Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park wins best UK caravan site 2015

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By Claire Lawson

Scottish site wins prestigious award based on customer votes

The Top 100 Sites 2015 Guide has awarded Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park with the coveted award of Best UK Caravan Site 2015.

Over 13,000 caravan, motorhome and camping enthusiasts placed their votes during this year’s awards, which also saw the park win the coveted Best Regional Site and Best Open-All-Year Site titles.

Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park is in the Scottish Highlands within the Cairngorms National Park. The site has continued to act as a haven for wildlife and accommodates those who enjoy taking part pastimes including golf and fishing.

Part of what won the park its awards include the extra spacious super-pitches, free Wi-Fi, under floor heating in the shower block, on-site shop and a games room.

The votes came from readers of various caravan and motorhome publications and the Caravan Sitefinder website. Comments were considered by a strict panel of experts who ranked the finalists in each category

Grantown-on-Spey caravan park is of the highest quality and is one of only eight premier parks in Scotland.

New AA TV ad reveals unusual breakdown stories

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By Josh Budd

The AA is releasing a new ad campaign based upon the quirky stories told by AA breakdown engineers

The AA is celebrating 110 years of supplying breakdown cover and motoring service with a new advertising campaign, following the quirky and unusual stories provided by their breakdown specialists.

Responding to over 10,000 breakdowns a day, the AA’s breakdown team are bound to have their fair share of memorable stories and whimsical anecdotes, and their latest multi-million pound campaign plans to pay tribute to the more unusual stories that their staff have told through their years of service.

From aiding a diplomat’s car after being skewered by bollards, to saving an ice cream van from a rising tide, to repairing a broken down German armoured carrier in a re-enactment, the AA team could probably keep us entertained for hours with their wacky tales.

A story that we particularly enjoyed, involved a breakdown engineer who paid an unexpected visit to a naturist camp in Buckinghamshire.

Mike Giddens from Surrey responded to a callout whereby a man had accidentally locked his keys inside his 4×4. Although a common occurrence in the life of an AA breakdown specialist, Mike was surprised to find himself arriving at a naturist camp, where he was met by a crowd of completely naked onlookers.

The naked man in need was wearing a shirt, with nothing else, and carried a tennis racket, as he stood back and watched Mike at work along with his naked friends.

Mike commented: “I really had to concentrate on the job I can tell you and did become the butt of many jokes afterwards.

“A good sense of humour helps in this job. Even so, after the guy had thanked me and went off to finish his game of tennis, I did manage to resist shouting out ‘new balls, please’.

You can watch the AA’s new advertising campaign below.

Caravanning can often take you to many strange yet wonderful places Do you have any breakdown stories of your own? Have you found yourself in any unusual breakdown situations when towing your caravan? Let us know!

Hymer Group Carnival Weekend at Travelworld set for July

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By Joe Jeffrey

Travelworld’s Carnival Weekend set to offer great deals, demonstrations and entertainment all under one roof

Exclusive Erwin Hymer Group UK dealership, Travelworld, is set to host a festive Carnival Weekend this July, featuring a host of exciting entertainment and offers not to be missed.

The dealership, based in Telford, Shropshire, will be offering some great deals on new and used current stock models from Hymer, Niesmann+Bischoff and Carado, as well as offering a sneak peak at all the new 2016 models ahead of their official launch.

The Carnival Weekend, which takes place on the weekend of 19 – 20 July from 9am – 4pm, will also offer visitors the opportunity to watch a number of demonstrations from Goldschmitt to enable those in attendance to see the award-winning technology in action

If that’s not enough, the weekend will also play host to a German style barbeque, including refreshments and entertainment, so make sure your don your best lederhosen to join in with all the fun.

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Elddis enters South Korean market with Xplore and Affinity ranges

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By Joe Jeffrey

Elddis branches out to bring SoLiD Contruction tourers to South Korean market

Elddis has announced they are bringing their award winning SoLiD Construction caravans to the South Korean market.

