Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine – May 2022 by The Caravan and Motorhome Club

MAY 2022

NORTH STARS

A fantastic seven-site tour from Scarborough to Whitley Bay CYCLING SPECIAL Bike racks, kit showcase and offers inside

DEALS ON WHEELS Check out our revamped Great Savings Guide

TOAST TO THE COAST Road testing a special new route in Cumbria

Inspiring your adventures

Why choose Adria? If you are seeking freedom and adventure, owning a caravan or motorhome is a great choice. YOUR VEHICLE. Freedom and adventures when you want it, just plan your getaways and go! YOUR ACCOMMODATION. Travel with family and/or friends, with your things and to your standards, in your own environment. YOUR ITINERARY. Independent travel, your own itinerary, find your own places away from the crowds. YOUR ADVENTURES. Life changes with an Adria caravan or motorhome, offering endless possibilities for your adventures. YOUR PEACE OF MIND. Adria is one of Europe’s leading caravan manufacturers, with over 600,000 recreational vehicles produced since 1965.

Please contact your nearest Adria dealership for more information: www.adria.co.uk/dealer-network

www.adria.co.uk

COMMENT EDITOR

WELCOME

camc.com/contact Editorial Editors Gary Martin, John Thynne Assistant Editors Clare Disano, Stuart Egan, Stephen Hollis Design Michaela Millar

Postal address Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA Club contact details For comprehensive contact details, see camc.com/contact Membership services and magazine circulation 01342 318813 (calls may be recorded) Site booking (members only)/ UK Club sites advance booking 01342 327490

John Thynne says:

id you know that, as a Club member, you can take advantage of fantastic deals at attractions across the country, courtesy of our online Great Savings Guide? We currently have more than 300 offers available on everything from seal sanctuaries and heritage railways to rock climbing adventures and distillery tours.

Cover Caravan 01342 336610 Insurance (Devitts) Car/motorhome 0345 504 0334 Home/contents 0345 504 0335 Travel Service 01342 316101 Red Pennant (Overseas Holiday Insurance) 01342 336633

“

We currently have more than 300 offers available

Brochures on Club services 01342 327410 Technical advice 01342 336611 Club Magazine editorial 01342 336640 Legal helpline 01275 378728

Advertising enquiries General number 01342 336817 Commercial Manager Ian Lea 01342 336753 ian.lea@camc.com Commercial Executive Jason Clarke 01342 779368 jason.clarke@camc.com Commercial Executive Adam Johnson 01342 336742 adam.johnson@camc.com Advertising Sales Executive Olliver Hamilton-Williams 01342 337782 olliver.hamilton-williams@camc.com

ON TEST: MAZDA CX-5, AUTO-TRAIL F68, ADRIA ALPINA MISSISSIPPI

President: Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester Chairman: Grenville Chamberlain OBE Director General: Nick Lomas

MAY 2022

COVER IMAGE:

Scarborough beach huts, North Bay eye35 / Alamy

TOURING: NORTH-EAST ENGLAND SITES AND CLS

Digital Advertising Co-ordinator Vicky Powell 01342 779378 victoria.powell@camc.com

CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB MAGAZINE MAY 2022

Production Controller Tara Erroll 01342 779371 tara.erroll@camc.com

NORTH STARS

www.camc.com

CYCLING SPECIAL Bike racks, kit showcase and offers inside

DEALS ON WHEELS Check out our revamped Great Savings Guide

Editions of your Club magazine – with lots of extra content – are also available via an app on iPhone/iPad and Android tablets and phones.

We would like to thank image libraries Alamy, Getty Images/ iStock and Shutterstock for supplying a number of images used in this magazine.

A fantastic seven-site tour from Scarborough to Whitley Bay

PASS p1 Cover.indd 1

www.camc.com

”

And we ve redesigned our online tool so it is even easier to find a deal – simply search by Club campsite, category (Adventure, Animals, Discovery, Heritage, Leisure Activities, Railways, Tours, Food and Drink or Experiences) or general location and the website will suggest attractions and experiences for you. For more of a taste of what s on offer turn to pages 96 and 97. Then visit camc.com/ greatsavingsguide to start saving.

Elsewhere in this issue, Nick Harding embarks on the new Cumbrian Coastal Route 200 – a fantastic trail that passes close to many of our Club campsites and CLs (p36-39) – while accessibility advocate Debbie North talks about the benefits of sensory trails and introduces us to a lovely stroll along the River Wharfe near Bolton Abbey (p101-102). And make sure you have a look at our comprehensive Motorhome and Campervan Design Awards round-up on pages 80-88. This month we focus on the Coachbuilt and A-Class categories – who knows, you might spot your next touring vehicle! Enjoy the issue.

TOAST TO THE COAST Road testing a special new route in Cumbria 01/04/2022 12:25

May 2022 3

CONTENTS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE MAY 2022

TOURING

TESTS

UK SITES A culture-themed tour of England's north-east DIRECTORY UPDATES Updates to your Sites Directory & Handbook FOREIGN TOURING Heidi Fuller-Love explores Occitanie in the south of France ACTIVITY BREAKS Searching for the mountain hare on a guided walk in the Pennines

NEWS 13 20 44

91 94

HEADLINES Club and industry updates SITES The latest from around the network OVERSEAS Take a look at our worldwide and European break ideas CENTRE LINES News from local groups EVENTS DIARY Plan your year ahead

4 May 2022

64 68

TOWCAR Mazda CX-5 MOTORHOME Auto-Trail F68 CARAVAN Adria Alpina Mississippi

SPECIALS 36

COAST WITH THE MOST Nick Harding follows the new Cumbrian Coastal Route 200 80 MOTORHOME & CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS Coachbuilts and A-Class categories 96 GREAT SAVINGS GUIDE Enjoy offers at a wide range of venues and attractions 101 MAKES GOOD SENSE Experience the countryside in a different way on a sensory walk 109 CYCLE ROUTE Jonathan Manning rides from Wirral Country Park Club site

10 48 51 56

77 98 105 107 113 114 130

REGULARS 7

DIRECTOR GENERAL’S VIEW Nick Lomas on this magazine, sustainability and readership

132

YOUR PHOTOS Great pictures from your days out and touring adventures CLUB MATTERS Stay at one of our pop-up campsites PRODUCT SHOWCASE A range of cycling accessories LETTERS Your comments and views COUNTRY MATTERS David Chapman is on the lookout for the orange tip butterfly PRACTICAL Carrying bikes on your outfit MEMBER OFFERS Savings on bikes and more ASK YOUR CLUB Your touring questions answered CROSSWORD A chance to win Club gift vouchers PUZZLES Test yourself with our brainteasers CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS To advertise, call 01342 336817 TAIL LIGHTS The weird, wacky and wonderful world of touring CYCLE ROUTE A Cotswold countryside ride from Moreton-in-Marsh Club site www.camc.com

S P EC TAC U L A R R A N G E, S E N SAT I O N A L M O D E L S R E A DY TO V I E W AT

W E H AV E T H E LARGEST RANGE OF USED

MOTORHOMES FOR SALE With so many beautiful landscapes and exciting attractions on your doorstep, now’s the time to pack up and hit the road. Whether it’s by rugged coastlines, sandy beaches, rolling hills or sparkling rivers, new adventures are ahead of you and memories are waiting to be made. Let us help you prepare for your next adventure – with hundreds of new and quality used motorhomes and caravans to choose from and the support of a friendly experienced team, we can guide you to the perfect vehicle for your dreams. The experts at our long-established family business are on hand to help everyone from first – timers to experienced motorhome owners. We welcome thousands of new and returning customers every year, as they keep their motorhome in tip top condition and stock up on awnings and accessories.

h r o u l o i d y a t e y s plans in motion d n a n o o s s u t i s i ! V Tel: 01457 868011 sales@glossopcaravans.co.uk

www.glossopcaravans.co.uk END OF M67, MAIN A57, BROOKFIELD, GLOSSOP, DERBYSHIRE, SK13 6JF

COMMENT DIRECTOR GENERAL

camc.com/contact The Caravan Club Limited, which trades as Caravan and Motorhome Club, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for general insurance and credit activities.

This magazine is also available free of charge as a page turner on the Club website and as an app via Google Play or the App Store. For nonmembers who download the Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine app, each issue costs £3.49. Readers are asked to note that the Caravan and Motorhome Club cannot accept responsibility for the quality, safe delivery or operation of any products advertised or mentioned in this journal. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply any form of approval or recommendation. Advertisements or other inserted material are accepted subject to the approval of the publishers and their current terms and conditions. The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition that the advertiser warrants that such advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval of the publisher, who reserves the right to refuse, amend, withdraw or otherwise deal with advertisements submitted to it at its absolute discretion and without explanation. All advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice. Mail order advertisers are required to state in advertisements addressed to the public, their true surname or full company name, together with the address from which the business is managed. Calls to phone numbers starting 084 and 087 cost up to 7p per minute plus your service provider’s charge.

367,796

Circulation: Jan-Dec 2021

Printing by Mohn Media, Gütersloh, Germany

www.camc.com

OPINION Nick Lomas says:

You may occasionally glance at the panel to the left and see the regulatory notice about the Club’s authorisations regarding insurance and credit. There’s also an explanation of our responsibilities, and those of advertisers, with regard to adverts in the magazine. In addition, you’ll see a reminder that you can download the Club magazine app to enjoy the magazine on your phone or tablet. This is handy if you and your partner wish to read two copies at once, or enjoy the convenience of having all your reading material in one place.

“ The Club is mindful of its environmental responsibilities ” You can choose to receive the magazine only digitally, rather than in paper form, by changing your profile settings online, or contacting our Membership Services team by phone. The Club is mindful of its environmental responsibilities, and the magazine is printed on Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification paper, as the green logo indicates. 324 million hectares of forest and 750,000 forest owners are certified globally, and you can find out more at pefc.org. For nearly 15 years we have ensured the paper is sourced and certificated appropriately. The certification means that it comes from sustainable forests (each tree stores carbon, and when it is cut for paper manufacture it is replaced in a

continuous cycle of replanting), or comes from other controlled sources (including recycled material). Recently, we have also changed our printer to ensure we can make savings on transport costs, reduce the distance the reels of paper have to travel and ship the magazine more efficiently. The ABC logo relates to the Audit Bureau of Circulations – which officially checks the claims from publishers about the readership of their magazines. For the Club, which sends the magazine directly to members’ homes, it’s relatively easy to evidence. The 2021 figure of 367,796 is the average number of copies circulated each month, putting the magazine at number five in all monthly magazines in the UK – which is why it remains attractive for advertisers as well as readers. With membership at a record 385,000 families/households, you can expect to see an even higher ABC figure next year. Enjoy reading your issue of one of Britain’s most widely read and sustainably produced magazines! May 2022 7

SPECIAL MEMBER PICTURES

YOUR PHOTOS Your most memorable touring moments caught on camera

Northumberland

ONE GOLDEN POND Beautiful sunset on Branton Lakes, just out the back of the River Breamish Club Campsite. Kenneth Murray

Warwickshire

LOOKOUT DUTY

Dorset

TRAIL BLAZERS Bournemouth 2022 Red Arrows sky burst (staying at Crossways Club Campsite). Adrian Lovell 8 May 2022

My little girl exploring Warwick Castle grounds – it felt so much like spring, we even had our first picnic of 2022! (Nearest Club Campsite: Warwick Racecourse.) Kaz Derbyshire

Lincolnshire

SPACE IS THE PLACE Bolton Abbey Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite. Love staying in the Yorkshire Dales and enjoying the dark skies. We were lucky enough to see the International Space Station and Starlink satellites crossing the sky during our stay in mid-March this year. Sally Margerison

SOARING ABOVE Taken during a stay at Stamford Club Campsite in March 2022. Martin Riley

Yorkshire

Want to see your photo in a future issue? Send your images to camc.com/ inspiringadventures or tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #inspiringadventures

THE MAWR THE MERRIER Taken at Cae Mawr Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite. This tree is at the front of our pitch. Watched the great tit go in and waiting patiently to snap it on its way out. Spring has sprung, weather glorious. Woken most mornings by sound of birds, including a woodpecker... lovely site. Jacqueline Smalley

DRINK IT IN Crummock Water in the Lake District. Enjoying the view with our Jack Russell Terrier, Bartley. (Nearest Club campsites: Borrowdale, Dockray Meadow.) Neil Sumner

Anglesey

www.camc.com

Cumbria

May 2022 9

SPECIAL CLUB MATTERS

pop-ups W

e are delighted to announce that the Club will be running a new pop-up campsite on the beautiful Holkham Estate in Norfolk this summer. (This is in addition to the pop-up sites at the Beaulieu Estate in Hampshire – for more information see opposite page.) Pop-up campsites give us the opportunity to offer members an enjoyable alternative touring experience with a fun, festival feel, while providing extra availability during the summer when our main Club campsites are already very popular. Open from 8 July to 4 August, the new site is located just half a mile from the north Norfolk coastline, within easy reach of famous seaside towns such as Wellsnext-the-Sea, Blakeney and Brancaster. Our pop-up site guests will enjoy a 30% discount on standard admission to the Hall, Walled Garden and Holkham Stories*. The Hall is a magnificent 18th-century Palladianstyle house filled with ancient statues, original furniture, tapestries and paintings by the likes of Rubens, Van Dyck and Gainsborough. You might also like to explore the Holkham Stories interactive exhibition or wander through the spectacular Walled Garden.

10 May 2022

Holkham Beach

Visitors can also hire a boat and spend an afternoon on the lake, while younger guests will enjoy the woodland play area (no additional cost) or tree-top ropes course. You could also hire bicycles for the day to explore the estate’s scenic parkland or venture farther afield. With adults’, children’s (including trailer cycles) and electric models available, there is a bike for every member of the family. We also offer extra-spacious ‘Friends and Family’ pitches that can accommodate two outfits – perfect if you want to share your holiday experience with loved ones! This summer we will also be returning (twice!) to the superb Beaulieu Estate in the New Forest. Here you will find fantastic walking and cycling routes right on your doorstep, while your pop-up pitch fee also includes a fantastic 25% saving on all of Beaulieu’s attractions (including the National Motor Museum, Palace House, World of Top Gear, the monorail and Secret Army Exhibition)*. You may also wish to visit nearby Buckler’s Hard – a fascinating village that was once home to a major shipbuilding industry. Many of the attractions at

Holkham Hall’s Drawing Room

Buckler’s Hard are free but we have arranged a 30% saving* for our guests at the Maritime Museum where visitors can learn about the vessels that were constructed for Nelson’s navy.

HOLKHAM HALL

Pop-up Campsite, Norfolk

Dates open: 8 July to 4 August 2022. Price: from £40 per night for two adults (standard pitch with electric hook-up)**. Friends and Family pitches also available. Facilities: toilets, showers, fresh water, waste disposal. Discounts: price includes 30% discount on

3,659

guests took the opportunity to stay on our pop-up campsites during 2021 www.camc.com

Holkham Estate

We re running a pop-up campsite at Holkham Hall this summer – it s the perfect base for exploring the fabulous north Norfolk coast

Holkham Estate, Norfolk Holkham Estate

Robert Hickey Geocast

Perfect

SAVE ON DAYS OUT You can use our Great Savings Guide to take advantage of savings on fantastic days out. See camc.com/greatsavingsguide for details of all offers and terms and conditions. Here’s just a taste of attractions within reach of our pop-up campsites...

From Holkham Hall Bure Valley Railway

National Motor Museum, Beaulieu

standard admission to the Hall, Walled Garden and Holkham Stories.*

Sea Life, Hunstanton

See everything from seals and penguins to turtles, sharks and rays at this spectacular attraction on the north Norfolk Coast. Great Savings Guide offer: up to 15% discount (prebooking required)

BEAULIEU ESTATE

Pop-up Campsite, Hampshire Dates open: 24 June to 20 July 2022 and 11 August to 1 September 2022. Price: from £37 per night for two adults (standard pitch with electric hook-up)**. Friends and Family pitches also available. Facilities: toilets, showers, fresh water, waste disposal. Discounts: price includes 25% admission discount and free re-entry to Beaulieu’s visitor attractions plus 30% discount on entry to Buckler’s Hard Maritime Museum.* *For full details of the great discounts included as part of your pop-up campsite pitch price, plus terms and conditions, please see camc.com/popups. **Price is per night for two adults and a standard pitch with electric hook-up (staying between Sunday-Thursday) and includes campsite facilities and attraction discounts as described. £1 transaction fee and a two-night minimum stay applies.

81%

of those who stayed at Beaulieu Estate pop-up in 2021 rated their stay as very good or excellent www.camc.com

Travel by steam or diesel on this charming minimum gauge heritage railway that runs through nine miles of countryside between Aylsham and Wroxham. Great Savings Guide offer: save £1 per adult return fare (up to six people; pre-booking required).

From Beaulieu Estate

Beaulieu Estate pop-up campsite Photo by @hitchenskitchenandgrill

To find out more and to book, please visit camc.com/popups

12k

additional nights created for 2022 stays by our pop-up sites at Holkham and Beaulieu

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park

Enjoy horse carriage and tractor rides, daily shows and more at this family-run attraction in Verwood. Great Savings Guide offer: one complimentary bag of horse feed on arrival on presentation of a Great Savings Guide voucher and valid membership card

The New Forest Paddle Sport Company

Based in the coastal hamlet of Keyhaven, this company offers you the chance to experience this fast-growing hobby. Great Savings Guide: 10% saving on Tester Sessions (all under-18s must be accompanied by a parent on the water at all times; pre-booking required) May 2022 11

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

Headlines The latest stories from the touring world

GETTING IN TOUCH

Join us at Holkham this summer

The Club will be running a pop-up campsite at the Holkham Estate in Norfolk this summer. Open from 8 July to 4 August, this is a great opportunity to enjoy a campsite with a ‘festival feel’ and enjoy a stunning stretch of coastline – there is a beach nearby and towns such as Blakeney, Wells-next-the-Sea and Sheringham are all within reach. If you haven’t done so already, you can read all about this pop-up campsite, and our pop-up campsites at Beaulieu in the New Forest, on pages 10 and 11 of this issue.

Holkham Hall is the home of Club President Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester

NEW INTERACTIVE MAP

Search for campsites across the UK and Europe. A quick and easy way to find, compare and book your next getaway.

BOOK MULTIPLE CAMPSITES Bunree Club Campsite Photo by Alan Clark

IMPROVING YOUR UK BOOKING EXPERIENCE As you will know, your new simplified UK booking experience is coming soon this year. Following extensive member research and having listened to your feedback, we’ve developed a system that will make holiday planning and booking even easier than before – so all you have to do is enjoy your trip! You can read more about the booking experience in the February and March 2022 issues of the Club Magazine. To the right you’ll find a reminder of the key areas which are being improved. We’ll continue to provide the latest updates in the magazine, via email and at camc.com/bookingexperience, where you can also read more information and frequently asked questions. www.camc.com

A faster and seamless booking experience whereby multiple campsites can now all be booked at the same time.

PITCH CHOICE

Secure your favourite type of pitch. Grass and hardstanding pitches are now available at time of booking.

FAST CHECK-IN

Speedy campsite check-in thanks to pre-payment prior to arrival.

MORE AVAILABILITY

Our new deposit system reduces speculative bookings, freeing up availability and giving you more choice.

Now that the main touring season is underway, we would like to remind you that there are several, convenient ways for you to get help with any queries. The members area on the Club website features links to UK and overseas site bookings, a new members’ section and updated membership management pages, insurance information, exclusive offers and the handy late availability checker. Just click on the ‘Club members area’ heading under the ‘Membership’ tab at camc.com. A My membership page (caravanclub.co.uk/membership/ my-membership) allows you to view, amend and cancel bookings, renew membership, update your outfit details and check out a range of membership benefits (please note you must be logged in). The new members’ section at caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/ start-a-new-adventure has information and advice for those new to the Club or touring in general. The website’s live chat service means you can talk with one of our experienced Contact Centre agents from 9am to 9pm, Monday-Friday. The automated chat facility is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When prompted, simply type in your question – if an answer is available our ‘AI chat bot’ will suggest an answer or the next course of action. The Contact us tool at camc.com/contact provides answers to frequently asked questions, but you will also be able to direct your enquiry to the most appropriate department – via a simple online form. Remember that you can also search, book, amend and cancel UK site bookings using the UK Sites App. Using these facilities helps us to manage queries during busier times. Thank you for your help.

May 2022 13

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

You recommend...

Cheryl and Rebecca NorthSlater, Hebden Bridge Club Campsite

Lidalia

Views on an Affiliated Site in the Scottish Borders “We can recommend the Olive Tree café in the village. The coffee, cakes and ice-cream are very good and the service is friendly and efficient. There are plenty of easily accessible walking and cycling routes direct from the site suitable for all levels of ability. The site reception sell a local walking guide for £2, which is well worth buying.” (Review date: October 2021) “There are lots of positives for the area, Kielder Forest Park and lake [Kielder Water] stunning with lots of walks and cycle routes; Lochmaben 18-hole golf club was an excellent course.” (June 2021) “The family owners and wardens were absolutely lovely, so friendly and helpful. The facilities

Kielder Forest Photo by Tony Robinson are immaculate, pitches spacious and the whole site was beautifully landscaped and well kept. The village has everything you need, a couple of pubs, shops and a fab butchers.” (September 2020)

VEHICLE CHARGING ON UK CLUB CAMPSITES In February 2020 the Club introduced an additional fee for members who wanted to charge their electric or hybrid vehicles while staying on our campsites. Since then, ownership of such vehicles has increased along with the cost of electricity. Having reviewed consumption and usage over the period, the Club feels that it is fairer that electric and hybrid vehicle users pay a single fee to charge their vehicles via their outfit. Hybrid cars and electric cars are now charged at the same rate of £9 per charge, effective from 5 April 2022. The fee charged is based on the assumption the vehicle is plugged in overnight, via your outfit, drawing power at a rate which should fully charge a hybrid s battery and give a useful top-up to most fully electric cars. To ensure that you charge safely, we ask that you keep both habitation and car charging demand to a reasonable usage level and that you plug the car into a mains socket within your outfit, 14 May 2022

not directly into the bollard. If you wish to charge your vehicle via your outfit while on a pitch, then please speak to our staff either upon arrival or during your stay, and let them know how many charges you wish to make. They will then be able to take payment from you. This is available at all Club-owned sites except Steamer Quay Club Campsite. Any pitch that has an EHU bollard included can be used to charge an electric or hybrid vehicle, as long as charging takes place via a three-pin plug via your outfit. Please note that Cayton Village and Black Knowl campsites also have specific higher power electric vehicle charging points installed in their car parks, and these will be charged at the prevailing rate at the time. This facility will also be available soon at Coniston Park Coppice. We would like to thank all members for your mindful use of electricity at UK Club campsites.

Recruiting for the 2022 season Our site staff are the public face of the Club and provide a warm and friendly service to the thousands of members and non-members who visit our sites every day. Working on site is perfect if you would like your job to take you to some of the most beautiful locations in the UK and Ireland – we have over 200 sites in total. Our staff are passionate about delivering great customer service to ensure our members and non-members enjoy a fantastic outdoors experience in a safe and happy environment. If you enjoy the outdoors, are physically fit and want to be part of an award-winning team, we would love to hear from you for our 2022 season. Please visit camc.com/careers for more information and to complete an application form.

SHOWTIME MAY

6-8 Staffordshire: Motorhome, Campervan & Caravan Show, Stratford-upon-Avon (Apple Tree Exhibitions, see appletreeexhibitions.co.uk or call 01805 603943). 13-15 Berkshire: The Southern Motorhome & Campervan Show, Newbury Showground, Chieveley (Warners Group, see outandaboutlive.co.uk or call 01778 391123).

