Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine – May 2025

FEATURE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

MAY 2025

WELSH WONDERS

Magnificent beaches, magical castles and majestic architecture await

SHROPSHIRE ON TAP Why not use a Club site as a base for a brewery tour?

DESIGN CLASSICS Round-ups from the Club’s recent awards

WORLD CLASS Find out about our escorted and independent tours

COMMENT EDITOR

WELCOME

camc.com/contact Editorial Editors Gary Martin, John Thynne Deputy Editor Stuart Egan Assistant Editors Clare Disano, Stephen Hollis

John Thynne says:

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

H

ave you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when the Club is planning to build or refurbish campsites on the UK network?

Then turn to page 26 to read an interview with Andrew Majcher, our Principal Development Manager – here he talks about the likes of planning applications, minimising disruption to members, underground springs, and the planner’s worst enemy –the British weather!

One of the campsites that has benefitted hugely from our Estates department’s expertise in recent years is

Membership services and magazine circulation 01342 318813 (calls may be recorded) Site booking (members only)/ UK Club sites advance booking 01342 327490 Cover Caravan 01342 336610 Insurance (Devitts) Car/motorhome 0345 504 0334 Home/contents 0345 504 0335 Travel Service 01342 316101

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Red Pennant (European breakdown and travel insurance) 01342 336633

The campsite planner’s worst enemy – the British weather!

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

Advertising enquiries advertising@camc.com Commercial Manager Ian Lea 07850 916434 ian.lea@camc.com Commercial Executive Adam Johnson 07784 044103 adam.johnson@camc.com Commercial Executive Adam Westbrook 07977 162066 adam.westbrook@camc.com Production Controller Tara Erroll tara.erroll@camc.com

WELSH WONDERS

Magnificent beaches, magical castles and majestic architecture await

www.camc.com

SHROPSHIRE ON TAP Why not use a Club site as a base for a brewery tour?

PASS p1 Cover.indd 2

www.camc.com

MAY 2025

COVER IMAGE:

Harlech Castle in Wales Tomas Marek/Alamy

ON TEST: VOLKSWAGEN ID. BUZZ, COACHMAN LASER 845 XTRA

President: Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester Chair: David Turner Director General: Nick Lomas

FEATURE XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

TOURING: NORTH WALES AND CHESHIRE

Classifieds/For Sale advertising@camc.com

CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB MAY 2025

Production Co-ordinator Florrie Wood florrie.wood@camc.com

”

Lady Margaret’s Park in Wales. Following redevelopments in 2022, the Club has recently installed 15 new hardstanding touring pitches and a service point, while a new Experience Freedom village featuring glamping pods and cabins is expected to open in late May. You can find out more about this and other works on page 29, while latest updates are always available at camc.com/redevelopments.

Lady Margaret’s Park was also one of the bases used by our contributor Philip Moon, when he embarked on a tour of

DESIGN CLASSICS Round-ups from the Club’s recent awards

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

North Wales and Cheshire – you can read about the historical, cultural and scenic wonders he uncovered on pages 42-50.

And, if craft beer’s your thing, that Club campsite could be a good starting point for a holiday taking in Shropshire‘s breweries – check out Sammy Faircloth’s tour on pages 56-58!

Elsewhere in this bumper issue you’ll find all the results from the Club’s Motorhome and Campervan Design Awards (pages 80-96) and Lightweight Leisure Awards (106-108). Our experienced judges left no stone unturned as they scrutinised each entry, scouring brochures and online information before examining the vehicles up close at Birmingham’s NEC. Highly regarded within the industry, the awards are designed to inform members who might be considering a new purchase.

Enjoy the issue!

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

WORLD CLASS Find out about our escorted and independent tours

09/04/2025 10:35

May 2025 3

THE UK’S BIGGEST SHOWCASE!

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Buy today! Quote CMC1 MCSHOW.CO.UK Terms and Conditions: *Exclusive £11.00 tickets are valid for Club Day, Tuesday 14 October ’25 only. Member tickets on other days are £12.00 when quoting CMC1 before midnight 13/10/25. After this time tickets are £18.00 – subject to availability. A £1.25 transaction fee applies to all online bookings. Children under 16 yrs go free when accompanied by a paying adult (max 2 children per adult). Information correct at time of print.

CONTENTS

MAY 2025

42 TOURING 42

54 56

66 76

10

UK SITES Philip Moon embarks on a ‘magical history tour’ in north Wales and Chester DIRECTORY UPDATES Amendments to your Sites Directory & Handbook RAISE A TOAST The Faircloths enjoy a brewery-themed tour in Shropshire FOREIGN TOURING A cycling and surfing odyssey through France, Spain and Portugal ACTIVITY BREAKS Jonathan Manning enrols on a beginner’s navigation course in Derbyshire

98

CAR VW ID. Buzz 103 CARAVAN Coachman Laser 845 Xtra

28 31 60

HEADLINES Club and industry updates SITES The latest from around the network EVENTS DIARY Highlights of upcoming Centre-run events OVERSEAS Epic tours of Canada and partner campsites to consider in France, Spain and Germany

6 May 2025

53 110

70

72

MEMBER OFFERS Save with your Club GREAT SAVINGS GUIDE Days out for less

112

SPECIALS

117

80

MOTORHOME DESIGN AWARDS We break down the top-threes in 15 classes judged at the NEC 106 LIGHTWEIGHT LEISURE AWARDS Our judges assess the merits of a range of trailer tents and roof tents

120 124

REGULARS 9

10

60

12 26

LETTERS We open our mailbag HAVE YOU BEEN TO...?

Incleboro Fields Club Campsite PRODUCT SHOWCASE Jane McGowan looks at a range of awning accessories COUNTRY MATTERS David Chapman on the bustling ecosystems of ’fenland’ PRACTICAL A look at motorhome and campervan screen covers PUZZLES Can you solve our selection of brainteasers?

CROSSWORD A chance to win Club vouchers CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS To advertise, call 07977 162066 TAIL LIGHTS A light-hearted look at the world of touring CYCLE ROUTE Jonathan Manning rides from Tewkesbury Abbey Club Campsite WALKS FOR ALL Mark Sutcliffe enjoys the rolling downland of the Low Weald on a route from Slinfold Club Campsite

110

MEMBER BENEFITS

NEWS 15

37

TESTS

125

DIRECTOR GENERAL’S VIEW Nick Lomas on how the Club can help you travel overseas in 2025 YOUR PHOTOS Pictures from your touring breaks CLUB MATTERS Save on campsites in Devon and Cornwall COLUMN How the Club works to develop and improve the UK site network

138 140 140

112

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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 non-members who download the Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine app, each issue costs £3.99.

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.

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Circulation: Jan-Dec 2024 Printing by Mohn Media, Gütersloh, Germany

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OPINION Nick Lomas says:

According to a recent Club survey, a third of you are planning to go abroad on tour this year.

And with a whopping 350 partner campsites in 16 different European countries – ranging from small and charming 20-pitch locations with few facilities through to all-singing, all-dancing sites with multiple sports and spa facilities plus food and drink options – we have something for everyone. All sites are selected and

“

We have a whopping 350 partner campsites in 16 European countries

”

inspected by our experienced team to ensure we offer you the best in terms of quality and choice – indeed, this year we’ve added 26 fantastic new sites in seven countries.

In fact, the Club can provide you with the complete overseas holiday package. Not only can you book your sites with us, we work closely with all the major ferry operators and Le Shuttle to offer you the best cross-Channel deals, while our Red Pennant overseas holiday and motoring cover gives you total peace of mind while you are away.

If you’re thinking of venturing abroad for the first time but are a little nervous, why not take advantage of our introductory tours to Brittany or Normandy? The Brittany tour, for example, begins at Rookesbury Park Club campsite for a presentation and driving course

which gives you a flavour of driving on the ’wrong’ side of the road, before setting off for France and a stay at Domaine du Logis campsite, which is situated in the grounds of a magical 15th-century château.

For the more experienced overseas adventurers among you, we offer an exciting range of escorted tours. New for 2025 are ’Balkan Adventure’ (Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia), ’Rhine in Flames’ (Germany) and ’Wines of Beaujolais’ (covering the Rhone Alpes and Beaujolais regions of France). These have already proved popular so there are only limited places available for this year, but our Overseas team would be happy to take registrations for 2026.

More than 90% of you who have already used our Overseas Travel Service rate the ease of making bookings as ’good’, ’very good’ or ’excellent’, while 88% say they receive ‘good’ or ’excellent’ value for money, with service to match.

For more information and to book your European holiday for 2025, see the Overseas Travel section of camc.com.

May 2025 9

YOUR PHOTOS

SPECIAL MEMBERS’ PICTURES

Your most memorable touring moments caught on camera

Shropshire

CAER TO VISIT?

“Half-term getaway.

Reflection of Caer Caradoc in the water at New House Farm [CL], Church Stretton.

A great new site, great base for walking 10/10!”

Mark Eaton

FLOWER TUB

“Gairloch... amazing place.”

[Nearest Club Campsite: Kinlochewe.]

Julie Scott Highlands

Dumfries & Galloway

BRILLIANT BEACON

“Mull of Galloway Lighthouse, the most southerly point of Scotland.

Taken while stopping at New England Bay [Club Campsite].”

Gordon Bennett

10 May 2025

www.camc.com

Highlands

MOR GREAT VIEWS

“A trip to the village of Plockton, whilst staying at Morvich Club Site.”

Jack Mitchell

Norfolk

BRANCH LOCATOR

“This was taken at the Sandringham site.” [Note: The Sandringham Estate campsite is due to fully reopen in July 2025] Anne Austin

Cumbria

SIMPLY RED

Ireland

“I took this photo of a beautiful red squirrel while staying in Cumbria recently” Jan Brown

STEEP PURPLE

“This is Purple Mountain in County Kerry.

It was taken from a view point above Killarney.

It was a beautiful day in March; we were staying at Fleming’s White Bridge [Affiliated Site].”

Steve Peters www.camc.com

Upload your images at camc.com/inspiringadventures or tag us on Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter) using #inspiringadventures May 2025 11

CLUB MATTERS SAVINGS Looe in Cornwall

SUMMER IN THE SOUTH-WEST Look out for great savings on selected campsites in Devon and Cornwall

F All this is included in your pitch price

†

√ Under 5s stay FREE √ Dogs stay for FREE √ Awnings are FREE √ FREE hot showers √ FREE electric hook-up √ FREE WI-FI

And remember, we have lowered our deposit to just £5 per night – see camc.com/5deposit.

At all UK Club campsites: Under 5s and dogs stay FREE. Awnings are included at no extra cost when staying on an appropriate pitch type. FREE electric hook-up when staying on an appropriate pitch type (excludes Smart Metered campsites and Nonelectric Economy pitches). Hot showers are FREE on appropriate campsites with shower facilities.

FREE Wi-Fi service available at 146 UK Club campsites.

†

12 May 2025

rom sandy shores and spectacular clifftop scenery to dramatic moorland and idyllic villages (not to mention the delights of pasties and cream teas!), the south-west of England is a holidaymaker’s dream. And you can enjoy special savings at seven of our sites in glorious Devon and Cornwall thanks to our £25 Off Summer Getaways promotion*.

Whether you’re a family seeking a beach break (remember kids aged 5-17 stay for just £1 per night and under-5s stay free), a couple looking to unwind or a solo adventurer, we have the perfect site for you. What’s more, each of the campsites highlighted here is within reach of an attraction featured in our Great Savings Guide – helping your money go even further. Read on to find out more...

Brixham Near Hillhead Club Campsite Photo by member Clare Viles

Looe Club Campsite, Cornwall

This lovely campsite sits just outside the town of the same name, offering easy access to seaside attractions as well as the South West Coast Path.

For families: On-site highlights include a swimming pool, tennis court and crazy golf; rockpooling at Hannafore Beach.

For couples and solo travellers: The Old Guildhall Museum & Gaol – situated in East Looe, the museum features displays on fishing and boat building, smuggling, the Second World War and more.

Great Savings Guide offer**: Members save up to 20% on tickets at Camel Creek Adventure Park in Tredinnick – attractions include a variety of rides and more than 100 animals.

Sample price*: £211.60 (7 nights between 1-17 July 2025 for two adults on a grass pitch with awning, including £25 saving)

Hillhead Club Campsite, Devon

Offering fantastic views of the sea, this large, wellequipped site is just two miles from the bustling town of Brixham and three miles from historic Dartmouth.

For families: On-site outdoor heated pool and children’s pool, playground, play area and indoor complex containing a shop, bar and restaurant.

For couples and solo travellers: The National Trust’s Coleton Fishacre – an Arts & Crafts-influenced country home with RHS-accredited coastal valley garden.

Great Savings Guide offer**: Benefit from seven days’ access for the price of one at Pennywell Farm – meet the animals, enjoy a tractor ride and much more.

Sample price*: £216.50 (7 nights between 1-17 July 2025 for two adults on a grass pitch with awning, including £25 saving) www.camc.com

Anthony Calf

Charming Sidmouth

Dornafield Club Campsite, Devon

Situated in a quiet valley and surrounded by wonderful countryside, this lovely site is close to the ‘English Riviera’ towns of Torbay.

For families: On-site games room, play area and playground; seaside attractions of Torquay within eight miles.

For couples and solo travellers: Dartmoor National Park is about six miles away – a prime location for walking enthusiasts.

Great Savings Guide offer**: Enjoy a seven-mile steam ride on the South Devon Railway from Buckfastleigh to Totnes – members save 10%.

Sample price*: £228.40 (7 nights between 1-17 July 2025 for two adults on a grass serviced pitch with awning, including £25 saving)

Putts Corner Club Campsite, Devon Just a few miles from the seaside resort of Sidmouth, this pretty site is a haven for nature lovers – as well as a host of birdlife you might even spot the occasional deer.

For families: Playground on site; youngsters will love the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth.

For couples and solo travellers: Cycle or

Start Bay Club Campsite, Devon

Merrose Farm Club Campsite, Cornwall

Just three miles from the cathedral city of Truro, this lovely site boasts 20 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds.

For families: On-site games room, play area and playground; Loe Beach (three miles away) is great for water sports tuition and hire.

For couples and solo travellers: Truro Market – every Wednesday and Sunday on Lemon Quay.

Great Savings Guide offer**: 25% off English Heritage membership – visit the likes of Pendennis Castle, just nine miles from the campsite.

Sample price*: £239.60 (7 nights between 1-17 July 2025 for two adults on a grass pitch with awning, including £25 saving)

Enjoying an attractive location on a long, gently sloping meadow, this lovely countryside site is just a short distance from Torcross Beach.

For families: Playground on site; re-opening in July 2025, the South Devon Maize Maze offers hours of fun.

For couples and solo travellers: Separated from the sea by the shingle beach, Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve is a big draw for birdwatchers and nature lovers.

Great Savings Guide offer**: About 20 miles from the campsite, Go Falconry Newton Abbot gives you the chance to see

birds of prey up close – members save 10%.

Sample price*: £227.70 (7 nights between 1-17 July 2025 for two adults on a grass pitch with awning, including £25 saving) Ian Peters

Carnon Downs Club Campsite, Cornwall

Gaye Kenny

Just a mile from Porthbean Beach and five miles from the National Trust’s Trelissick Garden, this campsite appeals to guests of all ages.

For families: Playground and play area on-site; catch the King Harry chain ferry across the River Fal. For couples and solo travellers: Visit the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.

Great Savings Guide offer**: Enjoy some high-adrenaline action at Quad Nation Truro – Club members save 10%.

Sample price*: £194.80 (7 nights between 1-17 July 2025 for two adults on a grass pitch with awning, including £25 saving)

walk in the The Byes Riverside Park, taking in the River Sid. Great Savings Guide offer**: Members save 10% on experiences with Segway Trails Exeter.

