Coastdale Parks offers three for two on September caravan stays

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by Jack Beresford

The team behind the popular Coastdale Parks caravan facilities are pulling out all the stops to get campers to head to the region in September and October with a special money off deal.

Under the terms of the new ‘Savetember’ initiative, holidaymakers booking touring caravan or motorhome pitches over the two months will enjoy three nights for the price of two, or seven nights nights for the price of six.

The Whitby Holiday Park in North Yorkshire is among those to offer the new deal, with the park, which lies between Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay, sure to enjoy a boost in visitor numbers.

Meanwhile, the small Suffolk-based Pakefield Caravan Park, which offers 12 hardstanding pitches, is also included in the deal, along with the Atlantic Coast Holiday Park in Cornwall, which offers touring caravan, motorhome and tent pitches.

Finally, the Garreg Goch Caravan Park will be available for bookings under the terms of the deal.

The offer comes as caravan parks up and down the country look to attract more visitors later in the year following a disappointingly damp summer across the UK.

To watch the movie-style trailer for Savetember and get a sneak peek at some of the parks included in this deal, click on the video below.

VIDEO: Towergate explains the pros and cons of buying a used caravan

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by Chris Jefferies

Used caravans are much cheaper than brand new models, which makes them ideal for first timers looking to get their feet on the caravan ladder, but there are certain things to check for before handing over your money.

In this video, we meet Ed Cross from Towergate Insurance, who explains that it’s important to know as much about the history of a used ‘van as possible, and to make sure the caravan is in good condition and has been well maintained.

Ed talks through the process of insuring your used caravan and getting an HPI check to make sure it has not been stolen or written off.

He also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of buying via a dealer or privately, and how to register your caravan through CRIS, the caravan registration scheme.

Tree Tops Caravan Park wins 20th Wales in Bloom Award

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by Jack Beresford

The gardening talents of the team at Tree Tops Caravan Park in Gwespyr are continuing to blossom this week, after staff won a major accolade at the Wales in Bloom competition.

A small but dedicated group of horticulturalists are responsible for maintaining the site, with more than 15,000 bedding plants planted across the 15-acre park every year, according to the Flintshire Chronicle.

Head gardeners David and Christine Ball lead the team along with Derek Lloyd, Marc Plimley and David Humphreys, while additional support comes from park wardens Terry and Tracey Dykes.

Their efforts were duly recognised at the Wales in Bloom event, with the group picking up an award in the caravans, camping and holiday homes category – continuing their astonishing winning streak of 20 years in a row.

Jim Goodwin, who was one of the judges for the competition, singled out the planting and layout of the new Orchard Meadow lodge develop at Tree Tops for particular praise.

Managing director of the park Maureen Walker told the news provider: “I truly believe that there is no other park quite like Tree Tops, the park was started by my parents and they would be incredibly proud of this achievement.”

The award was a notable bright spot in an otherwise dreary summer for the campsite, with the worst June to August weather in 100 years spoiling much of the season.

Teenage caravanner fined for fly-tipping his eBay tourer

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by Jack Beresford

A young caravanner has learnt a harsh lesson after being found guilty of fly-tipping a tourer he originally purchased in the hope of renovating it for use on the road.

Anthony Duckworth, of Kay Street in Darwen, yesterday (August 30th) pled guilty to depositing ‘controlled waste’ without authority and received a conditional discharge for 12 months as well as being ordered to pay £150 costs.

The trouble started for the 19-year-old when he discovered a dilapidated caravan which was being sold cheaply on the internet auction site eBay.

Eager to put his hand to a new project and restore the tourer to tip-top condition, Mr Duckworth decided to bid.

However, the project soon spiralled out of control, with the youngster running out of funds to fix the clapped-out caravan.

Speaking on behalf of his client, Jonathan Taylor explained to the Blackburn Gazette: “As soon as it became apparent the job would be too much for him he decided the best thing was to break it up and sell it bit by bit.”

Worse was to come though, as the council soon informed Mr Duckworth it was to remove the unsightly tourer.

It was then that the 19-year-old made his fateful mistake – breaking up the caravan and leaving it on wasteland, thus leading to his court appearance.

Renovating a caravan can prove a tricky task but there have been some success stories – one Leyland-based camper renovated a 1950s-tourer recently, turning it into a travelling barbers.

