Woman found dead after blaze at Scottish caravan park

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by Jake Polden

Fire-fighters and police in Fife have launched an investigation in the hope of finding out what caused a fire that took the life of a woman at a Scottish caravan park.

Called to Kilrenny Mill Caravan Park at around 6:30am on Saturday (14 December), six fire-engines and support vehicles attempted to manage a blaze that was described as being “well developed”.

A team of over 35 fire-fighters, all wearing gas-masks, were required to extinguish the flames, before anyone was allowed inside to go and search for bodies.

After a thorough search of the area, a body of an unnamed was discovered. An elderly man was also taken in by ambulance staff and is being treated for smoke inhalation.

A spokesperson for the fire service said: “The tragic loss of life must always bring home the importance of working together to prevent fires and raise awareness of how to be safer from the risk of fire in the home.”

Welsh caravan park hits a hat-trick at Loo of the Year awards

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by Jake Polden

Located on the Cambrian Coast, Min-y-Don Holiday Home and Touring Park picked up a number of accolades at this year’s UK Loo of the Year Awards.

Winning the award for individual category as well as attendant of the year, the caravan park just missed out on achieving the coveted title of overall UK Loo of the Year.

Despite this, the park was given the highest platinum grading at the presentation ceremony in Solihull, and celebrated their success in a competition they have dominated four times over the last six years.

Min-y-Don park, which underwent a £2 million development in 2008, includes everything from five-star wash basins and toilets, to full disabled facilities and a laundry room.

But to win an award, this must all be maintained by a troupe of dedicated staff, if it is to continue scoring so highly in this accolade year-on-year.

Winning attendant of the year for the first time ever, couple Leslie and Andy Holland, who clean and maintain the whole toilet block, revelled in their achievement and received much praise from owners Sue and Richard Hodgson, who said:

“The awards are fantastic for the park and great credit is due to Lesley and Andy Holland, who take care of the cleaning and maintenance of the toilet block,”

“We believe it’s vitally important that we provide the best toilet facilities for customers and staff.

“We were thrilled to be nominated for the first time for the overall Loo of the Year Award and [win] two UK trophies and [are] delighted to receive the highest platinum grading, which is added to the five-star grading from Visit Wales”.

Caravan Club survey estimates there are 1.7m caravanners in the UK

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by Tom Walsh

The tourism industry is driving towards prosperity again and much of this is owed to those who enjoy holidaying in their caravans.

A recent survey from the Caravan Club found that 1.7 million people in the UK enjoy a caravanning holiday and there are more than one million caravans in the country.

Part of the reason for the popularity of caravan holidays is down to how cheap they are – the average pitch price on a Caravan Club site is £22 per night for a family.

Nevertheless, the caravan industry still contributes £6 billion per year to the UK’s local economies.

On top of that, respondents to the survey who were quizzed towards the close of the holiday season said that they main things they like about caravanning is the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, the freedom that holidaying in a caravan offers and the opportunity to select the perfect location.

Due to the influx of caravanners, the Caravan Club has also been able to open three new sites this year, including one in Strathclyde Country Park, which will be welcome guests during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in nearby Glasgow.

PREVIEW: What to look out for at the 2014 Manchester Caravan & Motorhome Show

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by Ruchi Srivastava

One of the biggest and most prominent caravan shows in the country, the 2014 Manchester Caravan & Motorhome Show is set to take place at EventCity from 23-26 January.

This event, which brings together the best of both the caravan as well as the motorhome worlds, will be displaying the latest 2014 caravan, motorhome and holiday home models.

With all the latest models made by top manufacturers on display under one roof, the show offers holidaymakers the ideal opportunity to compare and contrast the different interiors of the models, to ultimately discover their perfect holiday home.

Determined to tempt people and spoil them for choice, some of the top
manufacturers present at the show include Willerby, Swift, Eterniti, Omar, Cambrian, Prestige, Lissett Homes and BK Bluebird.

Other major manufacturers being represented by their respective dealer networks include Bailey, :Elddis, Compass and Coachman.

Also making an appearance at the show, The Caravan Club will be giving lucky visitors the chance to try one of their free ‘Motorhome Manoeuvring’ or ‘Towcar Try Before You Buy’ taster sessions.