Sample price*: £147.50 (5 nights between 1-17 July 2025 for two adults on a grass pitch with awning, including £25 saving)

Bigbury-on-Sea

To find out about the full line-up of campsites across the country offering £25 Off Summer Getaways visit camc.com/summer * To take advantage of the £25 Off Summer Getaways offer a minimum stay of five or seven nights applies depending on the selected campsite. All you need to do is book by 26 August 2025 for stays between 1 July and 21 September 2025. Bookings must be made 21 days in advance of your stay. Visit camc.com/summer for full terms and conditions and to see the complete list of campsites included in this offer. Prices correct at time of going to press. ** Visit camc.com/greatsavingsguide for terms and conditions.

AND THAT’S NOT ALL…

Remember we have a whole host of amazing new offers…

For information, terms and conditions see pages 12-13 of the January 2025 issue or visit camc.com/ukoffers

TURN TO PAGE 72 TO SEE MORE GREAT SAVINGS GUIDE ATTRACTIONS IN DEVON AND CORNWALL www.camc.com

May 2025 13

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

The latest stories from the touring world

Last chance for ClubFest There are just a couple of weeks to go until ClubFest – the Club’s annual, all-inclusive festival – and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the magnificent Bolesworth Castle estate in Cheshire from 23-27 May 2025. If you haven’t booked your ticket yet, there were still some available as this issue went to press – the ‘Tickets’ panel on this page has more information about booking.

ClubFest is a family- and dog-friendly event – and when we

say ‘there’s something for everyone’, we really do mean it! As well as the fantastic on-stage entertainment – the headliners are Lightning Seeds, Boyzlife, Whitney, Queen of the Night (a tribute to Whitney Houston) and Go Your Own Way (playing hits

by Fleetwood Mac) – there will also be a huge range of competitions, activities and fun events to watch or take part in, such as a pub quiz, a fun dog show, darts, netball, cycling, baking and much more.

We will also have a host of other activities for you to try in our Have A Go Club, Aqua Club, Wellness Club, Nature Club and Mayday Kids Club areas.

Examples include climbing, Tai Chi, painting workshops, table tennis and paddleboarding... but this really is just the tip of the iceberg. All of the activities are included in the booking – to see a full list please download the free guide at camc.com/clubfest.

Have a great time!

TICKETS

All-inclusive ClubFest 2025 tickets are available now, with prices starting from £380* for the whole bank holiday weekend. Day tickets can also be purchased. The festival is free for children aged 17 and under. See camc.com/clubfest to find out more and to book.

Please note that some pitch types were sold out or were close to selling out as this issue went to press. *Price quoted is for an Eco Pitch for two adults for the whole weekend (including all entertainment). Other pitch types are available.

Tourer Explorer

RETURNS!

Calling all budding nature detectives, welly wanderers, artists, bug collectors and outdoor adventurers – be sure to check out our new Tourer Explorer range of collectable giveaways, games and activities!

A total of 59 Club campsites have been designated as ‘Tourer Explorer’ locations for 2025 – if you are staying at one this spring, summer or autumn, you’ll find brilliant, free activities and games. (A list of

the participating campsites can be found at camc.com/tourerexplorer.)

Each of these sites will feature giant garden games, which you are welcome to borrow, and will play host to a Tourer Explorer trail – complete the trail and you’ll get a special certificate signed by the site staff! There are also seasonal activity sheets with quizzes, puzzles and games, sticker sheets and new animal character pin badges to collect (subject to availability).

We hope you have a great time on your holidays! Grown-ups... please send your Tourer Explorer photos to magazine@camc. com and we’ll do our best to feature some of them.

LOOK OUT FOR THE JUNE/JULY ISSUE – ARRIVING FROM 10 JUNE! www.camc.com

May 2025 15

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

Save up to £4.50 per night* with our Non-electric Saver offer

NEWS IN BRIEF ADRIA RETIREMENT

The Club would like to pass on its best wishes to Slavica Sterk, who is retiring from her role as Managing Director at Adria Concessionaires (vehicle brand Adria’s UK arm) after a long and distinguished career with the company. She hands over the position to Andrew Taczynski, who has worked for Adria for more than 19 years.

CLUB SINGERS EVENT

Artist’s impression

The Caravan and Motorhome Club Singers enjoyed a weekend of sunshine, singing, companionship, games and quizzes at Barnstones, near Banbury, Oxfordshire at the end of February. A total of 45 people attended in 25 outfits, with Musical Director Brian also doubling as marshal. If you enjoy singing and would like to join the Club Singers please contact the Chairman, Viv Doveston, via email at chairmancamcsingers@ gmail.com. You do not have to be able to read music and there is no voice trial!

EV CHARGING

A new electric vehicle charging facility – the InstaVolt Winchester Superhub – has opened in Hampshire. Located near the A34 and junction 9 of the M3, the hub is home to 44 ‘ultra-rapid’ chargers and features four long bays which are suitable for larger vehicles and those towing caravans. It also features an on-site solar farm, a 4MWh battery storage system, and additions such as bat boxes.

EAST YORKS AT SWIFT

Members of the Club’s East Yorkshire Centre visited the Swift Group’s headquarters in Cottingham, near Hull, in March.

The centre members were treated to a tour of Swift’s production facility. If you would like to join the centre or see a list of upcoming events, please visit its website at eastyorkshirecentre.co.uk.

16 May 2025

Altnaharra Club Campsite Photo by members Philip and Denise Dodd

Following a successful trial of Non-electric Saver pitches at five UK Club campsites last year, where visitors had the choice of whether or not to use the Club’s electricity supply while staying with us, we’re now excited to be introducing these to all UK Club campsites* from April 2025 (subject to availability).

This is an option for those who do not need EHU but still want the choice of any pitch on site. By choosing not to use electricity, you can save up to £4.50 per night* on any pitch type.

Simply book and pay for any pitch as normal. When you arrive, let the site team know that you would like to change to a Non-electric Saver pitch. They will lock off the electricity socket on your pitch and arrange for a refund to be made. Find out more at camc.com/nonelectricsaver.

Caravan Cover rate freeze Did you know that you can currently buy the Club’s Caravan Cover at our 2023 rates, which we have not increased since March 2023?

Caravan Cover is provided directly by the Club for the benefit of our members – if there is any surplus from the money received for the cover after paying claims and costs, it is all reinvested back into your Club.

It is an alternative to caravan insurance, designed by us to meet the needs of our members with caravans, trailer tents and folding campers and supported by an expert team overseeing all aspects of cover. To find out more and to get a quote, please contact our friendly team on 01342 488364 or go to camc.com/caravancover.

*£4.50 per night is based on a pitch and two adults staying between November 2025-April 2026. Not valid at campsites with electric metering (Wyatts Covert and Steamer Quay). There is limited availability. If demand is strong we will increase availability as soon as we can. You must be able to remain off-grid for the full duration of your booking.

THE HOLKHAM HALL POP-UP CAMPSITE IS BACK

Returning for a third year, our hugely popular Holkham Hall Pop-up Campsite will be open from 14 August-10 September 2025.

This pop-up site is a unique place to stay and is perfect for exploring the north Norfolk coastline, including nearby Holkham Beach as well as beautiful spots such as Wells-next-the-Sea and Hunstanton.

By staying on the pop-up campsite you’ll be able to enjoy exclusive after-hours access to the 3,000 -acre estate as well as a 30%

discount on admission tickets to the Hall, Walled Garden and Holkham Stories attraction.

Pitches cost from just £44 per night (price is based on two adults on a standard grass touring pitch with EHU; other pitch types are available). Facilities will include toilets and showers on site plus fresh water and waste disposal.

Children under five go free – to find out more and to book please visit camc.com/popups. We look forward to seeing you there!

Holkham Hall Photo by member Jules Owen www.camc.com

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NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY Brambles CL: Best in Wales and Overall Winner in 2024

NEWS IN BRIEF

EAST KENT EVENT

CL of the Year 2025: nominate your favourites The Club’s network of Certificated Locations (CLs) – small, privatelyowned five-pitch sites situated across the UK – is available exclusively for members to use. CLs offer the chance to stay at pubs, working farms, fisheries, sports clubs and more, while many benefit from spectacular views.

We would like to invite you to get involved in our annual CL of the Year awards, which seek to recognise and reward the efforts put in by hard-working CL owners.

CATEGORIES We have several categories: n ‘Best Newcomer’ (for CLs that opened on or after 1 April 2023) n Best in England (South) n Best in England (North)

CL of the Year 2025 Entry Form

n Best in Wales n Best in Scotland & Northern Ireland The four regional categories are split in this way to ensure, as far as possible, a fair distribution in terms of the overall numbers of CLs in each area. CLs in Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough qualify for the England (South) category, while CLs in Shropshire, Staffordshire, Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire qualify for England (North). An ‘Overall Winner’ will be chosen by a panel.

We are also running a ‘Sustainability’ section – for this, we are asking CL owners to nominate their own sites, detailing how they

run them sustainably and encourage guests to follow their lead.

NOMINATIONS All nominations will need to be submitted before midnight on 31 July 2025 to be eligible. We encourage you to nominate your favourite CLs online (the form will be available from 1 June 2025 at camc.com/clnominate), but you can also fill in the form on this page and post it to us at the address given.

One entrant picked at random will win a free five-night stay on their favourite CL (details and terms and conditions will be available at camc. com/clnominate). Owners of winning CLs will be invited to a presentation at the NEC show in October.

Category 1: Best Newcomer (since April 2023) Site name

Category 2: Best in England (South)

Please complete this form and send it to: CL of the Year Awards, Caravan and Motorhome Club, CL Department, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead RH19 1UA

Site name:

Closing date is:

Site name:

Site name:

Category 5: Best in Scotland and Northern Ireland Site name:

www.camc.com

Postcode

Category 4: Best in Wales

One nomination per category per membership number.

Please indicate if you would like to be included in the prize draw for a five-night stay on your favourite CL site: Yes / No

Postcode

Category 3: Best in England (North)

31 July 2025 NO PHOTOCOPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Postcode

Member details:

Name: Membership number:

Postcode

Postcode

Postcode

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is processing your personal data for the purpose of administering your nomination and, if relevant, your prize draw entry. If you would like to know more about how we process personal data, please visit our Privacy Policy at camc.com/privacy-policy. You can also see our Competition Terms and Conditions at camc.com/competitions.

East Kent Centre is celebrating its 60th anniversary with an event at Ashford Rugby Club in Ashford, Kent. Taking place from 28 August-1 September 2025, it will be packed with entertainment and activities, including four nights of live performances. All members of the Club are welcome – please see eastkentcentre.co.uk for more information and booking forms.

COWALFEST WALKS

One of Scotland’s biggest annual walking festivals, Cowalfest, will take place from 18-22 September 2025 in Argyll. Ramblers of all ages are welcome to join a variety of walks revealing the beautiful mountains, glens and lochs of the Cowal peninsula. For more information please visit cowalfest.com.

BIKING BONANZA

The Enduro One Series – a mountain bike racing tour – kicks off its 2025 schedule at Bikepark Bad Wildbad in south-west Germany on May 17-18, while the Bikepark will also host the Downhill Bundesliga Cup from 22-24 August 2025. The Club’s partner campsite Kleinenzhof (Club ref: G23) is just a 12-minute drive away from the Bikepark – to book please see camc.com/overseas.

CHESHIRE SHOW

The Cheshire Centre is organising an event to coincide with the Royal Cheshire County Show. The temporary site will be open from 15-20 June and will be opposite the show grounds, with fresh water and chemical waste disposal available. The County Show takes place on 17-18 June and those staying at the site will be able to purchase advance show tickets for both days at a discounted price. Please contact Paul and Sandra Bowler on 07974 107078 or email bowler.rallies@ btinternet.com for more details.

May 2025 19

Double the discount Double the adventure

Members now SAVE 20% OFF glamping We’re thrilled to announce your member’s exclusive glamping discount just doubled to 20% off for you and your guests! So, why not invite your friends and family to join you on-site for a glamping break? With a choice of accommodation from heated wooden yurts to contemporary en-suite glamping cabins, there is something for everyone. Enter your membership number at checkout to save.

Glamp at these Club campsites: Cayton Village • Abbey Wood • Brighton • Coniston Park Coppice Moreton-in-Marsh • Daleacres • Southland • Troutbeck Head

Visit experiencefreedom.co.uk or call us on 01342 488 718 Copyright © 2025 Experience Freedom. All rights reserved. Standard terms and conditions apply. Information correct at time of print.

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NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

Behind the scenes at the Club

Visitor Levy (Wales) The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill was introduced to the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) on 25 November 2024.

This legislation will enable local authorities to introduce a scheme for visitor accommodation providers to charge a visitor levy per person, per night. This legislation includes pitches at campsites.

Should the Bill pass a Senedd vote in the summer of 2025, the earliest that a visitor levy could come into effect in Wales would be April 2027.

The Head of Governance was invited to give evidence at the Welsh Government Finance Committee, whose report has recently been published, to discuss the proposed Visitor Levy Bill for Wales. Emma explained that the Club was opposed to a levy and that it would impact the choices of our members and their touring destinations, who might decide upon a location outside of, or within Wales, where a levy was not adding to the cost of their holiday. The Club also strongly believes that the levy should not be payable by under-18s.

The Club will once again be supporting the Wales Tourism Alliance by sponsoring the Parliamentary Reception at the Senedd during Wales Tourism Week in May, and addressing Members of www.camc.com

MAY

16-18 Berkshire The Southern Motorhome & Campervan Show, Newbury Showground, Newbury (Warners Shows, call 01778 391123 or see outandabout live.co.uk) 23-27 Cheshire ClubFest 2025, Bolesworth Castle, near Tattenhall (Caravan and Motorhome Club, see camc. com/clubfest)

JUNE

Edinburgh Club Campsite The Club’s Head of Governance, Emma McQuillan, constantly monitors the activities of Westminster and devolved governments to ensure we can be prepared for legislation which may affect the Club and its members.

Recently, the proposals for a Visitor Levy in Wales and Scotland have been occupying much of Emma’s time...

SHOW TIME

Club Head of Governance Emma McQuillan at the Senedd the Senedd with concerns about the unintended consequences of introducing a levy.

Visitor Levy (Scotland) The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 received Royal Assent in July 2024.

The Edinburgh Club Campsite at Silverknowes would potentially be affected by this levy scheme. As the rules are currently drafted, if you are planning to stay in Edinburgh on or after 24 July 2026, and you book your stay on or after 1 October 2025, a 5% visitor levy charge will be added to your accommodation cost.

The Edinburgh Club Campsite at Silverknowes would potentially be affected by this levy scheme.

Many other local authorities in Scotland are now consulting on their proposed schemes, and the Club is responding to each of them to seek exemptions for pitches and campsites, given that our guests are bringing their own accommodation with them and this cannot be compared to staying in fixed accommodation.

While the Club is opposed to visitor levies, we are working closely with the Governments and fellow industry colleagues to ensure that the legislation and schemes are workable and simple to administer and understand. We will keep you posted with updates on what is happening in these areas.

Club Director General Nick Lomas and Emma recently attended a Scottish Parliamentary Reception at Holyrood, where Nick delivered a message that tourism businesses were facing economic pressures and challenges as a result of recent government interventions, as well as the need to address and prepare for imminent visitor levy (tourist tax) schemes.

In terms of other political liaison activity, the Club recently sponsored English Tourism Week with a celebration of tourism at the House of Commons in Westminster. This presented the opportunity to network with MPs and tourism sector colleagues. During March, Emma also represented the Club at a round table briefing with the Shadow Tourism team, discussing a range of tourism policy issues and reflections on the pressures facing the industry with Stuart Andrew MP and Saqib Bhatti MBE MP.

Nick Lomas, Emma McQuillan and Harvey Alexander represented the Club at English Tourism Week

6-8 Devon Motorhome, Campervan & Caravan Show, Westpoint Exeter, Exeter (AppleTree Exhibitions, call 01805 462024 or see appletree-exhibitions. co.uk) 13-15 Nottinghamshire The National Motorhome & Campervan Show, Newark Showground, Newark (Warners Shows, details as above) Note: details subject to change and pre-registration or tickets may be required – please check with organisers in advance.

Approved Workshop Awards The winners of the 2024 Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) Awards were announced during the Birmingham NEC show during February.

Kirk Caravan Services of Lanark in Lanarkshire picked up the Fixed Workshop of the Year prize, while North Yorkshirebased Kurts Mobile Caravan Services took the honours in the Mobile Workshop category.

The Approved Workshop Scheme is a joint initiative by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, National Caravan Council (NCC) and the Camping and Caravanning Club, designed to encourage high standards of servicing in the caravan and motorhome industry. You can find out more at approvedworkshops.co.uk.

May 2025 21

CARAVAN INSTRUCTOR REQUIRED

A vacancy has arisen for a Casual Caravan Instructor at Sparsholt College in Winchester, Hampshire, which is one of the locations used for Caravan and Motorhome Club training courses. It is looking for an enthusiastic instructor – working on a casual basis – who is an experienced caravanner competent at loading, towing and manoeuvring a caravan as well as manoeuvring a motorhome. Applicants should have excellent communication skills and, ideally, they will also possess a recognised driving instructor qualification. The role is based at the Sparsholt campus, usually at weekends from February to October.

If you would like to find out more or request an application pack, please email hr@sparsholt.ac.uk.

Have you booked your tickets for the National Motor Museum’s Spring Autojumble? Held across 17-18 May, this event is perfect if you are seeking an elusive part for a historic vehicle project – or if you simply want a motoring-themed day out.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, in collaboration with NotAnotherWhiteBox and the National Motor Museum, will host a classic Sprite Caravans rally during the weekend to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Sprite name. This is a wonderful opportunity to step back in time, explore different vintage caravans and connect with other Sprite enthusiasts.

Sam Alper, the illustrious founder of Sprite, started his venture just after the end of the Second World War. Alongside his brother, Henry, he built ‘Alperson Products’ caravans, using leftover parts of Spitfire planes. Sam identified a 22 May 2025

MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT YOUR CLUB Do you want to have a say in how the Club is run and help to shape its future? We’re looking for enthusiastic members, especially women, to volunteer for our Council and Committees!

We are currently looking for volunteers to join our Club Council, which helps to shape the direction of the Club and conveys the views of the wider membership to the Executive Committee, which is, in effect, the Board of Directors of the Club. We would love to hear from you if you have ideas or experiences that would be valuable to the Club... and have a little bit of time to spare.

The Council meets twice a year, usually on a Saturday, in spring and autumn. Council Members are invited

to attend Division meetings and have the potential to be selected to serve on the Executive or other Committees of the Club. Many of these Committees now operate using virtual technology to allow participants to join without impacting their personal commitments. Travel expenses are reimbursed.

For more information about how the Club works, please explore the ‘About us’ section at camc.com. If this opportunity interests you, please advise the Governance department in writing (governance@camc.com), in no more than 300 words, what you feel you could offer the Club. Please include details of any previous experience, whether personal or

job-related. Our closing date for this opportunity is 30 May 2025.

Those who are shortlisted will be invited to meet the Nominations Committee at the Club’s Head Office in East Grinstead on 2 July 2025; details will be sent prior to the meeting date.

At the Club, we are dedicated to fostering diversity within our membership. Our greatest strength lies in our people, which is why we celebrate differences and are committed to creating an environment where everyone is respected and valued for their unique contributions. We are particularly eager to encourage more women to get involved. We look forward to hearing from you!

Club-run campsite at The Game Fair The Club will be operating a campsite at The Game Fair 2025 – an annual celebration of the countryside which will be held in the grounds of Ragley Hall in Warwickshire.

The Club-run campsite will be open from 23-27 July 2025, while The Game Fair event runs from 25-27 July. Club members staying at the

campsite get 20% off the price of entry tickets to the event (various ticket options are available).

There will be a range of pitch types within the campsite, with prices starting from £50 per night (for two adults on a grass non-electric pitch staying for five nights). All pitches will have access to showers/toilets, water and black/grey water waste points,

plus there’s a convenient, free shuttle service to and from the event. To book and find out more please visit camc.com/popups.

The Game Fair 2025 will feature a range of displays in a main arena as well as a theatre with talks involving special guests, fishing demonstrations, food and drink to sample, and much more.

FROM THE ARCHIVES News from the Club’s Collection

©Swift Group

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

Sprite Musketeer from a 1971 brochure gap in the market and began designing small, affordable models that were easy to tow with a standard family car. In 1952, to prove the quality, durability and

roadworthiness of his caravans, Alper travelled 10,000 miles across Europe and beyond to Egypt and Syria. This publicity stunt helped him to highlight the reliability of his

products and also secure an international market.

By the 1970s, the most popular model was the Sprite 400 – so popular, in fact, that it was the first caravan to have its very own production line.

The rally event will feature the Sprite 400 that was donated to the museum in 2021. This 1970s time capsule has been restored with the help of local communities, volunteers and enterprises.

You can join us in celebrating Sprite’s legacy by following @chatty_ caravan on Instagram for updates on the Sprite 400 restoration and its journeys in the local community.

To find out more about the collection visit nationalmotor museum.org.uk/collections or follow us on X (@camccollection), Instagram (@camcc_curator) and Facebook (facebook.com/camcccurator).

Sara Riccabone www.camc.com

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NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

The Club Magazine in the palm of your hand!

The Digital Magazine includes all of your favourites plus extra articles and features: 1. Walking and cycling routes direct from Club Campsites – including maps and directions 2. Easily access seven years of magazines with back issues from January 2017* 3. A choice of formats for easy reading 4. Videos of vehicle reviews – watch expert guidance 5. Search the archive for specific articles or subjects 6. Access articles direct from the contents list 7. An integrated screen reader for the visually impaired 8. Interactive puzzles, including codeword, wordsearch, jigsaw and sudoku 9. Updated every month and available to members free of charge To download the Digital Magazine, simply search Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine in the App Store or Google Play, or scan a QR code below.

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Not all features apply to older editions.

Apple App Store is a trademarks of Apple Inc. Google Play is a trademark of Google LLC. *

24 May 2025

TRAVEL ‘YOUR WAY’ WITH OUR NEW WORLDWIDE HOLIDAYS You may be aware that the Club runs a range of Worldwide holidays that showcase the very best of Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa, Canada and the USA. Many of these holidays include set schedules and last for more than three weeks, but if you’d rather customise a holiday, our new range of breaks might be the perfect starting point for you.

The new ‘Your Way’ suggested itineraries give you more freedom to plan your own adventures. We’ll book your flights, a hotel to stay at

upon arrival and a motorhome with insurance for the duration – and then you’re all set to create your perfect getaway. If you need us, we’ll provide as much support as you need, drawing on our vast experience to help organise campgrounds, excursions, or even rail and cruise extensions to enhance your trip. If you would like to find out more, please visit camc.com/ worldwide, where you’ll find details on the prices for our 14-21 day suggested itineraries.

THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE Every issue of the Digital Magazine contains fantastic extra content.

You can download the Digital Magazine for free – visit the App Store or Google Play and search for ‘CAMC Magazine’.

In the May digital issue, Mark Sutcliffe takes a walk from Slinfold Club Campsite amid the rolling downland of the West Sussex Low Weald, while Jonathan Manning sets off on a cycle from Tewkesbury Abbey Club Campsite in Gloucestershire. You can also watch a video to accompany James Batchelor’s test of the Volkswagen ID. Buzz and find extra brainteasers to ponder.

From January this year, readers of the Digital Magazine have been enjoying regular, exclusive articles each week. Recent examples include: a look at spring courtship rituals in the natural world by our Country Matters expert David Chapman; an article

about the iconic British hedgerow by Rebecca Cole; a trip to Santander and Bilbao in northern Spain with Marcus Leach and family; and Nick Harding recently reported on the Elddis Autoquest 194 (60th Anniversary Edition), with accompanying video (pictured).

For more information about the Digital Magazine, including QR codes that enable you to download it to your phone or tablet, please see the adjacent advert on this page.

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COLUMN SITES

Principal focus We chat to the Club’s Principal Development Manager Andrew Majcher about the work that goes on behind the scenes to develop and improve your UK campsite network How long have you worked at the Club?

Over 23 years now. I started as an Architectural Technician producing technical drawings and designing projects before being promoted to Development Manager and now Principal Development Manager.

Sunset at Bunree Club Campsite Photo by member Ian Wheatley

Could you tell us about the Estates department?

The primary role of the department is to maintain and improve the Club sites network.

It is split into several teams which includes property – which deals with the legal aspects of the site network – facilities management, Certificated Locations and the development team where I work.

The development team is responsible for managing and delivering the major projects to refurbish existing and build new sites. Our role is incredibly broad and multifaceted. We act as architect, specifier, design co-ordinator and contract administrator, work up planning applications, ensure building control compliance, act as principal designers and check works are being carried out correctly and in line with health and safety legislation on behalf of the Club. It’s certainly a job that keeps you busy and on your toes!

What is the trickiest aspect of your job?

That’s an easy one... weather! We tend to build through the winter as it’s the least disruptive time for members – but it’s the worst time to be carrying out a lot of ground works. It can cause all sorts of problems, with the ground being too wet to excavate trenches or temperatures being too cold to pour concrete.

And the most rewarding?

We’re in a really nice position as we are fully involved in a project from initial inception all the way through to completion. I find having a job where you produce something tangible incredibly rewarding. I will never forget the feeling of seeing the completed Daleacres toilet block, which was the first project I produced all the construction drawings for back in 2002.

26 May 2025

is lower. We also look to see if we can carry out projects with sites partially open so guests are still able to stay. If this is the case, we then control when noisy operations can take place and work closely with the site managers to minimise the impact on guests.

Do you ever get feedback from members?

We do – the Club’s Marketing department does a great job of creating targeted feedback questionnaires that allow us to find out how developments are being received by the membership and what we can do to improve them. All proposed projects go through a very robust review process that involves all the major internal stakeholders and committees.

Could you tell us about some of the most recent Club campsite developments?

Any unusual challenges over the years?

We’ve certainly had a few interesting ones, usually involving something in the ground.

I was involved in a project at Freshwater East where we hit an underground spring while excavating a trench for serviced pitches. This caused the trench to collapse and open up to 3m wide before we could get two large water pumps installed to divert the water while we constructed a culvert.

How do you try to minimise disruption to members?

As mentioned above, the main way is building through the winter when occupancy

We recently completed the redevelopment of Haycraft, which includes a new toilet block, and the Lady Margaret’s Park extension field is about to open. Currently our live projects are Edinburgh phase two (phase one was completed last year), Bunree, Abbey Wood phase one and also the Sandringham Estate redevelopment, which is one of the Club’s flagship sites and one of the largest redevelopments the Club has undertaken.

Finally, we are planning to start at Bridport Bingham Grange as soon as possible. n You can find out about the Club’s completed and ongoing developments at camc.com/redevelopments.

Left and below: the new facilities block at Old Hartley Club Campsite following development work in 2024

www.camc.com

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NEWS UK SITES

GRAND

TOURS!

Led by experienced hosts, our escorted UK tours include fantastic excursions and free time to explore There is one stress-inducing aspect to bear in mind when it comes to the Club’s escorted UK tours – and that’s deciding which of our great options to go for!

In fact, with a number of choices available, covering destinations from Scotland’s Highlands to England’s Isle of Wight, there may well be a few that you would like to try.

Happily though, once you’ve made your decision, you’ll be able to look forward to a relaxing,

Length: 8 nights Departs: 4 June 2025 Price: £1,299 (for an outfit plus two adults) Includes: Trips to Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard and Spinnaker Tower (pictured), Osborne House, Salisbury Cathedral, Bombay Sapphire gin distillery tour, return ferry to the Isle of Wight and more.

Festive London Lights and Delights

Yorkshire Wonders & Kynren Show

28 May 2025

you can discover the best of the region you’ve chosen to visit.

You’ll be accompanied by experienced tour hosts, who are also members of the Club, and have the chance to share your experience with like-minded holidaymakers. For a full list of available tours, and detailed information on what is included, please visit camc.com/uktours or call us on 01342 488 711.

Here’s a taster of four upcoming breaks...

“Ann and Peter were incredible hosts... They were so accommodating to guests who wanted to join them on their free day. Very clear with the itinerary on our days out. Ann also makes the most incredible fruit cake.”

Christmas in London Tour 2024 member feedback

Hampshire to the Isle of Wight

Length: 8 nights Departs: 30 August 2025 Price: £1,499 (for an outfit plus two adults) Includes: Visits to York, Wensleydale Creamery, Barnard Castle (pictured) and The Bowes Museum, a trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, tickets for the epic Kynren live extravaganza and more.

enjoyable break knowing that everything has been taken care of.

Our tours last between four and 20 days and cater for a wide variety of interests, with prices starting from just £599 (this is for two adults and an outfit on our three-night Chelsea Flower Show tour, departing 23 May 2025).

Each trip makes the most of local expertise and includes a balance of inspirational excursions and free leisure time, so

”The whole thing was excellent and good value for money.

Well done!“ Yorkshire & Kynren Tour 2024 member feedback

Length: 4 nights Departs: 9 December 2025 Price: £699 (for an outfit plus two adults) Includes: Discover the decorations at Windsor Castle, enjoy a traditional afternoon tea and see the wonderful Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew (pictured).

Treasures of Scotland

Length: 20 nights Departs: 10 September 2025 Price: £3,499 (for an outfit plus two adults) Includes: Trips to spectacular castles, the Falkirk Wheel and three islands of the Inner Hebrides, guided tours of Glasgow and Edinburgh (pictured), whisky tasting and tour, cruise on Loch Ness and more. www.camc.com

ISLE OF WIGHT GETAWAYS The Club offers special combined Sail & Stay deals on Isle of Wight breaks each year – exclusive to Club members, they represent fantastic value for money.

In 2025, you can take advantage of a combined Sail & Stay deal from £193. This price is for two adults

staying for four nights on a grass pitch with awning at Southland Club Campsite, and includes a return ferry crossing with Red Funnel between Southampton and East Cowes, departing between 3 and 20 October 2025, with a motorhome up to 7m long. Remember, under fives stay for

FIVE REASONS TO VISIT...

1

BRILLIANT BEACHES There are around 57 miles of coastline to explore. We love the bustling, family-friendly stretches of sand at Shanklin and Sandown, but look out for the surfing hotspot of Compton Bay (right) or picturepostcard Priory Bay.

2

AMAZING ATTRACTIONS The island is packed with attractions, from grand buildings such as Osborne

House and Carisbrooke Castle to the likes of the Blackgang Chine amusement park and Amazon World Zoo Park. There’s so much to do!

3

WONDERFUL WEATHER Famously, the island enjoys an average of 37 hours of sunshine per week (compared to the national average of 29).

Cross your fingers and pack the sun cream!

free and children between the ages of 5 and 17 stay for £1 per night.

Southland is situated on the outskirts of the small village of Newchurch in the beautiful Arreton Valley. Facilities include a playground for young ones, facilities/washroom for people

with disabilities and a dog walk. If you would like to stay for longer or visit at another time, please see camc.com/iowoffer for more details and example prices. To discuss options or to book a Sail & Stay break please call our Contact Centre team on 01342 316101.

