Devon Motorhome Show to offer Marquis Majestic discounts

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by Tom Lowenstein

The Devon Motorhome Show is not far away and Elddis has reminded anyone thinking about buying a Motorhome that “unrepeatable” discounts will be offered at the event.

Organised by the UK’s largest Motorhome dealership, Marquis, the show in Ivybridge near Plymouth will have a vast display of both brand new and pre-owned touring vehicles.

Elddis exclusively manufactures the Majestic range of motorhomes for Marquis and the caravan maker from Durham has revealed that some exclusive, never-to-be-repeated deals will be on offer during the show.

Running from Friday 25th to Sunday May 27th, entry to the show is completely free and all visitors will be offered refreshments on the house to go with their free goodie bag.

As well as the discounts on offer, the usual experts will be on hand to provide advice and demonstrations and, if you’ve always fancied getting behind the wheel of a motorhome, test drives will be available too.

VIDEO: Discovering a new type of outdoors holiday with Camping in the Forest

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by Marcus Dubois

For many, camping and caravanning is the perfect way to get closer to nature, and when it comes to putting wildlife on your doorstep, nobody does it better than Camping in the Forest.

These woodland caravan sites are situated on Forestry Commission land in some of the more remote and rural parts of the UK, and they are run by the Camping and Caravanning Club.

In this video special, the CaravanTimes team heads to the New Forest to meet Spencer Pettit from Camping in the Forest to hear more about these unique spots, which were previously known as Forest Holidays Touring Sites.

Also, we meet Nick Tucker from the Forestry Commission to find out some of the exciting activities you can do at these sites.

Thanks to the New Forest Activities Centre in Brockenhurst for their help with this video special

VIDEO: Green caravanning with the Bailey Orion Evo

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by Chris Jefferies

Bailey has gone green with their latest addition to the Orion range, the Evo-4 and CaravanTimes has come to Bristol to find out what makes it so environmentally friendly.

In this video Molly Buckingham, Bailey’s environmental designer, explains how looking at the environmental impact of carvanning has led to the key changes to this special edition Bailey Orion model.

The main aim with the Evo-4 was to lower weight and fuel consumption but keep the functionality so Bailey has switched many of the appliances to electric, minimising the amount of gas required.

Using their most popular layout as the base, the 430-4, Bailey has kept the fixed double bed and it is still possible to bake, grill and cook.

Prices for the Evo-4 are expected to be around £12,500, and it weighs roughly 100kg less than the Orion 430-4 model, giving it an estimated MTPLM of 1,149kg.

Lochside Caravan Club Site: Is this the UK’s most immaculate caravan park?

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by Chris Jefferies
When it was acquired from the local council two years ago, Lochside Caravan Park in Forfar became something of a pet project for The Caravan Club.
Setting itself a challenge of making this a truly top-class site, The Club set about renovating and upgrading this mid-size park with a budget of more than £1m, and on April 6th of this year, that ambitious project came to its conclusion.
So this week, CaravanTimes has been north of the border to investigate and see the fruits of their labour.
Upon visiting the park, it is immediately obvious that this is one of the most immaculate sites in The Club’s collection, with neatly trimmed grass verges providing delightful scenery and freshly laid tarmac driveways making for easy access.

All 15 of the existing hard-standing pitches have been re-laid, while 28 new hard-standings have been put in, including eight serviced pitches.
The reception and amenities block also been completely refurbished, while the toilet and shower facilities are just as pristine as you would expect from a Club site.
Nature on your doorstep
However, The Caravan Club hasn’t tampered with the many things that made Lochside such an appealing destination in the first place.
For starters, its location is highly convenient – Forfar town centre is just a short stroll away, with several shops, supermarkets and restaurants close by.
What’s more, anyone visiting Lochside will find Forfar Country Park literally on the doorstep, something that is particularly appealing for dog-owners, as the site’s wardens Gordon and Christine Milne told CaravanTimes.

“The loch is right there and it’s part of the reason that we attract so many dog owners. I’d say that 50% of the people staying with us have a dog, and we don’t charge them any extra for the privilege.
“The walk around the loch takes about an hour, which is usually enough to tire out most dogs, let alone their owners!” Gordon tells us.
And for those who are serious about their walking Lochside is definitely the place to go this summer, as the Angus Glens Walking Festival is taking place next month.
It’s not just walking that makes the loch a big draw, with fly fishing also very popular among caravanners visiting the site, Gordon adds.
Lochside is just as accommodating for families, with a small children’s play area on site and a much larger one, just the other side of the park’s fence.
Once the kids get tired of that, there’s a leisure centre, swimming pool and a small skate park nearby, while budding golfers can visit Carnoustie, with its 18-hole championship golf courses under half an hour’s drive away.
Or if you’re more Rory McGrath than Rory McIlroy, then there’s both crazy golf and pitch & putt in the local town centre.
Those looking to soak up a bit of culture can take the short drive to Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the Queen Mother and the current home of the Highland Games. There’s even a local bus service to this popular country house, making for an effortless day out.

Everything you need
Facilities on-site include an immaculate shower and toilet block, while Wi-Fi internet is due to be rolled out later this year.
“The Caravan Club tries to ensure that all of their sites are up to the same standard, and to us it’s definitely a five-star site,” says Gordon, who has worked at plenty of sites across the UK in his time with The Club.
Nine tent pitches are also available, but as Gordon tells us, they are generally used by friends and family of caravanners.
In many ways, Lochside offers the best of both worlds – the convenience of having a town centre close-by, as well as the remote Angus countryside (and all that comes with it) well within striking distance for a day trip.
If you’re looking to explore the heartlands of Scotland this summer, then you’ll be hard pressed to find a better base camp from which to do so.
Site Fact File:

  • 70 pitches in total (including 43 hardstanding and 8 serviced)
  • Pitches available from just £5.25 per night (excluding per capita charges)
  • Open to non-members, with a £10/night surcharge
  • Town centre within walking distance, including pubs, restaurants and a choice of supermarkets
  • Open this year from 6th April to 5th November

*For more details see the Caravan Club website.


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Elddis showcase special deals this weekend at Scottish caravan show

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by Maeve O’Donnell

One of the leading Elddis retailers Eglinton Caravans will be hosting a special event this weekend, the 19th and 20th May in Irvine, Scotland.

Scottish Caravanners’ ‘Tourer of the Year’, the Elddis Xplore range will be on display and several other Elddis models, including the luxury Crusader collection.

These will appear alongside Eglinton’s usual selection of new and used caravans and the retailer will be offering special deals, as well as part exchange on some models.

For this weekend only Eglinton will be giving customers a free porch awning with every new Elddis purchased and there will be large reductions across Eglinton’s range of caravan accessories so it could be a great opportunity to stock up before your touring holidays this summer.

This event is free and there is no need to book. More information about Eglinton can be found on their website.

Caravan tax protestors threaten Westminster road block

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by Tom Lowenstein

With the caravan tax protests now gathering pace, protesters from Scotland have threatened to take their holiday homes to London and form a road block at Westminster if the government refuses to reconsider its controversial budget decision.

Campaigners recently met Russell Brown, the Labour MP for Dumfries and Galloway, to get advice on how best to get the government to reverse its decision.

Following Mr Brown’s advice, they have decided to petition other MPs to gain support for the Early Day Motion set to be presented in the House of Commons, but have not ruled out taking direct action if necessary, ITV reported.

It is thought that if 20 per cent VAT is added to touring caravans it could decimate the industry, cutting sales and potentially costing thousands of jobs in the tourism industry.

Speaking after the “very fruitful” talks with the Labour MP, Duncan McCready from D&M Leisure Parks told the national broadcaster that they would not back down.

“This campaign’s not stopping here. We will take these caravans to London,” he said.

“We will have the city of London blocked up and this Prime Minister and his coalition government must take notice.”

Meanwhile, the Hull MPs who launched the Downing Street petition against the caravan tax recently extended the deadline to gather signatures before the Early Day Motion goes before the Commons on May 25th.

At the time of writing, the petition against the proposed rise in caravan tax had attracted 10,393 signatories. To add your name to the petition, click here.

Portsmouth ‘Arson attack’ destroys two caravans

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by Tom Lowenstein

Police in Portsmouth are investigating the cause of a fire that completely destroyed two caravans and threatened to spread to nearby cars.

Neighbours watched in horror early on Monday morning after the caravans, which were parked together on a residential driveway, were engulfed by a fireball and their tyres exploded.

It is believed that they were deliberately set on fire at around 6am, Portsmouth News reported.

Lorraine McLeod, who lives next door to the caravan owners, told the newspaper that they were shocked to wake up and find the caravans ablaze.

“We rushed to move the cars out of the way,” she said. “The fire was right next to them and I was worried they could catch.

“It was really roasting and there’s hardly anything left of the caravans.”

Eight firefighters from Southsea rushed to the scene to put out the flames, spending around half an hour tackling the fire.

The case is now with Hampshire Constabulary, who say they are investigating it as suspected arson.

VIDEO: Why luxury spec comes as standard on the Elddis Aspire motorhomes

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by Chris Jefferies

When it was launched back in 2010, the Elddis Aspire motorhome range certainly turned heads, with its bold modern styling.

Looking beyond the looks, there is plenty to pine after in this range – with luxury features such as air conditioning, Alde central heating and even reversing cameras with night-vision.

With some luxury motorhomes you have to pay extra for these premium touches, but Elddis has made a point of ensuring that everything you could ask for comes as standard.

In this video special, CaravanTimes heads to Elddis HQ in County Durham to find out how this premium range came about and how it manages to keep discerning motorhomers happy.

Rob Quine, Managing Director at Elddis, explains the thinking behind the range, while R&D Manager Alan Bateman talks us through some of the luxury specifications that all come as standard.

Prices in this luxury motorhome range start from £43,899 for the two-berth Elddis Aspire 215, rising to £49,999 for the four-berth Elddis Aspire 265

What kind of job does the typical caravan owner have?

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by Tom Lowenstein

Teachers are the most likely of all professions to own a caravan, a new study has revealed.

Insurance database manager The Trading Floor analysed information about 8.8 million motorists in the UK, comparing their occupation and vehicle ownership to come up with the top ten jobs of caravan owners.

Perhaps surprisingly teachers came out on top; with engineers, company directors, police officers and civil servants making up the rest of the top five.

The Trading Floor’s managing director Chris McDonald said that the results showed just how popular caravan holidays are with a diverse range of people.

“There are many stereotypes associated with caravan owners but our figures reveal that there is a real cross section of people who have fallen for the charms of caravan ownership,” he said.

Around two million caravans go touring around the UK every summer and, while many caravanners are retired, the professions of those still working shows that the unlimited range of different holidays on offer makes the pastime popular with all kinds of people.

The rest of the top ten was made up of nurses, builders, factory workers, sales assistants and mechanics.

Elddis to bring Crusader Diamond Jubilee caravans to NCCW

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by Tom Lowenstein

The countdown to Diamond Jubilee weekend (June 2nd to 5th) is now well and truly underway, and thousands of caravanners across the country will be heading off to celebrate the event at their favourite site.

In amidst the royal celebrations and events that will be taking place, the weekend coincidentally falls at the start of National Camping and Caravanning Week so the Camping and Caravanning Club has decided to attempt a new Guinness World Record at its sites across the country.

Caravanners at each of the Club’s 130 sites will be asked to attend an event and wear a celebratory paper crown, in a bid to set a record for the most number of people wearing one in multiple locations.

With the club set to orchestrate the record attempt from its Sandringham site, Durham caravan maker Elddis has announced that it will be bringing its coveted Crusader Diamond Jubilee Special Edition caravans along to the Royal Estate.

As the company’s marketing and communications manager Rachel Moncrieff explains, the timing could hardly be better.

“These touring caravans exude cutting-edge style inside and out and have so many innovative features and creature comforts they’re not just a home-from-home – they are more like a palace,” she said.

VIDEO: Dunster House explains the three clever Concordia layouts

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by Chris Jefferies

Space and layout are key considerations when choosing a caravan for your holiday, so you may be pleased to learn that the latest layouts for the Concordia range of luxury caravans promise to be Dunster House’s most practical yet.

CaravanTimes has travelled to Bedford to speak to Dunster House and find out what makes their new layouts so good.

In this video Matthew Rickard explains how the new layouts have been created, based on feedback from the previous Stealth Caravans range and using all the most popular elements in the new Concordia designs.

The range features the two-berth Harmony, the four-berth Serenity and the five-berth Tranquility, all of which have improved layouts to ensure everyone on board has plenty of space.

Prices in the Dunster House Concordia range start at just £17,000 and MTPLM weights range from 1,300kg to 1,500kg.

For a virtual 360-tour of the Dunster House Concordia Serenity, click here

Survey names Sheffield as the caravan capital of the UK

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by Tom Lowenstein

A new survey by caravan insurance experts Safeguard UK has named Sheffield as the country’s caravan capital.

According to the study, more people own caravans and motorhomes in the South Yorkshire city than anywhere else in the UK and the research also found it to be the perfect spot for a touring holiday, the Press Association reported.

The city’s proximity to the Peak District National Park, North Yorkshire Moors and the Yorkshire Dales also makes it stand out as a top destination for caravanners, the study found.

After Sheffield, caravans are most popular in Portsmouth, with Nottingham, Peterborough, Bristol and Birmingham following behind.

Speaking to the news agency Andy Leech, head of Safeguard UK, said that one of the reasons for the success of caravans in Yorkshire is that residents live a long way from the coast so they are more likely to take a touring trip to seaside areas.

“Residents in central London probably struggle to store a caravan or motorhome as space is limited in the capital, so it’s no surprise that there is such little concentration of caravanners in those areas,” he added.