The Caravan Club adds classified service to website

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The Caravan Club have added a new classified ads service to their website which will allow users to search for 1000s of caravanning items for sale.

The Club have teamed up with Caravan Selecta which is part of the Friday-Ad Group – the UK’s fastest growing caravan finder. The service is built for potential customers to easily track down new or used caravans and accessories.

Placing adverts is free of charge, with the added benefit of ads appearing on both the Caravan Club’s classified section and the Caravan Selecta website.

The service is open to both members and non-members, but ads submitted from paid up members of the Caravan Club will be demarcated with the CC logo.

The Club’s head of Commerce Natasha MacDonald hopes the new service will be popular with site users. “Over the past few months The Club’s website team has been working hard to deliver what we believe will be a very popular addition to our online member services.

“Placing an ad on Caravan Club Classifieds is a simple process. Members can use their Club website login and ads will appear online within minutes, reaching a wide audience.”

Are you a member of the Caravan Club? Check out our community pages dedicated to Caravan Club Centres across the UK.

Innovative security features for new Bailey Unicorn

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With over £45million worth of motorhomes and caravans stolen every year, Bailey Caravans are committed to providing their customers with the most up to date security devices available to the market.

The all-new Bailey Unicorn series, due to be launched in September, will give customers a limited edition range of models equipped with industry leading safety and security devices.

The Unicorn range will be fitted with a TRACKER Monitor Stolen Caravan Recovery system which will be offered subscription free for the first twelve months. The newly TQA approved tracking system has a sophisticated movement sensor, which notifies TRACKER if the vehicle is illegally moved. Once alerted of an illegal movement the customer is contacted to confirm whether the vehicle has been stolen. The company estimates over £400million worth of stolen vehicles have been recovered using the system, making it a worthy addition.

A combination of anti-snaking AL-KO products are fitted as standard to facilitate trouble free-towing. To compliment the pre-existing AL-KO AKS 3004 stabiliser and AL-KO shock absorbers already fitted on Pegasus and Olympus models, Bailey will also continue to provide the AL-KO ATC Trailer Control system for added towing stability.

Other key security features include a new TRACKER intruder alarm, unseen on previous models and an AL-KO Secure portable wheel lock; two of which will be included with twin-axle models.

Bailey is committed to helping customers protect their investment and the enhanced security features can help significantly lower insurance premiums.

The brand new Unicorn range is due to arrive at dealerships from the 1st of September, and full product details will be available on our Bailey Unicorn page from the 12th August.

Catterick Caravan dealership undergoes massive expansion

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by Holly Tribe

One-stop superstore Catterick Caravans Outdoor Leisure World has opened its doors to the public after a major refit, to reveal an enormous 8 acre retail site.

After purchasing three acres of adjoining land last October, the company has significantly expanded its operations at the site in Richmond, Yorkshire. The mega-store now stocks everything from caravans and motorhomes to tents and camping equipment.

The renovated complex also acts as a caravan dealership, holding the franchise to leading manufacturers Swift, Buccaneer, T@B, Sterling, Lunar and Sprite caravans. Up to thirty new models can now be viewed by customers in a gleaming, purpose-built caravan showroom.

Doubling the size of their outside forecourt area, Catterick Caravans now have room to display even more new and used caravans. The added square footage has allowed them to expand their stock of recreational vehicles which now includes two ranges of Swift Group motorhomes, the Mondial and Escape tourers.


This well timed expansion reflects the significant rise of Brits staying in the UK for their holidays. With more holidaymakers than ever looking for a cheaper alternative, Catterick looks set to cash in on the growing ‘staycation’ trend. The 25,000 foot superstore houses trailer tents from Pyramid, Sunncamp, and Trigano, and a heated indoor showroom displays more that 25 models of awnings, porches, and canopies from leading manufacturers.

Despite its size, the company is still family run after 26 years, and Chris and Matthew Kinsell head up a team of dedicated staff.

Commenting on the developments Matthew Kinsell, Sales Director said: “This exciting expansion has been welcomed by both staff and customers alike. We want to be the number one destination in the North, offering both choice and value for money to our customers”.

Matthew added: “It is important to note that whilst we’ve grown our facilities, we are still small enough to care, and we continue to maintain our traditional family values”.

The team of experienced staff are available to advise on the vast array of merchandise. If you’re new to touring they can also offer a caravan hire service, giving would-be caravanners a chance to ‘try before you buy’.