Elddis Caravans: Upgrades across the board for 2013 Crusader range

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by Chris Jefferies
Elddis Caravans has upgraded its premium Crusader range of luxury caravans for 2013, including extra equipment and an adjusted layout for the popular Tempest family model.
The most significant change for the 2013 Elddis Crusader collection is the addition of dent-resistant GRP sides, which replace the outgoing aluminium construction.
This more insulative material is combined with an upgraded 3KW Alde heating system, all of which should make this a truly cosy caravan, even in the winter months.
Elddis has stuck with the highly popular exterior design, which won them so many fans when it was first unveiled last year, with a sloping front roof and stylish silver front gas lockers.

The interior styling features Noce Prosecco woodgrain for the 24mm thick overhead lockers, while the lighting is 100% LED throughout.
Technology addicts have been well catered for as well, with the inclusion of an Avtex TV as standard and an abundance of power sockets.
Memory foam mattresses ensure a comfortable night’s sleep, while the Seitz privacy glass should stop prying eyes from gazing in without reducing the amount of natural light getting into the caravan.
In addition to all the visible changes, Elddis has also made quite a substantial change to the Crusader that you can’t see.
The 2013 collection will be the first Elddis Crusader range to be built using the company’s new Solid Construction caravan building method.
Elddis claims that this will provide unrivalled levels of strength, lightness and dryness, since the vast majority of the screws and bolts used in the build have been removed and replaced by industrial-grade adhesives.
Layouts and Prices
Layout changes for the 2013 range have been relatively minimal, although it does appear that the two-berth Hurricane layout, which was unveiled to widespread acclaim back in February, has been withdrawn.
Moving up the range and…
Click here to continue reading 


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Caravanner rushed to hospital after Surrey camp site blaze

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by Jack Beresford

A 30-year-old man is in a serious condition in East Surrey Hospital after suffering burns during a fire that broke out aboard his caravan.

The blaze took hold of the tourer at around 12.50am this morning (August 29th), with the fire quickly spreading to a nearby outbuilding on land off Perrylands Lane in Smallfield near Horley.

According to a report from the Huffington Post, Surrey Police and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service soon arrived on the scene to find the unnamed man, who had suffered burn injuries.

Another 36-year-old male was also found near to the scene, though he is believed to be unscathed.

The severe nature of the fire forced the authorities to close junction nine of the M23 motorway while the blaze was brought under control.

Meanwhile, the injured man was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious condition.

No word has yet been given on what caused the fire, though it is presently being treated as suspicious.

The incident comes just days after fire crews were called to cut one caravan owner from their car, after the vehicle jack-knifed with the tourer it was towing.

Caravanners to benefit from Jubliee Park improvements in Lincolnshire

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by Jack Beresford

Anyone already planning a caravan holiday for summer 2013 could be well advised to head to Jubilee Park in the Lincolnshire countryside of Woodhall Spa, after plans to upgrade the site were approved.

The Woodhall Spa Parish Council has been awarded almost £50,000 in grant funding by WREN, the Lincolnshire County Council and the Friends of Jubilee Park, according to Horncastle News.

Under the plans, the play park of the site will undergo major improvement work while the caravan site itself will enjoy a much-needed winter revamp.

The existing shower block facilities will be upgraded, with plans afoot to develop a disablead shower room alongside the current amenities.

Washing and drying facilities will also be built along with a large washing up area.

Jubilee Park’s management team is also keen to attract more tourers to the site during the quieter period from September 2nd to October 31st and will therefore offer camping with an electric hook-up for £10 per night for two people.

The grants are subject to a number of minor provisions, with work scheduled to begin in November.

Top five cheap days out for caravan holidays in Yorkshire

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by Niki Greig

Following on from our popular features top five things to do for under £10 in Wales and Cornwall, this week we’ve checked out what there is to do in the gold medal winning county of Yorkshire.

Although it encompasses many large cities, Yorkshire is relatively rural and offers vast expanses of beautiful down land across two national parks, the Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors.

There is plenty to see and do in the area and , as ever, everything on this list costs less than £10 per person or is, even better, completely free!

1. York Bird of Prey centre

Opened in 2009, this falconry centre is home to over 50 different birds of many different species. At the centre you will have an opportunity to see a variety of birds from Small Owls to Hawks, Falcons and Eagles.

Audience participation is a big thing here and with twice-daily flying displays, there is a chance for everyone to get involved. Most of the birds are hand-reared and full supervision is given at all times.

Admission is just £5.50 per adult and kids are £3.75, children under three go free, or you might benefit from a family ticket for five people at £20. The centre is open six days a week from Wednesday to Monday, 11-5pm.

Nearest caravan sites are: Castle Howard, Robin Hood and Slingsby.

2. Leeds Royal Armouries

Ever wondered what it would be like to shoot a crossbow in the heat of battle? Or imagined what it was like to wear a full set of armour? The answers to these questions and more can be found at the Royal Armoury which is home to the UK’s national collection of arms and armour.

With live demonstrations and plenty of hands on stuff to do, this is the perfect place for adults and kids alike to learn more about the UK’s rich cultural heritage.

Highlights include the Tournament gallery where you can view the might and splendour of Henry VIII, the oriental gallery and the jousting arena. What’s even better is that it’s free entry for historians of all ages!

Nearest Caravan sites are: Moor Lodge, Holme Valley and Upwood Park.

3. The Winter Garden, Sheffield


Central Sheffield is not the first place you would look to find an exotic garden but an unusual glasshouse has been created in the heart of the city.

The 19-acre site in the centre of Sheffield has recently undergone a major restoration and incorporates the Botanical Gardens and the Peace gardens as well.

Open from 8am to 9pm, the garden is completely free to enter and you can view over 2,500 species of plants in the tropical hothouse. For the green fingered, remember to look out for over 150 different species of plants including big palms from Central America, Madagascar and China.

Inside, there is a café and shops meaning you can sit back, relax and imagine that you are almost in foreign climes.

To ensure each plant gets exactly the right amount, all the watering is done by hand which is no mean feat!

Nearest Caravan sites are: Ingfield Farm Caravan site, Thurlmoor and Garden Blooms.

4. National Railway Museum, York


Relieve the bygone era of steam or introduce kids to the good old days of train travel with this Railway museum. See the famous Flying Scotsman and the exquisite Art Deco Duchess of Hamilton, which are a part of the 300-strong collection of locomotives and rolling stock.

For those with young kids, the storytelling area is sure to be a huge success, with three sessions a day they can find out about the history of train travel from an experienced storyteller. The adventure playground and miniature railway looks set to be a great place to blow off some steam too!

Entry to this venue is completely free but even if you do fancy hopping on one of the many trains that operate throughout the day it will only set you back £2 per adult and £1 per child.

Nearest Caravan sites are: Millbridge , York Meadows and Wagtail Park.

5. Gordale Scar


We couldn’t touch on Yorkshire without a walk to take in the stunning scenery. This dramatic natural limestone ravine was created over thousands of years in the Ice Age by melting glaciers. The scar has two spectacular waterfalls which cascade from overhanging limestone cliffs.

This huge gorge with near vertical sides was immortalised by Wordsworth in a sonnet and captured by the artist J.M Turner making it a popular and celebrated destination.

You can even scramble over the rocks at the base of the waterfall and take the path that climbs up the sides to experience the wonder of the higher waterfall and look down on the Gordale Beck whose waters have flowed for thousands of years.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, why not try this seven-mile walk which takes in other sites such as Janet’s Foss and skirts round the edge of Malham Tarn. For the nature lovers among you, if you’re lucky you may be able to spot many species including Peregrine Falcons which nest in the area.

Nearest Caravan sites are:Wood Nook Campsite ,Langcliffe Park and Masons Campsite.

If you’re heading to Yorkshire on a caravan holiday anytime soon, don’t forget to share your experiences and tips in the CaravanTimes forum.

Simon Cowell has the caravan X Factor with £1.3 million tourer

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by Jack Beresford

X Factor creator and music maestro Simon Cowell has provided fans with an insight into an enduring love affair with a UK favourite – the great British caravan.

While Cowell may be busy filming the latest series of the singing talent show in the United States, that hasn’t stopped the megastar from camping it up in a state-of-the-art tourer.

According to a report from the Daily Express, the 52-year-old travels the length and breadth of the country in a trailer worth approximately £1.3 million.

