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YOU CAN PUT A PRICE ON HAPPINESS

CLARE KELLY EDITOR

Welcome to our awards issue and what a cracker it is! The judges had a hard time picking the winners in each category because there's so many fantastic models out there. So, if you're after a new caravan, be sure to take a look. We've got everything from compact tourers to the biggest, most luxurious available on the market.

It might seem a little early to start thinking about Christmas but I assure you – it's not! As I

fantastic a be everything I

write this there's less than two months until the big day and we're making it easier with our special gift guide. We've managed to get some great discounts exclusively for our readers.

And, of course, you know what your best caravanning buddy would like to find in their stocking? A subscription to Caravan magazine! Whether it's a digital subscription or a print one, check out our latest offers on page 36.

Happy reading!

"October, crisp, misty, golden October, when the light is sweet and heavy”

– Angela Carter

Val ChapmanLee

DaveyIain

DuffDavid

ChapmanFelicity

Martin

Claire Tupholme

Fiona

Scott

“Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart”

– Victor Hugo

Rated Excellent

With financial protection against fire, theft and accidental damage from the Club’s award-winning Caravan Cover, our members come back to us year after year. Nearly 90% of all cover holders renewed with us.* Plus, we have been voted by our members 5 out of 5 stars Excellent on Trustpilot. See what our award-winning cover can do. Visit camc.com/caravancover or call 01342 488 061 for a quote today.

*Nearly 90% of all cover holders renewed is based on renewals data 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 (89%) **Trustpilot rating correct as of 1 October 2022, but is subject to change Caravan Cover is provided directly by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited, registered in England and Wales no. 00646027.

Registered address: East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA.

Ashley Sansom - Club member

SUFFOLK stunning

Explore this glorious county with its wildlife, heritage and seaside

Words: Susie Kearley & Photography: Susie Kearley and National Trust Images

National Trust Images James Dobson

We arrive at Toad Hall Caravan Site near Ipswich. It’s a small site, with a large lawn for dog walking and games, surrounded by caravans beside the hedgerows. We pitch up in glorious sunshine and head off to see Felixstowe, with its long seafront and the promise of fun.

The promenade goes on for miles and, over the course of our stay, we walk from end to end, taking in the views of colourful beach huts, waves splashing against the rocks, typical seaside shops, entertainment venues and places to eat.

Opposite the beach are Felixstowe's beautiful Victorian Seafront Gardens, some terraced, others on the level. We walk through a rose garden and pass ponds with fancy fish. The town has a lot of historic buildings and interesting architecture, with old Tudor-style buildings in some parts of town, and impressive Victorian architecture in others.

There’s crazy golf, a theatre, and a big entertainment area with a fairground behind an amusement arcade. The pebble beach has rocks piled up to act as wave breakers. It’s charming.

SUFFOLK OWL SANCTUARY

The following day we visit Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, home to dozens of owls, large and small, from eagle owls, to little owls, as well as falcons and vultures. We peruse the aviaries, admiring a bald eagle, hooded vultures, laughing kookaburras, raptors and glorious owls from around the world.

The sanctuary hospital takes

ATTRACTIONS

Suffolk Owl Sanctuary W owl-help.org.uk

Helmingham Hall Gardens

W helmingham.com

Ickworth W nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

NEARBY Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park W jimmysfarm.com

Bentwaters Cold War Museum W bcwm.org.uk

MAIN PIC

Ickworth estate has extensive gardens

ABOVE Beach houses on Felixstowe seafront

INSET An eagle owl and bald eagle at the Owl Santurary

road casualties, injured owls, unwanted pets, surplus from zoos and other unwanted birds. If possible, they'll release them into the wild once they are well, otherwise they give them a home for life.

The sanctuary itself is moderate but charming, with flying displays and exercise flights every day. There are also meerkats, foxes and hedgehogs; although, being nocturnal, the hedgehogs are hiding when we visit.

The first flying display begins at 11.30 with a barn owl, a brown owl, and a peregrine-lanner falcon cross – a breed known for its speed, agility, and cooperative nature. The bird swoops and dives to catch a lure being flung through the air on the end of a piece of string.

The owl's incredible abilities are highlighted during the talk, including their ability to move their head around 270 degrees. Their silent flight, night vision and super-sensitive hearing allow them to hunt with precision at night.

After the display, we have a

picnic in the grounds and go to see more of the animals. The silver foxes are having a snooze in the sunshine. Trying to get the kookaburra to laugh isn't working – he didn't find my impressions funny, apparently.

The afternoon flying display features vultures and a stunning eagle owl. The plight of vultures in the wild is explained. They're almost all seriously endangered, yet the work they do is very important to people's health – clearing up corpses and helping stop the spread of disease.

They have incredible immune systems, and can eat corpses of animals that have died with botulism and other diseases, without suffering any ill effects. Yet some people dislike them, and they are persecuted in the wild. The vultures are impressive, flying with their massive wings open, across the arena.

We attend the meerkat feeding talk and learn about what they eat in the wild. They make really bad pets because they wreck your house, destroy your belongings,

and, if they're in the garden, they dig and escape. They are also prone to biting and scratching, says a keeper from experience.

ICKWORTH

The following day we visit Ickworth, a National Trust property with extensive gardens and parkland. We explore the Italianate gardens, get lost in the woods, and follow the riverside trail. The

river is more like a stream but, overall, it's a lovely experience, with glorious landscapes, beautiful gardens and a historic house.

You can go inside, embark on a tour of the servants' quarters and then follow the visitor route to see the luxurious rooms upstairs.

We've clocked up about five miles walking around the estate by the end of our visit. Families are enjoying the gardens, playing games. People on bicycles are following the parkland trails. There's plenty of scope for an active day here.

HELMINGHAM HALL GARDENS

Helmingham Hall Gardens are tranquil gardens half an hour's drive from Toad Hall Caravan Site. We're first ones inside when it opens at 11am.

The gardens are surrounded by a deer park, which is full of beautiful deer with white spots like Bambi. They run and frolic as they see apples being thrown by a member of staff; they're munching on them in no time. In the gardens we see the stunning moated mansion, then continue into the walled garden where vegetables

ABOVE LEFT

Helmingham Hall Gardens

TOP RIGHT

A boat at RSPB Boyton and Hollesley Marshes Nature Reserve

ABOVE RIGHT

Felixstowe's Seafront Gardens

include heritage tomatoes, exotic white aubergines, weird and wonderful squashes, fennel, greens, leeks, beans, sweetcorn, courgettes and onions laid out in the sun to dry.

The walled garden is a vibrant display of colour, with floral borders, sculptures, spiral planting and topiary bushes among the plots of fruits and vegetables.

A pet graveyard is hidden away, beyond the wildflower garden. There's an apple orchard, a collection of crab apple trees, and a waterside walk under trees. Herb plots and colourful roses create a fragrant walk and there's a lake, where ducks are paddling.

The parkland leads to the estate church, which claims to be the only church in the county with a dormer window. Some of the gravestones give snippets about life in the 1800s and 1900s, including the lives of the servants.

We also visit RSPB Boyton and Hollesley Marshes, a delightful home to lots of wildlife.

We watch the avocets and other waders in the pools, then, as a fitting end to our tour, we strolled along the picturesque riverbank.

LANCASHIRE winter wildlife in

David Chapman heads to one of the UK’s most important wildlife habitats in the Ribble Valley to meet its feathered and furry residents

Words & Photography: David Chapman

More than a quarter of a million birds are estimated to come to the Ribble Estuary every year, with the largest numbers in winter. Wading birds and wildfowl gather in huge concentrations, with pinkfooted geese and whooper swans being particularly special to the area.

My wife, Sarah, and I explored both sides of the estuary in December in search of birds and other wildlife. From the Southport Caravan and Motorhome Club site we visited the RSPB reserve at Marshside.

In the various pools and wet patches, wigeons and teals were gathered together for safety. Lapwings and golden plovers occasionally took to the air in

massive flocks disturbed maybe by a bird of prey, possibly a merlin, sparrowhawk or peregrine, all of which hunt here in winter.

From Southport we also cycled through Ainsdale Dunes in search of red squirrels. When travelling from south to north Ribble, we spent a day at Martin Mere Wetland Centre. It was alive with wildfowl and an amazing experience!

On the estuary’s north side, we stayed at Lytham St Annes and walked along the promenade towards Lytham Green just as the tide was rising. Flocks of pintails skimmed the surface as they headed upriver.

Red Squirrel Day

Southport is branded, quite rightly, as a ‘cycling town’, and the Caravan and Motorhome Club site here is well-placed to take advantage of the cycling routes along the seafront. We headed south on our bikes as far as Crosby, partly to see Antony Gormley’s statues on the beach and also because I had red squirrels on my mind.

Halfway along, the pine woodland in the expanse of dunes at Freshfield, near Formby Point, is well known for its red squirrels. There is a red squirrel walk beside the National Trust car park.

This was once a place where red squirrels were incredibly tame. In recent years they have

The cycleway from Southport to Crosby is part of route 810 of the National Cycle Network. It is about 14 miles each way and mostly offroad. For more information, see: W sustrans.org.uk

Learn more about the Formby squirrels here: W nationaltrust.org.uk/formby/ trails/formby-red-squirrel-walk

been affected by squirrel pox, so feeding them isn’t permitted for fear of attracting them into close proximity with each other.

We had our best views of red squirrels at Ainsdale Nature Reserve on the cycle route between Southport and Formby. We stood in awe as we watched them clambering up and down the pine trees and jumping gaps.

While admiring Gormley’s

MAIN PIC

Whooper swans and coots are amongst the throng of birds seen feeding here at Martin Mere Wetland Centre

INSET

A shelduck at Martin Mere Wetland Centre

Curlews cried mournfully as they took to the air, while the accompanying redshanks called noisily to each other as they ventured close to the shore.

The windmill at the far end of The Green marked the end of our walk, but not the end of our trip. For that we watched a starling spectacular with the backdrop of a stunning sunset at Blackpool North Pier.

Try to visit estuary sites for birdwatching a couple of hours before high tide, so the sea will push the birds closer to you

The RSPB’s Ribble Discovery Centre is on the seafront at Fairhaven Lake in Lytham St Annes. It’s a valuable resource for visiting wildlife enthusiasts

High tide is good for roost sites such as RSPB Marshside

W rspb.org.uk

MAIN PIC Dunes at Formby Point

INSET

We had our best views of red squirrels at Ainsdale Nature Reserve

RIGHT

Sarah at the red squirrel trail in the pinewoods at Formby

statues on the beach at Crosby, we were taken to ‘another place’ by the skeins of pinkfooted geese flying high over the mud flats, honking and cackling to each other, enhancing the atmosphere of this unique spot.