4

TERRIFIC TRAILS If you like to cycle, there are 200 miles of cycle tracks, byways and bridleways to tackle, including the popular Round the Island route.

5

SPECTACULAR SCENERY From rolling hills and pretty, colourful villages to stunning chalk cliffs, put simply the Isle of Wight is a super place to travel around and spend time on holiday!

New glamping villages We’re delighted to announce that new Experience Freedom glamping villages will be opening soon at Lady Margaret’s Park Club Campsite in Chirk and The Sandringham Estate Club Campsite in Norfolk.

These additions will be part of wider redevelopment work being carried out at both campsites.

Don’t forget that, as part of your Club membership, you receive 20% off glamping stays for you, your friends and family all year round.

Here’s a summary of the work in progress...

LADY MARGARET’S PARK

Improvements made in 2022 have been popular with members, resulting in high visitor satisfaction scores in our post-stay surveys. Further work began last autumn and by Easter 2025 15 new hardstanding touring pitches and a service point are due to be completed.

The new Experience Freedom village is expected to open in late May – note that the site remains open www.camc.com

while works take place. The village will feature new-style glamping pods and cabins with a separate bedroom as well as three different styles of safari tent with en suite facilities and wood burning stoves. See our features on pages 42 and 56 of this issue for things to do in the area!

THE SANDRINGHAM ESTATE

This Club campsite is closed while redevelopment work takes place – at the time of going to press it was expected to fully reopen in July 2025.

See camc.com/redevelopments for the latest updates.

Guests can look forward to New-style glamping cabin

more touring pitches, with the addition of serviced and premium pitches. We are also building two new facilities blocks incorporating green technologies; these will include accessible and inclusive shower/wc rooms and laundry/dishwashing areas. As well as improving waste points and service points, we’re developing a new play area for little ones and adding a dog and bike wash facility. New tent pitches will also be available.

The Experience Freedom village is being incorporated into a newly extended and wooded part of the campsite. It will comprise 15 luxury

Safari tent interior

20%

heated safari tents with ensuite facilities – these vary in size and can accommodate between four and eight guests.

n The new glamping villages will be completed soon. Keep checking camc.com/experiencefreedom – we’ll let you know as soon as you’re able to book!

May 2025 29

Unlock adventure with roof tent camping

Abbey Wood Club Campsite, London Member photo by Alan Bond

Pitch up under the stars at 150 quality UK Club campsites Introduce friends and family to the touring lifestyle with roof tent camping – a fantastic, affordable way to enjoy the great outdoors!

With no hidden extras, enjoy free hot showers, electric hook-up and Wi-Fi, plus dogs and kids under 5 stay for free*. What’s more, members save up to 10% on selected brand new roof tents and accessories via the Club Shop.

Scan me

Start planning your adventures today!

Visit camc.com/rooftents

At all UK Club campsites: Under 5’s and dogs stay FREE. FREE electric hook-up when staying on an appropriate pitch type (excludes Wyatts Covert Club Campsite and Non-electric Economy pitches). Hot showers are FREE on appropriate campsites with shower facilities. FREE Wi-Fi service available at 146 UK Club campsites. Trustpilot rating correct as at 8 April 2025, but may be subject to change. Copyright © 2025 Caravan and Motorhome Club. All rights reserved. Information correct at time of print.

*

CENTRES LOCAL GROUPS

Here’s a selection of upcoming events* being held by the Club’s 10 Divisions. This issue we focus on the Welsh Division...

Welsh Division

CENTRE EVENTS ARE OPEN TO ALL!

Gwent Centre

Info: gwentcentre.co.uk 16-18 May: Caldicot Castle, Caldicot, Monmouthshire 23-26 May: Two Rivers CL, Glangrwyney, Powys 24-31 May: Little Winnick Touring Park, St Austell, Cornwall Abergavenny near Glangrwyney

Dyfed Centre

Info: thedyfedcentre.co.uk 22-27 May: Dinefwr Garden, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire 6-8 June: Aberbran Fach, Aberbran, Powys 12-15 June: Brynhyfryd Farm, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire

South Wales Centre

Info: southwalescentre.co.uk 16-18 May: Aberbran Fach, Aberbran, Powys 6-8 June: Brecon Rugby Football Club, Brecon, Powys 13-15 June: South Lodge CL, Cardiff

West Wales Centre

Info: westwalescentre.co.uk 23-26 May: West Wales Centre 60th birthday rally, Bank Farm, Horton, Swansea 26 May-1 June: Bank Farm, Horton, Swansea (follow-on event) 6-8 June: Brynhyfryd Farm, Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire www.camc.com

Northern Division

16-18 May: Newsholme Manor, Oakworth, West Yorkshire (midwestyorkshirecentre.co.uk) 23-26 May: Catterick Racecourse, Catterick Bridge, North Yorkshire (northyorkshirecentre.co.uk) 29 May-1 June: Yarm View Campsite, Aislaby, North Yorkshire (durhamcentre.co.uk) 6-8 June: Jervaulx Abbey & Tearooms, Ripon, North Yorkshire (ydcc.co.uk) Caldicot Castle

Scottish Division

16-19 May: Davochfin Farm, Dornoch, Highland (Highland Centre, thescottishcaravanclub.com) 23-26 May: Glenburn Dairy, Loans, Ayrshire (Dumfries and Galloway Centre, thescottishcaravanclub. com) 29 May-2 June: Glenearly Caravan Park, Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway (Forth & Clyde Centre, thescottishcaravanclub.com)

Irish Division

23-26 May: Riverside Farm (Ulster Centre, camc.ie) 30 May-2 June: County Dublin (Leinster Centre, camc.ie) 13-15 June: County Waterford (Munster Centre, camc.ie)

South West Division

16-18 May: Castle Combe Racing Circuit, Castle Combe, Wiltshire (avoncentre.co.uk) 22-28 May: Walford Village Hall, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire (somersetcentrecamc.org) 23-28 May: Exbury Gardens, Exbury, Hampshire (wiltshirecentre.co.uk) 23 May-1 June: Pentewan Sands Holiday Park, St Austell, Cornwall (dandccc.co.uk) 7-14 June: South Lytchett Manor Caravan and Camping Park, Poole, Dorset (whampshirecc.co.uk) 13-15 June: Three Magpies, Devizes, Wiltshire (eastdorset.org) May 2025 31

CENTRES LOCAL GROUPS

All abroad!

South East Division

22-26 May: Royal Victoria Country Park, Netley, Hampshire (camcwestsussexcentre.co.uk) 23-27 May: Hampton Bay Park, Herne Bay, Kent (southlondoncentre.com) 6-8 June: East Kent Centre 59th birthday rally, Sheppey Secondary School, Sheerness, Kent (eastkentcentre.co.uk)

Details of overseas holidays in 2025

West Central Division

Caen Hill Locks, Devizes

16-18 May: The Holding Stables, Wilmcote, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire (worcestershirecentre. co.uk) 23 May-1 June: Swiss Farm Rally Field, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire (cheshirecentre.co.uk) 30 May-1 June: Siddington Village Hall, Siddington, Cheshire (cheshirecentre.co.uk)

Central Division

24-27 May: Fir Tree Farm, Warmington, Oxfordshire (westwarwickshirecentre.co.uk) 28 May-1 June: Wibbern Hill Farm, Tissington, Derbyshire (northstaffscc.org.uk) 6-8 June: Osmaston Polo Ground, Osmaston, Derbyshire (derbyshirecentre.co.uk) 5-8 June: Bisbrooke Hall, Uppingham, Rutland (northantsrutlandcc.org)

Rüdesheim am Rhein

FRANCE

Grafham Water Club Campsite

Anglia Division

Home Counties Division

Brian Turner

Wells-next-the-Sea

Robert Fleetcroft

23 May-1 June: Rose & Crown, Spalding, Lincolnshire (northessex caravanandmotorhomeclub.co.uk) 24 May-1 June: Wells-next-the-Sea Primary and Nursery School, Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk (norfolkcentre.co.uk) 6-8 June: Pleshey Village Hall, Pleshey, Essex (secc-online.org.uk)

23 May-1 June: Blue Anchor Holiday Park, Minehead, Somerset (berkshirecentrecaravanclub.co.uk) 30 May-1 June: Chairman’s Rally, Jubilee Field, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire (buckscaravan.club) 13-15 June: Grafham Water Club Campsite, Grafham, Cambridgeshire (bedscentrecc.com) *All events subject to availability

HOW TO JOIN A CENTRE

Centres are groups of members that arrange regular, cost-effective get-togethers across the country. You can attend specific centre events no matter where you live.

For information on how to join your local centre, visit camc.com/centres.

FIND AN EVENT

For rally listings visit camc.com/clubevents. You can use the search tool at this web address to look for an event near you according to date and location.

EVENTS LISTED MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE – PLEASE CHECK WITH ORGANISERS PRIOR TO TRAVEL.

To find out more about the Club’s Divisions visit camc.com/divisions.

32 May 2025

4 June-2 July 2025 Location: Camping L’Océano d’Or, Vendée Host: Dyfed Centre Join the Dyfed centre on its rally to the popular resort of Jard-sur-Mer and spend a relaxing 28 nights at the friendly L’Océano d’Or campsite. The site is perfectly located close to the Vendée’s beautiful beaches, while the town is home to plenty of shops, restaurants and a weekly market. Île d’Oléron

this summer. Spend either 14 or 21 nights on the second largest island in France and enjoy its lovely beaches. If you would rather stay on site, you can lounge by the heated pool and enjoy the aqua park.

GERMANY

23 June-5 July 2025 Location: Campingplatz Rüdesheim am Rhein, Rhine Valley Host: Suffolk Centre Head for picturesque Rüdesheim am Rhein with the Suffolk Centre.

The campsite is perfectly nestled alongside the river, and just a short walk from the pretty town known for its half-timbered houses. Why not enjoy a cruise or a ride above the vineyards in a cable car?

NETHERLANDS 5-19 July 2025 Location: Camping L’Océano d’Or, Vendée Host: North Essex Centre Join North Essex at the excellent Camping L'Océano d’Or, which boasts a heated pool, entertainment areas, sports courts and a restaurant and bar.

19 July-9 August 2025 Location: Camping Le Suroit, Île d’Oléron Host: South Wales Centre The South Wales Centre is visiting the beautiful island of Île d’Oléron

30 August-10 September 2025 Location: Vakantiepark Delftse Houte, Delft Host: Derbyshire Centre The campsite is just a 10-minute walk from Delft, a town famous for its blue and white pottery, pretty canals and vibrant history.

With plenty to see and explore in the area this is the perfect way to end the summer.

RALLIES CAN BE BOOKED THROUGH ALAN ROGERS, PART OF THE CARAVAN CLUB LTD. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE RALLIES.ALANROGERS.COM AND CLICK ON THE ʻRALLIESʼ TAB, CALL 01580 214070 OR EMAIL RALLIES@ALANROGERS.COM www.camc.com

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 STAR LETTER

RISE AND SHINE

Glad I dipped in…

It’s only this week that I have finally opened and read my October magazine; I was ill in the autumn and it had been tucked into a pile of papers. The [Country Matters] article was interesting to me as it mentioned birds on the River Wharfe and dippers in particular.

There was a lovely photo of the Wharfe just above Linton Falls on page 66. I moved to Grassington when I was five in 1950 and after about the age of eight I spent a lot

of my life playing down by the river with my sister. Walking the dog along the river fields was our daily job at weekends and during school holidays. Nobody minded where we were as long as we returned for the next meal! I never saw a dipper on the Wharfe itself but watched them dipping in and out of Linton Beck which flows into the Wharfe near there. Thank you for giving me such happy memories.

Lizz Cook, via email

Feats on two feet I was surprised and delighted to see the King Charles III England Coast Path mentioned in your February issue, as well as being highlighted on the front cover. My husband (71) and I (68) are currently walking this route and have been since 2018.

We originally started walking the coast of the UK back in 2010, starting near to our home in Somerset. Having walked from Avonmouth to Minehead, we then discovered the South West Coast Path which spurred us on! We soon realised that, if we wanted to continue now we were further away, we needed somewhere to stay, and, hence we bought our first caravan in 2013.

This was ideal, as we stayed at a CL or Club site for a fortnight at a time and used our car and local transport to get to our start and finish points each day. We completed the South www.camc.com

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.

West Coast Path in October 2014, so started looking for another challenge! This time it was the Wales Coast Path, (which was even longer) and took us from 2015 to 2016.

In 2017 we walked Offa’s Dyke, which runs along the boundary of Wales and England and then The Thames Path, which follows the Thames from the barrage in London to its source, in 2017/2018.

We realised we enjoyed coastal walking the most, so decided to start in Poole (where the South West Coast Path finishes) and just keep walking, using OS maps and footpath signs; we have now walked as far as South Shields on the Tyne.

We have many, many wonderful memories, photos and amusing stories of our walks, which I have written down to read in our old age!

Lesley Miller, Somerset

Beloved Brighton [This picture shows] my wife Sandra taking some early March sun outside an Experience Freedom glamping pod at the Brighton Club Campsite which we have used for the past five years. We first stayed at [this site] in our Commer campervan in 1975, 50 years ago. We have caravanned here more times than I can remember and still love it here.

Graham Addison, via email

Editor’s note: Glad you’re still enjoying our Brighton campsite 50 years on, Graham!

This is sunrise at Hillcroft CL [near] Pentlepoir in Pembrokeshire. There is a bus stop at the end of the drive which is ideal for Tenby and Saundersfoot, although there is a nice walk to Saundersfoot as well. We have used this site as a base for when our motorhome needs to visit a nearby dealer for warranty and service work.

David Aldred, via email Editor’s note: That’s a lovely photo David.

You can read about our annual CL of the Year competition and how to nominate your favourites on page 19 of this issue.

Well-versed in caravanning We receive lots of touring-related poems here at the magazine. Although there’s not room to run all of member Graham Price’s here, we think his opening verse says it all…

When I bought the caravan There was much cry and hue As if it were a strange religion I'd been inducted to "We don't know why you got it" "You'll be the scourge of all the roads" But like water of a wee ducks back All those comments flowed.

Graham Price, via email May 2025 37

NEW

CORRESPONDENCE YOUR VIEWS

Club Together: What’s got you talking?

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‘Exploring’ – in this case Avila, 80 miles NW of Madrid JimE Like most, ‘Freedom’.

That is the easy judgement – a picture is much harder because there are so many wonderful places to visit but I have singled out one of the most beautiful – Lake Bled (Slovenia) peedee Picture, taken from a ferry, shows St Mark’s belltower in Venice DavidKlyne

Marvellous mitts!

Our powerful 5G antenna is available as either WiFi only or WiFi & TV with either our 4G or 5G Routers. Designed for van conversions and smaller vehicles.

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*

Hopefully you already know about our new and improved forum, Club Together – it’s the perfect place to share news, views and pictures related to the touring lifestyle. In the ‘Caravan & Motorhome Chat’ section during March we asked, “What makes caravanning, motorhoming and camping so special to YOU? Post one picture or one word in the comments.” We’ve received some inspirational answers already - why not visit camc.com/clubtogether today and join the conversation?

www.visionplus.co.uk

I refer to correspondence in the March/April edition of the Club magazine [about motorhome rattles and squeaks] and give you our tips. Our camper is a 20-year-old home build and has to be quiet as squeaks and rattles drive me mad.

I take it in two parts: firstly the camper and then the contents. We do use tea towels to separate saucepans but our main helpers are the mitt-type of face cloths. The picture of our pull-out cupboard shows tins packed in these.

