Rough Guides claim staycations mostly due to love of the UK

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by Chris Jefferies

It appears that more and more Brits are falling in love with the UK countryside and choosing to stay at home with their caravan rather than go holidaying abroad, according to a recent survey.

Despite the popular assumption that people holidaying at home on a staycation simply cannot afford to go anywhere nicer, the study by Rough Guides shows that many simply love to stay in the UK.

More than a third (35 per cent) of survey respondents said that they were planning a holiday in the UK because they love our national countryside, including scenic caravan hotspots such as Blackpool, Cornwall and Devon.

Only 14 per cent said that they were choosing to stay in the UK for purely financial reasons, while just 13 per cent said staying in Britain is simply less hassle.

The survey comes as Rough Guides publishes Make the Most of Your Time in Britain, a new travel companion, including some of the best UK attractions for touring caravan lovers.

VIDEO: Bike tows caravan as part of art exhibition

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by Holly Tribe

From time to time here in the Caravan Times office, we stumble across an off-beat use for the humble caravan that perfectly sums up the spirit of the lifestyle – and this new installation from artist Kevin Cyr is a perfect example.

A touring caravan is perhaps not the most obvious artists muse, but this wistful exhibition from Brooklyn-based Kevin Cyr demonstrates the more romantic side of caravanning.

Watch video footage of the bike and caravan rig out on the open road

Entitled ‘Home in the Weeds’, the installation examines ‘the idea of shelter as a safe haven for a future worst-case-scenario’ alongside optimistic notions of ‘home’ and ‘self-preservation’.

One of the large scale installation pieces displays a compact caravan hitched up to an old 3-speed Raleigh bicycle (pictured). Kevin Cyr explains how the caravan ‘expresses nostalgia for innocence and exploration and is stocked with items reminiscent of my childhood camping trips’.

The exhibition will take place at 941 Geary Gallery in San Francisco until June, but Brit based art fans can find out more from their website www.941geary.com.


King’s Lynn Camping and Caravan Park gets eco-upgrade

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by Chris Jefferies

King’s Lynn Caravan and Camping Site has just completed a £250,000 eco-friendly facelift. Based in North Runcton, the modern block features toilets, showers, facilities for the disabled, a baby room and laundry area.

The camping site has also been designed with sustainability in mind, with power being generated by rain harvesting, solar panels and solar tubes.

As a member of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the park now also features reduced-flow shower fittings as well as a robust recycling facility for glass, plastic and paper products.

Set in ten acres of mature parkland, King’s Lynn Caravan and Camping Park has Wi-Fi available on site and the local town provides activities, such as fishing, golfing, riding, bowling and clay pigeon shooting.

Other local attractions include traditional glass-blowers Caithness Crystal and Beers of Europe – an extensive shop and warehouse with over 3,000 different ales, beers, ciders, whiskies, spirits and more.

Devon caravan site launches late summer golf event

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by Chris Jefferies

If you’re looking to make the most out of the summer touring season and maybe swing a few clubs, then the two-day golf event at Hillhead caravan site in Devon may be an ideal choice. Passionate putters can enjoy a fun-filled day at the nearby Cayman golf centre on September 28th, followed up on the next day at Churston golf course.

The weekend event will be rounded off with a special dinner and award presentations at Nico’s restaurant.

Hillhead caravan site is situated in 22 acres of Devon countryside, near the south coast, and guests can enjoy free use of the outdoor heated swimming pool.

Other useful facilities on the site include a shop, a bar, a restaurant and a takeaway service, while a pitch and putt course is available for those looking to sharpen their skills or try golf for the first time.

Late season pitches for the Hillhead Golf Break 2011 are available now for just £7.70 per caravan.

Caravan owners feeling the pinch of petrol prices over Easter holidays

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by Chris Jefferies

Motorhome and caravan owners heading away for the Easter weekend may need to count the pennies this year, as an AA survey has shown how the price of driving is stacking up. Compared with this time last year, it will now cost £2 more for every 100 miles driven, meaning a long-distance trip to Cornwall or the Lake District could prove costly.

The AA Fuel Price Report for April also found that the chancellor George Osborne’s decision last month to lower fuel duty by 1p per litre was wiped out in under a week by rising fuel prices.

Average prices at the pumps have risen again, meaning that petrol now costs a record 135.79 pence per litre on average, while an average litre of diesel will set you back 141.99 pence.

Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “The pain of soaring fuel prices that have plagued UK families through the winter is now being felt by the summer tourism and leisure industry.”

TomTom launches nifty tow car accessory

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan lovers in the market for a new tow car may be interested in picking up the new gadget from TomTom, which allows up to three devices to be charged at once. The TomTom High Speed Multi-Charger is up to four times faster than other traditional cigarette-lighter chargers and is compatible with a range of devices.

Whether you need to give your sat nav a boost or charge up your mobile phone, the new TomTom charger can handle the job.

