Clarkson rants about caravans (again) in Top Gear motorhome special

Posted by

by Marcus Dubois and Holly Tribe

Regular watchers of Top Gear will be familiar with the caravan’s star role as pantomime villain. The team behind the hugely popular motoring show have enjoyed a love-hate relationship with the vehicles over the years, and a caravan is often used for comedy stunts. It all started in the third season when a stuntman for the BBC programme challenged the record set by Channel Five’s Fifth Gear…for the number of caravans a Volvo estate could jump over. The stunt ended in comic failure however when the car nosedived off the ramp, destroying three caravans.

Years later the trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond seemed to be warming to the lifestyle after a special episode where the trio took a camping trip to Dorset. The show ended in more wanton destruction however, with a staged chip pan fire ending in the caravan burning to the ground. And last year their latest stunt backfired when they turned a caravan into an airship, and it promptly crashed into a field near a busy road.

Last weekend was yet another instalment in poking fun when Clarkson, May and Hammond bought vehicles to turn them into caricatures of motorhomes. The show’s producers set the challenge to create designs of such superior quality that “it would rid the country of “the motorhome menace”. The presenters would then drive their self-built constructions to a caravan park in Cornwall.

A tower block on wheels

The trio’s imaginations ran riot when designing their motorhomes. Richard Hammond converted a classic Land Rover Defender by adding a stone-effect extension complete with a working toilet affixed to the passenger seat. And taking inspiration from US RVs he installed slide-out side panels to house a games room and pop-up library.

James May (aka ‘Captain Slow’) surprisingly opts for the fastest mode of transport: a Lotus with accommodation inspired by ‘pioneer aviator lightweight design’. (Or in other words, a roof box with a sleeping bag). Clarkson however takes it to literally another level with a three storey construction atop his Citroen. A minimalist white box that could have come from Grand Designs, it featured a ground floor Japanese contemplation area, two hammocks upstairs and full cooking facilities with a grill. Yet predictably it became an unwieldy monster when in transit.

“Wouldn’t we be happier in a caravan?”

Once on the road, an unending catalogue of disasters unfolded: near misses with bridges, collapsing walls, and snaking that would turn the strongest stomach of even the hardiest caravanner. Despite Clarkson’s publicised hatred of caravans, as he struggled on the motorway in his three-storey monstrosity (with reams of traffic backing up ) he wondered aloud if he wouldn’t be happier towing one of the caravans he ridicules. “I don’t think we’ve sped up caravanning, have we?” he muttered to co-presenter Richard Hammond.

Once on the campsite itself the challenge unravels completely as the only ‘motorhome’ still standing belongs to James May. Hammond’s roof had fallen in on his ‘pop-up library’, whilst Clarkson’s three-story rig had totally capsized. And as is tradition, the climax of the show saw yet another recreational vehicle destroyed after being hurled off the side of a cliff. Clarkson co-signed the experiment as a “wretched failure” before adding: “Britain will continue to be strangled by the glass fibre menace of the caravans.”

“Clogging up the British countryside”

Of particular interest was where Clarkson took a predictable pop at caravanners. “As we know, caravans are a menace. We all know that. And the reason for this is very simple. Nobody who tows a caravan has had any training. Which means they’re a bit frightened. Which means they drive slowly. And that means they clog up the British countryside all summer long.”

We spoke to the Caravan Club, the UK’s largest providers of caravan training, to find out what they thought of Clarkson’s assertion that caravanners are untrained and nervous road users. Head of PR Nikki Nichol said “As everyone is aware, Top Gear is an entertaining motoring magazine programme and caravanners like a laugh as much as the next person. However we would like to point out that The Caravan Club puts 2,500 willing caravanners through its training courses every year. But then again, why let the facts get in the way of a good story!”

No mod cons?

Later Clarkson showed further ignorance of the lifestyle during an interview with Andy Garcia where the Hollywood star revealed he owns a 34-foot Airstream trailer. While initially seeming enthused with the comment “the thing about an Airstream is, it looks very good”, he then countered this by claiming owners were forced to relieve themselves in a bucket. Of course many are aware that all modern Airstream trailers feature fully-fitted bathroom suites.

Perhaps the boys on Top Gear should leave recreational vehicles to the thousands of caravanners who know what they’re doing.

What did you think of the show? Click here to watch the episode of Top Gear (broadcast Sunday 18 July)

How vintage caravans became cool

Posted by

by Holly Tribe

A sub-culture of kitsch caravanning has been quietly making a name for itself in interior design circles over the last few years, with a new community of retro and vintage caravanners at the forefront of cool. A plethora of boutique shops are popping up all over the country which celebrate the patterns and styles that bedecked many a caravan in the 50’s and 60’s.

