Cumbria holiday park supports local nature reserve

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One of the best things about going on a caravan or motorhome holiday is the chance to enjoy nature and the great outdoors.

With this in mind, a holiday park in Cumbria has made considerable efforts to ensure it’s giving back to the local ecosystem.

Windermere’s Park Cliffe Holiday Park has raised nearly £3,000 over three years to support Barkbooth Lot Nature Reserve in nearby Crosthwaite.

The nature reserve is popular with visitors to the holiday park and will once again be carpeted with bluebells and primroses as the seasons change.

It’s home to the rare high brown fritillary butterfly, as well as other charming species, such as dragonflies.

Susan Dickson, co-owner of Park Cliffe, said: “For many years we have asked our guests to make a voluntary donation to local environmental good causes when they book their holidays online.

“Almost every guest does so, which I think underlines the affection they have for this area, and their concern to be involved in maintaining its upkeep.”

She added that the amount raised is bolstered by a number of events run at the holiday park each year, including treasure hunts, raffles and quizzes.

Last year, such fundraising events were limited due to lockdowns and other restrictions, but Park Cliffe still managed to donate £400 to the nature reserve.

With a record number of advanced bookings in the diary for 2022, Ms Dickson hopes Barkbooth Lot will receive a windfall this year.

The holiday park is home to a number of initiatives to protect native flora and fauna, and holds a David Bellamy Conservation Award.

Some 400 trees and hedgerows have been planted on the site as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy scheme to mark the monarch’s platinum jubilee.

Park Cliffe has pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents, as well as luxury holiday homes and glamping accommodation for those keen to enjoy nature.

Nick’s News – Safety first, the Cotswolds for dogs and the Swift Sprite Super Quattro FB

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Nick HardingNick’s News – Nick Harding is an expert in all things motorhomes, caravans and camping. Each week, Nick explores products, locations, holiday ideas and essential community information on our behalf – It’s a Hard-ing Life for Nick, but here is what he found this week.

My week

Porous alloys – that was the response I got when I posted a story to you last week wondering why my campervan seemed to have a slow puncture. My local specialist fitters could find no sign of anything untoward in the tyre, but sure enough, have a look online and you can immediately find out more about the problem of alloy wheels and slow releases of air from tyres.

It can be anything from some dirt in the beading – sufficient to ensure there’s not a good seal between tyre and wheel – or something else to do with the wheel. Luckily, there’s also lots of information on possible cures. Right, I’m off to do some more investigating…

In the news

Safety first – on all fronts

It looks like the UK’s best towcars are also among the safest vehicles on the road. The safest cars to drive, according to independent assessment body Euro NCAP, include Nissan’s Qashqai, the all-electric Mercedes-EQ EQS, Genesis G80, Skoda Enyaq iV, Subaru Outback and Volkswagen ID.4.

They all scored particularly highly in NCAP’s various adult, child and safety assist categories. Be wary and do check out official towing limits, however, especially with electric models. Skoda’s Enyaq iV, for example, can be as little as 1,000kg, depending on the model. Ditto for the ID.4 and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Cotswolds – going for the dogs?

There’s probably no need for me to tell you about the many attractions of the Cotswolds as a place to visit with your leisure vehicle. An added bonus is likely to be a new initiative to be unveiled this spring.

It’s too early to say much, but there’s a Dog Friendly Cotswolds campaign in the offing. It will start with a new section at the www.cotswolds.com website, so do keep your eyes peeled if you like to take your pooch on holiday with you.

Caravan crushInterior of the Swift Sprite Super Quattro FB

Swift Sprite Super Quattro FB – Six-ing things up

The name’s a bit of a mouthful, but Sprites are built by Swift these days. The Super bit tells you it’s an extra wide (2.46m) body, Quattro signifies a twin axle and FB stands for French bed.

Got that? Being a Sprite means it’s also highly competitively priced. And that also partly explains what is a relatively low maximum weight – at 1,704kg – for what is potentially a pretty wieldy 8m long van.
It’s a very family-friendly floorplan, with its permanent French double bed at the back alongside a relatively roomy washroom (again, that extra width helps), plus the ability to cope with up to four more by adapting the front settees (two single beds or a double) and turning the U-shaped central seating into a double. So, lots of berths, lots of seats, lots of appeal.

