Caravan Times is covering the National Rally this Bank Holiday weekend

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It is the event of the year where thousands of people come together to display their caravans and enjoy family entertainment. This Bank Holiday weekend Caravan Times will be reporting from Weston Park, home of the Caravan Club National Rally 2010.

Every year the Club holds the event over the Spring Bank Holiday of the month of May, and up to 10,000 caravanners are often in attendance. With an extensive programme of events on offer including leisure activities and sports, live music, and fun for the little ones, it is the premier caravanning event of the calendar year.

We will be out and about during the event with our photographer to capture your stories and the outstanding caravans of the rally. You’ll easily be able to spot us by our rather stylish T-shirts: so if you see us do come over and say hello! The best of these pictures and stories will be on view here at Caravan Times all next week.

The National Rally 2010 is held by the Caravan Club at Weston Park, Shropshire. For more information you can visit the Caravan Club website by clicking here.

VIDEO: Towing for beginners with the Caravan Club

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For many novices and experienced caravanners alike, the act of towing can be a daunting one. Last year in 2009 saw a huge surge in interest in caravanning, and with it an increase in first-time caravan owners who have not previously towed a vehicle. Our traffic reports on radio and television regularly contain stories of overturned caravans on our motorways and roads, and so there has never been a better time to learn or brush up on the rules of towing.

Thankfully for us the Caravan Club runs a course that can help alleviate the fears of first-time towers and give experienced caravanners greater confidence. The Caravan Manouevers program takes you through the basic road positions and awareness needed to successfully tow an outfit, as well as comprehensive practical advice on reversing a caravan.

At the NEC last year our editor Marcus Dubois met up with course instructor Colin Wilkie from the Caravan Club. With thirty-five years of experience Colin was perfectly placed to give our man some advice. You can watch how they did by clicking on the video below.

Caravan park owner pays to ensure better beach safety for holidaymakers

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The owner of a caravan park in Norfolk is looking to enhance the safety of families when heading to the county by being at the forefront of efforts to see lifeguards stationed on East Runton beach.

According to the Eastern Daily Press, many other surrounding beaches have already secured the use of lifeguards for seven days each week during the busy summer season.

Funding to pay for the guards at these locations has been supplied by North Norfolk District Council, but a different arrangement has been sealed at East Runton.

This arrangement means that the council will contribute half of the £9,400 sum.

However, Mike Ashwell, of Seaview Caravan Park, is keen to ensure caravanners and other holidaymakers at East Runton remain safe and has agreed to put forward the remainder.

He told the publication: “It is fantastic news that we are to have a lifeguard service here at East Runton beach this summer season. It is something I have been campaigning for for the last couple of years.

“I still need to find £1,700 and I am in the process of writing to all holiday businesses in the area to drum up further funding.”

Meanwhile, families should also ensure they are safety conscious when inside a caravan and should follow the same steps as they would in a home, including testing smoke alarms and checking wiring regularly.

Discover Ireland offers pensioners caravanning discounts

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The UK’s older generation of caravan enthusiasts could enjoy a trip to Ireland this summer, with Discover Ireland offering a number of discounts to pensioners.

Those over the age of 66 will benefit from cut price admission and various two-for-one deals on a range of accommodation and attractions as part of the Silver Surfers Summer Saving Scheme.

Running until August, the initiative is designed to attract a greater number of travellers to the nation, which offers miles of beautiful natural landscape just waiting to be explored.

Real Ireland managing director Shaun Rodgers suggested that older visitors will find a lot that appeals to them.

He suggested that a trip to Donegal could be ideal as it offers easy access to Glenveagh – the country’s largest national park.

The attraction boasts 22,000 hectares of natural beauty, as well as numerous walking trails and can be reached by car or by using the regular shuttle buses on offer.

“The relaxed pace of life, especially in the west and north-west of Ireland, will appeal,” Mr Rodgers said.

According to the expert, the best way to explore Ireland is by car – which could be ideal for those planning to take their touring caravan across to the Emerald Isle this summer.

Bailey launches new caravan warranty scheme

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Bristol-based caravan manufacturer Bailey is set to launch a new extended warranty scheme that will complement the existing cover in place.

Buyers who purchase a model built using the Alu-Tech construction system will now be given a ten-year body shell integrity guarantee.

This is in addition to a three-year manufacturer’s component warranty and will help to give customers peace of mind as they use their new mobile home to explore the UK and beyond.

They will also have the option of extending their component warranty to six years on certain elements of the caravan.

Purchasers of classic construction models can invest in the same component cover extension and will benefit from a six-year body shell integrity policy.

Alu-Tech owners who have invalidated their warranty by not adhering to the manufacturer’s service schedule can now buy back into the scheme by maintaining the same level of cover for an additional three years.

Meanwhile, the Camping and Caravanning Club recently joined forces with Bailey to offer caravanners the chance to win a Pegasus 534 model.

Coachman Caravan firm given recycling award

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A UK caravan firm has been recognised for its recycling efforts at a national prize-giving ceremony.

Coachman Caravans was handed the award for SME Recycling Success at the recent Severnside Achievement in Recycling Awards.

The firm was praised for its efforts in reducing the amount of waste it sends to landfill each year after it completely overhauled its waste handling techniques.

Whereas before it had relied almost completely on landfill, Coachman now operates a number of recycling streams that allow it to make use of various different types of waste materials.

