Motor Caravanner September 2023

Sinead Taylor T: 01502 725865

sinead.taylor@micropress.co.uk

From

the Chair

Ihope you have been out and about in your motorhomes and enjoying your time on the road. We are now coming up to the time of the Group AGMs. The Groups cannot function without volunteers both to work on the Committee and to act as host for rallies. If you think you can help out please talk to your Group Committees. Also this year our teams have been working hard at the shows both recruiting new members and marshalling our parking areas. If you meet one of our new members at a rally please make them welcome.

One last thing, it was mentioned to me that a member who had needed to change to a caravan was told they could not remain members. Just to clarify, should a member find themselves changing then providing their membership is still in date they can remain members.

Kate Jones Club Chairman

CL SITES

Please be aware that the information about any of the sites listed in the Handbook is correct at the time of printing. This is especially true of site fees, which are subject to change due to the rise in running costs being incurred by site owners. We do print CL updates in the monthly magazine – but only if we have been made aware of them by the site. To be absolutely sure that you have the latest up-to-date information about any site we strongly advise you to check with the site before booking.

Club Contacts

www.themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

COUNCIL OF MANAGEMENT

Chairman:

Kate Jones (07747 000587 or 01935 863815)

Vice Chairman:

Jacci Durkee (07931 527691)

Members:

Carol Biggs (01473 620933)

Derek Clarke (07931 733656)

Graham Durkee (07931 527691)

Les Kendrick (07860 286561)

Selma McMullan (07752 678454)

Sue Pilkiw (07562 324325)

Keith Poole (07736 544490)

Anne Taylor (07414 852497)

Steve Wynn (07916 131892)

MCC Sec & Administrator: Ron Harris

Wood Farm Estate, Marlbank Road, Welland, Malvern WR13 6NA T: 01684 311677

E: info@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Office opening: Mon-Thu 9-5pm Fri 9-2pm

MCC Office Administration: Julie Stanbridge

CoM WITH REPONSIBILITIES

CL & Night Stops: Carol Biggs (01473 620933)

Disability Advisor: Keith Poole (07736 544490)

keithp@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Exhibition Team: Jacci & Graham Durkee (07931 527 691) grahamd@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Head Show Marshal: Sue Pilkiw (07562 324325)

suep@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Homecraft Coordinator: tbc

Magazine/Handbook : Sue Pilkiw (07562 324325)

suep@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Health & Safety Officer: Keith Poole (07736 544490) keithp@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

GROUP SECRETARIES CONTACT LIST

As

Publisher/Editor: Mark Shreeve

E: mark.shreeve@micropress.co.uk

T: 01502 725839

Contributors: Jack Bancroft, Kavanagh

Deville, Frances & Michael Howorth

Advertising: Danny Lewis

E: danny.lewis@micropress.co.uk

T: 01502 725862

CLUB OFFICIALS

Casual Campsites: Ann Bond (07805 795549)

Financial Officer: Paul Maguire (07973 827506)

Insignia: Marion Brooks (0208 6412283) insignia@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Junior Leaders: Maria Hill & Gill Crosby juniors@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

National Rally Site Manager & Head Show Marshal: Mick Pilkiw Webmaster: TBC Haven Liaison: Pet Heal (01454 320924)

To email a member of the Council of Management please use first name & first letter of surname followed by @ themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk ie katej@ themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Please note that Secretary details September have changed due to AGMs.

All opinions expressed in these pages are those of the Editor and his contributors and do not necessarily represent official Club policy. All Material copyright. The Motor Caravanners’ Club Ltd 2023. All Rights reserved. While every care is taken when accepting advertisements neither the Club nor the Publisher can accept responsibility for unsatisfactory transactions which arise. Printed by Micropress Printers Ltd. The opinions, advice and information contained in this publication are offered solely to inform members as to matters which will be of assistance to them.

The Motor Caravanners’ Club and Countrywide Publications accepts no responsibility for any opinion, advice or information expressed by any person in any article contained herein and members should seek their own counsel on matters before acting or relying on any opinion, advice or information.

Since

My name is Daniel Lopez, I’m something

campervan expert having been using campers for many years and having founded Sussex Campervans nearly a decade ago. Scan

Club News

DAVE FLIES HIGH FOR CHARITY

GROUP AGM DATES

West Country

Sat 7 Oct, 3pm

Riverside Caravan Park, Marsh Lane, North Molton, North Devon, EX36 3HQ

Sussex Sat 28 Oct, 10.30am

Willingdon Community Sch, Broad Rd, Lower Willingdon, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 9QX

Kent Sat 7 Oct, 11am

Sandwich Junior School, St. Barts Road, Sandwich, CT13 0AS

Essex Sat 14 Oct, 10.30am

Chelmer Valley School, Court Road, Broomfield

Essex CM1 7ER

Anglia

Sat 28 Oct, 10am

Alderman Peel School, Wells next the Sea NR23 1RB

Smile Train, with a sky dive on 10th August. Thank you to all the sponsors who helped raise over £500 for charity, donations still coming in!

CL SITES UPDATES

AMENDMENTS

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

THE OLD MART (CL94484)

Dogs allowed at this site.

NEW SITES PONTYCLUN LLANTRISANT (NS54452)

Crofft yr Haidd, Llantrisant, Pontyclun CF72 8LQ 07745 540044 (9am-6pm) janhj13@hotmail.com

open: All year cost: £12pupn

access: 3.1m

facilities: Bins, dogs allowed. Pub 1 mile, shops 3 miles.

CUMBRIA

THE COACH HOUSE (CL94494)

Borwick Rails, Millom,

01229 771788 / 07713

530289 (8am-10pm)

leahmcmeekin@ btinternet.com

cost: £25pupn, no EHU

open: All year. access: 7m facilities: Water, rubbish, hard standing, dogs allowed, toilet, Elsan disposal, wash room.

COUNTY DURHAM THE BRIDGE INN (NS54454)

Whorlton, Barnard Castle DL12 8XD

Michael Dawson 01833

316024 (9am to 9pm)

open: All year. access: 9m

cost: £0

facilities: Bins, hard standing, dogs allowed, toilet facilities not 24hrs.

East Wessex

Sun 22 Oct, 10.30am

Weeke Primary Sch, Stoney Lane, Weeke, Winchester SO22 6DR

Chiltern Sat 28 Oct, 11am

St Peter’s Sch, Crimp Hill, Old Windsor SL4 2QY

East Midlands

Sat 21 Oct, 10am

Colsterworth S&S Club, Old Post Lane, Woolsthorpe, by Colsterworth, Lincs. NG33 5PG

Severn Valley

Sat 28 Oct, 10.30am

Alveley Sports Club, Kidderminster Rd, Alveley, Bridgnorth WV15 6LN

NWM & NW

21 Oct, 10.30am

Checkley Community Hall, Uttoxeter Road, Checkley, ST10 4NB

Lancashire

Sat 7 Oct, 11am

Equestrian Centre, Warren Farm, Southport Old Rd, Formby L37 0AN

Yorkshire

Sat 14 Oct, 10.30am

Wetherby racecourse, York Rd LS22 5EJ

Northern Counties

Sat 30 Sep, 12pm

Redcar Racecourse, West Dyke Rd, Redcar TS10 2BY

Scotland

Sun 8 Oct, 11am

Monturpie CP Restaurant, Blindwell Road, Upper Largo, Leven, Fife KY8 5QS

West Wessex

Sun 29 Oct, 10am

Devizes FC, Nursteed Rd, Devizes SN10 3DX

Avon

Sat 28 Oct, 10.30am

Whitstone School, Charlton Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 5PF

SWP Fri 10 Nov, 8pm

Wooda Farm Holiday Park, Bude, EX23 9HJ

S&W Wales

Sat 4 Nov, 11am

Ysgol Cymraeg, Caerphilly CF83 3HG

Nene Valley

Sat 14 Oct, 2pm

Cogenhoe Bowls Club, York Avenue, Cogenhoe, Northants, NN7 1NB

Isle of Wight

Mon 6 Nov, 6pm

The Isobel Centre, Furrlongs, Newport, Isle of Wight PO30 2AX

N. Ireland & Ireland

Sat 30 Sep, 10.30am

Regent House Grammar School, Circular Road, Newtownards BT23 4QA

SERG

Mon 16 Oct, 3pm

Moreton in Marsh Cricket Club, Batsford Rd, Gloucestershire GL56 9QA

Bookable 3 days because of limited parking for motorhomes

Motorcycle

Sat 30 Sep, 11am

Stow on the Wold & District

RFC Oddington Road

Stow-on-the-Wold

Cheltenham GL54 1JJ

PEGGY KENNETT

Essex Group send condolences to family and friends of Peggy Kennett wife of the late Bert Kennett, she sadly passed away beginning of August. Long standing members of The Motorcaravanners' Club. Bob Thorne, Group Chairman

TERESA CONSTANTINE

The Isle of Wight Group sadly announce that Teresa Constantine passed away suddenly on 9th August at home. Teresa with her husband Martyn were new members of the group and we enjoyed their company at their first rally with us at Calbourne Heights. Our condolences go to Martyn and family at this very sad time.

Heather Jennings, Group Secretary

F.I.C.C. WORLD CAMPING FESTIVAL 2024

Alannia Campsite, Costa Blanca, 26 June to 3 July

This 5-star campsite is open all year round and is situated in the middle of Vega Baja in the Province of Alicante. The campsite is 400,000m2 and has all the necessary amenities and infrastructure such as a restaurant, tennis courts, an aquapark. Dogs welcome. There are no prices yet but as soon as I get anymore information I will let you all know. Please keep this date in your diaries.

Les Kendrick

Ulwell, Swanage, Dorset BH19 3DG

Ulwell Cottage Caravan Park is situated in the lovely “Isle of Purbeck” and nestles under the Purbeck Hills. The beautiful coastline is easily accessible, and the park is on the main bus route from Swanage to Bournemouth via the Sandbanks Chain Ferry. Corfe Castle and village are just some 5 miles by road Poole is an easy drive away.

The park has a friendly Village Inn serving excellent meals, an indoor heated swimming pool and a general shop, open in main season. There are hard standings with electric, water and drainage hook-ups. Booking for these pitches is essential at all school holiday periods. There is a modern toilet and shower block and disabled facilities. There are wash-up areas, chemical toilet disposal and launderettes.

t: 01929 422823

w: www.ulwellholidaypark.co.uk

e: enq@ulwellholidaypark.co.uk

SPEEDCOAT EUROPE offers a great repair service for new and old cracked shower trays using a superior durable spray liner.

SPEEDLINER EURO HC® is an active anti-bacterial polymer to guarantee against mould, mildew and fungi contamination.

Alicante region

HASTE YE BACK!

Motorcycle Group take a 35 night tour of Scotland

After a lot of planning, Miranda, our rally officer, set the route for our tour. The plan was to go up the West coast, along the Caledonian canal and down the East coast.

We left England on 5 June and headed for Thomaston Farm, Dumfries. Our hosts, Jane and Sean were ready for us. Jane welcomed us wearing Scottish Regalia and doing a jig. After parking us up we were welcomed with a wee dram of whisky.

The following day two newlyweds arrived. Congratulations go to Ian and Miranda who secretly married at Gretna Green on the way up and surprised us. We were only informed while they were on route and quickly arranged a guard of honour with motorcycles for their arrival.

The next five days were filled with ride-outs, walks around the local area and social get togethers

in the evenings, including Adrian's birthday celebration.

The weather was on our side with us all wearing our summer riding gear. Our ride-outs from that site went to Balantrae and Bruce's Stone. The views were spectacular. A wonderful introduction to Scotland.

Then we headed north to Tyndrum Holiday Park, the first of two commercial sites, hosted by Miranda, Ian, Wendy and Ian. This

lovely area is surrounded by trees and hills. We enjoyed more warm weather here but this meant that we also met up with the midges and lots of them! Our first ride-out took us to Oban, along Loch Awe, stopping at Kilchurn Castle and Arduaine Gardens viewpoint. The next ride-out was around Loch Earn. The views all around us were glorious. But the midges stopped us meeting up in the evenings although we did enjoy dinner together in the

Bruce's Stone above Loch Trool

local restaurant and on another night several of us went to the Tyndrum Inn and had Haggis, Neeps & Tatties.

We headed north again to our next site travelling through the Great Glen, enjoying the views

Augustus, Loch Ness and Inverness to our destination at Brodie Castle, hosted by Tony and Sandra. This is a lovely quiet site nestled in the castle grounds. Our ride-outs included Chanonry Point in the Moray Firth to see the dolphins, Culloden Battle Field, Inverness and around Loch Ness. Our hosts entertained us with funny team games, quizzes, hot dogs, and we celebrated Joy's birthday too.

We then drove east to an Aire

to the seashore, hosted by Sue and Steve who organised fish 'n' chips for us all on the first night. The weather became showery from then on, but we did manage some evening get-togethers with Steve’s Silly Bingo and quizzes. We had a ride-out to Banff, through the countryside and returned along the coast road visiting some beautiful harbours. A great find for a coffee break was at Gardenstown where we stopped at Eli’s Cafe. The homemade cakes and pies were so gorgeous we nearly cleared the lot and the owner asked us to pose with our bikes for a photo for her Facebook site too.

Our second ride-out went along the coast to Peterhead, a busy working harbour. The weather was drizzling and we decided to have lunch together at the local Weatherspoons pub. The staff were fantastic and moved tables to accommodate 22 people to sit together. Great service too.

In between ride-outs some of us took the bus into Fraserburgh.

continued on p13

SKevinEaves/shutterstock

Kilchurn Castle in Loch Awe

SwenStroop/shutterstock

grafxart/shutterstock

Falls of Feugh

Mike0759/shutterstock

Loch Earn at sunrise

Bottlenose dolphin in The Moray Firth

"Our ride-outs went to Balantrae and Bruce's Stone. The views were spectacular. A wonderful introduction to Scotland."

NORTH NORFOLK’S UNIQUE COASTAL HOLIDAY PARK

Touring Pitches • Beach Huts • Stunning Surroundings

Just a leisurely stroll from the hustle and bustle of Wells town, our 5 star holiday park is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with golden sandy beaches and the Holkham National Nature Reserve right on the doorstep.

pinewoods.co.uk

continued from p11

Others walked or cycled to old castles and nearby beaches. Simon and Jackie donned wetsuits and swam in the sea, bringing out various crabs and shells. The silvery sands and turquoise sea made you imagine you were on a Tropical Island.