Three good: A lot of tourer for your money, twin axle on-road stability and that Sprite value-for-money name
Two bad: Still needs a hefty towcar and ATC is only an option
Perfect for… Families who want space
Also consider: Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Palermo

Gadget envyAwning attached to campervan

Got a van? Get an awning

A drive-away awning is a perfect complement to a campervan, vastly increasing your living space, storage and sleeping options when on site. It’s even an ideal way of reserving your pitch when you’re out for the day. Hardly a new name – it produced its first tents over a 100 years ago – but it’s interesting to see Coleman making an entrance into the campervan awnings sector.

It’s announced three models under the Journeymaster brand, with prices starting at just under a grand, including pre-attached bedrooms complete with Coleman’s proven Blackout technology at the windows.

Coming at this end of the market from a somewhat different angle is top-dollar caravan awning maker, Isabella. Look out for the X-Tension, again designed specifically for campervans. It’s a premium product that comes with a premium price, so expect to pay around £1,350.

The newest addition to the Vango line-up is the Cove II Air Low. At around £570, it still packs in a full range of features, from a sewn-in groundsheet that keeps the bugs out to lantern hanging points.

By the way, all the above use inflatable technology, so they’re easy to put up and there’s no messing about with unwieldy poles, even if the awnings themselves can be a bit bulky when packed down. Key features to look out for, especially with inflatable awnings, include ventilation, how it attaches to the vehicle, windows and curtains, and number and type of doorways.

Torchlight Festival of Camping to be held at Walesby Forest

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A new family-friendly event is to be hosted by the Camping and Caravanning Club in Nottinghamshire’s Walesby Forest this summer.

The Torchlight Festival of Camping will be a members-only event and feature performances from the likes of Squeeze, Gabrielle and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

It takes over the mantle of a previous event called the National Festival of Lanterns (NFOL), which was originally held in 1921 to mark the end of the summer season.

Sabina Voysey, director general of the Club, said: “Now, 100 years on since the first NFOL, it is time for a new generation to carry the torch and for the Club to take the opportunity to reinvigorate a special festival, breathing new life into its line-up and inspiring new followers to make memories of their own.

“From die-hard members to wide-eyed young explorers, this new event will offer everyone the chance to meet, camp, eat, dance and play in an enchanting woodland setting.”

Visitors to the festival can purchase a Walesby Forest Activity day pass for £17.50 per person, which entitles them to unlimited access to activities such as climbing, archery and ziplining.

Getting into the festival spirit will be facilitated with food kiosks, bars, a large campfire and historical displays, as well as the Wellness Sanctuary where guided yoga and forest bathing sessions will be conducted.

The highlight is likely to be a magical light trail with campers asked to light up their caravans, motorhomes and tents in line with the traditions of previous NFOLs.

There’s a wide selection of ticket options available, with a weekend pitch and entertainment tickets for families of up to two adults and four children priced at £199.

All ticket packages come with the opportunity to arrive early on the Thursday for an additional charge.

Look ahead to barbecue season with Weber’s new grills

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Barbecue season may seem like a long way off, but it’s good to get prepared if you like nothing better than to fire up the grill on your caravan or motorhome trip.

Not much compares to cooking outside and it’s a great way to get everyone fed if there’s a big group of you camping together.

With this in mind, Weber has announced its new product line for 2022 and there’s three barbecues to get excited about.

The all-new WEBER CRAFTED Gourmet Barbecue System

This versatile complete outdoor kitchen features six interchangeable pieces of grillware, allowing you to steam, bake, roast or sear right at the barbecue.

That means you could do the majority of your cooking outside your caravan or motorhome, no matter what’s on the menu.

The 2022 GENESIS Smart Gas Barbecue

If flip and serve notifications are what’s been missing from your barbecue experience, then the GENESIS is the piece of equipment for you.

No more wondering if your burgers are properly cooked, as you’ll be relying on the latest technology to ensure everything is done to perfection.

The 2022 SMOKEFIRE Wood Fired Pellet Grill, STEALTH Edition

For that distinctive wood-fired flavour, there’s the SMOKEFIRE Barbecue, which allows you to enjoy both high-heat searing and low and slow smoking.

Built-in grill lighting means you can fire up the barbecue early in the morning or late at night without having to rig up any other lamps.

Jennifer Bonuso, senior vice president and general manager, global product management of Weber, said: “These new products are shaped by insights from barbecue enthusiasts around the world, who crave to create more when they cook outside.