Mere-ly Martin

At Martin Mere I could hear the honking of geese, whooping of swans and splashing of birds in the water long before I got to the reception building. The nature reserves owned by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust tend to comprise both captive and wild areas. This is to ensure that there is something to see throughout the year and that young children can get close to some utterly amazing birds.

the sheer number of birds. We saw many thousands of pinkfooted geese and wigeon, hundreds of whooper swans and swirling flocks of lapwing and golden plover. Ruffs, lapwings, coots, wigeons, shovelers and pintails all ‘posed’ for me.

INSETS Pintails can be seen at Martin Mere Wetland Centre and on the Ribble Estuary The whooper swan has a yellow and black bill

You might think that taking photos of birds in enclosures is cheating, but watch the birds and you will see that many are freeflying. They have chosen to spend the winter here. If they can tolerate the close company of humans for a few months, they will be safe from predators and have their food, almost literally, on a plate. Species such as the shelduck are so colourful at this time of year and you won’t get closer to them than you do here.

This place is hard to beat for

At feeding time, a melee of swans, geese and other wildfowl gathered together to take advantage of the trust’s generous nature. We certainly felt that we had got our money’s worth.

At the time of press, Martin Mere Wetland Centre is temporarily closed due to the ongoing Avian Influenza situation. For the latest news regarding opening hours and more, please see the website.

W wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/ martin-mere

ABOVE Whooper swans come for the food at Martin Mere Wetland Centre in winter

Starling spectacular

There was a whoosh of wings as starlings swept low over the beach at Blackpool. As one, the flock turned skywards, a silhouette of shapes against a golden sunset. The flock twisted and turned, becoming more and then less densely packed together, creating a kind of pulse. At times the birds chose to race low and string out into a snakelike shape. Their sinuous, everchanging forms were in complete contrast to the rigid, rectilinear structure of the North Pier which gradually became the focus of

the starlings’ attention as their show progressed towards its epic climax. We had this particular performance to ourselves – until we spotted a peregrine watching even more intently. The starlings responded with a swirling mass of movement which seemed like chaos. I felt a little sad for the falcon as the starlings bamboozled the predator into submission. The peregrine would have a hungry night ahead and the starlings would come to rest on the pier, where they would

sleep in safety.

This isn’t the largest starling roost in the country by any means, but it is a show set against a dramatic backdrop and it happens every dusk through late autumn and winter. Blackpool might be better known for its nightlife than its wildlife, but this is another example of how we can find nature in the most unlikely of places.

ABOVE Dazzling Blackpool Tower lit up in the evening BELOW Starlings fly low over Blackpool beach at sunset

SHREWSBURY super

Head to this Shropshire market town for a delicious, belly-busting tour

There’s a dark passage in Shrewsbury that’s only 22 inches wide; St Mary’s shut. It’s one of a maze of almost 30 such alleys throughout this charming town full of quirkiness and character and a fabulous variety of cuisine.

I mention the food scene because it has been known for people to get stuck in this shut. So, when faced with a bit of a squeeze, I’m very glad that I had forgone the second helping of the appropriately named Lemon Yum in CSONS in Milk Street – despite the powerful cravings. So, beware; there are all manner of gastronomic temptations like this

lurking on every corner.

Shrewsbury’s a town where an ostentatious display of wealth hits us as soon as we step off the bus from the campsite near The Square. Spectacular Owen’s Mansion and Ireland’s Mansion each try to outdo the other in all their late sixteenth century show of splendour with, I feel, Owen’s Mansion just having the edge over its near neighbour. This was, after all, the mansion of a man who was so extravagantly rich that he placed wooden statues of his family on its façade for all to see from the market square.

It’s a town of well over 700 listed buildings, including the

Words Helen Werin Photography Robin Weaver

Alamy

entire street of Wyle Cop. A place which constantly surprises me as I crisscross it through the passages passing between – and sometimes through – buildings and look above store frontages to marvel at ancient architectural features and craftsmanship. Peering more closely at the time-weathered timbers of the fine black and white houses at its Tudor heart, I find the marks which showed builders how

MAIN PIC

Shrewsbury Castle houses the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum

ABOVE Shrewsbury's colourful indoor market

FAR LEFT Statue of Charles Darwin outside Shrewsbury Library

INSET

A reconstruction of a Roman town house, Wroxeter Roman City

to put them together.

It’s also a town awash with beautiful flowers. They’re everywhere. Baskets full of blooms adorn the bridges and traffic islands. Roundabouts are ablaze with colour. We relax in The Quarry, a 29-acre park in the loop of the River Severn, where the hard-working gardeners are planting stunning seasonal floral displays.

We linger in The Dingle, the delightful formal gardens with lots of seats from which to admire the reflections of all the blossoms in the pond. The Dingle was redesigned by TV’s first ‘celebrity’ green-fingered expert, Percy Thrower, when he was parks superintendent here.

In keeping with so much of Shrewsbury, even the park and garden are Grade II listed. Every August The Quarry is even more dazzling, with more than three million blooms, as it hosts one of the finest and longestrunning flower shows.

CSONS, where locally sourced produce is part of a globally inspired menu, has indulged us with an imaginative and utterly delicious mélange of flavours. My lamb comes from around Brown Clee, the highest hill in Shropshire, and is teamed

WHY?

For a trip packed with interesting things to do, whatever the weather

MUST DO... MUST SEE...

Explore all the shuts armed with a leaflet of historical information (£1 from visitor centre)

The brilliant Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery in The Square; fascinating – and free

with West Indian curry, lime and coriander. Robin has succulent rare-breed pork belly with porchetta spice, ewes’ cheese and chilli. His ginger cake comes with cider sauce, rhubarb and clotted cream. I must explain that the ‘yum’ is lemon curd, ginger biscuit and chocolate. It’s heaven on a plate.

Now you understand my warnings!

The restaurant is in one of the streets named after the trades once plied in them; Fish Row, Candle Lane and Butcher Row – you get the picture. So I’m sure that I won’t need to explain what went on in Grope Lane.

Several times when Robin, the photographer, stops to take pictures, a smiling ‘town

Portrait of Shrewsbury by Robin Jukes-Hughes and Stan Sedman. Published by Halsgrove W halsgrove.com

iWhat to see and do, ideas for indulgence in Shrewsbury’s food scene and events information W originalshrewsbury.co.uk

Shrewsbury Prison also offers ‘prison break’ and ‘escape room’ activities as well as guided and self-guided visits, ghost tours and tours of the Georgian tunnels W shrewsburyprison.com

For information and opening times of Attingham Park W nationaltrust.org.uk

For information and opening times of Wroxeter Roman City W english-heritage.org.uk

Shrewsbury’s award-winning indoor market with temptation on every stall. From artisan cheeses, charcuterie, home-cured bacon and own-recipe sausages at Cook & Carve delicatessen, to organically and biodynamically grown wine, tea, coffee and infusions at Iron & Rose, and cocktails at Tom’s Table. W shrewsburymarkethall.co.uk

ambassador’ appears to impart more information. This welcome also extends to free bicycle rickshaw rides around the centre on weekends, when part of it also becomes traffic-free. The so-proud-of-his-town manager of CSONS tells us about the restaurant’s own ‘secret’, a centuries-old tunnel in the former pub which linked to St Alkmund’s, joking (I think) that the priests could sneak over for a pint.

In the King’s Head you can sup your own pint whilst admiring a magnificent fifteenth century wall painting of The Last Supper, uncovered during renovation work

BELOW

in 1987.

St Mary’s is another surprise. Inside this deconsecrated Anglican church, now used by the community, is the most remarkable collection of stained glass. We’re awed by the vibrancy of the fourteenth century Jesse Window (visual representation of Jesus Christ’s family tree) and the splendid early sixteenth century panels, each telling a story from the life of St Bernard of Clairvaux.

From the thirteenth century outer walls around Shrewsbury Castle, we can see across to the hills and mountains of Wales and towards Lord Hill’s Column, the tallest Doric column in England. The town museum and art gallery is superb (it’s free and has a popular café, too).

I’m fascinated by the engraved Roman tombstones and intricately crafted brooch pins from Wroxeter, seven miles away. Though modern-day Shropshire does not contain a single city, that wasn’t the case a couple of centuries ago. Wroxeter (Viroconium) was the fourth-largest city in Roman

TOP The Square and the statue of Clive of India, Shrewsbury

Mural on utility box by the Snooty Fox in Wyle Cop

Shrewsbury’s a town where an ostentatious display of wealth hits us as soon as we step off the bus from the campsite near The Square

Walk leaflets are available from the Visitor Information Centre, in Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, which will guide you to see very different sides of the town, including Shuts and Passages, Georgian Shrewsbury and the Darwin Shrewsbury Trail W shropshiremuseums.org.uk

Follow an unusual art trail; there are 14 colourful ‘mini murals’ painted on utility boxes all over town. Youngsters will have fun seeing how many animals they can spot on the trail

The park & ride service to Shrewsbury is right outside Oxon Hall and buses run every 20 minutes. Last bus from Shrewsbury at 6.30pm (at time of our visit). Dogs allowed

Oxon Hall (and other Morris Leisure parks) offers a discount for all members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping and Caravanning Club on production of a valid membership card. Quote your membership number when making a booking

Britain and of a similar size to Pompeii. The most immediately striking feature as you approach Wroxeter is that of the 7.5m-high Old Work, part of the civic baths basilica and which has survived since AD 121. Beyond it are remnants of the Romans’ grand leisure complex with its 75m-long exercise hall and hypocaustheated rooms and, unusually for those times, an outdoor pool.

Just as Shrewsbury’s bustling indoor market sells such a diverse range of wares so did Wroxeter’s. Goods came from as far away as North Africa, as befitted a cosmopolitan city where perfume jars, ornate brooches and seal boxes have been found. Much of Wroxeter is still underground, but the extensive ruins that we can see on the surface and the artefacts in Wroxeter’s own museum, are captivating.

We’re able to pack so much into our few days because our pristine campsite, Oxon Hall Touring Park, is in such a great location. It’s right next door to the Oxon Park and Ride, so we can be away from our pitch overlooking the pretty duck pond and dropped in the

ABOVE

centre of Shrewsbury within about 15 minutes.

CENTRE BOTTOM The Old Work, Wroxeter Roman City

It’s hard to drag ourselves away from the town itself, but 20 minutes from the site is Attingham Park (National Trust). It’s impossible not to be massively impressed by the Georgian symmetry, the elegant boudoir with its painted oak panels, the exotic Turkish theme of the Sultana Room and the glamorous staircase by famous architect, John Nash (Buckingham Palace, Brighton's Royal Pavilion).

To top all that, there’s the grandiose picture gallery with another of Nash’s special creations – a glazed roof of over 600 panes in gilded oak frames supported by cast iron.

We wander through woodland and around the deer park across the river from the house, spotting some of the fallow deer.

Interestingly, it was one of the conditions when Attingham was given to the trust that it should keep the deer in perpetuity.

