by Damien Sharkov
Weather warnings aplenty, needless to say we have seen brighter times at CaravanTimes. In case we are catching you in a similar predicament we have decided to amplify the cheer factor.
Our favourite folk duo, the Daughters of Davis have been giving us something to smile about this month. They have, as many bands do, played plenty of house parties, but it seems the Daughters of Davis have decided to host a gig at a venue of a more mobile nature.
As they tour the country in their Elddis Accordo motorhome, Fern and Adrienne Davis decided to take advantage of the cosiness of their four wheeled pride and joy offered to fit as many audience members inside it for a truly intimate concert.
Thirty two lucky Daughters of Davis fans managed to squeeze into ‘Otis the Elddis’, winning the privilege of a private, acoustic rendition of ‘To The Water’. Of course what was intended as an unplugged serenade quickly became a good, old-fashioned camper van singalong. An encore was requested and assuredly delivered.
If you would like to find out how ‘Otis the Elddis’ fared as a concert venue and to watch Fern and Adrienne get up close and personal with their fans click on the video below:
Story of schoolboy caravanning and steam trains leads to book deal
by Damien Sharkov
There is enough noise in the city as is. Ordinarily towing your caravan to a nice, serene corner of green is the perfect prescription for an overdose of the smog and sounds of urban living.
Andrew Britton’s memories of caravanning in his schooldays are rather different, as his family opted for a different patch of land to set up shop in.
Loving steam trains as they did, the Britton family would park their leisure home by Beaulieu Road station, just outside Southampton.
The station was one of the docking points for Britain’s last steam railway line. The Waterloo to Weymouth line was closed in 1967.
“I never thought it would end but it did,” says Andrew.
“I woke up on the day after, July 9, and that was it, they were gone.”
From his family’s caravan Andrew would wave to the drivers, who quickly warmed to their young fan and soon invited him and his father for a behind the scenes look.
“They would throw a lump of coal with a note saying ‘Come up to Bournemouth station tonight with your dad’,” says Andrew.
There he was allowed to turn the engines at Bournemouth Central and would ride the plate between sheds there and at Bournemouth West station.
“One of my relatives was an engine driver in Weymouth and I used to like to go to the Weymouth shed as well.”
To commemorate his fond memories of his caravan holidays by the Waterloo to Weymouth line, Andrew is releasing a book, collecting photographs from his cherished line’s history.
“It was a cathedral to steam,” smiles Andrew.
Waterloo to Weymouth: A Journey in Steam is available now, priced at £19.99 from the History Press.
Gail Porter opens the Scottish caravan show with a Highland fling
by Chris Jefferies
Visitors to the Scottish Caravan Motorhome and Holiday Home Show got an extra special treat today (6 February) as Gail Porter made a special guest appearance to declare the show open.
The TV presenter and model spoke on The Caravan Club stand and regaled the audience with tales of her caravanning adventures.
Gail arrived on site in a specially made Tartan caravan and kicked off the day by performing with Highland folk band Clanadonia, showing off her impressive skills with a maraca.
She was later joined on the stand by Nick Lomas, Director General of the Caravan Club, who introduced Gail and spoke of the Club’s plans for Scotland in 2014.
The Commonwealth Games will be coming to Glasgow this summer and those lucky enough to have snared a pitch at the sold-out Strathclyde Country Park site will be able to see the triathlon event in the park itself.
Nick added that camping pitches are still available there, and reminded us that there are 17 local CLs that will serve as a great launch pad for those keen to stay nearby during the Games.
The Scottish Caravan Motorhome and Holiday Home Show runs at the SECC Glasgow until Sunday (9 February). Tickets are available on the door, priced at £11 for adults and £10 for seniors, while kids under 16 can come along for free.
This year’s show is the biggest ever, with around 200 stands across five halls and more than £10million of tourers and holiday homes on display, so make sure you don’t miss out.
For more photos from Gail’s visit to the show click on the slideshow below:
Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes
Hemingway’s Classic Car Boot Sale calling all motorhomes
by Damien Sharkov
“They would be daft to miss it!” exclaims designer Wayne Hemingway, when asked why caravan and motorhome enthusiasts should attend his upcoming Classic Car Boot sale.
“Wonderful location, amazing content, great food, music and its only £4 for the public,” continues Wayne excitedly.
For the second time in the last twelve months, haute couture veteran Wayne Hemingway and his team will be taking over London’s Southbank (this time over the weekend of 15-16 March) and they are rallying any and all Mods, Vintage car lovers and retro enthusiasts.
