The brilliant caravans released on 1 April

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by Justine Iorga

Have a look at some of the genius new caravan models released on April Fool’s Day
Hello fellow caravanners, as you all know yesterday was April Fool’s Day, and even though we hope that you weren’t tricked too badly on this joyous day, we must confess that over here at CaravanTimes we had a few chuckles at some of the caravan jokes that were being distributed throughout social media.
Although some of the jokes were insanely unrealistic, we have to admit that they were a bit clever. That’s why we thought to highlight some of the most brilliant caravan pranks we found to share them with you and have a laugh together.
We’ve listed the ideas from great to genius saving the best for last. Check out the list below.
Suzuki’s Ultimate Road Trip Caravan
CampingRoadTrip.com has helped us stumble upon Suzuki’s latest caravan model, and it couldn’t be any more amazing. Who wouldn’t want to buy this beauty? This ideal caravan would most likely be for those with big families or caravanners that like to take joint holidays with friends. Space is never an issue when you travel in this caravan, and you could probably not only fit your family but extended family as well.

Take a look, here

The Ultimate Treetop Paradise
Park Holidays UK just released their new treetop accommodation, and it has us embracing our inner childhood selves. This new take on caravanning is made for you to be one with nature while on your holiday. These new units are built in the trees, and they are ideal for those that have kids or know adults with the Peter Pan syndrome. Giving you a more adventurous take on caravanning, there’s no way you couldn’t try these unique caravans.

Take a look here, here

The Dubbel Range
Crowland Caravans and Camping are the first to introduce a double-decker caravan onto the market and, boy, is it a dream. This new range offers loads of space and gives you the feel of home combined with riding the famous red double-decker we are so used to transporting around in. The range comes equipped with a separate upstairs sleeping compartment, accessible from a collapsible ladder which pulls down into the dining area. And each range comes with its own stabilisers.

Take a look here, here

The ABI Triple Special
ABI Holiday Homes has introduced possibly the best upgrade to their caravans we’ve ever seen. Their motto is “Why have one floor when you can have three?” which is a great question. Why should we be limited by just one floor when we go on a holiday? These new caravan models are going to be the latest that ABI will bring to their parks. Giving you triple the amount of space than the normal holiday homes, we can bet that this will surely be nothing less than amazing.

Take a look here, here

The Clarkson Caravan

We have saved the best for last with Freedom to Go‘s newest Clarkson Caravan model. They have designed this custom edition model after the ever so lovely Jeremy Clarkson, and we’ve got to say that it’s pretty sweet. The caravan includes: satellite navigation with pre-programmed directions to job centres nationwide, abacus for counting to ten in times of rage, external roll cage to protect from being dropped from a great height, integrated oven and grill – perfect for cooking steak, and a 20 bottle wine and champagne chiller. Can you resist to such beauty?

Take a look here, here

You must admit that some of these caravans wouldn’t be half bad if they were really launched. We know there’s a few that we’d personally want to buy.
Let us know your thoughts and if you had any favourites in the comments below.

Caravanners on holiday with a difference

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by Alice Scarsi

The Daveys are enjoying a caravan holiday without being distracted by the technology

The four members of the Davey family from Dorset are set to spend Easter break in Modbury, Devon, with their caravan. What makes these fellow caravanners special is the “screen-free” policy they decided to adopt during their trip.

For this family, being “screen-free” means banning the use of internet, phones, tablets, laptops and videogames while they are travelling aboard their Swift Sprite Major 6. Their peculiar journey started at the beginning of this year and is planned to be completed in Birmingham in October, after having spent summer holidays in France and Belgium.

The only times electronic devices are allowed are at the end of each screen-free break, when the family share the experience lived on social media for others to see and, hopefully, be convinced to do the same in their next holidays.

Without all the technological distractions that surround us in our everyday modern lives, the Daveys – a family of two parents and two children, Poppy, 12, and Charlie, 7 – enjoy outdoors activities, each other’s company and the beauties of the nature that surround them during their journey.

