The VW 3 Course Christmas Camper

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By William Coleman

Christmas in a VW Camper seems like a fantastic idea to me. Find a site deep in the countryside that’s located near a local pub and just relax over the Christmas season. In the true spirit of Christmas Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has teamed up with chef and blogger, Claire Thomson, to create a three-course Christmas dinner menu that can be cooked solely in your campervan. This should save on the amount of washing up too!

This time of the year can feel more like work than a holiday when it comes to getting everyone in the same room for dinner. According to latest figures, 43% of families are struggling to find time to eat together which means Christmas dinner is one of the rare occasions where everyone sits around the same table.

Due to this lack of time together it means the all important family dinner is being put on the back burner, something Volkswagen want to put an end to by providing some encouragement to the masses.

To help encourage families to switch off this Christmas and share quality time, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles challenged chef and founder of the 5 O’Clock Apron blog, Claire Thomson, to go off-grid in the New Forest with her loved ones for a festive feast in a Volkswagen California.

Kate Thompson, mother of two and Head of Press and Public Relations, of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said: “While for many the Christmas meal is daunting enough in a fully equipped kitchen at home, Claire proved the iconic campervan is all you need to cook up a delicious three course meal.”

Claire and her husband – former Michelin starred chef, Matt Williamson – made use of the two gas hobs, fridge, and running tap that all come as standard in the California Ocean. The couple also propped up the preparation table and rotated the two front seats to create a spacious kitchen area in which to prepare their festive feast.

Claire created the original recipes to ensure they included all the essentials so her family weren’t missing out on the true Christmas experience. For a starter, Claire cooked pan fried scallops with hazelnut butter and spinach.

This was followed by a main course of turkey saltimbocca, served with sautéed potatoes, chestnuts and sprouts and dressed with spiced pickled pears. For the final touch, they had Christmas pudding fried with Marsala butter for dessert.

Claire Thomson, commented: “We have stayed in a Volkswagen California before and absolutely loved it. The kids like sleeping ‘upstairs’, in the top bunk and it genuinely has everything you need to create any meal – even a Christmas dinner. The hobs, fridge and sink make everything really simple, leaving you free to enjoy the time away with your family.”

For more details on the recipes featured or Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ delicious range of products and services, please visit www.volkswagen-vans.co.ukl.

The Ideal Christmas Gifts For Us Caravan Folk

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By William Coleman

This time of year should be about giving and making those around you happy, but in reality it’s a bit stressful. Trying to find the right gift before the big day all while trying to wrangle the family to get together for a massive Christmas dinner. So to help ease the stress and tension of gift buying here are some items that should go down a treat Christmas morning.

Personalised Caravan Mug

A practical yet novelty gift is very hard to beat, especially as a stocking filler. Why not get the ideal gift the caravan lover in your life with a mug that they can take on tour with them with a special holiday message.

As well as mugs there are also a whole list of touring gifts on www.notonthehighstreet.com, most of which can be personalised too. This is ideal for at home as well as on site and should bring a smile to anyone’s face.

The Aquaforno II

I can be guilty of buying seasonal Christmas gifts that are pretty much useless once winter has come to an end. Think a little bit outside the box, unlike me, and go for a gift that can be used 365 days of the year.

The all new Aquaforno II has just hit the market and is a product designed by an couple right here in the UK and really does pack a punch when it comes to opening the cooking possibilities when camping or caravanning.

This innovative gift is so much more than just a BBQ, it’s a literal BBQ in a backpack which really is an essential touring product. You could even make a full Christmas dinner of this nifty bit of kit.

You can roast a chicken, slow cook ribs, fry, grill, poach, boil water, dry your clothes and even have a pizza oven attached! Feed the whole family after a 4 minute set up.

We spoke to Aquaforno’s creator Tim earlier this year to find out more about this great BBQ and where he came up with the idea. So to get some great insite into this BBQ read the Aquaforno Interview.

Caravan Salt & Pepper Shaker

Here is another novelty item, I really couldn’t help myself with this one. To match the caravan mug why not add a fab looking set of salt and pepper shakers?

I think these are absolutely hilarious and I may even add them to my list for Santa. These will get a good laugh over Christmas and if you order now, via Amazon, you will get them before Christmas day. It just means a bit more wrapping!

If you love these as much as I do you can purchase them on Amazon here.

Another good thing about buying these online is the suggested caravan items that perfectly match these, you’ll double your budget in no time.

