Lunar launches new lightweight ranges for 2015

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by Ingeborg Holba

Lunar’s new range of improved models, including the Quasar/Avria, Lexon/Stellar and Clubman/Delta are certainly no lightweights despite their appealing stats

Lunar are set to launch a fresh new range of improved models across its entire caravan portfolio, which will be unveiled for the first time at The Lawns Caravan Show, Cottingham, on 6 to 7 September 2014.

The new range will offer higher specifications along with slick interiors – something we’ve become acquainted with from Lunar over the years. It looks that, once again, changes have been implemented in line with the manufacturer’s core philosophy, namely quality design and caravan manufacturing, whilst continuing to offer good value for money.

Starting off with the Quasar/Ariva, featuring ‘Kassis’ soft furnishings and a new ‘Montana Oak’ wood and dark stone touch work top laminate, the new range looks set to impress and the 2015 model introduces a new six berth family layout, namely the Quasar 586, which will be revealed at the NEC show in October. Additional features include:

  • New bedding upholstery
  • New exterior decals
  • New wheel spats
  • New vanity units, pelmet shelves and dresser units

We also look forward to checking out the Lexon/Stellar range as well. Its main features are the newly introduced Truma ISO-Therm and Combi blown air system which promises to deliver evenly circulated warm air throughout the caravan for when it’s needed . Also new for the Lexon range is the new 590, which is a four-berther with comfortable front lounge and well-equipped kitchen. While some features are similar to the Qusar/Ariva model, the Lexon/Steller has a few additions which are:

  • New bedding upholstery
  • New exterior decals
  • New ‘Montana oak’ wood finish
  • New dark stone ‘touch’ counter finishes
  • New wheel spats
  • New vanity units, pelmet shelves and dresser units
  • New satin handles
  • New control panel over door including storage pockets

Lastly, the Clubman/Delta, inspired by the recently released limited edition Clubman Saros, comes complete with a new Sky-view rood light, complete with LED perimeter and dimmable over locker lighting. It’s almost all about the lighting with this new model, and one could argue that this model holds the most impressive feature list:

  • New above locker LED lightning
  • New long rooflight and illuminated elliptical ceiling raft
  • New bedding upholstery
  • New exteriors decals
  • New gloss cream/wood door configuration
  • New control panel with acrylic bezel and storage pockets
  • New remote control function on stereo
  • New light ‘touch’ counter finishes
  • New ‘feature’ cupboard handles
  • New ‘Montana oak’ wood finish
  • New ‘Sarona’ soft furnishes
  • New wheel spats
  • New illuminated vanity units, pelmet shelves and dresser units

So what do you think? Do you already have a favourite?

Make sure you check out the range at NEC this October if you can’t make it to The Lawns. We’ll see you there!

Tawny Nursery Caravan Park reveals plans for expansion

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by Ingeborg Holba

Birdham’s Tawny Nursery Caravan Park to get 14 extra pitches

Tawny Nursery Caravan Park has sought a full planning permission to change the family-run park from a five-pitch touring caravan site to a 19-pitch site, including a play area, in a move which looks set to improve lodging facilities.

The site is next to the Tawny Touring Caravan Park holding 30 pitches, which will also undergo some rather more drastic changes, as it looks set to be transformed into 30 houses after their planning permission was granted earlier this year – hence the desire to add more pitches to the neighbouring site.

The park is surrounded by beautiful, natural scenery and visitors have easy access to local facilities including sandy beaches, Chichester Harbour, and the South Downs.

Whilst the family-run park’s main emphasis is to enable visitors to live more of the simple life, making the most of what nature has to offer, it continues to provide electricity for those who aren’t quite ready to leave technology completely behind just yet. Moreover, the site is open all year round with hardstands during the winter months.

Caravan and motorhome movie quiz

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by Joe Jeffrey

Take part in this fun movie quiz to see how many movies featuring caravans and motorhomes you can spot

We at CaravanTimes are a thoughtful bunch and thought we’d have a bit of fun and throw this great little movie quiz your way.

The video below, put together by Salop Leisure features a mashup of iconic caravan and motorhome scenes in famous movies including the likes of Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller and a host of others that feature our favourtie vehicles in some capacity or another.

The rules to the quiz are easy. Simply grab a sheet of paper and a pen, watch the short compilation below and write down the name of as many movies as you can. Ideal to play alone, in a couple or group, see how many memorable movies you can spot.

To find out how many you got right, scroll to the bottom of the page and follow the link to the answers. Good luck!

To find out how many you got right, click here. Don’t forget to let us know how you did below.

