Winners of the first Caravan Times Readers Poll 2010 announced

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by Holly Tribe

After a month of counting nominations and collecting votes, Caravan Times has revealed the full list of winners of the inaugural Caravan Times Reader’s Poll.

For the staff and readers of Caravan Times, 2010 proved to be a vintage year for caravanning – with a host of product launches and new ranges entering the market.

Bailey and Swift both unveiled radical new designs while Elddis, Lunar and Coachman launched exciting updates to their most popular models. And with newcomers Autosleepers and Stealth, caravanners had more choice than ever in 2010.

Your voice counts

As an independent online magazine with a vibrant community, Caravan Times asked its readers to vote for their favourite caravans, parks, towcars and dealers of 2010.

With thirty-four suggested entrants across six categories, the poll cast a wide net over many areas of the caravanning lifestyle. Readers were asked to vote in the following categories; Caravan of the Year 2010; Best Newcomer; Innovation Award; Best Towcar; Dealer of the Year; and Favourite Caravan Park.

Instead of the traditional judging panels comprised of industry figures and journalists, it was caravanners themselves who were asked to determine the category winners.

The public vote

The Bailey Unicorn picked up two awards: that of Best Newcomer and our Innovation Award. Readers voted Bunree Caravan Club Site as Best Caravan Park of 2010, while Bardsea Leisure took Dealer of the Year 2010. Meanwhile after the closest of contests the Kia Sorento edged out the Range Rover to win Best Towcar.

Our final category was the best overall caravan of 2010, which was a close contest between two outstanding caravans: the Bailey Unicorn and the Swift Conqueror. In the end there could only be one winner, and the Caravan of the Year 2010 was the Swift Conqueror.

Swift Group Commercial Director Nick Page was delighted to receive the award. “Congratulations to this great new online magazine for caravanners – and to win the top award where actual caravanners vote, and not journalists, makes this victory even more important.”

And Caravan Times editor Marcus Dubois spoke of giving real caravanners an opportunity to have their say. “As our first reader’s poll, we received a fantastic level of engagement from caravanners wanting to get involved and vote for their favourites. It’s great to be able to give readers a platform to vote for the caravans and services they use. As the Caravan Times community continues to grow rapidly, we look forward to making this an annual fixture in our editorial calendar.”

The winners in full (as voted for by Caravan Times readers) are as follows:

Caravan of the Year 2010: Swift Conqueror
Best Newcomer: Bailey Unicorn
Innovation Award: Use of the Alde heating system in the Bailey Unicorn
Best Towcar: Kia Sorento
Dealer of the Year: Bardsea Leisure
Favourite Caravan Park: Bunree Caravan Club

Catalytic converters stolen from caravan company

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by Gemma Roskell

A Perthshire caravan business was the target of a burglary this week when thieves broke in and stole £6,000 worth of equipment.

According to STV, three men are believed to have committed the crime, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday February 3rd.

They took six catalytic converters from motorhomes at the Perthshire Caravan Company, which supplies a range of tourers and static caravans.

Police believe they left the scene in a white Ford Transit Connect van.

Officers are urging anyone with information about the burglary to come forward.

It said the three men thought to be responsible are of slim build and were all wearing dark clothing and hooded tops at the time of the incident.

They were also wearing scarves across their faces to conceal their features.

Last month, the West Sussex County Times reported that six catalytic converters had been stolen from Sussex Caravan Centre in Ashington.

The equipment, which also included two spare wheels, was worth around £4,000.

Silverdale Caravan Park celebrates awards success

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by Gemma Roskell

The winner of the AA’s award for best campsite in England has claimed its success is down to its relaxed atmosphere.

Speaking to the Westmorland Gazette, the owners and senior managers of the site said they work hard to create a fun family environment.

The Lancashire park, which is part of the Holgates Holiday Parks group, is celebrating after beating off competition from rivals across the country.

Park manager Mike Turner said the grounds of the site are set in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

“We do a lot to maintain the overall quality here,” he insisted. “What is really distinctive about our service is the quality we uphold. We never overcrowd.”

Manager director Michael Holgate added that he hopes the accolade will encourage more campers and caravanners to visit Silverdale Caravan Park.

The AA also named Linnhe Lochside Holidays in the Scottish Highlands and Wrexham’s Plassey Leisure Park the best campsites in Scotland and Wales respectively.

Top ten caravan and camping apps for iPhone and Android

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by Holly Tribe

Whether you’re techno whizz or an analogue-era purist, it would seem the technological revolution is here to stay, and as all the best defeatists say; if you can’t beat them, join them!

At the last count there were well over 100,000 applications or ‘apps’ for handheld mobile devices on the market. There’s an app for almost everything from identifying the track title and artist from a short burst of music, to apps that can replicate the glow of a burning candle.

