F1 driver to help Scottish caravan show celebrate 25th birthday

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by Tom Lowenstein

The Scottish Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Show gets underway next week and cutting the ribbon to help the renowned event celebrate its 25th anniversary will be Formula One driver Paul Di Resta.

As a Caravan Club member himself, Paul is the ideal man to set the wheels in motion at this year’s show, which runs for four days between February 2nd and 5th.

He will be following in the footsteps of fellow Scottish F1 star, David Coulthard who was the guest of honour at last year’s show.

Expressing his delight that Paul will conduct the opening ceremony this year, Lawrence Bate, The Caravan Club’s marketing director, said: “Caravans and motorhomes are a huge part of the F1 scene, with them being used by drivers to allow them to stay track-side, and by F1 fans to allow them to follow their favourite sport around the world and stay up close to the action.”

This year’s show promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with more than 150 companies on hand to demonstrate their latest products to caravanners.

Visitors to the show will also be the among first to see Eterniti Caravans’ new range of luxury slide-out tourers, while the Fife-based company East Neuk Campervans from the coastal village of Anstruther will also unveil their brand new Fifer Pod.

The Scottish Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Show takes place from February 2nd to 5th at the SECC in Glasgow. Tickets are available in advance for £7 for adults and £6 for seniors, while under-16s go free.

Carbon monoxide awareness scheme targets Cornwall caravan sites

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by Tom Lowenstein

A new initiative in Cornwall is aiming to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning among owners of caravan and camping sites in the region.

Following two incidents in Cornwall last year that resulted in campers being taken to hospital suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) are leading the ‘CO Aware’ campaign to raise awareness of the potentially deadly consequences.

Having joined forces with Bodmin-based Hentland Fire & Security and the Carbon Monoxide Awareness charity, the CFRS are to distribute posters and leaflets to caravan and camp sites.

Commenting on the new campaign, Mark Pratten, crew manager at CFRS’s Prevention Team, said: “CO poisoning can have tragic results. This is a great opportunity for local camping and caravan site owners across Cornwall to help us pass on this very important safety message.”

Mr Pratten added that caravan parks on the register will be able to take CO detectors on trial to loan to their visitors.

One of the incidents last year that prompted the new CO Aware campaign involved a group of three people who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning after they took a smouldering barbeque into their tent.

David Coulthard to open Scottish Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show 2011

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by Marcus Dubois

The Caravan Club has announced that former Formula One driver and Caravan Club member David Coulthard MBE will officially open The Scottish Caravan & Outdoor Leisure Show on 3rd February 2011.

The show is billed as Scotland’s only dedicated event for caravanners and lovers of the outdoors, and takes place from 3 – 6 February 2011 at the SECC, Glasgow. Over 150 companies will be in attendance providing product and services, while visitors able to see the latest 2011 models from all the major caravan and motorhome manufacturers.

If you’re thinking of planning your next holiday then you’ll be able to speak to representatives from parks around the UK. There will also be stands offering outdoor leisure accessories, camping equipment and marine products.

A Formula One caravanner

While David Coulthard may be known for literally enjoying life in the fast lane, the former racing driver turned TV pundit is a keen member of the Caravan Club and has vocally championed the lifestyle in recent years.

Lawrence Bate, Marketing Director for The Caravan Club was thrilled to have him on board for the show. “We are looking forward to David Coulthard opening the show and sharing his experiences of motor caravanning throughout his motoring career. As well as telling us about all the luxurious Motor Caravans in the F1 paddock!”

Tickets and information

The good news for caravanners is that advance ticket prices have been held at 2009 levels. Advance entry costs £7 (£6 for seniors) and those booking will receive a Towsure voucher for the show giving £5 off when £50 or over is spent.

Tickets on the door cost £10 each (£9 for seniors) and families will be pleased to hear that all kids under 16 can enter for free. The show is open from 10am until 6pm daily.

For more information visit caravanshowscotland.com or call the ticket hotline 0844 3954000.

Forest Holidays release new camping and caravan brochure

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by Holly Tribe

Forest Holidays has launched a travel-sized Caravan and Camping holiday brochure with details of twenty woodland sites located across the country.

Each holiday park features a range of facilities providing caravanners with everything they need for a real back to nature experience.

The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Sites Director, Bob Hill, is excited about the convenient new travel brochure. He said: “The 2011 Forest Holidays brochure is the perfect size for campers to carry whilst on the move, making it more accessible to find the perfect camping holiday.”

