Lowdhams named as official UK dealer for Westfalia motorhomes

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by Tom Walsh

Lowdhams has announced that it has become the official UK dealer for Westfalia.

The company will be tasked with selling the organisation’s products across the country and made the announcement during the recent Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC.

Steve Sharpe, commercial director of Lowdham, has already hailed the deal and is looking forward to the partnership in the years ahead.

He added: “I am delighted to announce we will have Westfalia’s range of products at Lowdhams, we already have the Club Joker sitting proudly in our showroom which is already attracting a lot of attention.”

Westfalia is one of the leading suppliers of towbars and has years of experience that has used to put into the research and development side of its motorhome and van conversion operations.

Mr Sharpe went on to say that the agreement is sure to provide a major boost to the members of staff at Lowdhams and highlight its profile within the motorhome sector.

Caravan goes up in flames in Thurrock Halloween arson attack

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by Tom Walsh

As usual, Hallowe’en saw children all over the UK head out trick or treating, but in Thurrock the light-hearted fun was marred by scenes of anti-social behaviour.

One incident saw a caravan being set alight in Chadwell St Mary which was included in a police report that noted “lots” of anti-social behaviour across the area, the Thurrock Gazette reports.

Essex Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene on Godman Road just after 8pm and found the caravan ablaze.

It took two crews 20 minutes to control the raging fire and firefighters were able to confirm that it was started deliberately.

Police are now looking into the incident which was reported as being an act of anti-social behaviour.

While both the police and Thurrock Council were prepared for this type of activity, Ben Hodder, Essex Police district commander for Thurrock, still described Halloween as being a “very busy night”.

INTERVIEW: A designer’s perspective on the future of towcars

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by Damien Sharkov
It’s fair to say the last few months have been busy in the world of new towcars.
We have bid farewell to the Land Rover Defender, welcomed the new Skoda Yeti, Subaru Outback and Nissan X-Trail, while also entertaining the prospect of welcoming a Rolls Royce in the SUV segment soon.
Wondering what towing looks like on the other side of the industry, we sat down with car designer Matteo Gentile for a chat.
Legendary SUVs have gone in various stylistic directions of late. From the increasing slickness of recent Range Rovers, to the 911 on stilts that is the Porsche Cayenne, the robustness of your standard SUV’s frame is mellowing out.
Even the outgoing signature, angular body of the Land Rover Defender has grown more aerodynamic in the form of the DC100 concept, to negative reception.
“An SUV should be strong, resistant, hard,” agrees Matteo, whose previous employers include Volkswagen and SEAT.
“It’s really interesting what Kia is doing with the Sportage,” he adds, not before praising the Mercedes G-class.
We are now forced to bring up the white Chelsea Tractor elephant in the room, but Matteo is quick to confirm his credentials as a lover of cars with true grit.
“If the car does not have a good stance it will look fragile and unstable,” he says.
“Towing, is a must in this kind of product. It makes them what they are,” adds Matteo, as we breathe a sigh of relief.
It is affirming to hear industry insiders list kerb weight and towing capability as priorities.
“The stance of the car is really important; the SUV has to be well laid on the ground. This segment is big and tall. It is not always really easy to achieve a good stance in this kind of vehicle,” Matteo cautiously elaborates.
He makes a very good point. We need look no further than the aforementioned Porsche SUV for an example of an ‘unconventional’ looking towcar, to put it kindly.
However slicker designs have made 4x4s more aerodynamic and, more importantly have brought down the vehicles’ centre of gravity.
Both changes are positive contributions to energy consumption and safety, not merely for the flash value.
This is not to say the future of SUVs comes purely in the form of a facelift with a Belgravia address.
“‘In my opinion now the most attractive/pornographic SUV is the Range Rover Evoque based on a showcar of seven maybe eight years ago called Range Rover LRX,” says Matteo.
He is, like us, however a big fan of the old fashioned Land Rover Defender.
Yet the classic Land Rover has been discontinued after increasingly growing more and more akin to the Range Rover.
Matteo is quick to calm us, however, as he says the boxy yet rugged breed of 4×4, spearheaded by the Defender “will never die”.
So where, then, does the future of the SUV lie? “Package is key,” Matteo tells us. From his perspective the perfect package is not body specific.
“A good combination of some key elements is a good study of the ramps, angles, proportions – a good package.”
As the Tokyo Moto Show creeps closer (20 November), we hope Matteo’s words have not fallen on deaf ears.