We’ve had a look around the burgeoning app-market to find ten of the best for campers and caravanners.

1. AA Camping & Caravanning Guide

Here’s an app that let’s you search the AA’s recommended caravan and camping sites in England Scotland and Wales. It features over 850 inspected sites with detailed descriptions including site facilities, images, price and location information.
£Free.

2. Dishpointer Augmented Reality

An ingenious app to help you find the nearest television satellite in relation to your touring pitch. It’s great if you’re setting up at a site for the first time and are struggling to find a TV signal. Raise your phone to the sky while the application is running and it will show a real world view of where the satellites are, even if they’re behind tall trees and buildings. $9.99

3. Motorway services UK

Not only can you check to see what on-site shops and services are available at service stations up and down the country – users can also switch to satellite view and zoom in to check for caravan spaces and get an idea of the surrounding roads before arrival.
£0.59.

4. iCampsites

The iCampsites app lets users locate a campsite by name or location, or by using filters such us ‘hardstanding’ and ‘hook ups available’. It currently claims to be the only campsites app with European coverage and is linked to a large database of reviews submitted by users.
£2.39

5. iBBQ

Hunt down your nearest butcher and check the weather forecast for the perfect bbq. This great app also had recipe ideas and gives handy tips on how to cook the perfect steak.
£Free

Click through to the Next Page for the ten best caravan apps 6 – 10…

South Wales region to get a new caravan centre

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by Holly Tribe

The people behind Devon’s foremost caravan and motorhome retail outlet are to open the Stowford Caravan Centre in South Wales this April.

Providing all ‘the very latest in caravan retailing and caravan storage’ the firm hope to replicate the success of Stowford Farm Meadows, in a new five acre site within striking distance of Cardiff, Pontypridd, Bridgend and the Valleys.

Stowford’s Andrew Noall said: “Strategically, this is such a great location, and it is a move we’ve been planning for over a year now. There are already plans in place for top-quality caravan storage and full workshops, and we are contributing with a full caravan retail set-up.”

The centre will open for business on Saturday 9th April, with a special opening weekend on the 16 & 17th April. There will be a wide selection of used and second hand caravans for sale, with plans to expand the business in coming months.

“Under the Stowford name you can expect the same great service and customer care for our caravan sales as well as from our onsite workshop facility and in time we hope to have a full-scale caravan accessory shop. It’s all very exciting,” he added.

The Stowford Caravan Centre (South Wales) can be found on Elwyn Street, Coesdely, Llantrisant CF39 8BL four miles from junction 34 off the M4 motorway. For more information head to www.stowford.co.uk.

Caravanners ‘spoilt for choice’ in London

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by Gemma Roskell

Caravanners pitching up on sites on the outskirts of London will be “spoilt for choice” when heading into the city over the coming months.

Sally Chatterjee, chief executive of Visit London, has noted some of the many events taking place in the capital in the weeks ahead at galleries, museums and elsewhere.

For example, the London Marathon is due to be held on April 17th, attracting runners from around the UK and overseas.

Other sporting events include the Oxford and Cambridge boat race and the National Basketball Association league games at the O2 arena in March.

For culture vultures, there will be an exhibition dedicated to Afghanistan at the British Museum, a watercolour gallery at the Tate Britain and an exhibition of London street photography at the Museum of London.

“London is a constantly evolving city and throughout 2010 hosted a range of events, conferences, exhibitions and sports which attracted visitors,” Ms Chatterjee remarked.

Click here to discover six caravan parks within the M25.

Caravanners urged to ‘get off the beaten track’ in the south-west

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by Gemma Roskell

When spending time in the south-west of England, caravanners should “get off the beaten track” and explore some of the region’s hidden gems.

This is the advice of Lonely Planet writer Oliver Berry, who said there are numerous sights and attractions to discover away from the tourist hotspots.

He pointed out that most travellers flock to places like St Ives, Newquay and Bath when holidaying in the south-west.

However, he recommended fossil hunting on the Jurassic Coast or stargazing in the observatory in south Devon.

For those who fancy foraging for their own food, there’s a wild food school in western Cornwall, while sporty types can try their hand at caving and kayaking.

“There’s so much to discover really,” Mr Berry insisted. “I would just recommend getting off the beaten track a bit and don’t get stuck on those well worn tourist trails and try and seek out some of those lesser known places.”

For a list of caravan parks in the South West Click here.

Win tickets to the Boat & Caravan Show 2011

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by Holly Tribe

Thank you for your entries, this competition is now closed.

Get ready for the biggest event in the outdoor leisure industry! The Boat & Caravan Show is celebrating its half centenary this year with a whole host of attractions, along with all the latest releases from the caravan, motorhome and boating industries.

The show will run from the 22nd to the 27th of February 2011 at Birmingham’s NEC and we’ve got ten pairs of tickets to give away.