There will also be opportunities to test-drive the winner of the respected 2014 Caravan Club Towcar of the Year award, the Skoda Superb.

Holiday inspiration

However, one of the most exciting attractions for the January show is likely to be the ‘Great Days Out’ area.

For the first time, the Caravan & Motorhome Show will be displaying this new attraction that is designed to get you thinking about the perfect holiday spots for the year ahead.

Offering vacationers a package deal at some of the best holiday destinations along with some amazing ticket offers, this attraction is bound to be a popular stop for adventurous families.

Besides, you may even be lucky enough to win free tickets to your dream destination in a series of competitions.

Also, without giving too much away, we can tell you that each holiday attraction will have something to give you a true taste of the experience that they can offer you.

Confirmed holiday attractions include the historic Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways set in the heart of Snowdonia, Wedgwood Visitor Centre, North Yorkshire’s
Flamingo Land Resort, Samlesbury Hall and Gulliver’s World.

Speaking about the newest attraction to their show, the Caravan & Motorhome Show spokesperson, Rob Hawthorne said: “Caravanners take an average of nine holidays every year so they are among the most ‘active’ and aware holidaymakers out there.

“There will be plenty to keep them interested and lots of exclusive deals for them to check out at the show this year.”

All kitted out

Now after providing you with visuals of beautiful and dreamy holiday destinations, it would be very remiss of the show to forget that you must be adequately equipped for your holiday.

However, the 2014 Manchester caravan show ensures that they make no such mistake by showcasing the new season’s most useful products.

Leading outdoor leisure retailers will be readily available to answer your questions and indeed to help you choose your products.

Again, with special show prices on offer, this is not something that you would want to miss. This year’s show will also have an added bonus for active families, as the 2014 show will have its biggest-ever tent array display.

As a result, families will have the luxury of finding a tent that exactly suits their purposes. Also, worth mentioning are the quick-erect option tents that will be available.

That has to be the perfect product for when you are off camping with the whole family.

Alongside the tents, there will also be an extensive choice of accessory retailers at the show displaying the latest holiday equipment and gadgets with one of the leading retailers being Towsure.

Hosting the show’s new Accessory Superstore, Towsure will be showing various, impressive products ranging from bike-racks, barbecues, sat-navs and outdoor furniture.

Basically everything and anything that you could need for a camping holiday will be available at this all-purpose show with the Camping and Caravanning Club also available to provide caravan safety advice and tuition.

As well as being an enjoyable experience, the show is good value for money, with free car parking free entry for under 16-year-olds.

Online advance ticket booking for the show is available through CaravanShows.com and closes on 22 January 2014 (9pm). The price for the standard advance tickets are £7.50, while on the door tickets are priced at £9.00.

So head along and get some inspiration for your next caravan-holiday extravaganza.

VIDEO: Exclusive features in the 2014 Swift caravan ranges

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by Chris Jefferies
What it comes to caravan specification, there are some things that every caravan has and there are some things that only luxury caravans have.
And for 2014 there are are some things that only Swift caravans have, such as Duvalay memory-foam mattresses and D-Mack tyres.
In our latest video, we talk to Nick Page, Commercial Director of Swift, about these exclusive deals for the upcoming season.
Nick tells us about the advantages of a Duvalay, which you may remember from the founders’ appearance on Dragons’ Den in 2011, when they won over the hard-nosed investors.

To hear from Swift suppliers Duvalay, Tracker and Impala click here.


We also find out about D-Mack’s rally pedigree and the benefits this brings to Swift, Sterling and Sprite caravan tyres.
Nick also explains how the Impala fabrics in some of Swift’s more up-market products can repel stains like ketchup, curry and red wine.
Finally, we discuss the Tracker Retrieve stolen vehicle recovery system and how it recently helped to catch a caravan thief in less than an hour.