I’d so love to spend far longer than a few days in Shrewsbury but am aware of the danger that, if I did, I’d soon need far more than a

St Chad's Church from The Quarry park, Shrewbsury

CENTRE TOP Attingham Park

discreet nudge to get me through St Mary’s shut. The restaurants span a mouth-watering spectrum, from Nepalese to Spanish and Thai, Caribbean to Mexican.

I’ve felt such an easy-going vibe and lack of in-your-face tourism in Shrewsbury, too. It doesn’t drain me as cities or busy places have a tendency to do. Scantily clad dummies of a lingerie shop adorn the windows of the Abbots House (1450), in Butcher Row, yet another of Shrewsbury’s showpieces. Wyle Cop claims to be the longest row of independent shops in the UK. Its sixteenth/ seventeenth century timberframed buildings certainly make it photogenic.

In The Square, FatFace occupies one of the most-photographed listed buildings. Opposite it, you can watch the latest blockbusters under a Tudor-beamed ceiling in the Old Market Hall (1596), now a cinema. Nevertheless there is one

ABOVE LEFT Take a look inside Shrewsbury prison

TOP RIGHT Luscious lunch at CSONS Restaurant

ABOVE RIGHT Shrewsbury Prison

INSET Fallow deer in Attingham Park

very popular tourist attraction that I’m intrigued to visit, Shrewsbury Prison. It operated until 2013 and crimes covered the whole scale of offences, including murder.

Our guide – one of the former prison guards who takes tour parties (you can also go around by yourself) – tells us about some of the innovative attempts to get drugs in via carrier pigeons and dead animals thrown over the walls. In the former morgue, an exhibition about executions is gruesomely compelling. Between 1902 and 1961 seven men were hanged here for murder. In 2020 Sean Bean did Time here, too, the BBC One series that is.

A term behind bars in Shrewsbury Prison? No thank you! Time to investigate more of Shrewsbury’s inviting streets, buildings and museums and to dally in The Dingle? Yes please! Oh, and to sample lots more of Shrewsbury’s delectable cuisine, though perhaps that could be seen as a ‘con’ if you’re trying to watch your weight.

I don’t think that’s much of a defence for not making an escape to Shrewsbury, though.

WHERE TO STAY

PRICES

OXON HALL TOURING PARK

Welshpool Road, Shrewsbury SY3 5FB

T 01743 340868

W morris-leisure.co.uk/caravanparks/oxon-hall-shrewsbury

OPEN All year PRICE From £34.90 ALTERNATIVE SITE

BEACONSFIELD HOLIDAY PARK

Upper Battlefield, Shrewsbury

SY4 4AA

T 01939 3210370

W beaconsfieldholidaypark.co.uk

VIEW my

We have had a dog all the time we have been touring but, sadly, at 11 years old, Braan has died and we are having to adjust to the world without her. It’s something all dog owners must face, as pet lives are so much shorter than ours.

When we brought Braan home as a 10-week-old border collie puppy, my dormant maternal instincts immediately kicked in. No one had told me how a small bundle of fur would gain such a strong grip of my heartstrings!

Having a dog provided an incentive to get a ’van. We often camped when she was young, because it was hard to find petfriendly B&Bs, but squeezing into a lightweight tent gradually became less appealing.

We found a ’van suitable for us all and shared the large fridge, but the freezer compartment was

dedicated to Braan’s frozen raw food, which the breeder had encouraged us to feed her. Without the ’van this diet would have been virtually impossible while travelling.

We started taking many trips around the UK and it was wonderful to explore places that we’d never seen before or only visited in childhood. When not feeding ourselves in the ’van, we could usually find a dogfriendly café or pub. If not, our ’van was a familiar enough space for Braan to be content on her own for a while.

In 2018, Braan had the rabies vaccination and got her pet passport so we could take her abroad with us. She was already familiar with ferry travel around Scotland and to Northern Ireland. Two memorable trips to Europe followed shortly after.

On the first we toured the

coasts and islands of Denmark and Sweden. The next year we traced the Danube across Germany then traversed the Czech Republic and walked mountains on the Polish border.

Just after Braan’s rabies booster in early 2020, the first Covid lockdown happened. At the end of that year, Brexit cancelled pet passports for UK animals and we’ve not been abroad since. Particularly galling was that we now couldn’t even take Braan to Northern Ireland to visit Andrew’s relatives without a lot of expensive paperwork.

Over the years, I’ve written about many of our trips for Caravan magazine and Braan has featured in lots of the photographs, having learnt as a puppy to pose where I pointed. She even penned (by thought transference!) one of the articles about a trip to the dog-friendly north Norfolk coast.

A few weeks after we arrived home from our most recent trip, Braan suddenly became very ill. Lymphoma was diagnosed and advanced rapidly. It was an agonising period when, like all dog owners, we juggled our desire to keep our pet alive with the responsibility to avoid too much suffering. In the end she died peacefully by injection.

We have cleared Braan’s bedding, bowls, balls and brush out of the ’van and now know how empty-nesters feel. Our routines revolved around her and I miss her at every turn. Although I’m no longer checking the internet for dog-friendly attractions and refreshments stops, she will travel in memory with us for ever.

Felicity Martin mourns the loss of her canine companion

No one had told me how a small bundle of fur would gain such a strong grip of my heartstrings!

Braan as a three-month-old puppy

Braan on her final trip in May (in the Outer Hebrides)

NEW adventures start here

SOMERSET

As one of England’s largest counties, Somerset has all bases covered for a fantastic holiday

Countryside? Check. Walking?

Check. Coast? Check. Beautiful beaches, vast landscapes and outdoor activities galore all combine in Somerset, to offer a county with plenty to explore for all the family.

Let’s start with the countryside bit, since the majority of west Somerset is composed of the Exmoor National Park. Here you can step out on two feet or hop on two wheels

onto the many footpaths and rights of way that allow you to experience this rugged landscape at your leisure. You can also try wild swimming, coasteering, riding… the list is endless!

Now to the coastline. Long, sandy beaches and popular coastal resorts contrast with the dramatic rocky Exmoor coastline. Whether you want a beach for building sandcastles or a more secluded

location for taking in the sound of the waves, you’ll find it here.

Popular with families, Minehead Beach is a wide expanse of sand with a busy promenade, while the long pebble and rock beach at Porlock Weir is backed by marshland with an abundance of wildlife. The picturesque harbour and village, with its thatched-roofed buildings, offers a selection of cafés, restaurants and shops.

A historic castle, watermill, subtropical gardens and stunning views - what's not to like? Dunster Castle and Watermill are a great day out.

W nationaltrust.org.uk

Watersports, archery, high ropes, walking, cycling, stargazing... you name it, Wimbleball Lake & Activity Centre offers it. So grab the family and go!

W swlakestrust.org.uk/wimbleball-lake

Exe Valley Camping is an adults-only campsite within the Exmoor National Park. Pitch up beside the River Exe or the gentle mill stream.

W exevalleycamping.co.uk

all-year adventure

SUPER SITES

No season is off limits for an escape in the caravan with these campsites that are open all year round…

FOXTAIL HOLIDAY PARK

Wrexham Chirk, Wrexham, Wales LL14 5DG

T 01691 410134

W foxtailholidaypark.co.uk

Just a few minutes’ walk from the Shropshire Union Canal, Foxtail Holiday Park is only a

mile from the Wales/England border, meaning you have the best of both countries on your doorstep. One-and-a-half miles from the town of Chirk in Wales, the site itself is actually in England. Chirk Aqueduct is just over a mile away and a 10-minute drive is historic Chirk Castle – a medieval fortress with over five acres of award-winning gardens and 480 acres of

BROADHEMBURY

CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

Steeds Lane, Kingsnorth, Ashford, Kent TN26 1NQ

T 01233 620859 W broadhembury.co.uk

estate parkland to explore.

Foxtail has hardstanding fully serviced pitches. There are toilets and showers on site; plus, within a five-minute walk is a pub serving food and there’s a garden centre nearby. Other local activities include canal day trips on a traditional horse-drawn barge, or, for the adventurous, white water rafting at Llangollen.

Set in the Kent countryside, Broadhembury offers the best of both worlds as it is a family-friendly campsite, but with two separate areas – one for families with easy access to the playground, games room and sports fields, and the other for adults only, set aside on a quieter part of the campsite. Wherever you stay you can enjoy use of centrally heated showers, toilets and launderettes.

Pitches for caravans are hardstanding with electric or fully serviced.

Located close to Ashford, for a selection of shops and places to eat, Broadhembury is only 20 minutes from the coast and 30 minutes from Folkestone. The city of Canterbury is 18 miles away, with plenty of park and ride options available if you’d rather not drive into the city centre.

Words: Claire Tupholme

Chirk Castle Greg Montani/Pixabay

Canterbury Old Town

Boris stock.adobe.comStroujko

HUNGERFORD FARM TOURING

CARAVAN & MOTORHOME PARK

Loveston, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire SA68 0NY

T 01834 891463

W hungerford-farm.co.uk

Hungerford Farm is divided into two main areas – the first with 25 pitches with electric and grey water drainage, and the other area has 12 fully serviced pitches, which have the addition of a mains water tap, and then eight grass pitches. The site’s facilities include

CLIFF FARM HOLIDAYS

Sinnington, North Yorkshire YO62 6SS

T 01751 473792

W clifffarmholidays.com

For the chance to discover the North York Moors National Park in any season, head to Cliff Farm Holidays. The campsite is four miles from Pickering, surrounded by farmland and on the edge of the national park. Pickering is home to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which will take you on a scenic journey through

a toilet and shower block, four family shower rooms, accessible facilities a laundry room, designated dog walking fields and a dog shower. In the peak summer season, there is also a shop.

Situated between Tenby and Haverfordwest, Hungerford Farm is also close to parts of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, ideal for enjoying walks all year round. The pretty seaside town of Tenby, with its pastel painted houses lining the harbour, is just 20 minutes’ drive away, and the small cathedral city of St Davids is 45 minutes. There is a large car park on the edge of the city, giving easy access to explore.

the moors and onto Whitby at the coast. You’re also only 30 minutes’ drive from the national park’s Sutton Bank Visitor Centre, which is a great place for stargazing due to the lack of light pollution.

Cliff Farm has 30 pitches, all hardstanding with electric hookup, with views across the countryside. There is a toilet and shower block, a laundry room and accessible facilities. There are walks around the farm and surrounding land, which are dog friendly. The local village, Sinnington, is a 15-minute walk with woodland and river walks, plus a pub and restaurant.

St Davids Cathedral David Lloyd/Pixabay

Tenby Tim Hill/Pixabay INSET Tenby sunrise Tim Hill/Pixabay

Sunset from Sutton Bank in the North York Moors National Park Jez Campbell/stock.adobe.com

PARKLAND CARAVAN & CAMPING

Sorley Cross, Kingsbridge, Nr Salcombe, Devon TQ7 4AF

T 01548 852723

W parklandsite.co.uk

If you’re looking for an adults-only Devon retreat, Parkland is an ideal choice. Set just one mile from the market town of Kingsbridge, within three acres of mature landscaped grounds, there are hardstanding or grass fully serviced pitches available.