“We answered that desire by bringing together our best smart technology, new features, and a unique grillware collection to enable many different cooking methods at the barbecue.”

Nick’s News – Punctures, insurance and the Auto-Sleeper Burford

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Nick HardingNick’s News – Nick Harding is an expert in all things motorhomes, caravans and camping. Each week, Nick explores products, locations, holiday ideas and essential community information on our behalf – It’s a Hard-ing Life for Nick, but here is what he found this week.

My week

When is a puncture not a puncture? Prolonged stays on the drive at home during the festive period for my campervan only revealed one thing – the slowest of slow punctures. It’s the front nearside and you might remember the front offside had something similar, which was successfully fixed, but now it’s happening on the other side.

Despite checking into my local tyre centre, which took the tyre off and gave it a full check for no charge, officially there’s no sign of a puncture. I guess I’ll just need to keep checking it… or get out more, as it doesn’t seem to go down if there’s regular use. Unless anyone out there has any other advice?

In the news

Insurance – where loyalty means FCA

A little-spotted piece of news slipped by us all at the start of this month. Loyalty penalties in the world of automotive insurance are no longer permissible. It marks the end of that horrible process whereby those of us who stuck with the same insurer each year were often penalised, as new customers snapped up introductory deals which didn’t apply to us.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), to which anyone who sells or arranges insurance must belong, has closed this particular loophole, meaning that any private motor insurance premium cannot be higher than the price offered to new customers for the same product.

It’s all good news. If nothing else, it will save you hours checking around reading the small print as you look for a better value premium.

Driving? Don’t drink

I know we get the usual warnings about not combining alcoholic drinks with driving in the festive season, but this common-sense approach applies throughout the year.

Road safety charity IAM RoadSmart says the majority of motorists are still unaware of when they might be over the limit for drinking with alcohol in their blood system. One particular area of worry has long been driving the morning after drinking. The simple way to complete peace of mind is to take your own breath test, of course.

You can pick up a single-use breathalyser for as little as a fiver. Or you can go all the way up to something like the multi-use, pocket-sized, battery-operated Alcosense Pro Breathalyser at around £150. As ever, the best advice is: none for the road.

Motorhome for me?Interior of the Auto-Sleeper Burford

Auto-Sleeper Burford – a bit of badge engineering

You’ve every right to expect something pretty special for your near £90,000 spend on a new motorhome, but maybe this could entice? All credit to Auto-Sleeper as the only mainstream UK motorhome manufacturer to work with Mercedes.

And arguably it is all about the badge here, or badges, as that combination of Mercedes and Auto-Sleeper is a potent force. For some, only the best will do and that means that distinctive three-pointed star on the bonnet.

A total body length of 26ft (7.20m, if you prefer) and 2.35m width makes this a pretty meaty motorhome. That’s something that’s reflected in the particularly roomy, twin settees and front lounge area, as well as the full-width end washroom.

Needless to add, the overall specification – for the base vehicle as well as the conversion – doesn’t hold back. True, the French double isn’t always the most popular fixed bed offering and you’ll struggle to find other manufacturers listing such a floorplan. Ideally, the taller person sleeps against the wall and visits the loo less in the night. But, if that works for you, check out this range-topping Auto-Sleeper in all its glory.

Three good: Roomy living quarters, extensively equipped (with Premium Pack option) and Mercedes/Auto-Sleeper badge blend
Two bad: It’s heavy and French beds divide opinion
Perfect for… Three-pointed star-gazing
Also consider: Hymer B-Class Modern Comfort T600, which has twin single beds

Gadget envy

Beefing up your vehicle security

Stronghold ApexWhether you own a caravan or a motorhome, you have what for some is a highly describable piece of kit. And that’s why you need to think about vehicle security. There’s no harm in adding to what you’ve already got, especially if it brings you greater peace of mind. And sometimes it can even lower insurance premiums.

If you keep your vehicle in the same place most of the time – at home or on the drive for example – a security post is a great, visual deterrent which you can lock your vehicle to if it has a towbar or simply park up against.

Bulldog’s SA7L Removable Hitch Post, typically priced at around £190, is meatier than most. It includes the company’s own Super lock bolt, ground socket and cover plate.

