VIDEO: Technical innovations in the new Bailey Pursuit range

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Back in the summer of 2012, Bailey of Bristol unveiled the beginning of the third generation of Alu-Tech caravans, with the launch of the Unicorn Series II.
Since then, the company has trickled down many of this range’s key innovations into more affordable caravans.
With the arrival of the Bailey Pursuit, this process comes full circle and entry-level caravanners can benefit from the advantages that this technology brings.
In this video, CaravanTimes catches up with Rachel May from Bailey, who tells us why it makes more sense to have your gas locker mounted above the axle.
She also talks us through the heat retaining properties of the 30% thicker GRP walls, which have helped all these models to achieve Grade III thermal insulation.
Finally, we discuss the Pursuit’s new Truma Combi boiler system, which is brought over from the Bailey Motorhomes range.
Rachel explains how this crucial piece of kit helps to keep you cosy when the temperature drops.
For full prices and weights of the Bailey Pursuit, click here 

Swift Group celebrates as Hull is named UK City of Culture for 2017

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Hull has beaten off stiff competition from Leicester, Dundee and Swansea Bay to be named the UK’s City of Culture for 2017.
The accolade recognises the city’s development and has been hailed by Hull council leader Stephen Brady as “a real game-changer”.
Known by many as the heartland of the UK’s booming caravan industry, Hull is also the home of poet Philip Larkin, the Ferens gallery and the Truck theatre.
The news has been welcomed by local caravan manufacturer Swift. Nick Page, Commercial Director at Swift Group, said: “We are delighted that Hull has been recognised at City of Culture for 2017.
“We were involved in the bidding process and the Company was featured in the promotional video that was made for the bid.
“It is also a great boost for the local economy and as one of the major employees in Hull we recognise that this will raise the profile of the area.”
Previous UK City of Culture winners include Liverpool in 2008 and Derry/Londonderry in 2013.
And since the Northern Irish city combined art and caravanning so beautifully in the Borderline Project, we at CaravanTimes wouldn’t be surprised to see some caravan-themed artwork springing up in Hull city centre before long.
Whilst the City of Culture accolade doesn’t come with any extra Government arts funding, BBC Arts Editor Will Gompertz has described the recognition as transformative.
Details of Hull’s celebrations are yet to be confirmed, but Will adds: “My guess is that the city will put on a great show.”

Disgruntled couple speak out against underpaying motorhome dealer

Posted by

by Jake Polden

Being trustworthy requires you to be responsible, but this responsibility can be ignored by some dealers who underpay for motorhomes from unknowing individuals.

A recent example of this is Phil and Jenny’s story, a couple who told their tale to The Daily Express.

Looking for a quick sale on their motorhome, the pair received £11,000 in a transaction with a local dealer – a sum they now believe to be substantially less than the actual market value.

Stating that “leaks had rotted some of the bodywork” the dealer bagged himself a tidy profit by reportedly selling the motorhome on for £26,000.

Despite the process of selling a tourer being notoriously daunting and a hassle to some, Comfort Insurance product manager Ben Cue, told the news provider that there are a few things sellers can do to make the task easier.

Motorhomes are unlike cars in that they do not depreciate in value – at least not at the same speed. Most motorhomes in fact can actually increase in value over the spring period, with dealers hoping to make quick sales before the harsh wintry conditions arrive.

Recommending to get at least three offers before committing to a sale, Ben has explained how dealers will offer you less to cover their overheads, and that despite the extra leg work, private sales can be more profitable.

While this story is particularly unfortunate, considering the couple were forced to sell their motorhome due to Phil’s declining health, it is a rather extreme example.

Most dealers are fair and honest, and will offer you a competitive deal on your tourer.

That said, keep this story in mind and remember when you go to sell your caravan or motorhome to get at least three quotes, to not sell unless you are 100% happy, and to fix any minor defects to ensure you get the best possible price.

Climbers Against Cancer pose with caravan for saucy charity calendar

Posted by

by Jake Polden

As the New Year moves closer, many charities begin to rack their brains and wonder, “what can we do to make this year’s calendar a success?”

Well, according to Climbers Against Cancer the answer is simple, include a caravan.

Their choice to include scantily clad female athletes may also play a small part in making the calendar appealing – and we’d have to agree, it does.

Travelling from all over the globe, the female climbers gathered in Boulder Colorado, USA, and took it in turns to strike poses in front and inside of a vintage silver caravan, before grouping together to create the photograph for December.