As a winter treat, why not upgrade to a deluxe pitch, one of only three, with

your own private washroom and shared utility room with dishwasher and fridge/freezer? Site facilities include toilets, showers and baths, plus a launderette, campers’ kitchen and licensed shop. Why not enjoy a good

ramble along the South West Coast Path, enjoy picturesque views and the fabulous beaches of Bigbury, Bantham, Thurlestone, Hope Cove and the beautiful South Sands?

Public transport is 400 yards from the site, with services to Kingsbridge and the popular seaside town of Salcombe, or historic Dartmouth and Totnes.

DEESIDE HOLIDAY PARK

South Deeside Road, Maryculter, Aberdeen AB12 5FX

T 01250 878123

W woodleisure.co.uk

Just 20 minutes from Aberdeen and within an easy drive of several park and ride services, Deeside Holiday Park is set in the countryside, just a short walk from the River Dee. There is also a golf course and woods nearby. For walkers, the long-distance Deeside Way can be joined at nearby Peterculter and, in Aberdeen, there is plenty of historic architecture, fantastic museums and galleries to explore.

All pitches feature electric hook-up and you can choose between grass or hardstanding. There is the option to upgrade to a fully serviced pitch, too. The touring area is divided into smaller sections by trees and shrubs and is

well sheltered.

Deeside Holiday Park’s facilities include toilets, showers, family bathrooms, and a launderette. For leisure time there is a children’s play area, a games room and a dog walk all on site.

Scenery on the Deeside Way Colin/stock.adobe.com

Hope Cove near Salcombe andrewmroland/stock.adobe.com

Marischal College Aberdeen susanne2688/stock.adobe.com

RUN COTTAGE TOURING PARK

Alderton Road, Hollesley, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3RQ

T 01394 411309

W runcottage.co.uk

Situated close to Suffolk's heritage coast, seven miles from the market town of Woodbridge, this family run, adults-only campsite is located in a pleasant parkland

CONCIERGE CAMPING

Ratham Lane, West Ashling, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 8DL

T 01243 573118

W conciergecamping.co.uk

setting. Run Cottage offers 45 pitches, all having electric hook-up, with 20 pitches being fully serviced.

The site has a toilet and shower block plus a dog exercise area. There's attractive landscaping throughout, with flower beds and an ornate lily pond.

Run Cottage is ideally situated for walking, cycling and birdwatching as there’s plenty of opportunities in the local

Close to Chichester and the South Downs National Park, this 27-pitch campsite offers fully serviced hardstandings. For added space and style, you can choose to upgrade to an Emperor Pitch with the

area. The village shop and pub are both within walking distance, too. For those who like the coast, the tranquil site is just oneand-a-half miles from a shingle beach, and for the historians it’s six miles to the National Trust’s Sutton Hoo Anglo-Saxon royal burial ground.

addition of a safari tent with dining area, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, sink and log burning stove to extend your daytime living area.

The luxurious washrooms include toilets and showers that are reminiscent of the facilities in a boutique hotel. There is also an on-site shop, laundry room and complimentary dog wash facility. This is one luxurious site!

For exploring away from the campsite itself, the Goodwood Estate, the cathedral city of Chichester, and quality beaches are just a short distance away. There’s something here to enjoy locally whatever the weather or season.

Woodbridge Peter/Pixabay

Chichester Cathedral Zsolt/Pixabay

A HIDDEN GEM ON HAYLING ISLAND

If you are looking for a seaside camping site in Hampshire on the south coast of England, Fishery Creek Touring Park is a tranquil oasis. It is situated on the stunning tidal creek connected to Langstone and Chichester Harbours, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The creek is a fantastic place for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, launching small boats and fishing.

A short stroll from the park leads you directly to the beach. The long stretches of sand and pebble are perfect for dog walking, cycling, horse riding, picnics and even bird watching.

The nearby Hayling Seaside Railway also makes for a leisurely day out, running along the seafront to a funfair and arcade.

CARAVAN PARK

Houstry Road, Dunbeath, Caithness, Scotland KW6 6EH T 01593 731441 W inver-caravan-park.co.uk

This is a small campsite, covering one acre, with just 19 grass pitches with electric hook-up. There are three private shower rooms, one with accessible facilities, and a bathroom with a shower over the bath. The site also provides free WiFi – perfect if you need to stay connected, plus washing up and laundry facilities. All bookings are made online via the website.

The village of Dunbeath is on the route

of the scenic NC500, and also the John o’ Groats Trail for anyone who enjoys a good walk. For shorter strolls, you can walk from Inver Caravan Park down to the bay and harbour at Dunbeath. The whole of Caithness is undulating and most of it is bounded by cliffs in between some beautiful sandy bays and beaches.

STANWIX PARK HOLIDAY

CENTRE

Greenrow, Silloth, Cumbria CA7 4HH

T 01697 332666

W stanwix.com

This is the family holiday park that has it all, whether you want a day at the coast or to explore the Lake District. Stanwix Park is less than a mile from the seaside town of Silloth. The path to the beach is just over the road from the campsite and a golf course can be found here, too.

The trouble is you might find it hard to leave Stanwix Park itself, since there’s a 29-metre indoor pool, a sauna and steam room, tenpin bowling, a play park, crazy golf, cycle hire, a sports bar and family entertainment – literally something for every member of the family. For food and refreshments, you can choose from the site shop or café. Stanwix offers fully serviced hardstanding pitches, with toilets, showers, bathroom cubicles and a launderette all nearby.

INVER

Carol Kubicki

Carol Kubicki

ClosetothetownofWoodbridgeweareasmallfamily

runtouringparkwith45pitches.Setina4.5acre parklandsettingwithalargepondandviewsover openfarmland,weofferpeaceandtranquillity. Aplacetoescapethehustleandbustleoftoday’s busylifestyle.

ClosetothetownofWoodbridgeweareasmallfamily runtouringparkwith45pitches.Setina4.5acre parklandsettingwithalargepondandviewsover openfarmland,weofferpeaceandtranquillity. Aplacetoescapethehustleandbustleoftoday’s busylifestyle.

ClosetothetownofWoodbridgeweareasmallfamily runtouringparkwith45pitches.Setina4.5acre parklandsettingwithalargepondandviewsover openfarmland,weofferpeaceandtranquillity. Aplacetoescapethehustleandbustleoftoday’s busylifestyle.

Openallyear•Twoacredogexercisearea

Toilet&showerblock•Chemicaldisposalpoint Touristinformationarea•1.5milesfromshinglebeach Villageshop&pubwithineasywalkingdistance

Touristinformationarea•1.5milesfromshinglebeach

fun

Wareham Forest Tourist Park is a 55-acre site with 200 pitches and winter is the perfect time of year for wrapping up warm and taking walks in the fresh, crisp air, enjoying being away from the daily grind and in the great outdoors.

The site nestles amid forest scenery, with visiting foxes and the occasional sika deer and it’s ideally placed for visiting the Jurassic Coast and Purbeck Hills. So, if you like walking, you’ll be happy here. It is a peaceful park with hardstanding electric pitches and fully serviced pitches set across several areas. You’ll find a pub with a restaurant within a mile if you want to warm up with a hot meal or just fancy a drink. There’s plenty for kids, too – including a big adventure playground, heated pool and space to play; and, if the weather doesn’t allow for much outdoor play, there’s a games room with table tennis and a lending library.

Families are well catered for and if you don’t want to use all your own water, you can make use of the heated shower buildings with large cubicles. The washing-up rooms and laundry rooms are heated as well, making this truly a site for all weathers.

WiFi Large adventure playground Outdoor swimming pool

Toddler pool

Nature trails, tracks and walks

Indoor games room

Lending library

Jurassic Coast

This year is set to be an exciting one for the new caravan industry.

Over the past few years, many newcomers have appeared on campsites (that might even be you) all eager to enjoy a new type of holiday. Caravans have become more hi-tech

than ever before – want underfloor heating? You can have it! On-board WiFi? That's now a standard feature in some caravans. Self-levelling systems? Of course! Whatever you're looking for in a caravan, it's out there. This vast amount of choice can be

overwhelming, so myself and long-time friend of Caravan, Val Chapman, have spent the past few months judging them to help you find the best caravan to suit your needs. And here's where we announce the winners of our Caravan Awards 2023. You're in for a treat!

Kelly, Editor

Clare

Best Fixed Bed Caravan

WINNER Buccaneer Barracuda £46,949

This year, we’ve chosen a caravan that can sleep four although, we certainly consider this caravan to be a great choice for couples to relax in the utmost luxury and comfort while still offering space for occasional guests.

Buccaneer models are all 8ft-wide, giving those within the maximum amount of space to relax in, something you'll appreciate if the weather is less than enjoyable. This caravan is made for those who like the finer things in life and want a caravan that takes care of their every need – automatic self-levelling is included to make setting up on pitch easier and faster. An added benefit of self-levelling is that those with mobility issues need not have to concern themselves with winding down steadies, for example. A roof-mounted solar panel is included, too, if you’ve got plans to escape the crowds and go offgrid for a while or to a quieter campsite

with less facilities.

The lavish bedroom is on another level and the judges were blown away by the size of it and the comfort. It’s an island double bed that can also be retracted if you want more space in the day. Lay down on the bed and you’ll find it to be exceptionally comfortable and supportive, and there’s lots of storage underneath for items you don’t want on show.

Touring all year round in the Barracuda is a joy – it features Alde underfloor

heating, Grade III thermal insulation and low-energy LED lighting throughout. One of the key features is the L-shaped lounge with its dedicated entertainment centre, and our judges felt this was a really intuitive addition that would appeal to those who enjoy watching a film in the evenings while snuggled up together. In fact, the lounge itself is quite a romantic place to be, with a Stargazer surround also forming part of the offer. We doubt you’ll want anyone disturbing you but, if you do have unexpected guests, you can accommodate them by converting the lounge into a double bed.

In the washroom, you’ll find stylish touches that you’d more likely find in a

boutique hotel, with feature lighting and LED downlighting casting a flattering glow when you’re in the vanity area. A heated anthracite towel rail from Alde turns the style level up a further notch, with judge Clare, commenting that she would like one at home. Facing the main washroom is the shower with plenty of room to relax and enjoy pampering yourself – after all, you are on holiday!

Cooking a romantic meal is made more enjoyable in the well-lit kitchen, with contemporary branded splashback and a honeycomb pattern bringing the whole look together. A Thetford oven/grill and hob, along with a microwave, are another part of the offer.