Click here for your chance to win a pair of tickets.

Renowned TV chef James Martin will be in the Rangemaster Cookery Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday dishing up some culinary inspiration. Meanwhile, gardening enthusiasts should visit the Gardening Showcase to pick up some top tips from ‘Britain’s most flamboyant garden showman’, David Donnelly and his team of experts.

If you’re new to touring, why not book in for a ‘try-a-towing-session’ with The Caravan Club, and get a supervised masterclass in how to manoeuvre an outfit safely.

If you’re in the market for a new touring caravan, head over to the Bailey Caravans stand for the unveiling of its brand new entry level Alu-Tech range, the Bailey Orion, or take a look around some of the other exciting releases from big name manufacturers Lunar and Elddis.

Visitors attending the show on Friday, Saturday or Sunday will also benefit from a free pass into the ‘Outdoor Leisure Show’ which will be held in Hall 9.

For your chance to win a pair of tickets, just follow the simple instructions below. Best of luck!

Folding caravan stolen in Milton Keynes

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by Gemma Roskell

Thames Valley Police are appealing for information after a folding caravan was stolen in Wolverton.

The incident took place on Sunday January 23rd and the motor home – a white Carousel caravan – was not folded down at the time.

Officers are urging anyone who witnessed the theft or has recently seen a folding caravan to come forward with details.

They are asked to contact PC Alan Chick at Wolverhampton Police Station.

Police also took the opportunity to remind caravan owners about the importance of securing their motor homes.

Officers said wheel locks, tow hitch locks, fixed posts and anchor points can also help to protect caravans from theft.

The foldable Carousel caravan range is manufactured by Gobur and is designed for easy storage and more efficient towing.

The towing height of the motorhome is just below the level of the average tow car, which minimises wind resistance on the road and provides drivers with greater visibility.

Caravanners reveal their best holiday experiences

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by Gemma Roskell

Caravan enthusiasts have revealed the sights, sounds and smells that make their getaways memorable.

The Caravan Club surveyed more than two thousand of its members and found that the freedom afforded by the great outdoors is one of the biggest benefits of a caravanning holiday.

Spectacular sunsets were named as the most memorable sights, followed by views of the countryside and the sea.

Groups of caravanners enjoying an evening drink was also named as an unforgettable scene.

Birdsong, sizzling bacon at breakfast time, the laughter of children and corks popping in the evening were all among the most popular sounds, while barbecues, freshly mown grass and salty sea air were named as the most evocative smells.

Commenting on the results of the survey, Caravan Club member and TV personality Rowland Rivron said he agrees that sensory experiences are what make caravan breaks so memorable.

“For me, the sights, smells, sounds and tastes I experience on holiday stay with me and evoke memories of enjoying the great outdoors and the adventure of caravanning whenever I re-experience them,” he remarked.

“There is nothing better than a cold beer, while a steak sizzles on the barbecue and the children are playing in the fields on a balmy British evening.”

Older tow car drivers ‘should have regular health checks’

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by Gemma Roskell

It has been recommended that older motorists attend regular health checks to make sure their driving abilities are not impaired as they age.

Campaign group RoadSafe pointed out that older drivers are more prone to simple errors that could cause them to crash.

Clare Simpson, communications executive at the group, explained that overall, older people are safer on the road than their younger counterparts.

However, she said age-related decline in mental and physical abilities can become a problem behind the wheel.

Road safety is particularly important for those towing caravans, so older caravan enthusiasts may wish to heed RoadSafe’s advice.

Ms Simpson also said that modern cars can reduce the risks for older drivers on the road.

“Many models are available with raised seats for easy access and systems to improve blind spot awareness,” she explained.

“These features are not designed to take responsibility away from the driver, but they can be a useful investment.”

Boat and Caravan Show 2011: Meet the boat that is also a caravan

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by Holly Tribe

With Boat and Caravan Show 2011 just around the corner, we’ve been scratching our heads wondering if there was any way to simultaneously combine the joy of touring with marine leisure pursuits?

Last month we ran a story on the Thansadet, a concept caravan that converts into a seafaring vessel , and while this was a fun idea, the logistics of building a seaworthy ‘van seemed highly improbable. However, on our virtual travels this week, we came across some marvellous old footage in the British Pathé film archives.

Make way for the ‘Caraboat’ – a genuine amphibious caravan.


The stock footage follows a touring caravan as it is towed through the streets of Henley-on-Thames and then parked up alongside the banks of the river. The driver steps out of his car and attaches an outboard motor and some fenders to the caravan hitched behind before launching it into the river.

The film then cuts to his companion who is comfortably ensconced aboard the good ship, busying herself in the kitchen making ‘a cup of the steaming’. And as the ‘Creighton Gull’ sails on, you can just make out the wheel arches peeking above the water line.

Click on the image below to view the full clip in the Pathé archives.