Year-long caravan challenge almost complete

Posted by

The year-long challenge of a man who vowed to live in a caravan without money is set to end on Saturday (November 28th).

Irishman Mark Boyle decided last November to move into the mobile home and shun any form of cash for 365 days, living off the land and bartering.

The 30-year-old told the Sun that he has “never been happier” and that there is little to miss about his old life.

He sourced his home from giveaway website Freecycle and has been living rent-free at a farm commune, where he also grows his own vegetables and goes foraging for food.

“There’s loads of stuff you can eat if you know what to look for – mushrooms, berries,” he told the newspaper.

“Then there’s waste foraging, where you ask supermarkets and restaurants for their leftover food.”

A self-built compost toilet and old free newspapers for loo roll allow Mr Boyle to relieve himself, while cooking is done on a DIY stove made of olive oil containers.

His challenge has been about showing people how to avoid wasting food and other consumables and was inspired by the story of Gandhi, who said you must be the change you want to see in the world.

Meanwhile, it was recently revealed in Caravan Times that dozens of families in Yorkshire are facing their third Christmas living in caravans after flooding hit the area in 2007.

Caravanners urged to check tyres

Posted by

A tyre firm has warned motorists and caravan owners to pay attention to the only part of their vehicles that should come into contact with the road.

Protyre explained that it is important that drivers maintain this part of their autos as it is essential for their safety.

It advised carrying out a winter check to ensure the treads are fit for next spring and summer – especially if long journeys to a caravan site are planned.

As well as testing the tread depth and looking for signs of sidewall damage or misalignment, the valves should also be checked to ensure they are in good working order.

“Reports indicate that tyre failure is a major factor in accidents involving towed caravans,” explained Camping and Caravanning Club spokesman Barry Norris.

“It therefore makes sense to take care of this vital component of a caravan.”

When checking caravan tyres, the mobile home should be jacked up to take the weight off the wheels and allow a thorough examination.

Owners looking to protect their tyres over winter should cover them in a dense, breathable material such as hessian, Protyre advised.

The Camping and Caravanning Club has more than 4,000 sites across the UK.

Elderly caravan resident to take on billionaire in court case

Posted by

An 85-year-old static caravan resident is taking on one of the world’s richest men as she battles to stop her home being seized by compulsory purchase.

Donald Trump is facing legal action from Molly Forbes, who lives in the unit named Paradise next to her son Michael Forbes’ home near Aberdeen.

The mother and son have opposed the American’s plans for a new golf resort that would see their property bought by the local council.

However, Trump has claimed that the pensioner is being exploited by her son and used in a “personal vendetta” against him.

“His property is a disgusting blight on the community and an environmental hazard, with leaking oil containers, rusted shacks and abandoned vehicles dumped everywhere,” the businessman said in a statement.

Refusing to mince his words, he continued by claiming that Mr Forbes’ land currently presents a “very poor image” of Scotland.

Trump hosts the US version of The Apprentice, which is fronted by Sir Alan Sugar in the UK.

Families face third Christmas in caravans

Posted by

While many families may enjoy a number of breaks to a caravan park throughout the year, some in Yorkshire are facing spending their third Christmas in a mobile home.

However, this is not through choice as the families are still homeless after their properties were ravaged by flood water in June 2007, the Hull Daily Mail revealed.

A total of 25 households in Hull and a further 44 in East Riding were forced to seek alternative accommodation following the first round of flooding, while more than 100 more were affected by the second bout.

The newspaper focused on Jan and Dave Tanton, who have been living in a caravan since 2007.

Mrs Tanton explained that they have both lost heart after numerous problems with their insurers and builders.

“We are hoping the building work will be finished a fortnight before Christmas, which will mean we will have walls, lights and ceilings. At least it will be a step forward,” she told the newspaper.

However, with the house having been a building site for the best part of three years, the Tantons will have a lot of redecoration work in front of them.

The Met Office has revealed that the 314.4 mm of rain that fell in Seathwaite in Cumbria earlier this week is the most ever recorded in a single 24-hour period.

Scottish caravan park hit by flooding

Posted by

As Cumbria attempts to recover from the effects of this week’s torrential downpours, the Carluke Gazette has revealed that other parts of the country have also felt the force of mother nature.

It explained that Clydesdale has been soaked by rain, leading to flooding at Kirkfieldbank Caravan Park, as well as numerous other locations in the region.

In Rosebank, flood water came “perilously close to buildings”, while public transport and schools have also been hit with the difficult weather.

On the roads, six accidents were reported on the nearby stretch of the M74 motorway, while part of the A72 Clyde Valley road was closed for hours after the river burst its banks.

The Met Office noted that the rainfall recorded in Cumbria could be the greatest amount to fall in a single location over a 24-hour period since records began.

Meanwhile, the Hull Daily Mail recently revealed that dozens of families displaced from their homes in Yorkshire during the June 2007 floods are still living in caravans.

Police hunt caravan thief

Posted by

Police in Lancashire are hunting a caravan thief who stole a mobile holiday home from a farm earlier this month.

The criminal made off with a caravan worth £10,000 from the Oswaldtwistle site, but was caught on CCTV.

According to thebee.co.uk, the incident occurred on November 5th and police are searching for the occupants of a dark-coloured Vauxhall Omega, which towed away the Bailey Ranger caravan.

“This caravan was taken in broad daylight and I am confident that someone will have seen it being towed away along Haslingden Road and beyond,” PC Neil Pugh told the news provider.

He added that anyone who believes they may have seen anything suspicious should get in contact with the police or Crimestoppers.

Meanwhile, the Peterlee Mail recently explained how a man decided to found a caravan repair service after his previous workplace began shedding staff.

Britain offers ‘variety of holidays’

Posted by

Brits who cannot afford to go abroad next year need not miss out on a holiday as the UK offers a variety of breaks, it has been suggested.

According to British Resorts & Destinations Association director Peter Hampson, the country has a range of choices within a short distance.

Commenting on Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures which show that the number of Brits heading to foreign lands fell by 14 per cent in the year to September, Mr Hampson said that people do not have to go abroad to have a good holiday.

“The great thing about the UK is that it is infinitely variable and it’s a relatively small country,” he said. “There is a huge variation and generally not more than three or four hours away.”

Around 60.8 million overseas destination visits have been recorded by Brits so far this year compared to 70.4 million in 2008, according to the ONS data.

It also showed that UK residents’ visits to the US decreased by 20 per cent, while trips to Europe fell by 14 per cent.

Lake District: ‘something to offer whatever the weather’

Posted by

Whether the weather is sunny or wet, the Lake District has something to offer visitors, it has been claimed.

Cumbria Tourism explained that the area has a wide array of attractions that are open all-year-round, as well as events, restaurants, pubs and shops that can prove a welcome distraction if it is raining.

A recent OnePoll survey of European holiday hotspots placed the Lake District at number five in the continent’s best destinations.

It also revealed that the area is popular among fans of walking and other outdoor activities.

Cumbria Tourism public relations manager Julie Darroch explained that such people do not expect perfect weather.

“In the vast majority of cases, those who love the outdoors come prepared for all conditions and still enjoy the scenery whatever the weather – especially in the autumn and early winter months when the colours are magnificent,” she said.

The Lake District beat some illustrious competition to fifth place in the survey results with Crete, London, St Ives, Newquay and Amsterdam all falling behind it.

Chris Malone

Success at two shows for Lunar Caravans

Posted by

British manufacturer Lunar Caravans is celebrating success at two recent shows, where it showcased new products and racked up sales.

First up was the Scottish Caravan and Outdoor Leisure Show in the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, where it was represented by Kirkcaldy Caravans and Campbell’s Caravans.

Lunar sales and marketing director Martin Henderson explained that the firm was “tremendously encouraged with the response”.

He noted that interest was high in the new Lexon SE model, which was released at the recent National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show in Birmingham.

The event at the National Exhibition Centre followed up the success of the Scottish event, with retail figures up 30 per cent.

Lunar noted its pleasure at such strong results in the current economic climate.

The sales may have been boosted by the fact that the show featured 23 display models from the manufacturer, including four new models – the Lexon SE, Quasar 524, Quasar 626 and Quasar 616.

London to ensure fair prices for 2012 visitors

Posted by

Caravan enthusiasts spending a break in the vicinity of London over the next few years need not worry about being ripped off by unscrupulous traders looking to take advantage of the influx of visitors brought to the city by the Olympic Games.

This is because two organisations have pledged to team up to ensure that guests of the capital are not overcharged.

Visit Britain and VisitLondon have formed the Fair Pricing and Practice Charter, which is aimed at ensuring prices at the Olympics and Paralympics are fair.

It is the first time a host city has taken such a step and is likely to have benefits for visitors to the city before and after the event.

Meanwhile, VisitLondon, Visit Britain, the European Tour Operators Association and UKinbound will form a cooperative party in charge of designing a strategy to attract foreign nationals to the spectacle in 2012.

According to Tourism Alliance policy director Kurt Janson, the move is a positive one.

“One of the issues with a big event like the Olympics is it can scare away some of the tourism numbers you get per year,” he said.

“Tourists often get scared by price hikes, crowds and lack of accommodation.”

Scottish tourism benefits from strong euro

Posted by

Scotland has gained from the pound’s weakness against the euro as more people have enjoyed holidays in the country, it has been claimed.

With miles of coastline, highland and lowland scenery to explore on camping and caravanning trips and places like Glasgow and Edinburgh offering popular city breaks, the country’s tourist industry has benefited from the rise of the staycation.

According to VisitScotland, the country is now an attractive option for domestic tourists who might formerly have headed overseas.

“The staycation trend, strong events calendars in [Glasgow and Edinburgh], along with Homecoming – which has given Scotland a competitive advantage – will also have helped to maintain stable occupancy rates,” a spokesperson for the organisation said.

The Homecoming celebrations are being held to mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of renowned Scots poet Robert Burns.

An advertising campaign has focused on bringing descendants of ex-pats back to Scotland to join in the party, which has seen a number of events take place throughout the year.

Caravan park offers discounted prices for next summer

Posted by

Caravan enthusiasts heading to north Devon next summer may be able to grab a bargain break.

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks are offering savings of up to 44 per cent on early bookings for 2010.

Those wishing to take advantage of the deal must book a seven-night holiday before November 30th.

Participants can arrange to stay between June 5th and July 24th and will have free access to ten indoor and outdoor pools, as well as two outdoor waterparks.

Other free onsite facilities include a kids’ club, cinema, tennis, nine-hole golf course and a cabaret show.

The offers available mean a family can stay in a two-bedroom Buttercup caravan holiday home for just £275 from June 5th – a saving of £215.

Devon is well-known for its quality caravan parks and is also renowned for its scenic coastline, which is enjoyed by sightseers, divers, fishers, surfers and sailors alike.