Best 4-Berth Caravan WINNER Weinsberg

CaraOne 400 LK £17,840

With the market awash with fourberths, a tourer has to be pretty special to stand out. And this one does. At only 1,200kg MTPLM, it has a head start. And its price tag firmly ticks

the box marked ‘affordability’. But this award isn’t about figures. Far from it. The judges were looking for what makes a particular four-berth very different from the pack. And they found it here.

This compact, German-made caravan has two dining areas, the rear one transforming into bunks. The top bunk folds down from the wall. An integrated, sturdy, mesh panel prevents the occupant from rolling out of bed. When the bunk is hinged back up to the wall, you wouldn’t know there was a bunk there; it looks just like a locker. And you can order a 400 LK with an optional-extra exterior door (£240), to lead into the lower bunk area, so that this area can be used for storage.

The dining/lounge area is surprisingly spacious, considering that the body length of the caravan is just 4m. The settees are

All photographs Richard Chapman

1.25m long – and the table is a generous 1.16m long and 62cm wide.

For such a small caravan the kitchen is impressive, with a surface area of 1.11m long and 65cm wide, and space between the sink and the triangular three-burner hob. Kitchen storage provision, too, is larger than you might expect, with a dropdown-door lower cabinet providing space that is 30cm deep and 30cm high, plus a large cutlery drawer and top lockers.

Storage space outside the kitchen impressed our judges, too. Front lockers run the whole width of the caravan; there are three, plus large, substantially constructed shelves on each side of the caravan. The wardrobe, also more capacious than the caravan’s size would suggest, can be found above the Truma heater on the offside.

As you’d expect in a compact caravan, the shower shares the compartment with the toilet. The washbasin tap is mounted on a hose that extends to create the shower rose; it clips to a bracket on the ceiling.

Everything about the Weinsberg 400 LK screams out quality. The cabinetry is

robust and the windows are dressed in two-tone panels (in typical continental style). The curtain that tracks across the caravan to obscure light and provide privacy for the double bed area is highquality fabric of near-blackout density.

All in all, this is a caravan that’s ideal for a young family looking for light weight, affordability – and quality.

Best 6-Berth Caravan

WINNER Elddis Crusader Tempest £40,649

The Tempest stirred up a storm (pardon the pun) when it was first unveiled in 2009. That’s because this twin-axle tourer provided first-rate family accommodation, large-caravan luxury and all the bells and whistles you’d expect from the Crusader range. All of that is still here – and more besides. Given the popularity of the predecessor Tempest, the new Tempest introduced for 2023 has a lot to live up to – and it does so most admirably.

It has a different layout, bringing the innovative (and unique to the Erwin Hymer Group) Elddis Avanté 868 ‘super bedroom’ layout into the luxury level of Crusader, with Alde heating. What makes this layout special is that it has one bedroom, containing a double bed – and, alongside

it, two bunks. The shower and toilet compartments straddle the caravan forward of the bedroom, creating an en suite arrangement. So the entire sleeping/ washing zone can be closed off, forward of the shower/toilet area, to create a caravan of two rooms.

This is a brilliant layout for a young family. And, now that all Crusader models are eight feet wide, the new Tempest is super-spacious, not only in its brilliant bedroom area, but in the lounge and kitchen, too.

Spec includes the Alde Load Monitor (that automatically prevents you from tripping out your pitch’s power supply when you switch on an appliance such as the microwave), a 40-litre on board water tank, and two Al-Ko Secure wheel locks.

Best Twin-Axle Caravan

WINNER Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Bologna £30,999

This is a giant category, with more than 40 contenders. It might have been assumed that one of the topspec, super-luxury, Alde-heated, twin-axle tourers would take the title. Instead,

it’s a mid-price-range, Truma-heated, twin-axle. Why? One reason is that it’s a star in its size class in terms of weight. At 1,656kg MTPLM, this is the lightest 8ft-wide twin-axle tourer on the British market. So, it ticks not only the car tow

weight box, but also a box that has emerged with the rising price of fuel. But the Bologna didn’t win on figures alone…

It was a close call between the Bologna and its sister model, the same-priced Messina (which is only marginally heavier, at 1,698kg MTPLM). Both have Bailey’s unique G-shaped lounge, with seating all of the way across the front and along the offside and, on the nearside, a dining area for two, with a table that can be removed to create more seating (there’s a narrow, upholstered section beneath it). When more than two are dining, the freestanding table comes into play – and this can be placed next to the smaller table, creating dining space for up to six. This layout is super adaptable. Bailey calls it a G-shape because it approximately forms the letter G. We think, though, that the G should stand for ‘genius.’

The Messina shares this lounge layout; the difference is that the Messina’s shower room is amidships, whereas the Bologna’s is at the rear; both are great

All photographs Richard Chapman

layouts. But the judges felt, on balance, that the Bologna’s layout has broader appeal. And width is arguably the Bologna’s main attribute. This 2.45m-wide tourer’s bed is aligned across the caravan. It has a mechanism for retracting the base, pushing it back, towards the nearside wall, to create extra corridor

space en route to the shower room. But, even with a duvet in place and hanging over the edge, there is plenty of space to walk by the end of the bed without the need to create more.

The Bologna (and also the Messina) has a unique storage configuration at the front. A locker runs the whole width of the caravan, with hatches on each side; the offside one is large enough for folding chairs to be put in here. That means, together with the offside hatch to the under-bed space, the Bologna has two areas where chairs and awning tables can

be put in from the outside. The Messina’s bed being at the rear, there is no exterior access to this space beneath it – giving the Bologna a clear storage advantage over its sibling.

Other highlights that gathered the judging marks are the sprung base cushions in the lounge, the mirror that runs almost the full width of the elegant washroom, and the two options for stowing away the table; it sits on brackets under the bed, or into a slot in a tall cabinet on the aft end of the kitchen. Incredibly versatile, indeed.

Best Couples' Caravan

WINNER Bailey Alicanto Grande Evora £38,499

The events of recent years have seen many new caravanners enter the market – some of whom are couples who may have previously taken regular holidays abroad soaking up the sun and spending their hard-earned cash on enjoying themselves, and why not?

Caravanning offers couples a greater degree of privacy and self-sufficiency and buyers are more discerning than ever. So too, are our judges.

Bailey’s Alicanto Grande Evora sits at the high end of the manufacturer's offering and features a highly innovative layout that impressed our judges. The parallel-seat front lounge with infinity window is flooded with natural light and will certainly frame a perfect view of the surrounding landscape. This is a caravan clearly aimed at couples – those who enjoy boutique hotels but prefer their own space and nowhere is that more evident than to the rear of the caravan.

The Evora has a huge, fixed transverse king-sized island bed and the mirrors

make it appear even brighter – there’s a full-length mirror on the corner wardrobe and another above the vanity unit. Spacious bedside cabinets are found at a lower level – it's a nifty design trick to promote the feeling of space and there’s room to store all the books you could wish to take with you.

At the rear of the caravan is the fulllength washroom which has more of a spa-like feel than a hotel. The shower is fully lined with a bifold door and a neat little shelf inside for bottles, which is moulded, so easy to keep clean. Towels are kept warm on the Alde heated towel rail and the Belfast sink style-basin is stylish and substantial. A large mirror above it increases the feeling of space.

The furnishings feel very grown-up, too, called 'Portobello', with shades of plum, silver and lavender, the patterns here are subtle and stylish – sure to stand the test of time. As soon as we sat down on the seating and tested out the bed, we felt as though cocooned.

A high-level specification with the latest technology commands a high price tag and we feel this is justified here. You’ll get an Avtex mobile WiFi system as standard with an introductory data and

INFO

support package thrown in, too; a roofmounted Status 570 digital aerial and an external satellite connection point. The RGB colour-change ambient lighting system is a nice touch, too, and a lot of fun to play with – our judge, Clare, was very taken with this.

Elsewhere in the caravan, you’ll love the L-shape kitchen with additional workspace and a compartment for storing bottles of wine. There’s a grill and dual-fuel hob with electric hotplate, a Dometic 10-series 153-litre electronic

Should you have guests, you can make the front lounge up into a bed.

fridge/freezer and the Dometic microwave features a ceramic plate that won’t move in transit.

Best Family Caravan WINNER Coachman

Acadia 630 Xtra £35,450

Premium caravan manufacturer Coachman, has delivered a tourer that ticks all the boxes for an expanding family.

With growing numbers of families taking up caravanning, there’s fierce

competition in the Best Family Caravan category and the judges really had their work cut out. So much so, they didn’t make the final decision until the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC in October.

Coachman has enjoyed an exceptional year with sales increasing 60% and its Acadia range now comprises four models, with a new four-berth Acadia 545 joining the four-berth 575 and five-berth 630 Xtra and 660 Xtra.

For us, it’s the 630 Xtra that really stands out, with an L-shaped lounge, side dinette, bunks and large end washroom. It offers great flexibility for a large family and there isn’t anything else currently on the market (as far as we know) that has this layout. Children have space in the bunks to sleep comfortably, and privacy is created for each child with the pull-across curtains. If grown-ups are watching TV in the lounge, there will be no chance of disturbing sleeping babies. The dinette converts into a single bed which we tried out and it’s really easy – just push the table down and the front lounge makes up the double. Some may ask whether a fixed bed should be provided for the adults,

but we feel, on this occasion, it’s more important for the children’s bed to be ready to go to ensure the least amount of fuss possible. Conversely, the sister model, 660 Xtra, offers a fixed double but no bunks.

When it comes to the dinette, this could be used as a breakfast table or a spot for children to plug in their gadgets or, depending on their age, enjoy colouring or other activities. As we all know, the British weather can be a little grotty, which means sometimes everyone has to stay in. One of the key features of the layout is the end washroom and we can quite imagine parents getting the children ready for bed here as there’s enough room for everyone to brush their

INFO

Berths 5

Body length 6.26m

Overall length 7.89m

Width 2.44m

Headroom 1.95m

Heating Alde MIRO 1,610kg MTPLM 1,780kg

teeth and cupboards to stow all the gear a family needs while on tour.

Additions and enhancements to the entire Acadia range for 2023 include stylish exterior side walls and entrance door all in a silver-grey finish. In addition, all Acadia models get premium five-spoke black diamond-cut alloy wheels and mudflaps. On the interior, the range now gets new soft furnishings with coordinating scatter cushions and sculptured armrests, as well as the ‘Tibero’ wood colour scheme – it's fresh, ligt and airy.

In the kitchen and washroom there are new smooth-action Softrollo pleated blinds. Other updates include new, improved 3030 boilers with integrated pump for the Alde heating.

With so much space and dedicated ‘rooms’, the 630 Xtra truly is an allweather caravan, which makes it such a great investment. There's no need to stop touring once winter comes, after all.

Best Luxury Caravan WINNER Coachman Lusso II £50,840

Lusso means luxury in Italian – and Coachman delivers luxury in huge measure with the company’s two flagship models.