Our next site was south, to Milton of Crathes near Banchory hosted by Pearl and Robin. This is a nice flat field overlooking the River Dee with a craft centre next door and a National Trust site across the road. We could even walk into Banchory along an off-road route. Our first ride-out was led by a local couple, Hugh and Diane (friends of Adrian and Cathy). They led us to The Falls of Feugh, Cairn O' Mount, Dunnotar Castle and Stonehaven for lunch. Fantastic sights and great roads with sweeping bends. Another ride-out went to Balmoral

Balmoral Castle (above). The Falkirk Wheel (above right) and a Motorcycle Group photo at The Kelpies (left).

Castle and Braemar and our last ride was to Alford where we had lunch at Chloe’s Kitchen Creations. Due to the inclement weather we only managed one social evening together.

We headed further south to Monturpie Caravan Site, near Leven overlooking Largo Bay, hosted by Noreen and Martin. The sea views were amazing. Our first ride-out was to Crail, Anstruther for fish 'n' chips, Pitenweem and Ele where we got piped out of town by a tartan clad piper. Our second ride-out

took us through Kirkcaldy, the Forth Bridge view point and Loch Leven. It was very windy here and we only managed one evening outside protected by windbreaks. But it was an evening of laughter with us all reciting tongue twisters. If you made a mistake the whole team had to have a drink! We also had a meal in the site restaurant and on our final night, the owners let us use the empty restaurant where we enjoyed Nick and Lyn's music bingo.

For our last rally we headed south again, over the Forth Bridge round Edinburgh to the Lothian Bridge Campsite, hosted by Jackie, Simon, Ann and Graham.

A lovely site under the arches of the railway viaduct. We were welcomed to site with a dram of whisky and a piece of cake. Our hosts also entertained us with 'hard' quizzes on motorbikes. But they were fun! On our first ride-out we went to The Kelpies and had a group photo. Then on to lunch at the Falkirk wheel. Our last ride-out took us to North Berwick and The Preston Water Mill. On other days, many took the train into Edinburgh and others went to the Scottish Mining museum nearby.

On our Scotland tour we enjoyed 35 nights away on 7 different sites. We went on 14 group ride-outs, totalling 1123 miles with wonderful views throughout. A very memorable holiday with great friends.

ByunauKonstantin/shutterstock

HeartlandArts/shutterstock

Preston Water Mill

StudioKarel/shutterstock

JOIN US IN SHROPSHIRE

Our final campsite of the year takes us to The West Midlands Showground, Berwick Road, Shrewsbury SY1 2PF from 4-18 September.

This is a great place for a CCS, having plenty of space for pitches and an easy stroll into Shrewsbury town along the roads but, also, it’s on the river where, if available, there is a ferry to take you into town.

Price per pitch without hook-up will be £13 or £20 pupn including hook-up. Full facilities include toilet and showers and use of a room at all times during our stay.

Booking is now open. Two week stay from 4-18 September; First week 4-11 September and second week 11-18 September. Awnings

pitch area. Two pets maximum.

For booking

Please email Ann Bond (annbond83@gmail.com) with your details, full names, Club membership number, vehicle reg, mobile and, dates of stay required.

As requested by the site being visited, bookings will be required. This ensures members will have a pitch on arrival, also keeping to the terms of contracts, which is paramount. All CCS are full payment in cash to the MCC hosts on arrival. The site's T&Cs must also be observed during our stay.

motor mover, 1 owner, £17,000. –

60 YEARSCelebrating

With the weather being in our favour we managed to get the vans parked in four rows across the field as they arrived for what some would say was one of Anglia's biggest rallies in celebration of our 60th anniversary.

Wednesday night, with Carol and Derek being unavailable due to Carol being in hospital, Keith had help doing the collection of rally fees from another Keith, who is interested in becoming the treasurer after the AGM when Carol retires.

With the money being collected on one table, Caz and Ben gave out the meal vouchers for the Norfolk Pieman and Dave's fish and chips, while Mal and Janet gave out the 60th brooch. Teresa sat at another table and gave out the meal tickets for the Friday night meal. Then we had six games of bingo with Ben and Keith doing the calling.

Thursday some went into town to use their vouchers for their dinner; a total of 41 in the Norfolk Pieman Cafe. At night we had the pleasure of Travis Graham to entertain us till late.

and browse the town for the day as we had what was one of the best meals anyone could ask for at 6pm at night. When all 121 members had devoured the food, it was time to get out the cake that Teresa had arranged for the presentation of the plaque by a Council of Management member, Sue Pilkiw. But the plaque was missing, so we had to improvise with the cake having photos taken with the committee all standing

behind. Sue gave a lovely speech to acknowledge the hard work that has been put in by Carol, Derek and Teresa into the planning of such a great time.

Saturday was a free day with the weather not playing fair when members wanted to walk into town to use the vouchers at another venue for their dinner. Saturday night we had the big boy himself, that was the voice of Steve Moyse who kept us dancing till late.

Sunday we had a coffee morning with the raffle being drawn with over 40 prizes up for grabs; thanks to Teresa once again. The Bengy Boy’s Bonus Ball Bucket winner was none other than Teresa Guyver. Sunday night it was time for the Chinese Raffle hosted by Keith, with 43 parcels on the table. It turned out to be a great laugh as the furry animals were stolen from person to person along with the bottle of sloe gin doing its rounds in the hall which Teresa finally won.

Monday night it was the turn of Paul Cook to do one of his great

Anglia Group held their 60th anniversary rally in Sheringham

music quizzes with all having fun singing the answers out. As vans were going home every day we were down to the last 10 vans on Tuesday, when we all went over to the hall and just sat and chatted as we were tired from the last six days of fun and games, dancing and walking down the hill to town only to have to walk back up again.

May I just say a big thank you to all that helped, from committee members to helpers for all their hard work, helping myself and Teresa get the hall ready and close the hall down again after the end of the rally. To Carol and Derek for sorting the paperwork out, plus Teresa for getting the vouchers sorted with the two venues, for finding a good chef for the meal and for sorting the entertainment for the 60th anniversary – lots of hard work and dedication from them all.

Keith Poole, Anglia Chairman

Converted CARGO CARRIERS

line building cargo carrying vehicles.

Frances & Michael

Howorth look into what happens after they leave that conveyor belt

motorhome and a campervan. Vans are built the way they are to carry cargo. Some vans get diverted as they leave the factory floor and head off to become campervans in purpose-built production plants. Eventually, after conversion, they carry brand names such as (in alphabetical order): Adria, Autotrail, Cathargo, Eldis, Hymer and Swift among others. Other vans end up in van dealerships where they are purchased by would be selfconverters. Some get driven by delivery drivers, until such time as a DIY enthusiast buys the remains, intending to convert it into a campervan. That means, as with most things in life, campervan conversion is a considerably complex topic and complete coverage falls way beyond the scope of this article.

Suffice to say, there have been

Endeavour

last category must come The Van Conversion Bible by vanlifers Charlie Low and Dale Comley. The book gets our vote because it is so well written, so beautifully laid out, so clear in its focus, that you could read it just for the pleasure of doing so. We would go so far as to suggest that it is the book everyone aspiring to own a van conversion should buy and read.

down to three; either you buy a van converted by the large motorhome and caravan production facilities, or you buy one from a small bespoke converter, or even convert one yourselves. The book is useful, even if you already own a van. Think of it as an asset when it comes to fixing, maintaining and understanding your own van. Charlie and Dale say

in the book “Recognising everyone has different needs, we wanted to write a book that was more than just a story about how we converted our own van. Instead, we wanted to provide people with the tools to design and maintain something completely bespoke and give them the confidence, to start and then continue, their journey.”

Readers looking to buy a van from a motorhome and caravan producer are beginning to get spoiled for choice. Bailey of Bristol have never offered a panel van conversion product before. Now, 75 years after the company’s formation, and working with Ford, they will launch Endeavour, a panel van

conversion. It will make its debut at the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC this coming October. Bailey’s first collaboration with Ford was with its Adamo coach-built motorhome in 2020. Since then, the popularity of this five-model range has meant Ford quickly became their base vehicle provider, and a >>

Frances and Michael Howorth's Voyager motorhome (right).

natural choice of partner for the new Endeavour. Currently, very little is known about this new product but, no doubt all will be revealed shortly.

Most motorhome and caravan manufacturers design vehicles in a set way, trying to come up with a layout that appeals to the widest possible audience. But, as we found out, when looking for a company to convert our Fiat Ducato into Voyager, there simply is no one van design to suit everyone. As motorcaravanners, we all have our different needs, budgets and skills. We chose to have someone convert a van for us. Had we had Charlie and Dale’s book back then, it might have been different, but if we are to be truthful, our skill set does not

match that required to do a good job of conversion. We opted instead to choose a small, dedicated team we knew and could trust, to give us the vehicle we had designed ourselves and knew we wanted. The craftsmen, at what is now called Voyage Adventure Vans, did an excellent job and we are very happy. Fortunately, there are many more of that type of firm, looking to undertake bespoke campervan conversion

work. It pays to shop around and get recommendations from satisfied customers before paying a deposit.

Looking for a VW Camper converter? Then check out 8 Ball Camper Conversions on the outskirts of Hull, in East Yorkshire. With 20 years of experience behind them, they have a wealth of satisfied customers delighted with the campervans and day vans the company has converted. For larger

The team at Love Campers working on a campervan conversion.

Those who have already joined the EV van conversion movement point towards the significant savings in fuel costs, at a time when the cost of petrol and diesel is skyrocketing."

Bespoke Conversions

All campers include RIB seat & TUV elevating roof

New & used camper sales

Full conversions start from £12,250 + VAT

01482 848236

Trimming service available 2 Years warranty

All vans fully certified

IN FOCUS | MOTORHOME CONVERSIONS

vans, Wellhouse Leisure, in Barnsley, has a modern factory consisting of a seven-bay workshop where the conversions are built. CEO and company founder, David Elliott, encourages visits from potential customers to see how and where they are converted. Elliott was quick to embrace the concept of electric campervans but now, having converted a fair few, he is not so sure that was the right business decision. He says, “I believe that the time will come when EV campervans are a viable option. But I see this happening in at least 3-5 years from now, when the range is better, prices have come down and we have a better charging system, that is also affordable. Currently, EV offerings seem to appeal only to a minority and not the majority. At Wellhouse, we are seeing an increase in sales of petrol engined, Japanese imports. These include hybrid petrol options, >>

DORMOBILE LTD, one of the pioneers of motor caravan conversion, is well and truly back. The “Dormobile” name was widely used to describe a campervan in the 60's & 70's, in much the same way as Hoover and Tupperware also transcended the product. New camper models are built on Volkswagen Transporter, Ford Transit Custom, with flagship models being built on the premium MAN TGE. The Dormobile Ballintrae comes as standard with many premium features which are usually listed as ‘extras’, such as full leather upholstery, lithium batteries and top spec base vehicles. Furthermore, for those just wanting to have van conversion works undertaken, such as pop-top roof fitting or electrical installations, their workshop in The New Forest can cater for that too.

TANKS OPTIONS

HEATING

For more information, CONTACT US TODAY!

www.propexleisure.co.uk

Introducing

Introducing the all-new M-Star Campervan from Auto-Sleeper, the perfect vehicle for your next adventure. This spacious and luxurious campervan is packed with features that will make your camping trips more comfortable and enjoyable, For an out-of-this-world experience discover more today.

which conform to clean air zone and ULEZ regulations.” He adds, “Many people are seeing these as their preferred option, while waiting 2-5 years for EVs to get up to speed on range and price”.

Darren Munday, the Technical Director at Love Campers in Newhaven, East Sussex has a somewhat different view. “Very definitely, now is the right time to buy into an electric campervan,” he says. With more electric vans on the market than ever before, Munday thinks that an electric campervan is an excellent option. He points out: “The UK government is currently putting large funds into expanding the public charge-point network which will make the logistics of long drives far simpler.”

Those who have already joined the EV van conversion movement point towards the significant savings in fuel costs, at a time when the cost of petrol and diesel is skyrocketing. They suggest that once the initial price for the van has been absorbed, electric vehicles are far more cost effective than those that run on

fossil fuels. EVs cost an average of 2p per mile to run. They are also exempt from some other costs, such as congestion charging and road tax. Another important factor to consider is that an electric motor has fewer components compared to a traditional vehicle. That leads to less trips to a garage for expensive servicing. That means an electric campervan may last longer compared to a petrol powered one.

Electric camper conversions are catching on in the rental market as well. Mark Hackforth-Jones purchased Electra, an all-electric Vivaro-e campervan, from Wellhouse in August 2022. He successfully rents it out, at a daily rate of £152 through Goboony. It has a range of 170 miles. "It is a pleasure to drive,”

he says. “Electric vans are both smoother and quieter to drive, when compared with petrol vehicles, so you’ll be getting your money’s worth in terms of the driving experience.”

Wild Drives in Brighton are a campervan rental company that only hires out electric vehicles. At prices that start at £150 per night, they currently offer Citroën E-Dispatch vans with pop tops and the short wheelbase VW ID Buzz. The groundbreaking Buzz is, in its design, reminiscent of the iconic VW Type 2 models. With an estimated driving range of 200 miles and a battery that will fast charge to 80% in only 30 minutes, the camper works well for couples, or solo adventurers who want an eco-conscious road trip. It’s a tight squeeze, but the camper will sleep up to two, making it good for a romantic holiday. “I started renting electric van conversions to protect the beauty of nature for future generations", says Lewis Nyman, the founder of Wild Drives. He adds, “I'm committed to providing customers with a unique and eco-friendly travel experience, and that is why I chose to use Love Campers to do the conversion work for me. The company is well known locally for its handcrafted and eco-conscious builds. Clara Usiskin, a Director at Love Campers, said, “The Buzz campervan brings together the best features of vintage VW campers,

Wild Drives' VW ID Buzz

All-electric Vivaro-e campervan

Photo credit: Mi Elfverson

Photo credit: Mi Elfverson

Our conversion, your vehicle

Opportunity and Spirit LWB and XLWB from £30,000. Voyager from £14,000.

Citroen Fiat Peugeot and Nissan chassis 2 year warranty

axonmotorhomes .co.uk

Bacup, Lancs 01706 563 027

with modern design and cuttingedge sustainability. These vans are really special and we are thrilled to have created something wonderful for our customer at Wild Drives."

The option of converting a van oneself remains favoured by many. Websites, self help groups and YouTube videos all offer guidance. There are thousands of self-conversions on the roads today. Some are incredibly beautiful in their

design. Others make you wonder why the converter bothered! But for the most part, self builds are statements of personal achievement and perseverance. “For many, converting your own campervan will be the single largest DIY project you ever undertake and it can feel daunting to start,” says Charlie Low. “We know from research while writing our book, the reality is, many first-time van builders have very little prior

experience or knowledge, but they have taken the plunge nonetheless.” Dale Comley adds, “The complexity of converting a van resides in the planning and design stages and many of the practical elements simply aren't that complicated.” He adds, “Read our book, follow our guidance and by the time you finish your build, you will have learnt woodworking, electrics, plumbing, gas, fitting windows, furniture upholstery, and even interior design. Charlie smiles while adding her conclusion, “Converting a van is like building a tiny house but without having to wait three years for planning permission!”

OH LÀ LÀ

Club heads back to France in 2024

After a highly successful MCC trip to France this year, we are pleased to offer a similar package for 2024. Come on holiday with fellow MCC members to the sunny Vendée on the Atlantic coast of France. This is a package holiday arranged through an ABTA travel agent which comprises both channel crossing and campsites.

We will be staying in the lively holiday resort of La Tranche-sur-Mer on a four star site with EHU. It is well situated 50m from one of the best beaches on the southern Vendée coast and 300m from the village centre with shops, restaurants and bars a plenty. It has a simple but attractive swimming pool complex with a large area for sunbathing,

its proximity to a fantastic sandy beach, which is accessed through a pedestrian gate at the rear of the site.

There is also a large supermarket about 10 minutes walk away and the village market twice a week to ensure you don't run short of essential supplies.

Crossing dates can be arranged to suit your needs in case you wish to explore France before the rally, or continue touring afterwards.

Suggested itinerary:

28th May: (likely to be following on from the National) head for Dover and make your own arrangements

for an overnight stay.

29th May: Dover-Calais crossing then drive to overnight site (pre booked).

30th May: Continue on to La Tranche-sur-Mer site.

Leave site by 11am 9th June

The guide price (subject to confirmation before booking) includes the overnight and main campsites in the itinerary and return ferry crossing to France for 2 people in a motorhome of any height and length. Other crossings are available at extra cost. Guide Price £543 For full details and to register your interest visit www.joinmcc.co.uk and click on the link.

Obatala-photography/shutterstock

Beach in La Tranche-sur-Mer

ElisaLocci/shutterstock

A beach on the southern Vendée coast

A castle in Vendee

Pierre-Olivier/shutterstock

30 hard standing pitches with hookups set within 270 acres of beautiful parkland with many colour-coded walks.

BRAND NEW modern shower block. Hotel/restaurant facilities on site. Children’s play area. Dogs welcome. Fishing available.

01588 620011

www.mellingtonhallcaravanpark.co.uk

claire@mellingtonhall.co.uk

Mellington, Churchstoke, Powys SY15 6HX

• Rallies welcome

• Award-winning amenities block

• Disabled facilities

• Wi-Fi

• Shop

• Elec hook-up

• Hardstanding & grass

• Nearby attractions

• Close to pubs and walks

• Children’s park

• Motorhome service point

• Self-catered chalet

• Barn to hire

• Wood-fired pizzas on Fridays (inhighseason)

01829 760544 • booking@elmcottage.co.uk

Little Budworth, Cheshire, CW7 2QJ www.elmcottage.co.uk

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MID-WEEK OFFER Stay 2 nights, get the 3rd FREE! (low & mid season only)

GROUP NEWS & DIARIES

SEPTEMBER 2023

ANGLIA

Group news coordinator: Jade Soanes

T: 01502 725840 E: groupnews@themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk

Post: Motor Caravanner magazine, Countrywide Publications, Reydon Business Park, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6DH

Deadline: 5th of the month for inclusion in the following month's magazine

AVON

On arrival at Swaffham the weather was sunny until it was time for the vans to arrive. At 1pm start time Terry and Brian got somewhat wet over the next two hours with the vans coming into the rally; Jacki was seeing them up the ramp making funny faces as some graced the road leading up to the field.

Due to Carol being unavailable Keith and Terry sorted the fees followed by three games of bingo being profitable for some. Some sat in the hall playing UNO, a card game that Keith got out to play, Carol Hoy did win a game after they said they were going to stay playing until she did.

With the weather still doing its best to dampen us some went to Swaffham town for a walk around the charity shops and the food venues for lunch.

Over the six days we had 35 vans come and go, some going onto the Norfolk show. In the evenings there was the odd quiz and bingo; with no PA system Keith had to shout.

On the lower field the cub game was set out for some to play along with the horseshoe game that Mitch put out. There were some good games played, with Terry being on form once again with his throw.

Everyone enjoyed the few days of hot, wet, sunshine we were being graced with. Thanks to the stewards,Terry and Jacki, Brian and Jenny, Teresa and Keith. Scribe Keith

Sixty vans came to Sheringham High School for our 60th Jubilee Party. 49 Anglia, five Essex, two Chiltern, three East Mids, one Nene Valley. A great time was had by all and a full report is in this magazine as an article. Scribe Derek

Upcoming rallies: 7-11 September at Burnt House Farm, Witnesham IP6 9JE. Starts 1pm. 29 September-1 October at Sir. Harry Smith School, Whittlesey PE7 1XB. Starts 5pm. (This rally is bookable via Teresa 07739 463321 or teresa. poole50@virginmedia.com). Reminder: the AGM at Wells on the 28th of October will start at 10am.

Another excellent rally was held at Weymouth with mixed weather: torrential rain to beautiful sunshine and clear skies. Some members ventured offsite, either walking, or taking the buses to Dorchester and Weymouth. Onsite there were quizzes, an open-mike session, donuts all round and much fun and laughter. I’m told Jack Daniels and Dead Man's Fingers spiced rum added to the enjoyment. A few relived their youth with Showaddy Waddy at the Pavilion Theatre. Those that were up and about on Sunday morning watched around 3k pigeons set off for their respective homes from three huge lorries. Hopefully they all made it! A big thank you to the Hosts Katherine, Roger, Allan & Marilyn, a fantastic job.

Avon’s next rally will be 7-12 September at Manor Farm, Barr Lane, Burton Bradstock, Bridport, DT6 4PX. There’s a short walk to the beach or 3 buses to enable you to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jurassic Coast. If walking where dinosaurs once did is not your thing, there are markets, shops and a plethora of eating/drinking establishments within reach. £13.50 pupn (no ehu), starting time 12 noon.

From 29 September-1 October we will be at Burton Hill CP Malmesbury SN16 0EH. The theme is free and easy, £20pupn (incl ehu). Start time is 12 noon.

At the time of preparing this for publication, the beginning of August, it appears there will be sufficient nominations to form the basis of a new committee at the AGM. A few more nominations will be ideal, if you think you can help, or want more info, please contact our secretary, Jacky.

The AGM is listed as taking place at Sharpness but for various reasons, a different venue and date are being actively considered. This would possibly include Halloween celebrations too. The rally at Sharpness will go ahead irrespective of the AGM. As soon as anything is confirmed it will be posted on the Avon website and the Facebook pages.

Arrangements for a Christmas Dinner are currently on hold, but again a venue is actively being sought. Plans for

New Year are being made. Please check Facebook and our website www.avongroup.org.uk for updates. ACG

Please check on www.avongroup.org.uk before travelling. 7-12 September at Manor Farm, Barr Lane, Burton Bradstock, Bridport DT6 4PX. 29 September-1 October at Burton Hill CP Malmesbury SN16 9LS. 12-15 October at Sharpness Docks Workers Club, Sharpness, Gloucestershire, GL13 9UN. £6 pupn (No EHU). Avon Skittles Shield Competition. The AGM is currently listed for this venue but may change. 26-29 October watch for a new rally. Halloween, and the possibility that the AGM will be changed to this weekend.

cancelled due to a waterlogged field.

Notice of AGM. 11am on 28 October bring membership cards. Volunteers for committee welcome. Email items for agenda to chilternsec2020@gmail.com.

EAST MIDLANDS

Notice of Annual General Meeting Notice is hereby given that the 60th Annual General Meeting of the East Midlands Group of the Motor Caravanners’ Club will take place at Colsterworth Sports and Social Club, Old Post Lane, Woolsthorpe by Colsterworth, Nr Grantham, Lincs. NG33 5PG at 10am on Saturday 21st October, 2023.

Nominations 1. Nominations for the 2023/2024 Group Committee are invited. In accordance with our Constitution, a third of all Committee Members shall retire by rotation in October 2023 but may seek re-election. Those members co-opted onto the Committee must serve only until the AGM and may stand for re-election. Completed nomination forms must be received by the Secretary by noon on October 1st 2023. The election of Committee Members will be by paper ballot. Nomination forms are available from the Secretary.

2. Nominations are invited for the Hazel Turk Trophy. This annual presentation is made to the nominated member whose participation in the Group’s activities is considered to be deserving of recognition. A paper ballot will be held if there is more than one nominee. Nominations in writing must be received by the Secretary by noon 1st October.

CHILTERN

Chiltern's July rally calender was disrupted by the weather and building work overruns.

First up Ducklington Steam Rally; we had 20 vans arrive including eight visitors. The weather wasn't great when we arrived in the Thursday but the ground was firm and the forecast was mixed dry, showery and windy. Vans started arriving and we got everyone parked up. We gathered in the shelters in the evening for a chat and a catch up.

Friday we did our own thing, and met in the shelters on a damp breezy evening. Saturday the weather was a little better and we braved the mud to look around the show. Having taken the shelters down due to the wind, some of us headed to the beer tent.

We woke Sunday morning to the news that the site had been cancelled because of the conditions and more predicted rain. We were asked to be off site by lunchtime, so we had a quick coffee morning and said our goodbyes. Sharon and I left last ensuring everyone got out okay.

Our next rally at Esher Rugby Club was cancelled due to an overrun of building work, but Sharon our rally officer quickly found a replacement at Cropredy. But sadly that was

Members’ Meeting (following AGM) Nominations are invited for ‘Charity of the Year’ for 2023/2024. The Charity must be based in our area and the proposing member(s) will be expected to promote fund raising activity along with input from the Charity itself. In the event of more than one proposal, a vote by a show of hands will choose one Charity for the year. Nominations in writing should be received by the Secretary by noon on 1st October. Any items for the Members’ Meeting Agenda must be received by the Secretary by 14th October, 2023. Sue Pilkiw, Secretary, East Midlands Group

MCC Bookable Rallies: Contact Anne Taylor by text or email anneeastmidlands@gmail.com. Brownhills, Springfields Dinner/Dance, Waddington Christmas Party, and Ingoldmells New Year. Bookings now being taken. The forms are on the East Midlands website (under the gallery tab) and hard copies will be available at our rallies. Please complete generic booking forms for Brownhills and Waddington. For the Springfield Dinner/Dance and New Year rallies, please use the specific form for each rally. Both these rallies require full payment at the time of booking.

Reward cards: Your stamped reward cards can be redeemed up until 30th September. If a card is partly filled an amount per stamp will be applied. Sue

Rally report for Newark Rugby Club: This was a new site and was well situated for visiting Newark or Southwell. The rain was pouring down, but credit to the stewards for battling on and parking everyone safely. There were 40 vans with visitors from Nene Valley, Anglia, Northern Counties,

Avon group

Severn Valley and NWMNW who were all made welcome.

Friday evening the Chairman opened the rally and welcomed all the members and visitors. Bingo was played, then Barbara had prepared a table music quiz (which got the old brain cells working) and was won by Rob’s table. Raffle tickets on sale.

Saturday was a free day for members to go into Newark to see the market festival which included Morris dancing and music or visit Southwell’s magnificent minster.

Saturday evening was a games evening: Open the Box, Guess What’s in the Boxes, Connection Quiz and a Curling competition kept the members entertained all night.

Sunday there was a coffee morning and raffle drawn. The Chairman thanked the stewards Bob, Robin, and Barbara for putting on a fantastic weekend and wished everyone a safe journey home. Yvonne

Upcoming rallies: 8-11 September at Coppice Steam Rally, Cossall Road, Nr Ilkeston, NG9 3PG. Bookable. 2224 September at Welbourne Village Hall, Beck Street, Welbourne, Lincs. LN5 0LZ. 6-8 October at Brownhills, A1/ A46 junction, Newark, Notts. NG24 2EA. Bookable. 20-22 October is our AGM at Sports & Social Club, Old Post Lane, Woolsthorpe by Colsterworth, NG33 5PG.

EAST WESSEX

Hello there. As I write, the holiday season is in full swing so hopefully you are all enjoying yourselves on your travels.

Our Basingstoke Canal Centre rally was preceded by a forecast of torrential rain with very strong winds. Not to be put off, 16 vans including visitors from Severn Valley, East Midlands, Chiltern and Sussex decided to risk it anyway. It was very wet to begin with and first-time hosts Helen and Keith helped by Mick and Jackie found themselves valiantly battling against the elements as they greeted arrivals and parked them up. The strong wind put paid to any hope of using the pods, unfortunately.

Still, members took advantage of all the site offered, including a boat trip, walks along the tow path, or caught the bus into town, whilst others sampled the delicious Thai food and cooked brunches served by the canal centre café. We managed to squeeze in a quick get together during a less windy, sunny interval, for morning coffee, the raffle and Chairman’s chit chat, whilst our hosts’ one year old twin grandsons charmed everyone with their big smiles.

Looking ahead, we still are still looking for a professional entertainer for New Year, so if you can suggest anyone, please pass on their details so we can look into it; time is running out as the popular ones are being snapped up.

Also, as the AGM approaches, I know we say it every year, but we really do need more people to agree to come on the East Wessex committee. At one time our committees were 8 to10 strong but this year we have had just 4, and it is too few, especially during holiday months, when committee members want to be able to take a break as well. If you enjoy our group and want it to carry on, please do something about it this year before it is too late; Diane has

nomination forms.

Upcoming rallies: 15-17 September at Ringwood Junior School, Hightown Road, Ringwood BH24 1NH. Carnival Rally. Hardstanding with use of hall. £14pupn, (£13 singles). Arrivals from 5pm. 28 September-2 October at St Cross Cricket Ground, St Cross, Winchester SO23 9RX. 4 night field rally. £14 pupn all units. Arrivals from 1pm. 20-22 October at Weeke Primary School, Stoney Lane, Weeke, Winchester SO22 6DR. AGM weekend. Bookable. Food and professional entertainment with 60s and 70s theme, so dress up in that style (optional). Buses to Winchester nearby. Hardstanding with use of hall. Fixed price £32, (£28 singles). Arrivals from 5pm. To be sure of a space, please let Allen know if you want to come: phone 07411 955133. See our website: eastwessex.uk or our facebook page @eastwessexMCC for any updates. Booking only required where stated.

ESSEX

By the time you are reading this, Bob will have done his sponsored walk for Prostate Cancer and raised over £352. Thank you to all the people who sent donations, it's much appreciated. I am urging all men over 50 to have a simple blood test called a PSA to test for any abnormalities. The earlier it's caught the easier the remedy.