Speaking to The Mirror, Shauna Coxsey, who features in October, said, “As a trustee of Climbers Against Cancer I wanted to do something different, fun and light hearted for the cause and this seemed perfect.

“A calendar full of climbing photos would draw some attention, but people see us climbing all of the time so it wouldn’t be different or unique.”

Founded in 2010, Climbers Against Cancer was established to bring cancer suffering climbers together from around the world.

John Ellison, whose idea started the charity said: “This calendar will be a huge help.”

The calendar is on sale now, priced at £19.99 from shop.climbersagainstcancer.org.

One in three caravanners take a Christmas break, survey claims

Posted by

by Tom Walsh

Christmas is traditionally seen as a time to spend at home with the family and inevitably fall asleep in front of the TV.

However, a new survey has found that a large number of campers and caravanners will be spending the festive period on holiday.

Shield Total Insurance found that a third of its customers will be enjoying Christmas dinner on a campsite when the big day rolls around.

When questioned on their reasoning 16 per cent said they enjoy being cosy when the cold weather sets in.

Nineteen per cent added that it gives them the freedom to enjoy Christmas anywhere they choose.

Shield found that a further ten per cent of their customers are already planning a break in the chilly months of January and February.

This coming Christmas is set to be no different with selected Caravan Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club sites staying open for the festive holiday to accommodate people who want to do something different over the period.

The Friendly Club has recently reported a 28 per cent rise in bookings for the festive period, and this trend is further backed up by a recent Caravan Guard insurance poll which claims that 76 per cent of caravanners regularly head out in the winter months.

Severn bridge car and caravan toll to rise in 2014

Posted by

by Tom Walsh

Caravanners heading to Wales in the new year will be met with an increased toll to cross the Severn bridge.

Severn River Crossing (SRC) plc confirmed that car and caravan owners would be charged £6.40, an extra 20p on the current cost.

The changes will come into place from 1 January and will also affect a number of other motorists using the bridges.

Small goods vehicles and small buses will be charged £12.80 (a 40p rise) while heavy goods vehicle drivers will have to pay an extra 60p taking the cost up to £19.20.

A spokesman for the SRC said: “The new toll levels are confirmed each year by a parliamentary Order made in December which authorises SRC to adjust tolls to the revised levels.”

Wales is a popular destination for caravanners with many people heading to the likes of Llandudno, Anglesey and Carmarthen Bay for a holiday.

Greetham Retreat Holidays named as Caravan Club CL of the Year 2013

Posted by

by Ruchi Srivastava

Greetham Retreat Holidays has won the Caravan Club’s annual prize for being the foremost Certified Location in the UK.

The announcement was made at a parliamentary reception on Monday (18 November), where Gorden Marsden MP presented the site owners Rob and Jeanette Folwell with a trophy.

Certified Locations (or CLs) are the exclusive, five-pitch caravan sites that are available to all Caravan Club members.

Becoming increasingly popular holiday destinations, these sites are often situated in beautiful, scenic locations such as near beaches, rivers or maybe even uniquely near a windmill.

The Caravan Club’s judges had 2,500 CLs to pick from, so this truly is a prestigious award for the winners.

Greetham Retreat Holidays is a peaceful five-pitch site, which offers great views of the scenic Lincolnshire Woods from the various pitches.

This location makes it a convenient site for holidaymakers, as they are easily able to commute to various local attractions and landmarks.

Some of these attractions include the nature reserves at Snipe Dales, Gibraltar Point, and the popular Freiston Shore.

Open all year round, Greetham Retreat Holidays also offers useful facilities that include free Wi-Fi, a laundry room, a heated toilet block and a shower room.

Second place went to Low Moor Head in Cumbria, while East Fortune in Berwick claimed the third prize.

Caravan Club names Baltic Wharf as 2013 Bloom Award winner

Posted by

by Ruchi Srivastava

The Caravan Club’s Bloom Award for 2013 has been presented to Baltic Wharf caravan park in Bristol.

Baltic Wharf is an impressive 55-pitch caravan site that is conveniently connected to a river ferry that takes visitors into the city centre.

This gives you the freedom to not only enjoy the idyllic nature of the park but to also venture into the bright lights of the city.

In addition to this, families also have the chance to visit the child-friendly Zoo and Downs Park, which makes for a wonderful picnic area.