The “screen-free” European tour, that fully reflects the spirit of various campaign launched this year, such as Freedom to Go and Share the Outdoors, is backed by one of the UK’s largest caravan manufacturer, Swift Group and the Caravan Club.

The father of the family, Lee Davey, a freelance journalist, said: “We are very excited about this and the children are totally up for it. We wouldn’t try this for an ordinary weekend at home, though, because the caravan enables us to make the most of the time away from screens.

“We will visit new places, try new activities and make new friends. We are looking forward to telling other families about screen-free breaks at the campsites: what we learnt about ourselves and how much more enjoyable our free time is if we don’t isolate ourselves watching TV or using the internet.”

The director general of the Caravan Club Nick Lomas is enthusiast of this experience. He said: “We think this is a fantastic idea to help people get the most out of their holidays in Britain and enjoy the friendliness of camping and caravanning.”

What do you think of this screen-free policy? Did the Daveys convince you to embrace the nature and the company of your beloved without any distraction? To follow the adventure of the Davey family, check their Facebook page.

Busy Easter break ahead for drivers

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By Claire Lawson

AA predict 2015 Easter break to be busiest time in recent years on UK roads

An early Easter means an even longer wait until summer. For this reason, the AA expects more people than usual to travel over the Easter break, thus making the upcoming weekend one of the busiest occasions for motorists of 2015.

The holiday traffic is expected to peak today (2 April), as the latest AA-Populus poll revealed that almost half of respondents (47 per cent) will travel on the Thursday, while a further 44 per cent are set to depart on Good Friday. In total, it has been predicted that 15 million people will hit the road with their vehicles for the long weekend over these two days.

In preparation for the high number of travellers, the AA has put a fifth more patrols than normal in place to help with the higher breakdown workload.

Mark Spowage, AA patrol of the year, is aware that particular roads will be swamped: “Despite a rather unsettled forecast, we expect more people to get away this Easter, as it falls quite early this year. There will be a lot of pressure on the main getaway routes, particularly heading down to South-west England; and the likes of the M25, M1 and M6 are also going to be very busy.

“Do the essential checks on your car before heading off, paying particular attention to the tyres and adjusting the pressures for a heavy load, if required.”

The AA predict the top five busiest routes to be:

A303 – Westbound from M3/J8 through Hampshire, Wiltshire and Somerset
M1 – From Junction 6A (M25 interchange) to Junction 13; and from Junction 23A to Junction 32 (M18)
M5 – From Junction 15 (Almondsbury) towards Junction 31 (Exeter for West Country)
M6 – Through West Midlands (from Junction 4A) and northwards towards Lancashire (Junction 21A)
M25 – All sections, especially both ways around J14/17 (Heathrow Airport and M4, M40 interchanges)

With one of the busiest weekends already here, it doesn’t hurt to take extra precautions before hitting the roads.

Swift Group hit record sales

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By Claire Lawson

UK manufacturer enjoys record-breaking season

The UK’s leading manufacturer of touring caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes is celebrating an all-time record-breaking season to date.

The Swift touring caravan brands and ranges are up a significant 20 per cent in sales from last season with the Sprite range being the most popular in the group.

All brands and ranges from the Group’s motorhomes selection have had significantly strong sales after Swift invested heavily into the 2015 range with the addition of SMART construction in all the coachbuilt models.

The exceptional demand for Swift products now allows the company to expand and invest in its production lines, with added flexibility built-in to manage the market growth and serve future sales orders. Also, the company is investing in a new bonding line to further enhance product quality.The development is already under way and is expected to be completed by mid-2016.

Commercial Director Nick Page, is very happy with the sales figures and is optimistic of the future sales, as the Swift Group continues to better itself. He stated: “It is clear that with confidence back in the market, customers are continuing to choose Swift Group as the company of choice in all our key markets. This has resulted in unparalleled sales levels which we are delighted about.

