Top five cheap days out for caravan holidays in Cornwall

Posted by

by Niki Greig

Cornwall has long been a sought after destination for many holiday makers simply due to the abundance of things to do for all ages. Here, we round up some of the best and more importantly cheapest. Everything in this list costs under £10 per person or even better, free!

1. Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Penzance

Although it appears to be an ancient ruin, creation of this magnificent theatre was in fact started in 1929 by a local woman wishing to put on a play. An evening visit to see one of the plays starts at £8 a head. For the 2012 schedule see here.
For those with kids, a better option is a daytime visit as there is currently a series of puppet shows being put on that are included in the daytime admission of £4 per adult, £2 per child – for a list of dates click here. With this ticket you can also learn the fascinating story of the theatre, wander the splendid gardens and enjoy breathtaking views of the Atlantic.

Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: Sennen Cove C&CC Site, Cardinney camping and caravan park and Lower Treave caravan and camping park.

2. Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, St Austell

These gardens are unmissable for the green fingered. They are the most popular private botanical gardens in the UK and it’s not hard to see why. Covering an area of 400 hectares, the garden has been extensively and painstakingly restored after falling into disrepair after the loss of many estate workers during the war.

Highlights include Camellias and Rhododendrons, country themed gardens including the Italian garden and the exciting Jungle, a must-visit for kids!
Adult entry to the park comes in at £10, children are £6 and the under fives are free. Alternatively you could opt for a money saving family ticket which is £27 for two adults and up to three children. Further info can be found here.

Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: Pentewan Sands Holiday Park, Heligan holiday Park and Pensagillas Park .

3. Cycle the Pentewan Valley cycle trail, St Austell to Mevagissey, Cornwall

Part of the National cycle trail, this seven-mile route follows an old railway line and, being traffic free, it is perfect for those with young children or for those wishing to relax and enjoy a scenic cycle.

The path runs from St Austell to the sea and whilst on the route you can sample a real St Austell Ale at the Ship Inn. The route takes about an hour and you end up in the exceptionally pretty fishing village of Mevagissey where you can enjoy freshly caught Cornish fish and chips, well earned after a hard cycle!
Bring your own or hire bikes at Pentewan valley Cycle Hire for £10 per half day an adult, £6 per child. To check out the route click here.

Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: The Meadows, River Valley and Pleasant Streams Farm camping.

4. Go Seal Watching in St Ives Harbour

Seal Island lies just three and a half miles to the west of St Ives, along the Cornish coastline. The trips, dependent on the tides, leave from several points around the harbour. When you arrive at the Island the boat goes astern to a small inlet for 15 to 20 minutes to allow you all to watch the seals either bask in the sunshine or frolic in the water.

If you are lucky enough you might even see other wildlife such as basking sharks, dolphins, porpoises and whales hunting for food at some point on the trip too. The trips last approximately one hour and are suitable for all ages and are, of course, subject to sea and weather conditions.

Price wise, adults are a very reasonable £10 and children are £8. Tickets are bought from Derek who you will apparently find outside the lifeboat station! Or give him a call on 0777 300 8000. For more information click here.

Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: Ayr Holiday Park, Polmanter Touring Park and Balnoon Campsite .

5. Cycle the Camel trail, Bodmin/Wadebridge to Padstow

This popular eighteen-mile trail runs from Bodmin to Padstow and is ideal for all members of the family to use as it is nice and flat, being a former railway line. Take in the stunning scenic wooded countryside of the Camel valley and pass through picturesque Wadebridge. Why not pack a picnic and stop along the way, the return journey would be much easier! The journey takes approximately two hours long and is completely free; you only need to save money for a delicious cream tea at the quaint fishing village of Padstow. Park up in Bodmin and bring your own or hire bikes from here. If you’ve got younger kids, Wadebridge might be an ideal start point to go either inland or out to the sea. To check out the route click here.

Nearby caravan sites for this venue are: Little Margate, ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.self-catering-ruthern.co.uk/index.php" target="_blank"> Ruthern Valley and Little Bodieve.

