Somerset caravan dealership placed into administration

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by Holly Tribe

Somerset Caravans, based on the outskirts of Taunton, has been forced into administration due to significant cashflow problems.

According to the BBC, administrators Begbies Trayor have stepped in to find a new buyer for the ailing dealership.

The business sells a range of new and used caravans alongside an accessories shop and on-site service centre, but it has been experiencing severe financial difficulties caused by production and supply issues.

Joint administrator, Ian Walker, commented it is a strong business in a good location and the intention is to sell it as a going concern.

“Somerset Caravans is a well-known, long-standing Somerset business, which has traded profitably from a great location on the outskirts of Taunton, next to the proposed new junction with the M5.

“It is a good business which offers not just caravans but a whole range of camping supplies, and therefore is in a position to take advantage of the growing trend for family camping and caravanning holidays in the South West,” he said.

Of the 21 staff -16 will be retained while Begbies Trayor search for a buyer.

Five unique caravan holiday parks in Ireland

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by Holly Tribe

Ireland. The word alone conjures up thoughts of rolling green hills, dramatic coastlines and intimate drinking holes; arguably the perfect surroundings for a caravan holiday.

Renowned for their hospitable ways, our celtic cousins have a plethora of stunning caravan sites across the country – so whether you’re looking for a tranquil getaway at an adult’s only site, or fun for all the family (including the dog!) there are plenty of options.

In celebration of St Patrick’s Day, we’ve had a look at five stunning caravan parks located across the Emerald Isle.

Adults only caravan site

If you’re looking for a quiet site to get away from it all, Lough Arrow Touring Caravan Park provides a tranquil location set on the banks of the stunning Lough Arrow lake in the North West of Ireland. Guests are welcome to enjoy the comfortable club room with its range of games and log burning stove, and outdoor golf practice nets and a boules pitch are also available.

Price: Euro 18/ night
Address: Ballynary, Riverstown, County Sligo
Tel: +353 071 96 66018

Caravan site by the beach

Located on Ireland’s mid western peninsula, the Renvyle Beach Camping & Caravan Park has direct access to a stunning white sandy beach. Hot showers, a sanitary block and spring water taps come in useful after a day at the beach to wash off all the sand before you get back into your caravan or tent! Sorry – no dogs allowed between July and August.

Price: Rates available on request.
Address: Tullybeg, Renvyle, Co Galway
Tel: +353 095 43462

5 star caravan site

Ballyness Caravan Park is a multi award winning site located in Northern Ireland. Within striking distance of the famous Giant’s Causeway, Old Bushman’s Distillery and many other attractions the site has 48 hardstanding pitches set over three distinct landscaped areas. It was awarded the AA Caravan Park of the Year 2010 for Scotland and Northern Ireland and has free hot showers and a library and games area.

Price: £22/ night
Address: 40 Castlecatt Road, Bushmills, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland, BT57 8TN
Tel: 028 2073 2393

Caravan park near Dublin

If you want to be closer to the action of Ireland’s bustling capital city, the Camac Valley Tourist Caravan & Camping Park has 163 touring pitches and is just a short drive away. There’s a public bus stop just outside the park gates and from here the Dublin City Tour Bus will pick up passengers at 9.30am every day for a guided tour of the city. The site offers 24 hour security and a late and early check in service.

Price: Euro 21 – 24/night
Address: Naas Road, Dublin-22,
Tel: +353 1 4640644

Dogs welcome

There’s over 100 extra wide hardstanding pitches available at the Woodlands Park on the south-western peninsula of Ireland. Dogs are permitted on site – if they are kept on a lead and only walked by adults, and when you want to stretch your legs, there are extensive private dog walking trails in a woodland behind the park.

Price: £18 – 21/ night
Address: Dan Spring Rd, Tralee, Co. Kerry
Tel: +353 66 7121235

Off-road caravanning: The XC Innovan extreme travel trailer

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by Holly Tribe

Does your towcar double up as a vehicle that’s capable of some serious off-road adventuring? Ever wondered what it would be like to wander beyond the confines a caravan park with your ‘van in tow? Well, we have something that may be of interest.

Click here to see photos of the Innovan being put to the test

Australia has a thriving 4×4 scene and our antipodean cousins are well known for their love of the outdoors; combining these two passions, a pioneering company based in Queensland has come up with a hardcore off-road caravan called the XC Innovan.

Innovan torture test

The first prototype was built in 2005 and its makers have taken great delight in putting the van through some extreme off-road tests. Pushing it to maximum speeds over rough dirt tracks they claim the rig came through ‘no worries!’

But a true off-road vehicle should be able to handle extreme wet weather conditions – so how did the Innovan fare with a river crossing? Adjusting the suspension before traversing a local river gave the ‘van around half a metre of ground clearance, and although the firm admitted the external storage box did fill up with water, the cabin itself remained bone dry (pictured).

Pitching

After pitching up in a secluded corner of the world, adventurers are free to raise the solid sides of the caravan – increasing the internal space to around 5,000 litres. This includes space for two single berths, which can be converted into a comfortable queen-size, and room up front for a couple of bicycles; handy if you fancy a spot of mountain biking before dinner!

The new and improved XC caravan went on sale in 2009 and there are four models available: the Adventurer, the Crusader the Rover and the Voyager, each built using a light fibreglass sandwich construction system making them strong, light, durable and well insulated.

Kit list

Basic kit includes: heavy duty off-road shock absorbers, mechanical disc brakes, 6 stud 15 inch wheels, off-road coupling with hand brake, self-raising storage beds with internal storage and 12v electrics. Other available features include 85 litre fridge/freezer, toilet, shower, internal and external kitchen and prep areas, and there’s even designated solar panel housing built in.

For more information head to http://www.innovan.com.au/index.php Ever thought of using a caravan as an all terrain vehicle?
Have your say in our forum topic here.


Find more photos like this on CaravanTimes

Caravan Club launches online towcar matching service

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by Gemma Roskell

Buying a new towcar can be a lengthy process if you don’t know exactly what you’re looking for.

Fortunately, the Caravan Club has launched a new outfit matching service that can help you find the right vehicle to suit your caravan.

Available for free to members only, the tool contains a database of 50,000 car models and more than 9,000 caravan types.

By inputting the details of your touring carava and the towcar you plan to purchase, you can find out whether the combination you have chosen is a suitable match in terms of safety, legality and comfortable towing.

Of course the matching service works the other way around and can also help you find the right caravan to suit your existing tow car.

Caravan Club members can already receive personal advice from technical advisors on potential outfit combinations, so the new online tool will act as a compliment to this existing service.

Armed forces personnel to enjoy free camping & caravanning

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by Gemma Roskell

The Camping and Caravanning Club is hoping to show its appreciation for the UK’s servicemen and women by offering them free camping this summer.

The club’s site on the Isle of Skye is enabling armed forces personnel to use its pitches free of charge on Saturday June 25th on behalf of Help for Heroes.

It will also be holding a season-long raffle to raise money for the charity.

The offer applies to all serving members who are able to provide identification on arrival. Additional campers must pay full site fees.

Skye club site franchisees David Weller and Nicky Sellier said: “It’s a pleasure for us to be able to help those men and women that continue to do such a sterling job for our country.

“We hope all campers will show their encouragement and support for what is such a worthy cause.”

The Skye site is located on the shore of Loch Greshornish and opens on April 1st for the 2011 season.

For more information on Help the Heroes, plesae visit: www.helpforheroes.co.uk

Used Caravan of the Week: 1982 Eriba Puck

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by Marcus Dubois

Last week we launched a brand new feature on Caravan Times, where we scour the classifieds to pick our “Used Caravan of the Week”. Often we find ourselves debating which caravan we’d buy with a fixed budget – and so each week we’ll share with you the best of the bunch.

After the space-age fantasy of last week, our latest pick may seem humble in comparison. Yet this week’s offering has its own unique charms and an enviable heritage. This 1982 Eriba Puck is currently listed on eBay for £2,899.

Click here to see photos of the 1982 Eriba Puck for sale

The Eriba Puck is one of a select few caravans that could be considered a bonafide classic. After the Second World War caravan manufacturers began to see an increase in demand again, and former aircraft designer Eric Bachem developed a lightweight trailer in the late 1950s.

He named the brand Eriba, and the most iconic of his trailers was the futuristic looking Eriba Puck. First manufactured in 1958, the models soon became renowned for their light weight at only 230 kg.

Back then a small car could easily tow the Puck without difficulty, a trait which continued throughout the decades as the baby Eriba gained more refinements. And despite its diminutive size the Eriba Puck offered a surprising number of interior appointments.

Unsurprisingly this 1982 model is well preserved – Eriba Pucks can last a lifetime if well cared for. This is due to a tubular skeleton which gives the caravan strength and helps keep it watertight. Complete with its original pop-top roof, the Puck also comes with an awning and skirt throw in for free.

History: According to the sellers this 1982 Eriba Puck is in “tip-top condition”, though some of the detailed pin striping on the bodywork has come off in a few small areas. The owner still has the original maintenance booklet present.

Kit & caboodle: For a caravan that’s over 30 years old, there’s still a few refinements on the Eriba. The caravan comes with 12V and 240v lighting as well as a decent cooker. Double glazing was also fitted to the Puck for good sound insulation, and there is also a TV aerial and mains hookup.

  • Price: £2,899.00
  • MTPLM: 790kg
  • Width: 1.65m
  • Length: 3.20m
  • Berth: 2
  • Axle: Single

Get the 1982 Eriba Puck while it’s hot on ebay.co.uk

Caravan site operator Park Resorts in drive for Internet expansion

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by Marcus Dubois

Once upon a time (and not so long ago) a caravanner looking for a good site or park to visit would make a quick telephone call to order a brochure. And whether ordering your brochure from the park itself or their caravan club, the only way of scoping out a site in advance was to read a leaflet or site handbook.

Yet the inexorable rise of the Internet has led to site operators and caravan clubs constructing the online equivalent of park brochures. For many, the quickest and easiest way to assess a potential site for holidaying is to type that site’s name into a search engine. Search engines also give caravanners the power of comparison – and crucially the ability to search for parks in a region of Britain and stumble upon a new site.

With this in mind, leading caravan site operator Park Resorts has today announced a new initiative to increase its visibility on the Internet. The firm hopes to move beyond online advertising and instead bring new people to the website through search engines. And to help achieve this, Park Resorts has appointed marketing agency Greenlight to grow traffic to its website.

A decade of caravan experiences

Park Resorts has provided caravan holidays for 10 years, and boasts a portfolio of 39 coastal holiday parks in the UK. Guests can currently select from a range of accommodation including chalets, apartments, bungalows and Lodges. In addition there are fully furnished and equipped caravan holiday homes, as well as pitches available for camping.

The firm also offers new and used static caravans for sale, while holiday homes are available at all of the park locations around the UK.

Protect against UV rays on your caravan holiday with a sun canopy

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by Holly Tribe

Caravanners planning a holiday this summer should take suitable precautions against potential sun damage.

A worrying report from the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS) has revealed skin cancer related deaths are on the rise in Scotland.

Over exposure to the sun’s rays is a known cause of skin cancer, and according to GROS, 194 Scots died from the disease in 2010.

People who spend a lot of time enjoying outdoor pursuits, such as caravan and motorhome enthusiasts would be well advised to take appropriate safety measures against over exposure to the sun on holiday.

The SunSmart campaign recommends using of SPF15 sunscreen and staying in the shade to help minimise sun damage.

Caravan sun canopies are useful devices for creating shade, particularly when the sun is at it’s highest around midday. Affixed to the awning channel of the caravan, they create an outside space to relax in out of direct sunlight.

For more information about skin cancer and how to be sun smart head to sunsmart.org.uk .

Caravan Club publishes new Sites Directory and Handbook

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by Gemma Roskell

Caravanners planning a visit to one of the Caravan Club’s UK sites will find all the information they need in the new Sites Directory and Handbook.

The 2011-12 edition has now been published and is available exclusively for club members making their holiday plans for the coming year.

Sponsored by leisure products provider Dometic Group, the guide contains site photos and 2011 fees for touring caravan pitches.
It is also slim and light, making it ideal for caravanners to take with them on their trips away.

Once 2012 fees are available, a supplement will be produced and mailed to Caravan Club members alongside the group’s official magazine later in the year.

Tim Shaw, managing director of Dometic Group, said his company is proud to be sponsoring the Caravan Club’s latest Sites Directory and Handbook.

“There is a close synergy between the club’s, and Dometic’s, values and beliefs when it comes to caravanning,” he remarked.

Dometic Group provides a wide range of products for the leisure caravan industry, including generators, refrigerators, rooflights and ventilation systems.

Charity caravan destroyed by arson in Devon

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by Gemma Roskell

A caravan used by a charity as a mobile headquarters has been destroyed by arsonists in the town of Brixham in Devon.

According to the Herald Express newspaper, the vehicle was used by the Brixham Lions charitable trust during several events, including the Dartmouth Regatta.

President John Hulme explained that the caravan often acted as a base for tea and coffee making facilities, and to provide shelter for volunteers.

The fire occurred in the early hours of Friday March 11th behind Central Garage on Milton Street. Firefighters were called to the scene after reports of an explosion. A Ford Transit van was also destroyed in the blaze.

Police are treating the incident as arson and have arrested a 17-year-old male on suspicion of starting the fire.

Mr Hulme said Brixham Lions will be looking to purchase a new caravan in time for this year’s Dartmouth Regatta.

“If we can’t find another caravan closer to the summer we might have to hire something,” he remarked. “That would cost £100 to £150, which is quite expensive.”

VIDEO: Take a tour of the 2011 Lunar Caravans range

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by Marcus Dubois

At Boat and Caravan 2011 one of the star attractions was Lunar Caravans who launched two new lightweight models – the Lexon 550 and the Quasar 464.

Both continue in Lunar’s tradition of keenly priced models with family-friendly layouts. The Lexon 550 is a 5-berth caravan which offers a huge amount of storage with two full-sized double wardrobes.

Meanwhile the Quasar 464 is a smaller 4 berth caravan which can either be used by smaller younger families, or a useful layout for couples if they entertain from time to time.

Holly Tribe caught up with Martin Henderson of Lunar to find out more about the Lexon and Quasar.

‘Community feel’ a big draw for caravanners

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by Gemma Roskell

There are many things that attract people to caravanning, but the community feel of staying on a dedicated touring site is a major draw, according to the Camping and Caravanning Club.

Spokesman Jon Dale said many caravanners actually opt to stay on sites close to home, as they see a caravan break as an opportunity to get together with the family, rather than a chance to take a holiday somewhere new.

“Nowadays people work in different parts of the country and when you are at work every day you don’t get that time to spend with the family,” he explained.

“So when people stay, there is this real community feel about it. People come together when they go on a caravan holiday and embrace the concept.”

The Camping and Caravanning Club owns more than 100 holiday parks across the UK, as well as 1,400 small, privately-run certified sites housing just five caravans, which are available to members only.