Horse riding, cycling, climbing and water sports are just a few of the activities available and visitors can make the most of being in the great outdoors by taking part in a Forest Ranger tour. Mr Hill added: “With a huge range of exciting activities available, Forest Holidays campsite experiences will fuel memories to last a lifetime”.

The sites are set among beautiful forests within the Forestry Commissions Estate, and work in partnership with the Camping and Caravanning Club. A copy of the Caravan and Camping Brochure 2011 can be found on their website here.

REVIEW: Hobby 560 CFe Excellent

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by Holly Tribe

From folding trailers and micro-caravans to top end luxury models, the modern caravanner now has a vast range of touring caravans to choose between. With a glut of new designs entering the market last year, we take a closer at this brand new release from Continental manufacturers, Hobby.

Back-to-front layout

Being of European provenance, the 560 CFe Excellent is built to generous European proportions and is a substantial 2.5 metres in width. This extra depth allows an unusual back-to-front layout seen regularly in Continental caravans. The main living area can be found at the rear end with a fixed double bed adjacent to the washroom at the front.

Board game lovers will appreciate the large booth style seating unit in the living area which wraps around three and a half sides of the cabin. The extra ‘half’ backs onto the central reservation in the kitchen creating a great space for socialising (pictured below).

The spacious mid-galley corner kitchen features extra wide drawers in a white gloss finish which contrast elegantly with the wooden cabinetry. The drawer units are fastened with a central locking system to stop the contents spilling out in transit. Additional cargo solutions include a pull-out carousel shelving unit in the kitchen and under-bed storage.

Even with the substantial 2.5 metre width, a change in legislation last year means the 560 CFe Excellent can be legally matched with any suitable towcar and used on British roads.

  • Berth: 4
  • MTPLM: 1600kg
  • Internal Height: 195cm
  • Overall Width: 2.5metres
  • Price: £18,375

For more information visit Ambergate Caravan Centre, the UK’s largest display of Hobby caravans.

Dogs welcome at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks

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by Gemma Roskell

Caravanning is a great holiday option for dog owners who want to take their canine companions with them on their breaks away.

But not all caravan parks are dog-friendly and this may limit the options for families in some areas.

Fortunately, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks in North Devon welcome dogs with open arms and allows pets on all of their touring and camping pitches.

The group has recently produced a Woof Guide filled with useful information for dog owners on popular coastal and countryside walking routes.

Names and contact numbers for dog-friendly pubs and restaurants in the area are also included, alongside information about local vets and pet groomers.

Families won’t have to pay much extra to bring Fido along on their holidays. Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks charge a supplement of just £10 per animal per week for those using their touring pitches.

The group has four holiday parks, all of which are located near to Devon’s Blue Flag beaches.

Prices announced for Bailey Pegasus Series II

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by Marcus Dubois

Bailey Caravans has confirmed today the recommended retail prices for its newest range of tourers: the Bailey Pegasus Series II.

The Bristol manufacturer revealed last week that it had reduced the RRP for the new models by approximately £1000. The firm explained that “following customer feedback Pegasus has been re-positioned within the portfolio” to create “a greater differential between them and those in the existing Unicorn range”.

These price reductions have been achieved through removing some items of equipment which were previously standard in the original Pegasus such as the TV unit. Bailey also cited “efficiency savings generated by a manufacturing plant now geared up for 100% Alu-Tech production”.

Retail Price List

Despite the loss of some standard equipment, Bailey maintains that “specification levels remain high for a caravan in this sector of the market”. Below we outline those prices in full:

BAILEY PEGASUS SERIES II – Price List
Pegasus Genoa £15,395
Pegasus Milan £16,335
Pegasus Verona £16,335
Pegasus Ancona £16,535
Pegasus Bologna £18,115

[NOTE: The Bailey retailer will make a charge of up to £505 to cover the cost of various additional services carried out prior to taking possession of the new Bailey caravan. Please confirm details of these additional services with the Bailey retailer prior to ordering]

Free late night entry at the Manchester Caravan Show – tonight!

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by Holly Tribe

If you’re going to be in the North West of England this evening and haven’t had a chance to get to the Caravan & Motorhome Show 2011, Manchester Central – here’s your chance.