Whatever you get up to on your Cornish holidays this year, we hope you a good time. Do let us know of your caravanning adventures in the forum and make us all here at CaravanTimes suitably jealous!

Swift Conqueror and Sterling Elite get solar panel and Tracker for 2013

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
The UK’s largest caravan manufacturer Swift Group has relaunched its flagship Swift Conqueror and Sterling Elite ranges for 2013, adding a series of premium upgrades.
Retaining the popular exterior style that has been in place for the past two season, the Conqueror and Elite now have even more reasons to claim to be the ultimate in luxury caravanning.
New kit includes a Tracker Retrieve stolen vehicle recovery system, which comes with a free three-month subscription, as well as a 20W roof-mounted solar panel to help keep your leisure battery topped up.
Moving to the inside and the range has also had a significant upgrade in terms of interior lighting, with an LED back-lit kitchen splashback and LED lighting behind the washroom mirrors.
Other improvements for the 2013 caravanning season include a more powerful Alde wet heating system, which is capable of up to 3KW output to take the chill off those harsh winter nights.
Not just a pretty face
As well as the luxury touches, there are plenty of practical considerations that Swift has fitted, including an extra cutlery drawer and fold-down access flaps to the under-seat storage area in the nose end.
An LED awning light, external showerpoint, wider curtains, two-way roof fan, washroom speakers and an upgraded 110-litre Dometic fridge (190-litre in twin-axle models) complete the interior upgrades.
As you might expect there is a price rise to go with all this additional kit, with the range now starting at £19,795 for the Swift Conqueror 480 model, rising to £23,749 for the range-topping 625 layout. This makes for an average price rise of 6.5 per cent when compared with last year’s prices.
Optional extras include an alternative interior fabric design and a roof-mounted Dometic air conditioning system (available for twin-axle models only).
In terms of layouts, all six options have been carried over from last year, meaning that those looking for a four-berth caravan will have five options, while the 480 remains the only two-person configuration on offer.
Those wishing to view the 2013 Swift Conqueror and Sterling Elite ranges for themselves will have a first chance at the Lawns Caravan Show in Hull on 1 September.

Winston Churchill’s customised Land Rover goes under the hammer

Posted by

by Arash Hekmat

A custom-build Land Rover belonging to the great wartime prime minister Sir Winston Churchill will be auctioned for as much as £60,000.

The Series 1 Land Rover, which has been locked away in storage for the last 35 years, was presented as a gift to Churchill by carmaker Rover to mark his 80th birthday.

Carrying the registration UKE 80, the vehicle has undergone so many modifications that it is parked somewhere in between a conventional 4×4 and a motorhome.

It sports an extra-wide passenger seat with a special heated footwell so the rotund elder statesman could rest while being driven around his Chartwell estate, perhaps even enjoying a snooze in the front seat.

According to the Telegraph, it even boasted a special fitted storage box containing the tools not so much of the great man’s trade, but of his hobby: bricklaying.

After Churchill’s death in 1965, the vehicle was inherited by his son in law, who used it for several years before eventually selling the vehicle in 1973 for just £160.

To see more pictures of the Land Rover for sale click here.

Artist hoping to make it big with ‘vanscapes’ at caravan show

Posted by

by Arash Hekmat

One artist is taking his work in a unique direction inspired by a love of caravans and the great outdoors.

Julian Gosland has created a series of paintings combining stunning landscapes with caravans to create what he calls ‘vanscapes’.

According to the Hull Daily Mail, the talented artist’s work will be shown to the public for the first time next month at The Lawns show in Cottingham.

The 37-year-old, who only recently took up painting, told the news provider: “I was really surprised with the reaction I got from people when I showed them my work.”

And it appears that Julian’s paintings build on a growing artistic tradition in the caravanning realm.

In fact, we reported earlier this year on a caravan that pulled up outside Oxford Castle boasting an entire gallery within its humble interior – as part of the Oxford Pride of Place Project exhibition.

Artists Jan Williams and Chris Teasdale had already made a name for their Caravan Gallery in Portsmouth where it first began touring and the Oxford show brought more success.