Thank you Clive for doing the report on Brightlingsea rally: The 14th to 16th July saw Brightlingsea as this weekend's destination. The Marshals were Malcolm and Pam with two newbies assisting in Chris and Clive. Things did not start too well; the ‘man’ arrived with the wrong key for the gate; we were informed we could not use the hall until the judo man left (9.00pm); no chairs in the hall and only three tables that were health hazards. Oh and rain. That said 25 Essex units arrived, as the group is a determined collection of souls and probably, slightly, mad. Even with the lateness of accessing the hall we still had bingo (with a repeat winner), background music and lots of chatting. People were ‘encouraged’ out to their motorhomes at 11.00pm.

Saturday started with better weather but with very strong winds. At some point in the day all availed themselves of supporting the local economy, mainly it should be said, places with food and alcohol. The evening saw us all gathered for the answers to a quiz given out yesterday, and two more small quizzes during the evening. A bingo game with a difference, using playing cards, and the raffle saw the organised bit of the evening complete. Then back to chatting and imbibing until, again, 11.00pm.

Sunday, being the last day for the rally, was really nice weatherise – how often is this the case! It was the usual format of tea, coffee and biscuits and the ‘Chairman’s Waffle’. When it was over it was the Grand Prix start (for some) to go home – although some were in less of a hurry and remained until early afternoon. An enjoyable time was had by all and, rarely said, but thanks go to the whole committee for their time and the organisation involved in all the rallies. Clive

Upcoming rallies: 1-3 September at Pleshey V Hall CM3

GROUP NEWS

1HJ. Start time 1pm. 15-17 September at Grange Farm CO16 0HG. Start time 1pm.

ISLE OF WIGHT

A great rally was held at the Fighting Cocks with Phil and Elaine hosting their first rally. They did a brilliant job and a good time was had by all. Quizzes and games were held in the event shelter and a group meal was held in the pub. We were entertained by the arrival and departure of helicopters in the adjacent field.

The rally at Rodgebrook Farm was a fun and eventful rally! We played some new games for us. On a wet afternoon we played beer pong without the beer, which was won by Eddie. We also had a beetle drive which had not been played by members for a long time. Thanks to Ann and Phil for hosting a fun-filled rally in spite of the weather. Saturday blessed us with gale force winds and rain. Saturday evening entertainment was safely dismantling the event shelter. Luckily nobody was in the shelter at the time but there were some very wet and bedraggled members as the event shelter was dismantled in the rain and wind and chairs and tables rescued.

Upcoming rallies: 1-3 September at Comforts Farm. 1517 September at South Thorness Farm. 29 September-1 October at Campwight. (All rallies are bookable due to limited capacity on the Isle of Wight). Please contact our Rally Officer Andrew Clapp: email cherylclapp@hotmail. co.uk. Further details are available on our website www. mcciow.com.

KENT

20-23 July found 39 vans from Kent, Sussex, Somerset and Essex at Headcorn Aerodrome. Many braved the inclement weather and sat outside to watch the various aircraft going up into the air, the parachutists coming down as well as listening to the great sound of the Spitfire. Some of us enjoyed the mini sports on Friday afternoon playing archery, skittles, flying fish and ball in the bucket games with Dave and Jill being the overall winners. A boules tournament followed which was played with a strong rivalry with Gill and Lee coming out as overall winners. The hosts would like to thank all that took part as well as those who cheered on from the sidelines over a number of bottles of wine!

The on-site museum was visited by some whilst others spent the very rainy Saturday afternoon in the on-site bar enjoying their selection of beers, food and the good company of MCC friends. The weekend competition of deciphering the Kent town drawn by each van was a great way of meeting each other as you walked around the vans checking out the great drawings – what talent we have in the MCC!

27-30 July found a small contingent of vans at Hole Park, Rolvenden with some members taking advantage of visiting the beautiful gardens that were open on the Thursday. This is a great site right in the heart of Kent with a short walk into Rolvenden with its museum of Morgan Cars and great pubs!

Evenings were spent relaxing around the campfire toasting marshmallows!

Our AGM will take place at Sandwich on Saturday 7 October at 11am and we are looking for new people to come forward as a number of committee members are resigning, having done many years. The group is financially viable, the 2024 rallies have been booked, entertainment is being sought and so any new committee members will benefit from an easy introductory year in 2024 as they find their feet! If you are willing to stand then please do let any committee member know. Our upcoming rallies are as follows:

14-18 September at Sandwich Lakes, Ash Road, Nr Canterbury, CT3 2DA. Hosts Angie and Dave Thorpe. Day ticket fishery is available with a waterside cafe serving hot and cold food. On-site showers and toilets available to campers. There is a flat walk to Sandwich or why not catch a bus into nearby Canterbury? This is a bookable rally, £12.50 pupn with a start time of 11am.

22-24 September at Blackbird and Thrush Public House, 194 Bush Rd, East Peckham, Tonbridge, TN12 5LN. Hosts Debbie and Mike Hickie. Quiet weekend in the Kent countryside. The venue offers a selection of real ales and wholesome country pub fare. There may be an organised ramble through the local countryside. This is a bookable rally, £12.50 pupn, start time TBC.

6-8 October at Sandwich Junior School, St. Bart's Rd, Sandwich, CT13 0AS. This is our Annual General Meeting. Hosts Kent Group Committee. School is a short walk from the historic town of Sandwich. City of Canterbury is a short bus ride away. Entertainment from our very own Vanessa on Saturday night. This is a bookable rally with a £15 deposit payable by 30th September. Cost pupn is £15. Starts 5pm.

LANCASHIRE

The first rally in July was at Pinfold, another new venue found by our Rally Officer, Rob, who also hosted with Angela, Bobby and Viv. We arrived with 14 other Lancs ‘vans in strong sunshine so most sat outside with friends. We met in the event tents later and Lisa welcomed everyone and conveyed information about the site. The evening was full of laughter! Allan presented bingo, then Bobby gave us one of his crazy quizzes‘Is it a Group or a Singer?’ Afterwards Dean played music. Then there was a thunderstorm!

On Saturday we enjoyed sitting outside again. Many walked around the car boot in the next field and some found bargains. Then back came the storm. It cleared for the evening and we met in the event tents for another evening of fun and to celebrate Gordon's 60th birthday. Some did line dancing on the grass. Allan and Brian presented Take Your Pick and then Bobby gave us another of his quizzes, slightly different but needing lateral thinking – at least the winners shared their prize.

We had coffee morning on Sunday (still some workers). Lisa thanked the hosts and Dean and Mel for parking and tents plus all the helpers. She also welcomed Heather and

Brian to our group. Prize money was paid to the winners of the Bonus Ball and raffle. All were wished a safe onward journey. Those not staying got off the field with no problem. Unfortunately the rain came back and it was another rainy afternoon and although it stopped, as we no longer had the tents most stayed in ‘vans for the evening. Monday was cloudy and we all got away without problems.

The last rally in July was at Aspull R.F.C. and we had the same hosts as above. On arrival there was chaos as the previous users overran their booking and ‘vans couldn’t park until the cars left! It was all sorted after an hour. Thirty-one from Lancashire and one from NWM&NW.

The evening started after Lisa welcomed all and dealt with domestics. We had bingo, a Bottle Roll for charity and Bobby’s Elvis quiz and then there was Dean’s music, mainly for line dancing.

Saturday dawned with rain yet most met in the room at 9.30am for a lovely breakfast of bacon baps and a hot drink. Profit to our charity. Steve and Janet then lead some Tai Chi exercises. After lunch Bobby ran a Curling knock out which was won by Brian Evans.

The evening started with a Hi-de-Hi! welcoming committee from the hosts plus xylophone! It was also Steve’s surprise party to celebrate his 65th birthday with sandwiches and nibbles plus cake.

We played Take Your Pick followed by Bobby’s Yes/No game with three winners and lots of losers but all got a prize! Steve enjoyed the Kissing Chair! Then lots were dancing ending with Best of Friends!

At Sunday coffee morning Lisa did thanks as above plus thanking Gordon for the sack of potatoes, free to all, and Sue for the food etc plus all those who helped. Mel announced that we had reached our £3000 target for our charity, The Southport independent Inshore Lifeboat. Scribe Alma Upcoming rallies: 7-11 September at Victoria Park,

Southport PR8 2BZ. Airshow. Own drinks, 2pm start. Bookable event (Lancs 2 weeks before, other groups 1 week before). 22-24 September at Warton Cricket Club LA5 9QJ. Green fluid please. Own drinks. Bookable event (Lancs 2 weeks before, other groups 1 week before).

MOTORCYCLE

Read all about our Scottish Tour in our two page spread in this magazine.

Don’t forget to put a note on your calendars for our group AGM on Saturday 30 September 2023 at 10:30am at Stow-on-the-Wold and District Rugby Club, Oddington Road, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1JJ.

Upcoming rallies: 16-21 September at Trigon Farm Caravan Site, Wareham, Dorset BH20 7NZ. 21-26

September at Burley Park, New Forest, Hampshire BH24 4DI. 26 September-1 October is our AGM at Stow-on-the Wold and District Rugby Football Club, Oddington Road, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1JJ. 1-8 October at Valley Farm Campsite, Lane House, Eynsham Road, Farmoor, Oxfordshire OX2 9NL. This is our final MCG rally for 2023. For further information and updates visit our website: motorcyclegroupmcc.co.uk.

NENE VALLEY

Important announcement notification of a venue change: This year's AGM meet will now be held at the Cogenhoe Bowls Club, on the weekend 13-15 October. At this meet, new committee members will be required. The time to consider this is now. Do not leave things until the time of the AGM. By making a decision now, you can talk to/help Committee members, and get to know what the position entails, ensuring a seamless changeover at the AGM. Please remember that not enough Committee members means no group. The future of this group is in the member's hands. Please think about it as the future of the group depends on you. Don’t forget your membership card as we cannot admit you to the AGM without one.

Our THS at the end of June/beginning of July was at Reydon. There is a convenient bus service close by the field, and a community bus to go into Southwold, or further afield, although the fittest amongst us decided to walk! Some were caught out by the last bus coming back in the late afternoon, which meant more walking, as there are no taxis in Reydon. The hall on site is well used by the local community. The ones I found amusing were the tots at the playgroup, who were most determined to be pedalling their toy cars out in the rain, escaping the helpers to "bag" their favourite car. Another day we were entertained by a local choir practising their repertoire for a competition. Encouraged by our applause they came outside to sing, with their leader expecting us to join in, I don't think this helped their performance! We wish them the best of luck in the competition. The two evenings we could hire the hall, Jane and Pat arranged bingo, quizzes and a raffle, thanks to

Lancashire group

Large or small, we welcome all

A social activity club dedicated exclusively to all motorhome owners for over 60 years

• 500+ social meets annually

• Many social meets in your local area

• Cost-effective holiday meets in the UK and abroad

• F.I.C.C rallies world-wide

• Regional groups across the UK and Ireland

• Preferential parking at motorhome shows

• Webpage and social media presence

• Free monthly magazine home posted and online

• Yearly Handbook packed with information

• Member discounts at many specialist suppliers

• Night stops, CLs and Safe Knights schemes

Club voucher for every new member introduced

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

FULL MEMBER valid for 12 months

JOINT FAMILY MEMBER over 18 years – Members’ children under 18 years of age are covered within the membership

DECLARATION

I declare that I am the current owner/user of a motorcaravan and that the information given above is correct. I hereby undertake to pay annual subscriptions and adhere to the Articles of Association and regulations made by the Council. I understand the Club is Limited by Guarantee which means I may be asked for a maximum of £2 should the Club cease during my membership and for a year following the end of my membership.

PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE WITH YOUR FIRST YEARS PAYMENT OR VISIT WWW.THEMOTORCARAVANNERSCLUB.CO.UK

Where did you hear about the Club?

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Other

Membership No. to receive £10 voucher

Please post your completed application form to the address at the bottom of the page and the Club office will contact you by phone for payment once they receive your application form.

The road to enjoyment starts here!

all who made a donation. The weather was mostly fine, a good excuse to sit watching the sea with a large ice cream.

Kathleen

Finally a report from Denis for Sea Palling. We arrived at Sea Palling in bright sunshine, although very windy. We had a coffee morning on Tuesday to give some information about the area, as some had never been to Sea Palling before. 23 vans in total turned out, 10 NV, seven Anglia, one S&W Wales, one West Country, one Essex and three Chiltern. Everybody managed to erect their shelters, with a bit of extra buckling down. A big thanks to Anglia Group for allowing us to visit another one of their venues, it is very much appreciated. Wednesday afternoon the sun came out, and was until the end of the meet. We had tea and cakes on Friday afternoon, with a little music to finish.

Denis

Upcoming rallies: 7-11 September at Home Farm Rally Field, Bridge Rd., Stoke Bruerne, NN12 7SY. Cost £12 pupn. 21-25 September at Cranford Steam Rally, Cranford, Kettering, NN14 4AW. Do not pay weekend fee at gate, it will be collected on arrival at Nene Valley parking area. Limited numbers. Cost £60 weekend fee and entrance to the Show as often as you like. 13-15 October is our AGM at Cogenhoe Bowls Club, York Avenue, Cogenhoe, NN7 1NB. Cost £13 pupn. 10-12 November at The Gliding Centre, Husbands Bosworth Airfield, Sibbertoft Road, Husbands Bosworth, Leics., LE17 6JJ. Cost £12 pupn. We are hoping to provide hook-up, for which there will be a charge, if taken (approx £10 per w/end).

NORTHERN COUNTIES

Hello everyone, firstly a very well done to the Northern Counties Juniors – Joshua, Arizona and Logan – on your successes in the Junior Homecraft at the National Rally.

July kicked off in spectacular fashion, 5-10 July, with five days at Crimdon House Farm and a fantastic rally for the Tall Ships Event in Hartlepool hosted by Sue and Mark Lang, with their many helpers. There was a brilliant turnout of 106 vans, 46 Northern Counties and visitors covering 16 different groups across the country. The rally field looked out to the sea with a short walk down to the beach and a

bus stop on the doorstep. Most members ventured down to Hartlepool each day to see the amazing spectacle of the Tall Ships and took in the entertainment, light shows, fire works and seeing the ships up close. We had two nights of live entertainment in the barn which went down brilliantly followed by our own entertainment of music, quizzes and bingo on the other evenings. The weather was kind to us with only one day of rain!

14-18 July found us at Bedale Camping and Caravan Park, a new site for us, hosted by Steve and Sue Jones and this was their first time hosting. 24 vans attended including eight visitors. Saturday night entertainment in the barn, arranged by Steve, was a duo called String Edition who went down very well. Neil Huggon arranged a ramble in Bedale on the Sunday morning.

25-29 July we were at Great Ayton Cricket Club hosted by Bill and Ellen Hanby. There were 15 vans at our Great Ayton rally over the four days it was held, 10 Northern Counties, three Yorkshire and two Lancashire. We had first time visitors from the Lancashire group, Peter and Dianne Hodges. The weather was sunny but interspersed with cloud and showers. The village was only a ten minute walk away and members enjoyed the famous Suggitts ice cream and pies from Petch the Butchers. We had an impromptu fun games afternoon playing Molkky and Leitergolf with Linda Ridgers winning at Molkky and Lynne Dickinson the Leitergolf game. Most members met in the Club bar on Friday night before moving on to the follow on rally at Stokesley on Saturday morning.

29 July-3 August was the follow on rally at Stokesley hosted by Janet Naylor, with 18 vans including six visitors. A free and easy weekend but mixed weather again.

Your committee desperately needs new members to come forward and join them to assist running the group. Would anyone fancy assisting the Treasurer or Rally Officer, or just be a committee member to assist where necessary and bring some fresh ideas to the group. We hope to see you at a rally soon. Paula & Tony Edwards

Upcoming rallies: 6-10 September at Alnwick Rugby Club. 22-25 September at Annstead Farm, Beadnell. 29 September-1 October is our AGM at Redcar Racecourse –free buffet and entertainment.

Northern Counties group

NORTHERN IRELAND

Londonderry rally was hosted by Debbie and William Tinsley, ably assisted by Robbie and Irene, and on stand by, just in case, Victor and Eleanor. We had another good weekend with plenty to do and see even if the weather wasn’t the best; 26 vans attended. On Friday night we had bingo and a chat, think that’s what most people want to do and of course a bit of background music by music man himself William Tinsley, thanks William. We had a big celebration for the lovely Agnes who was 86 on Monday. Music on Saturday evening was by Paul Ralph, number plate draw was won by Harry and Jane Aston, quiz was won by Thelma Kyle Ewing. On Sunday morning the Chairperson informed us that he and most of the committee were standing down in October and that we would need to start recruiting now so please all think about it. No committee, no club, no marshals, no club. Eleanor McFadden

MCCNI Lisburn Rally 28-30 July. Hello everyone. We had a great turnout of 39 motorhomes at Friends School, Lisburn. Thank you to our hosts Arlene and Harry Campbell and Diane and Tommy Waide, the boys parking up the vans and the girls checking everyone in at the entrance.

The forecast for the weekend was poor but fortunately, apart from a late shower Saturday afternoon, the weather over the whole weekend was warm and sunny. Bingo and a catch up on Friday evening in the school hall was enjoyed by all. Thank you Victor for calling the Bingo and giving us a laugh – two little ducks quack quack!

Arlene’s brilliant idea of “Bring a/take a/buy a book” was set up for Saturday morning 10.30am to 12 noon. The cyclists among us headed along the Lagan Towpath, a beautiful walk/cycle of several miles beside the River Lagan from Lisburn to Belfast with stop off breaks at Lock Keepers Cottage or further along to Cutters Wharf.

Others headed into Lisburn centre for shopping or a walk through Lisburn Museum and Irish Linen Centre where currently there is a special exhibition of Egyptian Hieroglyphs “From the Valley of Kings to Lagan Valley”, who knew? Something I never knew – on permanent show, in a glass case, is quite a large piece of Egyptian linen excavated from the tomb of King Tutankhamun. This piece of linen was given to Belfast man Colonel Victor Unsworth, York Street Flax Spinning Mill’s man in Cairo in the 1920s when he befriended Howard Carter, the man who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb.

The hall on Saturday evening was packed to enjoy the music and singing of Nathan Graham, dancing and a raffle with many prizes.

Sunday morning we met at 11am in the hall for coffee, to hear the latest Club News from our Chairman David and to say thank you to everyone who made the weekend so enjoyable. Arlene, thank you for your gorgeous buns and biscuits, much appreciated by everyone.

Harry started proceedings, telling us of the Saturday game of Skittles that was organised by David Davidson and won by David Davidson – the sum of £11 was raised by

this event. Arlene’s book idea made £46.29, all funds going to our Chairman David’s charity – Diabetic Association of Northern Ireland.Tommy then took the microphone to tell us the answers to the very interesting quiz he had compiled. It was won by David Gilmore. The number plate draw was won by Stanley Aiken. Our Chairman, David Kyle Ewing welcomed new members to the club: Denise and James Waddell, Sandra and Lowry Smyth, Debbie Lamont and Tom Johnston. And returning member Gary Little and his family were very welcome. After having attended two meets Raymond, Liz and Casey McEvoy were welcomed to their first rally.

David thanked everyone who had organised this brilliant weekend and then introduced Adeline McClenaghan who had organised for Mr Ken Patterson, a Community First Responder for more than 30 years, to give his time to come and show us how to carry out CPR. Many thanks to Adeline and Ken for demonstrating how to save a life, so useful to us all. See you all soon.

Margaret Jardine

NWM&NW

Our five day rally at Porthmadog Football Club had 23 units attending, with visitors from Lancashire, Chiltern and S&W Wales. Many thanks to Dave and Agnes Hulme for booking-in and parking everyone. The weather was rather mixed with some very heavy rain at night. Members were able to go out and explore the area. The pubs and many cafes were quite popular though some ventured further to Criccieth, Portmeirion to the Italian village, Beddgelert to see the ospreys or a walk to Borth-y-Gest. There was a very entertaining quiz one evening thanks to Pauline. We had to identify a nursery rhyme from a line and then come up with the following line. Just to add more fun we had to sing it during the answers. Congratulations to the winners Bob and Pat Hughes. Dave Hulme played the keyboard one evening, so a big thank you there.

Many travelled on to Bala for a further rally. 24 units attended during our time there with visitors from Lancashire, Severn Valley and Chiltern. We were not so lucky with the weather with some leaving early as the rain was quite heavy during the day. One couple caught the bus to Barmouth while others visited the pubs and cafes or walked by the lake between showers. Now the work has finished to the flood defences on the lake there are some very pleasant walks. On Thursday we had our usual bingo in the room with some visitors winning. Thanks go to Dave, our caller, who added light entertainment to the game. Saturday it was sausage and cider with a big thank you to all who helped and supported this. Jon did an easy quiz on Sunday which was won by Darren and Shirley. Scores were high for this. Thank you Jon. Dave, the big dog, did a good job of cleaning up on the raffle prizes – tea cloth, dish wash brush, scrubbers and more were among his prizes. Other members won too.

The rally at Eccleshall Castle had wonderful weather in spite of an unfavourable forecast. 30 vans (including visitors from West Wessex and Severn Valley) attended during the

rally, keeping Pam very busy running up and down bookingin and parking everyone. Fortunately her leg is much better following her mishap a few weeks ago. As there was no hall bingo was with the balls in a bag in a small gazebo. It all added to the fun thanks again to Dave for being the caller and coping when the balls escaped into the grass. This was yet another rally when many went into town to study the various hostelries and sample the different beers. Some even won tee shirts for their loyalty.

Details for booking rallies or if you think you can host or help with rallies contact the rally officers, Jon and Elaine: email nwmnwrally@hotmail.com or mobile 07525 851394.

Upcoming rallies: 29 August-3 September at Salford Children's Holiday Camp, 86 Victoria Road, Prestatyn LL19 7AG. Start 12pm. £12 pupn. 22-24 September at Lady Hayes Holiday Camp, Kingley Road, Frodsham, Cheshire. WA6 6SU All amenities on your pitch. Please book and pay by Salford Children's Holiday Camp. Start 12pm. £15 pupn. 6-8 October at Stone Cricket Club, Lichfield Road, Stone ST15 8QH. Farmers' Market, easy walk to town. £25 for weekend. Start 12pm.

SCOTTISH

Our rally in July was at picturesque Strathallan Games Park in Bridge of Allan, with a good turnout including new members Paula Curtis and Lindsey Rouse. We had a few spells of warm sunshine and a clever arrangement of Quest shelters gave us a “marquee” for the Friday night social with one of Keith’s quizzes, which everyone enjoyed.

Most people took advantage of the short walk into Bridge of Allan during Saturday and we were able to have another social in the evening. Sunday afternoon was pleasant and we all gathered in the mini marquee for a cheese and wine social.

We have two rallies in September. The first is 8-11 September at Railway Farm, Logierait near Pitlochry. This is the same weekend as the Pitlochry Highland Games. The next is 22-25 September at Puffers Cafe, Scottish Maritime museum, Irvine. Not only the site of an interesting museum and even better cafe but a short walk into the town. Advance warning that the rally 6-9 October in Upper Largo is also our AGM. Look forward to seeing everyone at the next few rallies and hoping that an “Indian summer” will arrive in September. JanB

SEVERN VALLEY

A rally was held at Raphaels, Evesham on July 7th to coincide with the Evesham River Festival. We had a fantastic attendance of 45 vans consisting of 32 from Severn Valley, four from S&W Wales, four from Avon, two from East Mids, two from SWP and one from NWM&NW. We also had two first time new members attend.

We had brilliant sunny weather on the Friday enabling us to have a Meet and Greet in the evening with ‘nibbles’ provided. Saturday was a bit of a washout with rain and a

thunderstorm, and those who ventured to the festival were disappointed as the attractions advertised were not present. The rain cleared late evening and we were all able to enjoy the firework display from the comfort of our vans. Luckily the rain cleared on the Sunday to enable us to hold a coffee morning and raffle.

We held the Upton Blues Festival Rally on the 21st July with a turnout of 33 vans. This included one from Chiltern, one from East Mids, three from East Wessex , three from Avon and five from S&W Wales. As at our last rally we had a brilliant sunny Friday but Saturday the heavens opened and it rained constantly until late afternoon. A big ‘thank you’ to Chris Windmill for not only providing a minibus but was also driving the minibus. This was mainly used on the Saturday with a 2 hour drop off and return from 11am with the last return at 11pm. The service was well used, especially in the rain, with all proceeds from the £1 a trip charge donated to the Air Ambulance; a total of £135 was raised.

On Thursday 27th July we held our Welland Steam Fair Rally, we were inundated with enquiries and interest from all groups before the rally. We had spaces allocated for 150 vans in total but only 72 vans turned up which was shame as the weather was kind to us with only a few light showers over the long weekend.

The Steam Fair was larger this year and had lots of events ranging from steam traction engines both large and small, steam and vintage lorry ‘hill climbing’ events with loaded trailers, a world war II battle re-enactment, a living field where every steam powered vehicle was used from laying roads to working on the farm. The vintage trucks, cars, tractors, army vehicles and motorcycles also attracted lots of attention. There was so much to see and do that you needed at least two days to see everything. Also included in the rally cost was the evening entertainment and the firework display which all agreed was spectacular. Apart from Severn Valley we had attendance from East Wessex, East Midlands, S&W Wales, Lancashire, Yorkshire, West Wessex, West Country, Sussex, Kent, Avon, Chiltern and NWM&NW groups along with three first timer couples with many wanting to attend next year.

Our Holiday rally at West Bay on the 23-30 September is now sold out. The Christmas Rally is now at Orleton Village Hall from 24-26 November. This will be bookable as we have limited space. More information and how to book will be posted when arrangements have been finalised. New Year Rally is at Ledbury Rugby Club from 30 December-2 January. More details to follow.

SWP

Welcome to this Autumn newsletter. Christmas Party Rally at Cofton Holiday Park, 8-11 December, update. We are running a special Christmas Party Raffle with all prizes worth £20 or more; tickets will be on sale at each rally, starting with Carlyon Bay, to all paid up MCC members. If you are unable to go to the Christmas rally you must nominate someone who is going and who can collect your prize; any prize drawn

and not collected on the day (Sunday) will be redrawn. Pitch fees are £17 pupn, excluding EHU, this additional fee and the cost of the Saturday evening meal are not yet available.

Our third rally in June, and into the beginning of July, was the holiday rally, 5 nights, at Watergate Bay Touring Park, hosted by Chris and Mick Ellis. Here is the report from Chris:We had seven vans attend this rally including us! Two vans were from East Midlands and five from SWP. Although we were small in number, everyone assured us that they enjoyed the rally. Some of us gathered in the bar Saturday evening; the pool was well-used. We had a get-together for coffee and biscuits on Sunday morning while the sun was out!

The July rally was at Boconnoc Steam Fair, hosted by yours truly and Ray. The days leading up to the rally were somewhat wet and overcast so 16 vans (one Scottish, one Northern Counties, four West Country and 10 SWP) dug out wellies and raincoats in readiness. Thursday evening we had a Meet & Greet with nibbles and a ‘glass or two’. The sun came out, giving us a chance to chat with visitors, SWP first timers and catch up with ralliers who are old hands.

At the Coffee Morning on Sunday, Ray thanked everyone for being great company, told us when the next couple of rallies were being held and I drew the raffle.

The steam fair put on live entertainment in the beer tent Friday and Saturday evening, plus there were lots of activities and exhibitors, including the very popular craft tent, which gave us plenty to do over the weekend. Only an unfortunate couple of vans got stuck on the exit roadway, but they were soon sorted and on their way, hopefully safely as with everyone else.

Note from your chairman: As of now, we have not received nominations for the positions of secretary and treasurer. Although the current two post holders have done so for many years, please don’t feel you would be committing yourself to do the same... over to you!

Upcoming rallies: 8-13 September at Carlyon Bay Holiday Park, PL25 3RE. 28 September-3 October at Porth Beach Holiday Park, TR7 3NH. 12-17 October at Woodlands

Leisure Park, TQ9 5DQ. 10-13 November is our AGM at Wooda Farm, Bude, EX23 9HU.

S&W WALES

Hello everyone, oh dear, I was wishing for rain for the garden at the end of June and my prayers must have been answered as we had double the normal rainfall in July! However, as I write this report the sun is shining again at last.

27-31 July at Ysgol Cymraeg, Caerphilly – A total of seventeen vans were welcomed by our hosts Colin, Elizabeth, Betty and Glyn at this conveniently situated school; these included one van from West Wessex, Graham and Elaine. Although the weather forecast had been grim we were fortunate to have sunny days on Friday and Saturday. The convenient bus and train services allowed for some to travel to Cardiff for the day, whilst it was only a short walk to the castle at the centre of town and a good selection of shops. Caerphilly Castle is almost the largest in the United Kingdom

– only Windsor is larger. Many of us took the opportunity to visit he castle and its stunning setting which was a real treat. It is currently having a huge restoration by CADW.

We had the use of a small hall in the evenings and on Friday we played bingo and had a short quiz. On the Saturday night we had another quiz, bingo and a brilliant sing-a-long thanks to John Davies and his ukelele which really raised the roof; thank you John.

There was plenty of opportunity for eating out and both Muriel Butt and Colin Davies celebrated their birthdays.

It was a very wet morning for the Sunday Coffee Morning with the usual raffle but we were dry in the hall again. Everyone was sorry to hear from our Chair, Betty, that the Tenby rally had been cancelled by the school as fire prevention works will not have been completed at the school. Many left afterwards and only an intrepid few stayed until Monday.

Upcoming rallies: 22-25 September at Pembrey Country Park, SA16 0EJ. Huge country park and Steam Fair. Starts 12 noon. 6-9 October at Tycroes Rugby Club, SA18 3NY. New venue use of showers and toilets with live entertainment on Saturday. Starts 12 noon. 3-5 November is our AGM at Ysgol Cymraeg, Caerphilly, CF83 3HG. Bookable. Entertainment and food. Starts 12 noon. 24-27 November at Llandovery Mart, SA20 0AP. Christmas lights switch on and Christmas Market. Starts 12 noon. For all bookable rallies please contact our rally officer on 07791 524227 or keithjhoward17@gmail.com. Note corrected phone number.

SUSSEX

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer season, getting out and about in your vans and socialising with friends old and new, despite any weather problems (at the time of writing this it’s cold, wet and windy! Hope it’s improved!)

Our first ever rally at Stone Cottage, Hurst Green was successful, despite the patchy weather. Jan and Chris had organised a quiz which stretched our knowledge of birds, as well as general knowledge questions in the chitchat evening sessions; well done for your hosting talents.

Many members crossed the road to visit Merriman’s garden centre, especially for breakfasts and general horticulture products. Some even ventured further afield, on the local bus, to Tunbridge Wells, including a rapturous response to the Wetherspoons which was based in an opera house! They returned, singing praises about the general atmosphere of the surroundings. Mostly Sussex members, including two new members, Bob and Jane, with visitors from Kent. Mel and Phil became the first non-Sussex recipients of our loyalty scheme, which is open to all MCC members who attend Sussex rallies, and can be used at future Sussex rallies.

Upcoming rallies: 7-11 September at Lavender Line, Isfield, Uckfield, TN22 5XB. £12.50 pupn. The station cafe will be open and the steam train running on Sunday 10th. 20-25 September at The Barn, Old Salts Farm Road, Lancing. £21 pupn for all those who have previously booked

ehu, £16 pupn everyone else. There is a cafe on site and nearby regular buses to Brighton and Worthing for those wanting a shopping experience. Keep your diary free for our group AGM at Willingdon Community School, Broad Road, Eastbourne, BN20 9QX on 27-29 October. The meeting starts at 10.30am on Saturday which means you will have the afternoon free to socialise or visit nearby Eastbourne. Please ensure you have your membership cards at the ready. We are planning a ploughman’s lunch and the Saturday evening entertainment will be The Replays, a 60s tribute band which were booked following their excellent performance at this year’s National. Bookings are still being taken for Seal (Bunn) Leisure site at Selsey 9-14 November There still some vacancies for this rally so contact Carole Bennett for details of this popular venue, which includes full access to all the attractions of this commercial site.

WEST COUNTRY

Home Farm Blue Anchor, 6-11 July. What a great time had by all, we had 52 vans attend: 24 West Country; 10 Avon; five West Wessex; three Severn Valley; three S&W Wales; one SWP; one Yorkshire; one Lancashire; one Sussex; one Anglia; two East Midlands.

On Friday afternoon we had our Meet & Greet and were introduced to our hosts Jim and Jen, Angela and Ian. We enjoyed homemade cakes made by our hosts and they were delicious. Thank you guys for a great rally. Afterwards we played bingo outside in the fresh air.

On Saturday afternoon we had a game of boules and skittles. On Sunday we had our coffee morning which also included the wonderful raffle. In the evening we had a game of bingo. While we were here some of us enjoyed a steam train ride, took a bus ride into Minehead or beyond, took a stroll along the seafront or enjoyed a cuppa at the cafes looking across the sea.

Before we knew it, it was Tuesday morning and time to pack up and while some of us went home others travelled to our next rally.

Barnstaple Football Club, 11-16 July – The weather was not on our side but we still made the best of it. We had 24 vans attend: 13 West Country; five Avon; one Anglia; one East Wessex; one West Wessex; one Severn Valley; one SWP; one S&W Wales.

On Wednesday evening we had our meet and greet and a great quiz. On Thursday we had the use of the clubhouse again where we played bingo, then Ken entertained us with sing-a-long songs and background music. On Friday we were back in the clubhouse for a fish & chip supper followed by our raffle and background music. On Saturday there was a party in the clubhouse and they kindly invited us to join them for their disco and brought us some buffet food.

Before we knew it it was time to pack up and travel home. Thank you to our hosts Jim, Jen and Chas you did a great job.

Exmouth Rugby Club, 25-31 July – Wow what a great turnout,74 vans joining us: 42 West Country; 11 Avon; six

Severn Valley; four West Wessex; four SWP; two East Wessex; one Kent; one Chiltern; one Sussex; one Anglia; one S&W Wales. This rally was run by the whole Committee. We would like to thank each and every one of you, it was a great run rally. On the first day the weather was mostly dry while everyone arrived and set up but we did have a few showers. In the evening in the clubhouse we had our meet & greet and a few games of bingo followed by background music.

On Wednesday the weather was not on our side but we all made the most of it by either going into town between showers or jumping on a train or bus to go further afield.

On Thursday the weather was better so some ventured to Paignton, Exeter, Sidmouth and Torquay. In the evening we started off with our raffle for our chosen charity, North Devon Children’s Holiday Foundation, who send children with terminal illnesses on a holiday of a lifetime. Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, well done to those who were lucky enough to win a prize. All the prizes were kindly donated by shops and businesses in and around Exmouth; we would like to thank Ken and Rhona for all their hard work going around and collecting these. We then had a few games of bingo followed by music and singing from Ken, it was a great night.

On Friday morning we held our annual tabletop sale where some of us sold items and others picked up a bargain or two. On Saturday evening we had a few games of bingo followed by singing and music. During the weekend we were lucky as Exmouth held their postponed festival and there was lots going on including music, singing, choirs and drums.

On Sunday we held our coffee morning where we enjoyed homemade cakes and biscuits. Once again thank you to all the Committee for a great rally.Thank you all for attending, we hope that you had a great time and come see us again.

It is coming to that time of year again for our AGM. If anyone would like to put their names forward to join our committee or to host a rally (as no hosts means no rallies) then please contact our secretary, details in our rally book, on our webpage or Facebook page and leave your details.

Upcoming rallies: 12-17 September at Lady’s Mile, Dawlish Warren. 5-8 October is our AGM at Riverside.

WEST WESSEX

Nineteen motorhomes arrived at King’s Down Tail Caravan and Camping Park for our holiday rally. We welcomed 13 from West Wessex, three from SWP and one from Sussex, Essex, and West Country. The weather was changeable but this didn’t prevent members catching the bus for a day out in Sidmouth. We met up in the hall in the evenings and played bingo and managed to draw the raffle outside on Friday and enjoy a glass of Pimms. Some members enjoyed Pizzas on Friday and breakfast on Saturday.

Our Annual Charity Auction was held at our five day rally at Salisbury Rugby Club.There were quizzes, raffles and bingo in the club on the first two nights. On Friday the

hall was filled with generous bidders who, accompanied by much laughter, bought more than a hundred ‘lots’ donated by our members, raising over £1000 for Swindon Parkinson’s Activity Group. On Saturday a hog roast was followed by a disco and on Sunday we were entertained by the Poppickers with singing and dancing until late. This was a fabulous rally which was enjoyed by 53 motorhomes from 10 groups. Thanks to everyone who organised, hosted, and helped make this such a successful event, to our auctioneers and their porters, to the club for their donation to the charity and to all those members who spent so generously.

The hosts for the next meet at Corsham Rugby Club, Bill and Pat Wighton, have been involved in a car accident and with only a small number of motorhomes booked, the decision has been made to cancel that meet. We wish them both a speedy recovery.

We will be at Parley Glade, BH22 8TR from 22-25 September. This basic grass field site is in Church Lane, off the B3073 Christchurch Road. The cost is £12.50 pupn / £18.50 with electric hook up. Hosts are Sue and Chum, (07706 402880) assisted by Mike and Bett.

4-9 October at South Lytchett Manor BH16 6JB is the following meet, again hosted by Chum and Sue (07706 402880) assisted by Frank and Angie. This is a full facilities site with serviced pitches and must be booked in good time. The cost is £23 pupn inclusive of EHU and TV aerial. Please see our website for full details of these meets and detailed directions.

West Wessex MCC will hold their Annual General Meeting weekend at Devizes Football Club SN10 3DX from 26-30 October. Cost is £8.50 pupn and hosts are Ali and Dawn (07889 998080), assisted by Jacky and Graham. Booking is required. The clubhouse will be open on some evenings with a a Halloween disco on Saturday evening (fancy dress optional). Please see website for details and directions. Don’t forget your membership cards! All meets start at 12 noon and we hope to see you soon.

YORKSHIRE

14-16 July at Thornesian RUFC. We had a good attendance of 16 vans despite the weather forecast; 15 Yorkshire and one N. Counties who was a first time MCC rallier and first time with Yorkshire. Friday night found us joining the locals in the club bar and the host (Dave) tested our grey cells with a quiz. Saturday was a sunshine and showers sort of day, even so, quite a few of us wandered into town to explore and partake of some refreshment at one of the local taverns. The evening was spent in the club, again with another quiz (a lot harder then Fridays) which led to five tiebreakers!

21-23 July at Yorkshire Aircraft Museum. A very rainy weekend was expected for our first time rally hosts Mike and Elaine. There were some last minute cancellations due to the poor weather forecast, which was a shame because the weather wasn’t actually that bad and did not detract from the enjoyment of the ralliers who did attend. A total of 15 vans attended, 11 Yorkshire, two Anglia, one N. Counties and one East Midlands. A walk around quiz sheet was given out on arrival, this encouraged ralliers to explore the whole site and answer questions about the exhibits. Details of other local facilities were also given out for those who wanted to explore further afield.

Ralliers had free access to the museum for the weekend, including the use of a “club” room where everyone met for a fun social evening including bingo, which was eventful to say the least (those who were there know what I mean). The evenings were enjoyed by all, including the volunteer Alan who was our on-site security and a great source of information about the museum, especially the helicopters. Thank you to everyone who attended and those who completed the feedback forms which were very positive.

Upcoming rallies: 7-11 September at Craken House Farm, Leyburn DL8 5PR. 14-19 September at Royal Yacht Club, Bridlington YO15 3QL. 29 September-1 October at Riverside Campsite, Cononley BD20 8LX. 13-15 October is our AGM at Wetherby Racecourse LS22 5EJ.

RALLY AMENDS

SWP 8-11 December Cofton Holiday Park, Dawlish, EX6 8RP: pitch fees are £17 pupn excluding EHU. This fee together with the meal price tba. Special Christmas Raffle (see Group News for full details).

N. IRELAND We have had to change our Rally due to be in Ballynahinch from 13-15 October. We will be going to the following: Clarke Construction, 132a Raceview Road, Ballymena BT42 4HY. Hard standing, water and toilets with use of golf club for food, drinks and function room for Friday and Saturday nights. This is a working factory with strictly no access until 5pm. A guided tour of the factory will also be provided on Saturday @ 11am to all members.

West Wessex group

National Famine Museum

Strokestown Park

The perfect stopping point when traveling Ireland coast to coast with ample free day time parking.

More information at strokestownpark.ie

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GREEN & CLEAN ENERGY

With the ever increasing energy bills & campsite fees we are facing today, take the opportunity to create your own energy and explore what this beautiful country has to o er without having to worry about what you are using.

Falcon supply and t a full range of Rigid, Flexible and Portable solar panels in a variety of sizes and wattage to suit your vehicle and needs to assit you with general battery maintenance or full arrays to keep you fully topped up whilst o grid.

Members Code MCCSOL50

PORTABLE SOLAR

Complete 12V portable solar panel kits with built in charge regulator / solar controller with option of standard PWM / Smart with LCD Display. Includes 5 metre cable with both battery clips and ring terminal connections. Comes in a sturdy protective carry case. Available in 100w, the new 120W Lightweight with 10A PWM regulator and also the new 240W panel with BT MPPT regulator for use with smartphones.

POWER INVERTERS

100 & 120W Discount Code

Members Code MCC-PORTSOL30

A Pure Sine Wave inverter converts the 12V DC from your leisure battery to mains voltage AC power without the need for extra sockets & most importantly without the worry of energy bills. Simple to use with the conveniently installed operating switch. Below are some examples of appliances that can be used whilst o grid with the range of inverters.

240W Discount Code

Members Code MCC-PORTSOL50

OFF GRID POWER

Battery To Battery ( DC Chargers ) allow you to charge your auxiliary/ leisure battery from your vehicles alternator. This provides 30A charge into your leisure battery whilst driving or with your engine running. Ideal for when o grid. (FITTED PRICE)

Inverter £500 £450

1500W Pure Sine Inverter £650 £600

2000W Pure Sine Inverter £800 £750

BATTERY TO BATTERY CHARGER

12W

Keep your batteries topped up with the Falcon 12W Solar Power Battery Maintainer. This charger has an in-line regulator to protect against damage by overcharging and also monitors charging status using its in-line LED display. Complete with suction mounts & various connections.

Members Code MCC12WSOL

£60

£56

3000W Pure Sine Inverter £950 £900

Battery To Battery ( DC Chargers ) allow you to charge your auxiliary / leisure battery from your vehicles alternator. Create 30A per hour charge into your leisure battery whilst driving or with your engine running. Ideal for winter months and shorter daylight where your solar is not generating as e ciently as in summer months. Available with Bluetooth monitoring via your smartphone or LCD Display. A great backup plan

BATTERY MAINTAINER DC-DC (BATTERY TO BATTERY) CHARGER

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AMPLIFIED MOBILE INTERNET?

When inside a vehicle such as a caravan or motorhome, the 4G / 5G internet signal to devices is reduced due the enclosed environment. A roof mounted ampli ed antenna provides greater reach to your nearest internet mast and provides the signal directly into your vehicle to a router which provides the data via high speed wi to your connected devices such as phones, laptops, tablets , Smart TV’s and more.

ARE YOUR READY FOR 5G READY HIGH SPEED INTERNET?

Want the ability to receive ampli ed 5G/ 4G high speed internet whilst away? The new 5G ready range gives you the bene ts of full 5G reception in areas where 5G is currently available but also boosted 4G internet in areas where 5G is not available. Falcon o er a full range of 5G ready products to suit all your mobile internet needs, either roof mounted or portable.

