted by

by Joe Jeffrey

New entry-level Approach Advance on show now at Manchester’s EventCity

With all that’s currently going on at the Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015, you’d be pretty hard-pressed to see every single thing that’s under EventCity’s roof, but there are certain things that are a must. One of those is Bailey of Bristol’s brand new Approach Advance motorhome range.

With an emphasis on low cost, low profile and light weight, the new Bailey Approach Advance has been designed with the first-time motorhome buyer in mind.

Unique for the entry-level motorhome market, all four models in the Approach Advance range have been built on the ultra-low profile, lightweight AL-KO AMC chassis for improved driving performance and increased user payloads. Not only has this method of construction decreased the weight and height of Bailey’s new offering, but it has also ensured an easier drive owing to better handling on the road.

All models across the Advance range are built using Bailey’s patented Alu-Tech bodyshell, including a GRP outer skin said to provide for extra durability, as well as thermal insulation, making this a motorhome for all seasons.

Make sure you check it out at the Caravan & Motorhome Show 2015 today and let us know what you think in the comments section below.