With so many spots of outstanding natural beauty across every part of Britain, it is hardly surprising that these scenes are inspiring plenty of caravanners to get involved in the artistic world.

These same views, after all, have been inspiring artists of all kinds – from painters, to poets and songwriters – for hundred of years.

As Julian told the newspaper: “I wanted to show this idealistic view of caravanning in the UK, with nice weather and beautiful scenery.”

While the nice weather may have been in short supply so far this year, there’s still plenty of stunning scenery to be enjoyed.

“I found there was a gap in the market for this type of work. Everyone I spoke to said they had never seen work like it so I decided to carry on producing more and I’m really enjoying it,” the artist concluded.

In total, 12 prints of his work will be displayed at the caravan show and available for purchase.

2013 Bailey Unicorn Series II to go on countrywide caravan road show

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
When it comes to the new 2013 Bailey Unicorn, seeing really is believing and now Bailey of Bristol has announced when and where you can see this striking new caravan for yourself.
The Bailey Unicorn Series II will be going on a countrywide tour in between its public debut at the Lawn’s Show in Hull on 1 September, and its official launch at the Birmingham NEC on 16 October.
Other venues to showcase the new Unicorn include Leisure Sales Direct in Cheshire, which will be receiving their first Unicorn II on 7 September.
Following hot on their heels are Lee Davey Caravans in Maidstone and Chipping Sodbury Caravans, who will both be taking delivery on 8 September.
Five Bells Caravans in Essex are next to showcase the Unicorn II from 10 to 16 September, while Yorkshire Coast Caravans at Bridlington will be getting their first models on 13 September.
The weekend of 14 to 15 September sees a rush of deliveries to more than two-dozen Bailey dealers up and down the country, including Teeside Caravans and United British Caravans in the North East, and Reads of Blackburn (who won Dealer of the Year in the 2011 CaravanTimes Readers’ Poll).
Many of these events coincide with special dealer events, including barbecues, bouncy castles, face painting and much more family-friendly fun.
For full details of all of the Bailey dealers who will be taking delivery of these exciting new caravans over the coming months, click here.
Or if you can’t wait that long, you can watch our first-look video of the new Bailey Unicorn range right here on CaravanTimes.

Euromillions winners opt for Scottish caravan park over private jet

Posted by

by Niki Greig

Lucky Euromillions lottery winners Adrian and Gill Baysford today (15th August) celebrated their £148 million win with a caravan holiday in Scotland.

The family from Suffolk, who could now comfortably afford to charter their own private jet, seem to have so far kept their feet on the ground and instead opted to travel with no-frills airline Easyjet.

Instead of jetting off to the sunshine in Europe, the family decided to visit Gill’s parents at the Barry Downs caravan park in Carnoustie.

The managing director of the Park, confirmed that: “Yes, they are here but they don’t want to be disturbed. They are not giving interviews but they are here on the park.”

The family are believed to be staying with Gill’s parents who moved to the park four months ago.

The park, situated near Dundee, is set in beautiful grounds in the heart of Angus, offers static pitches that can be used all year round and also offers touring pitches alongside pub quiz and bingo nights.

And this isn’t the first time the family have enjoyed a touring holiday, Adrian’s business partner, Richard Hudspith, said that they enjoyed their last summer holiday in a caravan in Cornwall.

“They always put their children first and do not have extravagant tastes. I genuinely believe they will be the same people that they have always been,” he added.

Despite becoming the 516th richest people in the country overnight, it’s nice to see that Adrian and Gill still appreciate the simple pleasures of caravanning.

Terry Waite joins calls for the return of Romany’s caravan

Posted by

by Arash Hekmat

The author and humanitarian Terry Waite CBE has lent his support to a campaign to have one of the most famous caravans in the UK returned to Wilmslow.

Romany’s caravan is arguably the country’s smallest tourist attraction and has rested in the town for the past 70 years.

But Wilmslow.co.uk reports that it was removed from the memorial gardens in South Drive at the end of last year for urgent restoration work and may now be relocated to Bradford.

