Regular caravan visitors take over Shropshire site as park managers

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by Tom Walsh

A caravanning holiday can really restore people’s romance in the Great British countryside but for a Telford couple it has gone one step further.

Alan and Debbie Gillard from Telford have owned a holiday home at Bow House Country Park for the past three years and now they are taking over the site as managers.

The Gillards have been enjoying caravan holidays for a number of years after falling in love with the pastime when they took a trip to Devon.

Due to their hectic lifestyles they were looking to purchase a holiday home near to their property and settled on Bow House Country Park, attracted to the picturesque south Shropshire scenery.

And they have now gone a step further and taken over the site from Ken and Joan Ashley who recently retired after seven years in charge.

Mrs Gillard said: “Alan loves being outdoors and is always on the go, so this job is suiting him down to the ground.

“We both have lots of experience of customer service and enjoy meeting people.”

Two caravans burnt down in North Wales Bonfire Night arson attack

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by Tom Walsh

While many people were looking forward to a pleasant evening of watching fireworks, Bonfire Night took a turn for the worse in North Wales.

Two caravans were set alight in the space of an hour in Colwyn Bay and Rhyl with the fires thought to have been started deliberately, News North Wales reports.

Fire crews were called to John Street, Rhyl, at 15:pm GMT on Tuesday afternoon (5 November) when a caravanette was torched.

Then just an hour later, firefighters were on the scene on Hawarden Road, Colwyn Bay where a touring caravan had gone up in flames.

While no-one was injured during the fires both the vehicles were completely destroyed and crew needed to use breathing equipment to tackle the blaze.

It follows a similar incident on Halloween when the Thurrock Gazette reported a caravan being torched in Chadwell St Mary on a night which was described by a police report as “busy”.

Police launch fresh appeal over Clitheroe campervan crash

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by Tom Walsh

Police have launched a fresh appeal for witnesses following a crash between a camper van and a bus near Clitheroe.

Four people were seriously injured in the incident which took place at 2:05pm on 28 October at the junction of the A671 Accrington Road with the B6246 Accrington Road (Spring Wood lights), the Clitheroe Advertiser reports.

The Peugeot motor caravan and Optare single-decker bus collided leaving the camper van driver with two broken legs, a broken and fracture to his skull while a passenger suffered a broken hand.

A 46-year-old man from Accrington who was driving the bus received a broken neck and suffered cuts and bruises while 75-year-old female passenger also had her leg broken.

Police are treating this as a serious incident and are urging anyone with information to contact them on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sgt Gareth Hill told the news provider: “An investigation to establish why this collision occurred is now under way.

“I would appeal to anybody who was in the area and witnessed the collision to contact police.”

Cornwall holiday park staff and hero dog save caravanner’s life

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by Tom Walsh

Holiday park staff in Crantock have been praised after saving the life of a caravanner staying on the site.

Seventy-three-year old John Simpson was staying at Travella Park when he began to feel unwell experiencing stomach cramps which got progressively worse.

Over the following eight days he became increasingly weak and was unable to get out of bed. He could not eat or drink without vomiting, the Cornish Guardian reports.

Staff were alerted to Mr Simpson’s condition after park member Lee Allen saw his pet dog Ben running around on the site unattended prompting him to check Mr Simpson’s camper van.

The quick-thinking staff member rang an ambulance immediately after seeing the 73-year-old’s frail state.

Surgeons managed to save Mr Simpson’s life despite his heart stopping twice on the operating table and he was later discharged.

Mr Simpson praised the staff at Travella Park, telling the news provider: “They [park staff] have treated me like you would your family.

“They wrote to me in hospital and said not to worry about my camper van and awning and that I wouldn’t be charged for it.”

After such a heart-warming story, all of us at CaravanTimes would like to wish Mr Simpson a full and speedy recovery.

New Nissan Qashqai: Pictures and details of revamped towcar revealed

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by Chris Jefferies
With a name as awkward as Qashqai, many could have been forgiven for predicting a flop when Nissan rolled out its urban crossover 4×4 in 2007.
However, the past six years have seen this quixotic name worm its way into the towcar-buying public’s consciousness, with two million sold worldwide.
Now, Nissan has revealed a completely revamped version of the Qashqai, which comes with more than a fair amount of expectation behind it.
The big news is on the looks front, as Nissan has achieved a meaner, beefier look, reminiscent of the ever-capable X-Trail.
However, caravan owners may find themselves a little disappointed, as the never-ending drive towards lower weights continues, with around 40kg trimmed from the kerbweight.
This means a lower towing capability than the previous Qashqai, although on the plus side, fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions have been trimmed accordingly.
The most affordable models boast more than 74mpg and under 100g/km of CO2, meaning you won’t have to pay any road tax.
Meanwhile boot space is up by 20 litres to an impressive 430 litres (and that’s before you even fold the seats down).
If you’re serious about towing, then the 1.6-litre diesel version with four-wheel drive is your best bet, generating an ample 128bhp.
Other tempting details include the sheer amount of technology that’s crammed on-board, from the new Electronic Power Assisted Steering system to the Active Ride Control and Hill Start Assist.
Prices, trim levels and exact specifications are to be announced between now and February 2014, when the first models will go on sale.
In the meantime, click on the slideshow below to take a look at this highly desirable new look for the Nissan Qashqai:

Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Nissan teases next generation Qashqai with cryptic towcar photo

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by Chris Jefferies
As one of the biggest success stories in the SUV market over the past few years, the new Nissan Qashqai has quite the weight of expectation on its wheel arches.
Despite its ungainly name, this reliable towcar contender has won over thousands of Brits since its launch back in 2007, becoming one of the UK’s best-selling 4x4s.
Now, Nissan has started building up anticipation around the next generation Qashqai, which is due to arrive in dealerships in the next few months.
Our first glimpse comes in the form of a cryptic photo (above), which Nissan says “takes the crossover sector into a new dimension, raising standards for everyone and lighting the way for countless new adventures”.
Whilst we at CaravanTimes would try to avoid such evocative rhetoric, this teasing picture does give us some tantalising clues.
For starters, the curvy lines and beefier bonnet profile recall the ever-popular X-Trail, which got a refresh in September at the Frankfurt motor show.
Whether this means higher kerbweights or heftier engine options, we’ll have to wait and see as all other details are being kept under wraps for now, but keep checking back with CaravanTimes for all the latest towcar news.
UPDATE: So it seems we didn’t have to wait very long at all for full details of the new Nissan Qashqai.

VIDEO: Design and styling in the new Bailey Pursuit caravan range

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by Chris Jefferies
Caravan styling has come a long way in recent years, long gone are the days of row upon row of bland white boxes.
Bailey of Bristol is one of the key companies leading this trend, with the bold designs on their Unicorn and Pegasus GT65 ranges.
The latest model to roll off the company’s production line is the all-new Bailey Pursuit, which features contrasting sides and a curved rear end.
In this video, we talk to Simon Howard from Bailey to find out why the company chose to go with such a distinctive look.
We also hear how the curved rear profile was designed in conjunction with the University of Bath to increase the caravan’s aerodynamic properties and reduce towing fuel consumption.
Simon also explains the thinking behind the new interior furnishings and the appeal of the opening panoramic sunroof.
For full prices and weights of the Bailey Pursuit, click here 

Kirkby Lonsdale caravan park named North West Campsite of the Year 2014

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by Tom Walsh

A caravan park in Kirkby Lonsdale has been named a regional winner of the AA Campsite of the Year 2014.

Woodclose Park scooped the title for the north-west adding to its already stellar list of accolades it has amassed over recent years, the Westmorland Gazette reports.

The site, managed by Steven and Michelle McAvoy, can accommodate temporary campers, caravanners and even those that wish to stay in lodge homes.

It is one of the most successful in the country claiming titles such as the Enjoy England Gold Award winner in 2011, Cumbria Tourism’s Holiday Park of the Year 2012 and recently attaining the David Bellamy Gold Award for sustainability.

Speaking about the latest honour, Mr McAvoy told the news provider: “Every award delights us because it proves we are maintaining our high standards and being recognised for the hard work we put in.”

Woodclose Park is set in majestic Cumbrian countryside just on the outskirts of Kirkby Lonsdale, south of Kendal.

Cambridge Cherry Hinton Caravan Club site adds extra seasonal pitches

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by Tom Walsh

The Caravan Club’s Cambridge Cherry Hinton site is offering additional pitches for the upcoming winter season.

Visitors will be available to take advantage of the five extra spaces which will be available for people heading to the area between 13 January and 28 February 2014. The Club-accredited site will be charging £340 per pitch for the duration.

It is a great opportunity for people to visit a beautiful part of the country and stay at one of the most picturesque sites in the Club’s portfolio.

Cambridge Cherry Hinton is set in an ancient quarry works and is only a ten-minute bus journey from the heart of Cambridge.

Aside from the main attraction of the city centre there are also a number of guided walking tours of the nearby medieval colleges while people can also take in the views across the River Cam.

It is sure to be great experience for anyone wanting a post-Christmas getaway. To find out more about Cambridge Cherry Hinton Caravan Club site, ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.caravantimes.co.uk/features/clubs/caravan-club/cherry-hinton-the-caravan-club-offers-the-perfect-way-to-visit-cambridge-$21381548.htm">read our park review.

UK and Ireland campsites continue to improve, says Premier Parks

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by Tom Walsh

Camping and caravanning is a favourite pastime for many people around the UK and the options available to them continue to go from strength to strength.

Premier Parks, a leading independent campsite rating programme, has heralded sites in the UK and Ireland for adding yet more to its list of honours.

The company praised the home nations for continually providing visitors with high quality facilities in beautiful locations.

Premier Parks also looks at the standard of lavatories, horticultural maintenance and attention to environmental protection in its 40-stage assessment process.

This year has seen its list of accredited sites grow from 84 to 103 as the outside leisure sector surges in popularity with the rise of glamping.

Russ Swan from Premier Parks said: “We’re delighted that the number of qualifying sites has increased so much this year, taking the total to over 100 for the first time ever.”

Brits increasingly favouring staycations, VisitEngland survey finds

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by Tom Walsh

A weekend break, or something longer, is the ideal way to put the stresses and strains of work aside and enjoy a trip to somewhere different.

While some people head to a European city new research has found that an increasing number of Brits are chooing to take trips to different parts of the UK instead.

VisitEngland used World Travel Market in London to announce that the number of overnight holidays in Great Britain had grown by nine per cent with the figure matched for trips in England during July.

The news was made even better with the national tourist board stating that visitors spent £1.8 billion during the summer holiday season.

Helen Grant, minister for tourism, said: “The domestic tourism sector has a big role to play in helping with the economic recovery so I am delighted that overnight holiday visits is up.

“England has such a diverse offer for holidays at home – from tranquil countryside and coastal towns to vibrant cities – and I will do all I can to help the industry continue to grow.”

Record numbers attend West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome show

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by Tom Walsh

The West Midlands Caravan and Motorhome show has been hailed as a huge success after it drew in a record number of visitors.

Organisers said that the event, held at Shrewsbury’s Emstrey Island in October, was attended by 16,000 people which contributed to the best sales at the annual show for four years.

Visitors travelled from all over the UK and were impressed with the huge array of 40 new caravan holiday homes, touring caravan and motorhome models for 2014.

Tony Bywater, chairman of Salop Leisure, said: “Sales of holiday homes, touring caravans and motorhomes throughout and immediately after the show were the best for four years, which confirms that consumer confidence is returning to the market as the economy picks up.”

He went on to say that there was huge interest in the new holiday home models including the ABI Stretton, ABI Long Mynd, Carnaby Wenlock and Willerby Shrewsbury which were all big sellers.