Get covered and get protected

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By William Coleman

Using a cover for your caravan, or motorhome is a method that should be employed by all responsible owners who want to get more mileage out of their leisure vehicle. A cover can be used for both towing and storage, so you will get your money’s worth from the moment you purchase one.

Imagine saving up all those hard-earned pennies, travelling to your dealer, buying a caravan, towing it for the first time and then seeing a nice big chip or crack on one of the panels or windows. This happens more often than you’d think and can be easily avoided by something as simple as a cover.

Like most aftermarket purchases, covers come in all shapes, sizes and qualities and it’s wise to invest well when it comes to protecting your leisure vehicle. As the saying goes, buy cheap and you’ll end up buying twice.

Despite the gargantuan amount of protection a cover provides, you still see an awful lot of vans being both towed and stored without one attached.

If you are in two minds on whether you should splash out on a cover, we have a few essential reasons why you really should.

Stored at home safely.?

If your caravan is stored on the drive or down the side of the house it should be safe, right? Unfortunately, this is not always the case and can sometimes actually be quite a bad idea.

Over the years, countless caravans have been stolen from front doorsteps all across the UK, many of which without covers.

First and foremost a cover can deter would-be thieves. The time it takes to remove a cover, not to mention the noise and effort, does not make for a very swift getaway. This alone makes a cover very much worth its weight in gold.

The same logic applies for vandalism as caravans are still very much a victim of pointless and random attacks. It’s a simple case of, out of sight out of mind.

Stay safe from the elements

A van’s life can sometimes be tough, so you should do all you can to keep it safe and sound when in storage.

From the end of October to the beginning of March, the majority of leisure vehicles are not in use and are either kept at home or at a storage facility. Either way, you should still cover it up.

One day before the February show this year, a CaravanTimes team member lost the roof to their house during a storm and their home flooded, so imagine what a storm of that scale could do to a defenceless caravan?

With the weather seemingly getting worse each year, it is more than likely that stored caravans will start to bear to the brunt of it.

Water ingress and storm damage can be reduced by using a good cover. It will also prevent the wind from throwing stones, leaves and all manner debris directly against the van.

Another point worth mentioning is how filthy the exterior of the van can get during the winter months. Nobody wants to clean the van two to three times just to remove the layer of grime mother nature has provided.

Protection on the move

Roads can sometimes be very tricky to navigate when you have a caravan hitched up. It is our firm belief that those who tow are perhaps some of the safest drivers on the road, but poor road conditions and other drivers are where the dangers come from.

Debris is enemy number one when it comes to towing, especially on A-roads and motorways. Chips, dings and dents on a caravan tend to occur while driving and are very much unavoidable.

If your caravan is well wrapped, it will provide a layer of protection between road shrapnel and precious cargo. This will also stop the caravan from becoming a squashed-bug graveyard. Nobody wants to spend their first hours on-site removing bug body parts!

Club driving courses launched for 2021

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By William Coleman

2021 is just a few short weeks away and it’s already shaping up to be one hell of a year for the touring world. Ahead of the new season, why not brush up on your towing and manoeuvring skills with the Caravan and Motorhome Club?

This year the majority of caravans, motorhomes and campers have been stored more than usual, meaning owners have spent less time behind the wheel sharpening their driving skills. A quick refresh may not be the worst idea, seeing as the UK driving holiday will be a very popular option come the new year.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club have launched its 2021 driving courses, which will operate under the Club’s COVID-Secure measures. These brand new practical training courses will run across 13 locations in the UK. There is also a new partnership in place with Go!Driving, which is offering B+E driving licence courses and tests.

These training courses have been run by the Club for well over 40 years, so you know you’re in good hands. They have been designed specifically to give tourers additional peace of mind and give confidence to those towing or driving a motorhome for the first time. Over the past four decades, over 55,000 participants have benefitted from the courses.

If you are interested in taking part in these training courses, they will be running from February to October. The caravan and motorhome manoeuvring courses both take less than seven hours, while the Practical Caravan Manoeuvring course for people who are completely new to caravanning is completed within ten hours split over two days.

Training courses include:

  • Manoeuvring advice
  • Hitching and towing safely
  • Straightforward safety checks
  • Understanding the laws that affect caravanning and motorhoming
  • Practice in manoeuvring an outfit forwards and backwards
  • Understanding loading and how it affects towing

The courses are priced as follows:

Practical Caravanning Course – £189.00
Caravan Manoeuvring Course – £159.00
Motorhome Manoeuvring Course – £189.00

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing and membership services at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer this excellent range of courses to new and seasoned tourers alike, as we know everyone is excited to get back out on the road next year.

“These COVID-Secure courses provide great value for money and mean that people have the confidence to relax and enjoy their touring adventure with real peace of mind.”

The Christmas season has officially started in Somerset

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By William Coleman

The end of the national lockdown is here and a family-run Somerset park is pulling the Christmas crackers in celebration as they officially kick off the 2020 festive season.

The Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park has now officially reopened and the owners are planning to make it Britain’s most Christmassy place to stay.

The Betton family has run the multi-award winning park for over 20 years. This Christmas, Keith Betton is expecting the site’s festive display to be more hotly anticipated than ever (a sentiment we agree with, having seen the large number of houses going all out with their decorations this early into December).

As of now, both Bath city and Chew Valley are in Tier 2, which alongside the park’s COVID-secure gradings by the AA and Visit England, provides assurance for guests wanting to enjoy a Christmas break.

Looking forward to welcoming guests, Keith said: “Visitors bring their motorhomes and caravans from across the country to join in the festive fun and great atmosphere.

“We even hold a competition for the best-decorated unit, and some guests go to amazing lengths to outshine their neighbours in a spirit of friendly rivalry.

“This year will definitely top last Christmas, as we now have two luxury lodges for hire, which will be decked inside and out with all the sparkle of the season.”

Following the end of July’s lockdown, business at Bath Chew Valley has been monumental, despite running at a lower capacity to ensure social distancing measures were followed.

Those looking for a quieter stay will enjoy this site as it is an adult-only park, which is spread over four acres of pristine landscaped grounds that feature dog exercising areas and a woodland conservation trail.

Following a month of staying home, Keith firmly believes his site is the perfect remedy for post-lockdown holiday anxieties. With an abundance of fresh air, woodland and closeness to nature, you’ll find all you need to clear your head and get back to being outside and having great holidays.

“We have many bookings now for Christmas, the New Year and well into 2021, so we are naturally very optimistic about the long-term prospects for the park,” commented Keith, who also serves as a director on the board of the Best of British caravan, camping and holiday parks group.

“Everyone here is dreaming of a bright Christmas, and we can’t wait to see guests arrive and set up their units!”

As 2020 draws to a close, it’s important to start looking at the small things we can all do to remove the likely shadow this year will leave, and slowly get back to normality. Go to sites, enjoy nature, stay safe and, most of all, do your best to enjoy the world we have.

Pro-Tec Covers talk winter storage and caravan protection

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By William Coleman

A caravan cover is an essential part of a caravan inventory and can protect your leisure vehicles from more than just the elements. Pro-Tec Covers will ensure your van stays safe in both storage and transit.

We’ve all pulled up on-site and pitched up only to find the caravan covered in a layer of squashed bugs, dirt and debris. One major issue having no cover can create is chipped windows. Not only do you have to clean the van on site, but you also have to check the van over for further damage that can sometimes lead to the van needing immediate repair.

With a good quality cover, you can remove a large part of these potential nightmare scenarios, not to mention saving a shed load of cash down the road.

You can buy a cover off the shelf or order a generic one online, but you run the risk of it not fitting or ending up with a poor quality one. To avoid all that wasted time and money, you should look into investing in a Pro-Tec caravan cover.

Not only are they handmade right here in the UK but the technology used for these covers has been developed in the UK too, Scotland to be exact.

We spoke with Nicole Topham from Pro-Tec to find out more about the covers and how best to use them for storage and travel.

CaravanTimes: It has been a while since we caught up with Pro-Tec, and we won’t be seeing the team at the February NEC show. So, how has Pro-Tec been this year?

Nicole: Fortunately we are one of the lucky businesses that were able to stay open through both our national lockdowns this year. The majority of our staff did go on furlough, but we remained open and manufacturing with a small team.

Alongside making covers, we dedicated part of our manufacture towards making PPE for the NHS during this period. As the year progressed we steadily got busier, our staff members slowly came off of furlough and we went full steam ahead to get our orders manufactured for all our new and existing customers.

The increase in people getting into ‘staycation’ holidays really had an impact on our business and orders – definitely keeping us busy through these uncertain times!

CaravanTimes: There has been a huge increase in newcomers to the world of caravan and motorhome holidays. Would you advise new leisure vehicle owners to invest in a cover?

Nicole: We would definitely recommend investing in both a storage cover and front towing cover when purchasing a caravan or motorhome, as it is protecting your investment.

However, we would always advise any customer to do their research before making a purchase. We know there are a lot of online forums and friendly experienced caravan and motorhome owners who are always happy to advise newcomers to the community who are seeking information on protecting their vehicle.

CaravanTimes: What are the benefits of having a Pro-Tec cover?

Nicole: The fabric we use to manufacture our covers is exclusive to us and designed with vehicle protection in mind. Our fabric, which we call ‘CaravanShield’ is manufactured by a company in Scotland, and not only is it waterproof and UV-stabilised, it is also highly breathable.