These are sophisticated tourers laden with equipment. They are identical in layout, in that they have L-shaped lounges, transverse island beds and rear shower rooms. The difference is in the length, and the number of axles. We’ve reviewed both the single-axle Lusso I and the twin-axle Lusso II. Both are awesomely luxurious, but the twin-axle version gets our top vote because its lounge seating is longer and so is its highspec kitchen.

The Lusso II makes the statement that touring caravanning is available with the sort of styling that you’d associate with a luxury yacht. This is the most expensive mainstream tourer in Britain, and we think it amply lives up to its price tag.

It’s one of a growing number of maximum-width tourers; the eight-footwidth concept now arrives across both

high and medium price and weight categories. And, in the Lusso II’s L-shaped lounge, especially, you really feel the benefit of the extra width, in terms of floorspace.

So, what do you get for £50,840? The caravan levels itself at the touch of a button. It’s equipped with a Truma airconditioning system. Pop your phone down and the Lusso charges it for you (there’s a charging pad built-in to the front windowsill). 4G WiFi is on board. Spotlights have touch-controls and nighttime settings. Alde heating is a given at this price, of course, and so is a fresh water tank, and a roof-mounted solar panel. A safe is fitted. You can open the fridge/freezer door from either side. There’s even a light inside the oven. Bedroom luxury is amazing. A dressing

table runs along the whole length of the room. Storage space is generous. Refinements include fine voile curtains (with a striking irregular geometric pattern), a padded and buttoned headboard, and elegant domestic-style bedside cabinets.

The Lusso II is a superior caravan in equipment level terms. Its opulence –exemplified by its ultra-deep-pile carpet, and its lighting design, with strips running under seating, and both above and below the main kitchen cabinet and drawers – is simply stunning.

Best Caravan Innovation

WINNER Swift Basecamp 4 £25,495

Compact, light in weight, big on style, and with lots of features not found in any other caravan, Swift’s headturner Basecamp was always destined to

be an award-winner. Indeed, the original two-berth Basecamp, launched in 2016, was a category winner in that year’s Caravan awards. Five years later, with the

two-berth Basecamp well established in the market, Swift brought the concept into the family arena, with the arrival of the Basecamp 4, a four-berth version, with bunk beds.

It has a door at the rear, it’s wider than an average caravan door, at 52cm, so it’s easy to wheel bicycles inside. There are securing points for cycles, and the seats fold upwards to create a place to put them. Perfect when they are muddy!

Instead of top lockers, the Basecamp has four zipped fabric bags, on frames.

Richard Chapman

Richard Chapman

They can be removed, to take into your house to pack and unpack.

There are lots of features to like about the Basecamp 4 and some may surprise you, like the length of the kitchen, at just over a metre long and with an extension that adds another 37cm. In addition, the fridge cabinet gives you a surface space that’s 68cm wide and 55cm deep. It has a

full oven and grill, four USB sockets, and a front window that fully opens horizontally. And it has two tables; one for two people, plus a four-person table that’s stored in the wardrobe at the aft end of the kitchen.

There’s so much to like about the Basecamp’s styling, including the use of zingy orange inside and out – and the option to choose from a range of graphics styles; whichever one you choose, your Basecamp is guaranteed to turn heads on campsites and on roads.

Comfort, given the sporty nature and the folding seat design, is impressive. The lounge seating is 1.3m long – not enough for kick-back relaxing, but plenty for four to sit. And, when you make the lounge into a double bed, it’s 1.98m long and 1.30m wide.

We love the smart black glass hob base and splashback. We also love the amount of kitchen storage space; a surprise in such a small caravan. The doubledoored cabinet contains two

Berths 4

Body length 3.9m

Overall length 5.59m Width 2.28m

Headroom 1.95m

Heating Truma MIRO 1,050kg MTPLM 1,186kg

shelves (one with a cutlery tray), plus four vertical compartments that would ensure stuff stored here stayed in place on tow far better than wide-open shelves. There are two cabinets above, one with fitments for mugs and plates.

This is a great caravan for young families who may be stepping up from tenting, into a holiday base with a shower, heating, good cooking facilities –and stunning looks. When Swift invented the Basecamp 4, they brought to the market something that is perfectly described by the word ‘innovation’.

Richard Chapman

Richard Chapman

Coolest Caravan WINNER Adria Action 361 LT £23,610

Tiny, light in weight, with curvy body lines, smart styling inside and out –the Adria Action was surely invented to make the statement that caravanning is certainly cool.

It’s now 17 years since the giant Slovenian manufacturer, Adria, first gave

the British market a tourer that was to become an icon in caravan styling. A few tweaks have upgraded it along the years, but the basis stays the same; a tourer for two people who like caravans with few frills but style in spades.

Comfort is in no short

measure, with wrap-around seating that gives you plenty of sprawling space and makes a double bed that’s 2m square (or can be used as two singles). And the enormous rooflight (1.53m wide and 87 cm deep) ensures that, even though the front window is the slimmest in any caravan, at just 30cm deep, the lounge is a welllit environment.

Cooking kit is a twoburner hob and a combined oven/grill. The fridge is the cool newcomer model than can be opened from the left or the right. And the cabinet above the fridge is a clever invention; its design enables you to use it as a three-shelf cupboard, or you can remove the top two shelves and use it as a wardrobe, with jacket-length hanging space. Perfect!

Opposite is a well-designed, multipurpose unit, above the Truma heater. There are two drawers (the top one containing a cutlery tray), a small amount of surface space and, hiding behind a panel, three shelf spaces on each side.

Richard Chapman

Adria

A television bracket is mounted on the front of the panel.

The shower/toilet room is even more impressive for its ingenuity of design. The most ingenious element is the design of the washbasin. It stows away, hinged up

above the toilet. Totally unlike flimsy tip-up basins that were in some touring caravans many years ago, this is a robustly constructed unit that lowers easily – and raises to become so much an integral part of the mirrored cabinet above it that you

wouldn’t know it was there.

There are lots of small style points and kit that enhance the cool appeal of the Action. Among them is the absence of curtains – and the inclusion of quality voile panels, four on each side window, with weights sewn into the hems to make sure they stay perfectly straight. Each section can be drawn back, on its own track. Another feature that plays its part in the cool image is the sound system, with speakers set into the white cabinets above the lounge, and a neat little Bluetooth media controller so that you can pair it with a phone or other compatible device.

All in all, the Action now ranks among our longest-running marques, and it has stood the test of time for its design and its layout. It’s still futuristic and it’s still cool and we think it will stay that way!

Berths 2 Body length 4.01m Overall length 5.21m Width 2.19m Headroom 1.95m Heating Truma MIRO 957kg MTPLM 1,100kg

INFO

Richard Chapman

Adria

Richard Chapman

Richard Chapman

Best Compact Caravan WINNER Xplore 304 £19,299

The tiny four-berth Xplore 304 has been consistently heralded as a marvel in caravan layout design ever since it was launched in 2011. To cram berths for four and two dining areas into a body length of just 3.8m might seem incredible – but the Xplore 304 is not just a feat of design, it is a very credible option, especially for a young family looking for a small tourer that will sleep four and satisfies a lightweight criterion.

The lounge is L-shaped, and makes a double bed. On the offside, towards the rear, is a dining area for two – and, above it, a bunk base that hinges down from the wall.

At the rear, between the dining area/ bunk unit, is the shower/toilet compartment. All you need is here, in compact form – a shower, a neat, round washbasin, and a toilet that is raised up from the shower area so that shower water will drain into the shower tray area rather than surround the toilet.

Space has been saved by placing the

INFO

Berths 4

Body length 3.8m

Overall length 5.54m

Width 2.18m

Headroom 1.95m

Heating Whale MIRO 886kg

MTPLM 1,043kg

wardrobe above the fridge. Forward of this unit, a triangular table hinges down; the perfect place for a television, facing the lounge seating.

One of the defining features of the Xplore range down the years has been vibrant, sunny accent colours, for the curtains, the cushions and the graphics.

Xplores are a bright spark in the caravan

market and the smallest of them is also one of Britain’s most ingeniously designed tourers.

Eleven years on from its launch, the Xplore 304 remains at the forefront of compact tourer ingenuity.

Dealer of the Year

WINNER Red Lion Caravans

Why

We entrusted this award to you, our readers, and the results of the poll gave us a clear winner – Red Lion Caravans in Southport.

The company has more than 40 years’ experience in the business and stocks new Eriba, Compass and Go-Pod models, plus a comprehensive selection of used vehicles, and, more recently, has introduced its own brand of tourers, including the roof-mounted Sabre and the Cub teardrop.

Readers who have visited praised the team for being friendly and approachable, and it’s no wonder that many of these customers return when it’s time to upgrade.

Tourers on offer span all price points so, whatever your budget, you’re sure to find a tourer to suit your needs.

Red Lion Caravans continues to attract a new audience, too, by offering caravans that will certainly turn heads on the campsite, and its lightweight tourers open up caravanning to those who might never have considered the hobby before.

Caravan of the Year

Our Caravan of the Year award is only awarded to caravans that offer something extra, and, in the case of our winner, ‘xtra’ is in the title. We were looking for a caravan that brings together exceptional levels of comfort, excellent design, great use of space, top kit and justifying of its price tag. And we found it…

The Coachman Acadia 630 Xtra was a clear winner as Best Family Caravan. And then it came head-to-head with all of the other category winners and came out top for its awesome efficiency as a caravan for young families. The judges rated the position and seclusion of the bunks as ideal for encouraging little ones to sleep; the almost full-height wall that separates the bunks from the superb central dining area gives the bunk area almost a bedroom on its own feel. Eight-foot width plays a significant part in this model’s efficiency as a family holiday abode –there’s so much space in all of the key areas, the kitchendining region works brilliantly and the L-shaped lounge is delightfully spacious. Well done, Coachman.

As soon as I stepped inside the Acadia 630 Xtra, I felt myself relax. If you want proof that caravans really are a home away from home, this is it. As a mum, I am always looking for ways to entertain my son and can see he would love colouring and playing with his dinosaurs in the dinette area. And he would certainly love the bunks! I can sometimes feel a little claustrophobic when I’m in caravan washrooms but the 630 offers a proper washroom and it feels positively luxurious. Such levels of comfort demonstrate just how far caravans have come on in recent years.

Val Chapman

Clare Kelly

VIEWS pitchside

The Scott family sleep in the shadow of the Swiss Alps on their latest getaway

LEFT

BELOW

INSET

One of our favourite sites in France is close to Switzerland, literally in the shadow of the Alps – La Colombière in Neydens – it’s a family run site with more than 100 touring pitches.

We found this site by accident as a stopover place some years

BELOW RIGHT

omelettes

ago and have been back twice since. We chose this area because it’s within an hour’s drive of the Mont Blanc Tunnel so it’s perfect for travelling through the Alps and into northern Italy.