Bank Holiday Travel Report: 14 million expected to travel during Bank Holiday weekend

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by Joe Jeffrey

Millions of drivers expected to hit the roads this weekend to make the most of what the August Bank Holiday has to offer according to research conducted by AA. Read on for news on this and our traffic report

Up to 14 million drivers are set to hit the roads this Bank Holiday weekend, despite cooler and unsettled conditions helping to take the edge off of traditional bank holiday getaways, the AA has said.

What is usually one of the busiest weekends of the year still looks set to pretty packed out there though, with 40 per cent of AA members surveyed set to travel, averaging 50 to 60 miles a day over the three day period which, despite high numbers on the road expected, is down five percent from last year.

With several music festivals due to take place over the Bank Holiday, including Reading Festival, Leeds and Creamfields in Cheshire, as well as the Notting Hill Carnival in London, it certainly looks like some drivers should expect gridlock at some point within these surrounding areas.

According to research carried out by traffic information specialist, Trafficmaster, the following routes are likely to be the top five August Bank Holiday traffic hotspots:


A303 – Westbound from M3 Junction 8 to A30 at Upottery, Devon


M25 – Western sector both ways between Junction 21 (M1 interchange) and Junction 10 (A3 interchange); and South-eastern sector both ways between Dartford crossing and Junction 7 (M23)


M3/M27/A31 – Southbound from Junction 9 (A34) to M27 at Junction 13; and M27/A31 westbound towards the Dorset coast


M4 – Westbound from Junction 1 (Chiswick) to Junction 13 (Chieveley); and between Junction 18 (Bath) and Junction 20 (Almondsbury Interchange/M5)


M5 – Westbound from Junction 15 (Almondsbury Interchange/M4) to Junction 31 (Exeter South)


It’s not all doom and gloom though, and Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday (24-25 August) looks set to be quiet on the roads, with traffic across much of the country expected to be ease off earlier in the day, increasing steadlily, however, as people scramble to get home.
Whatever you’re doing this weekend, make sure you have fun. Let us know what you’re up to by leaving a comment below.

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£500,000 Camping in the Forest investment at Bracelands sees 37 per cent increase in visitor numbers

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by Joe Jeffrey

Investment in Camping in the Forest’s Braceland site sees introduction of refurbishment and new facilities in drive to increase visitor numbers

The Camping and Caravanning Club and Forestry Commission’s partnership scheme, Camping in the Forest, has invested £500,000 into its Bracelands site in the Forest of Dean in a continued initiative to improve its 16-site network.

The 520 pitch campsite, which offers panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, welcoming both motorhomes and caravans, has invested in the installment of 60 hardstanding pitches, 200 electric pitches, new site roads, a motorhome service point and site barriers. A new reception building has also been built with current amenity blocks seeing refurbishment enabling use in the colder, winter months.

Holiday site managers at Bracelands, Tony and Jennie Man, are already seeing the benefits of the recent work carried out and said of the changes made: “We’ve received glowing reports about the redevelopments from campers staying with us and our site bookings certainly reflect this – we’re 37 per cent up on this time last year.”

The increase is certainly good news for Bracelands and, with recent data revealing a surge in staycationing, it certainly looks like experiencing all the great outdoors has to offer is becoming more and more popular.

New Truma app set to revolutionise the way we travel

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by Joe Jeffrey

The new Truma smartphone app looks set to make things a whole lot easier when you’re out and about in your caravan or motorhome

A new Truma app is set for release, offering company news, information on Truma products and invaluable tools to facilitate existing Truma products built into caravans and motorhomes.
The app, available for smartphones on both Android and iOS platforms, will also provide existing Truma customers the opportunity to access manuals on the move, tips and how-to-videos and a camping app which tells you best place to park and even where the sun is at any particular time – an ideal opportunity for you to snag the best pitch no matter where you are.
The pièce de résistance, in our opinion, is the vehicle levelling function, which helps ensure your caravan or motorcaravan is perfectly horizontal. Just place your smartphone on the floor of the vehicle, enter the axle distance and the app will guide you through the levelling process with brief voice instructions and acoustic signals. Not bad for a little app.
We’re assured this is just the beginning and can’t wait to grab a hold of this handy little app when it’s released on 29 August 2014.

Three boys from Gwynfair Caravan Park set to make 250 metre loom band for charity

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by Ingeborg Holba

Three boys from Gwynfair Caravan Park raising money for the RNLI Trearddur Bay, by making a loom band chain over 250 metres long

Loom bands are this summer’s latest trend and if you don’t know what they are, where have you been hiding? The bracelets, made from small, colourful rubber bands seem to be taking over and three boys from Gwynfair Caravan Park are now using them to raise money for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Trearddur Bay, their aim being to make a loom band chain of over 250 metres, in addition to selling single bracelets that are ready for wear.