Outwell Cormorant 34L Large Cooler Bag

If this past summer is anything to go by we are in for a real treat in just a few months time. Once the temperature starts to rise the idea of al fresco dining becomes a lot more popular and that’s where a good size chiller bag comes in handy. Nothing worse than warm ham and sweaty cheese rolls.

Prima Leisure have a fantastic range of cold storage bags and coolers to choose from. My top choice is the Outwell Cormorant 34L, mainly due to its size.

I am usually away with friends and the family so we do need to take quite a bit when we go for a picnic or BBQ. Due to its larger size it does come with padded shoulder straps/carry handles to make it easier to transport on foot.

You really cannot go wrong with Outwell’s products due to how rigorously tested they are. This bag has been insulation tested to BS EN12546-2:2000 – and stayed cool for 8.5 hours using a 800ml Outwell Ice Block.

If you want to put this under the tree this year click here

Bailey Pegasus Palermo

A bit of a high ticket item but why not, don’t ask don’t get. In the true spirit of giving why not buy your significant other a brand new caravan for the 2019 season.

Released just a few short months ago the all new 8ft caravan from Bailey of Bristol has made a big impression on the UK market.

Being totally redesigned from the ground up means that they are a totally unique 8ft wide van that provide an extra 25% of interior space. Some companies simply make the chassis wider to reach 8ft but do not edit the interior that much, you won’t find any of that here inside the Palermo.

The Palmero is the perfect family van and has a layout that will suit all needs. This twin axle 6 berth comes with 2 good size make up double beds and 2 bunk beds at the rear of the van making it ideal for taking the kids and 2 of their friends away for an action packed weekend away.

So if you are feeling super generous this Christmas why not splash out on something for the whole family and start booking for 2019 getaways now.

The Camping And Caravanning Club Buy 2 More Sites

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By William Coleman

Many holiday park companies and clubs across the UK are expanding at a very fast rate to meet the rise in demand for pitches and other “glamping” style staycations. To help keep the momentum and popularity growing the Camping and Caravanning Club has acquired two campsites in the Lake District National Park.

The two sites that are now part of the Camping Club’s ever growing portfolio are Scotgate and Braithwaite Bridges, are owned by Scotgate Holiday Park and located between Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake close to the popular Lakeland town of Keswick.

When combined the two campsites total nearly 18 acres, cater for all forms of camping and are just 500 metres apart. They include 250 camping pitches, 65 hard standings, 21 holiday homes, 13 lodges and a 1.8 acre rally field.

There is also a licenced shop and café on Scotgate, with planning consent for further lodges and hard standings, along with a shop and café at Braithwaite Bridges.

The campsites have been owned, developed and managed by the Stuart family for 65 years, spanning three generations, and have been purchased from the company for an undisclosed sum.

Bob Hill, the Club’s Sites Director, said: “We’re delighted the Stuart family has decided to work with The Camping and Caravanning Club on the sale of these two popular and nicely-developed sites.

“The Lake District National Park is hugely popular with tourists. To secure these two campsites in prime, scenic locations is a real coup for the Club and is thanks to our Commercial Development Manager, Nathan Goodyear, who has worked closely with the Stuart family to secure a strong opportunity that will benefit the Club and its members for years to come.

We’re looking forward to working alongside the existing holiday park management team as we move into the 2019 camping season.”

The acquisition brings the Club’s total number of campsites in and around the Lake District to eight.

Bob added: “Scotgate and Braithwaite Bridges will be a really strong addition to our nationwide network of 104 Club Sites and sit well alongside our flagship operations in the north Lakes. We’re looking forward to continuing our strong association with local businesses and organisations to continue to promote the Lake District as a fantastic location to go camping and enjoy the great outdoors.”

Martin Stuart, the owner of Scotgate Holiday Park, said: “The two campsites have been an important part of the Stuart family for three generations and we wanted to ensure they continue to provide excellent facilities to campers for years to come by selling them to such a long-standing and well-respected organisation.

“The Camping and Caravanning Club already successfully operates six campsites in this region making it the perfect organisation to take our campsites forward and to build on our successes of the past 65 years.”

Scotgate Holiday Park is a year-round operation that welcomes visitors throughout the winter on the Scotgate site, and the two campsites will continue to operate under the Scotgate Holiday Park brand for the 2019 season.

The existing six Camping and Caravanning Club Sites in and around the Lake District are: Keswick, Braithwaite Fold, Windermere, Ravenglass, Derwentwater and Kendal.

Jeep Compass 2.0 Multijet-II Review

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By William Coleman

One of the many perks of the job is being able to get our hands on the latest tow cars and deliver you a totally unbiased opinion of what you can get for your money. Having a tow car that is up to the job is one of the most important parts of a caravan holiday, especially if you like to travel far afield for you leisure time. The Jeep Compass did not seem to make a very good impression on the UK reviewers, but we have a slightly different opinion on this fab little 4×4.