A wheel clamp is another deterrent where the sheer visual aspect may be enough to convince a thief to look for easier pickings. The Stronghold Apex (around £160 for the most popular 15in-18in version) comes with a Sold Secure Gold rating and fits motorhomes and caravans with wheel sizes 15in-18in, although versions are also available for smaller wheels. It’s a recognised triangular design that covers the wheel nuts and comes with a unique locking plate and a pick-free lock with three keys.

All caravans have them, quite a few coachbuilt motorhomes too, although sometimes they can even be retrofitted. I’m talking corner steadies. A locking mechanism for these will keep them in the down position, making it that bit harder for a thief to tow away your vehicle.

SAS sells its Corner Steady Leg Locks in singles (from around £30), twos and fours, each coming with a hex key that has to be inserted whenever you operate the steadies.

The Camping and Caravanning Club announces Certificated Site of the Year

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The Camping and Caravanning Club has awarded Riverside Caravan Site near Skipton in North Yorkshire the best Certificated Site (CS) for 2021.

Just one of the 1,300 CSs across the UK, Riverside gained the accolade based on votes cast by Camping and Caravanning Club members throughout the year.

Voters are encouraged to name their candidates for best friendly Club welcome, best hideaway, best new site, best facilities, and best CS for families.

Riverside gained more votes in the best friendly Club welcome and best CS for families categories, making it the overall winner for 2021.

The site was originally set up in 2008 by husband and wife team James and Alison Naylor on an area that had previously been used for dairy farming.

It boasts hardstanding and electric pitches, as well as 360-degree views of the Yorkshire Dales’ rolling hills in an idyllic location.

Ms Naylor said: “We used to be caravanners ourselves and then we thought ‘what else can we do to earn a bit more money?’

“We have plenty of land here so thought, yes, let’s set up a campsite! We knew what to expect from camping ourselves having gone caravanning in the past, and the Club was very helpful.”

There are two local pubs within walking distance of the site, as well as a shop, giving those staying at Riverside the chance to park up and head off on foot to find a meal.

CSs are smaller sites than traditional holiday parks and offer room for just five caravans or motorhomes and ten tents at a time.

The price of staying at one of the Club’s network of CSs can be as low as £10 per night. Some CSs offer only the most basic of features such as waste, water and drainage facilities.

Others are more sophisticated with hardstanding pitches and electric hook-ups, modern amenities and shower blocks for caravanners and motorhomes to use.

Caravan and Motorhome Club offering £1,700 prize bundle

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The Caravan and Motorhome Club has just launched a competition to give away £1,700 worth of prizes to one lucky winner.

It has teamed up with a selection of partners from the touring industry to create a prize bundle any caravanner, motorhomer, campervanner, camper or glamper would want to win.

Starting with the essentials, National Tyres has contributed a set of tyres and a free MOT to the prize haul, while TyrePal has thrown in a monitor and sensors to ensure the winner’s tyres are functioning at optimum levels.

Raleigh has added an impressive £500 towards a new bike so you can explore your chosen holiday site in style.

Go Ape has included a family ticket to be spent at one of its 35 destinations across the country, offering a chance to make memories together.

Pop all the essentials for your day out in a rucksack from Cotswold Outdoors and keep the snacks safe in your Red Original cool bag backpack.

A BODYRAG travel set of luxury towels will make your caravan or motorhome the most stylish on site and their special super absorbent material dries you instantly and keeps you warm.

Having an Avtex TV in your leisure vehicle, which is also included in the prize bundle, really will make you the envy of your fellow tourers.

To top it off, there’s a £50 Roadchef voucher to fuel your next touring adventure.

Harvey Alexander, director of marketing and membership services at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “We’re really pleased to be able to offer this amazing bundle of prizes to help people have their perfect trip.

“At the Club we do all we can to provide inspiration for great holidays and days out, and it’s really important to us that we can help make things more affordable too. Huge thanks to our partners for supporting this incredible prize valued at over £1,700! Good luck to everyone that enters!”

You have until February 28th to enter, so head over to camc.com/prizedraw now to be in with a chance of winning this incredible set of prizes.

 

 

Photo credit: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio

Nick’s News – Hymer goes Ford, Simon steps aside and the Adria Alpina Colorado

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Nick HardingNick’s News – Nick Harding is an expert in all things motorhomes, caravans and camping. Each week, Nick explores products, locations, holiday ideas and essential community information on our behalf – It’s a Hard-ing Life for Nick, but here is what he found this week.

My week

It’s been a quiet week for both me and leisure vehicle news generally this week. That’s not to say there aren’t rumblings of big news on various horizons, however. The formal tie-up between Ford and Hymer is a major boost not just for both companies, but the whole leisure vehicle industry.

And I’m glad to see next month’s Camping, Caravan and Motorhome Show looks like it’s still going ahead, despite its most significant exhibitor, the Swift Group, pulling out. Indeed, the leisure vehicle show sector seems to be emerging from a prolonged period of hibernation.

In the news

Hymer goes Ford

Hymer, which vies with the Trigano Group for the position of Europe’s largest leisure vehicle manufacturer, has announced a formal tie-up with Ford. Called a strategic partnership, it will see the Erwin Hymer Group, which also includes the likes of Bürstner, Carado, Etrusco, Dethleffs and Laika; not forgetting Elddis, of course, building motorhomes and van conversions using Ford’s Transit and Transit Custom models.

Hymer already has a similar arrangement with Mercedes, dating back to 1971.
It’s good to see Ford coming to the fore in the motorhome sector. Along with Europe’s two mega-conglomerates, UK companies such as Auto-Sleeper and Swift have announced Transit-based campers for this season, while independent manufacturers Autohaus and Wellhouse Leisure have long dealt with Ford, to the point of having Qualified Vehicle Modifier status.

Add in the Westfalia-built Nugget that Ford sells itself here across Europe and the UK and Ford is back on the map.

Simon says.. it’s a total surprise

How’s this for a small company that makes big waves? North Berwick-based Jerba’s founder and current managing director has just picked up a Director of the Year Award for small to medium-sized businesses. It’s run by the Institute of Directors in Scotland. He also scooped the Top Director prize for the Edinburgh and Lothians region.

Jerba is different to all other campervan manufacturers I know in the UK, because it’s employee-owned. And I say current because Simon is about to take up the role of company chairman, leaving a position vacant for a new managing director. Think you’ve got what it takes? Get applying.

Caravan crushInterior of the Adria Alpina Colorado

Adria Alpina Colorado – reaching the style heights

Like beauty, style is in the eye of the beholder. And I fully accept the extrovert nature of this 2.46m wide flagship Adria won’t appeal to those of a more conservative outlook, even if you do have a vehicle hefty enough to tow its 2,000kg maximum weight.

Those factors considered; it will be the twin single beds floorplan that will be the main reason to purchase. That still leaves plenty of space for a full-width end washroom and a more than generous kitchen, all in the most contemporary styling.

If there’s any compromise, it’s the front lounge, where the settees aren’t quite long enough for single beds. Instead, they make a transverse double, should it be required.

Three good: Great style, practicality and quality blend; super-spacious, and a generous end washroom
Two bad: £40,000? Phew! And slightly short lounge
Perfect for… Swanky families
Also consider: Coachman VIP 565 and Swift Elegance 565

Getting a bit more sustainable

There’s a plethora of kit out there to help you with the leisure vehicle lifestyle. It’s even better when it can boast environmentally-friendly credentials, like this week’s trio.

Women's Timberland bootYou want the right footwear at this time of the year, right. Timberland’s latest walking boots include the £125 Premium 6 Inch Luxe for men and £135 women’s Euro Hiker. The former using leather produced using regenerative practices (giving the land a chance), the latter with a Better Leather upper. Again, this is from a sustainable source, this time a tannery rated silver for its environmental-friendliness. Just don’t wear them when you’re driving.

Next, the Got Bag company is claiming it has the world’s first rucksacks made from ocean plastic it’s gathered up itself from Indonesia. This is on top of an organic polyurethane waterproof coating and straps from recycled PET. Prices start at £79 for the Daypack, £114 for the No!Rolltop Backpack.

Even world-renowned leisure hat maker Tilley is getting involved. It’s added the Modern Airflo and 5 Panel Recycled Cap to its considerable all-headwear portfolio, both using sustainable recycled nylon fabrics. Each carry the Bluesign logo, indicating they’re independently recognised by the world’s leading authority on environmentally-friendly clothing materials. Find out more at www.bluesign.com.

Plymouth the best city break destination for nature lovers

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Packing up the caravan and heading to a city may not be your first instinct if you’re a nature lover, but new research shows how you can combine urban locations with the great outdoors.

McCarthy Stone ranked the UK’s cities in terms of their natural offerings to help anyone looking for a break to escape the January blues.

Plymouth came out top of the list, scoring 345 points out of a possible 500, with criteria including rare species of animals, stargazing spots, National Trust sites and outdoor activities nearby.

The city on England’s south coast was found to be home to ten National Trust sites and four National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Coming in second was Southampton with 297 points, followed by London with a score of 255. The capital’s 240 outdoor activities make it one of the greenest cities on the list to visit.

Bristol made the fourth spot, boasting 242 points, followed by Newcastle and Swansea in joint fifth position, with both cities picking up 206 points.

Miruna Constantinescu, national marketing director at McCarthy Stone, said: “From stargazing to national parks, it’s amazing to see the wealth of natural hotspots which the UK has to offer in such proximity to large parts of the population.

“The lure of coastal and countryside developments may seem like the obvious choice for nature-lovers, but this study has shown that you can enjoy amazing nature sites on your doorstep across the UK.

“We understand the importance of getting outdoors, especially after living under restrictions over the past 18 months, and it’s great to be able to highlight some of the UK’s natural beauty.”

If it’s animals you’re wishing to spot on your caravan holiday, then the study suggests Newcastle is best for red squirrel sightings, Aberdeen for puffins and Norfolk for otters.

 

Photo credit: Unsplash/Zach Pickering

Jerba Campervans seeks new managing director

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Jerba Campervans is looking for a new managing director as co-founder Simon Poole is set to move into the role of chairman.

The North Berwick-based VW Transporter converter is an employee-owned business and has won many accolades for the way in which it’s run.

Most recently, Mr Poole was awarded Director of the Year for Small-Medium Businesses and the Edinburgh and the Lothians regional award at the Director of the Year Awards.

He founded the company in 2006, alongside his wife Cath, and has since demonstrated that turning a passion into a business can result in great success.

Jerba Campervans has seen its annual turnover increase every year since it started and has grown to a staff of 14.

Mr Poole is hoping to find someone with similar values to himself and who understands the business’ ethos as he steps aside from the day-to-day running of the company.

He said: “Running this business has been the greatest thrill of my life. My wife Cath and I bought a T4 campervan from another converter in 2002. We loved it, but we also felt that there were a couple of things that we could improve on, and so we started Jerba.

“It has been fantastic to see the company grow so successfully and this success is down to the remarkable team we have behind us who strive for excellent craftsmanship and customer experience.”

Jerba Campervans is the only firm in Scotland to be recognised as a Motorhome Qualified Converter by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

While Mr Poole acknowledged there are lots of plans in place for the company in 2022, he also expressed the desire for a new managing director to bring fresh ideas to the role.

Jerba Campervans has built a reputation for converting Volkswagen Transporter T6.1 models and in 2015, it gained a patent for a unique pop-up roof, which is added to all its Volkswagen projects.

Nick’s News – Amendments to the Highway Code, watch out for cold weather, and the Swift Select Compact C500

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Nick HardingNick’s News – Nick Harding is an expert in all things motorhomes, caravans and camping. Each week, Nick explores products, locations, holiday ideas and essential community information on our behalf – It’s a Hard-ing Life for Nick, but here is what he found this week.

My week

Is it me or is the weather turning a bit colder? We seem to have had milder weather than I can ever remember in December, so I’m actually not that worried about a cold snap – we need it, after all.

If the calm and balm has lulled you into a false sense of security, don’t forget to check your leisure vehicle’s water system. You don’t want to be caught off guard and have any frozen water damage. Better still, all other conditions allowing, why not head out for a January break?

My month

January for a bit of Bristol Slapstick

If all goes to plan this year, I reckon I already have a full calendar of monthly events lined up. First off, if ever an event was well-timed to see off the winter blues, it has to be Bristol’s Slapstick Festival.

Celebrating silent comedy greats like Chaplin, Keaton, and Laurel and Hardy, as well as their contemporaries, it’s a right good laughing mix-up of film, lectures and live acts.

In a nutshell: Silents are golden
Handy campsite? If it’s not already booked up, try for the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Baltic Wharf site, just under a mile’s walk (or book a boat ride) to the Watershed, centre of all the Slapstick action.
More at: www.slapstick.org.uk

In the news

My way or the Highway Code way – time to go Dutch?

A handful of changes to the Highway Code are expected to be confirmed by the end of the month. In particular, there’s now a hierarchy of road users, designed to make folk aware of those more vulnerable than themselves out on the road.

I know as leisure vehicle owners we are already among the safest drivers in the country, but it’s the notion of being more aware of the likes of cyclists, horse riders and others that appeals.

Most of the updates are common sense, like leaving more space when you’re overtaking, but there’s one that does cause intrigue. It’s the suggestion that you use the Dutch reach method of opening a vehicle door from the inside by using the hand that’s furthest from the door.

It means you twist your whole body, getting a better view of what might be coming up behind you as you do the opening and exiting. It’s definitely one of those that works better in practice rather than my attempt to describe it to you in words.

Motorhome for me?

Swift Select Compact C500 – compromise? What compromise?

I may be biased, but I do lean towards more diminutive motorhomes. It might be a newcomer to Swift’s Select range (previously all van conversions) but it’s the Compact tag that tells you the C500 is a smaller-scale coachbuilt body behind that latest Fiat Ducato cab.

There’s a new-for-2022 range of engine options too. In standard trim, the Compact C500 comes with a 2.2-litre, 120bhp unit, with options to upgrade to 140bhp as well as automatic transmission.

However, at 6.65m it’s considerably longer than what I would normally call a compact coachbuilt (I’d argue for anything up to 6m). The 2.26m width is a tad more than you might expect too.

It’s a four berth for travel, with sleeping arrangements for two. Its end lounge offers decent length single beds or a double, while there are no surprises in the well-equipped kitchen and washroom. Plus, the front lounge provides the extra two travel berths.

Of course, it’s been unable to escape from the latest price rises imposed by Fiat for its base vehicles. Nevertheless, starting at a £490 smidge over £60,000 marks it out as good value.

Three good: New model keeps the dimensions trimmed, 3,300kg with decent payload and potentially good value
Two bad: Standard 120bhp engine and it might not sparkle enough
Perfect for… Two on tour and four for daily travels
Also consider: Auto-Trail Expedition C72, Elddis Accordo 120 or McLouis Fusion 330

Woman in a SnuggyGoods to go, 2022

Are you looking for early season product ideas? Then start right here with a Snuggy. It’s an oversized hoodie in soft flannel fleece that will keep you cosy through the winter months, and no doubt beyond. Adult versions are on sale at £59.99 as I type, with kids’ and even baby variants also available.

How about significantly upping the security on your motorhome with the BC Lock from Milenco? It’s a brightly coloured (ie highly visual) lock that fits around the pedals of most Fiat Ducato base vehicles (also the Peugeot Boxer and Citroen Relay alternatives).

There are also variants for selected Ford Transits and Mercedes Sprinters. The typical price is around £85, but fit one and you may even be eligible for a saving on your annual insurance premium.

Also, if your caravan or motorhome has a C200 Thetford loo, perhaps it’s the ideal time to consider a Fresh-Up Set? It includes a new cassette holding tank and folding seat and is the ideal way to, er, freshen up your C200 toilet without going to the far bigger expense of buying a whole new unit. The typical price is around the £100 mark.

Hope this helps make you good to go for 2022! OK, yes, the pun was fully intended…

Living in a caravan inspires entrepreneur to start award-winning business

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An entrepreneur who founded an award-winning motorhome business has lifted the lid on where the inspiration for the company came from.

Matt Sims started The Motorhome Holiday Company in the aftermath of the breakdown of his marriage when he found himself living in a caravan.

He said: “I decided to move into a caravan, which was both brilliant and dire. I was at a crossroads in life at a personal and professional level and looking for a way to move forward.

“I enjoyed lovely sunsets and microwave meals for one. But while trudging across the field to go to the shower in chilly, wet weather, I knew it was a short-term solution.”

Despite quickly coming to the conclusion that he wanted to move back into a house, Mr Sims experienced first hand the lure of leisure vehicles and their potential for making holiday memories.

He added: “I saw the motorhome industry as one with huge potential to grow and I wanted to make it as accessible to as many people as possible.”

So the Motorhome Holiday Company was born with a focus on introducing families and couples to the world of motorhome holidays.

The business started out with five motorhomes to hire and quickly expanded to a fleet of 15 leisure vehicles, which has increased again to 20.

It now offers hire, sales, storage and repairs, as well as camping and caravanning accessories at That Leisure Shop, and travel guidance through the Staycation Inspiration magazine.

The company has been recognised with a number of accolades, including winning the Best Luxury Motorhome Hire UK category of the Business Excellence Awards in 2019 and 2020.