Brothers Evan and Cary Redford-Rudd (aged ten and nine), along with good friend Noah Middleton, also ten, have decided to make a chain that will go around the green field at the caravan park.

The summer holidays are usually the best time of the year for kids, but these boys have dedicated theirs to interlacing these rubber bands together in order to create a huge one. Currently only 50 metres away from their target, the boys hope to finish by this Sunday’s RNLI open day where it will be displayed. They have raised an impressive £500 so far for the lifeboat station.

It seems these loom bands are providing much more than entertainment for children around the UK. If we at the CaravanTimes decide to get creative and start making our own, you might spot us sporting our blue, green and white ones in a caravan park near you soon!

2015 Buccaneer revealed

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by Joe Jeffrey

The 2015 Buccaneer has been unveiled and we’ve got the details here

Renowned as being one of the most luxurious tourers on the market, the eight foot wide Buccaneer – a first for any UK caravan manufacturer – seems no exception. With lots of new features and a new look, it seems as though Elddis has stuck to the same formula that made the Buccaneer name what it is today.

With five, four-berth layouts on offer – two single-axle and three twin-axle – three of which are new for 2015, the abundance of layouts looks set provide a huge amount of choice.

New for 2015 is the Sky-Scape panoramic front window – providing light throughout the Buccaneer, creating a more spacious and airy feel to the living area. Another design feature is the underfloor heating and Alde 24 hour heating system, both of which can be controlled remotely by mobile phone. And a new 100W solar panel seems ideal for those of us who like to step off the beaten track to explore pastures new.

The 2015 Buccaneer’s features continue, with Superior Aspire MK2 oven, grill, dual fuel hob, large domestic-style fridge freezer, stainless steel microwave and multi-speed Omnivent extractor making up the kitchen and, moving through the Buccaneer, OZIO support and pressure relief mattresses and seat cushions are standard. In the washroom, meanwhile, a domestic-style radiator, heated ladder towel rail and an Eco-Camel water-saving shower with Aircore technology, giving a power shower style experience whilst not compromising the amount of water used. These features are paralleled with ‘Reno Walnut’ cabinetry and 100 per cent LED lighting throughout.

Elsewhere, BPW Diamond Standard wheel locks, with an inbuilt Phantom ProActive 3 Thatcham category 6 tracker, alarm system and a remote-controlled hydraulic self-levelling system which does all it needs to in two minutes set the standard; we’ve seen the self-levelling system in action and were quite impressed by the speed and efficiency of it.

The 2015 Buccaneer seems like it’s going to be pretty popular with those looking for a touch of luxury. What do you think?

Surge in caravan bookings continues

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by Ingeborg Holba

Summer staycationing contiues to rise, returning confidence to the UK holiday sector

CaravanTimes previously reported on a rise in staycationing and its benefits, and a more recent study also shows that UK tourism is highly imperative to the number of jobs and companies that have continued to grow in spite of the economic crisis which soon looks set to be a distant memory.

One such holiday venue feeling the positive effects of the upshift in holidaying at home is Forest Park in Cromer, Norfolk, with the park recently announcing a 41 per cent rise in bookings this season owing to the increasing staycation trend.

Forest Park owner, Deborah Gurney, recently invested £130,000 into her business after witnessing a surge in holiday bookings. The time to invest is now, Debroah feels, with the business already having advanced ahead of its 2013 turnover.

“Speaking to other hoteliers and tourism bodies, I think confidence has returned to our sector and we have certainly noticed a rise in people booking shorter breaks but returning several times a year,” Deborah says.

Family-run, the park first opened the park in 1967 set within 100 acres of woodland. Today, it hosts 250 touring caravans, motorhomes and campers, in addition to two cottages, a campsite and 500 wooden lodges and holiday homes, perfect for a British holiday.

The £130,000 investment will go to improving the park’s facilities and will include refurbishing the swimming pool changing rooms, lighting and the creation of a new, more modern website.

The park, which has won the Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation every year since 2001 and employs 45 people has many plans on the horizon.

A study by Sheffield Hallam University also confirmed that families holidaying closer to home are benefitting the eastern region of the UK, and that the number of jobs heavily supported by tourism throughout places such as Cromer in Norfolk has continued to rise over the last several years.

Superlight caravan made from plastic tanks

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by Joe Jeffrey

Lightweight ‘caravan’ made from 3,000 litre water tanks designed by New York-based architects

In an age where caravans and motorhomes are designed specifically with weight in mind, here comes a new kid on the block – well a prototype at least; but we wouldn’t exactly advise you to put your current caravan or motorhome up for sale just yet.

The Taku Tanku, designed by New York-based Venezuelan architects, Marcelo Ertorteguy and Sara Valente, isn’t exactly going to have Bailey, Elddis, Swift and other manufacturers shaking in their boots, but it’s innovative and we’ll give them that.

In a move that sticks to the pair’s current ethos of developing and designing items concentrating on the relationship between space and sound, the Taku Tanku certainly wouldn’t look out of place pitched in a caravan park, but you may have the occupants come a knocking to use your facilities considering it’s extremely lacking in them.

That said, however, the Taku Tanku isn’t designed as a replacement to a caravan, but more as a ‘basic home’ which can be used as a shelter. And with no bathroom, plumbing, or anything else that essentially matters, that’s exactly what it is. We certainly give the designers ten out of ten for innovation though.

At just nine square metres, and light enough to be carried, towed by bicycle, or even pulled along by boat, the structure is made out of two 3,000 litre water tanks connected by a ring of wood framing the entrance. Luxury is certainly not on the cards however and, despite being touted as a three-berth, it’s pretty sparse as far as furnishings, including beds, are concerned.

To view more pictures of the design as well as more of what Marcelo and Sara have thought up, click here.

What do you think? Would you trade in your current four wheeled home for something like a Taku Tanku?

Guide to caravanning and surfing in the UK

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by Hayley McCrystal

Here we give you our top five caravan site choices for some of the UK’s best surf breaks

When thinking of the sport of surfing, the images that come to mind are generally sunny white-sand beaches lined with palm trees, perfect peeling waves and beach bums in bikinis and board shorts right? While this image is true of many of the world’s top surf destinations, if you travel along the UK coast you will come across towns as dedicated to wave riding as any tropical spot, just sans palm trees and with far less reliable good weather.

Donning wetsuits, boots, hats and gloves, British surfers could be described as some of the more eccentric of the international surf scene. As an island people, it was always inevitable that once this quirky activity was brought to our shores, there would be no stopping a select few Brits from taking to the waves, and we have some fairly killer spots too.

Whether you’re a novice or veteran surfer, there is perhaps no better way to visit the nation’s best surf breaks than via caravan. We are not blessed with the consistently good surf available in, say, Hawaii or Tahiti, meaning a big part of surfing in Britain includes travelling in search of decent conditions and, if you’re a land-locked surfer, travelling is clearly essential. We can’t think of better way than by taking your accommodation along with you.

For your viewing and caravan-surf-trip planning pleasure, we have compiled a list of caravan sites close to five the UK’s best and most popular breaks.

Newquay, Cornwall, England

First up we have Newquay – the Mecca of British surfing. Offering conditions for beginners all the way up to expert level, Newquay has a beach for everyone. Newquay also plays host to the annual Boardmasters, music and surf festival every summer as well as the BUCS Surf Championship, Europe’s biggest student surf event.

The lovely Watergate Bay Touring Park calls Newquay home and offers everything the surfer could want. Located just half a mile from Watergate Bay, this site really does have everything you’ll need for a surf getaway, including free showers and laundrette facilities, a cafe and a shop for all your daily essentials. In the event of poor surf conditions, you can keep yourself entertained with the tennis courts on site, amusement arcade and the mini skate boarding park – sort of like surfing on wheels we guess?!

With you caravan-come-surfers being the environmentally friendly breed that you are, we felt it was important to give you a couple of eco-friendly options. Watergate Bay Touring Park maintains a ‘Green Policy,’ abiding by the three R’s; Reduce, Recycle and Reuse – fairly self explanatory.

To find out more, visit their site by clicking here.

Other popular beaches in and around Newquay include:

Sennen, Cornwall, England

Next up is Sennen Cove, perhaps one of England’s most picturesque beaches. Less than three miles from Land’s End, Sennen Cove is another popular surf destination in the UK. This beach is perfect for beginners and with a little help from local pro-surfers, who coach at Smart Surf School, you’ll be hanging ten in no time.

Trevedra Farm is the perfect choice when staying in Sennen. This site really does offer you the perfect opportunity to relax after a long day of surfing. Always welcome after getting out of your wetsuit, Trevedra offers plenty of hot showers for you to freshen up. Like Watergate Bay Touring Park, it appears Trevedra has the environment on the mind as well and uses push-button showers, meaning as little water as possible is wasted. The site’s Ocean Blue Cafe offers breakfast and dinner plus Sunday Roasts. What more could you want? The site also has several recycling points so you can make sure your stay is as eco-friendly as possible.

For more information, click here.

Woolacombe, Devon, England

Woolacombe is yet another popular destination for Britain’s surfers. The site which we have carefully selected for you in Woolly is Woolacombe Sands Holiday Park, just a six-minute drive away from Woolacombe beach and a short walk down via the park’s footpath. This wide bay is suitable for any and all abilities, offering long fun rides, and really is a tourist destination. Be careful though, the tide turns fairly quickly and you won’t want to get stuck on the large rocks that litter the beach. After you get out of the water, why not grab a bite at local pub,Red Barn, a favourite of local and visiting surfers since the 1960s, before heading back to the site.

Woolacombe Sands really pushes the boat – or board – out when it comes to amenities. Again, with toilet and shower blocks with free hot water – we really can’t stress how welcome this is after time in British waters – and fully equipped shop and laundrette, this park offers all the essentials and more. If you haven’t had enough of the water, you can take advantage of the indoor and outdoor swimming pools, but if you feel like keeping your feet on land for a bit there’s always the option of a round of crazy golf or bowling?
This spot also has the benefit of being a short 20-minute drive from neighbouring surf break, Croyde Bay – take note though; this break is for the more advanced out there.

These ‘Super Seasonal Pitches,’ (pictured) allow you to lay claim to a spot for the whole season, returning as often as you like. Be sure to plan ahead though as these are very popular and get snapped up pretty quickly.
To check out what offers are in store, click here.

Thurso, Scotland

While it does have its quiet days, the area’s main break, Thurso East, is not for the faint-hearted. Offering world-class barrels – on good days – this premier reef-break on the north coast of Scotland could give any tropical paradise a run for its money in terms of wave quality. For the less experienced surfers out there, lessons are available at nearby beaches with more forgiving conditions. This spot is firmly on the international surfing map, having hosted both the UK Pro Tour and the O’Neill Coldwater Classic in its day.

For this spot, we have the lovely Thurso Bay Caravan and Camping Park, a family operated park overlooking Thurso Bay. This site also includes shower and toilet facilities and free internet access. In addition to these essentials, the site also offers an on-site restaurant, The Blue Door Coffee Shop and Diner, open on Fridays and Saturdays, offering locally sourced cuisine, so you can rest assured your money is going to help the local community.

If the surf is disappointing, there is also a host of heritage centres in the surrounding area for you to entertain yourself with. Visit their site for more information.

Porthcawl, Wales

Finally, we give you Porthcawl on the south coast of Wales. The main breaks here are Rest Bay and Coney Beach. These two spots can get really great surf at times, but it’s not consistent unfortunately. Just as well you’re dragging your accommodation around with you so aren’t obligated to stay then, eh? These spots attract a whole host of different watercraft and can get crowded at times so, as always, it’s important to take care and practice good surf etiquette in the water.
Brodawel Camping and Touring Park, just a short five minute drive from Rest Bay, proposes a quiet policy from 11pm to 7am meaning you’ll get a much-needed rest after being in the water all day. Once again, this site offers free hot showers and toilet facilities as well as hairdryers and electrical sockets. More information about this site and other Welsh treasures can be found here.

There you have it. No need to thank us, it was our pleasure. What are you waiting for? Surf’s up! Time to grab your wetsuit and board and take off in the caravan. Stay stoked surfers.

Caravan Guard nominated in three categories at UK Broker Awards 2014

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by Joe Jeffrey

Caravan and motorhome insurance specialists, CaravanGuard, go for the treble at awards

Caravan and motorhome insurance specialist, Caravan Guard, has been named finalist in three categories at this year’s UK Broker Awards.

The triple nomination at the annual event, which rewards outstanding performance an innovation in the insurance broking sector, follows last year’s Investment in People award win.

This year, Caravan Guard is nominated once again in the Investment in People category, as well as Personal Lines Broker of the Year and Schemes Broker of the Year categories.

Caravan Guard Managing Director, Ryan Wilby, is delighted with the news, “It’s a great honour to be nominated at such a prestigious event. Collectively these nominations are testament to our efforts in delivering brilliant customer experiences through highly-skilled advisers and a growing range of specially designed products. It’s an incredibly exciting time for Caravan Guard and myself and the team now look forward to bringing the silverware home this year!”

Over 500 leading industry figures are expected to attend the event, taking place on 5 September at the Brewery in Central London.