“However rather than rest on our laurels we are absolutely dedicated to improving our customers experience with our products. The fact that we are significantly enhancing our product facilities is a clear commitment to our focus on quality control and investing in new technologies which will bring improved manufacturing processes” he continued.

The Swift Group is looking forward to seasons ahead.

The Orchards Holiday Park brings home new awards

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by Justine Iorga
Park is recognized for excellence after winning awards
The Orchards Holiday Park in Newbridge, on the Isle of Wight, has recently won big time with three prestigious awards.
The Isle of Wight is a treasure trove of beautiful beaches, exciting festivals, and historic buildings. The family owned park, which lies across fifteen acres of beautiful countryside, fits perfectly in the stunning landscape of the Isle, having an impressive 160 touring and camping pitches arranged on terraces and gently sloping meadows, broken up by trees and hedges.
The list of accolades received this year by the park is already exceptionally long. The first award presented to Orchards was for their high standard toilets with the Loo of the Year Platinum Award for 2015. The second was given by the AA for “Regional Campsite of the Year, South East for 2015”. The third award they received was the top spot in the Practical Caravan/ Practical Motorhome Top 100 sites awards and Best Holiday Caravan (statics), which is voted for by the readers of the magazines.

If that wasn’t enough the site was given their 18th gold award from David Bellamy and a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor.
Orchards campsite definitely knows how to give the best holiday to caravanners. The park owners, which have exceptional service and staff to work alongside, are overjoyed to have recognition for all their effort. If you haven’t visited this park then it might be worth your time to take your next holiday there.
To find out more details on the park, click here.

An ill caravanner has to wait in a foreign country before receiving proper medical care

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by Justine Iorga

A holiday turned into a nightmare proves to put one caravanner in a tough spot
Imagine the terrifying feeling of becoming ill in another country while you’re on holiday and you can’t go back home to be treated. This nightmare became a reality for a British man that was on a four-month caravan holiday in Spain with his wife.
Retired University IT worker, Chris Carr, 62, from Melksham, Wiltshire was on an extended holiday group trip with the Camping and Caravanning Club. The journey took a sad turn when, while visiting Benidorm, he began to feel unwell after a meal out. Carr then went to Hospital Marina Baixa, where he was diagnosed with food poisoning, but when he left and returned to his caravan his stomach swelled to four times its normal size.

Chris was immediately taken back to the hospital, where concerned Spanish doctors found he was suffering from a diaphragmatic hernia. Being a British citizen, the doctors advised him to go back to the UK – that has the best post-operative care – for the surgery and the consequential recovery, which could take weeks if not months.

Carr’s medical insurance company got right on the case phoning three hospitals near his home – Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bath’s Royal United Hospital and Swindon’s Great Western Hospital – but each hospital replied that they had no free beds available. This left Carr stranded in a Spanish hospital for 11 days waiting for a free room.
Sally Carr, 59, wife of Chris and a retired NHS midwife, spoke about the situation to the Mirror: “I feel extremely angry – I was furious when we were told about there being no beds. We’ve both worked hard all our lives and paid our taxes.

“Chris worked at the University for 35 years or more and I was a midwife for the NHS for 40 years. We’ve paid our taxes all this time and then for this to happen.”

She added: “The care here has been brilliant, it is back in the UK where there has been all the trouble.”

Concerned for Chris friends and family launched a campaign using social media to put pressure on the hospitals and even getting support from their local MP. The Get Chris Home campaign proved to do the trick, and Chris was given a bed, after an agonizing wait, at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, Somerset where he was flown to by air ambulance last Thursday (26 March).

Undoubtedly a horrible situation, we are just glad to hear our fellow caravanner is back home receiving proper medical treatment.

What do you think of this insane situation? Let us know your thoughts below.

Brook House Farm campsite denied planning permission

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by Justine Iorga
Caravan park denied expansion by council

Brook House Farm Camping and Caravanning Site have been denied planning permission for their site, even though it’s been successfully up and running for the last three years – when they got licensed for their camping and caravan areas.