Some cupboards are lined with carpet and the mitts are good for wedging things so they don’t rattle. [Meanwhile] blinds and cupboard doors have now got self-adhesive felt pads.

Donald Sharland, via email www.camc.com

FROZEN IN TIME

Prices from

£188

Rated Excellent **

Please find attached a picture I took of the frozen grass on Skiddaw in the Lake District at the end of November last year. Looking at the article from the January issue [Freeze Frames, pages 50-52] this could be ‘glaze ice’ but formed,

*

The instructor was fantastic, we were given expert instruction in a straight forward manner which was easy to understand

I imagine, by thawing and then re-freezing of the water on the grass (there hadn’t been any rain that day or the day before). I had to lie down to get the winter sun behind the frozen grass.

Mark Horseman, via email

Colin McGregor, Club member

Cadnam confirmed Editor’s note: we received this response to Julian Carlick’s Star Letter, ‘Could be Cadnam?’, p31 March/April 2025 issue...

At the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection, we know where the photo was taken! That is indeed Cadnam. We believe the occasion was the Caravan Club’s New Forest Meet, held from 30 May to 8 June 1914.

The Club held its very first Meet in 1908, in a meadow opposite the Hautboy Hotel in Ockham, Surrey, so the photo cannot be from that year.

Additionally, your grandfather-in-law does not appear in our earliest members list from 1908. However, in the Club’s 1913 list we do find a Charles Showell, of Stirchley, Birmingham, Worcestershire.

In 2008, three photograph albums, hidden away for many years, were discovered at the Club’s headquarters in West Sussex. The albums include several images of members and activities during the 1914 Meet, just two months before the outbreak of the First World War. Some of the photographs are captioned, and we now know that the man in the photo above holding a newspaper is Charles Showell, seated beside a caravan alongside fellow member Albert Fletcher.

Sara Riccabone, National Motor Museum, via email

Training Courses you can trust With 16 training courses across the UK you can book a course near you.

Scan me

Visit camc.com/courses or call 01342 488 334 to book

Your mag needs you!

We would love to hear about your adventures!

Please email us at magazine@camc.com. www.camc.com

* Terms and conditions apply. **Trustpilot rating for Caravan Manoeuvring Course correct as of 1 November 2024, but is subject to change.

May 2025 39

CORRESPONDENCE YOUR VIEWS

UP ON THE ROOF I was very interested to see your article on roof tents [February 2025] as in November last year, while in Berlin, we visited the Kulturbrauerei museum and saw a Trabant fitted with a roof tent. The exhibit had photos of a large number of these as apparently they were very popular in East Germany.

Allegedly space for three adults inside! I can’t imagine how everything would have fitted into a Trabant and what their top speed would have been.

Angela Veysey, via email

Editor’s note: Thanks very much Angela – members who are interested in roof tenting can find out more on page 26 of the March/April issue or at camc.com/rooftents.

40 May 2025

Frankie goes to…

Coed-YLlwyn!

Our little miniature sausage dog, Frankie, loves being in the van, and loves doggy walks and adventures. Our first trips out were to Chester Fairoaks and Coed-YLlwyn (pictured). The view from our van window looking at the Snowdonia mountains was wonderful.

Lee Howard, via email

Chatsworth the wait I have wanted to visit the Chatsworth [Park] site ever since we became members in 2019. Well we finally managed to visit in March this year, and my goodness we weren’t disappointed.

What a truly beautiful spot it is. We didn’t move the car once in the five days we were there – it obviously having the most amazing sunny weather for the time of the year. The site is well maintained and I absolutely loved the secret door into the Chatsworth Estate.

We will be back as soon as we can!

Sarah Thorpe, via email

www.camc.com

18.5”

21.5”

23.8”

27”

32”

39”

TOURING NORTH WALES AND CHESHIRE

“

Now managed by the National Trust, it was built in 1295 by Roger Mortimer

”

BEFORE YOU TRAVEL

See camc.com for the latest site information. We also recommend that you check with businesses and attractions that are featured regarding opening dates and times prior to travel.

42

May 2025

www.camc.com

Beautiful Chirk Castle is right next door to Lady Margaret’s Park Club Campsite

Sights to

behold Philip Moon finds rich history and architectural wonders while touring in north Wales and Chester

H

aving seized Welsh territory during the 13th century, Edward I (also known as ‘Edward Longshanks’) ordered the building of a series of castles to strengthen his grip on the country. These magnificent fortresses included Caernarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech (now collectively a Unesco World Heritage Site), all of which I would visit during this trip to north Wales.

But my ‘magical history tour’ would go much further back in time, covering the Romans and even the Neolithic period. It would also stretch forward to incorporate some of the great civil engineering triumphs of the 18th and 19th centuries.

My first base was the Club’s Lady Margaret’s Park Campsite, Chirk, just on the Welsh side of the border. Set among majestic pines, it’s beautiful and benefits from a recent refurbishment which means it has some of the best facilities imaginable.

CASTLE CAPERS Above from top: Philip enjoys the views at Harlech Castle; Criccieth Castle

www.camc.com

My first visit was to Chirk Castle. There are magnificent wrought iron gates – dating from 1719 – just by the Club campsite, but the main entrance to the property is a mile away.

Now managed by the National Trust, it was built in 1295 by Roger Mortimer, one of Edward’s close associates. It still retains its May 2025 43

TOURING NORTH WALES AND CHESHIRE

1

Lady Margaret’s Park Club Campsite

A lovely wooded site adjacent to Chirk Castle grounds and close to Chirk village.

Recently refurbished, it offers excellent facilities.

Touring pitches: 92 Max outfit length: 9.75m Bus stop within 1 mile

Staff view

“Members who come here fall in love with it and keep coming back. There’s so much nature and history to enjoy.”

Becky and Simon

Food & drink

The Castle Bistro, 6 Courtyard Terrace, Church Street, Chirk LL14 5EZ Contact: castlebistro.co.uk; 01691 239133

Culture

Llangollen festivals (International Musical Eisteddfod, Fringe Festival, Food Festival) Contact: llangollen.org.uk

Outdoor fun

10%

TNR Outdoors (archery, rafting, kayaking etc), Mile End Mill, Berwyn Street, Llangollen LL20 8AD Contact: tnroutdoors.co.uk, 01978 860700 Member offer available: see camc.com/greatsavingsguide for details, terms and conditions

For the family

Fantastic Funhouse, Gobowen Rd, Oswestry SY11 1HS Contact: fantasticfunhouse.co. uk, 01691655515 Scan here to book a pitch at Lady Margaret’s Park

44 May 2025

BOOKING INFO For the latest details and opening information for over the surrounding medieval aspect with its countryside. strong walls and imposing all our sites, please see If you’re staying at Lady towers, but the castle has been camc.com Margaret’s Park, you must also a family home up until very visit the Llangollen Canal. Built to recently and this is reflected inside. transport the region’s slate, iron and Fashions change, and in the 19th minerals to the wider world, an 11-mile century much of the interior was stretch has now been designated a Unesco redesigned in the Gothic Revival style by World Heritage Site.

Augustus Pugin (who also famously Most spectacular is Thomas Telford’s and designed the interior of the Palace of William Jessop’s Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Westminster). Some of this remains, but spanning the River Dee. Completed in 1805, the most spectacular rooms have been it is the longest aqueduct in Britain and the returned to a lighter Neoclassical style, highest canal aqueduct in the world. with the homely feel of a 1930s aristocratic Telford and Jessop also engineered the house party. The gardens and the estate 175m Whitehouse Tunnel and the Chirk are also wonderful, offering superb views

2

Chester Fairoaks Club Campsite

A pleasant and relaxed site with a rural feel, five miles from the beautiful and bustling city of Chester.

Pitches: 96 Maximum outfit length: 11.6m Bus stop within 1 mile

Members’ view

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Photo by member Ken Wilkinson

Aqueduct and tunnel (Henry Robertson and Thomas Brassey are responsible for the adjacent viaduct). You can cycle or walk beside the canal (or take a boat trip), but for tunnels you’ll need a torch/headlamp and for the aqueducts (dismounting if you are on two wheels) you’ll need a head for heights!

Don’t miss out on Llangollen, a charming town set astride the fast-flowing Dee. Here there’s plenty to see and do, including a trip by horse-drawn barge or a ride along the Llangollen Railway.

WHAT A DEVA

River Dee, Llangollen Near Lady Margaret’s Park Club Campsite Photo by member Andrew Pattenden

Prior to venturing farther into North Wales, I headed across the border for Chester Fairoaks Club Campsite, which sits just five miles to the north of Chester’s centre (there’s a good bus service taking you there, while Liverpool is only a 30-minute drive away).

The site is close to the M53 and a shopping outlet, but preserves a pleasant

Dinas Bran, near Llangollen Photo by member Michael Olijnyk

“The staff have been exceptional.

It’s rural and peaceful – you can’t hear the motorway.”

Barbra and Ray

Food & drink Hickory’s Smokehouse, Souter’s Lane, Chester CH1 1SD Contact: hickorys.co.uk, 01244 404000

Culture Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre, Grosvenor Park, Chester (Jul-Aug in 2025, booking essential) Contact: storyhouse.com/ open-air-venues/grosvenorpark-open-air-theatre

Outdoor fun Chester city walls walk, various access locations (including some accessible ramps), Chester Contact: visitcheshire.com

For the family Chester Zoo, Upton-byChester, Chester CH2 1LH Contact: chesterzoo.org, 01244 380280 Scan here to book a pitch at Chester Fairoaks

www.camc.com

May 2025 45

TOURING NORTH WALES AND CHESHIRE

Porthmadog Near Coed-Y-Llwyn Club Campsite Photo by member Martyn Foss

3

Coed-Y-Llwyn Club Campsite

Situated on the edge of a small village, this is a great site for visiting Eryri (Snowdonia) as well as Portmeirion and Porthmadog.

Pitches: 87 Maximum outfit length: 8.5m Bus stop within 1 mile

Members’ view

“We’ve really enjoyed the walking and also taking the narrow gauge train to Porthmadog.”

Andrew and Rona

Staff view

“It’s a site which members sometimes overlook, but when people come they love it.

There’s so much to do.” Debbie

Food & drink

Bryn Arms (opposite the site), Coed-Y-Llwyn, Gellilydan, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 4EN Contact: brynarms.com, 01766 590655

Culture

Yr Ysgwrn (museum and former home of Hedd Wyn), Trawsfynydd, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 4UW (open Tue-Sun) Contact: yrysgwrn.com, 01766 772508

Outdoor fun

Zip World Llechwedd, Blaenau Ffestiniog LL41 3NB Contact: zipworld.co.uk, 01248 601444

For the family Inigo Jones Slate Works, Y Groeslon LL54 7UE Contact: inigojones. co.uk, 01286 830242 Member offer available: see camc. com/greatsavingsguide for details, terms and conditions

2-FOR-1

Scan here to book a pitch at Coed-YLlwyn

46 May 2025

and rural ambience. Close by is the Rake Hall inn, highly spoken of by the Club members I met on site and offering gluten-free options on its menu.

Edward I gathered troops in Chester prior to his assault on North Wales, but the city’s history stretches back much further, having been founded as the fortress, ‘Deva’, in around 70AD by the Romans.

The city’s bygone days are easily imagined. You can stroll along the Roman walls under your own steam or opt for a number of walking tours, often led by a guide in period costume. There’s a Roman tour, a Viking tour, a Tudor tour, a Victorian tour and an Edwardian Lady tour – all organised by the city’s visitor information centre.

I choose a generic experience led by the well-informed Corrine, the tour taking in Roman remains, medieval churches, 16th-century half-timbered houses and Victorian restorations.

In the afternoon I take a boat trip up the Dee. We embark just above a weir built by the Normans to control the tidal flow of the river and proceed upstream to an iron bridge designed by Telford.

The commentary provides some interesting snippets of information: how the racecourse, built on the site of the

Queens Park Bridge and River Dee, Chester

Roman port and dating from 1539, is the oldest racecourse still in operation in the world; and how the shot-tower, built during the Napoleonic Wars, played its part in Wellington’s victories.

I move to the Club’s Coed-Y-Llwyn campsite, a beautiful, tree-lined spot in the small village of Gellilydan, about two miles from Blaenau Ffestiniog. There are lots of walks and cycling routes in the immediate area, particularly around Lake Trawsfynydd. Close by are the mountains of Eryri National Park (Snowdonia), making this a good base for enjoying all the beauty and adventure it has to offer. In the afternoon I visit Harlech Castle – one www.camc.com

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TOURING NORTH WALES AND CHESHIRE

4

Bryn Goronwy Certificated Location

Members’ view “Great location and handy for so many beaches and walks. Ian was so helpful and keen to make sure everything was fine.”

Owner view “We’re very rural with cattle grazing in the next field and horses in our paddock. We’ve also got a special paddock for dog walking.” Ian

Food & drink The California Hotel, Llangefni Road, Brynteg LL78 8JQ Contact: californiahotel.wales, 01248 852360

Culture

Cemaes Heritage Centre, 36 High St, Cemaes, Cemaes Bay LL67 0HL Contact: cemaesheritage centre.org, 07935 773986

Outdoor fun Lligwy Beach, Lligwy Dulas, Moelfre LL70 9PQ

For the family GreenWood Family Park, Bush Rd, Y Felinheli LL56 4QN Contact: greenwoodfamilypark. co.uk, 01248 671493 48 May 2025

Louise Turpin

A CL on a nine-acre smallholding in the centre of Brynteg village and a short distance from the seaside at Benllech as well as the market town of Llangefni.

Sites Directory & Handbook p516

“

Abersoch is a bustling holiday resort – unfortunately it was a bit too nippy for a dip of Edward’s great fortresses, it is spectacularly situated, taking advantage of the natural defence offered by a rocky outcrop. It’s also close to the sea, so that, like many of the king’s other castles, it could be supplied by ship if besieged.

Although now a ruin, its walls and towers still exude an aura of power. However, the castle was not as impregnable as its architect might have hoped. It fell in 1404 to Owain Glyndŵr in what may traditionally have been called a rebellion, but which many modern historians refer to as a war of independence.

Here Glyndŵr established his court until the castle was retaken by Prince Hal, the future Henry V and victor at Agincourt. It was besieged again during the Wars of the Roses and again during the English Civil War, when it was the last Royalist stronghold to surrender to the Parliamentarians.

Even if you’re not interested in history, Harlech’s well worth the visit just for the spectacular views. (Although I visited Coed-Y-Llwyn, Min-y-Don Affiliated Site is closer to Harlech Castle.)

”

Criccieth Castle. This was originally built

by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (Llewellyn the Great) and predates Edward’s invasion. It fell into English hands, but in 1404 it was attacked and burnt down by Glyndŵr. It’s a magnificently situated ruin best viewed rising above the town as you approach from the east.

My next stop was Abersoch – a bustling seaside town and holiday resort with lovely beaches, but unfortunately it was a bit too nippy for a dip. I ventured farther along the peninsula to Aberdaron, to walk a section of the Welsh Coastal Path – tough in parts, but the weather was beautiful and the views magnificent.

The next day I headed for Anglesey, where I called in at Bryn Goronwy CL in the heart of Brynteg, a village just a few miles west of the coastal town of Benllech. Cattle

OUT ON A LIMB

Next on the agenda was the Llŷn Peninsula.