This breathability ensures you will not encounter any issues with condensation build up on your vehicle. The fabric we use also has a non-abrasive inner lining, ensuring that no damage will occur to your windows or paintwork when using our covers.

Not only is our fabric manufactured in the UK, but from start to finish, all of our covers are made in house in our factory in Bradford, West Yorkshire – so you can be assured not only are you supporting a small UK business with your purchase, but you are also supporting the British manufacturing industry.

CaravanTimes: Your covers are quite different from what can be bought off the shelf. What makes your covers so unique?

Nicole: Unlike off the shelf covers, our pro-tec covers are fully bespoke to each make and model of caravan or motorhome. This means we can tailor both our covers and service to ensure any requirements for the covers are met.

All of our full storage covers come with door access for your habitation door, and allowance for any external items such as TV aerials, bike racks etc. We can also add clear panels for solar panels, or additional access points if these are required by our customers.

Every one
of our storage covers also come with our exclusive Easy-Fit system that is only available on a Pro-tec cover. This Easy-Fit system means it is far easier to fit your cover no matter how big your vehicle. You simply roll up the rear panel of the cover, and walk the cover from the front of your vehicle to the back using the extending poles provided and then secure the straps underneath.

CaravanTimes: Storage is very much on people’s minds at the moment. Is a cover essential for storage?

Nicole: If you are storing your caravan/motorhome outdoors it is definitely beneficial to have a cover. Not only does having a cover protect your vehicle from condensation, rain and UV, it also keeps your vehicle clean so you’re not spending precious time cleaning your vehicle before your trips when you could be off and away on your holidays.

Covers can also act as an extra level of security against theft or vandalism. Some storage sites also require that your vehicle has a cover on to store your vehicle, so this is also something to consider.

To find out more about Pro-Tec and its unique and bespoke covers, check out its website here?.

Tow car Review: Ford Puma ST-Line X

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By William Coleman

Tow cars come in all different shapes and sizes. Some people like a large 4×4, some like an estate car, and then there’s those who opt for a saloon model. Well, how about a 1.0 Ecoboost hybrid Ford Puma?

When browsing which tow car we’d like to get our hands on, we were looking at Audi, Land Rover, Volvo and various other common towing vehicles. One of the CaravanTimes team then suggested we see how a smaller engine car does, as we will soon have lots of people with a post-1997 licence hitching a caravan to their car.

Seeing as the future of motoring seems to be headed towards the hybrid and electric vehicle sector, we thought we’d try a lightweight eco-friendly tow car and test just what a low CC engine can do with a caravan attached.

There will be a lot of people who would never look at a Ford Puma as a tow car, due to its size and engine capacity. After putting the Puma to the test we were surprised at its performance and just how well it handled towing a caravan.

It’s models like this that may one day become the backbone of towing. Either that or UK driving licences need to change their weight allowances. What do you think is more likely, a law change or everyone who passed their driving test after 1997 taking, and passing, a B+E course? It seems as though lighter cars may be the logical option for future towing holidays.

Driving and handling

When reviewing a tow car, especially one of this size, it’s important to look at both towing and day-to-day driving. Most people use the same car for towing and commuting unless they’re lucky enough to have one vehicle for each. So let’s look at how the Puma handles without a van attached.

Ford’s smaller vehicles like the classic Fiesta and the ever-reliable Focus are extremely popular options across the UK. From the first time cars all the way to family and tow vehicles, Ford does it all. So where does the Puma sit?

For a one-litre model, the Puma really does pack a punch and people will be surprised at just how speedy this car is. You can quite easily get up to 30+ miles an hour and not even realise it. That’s the ST kicking in.

The six-speed manual gearbox provides 152 bhp with a top speed of 124mph, which is impressive for an engine of this size. On a full tank of petrol, depending on your driving style, you will get around 563 miles out the 42-litre fuel tank. That number is combined with the hybrid side of the engine too.

When driving, you will feel just how well the Puma sticks to the road. The manoeuvring is spot on, but being so lightweight we’d expect nothing less. Having driven a Focus, KA, Fiesta and even a Ford Mustang, the Puma is one of the smoother drives out of them all.

One thing we were not keen on is the position of the gear stick, it felt far away and out of place. At times we found ourselves searching for the gear stick as it was not placed in a natural position where you’d find it on most cars or vans.

Aside from the oddly placed gear stick, our driving time was good. We especially enjoyed the miniature tank feel that the Puma has. If you like a fun smaller car that is economic to run and looks great then the Puma should be on your list.

Towing and loading

The Puma’s kerb weight is 1280kgs, so it is definitely one of Ford’s lighter models and is perfect for anyone who wants to tow a much smaller van.