Mr Waite, who was held captive in Lebanon from 1987 to 1991 during his time as an envoy for the Church of England, has now written to the caravan’s owner Cheshire East Council calling for its return.

The news provider states that he said: “It is with some degree of alarm that I hear today that the East Cheshire Borough Council no longer wishes to act as custodian of the Romany Vardo.

“As you will no doubt be aware, Romany was the first BBC Naturalist and one of the most distinguished residents of Wilmslow. Without a doubt, he is a part of Wilmslow’s heritage.”

The caravan, known as a vardo in Romany, is thought to be the country’s smallest tourist attraction. It gained fame for featuring in many of the children’s books and radio stories of Reverend George Bramwell Evens.

2013 Elddis Caravans: New Affinity range launched with Alde heating

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Elddis Caravans has launched a new range for 2013 called the Affinity, with the aim of offering top-end luxury at a more affordable price.
Replacing the outgoing Elddis Odyssey, the Elddis Affinity is set to be one of the lightest touring caravan ranges to offer the premium Alde heating system.
Featuring a similar front profile to the ever popular Elddis Crusader range, the Affinity boasts a large front gas locker finished in striking silver, as well as a three-piece front window.

Elddis has resisted the trend towards sunroofs, as adopted by Swift, Coachman and more recently Bailey, but the result is much more interior storage space in the nose end.
Staying with the interior and the design is very much one of domestic opulence, with subtle purple lining on the scatter cushions and soft furnishings.
Curved overhead lockers with chrome handles and positive catches add to the effect, and it’s clear that this range is a big step up from the Odyssey collection that it replaces.
Top-end kit
The key trend for 2013 has been fitting Alde central heating to lighter weight caravans, and the Elddis Affinity is no exception.
In this range, the heater that has been fitted is the 3KW version with rapid heat-up, and it is adjustable, so you can drop down to 1KW when you don’t need the full blast of central heating.
Combined with Grade III insulation and a GRP underskin, this range promises to be highly comfortable in all seasons. For added safety on the road, Affinity owners will also get BPW’s iDC anti-snaking device.
Other premium kit includes an Avtex TV with DVD and Freeview fitted as standard, which you don’t often see in mid-range caravans.
What’s more, Affinity owners will also get a dual-fuel hob – a feature which comes in handy when you’re hooked up to the mains and don’t want to guzzle through your gas supply.
A built-in cocktail cabinet and 100% interior LED lighting add to the luxury feel, while a built-in CD/Radio with iPod and MP3 connectivity completes the key spec upgrades.
Layouts and weights
At launch, the Elddis Affinity range will come in a choice of four different single-axle layouts, all of which will weigh less than 1,500kg MTPLM.
The Elddis Affinity 540 is the most traditional of the bunch, offering the UK’s most popular layout – a fixed double bed in the centre, a double dinette in the front, a side kitchenette and a full-width washroom.
Moving up the range and the Affinity 530 is a completely new prospect…
Click here to continue reading 


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

No Comments

filed under: News

What is Solid Construction? Elddis explains its new caravan building method

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Elddis Caravans has released a tantalising video, which gives a behind-the-scenes look into its brand new construction method for 2013.
The company claims that by using the new Solid Construction method, their caravans will be strong, light and dry – hence the name.
In the 90-second video, the caravan makers explain that they have done away with more than 90% of the screws and bolts that are normally used and replaced them with a chemical bonding solution.
With such bold claims of a breakthrough in caravan building, it’s easy to make comparisons with Bailey’s Alu-Tech system, which was rolled out in the summer of 2009.
But Elddis claims that Solid Construction is completely different to any previous construction method used in the UK over the past 60 years, and they are backing this up with a ten-year warranty for all of their 2013 caravans and motorhomes.
What’s more, the company will be launching a new range of caravans to accompany the roll-out of this technology, called the Elddis Affinity.
For more details on Solid Construction and the Elddis Affinity, keep checking back with CaravanTimes over the next few days.
In the meantime, click on the video below to take a sneak peek inside the Elddis factory in their Solid Construction video teaser.