Although there are no Club campsites or Affiliated sites here, there are lots of CLs from which to choose. En route I stop by

Porthdinllaen, Llŷn Peninsula Photo by member Dawn Young

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TOURING NORTH WALES AND CHESHIRE

Porth Tywyn Mawr, Anglesey Photo by member Rachel George

5

Penrhos

Club Campsite

Members’ view

“It’s a great site and ideal for getting everywhere. I’m definitely coming back.” Gerald

Site view

“There’s fantastic wildlife on site – red squirrels, hummingbird moths, red kites and lots of wildflowers.” Heather

Food & drink Pebbles Bistro, Bangor Road, Benllech LL74 8TG Contact: pebblesbistro.co.uk, 01248 208787

Culture Penrhyn Castle and Gardens, Llandygai, Bangor LL57 4HT Contact: nationaltrust.org.uk, 01248 353084

Outdoor fun Storws Wen Golf Club, Brynteg LL78 8JY Contact: storwswengolfclub. com, 01248 852673

For the family Anglesey Wildlife Walks, 14 Lon Gardener, Valley LL65 3DN Contact: angleseywildlife walks.com, 07725 174087 Scan here to book a pitch at Penrhos

graze in the adjoining fields and owner Ian keeps a pair of shire horses in the paddock.

Another paddock provides dog owners the opportunity to exercise their canine friends.

A mile or so outside Brynteg is Penrhos Club Campsite (an alternative site, Cae Mawr, is just two miles up the road). This is a great base from which to enjoy the island and enjoy its many attractions – not just its historic sites, but also its coastal walks and beaches.

There’s plenty of wildlife, too, and you may be lucky enough to spot a red squirrel or two.

I head west to Barclodiad y Gawres, a Neolithic burial chamber. Luckily my visit coincides with an open day – quite a group has gathered, and we’re guided around by Rhys, a very knowledgeable archaeologist from Cadw (the body responsible for historic monuments in Wales). Naively, I ask him about the druids. He points out that this site predates the earliest reference to the druids by some 2,500 years!

Now for Beaumaris Castle. It has been dubbed ‘the greatest castle never built’, a reference to the fact that it was never completed, as Edward ran out of money and was distracted by his wars in Scotland.

Nonetheless, it is a very fine example of a 13th-century concentric castle with its series of walls and round towers – round towers being less vulnerable to stonethrowing trebuchets than those with rectangular angles.

My final visit was to the two wonderful bridges that connect Anglesey to mainland Wales: Telford’s Menai Bridge (completed in 1826) and Stephenson’s Britannia Bridge (completed 1850).

Andrew Pattenden

An attractive, tree-lined site with good facilities and an excellent base for visiting the whole of Anglesey.

Pitches: 92 Maximum outfit length: 9.4m Bus stop within 1 mile (limited service)

Llangollen Canal

I met John, one of the trustees of the Thomas Telford Centre. Situated in the town of Menai Bridge, this museum tells the fascinating story of how the two bridges were built. Next year marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of Telford’s bridge and John tells me they’re gearing up to make the most of the celebration.

But, sadly, the time has come for me to cross the bridge once again, and head for home. Hwyl fawr Cymru – farewell Wales.

Walking 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.

DOWNLOAD OR UPDATE YOUR FREE CLUB APP TODAY! VISIT CAMC.COM/CLUBAPP 50 May 2025

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Save on UK Club campsite stays Throughout 2025 we have a number of fantastic UK Club campsite offers so you can save - whatever the season.

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COLUMN SITE SPOTLIGHT East Runton Beach

Have

you been to...

Incleboro Fields Club Campsite in Norfolk?

It’s well worth adding to your must-visit list...

Y

ou may have seen pictures of visitors and site staff celebrating at Incleboro Fields Club Campsite during the nearby town of Sheringham’s 1940s Weekend. This annual fixture sees the popular site – which is on the north Norfolk coast – full to the brim with caravanners and motorhomers sporting period attire.

Site Managers Gina, Simon and their team go the extra mile during the 1940s weekend by dressing up, holding afternoon drinks and creating themed artwork to place around the campsite. The site staff also raise money for the UK Armed Forces and military veterans charity Help For Heroes via a raffle, with prizes donated by local businesses.

“Last year we raised just over £500,” says Gina. “We also do a ‘best dressed couple’ and ‘best dressed unit’ award, which we make, and they also get a bottle of bubbly!”

The 1940s weekend takes place from 19-21 September in 2025, but there’s plenty

Gina (third right), Simon (third left) and colleagues www.camc.com

to see at other times of the year. The site sits between the much-loved seaside towns of Cromer and Sheringham, while farther to the west are the pretty waterside havens of Blakeney and Wells-next-the-Sea. Gina also recommends Edgefield (“really good quality garden nursery”), the National Trust’s Sheringham Park, the beach at Overstrand, and Holt (“a lovely village, great pubs”).

Those who prefer to stay closer to their pitches have just as good a time. According to Gina, the Corner House in West Runton – a 10-minute walk from the campsite – is the place to go for breakfast or afternoon tea. If you’re dining out, try the Village Inn, which has a great selection of beer and features live music on Friday nights, or the Krua Thai restaurant, which also has a takeaway service. There’s even a caravan and camping accessory shop. “Don’t go in there,” jokes Gina, “you will come out with no money! Really lovely staff, very helpful.”

But what of the site itself? “It has a really nice feel to it,” says Gina, “lots of space even though we have 221 pitches! Lots of wildlife.

“We have made a ‘contemplation’ area, where you can sit and look over to the sea.

We have a fairy door walk for the kids – all fairy doors are hand-painted by myself.”

With all those pitches, it won’t come as a surprise to hear that the team is always busy: “There is never a dull day and having a cuppa in the afternoon is a luxury! But we love the site, just like our members, who return year after year!”

Incleboro Fields Club Campsite

Touring pitches: 221 Max outfit length: 8.5m

Member view “One of our favourites and just had five fabulous nights (wish we could have stayed longer) at this fine site...

Walks to either Sheringham or Cromer along the cliffs.

Sunsets over Beeston Bump worth a look!” (May 2024)

Outdoor fun Take a ride on the Bure Valley Railway, Norfolk's longest narrow-gauge steam railway, operating between the market town of Aylsham and the bustling Broads town of Wroxham.

Terms and conditions apply – see camc.com/greatsavingsguide and bvrw.co.uk for more information.

£2

May 2025 53

TOURING CERTIFICATED LOCATIONS Battle Abbey

CL SITES

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 2025/26 Sites Directory & Handbook. They are listed here using the same number, unless otherwise specified.

NEW CLS ENGLAND

DERBYSHIRE

ASHBOURNE (5.2m NE) – Carsington Country Caravan Park, Mr David Ray, Land off Millfields Lane, Upper Town, Hognaston, Ashbourne DE6 1NQ. 07857 214440 (Dean Elliott, Site Mgr); billyraysalesltd@ googlemail.com. 119:SK233517; 53.06247, -1.65230. OAY; 0.75 acre; dogs; adv bkg req; levelling blocks req; grass; peaceful; commercial site adj; views; price fr £18 (pitch + 2 ad).

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

NOTTINGHAM (10.9m NNW) – Abbey Quarry, Mr Richard and Mrs Lauren Butler and Mr Josh Butler, Quarry Lane, Linby, Nottingham NG15 8GA. 07842 788311; abbey quarry@gmail.com. 120:SK535518; 53.061506, -1.202008. Open 1 Apr-31 Oct; 1 acre; adults only; dogs; adv bkg req; unfenced water; hdstdng; grass; 16A; peaceful; coarse fishing CL; views; wc (exc); dog walk fr site; price fr £25 (pitch + 2 ad).

EAST SUSSEX

BATTLE (1.2m NNE) – Homeleigh Farm, Mr Craig and Mrs Joanne Carter, Whatlington Road, Battle TN33 0NA. 07906 803947; 07809 430143; jodesign@btinternet.com.

199:TQ752176; 50.93186, 0.492876.

Open 1 May-30 Sep; 1 acre; adults only; dogs; some sl pitches; levelling blocks req; grass; 16A; peaceful; public trans, town, shop & pub in 1m; game & coarse fishing, golf & watersports in 5m; price fr £22 (pitch + all occ).

WEST SUSSEX

EAST GRINSTEAD (3.2m W) – Floran Farm, Paul, Linda and Anthony Batten, Hophurst Hill, Crawley Down RH10 4LP. 01342 712042; 07710 936010; batten. com@sky.com. 187:TQ358387; 54 May 2025

CL SITES UPDATES 51.131453, -0.063581. OAY; 2 acres; dogs; sl pitches; levelling blocks req; MH drive over waste disp; enhanced grass pitch with EHU, water, grey and black waste disp; 16A; peaceful; ideal for families; lawned; wc (exc); price fr £25 (pitch + all occ).

EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE

HULL (11.8m NE) – Hill House, Mr Andrew and Mrs Deborah Cattle, Cowden Lane, Withernwick, Hull HU11 4TX. 07949 972889 (Deborah); 07836 559963 (Andrew); andrewrs2000@aol. com. 107:TA195412; 53.853872, -0.183323. OAY; 1.5 acres; dogs; enhanced hdstdng pitch: EHU with drinking water; 16A; peaceful; Wi-Fi; price fr £25 (pitch + 2 ad).

WILTSHIRE

TROWBRIDGE (3m N) – Manor Farm, Miss Katie Tucker , The Dovecote, Bradford Road, Holt, Trowbridge BA14 6PL. 07940 511047; stayatmanor farm1@gmail.com; stay-atmanorfarm. co.uk. 173:ST857616; 51.35335, -2.20581. OAY; 0.5 acre; dogs; adv bkg req; sl pitches; levelling blocks req; enhanced grass pitches; EHU with drinking water; 16A; peaceful; ideal for families; views; lawned; wk fm; town, shop & pub in 1m; game fishing & golf in 5m; price fr £25 (pitch + 2 ad).

UPDATES

IMPORTANT: Nightly fees may differ from those published in the directory due to a change in ownership or business costs. 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.

19 BRISTOL – Pine Trees Camping.

New email: camping@trdemolition. co.uk.

796 CLEETHORPES – Yew Tree Farm Touring Caravan Site. Name change: Yew Tree Farm (Lake Side).

Comm site adj; MH drive over waste disp; 0.75 acre; wkg fm; peaceful.

872 SPILSBY – The Old Wheelwrights Retreat. Web address: theoldwheelwrights-retreat.co.uk.

940 DEREHAM – The Old Farmhouse. New alternative nbr: 01328 316529.

1471 SOLIHULL – Knowle Donkey Sanctuary. Correct email: knowle donkeysanctuarycl@gmx.com.

1551 BRIDLINGTON – High Easton Farm. New email: info@higheaston farm.com.

1702 YORK – Field House Farm.

Owned by a member.

1870 BENLLECH – Ynys Goch. Now open: 1 Apr-31 Dec. 1910 LLANYBYDDER – Tyllyn Lakeside. New main nbr: 07304 087845. New email: sheilabrislin 330@gmail.com.

1929 LAMPETER – Llwyncelyn Bach. New email: llwyncelynbach@ gmail.com.

1936 BETWS-Y-COED – Cernioge Bach. New email: kinnie.b21@yahoo. com.

2049 NARBERTH – Cwmrath. New main nbr: 07399 366970.

CLOSURES

The following five-pitch CLs are closed and no longer certificated by the Club. This does not affect

any other business that a landowner may be operating.

57 CHESTER – Belle Vue Farm.

67 CHESTER – Oak Tree Farm.

134 LAUNCESTON – Moorhaven Farm.

180 TRURO – Heath Farm.

186 TRURO – Sunnyside.

241 KESWICK –Stybeck Farm.

392 OKEHAMPTON – Ashbury Caravan Park.

508 RAYLEIGH – Tower Field.

529 CHIPPING SODBURY – Tan House Farm.

542 GLOUCESTER – Buttercup Nursery.

585 LYMINGTON – 71 Lower Ashley Road.

587 LYMINGTON – Danewood.

602 RINGWOOD – Pine Copse Farm.

614 SOUTHAMPTON – Stonehill Farm.

640 BISHOP’S STORTFORD – Golf World Stansted.

692 MARGATE – Gooseberry Farm.

762 WHALLEY – Wiswell Shay Farm.

769 LOUGHBOROUGH – Bawdon Lodge Farm.

775 MELTON MOWBRAY – Hill Top Farm Shop CL. 788 BOSTON – Willow Cottage.

824 LINCOLN – The Railway Inn. 832 LOUTH – Northolme Farm Alvingham.

1001 NORTH WALSHAM – Nut Tree.

1005 NORTH WALSHAM – The Old Stables.

1040 WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA – Whey Curd Farm.

1435 HAYWARDS HEATH – Townings Farm.

1449 KENILWORTH – The Croft.

1508 WILTON – Farmer Giles Farmstead.

1641 PATELEY BRIDGE – Trout Beck Farm.

1793 LEVEN – Monturpie.

1820 GLENLIVET – Glenlivet.

1837 HAWICK – Hermitage Farm House.

2032 FISHGUARD – Newton Cross.

2095 WELSHPOOL – Bwlch Aeddan.

IMPORTANT INFO

See camc.com for the latest site and CL information. Please note: routes provided by autoroutes or satellite navigation systems may include roads unsuitable for vehicles towing trailers or caravans. For caravan-friendly local routes to sites we advise using directions published in the Sites Directory & Handbook and on our website. www.camc.com

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TOURING SHROPSHIRE

Known for its spectacular views and rich wildlife, it’s a big draw for walkers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts The Long Mynd

RAISE A GLASS Three breweries Sammy and Nigel visited in Shropshire: Stonehouse Brewery, Oswestry Contact: stonehousebrewery. co.uk, 01691 676457 Three Tuns Brewery, Bishop’s Castle Contact: threetunsbrewery. co.uk, 01588 638392 Ludlow Brewing Co, Ludlow Contact: ludlowbrewery.co.uk, 01584 873291

WHERE TO STAY

Alternatives: Love2Stay AS, Ludlow Touring Park AS, Stanmore Hall Touring Park AS 56 May 2025

Three Tuns brewery

Lady Margaret’s Park Club Campsite, Wrexham Just over the border from England, this pretty, wooded parkland site is a great option for a brewery-themed tour of Shropshire.

www.camc.com

Shropshire on

tap

Sammy Faircloth raises a glass to a selection of Shropshire’s breweries

C From far left: Three Tuns Brewery in Bishop’s Castle; Sammy compares the aromas of a selection of hops at the Ludlow Brewing Co Right: Sammy and Nigel at Batemans in Lincolnshire (see overleaf)

www.camc.com

raft beer is hugely popular in Britain. As consumers increasingly seek distinctive flavours and less mainstream experiences, smaller breweries deliver with brews that showcase innovative recipes and premium ingredients. The movement celebrates local heritage, with many brewers drawing inspiration from regional traditions, fostering a sense of community pride.

Moreover, an increasing number of beer festivals has provided a platform for craft beers to shine, offering enthusiasts the chance to explore diverse styles.

One particular craft beer enthusiast is my husband, Nigel, and last year we embarked on a journey to uncover the stories behind some of Shropshire’s brews. Of course, it wasn’t all about beer – we found plenty of time to explore the area’s history and landscapes too.

Located in Wales, but right on the border with Shropshire, our base for the tour was Lady Margaret’s Park Club Campsite.

Recently improved by an extensive redevelopment programme, the site nestles in picturesque woodland beside the historic grounds of Chirk Castle, providing plenty of opportunities for delightful walks.

The engineering marvels, Chirk Aqueduct and Viaduct, are just a short walk from site, while being close to the Wales-

England border, you are obviously spoilt for choice when it comes to castles. Chirk Castle, for example, is the last inhabited castle that dates from the reign of Edward I. Perfect for days out, it boasts a selection of fascinating rooms and galleries as well as a beautiful 55-acre garden. (To read more see this issue’s feature on north Wales and Chester, starting on page 42).

Meanwhile, a 15-minute drive south takes you to the historical market town of Oswestry, home to the ruins of a 12thcentury fortress.

FAMILY BUSINESS Our first stop, though, is at Stonehouse Brewery near Oswestry. Shane and Alison started this business 21 years ago in a small shed – however, they quickly outgrew the space and, with help from family, developed the current premises in 2007.

They initially focused on brewing and tours, but have since added a taproom, distillery and shop. The taproom grew naturally from serving drinks to tour attendees, to selling take-home bottles, and eventually becoming a popular destination in its own right. We couldn’t resist purchasing a selection of craft beers to enjoy later in the caravan.

Cambrian Heritage Railways, which has a stop (Weston Wharf) next to the brewery, offers nostalgic May 2025 57

TOURING SHROPSHIRE

Above: a selection of beers on tap at Stonehouse Brewery Right: Bill demonstrates the beer-making process at Ludlow Brewing Company

ANOTHER ROUND? Sammy and Nigel recommend other breweries near Club sites across the UK...

BATEMANS, LINCOLNSHIRE

Contact: batemansbrewery.co. uk, 01754 880317 Stay: Skegness Sands AS

GOWER BREWERY, SWANSEA

Contact: gowerbrewery.com, 01792 850681 Stay: Gowerton Club Campsite

WOODFORDE’S BREWERY, NORFOLK

Contact: woodfordes.com, 01603 720353 Club campsite: Norfolk Broads Club Campsite

58 May 2025

train rides to Oswestry (check cambrianrailways.com for the timetable), featuring steam and diesel locomotives.

Look out for special services such as the Santa Steam Train in the run-up to Christmas − perhaps non-driving adults could enjoy a quick tipple at the Stonehouse taproom afterwards!

TUNS OF FUN To the south of Oswestry is the Long Mynd, a striking heathland plateau that forms part of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape. Known for its spectacular views and rich wildlife, it’s a big draw for walkers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts.

Part of the Long Mynd and managed by the National Trust, you could head for Carding Mill Valley, where highlights include the Lightspout Waterfall – which Victorian visitors once referred to as a “miniature Niagara”.

We, however, ventured west to the charming town of Bishop’s Castle, stopping at the historic Three Tuns Brewery. Its iconic, Victorian tower allows gravity-fed brewing and the business also uses a unique yeast strain that has been developed over the past 125 years. Today, Three Tuns Brewery creates award-winning real ales.

SECRET BREWS Venturing south-east, our tour takes us to Ludlow, a bustling medieval market town and architectural treasure, boasting year-round events and festivals. Situated on a cliff overlooking the River Teme, its historic centre and 11th-century Ludlow Castle are framed by the stunning

landscapes of south Shropshire and the Welsh Marches. Ludlow perfectly blends history, charm and outdoor adventuring opportunities.

Conveniently situated next to Ludlow train station, a trip to Ludlow Brewing Company is a must. Founded in a disused maltings building back in 2006, the brewery relocated five years later to a restored Victorian railway shed. Equipped with a 20-barrel brewing system, it produces more than 30,000 pints weekly and features a taproom and visitor centre.

The brewery doubles as a community hub, hosting events and tours, and promotes sustainability through renewable technologies. In 2024, it debuted Latitude 52, an English take on a premium pale Czech lager – which won bronze for Best New Product at the Ludlow Marches Food & Drink Festival 2024.

We booked ourselves onto an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the brewery, learning about the equipment, uncovering its rich history, and learning the step-bystep process of crafting beer. Our expert guide, Bill, walked us through every stage, from mash to cask, sharing the secrets behind the company’s signature brews.

After the tour, we enjoyed a tutored tasting session featuring the core range of six hand-crafted, cask-conditioned ales.

Our brewery tour of Shropshire was a journey through history, showcasing craftsmanship and dedication in every pint.

From traditional techniques to innovative flavours, each brewery left us with a deeper appreciation of the county’s brewing heritage. Cheers! www.camc.com

JOIN US FOR

EPIC MUSIC WEEKENDERS Southern

National

Norfolk

The New Casuals

truly collins

Wild boys

western

southwest

season finale

Luke combs uk

Katrina of the waves

showaddywaddy

Malvern caravan

enjoy live music with great friends £20 per ticket when you book in advance online

That 80’s rock show

Other entertainment is included in your camping ticket price

WWW.WARNERS-SHOWS.CO.UK

TOURING OVERSEAS TRAVEL

Times OF OUR LIVES

We talk to adventurer Marcus Leach about the Club’s Maritimes – Canada’s Hidden Gem tour

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

The Club organises a range of unforgettable escorted and independent motorhome tours of Canada. This month we catch up with Marcus Leach, an experienced adventure and travel writer, who embarked on our ‘Maritimes – Canada’s Hidden Gem’ tour in June 2024...

Wherever you want to visit we’ll support you every mile of the way.

We offer free cancellationsˆ if the FCDO advises against travel to your destination and have ABTA and ATOL bonded financial protection. Find out more at camc.com/ wwconfidence. ˆCovers holiday cancellations in line with FCDO advice.

T&Cs apply.

Who did you travel with and how did the tour work?

Our touring ‘party’ consisted of myself, my wife, Kim, and our two young children, Harrison and Dorothy. The tour focused on Canada’s Maritime Province of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. It was a self-guided tour, so we were the only ones on it, which as a family of independent travellers, we really enjoyed. The full schedule is taken care of for you –we had a day-by-day Enjoying the sea view in Cape Breton

itinerary which would include all of the suggested activities, the campground we were at as well as any driving instructions for the days we were travelling between campgrounds.

What was the motorhome like?

Having previously spent two years living full-time in our own motorhome we were all a little bit apprehensive about going to collect our ‘RV’ from the Fraserway depot on the outskirts of Halifax. Although we needn’t have been – not only was the check-in process seamless, but once we were given a tour we all knew we would be very happy travelling around in it. The first thing that struck us all was how much bigger it was than anything we have driven before. The kids loved the fact that they could use the double bed space above the driver’s cab as a den, and it was a very spacious sleeping area. The RV had

an extendable side, which came out around a foot, and when out gave a great deal more space for us to never feel like we were on top of each other.

One word of caution we would offer though – and this goes for both collection day and drop-off days – is to arrive at the earliest time they say you can, because it does get busy.

What was the weather like?

Travelling in June meant that we were blessed with really good weather. It was warm most days, although the evenings had a tendency to get a little chillier. Given all but one of our campgrounds had private fire pits at their pitches, we never felt the cold, as we just lit a fire to sit around in the evening. This became something of a daily highlight – sat by a crackling fire toasting marshmallows out in the wilderness.

For more information on this tour and other worldwide experiences, visit camc.com/worldwide or call 01342 488059 60 May 2025

www.camc.com

Tell us about some of the wildlife you encountered...

The wildlife we saw was amazing, and the experiences around the sightings will live long in the memory. Early on we were fortunate enough to see not just one, but three bears. We were driving on a small country lane, having decided to take a small detour from the suggested route, when we came around a corner and Dorothy, who was chief animal spotter on the trip, shouted “Bear!”. We immediately slowed down and, sure enough, up ahead on the track was a mother bear with two young cubs. We stopped and observed them for a moment before they disappeared into the undergrowth.

During our time in Cape Breton we had the pleasure of sitting on a coastal lookout point while whales played in the water, including a pair of humpbacks repeatedly breaching. It was a surreal and incredible experience, one the children talk about regularly.

What was the food like?

Given that we were in the Maritime region there was an abundance of fresh seafood on offer. There are many restaurants serving what is know as a ‘lobster supper’ – it’s a four-course meal, starting with various salads, followed by clam chowder and mussels with freshly baked bread, after which comes the star of the show, the lobster, finishing with a variety of puddings.

What was the scenery like? Did it change during your journey?

What we loved was the diversity of landscapes and environments. The first part of the trip was characterised by beautiful little coastal fishing villages with picturesque wooden, whitewashed cottages and boat houses. We then moved inland into vast areas of forest, where we enjoyed daily walks alongside roaring rivers. However, the highlight really came when we visited the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It has staggeringly beautiful landscapes, mixing the best of dramatic coastal headlands with mountain scenery.

Any cultural highlights?

While the likes of Lunenburg – where you can head out on the famous Bluenose II schooner and see one of the best examples of a British settlement town – were charming and full of intrigue, our family highlight on the cultural front came later in the tour. The Fortress of Louisbourg, which is a National Historic Site, was brilliant.

In essence it is a living museum and the largest historical reconstruction in North America of an 18th Century www.camc.com

French garrison town. It comes complete with a vast cast of people living and interacting with you as if it really were that period of time. The kids were delighted to leave the blacksmith’s forge with freshly made iron hooks for hanging things off, and we had a personal tour of the captain’s house. Although for Harrison nothing came close to getting a lesson on how to load and fire a cannon.

Tell us about the driving experience...

We loved the driving in Canada. The first hour after leaving the RV depot was a little nervy, but we soon adjusted and from then on it was easy going. There was minimal traffic on the roads, which meant we could take our time and potter along, stopping when we pleased.

Confederation Bridge was mightily impressive, connecting Prince Edward Island with the mainland province of New Brunswick. At almost 13km long, we have never driven over anything like that before.

You’re an experienced adventurer – but did you ever need to call on the Club for support? What sort of back-up was there if things did go wrong?

Thankfully everything went perfectly to plan. From the moment we were met at the airport by our private driver, to the moment we left, everything went without a hitch. Every campground knew we were coming, the hotel was booked, we had passes for the national parks etc. However, had there been any issues, there were local operators who would have been able to help, so we always had peace of mind to know we were never alone.

Did you find the ‘Vamoos’ app helpful?

We loved the Vamoos app and found it really helpful. On the app was all of the trip information we needed, including the full day-by-day detailed itinerary, a host of additional information about destinations, cultural differences, local laws and etiquettes and all of our passes for parks and transfers.

Any highlights?

It’s hard to single out one particular moment or day, as the trip was full of so many ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ moments.

Obviously the wildlife we saw was up there – especially the whales breaching – but so too was the Fortress of Louisbourg, which was an unexpected gem of an experience. Driving around Cape Breton was also spectacular with some jaw-dropping scenery. As a family we play a game called ‘Do You Remember When’, and I think it is safe to say that, for years to

Cavendish Campground on Prince Edward Island Cape Breton National Park

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse

come, we will all be remembering so many memories from a wonderful tour.

So would you recommend this tour?

Absolutely. Having never been to Canada before, we arrived half wishing we could be in the Rockies, but we very quickly fell in love with this corner of Canada. Sure it doesn’t have the huge mountains you find elsewhere, but it has an abundance of beauty and intrigue to be found in other areas.

TOUR DETAILS

The 24-day Maritimes – Canada’s Hidden Gem independent motorhome tour starts from £4,800pp (based on return economy flights from the UK to Halifax, three nights in a Halifax hotel including breakfast, all transfers, 20 days motorhome hire, 19 nights pre-booked campsites and a Parks Canada Discovery Pass; includes £100 member discount – see camc.com/ wwoffers for information, terms and conditions.) For more details of our Canada escorted and independent tours or for details on bespoke experiences see camc.com/ worldwide or call 01342 488059.

This tour is just one of seven independent and escorted tours that the Club currently operates in Canada. If you’d also like to visit the west of the country, our 26-day Canadian Rockies Escorted Tour reveals the very best of the Rocky Mountains.

Find out more about each tour at camc.com/canada.

May 2025 61

Embark on a European tour this year

T

EN FI E

B

Unwind on one of our escorted tours

EMBE M

R

Isola del Garda, Lake Garda, Italy Seen on our Italian Explorer escorted tour

We’re excited to offer over 20 organised escorted caravan and motorhome tours for 2025 with prices from £1,199* for two people, giving you the chance to enjoy European wine regions, historic towns and cities, scenic boat trips, visits to stunning national parks and much more.

Our tours are carefully created with you in mind to include a balance of organised excursions and free time, all with friendly tour hosts close at hand throughout the duration of your holiday for peace of mind.

Plus, if you’re new to travelling abroad with your vehicle, why not consider one of our First Time Abroad tours in Brittany or Normandy, France?

Scan me

For more information call us on 01342 645 984 or visit camc.com/europeantours

* Price is based on two adults and an outfit based on the Discover Maastricht and André Rieu tour. Single and extra person pricing is also available. Itineraries may be subject to change and minimum numbers may apply. Trustpilot rating correct as at 8 April 2025, but may be subject to change. Copyright © 2025 Caravan and Motorhome Club.

All rights reserved. Information correct at time of print.

TOURING OVERSEAS TRAVEL Beautiful Lake Maggiore in Italy’s Piedmont region

Find out more at: camc.com/confidence

Time for

a break?

Get away earlier and beat the crowds this summer Fancy a little extra warmth and the chance to visit some of the most exciting places in Europe before the crowds descend? Then why not book an overseas break this June?

The Club has more than 350 campsite partners across the Continent, all eager to welcome you on holiday. Remember, by booking early you have a better chance of securing the crossing and pitch type you want and have the opportunity to benefit from some great deals.

What’s more, when you book at least four nights on a campsite at the same time as a ferry you could benefit from a special ‘Combined Deal’. There is limited availability on these offers – look out for the ‘i’ icon and ‘Combined Deal’ when searching our website for crossings.

Know where you would like to spend your holiday but not sure which campsite to book yet? Then why not book your crossing and combine it with four or more Overseas Site Night Vouchers (these are valid for two years). This way you will secure the best price and are free to roam as you please and redeem the vouchers at our campsite partners without pre-booking a pitch. Simply visit camc. com/overseas-holidays/special-offers www.camc.com

and click on ‘Site Night Vouchers’ for the terms and conditions and more information on which campsites accept the vouchers.

In the meantime, here is our pick of campsites that are perfect for June getaways...

FRANCE

L’Orangerie de Lanniron Quimper, Brittany (Club ref: B21) Located within the grounds of a 17th-century manor on the outskirts of Quimper, this campsite offers access to a nine-hole golf course and spa as well as outdoor and indoor pools. Members will love walking around the exotic gardens that skirt the River Odet, while the coast is just half an hour’s drive away for day trips.

Price: from £26.50 per night (based on two adults on an electric pitch for stays from 15 May-4 July/30 August-14 September 2025). Offers available – see website for information*.

Merry-sur-Yonne, BourgogneFranche-Comté (Club ref: L32) Sitting on the banks of the River Yonne, this is a charming spot. On-site you can enjoy a game of tennis, outdoor chess or ping-pong, while a visit to its ‘Le Saussois’ restaurant

comes highly recommended. A great base for exploration, you could go hiking or hire a canoe and embark on a water-borne adventure.

Price: from £15.95 per night (based on two adults on a grass pitch for stays from 1 May-31 December 2025). Offers available – see website for more information*.

La Rivière Dorée (Club ref: P24), France

La Rivière Dorée, Île-de-France (Club ref: P24) Close to Fontainebleau and its famous chateau, this well-tended campsite enjoys a peaceful location between canal and river. On-site facilities include a shop, bar and restaurant, while bike hire is available should you want to explore nearby.

As a bonus, the iconic capital city of Paris is just an hour away by train.

Price: from £19.19 per night (based on two adults on an electric pitch for stays from 19 May-18 July/16 August-31 October 2025).

Visit camc.com/ brochures to order free copies of (or simply download) our European campsites and escorted tours brochures.

DONT FORGET

n Book a European site, LeShuttle or ferry crossing through the Club and you’ll get the lowest price – guaranteed! To find out more see camc.com/ lowestprice. If you combine a crossing with a campsite stay you also benefit from package travel protection – see camc.com/ overseaspackages. n Red Pennant European breakdown and travel insurance will give you peace of mind on your touring holiday. Please see camc.com/ redpennant.

Scan this QR code to book a European campsite or visit camc.com/overseas for more information.

May 2025

63

TOURING OVERSEAS TRAVEL

SPAIN

Alannia Els Prats, Catalonia (Club ref: E58) Alannia Els Prats is located beside a beautiful beach on the Costa Daurada. Boasting a gym, spa, supermarket, bars, restaurants and sports courts, it also has a selection of pools. For days out, Tarragona and its Roman ruins, the PortAventura World theme park and Aquopolis water park are all within half an hour’s drive.

Price: from £27.91 per night (based on two adults on a serviced pitch for stays from 1-5 June/9-13 June/15-19 June 2025/7-10 September/14-27 September). Offers available – see website for more information*.

ITALY

Camping Village Lago Maggiore, Piedmont (Club ref: Y32) A great base from which to enjoy the delights of Lago Maggiore – Italy’s second largest lake (after Garda).

The pitches are shaded by mature trees and bordered by hedges, while at the lakeside beach you will find a

snack/drinks kiosk as well as sun loungers, kayaks and pedal boats for hire. If you can tear yourself away, beautiful Milan is around an hour’s drive away.

Price: from £46.15 per night (based on two adults on an electric pitch for stays from 1-28 May/10-19 June/23 June-4 July/1-21 September 2025.

Minimum stay applies – see website for more information.)

GERMANY

Azur Camping Regensburg, Bavaria (Club ref: G31) A tranquil site on the banks of the Danube, just a 15-minute cycle or bus ride from central Regensburg.

The city is home to the magnificent Gothic St Peter’s Cathedral as well as Roman and medieval treasures.

Keen cyclists will be drawn to the Danube Cycle Path which runs right in front of the campsite.

Price: from £41.88 per night (based on two adults on an electric pitch for stays from 11 April-27 May/22 June-3 July/14 September-1 November 2025).

Alannia Els Prats (Club ref: E58), Spain

OFFERS TO CONSIDER

Huttopia Lac de l’Uby, Occitanie, France (Club ref: C57): Book three nights or more on an EHU pitch by 30 June 2025 and get 10% off stays between 18 March- 3 July 2025 and 25 August-29 November 2025; or 5% off stays between 4 July-24 August 2025.*

Huttopia Pays de Cordes sur Ciel, Occitanie, France (Club ref: C58): Book three nights or more on an EHU pitch by 30 June 2025 and get 10% off stays between 22 May- 3 July

2025 and 25 August-27 September 2025; or 5% off stays between 4 July-24 August 2025.*

Huttopia Saumur, Pays de la Loire, France (Club ref: L06): Book three nights or more on an EHU pitch by 30 June 2025 and get 10% off stays from 18 March- 3 July 2025 and 25 August-27 September 2025; or 5% off stays between 4 July-24 August 2025.* *Offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn at any time.

SPACES STILL AVAILABLE Why not let the Club take the strain and join us on a European tour? With your campsite stays booked in advance and the reassurance of experienced tour hosts, all you need to do is enjoy the experience.

It’s a bumper year for European tours with the Caravan and Motorhome Club. From wine tours and cycling experiences, to cultural and musical extravaganzas, we have provided a tour to suit you.

We launched several new itineraries during 2025 – Rhine in Flames (sold out – waiting list open), Balkan Adventure (sold out – waiting list open) and Wines of Beaujolais – and are hosting everything from shorter breaks (eg First Time Brittany (10 nights)) to longer, more in-depth adventures (eg Italian Explorer (24 nights).

There’s still time to book a spot on your dream holiday, but don’t leave it too late – we only have limited availability on the following: l Italian Explorer l Escape to Ireland l Wines of Beaujolais l Cycling in the Loire l Alpine Austria l First Time Normandy l Discover Maastricht and André Rieu To find out more about any of the above as well as our complete range of tours, visit camc.com/european-tours.

NEWS AND INFO n Caen and Le Havre have implemented low emission zones, so Crit’Air stickers are mandatory if you intend to enter these cities. For more information visit certificat-air.gouv.fr/. n When returning to the UK it is the driver’s responsibility to secure their vehicle

to prevent anyone hiding in it before passing through UK border controls. To avoid a fine, drivers should check their vehicles just before border control (and before disembarking from the ferry), and it’s advisable to remove any covers on bike racks as

stowaways have been found hiding in them. If you intend to stop before the port for food/fuel etc, it is a good idea to do this an hour or so before departure as there have been reports of potential stowaways waiting at supermarkets and services close by.

NEED SOME INSPIRATION? VISIT CAMC.COM/SUMMERHOLIDAY 64 May 2025

www.camc.com

FOREIGN TOURING FRANCE, SPAIN AND PORTUGAL

Simply

1

Le Pavillon Royal (Club ref: A06)

Pitches: 304 (240 touring) Price: from £35.04 per night (based on outfit, standard pitch and two adults, 8 May-5 June 2025). Correct as of 14 March 2025 – check camc.com for latest prices.

swell

Food & drink Café du Commerce, 1 Rue des Halles, 64200 Biarritz Contact: cafeducommercebiarritz.com, 0033 5 59 41 87 24

Culture Rock of the Virgin (footbridge to statue set on a rock), Biarritz Contact: destination-biarritz.fr

Martin Dorey sets off on an epic cycling and surfing odyssey through France, Spain and Portugal

Outdoor fun Joe Moraiz Surf School, Côte des Basques Beach, Boulevard du Prince de Galles, 64200 Biarritz Contact: jomoraiz.com, 0033 662 761 724

For the family City of the Ocean, 1 Avenue de la Plage, 64200 Biarritz Contact: citedelocean.com, 0033 5 59 22 75 40 Scan here to book a pitch at Le Pavillon Royale

66 May 2025

T

he bow doors of the ferry opened and we wheeled our bikes along the deck, down the ramp and onto the quayside, heading for customs. That was the moment – now we were in France – that I realised the enormity of this trip. No going back now!

Lizzy and I, just three weeks after getting married, rented out our home, lent our car to my kids (one prang; not their fault), left the keys to our campervan with friends (who were meeting us at the end) and set off on an adventure that would not only test our camping limits but also turn out to be the best trip we had ever taken.

Our bikes were loaded with everything we would need for three months on the cycle paths of Europe. As if the tent, sleeping bags,

sleeping mats, cooker and cookware, clothes and lightweight chairs weren’t enough, we were both towing trailers! Mine had two seven-foot surfboards lashed to it, with an aluminium strongbox underneath. Lizzy towed another strongbox and two oldfashioned bellyboards.

The plan was to cycle and surf our way to the most south-westerly point of Europe, Cape St Vincent, via the west coast of France, the north coast of Spain and the west coast of Portugal, a journey of at least 3,000km. We would follow the Vélodyssée (a cycle path which links Roscoff in the north to Hendaye on the France/Spain border) firstly along the Nantes-Brest Canal, then tracing the Loire to the sea, before skirting the coast to Spain. Once in Spain we would weave our way along the seaboard on the Camino del Norte, a pilgrim route to www.camc.com

outward journey and ourselves for the journey home. We also planned to pitch our tent at several of the Club’s European partner campsites along the way. When tired, hot, soaked or just fed up, knowing we had a place to stay became very important.

FRENCH CONNECTION Look out for special offers icons on campsites in our brochure – visit camc. com/brochures to view online or order your free copy

Find out more at: camc.com/confidence

Cycling in France was an absolute joy. The paths of the Vélodyssée took us through glorious countryside, into villages, across marshes teeming with birds, along the coast and to some of France’s best surfing beaches. The going was good as the path was mostly flat, which gave us a chance to tone up our legs for Spain. We camped most nights and became adept at putting up the tent, inflating the air beds and cooking on the stove. Being outside for weeks on end felt incredibly liberating and some days the summer felt like it would go on for ever. We even got used to the occasional rain and always appreciated the sunny days.

We suffered an unscheduled stop in La Rochelle after overloading our bikes and breaking a bunch of spokes, but that gave us a chance to dine out, swim at one of the town’s beaches and explore the narrow streets of the old city.

When we arrived in Biarritz we were spoiled with a chalet for three nights at the excellent Le Pavillon Royal campsite near Bidart. With its bar, restaurant, pool and the beach at the end of the site, it gave us a well needed rest – and an opportunity to explore the city – before starting the second, most challenging stage of our expedition.

PILGRIMS’ PROGRESS Santiago de Compostela. From Santiago we would let the Camino Portuguese lead us to Porto and then pick up the EuroVelo1 route to finish at Cape St Vincent. It was bonkers.

An epic journey. It was also our honeymoon.

In case you were thinking we were completely off our trolleys, we had opted to ride e-bikes on this trip. As anyone with an e-bike will tell you, they make cycling a whole lot more accessible and can even out the hills nicely. Lizzy, who has done a lot of cycle touring, had wanted to use normal bikes, but for me, a veteran of just a couple of hairpins, the hills of northern Spain demanded more than I could give.

I enlisted the Club’s help, of course. We arranged bike cover through Bikmo (check out the member offer at camc.com/bikmo), booked ferries, and amended our Red Pennant policy to cover our friends for their www.camc.com

Spain was its usual exuberant, noisy, exciting self and we loved being back there again – but it was tough as there were lots of hills to climb. As soon as we crossed the border we scaled Mount Jaizkibel, climbing 450m in the rain to reach San Sebastian.

Even Lizzy agreed that using e-bikes had been a good idea when we were dragging our trailers up the switchbacks. From a cycling point of view it was difficult (we still had to pedal), but it was wonderful to be able to enjoy the coastal scenery.

Cycling is a great way to travel and I have never felt freedom like it.

Arriving as pilgrims at Santiago de Compostela’s cathedral square, the Praza do Obradoiro, was incredible. The atmosphere was electric as pilgrims, many of whom had travelled more than 800km by foot or bike, expressed their joy and relief. I was exhausted and full of cold, but I wanted to take in as much as I could.

Main image: a surfer on the beach in Galicia, Spain Inset: Lizzy and Martin on the road in France

2

Costa do Vizir (Club ref: W28)

Pitches: 148 (120 touring) Price: from £25.21 per night (based on outfit, electric pitch and two adults, 4-31 May 2025). Correct as of 14 March 2025 – check camc.com for latest prices.

Food & drink

A Petisqueira Do Primo Xico, Rua Vasco da Gama 11, Porto Covo 7520-437 Contact: 00351 939 033 009

Culture

Castelo de Sines, Rua Miguel Bombarda 5, 7520-151 Sines Contact: sines.pt, 00351 269 630 6001

Outdoor fun

Praia da Samoqueira Beach, Porto Covo

For the family

Herdade do Pessegueiro (horse riding experiences), Ilha do Pessegueiro, Porto Covo 7520-421 Contact: herdadedo pessegueiro.com, 00351 963 320 898 Scan here to book a pitch at Costa do Vizir

May 2025 67

FOREIGN TOURING FRANCE, SPAIN AND PORTUGAL

By the time we hit Cape St Vincent we had ridden waves at some of Europe’s most famous surfing beaches

PORT OF CALL

Top: Martin tackling the waves at Le Penon, France Clockwise from above: arriving at Santiago de Compostela’s Praza do Obradoiro was a highlight of the journey; Lizzy cycling on hilly terrain in northern Spain; a brief stop while crossing the River Loire; the couple were on their honeymoon 68 May 2025

Portugal was different yet again. We noticed the contrast almost immediately, mostly in terms of the road surfaces.

Portugal’s back streets are cobbled, which was fine for the bikes but not for our trailers.

They bucked and bounced along behind us and I worried that their wheels might collapse at any moment! Despite this, we rode along the coast, through Porto and Lisbon, taking in the surfing meccas of Nazaré, Peniche and Ericeira.

South of Lisbon we found some wonderful places to stop in the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast National Park, one of Europe’s wildest regions. We cycled on unmade roads through whitewashed villages with tiny ports and fabulous beaches, many of which had campsites. My favourite was Porto Covo, a fishing village that has become a low-key tourist hotspot. The surfing was good there, as was the food, and the campsite, Costa do Vizir, was one of Portugal’s best.

By the time we hit Cape St Vincent we had cycled 3,400km, climbed 29,000m, slept under canvas for 64 nights and ridden waves at some of Europe’s most famous surfing beaches. It was an incredible adventure. I loved being outside: smelling the salty air, feeling the wind on my face, listening to the sea and watching the countryside as it changed. Simply wonderful.

Cycle touring is not for everyone, of course, but there is no reason you can’t take bikes on your next European tour – why not stay at a Club partner site and then explore the coast on two wheels? n Martin Dorey’s full account of this journey, The Way of the Waves, will be published by Bloomsbury in September 2025 (bloomsbury.com). If Martin has inspire you to explore France, Spain or Portugal – or if you would like more information on either of the sites mentioned, visit camc.com/overseas.

Fancy embarking on your own European cycling adventure?

The Club still has space on its Cycling in the Loire tour this summer – to find out more visit camc.com/european-tours. www.camc.com

Get

10%

Off *

plus free upgrade to Flexi

Open rOad, Open seas Drive your caravan, trailer tent or motorhome on board with everything you need, including your pet.

Right now, you can get 10% off Economy fares*, free Flexi upgrade, and more special offers for your roaming home on selected sailings!

Book your spring and summer road trips to Ireland, Holland and beyond by visiting camc.com/stena

*Terms and conditions apply

MEMBER OFFERS SPECIAL DISCOUNTS

As the touring season gets into full swing, check out this selection of offers designed to help you save on your upcoming adventures. To find even more great discounts and deals head to camc.com/memberoffers...

SAVE WHEN YOU SHOP With the Club, you can save up to 8% every time you shop with selected supermarkets and other retailers in the UK and Ireland.

Simply order discounted vouchers or gift cards online and then use them either

United Kingdom LEGO 8% TK Maxx 8% Boots 6% Marks and Spencer 5.5% Sainsbury’s 4% Waitrose (John Lewis) 4% Morrisons 3.5% ASDA 3% Iceland 3% Tesco 3% Aldi 2.5%

in-store, online or both (dependent on brand).

By using these offers every time you shop you could save hundreds of pounds in a year!

At the time of going to press, discounts are available with the following retailers...

UP TO

8%

WELCOME BREAK

Republic of Ireland Aldi 2.5% TK Maxx 8% Lidl Ireland 2.5% HomeSense 8% Tesco 2.5% For more information see camc.com/supermarkets.

ESTARLI

70 May 2025

20%

Club members who purchase a folding Estarli e-bike directly from Estarli – or from one of its retail partners – will receive one of six different Campers Packs, containing accessories worth up to £165.

The offer applies when purchasing any of the three versions of Estarli’s 20in folding e-bikes, which are designed and built in Hertfordshire. Choose from the e20.7 (a lightweight yet sturdy all-round folder); the e20.8 (which comes with off-road tyres and provides more torque); or the e20.X (which has a belt drive and automatic two-speed motor).

Please note that the Campers Packs can only be ordered after you have purchased and taken possession of the bike. Find out more at camc.com/estarli.

Welcome Break is offering Club members a 20% discount at outlets including Burger King, Chopstix, PizzaExpress, Pret A Manger, Starbucks (including Drive Thru), Subway and The Good Breakfast found at its motorway service areas.

Whether you’re looking to grab a coffee or stop for lunch, there’s something for all the family.

With over 50 sites across the UK, offering a range of facilities and services including free parking for two hours, Welcome Break is a great place to stop, relax and recharge before carrying on your journey. Find out more at camc.com/welcomebreak.

www.camc.com

NISSAN 20%

20% As a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, you can save 20% on the award-winning Nissan X-Trail with e-POWER and e-4ORCE all-wheel drive.

The Nissan X-Trail was the winner in the WhatCar? