Wooda Farm Holiday Park becomes Caravan Club affiliated

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by Tom Walsh

Cornwall and the West Country now boasts yet another Caravan Club affiliated park.

Wooda Farm Holiday Park, near Bude, has become the latest addition to the Club and can be enjoyed by members looking to enjoy the picturesque scenery in the south-west of England.

The park is an absolute must for caravanners visiting the area as it is situated overlooking the magnificent Bude Bay and just a short drive to the village of Poughill.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a host of amenities on-site as Wooda Farm is equipped with a coarse fishing lake, tennis and badminton courts and an adventure playground, great for people travelling with children.

There is much to do around the area as well as people can visit popular attractions such as Poundstock Gildhouse and Hartland Abbey.

Cornwall is also home to a host of impressive beaches with Bude itself being a great seaside town to visit.

VIDEO: Why fit Tyron bands to your caravan’s wheels

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by Daniel Mackrell

Tyre blow-outs can put caravanners in very dangerous situations while towing their caravan, but like most potential towing dangers, there are ways you can make it safer for when you’re on the road.

In this video Caravan Times speaks to Neil Greentree, General Manager of Greentrees Adventure store, about fitting Tyron bands and how they can protect you from losing control if a tyre suddenly deflates.

Once the rubber on a tyre is removed from the rim, which can happen if the tyre deflates because of a puncture, then it loses a lot of its grip, which can cause the caravan to swerve and cause accidents.

Run-flat safety bands, such as Tyron, help to ensure that you maintain some grip if your tyre deflates.

In this video you can find out how to fit your caravan with run-flat safety bands, as well as how much they are likely to cost.

Neil Greentree also explains exactly how the safety bands work, and why these precautions can help prevent you from losing control of your caravan.

Thanks to ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.greentrees-adventurestore.co.uk/" target="_blank">Greentrees Adventurestore and ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.towergateinsurance.co.uk/" target="_blank" Rel="NoFollow">Towergate Insurance for their help with this video.

Top holiday parks honoured at the David Bellamy Conservation Awards

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Sensational, stunning and alluring are some of the terms used to describe winning the holiday parks featured in the 16th anniversary David Bellamy Conservation Awards.

The award scheme, which encompasses 600 holiday parks, is intended to encourage parks to promote the conservation of the natural habitat surrounding their land.

Environmental adviser Rufus Bellamy said: “Many holiday parks in Britain, particularly those in rural areas, are blessed with abundant wildlife, and their owners are generally mindful of the need to manage their natural surroundings with sensitivity.”

“The David Bellamy Conservation Awards encourage them to broaden their existing practices even further by adopting new initiatives to make their parks real havens for wildlife, and to help protect the wider environment.”

Parks wishing to enter the scheme face an arduous evaluation process which involves allowing independent assessors to scrutinise all environmental aspects of their business.

The assessor’s brief includes judging how well the park works within the community to make local life more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

“A big benefit of this scheme is that holidaymakers can often enjoy an extra dimension to their stay by choosing a park which offers them a chance to get closer to nature,” Rufus said.

The 2013/2014 winners can be found can be found on British Holiday and Home Parks Association website at ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href=" http://www.ukparks.com/bellamy.asp" target="_blank">www.ukparks.com.

Morecambe holiday parks purchased in £47m Park Resorts takeover

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by Tom Walsh

Park Resorts has expanded its portfolio by purchasing a series of holiday parks in the Morecambe area.

The company has spent £47 million acquiring a number of sites, with the latest being South Lakeland Parks. It means it will now manage the nine parks in Morecambe Bay and the Lake District.

These will include Marina Holiday Park, in Glasson Dock, Todber Caravan Park in Clitheroe, White Cross Bay near Windermere and Limefitt Park in the Troutbeck Valley among others.

It represents a significant signal of intent by Park Resorts and the company’s chief executive explains that the decision was made due to the north-west’s intrinsic links with family holidays.