What do you think of Elddis’ Solid Construction? Would it convince you to buy an Elddis caravan or motorhome? Have your say in our community forum

New Range Rover: A stylish take on the 4×4 towcar from Land Rover

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
For only the fourth time in 42 years, an all-new version of the Range Rover has been unveiled by British carmakers Jaguar Land Rover.
Lighter and longer than its predecessor, the new Range Rover claims to be the world’s finest luxury SUV – not to mention a highly impressive caravan towcar.
Redeveloped from the ground-up, it features an all-aluminium monocoque chassis, instead of the old steel skeleton, which saves a staggering 420kg of weight.
This unique design makes for lower fuel consumption and improved handling, but it’s the sleek and striking exterior that will really get tongues wagging.

It’s clear that Land Rover have picked up a few tricks from last summer’s launch of the Range Rover Evoque, with smooth lines and a tapered rear end.
The wraparound headlights also look similar to those on the Evoque, while the high wheel arches add to the sporty styling.
Inside, Land Rover claims to have created “a sensation of serene isolation”, which is to say the noise insulation has been improved and the cabin is finished to the high-quality standard that you would expect.
In terms of kit, you get an upgraded version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system, Meridian surround sound stereo system, a split tailgate and a driver alert system to let you know if you drift out of your lane.
Improved suspension and nearly 12cm extra legroom add to the interior comfort, while an Executive Class armchair-style option for the rear seats is available to keep corporate types happy.
Plenty of poke
Engine set ups vary from a V8 petrol to a choice of V6 or V8 diesel, so you can expect this Range Rover to have plenty of pulling power.
Land Rover has tested this new Range Rover to the brink of destruction, across 20 countries in a gruelling 18-month schedule, so its off-road credentials are assured.
Prices are expected to top the £70,000 mark and push into six-figures for the top-end models, so only very well-to-do caravanners are likely to be hitching up with the new Range Rover.
But nonetheless, this bold new design with its super lightweight chassis marks a major landmark for one of the UK’s most iconic carmakers.
The new series four Range Rover will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show and it will available to order from September 2012 onwards at dealerships across the UK.


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Falling sales force Bentley Motorhomes to shut down

Posted by

by Arash Hekmat

A motorhome manufacturer has been forced to close its doors, blaming its failure on significantly reduced sales in recent months.

Mexborough-based Bentley Motorhomes has ceased trading, with 26 people losing their jobs as a result of the closure.

The company’s failure is made all the more shocking by its recent success – at the 2012 Caravan Club Awards, it picked up first and second place in the ‘Coachbuilts £45,00 to £55,000’ category for its Cerise and Amber models respectively.

It also won the top two spots in the ‘Coachbuilts over £55,000’ competition for its Oulton and Mallory models.

But this success was not enough to save the company with insolvency specialist Begbies Traynor blaming a downturn in sales for the failure.

Andrew Cordon, from the administrator’s Nottingham office, said: “It is particularly disappointing to be called into such a well-run company and one that has an excellent reputation for the quality of its products.”

Update: Bentley Motorhomes has now been saved from going bust, following a buyout by Vanmaster Caravans. For more information, click here.

Caravanning is more popular than ever according to Caravan Club

Posted by

by Arash Hekmat

Caravan holidays are more popular than ever despite the unpredictable weather of recent months and the continued financial pressures that many households are facing.

Some had feared that this summer would be a washout for camping and caravanning holiday enthusiasts, with July in particular characterised by heavy rainfall.

But despite these hurdles, Brits are still clamouring for staycations, with millions considering a break at one of the thousands of parks across the UK this summer.

More than one million enquiries were logged on the website of the Caravan Club alone this July.

If anything, strained household budgets mean that more people are willing to take a British holiday instead of jetting off to some foreign clime for two weeks.

And it’s not an opportunity to be passed up, with so many great adventures to be had and wonderful sites to be explored in every corner of the UK.

From the Cotswolds and the south-west to the Peak District and the Lakes, there are sites of immense natural beauty that you can only really appreciate with a holiday in the great outdoors.

So what are you waiting for? Get booking today and enjoy a late summer caravan holiday!