The CaravanTimes team first got our hands on the Jeep Compass at the Caravan and Motorhome Club Tow Car Of The Year testing at Milbrook in the summer of this year. Despite not taking any awards home at the actual award show we were intrigued and wanted to take a deeper look into this tow car because we really enjoyed it and gave it a very high score.

I would not go as far to say the reviews of the Jeep Compass 2.0 Multijet are scathing but they are certainly not inline with our feelings. First of you you have to look at the price range of this 4×4 and what you are actually getting for your money.

Priced between £24,745 – £34,290, meaning there is a lot of room for extras and upgrades, is a very reasonable price for a tow car of this level. The model we tested this week was top end and priced at £36,145, as it has every bell and whistle you could possible ask for.

If you were to get a top spec towcar/4×4 from Land Rover or other top brand names you would have to dig a lot deeper into the pocket.

We tested the the Jeep Compass in two 2 stages: Stage 1 was towing and stage 2 was practical day to day use. To ensure we got a very fair point of view 3 of the CaravanTimes team tested the Jeep over the space of a week.

Exterior

As first glance the Jeep Compass is an extremely smart looking vehicle, if not deceivingly small from the outside.

Face on you are presented with the classic Jeep grill, which on closer inspection you will find that the vents are blocked off meaning this is just for show so it can keep in line with other Jeep models.

The car looks like a proper SUV and has a very good chunky look all the way round giving it a much more bulky expensive appearance, hence why I am sticking to my guns that you do get a of bang for your buck.

The 18″ alloys wheels stand out well and gives the overall look a boost in the right direction, combine that with keyless entry and the press to start option you really do have a very modern SUV on your hands.

So if you are looking for a tow car that will look great both onsite and in Tesco’s car park the Jeep Compass is one to consider.

Interior

Once you’ve been wowed by the outside you may like the inside just as much. The inside tore the CaravanTimes team down the middle and we just could not agree. Based on my opinion I quite liked it but it is not without its issues.

The one thing the inside does provide is an abundance of open space, something you would not expect looking at the exterior. The good thing about the space is the amount you can load onboard, but on the flip side it does feel very empty when you are on you own or driving with just one passenger.

My main gripe with the interior layout was just how far down everything was. You have to sit fairly high up to see over the steering wheel which mean reaching down to hand break and cup holders meant having to take a quick glance to make sure your hand were heading in the right direction.

Full leather seating, cup holders, fully electric seats and mirrors are a nice addition and does make for quite a comfortable journey but at times it does feel a tad too spacious.

Bells & Whistles

From start to finish this sports utility vehicle has it all and is without a doubt is one of the most highly specked cars I have even been in.

Where do we start on the long list of features we found both in and out of the Compass? 360 parking sensors, which at times were a tad annoying, parallel & perpendicular park assist, lane detection, cruise control, automatic lights, blind spot, Cross-path Detection, automatic window wipers and Apple CarPlay. There are far too many to list here but these are some of the highlights.

The good thing about the bad things, overly sensitive 360 parking sensors, is that they can all be switched off and on whenever you like where as other vehicles, such as my own personal car, make you keep these “safety features” on at all times.

I know I keep mentioning it but for the price you really will struggle to find a car with such a high spec for the same price tag, which for me makes this a winner.

Driving

The Compass is a very smooth vehicle to drive and I cannot really highlight anything that I did not like.

The manual 6 speed gearbox and 4 driving modes mean that no matter where you find yourself you will be able to handle the terrain without much trouble.

We drove it on motorways, residential roads, dirt tracks and off road. Even on the bumpiest of routes the Jeep held its own. You really can have a lot of fun driving one of these.

The 140hp diesel does have a kick when you want to put your foot down and maintains a nice smooth sounding engine, despite what other reviews have said about its petrol counterpart.

I did find one oddity I could not quite put my finger on, all 3 drivers actually experienced this. When going over speedbumps, at a very low speed, the suspension seemed to bottom out and it felt as though the wheel was about to come off. But when taking this down a road full of deep potholes it handled like a dream, very odd.

Being a 4 wheel drive means that you can tackle pretty much every road in the UK, but having a caravan hitched up may prove a bit of a challenge even for this SUV.

Overall I very much enjoyed the driving experience the Compass provided. We covered a good few hundred miles and enjoyed almost every moment.