The Bloom awards were first started in 2003 by the club member, Alan Payne with the purpose of appreciating the skill and hard work of Caravan Club site wardens, who along with various volunteers, maintain the beauty of the Caravan Club sites in various creative ways.

They are also the people, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that you feel welcome and enjoy your stay at their caravan parks.

Club chairman Grenville Chamberlain presented the award to the park’s wardens, Mike and Lyn Stirling.

Commenting on the couples’ admirable achievement, the chairman praised their “most stunning displays of plants and flowers to greet visitors, using tastefully themed bursts of colours throughout the site.”

Also coming very close to the awards and right behind Baltic Wharf, were the Ayr Craigie Gardens in Scotland and the Wyatts Covert site near Denham, in Buckinghamshire.

Signage may put an end to Norfolk tourist beach disorder

Posted by

by Tom Walsh

Signage at a popular Norfolk tourist beach has become a heated topic for caravan and chalet owners in the area.

Snettisham beach has become a hotspot for people visiting the area but for the past four years they have been told by nearby residents that they face prosecution for trespassing if they do not leave, EDP24 reports.

Norfolk County Council (NCC) had erected signage warning people not to walk there but Snettisham Parish Council has insisted that it is common land. The pair will now come together to discuss a solution to the problem.

Eric Langford, parish council chairman, told the news provider: “Pressure will be applied on a NCC working group of members to resolve once and for all the access signage scandal and subsequent lawlessness that exists at Snettisham beach.

“This area is common land. There can be no private land on a common.”

Snettisham beach is a great spot for holidaymakers and lies just over 12 miles away from King’s Lynn.

Ambleside holiday park adopts new tactic to tackle ‘sudden oak death’

Posted by

by Tom Walsh

An Ambleside holiday park is adopting an innovative tactic to help protect its trees from a conditional known as sudden oak death.

Residents and guests at Skelwith Fold Caravan Park are being asked to take home acorns to prevent the healthy saplings avoid being contaminated with the virus.

Sudden oak death is caused by the oomycete plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum and has the ability to kill oak and other species of tree.

It has previously had a devastating effect to forests in the US and staff are keen to prevent it happening in Cumbria.

The Westmorland Gazette reports that the holiday park is collecting acorns from the 130-acre wood to help prevent the spread of the disease which, despite its name, can strike during any season.

Owner Henry Wild recently collected the park’s latest David Bellamy Conservation Award and is committed to protecting the environment in which his park is situated and by doing this he believes it will prevent the death of many trees.

Iconic holiday company Eurocamp put up for sale by Cox & Kings

Posted by

by Jake Polden

In a move that has been dubbed as the “end of an era”, Eurocamp has been put up for sale by owner Cox & Kings, suggesting that this type of camping holiday is now a thing of the past.

Speaking for the Association of British Travel Agents, chairman Noel Josephides said: “There is now an enormous supply of accommodation in hotels across Europe, much of it is cheap.

“And campsites, like hotels, know they no longer need to work with operators like Eurocamp when they can get business direct from websites”.

While this is unfortunate industry news, Mark Hammerton, son of the original Eurocamp owner, believes that despite these changes, the world of camping and caravanning is very much “alive and kicking”.

He adds that the upsurge in festival popularity, coupled with national financial insecurity, has inadvertently put camping and caravanning holidays back on the agenda.

Whereas before foreign camp sites would be culturally isolating, they are now fully equipped with reps and activities for all age groups.

Caravans reduced to dust after fire at Lynemouth storage facility

Posted by

by Jake Polden

Firefighters were called to tackle a destructive blaze on Saturday (16 November), as Lynemouth storage facility in Northumberland was shrouded in flames and thick black smoke.

Arriving to the scene at around 2:30pm, the fire department proceeded to corner off the entire facility and adjoining road, before attempting to manage the blaze.

Taking firefighters two hours to control, ten caravans and two motorhomes are reported to have perished, while many others have experienced some level of cosmetic damage.

Speaking for the Northumberland fire and rescue service, a spokesperson said: “There were ten liquid petroleum gas cylinders in the vicinity of the fire and some exploded.

“Fire crews adopted the procedure for these cylinders – applying a water spray to cool them and then checking that they were safe.”

While the current belief is that the fire was caused by youths who gained entrance by climbing a fence, the destruction, exaggerated by the gas canisters on site, will inevitably call into question the level of security that surrounds caravan storage facilities up and down the country.