EVO-5G

The new Falcon EVO-5G is the perfect addition to allow for high-speed 5G ready mobile internet. The powerful and sleek roof mounted antenna provides a boosted 5G signal to your vehicle with a choice of 450mbps 4G router / 1.8Gbps 5G router.

EVO-DTV

The new Falcon 5G-TV is the latest combined TV & 5G ready roof mounted antenna, designed to provide high quality TV without the need for positioning thanks to its omni-directional design and also high speed 5G ready internet reception for streaming and browsing with a choice of 450mbps 4G router / 1.8Gbps 5G router. (Perfect for new vans where body-shell warranty is a consideration )

EVO MOBILE

The EVO mobile is the perfect portable solution for boosting a 4G or 5G signal either in your mobile home or in hotels or at home. The antenna comes with a magnetic base and a suction base. Option of 450Mbps 4G router / 1.8Gbps 5G router.

LED CAMPING TELEVISIONS

S5

The S5 range of Falcon TVs is our latest in the Falcon TV range and is feature packed with all the above including streaming services and also including Bluetooth soundbar and Bluetooth Headphones + 64GB of storage. The perfect multivoltage camping TV solution.

LIMITED OFFER PRICING | ENTER DEAL CODES AT FALCON WEBSITE CHECKOUT

The Falcon 4G Combo is an all in one router and ampli ed antenna which is perfect for gaining an improved internet signal in weak signal areas. The combo unit can be used for a multitude of applications either on 12V, 24V or 240V making it perfect for caravans, motorhomes, home o ces, holiday lets, remote buildings and many more. The outdoor unit is fully IP66 weather and dust proof and can be mounted either via suction pads included or can be wall mounted.

Visit us at https://www.falcontechnology.co.uk

TO REDEEM OFFER ONLINE OR CALL US FREE ON 0800622474

Members Code MCC-EVO

Members Code MCC-EVOM

Code MCC-COMBO

EXPLORE the CUMBRIAN WAY of LIFE

Sandwiched between the mountains of the Lake District and the Irish Sea, Frances & Michael Howorth drive the Cumbrian Coastal Route 200 seeking out its traditions.

As incredible as the scenic Lake District is, with its large expanses of water and soaring mountains, there is a lot more of Cumbria for those travelling in motorcaravans to enjoy. The county boasts more than 100 miles of stunning coastline roads, stretching from the Solway Firth in the north to Morecambe Bay in the south. Here you will discover secluded beaches, majestic castles, hidden lakes and awe-inspiring mountains. The best bit of all is that driving here is much more tranquil than the Lake District.

In 2021, Cumbrian Tourism conceived a 200-mile motorcaravan tour in a bid to keep roads surrounding the lakes clear of heavy traffic. They designed the route to inspire those in campervans and motorhomes to explore this captivating area. It takes in isolated bays, proud headlands, storybook islands and fascinating landmarks, while avoiding tourist bottlenecks.

Our story begins with us staying on Low Moor Head Farm near Longtown. It’s a wedding ring’s throw away from Gretna Green, just across the border in Scotland and

not too far from Carlisle, with its easy access to the M6 motorway. Owen and Adele Taylor are justifiably proud of this delightful, awardwinning campsite set on a working farm. Well-equipped, beautifully maintained, its rural setting allows for good woodland walking, with the opportunity to spot red squirrels and roe deer.

An easy six-mile drive away is Hadrian’s Wall and our next port of call. Our first visit was to the wall at Birdoswald, an English Heritage site where the past is being revealed. Here archaeologists dig to discover

THIS MONTH WE VISIT... CUMBRIA & THE LAKE DISTRICT

Morecambe coast sea beach

Clockwise from right: Archaeological excavation at Birdoswold on Hadrian's Wall; Tony Wilmot, Chief Archaeologist from Historic England; Birdoswald Roman Fort and Voyager at Low Moor Head Caravan Site.

Roman history hidden beneath the soil. Joining a tour led by archaeology students, we watched in fascination as their team scratched away at the surface with their trowels. Sharing their excitement, we watched as they uncovered pottery and artefacts that have lain for more than 2000 years, untouched since the time of Hadrian. We explored the ruins of the Roman frontier fort, a turret and a milecastle. The remains of the wall's defining features here are fascinating and we stood in awe, viewing this – its longest remaining stretch – as it spans as far as the eye can see.

Our base for the next few days was at Tranby, a club CL in Great Broughton. On the way there we could not resist the temptation to seek out some local artisan food producers. In the village of Wigton, Luke Christian was hard at work in his kitchens producing hand toasted muesli. His award-winning range of artisan breakfast foodstuffs is gaining much attention and rightly

well, both locally and through his growing online sales business.

Just down the road in Crofton Hall, Leonie and her mother, Carolyn Fairbairn, run the Thornby Moor Dairy. In 1979, Carolyn set up a dairy in the basement of her family home. Entirely self-taught in the art of >>

Whitney Hubbell/shutterstock

zetat/shutterstock

Nestled in the Eden Valley surrounded by rolling countryside, Pennine View Park is perfectly placed for walking, cycling and simply relaxing. We are a family-run caravan and camp site on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, a mile from the historic market town of Kirkby Stephen.

We have a small playground, FREE WiFi, a relaxed and friendly on-site bar, a small essentials shop, covered washing-up area, launderette and washrooms with FREE hot showers and disabled facilities.

t: 017683 71717

e: hello@pennineviewpark.co.uk

w: www.pennineviewpark.co.uk

Station Road, Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, CA17 4SZ

holiday accommodation

pockets. Family owned and operated with excellent facilities, Hillcroft is a place to escape, make memories and enjoy precious family time.

suit all tastes

cheesemaking, she began by making Allerdale cheese, using raw milk from her own herd of goats. Today, she has expanded her range, but it's still handmade to her own recipes.

When we did get to Tranby, we were warmly welcomed by Ken and Alison Simpson, the site owners. Keen motorcaravanners themselves, they set up this club CL beside a small lake, not far from Cockermouth. The site is perfectly placed to explore this part of Cumbria. We stayed here for two nights and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We used the CL as a base to explore Allonby, Whitehaven and Maryport. Alison has developed her own rather clever method of marketing their CL. Using decoupage, she hand-decorates pebbles and encourages campers

to take two of them away without charge. She hopes they will keep one for themselves as a souvenir and leave the other one at the next site they stay at. That way, when the finder turns it over, they will see an internet link to the Tranby CL and so spread the word.

The thriving market town of Cockermouth is the gateway to West Cumbria. Its quaint Georgian streets are bustling with people and full of delightful shops, museums and art galleries. It even has a butcher, a baker and a candlestick maker! Tony Harrison is the butcher; visit when you want to buy Cumberland sausage. They make the real deal, using tasty, native bred, free range, pasture-fed, dry-aged meat, carefully selected from small farmers who

care. Andy Walsh is the baker; he runs the Coffee Kitchen Bakery on the market place which, despite its name, is all about the baked items. They make real bread on site with no ultra-processed ingredients and it tastes delicious. The traditional hardware shop, J B Banks and Son, is where you will find the candlestick maker. A delightful old-fashioned shop, it is what lies at the back that is so fascinating. Here in an original Georgian workshop is a free to visit museum. The exhibits are both ordinary and extraordinary examples of the everyday working past. Two doors away is the Percy House gallery. From the outside, clearly old, it dates to 1390, but it is the inside that is stunning. Not many shops have a Tudor ceiling with the Percy coat of arms, medieval

Clockwise from above: Voyager at Tranby, a Club CL; Carolyn and Leonie Fairbairn, who run Thornby Moor Dairy; Luke Christian owner of Lakeland Mues and The Berry Blast from Lakeland Mues for breakfast on Voyager.

Tranby CL

Allonby village beach in Allerdale

Martin Valigursky/shutterstock

panelling, and an Inglenook fireplace. And the selection of work, by over 200 Cumbrian and British artisans, ranging from jewellery and textiles to ceramics, paintings and photographs, are very enticing too. Perfect retail therapy in one town. Finally, for a touch of culture, be sure to visit Wordsworth House, a Georgian townhouse where the poet William lived together with his sister Dorothy.

On the Cumbrian coast to the north of Cockermouth is Maryport. First established in AD122, it was a Roman command and supply base for Hadrian’s Wall. Later, because of its location at the mouth of the river Ellen, it became known as Ellenfoot and in 1794 changed its name to Maryport. It never gained the same commercial importance as Whitehaven to the south, but was an important harbour for coal export.

For us, it was the start of a most wonderful bike ride along a wide promenade that runs all the way up to the seaside town of Allonby and beyond. The scenery here is of outstanding natural beauty. The cycleway is well paved and wonderfully flat, running just yards from the sea. Nature and wildlife thrive here, the secluded beaches offer an ideal habitat for grey seals and many rare birds. There are also interesting places to stop along the

One spot is Milefortlet 21, one of the many defensive structures built by the Romans as part of their Cumbrian Coast defences. The remains now exist as reconstructed turf ramparts and a ditch that has been reinstated to its original profile. The other interesting stopping point is the Moody Cow; a dairy farm just yards from the sea where you can buy the freshest of milk and enjoy wonderful milkshakes. We made our final stop in Allonby, where we

treated ourselves to an ice cream. Twentymans has been making ice cream here for over 100 years. Trust us when we say we think they have now perfected the recipe!

No-one ever wants a day of rain when they are out and about in a motorcaravan. But should the weather gods not be smiling on you, then head south from Cockermouth to Whitehaven. The port of Whitehaven was once the third largest in the UK, with trade links all over the world. The town’s prosperity was built on coal, developed by the wealthy Lowther family who also laid out the elegant Georgian town. The Beacon Museum beside the harbour is a delightful way for families to spend some time discovering the

Inside Percy House (above) built in 1390 and now a art gallery. Richard Harrison (below left), at Tony Harrison Butchers. Museum in J. B. Banks & Sons (below centre), Ironmongers and Locksmiths and Andy Walsh owner of the Coffee Kitchen Bakery.

CAMPSITE FACILITIES:

• Located in the Lake District National Park

• Family & dog friendly site with amazing scenery

• A stream runs through the site, great for kids!

• WigWam glamping pods + hot tubs

• Fantastic beaches and walks

• Close to central lakes

• Fabulous shower block

• Dark Skies site

• Fire pits on every pitch!

• Open all year round for hardstanding, Roundhouse, WigWam pod and cabin

CUMBRIAN HEAVY HORSES

• Heavy Horse Riding on the campsite

• Shire, Clydesdale, Suffolk Punch rare breed horses

• Stunning scenery in which to ride

• Riding to suit all abilities, from instructional hacks around our farmland to fell and beach riding experiences

• BHS Approved riding school

• Riding holidays and short breaks available

• Call to book your heavy horse riding experience

| Set in

museum tell the story of Cumberland, covwering everything from Roman times to the nuclear technology of neighbouring Sellafield.

Further south, the dramatic red-sandstone cliffs of St Bees rise 100m from the seafront and are the highest and most westerly point in Northern England. Laid down some 240 million years ago and topped with grassland and patches of wild gorse, they provide a haven for a wide variety of sea birds and wildlife. The area provides nesting sites for

There is a wealth of history here just waiting to be unwrapped. One legend tells of an Irish princess who fled across the Irish Sea to St Bees to avoid an enforced marriage.

Windswept but happy with our walk, we hopped into our van and headed to Shepherd's View at Holmrook for our overnight stay. Julie and Stephen Shepherd and their family run this farm campsite,

lying in the shadow of Scafell Pike. England’s highest and most prominent mountain it has an elevation of 978m. Set in 230 acres of farmland with stunning views, the campsite is walking distance from the beach. It is ideal for kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding and sailing. A member of the Premier Group, this site has recently installed an additional new toilet and shower block with five private cubicles each with toilet, wash basin, shower, hand dryer and radiator.

With our bikes unloaded from the carrier, our mission that evening was to cycle to Ravenglass and enjoy a pint of beer at the Pennington Hotel watching the boats on the river. Located at the estuary of three rivers: the Esk, Mite and the Irt, Ravenglass is the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park and the Pennington Hotel is a local institution. We have yet to find a better place to sit outside on a warm evening with a pint of local ale watching the sunset. Dinner in the hotel’s Estuary Restaurant was a real treat with traditional Cumberland sausage, mashed potatoes, garden peas and onion gravy. The hotel is owned by the Pennington family, who for the last 800 years have lived

Revenglass

Remains of the Anglo-Saxon salt pans by the sea from Milefortlet 21

Holmrook

Coastal town of Whitehaven

Paul James Quinn/shutterstock

Shepherds View

Nether Wasdale, Cumbria, CA20 1ET

Fully fitted shower block with disabled facilities & laundry

35 Electric hook-up pitches (must be pre-booked)

Hardstanding pitches for motorhomes

Childrens play area with swings and climbing frames

Separate grassed ball games area

Picnic tables located throughout

Adjoining oak woodland with woodland paths

BBQ/fire pits with wood available to hire

Dogs are allowed (max 2 per pitch, must be on lead)

Short stroll to The Sawmill riverside cafe and farm shop

Onsite shop with free WiFi

Tel: 01946 726252

Email: info@churchstile.com www.churchstile.com

Nestling in a traditional oak woodland setting in the heart of iconic Wasdale with stunning views to the Screes Mountain range

and loved Muncaster Castle, which is where we went the following day.

The impressive silhouette of Muncaster Castle rising out of the treeline makes it hard to miss! Dominating this part of the Cumbrian coast and bursting with treasures and stories, Muncaster oozes history from every rough stone that forms the castle walls. Plants from all over the world, particularly the Sino-Himalayan region, nestle

in the wild splendour of over 70 acres of gardens with the dramatic backdrop of the glorious Lakeland fells. Many rare and unusual trees and plants flourish here. This family home is delightful and well worth visiting,

but we were rather thankful that the Penningtons did not ask us to stay the night because the castle is said to be haunted!

They did, however, invite us to watch a flying display of owls at their Hawk and Owl Centre, set within the beautiful rose gardens. Witnessing the owls silently swooping low over our heads was breathtaking. From Muncaster we intended to drive to Grange over Sands. But

Muncaster Castle and Peach (right), a southern white faced owl, at the Owl dispaly

Cartmel

we are foodies, and this part of Cumbria is known for its fine food and restaurants, so on the way we stopped off in Ulverston. It is a vibrant, laid-back market town that hosts a wealth of quirky events and festivals throughout the year. There is plenty to explore along its bright cobbled streets, even if there is no event taking place. It was the birthplace of the comic actor Stan Laurel and played a key part in the formation of the Quaker movement.