Furthermore, a 1.2 amp USB charging point is compatible with MP3 players and tech-mad iPad or iPhone owners can use the 2.1 amp port. Lastly, there’s a 12V port for charging more power-hungry devices, like an in-car DVD player.

Corinne Vigreux, managing director at TomTom, said: “This is a neat in-car, in-truck, or in-caravan charger.”

The TomTom High Speed Multi-Charger is available now from Amazon, Dixons, Comet and Halfords for a recommended retail price of £19.99.

Caravan cleaning firm Carashine becomes Autoglym approved operator

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by Marcus Dubois

Caravan cleaning firm Carashine has received official approval from Autoglym to become its first ever approved operator in the leisure vehicle market.

The cleaning company is based in the North East and provides caravan and motorhome exterior valeting and detailing. After months of usage caravans tend to accumulate a surface patina of dirt and grime which can be tricky to dislodge. When preparing a vehicle for resale, some owners opt to have a specialist clean their tourer in order to return it to showroom condition.

In a conversation with Caravan Times earlier this week Carashine founder Jon Forster revealed the training process Autoglym place companies through before granting approval to use products, and his pride at becoming the first caravan firm to make the grade.

Autoglym – a worldwide reputation

Famed for producing valeting products for the “professional motorist”, Autoglym has an illustrious history dating back to 1965. Originally developed as a system for renovating used car paintwork, the products were only available to professional valeters in the trade.

However after the Autoglym name began to be known by public as an effective cleaning and polishing agent, the firm introduced its first range of “home care” products in 1986. Today the company offers ranges for both the professional and the customer who wants to maintain their vehicle at home.

Jon Forster explained just why he was anxious to become an approved operator after trying their product. “We used to get great results with the stuff I was using before, don’t get me wrong. But the caravan cleaning products we use now? They’re out of this world”.

Now available for home use

As a result Jon has now started to offer the same products on his website carashinenational.co.uk for those who want to work on their caravan at home.

Otherwise, his most popular requested job? “It’s usually the high gloss valet that people go for. You can top-up by using high-definition wax.

“I’ve always said, if people then want to maintain their caravan themselves, they can always get in touch – I’m more than happy to offer advice.”

New activities on offer from Haven Holidays this Easter

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by Chris Jefferies

A regular favourite amongst caravan owners, Haven Holidays has just updated its range of activities on offer for summer 2011, meaning the kids will never be short of things to keep them amused.

All 35 Haven parks in the UK have indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and classes on offer to new swimmers include water confidence and walking on water in a giant bubble.

On dry land you can choose from a range of sessions, ranging from mini-tennis and archery to cooking, football and fencing, all of which are included for free.

Other courses, such as fishing, golf, high ropes and rock climbing, will cost extra, but families can save on these by booking a Haven Activity Pass, which gets you six sessions for just £30.

Three-night breaks with Haven start at £199 per family of six at a range of coastal locations, including Marton Mere in Blackpool, Seashore in Norfolk and Devon Cliffs on the south coast.

SHORTLIST: ‘Dogs & Caravans’ photo competition – vote for your favourite to win!

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At the beginning of the month we launched our ‘Dogs & Caravans’ photo competition in league with National Pet Month to highlight the importance of responsible pet ownership and the benefits of living with pets.

Those of you keeping an eye on the leaderboard over the last couple of weeks will have noticed that competition for the top spot has been a closely fought contest between three cracking contenders.

Click here to view a gallery of the top 20 photos

Two of our leading entries, ‘Pip Watching’ and ‘Barney Watching the World Go By’ are beautiful portraits which perfectly demonstrate the contemplative side of our four-legged friends. Meanwhile, ‘Me and my Dad Chillin’ shows a giant loveable wolfhound almost dwarfing his owner! And latecomers ‘Bruce & Sasha’ and ‘We Want a Walk’ both show how adorable dogs can be when they want attention from their friend.

As we enter the final week of the competition, the time has come to review the 80 plus photos that have been entered, and draw up a shortlist of the top twenty most voted for pics which are displayed in the gallery below. If you have already voted, don’t worry! Please feel free to get friends and family involved or spread the word by clicking the facebook icon underneath the picture.

1st Prize: The photo with the most votes at the end of the month will feature on the front page of Caravan Times accompanied by a full length write up from our features editor, we’ll also throw in a Carpet, more of which below.

Runners up: The nine runners up will each win a CarPet – a nifty gadget for getting rid of pet fur from the upholstery and carpets of your caravan.

How to vote

1. Click on your favourite photo below to be taken through to the voting page.

2. Click on the button underneath the image to register your vote.

The competition will close on 2nd May and winners will be notified no later than Friday 6th May. Please note – we are no longer accepting new entries for the competition and there will only be one prize awarded per entrant in the final draw. Terms and conditions apply.

Good luck!