For this 2022 holday, we spent a total of five nights here sbefore heading to Italy and once again it did not disappoint. For our first two-night stay, our pitch was in a large field at the top of the site which is the main area for bigger units. We were all pitched around the edge of a green space with a barbecue area, seats and a toilet and shower block which is entirely unisex (not

Fiona on tour

uncommon in Europe).

It's a bit of a trek to get to the swimming pool from this area, especially in 40-degree heat which we enjoyed on this visit. So if it’s hot, do take plenty of sun cream and a hat when walking down to the pool, which is always packed, and sunloungers can become scarce very quickly. Our routine is to visit the pool later in the day, around 5.30pm when many people are starting to leave and get ready for dinner.

It's perfectly possible to have a relaxing holiday here and never leave the site; however, that’s not the kind of holiday we enjoy so we always explore the nearby towns. We would recommend finding a

The campsite is quirky and very well-kept

Glorious views are around every corner

Some of the activites aren't for the faint-hearted!

Huge

served in Chamonix

LEFT Steve chills out on site

TOP RIGHT Sunset at La Colombière Neydens

local supermarket (you can use an app called AroundMe which works in the UK and Europe and it will show facilities close by). It’s much cheaper to stock up there than to buy from the very small shop on site.

Be aware on this site you will have to pay a deposit for a barrier key to go in and out – and they don’t have many of them! You have to put down a deposit of €30 to have one and this allows access out of hours or during siesta time.

Again, on this site we only saw one other British family who stopped to ask us about our portable air-conditioning unit – to see if it’s worth the money. Given it was close to 40 degrees during our stay, here we offered a resounding yes!

We can recommend the Buffalo Grill off site which is less than 6km away. Behind the restaurant, you will find a small road that has a very discretely signed border with Switzerland, so you can literally walk a few metres along the road and have one foot in France and

fact file

RIGHT Electric charging points in Chamonix

BOTTOM

The snow-covered peaks draw crowds all year round

BOTTOM RIGHT Pretty streets of Chamonix

one in Switzerland!

My top tip for this site, is to make a point of visiting Chamonix – a town in the Alps, about an hour’s drive from the site which is best known as a ski resort. Yet it is also busy all year round. As you drive in, you get that traditional feel of a Swiss mountain village with epic Mont Blanc towering above you.

Don’t panic as you drive in –there are a few car parks but don’t opt for the first one you see. Go through the town and follow clear signs and there are plenty of car parks off the main drag. We found one with the glacier just above us.

This town may offer winter sports but yet it’s not short on summer sports, either. There’s the option to take part in climbing, paragliding (the air is full of people with wings), and also mountaineering. We visited to collect tickets for a two-day pass which would allow us to take a

cable car to the top of Mont Blanc, take a train ride around the mountain or visit the ice caves nearby. I'll tell you more about that in a future column.

Chamonix offers lots of choice for shoppers like me, though be prepared for higher prices; goods around this town and the area come in via helicopter! As well as the usual tourist trinket shops, there are many well-known brands and lovely quirky eateries with wonderful foods on offer. Snails may have made their way to our table, much to David’s disgust!

info

Catch up on Fiona and Steve's caravan adventures by heading to their YouTube channel: Beyond that Blue Door bit.ly/3Awt1ZZ

2023 Premier Parks collection announced

Celebrating its fifteenth anniversary in 2023, the highquality campsites group, Premier Parks, has revealed the 100 premium campsites that will make up the collection for next season.

The group was set up by the Caravan and MMM magazine teams to provide readers with a choice of the best campsites across the UK and Northern Ireland. Each Premier Park is inspected by a team member to ensure visitors can enjoy campsites offering top facilities and great pitches in popular locations. The group offers everything from large holiday parks with every facility, to adults-only hideaways and coastal havens.

During the selection process, factors taken into account include a great location, a neat and tidy site and facilities of a high standard. The overall ‘feel’ of the site and whether it would be recommended is also considered.

The full list of the 100 Premier Parks for the 2023 season can be viewed now W premier-parks.co.uk

Bailey celebrates 75 years

Caravan and motorhome manufacturer, Bailey of Bristol, is celebrating its diamond anniversary this year.

In 1947, Martin Bailey built his first caravan from his garage, selling it for £200 at the Ashton Gate market. A year later, he founded F G Bailey Ltd, which developed rapidly through the 1950s, eventually moving to its present site at South Liberty Lane in 1960.

In 1977, the company was purchased by brothers, Patrick and Stephen Howard, and Bailey Caravans Ltd has remained under the Howard family’s ownership ever since.

Today, the manufacturer sits firmly as one of the UK’s favourite caravan brands, accounting for one in three new caravan sales, and in 2011 also entered the motorhome market, as well as expanding

into new export markets as far afield as New Zealand and South Korea.

Bailey says the key to its 75-year success – and its group annual turnover of more than £130 million – is the people who work there – the manufacturer employs over 500 local people across its three Bristol sites, and many have worked for Bailey for a long time (the average length of service, according to the manufacturer, is 10 years).

In an effort to provide a clear path for career progression and retain its talented staff, Bailey recently made a number of positive changes for its employees, including the introduction of a new grading structure for its Operations Team and improvements to its employee benefits package, including full maternity pay for 24 weeks.

Bailey Managing Director, Nick Howard, says, “We are tremendously proud to be the UK’s longest established leisure vehicle manufacturer and would like to thank everybody in the extended ‘Bailey family,’ which includes our customers, retailers, supplier partners and, of course, our employees, for the part they have played in making us the nation’s favourite leisure vehicle brand”.

Flaxton Meadows, North Yorkshire

QUESTIONS

& answers

wonky woes

QDoes my fridge need to be level to work? I've seen several people mention this on social media, and. although it's been OK each time we've been away in the caravan, I'm concerned that it'll fail to work on a future trip.

ACaravan fridges like to be level when used on gas. As a general rule, the fridge should be OK if the caravan feels level when sitting in the

QWe've just bought a caravan, and I wondered if you could recommend any security products to keep it safe?

AThe first security requirements to consider are those specified by your insurance company. These are usually, but not always, a hitch lock and a wheel clamp. Once the caravan is secured as per insurance requirements, other products, such as corner steady locks, intruder alarms, and tracking devices, are available. Recent tracker success stories include a caravan that was recovered in 90 minutes, and, although I'm not sure which tracker was fitted to that particular caravan, Phantom is a favourite within the industry. Costs can soon add up and it may be worth exploring tracking devices if you have an expensive caravan. When purchasing security products, approved products usually attract insurance discounts, and, although they can be pricier, the cost will be worth it.

Our expert Lee Davey is here to help, so if you’re left scratching your head, drop him a line

lounge or sleeping on the bed(s). That said, a spirit level only costs a few pounds (or a spirit level app can be found on the App Store for free) and will remove any doubt. It will ensure that sinks and shower trays drain correctly. As a side note, it's a good idea to run the fridge on gas periodically to ensure the system works before relying on it during an offgrid trip.

bewildered by bungee cords

QThis could be the strangest question you've ever received, but I wondered what the bungee cords on my Wastemaster are for?

AFear not; this isn't a strange question at all, as the bungee cords

have bewildered many people! They hold your toilet cassette in place, making transporting it to the chemical disposal point easier. Before wheels and extendable handles were fitted to toilet cassettes, many caravanners could be seen taking the cassette and the Wastemaster to the relevant emptying points.

follow

Find Lee Davey here:

on or off?

QI'm getting confused with our caravan's gas system. I'm trying to pinpoint why gas isn't reaching the cooker, and I wondered if the gas taps (pictured) are on or off?

AThe gas taps in the photo are all on. Is gas reaching the fridge and heater? If not, the regulator is a fairly common component to fail and will stop gas from reaching every gas-powered

towing times explained

appliance. If everything else works, has your cooker got a cover-mounted switch? My mother-in-law had a similar issue on her caravan, and the hob cover was fitted with a switch that stopped the burners from being lit with the lid down. Keep me updated on your progress so we can look at the next steps to take if the tips above fail to remedy the problem.

better battery health

QWe're planning a trip to France next year, and I wondered what the best way to calculate journey times is? We've found that times suggested by Google Maps tend to be optimistic when towing a caravan in the UK!

AViaMichelin is what you need, with access available via the website or app. When inputting directions, tick the 'caravan' box, and Via Michelin will automatically calculate a route time when towing.

It is surprisingly accurate, and we used it to plot a recent tour of Europe with the kids. Or if you have a caravan-friendly, a sat-nav such as the Avtex Tourer, is another alternative to calculate the route more accurately.

The great gas debate

QWe're looking to buy a new leisure battery, and a friend suggested we buy a car battery as they are cheaper. They're both 12V, and I wondered if it'll be OK?

AAt a pinch, a car battery can be used short term, but they are designed to operate in a different way to a leisure battery. This answer could fill the Q&A pages, so I'll keep it brief. Car batteries are designed to deliver a burst of energy in a short space of time, whereas a leisure battery delivers controlled energy over a longer period. Although they are both 12v and look similar from the outside, the internals are very different and allow each battery type to do the job it was designed for. The additional cost is a worthwhile investment.

QWhen staying at a campsite recently, our neighbour had Safefill gas installed in his caravan. He said it was cheaper, and I wondered if it's a viable alternative to Calor? Also, will our fridge, cooker and heating work the same?

ASafefill is a refillable bottle. When Calor bottles are empty, they can be exchanged for a full bottle at any Calor retailer, but, with Safefill, the bottles can be refilled at any service station with an LPG point. LPG gas is propane – a gas that's ideal for yearround use – and the same as red Calor bottles. Refillable bottles from Safefill and Gaslow can be expensive compared to Calor bottles. Still, refill costs are significantly cheaper, and with Calor supply ending the moment you leave the UK, they are a great way of ensuring a gas supply in Europe. I recently paid £36.99 for a 6kg Calor propane (ouch!), with a friend quoting a refill cost for just £6.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and if you’re stuck for present ideas for the caravanner in your life then look no further – our festive gift list will make your Christmas shopping stress-free. We’ve come up with some fantastic ideas for

Christmas gifts

camping and outdoor gifts, whatever your budget, or whoever you are buying for. Our Christmas gift ideas have something for everyone – as long as they’re not on the naughty list, that is.

We’ve even managed to arrange some exclusive discount offers, so you’ll have a few pounds left over to treat yourself as well.

Duvalay Compact Sleeping Bag

Not sure what to buy your loved one for Christmas? Why not buy them the luxury of a great night’s sleep? The award-winning, patented Duvalay Compact Sleeping Bag combines a premium mattress topper base and duvet. Compact and easy to use, simply unroll and transform any poor sleeping area into five-star comfort in seconds. Available in a wide range of options with prices starting from £119.95. Definitely one for those who tour all year round.

RidgeMonkey Connect Compact Toaster

The RidgeMonkey Connect Compact is the ultimate in lightweight camping cookware. Not just for cheese toasties – although it does make amazing ones! – the Connect does so much more. It’s a lidded frying pan to stop your sausages spitting, perfectly reheats pasties and pizza, cooks frozen chips, splits into two frying pans, does incredible omelettes, toasts a cracking teacake, pops popcorn, and can even bake a scone. It's incredibly versatile.

teacake, and can even

And when you’re done, the brilliant non-stick surface just needs a quick wipe before packing it all down neatly into its travel pouch. Perfect for caravanning. You can also get 10% off at the website below using the code LVB10MMM.

PRICE £22.99 lvboverland.com/shop/Connect-Compact-Toaster-p370522876

Leatherman Bond EDC Multi-Tool

The Leatherman Bond is a lightweight, UK ‘everyday carry’ multi-tool that packs 14 essential features into a compact design. Weighing just 176g and featuring tools such as pliers, a set of standard screwdrivers, heavy duty file and a durable, non-locking 420HC knife blade, the Leatherman Bond will be a handy gift for those who like to be prepared for any caravanning scenario.

Complete with a nylon sheath, the Leatherman Bond is backed by Leatherman’s 25-year warranty, so you can be confident your multi-tool will last for a lifetime of use.

PRICE £69.95 W whitbyandco.co.uk

gifts for you

Valiant Portable Folding BBQ

Access homegrade power away from home with the BioLite BaseCharge

high-capacity power stations. It includes all of the essential output ports including AC plug points as well as USB and USB-C. You’ll always know exactly how much power you’re using and the time you have left thanks to the easy-read smart dashboard with built-in message centre, providing real-time feedback on your system.

It will allow you to charge your phone in an instant with the wireless charging top deck, then power refrigerators, power tools, laptops, and more with this quiet and fumefree solution. The BaseCharge 1500 can be recharged directly from the wall, car, or through solar.

PRICE £1,799 W uk.bioliteenergy.com/products/basecharge-1500

Jackery, an American brand that has been recommended by 150 media organisations worldwide, is now in its 10th year.

a picnic in park an fresco at

From a picnic in the park to an al fresco afternoon at the beach, enjoy an authentic barbecue experience wherever you are. The Portable Folding BBQ folds up like a suitcase, and is lightweight, making it really easy to carry. With cooking space to cater for four or more people, it is perfect for days out and use on the go. Caravanners will love this nifty bit of kit and no doubt use it for many years to come. Want to find out more?

Watch the YouTube video to see the barbecue in action youtu.be/lBMBrhibnlI

You can also get a 15% discount at simplyvaliant.co.uk if you enter the code XMAS15 until 31 December, 2022.

PRICE £49.99

W simplyvaliant.co.uk

Jackery Solar Generator 1000

The Jackery Solar Generator combines a portable power station with solar panels, converting the sun’s energy into electricity that is stored in the station for later use. It is green, quiet and fuel-free. With multiple sockets, it can charge a wide range of devices up to 1,000Wh, and it takes literally three seconds to set up – just connect the solar panel to the power station and you’re done! The carry handle and the foldable solar panel design make it easy to carry around. As Christmas comes around, Jackery offers the perfect

opportunity to give the gift of power to your family and loved ones. Whether you need portable power for a caravan holiday or for emergency use during power outages, the Jackery Solar Generator is the perfect companion. Watch out for the Black Friday deals available at amazon. co.uk/jackery

PRICE £1,637.99

W uk.jackery.com

Christmas gifts

Ecosplash Fleece Lined jacket

Peppa Pig has a lot of answer for with her love of splashing in muddy puddles and parents know all too well how hard it is to keep little ones clean. Muddy Puddles is a childrenswear brand for kids who love to get outside. The Ecosplash range is made of recycled fabric, so has excellent green credentials; plus, it’s waterproof and super snug. We love this fleece-lined jacket and wish it was available in our size!

Your Dog Membership

muddypuddles.com

Board Game Advent Calendar

Advent calendars make the countdown to Christmas extra exciting for the whole of December.

If you have a special caravanner in your life who likes board games, roleplaying games and card games, then the Tabletop Gaming advent calendar is the gift for them!

Our sister mag Tabletop Gaming has two great ways to make your December magical: the 25-day advent calendar (containing over 20 full games) or the smaller Santa’s Secret Sack for those who just like a Christmas mystery to unwrap.

Order now to make your countdown to Christmas one filled with surprises.

PRICE £150/£250

W tabletopgaming.co.uk/games-store

If you’re searching for a gift for someone who loves caravanning and dogs, then look no further. A Your Dog Membership makes the paw-fect present!

Whether they are searching for inspiration for their next dog-friendly holiday, looking to save money, or wanting a magazine to read while curled up in the ’van, a Your Dog Membership will have them covered!

The Your Dog Membership has loads of fantastic perks including discounts and offers on over 250 dog-friendly places to stay across the UK, travel guides, and digital access to the last six years of issues, plus every issue that comes out while you are a member! You can get all of this for just £18 for the whole year!

PRICE £18 W yourdog.co.uk

FatFace Bee Spot Pet Bed

Can’t leave home without your four-legged pal? Dogs love being away in the caravan – all the new smells, walks, and the opportunity for a little holiday romance, even. Of course, you might let your pet jump up on the sofa for a snuggle but, if they’d like their own space, this dog bed is perfect. It comes in a range of sizes to fit all snoozing pups.

PRICE From £44.99 W fatface.com

Marshall might be best known for its amplifiers, which are used by some of the most famous musicians in the world, but this portable speaker will make you feel like you’re at a gig. The Willen speaker is perfect for taking away with you and has more than 15 hours of playing time from just one single charge. If you know someone who likes their music, this is an excellent gift. PRICE £89.99

The Cocktail Society Salted Caramel Espresso Martini Pouch

Love

who does? Save space

that’s more than enough for a good night!

PRICE £33 W thecocktailsociety.uk

The perfect Christmas gift

Caravan magazine has offered expert advice to caravanners for more than 80 years and every issue is packed with UK and overseas travel, top campsites, caravan tests, honest buying advice, technical guides and much more. Your lucky gift recipient will also enjoy a wide range of subscriber-only benefits, including savings on Warners Shows when you visit for the day or on your rally pitch. Plus, you will save on the cover price, get free delivery direct to your door, receive each issue before it goes on sale in the shops

residents 2022. with first Christmas.

Cookery Caravan

Fed up of the usual meals? Mix it up with these crowd pleasers

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Grilled Pork Chops with Lentils and Salsa Verde

INGREDIENTS

2 pork chops

Your say

Tea in a mug or tea in a pot on tour?

We have a special teapot we only use when we’re away – it’s a tradition!

Jane Harris

I’m not fussed as long as it’s not coffee…!

Emily Bradley

The kids got me a ‘best dad’ mug and I always make my tea in that.

Martin O’Keefe

2-3 tbsp olive oil

80g Puy lentils

500ml chicken stock

2 Portobello mushrooms, halved

Salt and pepper

METHOD

FOR THE SALSA VERDE

3 garlic cloves

4 gherkins

6 anchovy fillets

2 tbsp capers

2 handfuls fresh parsley

1 tbsp wholegrain mustard

2-3 tbsp sherry vinegar

1. Pre-heat your barbecue on high for about five minutes. While it is pre-heating, cook the lentils according to packet instructions in the chicken stock. When they’re done, remove them from the heat, set aside and keep warm.

2. To make the salsa verde, roughly chop all of the ingredients (excluding the mustard and vinegar). Place into a bowl, add the mustard and vinegar, and mix everything together well.

3. Rub a little olive oil over the pork chops and mushrooms, and season with salt and pepper. Place the pork chops onto the pre-heated grid and cook for five minutes on each side. If your pork chops are especially thick, cook them for a couple of extra minutes on each side. Hold the chops upright and press the fatty side of each down firmly onto the grid to char.

4. Once cooked all over, place the chops and mushrooms on a warm plate and leave to rest for five minutes.

5. To serve, plate up the lentils, place a pork chop and two of the mushroom halves on top. Spoon a good-sized dollop of the salsa verde on top and tuck in!

To discover more recipes that are perfect when you are cooking on your caravan tours, and to enter monthly competitions with great prizes, make sure that you follow Campingaz on Instagram.

@campingaz_UK

To see the full range, visit campingaz.co.uk

Tuna Tataki

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Thighs

INGREDIENTS PER PERSON

1 tbsp sesame oil

1 tbsp black pepper

1 tbsp red pepper

1 tbsp ground coriander

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger

500g tuna

1 dash olive oil

2 tbsp black sesame seeds

2 tbsp white sesame seeds

Pak choi

Shitake mushrooms

METHOD

1. In a Tupperware box, mix the black pepper, red pepper, ground coriander, brown sugar, soy sauce and fresh ginger together with the sesame oil to create a marinade. Add 4cm tuna slices to mixture. Put the lid on top of the Tupperware and allow it to marinate.

2. When it’s time for dinner, remove the tuna from the marinade and sprinkle the fish with the sesame seeds to form a crust. The tuna slices should be completely covered.

3. On the plancha surface of your Campingaz stove or in a frying pan, pre-heat the olive oil before gently placing the tuna slices on the cooking surface. Grill for three minutes on each side.

4. Lower the heat slightly, add the mushrooms and pak choi and cook for another few minutes.

5. Thinly slice the tuna and serve immediately with the mushrooms and pak choi.

INGREDIENTS

4 dry red chillies

4 garlic cloves

2 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp honey

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 lemon

METHOD

1 tsp cornflour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cracked black pepper

1 onion

1 tsp olive oil

4 chicken thighs

1 handful fresh coriander

1. Blend the dry red chillies and garlic cloves with 1tbsp of water. Place a frying pan on your barbecue’s side burner over a medium heat. Fry the chilli garlic paste for one minute.

2. Pour the soy sauce, lemon juice, salt and honey into the pan. Stir and pour 125ml water into the pan. Let it come to boil then simmer for two minutes. In a cup, mix two tbsp of water with the cornflour and pour into the pan to thicken the marinade.

3. In a large mixing bowl, marinate the chicken thighs with the prepared marinade. Cover and leave it in the refrigerator for four hours minimum.

4. Preheat your barbecue to 200°C and then place the chicken thighs in the Culinary Modular Paella Pan.

5. Cut the onion into big wedges and place in between the chicken thighs. Thinly slice the lemon and layer those on top. Barbecue until the chicken is cooked through.

6. Chop the coriander and sprinkle on top. Serve while hot.

Campingaz Party Grill 400

CV

A powerful and versatile stove that offers the choice of five different cooking surfaces. Choose between pan cooking, barbecuing on the cooking grid, a reversible grill and griddle plate, and the lid even doubles up as a wok for making tasty noodle dishes. The Party Grill 400 CV is powered by compact and portable CV300+ and CV470+ gas cartridges for ultimate convenience. campingaz.com/uk

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