Falkirk campsite launches luxury Safari tents in time for summer

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By Joe Jeffrey
Scotland’s Carr’s Hill looks to attract more clientele with glamping quarters

An award-winning Scots caravan park is expanding into the luxury holiday market on the back of the growth in ‘glamping’.
Carr’s Hill, near Falkirk in Scotland, has boosted its accommodation in time for the summer holiday season with the introduction of luxury safari tents.

Carr’s Hill owners and husband and wife team, Grant and Gillian Turnbull, invested in the move into the high-end camping market, developing its 12 acre rural estate and existing five pitch site. The couple have been receiving free advisory support from Business Gateway Falkirk to help develop their expansion strategy and marketing plan.

Since launching five years ago, the site has already earned prestigious Caravan Club Certificated Location (CL) status. Last year, Carr’s Hill also gained a UK-wide accolade at the Caravan Club CL awards held at Westminster. The award recognises small, privately-owned sites found across the UK, many in idyllic and remote locations, which can provide a valuable, additional income stream for local communities.

Two new, two-bedroom safari tents will be available at Carr’s Hill from next month (June) and are fitted out to the highest specification to offer all the comforts of home but with the excitement of the great outdoors. Aimed at attracting families with young children, they each feature a king-size bedroom, triple bunk bedroom, kitchen, dining area, private shower room and large outdoor space with BBQ area. Carr’s Hill is keen to encourage families to leave the technology at home whilst on holiday, to enjoy being a family and interact with each other. With these principles in mind, the wifi availability is kept outwith the tents and they will be kitted out with board games, magazines and outdoor play activities to encourage family time whilst on holiday.

Owner Grant Turnbull said: “Carr’s Hill has been attracting tourists from throughout the UK and Europe and even as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. In recent years we have seen more people using our pitches for longer breaks, so we wanted to expand our accommodation to provide something completely unique and something that would really attract people to Falkirk as a holiday destination.
“The support we have received through Business Gateway Falkirk has been instrumental in helping us develop our strategy for the site to bring even more international visitors to the area.”

Falkirk Council’s spokesperson for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, Cllr Adrian Mahoney added: “Falkirk continues to thrive as a destination and the popularity of iconic attractions such as The Kelpies and The Falkirk Wheel continues to rise, bringing visitors to the area and boosting the local economy.

“Carr’s Hill has been a valuable accommodation provider in the area for several years now, and the introduction of the safari tents supports the launch of our five-year tourism strategy, providing an exciting asset for future tourism development in the local area.”

New Top Gear: Caravan Crush game signals the return of caravan destruction

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By Joe Jeffrey

New mobile phone game shows Top Gear hasn’t lost caravan obsession following departure of Clarkson, Hammond and May

BBC’s Top Gear may have lost its three longstanding presenters recently, but it certainly hasn’t lost its penchant for destroying caravans, with a new game released on Friday (26 June) picking up where Clarkson et al left off.

The game, entitled Top Gear: Caravan Crush and available now on all Android and iOS devices, does exactly what it says in the (unoriginal) title with one main purpose: launch a car across the Top Gear airstrip and bounce it into as many caravans as possible.

Upon making contact with each caravan, a player’s car will be launched further along the airstrip with the emphasis being on destroying as many caravans as possible whilst achieving the furthest distance travelled in your vehicle.

Oddly enough, there does seem to be some skill attached to the game; when readying your vehicle for launch by dragging it back using your finger, timing is essential in order to launch it onto an oscillating ramp which moves up and down, providing you with more travel distance the higher the ramp is positioned.

When your vehicle is sailing through the air, you are given the option to deploy various attached devices, including jet engines, to improve upon travel distance with the additional benefit of gaining more distance.

There are also numerous side challenges to complete, which provide you with more coins on top of those earned, dependent on the distance reached, with which you can buy ‘Topgrades’ to upgrade your vehicle and tweak the spec in order to travel further or simply add to the destruction en route.