In a bid which looks set to strengthen Elddis’ brand outside of the UK, and during a period of growth which has seen the company’s popularity rise in additional territories including Australia and New Zealand, South Korean caravan retailers, Caravantail, have now started stocking Elddis tourers.

Caravantail recently welcomed Elddis representatives to their premises, where an official signing ceremony took place in Gwangju on the outskirts of Seoul.

The trip also offered Elddis the opportunity to experience firsthand the surge in caravanning which has been seen in recent years following the introduction of government-funded campsites, enabling more South Koreans than ever before to experience the joys of caravanning.

The first of Elddis’ offerings to make their way to South Korea are the Xplore and Affinity models and are on sale now, with the Xplore 304 proving most popular during recent South Korean caravan shows, BEXCO and KINTEX.

Caravantail’s Michael Kim said: “Our customers can’t quite believe the amount of luxury in such a small, lightweight model. And although it is so light, it is robust, strong and has the European style we admire.”

Caravantail is now set to expand its premises with a vast, purpose-built state-of-the-art showroom, due for completion in 2016.

Rob Quine, managing director at Elddis, said: “What started only six months ago as a tentative enquiry from Caravantail via our Facebook now has the potential to be a huge success.

“Having seen firsthand the rapid growth of the RV industry in South Korea and the way in which the caravan lifestyle is encouraged, it gives us great satisfaction that Elddis is becoming the brand of choice in this growing market.”

COMPETITION: Win a CoPilot Truck Europe app

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By Joe Jeffrey

Win one of five CoPilot Truck sat nav apps with caravan and motorhome functionality in our latest great giveaway

It goes without saying that when it comes to getting away, planning is key – especially when venturing into new territories, be it a new holiday park or even a new country in your beloved leisure vehicle.

The above said, when it comes to exploring the best of what the UK and further afield has to offer, sat navs are often an integral part of ensuring our journey runs as smoothly as possible, enabling us to remain confident in the knowledge that we are offered the quickest and most convenient route to reach our destination, as well as alerting us to any delays that might hinder our journey. Sat navs aren’t without their pitfalls though. How many times have you been towing your trusty caravan when you’ve been met with narrow roads which have resulted in having to re-plan your route? And then there are those dreaded width restriction bollards. We could go on. But now we don’t have to.

CoPilot Truck looks set to change the way in which we use sat navs when it comes to making the most of combining them with leisure vehicle travel.

A high-performance sat nav app for smartphones and tablets, designed specifically for drivers of larger vehicles such including caravans and motorhomes, CoPilot Truck is the sat nav app relied on by many of the world’s leading commercial fleets, providing safe and reliable navigation instructions by calculating routes that avoid height and width-restricted roads based on the size of vehicle being driven.

CoPilot’s premium-quality offline street maps of the UK and Continental Europe are stored on-board your mobile device for dependable guidance at home or abroad regardless of mobile network coverage and without incurring data roaming charges.

In addition to avoiding restricted roads, CoPilot Truck is packed with features to better meet the sat nav needs of caravan and motorhome drivers. By default, the app will favour roads more suited to larger vehicles and avoid U-turns where possible. A powerful multi-stop trip planner makes it easy to plan complex long-distance itineraries in advance, while CoPilot ActiveRoutes uses a database of actual road speeds to calculate the fastest route to take.

On the road, CoPilot provides guidance and turn instructions designed to minimize driver distraction. A Directions-only safety view only displays a map when close to a turn, while un-cluttered 2D or 3D map displays show the way to go clearly throughout the journey.

And now, CaravanTimes is offering members of our site the chance to win one of five CoPilot Truck apps codes worth £119.99.

Advanced features include:

Optimised graphics for large screen smartphones, including iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge
– Lane indicator arrows and a ClearTurn junction view to make complicated intersections simple
– Safety camera alerts with free database updates as standard
– Low-power mode to reduce battery consumption
– Drag-and-drop trip editing to easily reorganise stops along your route
– Connection settings with offline mode to help control data costs
– Truck-specific guidance including hazardous materials routing and environmental zone alerts

Read the full list of CoPilot Truck Europe features for iOS and Android here now.