In amongst the ironic haircuts and too-cool swagger of London’s trendy East End sits the aptly named ‘Caravan’ boutique in Shoreditch. The modish emporium is the brain-child of stylist Emily Chalmers, and is filled with merchandise influenced by the bohemian, caravanning scene. Swallows and butterflies festoon the interior, which is reminiscent of a bustling Parisian flea market.

Blogger extraordinaire – Happy Loves Rosie – has taken the trend one step further to completely renovate her 1952 Vintage Holivan using vintage pieces picked up at car boot and jumble sales. Her trademark bright and cheery designs are used to create an amusingly whimsical interior, decorated with old hand-stitched textiles and reconditioned furniture.

If you want to experience the shabby chic environs with a fun, environmentally sustainable holiday – book a couple nights at La Rosa in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Everything on the 20 acre campsite is reclaimed or recycled. Each of their vintage caravans is decorated with a different theme in mind to include vintage fabrics and kitsch decorations. The sites’ owners call it a “fantasy land, full of nostalgia, romance and all things kitsch, camp and bohemian”. The site can accommodate up to sixteen people.

Heading further afield, check out one of the many roulottes, or covered gypsy wagons, that have been emerging at independent sites across France. These luxury Romany-inspired mobile lodgings are often lovingly hand painted, decorated with luxurious furnishings and set up for self catered holidays. The quaint caravans can be spotted amid the landscaped gardens of private homes and inns, and are used as a quirky guesthouse alternative.


They come under the banner ‘Habitation Légère de Loisir’, or ‘Light Leisure Dwellings’ and as such require only a parking permit, making them a convenient way to add extra space for holidaymakers and avoiding the red tape of a permanent structure. Roulottes de Campagne list a selection of static roulottes for a Bohemian getaway in the French countryside.

Prefer to be on the move and a little closer to home? Do you own a vintage caravan and fancy meeting up with like-minded retro-vanners? Vintage at Goodwood will be held from the 13th to the 15th August, and will showcase music, merchandise, fashion, art and food from the last six decades.

There will be special levels of camping – with an area designated for vintage caravan enthusiasts. The organisers are seeking out an array of vintage ‘vans which will become a part of the festival for appreciative spectators to swoon over.

You can read the Caravan Times interview with top celebrity interior designer Linda Barker here

Bailey Unicorn: travel all year round

Posted by

The impending release of the newest addition to the Bailey family has been the subject of much speculation.

The Unicorn will be the third range from Bailey to sport the Alu-Tech body and the very first to have a brand new heating system.

Bailey’s new series is expected to sit at the top of their portfolio and will have an advanced heating system to match its superior design.

The Alde Compact 3010 Wet Central Heating System will come fitted as standard in both single and twin axle models. It is reputed to distribute an even temperature throughout the caravan, control ambient humidity and reduce the circulation of dust and allergen particles.

The unit, designed to be energy efficient, is powered by a 12v circulator making it ideal for running both at serviced pitches and locations without mains hook-up. A small current draws the heating fluid through the pipes and distributes up to 3kw of heat evenly throughout the cabin via integrated radiators, there’s even a heated towel rail in the bathroom.

Arguably the principal benefit of the new system is its near silent running capability – which allegedly won’t wake you up in the night, or annoy your neighbours!

The compact heating system doesn’t require a fire unlike the Truma Ultraheat which currently fitted in the Pegasus and Olympus models, freeing up precious storage space.

The Alu-Tech built caravans have achieved the Grade III Classification of Thermal Insulation EN1645-I. The heating system is designed to compliment the thermal properties of the Alu-Tech body shell -which is up to 40 per cent thicker than other caravans.

The heating system is supplemented with additional insulation around notorious cold spots making the Bailey Unicorn warm in winter and cool in summer. The Unicorn looks set to be more economical to run and a seriously efficient all season tourer.

South Wales Caravan Club site brings millions to local economy

Posted by

by Holly Tribe

A South Wales caravan park has brought in a whopping £3.1million into the local economy over the last five years.

According to the South Wales Argus, caravanners staying at the Tredegar House Country Park Caravan Club Site are responsible for injecting £3.1 million pounds into the region, spending their holiday cash at local shops, restaurants and businesses.

The Tregedar House warden Pip Crane runs the site with his wife Nadine. He told the South Wales Argus: “With around 200 visitors here at any one time, we are a big contributor to the local economy. We are rarely less than half full at any time, and that’s usually in the middle of the week. At weekends, we’re very often full.”

The Caravan Club site is conveniently located within a mile of the M4 and is within striking distance of both Newport and Cardiff. The sites’ eighty pitches are set in seven acres of land which boasts an exquisite ornamental lake, walled gardens and a 17thC orangery. Mr Crane added: “This area has it all. It really is the gateway to Wales and has access to all that the south east of Wales can offer.”

With Newport named as the host city for this years Ryder Cup golf tournament this autumn, Mr Crane explains that the site’s eighty pitches are already fully booked: “All eighty pitches are already filled for the event, some of them to people who work behind the scenes at the tournament.”