Towing

Ok, now for the most important part of the review. How did this perform as a tow car?

The Jeep Compass is a very capable tow car and will hold its own against a lot of the more popular options out there.

The Compass handled extremely well on A-roads and the caravan did not affect stability one bit on the drive.

The Jeep is significantly lighter than expected for the size of the car. This means it has a max towing weight of 1500KG but with an appropriately matched caravan the Compass tows very well.

Worth mentioning that this is a perfect tow vehicle if you have a restricted license because there are few cars of this size that allow you to tow on a restricted license.

The manual gearbox is great and for me brilliant for towing. Whilst most big luxury cars are automatic the manual box provides an extra level of control if you are taking your caravan off the beaten track or being used all year where snow and ice can cause significant problems for the automatics.

The control, driving position and ride high are all great. The jeep is easy to use whilst still having that luxury feel.

This could be the perfect tow vehicle if you are under 40 or like to be a bit more adventurous on your holidays.

Tips & Offers For Winter Touring From The Club

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By William Coleman

Just because we are waking up to frozen ground and ice covered cars does not mean the weekends away in the van need to stop. With so many sites being open all year round and lots of deals to be had from The Caravan and Motorhome Club you’d be mad to store the caravan for winter.

If you have put the van under the blanket for the winter you can still make the most of a CAMC membership, and yes even non members can enjoy this offer too, as the Club offer discounts of up to 20% pm their Experience Freedom experiences. This includes Christmas and the New Year and there is still great availability, so why not have a celebration with a difference?

For something a little different you can try out camping pods starting at just £31.20 per night, glamping pods at just £47.20 and Airstreams £51.75 per night based on a four nights stay, there is no need to break the bank at what is an expensive time of year. Glamping Pods can sleep up to a family of four and the Airstreams can sleep up to four adults, offering the whole family a winter break in the great.

It’s easier than ever before to have an outdoor adventure. Camping, Glamping and Airstream stays are on offer to all outdoor enthusiasts through Experience Freedom from the Caravan and Motorhome Club. With multiple glamping pods, camping pods and Airstreams available why not travel as a group to celebrate the New Year. Enjoy local events and festivities near the sites, as well as many great country walks.

For bookings made before 17 December 2018, holidaymakers can experience the festivities of the Cotswolds, the city lights of London, Brighton, Surrey or the panoramic scenery of the Lake District. With maximum savings of up to £128.80, why not treat the whole family to a UK break this winter on their doorstep.

Stay before 31 January 2019 and enjoy up to 10% two nights stay, 15% off three nights stay and 20% off four nights or more stay in Glamping Pods, Airstreams and Camping Pods at selected locations around the UK. Discount is automatically applied at checkout for bookings made online.

A few months ago I took the other half on an Experience Freedom weekend in Brighton to try out the all new American Airstream, you can read all about it here. As much as we love a good caravan break we are 100% going to go glamping in one of the Club’s Yurts in the new year once they are reopen. So get booking now as they will soon be fully booked up.

Top 10 Pet Peeves Of The Caravan And Motorhome World

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By William Coleman

There are things in life that you simply do not like and that are “pet peeves”. My list of pet peeves gets a little longer when it comes to being onsite, as I am sure it does with a lot of people. Caravan Guard recently published a list of the Top 10 peeves and we cannot help but agree with them.

On site you can come across a large amount of things that can put your nose out of joint such as noisy neighbours, people walking across camping pitches, and dirty showers and toilets, which actually dominated the top 10 list following a recent survey by Caravan Guard, but the list goes on and on.

11% of the voters who took part in the online poll by the caravan and motorhome insurance specialists also listed complaints regarding dogs not on leashes, fouling and barking.

More than 700 caravanners and motorhomers responded when asked to list their pet peeves when away in their leisure vehicle, with Wi-Fi charges (6%); noise after curfew (5%); and narrow, overgrown country lanes (4%) making the top ten list of annoyances.

But it wasn’t all moans and groans as “packing up to go home” also made the top 10 – proving how much caravanners and motorhomers really do love time away in their ‘van.

Although many people do like to take their dogs away in their caravan or motorhome and there are lots of pet-friendly campsites to stay at, they’re also the cause of lots of frustration, if the comments on the poll were anything to go by!

The behaviour of dogs and their owners flooded the comments box, with barking dogs, over-friendly mutts, and dog mess being just some of the pet hates of our four-legged companions.

One camper even said campsites should be segregated into dog owners and non-dog owner areas.

Height barriers and lack of motorway service parking facilities were other popular pet hates for motorhomers and caravanners.

Richard Geddes said he’d not been able to visit attractions in areas they’d visited because the local council had put height barriers across its public car parks.

Alan Bennet said: “Apparently my cash spend at a lot of destinations is not wanted, this is the only conclusion that I can make for the erection of height barriers at many car parks. Also the lack of parking spaces for motorhomes. Also the lack of waste emptying facilities at motorway service areas.”

David Fisher agreed and said he would happily pay more for parking a larger vehicle: “Height barriers – this is an indiscriminate method of controlling illegal encampments but prevents those who legitimately wish to visit many locations.”

He also added that he didn’t like the lack of local authority designated motorhome overnight parking areas.

“Provision of these would assist the current demand on other caravan touring sites. Motorhomes are self-sufficient and don’t generally require full site facilities.”, continued David.

Other complaints included kids cycling around, people not sticking to the campsite speed limits and the cost of electric hook-ups in summer.

I am sure there are a lot of people who will disagree with some of these and some who feel they are spot on. To each their own. In the past we have had a lot of heated debates on the the child/pet situation so we would love to hear your thoughts on this making the list.

Britain’s Most Expensive Park Lodge?

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Major park operators Park Holidays UK and holiday home manufacturers Prestige have joined forces to create the ultimate fantasy escape at Sandhills Holiday Park in Dorset.

It takes the form of a high-tech £420,000 bespoke luxury lodge with one of the most picturesque beach-side settings to be found anywhere in Britain.

And this autumn, the keys to the holiday home were officially handed over to its extremely proud new owner.

The visually striking and lavishly equipped lodge is the result of a design collaboration with Prestige which was sparked by Park Holidays UK earlier this year.

It arose when Sandhills had to opportunity to develop a new holiday home on the sea-facing front of the park, just a few paces from the sandy beach at Mudeford near Christchurch.

According to Park Holidays UK director Tony Clish, it was agreed that the breathtaking position warranted the creation of a unique and very special holiday home:

“Only very rarely do pitches become available on Sandhills’ front row, and we wanted the new owners to enjoy surroundings that were just as amazing as the views,” he said.

“Together with Prestige, we developed a blueprint which included large areas of glazing to give the outlook star billing from the interior, but maintained a warm and homely feel.

“Natural materials, including timber, are a big feature together with ocean-inspired colours and decoration to evoke the glorious seascape vista,” added Tony.

The split-level 40-ft x 20-ft lodge has a large elevated lounge, two spacious bedrooms, modern kitchen and bathrooms, and a 350-square foot decking surrounded by infinity glass.

Its new owner is haulage entrepreneur John Dean who, with his partner Carol can now spend leisure time away from their Salisbury home in surroundings he describes as “simply stunning”.

John, aged 79, founded his distribution company almost 50 years ago with a single truck, and grew the business to serve both national and international customers.

His love of the sea led him to acquire a 65-foot motor cruiser and then, last year, a holiday home at Sandhills Holiday Park with a view of Christchurch Harbour.

Having made new friends at the park and found its relaxed and peaceful atmosphere very much to his liking, John was quick to seize his chance when the sea-front lodge became available.

The impressive manor house at the centre of the landscaped grounds at Sandhills Holiday Park was a favourite holiday retreat of King George III who helped to popularise the area.

Substantial investment in Sandhills by Park Holidays UK has introduced many new modern-day facilities to the park including a country club, gymnasium, and a heated outdoor pool.

For buyers on a more modest budget, holiday homes at the park start from around £150,000 – in an area where wooden beach huts are regularly reported as changing hands for up to £300,000.

Meanwhile, the park has just released a second bespoke holiday home on its front row which features a roof-top garden – and a slightly more accessible price tag of £399,950.

Dometic Acquires Kampa

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By William Coleman

We met the Kampa team at the October NEC Motorhome and Caravan Show and they did not get a moment’s rest due to their large range of outdoor living accessories. Following on from some recent success they have now been acquired by Dometic, on December 3rd, to strengthen their already impressive portfolio.

Kampa, for those who do not know, are a fast growing outdoor leisure brand with focus on innovative awning and lightweight tent products and accessories to the outdoor living industry with a leading position in the UK.

The company is expected to report sales of £40 million and EBITDA of £7 million in 2018. Aftermarket sales account for 100% of revenue. The business operates with a small fixed asset base which requires limited Capex each year.

Kampa has an asset light set up including outsourced manufacturing and a central warehouse in the Netherlands covering the distribution across Europe. Kampa was founded in 2006 and is based in Essex, UK.