FEATURE: German designer shows us the Vespa of campervans

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by Damien Sharkov
“At a certain season of our life we are accustomed to consider every spot as the possible site of a house.”
If you are compelled to live in the secluded countryside and as meticulous about finding the perfect spot as Henry David Thoreau, then the services of the Buffalino are ideal.
Designed by Cornelius Cormanns, the converted tuk-tuk solo camper is intended as an answer to the solitary traveller with just more than basic demands.
The vehicle features a fold-up bed, sink, cooker, running water, a fridge and somewhere to hook up your laptop.
“My aim was to give people a better understanding of the country, the surrounding, and the range they have travelled,” Cornelius explains, as we look at the CGI designs of the Buffalino.
“The travelling vehicle is always with you, like some kind of a base camp, while also being used for moving on in an easygoing and spontaneous way,” he continues.
The slightly militaristic comparisons may be all bit too apt here, as the sleeping arrangements are slightly Spartan. The driver’s seat reclines back into a bed.
One a more serious note the camper is a conversion based on a Piaggio APE 50 three-wheeled scooter, famous for being a cheap and fuel efficient platform.
Our friends at Piaggio tell us the crux of their scooter line-up’s conception, among which is the illustrious Vespa, is freedom, friendliness and style”.
It is interesting to note that, humorous as the Buffalino may seem, Enrico Piaggio’s Vespa also once inspired little more than a snicker.
The backbone of their Piaggio’s success, by their own admission, has been precisely the appeal of lone travel.
Solo campers have been rising in popularity lately and it seems very appropriate its future lies in parallel with the evolution of the scooter from the car industry.
Indeed Cornelius admits a major advantage of his design is the vehicle’s scrappiness on less than immaculate terrain.
“The Buffalino encourages users to explore the surrounding off beaten tracks,” he says. “Meanwhile the furnished interior consisting of a bed, two seating units, a cooking zone, a basin, storage space, a water tank and a refrigerator offers the comforts of a home.”
Of course the solo camper is still but a concept and it is far from being a complete, albeit smaller, motorhome as it boasts no washroom or toilet facilities.
It is certainly a long way away from being drooled over like the latest Vespa.
Yet it underlines a powerful trend of liberated solo caravanning, as well as providing quite a fascinating question as to just how big of a gap in the market caravan manufacturers have ignored up until now.
If nothing else, we think the name is pretty snappy – the Buffalino rolls off the tongue.
What do you think about the design of the Buffalino? Would aspiring caravanners benefit from the opportunity of a quick, solitary getaway, without the worry of high petrol consumption and wasted space? Tell us in the comment section below.

Camping in the Forest claims sustainability accolade

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by Tom Walsh

Camping in the Forest has been honoured for its commitment to sustainability with a number of prestigious accolades.

The company has ranked highly in both the David Bellamy Conservation Awards and the Green Tourism Awards, reinforcing its commitment to protecting the natural environment on campsites and supporting the local economy.

Officials singled out 15 of the company’s sites for a David Bellamy ‘Gold’ award, the highest accolade sites can achieve. A further five destinations were given a gold star rating in the Green Tourism Business Scheme.

Bob Hill, The Camping and Caravanning Club’s sites director, said: “Once again, our Camping in the Forest Sites have excelled themselves and have achieved some brilliant results – it really is a fantastic effort by all of our site teams.”

It highlights the importance that the company is putting into not only providing a great holiday destination for Brits but also somewhere that is safe and sustainable for the environment.

Camping in the Forest is part of the Camping and Caravanning Club sites network, with each site located on Forestry Commission land.

Popular sites include, Beddgelert in Wales, Christchurch in the Forest of Dean and Hollands Wood in the New Forest.

Caravan Club site to house Britain’s oldest touring caravan

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by Damien Sharkov
128 years ago, Dr William Stables commissioned a vehicle from Bristol Wagon Works Company that was more than just the talk of every town he would visit.
The 30 foot long ‘Wanderer’ was the first ever touring caravan, weighing weighs two tonnes and boasting a bookcase, china cabinet and musical instruments in its Edwardian interior.
The caravan, which has been housed by the Motor Museum, went on its first tour in 1885 and was last used in 1960. Now it is going to be on permanent display at the Caravan Club’s site in the Cotswolds.
Beverley Larion from the club said “We would prefer to keep it at the Caravan Club rather than in a storage facility so our members can enjoy it.”
“It’s great for historians and enthusiasts to see this unique vehicle which was the first ever custom-built for leisure caravan.”
Upon the Wanderer’s construction Dr William Stables became known as ‘The Gentleman Gypsy’, as he travelled across the country, pursuing the bohemian lifestyle with aristocratic flair.
Although it is capable of being towed by a car, the caravan was initially pulled by Dr Stables’ two horses – Captain Corn-flower and Polly Pea-blossom.
Gwilym Owen of the nearby Cotswold Motor Museum said “It’s had a little bit of modernisation over the years, such as new wheels and axle from a 1930s Austin and a more modern hitch but everything else is basically the same as it was when constructed.”
To see a video of the Wanderer’s trip to Buckingham Palace click below:

Top five sites to take your caravan to on Bonfire Night weekend

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by Damien Sharkov
As we have slowly dipped into the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness the tide of autumn gales has threatened to dampen our spirits and curb our caravanning enthusiasm.
Yet no sooner does the time for wrapping up warm come, before we can put the mulled wine on the hob and light up the bonfire, so why not couple that joy with a late caravan holiday?
Here is our list of the best spots to tow your home-from-home to and watch the firework displays over the next week.
Haven Seashore Holiday Park, Norfolk
If you are looking for an East Anglian getaway, with a good view of the celebrations, hurry over to Haven Seashore Holiday Park on Saturday (2 November).
Organisers will be holding their own firework display and guests of the park can watch for free. Rates for non-guests are £3 in advance or £5 on the night. Bring the family along for a thrilling display.
Gateway Holiday Park, Carmarthenshire
If you have kept Sunday free, but would prefer a trip westwards, fear not. We have the perfect solution, as Gateway Holiday Park, situated on the Gower coastline will also be holding their bonfire display this Saturday at 6.30pm.
A hard-standing pitch with electric hook-up is £20 per night, including entry to the Bonfire Night Party & Fireworks Display. Non-guests pay £3 to come along, while children under 14 get in for free.
The organisers promise live music, a hog roast and plenty of candy floss, soget your scarves, gloves, hats & wellies on for some good old-fashioned family fun.
Oakhill Leisure, Lincolnshire
For those of you who would like to try a more interactive Guy Fawkes Night, our friends at Oakhill Leisure has organised a commemoration of the night parliament was spared from tumultuous oblivion, spanning three days.
Starting on 1 November and ending 3 November the ‘Bonfire Extravaganza’ rally will see participators compete to make the most entertaining Guy effigy out of flammable materials.
The entry fee is £22, with a rally limit of 80 vans.
Royal Umpire Caravan Park, Lancashire
Should you wish to combine your family trip with a visit to one of Blackpool and Preston’s famous theme parks, Royal Umpire Caravan Park is a short car journey from both.
With the promise of a “fantastic array of fireworks” and hot food available, there is no reason not to spend 2 November here.
Kippford Holiday Park, Kirkcudbrightshire
Finally, if you were looking to venture out or remain on the northern side of Hadrian’s Wall, there is always the option of paying Kippford Holiday Park a visit on 4 November.
The Anchor Hotel Kippford is promising a BBQ, burgers, soup and drinks and, with touring prices ranging between £20-24, perhaps watching the sky ablaze on Scotland’s Riviera Coast is exactly what you need to warm you up for the coming winter.
How will you be spending Bonfire Night? Did we miss out on your favourite caravan spot? Tell us in the comment section below.