With this tow car, you have a towing limit of 1100kg with a laden caravan attached. So you are quite limited to what type of caravan you can tow. For example, Bailey’s smallest van range is the Discovery, which comes in at 995kg, so you are not too far away from your limit with small entry-level vans.

If you want a larger touring caravan like a Swift Sprite Alpine 4, which has a MTPLM of 1218kg, you’ll need to look at a different tow car.

Towing smaller vans with the Puma is not going to be too much of an issue, but you may see high revs when going uphill. The engine copes well with the extra weight and at times the towing feels effortless. It is only when you start to face inclines you really see the limits of the Puma as a towing vehicle.

Interior, exterior and gadgets

This is a compact SUV and it looks like someone took a 4×4 and shrunk it down to a hatchback size. The shape and design is great and has all the modern trademarks of Ford. This is a vast improvement on previous models.

All of Ford’s ST models have a plush interior and can look a little boy racer-ish. These more modern cars are not as flamboyant as the ST models of 2005-2008.

It does have a lot of style inside and the flat-bottomed leather steering wheel and bucket seats with lumbar adjustment are both smart and comfortable.

If you like gadgets then you’ll love this car! The more we used the Puma the more we found. There’s even a wireless charging pad for your phone!

The stereo system has everything you need from Apple CarPlay to voice control and heating options.

Ford is known for its high-quality safety features and there are lots of these on board the Puma. The pre-collision assist works well and is not overly sensitive, and the autonomous emergency braking system could help you get out of incidents caused by other drivers.

Verdict

The Ford Puma is not your everyday tow car due to its size and weight limitations. It does very much have its place in the towing world, as it may serve the younger staycation lovers out there.

As we mentioned, there is a whole generation of caravan lovers who cannot legally tow a set up of over 3500kgs so these small cars and lighter caravans will be a big part of the leisure industry in years to come.

When the times comes for the younger generation to take over the towing world, the Puma should be a front-runner as Ford has made a great smaller towing car.

It’s an extremely fun car to drive but for bigger caravans, the Puma simply will not do the job.

Campervan Review: The Ford Nugget

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William Coleman

Ford’s newest camper model is here and it’s loud and proud. Can the oddly named Nugget provide stiff competition to the Volkswagen California, or is it just another in a long line of van-converted mobile homes?

Some say the Ford custom campervan will always play second fiddle to the VW models, but the Nugget may start to change minds due to its size and comfort. This may not be a new van but this generation is very different from its predecessors.

When writing this review, we will do our best to not compare the Nugget to the VW California, but at times it is hard not to as they are both front runners in this market and direct competitors.

The Transit Custom Nugget is quite costly, starting at £63,334 on the road or £66,424 with all the bells and whistles, and there are other brands out there that produce something similar for around £8-£10k less. When it comes to what you get for your money, you are going to see the extra value the Nugget provides, making that additional spend very much worth it.

The minibus-based camper has a lot of great features, both inside and out, and a few small elements that were not amazing. The design and build quality is exceptional and throughout the van you will see just how solid all of Ford’s camper components are. Let’s have a delve into what you can expect from the Nugget.

Exterior

The Nugget’s appearance does not scream out ‘leisure vehicle’, which is a good thing as it works perfectly as both a touring and day-to-day camper. What you do see when you look at it is a very smart, well-designed van that is much in line with the modern look of everyday cars, trucks and 4x4s.

On the exterior, the Nugget benefits from a new modern facelift and grille, which make it look smart and sporty.

The UK version of the Nugget features two sliding side doors that, when opened, make the van airy, bright and very easy for a family of four to hop in and out. There are times where you have just one side door on a camper and you find yourself lining up in an orderly fashion to enter and exit the vehicle – not the best when you have the kids with you.

You will find the awning on the driver’s side of the van, pretty normal for UK campers, as well as the two awning poles. Once set up you can see just how trendy-looking this new Ford is. Dare we say it is better looking than the California?

Around the exterior chassis, there are front and rear parking sensors and a perimeter alarm. We found the perimeter sensors to be a tad over-sensitive and at times they seemed to go off when crawling through slow traffic. This was off-putting and when driving at speed could make you jump a bit as they seem to alert out of nowhere.

Interior

One part of this new model that we really like is just how different the layout is for a camper of this size. Ford has very much moved away from the traditional campervan layout and has made fantastic use of a bench seat and rear kitchen set up.

Having the kitchen at the rear means that the bench seat slides down into a double bed without having to use the two cab seats. The long-wheelbase provides so much space inside that you feel very separate from the different areas onboard.

The separation of the cooking and living area means that the two rear barn doors give you the ease of access to the kitchen, with its 40-litre fridge and storage lockers. You can prepare and cook your food without being in the middle of the van and having to manoeuvre around the family.