To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is simply like our Facebook page here and complete the form below.

We’ll be announcing the five lucky winners on 10 July in our newsletter, so make sure you enter now to get your hands on this brilliant piece of kit just in time for your summer holiday. Good luck!

Competition rules:
Winners will be slected at random at midday on 10 July 2015 and will be notified via the email address supplied in the entry form
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

Discover Poldark Country, otherwise known as Cornwall

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By Emily Boneham

Hopefully your Cornish adventure won’t be as turbulent as Demelza’s

The Caravan Club is encouraging caravanners from across the UK and beyond to discover the sights that brought Winston Graham‘s turbulent romance and BBC sensation, Poldark to life by staying at their Club site at St Agnes Beacon.

St Agnes Beacon site is a haven from where you can immerse yourself in the dramatic landscape and retrace steps seen in the Poldark story, which follows a British Army officer who returns home to find his lover marrying another man, sees him take to reopening the family’s tin mine in an attempt to revive his fortunes.

Sitting at the foot of the Beacon, the Club’s peaceful site has unforgettable panoramic views of the coastline that inspired the story. The town of St Agnes is a short walk away, and beautiful beaches and surfing spots are within easy reach.

With highlights including the Wheal Coates mine and the Stippy Stappy row of terraced houses close by, head over to The Caravan Club to find out what ‘Poldarkian’ treats Perranporth has to offer.

From the Wanderer to the motorhome: the evolution of the caravan

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By Emily Boneham

See how your home from home became what it is today

Your trusty caravan and motorhome. It has everything you need – kitchen, bathroom with lovely hot shower, a comfortable bed, ample space. But what if it didn’t have all of those things? The evolution of the caravan has taken on many twists and turns to suit the whims and fancies of the traveller over the years, right through from the Wanderer to the Airstream.

Today, caravans and motorhomes have taken on a resurgence, with more and more families and celebrities alike preferring to venture into the wilds of the British countryside.

Derived from the Persian karwan, the term ‘caravan’ does not appear in English until the 16th century when it was used to describe a company of merchants or pilgrims travelling together through the desert.
Commonly used to refer to groups of camels on trade routes in 1000 BC, it wasn’t until the 19th century that ‘caravan’ was used to describe a portable home, at that point in time transported by horses.
By 1880, Bristol Carriage Company developed the Wanderer for Dr William Gordon-Stables. Built specifically with leisure in mind, the 5.5 metre design enabled former naval officer, Dr Stables, to live the life of a gypsy while travelling in style.

The Edwardian single-berth van, which went on its first tour in 1885 and was last used in 1960, finally came to rest at the Cotswolds Caravan Club in 2013.

With an interior made of mahogany and maple wood, and painted black and gold, the Wanderer paved the way for the ultimate in luxury travel for the wealthiest in Victorian society’s elite.

A subsequent rise in popularity led to the creation of The Camping and Caravanning Club in 1901 and Bailey of Bristol was able to step up production to cater for both ends of the market.

They introduced the smaller tourers, the Minor and Maritza, as well as adding the 18ft Maison to its range, which was seen as a solution to the housing crisis at the time.

None of these were of the furnished standard we see today, but for the time, a dual burner stove and the fully sprung upholstery were beyond what had ever been achieved before.

By the 1960s, Bailey was producing 100 caravans a year.

Not too soon after, the UK gained two more of its best known caravan manufacturers, with Swift and Elddis both being launched in 1964.

Elddis had launched two tourers by 1966, a 10ft model and an Elddis 12 which built on light sailing boat manufacturing techniques, with the 10ft model at that time showing early signs of the later models in its profile.

By the end of the ’60s, Bailey was sending 40 per cent of their production overseas. The increase in overseas trade influenced Swift’s interior designs with Afromosia furniture and in 1966 the company introduced the foot operated water pump to their range.

Later, the end kitchen became a feature of many caravans, including those by Swift. this allowed for an adjustable kitchen that created more space for the family as caravan left its lone ranger days behind it.