We here at CaravanTimes are partial to playing the odd game on our mobile phone devices to whittle away the time, but having checked out Top Gear: Caravan Crush, we’re not convinced many of Top Gear’s fan base will have the ability to adopt both hand and eye coordination simultaneously in order to get to grips with this basic Angry Birds rip-off.

Will you download this game? Let us know in the comments below.

Normanby Hall Caravan Park in Lincolnshire gets £100,000 caravan park cash injection

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By Joe Jeffrey

Lincolnshire caravan park to improve upon facilities with help of local council

Normanby Hall Country Park is set to receive £100,000 in a bid to encourage people to carry on caravanning.

The news of the cash injection comes following an on-site review from North Lincolnshire Council and will see money spent on renovating the existing caravan site, including the introduction of electrical hook-up points.

The existing caravan site at Normanby Hall dates back to 2001 and currently has only five pitches.

Refurbishment will include the introduction of five new pitches, as well as installation of new shower and toilet facilities and general renovations made to the campsite itself.

In recent years, the council has taken to improving facilities across other areas of the park, including a new land train, woodland paths and improvements to the play area.

Councillor John Briggs said: “We have made a range of improvements to Normanby Hall Country Park over recent years to ensure it meets the needs of our customers.

“It is great to see visitors enjoying all of the new facilities. Now we are looking at what further improvements can be made.

“We have listened to what our customers want, which is why we are renovating the caravan site.

“The £100,000 investment is going to make a huge difference to the site.

“It will be a fantastic place for people to have weekend breaks and holidays as there is a lot to do at Normanby Hall.”

Have you won a HandiMoova?

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By Joe Jeffrey

Keep reading to find out if you’re a lucky winner in our competition to win an innovative Handimover

A few weeks ago, CaravanTimes launched a competition for one of our lucky readers to win a HandiMoova. And the result is in.

This innovative handcart is guaranteed to make any holiday less stressful and more enjoyable, owing to its innovative Camba technology, which utilises a unique patented Active Variable Footprint and Floating Axle Suspension.

Another brilliant thing about the HandiMoova is that it’s equipped with hemispherical-shaped wheels that are mounted on separate, inclined floating axles, optimising the rolling performance and footprint of each wheel and enabling the HandiMoova to traverse easily and effortlessly across otherwise non traversable surfaces including sand, gravel, and even stairs.

With a RRP of £99.99, and able to lift a load of up to 60kg, the HandiMoover is ideal for indoors and the great outdoors alike, and we offered you the opportunity to get your hands on one by simply liking our Facebook page.

Well folks, the winner has been randomly selected and we’re pleased to announce it is:

Peter Haigh

Congratulations, Peter. We’ll be contacting you shortly to arrange delivery of your HandiMoova.

For more great competitions coming soon, keep checking back on CaravanTimes. And seeing as you’re here, why not have a go at entering some other great competitions that are currently running, including a chance to win one of five VARTA 6000 Indestructible Powerpacks
or the opportunity of getting your hands on one of five CoPilot Truck sat nav apps worth a whopping £119.99.

Ford Mondeo scoops best petrol tow car in Tow Car Awards 2015

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2015 annual Tow Car Award winners announced including Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia and, surpsingly, the Citroën C4 Cactus

The Ford Mondeo 1.5T EcoBoost has been awarded with the Best Petrol Tow Car title for 2015, it has been announced.

In a battle which saw the Mondeo out-tow its competitors in Practical Caravan Magazine’s annual awards, judges, including What Car Magazine and The Camping and Caravanning Club described the engine as “a star”, despite lacking pulling power compared to its diesel equivalent.

Of Ford’s winning entry, judges also commented that the Mondeo was also “noticeably stronger in the middle of the rev range than most petrols” whilst “showing no fear” in a lane-change test.

Other notable winners in the awards included the Skoda Octavia Hatchback, which claimed the Up to 1400kg title and winning praise for its engine which was described as performing at a “decent pace”, as well as the Volkswagen Passat Estate pipping its contenders to the post in the 1700 to 1899kg category, perhaps due to its 4-wheel drive system and electronic handbrake providing for “effortless hillstarts”.

Meanwhile, in the Green category, the Volvo V40 Cross Country scooped first place, being heralded as “very impressive” and “quick and decisive”.

Perhaps more surprisingly, the Citroën C4 Cactus claimed the 2015 Best Ultralight Tow Car title, with judges explaining the rather novel vehicle was particularly suitable for towing a trailer tent, managing to press home its advantage over its competitors.

With caravans becoming much lighter and a number of car manufacturers realising the pastime is certainly here to stay whilst growing more popular by the year, there is so much more choice available these days when it comes to towing than ever before. Let us know what you tow with and whether you’d be willing to trade it in for one of these winners if you had the opportunity to in the comments below.

Jeremy Clarkson reveals bullying led to suicidal tendencies

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By Joe Jeffrey

In a classic case of the bullied becoming the bully, does Clarkson’s revelation explain why he hates caravanners so much?

Jeremy Clarkson has spoken out on being subjected to bullying whilst at boarding school and the detrimental effect it had on his own wellbeing.

The former Top Gear presenter, known for his very own bullying behaviour towards caravanners and those who refuse to provide him with a hot meal, revealed all in his weekly column in the Sunday Times this past weekend, describing how he ‘suffered many terrible things’ including being subjected to being thrown into ice-cold pools, receiving severe beatings and having his property destroyed during his time studying at the prestigious Repton School in Derbyshire.

Clarkson wrote: “I was thrown on an hourly basis into the icy plunge pool, dragged from my bed in the middle of the night and beaten, made to lick the lavatories clean and all the usual humiliations that public school used back then to turn a small boy into a gibbering, sobbing, suicidal wreck.

“In the first two years the older boys broke pretty much everything I owned,” he continued.

“They glued my records together, snapped my compass, ate my biscuits, defecated in my tuck box and they cut my trousers in half with a pair of garden shears.”

Clarkson, who attended Repton during the 1970s, was expelled shortly after completing his O-levels upon being caught smoking and drinking in local pubs. His friend and Top Gear producer, Andy Wilman, also attended the school.

Clarkson’s admission follows recent claims made by him that a BBC executive had recently offered him his old job back as Top Gear presenter following being suspended indefinitely for assaulting a production team member after filming his last episode of Top Gear – a claim which has since been denied by BBC director general, Lord Hall.

The revelation comes as quite a shock to us here at CaravanTimes, despite studies often revealing that the bullied usually become the bully, but perhaps this would explain Clarkson’s incessant, unruly behaviour and unhealthy obsession concentrating on the destruction of caravans.

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts below.

Man sentenced to ten months for fake caravan holiday scam

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By Joe Jeffrey

Man jailed for ten months following scamming families with fake caravan holiday promises

A man who left people devastated with a fake caravan holiday scam has been jailed for ten months.

Upon losing his job selling caravan holidays legally, Samuel Higgins, 30, took to advertising fake caravan holidays at Butlins in Skegness and Rhyl, North Wales, despite no holidays ever materialising.

Following receiving numerous complaints alerting police to the scam, which saw him ignore telephone calls and messages once money had been paid, Higgins was traced by police to his home at the aptly named Robin Hood Holiday Park in Yorkshire in 2013, but managed to evade arrest, instead feeling to Spain. He was subsequently arrested upon his return recently.

On bail at the time of his arrest for other offences pertaining to dishonesty, including convictions for similar matters, Higgins was sentenced by Judge Rhys Rowlands to ten months, taking into account time served for another prison sentence earlier in 2015.

Of the people Higgins scammed, including a family with a disabled six-year-old child who Higgins assured would find adequate disabled facilities onsite, Judge Rowlands said: “They had been looking forward to their holidays but they got nothing back thanks to your criminal behavior.

“It was repeated dishonesty which involved a fairly significant sum of money,” he continued.

Emmalyne Downing, prosecuting, told how Higgins advertised the caravan holidays online on Gumtree.

Damian Zelazowski, defending, said Higgins had sold caravan holidays legitimately to start with but he had continued when he lost his employment and that Higgins had been candid with police after handing himself in voluntarily.

Zelazowski went on to say Higgins had shown remorse and, since the offences occurred, had gone on to work legitimately whilst working towards gaining a qualification and had attempted to turn his life around.

What do you think of Higgins’ sentence? Let us know in the comments section below.

Statistics show 14 per cent of adults do not take a walk

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By Joe Jeffrey

Research shows actually just how lazy Brits are

We all know how exhilarating and rewarding it can be to pitch up in our caravans and get out and about to explore pastures new, therefore it may come as somewhat of a surprise to read that as many as 14 per cent of adults go a whole month without taking even a ten-minute walk.

The data, released by the Department for Transport and in conjunction with Sport England, was obtained in order to derive official estimates of participation in sport and active recreation.

The information gathered also shows that as many as 24 per cent of men aged 65 and over and 27 per cent of woman within the same age category also enjoy walking for more than ten minutes each month – it’s something at least!

The most frequent walkers were found to be those aged between 16 – 24, with 92 per cent of men and 94 per cent of women within this age bracket walking for more than ten minutes once a month.

47 per cent of adults walked for ten minutes or more at least five times a week, whilst around three per cent hop on their bicycle.

The data released has somewhat surprised us here at CaravanTimes – has it shocked you? Do you feel like you get enough exercise, or that you could be doing more? Let us know in the comments section below.

Post Office Travel Money survey highlights cheap cost of fuel in Europe as UK prices continue to rise

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By Joe Jeffrey

Cost of fuel across Europe drops dramatically in contrast to the UK

Caravanners taking to Europe this summer are guaranteed to get more bang for their buck, according to a recent survey conducted by Post Office Travel Money based on fuel costs across the continent.

The price of petrol and diesel has fallen considerably compared to this time last year in all 22 countries surveyed, with a more noticeable decrease in diesel prices than that of petrol.

In first place comes Turkey, which has shown an 18 per cent decrease in petrol to 26 pence a litre, whilst diesel has dipped to 32 pence with a fall of almost a quarter at 23 per cent.

Meanwhile, petrol is down 22 per cent and diesel has fallen by 20 per cent in Austria and both petrol and diesel fuel types have fallen by a 20 per cent in Cyprus respectively.

News of a decrease in fuel prices comes as the the AA has announced average fuel prices in the UK have reached a six-month high after bursting back above the 117-pence-a-litre mark for the first time since December 2014 – just less than the 117.9 pence mark which saw many road users find it difficult to fill their tanks just before the recession.

If results of the AA’s latest populous survey are to be taken into consideration, the strain caused by the UK fuel increase is already beginning to be shown, with figures revealing that 37 per cent of over 28,000 people surveyed have already started to cut back on car use, with 48 per cent of the figure consisting of lower-income motorists.

AA president, Edmund King, said of the rise of fuel in the UK: “This month’s AA Fuel Price Report illustrates vividly the power of pump prices on consumer spending – whether it’s 48 per cent of lower-income drivers already cutting back on car use because of this year’s 10p hike in pump prices, or a 6p drop in price boosting a remote rural petrol station’s business by 100 per cent, don’t be mistaken into thinking that because pump prices are 13p-a-litre lower than this time last year that drivers are ripe for another fuel duty increase.

“It sends out a clear message to government on fuel tax: don’t be mistaken into thinking that because pump prices are 13p-a-litre lower than this time last year that drivers are ripe for another fuel duty increase,” King continued. “It won’t mean so much to some wealthier drivers, 28% of whom say high fuel prices don’t affect them, but up to 87 per cent of less well-off drivers say it does.”

What do you think about the increase in fuel prices across the rest of Europe whilst the price in the UK steadily rises? Are you feeling the effects?

Anniversary plans for couple scuppered as caravan is stolen

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By Joe Jeffrey

Thieves put stop to couple’s anniversary break

A married couple’s plans to celebrate their six-year wedding anniversary have been blown out of the water following heartless thieves stealing their caravan.

Wendy and Neil Spink from coastal town of Montrose, in Angus, Scotland, have been forced to cancel their trip after their caravan was taken from a local farmyard where it was stored.

The Adria Adiva, which was purchased for around £15,000, is said to have held sentimental value to the couple and couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Retail manager Wendy explained: “We were planning to get away for 12 days from July 1 to celebrate our wedding anniversary and my husband Neil’s 53rd birthday.

“We’ve been married for five years and Neil bought the caravan about a year before the wedding.

“We’ve spent every summer holiday in it and there are so many memories there.”

It is believed thieves stole the Spink’s caravan from the farmyard in Laurencekirk, Scotland, between June 14 and 15.

A police spokesman said: “Police Scotland is investigating the theft of a caravan from the Market Street area of Laurencekirk. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.”

Samsung unveils new see-through Safety Truck which could save lives

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By Joe Jeffrey

New technology could prove lifesaver to motorists

Electronics giant Samsung has revealed a new ‘see-through’ road safety concept – the technology of which could see thousands of lives saved on the road each year.

The new technology, simply called Safety Truck and designed by Samsung in Argentina, features the use of cameras and wireless video to transmit live footage from in front of a lorry to huge display screens at the back to allow for other road users stuck behind to overtake safely without the risk of colliding into oncoming traffic. The Safety Truck works even in the dark of the night, owing to night vision technology used.

So far, the Safety Truck is just a prototype, with the next steps consisting of testing the device further in order to comply with Argentina’s existing national protocols whilst obtaining the necessary permits and approvals needed.

The technology is certainly something that could benefit those who use Argentina’s roads – statistics have shown on person die in a car crash on the country’s roads every hour.

With caravan season in full swing, and following recent reports of a number of caravan crashes on the UK’s roads, do you see the Safety Truck as something which would prove effective on the UK’s roads, or simply something that would be more of a distraction? Check out footage of the technology below and let us know your thoughts.

Venture Caravans named Adria Caravan Dealer of the Year 2015

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By Joe Jeffrey

Northamptonshire-based dealership recognised by Adria for seventh year in a row

Venture Caravans has been given the prestigious title of the Adria Caravan Dealer of the Year for the seventh year running.

Venture Caravans, based in Daventry, Northamptonshire and, more recently, establishing its second branch in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, is one of the UK’s longest-established, family-run caravan retailers in the UK and has sold Adria caravans for the past 36 years, including its own exclusive special edition caravan range, the Adria Sportline.

Commenting on its latest award, Dave Brown, managing director of Venture Caravans said: “We are extremely proud of our latest award from Adria, and for receiving it every year since 2008.”

“After 36 years representing the brand, we have seen Adria caravans grow to be one of the largest European caravan and motorhome manufacturers with a very impressive, state of the art factory in Slovenia,” Brown continued.

“We have many loyal Adria customers in the UK, and continue to be really impressed with the high quality, durability and innovative, modern styling of its caravans, plus its dedication to tailoring them to the specific UK tastes and requirements.”

Slavica Sterk, managing director of Adria UK said of the announcement: “Congratulations to Venture Caravans for being the Adria Caravan Dealer of the Year once again. We have always been impressed with Venture’s passion for Adria and its customer service. Its feedback has also directly helped us produce caravans specifically for the UK. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, we hope Venture and all Adria owners in the UK have a great time in 2015.”