by Chris Jefferies
Buying a caravan or motorhome requires careful consideration, but when it comes to living with your tourer you need to be sure that it can be repaired quickly and easily if anything happens to it.
With this in mind, Elddis has recently overhauled its after-sales support system to allow warranty and repairs work to take place more quickly.
In this video we speak to Angela Robson from Elddis, who explains that with a dedicated workshop the company can deal with after-sales issues completely separately to the main production line.
We also talk about the challenge of providing replacement parts; something which Elddis claim takes them less than two working days for most purchase parts.
Prices in this luxury motorhome range start from £43,899 for the two-berth Elddis Aspire 215, rising to £49,999 for the four-berth Elddis Aspire 265
Low Park Wood: Discovering The Caravan Club’s gateway to the Lake District
by Chris Jefferies
There are some caravan parks that once visited, simply have to be revisited time and time again – and Low Park Wood definitely falls into this category.
Nestled in the Cumbrian forest of Oxenholme and within striking distance of Britain’s biggest stretch of water at Windermere, this 141-pitch rural idyll is at once remote and conveniently sited.
The coast at Morecombe Bay is just ten minutes drive from the site, while the challenging mountain walks of Patterdale are around 45 minutes by car, not that you’d know it from the serene surroundings of this former National Trust woodland site.
After meeting the site’s wardens, Phil and Maureen Varty, it’s clear that there are an abundance of local attractions to occupy any taste, and they certainly aren’t short of suggestions.
Leading directly off the site are four woodland walks, taking in Sizergh Castle, the Lancaster Canal, the local farm shop and the popular Levens Hall, with its deer and Bagot goats.
Looking further afield and you have the lake steamers of Ullswater, the motor museum at Haverthwaite and even the North Yorkshire Moors all within an easy day’s drive.
On the other hand, it’s just as tempting to spend an entire week at Low Park Wood without even leaving the site.
If you go down to the wood…
Situated on the grounds of a Victorian gunpowder mill, the 20-acre site is certainly unique, offering a real glimpse into the local history of the area.
Built in 1764, the Sedgwick mill was a very dangerous place to work in its day – but don’t worry, it’s perfectly safe now, as the mill closed nearly 100 years ago!
In terms of pitches, there is everything you could possibly ask for, from secluded woodland groves to extra-large pitches for mammoth twin-axle tourers.
There are four especially reserved pitches next to the toilet block, which are set aside for disabled visitors, but the highlight of the site has to be pitch 21, which Maureen calls “the Honeymoon Suite”.
Surrounded by grassy banks on three sides, this pitch is ideal for couples, and Maureen tells us that they have had a fair few honeymooners come to stay over the years.
Plentiful provisions
The facilities on site also make it easy to stay at Low Park Wood for days without needing to venture too far from your pitch.
The reception lodge boasts a good selection of handy provisions, drinks and ice-creams, as well as freshly baked loaves, rolls and scones, delivered each morning from the nearby Grange Bakery.
Wi-Fi internet access was rolled out last year, and Phil tells us that it has been a “fantastic success”. Visitors can buy credit from reception, and a network of around a dozen discreetly hidden transmitters ensures you can always get online without any hassle.
What’s more, the TV aerial boosters offer good reception for picking up Freeview digital TV on every pitch.
On a more prosaic note, the site even offers laundry facilities (£3 for a wash, 70p for a dry), which, as Maureen tells us, is particularly popular among hardcore caravanners who want to clean their delicates during a particularly long break away from home.
Flora and fauna
The woodland feel of this site isn’t just down to its remote location – the wildlife is plentiful, with a wide variety of birds often spotted, from buzzards to dippers.
If you’re lucky you might even spot some deer gambolling past, or you can seek out sea trout and salmon on a relaxing day of fly fishing.
Another big draw, particularly among families, is the nearby farm, which regularly opens its doors to visitors who can ride the ponies or even milk the cows.
