Caravan Park manager mulling co-operative model for Scottish site

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by Gemma Roskell

The general manager of a caravan park in Scotland is looking at plans for a buyout by the local community.

According to the Press and Journal, Grant Kerr intends to set up a co-operative through which caravan owners and local people could buy shares in the site.

He believes a community buyout would help the Silver Sands Holiday Park, in the Moray town of Lossiemouth, return to profit.

Mr Kerr said the site has “huge potential” and is confident that his plans, which he claimed are in keeping with David Cameron’s Big Society, will help fulfil it.

He also suggested that a successful buyout may encourage similar business models for other holiday parks, leading to major improvements in their operation.

Silver Sands Holiday Park offers fully-serviced and non-serviced pitches for touring caravans and its facilities include a laundry and a toilet and shower block.

The site also boasts an adventure play park and sports arena, a cafe and chip shop and an on-site mini market.

Caravan to play a leading role in tackling anti-social behaviour

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by Holly Tribe

A caravan has been turned into a multi-use activity centre to help tackle anti-social behaviour in Bradford.

The touring caravan has been modified to feature a cinema, DJ mixing desks, a games station plus a beauty chair for a trained beautician.

According to the Telegraph & Argus, the scheme is being funded by West Yorkshire police and the church funded Eden Project. Located in an area of Bradford which is well known for its problems with drug and anti-social behaviour problems, it will tour the local estate and engage with local young people helping to provide access to new opportunities.

Police Community Support Officer Samia Arif said: “The caravan will provide a way to break down any perceived barriers with young people on the estate and to engage them in a fun and interesting environment.

“By using the caravan as a hub and working from the centre of Buttershaw we can also develop our relationship with the young people of the estate which I am confident will transfer back into the neighbourhoods we police on a daily basis.”

The caravan was launched at the Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College in Bradford this Saturday.

Freedom North East 2000 Caravan Club launch Duck Race for Alzheimers Society

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by Marcus Dubois

Freedom North East 2000 Caravan Club has revealed the date of its popular Freedom Duck Race will be Saturday 4th June 2011, with all funds donated to the Alzheimer’s Society.

The annual event takes place on the River Wear at Stanhope Showground, and brings together hundreds of caravanners for the day’s activities.

For the main event rubber ducks are released into the river, with each duck costing just £1 to sponsor. The owner of the first placed duck wins £100, while the runner up receives £25. And the winner of third place will take home a box of 12 vanilla cupcakes and 12 flapjacks courtesy of local baker Rosie’s Delight. A host of other prizes will be announced nearer the date of the race.

Soak the chairman

A wide range of activities will take place during Duck Day, making the event especially popular with families. Typical fete attractions on offer include tin can alley and hook a duck, while fans of TV show Play Your Cards Right will enjoy “Higher or Lower”.

Yet the standout attraction for some will be “Soak the Chairman”, where Freedom 2000 Club Chairman Neville Simmons will allow members to throw wet sponges and buckets of water at him.

How to attend

Duck Day takes place at Unthank Park in Stanhope (also known as Stanhope Showground) and starts at 11.30am. There is free parking for all visitors, and refreshments are available on the day.

Tickets are available from all Committee members of Freedom 2000 North East Caravan Club. Alternatively you can complete the form available at freedomduckrace.co.uk

Airstream travel trailer embarks on European tour

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by Gemma Roskell

The Airstream Caravan proved its worth recently when a marketing company took the vehicle on an ambitious promotional tour across Europe.

Samuelson Wylie Associates embarked on a gruelling journey that took in 15 cities and covered more than 10,000 miles.

They staged customer and media events along the way on behalf of a US medical company, using the trailer and its awning as their exhibition unit.

Inside, they installed a treatment room as well as luxurious meeting facilities entertaining more than 300 VIPs along the way.

To tow the modified trailer, they chose a Land Rover Discovery 4, insisting that the two vehicles looked “stunning” together and performed “faultlessly”.

During the 59-day journey, the team battled with driving snow, ferocious heat and poorly maintained infrastructure.

“From mountain passes to the atrocious roads between the Finnish border and St Petersburg, the extraordinary engineering and fine build quality of both car and trailer shone through, mile after mile after mile,” they said.

New five-star caravan site planned in Shropshire

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by Gemma Roskell

Plans for a five-star touring caravan site in Shropshire worth around £3 million have been submitted to the local council.

According to Shropshire Live, Morris Leisure is looking to develop the 20-acre site on the outskirts of Ludlow.

If given the go-ahead, the park will be home to 135 touring pitches. Council approval would pave the way for building work to begin this summer.

Morris Leisure, which owns a number of luxury caravan parks in Shropshire and Snowdonia, said the Ludlow development could generate up to £1 million a year for the local economy.

“There is enormous potential for a five star touring park in this area,” said Edward Goddard, managing director of Morris Leisure.

“The riverside location is ideal because it is well screened and peaceful, yet has good access to the old A49 and is within walking distance of the town.”

Morris Leisure has already held a public meeting to communicate its proposals to local people, as well as a two-day exhibition of its plans.

Forest Holidays offers a royal wedding escape for caravanners

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by Gemma Roskell

Some can’t wait to join in the royal wedding celebrations. Others are keen to get as far away from the revelry at possible.

Those in the latter category have been encouraged to take a relaxing break at a Forest Holidays site on April 29th.

The group points out that with Easter falling the weekend before the wedding and an extra bank holiday to enjoy, families could effectively take an 11-day holiday.

Forest Holidays is a partnership between the Forestry Commission and the Camping and Caravanning Club, and offers 21 secluded camping and caravanning sites in some of the UK’s most beautiful woodland.

According to Forest Holidays, “if the dream royal wedding is more your idea of a royal nightmare, there are miles of forest trails ideal for walking or cycling away from it all”.

The organisation can also arrange adventure activities from orienteering and horse riding to high wire and even archery.

Sites are located across England, Scotland and Wales. Popular locations include the Forest of Dean, Glenmore and Norfolk.

REVIEW: Pictures, prices and layout of the Bailey Orion 450/5

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by Holly Tribe

Since its launch last month the Bailey Orion has been mooted as the Bailey Ranger replacement. Yet the compact layouts carry an enhanced level of kit that is more commonly found in pricier ranges.

The largest of the four models is the Orion 450/5; a superb option for families on tour. There’s a dedicated kids room at the rear with an L-shaped dinette and triple bunks on the far side – each with its own window.

Space & Practicality

Despite the new curved rear end, Bailey manages not to lose too much key headroom inside. The ceiling’s slope begins where the triple bunks and kid’s dinette are located which means the reduced headspace is not too noticeable. (Pictured below courtesy of Lady Bailey)

The kids room in the back can be closed off with a retractable partition wall for a bit of extra privacy and there’s a decent amount of storage up front with deep overhead lockers running along each side. The washroom is on the small side, but to fit a twin dinette, triple bunk configuration into a single axle van will mean the odd compromise has to be made.

Equipment & Comfort

There’s a surprising level of kit that comes as standard for this price range. An 800w microwave, CD/MP3/ radio system, and the innovative Whale blown air underfloor heating system are all included in the basic package. The kitchens are well equipped with a 3-burner hob, combination oven/ grill and a 107 litre fridge with a full width freezer section.

Furnishings

The cabinetry is finished with a ‘Walnut’ veneer and the furnishing scheme is in bright, beige fabrics with red accent cushions. There are contrasting beige locker doors to the front and in the kitchen and the overall effect is fresh and modern.

But it’s touches like the Belfast style sink in the washroom, which comes as standard across the whole Alu-Tech series, that gives this caravan a feeling of solidity and polish that can be difficult to achieve in entry level vans.

Safety & Security
AL-KO AKS 3004 stabiliser, AL-KO chassis, AL-KO secure receiver with optional wheel lock. Better weight distribution with the gas locker housing now located above the axle, with the hatch located next to the entrance.

  • Price: £12,995
  • MTPLM: 1,287kg
  • MRO: 1,130kg
  • Axle: single
  • Berth: 5
  • Overall width: 2.19
  • Internal height: 1.96m

Caravan Club publishes Continental Caravanning brochure

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by Gemma Roskell

Families planning caravan holidays in Europe will find all the information they need in the new Continental Caravanning brochure from the Caravan Club.

The 2011 edition contains details of ferry crossings and times for those taking their motor homes overseas, as well as listings for Caravan Club sites.

There is also information on new sites in France, Italy and Croatia. And a variety of discounts are available to Caravan Club members on ferry crossings and touring pitches.

For those who enjoy exploring new places, the brochure features several tours and excursions, including those specifically designed for motor caravanners.

“With its picturesque front cover, it is bursting with beautiful destinations and exceptional offers, providing more travel options than ever and no shortage of inspiration for those touring the continent,” the club stated.

“Long-established relationships with the major ferry operators and over 200 sites ensure the club can offer excellent levels of service at very competitive rates.”

Click here to read the Continental Caravanning e-brochure

TV show by Michael Portillo boosts caravan park popularity

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by Gemma Roskell

A caravan park in Wales is enjoying a boost in popularity thanks to a TV series hosted by former politician Michael Portillo.

According to the North Wales Weekly News, Riverside Touring Park in Betws-y-Coed has been inundated with visitor enquiries since the picturesque village appeared in an episode of Great British Railways.

Mr Portillo stopped off in the rural hamlet during a train journey from Ledbury to Holyhead, visiting the railway museum and the famous waterfall Swallow Falls.

Rosemary Roberts, manager of the Riverside Touring Park, said she is now expecting a record year for the site, with all of its pitches already booked for every bank holiday in 2011.

“Michael Portillo’s programme has certainly put Betws-y-Coed on the map and many of the people who have booked with us have mentioned seeing it,” she remarked. “The programme showed off the village in a very good light.”

Riverside Touring Park lies in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park and has recently been subject to a £4 million refurbishment programme to provide luxury five-star facilities.

It is home to 60 touring pitches, a fully equipped laundry, an on-site shop selling caravan accessories, a baby changing room and full facilities for the disabled.

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Caravan Club sponsors Wildlife Whisperer by Simon King

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by Gemma Roskell

The Caravan Club is hoping to cement its relationship with the natural environment by sponsoring a new online venture called Wildlife Whisperer.

Founded by cameraman and TV presenter Simon King, the internet community wildlifewhisperer.tv seeks to connect people from around the world who share an interest in watching, photographing and filming the natural world.

Users will be able to pick up hints and tips from fellow wildlife enthusiasts on where to spot animals and plants, how to take the perfect picture and which equipment to use.

The Caravan Club said the venture sits well alongside its Boosting Biodiversity programme, which aims to help caravanners make the most of the wildlife and nature around them.

Lawrence Bate, director of marketing at the Caravan Club, said: “The club is pleased to be part of this wonderful project.

“We know our members already have a great affinity with the natural world – how can they not? When you pitch up on a caravan or motor caravan your doorstep becomes a gateway directly to it.”

Despair for caravan towcar owners as petrol prices hit £6 a gallon

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by Marcus Dubois

In the last few weeks Caravan Times has added its voice to the growing number of organisations and individuals protesting against the rising price of fuel. While Britain finds itself still in the throes of recession, the cost of owning and using a towcar is becoming difficult for some households to bear.

And it appears things are not getting easier for caravanners after petrol prices reached a historic high today. For the first time in history prices broke through the £6-a-gallon barrier – and analysts report there will be further increases.

According to the AA, the average price of petrol is now 132.12p a litre. Meanwhile diesel has also made the history books at a record 137.92p a litre. Since the beginning of 2011 the cost of petrol has risen by 6.93p a litre, and the AA revealed it has increased by 1.68p in the last week alone.

Unrest in the Middle East

The motoring organisation calculated that for a family with two petrol cars the monthly cost of fuel has risen from £242.70 in March 2010 to £280.54 today. A number of caravanners are two-car households, owning both a daily runaround and a dedicated towcar vehicle.

While part of the increase can be attributed to rising fuel duty and VAT, the instability in the Middle East and North Africa is a major factor. The price of a barrel of oil has risen sharply from $85 a barrel to $113, and economists believe this is just the beginning.

“The writing’s been on the wall for months”

AA president Edmund King has been an outspoken campaigner on the issue of rising fuel prices, and was disappointed by today’s announcement.


He said: “£6 a gallon is not just another milestone along the road to higher fuel prices, it marks the point at which the wheels start to come off mobility in 21st-century UK.

“Lower-income drivers, poorer rural residents, volunteer drivers, youngsters looking to their first jobs are some of the vulnerable groups struggling to stay on the road.

“The Government must act urgently to reduce the burden of high fuel duty and VAT. In the meantime, drivers are going to have to manage as best as they can, by cutting out journeys, driving more economically and hoping that a stronger pound will cushion some of the blow.

“But these high prices are already leaving casualties among drivers, consumers and business.”

Has the increase in petrol prices stopped you caravanning as much? Click here to have your say in our forum topic

VIDEO: Tour the Elddis Xplore 304 – the UK’s lightest 4 berth caravan

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by Marcus Dubois

The Xplore 304 from Elddis Caravans is the UK’s lightest 4 berth caravan on the market today. Launched at Boat & Caravan 2011, it has proved an instant hit with the caravanning general public.

It follows on from the huge success of the Elddis Xplore 302 launched last year and carries the same popular L-shaped lounge. There’s a second dinette and optional bunk towards the rear, which can be used as a fourth berth or as extra storage depending on the caravanners needs.

Holly Tribe caught up with Elddis’ Commercial Director, Chris Whitham, who talks us through the success of the new layout and explains what makes it a great caravan for couples and young families alike.