With the acquisition of Kampa, Dometic significantly broadens the Retail and Aftermarket offering in EMEA, with good potential for further expansion and profitable growth.

Retail and Aftermarket expansion has been a strategic priority for Dometic, as it offers attractive market dynamics, strong earnings potential and good opportunities for further expansion. Kampa fulfils all prerequisites that Dometic has set for acquired expansion, with proven profitable growth, leading market positions and strong management.

“I am pleased to welcome Kampa and its employees to Dometic. The acquisition is part of our strategy of strengthening our aftermarket position through complementary products and strong market presence. Kampa complements our product portfolio and strengthens our global offer to make Dometic even more relevant to our current and future customers, “says Juan Vargues, President and CEO of Dometic.

“We are today the market leader in inflatable awning room and tent technology in the UK, with a clear focus on easy use for our customers. In Dometic we have found an incredibly good home where we can build and accelerate our international expansion,” says Myles Salmon, Managing Director at Kampa.

Under the terms of the agreement, Dometic pays a cash purchase price of £50 million for Kampa on a cash and debt free basis. In addition, there is a maximum earn-out element of £8.5 million based on delivery of financial targets in 2019 and 2020.

The transaction is immediately accretive to Dometic’s operating margin and EPS. Synergies are expected to be limited.

The acquisition is fully financed via cash on hand. Leverage will be impacted with around 0.1x. Dometic maintains its financial leverage target (net debt / EBITDA) of around 2x. Dometic intends to maintain its dividend policy to distribute at least 40 percent of net profit.

75 Years Of Excellence For Devon Park

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William Coleman

Devon’s acclaimed Ladram Bay Holiday Park has finished its 75th anniversary year on a high after being declared the West Country’s top destination for kids and adults.

The Budleigh Salterton park scooped the top Diamond Award for Family Fun in the Devon, Somerset and Dorset region in November’s prestigious Hoseasons Awards.

It’s the eighth year in succession that the park, owned by the Carter family since 1943, has come home from the event with the premier family fun trophy.

The accolade was presented by comedian Paddy McGuinness at Hoseasons’ sparkling annual awards ceremony at the Celtic Manor in South Wales.

But the judges hadn’t finished with the park, for the family was once again asked to step into the spotlight to receive a second accolade from the major holiday bookings agency.

This time they named Ladram Bay as overall UK winner of the Customer Choice Food Award for the quality and value of its catering.

Both awards are based on the volume of customer satisfaction ratings received by Hoseasons from families who have stayed on the hundreds of parks with which they deal.

Ladram Bay director Zoe House, a member of the Carter family, describes the park’s 75th year as one of the busiest on record with guests giving the thumbs-up to a raft of new facilities.

They included a new 160-square metre Splash Zone aimed at energetic youngsters which includes interactive water features, spray guns, and even a sea serpent that sprays water.

The Splash Zone was officially opened during a day of celebrations at the park by Exeter-born Olympics swimmer and gold medallist Liam Tancock.

Happy customers were also responsible for another top award for Ladram Bay this year when they voted it a place in TripAdvisor’s prestigious “Travellers’ Choice Awards 2018”.

The review website bases its annual list of winners on the verdicts of millions of visitors who rate their experiences at different places to stay.

In the “family accommodation” category of the awards, Ladram Bay Holiday Park was voted number seven in the top 25, thanks to the volume of positive feedback it received. It trumped even some of the UK’s best known names in the holiday parks and hotel industry.

The vast majority who voted gave the park an “excellent” or “very good” rating, with many making enthusiastic comments about the quality of their stay and the friendliness of staff.

Ladram Bay also has a five-star accolade from VisitEngland, and once again this year received a top gold award from botanist David Bellamy for its environment care.

There is more information about the park at www.ladrambay.co.uk

Taking The Auto-Trail Tracker EB To Italy On Tour

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By William Coleman

Having toured around the European Continent once already this year I jumped at the chance to do it again. This time the journey was a lot smaller and focused mainly on northern Italy to seek out what the region has to offer. The CaravanTimes team took an Auto-Trail Tracker EB round Parma to eat like the Italians.

This trip was a tale of two journeys, both of which I took part in. Part one was driving the right hand drive Tracker EB and driving the left hand drive support car, the Fiat Tipo.

First of all I do have to say that is takes a lot of getting used to driving a left hand car on the other side of the road than it does a right hand drive vehicle. Although the Fiat Tipo was a great car in pretty much every way I just found it very hard to adjust to using my right hand to change gears.