David Boden added: “South Lakeland’s nine parks are all high quality and will perfectly complement our existing portfolio.

“The parks are ideally located for owners and holidaymakers to experience some of the most spectacular scenery in the UK.”

It means Park Resorts now has a foothold in an area in which it was not prominent previously.

NEC caravan show tickets competition closed and winners announced

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by Chris Jefferies
The UK’s biggest caravan show is nearly upon us, with more than 90,000 caravanners expected to descend on the Birmingham NEC from 15 to 20 October.
This year’s event looks set to be truly show-stopping, with all the country’s biggest names exhibiting, such as Swift, Bailey, Elddis, Compass and Eterniti, just to name a few.
What’s more, you can expect celebrity appearances from the likes of model Melanie Sykes and TV chef Ed Baines.
Tickets are on sale now for the advance price of £8 for adults and £7 for seniors, but 25 lucky CaravanTimes readers won’t have to pay a thing.
In our latest competition, we have 25 pairs of tickets up for grabs and now the deadline for entries has passed and it’s time to announce the winners.
So without further ado, their names are:

    Neil Steer, Ralph Wood, Tim Lord, Paul Devine, Victoria Poole, Jason Ball, John Davies, John Joyce, Matt Walters, Miriam Scale, Stephen Court, Stuart Gallifant, Paul Saunders, Alison Rutter, Steve Taylor, Jacky Cooper, Karen Morrison, Edward Knott, Wendy Prince, James Grainger, Peter Latham, Joan Markall, Carole Dimmock, Tracy Cole and Sian O’Sullivan

Congratulations to everyone who won, we will be in touch via e-mail to arrange delivery of your tickets.
If you missed out this time, make sure to keep checking back with CaravanTimes for plenty more exciting competitions in the near future.

Subaru announces details of 2014 Outback SUV

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by Damien Sharkov
It has been 17 years since the Subaru Outback first tumbled its way to dealerships in Europe in 1996 and with each subsequent incarnation it has managed to take a more than noteworthy portion of the towcar market.
Now the Japanese giants seem keen to propel the vehicle to new heights as they introduce a ‘crossover’ philosophy to the Outback, which sees the manufacturer blend easy handling and a family-friendly interior with a robust exterior.
The most noteworthy additions to the 2014 Outback are the Diesel engine combined with the continuous variable transmission system.
All this is done in an attempt to perfect the smoothness of the ride on any terrain. It is not merely the visage of the 2014 Outback that smacks more than a little of Colin McRae’s Impreza, as Subaru do pull out all the stops to make sure the new SUV has plenty of brawn for when it ventures outside the city.
The new engine and gearbox are also designed to provide optimum energy consumption and minimal CO2 emissions.
With that in mind, Subaru claims the 2014 Outback will return 44.8 mpg and emit just 166g/km CO2 on the combined cycle.
The new Outback provides Subaru’s characteristic low centre of gravity.
Still the SUV is not to be taken as an exercise in pure towcar muscle as it promises a family friendly interior, seating up to five passengers, as well as carrying enough gadgetry to satisfy everyday urban needs.
Features include dual-zone automatic air-conditioning, a Bluetooth hands-free system, a premium audio system with USB connectivity and a VGA centre display with rear vision camera – perfect for hitching up with ease.
The new Outback has a maximum luggage space of 526 litres and will be available in two new colours – Deep Sea Blue Pearl and Dark Grey Metallic.
No word yet has been given on the 2014 Outback’s weight, but it is expected Subaru has produced a better turnover than its predecessor, which had a maximum towing capability of 1,225kgs and boasted a kerb weight of 1,553kgs.
The 2014 Subaru Outback will go on sale this November with prices starting from £29,995.

Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

VIDEO: First look inside the 2014 Swift Challenger SE and Sterling Eccles SE

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by Chris Jefferies
Last year, the ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/swift/swift-challenger-se/">Swift Challenger SE and Sterling Eccles SE were launched to great acclaim, bringing plenty of premium specification such as Alde central heating to the mid-level market.
In fact the Challenger in particular was so successful that it won the much-coveted CaravanTimes Caravan of the Year award.
So how would Swift improve on this winning formula for the 2014 season? In this video we find out.
Gary O’Brien from Swift Group talks us through the key improvements, from the Duvalay memory foam mattress to the new L-shaped layout that’s being introduced.

For full details of the new Swift Challenger SE range click here.


We also hear more about Swift’s new ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/swift/smart-construction.htm">Smart Construction system, which underpins every new caravan being built for 2014.
And Gary tells us about the new interior design on the Sterling Eccles SE range, which draws on the company’s first concept caravan, the Colour Concept, for inspiration.

Melanie Sykes confirmed to open NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show

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by Chris Jefferies
TV personality, model, and all-round Northern lass, Melanie Sykes will officially open the 2013 NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show, it has been confirmed.
The show opening will take place at the Birmingham NEC on Tuesday 15 October, with Mel due to give an opening speech at 10:15am in The Expert’s Advice and Cookery Theatre in Hall 9.
Melanie rose to fame in the 1990s as the face of Boddingtons Brewery, starring in a series of hilarious TV adverts.
These days, she is better known as the presenter of ITV chat shows ‘Today with Des and Mel’ and ‘Let’s do Lunch with Gino and Mel’.
Her passion for caravanning stems back to her childhood family holidays, and she has recently toured across America in a motorhome.
“I have some golden memories of caravan holidays from my childhood,” Mel said. “It was a time when the family all got together to relax and have fun; playing sports on the beach, climbing trees and building sandcastles.
“Now I am looking forward to enjoying those experiences again with my own children.”
Mel is also a keen fan of outdoor pursuits – she took up competitive shooting in 2012 and trains three times a week with Olympic Gold medallist Peter Wilson MBE.
But for all her exploits and anecdotes, we at CaravanTimes remember Mel most fondly as the no-nonsense Northern gal from the Boddies ads.
To relive one of Mel’s finest Boddington’s adverts, click on the video below:

Other celebrity appearances scheduled for the show include TV chef Ed Baines, who will be sharing his top tips for creating amazing al fresco meals.
Advance tickets for the NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show are on sale now, with prices starting at just £8 for adults and £7 for seniors (including parking), while under 16s can come along for free.

Specialised Covers talks Bailey Australia and off-road towing

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by Chris Jefferies
Earlier this week, when ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/bailey/">Bailey of Bristol announced the results of their latest Australian off-road towing test, some of our more eagle-eyed readers may have spotted one key detail.
The caravans in question were all sporting a towing protector to defend the nose-end against dirt, stones and general debris.
Towing protectors are becoming increasingly popular, not just in Australia, but in the UK as well, and this particular cover was made by Yorkshire based firm ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="/specialised-covers/">Specialised Covers.
The company has been working on tailored storage covers for caravans for many years, but the towing cover is a newer development.
Elliot Long, Managing Director of Specialised Covers, explains that the company’s top of the range product, the Tow Pro Elite, was designed with Australian Outback conditions specifically in mind.
“It’s doing the job we intended it to do. Bailey Australia was the driving force to help us redesign our new product, and it’s really taken off over there.
“The Tow Pro Elite is now standard spec in Australia, as many caravanners will tow for 5,000km and they need a product that can withstand anything the elements throw at them, from hailstones to extreme UV and loose rocks.”
Even if your average towing journey is a little less dramatic, then a towing cover could still prove to be a very savvy investment.
“We all know how expensive those windows are to replace, the cost of a cover in comparison is negligible,” Elliot explains.
“When customers use these covers on their caravans, the dealers tell us that when it comes to part-exchange they’re not knocking off £1,000 for towing damage anymore; they’re paying for themselves and more.”

