Caravan Club helps holidaymakers visit the UK’s free attractions

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by Gemma Roskell

Caravanners hoping to visit some of the UK’s top free attractions this year will find plenty of Caravan Club sites close by.

The group said it has parks near many of the sights on Enjoy England’s list of the best things to see and do in the UK in 2011.

For example, visitors to the Albert Dock in Liverpool, which is home to the Maritime Museum and the Tate Gallery, as well as numerous bars and restaurants, can pitch up in the Wirral Country Park Caravan Club Site.

Eastbourne Pier is another of the attractions to make the list, and the Sheepcote Valley Caravan Club Site is ideally placed for a trip to the Victorian landmark.

Other sites serving great free days out in the UK include the Rowntree Park Caravan Club Site, close to the National Railway Museum in York, and the Lower Clough Foot Caravan Club Site, near Bradford’s National Museum of Photography, Film and Television.

“It’s no secret that VAT increased on January 4th, with consumers no doubt in search of ways to lessen the impact on their wallets,” said the Caravan Club.

“The good news is there are plenty of ways to explore the UK on the cheap, with top attractions opening their doors free of charge.”

REVIEW: Bailey Pegasus Series II – the evolution of a revolution

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by Holly Tribe

Caravan Times was delighted to attend the launch of the next generation Bailey Pegasus last Friday. There have been some major revisions both inside and out, and although there’s now less kit included, a new pricing structure sets models at £1,000 less than their predecessors.

Model numbers have been replaced by Italian cities and the original seven model line-up has been cut back to five 2 – 6 berth options. Along with a couple of revised layouts, there’s a brand new family friendly option which features triple rear bunks next to a nearside end bathroom.

Click here for layouts and specifications of the Bailey Pegasus Series II

What’s new inside?

Looking around the Pegasus Series II, it is clear that the runaway success of the Bailey Unicorn launched last September has influenced many of the design changes.

Critics of the original Pegasus complained about ‘bland and sterile interiors’ and Bailey have paid due care and attention to customer feedback in this respect. Walnut-veneer cabinetry, maroon scatter cushions and curtains are a departure from the more clinical interiors in the Peg I, adding warmth and bringing the range in line with the more popular Unicorn design.

Click here to continue reading “Bailey Pegasus Series II – the evolution of a revolution

Bailey Pegasus Series II – full model specifications and layouts

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by Holly Tribe

The new Bailey Pegasus Series II has seen some major revisions both inside and out, chief of which are the new layouts. The original seven model line-up is reduced to five, and a couple of those have been revised for the second generation, alongside a brand new family friendly option which features triple rear bunks next to an end washroom.

Below we take you through all the specifications and changes, including a diagram of each layout.

Pegasus Genoa

New far-side kitchen layout with large capacity fridge which comes as standard and a new end washroom configuration. This revised layout replaces the Pegasus 462.

  • MTPLM: 1215kg
  • Axle: Single
  • Berth:2
  • Overall Width: 2.28
  • Internal headroom Height: 2.63m

Pegasus Milan

New nearside kitchen layout with large capacity fridge which comes as standard and shares the same washroom configuration as the Genoa. The revised layout replaces the Pegasus 514.

  • MTPLM: 1499kg
  • Axle: Single
  • Berth: 4
  • Overall Width: 2.28
  • Internal headroom Height: 2.63m

Pegasus Verona

A great option for couples with a nearside fixed bed. A partition wall in the bedroom can be extended to offer greater privacy. A useful cut-out blind can be opened to access the cabinet on the other side of the wall which would be the obvious place to set up the TV. The Verona replaces the Pegasus 534.

  • MTPLM: 1490kg
  • Axle: Single
  • Berth:4
  • Overall Width: 2.28
  • Internal headroom Height: 2.63m

Pegasus Ancona

A brand new layout with triple fixed bunks and corner washroom. The twin dinette layout offers great space for family living.

  • MTPLM: 1499kg
  • Axle: Single
  • Berth: 6
  • Overall Width: 2.28
  • Internal headroom Height: 2.63m

Pegasus Bologna

Twin axle, nearside fixed bed end washroom. The spacious top of the range model replaces the Pegasus 624.

  • MTPLM: 1670kg
  • Axle: Twin
  • Berth: 4
  • Overall Width: 2.28
  • Internal headroom Height: 2.63m

Bailey Pegasus Series II – pictures and layouts of new model from Bailey Caravans

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Marcus Dubois and Holly Tribe

Bailey Caravans today unveiled the latest model in its Alu-Tech lineup, and the second generation of the caravan which started it all – meet the Bailey Pegasus Series II.

The second generation of Pegasus models will arrive in February 2011 and will be launched to the public at Boat and Caravan Show 2011 in the same month. Caravan Times was at the press launch of the new Pegasus and we’ll take you through all the major changes and updates below.

When it was first launched two years ago the Pegasus was the pioneer of Bailey’s new Alu-Tech construction. It was touted as a eventual replacement for the Senator model, yet some users failed to embrace the light woods and modern fabrics.

The Bailey Unicorn proved to be the answer to those Senator fans looking for luxury upholstery and fittings – and Bailey today confirmed that the model accounted for 85% of sales in 2010. The Bristol firm has clearly learned from what succeeded on the Unicorn when constructing the Pegasus.

Bailey Pegasus II: what’s new

The new Bailey Pegasus Series II has received significant cosmetic updates to the exterior and interior. New protection has been added in the form of a front bumper made from reinforced ABS. Both this and the new gas locker are the same colour as the body panels.

The Pegasus II sports a new logo and exterior decals, with swirling lines around the sides of the exterior coloured in teal and navy.

The interior has changed significantly with the success of the Unicorn in mind. There are contrasting lockers in the kitchen area and lounge, all made from fine darker woods.

The model lineup is now identified by names rather than numbers: Ancona, Bologna, Genoa, Milan, and Verona. We understand that the 524 and the 646 have now been discontinued.

Most crucially Bailey has confirmed that the price of the Pegasus Series II has been cut by £1000 compared to the old model. This is a strategic move which creates a £2500 price difference between the Pegasus and the Unicorn.

Check back to Caravan Times soon for our first review of the Bailey Pegasus II


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EXCLUSIVE: Bailey Orion – the new entry-level model from Bailey Caravans

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by Marcus Dubois

Bailey Caravans has revealed to Caravan Times the name of its forthcoming entry-level AluTech model – the Bailey Orion.

The Ranger replacement will be the affordable model in the Bailey caravan line-up and completes the Alu-Tech range offered by Bailey.

Our features writer Holly Tribe spoke to Bailey managing director Nick Howard who confirmed the news at the launch of the new Bailey Pegasus Series II.

He revealed he spent the last few months testing the Bailey Orion in a variety of conditions with his family .

Why the Orion is crucial to Bailey

Since its introduction in 2009, the Alu-Tech construction platform has revolutionised Bailey’s offering. Since then Bailey has gradually phased out its “classic construction” models to keep a full line-up available to the public. And so the entry-level Ranger was the last of the original caravans to retire.

The Bailey Orion will fill the space left by the Ranger, and will prove popular with families and couples looking for a tourer to suit their budget.

If you’d like to hear the latest caravan news first and comment in our forums, then you can join our caravan community here.

As it happened: Launch of Pegasus Series II from Bailey Caravans

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by Marcus Dubois

Caravan Times is providing live updates and the first photos from the launch of the Bailey Pegasus Series II today(Friday 14 January).

The Bailey Pegasus Series II is expected to make its debut at the NEC in Birmingham this February and will contain a number of revisions to the original Pegasus launched in September 2009.

Read below to follow our live updates throughout the day. Latest updates will appear first in the timeline.

To refresh the story and receive new updates please press the F5 button – thank you.

14.00 The official launch of the Bailey Pegasus Series II has now come to a close. A big thank you to everyone who has followed us today and sent in their photos and thoughts.

You can click here to join the Caravan Times community where we have forums, photo galleries and caravanning groups. And a reminder as well that you can follow us on Twitter @caravantimes for all the latest news.

13.55 And here’s the full photo gallery from the Bailey Pegasus launch which we promised you earlier.

13.49 It’s worth noting that in simplifying the lineup from seven models down to five, Bailey has dropped two of the previous Pegasus layouts. The 524 and the double axle 646 have now been discontinued.

13.46 Caravan Times features writer Holly Tribe is currently speaking to the Camping and Caravanning Club’s technical manager Andy Morgan who is giving his thoughts on the Bailey Pegasus II. You can see this in our video feature on the Pegasus II available next week.

13.36 Our photo gallery from the Pegasus II launch will appear here shortly. And we’ll be here with you until 2pm, when the launch officially finishes. The caravans will then be immediately transported to Manchester.

13.29 Will try and get some of your comments up on our live coverage, starting with Caravan Times reader Lucy McCabe who emailed us her thoughts:

“Hiya, thanks for all the info and pics. I live not too far from Bailey HQ and was hoping to catch a glimpse of these. but no such luck until today! Think it looks very smart, the interior is a real step up from the last model.”

13.21 Time for another photo I think. Our photographer Lee Lester has taken a close up of how the new window arrangement looks on the Pegasus. Those familiar with the old design will immediately notice that the new Pegasus has a single window frame divided into three, instead of three separate windows. We’ll do a side-by-side comparison in our main feature article this weekend.

13.12 Apologies for the short delay in posting: had a little argument with some sandwich packaging, now resolved. Back to the Pegasus Series II launch.

12.57 If you’ve been following our coverage of the Bailey Pegasus Series II launch, then we’d love to know what you think of the newest Alu-Tech range.

Click here to share your thoughts in our Bailey Pegasus Series II forum topic.

12.45 It’s been quite a day for us – not only have we taken our first look at the new Bailey Pegasus Series II, but we can also confirm we now know what the new entry level Bailey caravan will be called. We’ll post more on this story later today.

12.39 A big thank you once again goes to Chris Gage of Lowdhams Leisure who has posted images of the Pegasus II layouts in our community.

From what we can see, the Pegasus has a brand new layout – the Ancona. It’s a single axle caravan with a triple bunk in the rear, and also features a transverse end washroom.

Click here to see those pictures of the Bailey Pegasus Series II layouts.

12.14 It’s just after midday here at the launch of the Bailey Pegasus Series II and time for a quick roundup of what we’ve learned so far:

The new Bailey Pegasus Series II has received significant cosmetic updates to the exterior and interior. New protection has been added in the form of a front bumper made from reinforced ABS. Both this and the new gas locker are the same colour as the body panels.

The Pegasus II sports a new logo and exterior decals, with swirling lines around the sides of the exterior coloured in teal and navy.

The interior has changed significantly with the success of the Unicorn in mind. There are contrasting lockers in the kitchen area and lounge, all made from fine darker woods.

The model lineup is now identified by names rather than numbers: Ancona, Bologna, Genoa, Milan, and Verona. We understand that the 524 and the 646 have now been discontinued.

11.58 Amazing news for buyers of the new Pegasus: Bailey has confirmed that the price of the Pegasus Series II has been cut by £1000 compared to the old model. This is a strategic move which creates a £2500 price difference between the Pegasus and the Unicorn.

11.48 Caravan Times features writer Holly Tribe has confirmed she will be interviewing Nick Howard, Managing Director of Bailey, for Caravan Times TV. You can see this interview and our full video feature on the Bailey Pegasus Series II next week on our website.

11.30 Take a look at this photograph of the lounge area of the Bailey Pegasus Series II – it confirms our theory that the new Peggy is being positioned as a “baby Unicorn” in terms of quality and styling. Note the stylish catches on the lockers and the darker woods used throughout.