The 1970s heralded a change in fashion and, similarly, caravan design.

Bailey’s caravans gained an extra two inches to give the models a more rounded shape and deeper windows gave the designs a more luxurious and lighter look than ever before.

Images from the October 1975 edition of Modern Caravan Magazine show that Bailey’s Prima model was given a substantial facelift ready for its 1976 launch with aims to move it up from the lower end of the market.

The Prima’s carpet was switched up from orange to what was considered to be a more stylish oatmeal, to compliment the general change to a more heavily textured upholstery fabric.

The Bristol-based company was clearly making an attempt to even out the gap between lower end models and the upper bracket by moving the Prima into the mid bracket.

January 1976 brought with it the new range Target from ABI.

Again, this development aimed to bridge the gap between the Ace Caravans mid range and the Elddis brand, as importance was put on luxury rather than affordability.

Bronze tinted glass windows gave Target’s designs a practical and attractive feel while a wide track and longer than average drawbars improved the towing stability.

In the 1980s, the age of the power suits and shoulder pads, Bailey created its most successful caravan range to date, the Pageant.

With 25 years of continuous production, the Pageant range featured the latest manufacturing techniques, including the introduction of sandwich construction bodyshell panels.

Bailey then pushed the boundaries even further by 1987, with the Pageant’s more comfortable sister series, the Senator which included blown air central heating and an integral cassette toilet as standard for the first time.

With the mid ’90s seeing a rise in consumerism and the need for a bargain, Bailey came into its own with the Bailey Ranger in 1996 which set the standard for sub £10,000 caravans and value for money.

The economic slowdown at the end of 2008 hit the caravan industry hard with customers holding back on big purchases. Caravan manufacturers used this period to their advantage by promoting UK holidays and the freedom purchasing caravans brought, including a greater push toward a fledgling motorhome industry.

While it remains to be seen if the UK has left the economic slump behind us, spending has picked up and with it so has the caravan industry.

Today, an impressive 70 per cent of Airstreams built since 1932 are still in commission, giving them one of the highest resale values on the market, whilst Bailey, Swift, Elddis and other top manufacturers including Coachman, Adria and The Fifth Wheel Company continue to impress and build upon designs of yesteryear and build towards designs of the future.

State of the art technology and the soaring popularity of caravanning will hopefully spell another 100 years of caravanning to come. Only time will tell what’s next.

Somerset caravanning couple narrowly escape death by carbon monoxide poisoning

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By Claire Lawson

Married couple have lucky escape after ignoring CO warnings

A couple sleeping in their caravan have narrowly escaped death following ignoring a carbon monoxide alarm warning, alerting them to CO poisoning – and going back to bed.

Somerset couple, Rick and Jeanette Wills, were fast asleep when the detector sounded due to a faulty gas fridge, but, instead of leaving their caravan, decided to open their windows and go back to sleep.

Mr Wills explained their potentially hazardous reaction saying: “I couldn’t smell anything, so I took the alarm off the wall and put it under a pillow to stop the noise.

“As an afterthought I opened all the windows, including the skylight. When we woke in the morning we both felt awful.” he continued.

The incident comes shortly after the launch of the CO – Be Alarmed Campaign, warning caravanners of the dangers of CO poisoning and how to recognise the symptoms associated with it, including headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

The silent killer that is carbon monoxide is especially dangerous as it has no colour, taste or smell and is produced by appliances that use gas, oil and wood.

Marc House, community safety prevention manager, explained: “Carbon monoxide is potentially fatal and even low-levels of the poison can cause lasting damage to your health.

“It’s as vital to have a working carbon monoxide detector in your caravan or campervan as having a working smoke alarm.”

Mr Wills commented on the incident, realising he and his wife are lucky to be alive, Saying: “I looked at the gas fridge and the flame was white. If the CO detector had not gone off we would almost certainly have died.

“I would advise everyone to get a detector. We should never have stayed in the caravan – we were only saved because the alarm went off and I opened the windows.”