Driving around Italy in a motorhome, on paper, sounds like a bit of a nightmare, especially the northern parts, but I do have to say that the Tracker EB handled the roads perfectly. During the drive we saw pretty much every road surface possible from newly laid tarmac to small little country tracks made mostly of grass and stones.

Italy In November?

Why did we decide to choose Italy in the winter, and why Parma? To put it quite simply we wanted to drive through the part of Italy that is most famous for its food. This region of Italy introduced the world to Prosciutto Di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano, two of Italy’s most famous exports.

A lot of people who visit Italy usually travel by plane, but not us as we wanted to turn it into an adventure. We made sure that we made the best use of new Auto-Trail’s newest model as we pretty much lived off grid for a week. One of the main advantages of driving is being able to see just how beautiful this part of the world is.

As much as me and the team were in search of the food side of things we also wanted some of that much sort after winter sun. If you know anything about northern Italy as this time of year you’ll know that you are going to need a hat and scarf. Luckily for us we were treated to a lot of bright warm sunshine, while the sun was up and shining. As soon as that sun started to lower the temperature plummeted rapidly. I have never encountered such a temperature drop before.

Off Grid Living

As we opted to stay off grid and use the on board facilities to keep us warm, washed and fed we really did put the Tracker EB to the test. Having a Truma system in the Tracker meant that the inside temperature got up to our desired temp within a few minutes and maintained a steady heat all evening.

Without a shadow of a doubt the best thing about living off grid was the views we got from where we chose to pitch up. Luckily I am able to speak a base level of Italian and got a pitch outside of a restaurant that was hidden high in the mountains of Parma.

Being able to pick your pitch and have a nice glass of local wine under the stars at the top of a mountain really has to be on everyone’s holiday to do list. Very rarely do get this kind of view with your own bathroom, bedroom and kitchen 10 feet behind you.

Seeing The Land And Finding The Hidden Gems

Driving through Italy really does provided a very varied driving experience. The motorway rules out there do not include using your indicators, keeping a safe distance, obeying speed limits and the use of flashing it the complete opposite to the roads of the UK. If you are flashed by another driver it means do not move or come forward whereas here in the UK a flash usually means the other driver is giving way.

Make sure you have your wallet to hand as every motorway is littered with toll booths, which you can avoid if you have the right sat nav but be prepared for a much longer drive if you do. Over the week we managed to rack up quite a large toll bill.

Once you are off the highway and in the rural countryside the driving style of the locals calms down quite a lot and is it becomes a pleasure to drive again. When driving around the outskirts of Parma there are tons of small family run cafes, which are also eateries, wine bars and panini shops. It is here where you find the real Italy and find local foods that you simply do not get back in the UK.

A local bar we found had pretty much every Italian stereotype you could think of, it felt more like a film set than a local bar. What made this place so special was the amount of different things it had to offer. Coffee, cake, beer, wine, cheese, meats, pasta, tomatoes, passata and baked goods in a market style set up, all while being a full time restaurant and bar that is open for 17 hours a day.

Once we had our meal we decided to stock up with all the Italian treats they had to offer, we ate like kings for a week. Thanks to the massive fridge on board the motorhome we could stock up on a lot of fresh food and not have to worry about it lasting. You have to search high and low to find processes packet food in Parma. The fresh is readily available and very cheap too.

If you like your food then Italy is the place to go. The Italians take their food very seriously, so much so you have to go out of your way to find bad food. You know you’re in food country when the service station has food quality to rival any swanky city sandwich bar. From coffee all the way to cheese the Italians have the best and it is actually very different to your high street deli or restaurant in England.

On the last evening we decided to spend an evening it a restaurant to see how the locals eat. Before heading out for dinner we stopped off at a small bar where we found someone whose English was spot on, which was great as I had a burning about what we kept seeing the mountains.

Why are there so many guys driving around in high vis jackets and work clothes yet there were zero road works going on? To our surprise there were not road surface workers, they were Wild Boar hunters. The hills and mountains are taming with boar which is a staple part of local cuisine.

After finding this out everything started to fall into place. While walking around the mountain paths, unbeknownst to us, we were actually walking through boar hunting trails. Now I know why we kept seeing to many shotgun shells on the floor. Just before leaving the bar the owner told us to “be careful of the wild life of an evening”. Let’s just say the half mile walk to restaurant was a fast paced one.

All in all I would say that using a camper van or a motorhome is the best way to see Italy, or any other country for that matter. CaravanTimes simply cannot recommend touring around Europe enough, now that we have done it a fair few times and realise just how easy it is to do. For some details of what you will need when you are heading abroad read our top tips for touring abroad. For the full review of the Auto-Trail Tracker EB stay tuned.