After successfully hosting the caravan headlined Festival of Thrift and with demand for another Classic Car Boot sale growing, Wayne has returned to delight lovers of thrift and vintage once again.
Twenty vintage motorhome businesses have already registered to join the fray, including Noble Espresso, Anna Mae’s and the charmingly named Van Dough.
Emma, gives us a sample of the more ostentatious things visitors can expect to see at the sale, listing “Bretton Suitcases, London Tube signs and an Anchor” among the numerous highlights of the last sale they hosted.
As for the philosophy behind of Wayne’s celebration of vintage, it is simple: “A bit of nostalgia is allowed, but above all it’s about timeless quality,” he says. We can think of more than a few campers, caravans and motorhomes that fit the criteria.
If you would like to get involved in the Classic Car Boot Sale on the 15 and 16 March or for more information about the event click here or for a sneak preview, click on the video below:
Bailey Unicorn saved my life, says owner after truck collision
by Chris Jefferies
We’re all told to exercise the utmost of care when towing a caravan, but some things simply can’t be anticipated.
This was definitely the case for Roger and Sue Bryan who were rear-ended by an eight-foot long metal beam that had come loose from a passing lorry while towing their Bailey Unicorn along the M3.
The force of this impact was enough to shunt the car and caravan forward, and the owners feared the worst.
But only minor cosmetic damage was caused and Roger has claimed that his choice of model could have saved his life.
“We were amazed there wasn’t more damage to the caravan and have to say a huge thank you to everyone at Bailey for building such a strong caravan which possibly saved our lives,” he said.
“The Highways Agency Officers said they have seen lots of accidents where there isn’t much of the caravan left, and would normally have expected the stabilising leg to slice right through it. They were surprised we were able to walk away completely unscathed,” Roger continued.
What’s more, the damage was covered by their Bryans’ insurance, so the unfortunate incident was far less costly than it might have been.
Nick Howard, Managing Director of Bailey of Bristol, said: “We were very happy to hear Mr and Mrs Bryan were not hurt and that their caravan survived the accident so well.
“We designed the Alu-Tech system to make our caravans and motorhomes stronger, better insulated, safer to tow and more resistant to the elements, but this extreme test really proves just how robust they can be.”
Introducing… The 2014 Hymer Exsis-T motorhome range
by Tom Walsh and Chris Jefferies
Looking for a new motorhome for those trips across the UK and perhaps further afield? Well Hymer has just the vehicle for you.
The new Hymer Exsis-T is a groundbreaking motorhome as it combines lightweight construction and luxury comfort, yet weighs in at a mere 2,700kg.
This two-berth model boasts a GRP lightweight floor complete with Styrofoam insulation, a special frame constructed from AL-KO and PAUL material, along with all the must-have features of a luxury motorhome.
Hymer has installed large garage doors for extra storage, extra-deep lockers, audio speakers throughout and plentiful interior LED lighting.
Not only is the Exsis-T light on the road it is also light on the wallet with Hymer introducing a competitive price plan which will be able to suit many drivers without the need to break the bank.
While a definitive price has not been announced yet, it is due to be revealed in the coming months.
Nick Barker, Sales Manager at Travelworld, one of the first UK dealers to take delivery of the new Exsis-T, told CaravanTimes: “We’re amazed by the response, there’s been a steady flow of enquiries and viewings.
“People have been eager to find out how rattle-free it is, compared with its competitors, and everyone is asking to take a test-drive.”
Manchester Caravan and Motorhome show visitor numbers up by 13%
by Tom Walsh
The Caravan and Motorhome Show in Manchester has been heralded as a huge success after attendance figures swelled once again.
Visitors flocked from all over the country to EventCity between 23-26 January to see the array of motorhomes and caravans on show.
Organisers also waxed lyrical about the attendance figures which 13 per cent up on the previous year with 27,917 people passing through the doors, making for an significant improvement on the 24,664 recorded in 2012, the first year at Event City.
A small drop-off in 2013 was blamed on poor weather, with many unable to attend last year’s event due to widespread snow.
This year there was a huge range of models on display with all the big names in the world of mobile homes attending the event.
People were impressed by a number of essentials for both camping and caravanning along with a few big ticket items.
And this year’s special guest, Michelle Collins (akak Stella Price from Coronation Street), drew huge crowds to the Caravan Club stand as she declared the show open from the steps of her specially-built Corrie-Van (pictured).
