Is caravanning the ultimate child-friendly holiday?

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravanning could be a great way for families to enjoy child-friendly breaks away, especially of they pitch up at a well-equipped site.

Conrad Doyle, co-founder of reviews and recommendations website childfriendly.co.uk, said it can be hard for parents to find suitable holiday options for themselves and their kids.

He pointed out that for many families, affordability is key, with more people now looking into self catering options.

Of course caravanning fits the bill in this respect, as site fees for motorhomes can be inexpensive and there’s no need to visit a restaurant every evening.

Amenities are another important factor for families during their holidays, said Mr Doyle. Parents are looking for kiddie clubs and play parks to keep the little ones entertained. Many caravan parks offer such facilities.

“A lot of the research that we have seen tends to indicate that what parents want most is just for their children to have a good time in a welcoming environment,” he remarked.

Father of three paralysed by pork chop cooked on caravan stove

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by Marcus Dubois

Caravanners have been reminded to ensure food prepared on holiday is thoroughly cooked, after a father of three was tragically paralysed by eating a pork chop cooked on a caravan stove.

Plant operator Darren Ashall from Chorley in Lancashire developed a potentially lethal brain disease which has hospitalised him for almost five months. According to the Mail the 46-year old was told by doctors he is “lucky to be alive” after his immune system was attacked by listeria meningitis. The disease has left an abscess on his brain.

Cooking on a caravan stove

Mr Ashall was first taken ill after cooking two pork chops on a caravan stove while away from home in Birmingham. He told the newspaper “I thought one of the chops wasn’t cooked properly. I regretted eating it straight away. I knew it was a mistake”.

“A month later I went to hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. After three days my face started drooping on one side and people thought I was having a stroke. I was treated for that, but nothing helped”.

The listeria bug contracted by Mr Ashall can stay inactive for up to 70 days, and when he first visited Chorley and South Ribble Hospital on February 11 he was sent home. However he was forced to return 48 hours later to intensive care after the condition worsened. His wife Paula, 43, and sons Sam, 19, and Jack, 21, were a constant presence at the hospital as his condition worsened.

Left paralysed by the condition, Mr Ashall needed a ventilator to help him breath. Yet the family experienced relief after a few weeks when he was transferred to the Royal Preston Hospital and began to regain his sight and voice.

The road ahead

Having stabilised, he told the newspaper of his battle which “absolutely drained me… I was too scared to close my eyes because I didn’t think I’d wake up again”. He added “The man I used to be is long gone”.

Darren Ashall will never fully recover from the effects of listeria meningitis, and will need antibiotics for the rest of his life. He will also need a motability scooter for longer distances.

He revealed ‘I feel so vulnerable now, and worried about what lies ahead, but this has really made me appreciate what I’ve got.

‘Life is so precious and fragile, and you could have a big house and a fancy car, but none of that matters at the end of the day.’

Sir Ranulph Fiennes puts campers to the test

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan owners will be well aware that they are much better equipped to deal with extreme weather than campers, but a British explorer has shown just how vulnerable some tents can be.

In a special test for ITV’s Daybreak programme, Sir Ranulph Fiennes visited a Shropshire caravan site earlier this month (June 3rd) to subject three tents to an extreme experiment, Shropshire Live reports.

Six visitors, including two caravan owners, were invited to erect a low-cost pop-up tent, a traditional family tent and a state-of-the-art inflatable tent at Stanmore Hall Touring Park in Bridgnorth.

Sir Ranulph then blasted the three tents with a pressure washer to recreate a typical summer thunderstorm and the results varied wildly.

Edward Goddard, managing director of Morris Leisure, the owners of Stanmore Hall, said: “We are anticipating a bumper summer with even more British people than last year set to spend their holidays at home.”

Sir Ranulph added that he enjoyed his visit to Shropshire, which he described as “a really great place” and the famous explorer praised the peaceful setting and layout of Stanmore Hall.

Chevrolet Orlando is surprise hit for Best Value Towcar award

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan owners have been advised to consider buying a Chevrolet Orlando, as it offers the best value for money in the tow car market.

The seven-seater MPV was praised by judges at the annual Towcar Awards for its towing stability, pulling power and all-round practicality.

Having only been launched in February, the Orlando has already drawn many accolades for its great value for money, as prices start at just £16,410 on the road.

Meanwhile, the Mazda CX-7 took the Editor’s Choice award, with the Japanese crossover being described as “one of the best 4×4 tow cars you can buy for sensible money”.

This highly-efficient towcar boasts fuel efficiency of 37.7 mpg, along with pulling power of 400Nm – ideal for towing larger caravans.

Premium features available in the CX-7 Sports model include heated leather seats, integrated sat nav and climate control air conditioning.

Londoner hit with £1,000 fine for abandoned caravan

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by Chris Jefferies

Haringey Council is calling on the owner of an abandoned caravan to come forward and collect his vehicle, after the total fines broke the £1,000 mark.

The London borough council told the Tottenham and Wood Green Journal that the single-axle tourer was blocking the road and is a blight on the landscape.

Residents and councillors alike had complained about the Sprite caravan, which was moved from Clyde Road on May 24th, only to be put back in the same place a few weeks later.

The council has warned the owner that they have until July 8th to claim the vehicle before it is crushed.

However, if they do come forward, they will face fines and storage charges totalling £1,632.

Nilgun Canver, Haringey councillor and cabinet member for the environment, told the local newspaper: “We can’t have abandoned vehicles blocking streets like this. The caravan was causing problems for people living in this area.”

More details of October NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show released

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan lovers will be flocking to Birmingham’s NEC this October for the UK’s biggest motorhome and caravan show of the year, which has just confirmed several key details.

A total of 350 exhibitors have already been signed up to this year’s event, which will run from October 11th to 16th, and next year’s models from all of the major manufacturers will be going on display.

Furthermore, buyers snapping up a new tourer at the event can be assured that their purchase will be ready and delivered in time for next summer.

As well as caravan models, outdoor enthusiasts can browse through a range of accessories and tourist information to help make their next touring holiday even better.

Visitors of all ages will find something of interest, with free activities, competitions, test-drives, games and cooking demonstrations all being laid on.

Prices start at £7 per person for over 60s and children under 16 can visit for free.

Used Caravan of the Week: 1996 Buccaneer Caribbean

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by Marcus Dubois

Every week here at Caravan Times we pause for a few minutes to scour the online auctions in search of a bargain. And occasionally we come across a tempting and sound example of a classic from a bygone era – a caravan which hits the sweet spot between good used value and generous equipment levels. This week we were drawn to a name which has been in caravan classifieds for around twenty years, but sadly disappeared last year as a new buy. The Buccaneer Caribbean may have been discontinued in 2010, but our fifteen-year old example offers plenty for the money.

Click here to see an image gallery of the 1996 Buccaneer Caribbean

Built in 1996, this caravan was considered a luxury tourer in its time and boasts a well appointed interior. At the front of the Caribbean is a six-seater dinette which folds out to make a double bed, while the other two beds are contained in the dining area. There you’ll find a single dinette which can be easily converted into a single bed, while the fourth berth is a bunk bed placed directly above.

What may catch the eye of potential buyers however is the remarkably well-appointed kitchen which features few compromises despite being in a confined space. A full sized 3 way fridge is accompanied by a generous domestic type oven, while an extractor fan can be found over the cooker. And cookery fans will find four burners are available on the hob, alongside a useful grill.

The heating control is similarly impressive for a fifteen-year old caravan – the buyer considers this “better than most domestic ones” offering six different temperature settings for the daytime, as well as separate weekday/weekend settings available. An internal water tank, carbon monoxide sensor and blinds to all windows complete the “home from home” feel of this Buccaneer.

History

Built in 1996, this Buccaneer Caribbean has been “dealer serviced and damp checked annually for the past 10 years” by the present owner. Its most recent service was April 2011, when it was declared to be “sound and dry”. The Caribbean has “not been used during the past 10 years by smokers or pets”.

Kit and Caboodle

As well as the generous appointments mentioned above, this 1996 Caribbean comes with a full wet central heating system, based around a gas and mains Alde boiler that controls heating and hot water. Mains and 12V lights can be found above all the beds, while the awning light features a motion sensor for extra security.

Most notable of all are the plenty of optional extras included in the sale. The Buccaneer comes fitted with a remote controlled motor mover, while a Bradcot awning gives you the option of one or two annexes at each end. If you can’t be bothered with the full awning then a Bradcot porch gives you the scaled-down version, and a Bulldog hitch lock is also thrown in. To complete the sale, the Caribbean comes with a wastepot, aquaroll, two gas cylinders (one full) and a winter cover.

  • Price: £2,950.00 (buy it now price – or bid in auction)
  • MTPLM: Unladen weight 1250kg, max loaded weight 1600kg
  • Width: 7’0″ (2.13 metres)
  • Length: 23′ (7.01 metres)
  • Berth: 4
  • Axle: Single

Click here for purchase information on this 1996 Buccaneer Caribbean



Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Ludlow site praised as ‘the Savoy’ of caravan parks

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by Chris Jefferies

Recently approved plans for a 20-acre caravan site in Ludlow have been given a major boost after a local councillor threw his weight behind the project.

The development on Overton Road will be ‘the Savoy of caravan parks’, according to Martin Taylor-Smith, who sits on Shropshire Council.

“It is very good news for Ludlow. This is the ‘Savoy’ of caravan sites and will encourage more people to visit the area,” he said.

Situated between the River Teme and the A49, the new site will use land that was formerly an RAF camp, the Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertiser reports.

In total, it is estimated that it will cost £3 million to overhaul the site, with the first visitors expected to be welcomed next year.

Camper vans, touring caravans and tents will all be accommodated on site, the local newspaper adds.

Owner Morris Leisure of Shrewsbury already operates four caravan parks in Shropshire and Snowdonia.

Driver hospitalised after caravan rolls on M4

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan owners have been warned to be extra cautious when driving in windy conditions, after a woman was injured when her caravan and tow-car rolled over on a motorway.

The incident took place on Sunday morning (June 19th), when a gust of wind flipped over the woman’s Land Rover and the caravan it was towing, Thisisbath.co.uk reports.

Shocked motorists saw the tourer and towcar roll over several times on the M4 westbound, near the entry sliproad at junction 18.

The driver, a woman in her 40s, was later freed from her car by the emergency services and was taken to hospital, where she received treatment for a gash to the head.

Fortunately, local police believe that she will recover fully, and added that she was conscious throughout.

Richard Crocker, a police officer who was at the scene, said: “It was a nasty head injury. However, once she has been stitched up, she should make a full recovery.”

Tow car drivers urged to be safe and belt up

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by Chris Jefferies

One in 20 drivers in the UK still do not wear a seatbelt, according to the latest road safety survey from the AA.

Tow car drivers are being urged to consider their safety, after the study of 40,000 drivers found that nearly five per cent of motorists are failing to take this basic safety measure.

Furthermore, 3.6 per cent of the cars on UK roads have faulty break lights, while nearly ten per cent drive through junctions too quickly.

On the plus side, the message about the dangers of driving with a mobile phone appears to be sinking in, as only 0.23 per cent of drivers were observed committing this particular offence.

Those in the West Midlands were the worst offenders for not wearing a seatbelt, while the North East was found to be the worst region by far for speeding, with more than one in five motorists judged to be approaching junctions too quickly.

Dog rescued from overheated caravan

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by Chris Jefferies

Caravan owners have been reminded of the dangers of leaving a dog trapped in a hot caravan, after an animal was rescued from a ’25-degree death trap’ in Brighton.

Local animal experts from Brighton and Hove City Council made this damning assessment of a caravan parked in Stanmer Park, the Brighton Argus reports.

A border collie named Robbie was rescued from the overheated caravan, where he did not have any water to drink, and now the Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare is searching for a new home for him.

The negligent owner was even threatened with prosecution if he did not give up the canine to the authorities.

Nigel Mason, chief executive of the Raystede centre, said: “With the summer here, we would like to remind all dog owners not to leave their animals in cars. Even with the windows open, it can still get very hot, very quickly, which can prove fatal.”

Five-star Shropshire caravan park gets approval

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by Chris Jefferies

Plans to create a five-star caravan park near Ludlow in Shropshire have been approved by the local council, it has been reported.

The new 20-acre site will contain pitches for 135 touring caravans between the River Teme and the A49, Shropshire Live reports.

Developers Morris Leisure hope to start work as soon as possible on the park, which has an estimated value of £3 million, with a view to completion in time for next summer’s caravan rush.

Edward Goddard, managing director of the leisure company, said: “We are delighted that council has approved our plans for this five-star park, which we believe will generate around £1 million a year for Ludlow and enhance local tourism.”

Morris Leisure already owns four caravan parks in Shropshire and Snowdonia – Stanmore Hall Touring Park in Bridgnorth, Riverside Touring Park in Betws-y-Coed, Oxon Hall Touring and Holiday Home Park in Shrewsbury and Bow House Country Park in Bishops Castle.