By Chris Littley

It was big news when prime minister Boris Johnson said individuals in England would be allowed to drive as far as they like to take exercise, but overnight stays away from home are still a big no-no. So, when will caravan trips be allowed again?

While nobody can say for certain how the next few weeks and months of coming out of lockdown will go, it’s worth looking towards the caravan sites for an expert opinion. Many of them have started to make tentative plans for reopening and this is what they’re currently saying:

The official line from the Caravan Club is that its UK sites are expected to reopen in July. They won’t all fling their doors open on the same day, however, as a phased approach is expected. As the four nations of the union have now diverged in their approach to coming out of lockdown, it could be that caravan sites in England are opened up before those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, Parkdean Resorts plans to reopen on June 1st and Haven has announced its sites will be closed until July 2nd. Hoseasons hopes to see visitors arriving from July 1st and Away Resorts isn’t taking any new reservations for before July 3rd. The Camping and Caravanning Club has not committed to a date to start welcoming visitors, but is accepting new bookings on a fully flexible basis.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club has warned against getting too excited prematurely. A spokesperson said: “The recent statement by the UK government on the gradual easing of the current lockdown restrictions is welcome news.

“However, the government advice does not currently give the dates that campsites and touring sites are able to reopen and is conditional on further progress being made. At this time we are planning on the assumption that we will be able to introduce a phased reopening of our sites network during July.”

By Chris Littley

After the weekend’s announcement that small concessions to the lockdown can start to be made, caravan enthusiasts will no doubt be beginning to dream. We’re not yet out of the woods and able to travel freely, but perhaps by the time the summer arrives, some sort of holiday could be possible.

Caravan owners could be at a huge advantage when it comes to planning a trip away, as it’s relatively easy to stay self-contained in a motorhome. Most live-in vehicles are equipped with their own kitchens, toilets and even showers, which could mean cutting down on interaction with others in a cautious post-lockdown climate.

Nick Lomas, director general of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, told The Telegraph: “The fundamental desire to get out in Britain’s great outdoors is as strong as it’s ever been. Our bookings for July onwards are almost identical to last year. We’ve also opened bookings all the way into 2021 and they’re very buoyant too.”

Caravan sites represent a good place to observe social distancing, as they are often located in the countryside and surrounded by lots of open space. There’s none of the issues associated with a city break when adults and children alike can enjoy outdoor activities at a safe distance from other people.

Mr Lomas added: “We have two particular advantages: the way modern campervan sites are designed already adheres to safe distancing for fire safety reasons, as well as privacy and wellbeing.”

Socially distanced gatherings were already the norm for many caravan lovers before lockdown began anyway. Sitting under their own awning with a meal and their own drinks, a caravanner often chats to their neighbours under theirs. This has been a feature of caravan life for decades, lending itself to the new normal everyone will have to get used to.

Since it looks increasingly likely that travelling back into the UK will come with a 14-day quarantine, foreign travel could be off the agenda for some time. Staycations will therefore be high up the list for many who are keen to get a break from the local area where they have been in lockdown.

By Chris Littley

A number of staff at the UK’s biggest manufacturer of caravans have been sent letters to say their fixed-term contracts will not be renewed when they come to an end in June.

Swift Group is cutting the amount of people it employs, as the reality of the coronavirus pandemic starts to hit, although it is not clear how many of the 1,150 employees are being retained, reports HullLive.

Like many of the UK’s manufacturing businesses, Swift’s operations have been forced to shut down while everybody stays at home to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Workers have been on furlough throughout April and original plans to start building caravans again from May 4th never came to fruition.

A company spokesman released a statement saying: “I can confirm that the company will not be extending any fixed-term contracts that are due to finish by the end of June.

“The number of employees this affects is a small proportion of the whole organisation. Business activity is suspended at this time and we continue to follow government guidance.”

Swift has been making caravans since the 1960s, with the first model, known as The Ten, completed by partners Ken Smith and Ken Day.

It was built on Hedon Road in Hull and the company continues to run much of its operation from Yorkshire.

Over the years, Smith with his wife Joan continued to grow the business, after buying out Day, and produced iconic models, including the Clubman, Rapide and Challenger.

Swift gained a reputation for innovative design and introduced many features like its deep front windows and fixed beds to meet changes in the market.