For one night only, the show’s organisers are offering free entry after 5pm this evening. Late night visitors will be able to browse the 100+ exhibitors and attractions until 9pm in the ‘Late Night Friday’ promotion.

New for 2011

The show brings all the latest 2011 caravan and motorhome models to the North West for the first time this year. Head to local dealership, Campbells Caravans, to get a first look at the new Bailey Pegasus Series II and new 2011 models from Lunar Caravans. You can find them in hall 1, stands 101,102 and 126.

The all new Xplore 304, the latest family friendly layout from Elddis Caravans also gets its first public outing. The launch will be taking place on the Glossop Caravans stands 106 and 123 in hall 1.

Or for something a bit different, pop over to the SST Group, who will be exhibiting a range of UK compliant American fifth wheelers for the first time.

For a full list of exhibitors, head to manchester.caravanshows.com. If you can’t make it to the show tonight, weekend tickets can be purchased from the show’s website. Please quote promo code: CAR28 when booking.

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Caravanners waking up to the ‘beauty’ on their doorsteps

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by Gemma Roskell

UK holidaymakers are increasingly waking up to the beautiful scenery and top attractions available on home soil.

According to Phillipa Gough, team leader at Natural Retreats, people are beginning to realise that domestic holidays have a lot to offer.

She said airport strikes and the volcanic ash cloud have also encouraged more families to stay within the UK.

“People with kids don’t have the hassle of having to get on a plane or anything like that and people are realising more and more the beauty of the nature within the UK and Ireland,” Ms Bough remarked.

“The outdoor life is very popular with people for walking and cycling as well,” she added.

Of course caravanning offers an added benefit for those holidaying on home soil, as it enables them to visit several places during one break.

And with a wide variety of caravan sites available across the country, pitching options are plentiful.

Ms Gough said the Yorkshire Dales is always a very popular area with domestic holidaymakers, while Cornwall is attractive in summer because of its warm climate.

Caravanners urged to discover the lost Lake District

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by Gemma Roskell

The Lake District is known as one of the UK’s top caravanning hotspots, but the area offers much more than most people probably imagine.

In an article for the BBC’s Countryfile website, writer Neil Coates said few tourists venture into the south-western corner of Cumbria.

However, those who do are rewarded with some stunning scenery, from looming fells dotted with sleepy towns to windswept beaches and ancient monuments.

He recommended heading to the picturesque village of Cartmel, famous for its sticky toffee pudding, and the market town of Ulverston, which was home to the late comedian Stan Laurel.

Holker Hall, Grizedale Forest, Furness Abbey, Cornishead Priory and the Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness are also named as attractions worth visiting.

Mr Coates described the area of Furness and the Lake District Peninsulas as a “land of mystery and imagination, seclusion and seduction” and pointed out that it was one of William Wordsworth’s favourite Lake District spots.

Caravanners heading to the area will find a number of sites at which to pitch up.

In other news, a new mountain biking event known as Lake Epic will be taking place over two days in the Lake District in May.

2011 looking good for Searles caravan park

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by Gemma Roskell

The boss of Searles Leisure Resort has said that so far 2011 is looking like a good year for his business.

Speaking to the Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, Richard Searle said bookings at the park already appear to be up on last year.

He insisted he is “quite bullish” about the Norfolk area, particularly the north-west of the county where Searles is based in Hunstanton.

“I am proud we have been able to ensure the caravan park is a quality park that everybody is happy to use,” he remarked.

Mr Searle joined the family business at the age of 16 and has since seen more than four decades of growth at the leisure resort.

In the last ten years, visitor numbers have increased by 20 to 25 per cent and 2010 looked set to be a record year until the weather took a turn for the worse towards the end of the summer season.

Searles offers a number of pitches for touring caravans, both serviced and mains serviced, as well as standard non-electric pitches.

VIDEO: Review of the Bailey Pegasus Series II – full interior tour and interviews

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by Holly Tribe

Caravan Times was present at the launch of the second generation of Pegasus tourers from Bailey Caravans. Watch our special video feature where we take a detailed look around the Bailey Pegasus Series II.

Holly Tribe will show you around the new five model line up and take you through all the interior and exterior features.

In addition Holly caught up with Bailey managing director Nick Howard who spoke about the creation of the Pegasus II. And you can hear the first opinions and reaction from caravan journalists and experts at the launch.

Watch our video feature on the Bailey Pegasus Series II below: