Caravan swept to its demise as floods take grip

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by Joe Jeffrey

Watch as caravan is taken downriver with calamitous consequences

Footage revealing the effects of Storm Frank over the Christmas period has appeared online showing a caravan being indiscriminately carried downstream in a fast-flowing river before meeting its fate after crashing into a bridge due to raised water levels.

The incident, which occurred in Shipley, West Yorkshire, shows the caravan being carried downriver as onlookers watch on in bewilderment before the roof of the caravan is violently ripped off after it makes contact with the bottom of a bridge.

The footage has emerged following the Met Office issuing amber ‘be prepared’ warnings across northern parts of the UK and nine severe flood warnings across the country, indicating ‘danger to life’.

It is estimated that the destruction caused by the flooding could exceed somewhere in the region of £5.8bn.

Check out the footage of the caravan below and let us know if you’re caravan is currently safe – we hope it is!

Somerset caravan park set to host Nudefest 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Naturist organisation finds new venue as more people decide to pack light

Thousands of naturists are set to descend upon a Somerset caravan park for the ninth annual Nudefest event.

The venue for the week-long festival has been confirmed as Thorney Lakes Caravan and Camping Park near Langport following a spike in interest by those looking to attend for 2016, after last year’s event – held in Newquay – proved more popular than ever before and saw around 300 attendees travel light.

The news of a change in venue owing to the popularity of the event has come as no surprise to some, with British Naturism communications manager, Andrew Welch, highlighting the impact of the ‘buff pound’, saying: “Nudefest has been a spectacular success. As with the many naturist events we hold in the UK, venue owners always invite us back as we are a fun, polite and respectful crowd and they tell us we are a real pleasure to have. It is clear that the ‘buff pound’ is now emerging as a significant market segment.

“We contribute to the local economy just like everybody else. We still put our money in the pay and display car parks, we still buy fish and chips after a trip to the beach – the difference is we do it without any clothes on.”

“We’re all the same underneath, and we’re all different underneath. Being nude is so much more than you might think – it’s a real shared experience.”

Thorney Lakes Caravan and Camping Park representative Sally England said of the event: “This came about because British Naturism approached Cartgate Tourism Information Centre, and the people from Somerset Tourism pointed them to us.

“We are a family-run campsite, so we had to make sure all the family were happy about it. But we are looking forward to it and will give them a warm welcome.”

Ms England added that the camp site would not be taking regular bookings during the event, allowing the nudists to have the site to themselves.

She continued: “I think this will be very good for the local economy – in fact it will be good for the whole of Somerset.”

Nudefest 2016 takes place between 5 – 11 July and will consist of host of activities for those looking to let it all hang out, including willow making, yoga, Indian dancing, archery, airgun range and painting to name just a few – just watch where you’re pointing that gun should you decide to attend!

For more information on Nudefest 2016 click here.

West Yorkshire business appeals against planning permission refusal for caravan park

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by Joe Jeffrey

Public and Councillor object to caravan site plans over effect it would have on environment

A company has appealed against a council’s decision to refuse planing permission for a new caravan site in West Yorkshire amid objections from the local public.

The proposal for the site in Heptonstall by Westbourne Legal Services Ltd, with a view to turning agricultural land into a touring site with facilities building was met with fierce objection from nearby residents, with reasons cited including the impact such a site would have on Heponstall’s picturesque landscape, as well as an increase in traffic in the area.

Prior to the submission of a third planning application, two previous applications were made – in both 2013 and 2014 – but were dismissed over claims of the negative impact the propped site would have on the green belt and character of the area.

However, it’s not just the public who have appealed against the application, with Councillor Janet Battye stating previously: “”My objections to this application continue to be because I have serious concerns about the impact of putting a caravan site in a visible place on top of the horizon in this wonderful landscape and because of the number of vehicles it will draw either up Lee Wood Road which has been narrowed because of flood damage, or through the old village of Heptonstall.”

One of the applicants in favour of the proposed site, Steve Holt, said: “I believe Calderdale should be promoting projects like this for tourism and promoting quality accomodation.

“This will be really positive and we are trying to protect the countryside and we don’t want to cause any damage.

“Caravanners are especially friendly people who drive carefully and follow signs, no vehicles would be going through Heptonstall,” he added.

In light of the recent request for further consideration, Councillor Battye again stepped to the forefront of the debate, adding: “My view remains the same. This land is on top of the hillside, very visible and in an important area of countryside between the lovely old village of Heptonstall, Hardcastle Crags and open countryside and moorland.

“Not a suitable place for a caravan park which would put a lot of extra vehicles onto narrow, country lanes which are not able to cope with heavy traffic.

What do you think? It would be interesting to read your comments below.

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Storm Frank set to wreak more havoc over Christmas and New Year period across the North

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by Joe Jeffrey

Flood-hit communities batten down hatches as Storm Frank promises more misery ahead

The Met office has issued amber ‘be prepared’ weather warnings following a spate of flooding across northern parts of the UK over the Christmas period.

Forecasters have predicted up to 90mm of rain could fall in parts of Cumbria on Wednesday, with the potential to reach up to 140mm in exposed areas, adding to the devastation caused by Storm Desmond earlier in the month.

Meanwhile, firefighters in Greater Manchester have been praised for rescuing around 1,000 people from floods as water levels rose rapidly in less than 24 hours, as crews were described as responding “magnificently” by Fire Authority chairman, David Acton.

Incidents included 47 people requiring to be rescued from a caravan site on Sunday which was affected by rising water, including four members of a family in a car which had become stranded in rising water.

Yellow ‘be aware’ warnings of rain and wind across the northwest have also been issued including in Lancashire following on from the effects of storms over the Christmas period which saw many people evacuated from their homes.

The new warnings come in light of the Environment Agency (EA) promising to reevaluate flooding preparedness, with EA chief executive David Rooke indicating it was set to look at different ways to flood-proof homes as well as traditional forms of flood defence.

Nine severe flood warnings are currently enforced across the country, indicating “danger to life” across many other parts of the North, including in York which is still suffering from flooding over the Christmas period.

It is estimated that the cost of repairing the devastation caused by extreme weather could exceed £5.8bn.

Are you experiencing adverse weather where you are at present? let us know in the comments below.

CaravanTimes Awards 2015: Fourth Generation Bailey Pegasus takes first place in Caravan of the Year category

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by Joe Jeffrey

Fourth generation Bailey Pegasus takes top spot followed by Swift Challenger/Sterling Eccles and Elddis Crusader in CaravanTimes Awards 2015

In what saw many contenders and a worthy list of nominees in this year’s CaravanTimes Awards 2015, the fourth generation Bailey Pegasus has taken the prestigious title of Caravan of the Year for 2015.

The Awards, which recognise brilliance across both the caravanning and motorhoming industries throughout the year, are unique in the way in which you, the public, vote – and wow, did you vote!

The Swift Challenger/Sterling Eccles, built with SMART Plus construction and available in eight different models for 2015, came a respectable second place this year, whilst the Elddis Crusader came in third place. However, there could only be one winner within the category of Caravan of the Year 2015, and this year it was the new fourth generation Bailey Pegasus , with its seven best-selling layouts, suitable for couples and families alike.

Check out a breakdown of this category above. To look at a more comprehensive detailed breakdown of all of the results from the CaravanTimes Awards 2015, visit our forum by clicking here.

CaravanTimes Awards 2015: Swift Bessacar steals Bailey’s title in Motorhome of the Year category

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by Joe Jeffrey

Swift’s Bessacarr takes stop spot in motorhome category for 2015

The Swift Bessacarr has been chosen as Motorhome of the Year 2015 in the CaravanTimes Awards 2015.

The Awards, as voted for by you, saw Swift’s Bessacarr gain 27 per cent of votes in a sweeping victory which also saw the Elddis Autoquest hit second place with 19.1 per cent of the vote share. Swift also featured in third place, with 12.7 per cent of you voting for the Bolero.

The first place finish for Swift takes over from where Bailey of Bristol left off last year, after Bailey received the same accolade for 2014 for its Approach Autograph motorhome range.

Elsewhere in the same category the Elddis Autoquest took a respectable second place with 19.1 per cent of the voting share, whilst Swift continued to feature with its Bolero in third place, garnering 12.7 per cent.

Totally restyled both inside and out for 2016, it’s easy to see why the Swift Bessacarr range took first place for 2015.

Powered by the Fiat 2.3 litre, 130bhp Euro 5+ turbo diesel engine, all models have a six speed gearbox and automatic option. There is also the option to add cab air-conditioning, cruise control and a Status 570 TV aerial with the keenly priced Lux pack.

Each Bessacarr cab within the 2016 range comes with captain style seats and a DAB radio with bluetooth phone connection, handy storage area and USB charging port. Further enhancements for 2-16 include a new DAB radio with mirror antenna and 100W solar panel (40W on the 424).

‘Aralie Sen’ woodgrain with smoked oak inserts to the gloss upper locker doors combined with rich dark brown and cream soft furnishings gives a ’boutique hotel’ feel to the interior, whilst exclusive Duvalay Duvalite mattresses on all fixed beds will enable a perfect night’s sleep.

Suitable for all seasons, the Bessacarr’s powerful Truma Combi boiler, easily controlled by a new digital panel, and Winter Pack come fitted as standard.

Meanwhile, outside, standard features include reversing camera for easy manoeuvring, gloss white cab mirror covers and a roll-out awning.

Congratulations to Swift on a job well done.

Check out a breakdown of this category above. To look at a more comprehensive detailed breakdown of all of the results from the CaravanTimes Awards 2015, visit our forum by clicking here.

CaravanTimes Awards 2015: The Results

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by Joe Jeffrey

Keep watching to see if your favourite manufacturers won in this year’s CaravanTimes Awards

The time has come and the votes have been counted in the CaravanTimesAwards 2015.

In November, we asked you, our readers, to nominate in a number of categories in order for your favourite caravan, motorhome and leisure industry purveyors to feature in our awards for 2015. This was systematically followed by the opening of the voting system, which saw you cast your votes like never before in a number of exciting categories, including Caravan of the Year, Motorhome of the Year, Towcar of the Year, and many more exciting categories to name just a few.

Your hard work didn’t’ go amiss though. As well as being instrumental in determining an ultimate winner in each category, every single person who casted their vote was entered into a prize draw to win an amazing bundle of goodies, including a sat nav, dash cam, portable worldband radio, tyre pressure kits and much, much more.

Following on from an unprecedented amount of votes, we are happy to present the winners in each category in our video above, the making of which would not have been possible without your help. Each and every year, our main aim is to get you, our dedicated readers, involved – and that certainly worked for 2015. Therefore, all of us here at CaravanTimes would like to thank all of those who took part.

So now, get ready to see if your voting prowess paid off and if your favourites have struck gold for 2015. Oh, and remember to watch until the end to see if you’ve been made a winner too and whether you’ll be getting one of our prizes in the post soon.

Yorkshire Caravans hold canine competition for Christmas

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by Joe Jeffrey

Canine capers and festive fun at Yorkshire Caravans

Yorkshire Caravans has held its second annual Christmas fair, with the introduction of a dog competition which saw even pooches dress for the festive occasion.

Over 100 visitors attended the dealership in Bawtry which held a best dressed dog competition. Local market stalls were also on hand to offer up some last-minute Christmas gift ideas, alongside Mayflower Animal Sanctuary who organised a tombola and raffle to raise funds for the worthy charity.

If the above wasn’t enough, fair organisers laid on a reindeer hunt for the kiddies which saw children being given a free Cadbury’s selection box on completion. Elmsall brass band were also on hand to play Christmas carols to put people in the festive spirit.

As for the dogs, Cuba the Labrador retriever scooped first prize of a £25 Pets at Home voucher for the best dressed pooch, thanks to an attire consisting of Father Christmas riding on top of the canine’s back.

90 per cent of caravanners swear by motor movers

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by Joe Jeffrey

Overwhelming response from caravanners questioned regarding motor movers

90 per cent of caravanners own a motor mover and consider them to be an essential piece of caravan kit according to the results of a survey conducted by caravan insurers, CaravanGuard, it has been revealed.

Described as a “lifesaver” and “godsend” by some, just seven per cent of those questioned stated they could live without one, whilst the additional three per cent claimed they were considering getting on in the near future.

Caravanner, Tim Peacock, agreed with the findings, stating: “We already have a small caravan but now find, due to age, we struggle to push the van off and on our driveway. A must for the more mature caravanners.”

Many of those surveyed by CaravanGuard also commented that not only did it take the strain out of parking on a variety of terrains, as well as the stress out of the relationship, it also provided a good source of entertainment.

Fellow caravanner, Ian Manning, said: “It still intrigues onlookers to see it in action. Also seriously reduces wear and tear on car clutch putting it away at home and generally. Marvellous piece of kit!”

Other caravanners also found the mover helps to reduce the strain on the car clutch and would rather invest in motor mover than pay for clutch repairs.

Motor movers are designed to make life that little bit easier and they certainly seem to be doing just that for many caravanners. What about you? Do you own a caravan mover and would you consider leaving home without one?

The Caravan Club highlights some great escapes for 2016

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by Joe Jeffrey

Check out some great ideas from the Caravan Club to kick your 2016 off with a bang

It might be gloomy outside, but The Caravan Club has announced some amazing summer getaways for 2016 to brighten up your day.

Highlights for 2016 include:

Scarborough West Ayton Caravan Club Site is an ideal holiday location for active families. The North York Moors National Park is on the doorstep where there is plenty of beautiful countryside to explore with walking, cycling and horse riding routes located nearby. The market town of Scarborough is also within easy reach of the site for, seaside fun, costal walks and the dramatic RSPB Reserve at Bempton Cliff to discover the wildlife.

A caravan pitch at Scarborough West Ayton Caravan Club Site costs from £23.50 based on two adults and two children per pitch, per night.

Cambridge Cherry Hinton Caravan Club Site is perfect for those who want to enjoy a break in this historic city. The site may be set in beautiful countryside but is also only a ten minute journey into the spires of Cambridge. There is easy access to guided walking tours of the medieval colleges to explore the world famous academic atmosphere. Wander along the River Cam or sit back and relax by taking a punt. There are many other ways to see the charm of the city with open bus tours, cycling routes and many walks.

A caravan pitch at Cambridge Cherry Hinton Caravan Club Site costs from £24.00 based on two adults and two children per pitch, per night. 

Treamble Valley Caravan Club Site offers unforgettable views of the beautiful and rugged Cornish coastline. It is a great getaway to explore everything that the coast has to offer with long coastal walks, plenty of wildlife to spot from buzzards to bars and spectacular sunsets. Newquay, one of Cornwall’s most popular holiday and surfing resort is only five miles away where there are many fun facilities to make the most of. There is also the beautiful town of Perranporth close by with it is three miles of golden beach with plenty of room for everyone. This site is also the closest to the Eden Project which is one of the UK’s top tourist attractions.

A caravan pitch at Treamble Valley Caravan Club Site costs from £20.60 based on two adults and two children per pitch, per night. 

Do you have anywhere planned yet for 2016? Let us know in the comments below.

Final call: cast your votes NOW in the CaravanTimes Awards 2015

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by Joe Jeffrey

CaravanTimes Awards voting closing soon

The annual CaravanTimes Awards 2015 will close in just an hours time.

The Awards, voted on by you, our dedicated readers, offer a wonderful opportunity to vote on what floated your boat – or caravan – during 2015. Be it the newest leisure vehicles, latest accessories, favourite park, and much more, the Awards are not only recognised industry-wide, but allow for your voice to be heard and for you to let the industry know what you thought of its offerings over the past 12 months.

As an incentive, and to get you involved, we will also be offering a great number of prizes for those who vote, including the following: an Aguri Motorhome & Caravan Sat Nav, a Snooper DVR-4HD Vehicle Driver Recorder, a Tecsun PL-880 Portable Worldband Radio, an Autoglym Perfect Bodywork Wheels and Interiors gift pack, a TyrePal TB99, TyrePal TC215B/4, an Airstream Drinks Cooler, and Tablet TV, which allows for you to stream live TV on your smart device. We’ll also be giving away a few Bailey umbrellas to lucky runners up.

The number of votes this year has been phenomenal and more than we’ve ever received, which just goes to show that caravanning isn’t a fad – it’s definitely here to stay. And now is your chance to shape the future of such a wonderful and fulfilling pastime.

Remember: every vote counts, so complete the below today and make sure yours does too!

Competition rules:
The lucky winners will be picked at random at midday on 22 December 2015 and will be notified via the email supplied in the entry form
One winner will be selected for each of the prizes listed above
Only one entry per person
No purchase necessary
No cash or alternative will be offered
This competition is open to new or existing CaravanTimes members and Facebook fans only
No employees of CaravanTimes or StantonPace Ltd may enter
The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over

Loch Ness Caravan Park wins Loo of the Year for second consecutive year

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by Joe Jeffrey

Scottish caravan park scoops prestigious loo award

Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club Site has scooped a gong at the prestigious Loo of the Year Awards, for the second consecutive year.

The Site has been crowned the overall 2016 UK winner in the Eco Friendly Loo of the Year category, beating its performance in 2015 when it won the award for sites in Scotland. 

The 100-pitch Loch Ness Shores Camping and Caravanning Club Site welcomes thousands of visitors each year, keen to explore the stunning Highland scenery and experience the first-rate eco-friendly facilities found on site.

Developed to boost standards in away-from-home washrooms everywhere, the Loo of the Year Awards crowned winners in sixty categories, from shopping centres through to camping and touring sites at the 28th annual Loo of the Year Awards ceremony on Friday 4 December. The event helps to focus attention on the thousands of washrooms across the UK and promotes the highest standards.

Each toilet block entered into the scheme is rigorously assessed on strict criteria, which includes signage and communication, décor and maintenance, security and cleanliness.

Franchisee Lyn Forbes welcomed the latest award for the busy site, saying: “We wanted to improve the economy of the area, in a way that wouldn’t impact on the environment and believed a touring campsite was the way forward.” 

The opening of the Loch Ness Shores site marked a culmination of a decade of work by the Forbes family, who were tenant farmers for generations before buying Foyers Mains Farm on which the campsite was built.

The campsite has been open for two years and serves to drive traffic to other attractions locally, including Foyers Village Shop, Waterfall Café and new businesses including Cameron’s Tea Room and Morag’s Crafty Bothy.

The Loo of the Year Award is the latest achievement for Loch Ness Shores, coming hot on the heels of a win in the 2015 Green Tourism Awards, when the site won gold in the best Environmental Management category.

The site has also been awarded 5-star certification by Visit Scotland.

Bob Hill, the Club’s Sites Director, said: “I’m delighted that the 2016 Eco Friendly Loo of the Year Award now joins many others won by Loch Ness Shores Club Site.

“Lyn and Donald have taken great strides to make their campsite sustainable, including a solar thermal system and a pioneering water-to-water pump that heats the water for both buildings on site.

“This recognition is a fitting reward for all their hard work.”

The Club’s Skye site also won a Platinum Award and the National Category Award for Camping & Touring Sites in Scotland at the Awards Ceremony.

For more information on the Loo of the Year Awards, click here.