JUNE

3-5 Hampshire: Motorhome & Campervan Show, New Forest Showground, Brockenhurst (Apple Tree Exhibitions, details as above). Note: details subject to change and pre-registration may be required – please check websites or telephone event organisers in advance for up-to-date information.

www.camc.com

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NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

NEWS IN BRIEF

MEMBER S BOOK

Club member Lesley Parr has written a book detailing her seven-month motorhoming odyssey across Europe with husband Geoff and son Jackson. Published by Candy Jar Books, A Change In The Aire has drawn praise from travel bloggers as well as fellow Club members, and can be purchased via candy-jar. co.uk/books/achangeintheaire. html (RRP £12.99 plus postage).

BEAULIEU EVENTS

A number of events will be held at Beaulieu in the New Forest this spring and summer. Members staying at the New Forest Centenary or Black Knowl Club campsites may be interested in the BBC Gardeners’ World Spring Fair (29 Apr-1 May 2022), while the popular Spring Autojumble – a combination of classic car display and parts marketplace – takes place on 14-15 May. Also, to celebrate 50 years of the National Motor Museum, an exhibition called The Story of Motoring in 50 Objects will begin on 3 Jul y2022. Please see beaulieu.co.uk for more information.

GLOVEBOX ‘BIBLE’ Publisher Bloomsbury will be releasing The Camper Van Bible: The Glovebox Edition on 12 May. Written by Martin Dorey, this slimmed-down version of the original book contains advice on vans, rental choices, equipment, power, maintenance, ecoconscious camping and much more. With an RRP of £12.99, it is available from bookshops and from bloomsbury.com. www.camc.com

CLUB SUPPORTS ENGLISH TOURISM WEEK

Baroness Doocey

The Club co-hosted a reception with Tourism Alliance at the Palace of Westminster on 24 March, in celebration of English Tourism Week. Baroness Doocey OBE and Simon Jupp, MP for East Devon, spoke about the importance of the tourism industry, while Nigel Huddleston, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) was also in attendance. The past two years have been difficult for the tourism industry, and there are new challenges to be faced over the next couple of years, not exclusive to the rising cost of energy and fuel. We were delighted to welcome Simon Jupp MP, who is currently Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Hospitality and Tourism, to Putts Corner Club Campsite in Devon. Putts Corner is sited within the MP’s constituency and his visit coincided with English Tourism Week. Mr Jupp was interested to hear about the Club and how our members support the local community when visiting south-west England. Having caravanned in his youth, he was also keen to discover how the pastime has changed over the years and what our campsites offer members.

P&O FERRIES The news on 17 March of ferry operator P&O s sudden operational changes has caused significant disruption for members who were due to travel with the company. Our Contact Centre has been busy helping members to amend their trips and provide advice. As we go to print it is an evolving situation, with some of the P&O routes partially operational, and we thank members for their patience. The Club will continue to offer access for members to the widest number of crossing routes. We negotiate offers with Eurotunnel and all of the ferry operators and can guarantee best prices. For example, members can save 10% on the new Irish Ferries Dover-Calais route, and 10% with DFDS, Eurotunnel, P&O and Stena Line. Brittany Ferries offers us combined deals with savings when crossings are booked with a European campsite stay. Our online booking system will display comparison prices by all operators on each route so members can easily find the best price, plus it will highlight if a combined deal is better value. Visit camc.com/overseas for more information and terms and conditions.

Left to right: Club Regional Manager Wayne Brown, Simon Jupp MP and Peter Wood, Site Manager

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The Club Magazine App contains fantastic extra content each month – you can download it for free from the App Store or Google Play. Once you have logged in, you can access the latest news from the Club, watch videos and try your hand at puzzles. Conveniently, you can also download the current issue and back issues for online or offline reading! This month, look out for a cycle route from Moreton-in-Marsh Club Campsite in the Cotswolds. There are also videos of the Auto-Trail F68, Mazda CX-5 and Adria Alpina Mississippi to accompany our tests. May 2022 17

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

PRINCE PHILIP

FROM THE ARCHIVES Stories from the Club’s Collection It was 40 years ago this month that The Wanderer, the world’s first purpose-built holiday caravan, travelled on the open road for the last time. To celebrate the Club’s 75th anniversary, the iconic vehicle, along with a recreation of its original crew, toured 106 miles from Bristol to the Royal Windsor Horse Show in an event known as ‘Operation Wanderer’. Before the tour began, it was announced to millions of children by Sarah Greene, Peter Duncan and Simon Groom (with Goldie the dog!) on Blue Peter at London’s BBC Television Centre. From Bristol, the caravan set off with its crew,

The Duke of Edinburgh alongside The Wanderer at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

including a gentleman dressed as The Wanderer’s original owner, Dr William Gordon Stables, accompanied by a Newfoundland dog, a cockatoo and two horses representing their Victorian predecessors Captain Cornflower and Polly Peablossom. Leading the way was cyclist Leslie Cirkett, who emulated the original valet, Foley, by cycling the 106 miles on an 1880s Singer tricycle. En-route, the party paused at Dr Gordon Stables’ former home of Twyford in Berkshire, where it was greeted by crowds of villagers and Graham Gordon-Stables, William’s grandson. The final leg was a

journey to the Horse Show, where, on the evening of 11 May, The Wanderer entered the main arena to be inspected by Club Patron HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The Club’s Collection, hosted at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, holds a number of items relating to this historic journey, including the original Blue Peter script and a photograph album which has been recently conserved to ensure its future preservation. You can view some highlights of this album at flickr.com/photos/ camc_collection. Angela Willis

THE COAST WITH THE MOST? A number of events and festivals will be taking place on the Yorkshire coast this summer, giving Club members the chance to enjoy classic seaside entertainment as well as performances by renowned pop acts and a variety of cultural and sporting celebrations. Our campsites on or near this stretch include Bridlington, North Yorkshire Moors, Cayton Village, Scarborough West Ayton and The Howard, Rosedale Abbey, while the area is also well-served by CLs. Major events this year include Filey Steampunk Fesitval (14-15 May), Scarborough Books by the Beach literary festival (11-12 June), Armed Forces Day in Scarborough (24-26 June), Scarborough Seafest Maritime Festival (22-24 July), Whitby Regatta (13-15 August), Whitby Folk Week (20-26 August), Scarborough Goldwings Light 18 May 2022

The Club was fortunate to have Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, as its Patron from 1952 until his death last year. Club Chairman Grenville Chamberlain OBE and Director General Nick Lomas were honoured to be among the congregation at the Service of Thanksgiving for the life of The Duke of Edinburgh at Westminster Abbey in March, representing the Club on behalf of its members. They joined over 500 representatives from charities and organisations the Duke proudly supported. Nick Lomas said: “He was passionate about encouraging enjoyment of and physical activity in the great outdoors and supported the growth of the Club because of our responsible approach to use of the countryside.”

FLYING VISIT

The South West Region will be hosting a gala dinner at Aerospace Bristol on 18 March 2023. Attendees will be able to enjoy a welcome drink and an onboard tour of an iconic Concorde airliner, followed by a three-course dinner with wine under the wing. For more information and a booking form please visit southwestregioncc.org.uk and click on ‘News and Events’.

CAKES ARE A HIT

Whitby Abbey Photo by Jo Worall Parade (10 September), Whitby Fish & Ships Festival (24-25 September), Scarborough Surf Festival (8 October) and Whitby Goth Festival (28-30 October). Meanwhile, Scarborough’s Open Air Theatre will be holding a series of concerts during 2022, with acts

such as Crowded House, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Bryan Adams, Lionel Richie, Simply Red and Westlife all scheduled to appear. More information about all the events mentioned can be found at discoveryorkshirecoast.com.

Site Manager and keen baker Anette Thornton managed to raise a fantastic £1,130 for BLESMA, the Military Charity for Limbless Veterans, during 2021. Anette achieved the total by selling homemade cakes and jam. Many thanks to everyone who made generous donations.

Anette presents Chris Knight of BLESMA with a cheque www.camc.com

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NEWS UK SITES North Coast 500, Scotland Photo by Jacqueline Schuler

Remember to Book Smart

Check in advance and only book the pitches you intend to use

Amend your bookings early if your plans need to change

Use our popular Late Availability checker to find last-minute pitches

camc.com/ booksmart

Before you travel... We have created a new, useful web page called ‘Before you travel’, which contains everything you need to know before you set off for your UK Club campsite. On the page – which you can find at camc.com/beforeyoutravel – you will find key information about roadworks or diversions that might affect your journey and any

essential site works that may be underway, plus a reminder that many Club campsites now have an earliest arrival time of 1pm. (Please note that if a campsite isn’t listed everything is operating as normal at that location, to the best of our knowledge.) We also send two emails prior to your arrival, both of which contain

Sites awards in 2022 It’s always great to hear about your holidays with the Club, whether you’ve just returned from a single night at a tried-and-trusted Certificated Location (CL) or you’ve arrived home after a multi-campsite, two-week tour farther afield. In particular, we love to hear about the sites that make your time as memorable and enjoyable as possible.

Tewkesbury Abbey Club Campsite was one of the Sites In Bloom winners in 2021 20 May 2022

We have four different awards this year that seek to recognise those campsites and, of course, the innovation, skill and effort of those who work at, or own, them. They are listed below and we would love you to take part by sending us your nominations for the Sites To Inspire and CL of the Year awards. n Sites In Bloom Awards: These long-running awards highlight incredible work by green-fingered staff. Sites submit photos of their amazing floral displays during the summer and the winners are decided in September by votes from the Sites and Accommodation Users Committee (volunteer members of the Club). n Sites To Inspire Awards: This is a celebration of the ‘extras’ that

Cirencester Park’s biodiversity trail used wooden plaques from trees felled locally site staff on the network provide to make visitors stays exceptional. After you have visited a Club campsite you’ll receive an email containing an invitation to fill-in a survey. You can choose to nominate the site and explain why you were impressed. The closing date this year is 12 August 2022. n CL of the Year Awards: Have you found a gem on our CL network?

lots more useful information relating to your holiday. These are sent 30 days and nine days before your arrival date and include a direct link to the ‘Before you travel’ page. If you are not currently receiving these emails and would like to, please visit camc.com and click on ‘My profile’ to set your communication preferences.

Why not nominate it in these annual awards and ensure it gets the recognition it deserves. You can see more information and a nomination form on page 14 of the March 2022 issue, and at camc. com/clnominate. Please pick your favourite five-pitch sites by 17 September 2022. n Sustainability Chairman’s Award: Cirencester Park Club Campsite was the inaugural winner of our Sustainability Chairman’s Award, which recognises the environmental, social and economic commitment being made across the sites network. For this award, site staff are asked to submit details of a relevant project or works that had a positive environmental, social or economic impact. It is judged by Club Chairman Grenville Chamberlain OBE. www.camc.com

...and when you arrive

Meathop Fell Club Campsite near Grange-over-Sands Photo by Christopher Marchant

Members Helping Members Last year we introduced a ‘Members Helping Members’ poster and displayed it across the UK Club campsite network. It was created due to a big increase in the number of Club members, many of whom are new to caravanning, motorhoming and campervanning. The poster suggests ways in which more experienced tourers can offer advice or a helping hand to newer members – for example by demonstrating how to pitch against the peg or assisting if someone is struggling to set themselves up. Additionally, the poster highlighted a few points to help make things safer and more enjoyable for all. For example: n Please be mindful of campsite arrival times, as these may differ from site to site – many have recently changed the earliest arrival time to 1pm. It is important that you do not arrive before the earliest arrival time provided for each site, to avoid congestion, the blocking of access roads or causing possible disruption to public highways. For the most up-to-date times, please check campsites webpages at camc.com. www.camc.com

n Speed limits on site – for everyone s safety and enjoyment please keep your speed below 5mph at all times. n uiet time on site – there is a uiet time on Club campsites between 10pm and 7am, so that everyone can get a restful night s sleep. n Moving vehicles on site – please keep children and dogs close by, particularly in peak season when the number of vehicles moving around campsites increases. We ve collected feedback on our Members Helping Members posters since we put them up

in 2021. Here is a selection of your comments: “A good idea and as a new caravan owner I found everyone to be very friendly and helpful.” “All makes sense and helps to build a feeling of community in the Club.” “All excellent advice to ensure that every visitor enjoys their stay.” “A great idea. As relative newbies (having purchased this, our first van, in Feb 2019) it is nice for everyone to be reminded of these things. We like the Club sites because they are friendly,

and have always found everyone to be mindful of the points raised. It is good to encourage a quiet time, even if the weather was quite noisy overnight!” “A helping hand is always welcome; this is what this Club is about. We need to support the next generation.” Your Sites Directory & Handbook contains lots of useful information about touring and the Club – see pages 593-658 in particular – and we have online guides for people who are new to touring at camc.com/advice.

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS The ueen s Platinum Jubilee celebrations are taking place over the course of the special extended bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2-Sunday 5 June 2022. Some Club campsites will be holding events – more information about these will be available nearer the time via our social media channels (search for

@candmclub) as well as our email newsletter. You can also see a variety of planned public events on a map at platinumjubilee. gov.uk/events. If you’re looking to get away, there are still pitches available at selected campsites on the network that weekend – book now by visiting camc.com/ukholidays. May 2022 21

TOURING UK SITES

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

See camc.com for the latest site information and follow official guidelines at all times. We also recommend that you check with businesses/attractions that are listed regarding opening dates/restrictions. Scarborough and its attractive harbour

IN THE

limelight Feeling deprived of culture, Alison and Elizabeth Fowler uncover a plethora of theatrical delights on a seven-stop tour taking in Yorkshire and County Durham

he last couple of years haven’t been great for travel or for theatre – there’s been plenty of drama, of course, but not quite the right type. So when the opportunity to take a road trip around the north-east corner of England presented itself, we jumped at the chance to enjoy not only dramatic scenery but some superb live performances as well. Full of enthusiasm, we drew up a ‘places and plays’ itinerary,

www.camc.com

polished our walking boots and opera glasses, and headed for the Yorkshire coast. Scarborough was an obvious kicking-off point, simply because it has so much to offer. There are glorious beaches and spectacular cliffs, the latter home to a stunningly situated castle and, at nearby Bempton, some half-a-million seabirds during spring and summer. The town boasts an historic funicular cliff railway, a lovely harbour with plenty of cafes, restaurants and pleasure boats, and some truly world-class entertainment venues.

May 2022 23

TOURING UK SITES

Scarborough West Ayton Club Campsite

Attractively landscaped, green and peaceful, but with plenty of on-site activities including a games pavilion, pool tables, table tennis and outdoor play areas. A brilliant location for visiting Pickering and Whitby too. Pitches: 166

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In the 16th century Rosedale was home to a small group of Huguenot glass-makers

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Food & drink SeaGrown Cafe, Vincent Pier, Scarborough YO11 1PH Contact: seagrown.co.uk, 07463 528174

Culture Rotunda Museum, Vernon Road, Scarborough YO11 2PS Contact: scarboroughmuseums trust.com, 01723 353665

Outdoor fun Jump This (Bridlington), East Leys Farm, Grindale YO16 4YB GREAT Contact: jumpthis. SAVINGS G UIDE co.uk, 0333 247 8000 Member offer available: see camc.com/ greatsavingsguide

For the family Scarborough Spy Mission Treasure Trail Contact: treasuretrails.co.uk, 01872 263692 Scan here to go online and book a pitch at Scarborough West Ayton 24 May 2022

QR CODES We’re using QR codes to help you book more easily. Scan with the camera app on your phone or tablet to go directly to the site’s page on For us, one of the real draws was undergoing some exciting our website! the renowned Stephen Joseph refurbishments, including two Theatre. A cultural icon in Yorkshire, it is a new facility blocks and brand new regular home for Alan Ayckbourn’s plays (his serviced and premium pitches, but it is latest work, Family Album, will receive its world expected to reopen in September this premiere here this autumn). Founded in 1955, year, and bookings can be made now. the original venue was Britain’s first theatre in the round. With the actors encircled by the LA VIE EN ROSE audience, it makes for a much more intimate From West Ayton, we skirted the lower edge theatrical experience. This was something we of the North Riding Forest Park. Just past the couldn’t miss: what could be better than an bustling market town of Pickering – another evening of world-class drama after fish and real hub for the performing arts – we diverted chips and a sunset on the beach? into the North York Moors. Tranquil The Scarborough West Ayton Club Campsite Howard, Rosedale Abbey Club Campsite sits is the perfect base for exploring the town beside the River Seven, right on the edge of and its many attractions. It is currently the charming moorland village of Rosedale www.camc.com

Rosedale Abbey, North York Moors

The Howard, Rosedale Abbey Club Campsite

This is an ideal site for those who want some time to enjoy the stunning North York Moors. Please note the site does not have a toilet block. Pitches: 55

Site view “The pretty village has good amenities on the doorstep, with two pubs and two tea rooms. There is no mobile telephone signal whatsoever – perfect for those looking for peace and quiet.” Karen Eames and Luke Perry

Food & drink Graze on the Green, 12 Rosedale Abbey, Pickering YO18 8RA Contact: grazeon thegreen.co.uk, 01751 417468

Culture Kirk Theatre, Hungate, Pickering YO18 7DL Contact: kirktheatre.co.uk, 01751 474833

Outdoor fun Go Ape, Dalby Forest, Low Dalby YO18 7LT GREAT SAVINGS Contact: goape.co. GUIDE uk, 01603 895500 Member offer available: see camc.com/goape

For the family Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton le Hole YO62 6UA Contact: ryedalefolkmuseum. co.uk, 01751 417367

Yorkshire Coast north of Scarborough Photo by Andrew Martin www.camc.com

Scan here to go online and book a pitch at The Howard, Rosedale Abbey May 2022 25

TOURING UK SITES

Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead

Wiske Moor

Certificated Location An immaculately kept CL based on a working farm. Two new hardstanding pitches have extended its season through to mid-December. Sites Directory & Handbook p490

Member view “A warm welcome awaits you at Wiske Moor CL, a beautiful country site a stone’s throw from all the amenities you could need. Our go-to site, [it] ticks all the boxes ... and the dogs love their own exercise area.” Bruce and Dawn Rollo (and Ted)

Site view “Wiske Moor is situated in the Vale of York and offers wonderful, far-reaching views. It is close to Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route making it ideal for walkers and cyclists alike.” Julie Corner

Food & drink White Horse Cafe Fish & Chips, 227 High Street, Northallerton DL7 8LU Contact: whitehorsefishand chips.co.uk, 01609 780272 psite Nr Old Hartley Club Cam hild odc Go Les Photo by

Culture Joe Cornish Gallery, Register House, Zetland Street, Northallerton DL6 1NA Contact: joecornishgallery.co.uk, 01609 777404

Outdoor fun Croft Circuit, West Lane, Dalton-on-Tees DL2 2PL Contact: croftcircuit.co.uk/ experiences, 01325 721815

For the family Big Sheep & Little Cow Farm, Bedale DL8 1AW Contact: bigsheeplittlecow.co.uk, 01677 422125

26 May 2022

BOOKING INFO

Abbey. In the 16th century found in these parts. For the latest details and this area was home to a small Carrying on the tradition of opening information for group of Huguenot glassglass-making in Rosedale all our sites, please see makers, who had fled religious Abbey are Stephen Gillies and persecution in France. Here they Kate Jones, under the name camc.com practised their craft illegally, since Gillies Jones. The pair create glass-workers at that time required a striking handmade pieces in their special licence, very few of which were studio in the centre of the village; visitors granted. Their furnace was discovered in the are welcome to watch them at work and view 1960s and can be seen at the excellent the small permanent exhibition there. Ryedale Folk Museum, along with surviving This region was also once home to a shards of their distinctive green glass – the thriving ironstone mining industry. The area colour a natural result of the iron-rich soil around Rosedale Chimney Bank saw an www.camc.com

White Water Park Club Campsite

A pleasingly landscaped site, next to the largest internationalstandard white water canoeing and rafting course in Britain. Pitches: 97

Member view “It’s a lovely site, absolutely fantastic here, convenient for everything in a nice location. You can quickly reach the coast resorts or attractions further north. The riverside walk into town is lovely, and with a retail park close by you can shop without moving the van.” Mr and Mrs Ball

Food & drink The Vane Arms, The Village Green, Thorpe Thewles, Stockton-on-Tees TS21 3JU Contact: thevanearms.com, 01740 630458

Culture Dorman Museum, Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough TS5 6LA Contact: dormanmuseum.co.uk, 01642 813781

Outdoor fun Tees Barrage International White Water Centre, Tees Barrage Way, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 2QW Contact: tbiwwc.com, 01642 678000

For the family Head of Steam – Darlington GREAT Railway Museum, Station SAVINGS Road, Darlington DL3 6ST GUIDE Contact: head-of-steam.co.uk, 01325 405060 Member offer available: see camc.com/greatsavingsguide

Inset far left: The Cleveland Way National Trail between Scarborough and Robin Hood’s Bay Above: Millennium Cross, Rosedale Right: Ryedale Folk Museum www.camc.com

Scan here to go online and book a pitch at White Water Park Club Site May 2022 27

TOURING UK SITES

Teesdale Barnard Castle Club Campsite

Located in a designated Area of High Landscape Value, this site is perfect for walkers and cyclists. Pitches: 95

Member view “High Force Waterfall is well worth visiting and I highly recommend the Bowes Museum.” Daniel Salmon

Site view “The site is located in open beautiful countryside yet is only one mile from the town of Barnard Castle.” Brian and Sue Bibby

Food & drink The Rose and Crown at Romaldkirk, Barnard Castle DL12 9EB Contact: rose-and-crown.co.uk, 01833 650213

Culture Egglestone Abbey, Abbey Lane, Bowes, Barnard Castle DL12 9TH Contact: english-heritage.org.uk

Outdoor fun Quad Nation, Blacks Plantation, Richmond GREAT DL10 5EZ SAVINGS G UIDE Contact: quad-nation. co.uk Member offer available: see camc.com/greatsavingsguide

For the family Teesdale Alpacas, Jock House Barn, Boldron, Barnard Castle DL12 9SU Contact: teesdale-alpacas.co.uk, 07976 423258 Scan here to go online and book a pitch at Teesdale Barnard Castle

28 May 2022

Above: Tees Barrage Inset below: James Herriot’s surgery; Lord Stones, Teeside; The Gamekeeper at Danby Lodge

explosion in its extraction in the mid-19th century, and the imposing ruins of the ironstone-calcining kilns at Bank Top, with their stunning moorland outlook, are well worth a visit. Be aware that they lie at the top of one of the two steepest roads in England. It was certainly an exhilarating drive (unhitched), but well worth it for the views. Eleven miles north of Rosedale Abbey, via a slightly less vertiginous road, you will find Danby Lodge National Park Centre. It occupies a former shooting lodge on the banks of the River Esk and is surrounded by some of Yorkshire’s loveliest terrain. You can find out more about the area, including its history of ironstone mining, in the centre’s new exhibition space.

GREAT AND SMALL

For our third stop we headed west to Wiske Moor – a lovely, spacious Certificated Location (CL) with superb views of both the North York Moors and the Dales. It’s only 11 miles from the friendly market town of Thirsk, with its large, medieval cobbled square. We found some fabulous independent shops and eateries here, but our primary objective was The World of James Herriot. This is a terrific museum based in the former 1940s home of veterinary surgeon Alf Wight, who wrote under that well-known pseudonym. Visitors can see how he lived and what life was like when he was practising. There’s even a reproduced set

from the TV series of All Creatures Great and Small, where drama fans can learn about the making of the programme. If you prefer your drama a little more theatrical, nearby Richmond offers an absolute gem. The Georgian Theatre Royal is Britain’s oldest working theatre in its original form. Built in 1788, it is a typical 18th-century country playhouse with an authentic auditorium. You don’t need to book tickets for a play to experience it, however – this theatre is also a museum with a plethora of fascinating exhibits. We took one of its regular tours and got to see behind the scenes, under www.camc.com

Scarborough beach huts

Grove Farm

Certificated Location Open all year round, this peaceful, immaculately clean site was established by the current owner’s parents in 1959. A beautiful new shower room and toilet have recently been added. Sites Directory & Handbook p290

Site view “The natural environment is very important, with the grass cut to differing heights to suit visitors’ preferences. Deer visit regularly; there are bird feeders, nest boxes and an owl box for avian visitors; and a pond is being created to attract more wildlife.” Tom Cunningham and Mark Whitney (above)

Food & drink Cafédral, 1 First Floor, Owengate, Durham DH1 3HB Contact: cafedral.co.uk, 07939 230732

Culture Mining Art Gallery, Market Place, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NR Contact: aucklandproject.org, 01388 743750

Outdoor fun Hardwick Park, Sedgefield, Stockton-on-Tees TS21 2DN Contact: durham.gov.uk the stage, the view from an exclusive box and much more. It’s a magical experience for lovers of the dramatic arts. The halfway point on our road trip was White Water Park Club Campsite just outside Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham. We had a break from the theatrical here and instead spent a very entertaining couple of hours watching fearless kayakers tackling the slalom course, eddies and rapids at the Tees Barrage International White Water Centre right next to the site. Then, for www.camc.com

our own bit of outdoor adventure – and to take in some of the best scenery this area has to offer – we made for the Lord Stones Country Park. Its name comes from the Three Lords Stone, an ancient standing stone situated where the boundaries of three important landowners met on Carlton Bank. The cafe here is the start of the circular Lord Stones Walk. It’s only three miles, but we were treated to wonderful views of Middlesbrough, the Cleveland Plain, Roseberry Topping – North Yorkshire’s

For the family Auckland Castle, Market Place, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NR Contact: aucklandproject.org, 01388 743750

May 2022 29

Illustration: Louise Turpin

TOURING UK SITES

Walking App You can use the Outdooractive app to enjoy a variety of walking routes in the region. The basic app is free to use, but Club members benefit from a €10 discount on Pro or Pro+ first-year subscriptions. With the Pro version you receive features such as access to topographical maps and special activity networks, while Pro+ gives you 3D maps and more. To find out more and to see a collection of routes near Club sites, see camc.com/outdooractive.

Cycling | Scarborough A 23-mile route from Cayton Village Club site passes through the North Yorkshire Wolds and takes in the vast beach at Hunmanby Gap. It follows National Cycle Routes 1 and 166 for large sections. For a map see the October 2021 digital edition of the Club magazine via the Magazine App or on the Club website. You can watch a video at youtube.com/ CaravanandMotorhomeClub or download the route direct to your gps device from our Strava page at strava.com/activities/6010462175. 30 May 2022

most famous hill – and the 60ft-high monument to Captain Cook on Easby Moor. Having seen the Cook monument at a distance, we decided on a whim to drive to Middlesbrough’s beautifully landscaped Stewart Park, where a granite urn marks the site of the cottage in which the famed navigator and mariner was born. Close by, guarded by a Nookta totem pole from Canada and a more recent locally carved community pole, is the purpose-built Captain Cook Birthplace Museum. It presents a fascinating account of the man and his achievements.

FORCES OF NATURE

Teesdale Barnard Castle Club Campsite on the edge of the North Pennines was our next stop. The local scenery is spectacular and our friendly site managers recommended heading for the Bowlees Visitor Centre, a former Methodist chapel set against a lovely woodland backdrop. We chose a walk which took in three waterfalls – Summerhill Force, Low Force and High Force. There’s a recess behind the water at Summerhill known as Gibson’s Cave, where 16th-century outlaw William Gibson (allegedly) hid from the Barnard Castle constables, with local people bringing him clothes and food. When we visited it was a bit wet to squeeze into on the off-chance of a free meal, so we

just admired the cascade and bought ourselves some soup in the cafe. No visitor to this Club site can miss the eponymous castle, but as we knew it well, we went north-east instead to the spectacular Raby Castle, set in 200 acres of deer park. We started with a walk around the 18th-century ornamental gardens, whose walls were built with flues so that they could be heated to allow the cultivation of sub-tropical fruits. The interior of the castle was equally fascinating. If you go, don’t miss the gorgeous blue and white medieval kitchen. We topped off our stay in the area with an evening of live music at The Witham, Barnard Castle’s vibrant community arts centre. Set in a fabulous Victorian building on the historic Horse Market, it’s been an important part of cultural life in Teesdale for over 150 years. As well as music, you can see live theatre, dance, comedy, opera and film screenings – so there’s no need to confine yourself to your caravan or motorhome in the evening. Grove Farm, our sixth port of call, is a marvellously quiet CL in the village of Hett. Tom and Mark gave us the warmest of welcomes, along with lots of ideas about what to do in the area and some absolutely delicious homemade scones. After settling in, we drove into nearby Durham to visit the magnificent Norman cathedral in its commanding www.camc.com

Member Offer

camping recycled is an initiative set up by Vango to reduce the amount of great outdoor gear that ends up in landfill. We sell items that function as intended but can’t be sold through our retail partners, such as samples, demo kit and refurbished products.

We are delighted to partner with Caravan and Motorhome Club whose members now all have access to A... 10% discount on Camping Recycled products! Terms and conditions apply

www.camc.com/vangocampingrecycled

TOURING UK SITES

Old Hartley Club Campsite

Perched above the sea, this site is in an enviable position boasting far-reaching views across to Tynemouth, Blythe and St Mary’s Island with its well-known lighthouse. Pitches: 57

Site view “There are lots of coastal walking opportunities and easy access to the National Cycle Network.” Denise and Billy Gibson

Food & drink The Harbour View Restaurant, 1-3 Beresford Road, Whitley Bay NE26 4DR Contact: the-harbour-view.com, 0191 237 2478

Culture Segedunum Roman Fort, Buddle Street, Wallsend NE28 6HR Contact: segedunum romanfort.org.uk, 01912 784217

Outdoor fun Newbiggin Maritime Centre, Church Point, Newbigginby-the-Sea NE64 6DB GREAT Contact: nmcentre.org.uk, SAVINGS GUIDE 01670 811951 Member offer available: see camc.com/greatsavingsguide

For the family Tynemouth Priory & Castle, Pier Road, Tynemouth NE30 4BZ Contact: english-heritage.org.uk, 0191 257 1090 Scan here to go online and book a pitch at Old Hartley Club Site

32 May 2022

St Mary’s Lighthouse Near Old Hartley Club Campsite Photo by Carol Seaman

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What a spot this is, with its pitches on a grassy cliff overlooking St Mary’s Island position above the city and managed to conquer the 325 steps inside the tower to enjoy the superb views from the top. One of the guides told us that the cathedral has had a successful role as film location, featuring in the 1998 production of Elizabeth, as Hogwarts School cloisters in the Harry Potter series and, more recently, as part of the Asgardian Palace in Avengers: Endgame. This reminded us that part of the reason for our tour was to enjoy some fine thespianism. Durham is full of superb venues, but as we left the cathedral for a wander along the historic North Bailey we happened across the Assembly Rooms. A former ballroom, it was redeveloped in 1869 as a superb 175-seat proscenium arch theatre and, fortuitously, we were just in time to procure tickets for a superb rendition of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead later that evening. If you like your shows on a more epic scale and are in this area over the summer, make sure you get tickets for Kynren. In this open-air performance at Bishop Auckland’s 11 Arches Park, 2,000 years of history, myth and legend are brought to life by a 1,000-strong crew. It is truly spectacular outdoor theatre set in landscaped grounds, against the gorgeous backdrop of Auckland Castle.

ON LOCATION

The final leg of our journey took us to Old Hartley Club Campsite just north of Whitley Bay. What a spot this is, with its pitches on a grassy cliff overlooking St Mary’s Island, which you can walk to between tides. The picturesque lighthouse and its former keepers’ cottages are now a visitor centre, with various exhibits providing information about

”

the buildings’ history and the surrounding nature reserve. We had an enthralling time seal-watching, so much so that we almost forgot about the incoming tide. Fans of fictional detective Vera Stanhope will find much of this area familiar. In fact, the fourth episode of the most recent series of Vera sees an unfortunate victim discovered in the bay just below the Old Hartley site! Various companies offer full or half-day Vera tours, which take in many of the programme’s filming locations. It is an excellent way to experience some of Northumberland’s wonderful highlights. A little way inland of Old Hartley you’ll find Northumberlandia, a massive land sculpture in the shape of a reclining female figure. It was constructed in 2012 using 1.5 million tonnes of earth extracted from a nearby open-cast coal mine. It’s a fabulous free attraction and we had a lot of fun there following its winding paths. There are lovely expansive views of the surrounding area and a little cafe for refuelling. With this being our last evening, we headed for Whitley Bay’s two miles of golden sands and followed the Northern Promenade all the way to the beautifully restored Spanish City Plaza at the southern end of the beach. What a treat it was to finish our trip sitting at one of the full-height windows beneath the Plaza’s iconic dome, watching as the sunset turned the sea from air-force blue to fiery orange. Now that’s drama!

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Terms and conditions **Terms and conditions and exclusions apply. Discounts are off RRP, on eligible Ford models purchased from Lookers Ford Sheffield. Caravan and Motorhome Club Membership details required at time of order to qualify and full purchase process to be followed. Offer ends 31st December 2022. For full details, contact CaravanandMotorhomeClub@ lookers.co.uk or call 0114 289 5251. Only available at time of purchase and cannot be claimed retrospectively or combined with any other incentive or promotion. Lookers Ford Sheffield reserves the right to revise or withdraw the above offer without notice. *Delivery charges and geographical exclusions apply. Lookers Ford is a trading name of Lookers Motor Group Limited, 3 Etchells Road, West Timperley, Altrincham, WA14 5XS, registered in England & Wales Reg. No. 143470. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a credit broker, not a lender and can introduce you to a number of lenders. Introducing you to a number of lenders means we receive a commission. Lenders pay commission at different rates either as a fixed fee or as a fixed percentage of the amount you borrow. The commission that we receive does not affect the amount that you pay to the lender under the credit agreement.

TOURING CERTIFICATED LOCATIONS

CL SITES UPDATES CL SITES

Newcastle Emlyn

Also see the CL section of the Club website (camc.com) for the most up-to-date details on all CLs. Pitch fees may be subject to variation – please check with the CL owner before booking. New CLs are also listed at camc.com/newcls. NOTE: CL entries are identified by a reference/map number in the 2021/22 Sites Directory & Handbook. They are listed here using the same number, unless otherwise specified.

NEW CLS ENGLAND

KENT

ASHFORD (11m W) – Spears Ash Wood, Mr Russell and Mrs Angela Phipps, Mill Lane, Smarden, Ashford TN27 8NW. 01233 770863; 07748 017693; angelaphipps18@hotmail. co.uk. 51.153436, 0.680847; 189:TQ875427. OAY; 0.75 acre; dogs; adv bkg req; unfenced water; grass; 10A; peaceful; dog walk fr site; public trans, town, shop & pub in 1m; game fishing & golf in 5m; fr £20 (pitch + all occ).

LINCOLNSHIRE

BOSTON (9m S) – Suffolk House, Mr Gerald and Mrs Joyce Hicks, Old Inn Lane, Fosdyke PE20 2DE. 01205 260465; 07359 236545; hicksbillyw@ aol.com. 52.873563, -0.039579; 131:TF320324. Open 1 Mar-31 Oct; 0.5 acres; dogs; adv bkg req; grass; 16A; price fr £20 (pitch + all occ). HORNCASTLE (5m N) – The Meadow, Mr George and Mrs Deborah Littleworth, East Farm, Sandy Lane, Belchford, Horncastle LN9 6LN. 07826 558788; 07957 575667; deborah.little@btconnect.com. 53.262656, -0.073492; 122:TF285756. Open 15 Apr-31 Oct; 1.5 acres; adults only; levelling blocks req; grass; peaceful; views; wkg fm; town & pub in 1m; price fr £15 (pitch + 2 ad).

NORFOLK

STALHAM (4m N) – Bellevue, Mr Alex and Mrs Anne Somers, North Walsham Road, Ridlington NR12 0PD. 52.827244, 1.500962; 133:TG359312. 07768 275178; 07501 644617; alex.somers@tullihaugh.mu. Open 1 Mar-31 Oct; 0.5 acres; dogs; adv bkg req; hdstdng; grass; 16A; price fr £22 (pitch + all occ). 34 May 2022

WALES

CARMARTHENSHIRE

NEWCASTLE EMLYN (2m SW) – Terfyn Mawr, Mr Gerald and Mrs Hazel Hands, Penrherber, Newcastle Emlyn SA38 9RL. 01239 711282; 07971 524544; gphands252@hotmail.co.uk. 52.0236, -4.50281; 145:SN283390. Open 1 Mar-31 Oct; 1 acre; adults only; dogs; battery charging; grass; max o’fit length: 9mtrs; self catering accom; wc (sh); shwr (sh); price fr £15 (pitch + 2 ad).

UPDATES

IMPORTANT: Nightly fees may differ from those published in the Directory due to a change of facilities or ownership. It is therefore essential to confirm current fees when enquiring or making a booking. Not all CLs accompanied by a pub symbol in the Directory are located on the site of a public house – some are near to a pub (up to three miles away), so please check with the owner before visiting. 30 CAMBRIDGE – Apple Tree Cottage. Toilet facilities no longer available. 291 BAKEWELL – Highlow Farm. Wi-Fi no longer available. 297 BAKEWELL – Whitehouse Farm. Landline replaced by mobile: 07720 609743. 402 IVYBRIDGE – Hillhead Farm. Phone number has changed to 07780 707180. 586 NEWENT – Windover Farm. Mobile number ending 311 replaced with 07985 489184. 630 LYMINGTON – Wayside. CL has re-opened.

822 WHALLEY – Wiswell Shay Farm. Bookings via text or email only. New details: 07502 356273; wiswellshayfarmcl@mail.com. 898 MABLETHORPE – Appleborough. New sole contact number: 07832 622129. 1498 CHICHESTER – Bird Pond Nursery. Landline removed. New numbers: 07722 915722; 07910 416437. 1604 REDDITCH – Hill Farm. Email address: jamiehill600@gmail.com. 1760 SKIPTON – Hurries Farm. Email address has changed to hurriesfarmdavid@gmail.com. 1895 LAID – 94 Laid. CL name changed to Choraidh Croft. 1932 MELROSE – Springlee. Now adults only. Sep 2021 magazine STRATFORDON-AVON – Langley Farm. This site now has three hardstandings. Jan 2022 magazine COLCHESTER – Cross Vale Farm.Correction of town name. Should read ‘Dedham, Colchester’, and not ‘Dereham’. Apr 2022 magazine ABERGAVENNY – Warwicks Inn CL. New name: The Halfway. New owner: Rhiannon Metters. Tel: 07927 083691; 01600 780396. Email: halfwayenquiries@outlook.com.

CLOSURES

The following five-pitch CLs are closed and no longer certified by the Club. This does not affect any other business that a landowner may be operating. 2 BEDFORD – Old Farm. 248 MARYPORT – Crooklands Farm. 269 SILLOTH – Horn House Farm.

287 ASHBOURNE – Windmill Farm. 400 IVYBRIDGE – Coldharbour Farm. 450 WOOLACOMBE – Springside. 583 NEWENT – Hartledge Farm. 632 LYNDHURST – Martins Farm. 1042 HOLT – Rose Cottage. 1072 NORTH WALSHAM – The Flint House. 1076 NORWICH – Chestnut Farm Meadow. 1077 NORWICH – Fieldings. 1152 LOUGHBOROUGH – Littleover Farm. 1327 TAUNTON – Crimson Hill Farm. 1449 WOODBRIDGE – The Red House. 1511 PETWORTH – Blackwool Farm. 1844 STEWARTON – South Netherhouses. 1925 EYEMOUTH – New Mains. 1985 LLANELLI – The Waunwyllt. 2118 NARBERTH – Canaston Oaks. 2142 BRECON – Rhydywernen Farm.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

See camc.com for the latest site and CL information and follow official guidelines at all times. Please note: routes provided by autoroutes or satellite navigation systems may include roads unsuitable for vehicles towing trailers or caravans. There may also be specific width or height restrictions. For caravan-friendly local routes to Club sites, CLs and commercial sites we would advise using the standard directions published in the Sites Directory & Handbook and on our website. www.camc.com

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SPECIAL CUMBRIA

Coasting along From windswept island causeways to Roman ruins, via a gin distillery and the birthplace of Stan Laurel, the Cumbrian Coastal Route 200 has it all. Nick Harding points his motorhome towards England’s North-West

fficially, the new Cumbrian Coastal Route 200 stretches from Morecambe Bay in the south via Solway in the north to Carlisle. Designed for cars, campers and motorhomes, the route has been split into five ordered sections (as detailed below), but you can be as flexible as you want – for example, you could start at either end, depending on whether you are arriving from the north or south. You could structure your journey to incorporate stops at a variety of Club campsites and Certificated Locations (see panel on page 39), or pitch up with a caravan and use your car to sample parts of the trail. And, best of all, you can take as long as you like to do it! I visited Cumbria with my partner, Lin, and dog, Bonnie. The weather wasn’t the greatest, with Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin threatening, but the memories more than make up for that. Hold on tight for a guide to just some of its many highlights (for the official route, head to

36 May 2022

visitlakedistrict.com/information/vanlifelake-district-cumbria/cumbrian-coastalroute). I don’t think I’ve ever packed so much into a single week’s campervanning – we would definitely recommend you take longer than a week, if you can!

DAY ONE – MORECAMBE BAY

The area around Morecambe Bay is proving a draw for ‘foodies’, and our first aim was to stock up for the week at specialist local retailer ‘A

Day’s Walk’. The company’s Lake District Food Hall can be found at Holker Hall on the Cartmel Peninsula. Co-managers Colin and Emma Sneath explain that fresh produce arrives on the same day they order it, and venison comes from the 175-acre Holker Estate. Our next stop was pretty Cartmel, where you can pick up the area’s signature sticky toffee pudding in the village shop. We rounded off our first day by exploring the rather grand coastal town of Grange-overwww.camc.com

Clockwise from main image: Allonby Beach; Laurel and Hardy Museum in Ulverston; Haverigg; Roa Island; Piel Island; Cartmel; Grange-over-Sands

Sands (‘Grange’ to the locals). After pitching up at Meathop Fell Club site and pitching in to dinner, we were able to enjoy some of our discoveries from A Day’s Walk. (Quick tip: head to the dog walk field and you’ll get fine views out across Morecambe Bay.)

DAY TWO – FURNESS PENINSULA AND ISLANDS

Having headed south-west to the Furness Peninsula, we took a short drive across the

causeway to Roa Island, where the Bosun’s Locker cafe is open daily aside from Mondays and Tuesdays. From Roa you can catch the passenger ferry for Piel Island, with its ruined 14th-century castle (you may have seen recent news stories about the island’s search for a new ‘king’ and landlord for its pub). With its docks, supermarkets, shops and restaurants, Barrow-in-Furness is an important hub, but we had an appointment further inland, in the town of Ulverston.

Here, the 1930s-built Roxy still operates as a cinema, but downstairs is devoted to the Laurel and Hardy Museum. Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston, and there’s even a copy of his birth certificate among the hundreds (if not thousands) of museum exhibits. The duo’s films play on an endless loop, too. “My whole life has been Laurel and Hardy‚” says Mark Greenhow, curator of the museum and grandson of its founder Bill Cubin (a former Mayor of Ulverston). “My first memory is of grandad winding back a cine film... his big regret was he never wrote to Stan [who was known to be a great writer of letters].” Ulverston is also home to the multi-awardwinning Shed 1 gin distillery, renowned not only for its gins, but also its afternoon teas. Indeed, the ‘G&Tea’ is a fine feast – it includes a delicious baked yoghurt, cake and a scone plus marmalade (another award-winner). Co-owner Zoe Arnold-Bennett makes it all using the same ingredients (botanicals) that go into the gins; just don’t plan to go out for an evening meal, as we originally had! We stayed for the night at The Old School House CL in Broughton-in-Furness. This is a gem, with hardstandings, electric hook-up, a fire pit (they sell logs) and lovely views over to Beacon Tarn. (Note there’s a 7.5m maximum outfit length) Owners Barbara and Howard Wood – who are campervanners themselves – helpfully provided a rundown of local highlights: “You can walk down to the village from here... it takes about 35 minutes and it’s all off-road,” says Barbara. “You can join the Coniston old railway line from our site so the walk is mainly flat. There are two pubs in the village, The Black Cock Inn and the Old Kings Head. Both do good food and dogs are allowed in both. I suggest that you book a table, though, as they can get very busy.” Other recommendations included Silecroft – “folk are really taken aback when they go” – as well as Roudsea Wood and Mosses National Nature Reserve, Millom Beach and Haverigg “for brilliant sand dunes”.

DAY THREE – HAVERIGG TO SEASCALE

We had intended to investigate some of Barbara’s suggestions, but at this point the stormy weather hampered our progress. At three-mile-long sandy Silecroft, for example, we could barely open the doors of our campervan, so opted to sit and watch the foam that was being whipped up by the super-strong winds through our windows. May 2022 37

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Trail blazer

Nick stayed at the following Club campsite and CLs (top to bottom): n Meathop Fell Club Campsite n The Old School House CL (owners Barbara and Howard Wood, pictured) n Old Kiln Farm CL

The next stop was Ravenglass, where you can visit the Roman baths, which, along with Hadrian’s Wall further north, form part of the ‘Frontiers of the Roman Empire’ UNESCO World Heritage Site. With Dockray Meadow Club Campsite closed at the time, our next stopover was a private commercial site called Shepherds Views, near Holmrook. The only fuel station en route was having its pumps replaced, but after we checked in we realised we didn’t have sufficient diesel to power the heating system. Out we went again, some 11 miles up the road to Egremont, with the weather getting fouler. By the time we were safely back on site with a Shed 1 gin (Cuckold’s Revenge) and tonic (Mawson’s Fell) in hand, we had learned our lesson: keep your fuel topped up.

DAY FOUR – SEASCALE TO MARYPORT

While Whitehaven may have seen busier days as a port, you can learn about its history – as well as that of nearby Seascale and its power plants – at the imposing Beacon Museum, whichoverlooks the marina. The museum is a fantastic mix of interactive and traditional galleries and exhibitions, and there’s a cafe and gift shop. Whitehaven was once famed for its rum, and the history of the dark spirit’s role in the area is recounted alongside tales of piracy and prohibition at The Rum Story, located in the 18th-century warehouses and cellars of the Jefferson family business. We stayed a night at Old Kiln Farm CL, right on the coast near Allonby. Here you’ll find a flat field with concrete-slabbed hardstandings and mains hook-ups as well as a small toilet/shower building.