Powys County Council planning committee met last week to go over the site’s proposal to bring in five caravan pitches, five camping pods, ten bell tents and ten tents together with the building of a toilet block, shop with cafe, use of land for the storage of five caravans and the formation of a new vehicle access.
Angharad Richards, Powys planning officer, explained that the authority found many deficiencies in the plan, such as an inadequate visibility for the proposed entrance or the fact that the site partially lies within a designated flood plain of the River Severn and an ecological survey found two badger sets within a buffer zone of 30 metres of the site.
Richards may have also been influenced by Bausley Community Council, who brought up some points to Richards about the number of caravans exceeding the allowance and the fact that the access and the flood risk area were obstructed by tents.
Owner of the campsite, Julia Owen, discussed the refusal saying: “I am fuming at the planning decision made today as I would question each of these comments and plan to appeal the planning refusal.
“I have been running the site for the last three years after getting permission from the council through the caravan and camping club. It’s not like we have just opened and we already have the facilities up and running.”
The site has actually helped local employment during the years, but this recent setback could have certain jobs affected. Owen claimed: “If we close the pub across the road said they would also have to close due to the loss of trade they would suffer from our visitors over the summer months.
“We already have the shop which is open from Easter to September and have some lovely local residents who come down to have a drink or buy the locally made produce.”
The council’s decision will most likely create a rippling effect on the entire park, and put many jobs at risk. It’s unfortunate that the council can’t see the potential of the quaint caravan site, but county councillors voting in favour of the planning officer’s recommendation doesn’t leave much hope for this site.
Luckily Owen is not going to just let this go, and she has let it be known that she will ‘fight council to the end’ over planning permission.
Does this seem like an unfair judgement? Let us know your thoughts.

Best British music festivals of 2015: when and where you can go partying with your leisure vehicle

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by Alice Scarsi

Glastonbury, Reading, Donington and many other festivals will be providing enough space for you and your leisure vehicle in 2015. The question is, which festival will your choose?

Summer is finally approaching, and with summer comes the festival season, filled with weekends of music, fun, wellington boots and, inevitably, muddy and plenty of it. Rock or pop, funk or indie, whatever your favourite music genre is, it won’t be hard to find the right festival that tickles your pickle.

Not all of us, though, are cut out to live for three days with public toilets and soggy sleeping bags under a tent, irrespective of how appealing it sounds after a glass of wine. And even the most pumped festival goer could be turned off by the ever-present high possibility of rain. Yes, there are certainly more luxurious options available such as the glamping to enable you to avoid the discomforts of slumming it in a canvas carbuncle, but now that almost all of the festivals are “caravan-friendly”, there really is no reason for you to leave at home your home from home on wheels.

Free from the fear of a shared shower, whether you decide to hire a leisure vehicle or travel in your own, there are some great opportunities to jump on board and enjoy some of the best festivities the Uk has to offer for 2015. So read on to check out CaravanTimes‘ definitive guide to leisure vehicle-friendly festivals for 2015.

Kendal Calling

Kendal Calling or – as it has been called – Glastonbury at its best has received countless amount of praise and accolades since its inception in 2006. In 2010 Kendal was bestowed the honour of being named Best Small Festival and, in 2013, scooped the prize for Best Medium festival at the UK Festival Awards. Characterised by its eclectic line-ups, this year’s edition will host Snoop Dogg, The Vaccines and Kodaline amongst other important names on the alternative scene. Not only this, but there will also be designated areas for the disco lovers, Jazz enthusiasts and loads more.

Caravans and motorhomes are welcome to Kendal, and they have a whole area reserved, with 7×7 metres pitches, compost toilets, water and chemical disposal points as well as food shops if you get the munchies. Tents are allowed, as long as they stay within the space provided for each leisure vehicle.