Moving from fauna to flora and there is an abundance of bluebells and subtly pungent wild garlic (see right) that blooms in season. All in all, there’s plenty to inspire any keen wildlife photographer.
So it comes as no surprise, when Phil tells us that 60 per cent of the people who stop in at Low Park Wood have come to stay at least once before.
With so much to see and do both on site and beyond, this charming site definitely has to go down on the list for a repeat visit.
Site Fact File:
- 141 pitches in total (all hardstanding and 9 serviced)
- Pitches available from just £6.20 per night (excluding per capita charges)
- Open to non-members, with a £10/night surcharge
- Town centre within a ten-minute drive
- Open this year from 23rd March to 5th November
*For more details see the Caravan Club website.
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Head of Park Holidays slams damaging weather forecasters
A Sussex caravan boss has slammed UK weather forecasters for their “increasingly alarmist” predictions, which he believes are putting people off booking their summer caravan holidays.
Park Holidays UK director Tony Clish told the BBC that weather forecasts are becoming “increasingly alarmist” – and it is having an impact on bookings in the caravan industry.
“We all plan in advance and some people decide not to do things and end up missing a nice day because of the weather forecast,” said Mr Clish, whose firm operates sites throughout Devon, Dorset, Kent and Sussex.
“It’s a very late booking pattern and people wait to see what forecasters say on the TV and radio.”
BBC weatherman Tomasz Schafernaker said he could understand Mr Clish’s sentiments as there was sometimes a tendency “to emphasise on the negative”, but he denied that weather forecasters are not “deliberately pessimistic”.
Earlier this month, 150 caravanners at a site in Wales had to be rescued by after flash flooding left them stranded amid rapidly-rising waters.
Camping & Caravanning Club member on his marks for Olympic Torch relay
A Camping and Caravanning Club member is counting down the days until he picks up the Olympic Flame on its way to London for the opening ceremony of London 2012.
Russell Winfield was chosen to be an official Torchbearer by the London 2012 Organising Committee and will take up his duty on June 27th as part of the relay team carrying the Flame through the town of Boston in Lincolnshire.
He will be one of the 8,000 inspirational people who will take part in the relay after being nominated by someone they know – though in Russell’s case it came as a complete surprise after an anonymous member of his table tennis club put his name forward.
“It’s just marvellous! It’s such an honour to be a part of the Games – even if it is only a tiny part,” he said.
“It really is going to be a moment to remember and it’s definitely something I look forward to telling my grandchildren about someday.”
The torch will eventually arrive at the Olympic Stadium in London to launch the games on July 27th, after passing by several of the Club’s award-winning caravan sites.
To help fans looking to attend events at the games, the Club has put together its ‘Summer of 2012 Event Campsites’ which are all located close to the action. For full details of those sites, click here.
Simple Caravan Insurance finds a new pitch with Direct Group buyout
Simple Caravan Insurance has reacted to its multi-million pound buyout by Direct Group, claiming that “exciting times lie ahead”.
The deal sees Direct Group take ownership of all the Simple Insurance brands, which also includes the Simple Landlords Insurance. With the backing of its new owner, Simple expects to spend the next few months significantly increasing its customer base.
Caravan owners already insured with Simple have been told that their current insurance cover remains unaffected by the buyout process.
The takeover took place last month and Simple is in the process of writing to its customers about the change in parent company, informing them that it will be business as usual at the company.
In a statement, the company said: “Simple Caravan Insurance is now owned and administered by Millennium Insurance Brokers who are part of Direct Group.
“As a customer there is no action you need to take at all, you’ll still get the same friendly service from our UK based team and great levels of cover, as your policy is still underwritten by Ageas Insurance Limited.”
Simple Caravan Insurance is one of the UK’s leading insurance providers, covering thousands of touring and static caravan owners. They pride themselves on having a plain-talking, jargon-free approach.
Insider Media reports that Direct Group’s buyout deal was completed as part of a £15m refinancing facility from Lloyds Bank.
Rob Walton, Customer Manager for Simple Caravan Insurance, said: “These are really exciting times for Simple Caravan Insurance as we look to further develop our expanding presence within the caravanning community.
“We’re looking to draw on the expert resources within Direct Group to further enhance our service to the thousands of UK caravan owners choosing to protect their caravans with Simple each year, both in terms of the experience we offer to our customers and the cover available to choose from.”
Bailey Unicorn passes gruelling Australian outback challenge
Bailey Caravans pride themselves on putting their caravans through the toughest of endurance tests to make sure they fit the bill, but the Unicorn Pamplona’s recent visit to the Australian Outback took this process to a new extreme.
A recent trip to Al-Ko’s test track in Germany saw the Bailey Unicorn Cabrera complete 1,000 punishing laps of the circuit, but how would the Pamplona survive the notoriously harsh conditions of the outback?
Pretty well, as it turns out – travelling nearly the entire length of Australia between Melbourne and Perth over a three-week period, the Pamplona covered 3,500 miles in temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius.
Despite the extreme heat, the tourer successfully completed the gruelling challenge; just as the Bailey Pegasus overcame a similar Alpine Challenge in 2009 during which temperatures went as low as -15 degree Celsius.
In a statement, the company said: “[This] highlights the versatility of the Alu-Tech construction system and its ability to provide greater protection against the elements keeping you comfortable safe and secure no matter how tough the conditions.”
Ricky Tomlinson ‘gutted’ after gang steal his Hobby caravan
Actor Ricky Tomlinson has admitted he is “gutted” after thieves made off with his caravan, even though it had no wheels and was propped up on railway sleepers and breeze blocks in a picturesque Cheshire meadow.
The 72-year-old Royle Family star was staying in the £12,000 tourer while filming a nature programme, but had raised it off the ground because it was parked on a flood plain.
Pleading for the return of his treasured 27ft Hobby 635, the 72-year-old said he “can’t believe it happened”.
“It must have been a well-organised gang of thieves because it is a big, six-berth caravan which was not even on wheels,” he told the Daily Mail.
The vehicle was parked at the end of a mile-long country lane in the middle of a meadow and the thieves had to remove a gate from its hinges to make their getaway.
“I am gutted because I was in the process of letting one of my mates use it for a little outing for his two kids,” he added.
Figures from Club Care Insurance show that there is an annual spike in caravan thefts between May and August, with only three per cent of those stolen recovered.
Devon caravan site welcomes nesting tawny owls
A picturesque caravan site in Devon welcomed some new visitors recently, when a pair of tawny owls nesting in one of its bird boxes hatched a pair of owlets.
It has been five years since the RSPB put up bird boxes at Lydford Caravan & Camping Park, but now that the owls have finally moved in they have quickly settled and owlets have hatched recently.
As the parents spent the coming days working hard to keep their offspring fed, one of the babies fell from the nest and had to be taken in by wardens at the park.
Nicknamed Olly, the owlet resisted initial attempts to put him back in the purpose-built owl box so, with the assistance of RSPCA experts, wardens made a nest for him in the office overnight.
After enjoying a night indoors, Olly was returned to his worried parents, and the family have since taken flight and are enjoying the freedom of the Devon countryside – though their hoots can still be heard from around the park.
Birdwatchers visiting this David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award-winning site are certainly in for a treat!
Police appeal after caravan thieves steal dog show prizes
Police are on the hunt after caravan thieves in Lincolnshire stole a tourer that contained its owners prized dog show awards.
The authorities have now appealed for help tracking down the criminals who stole the 2004 Elddis Avante 475 from Broadgate in Sutton St James on early Friday morning.
It is thought that the white caravan, which had dog stickers decorating its rear window, was stolen between midnight and 4am.
“The offenders used a jack to lift one side up and have then used an unknown instrument to remove the locking nuts before breaking off the hitch lock,” police said.