The front cab does not feel like a transit van – think more modern 4×4. The only drawback we found was just how fiddly the swivel seats are. Depending on your chosen seating position when driving, you may have to totally rearrange the seating to be able to spin the chairs. We can see this annoying a few people.

When the sun goes down the LED interior lighting keeps the van well lit, especially with the fully directional spot lamps.

Internal power points are plentiful: three 340V and 300W sockets, two 12V plugs and then two USB ports. You will not have any issues with charging gadgets while using the kettle and toaster.

In the cab, you have a large screen to control media, maps, radio and music. As always the Apple CarPlay came in handy for both maps and music.

Day and night living

As mentioned above, the rear kitchen frees up a ton of space in the middle of the van. With the two front cab seats spun round and the dining table set up, you can comfortably seat four and still move around the entirety of the van.

Like most camper owners, you’re probably not going to be spending the whole day in the van, as they tend to be for more exploration trips than lazy ones. Despite that trend, you can spend a lot of downtime in the Nugget as the space is there to do so.

This is a four-berth model with two beds that require being set up. Once you are pitched you are more than likely to pop the roof up straight away so the upper double bed will be ready come the evening.

The second double bed is made up from the bench seat and takes no time at all to set up, once you’ve figured it out.

Driving

Here is where the Nugget really excels. Ford Transits are made for driving and transporting, so it is no surprise that the 2.0-litre EcoBlue engine and six-speed automatic transmission makes easy work of carrying the extra weight of the touring gear.

Add to that extra luggage, water, food and people, and there’s still no driving issue. You also enjoy great fuel consumption. On average you will get approximately 31.7 miles per gallon and at its lowest around 23.7mpg. This will of course change depending on the laden weight.

We have been testing a lot of automatic campers and motorhomes in 2020. Is this due to the high demand for autos or is this the industry deciding this is the future of touring? Either way, we enjoyed the automatic gearbox and we welcome more vehicles adopting this option.

A manual transmission does have its advantages at times, but during the 50+ hours we drove the Nugget, we did not find an occasion where we’d rather have a gear stick and clutch pedal.

The acceleration was not the best but with all your kit packed and family on board, you are not going to be putting your foot down like an F1 racer.

Verdict

The Nugget (we still can’t quite decide if we like the name) is a solid campervan that provides an excellent layout and almost flawless driving experience.

The two side doors and rear barn doors make the usage of the van great and is something other manufacturers should look to introduce.

We cannot help but compare it to the VW, but they are quite different, while at the same time having a lot of similarities. The VW was a better drive, but we will put that down to vehicle weight, and the Nugget had a better onboard layout and storage options.

Overall the Nugget is a fantastic choice and should make UK staycations easier for newcomers. When it comes to more seasoned campervan users, it may be hard for them to choose between Ford and Volkswagen.

Interview: CaravanTimes welcomes new tourers

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By William Coleman

There are so many young couples and families buying their first caravans and motorhomes so they can get away more and make the most of the holiday opportunities here in the UK. We thought it was time to catch up with some of these newcomers and find out what lured them into the world of staycationing.

We can all remember when we decided it was the touring life for us. For many of us, it was a staple part of our childhood and we carried it on as we grew up. As the years have gone by, a lot more people are deciding to try the lifestyle for the first time in their 20s and 30s.

This week we spoke with Matt and Tina Joyner, who’ve been using a motorhome for their family holidays for almost two years. They are both in their 30s and have two children under the age of eight. For years, they have taken holidays around the world, but now they have made the transition from jet-setting to motorhoming.

CaravanTimes: You’ve recently started to take touring holidays and even bought a motorhome. What brought you to the world of touring holidays?

Tina Joyner: We realised one day that our kids were growing up so fast and that, in the near future, they wouldn’t want to hang out with sad old mum and dad. We wanted to hang on to every second of their childhood and appreciate them as they grow up making memories together. I also had caravans and campervans growing up and wanted to recreate those amazing memories with my own family.

The cost of a holiday abroad during school holidays for even a basic package costs thousands of pounds, and when you get home that money is gone. You’re not able to go on holiday again for a long time, so I figured that a van would be something we could always get away in, and we now own an asset.

CT: What motorhome did you buy?

TJ: We bought a 25-year-old Peugeot Elddis Autoquest 420 six-berth. As our first, it had to be affordable and was kind of a trial to see if we like the lifestyle – we do. Now it’s time to try and save for a newer one! Getting this one meant we know what we need, what we don’t need, how we use it and what suits us.

CT: Have you learnt any valuable lessons while on holiday?

TJ: Oh yes. Take it slow, find your pace and shave off layers of stress where you can. Do this by cooking simple (but by no means boring), get a projector (best times watching movies together after a day outside) and do what suits your family.