Date: 30 July to 2 August 2015
Tickets prices: from £119, with the opportunity to pay in monthly instalments.
More information here

Y Not? Festival

If you want to see the best of the worldwide alternative scene all in one place, you have to head to Pikehall in Derbyshire from 31 July to 2 August for Y Not?. Snoop Dogg seems to be keeping himself rather busy on the second mention in our feature already. He’ll be joined by the likes of Primal Scream and Basement Jaxx who will be joining the Dogg Father to headline the three-day feast of indie, rap and electro music, that this year sees Y Not? celebrate its tenth birthday. In order to start the festivities early, why not check out the festival organisers’ playlist) on Spotify here.

The Y Not? Festival also has a designated family area which should provide for a more,serene experience, allowing you to join in with the fun as and when nappy-changing duties will alow and ensure the little ones get a good night’s rest.

Date: 31 July to 2 August 2015
Tickets prices: from £85, pitch fees £40.
More information here

Secret Garden Party

The festival to attend for those wanting to discover the latest indie artists, the Secret Garden Party offers a setting that is arguably the most beautiful you’ll ever see and is widely considered one of the biggest and coolest party of the UK. Launched in 2004, each year receives more than 26,000 people ready to listen to musicians such as The Cat Empire, Caravan Palace or Kate Tempest, to take part to the paint fight and to be amused by poets, artists and comedians. Don’t miss the party, head to Abbots Ripton, Cambridgeshire on 23 to 26 July.

Alongside with the main entrance ticket, which costs £185, you have to purchase the Live-in Vehicle pass if you want to enjoy the party in your leisure vehicle. If you prefer camping in a tent and you are coming with your family, you can buy the family camping pass, which entitles you to some privileges such as priority parking. For those restless who want to bring the party in the party, instead, there is also the option of hiring a gazebo where up to 24 people can spend their days of the festival sleeping and hanging out between one break and the other. Check out all the options available to you here.

Date: 23 to 26 July 2015
Tickets prices: from £185, £60 per leisure vehicle
More information here

Wychwood Festival

The Wychwood Festival is an annual event taking place in Cheltenham, Glouchestershire on 29 to 31 May. Beginning in 2005, Wychwood features mostly indie, folk and world music, but it also includes workshops, comedy, family-friendly activities and a silent disco. 2015’s festival will also feature a roller disco for both adults and children. The Undertones, Fickle Friends, Dreadzone and Folk On are just few of the bands that will step on the stage of this year’s festival.

The campsite is situated between the beautiful Prestbury Hills, and there will be four different areas with different pitching options available, including Pillow Camping or Tipis and Yurts – and one for caravans and campervans, where each caravanner will be provided with 9×6 metres of space for a vehicle and tent. The main campsites are located a short walk from the main area and will provide numerous facilities, including hot showers, a campsite shop, a café and lockers.

Date: 29 to 31 May 2015
Tickets prices: from £129, £72 per leisure vehicle
More information here

Camp Bestival

Camp Bestival is the British festival for those who have small children but don’t want to renounce to the vibes of a summer festival. Annually held at Lulworth Castle in Dorset, this year from 30 July to 2 August, it doesn’t focus merely on music, but it also offers a rich line up of theatre shows and activities for children (including a surprise appearance by the Gruffalo). This year’s live music stage will see no less than Bob Geldof, amongst other artists including Underworld, Clean Bandit, the Kaiser Chiefs and George the Poet.

As the name would suggest, Camp Bestival welcomes guests who wish to pitch up with either their tents or leisure vehicles and there will be both campervan caravan and trailer tent areas. Wat makes this festival pretty good is that when you book, unlike with other festivals, you have the opportunity to choose a specific pitch, overcoming the stressful first come first served rule. Glamping is another option available, and you can choose between a whole range of different, fancy accommodations.

Date: 30 July to 2 August 2015
Tickets prices: from £195, £72 per leisure vehicle
More information here

Download Festival

The 2015 edition of the biggest rock festival in Britain will take place on 12 to 14 June at Donington Castle (or, as described by the organisers, the spiritual home of rock), in Derby. Originally set up as a follow-up to the Monsters of Rock festival, 2015’s line-up will include artists that have certainly contributed to the history of hard rock and metal and include Kiss, Muse, Slash, Billy Idol, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson and Motley Crue to name a few.