Andy Orr, managing director of EventCity, said: “The Caravan and Motorhome Show is one of the most popular shows in the events calendar and we are delighted to have helped them to increase their footfall by 13 per cent.”
Lunar to launch new Quasar and motorhome range at NEC show
by Chris Jefferies
Lunar Caravans will be unveiling a new “family-orientated” version of its ever-popular Quasar range at the Birmingham NEC as part of the Caravan and Camping Show, it has been announced.
Show organisers NCC Events confirmed that the new Lunar Quasar will be launched at the show with a sleek new front panel.
As if that wasn’t enough, the company will also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of its flagship range, the luxurious Lunar Clubman.
And motorhome lovers haven’t been left out either, as a brand new range will be unveiled on the opening morning (18 February).
This comes just one year after Lunar made a successful return to the motorhome market with the introduction of the Vacanza Camper Car at last year’s show.
The 2014 Lunar range features contemporary new interiors in both its main ranges and the sister-brand Venus, while the introduction of the new Core design philosophy has resulted in further weight savings for these traditionally lightweight caravans.
For now details are few and far between on both the new Quasar and the new motorhome collection, but keep checking back with CaravanTimes for all the latest developments and photos.
Lost Australian caravanner survives 28 days in the Outback
by Tom Walsh
An Australian caravanner who got lost in the country’s Outback for 28 days has lived to the tale.
Stephen Currie vanished in the Australian wilderness after going for a bush trail walk on 29 December.
But he became lost when he ventured out from his caravan and tried to use the Walsh River to guide him back to town but he lost his bearings once again leaving him walking through the Outback for days.
Rescuers had given up the search of the 40-year-old but he was found by locals near Chillagoe after nearly a month alive and well and with an interesting story to tell.
Mr Currie managed to survive in the outback by eating freshwater mussels, wild fruit and butterflies.
Vince Marcel, detective senior constable, said: “It’s unbelievable. I phoned his mother straight away.
“His family lives in Victoria and they had been calling me every couple of days. They were obviously beside themselves with anxiety.”
The harsh terrain of the Australian Outback was ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.caravantimes.co.uk/news/makes/bailey/bailey-of-bristol-completes-850-mile-off-road-australian-towing-challenge-$21383405.htm">recently demonstrated by Bailey Australia, who towed a Unicorn and a Pegasus GT65 model through 850 miles of the Flinders mountain range.
Police appealing for witnesses after Hartlepool caravan arson
by Tom Walsh
Police in Hartlepool are appealing for witnesses to an arson attack on a caravan to come forward.
The incident took place on Camerons Holdings, in Mainsforth Terrace, on 19 January and saw flames spread to an oil storage tank and damage part of a building used by businesses on the site, the Hartlepool Mail reports.
Thanks to the quick response of the fire service a crew was able to put out the blaze before it could do more damage to the rest of the premises.
An investigation determined that the fire was started deliberately and now police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Witnesses can get in touch with detective constable Simon Clark of Hartlepool Police on the 101 while they can also ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
This incident is one of a number to happen in recent months and highlights the need for caravan owners to be extra vigilant when leaving their vehicle unattended.
Elddis Autoquest motorhome joins the ranks of RAF Coningsby
by Damien Sharkov
A short while ago CaravanTimes reported on the ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href=" http://www.caravantimes.co.uk/news/festivals/raf-cosford-exhibit-explains-how-caravans-helped-during-the-battle-of-britain-$21383223.htm">historic relationship between caravans and the Royal Air Force, commemorated annually by a caravan show at the RAF’s Cosford museum.
Now it seems the mutual bond is being reincarnated, as an Elddis motorhome has joined the ranks of RAF Coningsby.
Following approval from the Royal Air Force funding authority, RAF Coningsby visited Brownhills Motorhomes Ltd looking for a leisure vehicle to suit their brave and hard-working officers’ needs, during their well deserved down time.
After impressing the small RAF contingent at Brownhills, the six-berth ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/elddis/elddis-autoquest/">Elddis Autoquest 180 joined the illustrious ranks of Her Majesty’s air forces.
In December 2013 at a handover ceremony at the Coningsby RAF base attended by Brownhills employees, the Elddis Autoquest lined up with its new cohorts, holding its own beside a Typhoon fighter jet.
“The Elddis Autoquest is the UK’s best-selling motorhome and a great British success story”, the Durham manufacturer’s Rachel Moncrieff tells us.
“It’s really satisfying that in such a competitive market the Royal Air Force chose Elddis and are giving such a great perk to their service personnel.”
The Elddis Autoquest 180 will be at the disposal of 2,000 undoubtedly eager RAF personnel.
“We’re looking forward to hear what adventures the Coningsby crew get up to!” Rachel says.
AA names five of the best touring campsites in the UK
by Damien Sharkov
A good caravanner knows early planning is the best way to keep a hold on your favourite plot once springtime comes frolicking onto the calendar.
With the AA’s announcement of their Campsite of the Year awards, we’ve been taking a look at five of the best destinations you should take note of when you sit down to decide which corner of Blighty you plan to set your next holiday in.
Polmanter Touring Park, St Ives, Cornwall
“From the moment you pass through the gate at Polmanter Touring Park you now you have arrived at a top quality park,” says the AA.
Caravanning and Cornwall go hand in hand, but if you have your mind set on taking to the western shores with your home away from home in tow, it seems there is one destination which towers above the rest.
Awarded both the Best Campsite in England, as well as Best Overall for 2014, Polmanter Touring Park is a great experience all round.
Seaside views and anything from horseback riding and fishing, to golf within a two mile radius, Polmanter Touring park is certainly a stand-out campsite.
Prices range from £15.50 – £30.00 per night for unserviced pitches, though the priciest multi-serviced pitch does not exceed £40.00.
Spaces are going fast so make sure to check availability early on if you are keen to find out what makes Polmanter Touring Park so special.
Grouse Hill Caravan Park, Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
Deep into Robin Hood territory in North Yorkshire and within driving distance of Scarborough and Whitby, Grouse Hill is rightly dubbed the “perfect base for walking, cycling and touring”.
Steam train hobbyists and fanatics will have two nearby steam lines to pick from, as both the Yorkshire Moors and North Bay Railways are nearby.
The park is tucked tightly between North York Moors national park and Robin Hood’s Bay, so there will be no shortage of activities at Grouse Hill.
The recently installed wooden wigwams provide a cosy touch to the campsite’s atmosphere, while leaving plenty of touring space for caravans.
Standard grass pitches range between £16 – £25 per night, while electric pitches are available for as little as £18.00, depending on the season.
Fields End Water Caravan Park & Fishery, Doddington, Cambridgeshire
Here is an alternative for the caravanners who want to get a taste of nature on their break. “Situated on a bank of clay above the surrounding countryside, skilful use of natural contours resulted in the construction of three wide terraces accommodating 38 fully serviced pitches, each with very spacious gravel hardstandings and fringed by varied and colourful shrubs,” the AA guide informs us
A three-acre fishing pit on site will delight those with a penchant for catching their own dinner, while there is also a fishing pool, stocked with carp, chubb, barbel, ide and tench.
Fully serviced pitches range between £15 and £19 per night and dogs are welcome.Fields End is a wonderful location for those who like to let their hair down surrounded by the Cambridgeshire flora and fauna.
Woodclose Caravan Park, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria
“Set in nine acres, with stunning rural views, this mature, well-equipped park that has been upgraded after major investment to ensure a memorable holiday experience,” says the AA.
Plenty of walks are organised for the active caravanner, while on-site bike hire is also an option. There is also the small matter of the park being situated on the doorstep of the Lake District.
What’s more, “touring areas, located on tiered fields, shielded by trees and flora are serviced by the main amenities block; these offer excellent standards and privacy options with unisex shower rooms that also contain a toilet and wash basin.”
The most two adults will pay for the standard pitch with electric and TV hook ups and running hot water is £25.00 per night. If you are looking for a place to set up camp is Cumbria, Woodclose might just be what you are looking for.
Tyddyn Isaf Caravan Park, Anglesey, Wales
Beating out all other parks in Wales to the AA award for the country’s best campsite in the land of song, Tyddyn Isaf “benefits from direct access to an award-winning beach”.
The campsite has been run by the Mount family for years and the courteous service and homely atmosphere make the park a great setting for a stress-free getaway.
“The touring and level camping areas have neat, lush grass and are surrounded by shrubs and wild flowers, the result of a dedicated planting programme, in order to attract an amazing variety of wildlife; the only sounds to be heard are birdsong and the waves as they break on the sandy beach,” says the AA.
During the high season a pitch with electricity will cost you £30.00 a night, although the cheapest grass plot only cost £9 a night, there’s plenty of choice at AA’s Welsh campsite of 2014.
Which camp is your heart set on once the winter gales subside? Did we miss out on a site that has a special place in your heart? Tell us in the comment section below.
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