There’s a lot of admin, so free yourself up some time by being organised. Trying to sort out the van and prepare what we need while having the kids is no easy task.

CT: You have two small children, how are they enjoying the motorhome?

TJ: They love the adventure, discovering a new site and helping us with water or finding sticks to toast marshmallows on. They also love having mummy and daddy time without the normal life stuff that goes into running a home and working. It is nice to get away from it all with the kids while they are still so young.

CT: Would you have any advice for anyone who wants to start using a motorhome?

TJ: Just do it, if it’s not for you, you can always just sell the van, it’s an asset. You also have to like your family, sort of a joke but not really at the same time. We have been able to go away on weekends together that we just would not have had together without the van.

Once you’ve sourced a dog-friendly hotel or sitter, paid to eat out, etc, it’s just not an option. The van is there, we jump in it all together as a family.

Oh and advice – I have a tick list spreadsheet on my computer, as you need pretty much the same kit each time. Print the sheet out and tick away, this makes packing a breeze and I have lots of spare stuff that stays in the motorhome when it’s not being used.

CT: The last question, would you ever consider a touring caravan holiday, towing is easier than it looks?

TJ: No, not really. We did think about it, but we like to travel with the van exploring for a few days rather than set up a base and go to and from. We are starting to plan a trip around France next summer. I think this kind of holiday and lifestyle suits us best with a motorhome.

High-speed internet to reach 13,000-holiday homes

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By William Coleman

A Kent-based broadband company has netted themselves a fantastic contract to provide thousands of caravaners and holidaymakers high-speed on-site broadband.

Nowadays having access to the internet is an essential part of day-to-day life, especially if you are out exploring or have the kids with you on holiday. We have found our way out of being totally lost thanks to a smartphone with internet access and we have discovered some amazing hidden local gems thanks to a quick bit Googling.

There was a time when the internet on-site was very much not needed and was not the best, but as times and demands change so must the services provided by holiday companies.

It was only five or so years ago that we had to take a box of DVDs with us to ensure some evening entertainment, especially on days with unpleasant weather conditions. Now, with an internet connection, you can stream thousands of films and TV shows instantly with the click of a button.

Seeing the ever-growing demand for good quality broadband, Park Holidays UK will be adding super-speed Wi-Fi to its sites thanks to Canterbury-based Orbital Internet Group.

This new move marks another multi-pound site investment made by Park Holidays UK this year. The holiday company is one of the largest park groups in the UK, so it will be quite an undertaking adding the internet to so many sites within its network.

To ensure all visitors have access to the internet, Orbital will be installing private routers in each of the firm’s holiday properties. Darren Brown, Orbital’s communications specialist has said: “Nobody wants to put up with slow broadband on holiday, but many British parks are based in areas where people struggle with slow download speeds”.

Park Holidays UK says the project, which is due for completion early next year, will give it a huge competitive edge for wooing families to its 31 seaside holiday parks.

“The traditional approach of transmitting Wi-Fi across the park is rarely successful as holiday homes are often well insulated and resist the penetration of the signals.

“By connecting each unit to fibre broadband, guests can stream Netflix movies or FaceTime their friends without the irritation of constant buffering,” continued Darren.

This will not be your typical everyday broadband service. The technology that will be installed was developed by Orbital and will mix fibre optic cabling and high-speed WiMax wireless broadband to ensure constant high speeds, even during peak usage times.

Each connection will provide 330MB of speed to every holiday unit where they are installed. That will be more than enough to have everyone connected and streaming at the same time. The technology has also been future-proofed to ensure if and when speeds increase, holidaymakers will see the benefits.

Is good quality broadband something you look for when booking a site? A lot of people may see this as a non-essential due to touring holidays being more about getting out and exploring, not sitting on the sofa watching films. We feel it just strengthens the appeal of sites to younger people and will make how we tour that much easier.

The Club sprinkles some Christmas dust on 2020

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By William Coleman

As we face a very different Christmas than usual, the Caravan and Motorhome Club is going to be spreading festive joy to bring some normality ahead of Santa’s yearly visit.

Your Christmas plans may have to be somewhat limited due to the upcoming tier restrictions, so why not add some extra seasonal cheer by taking part in some Club competitions and special offers?

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing and membership services at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, and so we wanted to pull out all the stops and sprinkle an extra bit of sparkle across the festive season.

“We are proud to work with such incredible brands and are extremely thankful for their support this year more than ever. Here’s to a fun festive season and an adventure-filled 2021.”

The Club’s Christmas competition

‘Tis the season of giving, and who doesn’t want a nice early Christmas gift? Running from now until December 10th, Club members have the chance to win 12 top prizes ranging from an Avtex TV, Laithwaite’s Wine case of prosecco, a Family Tree Top Adventure Ticket from Go Ape and more.

The Club will pick 12 lucky winners via its social media channels on the run up to Christmas Eve. If you want to take part you can enter here.

Festive member offers

A Caravan and Motorhome Club membership comes with so many perks, many of which are financial and can cover membership fees several times over in just one year, and this Christmas it may pay for itself a lot sooner.

In the run up to Christmas, there will be even more savings rolling out on a wide range of products and services. Many of these offers will make fantastic stocking fillers for your touring friends and family.

  • SmartGames, the worldwide leader in multi-level logic games, is offering discounts across its whole range. Whether relaxing at home or having fun on the road, the games can keep families entertained for hours. www.camc.com/smartgames.
  • Members can save 8 per cent on National Trust gift cards, which can be used in their cafés and restaurants, gift shops, online shop or to purchase National Trust membership.
    www.camc.com/nationaltrust
  • Members save an exclusive 20 per cent on Young Driver gift vouchers. Young Driver offers teenagers the chance to get behind a wheel of a real car before they’re legally allowed to take to the road. www.camc.comyoungdriver

Members can also save up to 10 per cent at the Club Shop (in partnership with Prima Leisure), which features over 3,000 products from top brands including the likes of:

  • Avtex – market leaders of visual and navigational technology for the leisure industry from TVs, soundbars to sat navs.
  • Cadac – one of the best-loved brands on UK and European campsites! Cadac provide stylish, reliable and compact BBQs and cooking accessories to inspire creative cooking while on tour.

The best British touring roads

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By William Coleman

With the tumultuous year that we’ve had, it’s hard to get excited for the year to come with the amount of uncertainty surrounding us. Don’t let the New Year be all doom and gloom by trying to put some dates in the calendar for 2021. With foreign travel someway off being a sure-fire bet, IMD Pistons have come up with its favourite British roads and trips for bike, car, caravan and motorhome.

A39 – Somerset & Devon

Connecting the South West of England with the rest of the country, the A39, runs from Bath all the way down to Falmouth in Cornwall. The road takes in landmarks like the city of Wells, Glastonbury, and Tintagel Castle, all whilst giving you stunning views of Exmoor National Park and the Devon and Cornwall coasts.

For those looking for a long drive or ride, the sweeping bends and rolling hills will keep you thoroughly entertained. This is definitely a great option for a long weekend, with a number of places to stay and stop off depending on what you are after from your trip.

A2 – County Antrim

One of the must-travel roads in the UK is the A2, which takes in the majority of the Northern Irish coastline. Filled with spectacular views of the North Channel coast on one side and swathes of rolling countryside on the other, there are miles of road and views to enjoy.
With the road following the coast, and sometimes nearly in the water, you are bound to find stretches an absolute pleasure to ride, as well as the views.

B5289 – Lake District, Cumbria

This is one of the shorter routes that you can take and is ideal for a day trip or overnight adventure. The B5289 rings a large part of the Cumbrian Lake District and is a firm favourite with motor enthusiasts for its high peaks, snaking roads and spectacular views of nature and the quaint towns.

At just over 20 miles long you are not going to be travelling for days, but it is very much a must for anyone who finds themselves in the North West of England.

A470 – Wales

Ranging from North Wales, cutting through two national parks and finding yourself in the south, this route really lets you take in all that Wales has to offer. The road is a mixture of dual carriageways, winding country roads and modern highways, so it spells exhilarating driving.

With awe-inspiring views of the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Parks, plus the Elan Valley and the Aberystwyth Mountain Road, this trip is one that can take a whole week despite only being 186 miles long.

A57 – Peak District, Derbyshire

Another short and sweet route, the A57 links Manchester and Sheffield, but has a section that is a great hill pass road located between Glossop and Ashopton. The part we are looking at is known as Snake Pass and has been used as part of the Tour of Britain bike race.

As you may have figured out, this road cuts through the hills of the Peak District and lives up to its name, with winding, narrow roads, complete with hills and moorland to take in. Another one that will not take you more than an hour to drive but is not to be missed out on.

The North Coast 500 – Scotland

We finish with one of the longer and more famous roads in the British Isles. The North Coast 500 is more or less what it says in the name, 500-ish miles of northern Scottish coastline, all navigable by caravan or motorhome. The road starts and ends at Inverness Castle and takes you all around the northern Scottish Highlands with John O’Groats, Ullapool, and Durness amongst the highlights.

This is a route that you will want to take in, so plan ahead and make sure you leave time to stop and appreciate some of the more breath-taking sights in Britain.

200 trees face the axe at Skelwith Fold

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By William Coleman

A deadly fungus has reared its ugly head in Ambleside and is likely to lead to the felling of 200 trees. This heartbreaking news follows monumental efforts by the team at Skelwith Fold to keep the area clean and green.