Stolen caravans recovered thanks to new theft alert system

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by Tom Walsh

Caravan Theft Alerts has been praised for the role it played in helping to recover three stolen caravans from sites in Lincolnshire.

One of the tourers had been logged as stolen on the National Caravan Council’s new CRiS system (the national register for UK touring caravan owners) and Caravan Theft alerts was used by Lincolnshire Police to help track down and return to its owner while prosecuting the perpetrator.

Tim Booth, leisure vehicles officer at the Association of Chief Police Officer’s Vehicle Crime Intelligence division, explained that Caravan Theft Alerts had managed to list the vehicle as stolen before the police.

Mr Booth said: “Thanks to the industry working together, with Caravan Theft Alerts taking the notification and the CRiS database being kept up to date, these were essential elements in the recovery of these caravans.”

Caravan Theft Alerts recommends that owners get their caravan listed on the CRiS system to ensure that it can be returned to its rightful owner.

Manchester Caravan and Motorhome Show to return to Event City for 2014

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by Tom Walsh

The Caravan and Motorhome Show will be returning to Manchester Event City in the new year, it has been announced.

Fom 23 to 26 January, visitors will be able to view the huge range of caravans, motorhomes and holiday homes on show at the north-west event.

The 2014 show will see brand new attractions, as Great Days Out will be out in force.

The company has a host of breaks available at some of the nation’s favourite sites such as Flamingo Land Resort Yorkshire, Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways and Gulliver’s Kingdom, among others.

It will be showgoers some great holiday ideas for where they can take their caravan, motorhome or holiday home for a break.

Rob Hawthorne, The Caravan & Motorhome Show spokesperson, said: “Caravanners take an average of nine holidays every year so they are among the most ‘active’ and aware holidaymakers out there.

“There will be plenty to keep them interested and lots of exclusive deals for them to check out at the show this year.”

The show is supported by both the Camping and Caravanning Club and the Caravan Club, who will both be offering free caravan towing lessons to all visitors.

What’s more, Swift and Eterniti will be there to show off their entire 2014 collections.

Advanced tickets are on sale now, priced at £7.50 for adults, while children under 16 can come along for free.

Julia Bradbury voted Camping and Caravanning Club president

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by Tom Walsh

Television presenter Julia Bradbury has taken the helm as the new president of the Camping and Caravanning Club.

She was chosen to receive the role at the Club members’ AGM in County Durham, thanks to her passion for the great outdoors, her relationship with members and having given a lot of support to some of the Club’s initiatives.

Julia, who is the first woman to hold this presitigious position, will succeed the botanist David Bellamy OBE, who has held the role as club president for the last 11 years.

She is most easily recognised for presenting the television show Countryfile and for hosting the ITV game show Take on the Twisters.

Speaking about her new role as president of the Club, Julia said: “I have had the pleasure of working with the Club for several years, so to now have been elected as president is a true honour and one that I plan to immerse myself in.”

Previous Camping and Caravanning Club Presidents of repute include Captain Robert Scott of the Antarctic (1909-1912) and Baron Robert Baden-Powell (1919-1941).

It’s clear that Julia has some big shoes to fill, and we at CaravanTimes wish her all the best in her new role.