Each leisure vehicle ticket holder will be assigned a 9×7 metres pitch, and will have access to portable toilets and showers, fresh water and waste disposal points, but, alas, no electric and water hook-up. You can purchase tickets for a single day, for three days or for five days of camping, or you can head to the RIP Campsite at Park Farm for a more luxurious experience.

Date: 12 to 14 June 2015
Tickets prices: from £190, £109 per leisure vehicle
More information here

Isle of Wight Festival

The Prodigy, Pharrell Williams, Paolo Nutini and Billy Idol are only a handful of the names that, from 11 to 14 June, will hit the three stages at this year’s Isle of Wight festival. Set on the beautiful island just off mainland UK, this event has a long history, enriched by the big names that have taken part in the past, including Bob Dylan, Joe Cocker and The Who. Originally started as a counterculture event, in 1970 it became the festival par excellence. Revived in 2002 after a long break, it has proven a roaring success ever since.

By purchasing an Isle of Wight Festival camping ticket you’ll be able to camp all weekend in the 180-acre campsite that runs alongside the River Medina. Sadly, caravans aren’t allowed to the festival, so if you are a proud caravan or leisure vehicle owner that wants to participate to this festival, why not consider alternative accommodation here. The event allows the use of an additional tent or awning, as long as it fits within the 7×7 metres plot allocated for each camper.

Date: 11 to 14 June 2015
Tickets prices: from £145. Campervan ticket are currently sold out, but keep an eye on the website for any last minute offers
More information here

Reading and Leeds Festival

This festival is slightly different than the others mentioned as it will be taking place simultaneously in two different cities, for those who enjoy indie, rock and alternative music fans. The Leeds concertis held in Bramham Park, near Wetherby, on the ground of an historic house, while the Reading event – the original and senior of the two as well as the oldest music festival still in existence of the world – is held at Little John’s Farm on Richfield Avenue. This year’s visitors will enjoy big names of the alternative scene as Metallica, Bastille, Mumford & Sons and The Libertines. The event will take place on 28-30 August.

There are two campervan areas in each site, where both motorhomes and caravans are allowed. One is for the general public, whilst the other has been specifically thought for disabled festival goers and is situated next to the disabled campsite. You must display the Campervan Ticket inside your vehicle during the whole weekend (which costs £75 plus £213 of the weekend ticket) and you can’t use tents inside the parking. Look at the tickets options here (identical for both venues) or consider the colourful luxury camping options if you prefer having your accommodation ready and waiting for you at your arrival.

Date: 10 to 12 July 2015

Tickets prices: from £213, £75 per leisure vehicle

More information here

T in the Park

The most important music festival in Scotland can pride itself not only with a long history that goes all the way back to 1994, but also record figures of visitors: last year the event attracted 85,000 people each day, including 70,000 campers. This year’s T in the Park will take place in Strathallan Castle, Perthshire, from 10 to 12 July. Headliners for 2015’s include, amongst others, Kasabian, David Guetta, Avicii, Stereophonics and Noel Gallagher’s the High Flying Birds.

Due to lack of space at the festival, only campervans are accommodated, There is also a strict ‘no tent’ policy, that allows only the use of awnings as an extension of the campervans and forbids the use of any tents. The option of glamping is also available however, providing a more luxurious alternatives to your bog-standard tent.

Date: 10 to 12 July 2015
Tickets prices: from £194, £150 per leisure vehicle
More information here

Glastonbury

Of course Glasto, being the largest greenfield festival in the world, had to be the the one we saved until last. Set in one of the most beautiful valleys in England, the legendary Avalon in Somerset, this year the event will take place from 24 to 28 June. The full line-up has yet to be unveiled, but the few artists revealed – Foo Fighters, Kanye West and Lionel Richie – already promise to set the stage in fire.

There are some strict rules to follow if you want to live the Glastonbury experience with your caravan. Only leisure vehicles with fitted sleeping and washing or cooking facilities are allowed into the leisure vehicle field, and only professionally manufacturered annex or inner tents are acceptable to sleep in. There is no electricity, and generators can’t be brought on site so prepare to rough it all the same. Also, since it isn’t possible to book a specific position of the pitch, a first come first served rule reigns.

Date: 24 to 28 June 2015
Tickets prices: from £220, £150 per leisure vehicle
More information here

Will you be attending one of the festivals listed above? Let us know which one and maybe we’ll see you there.

An open letter to Jeremy Clarkson from CaravanTimes

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by Joe Jeffrey

Hereon follows an open letter to Jeremy Clarkson, following the BBC’s disposal of his services from Top Gear earlier this week

Dear Jeremy,

We feel a bit sorry for you here at CaravanTimes. Following recent events, you must be short of a few quid and the weekly visits to the Job Centre will, no doubt, be tough. That’s the reason for me writing this open letter to you.

I’ve decided to cut to the chase and – subject to references – hereby offer you a position as resident TV presenter here at CaravanTimes.

I’ve got to admit, the job is pretty fun and will see you tour around the country reviewing a wide range of leisure vehicles – similar to your previous Top Gear presenting role.

You obviously have more experience with caravans than most broadcasters, having been involved in the odd caravan “fracas” or two over the years, but now we are offering you the opportunity to do something a little more constructive within the leisure industry.

Day to day duties will include

  • Presenting video pieces on the latest caravans and motorhome products
  • Helping with the prep – including washing and polishing the vehicles
  • Our camera crews do appreciate a good cup of coffee before they get going
  • Plenty of time behind the wheel of the tow-car and/or leisure vehicles that you’ll be putting to the test

    • Sure, you’ve not always been the most popular among our readership in the past, but we’re keen to give you the chance to change their opinion of you, some of which have included:

    “I cannot stand the bloke, he’s an overpaid w****er”
    “Ugly people keep saying ugly things, and will continue to do so”
    “Typical Top Gear s**t, as expected from Clarkson”
    “…I think he is the most arrogant t**t on TV today”

    Please note

  • When out on shoots we do provide lunch, but cold only
  • We have a strict anti-discrimination policy

    • Should you wish to accept our offer, we will require four weeks’ notice in order for our production team to complete self-defence training.

    In closing, we’d love for you to become a member of the CaravanTimes team and are sure our legion of readers would too, so what do you say Jezza?

    Yours sincerely,

    Joe Jeffrey

    COMPETITION: Win a Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner

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    by Joe Jeffrey

    Banish those stains with a portable Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner in our latest giveaway

    It goes without saying that spillages and newly acquired stains can certainly put a temporary downer on your holiday – trust us, we know. From tea stains to muddy footprints, we’ve pretty much experienced the lot when it comes making the fresh, clean interiors of our caravans and motorhomes resemble something more like a disaster zone.

    Fear not, however, as CaravanTimes‘ latest competition could see you walk away with the all-new Portable Spot Cleaner from Rug Doctor worth £154.99.

    Designed to meet consumer demand for a portable and compact carpet and fabrics spot cleaning machine, Rug Doctor’s Portable Spot Cleaner, combines powerful stain removal with ease of use, meaning you’ll never have to suffer muddy carpets or unnecessary stains in your leisure vehicle or anywhere else ever again.

    What else is good about this great prize is the Portable Spot Cleaner’s versatility. Thanks to the machine’s retractable ‘luggage style’ handle and carpet friendly wheels, not only is it suitable for use in your leisure vehicle but also your home, car, or anywhere else you’ve got some carpet or upholstery you want to spruce up and leave looking like new. It’s compact size also means you’ll be able to store it away wherever you are.

    The Portable Spot Cleaner has twice the vacuum power of comparable leading spot cleaning machines too, and can be used to remove a whole load of unwanted mess, including trodden in dirt, stains and odours from deep within the carpet pile.

    Refilling couldn’t be easier either, with fast and simple removable tanks to make refilling and emptying wastewater less of a chore.

    Enter our competition today and those friendly people over at Rug Doctor will also throw in a sample bottle of pet friendly and wool safe Rug Doctor Portable Spot Cleaner for carpets & Fabrics meaning the machine is ready to go as soon as it arrives.

    To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is like our Facebook page by clicking here and complete the form below before midday on 17 April.

    All that remains to say is good luck!

    Competition rules:
    The lucky winner will be picked at random at midday on 17 April 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

    AA announce winners for 2015 Caravan and Camping Awards

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    By Claire Lawson

    Was your favourite site a winner? Read on to find out

    The AA has announced the winners of the annual Caravan and Camping Awards for 2015.

    With caravanning and camping growing in popularity all over the United Kingdom, the AA visited campsites across the length and breadth of the UK to find the best of the best destinations for Brits planning camping trips and holidays this year.

    Winners announced today will feature in the best selling AA Caravan and Camping Guide, featuring 900 caravan and campsites, all of which have been fully inspected by AA qualified campsite inspectors and given a rating based on touring pitches, facilities and hospitality. The parks are also provided a grading of Pennants from one to five with the best sites receiving a prestigious Gold Pennant.

    Without further ado, the winners are:

    AA Campsite Of The Year 2015
    England and Overall Winner – Oakdown Country Holiday Park, Sidmouth, Devon
    Scotland– Witches Craig Caravan and Camping Park, Blairlogie, Stirling
    Wales– Bron Derw Touring Caravan Park, Llanrwst, Conwy

    AA Regional Campsite Of The Year 2015
    South West – Fauxquets Valley Campsite, Castle, Guernsey
    South East – The Orchards Holiday Caravan Park, Newbridge, Isle of Wight
    Heart of England – Longnor Wood Holiday Park, Longnor, Staffordshire
    North West – Manor Wood Caravan Park, Coddington, Cheshire
    North East – Golden Square Caravan and Camping Park, Helmsley, North Yorkshire

    Holiday Centre Of The Year
    Park Foot Caravan and Camping Park, Pooley Bridge, Cumbria

    Most Improved Campsite Of The Year (Roger Almond Award)
    Wells Holiday Park, Wells, Somerset

    Small Campsite Of The Year
    Churchill Farm Campsite, Buckfastleigh, Devon

    Congratulations to all the winners. Let us know if your favourite took a place this year.

    Caravan Guard set to participate in Great Yorkshire Bike Ride 2015 for charity

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    by Alice Scarsi

    Caravan Guard aims to raise £10,000 for charity on 70-mile bike challenge

    Top Yorkshire insurance company, Caravan Guard, is to compete in the Great Yorkshire Bike Ride (GYBR) 2015 to raise money for charity.

    This June, eight Caravan Guard representatives join forces under the moniker of ‘Team CG’ to look to complete the GYBR, riding through the arduous one-way 70-mile route that goes from Wetherby in West Yorkshire to Filey on the North Yorkshire coast. Headed up by Caravan Guard’s founder, Peter Wilby, the team look to raise at least £10,000 for a number of charities, including the Yorkshire Cancer Research and MENCAP.

    The GYBR is an annual cycling event that aims to raise money for various charity organisations, originally launched in 1983 to finance the Tockwith Youth Club, it has grown so popular that during the years has raised a total amount that is close to £2.5 million.

    Moreover, this year’s event is particularly special for Caravan Guard, since will see Peter Wilby embark on his 21st ride. When asked what made him enter this year’s competition Peter said: “After doing the ride for so many years I can’t not enter! It’s a great day hosted by a fantastic organisation with superb scenery and a great festival atmosphere.”

    CaravanTimes praise this initiative, and wishes Team CG every success.