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Break a world record on your Cornish caravan holiday

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan lovers heading to Cornwall this summer as part of a touring holiday are encouraged to visit Penzance on June 26th for a world record attempt. The popular coastal town is hoping to enter the Guinness Book of Records by hosting the world’s largest gathering of pirates.

This light-hearted event is the culmination of the 21st annual Golowan Festival, which celebrates the best of Cornish culture.

Penzance is hoping to take the title from current holders Hastings, who set the record with 6,166 pirates in attendance.

Malcolm Bell, head of VisitCornwall, said: “Penzance is famous for its pirates, so where better to challenge for the record for the highest number of scurvy knaves than in their true home?”

He added that Golowan brings colour and music to the streets and harbour of this ancient Cornish town.

Any would-be pirates keen to join in the dressing up fun are encouraged to meet at Penzance Promenade at 1pm on June 26th.

New 2012 Porsche Cayenne: what you need to know

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by Marcus Dubois

The second generation of the Porsche Cayenne has only been around for a year. Yet like the proverbial buses we’ve got another new model on the horizon. The good news for owners of the 2011 model is that there’s no external redesign here – all the changes are under the skin.

Crucially the upgrades are to engines and drivetrain, enough to tempt new Cayenne buyers looking to save money at the pumps or hoping for improved performance.

Click here to view our photo gallery of the 2012 Porsche Cayenne

Throughout this year Caravan Times has been campaigning for lower fuel prices after feedback from caravanners struggling to enjoy the hobby in 2012. And while the high list price of the Cayenne (starting at £42,990) might mean owners scoff at the cost of fuel, Porsche has still worked to improve efficiency.

Less weight, more power, cheaper fuel costs


The diesel is the bestseller in the Cayenne range and best suited for our purpose. The 3-litre V6 engine found in the Cayenne Diesel has been given a power hike of 5 hp to 245 hp. Combine this with a 20kg reduction in weight and upgraded parts and you get minor improvements. Two-tenths of a second has been shaved off the acceleration time from 0-62 mph, which now takes 7.6 seconds. Fuel economy is also marginally better at 39mpg from the previous figure of 38.2 mpg.

All very well regarding facts and figures, but how does this benefit you? The reduction in kerbweight will be noted by those who nickname the big Porsche “porker”, while a drop in CO2 emissions to 189 g/km is another welcome boost.

Hybrid towing


One of the criticisms levelled at using hybrid vehicles for towing is the availability and delivery of power. Updates to the Cayenne S Hybrid could help change this theory however. Porsche has made changes to the hybrid management systems to allow low-speed EV mode from a cold start. (Previously a driver could only access this mode once the engine was warm enough).
So if the conditions are right, Porsche claims that you can drive and manoeuvre at low speeds on electric power alone. This should help drivers considering towing with a Porsche Cayenne.

The ultimate Cayenne

If you’re not fussed about saving the planet and want the ultimate in performance, then read on. The new Cayenne Turbo now gets the powerkit that debuted on its sister model the Panamera Turbo S. This means the Cayenne Turbo’s already stupendous 500 bhp now gets an extra 40 bhp. 0-62 now takes 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 176 mph.

Click here to view our photo gallery of the 2012 Porsche Cayenne

Used Caravan of the Week: 1950 Airfloat Land Yacht

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by Holly Tribe

This week we take a brief sojourn across the pond to see what’s available on the American used and second hand scene.

I think it’s fair to say our Yankee counterparts aren’t shy when it comes to the size and weight department, demonstrated perfectly by the Airstream travel trailer units; even the stripped down European version of the Airstream 684 weighs in with a hefty MTPLM of 2,190 kgs.

Click here to see an image gallery of the Airfloat Land Yacht

But there is another aluminium-clad super trailer that consigns Airstream ‘vans into the shadows. The Land Yacht from the Airfloat Coach Company is another vintage behemoth that comes in at 24 feet (7.3 metres) in length and has a dry weight of 2,240kg.

Its current owners have lovingly renovated it back to its original condition, with 600 hours spent on interior restoration.

History:

Founded by Omar Suttles in 1929, the Airfloat Coach Company is one of the oldest names in American trailer manufacturing. Airfloat trailers could be considered the Vanmaster’s of the US caravan scene in terms of luxury appointments and cost.

Models have historically been priced well over the industry standard for comparable sizes, which might go some way towards explaining the rather hefty £40,000 price tag of this week’s used caravan candidate.

Kit & caboodle:

This lovingly restored Land Yacht has the original moon hubcaps and corrugated aluminium siding, and its trademark porthole style windows running along the length of the trailer.

There’s a new refrigerator, toilet, heating, water and waste system. The kitchen has plush granite worktops and the original Dixie stove. The lighting has been redesigned with custom built light fixtures and let’s not forget about the bespoke underfloor wine cellar, and leather easy chairs!

  • Price: $65,000 (£40,000)
  • Berths: 2
  • Dry Weight: 2,240 kg
  • Axle: Single
  • Width: 2.39m

For more information, head to www.airfloatlandyacht.com.


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