Are You Breaking The Law With Pets Onboard?

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By William Coleman

A massive part of touring is spending quality time with your loved ones and for some families their four legged friends are the core of the family unit. Following a recent survey it would seem that almost half of dog owners are the highway code when driving with pets, resulting in penalty points and fines.

Large numbers of dog owners risk substantial fines and penalty points by allowing their pets to roam freely in a vehicle while in transit, research shows.

An independent survey conducted by bootliner manufacturer Hatchbag revealed that 45% of dog owners were in breach of Section 57 of the Highway Code by neglecting to contain their pet with a suitable crate, harness or guard while travelling in a vehicle.

Unrestrained pets can cause considerable distraction, putting motorists at risk of driving without due care and attention-an offence that will invalidate most insurance policies. In addition, drivers face fines of up to £2,500, plus nine penalty points.

I know many dog owners who take drive with pets and having spoken to them recently they were not 100% clear on what the letter of the law actually is. All pet owners I know are extremely responsible when having pets in the car but that cannot be said for all motorist.

The most popular way of containing a dog in transit was with a ‘dog guard’. The survey revealed that 29% used a dog guard to keep the dog restricted to the boot space.

Claudia Finamore, commercial manager at The Hatchbag Company says: “For the safety of all involved it is essential that dogs stay safely in the boot while travelling. Creating a ‘home from home’ in the boot with some familiar bedding and toys will help prevent dogs from becoming stressed in transit, while a wipe clean boot liner will protect the car’s interior from any accidents, travel sickness or chewing.”

Around 24% use harnesses to secure their dog to the seat, while 13% opt for a dog crate, two options popular with pet care professionals. Gemma Harrison, owner of dog walking service ‘Walkies with Marley’ says she uses both methods, depending on the size and temperament of the dog: “Personally, I would strongly advise using a crate, especially for younger giddy dogs, or where this isn’t possible, a doggy seatbelt. I do have some larger dogs that I am unable to crate due to their size, so I have them attached to a short dog seatbelt in order to keep them in place, safe, and at no risk of getting tangled.”

Travel sickness can pose a problem for some dogs and serve as a distraction to motorists. Ryan White, managing director of We Love Pets finds that pre-planning is key:
“The most important rule is to always plan your journey. Make sure you don’t feed the dog immediately before or after as it may cause them to have an unsettled stomach. Frequent short journeys are best and try to avoid lots of windy roads and roundabouts where possible.”

Louise Self, dog home boarding representative at Barking Mad, offers further advice for travelling with dogs:
“Open the window slightly to let in some air, drive carefully and be responsive to the dog’s needs. I find they like the radio or music on and soon relax and enjoy the journey.”

During the year we all rack up a lot of miles traveling from one holiday spot to another with pets in the car. So if you are travelling all around the UK with man’s best friend you may want to look into the Hatchbag Company to avoid any nasty surprises along your journey.

Travelworld Growth Earns Awards

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By William Coleman

Luxury motorhome company, Travelworld Motorhomes received a highly commended accolade for Fastest Growing Business at the Midlands Family Business Awards on Thursday 23rd November.

Attended by over 300 guests and held at Leicester’s Athena, the ceremony and dinner featured some of the region’s most accomplished businesses from all different sectors.

Sponsored by PwC, the Fastest Growing Business category recognises businesses who can demonstrate strong and sustained growth, as well as family values.

Ross Edwards, managing director of Travelworld said: “To receive recognition for the growth we’ve achieved over a short space of time, is a testament to everyone at Travelworld, a team that, as we speak, continues to demonstrate its commitment, working hard in preparation for our big move to Cresswell Park in Staffordshire by the end of the month.”

In its ninth year, the MFBA is a not-for-profit initiative celebrating the achievements of businesses across the whole Midlands region and is run by Nottingham-based insurance and financial solutions provider, the Wilson Organisation, also a family business.

Wilson’s managing director, Charlotte Perkins said the team and judges were ‘blown away’ by the calibre of all the finalists. She said: “We run the awards as a not-for-profit initiative and are honoured to provide a platform for the Midlands’ family business community to showcase and celebrate their successes and work, for the ninth year running.

“The talent, ambition and entrepreneurial spirit of our finalists and winners highlights the significant role that family businesses play in keeping the Midlands’ economy thriving.”

Ross continued: “We congratulate all other businesses who took part this year. For us, not only were we celebrating as a Midlands-based business but we were also proud to be representing the motorhome sector. Our big takeaway from the awards credit is even further impetus to keep on growing and being successful.”