It is great to hear that CO poisoning failed to claim two more victims’ lives, however we here at CaravanTimes fail to condone Mr Willis’ action of simply opening the windows and going back to sleep. If your CO alarm sounds, leave your caravan immediately. And if you don’t have one, get one now. It could save your life.

BBC Top Gear to open co-presenter auditions to the public

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By Josh Budd

The famous car show is opening auditions to the public, in search of a motoring enthusiast to work alongside Chris Evans

Newly appointed Top Gear presenter Chris Evans has announced a worldwide competition to win a spot as co-presenter on the popular motoring television show.

Appearing on BBC’s The One Show, the BBC Radio 2 DJ explained that he is on the search for talented and enthusiastic individuals to accompany him.

Prospective candidates must create a thirty-second video, showcasing their enthusiasm, charisma, and, most importantly, their passion for motoring, in order to be up for consideration. Evans explained: “It should just be you, to camera from the waist up – no stunts, no gimmicks, just you talking to camera.

“We will whittle these auditions down, and invite the best people to a live audition with me and the production team.”

Evans strongly emphasised that the auditions are open to everyone, irrespective of experience. He said: “Male, female, old, young, it doesn’t matter. The one thing that does matter is you’ve got to have a real appetite for cars, and you’ve got to know something about cars.

“You’ve got to know something about cars,” Evans continued. “You can be a mechanic, you can be an amateur racing driver, you can be a guy who’s a fireman but has been building his own Land Rover in his shed for five or 10 years… but you’ve got to know about cars.”

News of this exciting opportunity has reached every corner of the globe, as Evans reported that the BBC has even received audition tapes from Kazakhstan.

Chris Evans has confirmed that the successful candidate will be joined by himself and another co-presenter, who Evans guarantees will ‘100 per cent’ be female. Former model, Jodie Kidd, is currently being tipped to fill the role, which would make sense considering her recent rant concerning caravans.

The BBC2 motoring show, postponed due to a controversial dispute between recently sacked presenter Jeremy Clarkson and producer Oisin Tymon, is set to return to BBC2 in March or April of next year.

Top tips for first time caravanners

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By Emily Boneham

From jargon busting to embarking on that first trip, being new to caravanning can seem rather daunting at first. So, if you’re new to caravanning, read on to find out how you can make the most of Britain’s favourite pastime

It’s pretty much a given that, if you’re visiting CaravanTimes right now, you’re probably one of the 1.7 million people who already contribute to caravanning throughout the UK in one way or another. Either that, or you will be considering joining the ranks of those who do, and those that contribute an impressive £6 billion to the UK economy each year whilst exploring all the UK has to offer.

If you’re new to caravanning, however, the initial stages of preparing to set off and explore pastures new with the help of your trusty home on wheels can initially prove rather daunting, more so when it comes to the plethora of gadgets to get to grip with, laws which apply to taking to the road and jargon you’ve never even heard of – having trouble getting hitched was only a matter of finding the right spouse before, right?

Now, CaravanTimes is here to put your mind at rest before that first jaunt away in your caravan, so keep reading to find out how to make the most of your new found freedom.

Caravan Jargon

Before even beginning to contemplate leaving your armchair to set off on your first caravan adventure, if you’re anything like we were, you would have perhaps researched all aspects of caravanning in order to get the most out of your first trip. It’s not just deciding on where to go though, but rather more how to get there and knowing everything you need to know about your choice of caravan. And with pre-planning comes a whole new vocabulary of caravan jargon to get to grips with. Think you know your EHUs from your CDPs, or your jockey wheels from maximum authorised masses? If you’re new to caravanning probably not. Never fear though – jargon jitters can easily be solved with our handy Caravan Times‘ Slang Dictionary, so make sure you swot up to make the most of your adventure.

Your first site

Caravan sites closer to home are ideal for that first trip away in your caravan. Not only will travelling closer to home provide you with more confidence, but it will also allow you to arrive at your destination in broad daylight to help you make sure you’re all set up before the stars come out.

When it comes to choosing the right caravan park for you, a number of handy websites are now available which review and rate a number of parks across the country and further afield. Entering the name of an area of simple search phrases into your search engine such as ‘Devon caravan parks’ for example, should provide you with everything you need to select the right destination for you.

Licence to pitch

Before you set off on your first journey, make sure your driving licence is in date and allows for you to be able to tow, which should be the case as long as you have an ordinary category B car driving licence. This category allows for the towing of all vehicles with a tow car with a combined weight of up to 3,500kg so, unless your caravan is made from solid gold or you’re towing with a monster truck, you should be okay. Of course you should also remember to insure your caravan with a reputable insurance firm in the unlikely event that your caravan should encounter any bumps or scrapes along the way.

Tow Schmo

It goes without saying that towing your caravan for the first time may seem a little scary. Rest assured though, you’re not alone. Towing is not just an obvious essential when it comes to setting off on your journey, but something you need to feel comfortable doing. So, when starting off, remember to allow yourself more time and space for everything. It’s also worth noting that, when on the road, you will need to provide yourself with plenty of time to break earlier than you would when you haven’t got a caravan attached to the back of your tow car. You’ll also probably need to accelerate more slowly when in transit.

Other factors when towing, which are just as important, include taking corners wider than normal so your caravan doesn’t clip the kerb or cut corners, as well as observing the correct speed limits of a maximum of 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways. Also, make sure you don’t venture into the furthest right outside lane of a three-lane motorway, unless officially instructed to do so.

This list is by no way exhaustive and many other factors need to be taken into account when towing, including fitting adequate tow mirrors, ensuring your car’s number plate is displayed attached to the back of your caravan and making sure you have fully-functioning rear light panels, so make sure you do your homework before setting off.

Still not sure about towing? Never fear. Organisations including The Caravan Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club offer professional towing courses throughout the year and at the many caravan and camping shows to help see you on your way.

Lost in space

The bag allowance on flights is a thing of the past for caravanners, but as you’ll soon learn, clever packing and weight checks are still good to know.

Space saving ideas include making sure crockery is stored in racks to avoid breakages and, instead of taking canned foods which weigh more and take up more space, try using packet foods.

Another handy tip to keep your clothes neatly hung up whilst in transit, is to simply clip them to their hangers with clothes pegs. You won’t want to arrive, only to find your neatly ironed clothes spread all over your kitchen after a bumpy ride!

When it comes to storing away heavyweight items including awning, ensure these are stored on the floor of your caravan central to the axle area for even weight distribution purposes. Place medium-weight items such as bicycles and plastic furniture either just in front or behind the heavier items for the same reason.

Hitching up

When taking into account the 1,001 things to consider when caravanning for the first time, making a checklist is key to ensuring nothing is missed. Before setting off from your driveway or reluctantly setting off for home after a hard-earned break away, it’s vital to ensure gas cylinders are switched to the off position, fresh and waste-water containers are emptied and that toilet cassettes are emptied in an appropriate, designated place. Ensure caravan windows, roof lights and all doors are securely closed.

Also make sure the handbrake is on and that you chock the wheels if you’re on a slope, before lowering the jockey wheel and locking into place. Raise all corner steadies before checking the caravan’s noseweight to ensure it’s acceptable and adjust the hitch height so it raises above your car’s towball. After reversing your car towards your caravan (hopefully with the help of a trusty navigator keeping safe distance), secure the hitch onto your towball and stow the jockey wheel after checking it’s coupled properly. Finally, ensure all electrical plugs and the stabiliser systems are connected correctly, making sure the cables won’t drag or tighten too much once you begin to tow. Then attach the breakaway cable or coupling, release the caravan’s handbrake remembering to remove any chocks, ensure the rear caravan lights are working and, hey presto, you’ll be on your way in no time. Phew. The above process may sound daunting to a newbie, but it should become second nature once you get into the swing of things.

Enjoy

Now that all of the hard work is over, it’s time to relax. And, once you arrive at your final destination, there will be plenty of time to do that. Don’t be shy though. Caravanners are known for their welcoming and friendly attitudes and if they’re anything like you will eventually be, once it’s been established that you’re new to the pastime, they’ll be offering even more hints and tips in no time to ensure you make the most of your new found hobby.

Finally, remember the above list is by no means exhaustive and there’s much more to learn before setting off on your adventure, so make sure you do your homework to have as enjoyable a trip as you can. All that remains to say is happy caravanning!

It would be interesting for our more experienced caravanners to let us know what they think the most important piece of advice to give to first timers would be; let us know in the comments section below.

Poston Mill Holiday Home and Touring Park in Herefordshire scoops gold in VisitEngland Awards

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By Josh Budd

Poston Mill in Herefordshire receives highest seal of approval in the 2015 VisitEngland awards for Excellence

Poston Mill Holiday Home and Touring Park has been awarded one of VisitEngland’s most prestigious and highly-esteemed awards for Excellence in the parks category.

Poston Mill, which is located in the very heart of the Golden Valley in Herefordshire managed to pip around 2,000 other holiday parks that were also up for consideration to the post, following renovating the holiday park from what was, twenty years ago, a farm, watermill and bakery. Since this time, co-owners Wayne and Sarah Jones, who run the park with help from their family, have gone on to renovate the 35 acres of farmland into a park, catering for anyone looking to pitch a tent or caravan within the serene surroundings.

Wayne and Sarah’s efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed; the park is growing more and more popular year by year, receiving fantastic reviews from their guests and being showered in various awards. In 2013, Poston Mill was awarded a gold five-star quality in tourism rating score of 97 per cent.

The Park has also received the David Bellamy Conservation Award every year for almost a decade, in acknowledgement of Wayne and Sarah’s efforts to protect and conserve the natural environment of the Golden Valley which makes Poston Mill so special.

Above all, Sarah and Wayne of Poston Mill pride themselves in creating a hospitable and welcoming atmosphere for their guests. Sarah said: “We feel very privileged to live and work in such a glorious part of Herefordshire, and from the outset we wanted to make this a park where guests would feel genuinely welcome.

“That’s why the VisitEngland award for excellence means so much to us, because it is based not just on the quality of the park, but also the standards of service we provide.

“I hope that one effect of our award will be to help other tourism businesses in the area by highlighting what a beautiful region this is to enjoy a truly memorable holiday,” she continued.

The park’s reputation has led to more and more people flocking to the family-run Herefordshire homestead every year, from Britain and from overseas.

If you are curious about that makes Poston Mill such a wonderful, award winning holiday park, or if you are looking for a quality getaway this summer, you can visit their website for more information.

Venture Caravans and Motorhomes unveils new Impressa motorhome range

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By Claire Lawson

Venture adds special edition Impressa motorhomes to range

Venture Motorhomes and Caravans has officially released a new line of motorhomes under the name Impressa.

The new range includes four new models – the 115, 155, 175, and 195 – priced between £39,199 and £43,999. The range is available in either a two-berth or four-berth option.

All new motorhomes are made using SOLiD construction technology and come with a ten year integrity and water ingress warranty. Each models comes complete with the Peugeot Boxer cab powered by a 115bhp or 130bhp.

Some of the exclusive specifications of all models include:

  • Cab air conditioning, passenger airbag and cruise control

    • DAB radio with Bluetooth connectivity
    Unique exterior graphics and silver dashboard trim
    Bespoke, lightweight Ozio upholstery upgrade
    Heating and hot water systems operating from gas and/or mains electric

“As they’re our first special edition motorhomes, we felt it was a great opportunity for us to do something a bit different,” began Dave Brown, managing director at Venture Caravans.

“We took a lot of time to study the market and choose the most competitive combination of price and specification.”

The models are unique and stylish with one-piece silver side walls in tough GRP and all four will be available from Venture’s branches in Daventry and Hitchin.

Check out the video below to get the full tour of the 115 model.