VIDEO: Why Bailey of Bristol fits WSL wheel bolts to Alu-Tech caravans

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by Chris Jefferies
Sometimes it’s the small things that make the biggest difference, and this is why Bailey of Bristol has been making a song and dance about its new wheel bolts.
Since 2012, every new Bailey range has come fitted with WSL Caravan Wheel Safety Bolts – we saw them on the Unicorn II, the Pegasus GT65, and the recently launched Bailey Pursuit is no exception.
In this video, we catch up with Managing Director Nick Howard to find out why this component is so crucial to caravan wheel safety.
Nick explains how the floating collar design and non-slip finish helps to ensure that the bolts don’t become slacker and lose tension.
We also talk about the importance of having laser-balanced wheels to make your caravan run more smoothly.
Finally, we hear how Bailey came to be the first UK caravan manufacturer to fit Michelin tyres, following the testing and introduction of the ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/bailey-motorhomes/">Bailey motorhomes range.

Caravans left hanging off cliffs in Hull after storm erosion

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by Tom Walsh

While a caravanning holiday by the sea may be pretty, tourists may want to be careful not to stay too close to a cliff edge.

Recent storms have left caravans hanging off the edges of cliffs as rocks fell away beneath them.

The BBC reported that 15 caravans at Porthkerry Leisure Park in Barry had been left teetering on the edge after a rock fall in November.

Following the event, work got under way quickly to move a number of caravans further from the cliff edge in another part of the park.

The coastguard team in Barry were at the scene and were lucky to find that no one had been injured.

Then in December Hull Daily Mail reported that some caravans near Bridlington were left hanging close to the edge when recent tidal surges hit the area.

A retaining wall was taken down by the harsh weather and two or three caravans were damaged but thankfully no one was hurt.

‘Useless’ burglar on caravan holiday tries to steal two TVs

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by Tom Walsh

A burglar attempted to steal two televisions while on a caravanning holiday in Barmston, East Yorkshire but was caught and branded “useless” by his own lawyer.

Hull Daily Mail reported that Simon Tatum broke into a neighbouring caravan and stole the two televisions but was spotted by a young girl.

The police were then called and were able to spot the television under the bed when they searched the caravan Mr Tatum was staying in.

Patrick Palmer, who was defending Mr Tatum, told Hull Daily Mail: “He is useless at it. He went into the caravan, there were people watching and he took the stuff. It was wholly incompetent. I cannot work it out, frankly.”

Hull Crown Court heard that the victim of Mr Tatum’s crime and his wife holiday at the caravan park most weekends. He explained how his wife now feels ill every time she hears a noise for fear that the same thing will happen again.

Five of the best caravan inspired Christmas presents for your tiny tots

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by Jake Polden

Just because your caravan is in storage for the rest of the year, doesn’t mean your love for them has to dwindle.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, remember, so celebrate by splashing out and treating your little ones with some toys that the caravanner in you would have loved as a child.

Toys for toddlers up to infants, we bring you five great Christmas presents that will undoubtedly bring smiles to little faces – and big ones too.

Peppa Pig Caravan Play Tent

Taking care of the youngest children first, this caravan play tent is brilliant. With a fold-up door, picnic mat and awning this tyke-sized tent is the real deal for any little adventurer.

Featuring a movable steering wheel (so technically a motorhome for the pedantic amongst us), the tent comes with a printed control panel and the opportunity for kids to run wild with their creative imaginations.

Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, the tent retails at £32.99.

Bunny Caravan

If you’ve a more hands-on toddler, then check out this Bunny Caravan, available at Fiesta Crafts.

Cute and cuddly, the toy recently won an award with The Gift Association, for being original and innovative; and quite honestly, we can see why.

Featuring a bed, a kitchen and a lounge area, this caravan comes with enough kit to take a bunny family on a truly memorable holiday.

Fitted with some durable wooden wheels and a carrot on a cord, the toy can also assist in getting your little ones on their feet.

Car and Caravan Vehicle Set

Moving away from the toddler-related toys, as stated with the ‘not suitable for children under three years’ tag, we’re onto boy’s toys.

Included in this package is a detachable Elddis caravan (just like mummy and daddy’s real one), and a suitable car in order to tow it with.
And those of us with high standards will be satisfied to know that this scale model is based on a luxurious twin-axle Elddis Crusader.

Both coming in a metal-die cast at a 1:43 scale, the car doors and boot can be opened and closed, which is always handy.

Available for £8.00, this present can be purchased from the John Lewis website.

Lego Caravan

Now onto the clever kids, well at least the older ones. For around £35 you can have the pleasure of digging pieces of Lego out of the settee on Boxing Day.