“Coachman’s entry really stood out for us, to the extent that it could have quite easily been short listed in the Best Commitment to Change category alongside the likes of Next and Marks and Spencer,” explained Severnside commercial director Mathew Prosser.

As well as helping the environment, Coachman has also managed to save itself around £37,500 in landfill costs, meaning its customers will not have to foot the bill for the facilities.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer recently announced that its managing director Jim Hibbs has been named vice-president of the National Caravan Council.

Good weather boosts caravan holiday numbers

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The recent good weather seen across the UK has lead to an increase in the number of people planning a caravan holiday.

According to the Camping and Caravanning Club, bookings for pitches at its sites this weekend (May 28th to 30th) have risen by six per cent since Monday May 17th.

The most popular areas seem to be Scotland and Wales, which have seen a nine and eight per cent rise respectively.

“The weather over the weekend was quite incredible and our club sites were extremely busy with both campers and caravanners, who were keen to get out and explore and make the most of the soaring temperatures,” explained director-general Robert Louden.

He added that bookings for this weekend look promising and that he hopes the good weather will last.

Tomorrow (May 29th) marks the beginning of National Camping and Caravanning Week, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

Meanwhile, a new camping website, Campingninja, has been set up to help Brits book pitches online.

New UK camping and caravanning website launched

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A new website has been launched that has been designed to help campers, caravanners and park owners in the UK.

Campingninja is the brainchild of Geoff Vaughan and Rhian Evans, who came up with the idea after noticing their frustrations at trying to book pitches.

They explained that they found it difficult to find a campsite they wanted with availability online without a lot of effort and decided that they wished to make it easier for likeminded people to do this.

After entering Travel Trade Gazette and Dubai Tourism’s The Big Idea contest, the creators were put through to the final six, where they had to make a pitch to investment dragons.

They subsequently won first place and Campingninja was created in September last year.

“Our aim as a business and the reason this website has been created the way it has been, is to get the right people into the right campsites,” the creators explained.

The online resource offers a search function that allows users to search for campsites in a specific area and check which parks have availability on certain dates.

The website is asking users to tell their favourite campsites about it and get them involved, which should help improve the service.

Cumbria set for foodie event

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Caravan owners heading off on holiday to the north-west may be interested in attending an event taking place this weekend (May 29th and 30th).

The Westmorland County Showground is set to host the 2010 Country Fest, which will attract food lovers to the area in their droves.

Local food and drinks producers will be exhibiting their wares and allowing visitors to test their various products, while the Why Farming Matters exhibit will show the journey that food makes from field to fork.

Children might enjoy the displays of farm animals, circus workshop, mountain bike shows and other events.

Visitors can expect music and dance to contribute to a great day out, while adults could enjoy a trip to the beer tent or watching the birds of prey demonstrations.

Tickets cost £6 for adults and £1 for kids in advance, with those paying on the day being charged an extra pound each.

Meanwhile, Cumbria Tourism recently distributed its awards, with The World of Beatrix Potter being voted best large visitor attraction.

Isabella Crystal features windscreen perfect for picnics

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Caravan lovers who enjoy eating outside could find the Crystal four-sided windscreen from Danish manufacturer Isabella useful.

The firm suggested that the product is ideal for creating a sheltered space outside the mobile home that can also be used for sunbathing, playing and for impromptu get-togethers where the caravan just doesn’t provide enough space.

However, while the Crystal shields users from the wind, its transparent nature means users can still enjoy views of where they are camping.

It benefits from being easy to carry and simple to assemble, which means it can also be pitched up in the garden or on picnics for added versatility.

“A windscreen is essential for those who like to spend a lot of time outdoors, from spring to autumn,” explained spokesman Brian Madsen.

“The windscreen is supplied with lightweight CarbonX poles, guy ropes, pegs and the Stabilo system, which consists of sturdy earth spikes and support feet.”

Meanwhile Isabella recently suggested that caravanners might enjoy its best-selling Penta awning, which features a roof designed to reduce condensation.

Isabella Penta: the quality is in the detail

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Caravan owners have been told that much of the success of the Penta awning is down to the minute details that combine to make it the best-selling model on the European market for permanent pitch Caravanners.

Isabella – the Danish manufacturer behind the product – said that the awning features a number of small benefits which keep holidaymakers coming back for more.

An example can be seen in the roof, which is constructed from a heavy polyester canvas with an outer coating that protects against everything from rain to snow and even sunlight.

It also has an interwoven PVA material that distributes condensation evenly across the surface to stop it from becoming an issue.

Meanwhile a roof panel allows light to filter in and functions exactly the same as the rest of the ceiling, as it is made from the same materials.

Isabella also recently suggested that those with a caravan could benefit from using its four-sided Crystal windscreen when eating outdoors.

Sun canopies now more versatile

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Danish manufacturer Isabella has suggested that the sun canopy can be a useful and versatile addition to the caravan.

It said that the range of products available allow the tool to be used in a variety of different ways and suggested that its Shadow series could be the perfect instalment for caravanners heading somewhere sunny.

It is available with two or three poles and in five widths from 2.4m to 5m to suit a range of caravans.

A number of optional accessories have been made available at the request of the firm’s customers, including a mesh front and sides to provide extra shade and shelter.

“The mesh fabric is ideal because it reflects the sun’s rays,” the firm explained.

“In addition to providing welcome shade on a warm summer’s day, it also makes it difficult to look in but easy to look out.”

Furthermore, the canopy can be connected to many of Isabella’s awnings, meaning that those with products such as the Ambassador can attach it to the side to extend their usable space even further.