42 minute read
Campsite of the month
Carol Kubicki 9
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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 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.
10
BEACONSFIELD
EXCLUSIVELY FOR ADULTS
PICTURESQUE, SELECT, FAMILY-RUN PARK JUST NORTH OF SHREWSBURY
Beautiful park with peaceful fi shing lakes shaded by trees and shrubs and immaculately maintained. The perfect environment in which to own your bespoke Luxury Holiday Home. Holiday homes and lodges for sale and hire. Indoor swimming pool and steam room. Coarse fi shing available. Featuring The Croft Bar & Restaurant. Telephone: 01939 210370
Battlefi eld, Shrewsbury, SY4 4BE Email: mail@beaconsfi eldholidaypark.co.uk Book online: www.beaconsfi eldholidaypark.co.uk
Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park
Open all year • Online booking • Pets welcome
Booking essential • Exclusively for adults Last spaces for Bath Christmas Markets
24/11 to 11/12
bathchewvalley.co.uk
SUFFOLK
Run CottageADULTS ONLY PARK Touring Park
Run Cottage Touring Park, Alderton Road, Hollesley, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3RQ Tel: 01394 411 309
@PrmParks
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oilet & shower block • Open all year • Two acre dog exercise area Open all year • Two acre dog exercise area 14 all weather caravan pitches ourist information Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point Open all year • Two acre dog exercise area illage Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point Village shop & pub within easy walking distance Village shop & pub within easy walking distanceVillage shop & pub within easy walking distance Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach Village shop & pub within easy walking distance @PremierParks @premier_parks
Close to the town of Woodbridge, we are a small family run touring park with 45 pitches. Set in a 4.5 acre parkland ClosetothetownofWoodbridgeweareasmallfamily runtouringparkwith45pitches.Setina4.5acre ClosetothetownofWoodbridgeweareasmallfamily runtouringparkwith45pitches.Setina4.5acre ClosetothetownofWoodbridgeweareasmallfamily runtouringparkwith45pitches.Setina4.5acre Close to the town of Woodbridge we are a small family Close to the town of Woodbridge we are a small family Close to the town of Woodbridge we are a small family ClosetothetownofWoodbridgeweareasmallfamily runtouringparkwith45pitches.Setina4.5acre parklandsettingwithalargepondandviewsover openfarmland,weofferpeaceandtranquillity. Aplacetoescapethehustleandbustleoftoday’s busylifestyle. setting with a large pond and views over open farmland, we offer peace and tranquility. A place to escape the hustle and bustle of today’s busy lifestyle parklandsettingwithalargepondandviewsover openfarmland,weofferpeaceandtranquillity. Aplacetoescapethehustleandbustleoftoday’s busylifestyle. parklandsettingwithalargepondandviewsover openfarmland,weofferpeaceandtranquillity. Aplacetoescapethehustleandbustleoftoday’s busylifestyle. parklandsettingwithalargepondandviewsover openfarmland,weofferpeaceandtranquillity. Aplacetoescapethehustleandbustleoftoday’s busylifestyle. Close to the town of Woodbridge we are a small family run touring park with 45 pitches. Set in a 4.5 acre parkland setting with a large pond and views over run touring park with 45 pitches. Set in a 4.5 acre parkland setting with a large pond and views over open farmland, we offer peace and tranquillity. run touring park with 45 pitches. Set in a 4.5 acre parkland setting with a large pond and views over open farmland, we offer peace and tranquillity. run touring park with 45 pitches. Set in a 4.5 acre parkland setting with a large pond and views over open farmland, we offer peace and tranquillity. For the ultimate holiday experienceAllelectrichookups 14allweathercaravanpitches Openallyear • Twoacredogexercisearea Allelectrichookups 14allweathercaravanpitches Openallyear • Twoacredogexercisearea Toilet&showerblock•Chemicaldisposalpoint Touristinformationarea•1.5milesfromshinglebeach Allelectrichookups 14allweathercaravanpitches Openallyear • Twoacredogexercisearea Toilet&showerblock•Chemicaldisposalpoint Touristinformationarea•1.5milesfromshinglebeach Allelectrichookups 14allweathercaravanpitches Openallyear • Twoacredogexercisearea Toilet&showerblock•Chemicaldisposalpoint Touristinformationarea•1.5milesfromshinglebeach open farmland, we offer peace and tranquillity. A place to escape the hustle and bustle of today’s A place to escape the hustle and bustle of today’s busy lifestyle. A place to escape the hustle and bustle of today’s busy lifestyle. A place to escape the hustle and bustle of today’s busy lifestyle. Toilet&showerblock•Chemicaldisposalpoint Touristinformationarea•1.5milesfromshinglebeach Villageshop&pubwithineasywalkingdistance Villageshop&pubwithineasywalkingdistance Villageshop&pubwithineasywalkingdistanceVillageshop&pubwithineasywalkingdistance busy lifestyle. … go to premier -parks.co.uk All electric hook ups All electric hook ups All electric hook ups All electric hook ups 14 all weather caravan pitches Open all year • Two acre dog exercise area 14 all weather caravan pitches Open all year • Two acre dog exercise area 14 all weather caravan pitches Open all year • Two acre dog exercise area to fi nd the 100 Premier Parks for 2023 14 all weather caravan pitches Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point Open all year • Two acre dog exercise area Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point Village shop & pub within easy walking distance Village shop & pub within easy walking distanceVillage shop & pub within easy walking distance Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach Village shop & pub within easy walking distance
All electric hook-ups • 15 all weather caravan pitches • Open all year • Dog exercise area • Toilet & shower block • Chemical disposal point • Tourist information area • 1.5 miles from shingle beach • Village shop & pub within easy walking distance
Find your perfect getaway with Campsite Finder Search on outandaboutlive.co.uk
Flaxton Meadows YORK flaxtonmeadows.co.uk 01904 393943
Pixabay Jurassic Coast
The perfect mix of fun and forest can be found at this Dorset site
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.
SITE DETAILS
WAREHAM FOREST TOURIST PARK North Trigon, Wareham, Dorset BH20 7NZ T 01929 551393 W warehamforest.co.uk OPEN All year PRICE From £22.90 (2 adults, pitch, electric)
CAMPSITE FACILITIES
WiFi Large adventure playground Outdoor swimming pool Toddler pool Nature trails, tracks and walks Indoor games room Lending library
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CONTENTS
August 2022
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Buying Yor First Caravan 2022
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.
INFO
Berths 4 Body length 6.39m Overall length 6.96m Width 2.45m Headroom 1.95m Heating Alde MIRO 1,831kg MTPLM 1,990kg
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
INFO
Berths 4 Body length 4.02m Overall length 5.93m Width 2.2m Headroom 1.96m Heating Truma MIRO 907kg MTPLM 1,200kg
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.
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
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
INFO
Berths 4 Body length 6.33m Overall length 7.86m Width 2.45m Headroom 1.96m Heating Truma MIRO 1,496kg MTPLM 1,656kg
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 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 fridge/freezer and the Dometic microwave features a ceramic plate that won’t move in transit.
Should you have guests, you can make the front lounge up into a bed.
INFO
Berths 4 Body length 6.33m Overall length 7.86m Width 2.45m Headroom 1.96m Heating Alde MIRO 1,694kg MTPLM 1,855kg
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 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.
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
Best Luxur y 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.
INFO
Berths 4 Body length 6.26m Overall length 7.89m Width 2.44m Headroom 1.95m Heating Alde MIRO 1,800kg MTPLM 1,960kg
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
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 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’.
INFO
Berths 4 Body length 3.9m Overall length 5.59m Width 2.28m Headroom 1.95m Heating Truma MIRO 1,050kg MTPLM 1,186kg
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 Richard Chapman
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
Adria
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!
INFO
Berths 2 Body length 4.01m Overall length 5.21m Width 2.19m Headroom 1.95m Heating Truma MIRO 957kg MTPLM 1,100kg
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