A beat the clock the challenge is in place at Skelwith Fold as the team race against time to remove 200 infected trees ahead of the site’s reopening in March next year. This is the second outbreak at the park this year, which is leading to significant changes to the landscape of the park.

Henry Wild, Skelwith’s director, has said it’s vital that these trees are removed by March 2021 as the task will negatively impact the holiday experience of those staying on the site’s 450 touring and glamping pitches.

Not only will the removal of the trees change the site’s green appeal but it will also cost the Wild family tens of thousands of pounds to have the work done, not to mention the stress and heartbreak. Add to that the loss of business during the spring and November lockdowns, and it’s clear the Wild family have had a bit of a rough time in 2020.

The Forestry Commission found the deadly tree disease, which has been identified as Phytophthoras, from the Greek for “plant destroyer”, while going over the grounds during a routine check.

“We were devasted when their tree experts found the fungus, and we must now remove up to 200 specimens in order to stop the disease spreading,” said Henry.

“The fungus spreads from tree to tree in inclement weather, so the only solution is to axe the trees surrounding those which have become infected.

“It is a gigantic and costly task for which no financial aid is available – and we can ill-afford to sustain any more losses by not being ready to re-open in spring.”

Not being one to let a hard time get him down, Henry is determined to turn this grim saga around and have a positive outcome once all is said and done. He will be examining new ways to redevelop and restore the woodland to ensure it lasts for future generations.

“We are especially mindful of the wide variety of wildlife which this environment sustains, including the red squirrel colony we have been fostering for almost 25 years,” he said.

“The wellbeing of our wildlife is inexorably linked to the maintenance of a strong and healthy tree population, so that outcome will be our main priority.

“It’s ironic that we should be hit by two disease disasters in one year, but future prospects for tourism in Cumbria are excellent, and we want to be there for it!”

The Wild family’s care of the natural world and their many wildlife-friendly projects have this year won them the prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level.

You can watch a video describing the tree felling task which lies ahead, narrated by Henry Wild, on YouTube now.

Caravan and Motorhome Club announces 2020 CL site winners

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By William Coleman

The judging has taken place and the results are in. The Caravan and Motorhome Club is proud to announce this year’s top CL locations who have taken home the gold.

At this time of year, the CaravanTimes team are usually dusting off our suits and polishing our finest shoes in preparation for an evening at the Houses of Parliament to be part of the CL of the Year Award. Due to current events, the award ceremony did not take place, but that has not stopped the Club from picking the winners.

For those who do not know, Certified Location (CL) sites are privately-owned, maximum five-pitch sites found across the UK, open exclusively to Caravan and Motorhome Club members.

To become a CL site you must meet certain criteria, such as being set in idyllic and remote locations such as farms, country estates and beside inns.

This year’s Certified Location of the Year Award went to Woody Kiln Farm. This picturesque spot is situated in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, and 2020 marks the second win for Woody Kiln, as the team also took the top award in 2016.

Coming in second place is the pristine Sorbie Primary School in Dumfries and Galloway. Third place went to Cholsey Grange in Buckinghamshire and the Best Newcomer accolade was won by Goodleigh Hill in Worcestershire.

Nick Lomas, director general of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “CL of the Year Awards celebrate owners who truly go above and beyond to give visitors the very best holiday experience. Our network of around 2,300 CLs provides Club members with opportunities to stay at unique locations throughout the UK.

“CLs are the jewels in the crown of our nationwide campsite network and we are delighted that over 80 new CLs have joined the network this year. I’d like to congratulate all of the winners and wholeheartedly thank our CL owners for their hard work.”

A word from the winners

The winning location, Woody Kiln Farm, has been run by Sharon and Dean Philpin since being opened as a CL location in August 2015.

The husband and wife duo opened the site on the ground where they tied the knot, which is now home to touring pitches. Before being rebranded a CL site, the farm was owned by Dean’s parents. Dean took over running things with his wife Sharon and daughter Eryn.

Following the news of the win, Dean and Sharon spoke with the Club. They said: “Our aim is for visitors to enjoy their holiday, relax and to be connected to all services within 20 minutes of arrival. Visitors tend to really enjoy the farmland, which can be accessed for a daily stroll or to exercise dogs and totals over ten acres, which are all lawned. This includes a large pond, which has ducks, moorhens and swans at different times of the year.”

The site’s touring pitches are flanked by paddocks where horses and sheep frolic and graze. On-site there is also a small orchard where guests are welcome to pick and sample the fruit when in bloom.

We have visited several CL sites in the UK and it is clear to see why these locations are so popular. They have limited touring accommodation and amazing scenery, which makes for a much more quiet and tranquil holiday experience.