A flock of foodie businesses have established themselves in this part of Cumbria. They are drawn here by the lush landscape and mild climate where the county's famous local produce are raised and grazed. No trip down to the southern part of Cumbria would be complete without a visit to Cartmel. However, the lack of parking and narrow roads of this medieval village means they do not make driving easy for campervans

and motorhomes. If you are lucky enough to park, you can explore and enjoy the cafés and shops, including Cartmel Village Shop. It is known as the “home of Sticky Toffee Pudding”. If you are flush with cash, pre-book a delectable evening at Simon Rogan’s L’Enclume, one of the top five restaurants in the UK. Also Michelin starred is Simon’s other restaurant, called Rogan and Co. It offers a more casual dining experience.

Nearby, the Greaves Farm campsite is set in stunning surroundings. It is immaculately kept and shimmers like a brandnew pin. It’s a great location for walking into Cartmel, just three miles away, saving the hassle of parking. There are lots of other good walks and cycle routes nearby and the Edwardian seaside town of GrangeOver-Sands, with its extensive promenade and ornamental gardens, is five miles away. We

enjoyed a walk along the sea front there, taking in the views across Morecambe Bay.

Our journey from Carlisle in the North, to Grange Over Sands, driving the CCR 200 was in fact only 160 miles and that involved just six hours behind the wheel. But, we got to see Cumbria, without touching the shores of a single lake and we like to think, we enjoyed and tasted the real Cumbria while doing so.

Sunset at Greaves Farm Caravan Park

A literary odyssey through the

LAKE DISTRICT

The Lake District is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes. The region's beauty is timeless, and the ever-changing weather of the Lake District enhances its appeal. The interplay of sunlight and shadows on the landscapes, the mist that shrouds the mountains and the play of colours across the lakes, creates an almost surreal atmosphere that feels like something out of a book. The unspoiled nature, tranquil lakeshores and sweeping vistas have remained relatively unchanged for centuries. It is for these reasons and more, that the Lake District transports you to a realm of literary inspiration.

A narrative can greatly enhance a road trip experience by adding depth, context and a sense of adventure to your journey, weaving a story that engages your imagination. Just like reading a novel, your road trip becomes a journey with a purpose, characters

(even if they are historical figures or authors), and a plot (your travel itinerary).

Incorporating books ties your journey to the history and culture of the places you're visiting. It provides you with a richer understanding of the significance of each location. Narratives evoke emotions. When you connect your journey with the stories of authors, poets, or characters from literature, you tap into their emotions and experiences.

The Lake District has inspired some of the greatest literary works in history. As you explore the area, you walk in the footsteps of infamous authors like Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Beatrix Potter. This connection to literature adds an ethereal layer to the experience, allowing you to feel the echoes of their creativity in the very landscapes they cherished.

Step into a realm of poetic beauty and timeless inspiration on your Lake District Odyssey by

adding a layer of literary references to your road trip. Take a closer look at how you can create a fusion of literature and landscape on your road trip to the Lakes with these literary references:

Wordsworth's Whispering Woods and Tranquil Lakes

Begin your authorial adventure with a visit to Dove Cottage, the former home of the renowned poet William Wordsworth. As you explore the scenic Grasmere Lake, let Wordsworth's "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" guide your steps.

Coleridge's Enchanted Encounters and Mystical Mountains

Journey to Keswick, where the rugged landscapes captivated Samuel Taylor Coleridge's soul. Explore the misty forests of Greta Hall and envision the haunted ship of "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" as you gaze upon the serene Derwentwater. A hike up

Derwentwater

Scafell Pike, England's highest peak, will take you closer to the heavens that inspired Coleridge's visionary thoughts.

Romancing Nature and Unearthing Literary Gems

Unearth classic treasures at the Armitt Museum, where you can uncover manuscripts and artefacts from Wordsworth, Coleridge and their contemporaries. Stroll through the charming village of Hawkshead, which inspired Arthur Ransome's beloved Swallows and Amazons series.

Poetic Reflections by Tranquil Tarns

Spend a day of quiet contemplation by the serene Tarn Hows, a place where both Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter found solace. Reflect upon Wordsworth's lines as you marvel at the tranquil waters: "A perfect image of a placid mind."

Inspiring Views from Hill Top Visit Hill Top, the home Beatrix Potter purchased with the proceeds from her first book, “The Tale of

Peter Rabbit”. The views here provided her with much inspiration for her subsequent books.

As you enjoy the range of outdoor activities that let you engage with nature, or take in the beauty of quaint villages with traditional cottages do so with a literary perspective to add a layer to your holiday.

With a premium membership www. UncoverBritain.com, at £4.99, you can access the Literary Lake District route plan maps, destination guide, attractions, hidden gems, the best viewpoints and much more. The guide includes over 40 campsites on this route, and over 20 ‘secret stays’, which include authorised overnight stops and pub stops, so you’ll easily find the perfect stopover. Full membership includes 30 UK road trips at £29.99 for 12 months. Grab £10 off membership with the code MCCSEPT by 30.09.2023.

Windermere

Grasmere Lake

7 DAY SPECIALS FOR OVER 50S

Camping Los Gallardos

R.T.A: AL- 4-04-0017

In sunny Almería, Spain - It’s Europe’s sunniest spot!

• Family run, category 2 peaceful, community campsite in the south of Spain - near Mojácar

• Bowling greens

• Busy bar, restaurant & shop

• Full services (Inc: UKTV hookup & much more)

• Full service pitches available

Widdicombe Farm In the English Riviera

Riverside is a quiet, secluded countryside park. Convenient for easy access to the beautiful South Hams’ beaches, Dartmoor National Park, Cornwall and Brittany Ferries port.

T: 01752 344 122

info@riversidetouringparkplymouth.co.uk

www.riversidecaravanpark.co.uk

Family-run park overlooking Port-Eynon Bay. Pitches for motorcaravans, tourers and glamping pods, as well as self-catering bungalows. Within walking-distance of the beach. Clubhouse with licensed bar, serving meals. WiFi. Grocery shop & laundrette. Outdoor heated swimming pool. Children’s play area. Tennis court. Booking advised for bank/school holidays. Open 1st March until New Years Day. 01792 687205 www.bankfarmleisure.co.uk enquiries@bankfarmleisure.co.uk

T: 01803 558325 E: info@widdicombefarm.co.uk

www.widdicombefarm.co.uk

Peaceful and spacious 5 pitch site conveniently located for NC500 route stopover 07796 662 256 info@kessockcaravanpark.co.uk

• Site open all year • A large family run touring park • A collection of self catering cottages and static caravans • Seasonal, heated enclosed outdoor/indoor swimming pool • Children’s play area • State of the art over 18s health club with gym, adult indoor pool, steam room and sauna • Coffee house serving refreshments

• Bar and takeaway with entertainment

Charmouth, Dorset DT6 6QL | 01297 560226

www.manorfarmholidaycentre.co.uk

TECH TALK with Gentleman Jack

In this series of Tech Talk we will be looking at various sub-groups of fascinating motorcaravans and at some of their design features, all from an historical perspective. This month:

Many of us might imagine something resembling this RAM overcab coachbuilt [1] when thinking of a sensibly-sized motorcaravan suitable for global exploring. These seem to be gaining in popularity, not just among bona-fide explorers, but also with those who think such a vehicle is essential for getting over the speed bumps in the local supermarket/exiting a muddy camping field/or for upping the driveway ‘cred quotient’! The array of spotlights on the leading-edge of the overcab suggest (correctly) that this is of American origin, whereas here in Europe, and also in the Antipodes, LED lightbars are currently de rigeur.

We will explain why something similar to the RAM might be required and also look at the experiences of some pioneering members of the Motor Caravanners’ Club who thought that a ‘bog standard’ motorcaravan would suffice for a global expedition. No one school of thought has a monopoly

on the truth, because - as is always the case with motorcaravans - the choice of vehicle should be guided by the envisaged patterns of usage. It is perfectly possible to explore countries near and far without having to go off-road, although a developing country’s fondness for labelling a flooded and rocky narrow mountain path ‘a road’ may differ considerably from our Highways’ Authority classification.

[2] is an illustration from a 1960’s club magazine. It is a cutaway drawing of an unmodified Bluebird Highwayman. In 1965,

club members Alan & Maria Johnston together with their three children Annna, then aged 5, Tim aged 4, and Lee – just 2 years old [3] – set off in their Highwayman on a world tour, taking three years to cover 80,000 road miles, visiting 19 countries en-route. They were the first to cross the frontier between Iran and Russia, survived a cholera epidemic, spent a whole year in India, and toured ‘hidden’ Japan.

In 2002 the Caravan Club named Maureen Middleton their ‘Explorer of the Year’. As the accompanying clipping [4] from Daily Express newspaper illustrates, the 62-year-old Grandmother successfully undertook an epic trip overland along the Silk Route to China, and returned via Nepal and Tibet. Her transport and accommodation was an already ‘mature’ standard 1989/90 Elddis Autoquest 400…named ‘Womble’. She was part of an organised trip including those driving serious global exploration

vehicles who gave assistance on occasions. Nevertheless, it’s a remarkable achievement and shows what can be undertaken, though such trips do require determination and forward planning.

Another strand of global motorcaravanning is the pursuit of world records and rally successes,

usually against specially prepared ‘works’ teams of cars. Londonbased Wilsons Motor Caravan Centre was a market-leading UK retailer whose proprietor Leslie Wilson (deservedly) gained the soubriquet, ‘Mr Motorcaravanning’. The old adage: ‘win on Sunday… sell on Monday’…definitely

applied. Several other dealerships followed suit. January 1978’s magazine cover [5] featured Apex Motor Caravans Bedford CF which successfully completed the 1977 London to Sydney Rally…finishing commendably high on the leader board.

continued on p64

continued from p63

Other members chose a different approach to sourcing an expedition motorcaravan. Instead of modifying a motorcaravan so that it morphed into an off-road vehicle, they took an established off-road vehicle and made it into a motorcaravan. Searle’s Carawagon [6] and Martin Walter’s Dormobile conversions were the most popular commercial variants, both on the venerable long wheelbase Land Rover. [1966 Carawagon illustrated]

Other global motorcaravanners opt for a bespoke ‘all-terrain’ motorcaravan, such as [7] – a brilliantly-deigned compact(ish) offroad motorcaravan - underpinned

by the extremely capable Unimog. One would assume that the most important consideration when commissioning such a vehicle is

the drive-train and the amount of grip it offers. It is a deal maker, but so too is another ‘must have’

Ferry Good for Al-ko

The HPC Hydraulic Levelling System is truly a step ahead for motorhome owners. Covering all requirements expected from a levelling system. it is simply and quickly operated using the on-board touch-screen controls or operated remotely from an iPhone 5 and above or an Android phone via a Bluetooth free app. Accompanied by the AS Air Suspension system, all your suspension and levelling needs are catered for. At AS Air Suspension UK Ltd, we seek to continually improve and stay ahead of our competitors. Using innovative materials to reduce the weight of the systems, without any compromise to quality.

illustrates what must be taken into account when assessing a vehicle’s suitability for dealing with superchallenging terrain. The steeper the approach, departure and break-over angles are, the better a vehicle will be at avoiding ‘grounding’. Motorcaravans with a shallow departure angle [9] may even struggle at urban road junctions, traversing ferry ramps and so on.

Axle articulation should also be considered. [10] shows exactly why! In addition, a closer look will reveal that the cab is at a different angle to the habitation part. The latter is of unitary construction and independently mounted on

a gimbal system to allow the vehicle to twist in the middle. Life expectancy of a traditionallymounted coachbuilt body under these circumstances would be measured in seconds!

When contemplating any motorcavanning trip abroad, but particularly an off-road one in a far-away continent, research is the key. The recently-updated Overlanders’ Handbook by Chris Scott [11] is an excellent primer. [ISBN 978-1-905864-87-4]. It will also be a fascinating and informative read for those who are just dreaming of such a trip. Finally, motorcaravanners undertaking such exciting journeys are often said to be ‘on safari’ and the term ‘safari’ has become attached to the enclosures for wind-out canopy awnings which are referred to as ‘safari rooms’ [12]…even if erected on a campsite in Morecombe, rather than in a Mongolian jungle!

Next month…We look at motorcaravans described as ‘Fare’s Fair’

01484 661 918

www.taylormade-covers.co.uk

One of the foremost suppliers of insulated screen covers for motorhomes and all campers in general..

campers in general..

See us at the Lincoln show on stand 121

Tea break teasers

See page 68 for solutions

Codeword

Crack the code and fill in the grid. Each letter of the alphabet is represented by a number from 1-26. Two letters are given as a starter, can you decipher the rest of the code to discover all the words?

Sudoku

The objective is to fill a 9x9 grid so that each column, each row, and each of the nine 3x3 boxes contains the digits from 1 to 9. A cell is the smallest block in the game. A row, column and region consists of 9 cells and the whole game consists of 81 cells.

Medium Hard

Wordsearch

Can you find the film stars listed below?

Bob Hope Cher

Ice Cube

James Franco

Jay Mohr

Jet Li

Jude Law

Liv Tyler

Lucy Liu

Mae West

Nia Long

Paul Rudd

Rob Lowe

Ryan Gosling

Tara Reid

Tim Allen

Crossword Puzzle

2 Natty (6)

3 Patron (8)

4 Make more intense (6)

5 Military aircraft (8)

6 Red Bordeaux (6)

7 Today (8)

8 Most feeble (7)

15 Magnificent (8)

16 Infinite time (8)

17 Fine weather (8)

18 Make dim by comparison (7)

19 Performer of gymnastic feats (7)

21 2nd smallest continent (6)

23 Roman general (6)

24 Condiment (6)

Tea Break Teasers

(from pages 66 & 67)

Bazaar

Private sale advertisements

ACCESSORIES

OUTDOOR REVOLUTION E-SPORT AIR 325XL AWNING Width 325cm, depth 250cm, height range 265cm280cm. Used three times. Inc pump,ground mat. Cost new £600, selling for £350. Tel: 01562 638494 or 07726 306921 (Worcestershire).

OPTIMA EXTERNAL ZIP TURN DOWN SILVER THERMAL SCREEN COVER used once, size 148 w / 132 L. Bargain, £40. Tel: 07771 888454 (Somerset).

MAXVIEW VUQUBE II SATELLITE DOME AND BOX Used. £525. CARAVAN STEPS with 2 steps. Used.

£35. CARRY-BIKE PRO C BIKE RACK (no brackets). Used. £145. Tel: 07917 164159 (South coast).

SILVER SCREEN for 2013 Hymer B544. Excellent condition. £150, complete with bag. Buyer collects in Beckenham. Tel: 07768 232864 (Kent).

VEHICLES/BIKES

TWO FOLDING ELECTRIC BIKES plus helmets, panniers and front bag. Two new batteries, also pro-user bike carrier to fit ball hitch. All in good condition. £1,200 ONO. Tel: 07970 712893 (Somerset).

Members'private sale advertisements

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