11.20 Here’s what everyone has been waiting for – the first close up picture of the new front bumper protection on the Pegasus II. The styling was first seen on the Unicorn last July and takes its lead from the flagship.

We believe the new bumper is made from a reinforced ABS material and extends around the corner edges of the front to protect it from road chippings. Two stripes in Pegasus colours of teal and navy finish off each side. Have a look below:

11.00 Assembled guests of Bailey and caravan press are now taking their first look around the Bailey Pegasus Series II. Lots of positive reactions to the new changes.

10.50The front gas locker on the Pegasus II has now been colour-coded to match the front exterior of the caravan.

10.35 Caravan Times photographer Lee Lester notes that “Accordion blinds appear to be an additional change to the interior of the new Pegasus”. Here’s a quick look below at the new blinds:

10.30 If you missed our photo gallery of the spy shots sent to us, click here to jump to the gallery at the bottom of the page.

10.24 We’ve now got our first pictures of the Pegasus II from the event. The front window arrangement has changed from three separate windows to more of a “panel” configuration. Pictures will be with you here shortly.

10.10 If you’re a Twitter user you can always follow us here @caravantimes. And if you really love Twitter, we have a hashtag for the event – #baileypegasus. Do forgive us, we’re a little excited here.

10.03 Caravan Times features writer Holly Tribe is at the presentation of the Bailey Pegasus Series II.

She confirms that the number designations featured on the first generation of Pegasus have changed to names. The new Pegasus models are named after Italian cities and are called Ancona, Bologna, Genoa, Milan, and Verona. This echoes the naming system first introduced on the Unicorn last year, where models are named after famous Spanish cities.

09.41

A Caravan Times reader from Lowdhams Leisure very kindly sent us these revealing spy shots of a prototype Pegasus II Verona model. There are a number of revisions on the new Pegasus which are clearly visible – we’ll be taking you through them in more detail after the official presentation from Bailey.

The front view indicates that the bumper protection first introduced on the Unicorn has been carried over to the Pegasus. Additionally the graphics and logos have been updated, and the side panels sport large decals in two tones of blue.

09.30am Welcome to our coverage of the launch of the Bailey Pegasus Series II. It’s been almost two years since Bailey Caravans unveiled the Pegasus, the first in its revolutionary range of Alu-Tech caravans. Featuring a new build construction using aluminium and with a revised and modern styling, the pioneer was soon joined by other models in the Alu-Tech lineup.

Once a second Alu-Tech model, the Bailey Olympus was well received in 2010, the firm soon moved into the luxury end of caravans with the popular Bailey Unicorn. With fresh exterior styling and a sumptuous interior the Unicorn has been immensely popular especially with loyal Bailey owners fond of the classic Senator.

As such we understand that the Pegasus Series II draws upon the success of the Unicorn. Expect fresh styling, new graphics, higher quality interior fabrics, and greater front protection.

GALLERY: Spy shots of Bailey Pegasus Series II (with thanks to Lowdhams Leisure)


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Bailey Caravans offer free special upgrades for Pegasus

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by Marcus Dubois

Bailey Caravans has teamed up with a selection of retailers across the UK to offer complimentary special upgrades for buyers of the Bailey Pegasus.

For a limited period only Bailey are offering free items when customers purchase a new Bailey Pegasus caravan from participating retailers.

Listed as three option packs, the freebies on offer range from bespoke bedding sets to a free caravan mover.

Bailey Pegasus Plus: Added Value Special Offers

Option 1 is a bespoke caravan bedding set (RRP £199) which can be co-ordinated with any of the three soft furnishing schemes. Alternatively a chest of drawers unit with slide out table is offered as a free upgrade.

Option 2 is strictly limited in availability and includes a fitted Fiamma Deluxe Grey Awning Canopy (RRP £820).

Option 3 is also strictly limited in availability and is a free fitted Truma S Motor Mover (RRP £1,140). Buyers should note that the Truma mover is suitable for single axle Pegasus models only.

New Bailey Pegasus on the way

Tomorrow Bailey will launch the second generation of its best-selling tourer. The Bailey Pegasus Series II will carry a host of interior and exterior upgrades to bring it in line with the flagship Bailey Unicorn.

The very existence of a second generation of Pegasus, so soon after the first edition, is an indication of just how far Bailey’s Alu-Tech range has come since its launch in 2009.

Yet the original Pegasus is still a pioneering caravan which offers an industry-leading warranty and an aluminium-based construction method. Potential buyers may therefore be looking to snap up the last bargains.

Check back tomorrow (Friday 14th January) for live updates from the launch of the Bailey Pegasus Series II

Kia Sorento wins Best Towcar award at Caravan Times Readers Poll 2010

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by Marcus Dubois and Holly Tribe

2010 was another superb year for the caravan industry with a significant number of new caravan models launched. We felt it important to hear the views and opinions of our readers when creating our first awards. And so we invited Caravan Times readers to put forward their favourite tourers, parks, towcars and dealers of 2010 in the first ever Caravan Times Reader’s Poll.

Throughout the week we’ve been announcing the category winners, and today we look at one of the closest fought battles in our poll – the award for the Caravan Times Reader’s Best Towcar of 2010.

A big thank you for all of your suggestions which covered a range of towcar classes. Despite regular family cars such as the Volkswagen Golf and Fiat Doblo being shortlisted, it was the SUV class which quickly rose to the top. The Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover, Kia Sorento and Kia Sportage all pulled in votes due to superior towing capability and heavier kerbweight.

Range Rover vs Kia Sorento

As votes started to total up quickly, the battle became a straight duel between the Range Rover and the Kia Sorento. Both are large SUVs yet vastly different in price and capability. The Range Rover is a British institution and a remarkable vehicle which exists in a class of its own. It offers limousine-like refinement for such an enormous car, yet boasts superb capability off-road. No 4×4 has such a prestigious image – but cost is always an issue. Even the TDV8 diesel Range Rover has eye-watering running costs.

As such the Kia Sorento may be a coarser vehicle but it boasts a versatility of its own. A fine new diesel engine and six-speed transmission means class-leading economy, and the new suspension mean the Kia also handles like a car rather than a van. And while the towing capacity is less than the old Sorentos the Kia still remains a fantastic towcar.

And so by the narrowest of margins the Kia Sorento was awarded Best Towcar 2010 in the Caravan Times Reader’s Poll.

Kia Sorento: Best Towcar of 2010

Winner of the Caravan Club’s Towcar of the Year Award 2006 the Kia Sorento has become a growing favourite among caravanners over the last few years. Well known for its ability to tow large trailers and caravans, the latest 2011 model Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-3 has a braked towing capacity of 2,500kg. Comfortable for passengers with acres of space for extra luggage, voters may also have praised the Kia for its versatility as a great seven seater family car.

Five-star caravan park being planned in Shropshire

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by Gemma Roskell

Caravanners may soon be able to enjoy a little luxury when travelling to Shropshire, as plans are underway to build a five-star touring park in the county.

According to the Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertiser, the site would be located on the outskirts of Ludlow and would accommodate over 100 pitches across 20 acres of land between the A49 and the River Teme.

Morris Leisure intends to submit a planning application for the caravan park in February next year following a local consultation.

Edward Goddard, managing director at the group, told the newspaper that Ludlow is now recognised as a national tourism destination and insisted there is a “pressing need” for a quality touring site near the town.

“We believe we have found an ideal riverside location for the park because it is well screened and peaceful, yet with good access to the old A49 and within walking distance of the town,” he remarked.

Morris Leisure already operates several five-star sites across the Shropshire countryside and the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales.

Stolen caravan tracked via helicopter

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by Gemma Roskell

Police used a helicopter to track down a caravan that had been taken from its owner’s drive in Doncaster, a court has heard.

According to the South Yorkshire Star, a 43-year-old man pleaded guilty to handling the stolen vehicle last summer.

However, the court accepted that he had not been responsible for its actual theft, which was witnessed by the caravan’s owner Michelle Love-Edwards.

Tony Nettleton had been towing the caravan when he realised he was being followed by a police chopper.

He then pulled over into a lay-by, where he waited for officers to arrest him.

Prosecutor Neil Coxon said Mr Nettleton had taken a “pragmatic decision” knowing he was unlikely to escape with a helicopter following his movements.

The defendant told police he had been offered £50 to tow the caravan from Adwick-on-Dearne to nearby Balby, where he was due to meet two other men.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order with a drug rehabilitation condition.

Caravan Times Readers Poll 2010: Winners of Best Park and Dealer categories

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by Holly Tribe and Marcus Dubois

At the end of 2010 we asked Caravan Times readers to vote for their favourite caravans, parks, dealers and towcars in the inaugural Caravan Times Reader’s Poll.

Generally award ceremonies tend to have judging panels comprising of industry figures or journalists. Yet we at Caravan Times feel that the most important views are from the actual users of caravans and facilities. We wanted to give you the readership the chance to give credit where due, and celebrate the best of 2010.

This week we have been announcing the winners of each category. Today we look at which caravan park and dealer became winners of their awards.

Bunree Caravan Club Site: Best Caravan Park of 2010

We had some great suggestions in the ‘Best Caravan Park’ category – ranging from smaller independent sites to specialist parks like the adults only Sommers Wood.

However Best Caravan Park 2010 was the Bunree Caravan Club Site in Fort William. Situated on the banks of Loch Linnhe, caravanners making the journey to the Eastern reaches of the Scottish coast are compensated for their efforts with breathtaking views across the Loch and beyond to the mighty Ben Nevis.

With its five star rating from the Scottish tourist board it proved to be a worthy winner. Click here for more information on the Bunree Caravan Club Site.

Bardsea Leisure: Dealer of the Year 2010

Dealer of the Year 2010 was awarded to Bardsea Leisure, an independent firm located in the southern reaches of the Lake District. The firm have a range of new and used caravans, motorhomes and accessories on sale from their premises in the Furness Peninsula.

Yet Bardsea are worthy winners as they offer a complete experience for the caravan shopper. The premises double up as an attractive touring park set in ten acres of landscaped grounds. Customers are awarded a free two night stay at the park while handing over their caravan.

Click here for more information on Bardsea Leisure.

Congratulations to both winners, and a big thank you to all our readers who sent in emails and voted for their favourites in the forum.

Look out tomorrow for the results of Best Towcar of 2010 – as voted for by Caravan Times readers.

The UK’s most expensive static caravan

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by Holly Tribe

Caravan enthusiasts may grumble about the ever increasing price tags on their favourite leisure vehicles, but how about this – BBC North West Wales has reported a static caravan has been sold for a whopping £550,000.

In what has to be the country’s most expensive seasonal pitch, the beach front lodge on wheels is located in The Warren, an exclusive seaside destination in Abersoch, North Wales.

The resort is supposedly favoured by the soap stars and footballers of Cheshire’s glitterati and has its own private access to the beach.

‘The Great British holiday has evolved’

Jim Gandon, Sales and Marketing director of the Haulfryn Group which owns the Warren explains what you get for a £0.5+ million static caravan: “Underfloor heating and reflective double glazing which keeps the heat out in summer and in during the winter.”

There is also luxury Italian furniture and a top of the range kitchen,” he told the BBC.

The static caravan comes with a twenty year lease and the new owner, who remains anonymous, will be able to spend this time taking advantage of the unobstructed coastal views surrounding the holiday home.

“We don’t shy away from the fact it’s a static caravan. That’s the heritage of the holiday park. The great British holiday has evolved and we should embrace that,” Mr Gandon added.