Caravan Santa Claus rescues Ed Sheeran after karaoke accident

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by Damien Sharkov
Homegrown music talent, turned global superstar, Ed Sheeran may be jet-setting across the world with the likes of Taylor Swift now, but the Suffolk local boy does not seem to be above a good caravan party.
While on tour in the United States the Lego House singer decided to let his hair down for an evening and went about exploring the nearest caravan park.
“I was in a trailer park in Tennessee called Santa’s Pub and it was a karaoke caravan,” shared Sheeran.
Always happy to flaunt the talents that have won him two BRIT awards, among countless other accolades, he sang and partied unto the early hours of the morning. Slowly he began to feel a little queasy, however.
“I looked down at my shoes and they were covered in blood and the floor was covered in blood,” said Sheeran, who quickly discovered a giant piece of glass protruding from his hand.
“I cut it drumming with beer bottles,” explains the singer, as he was tended to by the white bearded owner of the caravan establishment – affectionately referred to as Santa.
“Santa obviously sees it all the time so he just pulls it out and wraps it up and we carried on drinking,” added Sheeran.
Ed has three dates left as he wraps up his tour of the US, after which he will take to the studio to record his sophomore album.
He admits he has no plans of making a permanent stateside move, despite his house renovation not exactly nearing completion.
“I bought a house in England and it’s being done up. It was falling apart and now it’s half falling apart,” laughs Ed.
We at CaravanTimes could always recommend a few excellent caravan parks in Suffolk, should he come down with a bout of homesickness.

Caravan Club to host ‘Your Club in Your Region’ event in Luton

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by Tom Walsh

Members of the Northern Home Counties Region of the The Caravan Club are being invited to a special event held by the organisation.

The ‘Your Club in Your Region’ talk will be held at the Holiday Inn Luton South (junction nine of the M1) on 5 October between 1pm and 4pm.

It will give members the opportunity to share their views and ask questions to Club officials who will be on hand to talk about all things caravan.

The event is designed to make members to feel even more welcome in the organisation and follows on from a successful ‘Meet the Members’ weekend held at the Burford Club in June.

Both the Caravan Club executive and regional council representatives attended the summer bash and gave members the opportunity to voice their opinions.

A full variety of refreshments will be on offer and For more information on the Luton event visit ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://northernhomecountiesregion.info" target="_blank">northernhomecountiesregion.info.

Caravans in Festival of Thrift are a ‘roaring success’

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by Damien Sharkov
When Wayne Hemingway speaks about trends, and he does so often, there is a quality about him that captures the attention.
Perhaps there is something in his voice which betrays the fact his fashion label spent 21 consecutive seasons on the catwalks of London Fashion Week, or perhaps it is his appearance that conveys him as the champion of vintage style.
Either way he has been talking about caravans recently, in senses both literal and figurative and we cannot help but listen.
“Caravans, camper vans and thrift are natural bedfellows,” Wayne tells CaravanTimes, “and at the inaugural Festival of Thrift they consummated this relationship.”
As we reported the Festival of Thrift, Wayne’s attempt at organising a celebration of thrift parallel in magnitude iconic status to what festivals like are Glastonbury to music, featured a huge caravan element.
Dragon’s Den star Max McMurdo upcycled a caravan from scratch in two days, while famished festival-goers were treated to a smorgasboard of options from five classic campervans transformed into pop up boutique restaurants – known as Bistro du vans.
Both, Wayne tells us, were a “roaring success”.
“Vans and caravans were to be found all across the Festival of Thrift site – from proud owners of VW campers (including the Little Artivan showing off their handiwork in the vintage car area), to itinerant campervan caterers Lulabelles, to the five extraordinary renovated vans which became restaurants for the weekend,” festival director Stella Hall adds.
Wayne and company will be heading down to London next, as he has lined up a chain of vintage caravans to serve as stalls for all kinds of thrifty goodness on the banks of the Thames come 12 October.
Click below for a behind-the-scenes look at the Festival of Thrift: