Chris Gosling’s Caravan Diary: Theobolds Park Camping and Caravanning Club Site

Posted by

by Marcus Dubois

Do you miss the site reviews and features shown on the original Caravan Channel? Well we have good news – since founding presenter Chris Gosling left the show a year ago, he’s been busy touring the UK filming the best parks the country has to offer.

And you can now watch Chris’ brand new show “Caravan Diary” right here on Caravan Times each week. In this latest episode, Chris faces a challenge. It’s the last weekend before the school holidays start, and he needs to find somewhere quickly that’s close enough to London to celebrate his wife’s birthday in the West End.

Fortunately he stumbles across a place that’s both convenient enough to be thirty minutes from London by train, yet quiet enough to offer a peaceful stay. Take a video tour of Theobolds Park Camping and Caravanning Club and hear what Chris thought of the facilities.

No Comments

filed under: Video

Caravan Club site to host charity party next month

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Holidaymakers visiting Derbyshire next month will be able to do their bit for charity, as the Caravan Club is running a fundraising party at its Blackwall Plantation site on August 27th.
A variety of events will be laid on including a raffle, tombola, name that tune, a kids’ nature trail and a barbecue, selling hotdogs and burgers for just £1 each.
All the funds raised will go towards the purchase of kidney dialysis machines and an NHS renal nurse will be on site to give a brief talk about the charity.
Blackwall Plantation is a Caravan Club site with 130 pitches, set in a pine wood forest, and facilities include laundry facilities and dedicated toddler washrooms.
What’s more, fishing, sailing and windsurfing are all on offer at the nearby Carsington Reservoir, which is a major attraction in the local area.
Summer pitches cost £8 per night, so charitable caravanners are urged to put August 27th in their diary and head along for a day of fun, supporting a worthy cause.

Is Kate Winslet a secret caravan lover?

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Titanic actress Kate Winslet put in a surprise appearance at a Cornwall literary festival last weekend (Sunday 25th), leading to suggestions that she might be a secret fan of caravans.
The multi-award-winning mother of two delighted the crowds at the Port Eliot Festival in St Germans by reading from kids’ storybook Mr Gum, the Daily Mail reports.
Her humorous expressions and range of voices brought to book to life for the audience, the national newspaper added.
Furthermore, Kate was photographed posing next to a retro caravan, wearing Hunter wellies and a sheer jumper.
This photo has sparked online debate as to the identity of the mystery tourer, with leading caravan retailers Lowdhams suggesting, via Twitter, than it might be an elderly Avondale model.
Kate, 35, who used to own a house in Cornwall, is reportedly taking a break from her current filming commitments Movie 43 and Carnage, which was written and directed by Roman Polanski.

To see the Daily Mail’s photos of Kate Winslet in a caravan, click here.

Multi-million pound deal struck for Ayrshire caravan park

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
A caravan park operator has announced the purchase of a 298-pitch site in Scotland, which will get a complete overhaul and upgraded pitches as part of the deal.
Viewfield Manor holiday park near Kilwinning in Ayrshire has been bought out by Verdant Leisure, which already owns Thurston Manor and Pease Bay holiday parks, the Glasgow Herald reports.
Furthermore, the company has agreed plans to purchase another, as yet unnamed, caravan park in the south of Scotland later this year.
Plans for Viewfield Manor include upgrading 78 older pitches, adding electricity, water and sewage connection points as part of the process.
The site’s bars, restaurants, swimming pool and gym will all be upgraded as well, which should make it more appealing for visitors from the Glasgow area, the local paper adds.
Graham Hodgson, chief executive of Verdant, said that the recent economic downturn had little impact on Britain’s appetite for caravan holidays.
“For people who enjoy caravanning, it is really high on their list of what they will continue to spend their money on. They will perhaps put spending money on their caravan before the car they own or other holidays they take. It is very much a lifestyle choice,” he claimed.

Towcar drivers more likely to get lost when relying on sat nav

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Traditional towcar drivers who use a map are more likely to reach their destination without getting lost than hi-tech caravanners who use a sat nav instead.
This is according to the latest survey from the AA, which found that older drivers are much more likely to carry a map than most and are better at finding their way, with only 46 per cent admitting to getting lost during the past year.
By contrast, 82 per cent of young drivers (aged 18 to 24 years old) said they had got lost over the last 12 months.
Furthermore, youngsters behind the wheel are much more likely to rely on a sat nav, with 52 per cent of them using a sat nav and 30 per cent never carrying a road map.
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: “This study highlights the importance of having an up-to-date atlas to supplement whatever navigation methods you use.”
He added that getting lost is a big factor in road rage and results in high fuel bills from unnecessary extra mileage.

Caravan storage: how security from CaSSOA can reduce insurance premiums

Posted by

by Marcus Dubois

“So often in the world of security you hear people who say ‘if they want to get in, they’ll get in’. Well it’s a lame excuse – because these firms don’t want to spend any money on upkeep”.

Ted Young is unsurprisingly passionate about security. Having joined the Caravan Storage Site Owner’s Association (CaSSOA) as an inspector in 1999, he’s stayed with the firm to this day – and remains a powerful advocate of the organisation’s aims. Starting off with just 43 sites, the association now comprises of a 650-strong nationwide network which stores around 100,000 caravans.

While many caravanners opt to keep their tourer on their drive, recent surveys and statistics show the risks involved. A government study found that nearly half were stolen from private driveways, with a further 45% taken from service stations and holiday parks.

And after twelve years of inspecting sites and supporting the initiative, Ted took the time to reflect with Caravan Times on why CaSSOA was founded to combat the issue.

How it works

“We started off in 1999 because there was a fairly high rate of caravan theft. Our founders decided that if this is so high, then shouldn’t we find out why they’re being stolen? The existing methods weren’t being managed by a proper system – so we had to change the whole ethos to make caravan storage professional.”

Normally CaSSOA store the caravan for 12 months, with storage working out on average at “a pound a day” according to Ted. An owner would typically add £100 for inside storage, with three tiers of security levels awarded by the body. Gold, Silver and Bronze reflect the levels of equipment used by site owners, as well as the quality of administration and management.

How you can save money on insurance

So how have caravan insurers recognised these improvements to storage and security? “Well, all specialist insurers ask where you’re going to keep your caravan when not in use. In the world of insurance, there’s a lot of reliance on the declaration of proposal at first instance. And because all of our CaSSOA sites have been assessed, the insurance company can quickly go down their list and realise that it’s secure, and give rewards.”

For example, specialists Simple Caravan Insurance offer a 5% discount for customers using CaSSOA Certified storage sites.

And it was while working for a company of loss adjusters in Bristol when Ted began to realise the full extent of the problems of storage. “You could go onto a farm site and see two caravans in a barn, and then at the other end of the farm there’s straw which could go up in smoke!”

Since then, Ted and CaSSOA have made huge strides to raise the bar and improve the quality of storage. “One time, caravan storage was really the domain of the farming community. They would have a plot of land, and if anything happens, ‘it’s got nowt to do with me’. But now criminals are much more sophisticated – and we have to be equally as sophisticated.”

Bailey Caravans launches Olympus Series II for 2012

Posted by

by Marcus Dubois

When surveying this year’s offerings from Bailey Caravans, it’s hard to believe only two years ago we were looking at an entirely different line-up. In 2009 the Bristol manufacturer took the bold step towards replacing hugely popular names such as the Senator and Pageant by introducing a new construction platform named Alu-Tech.

As the name suggests, the method uses aluminium as the primary material for lighter weight and strength. First seen in the Bailey Pegasus in September of that year, the positive reception led to the introduction of a second model early in 2010.

Called the Olympus, this smaller and lighter caravan proved popular with those looking for an Alu-Tech model towable by a family car. Since then Bailey has introduced two further Alu-Techs at the top and bottom of the market to complete the line-up, as well as revamping the Pegasus in January of this year – leaving the Bailey Olympus in need of a makeover.

Family characteristics

Bailey is keeping full details under wraps for a few weeks – yet we can confirm the Olympus Series II is a clear move by the Bristol firm to bring together its caravans under one look. On the exterior, the new Olympus takes visual cues from bigger brothers the Pegasus and Bailey Unicorn with new colour-coded graphics and updated exterior fittings.

Inside it’s the same story, with a strong move towards the design language and colouring seen at the top of the Alu-Tech range. The brief throughout appears to have been to take the caravan “upmarket” while keeping costs within the price bracket of previous Olympus models.

New layouts

The Olympus Series II features two all-new layouts. The five-berth end bedroom arrangement which proves so popular in the Bailey Pegasus Series II Ancona can be found here for the first time. Meanwhile those who fondly recall the six-berth variant of the Bailey Ranger GT60 will find a similar layout using a nearside fixed bed. And though the total number of layouts has been reduced from seven to four, this is in keeping with the Bailey Orion launch offerings.

Caravan Times will shortly bring you full pictures and video tours of the new Bailey Olympus Series II. Join our Bailey Caravans Group to hear the latest first

Coachman Caravans relaunches Laser, VIP and Pastiche for 2012

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies

Coachman Caravans has relaunched its Laser, VIP and Pastiche ranges for 2012, with a sleek front design that has drawn many comparisons with Swift.

The Pastiche 460/2 and 560/4 are among the upgraded models, with plenty of LED lighting in the kitchen area and wooden flooring in the living room.

Furthermore, the broad panoramic roof in the nose end is sure to prove popular, allowing much more light into the front of the caravan.

Perhaps most significantly, Coachman has fitted these new models with an exclusive, new timed central heating system from Truma.

Despite the obvious comparisons with the newer Swift ranges, the immediate reaction to the new models on Twitter has been largely positive, with the range being described as “just brilliant”.

Full details of the new models will be released next month To stay up to date with our coverage, why not join the Coachman Group here on Caravan Times.

Just one week left to book for 2011 Friendly Club rally

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Caravan enthusiasts have been encouraged to book their places at the Camping and Caravanning Club’s annual rally, before next Sunday’s deadline (July 31st).
The National Feast of Lanterns (NFOL) 2011 will take place at Newark Showground from August 25th to 29th, with plenty of free entertainment laid on, including live shows and bands, parlour games and a ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ competition.
Furthermore, kids will be well catered for with a purpose-built seaside playground – ideal for building sandcastles.
Those keen to try a bit of dressing up are also being invited to break a Guinness World Record, as the Friendly Club is hoping to bring together the largest number of people dressed as Robin Hood.
The highlight of the weekend for many, however, is the Best of British Mardi Gras Parade, which includes the spectacular light show that gives the rally its name.
With three and a half years’ planning gone into this event, Cath Henson, chair of the NFOL Organising Committee, is confident that this will be a weekend to remember.
“Our bookings deadline is quickly approaching and with over 2,000 applications already received, we only have a small number of pitches available. Book now before it’s too late,” she urged.
Tickets for the NFOL rally start at £59 per couple for a pitch from Friday to Monday, while visitors can stay an extra night on Thursday for £10 or on Monday for £9.

Love rallying? Are you excited about this event? Perhaps you’ve never tried a caravan rally before? Join the discussion in our forum.

The new Lunar Delta FB: More space than a London bedsit

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
Brand new for 2012, the Delta FB offers families more indulgence and more innovation at the top end of the Lunar range of lightweight tourers.
This five-berth twin-axle model features a large convertible double in the front, a side dinette next to the kitchen and a double bunk bed layout in the rear, meaning there’s plenty of space for a family of five.

At last week’s launch, Lunar’s marketing manager Martin Henderson spoke in glowing terms of the amount of room that there is inside the Delta FB, saying that there is “more space than a bedsit in Pimlico”.
Furthermore, there has been no compromise on high-end specifications, with a built-in cocktail cabinet and a bathroom radiator both included in this premium tourer.
Other luxury features include soft LED mood lighting inside the kitchen lockers and cabinets, automatic LED lighting inside the wardrobes, and for added storage there are slide-out chrome baskets in the kitchen.
The honeycomb deep pile carpets add to the soft and relaxing feel of the interior, while the Naomi design soft furnishings, complimented by red throw pillows, create a feeling of conservative luxury.
On the outside, the graphics have been refreshed, while the offside features… Read more 


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Caravan owners offered top tips for exploring Europe

Posted by

by Chris Jefferies
With the great British summer proving to be a damp squib, many caravanners may find themselves tempted to head overseas during the coming weeks, but those trying a continental adventure for the first time should make sure to do their homework.
Driving, and indeed towing, in Europe is different from the UK in many obvious ways, such as driving on the right instead of the left, but there are also a few more subtle differences.
Most road users will be aware that in Europe all speed limits are in kilometres per hour instead of miles, but fewer will know that it is a legal requirement to carry a warning triangle and a reflective jacket in some countries.
Fines of up to 80 euros can be handed out in France, Austria, Belgium and Germany, with for failure to comply with this law.
Furthermore, you may need to check your caravan insurance before heading overseas as not all policies cover driving on the continent.
According to the Daily Mail, insurance for European driving can cost an extra 35 per cent more if you take a caravan with you, based on two weeks abroad with a nine-year-old car.
With all this in mind, caravan insurance providers Safeguard have offered some sage advice for anyone thinking of heading overseas with their tourer this summer.
Those taking long distance journeys should make sure that they have enough local currency in their change drawer, as many of the major motorways are toll roads.
Furthermore, in some remote European countries you may need an International Driving License, as a British license is not always sufficient.
Rita Sadler, manager at Safeguard, said: “Taking your caravan onto the continent can be one of the most fun and exciting ways to travel around Europe. However, caravanners need to be mindful of other driving laws and cultures when visiting the continent to ensure they have a safe and happy trip.”

Caravan Club annual awards results announced in glitzy ceremony

Posted by

by Tom Lowenstein

Last Friday (October 14th) was an exciting time for caravan fans with the industry equivalent of the Oscars taking place at Birmingham’s NEC.

The now annual October event saw the seventeenth Caravan Club Caravan Design Awards and the tenth Lightweight Leisure Trailer Awards announce their 2012 winners to much fanfare and applause as manufacturers and industry professionals descended on Birmingham for the occasion.

With the awards designed to provide caravanners with fair and impartial assessment on which to base their opinions, all manufacturers were invited to submit entries.

A panel of independent judges and researchers went through a list of stringent and rigorous tests to assess caravans across a range of categories on everything from comfort and size to design and storage space.

Particular mention should go to Bailey, who enjoyed their best-ever performance at the awards, winning three categories and a further three top-three placements.

Not to be outdone, Swift took away more gongs than any other manufacturer with two winning entries and no less than five models making the podium.

Announcing the results, Grenville Chamberlain, Chairman of The Caravan Club, said: “The Caravan Club is delighted the industry continues to support these competitions with such enthusiasm, and we would like to publicly thank them for their continued participation.

“We would also extend our sincere congratulations to the winners and all the entrants.”

Here are the winning entries:

  • Any Caravan under £12,500 – Sprite Alpine 2
  • Family Caravan £12,500 – £16,000 – Sterling Eccles Sport 524
  • Two Berth Caravan £12,500 – £16,000 – Bailey Pegasus Genoa
  • Caravan with Dedicated Bed(s) £12,500 – £16,000 – Bailey Olympus 530-4
  • Any Caravan £16,000 – £19,000 – Bailey Unicorn Seville
  • Any Caravan £19,000 and over – Fifth Wheel Company Inos 1212 2012
  • Caravans 750kg and under – Freedom Jetstream 1st class
  • Caravans between 750kg and 1100kg – Bailey Orion 400-2