VIDEO: Introducing the new Bailey Pursuit caravan range

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by Chris Jefferies
It’s fair to say that 2013 has been a rather busy year for Bailey of Bristol.
Britain’s longest-running caravan manufacturer has celebrated its 65th anniversary by launching the Bailey Pegasus GT65 in January and the Bailey Approach Autograph motorhome range in July.
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve now been treated to yet another new range, in the form of the Bailey Pursuit.
The latest arrival takes over from the outgoing ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/bailey/bailey-orion/">Bailey Orion and Bailey Olympus as the entry-level Alu-Tech caravan range.
In this video, we catch up with Simon Howard from Bailey of Bristol, to find out more about this lightweight arrival and the six initial layouts on offer.
Simon explains how the company tried to incorporate the spaciousness and specification of the Olympus as well as the light weights, affordable prices and distinctive styling of the Orion.
We also find out all about the new opening sunroof, which has been carried over from the increasingly popular Bailey motorhomes collection.
For full prices and weights of the Bailey Pursuit, click here 

Dyson DC58 Animal: Ferocious, attractive but a difficult animal to live with

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by Dan Cartwright
Caravan cleaning isn’t fun, but it is a small price to pay for the joy of caravanning. Anything that makes it easier and quicker is a bonus and allows you more time to spend enjoying your holiday.
Vacuuming a caravan with a traditional upright vacuum is cumbersome and difficult with lots of wires and attachments, not to mention limited space to manoeuvre.
So the invention of handheld vacuum cleaners is very helpful when cleaning your caravan and their small size means you can easily take them with you on holiday, unlike your upright home vacuum.
With this in mind, CaravanTimes was very excited to get a chance to test out a new premium handheld vacuum from Dyson, called the DC 58 Animal.
This vacuum boast 20 times the suction power of any other handheld vacuum, 20 minutes of vacuuming per charge and a host of useful attachments.
Retailing at around £230 it is very much at the premium end of the market, and much more powerful than the previous version, the Dyson DC34 Animal.
Good points

  1. Suction power: As you would expect from Dyson, the inventor of bag-less vacuums that don’t lose suction, the DC58 has incredible suction, it really does suck! For those of you have tried other hand held vacuums and given up realising that a dustpan and brush are better, you will not be disappointed.
  2. The attachments: Most vacuums come with a multitude of attachments that push on and fall off as soon as you use them. All the attachments on the DC58 lock into place and don’t come off even if you are pushing them down the side of the sofa. It also has a motorised brush attachment, which is excellent for deep-cleaning upholstery and carpets.
  3. Emptying the bag: It is easy to see when the transparent dirt container is full, and it is very quick and easy to empty. Not only is it easy to empty, but it does not get dust everywhere when you detach the attachment.

Down sides

  1. Unlike many handheld vacuums in this price range (including some from Dyson), it does not have a telescopic nozzle attachment. This means if you want to clean the carpet you have to get down on your hands and knees (or get a bad back). Likewise if you are short and want to clean high up it can be difficult. You can buy additional attachment kits but these are expensive and most of them you already get, so it seems like a waste of money.
  2. Whilst it is light for its suction power, it is still 1.57kg meaning older people may struggle to use this for prolonged periods.
  3. If you have large hands the confined handle area makes it difficult and even painful to fit my hand in, hold and apply the trigger (to see what we mean, take a look at the photo below). When I first tried this I thought it was broken because it kept stopping whilst I was holding the trigger in. It wasn’t broken but because I had to squash my hand in to the confined space I couldn’t press the trigger properly meaning it would cut out.


The verdict
To take a vacuum with you on your holiday in the caravan to clean toast crumbs from the bed, clean the seating area and occasional bits of mud or spills on the carpet, the DC58 is just the tool for the job and more than capable.
That said, for cleaning your van fully after using I would still struggle with the DC58 and still use an upright vacuum with flex attachments.
This is because having to be on your hands and knees to clean the carpets (even if you take them out of the van) is too painful and £230 seems like a lot for a vacuum that can’t do everything you want it to do.
If you got the Dyson DC59 with the extending attachment this would provide you the best of both worlds and would be a much better buy.