His life on board this luxury trailer could not be more removed from the average caravanner either, with the impressive 1,200 square foot tourer boasting two floors jam-packed with impressive extras.

Among the onboard delights is an all-granite bathroom and cinema room featuring an incredible 100-inch screen.

The tourer also boasts a make-up area and impressive marble flooring throughout.

These features could come in useful too, should Cowell ever need to head back to the UK to help out the ailing UK version of the talent show, which is continuing to suffer from a slump in ratings.

The trailer, made by Andersen Estates, is also a favorite with other hollywood personalities with Will Smith regularly using their ‘Studio’ model. For more pictures see our photo gallery below.


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Caravan owner cut from wreckage after caravan jackknives

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by Jack Beresford

A caravanning holidaymaker had to be cut from the wreckage of her tow car last weekend after a planned weekend of camping was brought to a swift end when her vehicle jack-knifed.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene of the accident, which occurred at the A66/A685 junction near Cooper House Farm at around 2.40pm on Saturday (August 25th).

Two fire crews were required to deal with the crash, which occurred when the car towing the tourer jack-knifed, sending the vehicle careering into the left-hand reservation.

According to the Westmorland Gazette, cutting equipment was employed to get a 50-year-old female out of the wreckage.

She sustained only minor back injuries, while two other passengers were able to get out of the car unaided.

The incident is the latest to involve a rogue caravan, with reports emerging last week of one tourer which ended up careering down a hill without a tow car following a collision in Melton.

VIDEO: What makes Elddis Solid Construction a revolution in caravan building?

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by Chris Jefferies
Elddis Caravans has taken the bold step of overhauling how it makes caravans and motorhomes with the introduction of Solid Construction.
This all-new technique has been hailed as a revolution in caravan building, since it promises to deliver stronger structures, lighter weights and complete protection against water ingress.
In this special behind-the-scenes video feature, CaravanTimes heads north to visit the Elddis factory in Consett, Country Durham.
We meet Rob Quine, Managing Director of Elddis, who took the bold decision to roll out this new technique across every vehicle that the company makes from the 2013 season onwards.
He explains how this new building method works and why it will revolutionise the way we look at caravans, and we put his claims to the test by trying to rip apart a scale model of an Elddis caravan.

Suspected lion spotted on the prowl in Essex caravan park

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by Niki Greig

Caravanners in Essex out making the most of the Bank Holiday were stunned to find that they may have been sharing their spot with a lion.
Denise and Bob Martin, who were staying at the Earl’s Hall Farm Caravan Club site in Clacton-on-Sea, were the first people to spot the large cat.
The couple, from Canvey Island, went out to investigate because they saw smoke coming from a field and thought there was a fire.
“With the naked eye, you could see it was a lion – it was bigger than a German Shepherd, and it was female,” Denise said, “It was too far away for us to be scared. It was looking at us, its ears were twitching. She was quite content to just watch us.”
Mrs Martin’s brother Dave Wright and his wife Sue were staying next to the couple and confirmed the sighting. Whilst watching the ‘lion’ for over half an hour, Dave captured some shots on his digital camera.
However, the site co-owner, Roger Lord has a differing opinion, “I had a look through the binoculars and said ‘that’s a cat’ – it was sitting in stubble that was six to eight inches high and you could just see its head sticking out of the top,” he said.
“I am sceptical – I think it might just well be a large domestic cat but they certainly saw something that they were concerned about and they went down the right route to the police.”
Also staying on the site were Stephen Atkin, 52, and his wife, Gill, who also saw the ‘lion’.
“We witnessed it, I would say, for about 20 to 30 minutes cleaning itself and rolling about in the field,” he said. He said the animal was the length of two sheep “put together”.
The couple handed pictures that they took of the animal to police saying. “We did not think it was a lion as its ears were too pointed but it was really big.”
Essex police and local Colchester Zoo, whose three lions are all accounted for, joined in the search which was called off late last night (27th August) with a statement that concluded that the animal was either a large domestic cat or wildcat.
Police have issued a statement saying: “Public safety is our priority which is why we are taking the sighting and all associated evidence seriously. We have an increased police presence in the area which will offer reassurance to local residents, motorists and holidaymakers.”