To celebrate the opening, Catterick Caravans Outdoor Leisure World will be running a range of offers throughout July, and Swift customers can look out for the new 2011 Swift Charisma and Sterling Europa models due to arrive from mid-August.

Worcestershire set to host Three Counties Caravan and Motorhome Show

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by Marcus Dubois

Last year saw an unprecedented rise in the number of caravanners taking to the road during the “staycation boom”, yet the increase in numbers can prove favourable as manufacturers compete for a share of the larger market. And at this year’s round of caravan shows there may well be discounts on offer from dealers as the newer models begin to filter onto forecourts.

With this in mind, the Three Counties Caravan and Motorhome Show is taking place in Malvern’s Three Counties Showground from September 30th to October 3rd. There is an impressive range of manufacturers in attendance including Swift, Lunar, Bailey, Elddis, Cotswold Motor Caravans, Coachman and Buccaneer.

It is likely that caravan buyers will get their first proper look at the newest offers from two of the industry’s giants. Bailey Caravans are set to unveil their premium Alu-Tech model in a strictly limited edition. Called the Bailey Unicorn, no images have been made public but it is a much rumoured replacement for the now discontinued Senator range. Meanwhile Swift Caravans will reveal significant redesigns to their Charisma and Sterling Europa ranges.

Sponsored by Golden Castle Leisure Group, the event offers free parking and a chance to catch up on all the latest caravan industry news. Billed as “the UK’s premiere touring event”, the show will see visitors handed discounts on many 2010 and used models.

In addition to the manufacturer showcases there will also be a trade village showcasing awnings and other caravan-related products – as well as a dedicated accessory shop for picking up the smaller essentials.

Under 18s are allowed in for free, with adults paying just £5 for a pass. To purchase tickets for the event click here

Caravanning Brits leave son stranded at Swiss petrol station

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A British couple on a caravanning holiday in Europe drove off leaving their son at a petrol station in Switzerland.

According to the Daily Mail the couple pulled over at a Swiss service station assuming their 12 year old son was asleep in the caravan behind them. However once stationary, the boy had got out of the trailer to stretch his legs. The pair then drove off whilst their son was still inside the shop.

After twenty minutes, they pulled over to check on their boy when it dawned on them he was no longer in the cabin. Two hours later, after making several wrong turns, the couple finally returned to the petrol station to find their son in the safe hands of service station staff.

A service station worker told Le Matin newspaper: “‘He was very calm about it all, saying his parents were often “forgetful” and that he was sure they’d be back to get him soon.”

Whilst all’s well that ends well on this occasion, the story prompted Caravan Times to look at the dangers of touring with passengers travelling aboard the caravan instead of the towcar.

Aside from the risk of leaving your nearest and dearest behind, caravans simply aren’t built with the same level of body protection and safety features afforded in towcars. Cross winds or an incorrectly loaded caravan can spell disaster. It is an unfortunate reality that caravans are occasionally prone to jack-knifing or overturning in adverse conditions, causing great damage and heartache to the owners.

Sitting up front in the towcar is a far safer option. If seatbelts or child seats are fitted then it is the law that passengers must wear them. Most modern cars have airbags installed not only in the drivers side, but also around passenger seats and new car models are put through rigorous front and side impact tests to ensure the highest level of crumple protection possible.

The National Trailer and Towing Association states it is illegal to allow passengers to travel inside the caravan. Pets are allowed inside the trailer, although this is not recommended as safe practice. So, to avoid rogue children disappearing at service stations, or the more serious matter of keeping passengers as safe as possible in the event of an accident, make sure your brood sits up front in the towcar.

Do you think the law banning passengers from travelling inside the caravan is fair? Let us know in our forum topic here

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Clarkson rants about caravans (again) in Top Gear motorhome special

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by Marcus Dubois and Holly Tribe

Regular watchers of Top Gear will be familiar with the caravan’s star role as pantomime villain. The team behind the hugely popular motoring show have enjoyed a love-hate relationship with the vehicles over the years, and a caravan is often used for comedy stunts. It all started in the third season when a stuntman for the BBC programme challenged the record set by Channel Five’s Fifth Gear…for the number of caravans a Volvo estate could jump over. The stunt ended in comic failure however when the car nosedived off the ramp, destroying three caravans.

