Southland: the hidden gem in the Caravan Club’s crown

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by Chris Jefferies
It’s often said that taking the ferry to the Isle of Wight is like taking a trip back in time by 25 years or so, and the quaint tea rooms, the peaceful streets and the Victorian piers all bear testament to this.
But there is nothing dated about Southland Caravan Club site, a recently renovated 155-pitch park, which may be one of the most underrated spots in the Club’s vast network.
Opened in 2009 and significantly renovated in 2010, this site offers every kind of pitch – grassy, hardstanding, hedged in, open plan, serviced – and all of them as flat level as you could ask for.
Despite the size of the site, it retains a quiet and relaxing feel, as if it’s a secret that hasn’t got out just yet.

Graham and Sue Clay, wardens at the site ever since it opened, tell me that it fits in perfectly with the general feel of the island.
“There’s very little traffic and things move at a slower pace. It’s very quiet and always very pretty in the summer months,” Sue tells me.
Holiday island
Of course the Isle of Wight has long been a popular holiday destination, thanks in part to the sheer variety of sights and scenery all found on such a small island, which is known as ‘Little England’ after all.

With all four shores within a 40-minute drive of the centrally-located Southland site, it’s possible to visit the dramatic coastline of the Needles, take in some history at Carisbrook Castle, have a top-notch cup of tea in Ryde and be back at your pitch in time for dinner.
As a non-native, Graham is very impressed by how many events the locals lay on to attract people over from the mainland, including sailing and yachting regattas, vintage car rallies and even a garlic festival at the local farm.
Closer to the site, there are various cycle routes and copse trails for more active caravanners to explore and enjoy.
Or if you’re feeling more sedentary, there’s a pub just down the road in the local village of Newchurch, while the Southland shop offers ice creams, cold drinks and other such amenities for a lazy summer’s day.

As with all Caravan Club sites, Southland welcomes dogs and doesn’t charge any owners an extra fee. However, they must be kept on a lead at all times, with the exception of the dog walk area, where they are allowed to roam free.
A recent addition to the site has seen Wi-Fi internet being rolled out last April, an addition which has proved particularly popular among visiting families and silver surfers alike.
The site also prides itself on being fully accessible for wheelchairs, with spacious shower cubicles and broad ramps included for exactly this reason.
What’s more, Southland is taking part in the Caravan Club’s ‘Pitch Up For £1’, which means that you can pay as little as a pound for your pitch on selected dates*.
Hidden gem

Part of the reason why Southland is such a quiet site lies with the added dimension of taking a caravan on a ferry.
However, this experience certainly adds to the feeling of being on holiday and Graham believes that everyone who makes the trip over to the island sees that it is more than worth the journey:
“People expect good quality of facilities at Caravan Club sites and we don’t disappoint. We pride ourselves on how well kept the site is and the feedback from visitors is fantastic.”
The bulging comments book backs up his words with superlative compliments, and I’m reliably informed by one very happy camper that this site has the best toilet and showers blocks of any site he has visited in the UK in the last ten years.
All in all, visiting Southlands is a very relaxing experience and the urge to kick back and enjoy the scenic sunset views is almost overwhelming, but sadly the ferry home beckons.
Site Fact File:

  • 155 pitches in total (including 31 hardstanding and 7 serviced)
  • Pitches available from just £1 per night
  • Members Only but non-members can join the Club at reception
  • Local village within walking distance, including pub and Norman church
  • Open this year from March 23rd to October 31st

*For more details see the Caravan Club website.


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Bring the coast to you, with the Beach Hut Caravan Company

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by Maeve O’Donnell

Vintage caravans have been making a comeback in recent years and are being used across the country for holidaying, housing businesses, and now as mobile beach huts. Scott Tibble is making caravanning cool with his revamped 1960s ‘vans, each with an individual design and personality.

The Beach Hut Caravan Company was the idea of seaside lover Scott to fill the middle ground between caravans and campervans and the traditional beach hut.

After spotting a “rather sad looking caravan” being used to hold hay for a horse in a field he passed, the idea of beach hut caravans was born.

“I loved the shape of these beautiful vintage vans” said Scott, “I thought why not make the beach hut mobile again for all.”

Click here to see photos of the renovated Beach Hut Caravans

Scott has always loved beach huts but put off by the price and the fact that many cannot be slept in led him to make the beach hut mobile again and give people the chance to enjoy the coast wherever.

Beach Huts actually began their lives as mobile units, back in the more modest Victorian era when it was standard beach-side etiquette and a firm favourite of Queen Victoria.

But as time moved forward they became the static multicoloured huts we have all become familiar with. Scott’s new take on the original beach huts are bringing the coast to you, rather than the other way round.

A personal touch

Since 2011, Scott and his small team of experts have been turning 1960s caravans into the perfect spaces for a relaxed holiday, mobile office, home extension, shop front and even artist studio.

Salcombe in Devon is the home of this sea-themed business and the stunning coast line is obviously the main inspiration behind Scott’s designs and his original motivation for the business.

Each caravan is lovingly restored by Scott himself and he is happy to commission personal colour choices if the nautical blue theme isn’t for you. Each one is a bespoke unit, with electrics, cooking facilities and new deck chairs to create the perfect beach hut feel.

Scott uses recycled pine, replaces tired features and upholstery, gives them a fresh paint and then adds kitsch accessories to give these caravans a new lease of life. All the caravans get their own name, making them totally unique and ensuring each one has its own personality.

A seaside spot for all

Scott admits it is hard work but is certain it is worth it – the company have had clients from across the UK, Ireland and Europe and interest from America and Australia.

They offer delivery all over the UK if you are unable to tow it yourself, and if storage is limited they can even provide a dry and secure space in sunny Salcombe until you’re ready to holiday, work, get creative or simply enjoy some extra space.

Scott’s hope is that the space he creates can be taken by anyone and used however fits their particular lifestyle best. These huts can bring a little bit of the seaside to any home, business or holiday.

These nautical beauties can sleep 2 to 4 people, and prices start from £5,950. Contact Scott Tibble for more information on creating your very own Devon bolthole: info@thebeachhutcaravancompany.com


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Car dealer adds Elddis motorhomes to its portfolio

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by Tom Lowenstein

A car dealer based in Cumbria and the south-west of Scotland has become the latest firm to offer Elddis’ range of motorhomes through its showrooms.

Border Cars already represents some of the biggest vehicle franchises in the world, including Ford and Fiat, but has added Elddis to its portfolio as it looks to diversify the offering at its seven dealerships.

It also owns dealerships for Mazda and Mitsubishi, but turned to Elddis when looking to add a leading motorhome manufacturer to its list.

Head of the new BC Motorhomes division Mike Ferguson revealed that the firm decided to move into the sector after research revealed there was a gap in the local market and choosing Elddis was the most logical decision.

“Elddis motorhomes are renowned for their high quality design and exceptional build quality,” he said.

“We like the fact that Elddis motorhomes offer so much choice – a wide range of layouts, class-leading specification and really competitive prices.”

Sizzling Motorhome Summer Fair in the pipeline

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by Tom Lowenstein

The UK Motorhome Summer Fair Show is taking place once again this year and preparations are well underway as the event draws closer.

Taking place on the last weekend of June at the beautiful Shropshire & West Midlands Showground, caravanners and campers always head to the show in their droves to enjoy the summer sun and a great show in a wonderful setting.

The show is one of the few in the UK to offer overnight camping and pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes are available for £40.

As well as the standard array of trade shows and exhibitors, visitors can enjoy boat trips along the River Severn, a craft fair and owl display, along with evening entertainment from a Queen tribute band and the Shrewsbury Light Orchestra.

Though the show focuses on motorhomes, organisers stress that caravanners are more than welcome and people are invited to turn up from the Friday morning ahead of the show on Saturday June 30th and Sunday July 1st.

Day tickets are £5 in advance or £6 at the door.

VIDEO: Moving into motorhoming with the best-selling Elddis Autoquest

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by Chris Jefferies

The world of motorhomes can be daunting for even the most experienced caravanner so it makes sense to start with a well established and trusted brand.

With this is mind CaravanTimes has travelled to Durham, the home of the UK’s leading motorhome brand, Elddis Autoquest. This range is the best selling motorhome collection in the UK, but what makes it so popular?

In this video we speak to Rob Quine, Managing Director at Elddis, who answers some vital questions for anyone looking to buy a motorhome. He also explains why Elddis has embarked on a new safety campaign called ‘Belts Equals Berths’.

Prices in the Elddis Autoquest range start at £32,599 and there is a wide range of two, four and six-berth layouts to choose from.

VIDEO: Delivering and siting your Bailey Retreat leisure home

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by Chris Jefferies

The Bailey Retreat stands at nine metres long and two and a half metres wide – great if you want a bit more room, but what does this mean for the siting and servicing of your caravan?

Its larger size means the chances of towing it yourself are slim, so Caravan Times has been to Bristol to speak to Simon Howard from Bailey Caravans to find out how these larger caravans are sited.

In this video Simon also answers important questions about how the warranty works and how servicing is carried out on the Retreat.

Prices in the Bailey Retreat collection of leisure homes start from £22,000 and they are available through a nationwide network of more than 30 dealers.

MPs fight back in row over VAT on static caravans

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by Tom Lowenstein

The controversial move to raise VAT on static caravans from 0% to 20% hit a bump in the road this week when a group of MPs from East Yorkshire launched a bid to overturn the proposal.

George Osborne’s decision to introduce the tax on static caravans has been widely criticised for the damaging effect it will have on the caravan industry and a group of MPs submitted a proposed amendment to the financial bill.

Their proposals would have seen static caravans removed from the bill, but despite 17 Conservative MPs voting for their amendment, a majority of 25 was maintained in it the orignal’s favour, the BBC reported.

East Yorkshire has a thriving caravan industry, so it was no surprise that MPs from the region spoke up.

MPs Graham Stuart, David Davis, Alan Johnson, Diana Johnson and Karl Turner all tabled the motion and voted in support of it. The only MP who did not was Greg Knight, who represents the East Yorkshire constituency.

Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Stuart, the MP for Beverley and Holderness, said the tax on static caravans would be hugely damaging for the industry.

“[It would] at best raise £45 million a year while damaging the economy in East Yorkshire and damaging rural economies across the UK,” the BBC quoted.

Under the Chancellor’s proposals, static caravans would go from being zero-rated to being charged the full 20% rate of VAT, as of October 1st 2012. This move would not affect touring caravans that measure less than 7m in length, since they already incur 20% VAT, but it could affect the new Bailey Retreat range of leisure homes, as CaravanTimes reported last month.

A petition to overtun this move has been set up on the government’s website. If you’d like to sign it you can access it here.

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European demand drives Fifth Wheel into Europe

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by Tom Lowenstein

Welsh caravan maker Fifth Wheel is expanding into Europe and has just signed up its first-ever dealer in Germany to work alongside a new German-language website.

Demand from Europe has never been stronger for the firm’s innovative range of caravans and tourers and following a successful performance at the Stuttgart Caravan Exhibition recently, expanding its operations in Germany was a natural step.

Having acquired a licence to sell its vehicles in Germany in 2012, Fifth Wheel has now appointed Helmut Niethammer to manage its European sales – with specific focus on the German, Dutch and Belgian markets.

The company’s sales director, Adrian Parry-Jones, said that the growing interest from across Europe encouraged the brand to appoint Helmut and launch a permanent showroom in Germany.

“It is tough for a new touring and caravan brand to break into the German marketplace but we have been overwhelmed by the response so far,” he added.

National Trust releases essential list for kids on caravan holidays

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by Maeve O’Donnell

The National Trust has recently launched a campaign to get children off the sofa and into the great outdoors.

The trust has compiled a list of 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4, all of which are perfect for keeping children occupied on a caravan holiday.

Under 12s, or anyone who fancies a go, can start making the most of Britain’s countryside with activities ranging from abseiling to camping out in the wild.

The list comes after a National Trust commissioned report which revealed that a third of children have never climbed a tree and one in ten cannot ride a bike.

This weekend will see over 200 of the National Trust’s houses and gardens open their gates to all.

A group of ‘Elite Rangers’ has been formed by National Trust staff who will be on hand to offer children advice over the free weekend happening the 21st and 22nd April.

Children can also pick up a scrapbook to record their adventures and visit www.nationtrust.org/50things to check off items and earn their very own explorer badge.

Caravan parks battling for VisitEngland Awards

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by Tom Lowenstein

Three caravan parks in the north of England are all in the running for a prestigious tourism prize after being shortlisted in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2012.

Park Cliffe Caravan & Camping Estate in Cumbria and Seafield Caravan Park in Northumberland will both compete alongside three other holiday parks for the Caravan Holiday Park/Holliday Village of the Year award.

Meanwhile, the Robin Hood Camping & Caravan Park in Yorkshire is hoping to pick up an award after being named a finalist in the Outstanding Customer Service category.

A total of 62 entrants have been shortlisted from 392 nominations and the judging panel are now setting about the tough task of picking the ultimate winners.

Competition is tough and the English tourist board has praised the exceptionally high level of entries this year, but come May 22nd the caravan parks will learn if they have been crowned overall winner in their category at a glittering ceremony in Leicester’s Athena venue.

Commenting on the awards, judge and director of business development at VisitEngland, Jeremy Brinkworth, said that there have been more entrants than ever in 2012 and the quality and diversity is “truly inspiring”.

“All the finalists should be extremely proud of their contribution both to their local area and to the industry as a whole, and it is very satisfying to reward their hard work and dedication,” he added.

Lowdhams’ West Yorkshire show begins this weekend

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by Tom Lowenstein

The West Yorkshire Caravan and Motorhome Show gets underway this weekend when Lowdhams hosts its second in-house event of the year.

Following in the footsteps of its successful Nottingham show back in February, the dealership’s Huddersfield branch is putting on its own show that promises to be just as fun.

As well as the usual display of caravans and motorhomes from some of the industry’s biggest brands, the family-oriented event will be packed full of entertainment alongside the usual trade stands and refreshment stalls.

Throughout the weekend sessions kids can get their faces painted and enjoy the tomfoolery of juggling unicyclist extraordinaire Dangerous Derek, while adults are catered for with performances by the Twelve Bars from Mars Jazz Band.

Lowdhams is also putting on a free prize draw with some truly exceptional prizes up for grabs while members of the Caravan Club will have the opportunity to save thousands of pounds on a new Nissan X-Trail towcar.

The show runs from Friday 20th until Sunday 22nd April.

Former caravanner dreams up dog-gate solution for touring holidays

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by Maeve O’Donnell

The difficulty of containing a lively dog whilst on a caravan holiday is an issue felt by many, but now there is a solution.

Four years ago, whilst caravanning with his family and, of course, their dog, Paul McCarthy decided to solve this common problem with a gate.

When fellow caravanners asked where it was form he realised there was a gap in the market and set up K9gates.
Now, with the help of his family, Paul builds custom made gates for caravans, RVs, motorhomes and boats.

There is no need for any adjustments to be made to the caravan – the gates work on a pivot system with no need for screws or bolts, meaning there will be no damage to the ‘van at all.

As well as holding dogs these gates can be used as a child gate, ensuring small children are safe too.
The main strengths of this product are the way it is secured and its ease to both use and store, which makes it a real must have product for caravanning dog lovers.