DAY FIVE – MARYPORT TO CARLISLE Our first stop on the fifth day was at Senhouse Roman Museum in Maryport, overlooking the Solway Firth. This attraction is home to the largest group of Roman military altar stones (ie small www.camc.com

Maryport s pretty harbour top and the fascinating Senhouse Roman Museum above monuments) and inscriptions from any site in Britain. There is also a reconstruction of a typical lookout tower. Heading inland, we visited Cockermouth, the birthplace of Romantic poet William Wordsworth. The National Trust looks after the family’s Georgian townhouse and garden. There is plenty of history and culture elsewhere in the market town – another son was Fletcher Christian, who attended the same school as Wordsworth prior to leading the infamous mutiny on The Bounty. We had set aside time to take in Allonby Beach and drive through parts of the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which sadly meant our exploration of Carlisle had to be curtailed. If you would like to round off (or start) your trip along the Cumbrian Coastal Route 200 by visiting this historic city, Englethwaite Hall Club Campsite is now open for the 2022 touring season and sits less than 10 miles to the south-east. A proper visit, to see Carlisle’s castle and discover more about its strong links with the military, will have to wait... and hopefully the weather will be calmer next time!

MEMBER SINCE...

Motorhomer, caravanner and tent camper Nick Harding joined the Club in 2002

You could also use: n Kendal Club Campsite n Coniston Park Coppice Club Campsite n Dockray Meadow Club Campsite n Englethwaite Hall Club Campsite To search for CLs in Cumbria please use the map function at camc.com or see pages 291-298 of the Sites Directory & Handbook Find out more about the Cumbrian Coastal Route 200 and Cumbria Tourism s Motor Caravanners Code (which encourages responsible touring) at visitlakedistrict.com/ information/vanlife-lakedistrict-cumbria/cumbriancoastal-route. Useful websites: n holker.co.uk n cartmelvillageshop.co.uk n laurel-and-hardy.co.uk n shed1distillery.com n lakeland-inns.co.uk/ the-black-cock-inn n oldkings.co.uk n thebeacon-whitehaven.co.uk n rumstory.co.uk n senhousemuseum.co.uk May 2022 39

FOREIGN TOURING FRANCE

Right: Garonne River and Dôme de la Grave in Toulouse

Camping Ma Prairie (Club ref: C05) Close to lovely sandy beaches and the Canet-en-Rousillon nature reserve, this peaceful campsite surrounded by vineyards producing tasty local wine has excellent facilities, including a pool with waterslides.

Site view “Castelnou is less than 30 minutes’ drive away; this stunning hilltop medieval village provides spectacular views over the countryside. En route make a detour to Thuir and visit the local producers of delicious aperitif, Byrrh.” Simon and Nathalie Gil

Food & drink La Cave au Cassoulet, 54 Rue Peyrolières, 31000 Toulouse Contact: caveaucassoulet.chez. com, 0033 561 13 60 30

Culture Casa Salvador Dalí, Platja Portlligat, 17488 Cadaqués Contact: salvador-dali.org, 0034 972 25 10 15

Outdoor fun Canet-en-Rousillon’s nature reserve and lake Contact: ot-canet.fr

For the family Collioure Art Trail Contact: golanguedoc.com

40 May 2022

PLEASE FOLLOW OFFICIAL TRAVEL RULES AT ALL TIMES – SEE GOV.UK/FOREIGNTRAVEL-ADVICE

Magical Med A Occitanie in the south of France draws birdwatchers, culture buffs, gastronomes – and those looking to dip their toes in the Mediterranean Sea. Heidi Fuller-Love dives in...

fter a somewhat chilly spring weekend on the Atlantic coast of France near Bordeaux, we decided to hop over to the Mediterranean south in search of higher temperatures. Leaving Bordeaux beneath louring skies, we made a beeline for the Occitanie region, which stretches along the sea from Spain to Nîmes, and has been a magnet for artists for centuries. Following the busy A62, the clouds began to lift as we passed through Agen – famed for its prunes, which were once exported around the world – and by the time we reached Toulouse we were in T-shirts. Known as the Pink City because of the pale colour of its brickwork,

Toulouse is the home of France’s most successful rugby team and the centre of the country’s aerospace industry. It is also famed for violets, and after admiring more than 100 different varieties of the city’s iconic flower at the Conservatoire National de la Violette, we headed for cosy restaurant La Cave au Cassoulet to eat one of Toulouse’s best-loved specialities, the eponymous cassoulet. A plateful of this bean, duck and sausage stew gave us renewed energy to explore the town. On a previous visit we’d taken a fascinating tour around the Airbus factory (book well in advance), but this time we spent a few hours just enjoying the warm sunshine as we strolled the city’s cobbled streets, before making the two-hour drive to our first campsite in Canet-en-Rousillon. www.camc.com

Campsite Domaine de la Dragonnière (Club ref: C06) Perfect for families, this lively site with its tree-shaded pitches and large pool complex is within easy reach of the pretty town of Béziers and the Canal du Midi, and just a stone’s throw from some of the region’s best beaches.

Site view

Inset from left: flamingos; aerial view of Canet en Roussillon

“Be sure to visit Béziers, the oldest of the Occitanie cities and only 20 minutes’ drive away, with its imposing Gothic cathedral and the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site.”

Food & drink Le Trémail, 16 bis Rue Mailly, 66190 Collioure Contact: 0033 468 82 16 10

Culture Noilly Prat, 1 Rue Noilly, 34340 Marseillan Contact: noillyprat.com/ plan-your-visit, 0033 467 77 20 15

WINGS AND THINGS

We are keen birdwatchers and the Ma Prairie campsite made the perfect base. Surrounded by vineyards and orchards, this peaceful site is close to some of the Med’s most appealing beaches, but – best of all for us – it’s also close to Canet-en-Rousillon’s nature reserve and lake. Backed by the snow-capped Pyrenees, the lake, which is really a wide, shallow lagoon separated from the sea by a narrow sandbank, is a favourite stopover point for migrating birds. We were lucky enough to spot greater flamingos the colour of strawberry ice-cream and long-legged avocets, as well as a jewelbright kingfisher that flashed in and out of the water as we enjoyed a picnic of the local, crusty pain aux olives – bread dotted with black olives – stuffed with feather-fine Bayonne ham. www.camc.com

After breakfast the following morning – slabs of the classic French custard tart, flan pâtissier, and a pot of freshly brewed coffee in a café near the medieval castle in Canet village – we followed the coast road southwards. Since I’m a big fan of fresh anchovies, we stopped for lunch in the charming French coastal town of Collioure, where they’ve been fishing them since the Middle Ages. This picturesque coastal haven with its pastel-coloured houses, pretty pebble beaches and richly decorated Notre-Dame-des-Anges church was once popular with artists including Matisse and Picasso. We had a lot of fun visiting the town’s Museum of Modern Art to see the works on show, and later following the art trail, which marks out the exact spots where some of those scenes were painted.

Outdoor fun Safari Camargue, 17, Avenue de la République,13460 Saintes Maries de la Mer Contact: camargue.com/ camargue-en-4x4, 0033 490 97 89 33

For the family Canal du Midi Contact: french-waterways.com

May 2022 41

Illustration: Louise Turpin

FOREIGN TOURING FRANCE

After a leisurely lunch of deliciously crunchy deep-fried anchovies at Le Tremail, a restaurant in one of the town’s pretty backstreets, we hopped across the Spanish border and followed the winding mountain road to Cadaqués. Again Cadaqués was popular with artists during the 19th and 20th centuries. Indeed, the town is best known as the haunt of Salvador Dalí, whose house in nearby Port Lligat is now a museum packed with the bizarre items that he loved to collect. After marvelling at Dalí’s house we drove inland to Figueres, home of the Dalí TheatreMuseum where we spent a few fascinating hours admiring the great man’s sculptures and surrealist artworks, which include a living-room installation that looks like the face of Mae West. Leaving Ma Prairie the following day, we headed for our second campsite. Stopping off Cadaqués, Spain

42 May 2022

to buy pungent goat’s cheese (chevre) and the local hazelnut and praline speciality gragnottes in Narbonne’s ornate early-20thcentury market hall, we made our leisurely way to the Domaine de la Dragonnière site near Béziers. Tucked between the lively resorts of Vias and Portiragnes, Domaine de la Dragonnière is perfectly situated for exploring the delights of the Canal du Midi, one of Europe’s oldest man-made waterways. Best of all, this spacious site has a pool complex, a spa area and a regular shuttle service to the nearest beaches just five kilometres away.

JUST ADD WATER

In the mid-17th Century, the Canal du Midi was the engineering miracle of its time, comprising a whopping 240km of navigable waterway all the way to Toulouse (from there vessels could continue onwards to the Bay of Biscay). We wandered around the lime tree-shaded streets of Béziers the next day seeking out the statue of salt-tax collector Pierre-Paul Riquet, the man who came up with this audacious plan for joining the Mediterranean to the Atlantic all those centuries ago. Born in Béziers, Riquet received a commission from Louis XIV to build the canal on 15 November 1662. Between 1667 and 1681, 12,000 workers were employed full time digging trenches, and

when the Sun King ran out of money Riquet used personal funds to finance the work. The man who conceived the canal died, bankrupt, in 1680 when the link to the Mediterranean was just 5km from completion. The canal was finally filled with water in 1681 and, well over 300 years later, the waterway still buzzes with boats and barges. From Béziers we hired bikes and cycled along towpaths to see the spectacular Fonséranes locks: eight successive chambers that carry boats to a height of 21.44m over the course of 304m. We ended our week-long stay with an exhilarating safari to spot flamingos and wild horses in the Camargue, followed by a visit to Marseillan, home of the Noilly Prat vermouth factory. Slurping brine-fresh Bouzigues oysters from the shell and sipping a glass of this herbal tipple seemed like the perfect way to end our thrilling trip along the magical Med. If Heidi has inspired you to explore Occitanie, visit camc.com/overseas where you can book Camping Ma Prairie and Domaine de la Dragonnière. We have over 300 European campsites to choose from as well as discounted ferry and Eurotunnel crossings.

www.camc.com

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Reef, Beach and Mountains We are offering you the opportunity to experience Australia s incredible diversity on a 33-day escorted motorhome tour. Experienced guides will be on hand throughout as you take in the legendary Great Barrier Reef, walk along dazzling, white-sand beaches and witness the forests, cliffs, canyons and waterfalls of the Blue Mountains. Following your flight, your adventure begins at Cairns in tropical Far North ueensland. Having settled into your hotel and met your fellow travellers for a

Dingo on Fraser Island

welcome dinner, you will head for the Frankland Islands where a snorkelling experience gives you the chance to see magnificent corals, brightly coloured fish, sea turtles and giant clams. Once you have collected your Maui Ultima Plus three-berth motorhome, you will then follow the coast south to Mission Beach and then Townsville. ou could stop at Ingham along the way to see one of the country s largest sugar cane mills and the extraordinary birdlife of the T TO Wetlands. By Day 10 you will have reached spectacular Airlie Beach, from which you can embark on a boat trip to the Whitsunday Islands adjacent to the Reef. While in this beautiful region, you could do the Whitsunday Great Walk, seek out spectacular Whitehaven Beach or take a crocodile-watching tour. ou then head for Rockhampton in the heart of the Fitzroy Basin, before making your way to Hervey Bay. From here you could go on a whale watching tour before enjoying a trip to Fraser Island – the only place on Earth where rainforest grows in a sand dune environment.

Byron Bay – a region famed for its beaches, independent shopping and dining experiences – and Coffs Harbour (a great place for wildlife watching and home to the iconic Big Banana amusement park) are next on the itinerary as you cross the state border into New South Wales. There are more delights to be witnessed at Port Mac uarie (try to spot whales and dolphins from the lighthouse) and Lake Mac uarie (the largest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere) before you head into the glorious Blue Mountains. From your base at atoomba, you are within easy walking distance of the famous atoomba Falls, Three Sisters rock formation and the Scenic World Skyway – a jaw-dropping cable-car line that passes 270m above ancient ravines. our final day of driving takes you to the state capital of Sydney. ou have three nights to unwind in Australia s oldest and largest city, so take the opportunity to visit iconic landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge and Opera House, before saying farewell to this incredible country in style with a Sunset Dinner Cruise around the famous harbour.

For information on these tours and others, please visit camc.com/worldwide or call 01342 488059 44 May 2022

www.camc.com

Wild koalas along the Great Ocean Road

RULES! The Great Ocean Road and Beyond Take in wild beaches, spectacular rock formations and remarkable wildlife along the Great Ocean Road, explore exciting cities and enjoy a wine-tasting tour in the Barossa Valley on this once-in-a-lifetime Australian tour. Your three-berth motorhome and all of your campsites are pre-booked, while you can call on the assistance of our experienced local tour hosts throughout your adventure – all you have to do is enjoy yourself. Following your flight to Sydney, you will be transferred to your hotel on Darling Harbour for a three-night stay. Highlights will include a sunset dinner cruise around the famous harbour and lunch at Sydney Tower s revolving restaurant. You will then pick up your motorhome and head for Canberra, Australia’s capital city, before making your way south towards Melbourne. Here you will have three days to explore and we have included a trip on the Penguin Express, during which you will have the opportunity to watch these fascinating creatures making their nightly

Great Ocean Road

Twelve Apostles

pilgrimage from the Southern Ocean to their burrows. Then it’s on to the pretty coastal resort town of Torquay, your starting point on one of the most spectacular drives in the world – the Great Ocean Road. Stretching for more than 150 miles along the south coast, the road, which passes rainforest, pristine beaches, cliffs and rock formations, was built by soldiers between 1919 and 1932 as a memorial to those killed in the First World War. Highlights will undoubtedly be the fishing port of Apollo Bay and the Twelve Apostles – magnificent limestone stacks that rise out of the ocean. After Warrnambool, you leave the Great Ocean

Road behind you and head for Mount Gambier, famous for a lake which changes colour from grey to an intense shade of blue depending on the season. On day 19, you can either continue up the coast to Robe or head inland to the Naracoorte Caves National Park – one of the world s most important fossil sites. As your journey draws to an end you'll pass through the Coorong National Park, whose saltwater lagoons are home to a range of wonderful birdlife. To conclude your adventure you will spend three nights in the South Australian capital of Adelaide – and we have a final treat in store; a half-day wine tour in the Barossa Valley, during which you can raise a glass to your tour hosts and this exceptional country!

When you’re ready to explore again, we’ll be with you every step of the way. We offer a full refund or amendment of your package holiday if the FCDO advises against travel to your destination, borders close or you’d need to quarantine on arrival at your destination*. Find out more at camc.com/ wwconfidence. * Covers holiday cancellations in line with FCDO advice. T&Cs apply.

Duration/type: 25 days/escorted motorhome tour Departs: 8 November 2022 Price: from £5,399pp based on two sharing Price includes: return flights, all transfers, three nights in centrally located hotels in Sydney and Adelaide including breakfast, 16 days Maui Ultima Plus three-berth motorhome rental, 15 nights pre-booked campsites, Sydney harbour cruise with dinner, lunch at the Sydney Tower, Penguin Express trip, Barossa wine tour, farewell dinner, local tour hosts.

For information on these tours and others, please visit camc.com/worldwide or call 01342 488059 www.camc.com

May 2022 45

TOURING OVERSEAS TRAVEL

PLEASE FOLLOW OFFICIAL TRAVEL UI ELINES AN SEE CAMC.COM FOR FURTHER A VICE

Find out more at: camc.com/confidence

Have a splashing time! Whether you’re a fan of beaches, lakes or waterparks, we have the perfect site for you on our European network

Club ref

Club ref A

For many of us, enjoying time in, on or near the water is what a great summer break is all about! Whether you enjoy high-energy activities like surfing or water-skiing, a relaxing pedalo ride across a lake, swimming, snorkelling or simply splashing about in a play park – we have a fantastic campsite for you on our overseas network. Here’s a sprinkling to whet your appetite...

For lakes and watersports Club ref H

Club ref A 8

Club ref A

Club ref A 8

46 May 2022

Val de Bonnal, Franche-Comte, France Club ref A large lake offers pedalo and paddleboarding opportunities, while the campsite also arranges canoe trips on the adjacent River Ognon. You can also enjoy the slides in the on-site aqua park, while the little ones will love the splash park. Add in a tree-top rope course, bike hire and more and you have the perfect recipe for an active holiday. Les Ourmes Hourtin, ironde, France Club ref A Located within the Médoc Regional Nature Park, just 500m from a huge freshwater lake, this campsite is fabulous for watersports enthusiasts. Options include standup paddleboarding, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, canoeing, and windsurfing, while younger holiday makers will love the Splash Park featuring fantastic inflatables.

Lilse Bergen, Antwerp, Belgium Club ref H This site sits right next to a lake (also open to the public), offering the opportunity to enjoy the likes of kayaking. A shallow, marked-out area for paddling and a playground should appeal to younger guests. Other attractions nearby include trampolines, gokarts and electric mini cars. Le Col Vert, Nouvelle-A uitaine, France Club ref A 8 You can hire canoes and pedalos directly from this large campsite on the shores of beautiful Lake Léon. Other attractions include tennis courts and a large play park.

For beaches

Le rand Large, Normandy Club ref N , France This high-quality site has direct access to a fabulous sweep of sand – perfect for relaxing, bathing or a spot of sandcastle building. The more adventurous will also find a sand yacht school (2km away), sailing school (8km) and surf school (10km) within easy reach. There's an excellent pool complex on site, too! La C te Sauvage, NouvelleA uitaine, France Club ref A 8 Visitors to this well-equipped site have direct access to a lovely,

long sandy beach on the Atlantic coast near Royan. There is a lighthouse to visit within walking distance, while you will also find a fantastic water park with slides and indoor pool on site.

For waterparks and pools

Esterel Caravaning, Provence-Alpes-C te d A ur, France Club ref C One of the finest campsites in southern France, Esterel Caravaning boasts a fabulous water park containing numerous pools, an aqua play area with slides, a heated indoor fun pool for children and a 1,000m2 white sand beach. Just a short distance from the beach at Agay, this site is well located for exploring the likes of Cannes, Antibes, Nice and St Tropez. Eurosol Camping Club, France Club ref A Set within pine forest close to a beautiful beach, this site offers its own water park, featuring two outside heated pools, an indoor heated pool and a children’s paddling pool with mini water slide.

To find out more about all our European sites, see camc.com/overseas

Esterel Caravaning Club ref C

ON T FOR ET n Many overseas campsites require users to wear Speedo-style trunks (rather than long swimming shorts) or swimming hats in the pool. Check before you travel. n Make sure you buy insurance and emergency assistance cover for your holiday. The Club has been providing Red Pennant Overseas Holiday Insurance for more than 50 years. Find out more at camc.com/ redpennant. n Book a ferry crossing and campsite during the same transaction and you ll enjoy great savings as well as nancial protection. Visit camc. com/ overseas packages for more information.

MY MOTUS IS MY EXCUSE TO EXPLORE

The Raleigh Motus ebike - many things to many people. What will yours be to you?

Model shown: Motus GT Hub

Visit camc.com/raleigh to find out about our exclusive member offer. Terms and conditions apply.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE CYCLING GEAR

Along

ride for the

Jane McGowan checks out a range of accessories for bike enthusiasts

Hornit Jurassic Cycle Helmet Parents and children alike will love this eye-catching headgear. The light, bright design features illustrations depicting dinosaurs engaged in fun activities. Notable points include the ring adjuster and three-way adjustable chin strap designed to keep the helmet securely in place, removable soft foam that provides further flexibility for size and fit as your child grows, and a rear safety light that alerts others to your child’s presence. RRP: £34.99 Size: small, medium Contact: hornit.com

Fastrider Nyla Trend Double 15L Panniers This cheerful pannier set provides storage for all your child’s must-haves when out on a day of adventure. Made from water-repellent recycled polyester, the bags offer lots of reflectivity for added visibility. They can be easily fitted to most bikes via straps and hook-and-loop fasteners, and feature quick-release openings. An attractive, practical addition to your child’s bicycle. RRP: £26.99 Colour: botanic pink Contact: bikeinn.com 48 May 2022

Mountain Warehouse Adrenaline Men’s Iso-Viz Jacket

ER MEMB R OFFE

The waterproof Men’s Iso-Viz jacket offers a pretty impressive list of features, including adjustable cuffs, hem and hood for a better fit, meshed lining to aid temperature control, and a scooped back to help keep you dry while you pedal. Made from highly visible 100% polyester, all stitched areas are reinforced with waterproof tape. The Iso-Viz also comes in an impressive range of colours and sizes. RRP: £69.99 Member offer: save 15% (see camc.com/ mountainwarehouse for details and terms and conditions) Size: XS-4XL Colours: red, orange, silver, lime, yellow Contact: mountainwarehouse.com

Halfords Helmet Light This great-value helmet light from Halfords is ideal for boosting your visibility on the road. It simply clips on to your headgear via a hook-andloop fastening. Featuring front and rear beams, it lets you be seen by road users from multiple angles. Options while in use include a front 75 lumen high beam (offering a two-hour run time); a front flash (four hours); and a front and rear constant beam (two hours). It comes with a useful handlebar mounting bracket, and is rechargeable via USB too. RRP: £10 Contact: halfords.com

ER ME MB G SAVIN LE AB AVAIL

Thule Elite G2 Short Bike Carrier When attached to the rear wall of your motorhome, this carrier is designed to hold two bikes or e-bikes up to a maximum weight of 60kg as standard. It can be modified to carry up to four bikes in total with rail kits that are sold separately. The easy-to-adjust rails slide left and right, helping you to get your pride and joy into the optimum position, while adjustable wheel holders mean you can secure almost any size of bicycle. A lockable platform provides further security during transport. RRP: £350 from Prima Leisure (available for £315 via the Club Shop; shop.camc.com for details and terms and conditions) Contact: thule.com

Artilect Women’s Boulder 125 Tee Serious cyclists might be keen to try this hi-tech top from Artilect. It is constructed using “Nuyarn merino fabric technology” designed to offer optimum warmth-to-weight ratio, durability and fast-drying qualities. Suitable for a range of activities, it is machine washable and comes complete with a hang-dry loop, which is great for touring wash days. RRP: £65 Size: XS-XL Contact: artilect.studio

May 2022 49

MADE TO TRAVEL UK made 12-volt Traveller TVs for use in caravans and motorhomes. Choose from Smart TVs with streaming apps and Wi-Fi or built-in DVD players.

19”, 22” & 32” TRAVELLER TVs with built in D D player 12v or 240v mains power cables included v variable power range of

. v 30v

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UK MADE

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record

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input for e ternal devices D

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Around

19” 12V SMART TRAVELLER TV

with streaming apps and Wi-Fi built-in v or 0v mains power cables included v variable power range of . v 30v mart with i Fi built in Built in satellite tuner for all free to air channels D B B record play media les D input for e ternal devices Wide viewing angle

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View the Traveller TVs at www.cello.tv or www.ferguson.tv Need help? Call our UK call centre 0333 433 0312 or email consumersupport@cello.tv

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CORRESPONDENCE YOUR VIEWS

Letters

Send your letters to: magazine@camc.com.

Your chance to have your say. The writer of our Star Letter will receive a £30 National Trust Gift Card

Members can save 8% on National Trust Gift Cards, which can be redeemed in National Trust cafés and shops, in the Trust’s online shop and towards gift membership packs. See camc.com/nationaltrust for more information.

STAR LETTER

STRICTLY COME CAMPING

In the April issue of the Club magazine, the Editor asked what unusual hobbies members pursued while travelling. Well, I have just the answer for members seeking a new challenge. In 2006, before it was popularised by BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, dancer Stephanie and I became obsessed with the Argentine tango, leading to trips to Buenos Aires to learn and dance with expert tangueros. Back in Blighty we realised that our Auto-Trail Tracker motorhome offered the perfect package to combine camping trips with our new dance pursuit. It may come as a surprise, but the Argentine tango is especially popular here in the UK, with South American teachers, tango schools and social dances – called milongas – appearing in every city and numerous festivals and tango weekend ‘marathons’ being held throughout the year. What better way to access this fun activity than with the benefit of your own caravan accommodation and travelling tango wardrobe? Be it Cheltenham Racecourse, Crystal Palace or the glorious site on the banks of the Forth in Edinburgh, the Club provides a plethora of options a short drive from most events. Now, from watching Strictly Come Dancing, you might think that the Argentine tango was just a pursuit for the agile young, but you would be wrong. The most sought-after tangueros in Buenos Aires are those over the age of 60 who have absorbed its technique and history. Tempted? Why not give it a go? Staying fit while making new friends, with the bonus of your motorhome or caravan, might be the answer to a new adventure? Stephen Twist, via email www.camc.com

BATH TIME

A SOUND IDEA Here’s a tip which I thought others may find useful. If your caravan TV has a headphone socket on the back and you have a car stereo built into your caravan that has an auxiliary-in socket, you can connect the two with a lead which has male 3.5mm stereo jack plugs at both ends. The TV will probably automatically silence the main speaker when the headphone socket is in use and then you simply select the auxiliaryin setting on the car stereo. The difference in sound quality is truly amazing!

My wife Eileen and I have been members for quite a few years and recently stayed at a site that I can only describe as top-notch. Bath Chew Valley is an Affiliated Site that surpassed all my expectations. I actually felt privileged to be there from the outset. Nothing was too much trouble for the staff and the facilities were excellent. The washrooms were spotless and put to shame a hotel we had stayed in the previous week. It is an adults only site with wonderfully laid lawns and a purpose-made dog walk (a welcome relief to our Shih Tzu, Alfie) next to a very well managed woodland walk. It s close enough for an evening trot to a public house in the village. The location is also perfect for a day out in Wells, Bath or Bristol. Siting of the van was done for us, which was just as well, as we had only picked up our Lunar Clubman that day so I had no chance to practise myself! John Griffiths, via email

SENSATIONAL SUNSETS We captured this amazing sunset during a recent stay at Troutbeck Head Club site near Ullswater in the Lake District. It’s a spacious and quiet site with the bonus that each evening you get to enjoy breathtaking sunsets with Blencathra providing a perfect backdrop. On top of that you have clear nights with a twinkling arrays of stars too. Jen Kidder, via email

Ian Miles, via email

May 2022 51

CORRESPONDENCE YOUR VIEWS

FINE VINTAGE

After reading Nick Lomas’ column in the March magazine which referenced the oldest iron still in use in the UK, I attach a photo of two wine glasses bought from Kerfoots Department Store in Porthmadog, North Wales, in the mid-1970s. The store unfortunately closed in 2018 after trading for 140 years. The wine glasses have survived many holidays in the UK, initially in a frame tent and then in two VW campervans, a Joint E47 motorhome and now a Devon Monte Carlo campervan. Nikki Bosworth, via email

BLUE BOTTLE I am pleased to inform you that I still use my original Elsan Blue bottle. The bottle has been used as a decanter for toilet fluid for nearly 50 years – the total time of my caravanning! Jeff Lynn, via email Editor s note: Thanks for your note, Jeff, which I believe is in response to Director General Nick Lomas question, What s your favourite touring accessory, and do you have cherished items that have lasted for a long time? [March, 2022 issue]. Thanks to everyone who has written in.

A BIG THANK YOU We would like to send our thanks to the staff for their outstanding assistance during our stay at Southport Club site at the end of February. Arriving on site we set up our caravan and decided to go for a walk along the front. Whilst out walking I tripped over and broke my left arm and right-hand fingers. Luckily we met a couple from the site (to whom we are very grateful) who were also out for a walk. Thankfully they organised an ambulance and stayed with us until it arrived, and then accompanied my wife back to

the site and explained to the staff the circumstances. I had to stay in hospital for a few days and all four members of the site team showed great consideration and offered any help we needed during this difficult time. When we were able to return home using Green Flag, the site staff were again very helpful in preparing the caravan for travel. Tony and Pam Eaton, via email

Editor s note: Thank you for your email – we hope you are recovering well! www.camc.com

BUILT TO LAST On the subject of old items still in use, here is a photo of a Hago camp kitchen from the 1950s lovingly preserved by my father, now by me and used two generations later. My wife and I have succumbed to the comfort of a caravan. The stove, a Tilley Trio, is from the same period. Happy memories. Geoff Hirst, via email

SUPER SAVER I’ve just had to have the rear MacPherson struts replaced on my Land Rover Freelander 2. I obtained a quote from my regular independent garage as a matter of interest... I was shocked at how expensive the job was going to be. I then remembered having seen an advert in the Club Magazine for National Tyres offering various discounts to members, so, with nothing to lose, I asked for a quote. The difference in price was astounding! The quote was 29% cheaper... I couldn't quite believe it and asked www.camc.com

the chap to double-check. I then mentioned the advert in the Club Magazine and he proceeded to reduce the quote by 10%. The job has just been completed at the Folkestone branch and here’s one happy bunny having spent nearly £200 less than I could have. Chris Wells, via email Editor s note: Thank you hris. or details of our National Tyres and utocare member offer as well as terms and conditions, see camc. com nationaltyres. If other readers have saved via our offers we would love to hear from you. lease send us your story and or image to memberoffers camc.com. May 2022 53

CORRESPONDENCE YOUR VIEWS

WHAT’S GOT YOU TALKING? Each month, we highlight one of the conversations on our Club Together forum at camc.com/clubtogether. First up – a mystery Club site...

“

For those who like to share photos, let s see if folk can Name that CAMC Site . Feel free to add a couple of extra photos to accompany the site photo if you wish, to help folk get the right answer. I ll start off... DSB Is that site in the Cotswolds? Cornersteady

A PERFECT ENDING

We have just come back from our first trip of this season in our caravan. Little did we know as we set off with our two chocolate Labradors that this would be the last for our senior dog, Floyd. He spent his last day peacefully drifting off, laying in his favourite spot outside his caravan on the soft grass in the spring sunshine, surrounded by trees and birdsong. What a fitting end for our perfect travelling companion. Fellow campers were lovely to him and us – we are so lucky in this camping community. Pam and Rob Smithson, via email

GOING SOLO As a child our holidays were always in a caravan. We had several over the years, the most memorable being a massive van complete with drop-down double bed and a solid fuel stove which was towed by our Land Rover. When I had my own family, we enjoyed caravanning and then when we retired we graduated to a motorhome and travelled extensively in the UK and Europe. When my wife died very suddenly seven years ago I wondered whether I could continue this tradition alone as I love France, Italy and Spain and adore the freedom of travelling without having to plan too much ahead. It was with some trepidation that I first ventured to Italy on my own – now in my mid-70s – but I quickly discovered that it wasn’t as daunting as I had first feared. Having just returned from a wonderful month in Spain, I thought others might benefit from a few tips on solo touring. 54 May 2022

Driving alone means that you don’t have that extra pair of eyes and ears so you just need to be a bit more cautious and alert to potential hazards. These are some of the measures I take: Solo driving is more tiring so take regular stops to rest. Reversing and manoeuvring can be challenging so take your time and don’t allow others to rush you. Be clear on your route before setting off and study it on a map rather than simply relying on your sat-nav. I try to avoid driving in cities as it can be stressful, so take a bike with me, find a campsite outside a city and either cycle in or catch a bus. If, like me, you have a strong sense of adventure, don’t deny yourself the opportunity of travelling abroad just because you’re on your own. It’s probably easier than you think. David Tolfree, Hampshire

Nope! It s further north. I ll give it a little longer before I reveal. It s quite a quirky little site, a little way from the M6. DSB Don t know David but I like the idea. AnotherDavid Is that Englethwaite Hall? Tinwheeler You ve got it Tinwheeler! It s a wonderful little site. DSB

HISTORY LESSON

”

I enjoyed Sammy Faircloth’s article on Lincolnshire [March edition] but I would like to correct her about Lincoln Cathedral. It was not built in 1311. Work commenced in 1072 and the cathedral was consecrated in 1092. It suffered a great fire in 1124 and then an earthquake in 1185 that destroyed all but the West Front, which still clearly shows its Norman architecture. The cathedral was rebuilt soon after this disaster. What happened in 1311 was that the central tower was replaced, which made the cathedral the tallest building in the world for 238 years at 160m. As it stands at the top of Steep Hill it is still visible for miles around. Deborah Fuller, via email

Your mag needs you! We would love to hear about your previous adventures and plans for the future! Please email us at magazine@camc.com.

www.camc.com

Club Shop

COUNTRY MATTERS ORANGE-TIP BUTTERFLY

The

future’s

bright.. The first orange-tip butterfly of the year is a reassuring sign that spring has arrived, says David Chapman

idespread across the UK (with the exception of the far north of Scotland), the orange-tip butterfly is a fairly common species and can be seen on the wing from April into early summer. But here’s a challenge. As well as looking out for the beautiful adult butterflies, why not try and find its eggs, then maybe its caterpillars? If you’re really lucky, you might spot a chrysalis? A few years ago I decided to do my own research into these lovely creatures. Finding the adults is easy enough. They are naturally drawn to areas conducive to egg laying, and they do this most commonly on two plants: lady’s smock (also known as ‘cuckoo flower’) and garlic mustard. Lady’s smock is found where there is moisture: beside ponds, in damp meadows and in rush pasture. Garlic mustard is a hedgerow plant that can also be found growing in woodland glades, on roadside verges and even on waste ground. Finding their eggs might sound difficult, but it isn’t. They are very small, so you might need to get down on your hands and knees to examine the plants closely – but where there are butterflies there will be eggs. Look closely on the stems just underneath the flowers; the skittle-shaped eggs are initially white, but soon turn bright orange. The eggs are carefully positioned one at a time by the adult female and, crucially, they are

56 May 2022

Top: orange-tip caterpillar on garlic mustard Above: the beautiful triangular-shaped chrysalis

www.camc.com

“

If you’re really lucky, you might spot a chrysalis

”

A male orange-tip roosts on a bluebell

STAY AT

Many Club sites are well placed if you are looking for orange-tip butterflies, but I had a particularly good experience at Henley Four Oaks in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. I stayed there in late May a couple of years ago and walked to Homefield Wood; as well as seeing many rare orchids (including the military orchid), I found plenty of orange-tips and other butterflies along the way.

Henley Four Oaks by Sandra Bowden

May 2022 57

COUNTRY MATTERS ORANGE-TIP BUTTERFLY

LOOK OUT FOR

Intricate moss-like pattern on female s underwing

limited to one per stem. There is a good reason for this: she knows that her caterpillars might become cannibalistic and begin eating each other if they can’t find enough food, so the space between the eggs provides them with some protection. Finding the caterpillars, however, is less straightforward. Returning to the same plants in June and July is a good start, but any good-sized patch of suitable foodplant should be worth a look. The caterpillars feed on the seed pods of the flowers, which are found at the very top of the plants. It sounds like they should be easy to spot, but by hugging tightly and matching the colour and shape of the seed pods the caterpillars become almost invisible. With practice it gets easier, and soon spotting an orange-tip caterpillar will become an enjoyable part of every summer walk.

STAR PUPA

Finding a chrysalis is the biggest challenge of all. After a few weeks spent munching on seed pods, by late July the caterpillars are ready to pupate. Each descends into dense vegetation and forms a beautiful triangularshaped chrysalis. Over the years I have spent many happy but unsuccessful hours searching for their chrysalides in suitable habitats… until there was a change in fortune during 2021. My discovery was due to a slightly more proactive approach. www.camc.com

“

Finding the caterpillars, however, is less straightforward A few years ago, I decided to become much more focused in my wildlife gardening by growing certain species of plants for specific butterflies and moths. I collected seeds from garlic mustard growing on the nearby roadside and sowed them in my garden. Because it’s a biennial, I had to source the seed in two consecutive years to ensure flowers bloom annually. My project was a great success and the plants now self-seed in the flowerbed, with orange-tip butterflies laying eggs every year. It, of course, gave me a much better chance of finding a chrysalis! There can be no doubt that the adult butterflies are the most beautiful version of this creature, but to find the various other stages is fascinating. To do so in our own garden, simply as a result of introducing the caterpillar’s foodplant, is incredibly rewarding. I hope that offers some food for thought.

”

Here is some wildlife to spot in May (top to bottom): n Garlic mustard blooms in May and June; look out for the small white flowers and garlicky scent. n The cardinal beetle (red-headed cardinal beetle pictured) is a striking specimen, found among trees, hedgerows and flowers. It feeds on other insects, and helps to keep pests under control. n Look out for young rabbits – known as kittens – particularly in spring. n The common redstart is a migrant bird that nests in woodland, parkland and even the scattered trees and dry-stone walls found on moorland.

MEMBER SINCE...

Motorhomer David Chapman joined the Club in 2000

May 2022 59

TEST MAZDA CX-5 2.5 194PS AWD GT SPORT AUTO

“

The CX-5 was always one of the better-looking SUVs on sale, and the re-style has improved things

”

Luxurious interior (below) and generous boot space with 40/20/40 split-fold rear seats

60 May 2022

www.camc.com

Sports star

James Batchelor tests an SUV offering a truly involving drive Photography by Nathan Morgan

here was once a time when an SUV (sports utility vehicle) was something a bit different. The term was applied to cars that boasted the off-road ability of a 4x4 but had a slightly sporting, easier-to-live-with character. Over the years the SUV tag has been watered down somewhat and is now applied to a vast range of cars. However, the Mazda CX-5 could lay claim to being a true SUV more than most, especially with its involving driving experience. The Japanese carmaker has overhauled it this year and I was keen to see the result.

COMFORT

The makeover for 2022 is essentially a mid-life update, and as makeovers go it’s certainly one of the more subtle. There is a pair of new bumpers, as well as BMW-esque LED daytime running lights, and the wide, open-mouth grille has also been tweaked. The CX-5 was always one of the better-looking SUVs on sale and the re-style has improved things, but you’d have to park the new car alongside the outgoing one to really see the difference. What you will notice, though, is the revised trim structure. SE-L kicks things off and it’s well equipped, especially with sat-nav, LED headlights, cruise control, blind spot monitoring and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto thrown in as standard. The new-for-2022 Newground model has a more ‘off-road’ look (although there’s no extra off-road ability as it’s frontwheel-drive-only) with lower bumper and side-sill trims, as well as a waterproof boot mat. www.camc.com

The lime-green air vent surrounds and seat stitching take some getting used to, though. Meanwhile, Sport adds a powered tailgate and parking sensors front and rear, while the new Sport Black model gets black alloys and black leather upholstery with red stitching. At the top of the range is the new GT Sport tested here, with its smart body-coloured exterior trim, 19in alloy wheels, a Bose stereo system, head-up display and Nappa leather seats. This car certainly felt pretty luxurious with those soft brown seats (heated and cooled), but no matter which model you go for, the CX-5 has a quality feel. While the design of the dashboard is a little on the staid side, the controls are well laid-out, the switchgear is tactile and it’s easy to get comfortable thanks to plenty of wheel and seat adjustment. My only irritation was with the infotainment system. While I applaud Mazda for forcing drivers to operate the infotainment screen with the rotary dial on the centre console on the basis of safety, using Apple CarPlay and Android Auto becomes a tricky and tedious affair without a touchscreen. The CX-5’s quality and plush-feeling plastics continue into the rear (not always a given), where there are good levels of passenger space, and the boot is of a generous size at 506-1,620 litres. In both areas, rivals such as the Honda CR-V and Skoda Kodiaq offer more room, but the CX-5 does have handy 40/20/40 split fold rear seats; once the seats are folded there are no annoying steps or intrusions, making it easy to slide items forwards to maximise space. There’s also some underfloor storage to hide valuables, but Sport, Sport Black and GT Sport lose some room due to the subwoofer for the Bose system.

Tactile switchgear with well laid-out controls

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VIDEO ON THE

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With thanks to Chichester Caravans , Uckfield, for the loan of Towcar Test caravans. See chichester-caravans. co.uk, call 01825 764151 or email uckfield@chichestercaravans.co.uk

May 2022 61

Save at least

£25

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guaranteed

Car Insurance you can trust Switch to us at renewal and you can save at least £25.† Enjoy full cover for up to 270 days a year in the EU. And as nearly 8 out of 10 members renew, you can be reassured you can trust us.*

Visit camc.com/carinsurance or call 01342 649 908 for a quote today. *Based on renewals data supplied by Devitt Insurance Services for the period 2021 (77.1% overall). †Send us proof of a current renewal invitation (including details of cover and price) from your existing insurer/broker, and we’ll beat it by at least £25. Offer only applies when switching to the Club, is subject to insurers’ acceptance of the risk, terms and conditions and cover being arranged on a like-for-like basis. Future renewal prices will always be less or the same as an equivalent new business price. Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Car Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services Limited. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for general insurance and credit activities.

TEST MAZDA CX-5 2.5 194PS AWD GT SPORT AUTO

From far left: airy cabin; subtle exterior changes distinguish this CX-5 from predecessors

TECHNICAL

Price as tested:

“

£38,365

The CX-5 towed with aplomb – hitched up to a Bailey Unicorn Vigo it felt relaxed and assured on a mixture of roads

DRIVING

There are no hybrids or turbo-boosted small capacity petrol engines like in rivals. Instead, there’s a selection of large, naturally-aspirated petrols and diesels, as well as manual and automatic gearboxes and the choice of front- and all-wheel drive. The CX-5 entered in the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year Awards 2022 was the front-wheel drive, 182bhp 2.2-litre diesel. Our judging panel concluded that model was a great solo car but when hitched was a little bereft of power. For this test, we took the most powerful CX-5 available to see if it would fare any better. Power is sourced from a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine, which comes exclusively with four-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic gearbox. With 191bhp and 258Nm of torque it’s a powerful enough unit, but those used to smaller capacity turbocharged engines in rival SUVs will be surprised by the Mazda’s slightly more sluggish response and need to be revved hard. The six-speed auto doesn’t help here and tends to hang onto gears a tad longer than is sometimes necessary, while at higher rpm the engine is a little gruff. For 2022 the gearbox has three settings – Normal, Sport and Offroad. The all-drive system is rather clever as it uses 27 sensors that constantly monitor road conditions and driver behaviour to deliver optimum grip. Even things like outside temperature and windscreen wiper activation have an influence on how power is split between the front and rear wheels. In our testing – on some flooded Welsh roads – the all-wheel drive system gave plenty of confidence and traction, and this was especially true on damp roads while towing. The CX-5’s trump card and reason for it legitimately laying claim to being an ‘SUV’ is the way it drives. While the automatic gearbox here is okay, manual cars at other trim levels are a delight to drive with snappy, precise changes. The steering is unlike any other mid-size SUV in that it delivers excellent weighting, feel and accuracy, while

”

the slightly stiff ride gives tight, rigid body control. The CX-5 goes down the road with a quality and sporty feel normally found on SUVs wearing a premium badge.

TOWING

Apart from a wheel-slip on a steep, damp road – an admittedly challenging scenario for any car – the CX-5 towed with aplomb. Hitched up to a Bailey Unicorn Vigo Series 4, the CX-5 felt relaxed and assured on a mixture of roads, backed up by strong brakes, and that direct steering only added to the feeling of confidence. When hitched the gearbox settled down too and swapped gears smoothly, while the engine felt it had enough power. On a mixed route we achieved 19.2mpg, which for a high capacity petrol engine is about average (while unhitched that figure jumped to just over 30mpg). The only downside is the surprisingly low noseweight limit of 84kg, which looks small compared to cars such as the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage with their 100kg ratings.

21E Engine:

2,488cc, 4cyl, in-line petrol Power:

191bhp (142kW) @ 6,000rpm Torque:

258Nm (190Ib ft) @ 4,000rpm Transmission:

Six-speed automatic Spare Wheel:

Tyre inflation kit Kerbweight:

1,735kg Gross Vehicle Weight:

2,140kg Gross Train Weight:

4,140kg Noseweight Limit:

84kg Towing Equipment:

Detachable tow bar (£830) Fuel /tank /test econ:

VERDICT Few mid-size SUVs are as sporty and involving as the CX-5. More than that, it’s comfortable, feels well-built and is very well equipped.

Send us proof of a current renewal invitation from your existing car insurer and we’ll beat it by at least £25*. Visit camc. com/insurance for more information and full terms and conditions.

If your vehicle has won any Towcar of the Year category since 01 except pick-ups , you ll automatically get a 10% discount on both new and renewing car insurance through the Club. Visit camc.com/towcar and camc.com/insurance/carinsurance for more information and terms and conditions.

* Offer only applies when switching to the Club, is subject to insurers’ acceptance of the risk, terms and conditions and cover being arranged on a like-for-like basis. Future renewal prices will always be less or the same as an equivalent new business price. Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Car Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services Limited. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited. The Caravan Club Limited and Devitt Insurance Services Ltd are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

www.camc.com

Insurance

Petrol/12.7 gals (58 litres)/19.2mpg towing 1,499kg CO2 :

182g/km Figures from manufacturer s literature

RATINGS

80%

COMFORT

91%

DRIVING

85%

TOWING

85%

OVERALL May 2022 63

TEST AUTO-TRAIL F68

IT HAD TO BE ‘U’ Nick Harding sings the praises of a classic, end-lounge two-berth

rom Auto-Trail’s line-up of six coachbuilts in the F-Line series, all built on Ford chassis, I reckon it’s the F68 here that could most appeal to Club members. It’s a two-berth with a popular end-lounge floorplan. I say ‘popular’, but the time when all our domestic manufacturers had such models in their portfolios has seemingly gone. At 6.8m long, the F68 is particularly spacious, offering extensive U-shaped seating at the back. This is no ordinary F68 under review here – it comes with the two key pack options offered by Auto-Trail, as well as an upgrade to the 168bhp engine with automatic transmission, plus alloy wheels (at £860). Even with the additions it’s a competitive £62,041 on-the-road.

BUILD QUALITY

The past few seasons have seen Ford’s Transit really come into its own as a base vehicle. With 64 May 2022

Auto-Trail’s F-Lines, you get a choice of five metallic cab colours, while graphics for the white coachbuilt bodywork are restrained. That bodywork, though, is the same as on any other coachbuilt that comes out of the Auto-Trail factory. The sides are ding-resistant GRP, as is the whole of the overcab pod. Side skirts are an equally tough ABS. There’s full-width storage across the back of the vehicle, under the settee, with external hatches on both sides. Access at the habitation door is via an electric flip-out step – but note that there’s a considerable step-up to negotiate here. The warranties offered by Auto-Trail are reassuring – five years for both the bodywork and, impressively, the rest of the conversion.

DRIVING

These latest Fords do drive well, and this particular combination of the optional powerplant and a very smooth automatic transmission particularly impressed. You might not feel that you need the www.camc.com

TECHNICAL

Price (as tested)

£62,041 on the road Engine

2.0-litre Euro 6d Power

168bhp (125kw) @ 3,500rpm Torque

299lb ft (405Nm) @1,750-2,500rpm Transmission

Six-speed automatic, FWD MRO

2,950kg (58.07cwt) MTPLM

3,500kg (68.89cwt) User payload

550kg (10.83cwt)

Clockwise from above: U-shaped lounge sits behind the kitchen; stainless steel sink and three-ring hob form space-saving L shape free-standing table is easy to set up

Overall length

22ft 4in (6.80m) Overall width

7ft 9in (2.35m) Overall height

9ft 5in (2.88m) Max internal height

6ft 7in (2.01m) Fuel/tank/econ

Diesel/15.4gals (70 litres)/28-32mpg Figures from manufacturer s literature

LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL YOUR VEHICLE? extra power, but it does make for relaxing driving. (Most owners will be able to beat 30mpg, whatever the engine choice.) You should also enjoy the cab environment; the small, padded steering wheel with controls sets a car-like tone. The seats are easily adjusted, as are the electric, heated door mirrors, which are part of the Drivers Pack option. This also includes automatic headlamps, front fog lights, body colour side mouldings, heated windscreen, Ford’s Trend instrument panel, colour-matched front bumper, cab air conditioning and rainsensing windscreen wipers. Meanwhile, the Lux Pack brings you the Zenec Xzent 9.5in touchscreen monitor with sat-nav and www.camc.com

colour reversing camera, as well as TV aerial, external gas point, solar panel, Omnivent, habitation door upgrade with flyscreen, and floor carpets. The Drivers and Lux packs cost £1,578 each, and I’d be surprised if any purchasers choose to go without either. Other options range from Avtex 21.5in TV/DVD (£420) to motorhome Wi-Fi (£416), second leisure battery (£211), towbar and electrics (£684), and cab blinds (£620).

DAYTIME

The lounge has large windows to three sides (they have concertina blinds and flyscreens), plus a slide-out holder for a flatscreen television. Beneath this is a dedicated locker for the table,

From brand new models to used caravans and motorhomes, we display thousands of vehicles at camc. com/classifieds It’s free to post an ad and Club members can receive a 30% discount on a premium ad. See website above for more info and terms and conditions. May 2022 65

THE ULTIMATE

ADVENTURE Introducing the latest model to the F-Line range. A versatile motorhome to take you from beach to countryside and everywhere in between.

The F-LINE 68 Length 6.80m (22’3”) Berths 2 Seatbelts 2 (inc. driver) Gross Vehicle Weight 3,500kg

OTR from:

£54,965 FEATURING 180° REAR LOUNGE The latest edition to the F-Line range built on the Ford Transit chassis with 130bhp engine size as standard*. The F68 features a skyline panoramic opening window as standard to provide an exceptional view of the night sky or nature during the day. The F68 is the second largest in the range which delivers vast storage space for all your essentials including a 142ltr fridge freezer, larger wardrobe, exterior storage/access locker plus space in the kitchen area. Make a statement with the LED feature lighting throughout the vehicle and Salinas oak solid plywood interior. *Upgrade options available: 170bhp engine and 6 speed automatic.

Want to know more? Visit:

www.auto-trail.co.uk/f-line68

Together we’re going places

TEST AUTO-TRAIL F68 a free-standing unit that’s easy to open up as well as to nudge out of the way when you need access to or from the lounge. There is just a standard rooflight overhead, although that’s partly offset by the generous opening sunroof over the cab. Heating and hot water are courtesy of Whale, with two blown-air outlets in the lounge area. Lockers and corner shelving line the rear of the vehicle and there’s also plenty of storage space in the settee bases (thanks to the aforementioned Whale systems, whose main units are mounted under the floor). Loose carpet overlays on the vinyl flooring – part of that Lux Pack – add to the general feeling of comfort.

NIGHT-TIME

You might have to make up the bed from the seating every night, but the upside is that it forms a 6ft 11in x 4ft 10in double. Alternatively, you could make a couple of singles – 6ft 8in (offside) and 6ft 2in (nearside), both of which would be 2ft 4in wide. The double is easy to make up – pull-out slats span the gap between the settee bases and there are a couple of extra cushion sections to drop in. Finding a suitable location for the backrests – if you want them out of the way – is more of a challenge.

KITCHEN

The L-shape in the small kitchen area (located on the nearside in the centre of the vehicle) creates a bit more space for storage as well as worktop. Nevertheless, the latter is fairly scant. You get a triangular three-ring hob and a circular sink (served by a chrome, swan-neck mixer tap) in matching stainless steel, plus there’s a Thetford Duplex oven and grill combination. Storage is provided by a large, shelved locker under the sink with a slide-out cutlery tray. The two upper-level lockers are both shelved, and a floor locker (where you’ll also find gas isolation valves) sits under the oven. The acrylic splash panel behind the hob and a single mains socket are useful touches. Across the corridor is a generous capacity (142 litres total) slimline fridge with freezer, set off the floor for ease of access. Overhead is an Omnivent electric fan/opening rooflight.

WASHROOM

There’s a step up into a decent-sized washroom, where there’s space for a separate, plastic-lined shower cubicle. There’s also plenty of legroom when using the swivel-bowl toilet. Storage is generous, with shelved lockers under the basin as well as over the toilet, where there are also small, open shelves.

Above: large double bed formed from seating Left: decent-sized washroom RATINGS

Minor criticisms are the proximity of the tap’s outlet to the edge of the fixed basin, plus the fact that there is only a single drainage point for the shower. The room misses out on a window, too.

DETAILS

There’s excellent storage throughout – in addition to everything already listed, there are locker-and-shelf units behind each cab seat and open shelving in the overcab area. The habitation door has a window and a waste bin, while a 100Ah leisure battery is standard. Other nice touches include that splash panel (which is illuminated), plus under-counter ambient lighting in the kitchen. You might also want to sign up for a Thatcham Cat 7 tracking system (£95 annual subscription) so you can keep a constant eye on your pride and joy.

VERDICT

The F68 represents a great working of the end lounge format which functions so well as a two-berth. You can insure this motorhome with the Club for £336.49 per year. Please see camc.com/ insurance or call 0345 504 0334 for further details.

Quote (correct as of 21 March 2022) is for the model tested worth £62,041 with factory-fitted alarm and immobiliser, and with a working tracker fitted. Based on a 57-year-old male living in Kent, with a maximum no claims bonus (unprotected) coming from a vehicle of similar value/ experience, who has no accidents, claims or convictions and keeps the vehicle on a drive, driving 3,000 miles a year, with a £350 damage, fire and theft excess. Subject to underwriting. The Club’s Motorhome Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services Limited, Insurance Brokers. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited. The Caravan Club Limited and Devitt Insurance Services Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

www.camc.com

80%

BUILD QUALITY

78%

DRIVING

81%

DAYTIME

77%

NIGHT-TIME

68%

KITCHEN

71%

WASHROOM

67%

DETAILS

75%

OVERALL

WATCH

VIDEO ON THE

APP To read more vehicle reviews and see video tests, visit camc.com/blog

Vehicle supplied for testing by: West Country Motorhomes, Bristol Road, Brent Knoll, Highbridge, Somerset TA9 4HG

Contact: wcmh. co.uk, 01278 761200 May 2022 67

TEST ADRIA ALPINA MISSISSIPPI

WIDE EYED WATCH

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Download the Club Magazine App from the App Store or Google Play. To read more vehicle reviews and see more video tests, visit camc.com/blog

68 May 2022

Rob McCabe is spellbound by a four-berth that makes superb use of every inch of its eight-foot width

op of many caravan buyers’ wish lists these days is width – the more the merrier. Which explains why a new breed of 8ft-wide tourers is especially in demand. The impressively sculpted Adria Alpina Mississippi offers this special dimension and has the added attraction of an island double bed as well as a number of other nice touches.

BUILD QUALITY

Even before you step inside the Alpina, there are encouraging signs. Over-engineered corner steadies are always good to see (although the winders for the front pair are fiendishly tricky to access), and the sturdy metal retractable step under the entrance door is an excellent, user-friendly addition. Adrias are put together using the company’s Comprex build method, featuring composite wood panelling, polyurethane sealing and insulating foam, and glossy exterior polyester sidewalls that pass the thump test with flying colours.

On our test model, there was nice craftsmanship in evidence throughout the interior, backed up by quality materials along with solid-looking catches and brackets.

TOWING

This is about as heavy a caravan as you can get on a single axle – just 150kg shy of 2 tonnes when laden to the max – so you will need a big, powerful towcar or pick-up. With a good match in place, everything else is on your side: Al-Ko Trailer Control (ATC) and a built-in stabiliser are included and you also benefit from an extra-long A-frame. Indoors, the built-in appliances are all directly over, or slightly ahead of, the axle for optimum weight distribution. It’s the 8ft width that will need consideration before undertaking some journeys – it’s definitely worth asking the CL owner if any hedge-lined lanes leading to the field have enough leeway!

DAYTIME

I don’t think I’ve encountered an eight-footer that has made such exceptional use of that extra width. Sitting in www.camc.com

TECHNICAL

Price:

£37,510 OTR Bed sizes:

Front double: 7ft 5in x 5ft 2in Rear fixed island double: 6ft 3in x 4ft 7in Heating:

Alde dual-fuel central heating Fridge:

Thetford tower fridge-freezer Toilet:

Thetford electric flush MRO: 1,695kg (33.36cwt) MTPLM:

Clockwise from top: lounge features headrests; apartment-like feel; mattress pieces fit perfectly up front; comfy fixed double the lounge and glancing down past the kitchen into the bedroom, it feels more like a small holiday apartment than a caravan (the entire middle section around the entrance door and kitchen is positively swimming in space). The blend of dark and pale cabinetry looks high-class, while the total lack of locker or drawer handles is aesthetically pleasing. It’s all beautiful to look at – just like the exterior body shape. There’s plenty of practicality to go with the glamour. The vast gas locker at the front includes a nest of stackable plastic crates, secured by elasticated cord. A sealed wet locker on the nearside wall includes a mains socket for use in the awning, while a wide hatch farther back gives access to the space under the double bed. Indoors, storage provision is generous, although it’s so awkward to get to the front seat lockers it would put me off using them for anything that I’d want to get to more than occasionally. The little box hanging down from the kitchen lockers is the Adria Media Controller – and what a fabulous bit of kit it is. It’s basically a Bluetooth receiver: pair it with your phone, tablet, laptop or Bluetooth-enabled radio and play your music through the caravan’s devilishly concealed speakers that reward with rich, immersive sound throughout the entire interior. There are USB sockets everywhere, and almost as many mains sockets. You get a built-in TV wall bracket above the dresser on the nearside, although www.camc.com

you’ll need to make your own arrangements if y ou want to watch telly in bed. The lounge is very comfortable – and the built-in headrests in the front corners aren’t a gimmick. They’re height-adjustable so can be fine-tuned to suit anyone, and it’s actually very cosseting to drop back into one. Don’t believe anyone who tells you this is ‘wraparound’ seating though – the narrow strip along the front is fine for stretching your legs out on, but you wouldn’t want to sit there for any length of time.

NIGHT-TIME

The bed is sumptuous – the mattress moulds itself to your shape, offering great comfort and support. The mattress and bedbase are also cleverly configured so that each occupant can adjust the angle of the backrest for reading in bed. The picture window at the foot of the bed and the sunroof overhead let in loads of light. Only one occupant has a bedside hatch for overnight paraphernalia – there’s nowhere at all for the other person to put anything, which is an oversight. Up front, you get one of the better made-up double beds, thanks to slide-out base sections that are filled by two perfectly-fitting bespoke mattress pieces. The result is a big, flat, tight-as-a-drum bed that will ensure any guests are well looked after. It’s worth pointing out that the washroom is at the extreme rear of the caravan – not overly convenient if you have friends staying.

1,850kg (36.42cwt) User payload: 155kg (3.05cwt) Overall length: 27ft 3in (8.3m) Overall width: 8ft 1in (2.46m) Overall height: 8ft 6in (2.6m) Max headroom: 6ft 5in (1.95m) Figures taken from manufacturer s literature

LOOKING TO BUY OR SELL YOUR VEHICLE? From brand new models to used caravans and motorhomes, we display thousands of vehicles at camc. com/classifieds. It’s free to post an ad and Club members can receive a 30% discount on a premium ad. See website above for more info and terms and conditions. May 2022 69

TEST ADRIA ALPINA MISSISSIPPI

Right: sleek exterior Far right: washroom looks great but is a bit of a squeeze Below right: practical kitchen set-up

RATINGS

KITCHEN

92%

BUILD QUALITY

90%

TOWING

94%

DAYTIME

90%

NIGHT-TIME

93%

KITCHEN

90%

WASHROOM

I’m a big fan of Adria’s one-piece hob/sink unit, which looks modern and elegant in brushed stainless steel. There’s no electric hotplate but there is a fitted microwave concealed within one of the overhead lockers. This has the twin benefits of keeping the overall look of the caravan clean and uncluttered, and covering up the fact that it’s not the most seamlesslooking microwave installation. The glossy black fridge is quite the opposite – very tidily built-in. Generous work surface, plenty of storage and an integrated extractor fan make for a very practical set-up.

97%

LIGHTING

WASHROOM

92%

OVERALL

With thanks to: Vehicle supplied for testing by Barnsdale Leisure, Doncaster Road, East Hardwick, Pontefract WF8 3EQ (barnsdaleleisure.co.uk, 01977 621918) 70 May 2022

Unlike the kitchen, it does feel a wee-bit pinched in this corridor-like room, although it is beautifully presented. The restrained palette, soft backlighting and nicelystyled wash bowl combine to exude a chic ambience. There’s plenty of storage and the shower cubicle feels much more spacious than its surroundings.

LIGHTING

Can’t see an awning light in the exterior photo? That’s because it’s a continuous LED strip that runs along the edge of the nearside sidewall, pretty much following

the route of the entire awning channel. It’s bright enough to be useful in the dark and different enough to stop passers-by in their tracks. The rear road lights can also be turned on, if one talking point isn’t enough for you. Indoors, the touchscreen control panel operates a comprehensive array of lighting options, including ceiling- and floor-level ambient strips, some of which are dimmable. You even get a touchscreen table lamp that you can put anywhere, or leave docked on the dresser by the door to recharge.

VERDICT It may be expensive but this is a nicelyequipped, gorgeous-looking caravan both inside and out. You can cover this caravan with the Club for £549.53* per year. See camc.com/caravancover or call 01342 336610 for further details

*Based on Standard cover on a new-for-old cover basis, with a cover limit of £38,000 (caravan and equipment), £500 contents cover and £200 voluntary excess. Includes 4+ years no claims discount (not protected). Includes discount of 15% for Al-Ko ATC. A copy of the cover wording is available on request. Caravan Cover is provided directly by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

www.camc.com

Rated Excellent**

Great value and excellent service when required Ashley Sansom - Club member

Caravan Cover you can trust With our award-winning Caravan Cover, our members come back to us year after year. Nearly 90% of all cover holders renewed with us in 2021*. 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 649 888 for a quote today. *Nearly 90% of all cover holders renewed is based on renewals data 1 January to 31 December 2021 (89.3%) **Trustpilot rating correct as of 21 March 2022, but is subject to change Caravan Cover is provided directly by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Insurance Choice Awards Winner 2021

ACTIVITY BREAKS NATURE WALK

HARE WALK

Jonathan took part on a mountain hare walk on Marsden Moor, West Yorkshire. Keep an eye on the website below during winter 2022/3 for details of future events Info: nationaltrust.org. uk/marsden-moor Stay: Burrs Country Park Club site (below)

A mountain hare shelters in the heather 72 March 2022

Leap of

faith Jonathan Manning joins a guided walk in the Pennines in search of the elusive mountain hare

ou don’t need a Latin degree to realise that spotting a mountain hare may prove challenging. Any creature called lepus timidus (timid or fearful hare) – seems unlikely to stand on its back legs and whistle “Yoo-hoo, over here!” And yet, for a few brief weeks that’s exactly what the mountain hare appears to do, sporting a dazzling white coat that contrasts against its drab brown surroundings. The creature’s fur (pelage) turns from pale grey to white in winter to camouflage it in snow. Unfortunately, this means the hare is exposed and vulnerable to predators following winter thaws – but this gives us a brief window of opportunity to catch a glimpse of this elusive creature. Which is why I have signed up for a hare-spotting walk on the 5,000 acres of the National Trust’s Marsden Moor Estate, near Holmfirth. Native to Scotland, the mountain hare was transplanted to the lower latitudes of the Peak District and Pennine moorlands in the 1870s as a game species. Also known as the blue hare, white hare, snow hare and alpine hare, the mountain hare is a little smaller than its brown cousin, with shorter ears and an all-white tail, but at over 50cm in length

www.camc.com

and weighing up to 3.5kg there’s no mistaking one for a rabbit. With a characteristic jinking sidestep to escape predators, it’s the Olympic sprinter of the moors, capable of blistering speeds. In Scotland, the mountain hare’s foes are golden eagles, foxes and wildcats, but in these hills to the north of the Peak District, the greatest threat is likely to come from walkers’ dogs. Puddles are still frozen as about a dozen of us, plus four volunteer guides, lace up boots and pull on hats in Marsden, a handsome town that is home to a vast, dormant textile mill. Under a flawless blue sky, we head out of town towards Pule Hill, guided in our pursuit of the elusive mountain hare by the appropriately named Peter Fox. He delights in pointing out that the first real track we follow leads to Hades Farm – “Literally the road to hell!” – as we pick up the Standedge Trail towards Black Moss Reservoir. On the distant western horizon, Manchester’s skyline provides an incongruous contrast to the 73

Do You trust to luck?

Or do You trust Elsan?

Trust Elsan toilet fluids to stop odours fast and keep toilets safe for longer G R E AT B R I TI S H PRO D UCT S

To find your nearest Elsan stockist visit

www.elsan.co.uk

Use biocides safely. Always read the label and product information before use.

ACTIVITY BREAKS NATURE WALK

“

After winter thaws the hare is exposed and vulnerable to predators

HARE TODAY...

BOOK

ON TH E

Two more spots to look for this fascinating animal…

”

A PP

PEAK DISTRICT The Mountain Hare Discovery Experience offers guests the opportunity to see not only hares but short-eared owls, golden plover, red grouse and kestrels Info: myguidedwalks.co.uk Stay: Castleton Club site (below)

Mountain hare in its winter coat

wilderness of the moors. This is an inhospitable landscape even on a sunny day, crumpled bracken and tendrils of tough heather snatching at boot laces with the stealth of pickpockets, while hidden holes in the black peat wait to swallow ankles and legs. Water the colour of whisky laps at the edge of the reservoir that is dammed at both ends – from the west it eventually makes its way to the Irish Sea; from the east it heads to the North Sea.

HARE MARCH

Peter sets a brisk pace while volunteers hang back to ensure no one is left behind, but no one seems to be struggling. The difficulty lies in simultaneously scanning the moorland for a flash of white fur while paying attention to the treacherous conditions underfoot. Mountain hares are largely nocturnal, concealing themselves during the day in shallow depressions known as forms or scrapes. By spreading out like a search party, our goal is to spook a hare into an electrifying zig-zag dash. Even young leverets are born with fur on and eyes open, ready to race. Given the height of the vegetation and the constant rise and fall of the moor, we’re likely to see no more than a flicker of stark white, but I keep my binoculars to hand, just in case. At this time of year, the start of meteorological spring, there’s an outside chance of witnessing the hares’ mating ritual; several males will chase a single female, leading to tumbles, scuffles and boxing, although noon is an unlikely time for courtship. No one seems to know how many hares call Marsden Moor home, but as a species their numbers are known to fluctuate, with a distinctive peak every 10 years. www.camc.com

A shout and an outstretched arm direct everyone’s gaze to the left, but it’s a muddycoloured roe deer with a white rump that is bounding away through the heather before turning to stare at us. In a few weeks’ time, curlew, snipe, golden plover and the rare twite will descend on the moor to nest and breed, but for now there’s precious little wildlife in evidence, an indication of how challenging the prevailing conditions are on these exposed uplands. Red grouse chuckle at our clumsy progress through the heather and bog, where dams and freshly planted sphagnum moss trap water. It’s the work of conservationists who are trying to restore the moorland to a giant sponge that will reduce flooding in the valley below and lower the risk of fire during tinder-dry summers. Turning north towards Wessenden Reservoir, the path is flanked by waist-high heather, and I realise that even if we spook a hare, we’re unlikely to see it streak away. But this is the nature of wildlife watching. Marsden Moor isn’t a zoo, but a rugged wilderness with no guarantees. On another day it may have been foggy or lashed with rain. To explore a wild landscape under blue skies with fellow wildlife enthusiasts is a wonderful experience in itself. And somewhere in those Pennine hills there’s a white-coated mountain hare or two, sitting tight and waiting to come out under the shroud of night to nibble the heather.

CAIRNGORMS Keen wildlife photographers will ove a uided Mountain are hoto ra h a that o ers the chance to snap these wonderful creatures in their snowy upland habitats. Check website for annual dates. Info: jamesroddie.com Stay: rantown on e i iated ite (be ow

The weather was kind to Jonathan and his companions

May 2022 75

PRACTICAL BIKES

CARRIED AWAY Want to take your bike or e-bike away with you on holiday? Sammy Faircloth takes a look at transportation options

nvironmentally friendly and great for our health, cycling ticks plenty of boxes for us. As a family, we have always enjoyed riding our bikes – in fact my husband takes part in triathlons and time trials all around the country. And using a motorhome is cost-effective and comfortable, allowing easy transportation of his equipment. You can find inspiration at camc.com/ blog/hobbies-and-activities/cycling, where there are lots of rides from or near to Club campsites; many of these routes also have accompanying videos that can be watched via the Club Magazine App or at youtube.com/caravanandmotorhomeclub. Of course, it is possible to hire bikes from specialists all over the country, and the Club currently offers this facility at New Forest Centenary, Cayton Village and Henley Four Oaks Club campsites, with more in the pipeline. But what if you want to take your own machine with you? This month, I take a look at the different options available.

CARAVANS AND TOWING VEHICLES One of the most obvious ways to carry a bike is on a roof-mounted rack on top of the www.camc.com

towing vehicle (this will also take the pressure off your caravan payload allowance). Installation can be quite a challenge if you own a high-sided vehicle – caravan steps can come in handy! Alternatively some caravans feature pre-installed fixing bars that give you the option of fitting a rear-mounted cycle rack. A word of caution – do not put too much weight on the rear of your caravan (eg heavy e-bikes or more than two standard bikes). This can make the outfit unstable when towing and result in the ‘pendulum effect’ or ‘snaking’. You could also store bikes inside the caravan while towing, but remember they can move around a lot if not securely fastened – the last thing you want is to damage the interior. Caravans such as the Swift Basecamp are built with active people in mind and feature floor brackets for securing bikes and other equipment. Some European caravans feature long A-frames with space to mount a bike rack. Be careful of your caravan’s noseweight (the downforce from the hitch onto the towball) when using one, though. The Club advises that noseweight should be 5% to 7% of the caravan’s laden weight.

MOTORHOMES

Motorhomers often like to take bikes, e-bikes, scooters and motorbikes with them on holiday as they are ideal if they want to get out and about once pitched up on site. An important thing to consider, especially when transporting e-bikes, scooters and motorbikes, is weights. Such vehicles can be very heavy to handle, can eat into your payload allowance, and can possibly affect your rear axle limit. Motorhomers tend to carry regular bikes on rear-mounted bike racks and, again, manufacturers are pre-installing bike rack brackets to make it easier for customers. Internal 1

May 2022 77

PRACTICAL BIKES 2

‘garages’ in motorhomes are ideal for transporting and storing bikes or mopeds – but check your measurements and weight restrictions. It is imperative that they are ‘lashed down’ in transit (most garages come with dedicated attachment points).

CAMPERS AND VAN CONVERSIONS Campervan owners have the option of mounting a bike on the roof or the rear of their vehicles. Meanwhile, companies like CJL Leisure Vehicles have created specialised ‘bike vans’ containing dedicated bike storage areas that will keep your valuable two-wheeled machines safe during transit. Also, look out for the new Auto-Trail Expedition 68, which features a slide-out 'bike tray' as an optional extra.

TOURING ABROAD

In any country, when transporting bikes on the rear of a vehicle, your number plate, lights and indicators must be clearly visible. In Spain and Italy it is mandatory to display a reflective, red and white diagonal striped www.camc.com

warning sign on protruding loads, like bikes. Manufactured by companies such as Fiamma, they can be purchased from most caravan dealers and accessory shops – be aware that the signs for Spain and Italy feature different numbers of stripes. For more information see camc.com/ overseas-holidays/useful-information/ compulsory-and-legal-requirements. It is advisable to check the latest legislation in countries that you intend to visit before leaving on your adventures.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Remember that if your cycles or rack obscure your vehicle’s rear lights and number plate, you'll need to use a suitable lighting board, and think about security while in transit or when parked up – fit locks and security cables. You’ll find discounts on bike carriers in our Club Shop (shop.camc.com), while members can save up to £135 on Raleigh bicycles and e-bikes – see camc.com/raleigh for more information and terms and conditions.

1. Some manufacturers pre-install fixing bars to make it easier to fit a bike rack 2. Motorhome garages are ideal for storing bikes 3. The Swift Basecamp has floor brackets for securing your bike whilst in transit 4. Rear-mounted bike racks are sometimes used on campervans 5. Roof-mounted carriers fit to the roof rails on tow vehicles 6. Trays in the Auto-Trail Expedition 68 7. CJL Leisure Vehicles has designed a ‘bike van’ May 2022 79

SPECIAL CLUB AWARDS

PART ONE

DESIGN CLASSICS

Sammy Faircloth guides you through the results of the Coachbuilt and A-Class categories in The Caravan and Motorhome Club Motorhome & Campervan Design Awards 2022 After a pause due to the pandemic, it was great to be back at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre for the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show in February. There was definitely a buzz in the air, with the general public, manufacturers and stall holders filling the halls each day. During the hiatus, the Club continued to present the Motorhome & Campervan Design Awards as a ‘buyers guide’. Last year, the panel of judges had to adapt to a new way of working in order to assess entries, and the extensive work

carried out online to review the vehicles has continued in 2022. However, following weeks of intensive research – trawling through data sheets, dissecting websites and perusing brochures – it was great to have the opportunity to get back into the vehicles themselves. This year saw 30 coachbuilt and 13 A-Class motorhome entered. These numbers are slightly lower than in previous years, but reflect ongoing uncertainty over Covid and the challenges of importing vehicles from abroad – see last month’s Ask

Your Club article for more information. However, this didn t detract from the exceptional standard of motorhomes that we saw at the NEC. Here we present the first eight Class winners, along with an alternative pick in each category. Notes: All prices listed correct as of 23 February 2022 and reflect delivery and fitted options as judged. For the latest prices and availability contact dealerships. Look out for Part Two of the awards (covering campervans and van conversions) next month.

TWO-BERTH COACHBUILT

WINNER: Adria Compact Supreme DL (£70,515)

Supreme in name and supreme in nature – this Adria is a true winner. The stylish, slender coachbuilt is perfect for couples that like to tour urban areas as well as the countryside. Adria is superb at designing small washrooms and making them feel deceptively large; here this is achieved by the innovative use of a swivel shower wall. The parallel seating in the lounge area ensures that it will be appreciated by sociable couples, too. One judge summed it up well: “Good payload, great washroom, good storage.”

80 May 2022

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Sleeper Peugeot Broadway EL n Auto-Trail F-Line F 68 n Carthago c-tourer Mercedes-Benz T 148 LE H Comfort n Compass Navigator 120 n Elddis Accordo 105

ADRIA COMPACT SUPREME DL

ALTERNATIVE PICK: Pilote P696U Expression (£63,400)

This two-berther has an unusual layout that may divide opinion. The generously-sized washroom sits directly behind the cab and doubles as an excellent dressing room. However, the position of that washroom may mean a compromise on space when adjusting the driver’s seat. Endearing features include the U-shaped lounge which can be ooded with i ht rom three sides, the drop-down bed and the

PILOTE P696U EXPRESSION seat with shoe cupboard by the front door. The Expression was described as having “plenty of ooh la la!”

www.camc.com

CHAUSSON FORD 660 EXCLUSIVE LINE

UP TO FOUR-BERTH COACHBUILT UNDER 7M WINNER: Chausson Ford 660 Exclusive Line (£63,690)

Every once in a while, the judges collectively gasp in awe at an innovative design, and that applies to the 660 Exclusive Line. With magnetic stools, ‘petal opening’ table, funky screen between the dining and kitchen areas, quirky modular shelves, rear garage tall enough to stand up in and use as a dressing room, plus two entrance doors, it really has that ‘wow’ factor. Leaving the abundant stylish touches aside, watch out for a limited payload of 355kg and a lack of kitchen equipment.

ALTERNATIVE PICK: Elddis Accordo 135 (£52,849)

This is a three-berth that would perhaps suit a couple that likes to invite an occasional guest or grandparents that like to bring a grandchild on holiday (the single bed is a short 5ft 2in x 2ft 0in). It has a genuine double bed (6ft 7in x 4ft 2in), reasonable payload at 657kg www.camc.com

and the Whale HeatAir 5GTE system. The Accordo 135 was described by a judge as “an attractive three-berth motorhome offering two segregated seating areas and masses of daytime space, and all for a cracking price”.

“

Once in a while the judges gasp in awe

ELDDIS ACCORDO 135

”

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Trail Expedition C 63 n Bailey Adamo 69-4 n Knaus Vansation Wave 640 MAN n Pilote P626D Évidence n Roller Team T-Line 700 n Weinsberg Pepper Suite MB 640MEG

May 2022 81

SPECIAL CLUB AWARDS

UP TO FOUR-BERTH COACHBUILT OVER 7M WINNER: Adria Coral Supreme 670 DL (£85,285)

Elegant and practical – the new generation Adria Coral is a real gem. Another three-berth entrant, it oozes luxury: Alde central heating and underfloor elements to keep your feet toasty; MACH Plus connectivity allowing you to monitor heating, water tank levels, battery levels and so on via a mobile device; sound system with hidden speakers and Bluetooth connectivity; and fantastically-designed sunroof that allows natural light to flood in. It was the most expensive in this category and you will need a C1 licence to drive it, but it is a superb motorhome. ALTERNATIVE PICK: Knaus Sky Ti 700 MEG Platinum (£77,167) The name sounds like a starship from a space movie, which is ttin as this naus tru is out o this world. The washroom has the ee o a ve star hote aci it with its LED vanity mirror and Dometic www.camc.com

ceramic toilet, while the modern, stylish curves of the interior look great. It has a fantastic garage and plenty of storage, while tech ends wi a reciate the Oyster Premium 60 antenna system, 27in smart TV and Truma iNet system. Bear in mind that you will need a C1 licence to drive it and it has very little payload after passengers have taken their seats (unless you spend almost £5,000 on a chassis upgrade). KNAUS SKY TI 700 MEG PLATINUM

ADRIA CORAL SUPREME 670 DL

“

Elegant and practical, it’s a real gem

”

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Bailey Autograph 79-4I n Compass Avantgarde 150 n Elddis Encore 255 n Rimor Ford Evo 66 Plus

May 2022 83

SPECIAL CLUB AWARDS

RIMOR FORD EVO 77 PLUS

UP TO SIX-BERTH COACHBUILT UNDER 8M WINNER: Rimor Ford Evo 77 Plus (£56,495)

Rimor has succeeded where many other manufacturers have struggled, by providing a family-friendly, five-berth motorhome that offers enough payload for everyone, is priced affordably, and for which the driver does not require a C1 licence. There are two separate lounge areas, making it ideal for families: a U-shaped seating area to the rear and a dinette behind the cab. That front dinette converts to a single bed, while two double electric drop-down beds complete the set. It has a simple interior, but it’s very practical. “Great to have an under-7m with five berths,” noted one judge.

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Trail Expedition C 73 n Bailey Adamo 75-4DL n Elddis Autoquest 196 n Joa Camp 75Q n Roller Team Auto-Roller 707

COMPASS AVANTGARDE 196

ALTERNATIVE PICK: Compass Avantgarde 196 (£55,849)

It is often hard to find a genuine six-berther that also has six dedicated seatbelts and is priced affordably – yet here it is. Storage space is tight, but this is a family motorhome with a 3,500kg MTPLM and realistic payload. It was observed by the judges that “two-zone living is great when there s a full house on board”. Realistically, this would suit a family with teenagers.

“

The Rimor has a simple interior that is very practical

”

UP TO SIX-BERTH COACHBUILT OVER 8M WINNER: Bailey Autograph 81-6 (£77,779)

BAILEY AUTOGRAPH 81-6

AUTO-TRAIL FRONTIER SCOUT 84 May 2022

Alde heating, Thule wind-out awning, 153-litre Dometic dual-hinged fridge-freezer, Dometic reversing camera, 100W solar panel, external Vision Plus satellite connection point, pre-wired for Wi-Fi (cost option) – these are just a few of the features that caught the judges’ attention. This winning formula is also delivered at a superb price. Described as “a beast of a van”, at 8.12m (26ft 8in) long and 2.49m (8ft 2in) wide it’s not a drive for the faint-hearted – but with a plush rear lounge and gleaming kitchen the Autograph 81-6 is also a ‘beauty’!

ALTERNATIVE PICK: Auto-Trail Frontier Scout (£92,346)

A new entrant in this competition – and hot on the heels of the winning Bailey – is the Auto-Trail Frontier Scout. One judge commented: “A tried and tested UK classic; well-built, nicely finished and well executed.” It has an extensive amount of high-end equipment as standard, such as the 21.5in Avtex Smart TV, Wi-Fi, Alde heating and 100W solar panel. eaturin de ined areas it s a lovely layout for a family of six. When the kids are tucked up in bed, kick back, put your feet up and enjoy a drink – there’s even a cocktail cabinet.

www.camc.com

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SPECIAL CLUB AWARDS

A-CLASS UNDER 7M WINNER: Mobilvetta Tekno Line K-Yacht 59 (£87,995)

New-for-2022, this compact A-Class sailed away with the title – it may be just 5.99m long but it truly is a home-from-home. Classed as a three-berth, it would ideally suit a couple with the occasional guest. The opulent washroom (located to the rear) boasts a rainfall shower head as well as a pull-out shower, while the kitchen is fitted with luxury features such as an induction hob, extractor fan and stone-top prep surface. Other eye-catching features are Wi-Fi, Alde heating, a 120W solar panel and Truma iNet. All this and a superb payload of 1,022kg. The upholstery may not be to everyone’s taste – comments like “busy to the point of overwhelming” and “a bit fussy” were made by a couple of judges – but this can be changed.

MOBILVETTA TEKNO LINE K-YACHT 59

ALTERNATIVE PICK: Weinsberg CaraCore 650MF (£75,931)

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Trail Grande Frontier GF-70 n Carthago compactline I 143 LE SuperLightweight n Malibu I 441 LE Touring

This Weinsberg may be a little basic compared with others in its class, but it offers plenty of positives. The interior is simple, yet modern, and was described by one judge as “smart and elegant”. The more traditional set-up of a French-style bed, corner washroom and drop-down bed over the cab may appeal to some – it was a “spacious and practical

layout” according to another. With a reasonable payload of 570kg, it might be worth looking at adding some optional extras, such as an oven/grill. The MTPLM of 3,500kg means this can be driven on a category B licence. WEINSBERG CARACORE 650MF

A-CLASS 7M-8M ALTERNATIVE PICK: Roller Team Pegaso 745 (£74,390)

ADRIA SONIC SUPREME 700 DL

WINNER: Adria Sonic Supreme 700 DL (£110,570) Adria ‘wowed’ the judges with this “elegant, smart, chic and modern” A-Class. Admittedly, it is not the cheapest of those assessed, and drivers will require a C1 licence, but it has lots going for it, including a payload of 1,150kg and a large garage that can be accessed from two sides. This four-berth 86 May 2022

has fixed single beds to the rear that can convert to a double, and a drop-down bed. It’s light and well-ventilated thanks to the many skylights while, at night, the array of LED illumination will mean no squinting in the dark. Combined with the Alde heating system and underfloor heating, this is an exceptional all-season vehicle with a real touch of class.

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES This is the only entrant in its class n Carthago chic c-line that can be driven on a B licence Fiat Ducato I 4.9 LE L and it s more a ordab e than n Frankia F-Line I 680 others – but a payload of only Plus 362kg could be an issue for some. n Malibu I 500 QB What makes it stand out are the Touring clearly defined zones – the large, n Mobilvetta Tekno U-shaped rear lounge and Line K-Yacht 95 separate dining area comprised a “popular and proven space-efficient ROLLER TEAM PEGASO 745 layout”. This “bright and appealing” A-Class comes with modern, high-level equipment including double lens reversing camera, Truma iNet X system, Zenec Xzent X-427 Double DIN touchscreen head unit, solar panel and bike rack. You get a lot for your money. www.camc.com

In pursuit of

LASTING ADVENTURE We’re coming together to bring you more adventure than ever. We don’t just share passion and expertise but also a duty to protect the outdoors. Together we walk, run, camp and ski but we can also learn, change and make a difference. We’re here to find you the right kit and help you make it last, for adventure, for the planet.

15% discount in-store and online for Caravan and Motorhome Club members. Code: AF-TCCLUB-M1 Expires 31.12.2022. Please visit camc.com/cotswoldoutdoor for details.

Make the right choice with our experts.

SPECIAL CLUB AWARDS

Meet the judges

Our expert panellists spent many hours rigorously examining websites, data sheets and other sources online before assessing the vehicles at the NEC.

DAN CARTWRIGHT

Dan has been a passionate caravan and motorhome advocate since 1989 when, as an eight-year-old child, he spent a wonderful week in a 1950s Willerby Wisp. He founded CaravanTimes in 2010 and has been there ever since. As a self-confessed petrol head, Dan has been chief car tester and motorbike journalist at CaravanTimes since it started.

ANDREW DITTON

A-CLASS OVER 8M

A Club member since 1987, Andrew has been towing his own caravan since he was 17 years old. Since then, he has towed a variety of outfits many thousands of miles, and holidayed in and reviewed a multitude of motorhomes.

FRANKIA I 8400 PLUS PLATIN

MARTIN DOREY

Martin is a writer, green activist and lifelong campervanner. He presented the BBC Two show, One Man and his Campervan, in 2011 and was guest judge on Caravanner of the Year in 2016. Martin writes about camping, including Take the Slow Road, a book series covering beautiful driving routes.

WINNER: Frankia I 8400 Plus Platin (£201,283)

It was a winner in 2020, and it is no surprise to see this palatial A-Class top the podium once again. Described as a “wonderfully appealing luxury tourer engineered to the highest standards”, and oozing quality, it is a great off-grid tourer, with lithium leisure batteries, 110W solar panel, 270-litre fresh water tank and 220-litre waste tank. The Alde heating and underfloor heating system should facilitate year-round adventures. There’s a C-shaped lounge to the rear, L-shaped kitchen, 32in TV, Teleco Satellite System, air conditioning – this is a very impressive motorhome, but you will need deep pockets to afford one.

ALTERNATIVE PICK: Carthago chic c-line Mercedes-Benz Sprinter I 6.2 XL QB (£166,170) It was no surprise that the new generation chic c-line pushed the

CARTHAGO CHIC C-LINE I 6.2 XL QB

SAMMY FAIRCLOTH

“

This palatial A-Class topped the podium once again

Frankia all the way. With a healthy payload of 1,075kg, this four-berth has a rear island bed, ensuite washroom/ dressing room, drop-down bed over the cab and well-equipped kitchen. It is a giant at 8.78m in length, with an MTPLM of 5,000kg. “Carthago is renowned for quality, design and finish, and this doesn’t disappoint,” enthused one judge, before adding that it is “a very desirable, yet restrained luxury tourer”.

”

Sammy comes from a family of devoted caravan and motorhome enthusiasts and loves nothing more than touring in the great outdoors with her family in the UK and abroad. She has written for the Club magazine for the past six years.

MEL AND RYAN PHILPOTT

Dedicated motorhomers Mel and Ryan produce the YouTube vlog verni htersT sharin their tourin adventures with a wide audience. Ryan has a eared in T shows such as Rosemary and Thyme, EastEnders and London s Burning, and toured UK theatres with Blood Brothers and most recently with The Dickens Theatre Company.

MARTIN SPENCER

A degree-qualified engineer, Martin has been the Club’s Technical Manager for 22 years, providing practical advice for members while undertaking extensive industry engagement, government consultations and work on national and international standards development. His knowledge is underpinned by decades of caravanning around most of the UK and western Europe, as well as motorhoming in Australia.

MARK SUTCLIFFE

Mark Sutcliffe is a motoring, travel and touring journalist with substantial experience of caravans and motorhomes. A regular member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year judging team, he is a former editor of Which? Caravan and a regular contributor to the Club magazine. 88 May 2022

www.camc.com

Very competitive quote. The online quote process was very straightforward and easy

Rated Excellent*

Stephen Minter - Club member

Motorhome and Campervan Insurance you can trust Save at least £25†guaranteed when you switch to our award-winning motorhome or campervan insurance. We have been voted 5 out of 5 stars Excellent on Trustpilot by our members who come back to us year after year.**

Try our award-winning insurance. Visit camc.com/motorhomeinsurance or call 01342 649 913 for a quote today. *Trustpilot rating correct as of 21 March 2022, but is subject to change **Based on renewals data supplied by Devitt Insurance Services for the period 1 January to 31 December 2021 (90.6% overall). †Send us proof of a current renewal invitation (including details of cover and price) from your existing insurer/broker and we’ll beat it by at least £25. Offer only applies when switching to the Club and is subject to insurers’ acceptance of the risk, with terms and conditions of cover being arranged on a like-for-like basis. Future renewal prices will always be less or the same as an equivalent new business price. Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Motorhome and Campervan Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services Limited. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for general insurance and credit activities.

Centre Lines

CENTRES LOCAL GROUPS

The latest news from across the country

Busy times for South Essex

A Chairman writes...

South Essex Centre has had a fun-filled few months, hosting a wide range of events. From dancing to a race night, here is just a taste of what members have been up to...

We thought readers might like to hear from Leicestershire Centre Chairman Gary Brewin, whose story shows how rallying can provide decades of enjoyment: “I went on my first Leicestershire Centre rally before my first birthday, 1968. In Oct 2021 I became Chairman. My parents and two elder brothers were keen centre members before I came along. I have very happy memories from my childhood of the early 1970s attending many rallies, but around 1976 the family’s Welton caravan was showing its age, and was sold, not to be replaced. Fast forward to the early 1990s, my wife Andrea and I decided to return to the fold, firstly just going to sites with showers, hook-ups etc. Then in 2007 we joined Leics Centre and never looked back. Having been Committee, Rally Sec, Vice Chair during this time, I was very proud to become Chairman, despite it taking over 50 years! My charity this year is Pancreatic Cancer UK as I lost my father to this around 15 years ago. I have a Chairman’s rally from 4 to 7 August, to help raise funds for the charity. Full details can be found at lccmc.org.uk. Finally, can I just urge anyone who has never been on a rally, to try it – it’s the best thing we have ever done with our caravan.

horse-racing action which caused no end of excitement and amusement. Suffice it to say that the ladies team eventually emerged triumphant.

St Patrick s ay

It was back to the Room in the Rodings for a celebration of all things Irish. Saturday afternoon brought games in the form of soft archery, ring and hoop, knock down the cans and more. During the evening members took part in a quiz and games of Hoy before a traditional coin toss at a bottle of whiskey in aid of the Chairman’s charity. Attendees then learned a new dance to a joyful Irish tune and listened to more music for the rest of the evening.

Dinner Dance

Ralliers pitched up at Chelmer High School for a rally to coincide with the Annual Dinner Dance. On Saturday evening the coach arrived to transfer attendees to the County Hotel in Chelmsford, where they were greeted by Caravan and Motorhome Club Vice Chairman Mark Sinclair-Watson. Following a delicious three-course dinner and speeches, members took to the dancefloor – which remained full for the rest of the evening!

Barn Yard Hop

Chelmer was also the venue for South Essex’s Barn Yard Hop event, during which members enjoyed a fantastic evening of country dancing. Bowls of soup with bread satisfied the dancers appetites while a coin toss at a donated bottle of whisky raised £50 for the Chairman’s charity.

www.camc.com

Race Night

The Room in the Rodings proved the perfect venue for racing-related fun. After the usual Friday night get-together, members enjoyed a game of curling followed by a piping hot fish and chip supper on Saturday. It was then time for the

n And the fun doesn t stop there! South Essex Centre is inviting all-comers to its th Birthday Celebration from to August . Held in conjunction with the Chairman’s Charity Rally, the event will boast a large marquee, professional entertainment, a bar, hot and cold food and lots more.

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CENTRES LOCAL GROUPS

Flamborough Head, near Bridlington

GOOD TO BE BACK

More than 70 guests enjoyed Mid West Yorkshire Centre’s dinner dance at the Regen Centre in Riccall near Selby in March. Centre Chairman Malcolm Jarvis and his wife Christine were joined by Executive Committee member Edward Baxter and his wife Barbara, as well as Northern Region Chairlady Sandra Wright and her daughter, Helen. The event, which had been cancelled for two years previously due to Covid, proved hugely enjoyable for all.

New to caravanning?

New to caravanning or motorhoming and would like to get the most out of your outfit? Ever wondered what a centre rally or event is all about? Then why not join South London Centre s Festival Event from 23 to 26 June? You are invited to either join South London members on the ‘event field’ at Gatwick Club site (no access to electric hook-up or facilities) or book a pitch and join in the fun at your leisure. Guests are invited to join South London for a cup of tea or coffee – or bring along their favourite tipple – and ask questions about centres and rallying in general. For more info contact Charles Patrick at southlondoncentrechairman@aol.com.

THAT’S DEDICATION! Suffolk Centre members Tony and Karen Reed have once again won the Don Alcock Trophy for most rallies attended in a single year. The couple were presented with their cup following a successful Valentine s rally, taking their tally of victories to seven! The pair hope to complete their 700th event with the centre this year!

Triple century

Rob and Maz Rice’s love of rallying is definitely as strong as ever – the couple were presented with their 300th rally plaque at North Essex Centre’s Valentine’s event in February! The weather was kind to guests at the event, who enjoyed indoor and outdoor table tennis, visits to the local pub and a quiz evening.

RALLY ROSTER Each month we highlight a few rallies taking place within or near the region covered by our main touring feature (p20-32 this month). See centre websites for more information.

29 April-1 May Tynedale Rugby Club Early May Bank Holiday, Corbridge (northumberlandcentre.co.uk) 6-13 May A Week By the Sea, South Cliff Caravan Park, Bridlington (eastyorkshirecentre.co.uk) 13-15 May Beacon Farm, Sneaton, Whitby (northyorkshirecentre.co.uk) 19-22 May Harwood Dale, near Scarborough (northyorkshirecentre.co.uk)

The updated Centre Rallies Guide 2022 is available with the April edition of our Magazine App and via the online page-turner at camc.com. You can also download a copy from camc.com/whats-on/events.

Your mag needs you! We love to show members what the Centres community has been up to and encourage more people to join in. Please send your rally reports and other Centres news, along with colourful, highresolution photography, to john.thynne@camc.com.

All abroad Details of overseas centre rallies in 2022 FRANCE

8-22 June Location: Camping Resort La Yole Host Centre: Norfolk Details: This site is perfectly located close to the sandy beaches of the Vendée. Along the coast to the north, you will find the lively, chic resort of Saint-Jean-de-Monts. 18 June-2 July Location: Camping Les Saules Host Centre: Cheshire Details: The rally site is just a five-minute drive from the quaint www.camc.com

village of Cheverny (church pictured right) with its white stone houses and distinctive church, in the heart of the Loire Valley. Châteaux such as Chitenay, Chambord, Beauregard and Blois are within easy reach. 27 June-9 July Location: Camping Le Paradis Host Centre: Suffolk Details: Located in the heart of the

Dordogne, Camping Le Paradis is set close to the beautiful village of Saint-Léon-sur-Vézère. This well-maintained, family-run campsite boasts an excellent restaurant serving fresh, local produce where possible.

SPAIN

18 June-2 July Location: Camping L’Amfora Host Centre: Derbyshire Details: This peaceful, spacious site boasts the likes of a pool complex, tennis courts and a mini golf course. The site is close to

Roses, Spain

magnificent sandy beaches, perfect for relaxing in the sun or enjoying a selection of watersports. Rallies can be booked through Alan Rogers, part of The Caravan Club Ltd. For more information see alanrogersrallies.com, email rallies@alanrogers.com or call 01580 214070. May 2022 93

EVENTS SITES AND TEMPORARY SITES

EVENTS DIARY

Looking for some holiday inspiration? Why not take in an event near a Club campsite or pitch up at a temporary site? 12-15 May

Club Campsite pick 1 June-31 Dec Striking Herstories This new, inspirational trail at the Scottish Football Museum details the fascinating history of women’s football in Scotland, showcasing iconic footballers such as Rose Reilly – voted the world’s best female footballer in 1983 – and Scotland s most prolific goalscorer, Julie Fleeting. Pre-booking required. The price of the trail is included within a combo ticket for the museum and Hampden Park stadium tour. Stay at: Strathclyde Country Park Club Campsite Info: scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk

Club Campsite pick 25 June-10 July Bristol Pride A two-week celebration of the LGBTQ+ community (and, this year, the 50th anniversary of the first Pride march in the UK), Bristol’s Pride extravaganza returns after a two-year hiatus to various venues across the city and features a circus night, theatre night and the Queer Vision Film Festival. It will culminate with the spectacular Pride Day on 9 July at The Downs. Stay at: Bath Chew Valley AS, Cheddar Club Campsite Info: bristolpride.co.uk 94 May 2022

Royal Windsor Horse Show Held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, this event sees some of the world’s best horses and riders competing in carriage driving, show jumping, dressage, polo and more. A nightly Platinum Jubilee Celebration will feature more than 500 horses and 1,000 performers. You may also like to explore Windsor and Eton, while on Saturday you could go on a boat trip on the Thames. The temporary site will be on Windsor Racecourse and is hosted by Buckinghamshire Centre. Electric hook-ups, fresh water and a chemical waste disposal point will be available (please note you will need to use your on-board washroom and toilet facilities). Members booked to stay on site will be offered discounts on tickets for both the Horse Show and the Jubilee Celebration. Temporary site open: 11-15 May 2022 Contact: Pat on 07950 841702 or Julie on 07505 137009, or email buckscentreevents@gmail.com.

21-22 June The Royal Cheshire County Show One of the largest two-day county shows in the country, this event features farm animals, a food hall, live cookery theatre, vintage machinery, a dog show and more. The temporary site has fresh water and chemical waste disposal and is opposite the showground, in Tabley. You can also use your time to explore nearby market towns like Knutsford and Northwich and attractions such as Tatton Park. Advance show tickets will be available at a discounted price, granting admission to the show for both days.

Temporary site open: 19-24 June 2022 Contact: Paul and Sandra on 01782 513276 or 07974 107078, or email bowler.rallies@ btinternet.com.

4-9 July RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival Join West Surrey Centre at its temporary site at Apps Court Farm, adjacent to Sunbury Lock. A free bus will be provided to and from the festival (a special booking form is available from westsurreycentre.co.uk). For show tickets apply directly via rhs.org.uk/shows-events/ rhs-hampton-court-palacegarden-festival.

Temporary site open: 4-9 July 2022 Contact: Tim on 07713 258956 or via tim_howlett@hotmail.com

13-14 August Driffield Steam Fair This is a major fair showcasing steam engines, vintage cars, motorcycles and more. Look out too for arena displays, traditional amusements, fairground organs, trade stands and a bar. See driffieldsteamfair.co.uk for full details. East orkshire Centre s rally is inside the showground. Temporary site open: 10-14 August 2022 Contact: eastyorkshire centre.co.uk

24-25 September Sywell Classic: Pistons & Props Taking place at Sywell Aerodrome, Northamptonshire, this is a great chance to see classic cars and breathtaking aerial displays. There will be high-octane motorsports throughout the weekend featuring historic racing cars, hot rods and motorcycles, while many of the UK’s best classic car and motorcycle clubs will be showcasing their vehicles. The temporary site hosted by Hertfordshire Centre will be on the showground. Toilet blocks and showers will be available. Temporary site open: 23-26 September 2022 Contact: Sandie and Alan on 01767 640263 or 07887 541762, or email sandiejevans@gmail.com.

n Note: Temporary sites enable you to attend a wide variety of exciting events and meet up with like-minded members. Please book in advance where possible. If you would like to promote a temporary site set up around a major event, please contact john.thynne@camc.com. www.camc.com

SPECIAL GREAT SAVINGS GUIDE

FUN FOR ALL

Illustration: Louise Turpin

Our Great Savings Guide is packed with discounts that can be applied at a wide range of venues – there’s something for everyone!

96 May 2022

he Great Savings Guide enables Caravan and Motorhome Club members to save when visiting a variety of attractions, eateries and experiences across the United Kingdom. It is updated each year to include new discounts, which are listed alongside popular, returning favourites. You can browse the full list at camc.com/great savingsguide. The website has been updated to include all of the available offers for 2022 – you can search by attraction name, Club campsite or by one of nine categories listed below. ere s a taste of the offers that are available...

* Terms and conditions apply to all offers. Advance booking may be required in some instances. To find out more about each offer, please visit camc.com/greatsavingsguide.

Discovery

Indulge your curiosity at museums, visitor centres, caves and more. Example: There’s so much to see and enjoy at Beaulieu (above) in the New Forest, from the National Motor Museum (home to the Club’s historic collection) to the World of Top Gear - and the Great Savings Guide gives you a discount of up to 33% off the price of entry*.

Adventure

An exciting day is guaranteed at an adventure park, theme park or on a woodland trail. Example: You could stay at Wyatts Covert or Henley Four Oaks Club campsites and visit Legoland Windsor (above), where there are 55 rides and attractions and more bricks than you’ll ever need! Our offer is a discount of up to 15% off the entry price*.

Leisure Activities

Heritage

A dream for history buffs – historic houses, castles, gardens and heritage museums. Example: Take advantage of a 20% discount on entry* when visiting Haddon Hall (above) near Bakewell in the Peak District (nearest Club campsites: Chatsworth Park, Buxton and Castleton). This medieval and Tudor mansion house has appeared in more than 30 films!

Tours

Save on sightseeing buses, river cruises and walking tours as well as vineyard, distillery and brewery visits. Example: At Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery (near Maragowan, Clachan and Forfar Lochside Club campsites) you can apply a 10% discount to the price of an insightful tour* and learn all about the distilling process, before perhaps picking up a bottle to enjoy later. www.camc.com

Take advantage of deals on laser games, crazy golf, bike hire, mountain climbing, paddle boarding or indoor play centres. Example: If you’re after a fun, rewarding day out, how about a forest adventure? Club members can apply a 10% discount* on a classic Go Ape experience – involving zip-wires and high-ropes crossings. A range of scenic locations is available across the UK.

Animals

Enjoy farms, aquariums, animal sanctuaries and wildlife watching experiences. Example: There are eleven Sea Life centres across the UK, each offering the chance to see amazing underwater worlds. Why not stay at Brighton, Scarborough West Ayton or one of our other sites near Sea Life venues, and enjoy up to 15% off your entry ticket*.

Food and Drink

Visit everything from quaint coffee shops and restaurants to historic pubs. Example: If you’re staying at The Sandringham Estate Club Campsite (or an alternative site nearby), you can save 10% on a luxurious afternoon tea experience*. Savour Sandringham teas and coffees, treats containing locally sourced ingredients and produce grown on the estate.

Railways

Fancy a trip on a steam railway? You’ll also find cliff railways, model railways and railway museums in the Guide. Example: Climb aboard one of the East Lancashire Railway’s steam or diesel trains, which call at the station next to Burrs Country Park Club Campsite (above) as well as various market towns nearby. Club members are entitled to a two-for-the-price-of-one offer*.

Experiences

From driving experiences to balloon rides, safaris and more – why not treat yourself? Example: Hosting a variety of events, the Santa Pod Raceway (right) is a drag-racing venue near Northampton and Bedford (nearest Club campsites are Grafham Water and Ashridge Farm). Enjoy an adrenalinefuelled day out and take advantage of the 20% discount on selected events for Club members*. May 2022 97

MEMBER OFFERS SPECIAL DEALS

SAVE WITH THE CLUB The Club proudly works with top brands to bring you special savings on a variety of products and services. This month’s focus is on getting out and about during your touring holiday. From tech to maps, here are just some of the offers available.

Introductory offer on activity app You can use the Outdooractive app to enjoy a variety of walking routes across the country. The basic app is free to use, but Club members benefit from a €10 discount on Pro or Pro+ first-year subscriptions. With the Pro version you receive features such as access to topographical maps and special activity networks, while Pro+ gives you 3D maps and more. To find out more and to see a collection of routes near Club sites, see camc.com/ outdooractive.

Enjoy the benefits of a Cycling UK membership Cycling UK membership offers great benefits, including £10m third-party liability insurance and legal assistance, £10 off an annual bike insurance policy with Yellow Jersey or 5% off a Pedal Cover home policy, discounts from cycling retailers, and

much more. Your membership will also enable Cycling UK to lobby government more effectively, campaign for improved rights and inspire millions more people to cycle. Club members save 20% on a six-month membership; see camc.com/cyclinguk.

Save 20% on protecting

YOUR RIDE

Over 1.1 million bikes have already been registered with BikeRegister, the UK’s police-approved national cycle database and bike identification initiative. Registering and visibly marking a bike (several options are available) with BikeRegister deters thieves and improves the chance of it being identified should it be stolen. Members save 20% on all membership marking kits, which include a membership card and a free upload of a photo of your bike to your account. Find out more at camc.com/bikeregister.

Terms and conditions apply to all Member Offers and Club Shop purchases – see camc.com/memberoffers and shop.camc.com for details 98 May 2022

www.camc.com

Savings on car hire with Enterprise Looking to hire a car so you can get out and about on holiday? With more than 450 locations across the UK, Enterprise has you covered – whether you need a compact three-door for a day trip or a people carrier for a family adventure. You can even arrange a pick-up from site to collect your car (simply contact the appropriate branch; subject to availability, location and other restrictions). Members save 10%; find out more at camc.com/enterprise.

Save on thousands of products at Club Shop

Stay on track with discounts on maps Dash4it, the online map superstore, offers members savings on maps, travel guides and outdoor accessories. As well as offering the entire Ordnance Survey range, it keeps extensive stocks of maps published by Harvey, AA, Michelin and IGN. Club members are entitled to an additional 8% off discounted products. See camc.com/dash4it for more details.

Ride away with up to £135 off a Raleigh bike

Members save up to 10% on over 3,000 products from Club Shop (in partnership with PRIMA Leisure) including cycling accessories such as bike racks, covers, boxes, straps and more. Visit shop.camc.com and see what you can save!

Your member offer story... “We are both in our 80s now. We have a motorhome, which we use in Scotland as much as we can, and take our bikes with us. E-bikes like my Raleigh, which I bought through the Club, are great for older leisure cyclists as they help on hills and in windy conditions, allowing us to get out and about for exercise. I thoroughly recommended e-bikes and I have been very pleased with my Raleigh.” Margaret Barrie, Club member

Cycling is an excellent way of exploring the areas around Club sites, which is why we are proud to partner with Raleigh. One of the world’s oldest and best-known bike manufacturers, Raleigh offers an extensive range so there is something for everyone: e-bikes for a little added assistance; stylish urban models; foldable alternatives for those low on space kids bikes; and even vintageinspired classics. Members can save up to £135 when purchasing a Raleigh bike. Visit camc.com/raleigh.

Share your member offer stories If you have saved via our offers we would love to hear from you! Please send us your story and/or image to memberoffers@ camc.com.

Terms and conditions apply to all Member Offers and Club Shop purchases – see camc.com/memberoffers and shop.camc.com for details www.camc.com

May 2022

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SPECIAL SENSORY WALKS

Touch and go Engaging with our senses in natural surroundings is not only enjoyable – it can boost wellbeing, says Debbie North

he American naturalist John Burroughs (1837-1921) described beautifully the place where he found peace and inspiration: “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order”. Like Burroughs, when we are immersed in nature we can engage our senses to explore the world around us – not just the things that we see, but the scents we can smell and the textures we can touch. Part of my job involves the creation of sensory trails in the countryside. These are often for people with disabilities, especially sight impairment, but everyone can benefit from them: the more time we quietly spend engaging our senses in natural surroundings, the greater the physical and mental benefits. These moments can evoke pleasant memories, inspire creativity, or simply calm the mind. Babies and young children use their five senses to make sense of their environments. In fact, children are natural scientists, investigating, exploring and experimenting with the materials they find around them. A nature walk therefore makes a great family pursuit, and activities such as filling in ‘spotting books’, doing nature rubbings or collecting leaves can instil in the young and the not-so-young a love of the great outdoors. Debbie North

Nature can be a source of inspiration for young and old

The first time I shared a walk with a blind gentleman was incredibly inspiring. He told me to stop and listen. I did, but heard nothing. He told me to listen again, this time with my eyes closed. I began to hear more the rustling of the leaves, the rhythmic tapping of a distant woodpecker, and the babbling of a nearby brook. A vivid picture of my surroundings built in my mind and now, when the stresses and strains of daily life get on top of me, I close my eyes, relive that scene, and I feel calm again.

STAY AT

Bolton Abbey Estate Club Campsite has adapted facilities, with a roll-in shower room and accessible toilets.

POSITIVE CHARGE

When was the last time you jumped in a puddle or scrunched up autumn leaves in your hands? Walking barefoot on the grass or even in the dirt helps us feel connected to the earth. This ‘grounding’ (or ‘earthing’) creates a positive charge in both body and mind, and can be uplifting and relaxing at the same time. Touching and feeling natural textures is also good fun. www.camc.com

“

A vivid picture of my surroundings built in my mind

”

May 2022 101

SPECIAL SENSORY WALKS

SENSE-ATIONAL

BOOK

ON TH E

A PP Three more sensory walks to consider… These three walks are part of a series of accessible sensory trails developed by Sense – a charity helping individuals with complex disabilities – in conjunction with Ordnance Survey. They can be enjoyed by anyone. To see a full list of walks in England, with accompanying maps and suggestions, please visit sense. or u and t e sensor wa s into the search box.

Above: Bolton Abbey is a great location to embark on a sensory walk

CHERRY HINTON HALL This 1.8km sensory trail around the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall incorporates 19 carefully plotted ‘highlights’ – where various sounds of nature, textures and so on can be experienced. Stay at: Cambridge Cherry Hinton Club Campsite

SMESTOW VALLEY CANAL A 3km route on the outskirts of Wolverhampton that takes you up and down the canal towpath. Take your time to focus on life in and above the water, as well as the adjacent playing fields and park. Stay at: Stanmore Hall Affiliated Campsite

GLASTONBURY ABBEY At just over 2km, this walk around the grounds and kitchen offers the opportunity to smell and feel a variety of herbal plants and wander through an apple orchard. Please note there is a price for admission for adults (see glastonburyabbey.com). Stay at: Cheddar Club Campsite

102 May 2022

The River Wharfe at Bolton Abbey by Rowena Harbour

What smells do you associate with a woodland walk or a lazy stroll by the river on a summer’s evening? Research has shown that natural scents can lower your heart rate and restore focus. Take time while out on a walk to smell the damp leaves, wild garlic or bluebells. Get your nose twitching! Depending on where I’m walking, I tend to use different senses. When I filter out one sense, I can heighten others and ‘see’ the world slightly differently. I am now in the habit of shifting this focus in different locations, ‘seeing’ with my hands and ‘hearing’ with my eyes.

WONDERFUL WHARFE

One of my favourite multi-sensory walks is along the River Wharfe, which meanders near the Bolton Abbey Estate Club Campsite in North Yorkshire. The relatively flat walk from the Cavendish Pavilion to the Strid (a remarkable natural narrowing of the river that is known to be dangerous – take heed of

warning signs and stay well clear of the edge) passes through enchanting woodlands which are asking to be explored. The river itself is a hive of activity: herons, dippers and kingfishers can often be seen along its banks, while dragonflies dance across the water. You can download ‘I Spy’ cards created as part of Natural England’s One Million Children Outdoors campaign, which provide a focus as you follow the trails around Strid Wood (see boltonabbey.com/ your-visit/families). This area is considered to be one of the finest wildlife habitats for miles around, with a magnificent array of species. Look out for the ancient Laund Oak tree, which was blown over in high winds during a storm in 2016. This centuries-old tree continues to leaf, albeit at an unusual angle, thanks to the rescue efforts of the estate team. Bolton Abbey strives to meet the needs of all its visitors. From April to the end of October a motorised mobility scooter is available to borrow from the Cavendish Shop. Pre-booking is recommended as it is a very popular facility – call 01756 710663 for details. With such a variety of environments, and the way it emphasises the benefits of engaging with our surroundings, Bolton Abbey is a great place to start stimulating the senses. Debbie North is a wheelchair user who promotes accessibility for all in the countryside. She is a motivational speaker, consultant, presenter and author.

www.camc.com

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PRACTICAL Q&A

ASK YOUR CLUB

The Club’s technical team answers your pressing questions

Safety checks Q

I saw caravans being checked by the police at a motorway services recently. Is this a national campaign?

These checks are often organised by individual police forces, but over the past few years a wider programme of checks has been run by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). The DVSA normally focuses on heavy goods vehicles, but as part of the Department for Transport’s 2019 Trailer Safety Report (see gov.uk/ government/publications/ trailer-safety-report), it was tasked with looking in detail at ‘light’ trailers (up to 3,500kg, including caravans). In our submission to the Trailer Safety Report, the Club argued (successfully) that the basic roadworthiness of caravans was good enough to not require their mandatory testing, but we supported the roadside checks project as this would provide evidence to reinforce that view while also helping identify areas where improvements were still possible. Checks concluded in September 2021, with 730 caravans inspected out of a total of 3,813 trailers. We’re awaiting the full report on this, but key findings were presented to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trailer and Towing Safety in February (trailerappg.org.uk/ reports-publications).

www.camc.com

So what did we learn? First, that half of non-caravan trailers had a prohibitable defect; most of those required immediate prohibition (ie had to be repaired before being allowed to proceed). Also, fewer than one in eight caravans had a prohibitable defect; 87% had no defects; only 7% required rectification before continuing. This vindicates the Club’s view that caravans are fundamentally safe in terms of their roadworthiness – they compare very well to other types of vehicle, such as cars and vans (around 30% failure rate at MOT) or heavy commercial trailers (15% failure rate at roadside checks, despite a rigorous regime of oversight and testing). Where can further improvements be made? Overwhelmingly, caravans with defects had problems with their road lights (57%). A quick functional check of your lights should really be part of your pre-journey routine every time you hitch up. With most issues being an easy DIY fix (replacement bulb, cleaned connections, etc), there’s little reason for these defects not to be addressed promptly. Breakaway cables in poor condition, or not being used at all, was another issue. Again, this is straightforward to resolve. A reminder that UK law does not specify how breakaway cables should be attached to the

We check road light functionality every time we hitch up to test a car at Towcar of the Year – you should do the same before you set off on a journey

towbar. Hence, where no better point of connection exists, looping the cable around the towball meets the legal requirement, but not attaching it at all does not. Defective tyres were found but in relatively low numbers. This perhaps reflects the success of the Club’s longstanding advice to ideally change caravan tyres at five years old and never use them beyond seven years old. A little more attention to road lights and breakaway cables could improve the condition of caravans in general even more. Of course, condition is only one aspect of safe towing. Excessive caravan weight, poor payload distribution and excessive speed are other factors that can jeopardise your towing safety. There’s advice on these issues in your Sites Directory & Handbook, while for those just starting out or anyone needing a refresher, our training courses cover these issues and more.

“

Caravans are fundamentally safe in terms of roadworthiness – they compare very well to other types of vehicle

”

Please address your questions to:

Technical Information, Email: technical@camc.com Tel: 01342 336611 ...and quote your membership number

camc.com/advice May 2022 105

CROSSWORD £90 in Club gift vouchers to be won

£50 in Club gift vouchers will be won by the sender of the first correct solution selected on Monday 23 May 2022. Four runners-up will each receive £10 Club gift vouchers. Please clearly photograph/scan your answer grid and email to crossword camc.com. Please do not include any other correspondence with your entry.

12 14

37 38

43 44

50 52

48 51

58 60

NAME:

MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is processing your personal data for the purpose of administering your competition entry. If you would like to know more about how we process personal data, please visit our Privacy Policy at camc.com/privacy-policy.

April solution: Across: 1 Plump 4 Selfish 9 Orca 10 Attic 11 Adonis 12 Virus 14 Razor 15 Dear 16 Plankton 17 Let off 19 Tree 22 Lengthy 24 Nab 26 Sixth 27 Agree 29 Greyhound 32 Musical 35 Tumbler 37 Desperate 39 Newly

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41 Navvy 43 Gin 44 Custard 47 Olga 48 Hard up 51 Alsatian 52 Tick 54 Drain 55 Sprat 56 Expand 57 Boast 58 Weir 59 Dungeon 60 Susan Down: 1 Padre 2 Unnerve 3 Postpone 4 Satanist 5 Lavatory 6 Hostel 7 Parrot 8 Rip-off

grid D

13 Renowned 18 Fix 20 Rug 21 Shelf 22 Legally 23 Gay 25 Bum 26 Suspend 28 Roam 30 One 31 Nap 33 Crow 34 Stunt 36 Rag 37 Dinosaur 38 Rut 40 Lag 42 Via 44 Cassette 45 Shut-down 46 Rounders 47 Octopus 48 Harrow 49 Donate 50 Passed 53 Canon

ACROSS 1 Eye glasses (10) 6 Synthetic, imitation (10) 11 Bit (5) 12 Impervious to wind and rain (12) 14 Form an arch over (4) 16 Eighth of a gallon (4) 17 Titfer (3) 18 Emit (5) 20 Dark brownish-red (6) 21 Roman gown (4) 22 Showery (5) 23 Cancel in law (7) 25 Catch and arrest (3) 26 Combat plane (7) 28 Ship s company (4) 29 Insanity (7) 33 Smuggled goods (10) 35 Wedding posy worn in a lapel (10) 38 Month (7) 41 Turn over and over (4) 42 Pharmacist (7) 45 Not high (3) 46 Unisex nightwear (7) 48 The human trunk (5) 49 Against (4) 50 Creative ability (6) 52 Interior decoration and furnishings (5) 54 Tabby or Siamese (3) 55 Soapy lather (4) 57 Consumes food (4) 59 A 60 to 69 year old (12) 60 Alert and active (5) 61 German dog breed (10) 62 Lost for words (10)

PUZZLE CROSSWORD