In addition to the dog stickers, which the thieves may have now removed, the caravan also had a smashed outer panel on its front window and has maroon writing on its side.
Anyone who may know anything is asked to call PCSO Ben Harrington at Lincolnshire Police on 101 or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Global demand fires Silver Bullet Caravans to success
Business is booming at a small caravan maker in the West Midlands, whose retro 1950s-style caravans are shooting out of the door faster than they can make them.
Demand for Kidderminster-based Silver Rocket Caravans’ hand-made trailers is growing all the time and having already doubled its workforce to ten, the company could add a further ten workers within the next 18 months as demand hots up.
A bulk order from the Netherlands for a new mobile barbecue business is just one example of the kind of customers taking an interest in the rock ‘n’ roll tourers, according to a report in the Express and Star.
Having initially launched the company with only his daughter Lydia as well as his business partner, Silver Bullet managing director Peter Carrick has overseen rapid growth and a year ago was forced to find bigger premises to make the retro aluminium trailers.
With orders stacking up, this 9,500 sq ft factory in Easter Park is already looking too small and Mr Carrick could soon find himself working with a much larger army of staff in a plant three times the size.
The 59-year-old told the newspaper: “There is a big revival of retro fashion in all kinds of things at the moment.
“We’ve exported to Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and Holland, as well as having a lot of interest in the UK.”
For Lydia, 24, the big attraction of the caravans is their shininess and rock ‘n’ roll style.
“They’re so much more individual than the modern fibre glass caravans – they are all bespoke and you can have whatever you want inside to create your own little home from scratch,” she said.
The firm currently has five different models on the menu, ranging from a 16ft single-axle version called the Grasshopper all the way up to the 23ft twin-axle Constellation.
National Caravan Show puts two TV chefs on the menu
With tickets already on sale, the organisers of the national Motorhome & Caravan Show are now beginning to confirm the star-studded line-up appearing at Birmingham’s NEC in October.
First on the menu are television celebrities Paul Hollywood and Matt Dawson, who are set to give culinary demonstrations at the Cookery Theatre.
Paul shot to prominence on the recent show The Great British Bake Off after making his name as one of the country’s most talented bakers. He will be showing caravanners how they can still enjoy the ancient craft when on a touring holiday when making an appearance on Wednesday October 17th.
Matt Dawson, meanwhile, will be bringing his trademark banter and recently-discovered culinary skills to the show on Saturday October 20th.
The former England scrum-half-turned-TV-chef is bound to be a hit at the show after using his stint on Celebrity MasterChef as a springboard to release his own cook book and record two television series.
In a statement announcing the two latest recruits, the National Caravan Council promised that visitors to this year’s show would be thrilled by what is on offer.
“This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than before, occupying eleven halls (over 80,000 sq m) and uniting more than 400 exhibitors, including campsites, destinations, attractions, leisure suppliers and service providers,” it said.
The 2012 Motorhome & Caravan Show will runs from October 16th-21st.
Airstream teams up with Westmorland park for try-before-you-buy offer
If you’ve always liked the look of an Airstream caravan but have never been quite convinced by their practicality, then a new scheme from the company may be just what you are looking for.
Airstream has joined forces with Westmorland Caravan Park in the Lake District to offer potential customers the chance to ‘try before you buy’.
As part of the offer, anyone can hire one of the silver bullets for a stay at the Westmorland site, giving them the ideal opportunity to see how they feel.
The caravan site is located just a few minutes away from Airstream’s HQ in Tebay and it offers a great base for anyone looking to explore the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales or Northumberland National Park.
It is also run by the same people who own the Farm Shop at Tebay services – an award-winning store that offers great meats and cheeses and is right on the park’s doorstep.
With packages costing either £495 for three nights or £700 for seven nights it is perhaps not the cheapest way to enjoy a caravan holiday if you just fancied renting one for the fun of it, but that charge will be refunded from the purchase price of one of the caravans afterwards.
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