Years later the trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond seemed to be warming to the lifestyle after a special episode where the trio took a camping trip to Dorset. The show ended in more wanton destruction however, with a staged chip pan fire ending in the caravan burning to the ground. And last year their latest stunt backfired when they turned a caravan into an airship, and it promptly crashed into a field near a busy road.

Last weekend was yet another instalment in poking fun when Clarkson, May and Hammond bought vehicles to turn them into caricatures of motorhomes. The show’s producers set the challenge to create designs of such superior quality that “it would rid the country of “the motorhome menace”. The presenters would then drive their self-built constructions to a caravan park in Cornwall.

A tower block on wheels

The trio’s imaginations ran riot when designing their motorhomes. Richard Hammond converted a classic Land Rover Defender by adding a stone-effect extension complete with a working toilet affixed to the passenger seat. And taking inspiration from US RVs he installed slide-out side panels to house a games room and pop-up library.

James May (aka ‘Captain Slow’) surprisingly opts for the fastest mode of transport: a Lotus with accommodation inspired by ‘pioneer aviator lightweight design’. (Or in other words, a roof box with a sleeping bag). Clarkson however takes it to literally another level with a three storey construction atop his Citroen. A minimalist white box that could have come from Grand Designs, it featured a ground floor Japanese contemplation area, two hammocks upstairs and full cooking facilities with a grill. Yet predictably it became an unwieldy monster when in transit.

“Wouldn’t we be happier in a caravan?”

Once on the road, an unending catalogue of disasters unfolded: near misses with bridges, collapsing walls, and snaking that would turn the strongest stomach of even the hardiest caravanner. Despite Clarkson’s publicised hatred of caravans, as he struggled on the motorway in his three-storey monstrosity (with reams of traffic backing up ) he wondered aloud if he wouldn’t be happier towing one of the caravans he ridicules. “I don’t think we’ve sped up caravanning, have we?” he muttered to co-presenter Richard Hammond.

Once on the campsite itself the challenge unravels completely as the only ‘motorhome’ still standing belongs to James May. Hammond’s roof had fallen in on his ‘pop-up library’, whilst Clarkson’s three-story rig had totally capsized. And as is tradition, the climax of the show saw yet another recreational vehicle destroyed after being hurled off the side of a cliff. Clarkson co-signed the experiment as a “wretched failure” before adding: “Britain will continue to be strangled by the glass fibre menace of the caravans.”

“Clogging up the British countryside”

Of particular interest was where Clarkson took a predictable pop at caravanners. “As we know, caravans are a menace. We all know that. And the reason for this is very simple. Nobody who tows a caravan has had any training. Which means they’re a bit frightened. Which means they drive slowly. And that means they clog up the British countryside all summer long.”

We spoke to the Caravan Club, the UK’s largest providers of caravan training, to find out what they thought of Clarkson’s assertion that caravanners are untrained and nervous road users. Head of PR Nikki Nichol said “As everyone is aware, Top Gear is an entertaining motoring magazine programme and caravanners like a laugh as much as the next person. However we would like to point out that The Caravan Club puts 2,500 willing caravanners through its training courses every year. But then again, why let the facts get in the way of a good story!”

No mod cons?

Later Clarkson showed further ignorance of the lifestyle during an interview with Andy Garcia where the Hollywood star revealed he owns a 34-foot Airstream trailer. While initially seeming enthused with the comment “the thing about an Airstream is, it looks very good”, he then countered this by claiming owners were forced to relieve themselves in a bucket. Of course many are aware that all modern Airstream trailers feature fully-fitted bathroom suites.

Perhaps the boys on Top Gear should leave recreational vehicles to the thousands of caravanners who know what they’re doing.

What did you think of the show? Click here to watch the episode of Top Gear (broadcast Sunday 18 July)

How vintage caravans became cool

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by Holly Tribe

A sub-culture of kitsch caravanning has been quietly making a name for itself in interior design circles over the last few years, with a new community of retro and vintage caravanners at the forefront of cool. A plethora of boutique shops are popping up all over the country which celebrate the patterns and styles that bedecked many a caravan in the 50’s and 60’s.

In amongst the ironic haircuts and too-cool swagger of London’s trendy East End sits the aptly named ‘Caravan’ boutique in Shoreditch. The modish emporium is the brain-child of stylist Emily Chalmers, and is filled with merchandise influenced by the bohemian, caravanning scene. Swallows and butterflies festoon the interior, which is reminiscent of a bustling Parisian flea market.

Blogger extraordinaire – Happy Loves Rosie – has taken the trend one step further to completely renovate her 1952 Vintage Holivan using vintage pieces picked up at car boot and jumble sales. Her trademark bright and cheery designs are used to create an amusingly whimsical interior, decorated with old hand-stitched textiles and reconditioned furniture.

If you want to experience the shabby chic environs with a fun, environmentally sustainable holiday – book a couple nights at La Rosa in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Everything on the 20 acre campsite is reclaimed or recycled. Each of their vintage caravans is decorated with a different theme in mind to include vintage fabrics and kitsch decorations. The sites’ owners call it a “fantasy land, full of nostalgia, romance and all things kitsch, camp and bohemian”. The site can accommodate up to sixteen people.

Heading further afield, check out one of the many roulottes, or covered gypsy wagons, that have been emerging at independent sites across France. These luxury Romany-inspired mobile lodgings are often lovingly hand painted, decorated with luxurious furnishings and set up for self catered holidays. The quaint caravans can be spotted amid the landscaped gardens of private homes and inns, and are used as a quirky guesthouse alternative.


They come under the banner ‘Habitation Légère de Loisir’, or ‘Light Leisure Dwellings’ and as such require only a parking permit, making them a convenient way to add extra space for holidaymakers and avoiding the red tape of a permanent structure. Roulottes de Campagne list a selection of static roulottes for a Bohemian getaway in the French countryside.

Prefer to be on the move and a little closer to home? Do you own a vintage caravan and fancy meeting up with like-minded retro-vanners? Vintage at Goodwood will be held from the 13th to the 15th August, and will showcase music, merchandise, fashion, art and food from the last six decades.

There will be special levels of camping – with an area designated for vintage caravan enthusiasts. The organisers are seeking out an array of vintage ‘vans which will become a part of the festival for appreciative spectators to swoon over.

You can read the Caravan Times interview with top celebrity interior designer Linda Barker here

Bailey Unicorn: travel all year round

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The impending release of the newest addition to the Bailey family has been the subject of much speculation.

The Unicorn will be the third range from Bailey to sport the Alu-Tech body and the very first to have a brand new heating system.

Bailey’s new series is expected to sit at the top of their portfolio and will have an advanced heating system to match its superior design.

The Alde Compact 3010 Wet Central Heating System will come fitted as standard in both single and twin axle models. It is reputed to distribute an even temperature throughout the caravan, control ambient humidity and reduce the circulation of dust and allergen particles.

The unit, designed to be energy efficient, is powered by a 12v circulator making it ideal for running both at serviced pitches and locations without mains hook-up. A small current draws the heating fluid through the pipes and distributes up to 3kw of heat evenly throughout the cabin via integrated radiators, there’s even a heated towel rail in the bathroom.

Arguably the principal benefit of the new system is its near silent running capability – which allegedly won’t wake you up in the night, or annoy your neighbours!

The compact heating system doesn’t require a fire unlike the Truma Ultraheat which currently fitted in the Pegasus and Olympus models, freeing up precious storage space.

The Alu-Tech built caravans have achieved the Grade III Classification of Thermal Insulation EN1645-I. The heating system is designed to compliment the thermal properties of the Alu-Tech body shell -which is up to 40 per cent thicker than other caravans.

The heating system is supplemented with additional insulation around notorious cold spots making the Bailey Unicorn warm in winter and cool in summer. The Unicorn looks set to be more economical to run and a seriously efficient all season tourer.

South Wales Caravan Club site brings millions to local economy

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by Holly Tribe

A South Wales caravan park has brought in a whopping £3.1million into the local economy over the last five years.

According to the South Wales Argus, caravanners staying at the Tredegar House Country Park Caravan Club Site are responsible for injecting £3.1 million pounds into the region, spending their holiday cash at local shops, restaurants and businesses.

The Tregedar House warden Pip Crane runs the site with his wife Nadine. He told the South Wales Argus: “With around 200 visitors here at any one time, we are a big contributor to the local economy. We are rarely less than half full at any time, and that’s usually in the middle of the week. At weekends, we’re very often full.”

The Caravan Club site is conveniently located within a mile of the M4 and is within striking distance of both Newport and Cardiff. The sites’ eighty pitches are set in seven acres of land which boasts an exquisite ornamental lake, walled gardens and a 17thC orangery. Mr Crane added: “This area has it all. It really is the gateway to Wales and has access to all that the south east of Wales can offer.”

With Newport named as the host city for this years Ryder Cup golf tournament this autumn, Mr Crane explains that the site’s eighty pitches are already fully booked: “All eighty pitches are already filled for the event, some of them to people who work behind the scenes at the tournament.”

Wales has a history of being a popular destination amongst caravanners. The new director general of the Caravan Club, Nick Lomas, recently met with the Welsh Assembly tourism minister, Alun Ffred Jones, to draw attention to the economic benefits of having twenty Caravan Club sites across Wales.

Mr Lomas said: “”The Caravan Club’s research shows that each year their members bring around £22m into Wales and, when this is added to The club’s direct infrastructural investment of nearly £1m a year, the five-year tally for the economy of Wales bursts comfortably through the £100m mark”.

Firefighter’s stolen caravan returned

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by Chris Malone

A Chelmsford fireman has been reunited with his caravan after it was stolen from a garage while in for repairs.

According to the Chelmsford Weekly News, Mick Weald’s motorhome went missing at around 08:00 BST on July 7th.

However, it was later found by police in Pertwee Drive and returned to its rightful owner, who will now use it to take his kids on holiday this summer.

The cream-coloured vehicle is said to be worth around £2,000 and is Mr Weald’s “pride and joy”.

“My daughter cried when it was taken, but now is happy again,” he told the newspaper. “It is an old vehicle and quite distinctive.”

Police are searching for a suspect with cropped hair and a tattoo on his neck. He is said to be of slim build and around 18 years old.

Mr Weald explained that having a caravan suits his lifestyle, noting that when he has free time he just takes off on holiday.

New SiteSeeker website launched

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Caravan enthusiasts should now find it easier to decide where to spend their holidays in the UK.

The SiteSeeker campsite search website offered by the Camping and Caravanning Club has undergone major improvements and has been relaunched in the past month.

According to ebusiness manager Tamsin Smyth, the revamp was aimed at making the site more functional and of greater benefit to users.

While the SiteSeeker application previously allowed just 18 search options, caravan owners can now adjust up to 40 variables when searching for their perfect pitch.

“It has never been easier for members and non-members to select their perfect site,” Ms Smyth said.

“We have worked relentlessly to complete SiteSeeker and we are confident that this latest development will speed up the site selection process.”

There are now 2,300 campsites listed on the online resource, meaning that there is no shortage of options for the website’s 175,000 unique visitors per month. You can find the new website at www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/siteseeker/

In other news, Parkdean Holidays recently suggested that mobile home owners visit one of its six Scottish caravan sites, which offer access to stunning coastal and countryside locations.

Caravan Club believes MPs should love caravans

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By Holly Tribe

The Caravan Club have found a new way of charting the success of Caravan Club sites across the UK.

In a move to highlight the importance of tourism to MPs, the Caravan Club have looked at the UK in terms of its respective constituencies and have assessed the top ten earning areas from revenue brought in by visiting caravanners.

North Norfolk came out top of the list, with a whopping £4.5 million made in it’s 3 Caravan Club sites and 56 Certified Locations (CLs). Local MP Norman Lamb said: “This demonstrates how important caravanning is to the local economy and underlines the enormous significance of tourism in general.”

Westmorland & Lonsdale, Truro & Falmouth, Totnes, The Cotswolds, North Devon, Derbyshire Dales, Dwyfor Merionnyd, Richmond (Yorks) and Thirsk & Malton are the other nine leading constituencies, each with an annual income of £2 million plus.

The Caravan Club recognise that investing in domestic tourism is a vital part of boosting the British economy. Caravan Club Director General, Nick Lomas, wrote to every MP personally to inform them how much Caravan Club members contribute financially to each region by staying on club-badged sites.

Mr Lomas commented: “Caravanning plays a key role in the tourism mix and it’s the most popular ‘paid for’ holiday accommodation choice in the country, making our members true investors in the UK.”

The Caravan Club membership has reached an all-time high and new members are joining up every month. With their ever-increasing numbers the Club have made clear their wish to encourage UK tourism with the hope their current campaign will help to both promote caravanning as a mainstream holiday choice as well as working with local business to promote the UK tourist industry.

Are you a member of the Caravan Club? Why not check out the Caravan Times Community for Caravan Club Centres across the country here.