Wales has a history of being a popular destination amongst caravanners. The new director general of the Caravan Club, Nick Lomas, recently met with the Welsh Assembly tourism minister, Alun Ffred Jones, to draw attention to the economic benefits of having twenty Caravan Club sites across Wales.

Mr Lomas said: “”The Caravan Club’s research shows that each year their members bring around £22m into Wales and, when this is added to The club’s direct infrastructural investment of nearly £1m a year, the five-year tally for the economy of Wales bursts comfortably through the £100m mark”.

Firefighter’s stolen caravan returned

Posted by

by Chris Malone

A Chelmsford fireman has been reunited with his caravan after it was stolen from a garage while in for repairs.

According to the Chelmsford Weekly News, Mick Weald’s motorhome went missing at around 08:00 BST on July 7th.

However, it was later found by police in Pertwee Drive and returned to its rightful owner, who will now use it to take his kids on holiday this summer.

The cream-coloured vehicle is said to be worth around £2,000 and is Mr Weald’s “pride and joy”.

“My daughter cried when it was taken, but now is happy again,” he told the newspaper. “It is an old vehicle and quite distinctive.”

Police are searching for a suspect with cropped hair and a tattoo on his neck. He is said to be of slim build and around 18 years old.

Mr Weald explained that having a caravan suits his lifestyle, noting that when he has free time he just takes off on holiday.

New SiteSeeker website launched

Posted by

Caravan enthusiasts should now find it easier to decide where to spend their holidays in the UK.

The SiteSeeker campsite search website offered by the Camping and Caravanning Club has undergone major improvements and has been relaunched in the past month.

According to ebusiness manager Tamsin Smyth, the revamp was aimed at making the site more functional and of greater benefit to users.

While the SiteSeeker application previously allowed just 18 search options, caravan owners can now adjust up to 40 variables when searching for their perfect pitch.

“It has never been easier for members and non-members to select their perfect site,” Ms Smyth said.

“We have worked relentlessly to complete SiteSeeker and we are confident that this latest development will speed up the site selection process.”

There are now 2,300 campsites listed on the online resource, meaning that there is no shortage of options for the website’s 175,000 unique visitors per month. You can find the new website at www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/siteseeker/

In other news, Parkdean Holidays recently suggested that mobile home owners visit one of its six Scottish caravan sites, which offer access to stunning coastal and countryside locations.

Caravan Club believes MPs should love caravans

Posted by

By Holly Tribe

The Caravan Club have found a new way of charting the success of Caravan Club sites across the UK.

In a move to highlight the importance of tourism to MPs, the Caravan Club have looked at the UK in terms of its respective constituencies and have assessed the top ten earning areas from revenue brought in by visiting caravanners.

North Norfolk came out top of the list, with a whopping £4.5 million made in it’s 3 Caravan Club sites and 56 Certified Locations (CLs). Local MP Norman Lamb said: “This demonstrates how important caravanning is to the local economy and underlines the enormous significance of tourism in general.”

Westmorland & Lonsdale, Truro & Falmouth, Totnes, The Cotswolds, North Devon, Derbyshire Dales, Dwyfor Merionnyd, Richmond (Yorks) and Thirsk & Malton are the other nine leading constituencies, each with an annual income of £2 million plus.

The Caravan Club recognise that investing in domestic tourism is a vital part of boosting the British economy. Caravan Club Director General, Nick Lomas, wrote to every MP personally to inform them how much Caravan Club members contribute financially to each region by staying on club-badged sites.

Mr Lomas commented: “Caravanning plays a key role in the tourism mix and it’s the most popular ‘paid for’ holiday accommodation choice in the country, making our members true investors in the UK.”

The Caravan Club membership has reached an all-time high and new members are joining up every month. With their ever-increasing numbers the Club have made clear their wish to encourage UK tourism with the hope their current campaign will help to both promote caravanning as a mainstream holiday choice as well as working with local business to promote the UK tourist industry.

Are you a member of the Caravan Club? Why not check out the Caravan Times Community for Caravan Club Centres across the country here.

New range from Stealth Caravans will have Truma heating system

Posted by

by Holly Tribe

Stealth Caravans are never ones to shy away from innovation, and the firm has just announced another upgrade to its new range. It is introducing the new Hidden Combi heating system with invisible blown air heating into the all new Defiant caravans.

The Truma Combi 6E Heater/ Boilersystem is more compact and can be hidden within the caravan. Unlike traditional fire heaters that need room for a fireplace unit, the combi system can be built into the inner shell of the caravan saving valuable cabin space.

The heating system offers reduced water heating times, and has the facility to be run as a heater, a boiler or both.

With 6KW maximum output, the unit has double the power of standard heaters. An invisible blown air system delivers heat throughout the entire area making optimum use of the ambient air and maintaining a pleasant temperature. Stealth have integrated heating ducts to seating, sleeping and washroom areas, focussing the heat distribution where it is most likely to be needed.

The highly durable stainless steel design is light-weight and allows users to choose what energy source to run from, be it gas, electric, or gas and electric.

In other news, Swift recently announced they will be introducing a Grade 3 heating and insulation system in their 2011 Swift Charisma and Sterling Europa ranges.

Swift and Sterling Caravans receive a makeover for 2011

Posted by

by Holly Tribe

Swift Caravans has announced the launch of its re-designed Swift Charisma and Sterling Europa ranges.

Known for their dynamic range of tourers, Swift have revealed a number of cosmetic and build improvements to these established favourites.

The Charisma and Europa 565 models have been reconfigured with enhanced layouts, incorporating a separate shower and a better rear bedroom, while the 570 model will house a new 6 berth front lounge, and a side dinette which can double up as a bunk bed.

Nick Page, Commercial Director for Swift Group commented: “We believe the new Charisma and Europa ranges lead their class with the best specification and price combination to offer a package that is hard to beat.”

The first public viewing will be at the Caravan Extravaganza (The Lawns) on the 4th – 5th September 2010 followed by a more extensive product launch at the International Caravan and Motorhome Show at NEC Birmingham on the 12th – 17th October.

New models in both ranges will come with Grade 3 heating and insulation – Swift promises will provide “all year round touring comfort”. The new heating system reportedly allows the caravan to maintain a comfortable 20oC even when outside temperatures plummet to -15 oC,

The Charisma and Europa ranges will maintain their class leading 1.95 metre headroom, as well as high security entrance locks and shock absorbers for more stable towing. Upgraded Hancook branded tyres will be used on all touring caravans providing an extra 10% load factor and improved braking performance.

Design wise there will be a new badging and fabric scheme on the Charisma, while while the Europa will main…

TALKBACK: An exclusive interview with Bailey Caravans about stone dents on Alu-Tech models

Posted by

Welcome to Talkback: the feature where we put your thoughts and views to members of the caravan industry.

This month we put your questions to Simon Howard of Bailey Caravans.

Our email and forums have been busy with readers commenting on whether road chippings and stones are causing cosmetic damage to the new Alu-Tech models from Bailey Caravans.

A number of Pegasus and Olympus owners have reported dents or chipping to the front of their caravans, caused by loose stones striking the aluminium. Initially Bailey reacted to this by increasing the thickness of the existing protective film applied to the front of Alu-Tech caravans. However some of our readers found this to be insufficient, and have asked for Bailey to clarify their position on the issue of stone dents.

Click below for the full-length video, where our editor Marcus Dubois posed your questions about cosmetic damage in an exclusive interview with Bailey marketing director Simon Howard.


PREVIEW: Bailey Caravans answer your questions about stone dents on Alu-Tech models

Posted by

UPDATE: You can now click here to watch the full Talkback interview

Welcome to Talkback: the feature where we put your thoughts and views to members of the caravan industry

Recently our email and forums have been busy with readers commenting on whether road chippings and stones are causing cosmetic damage to the new Alu-Tech models from Bailey Caravans.

A number of Pegasus and Olympus owners have reported dents or chipping to the front of their caravans, caused by loose stones striking the aluminium. Initially Bailey reacted to this by increasing the thickness of the existing protective film applied to the front of Alu-Tech caravans. However some of our readers found this to be insufficient, and have asked for Bailey to clarify their position on the issue of stone dents.

Click below for a preview of the latest edition of Talkback, where our editor Marcus Dubois posed your questions about cosmetic damage in an exclusive interview with Bailey marketing director Simon Howard. To share your thoughts on the video or comment on the issues discussed click here for our forum topic.

You can see the full edition of Talkback on Friday 9th July at caravantimes.co.uk

Caravanners could enjoy Edinburgh Festival

Posted by

Scotland’s east coast has numerous great seaside caravan sites in easy driving distance of the capital city.

Those staying in the area between August 13th and September 5th could make the most of their holiday by visiting the Edinburgh International Festival.

A celebration of culture and the arts, the event attracts visitors from around the world and is vitally important for Edinburgh’s businesses.

“The combination of performers and visitors doubles the local population during the festival period, providing a rich cultural atmosphere that is genuinely unique to this festival city,” explained VisitScotland regional director for Edinburgh and Lothians Sinead Feltoe.

According to the expert, the festival attracts millions of people to Scotland each year, generating billions for the economy, and presents a great chance to showcase the country in front of the world.

The city also attracts guests throughout the year with its many cultural and historic sites, including the castle and old town.

Mortonhall Camping and Caravanning Park is an excellent site in the vicinity, set in 200 acres and just a 15 minute drive from the centre of Edinburgh.