To this day, Swift remains a popular brand of caravan, with the latest releases continuing to break the mould and gain the attention of aficionados everywhere.

Its 2020 editions include new versions of the Elegance, with luxury features, and an entirely revamped Sprite, to do justice to the legend that has won awards over the years.

By Chris Littley

The name Buccaneer is incredibly evocative and this range from Elddis is still popular today, but what of the Caravel edition? Has it lived up to the hype or is it more likely to be asked to walk the plank?

We take a look at this vintage gem to see how it’s fared, as our Classic Gold series continues.

It was John Heath who reviewed the Buccaneer Caravel back in 2012 and he was positively gushing about the 2011 model, it has to be said. When it came to the 2012 version with its layout changes, however, he wasn’t quite so sure. The difference was so striking in fact, that he dropped his five-star rating down to three in light of the changes.

John enthused: “The memory foam mattress on the island bed is ideal for us, as we both have back issues. The seating area is spacious and comfortable, and are full size, rather than the trend to have shorter seating in the front area.

“The limited space around the island bed is something that we have had to adapt to, but the positives by far outweigh the negatives. The equipment is all top draw, and make the Buccaneer the top quality caravan that is expected with the brand name.”

That said, a bugbear of John’s about the updated version of the Caravel was that the paintwork had been switched from white to silver. He certainly preferred the crispness of the white over the new fangled silver, which was only just hitting the market at the time and has now become commonplace in caravan design.

Did you purchase a Buccaneer Caravel in 2011 or 2012 and if so, which edition did you plump for? Let us know in the comments, and while you’re at it you can settle the white/silver debate too.

By Chris Littley

By the beginning of May, most caravan enthusiasts would usually be embarking on regular trips in their trusty motorhome, but this year things are a little different.

The coronavirus lockdown has affected so many parts of our lives and caravanning is not exempt.

If you’ve taken your caravan out of hibernation and cleaned it up ready for the season, you’ll be wondering if you can put it into use while you wait for restrictions to be lifted. Here are five alternative ways to enjoy your motorhome during the crisis:

Self-isolation pod

Anyone displaying symptoms of coronavirus or working in a high-risk job may wish to isolate themselves from other members of their household. A caravan parked on the drive could represent a convenient solution to this particular issue.

Remote classroom

Home schooling can be tough, especially if there are a lot of distractions around. Take the kids out of the house and away from their toys, computer games and other siblings to complete their lessons. The change of scenery will also help to define the lines between school work and home life.

Home office

It may be you and not the children who need a space free of distractions in order to be productive. A caravan is just the right size to create an office, so set it up with your laptop, desktop lamp and filing system. Bring a houseplant out to complete the look too.

Romantic date setting

Keeping the spark alive in lockdown can be tricky, but it’s worth thinking outside the box and continuing to have regular date nights. Put up some fairy lights in your caravan and, before you know it, you’ve got a romantic setting for a delicious home cooked meal.

Weekend away

We’re not allowed to go far, but you can still pack a holdall and escape to your caravan for a simpler way of life. Parked up outside your house, you can imagine you’re on your usual adventures and cook up all your caravan favourites in the kitchen. That first cup of coffee looking out of the van will taste just as good as when it’s parked up in the countryside.

By Chris Littley

The CaravanTime’s Classic Gold feature returns, with a look back at the 2009 Coachman Pastiche 520/4.

Our reviewer back in July 2011, El Beardo (no, we don’t think that’s his real name), wasn’t particularly impressed with the model, but he did have some nice things to say about it.

He said there was “plenty of space, but some of the design makes me wonder if the people designing these vans ever use them”.

Indeed, El Beardo noted there were “silly under cushion slats, no shelves in any upper lockers, wardrobe rail wrong way around, limited workspace, etc”.

That said, he was pleased with the level of comfort, claiming it was a “beautiful, light and airy van, with comfortable seating and bed”.

Overall, he scored the Pastiche 520/4 a solid four out of five for value for money and space and practicality, although his rating did drop to three for quality and reliability.

“I know a lot of people rate these vans very highly, but personally I have had a lot of irritating problems,” he commented.

The locker hinges came with screws missing, the carpets needed to be replaced after the first outing and the bathroom sink had a crack in it – so, not great overall.

Give us your thoughts on this classic caravan and let us know if you agree with El Beardo’s review. We’d love to hear from you!