Well, all young engineers and architects have to start somewhere.

Coming complete with a towcar, a push bike and a camp fire, all of which requires varying levels of concentration to build correctly, the two mini figurines in this pack are set for a great little holiday.

This product is available for purchase on Amazon.

Sylvanian Families Caravan

And finally we bring you the collector’s item.

Aimed at the slightly older child – one that will perhaps respect the detailing of this mini-vintage caravan – this toy opens up to become more spacious than it would first appear.

Coming with a rather smart vintage towcar model and a family of four rabbits all desperate for a weekend away, this toy should provide kids with some stimulating entertainment.

Having set the toy industry alight a few years ago, Sylvanain Families have become increasingly popular amongst collectors, and can command some serious money.

Retailing at £49.49 from House of Fraser this toy is indeed at the higher end of the market, but who knows, it may just be a smart investment.

The Rainbow Sheikh’s Globe Caravan is out of this world

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by Jake Polden

With an ever-growing collection of around 400 vehicles, Sheikh Hamad bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, known colloquially as The Rainbow Sheikh, is the ultimate lover of all things drivable – or indeed tow-able.

Tow-able when attached to a jumbo jet, that is, or maybe the Sheikh’s custom Black Spider concept car, which made the news recently after it was parked illegally and deemed too big to tow by police in Valencia.

Exactly one millionth the size of the actual earth, this out-of-this-world caravan contains nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms across three floors.

Roomy and record-breaking – well almost – this caravan, despite its wheels being the size of the average holiday home, is somewhat dwarfed when stood next to The Sheikh’s Star Wars Sand Crawler-style caravan with suspension struts larger than the average adult male (see below).

As they are both part of a museum, we don’t think that anyone has had the pleasure of turning up to a caravan park in one of these juggernauts.

That said, the Sheikh, a member of Abu Dhabi’s ruling Royal Family, is kind enough to display his vast array of vehicles at the Emirates National Auto Museum, which is just a short drive from the centre of the UAE’s capital city – and best of all, it’s free to visit.

One in ten Brits take regular caravan holidays, survey says

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by Jake Polden

A national survey of UK consumers, found that one in ten British people take regular caravanning holidays, and are willing to travel over two hours to find the best destination.

Results showed that 30% of the 2,000-strong, nationally representative group of consumers polled, had been on a UK caravan holiday or stayed at a holiday park in the last three years.

Considerably well priced when compared to hotels, the cost-effective nature of caravanning was a deciding factor for 56% of those polled.

Meanwhile 52% stated that the communal, safe family environment of a holiday park made them choose it over a hotel.

Journey time was also something considered by half of those polled, while picturesque landscapes and location was found to be more important to those aged over 55.

Paul Hemming, Partner and Head of Corporate Finance at Zolfo Cooper, who carry out the annual survey, said: “It is no surprise to us, given the high standards of many UK holiday parks, which have seen significant investment in recent years, that the very British holiday in a caravan, or at a holiday park, is as popular as ever.”

The survey, which also considered a holiday-goer’s spending habits, found that most people (55%) had a tenancy to buy food from off-site shops and restaurants in the day, with considerably less (39%) doing so in the evening.

Speaking of the positive statistics, Hemming added: “This is a market with great potential and we expect credible, safe and high-quality sites to grow across the country over the next few years”.

Bridport caravan park lands top accolade at Dorset business awards

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by Tom Walsh

A caravan park in Bridport has capped off 2013 with a flourish by claiming a top accolade at the Dorset Business Awards.

Highlands End Holiday Park was bestowed with first prize in the Dorset Tourism Award category after managing to hold off a range of top competitors to land the accolade, Bridport News reports.

Martin Cox, from the caravan park, told the news provider of his immense pride at being able to land an award of this prestige.

He added: “All our team appreciate the importance of customer service and high standards to ensure that our visitors enjoy their holiday breaks in Dorset and the importance of tourism to the economy of the area.”

Highlands End Holiday Park sits in a perfect location which is suited for people wanting to visit the Dorset coast. It is also just a couple miles from the town of Bridport.

It was praised for the way it constantly changes approach to meet the demands of the tourism industry.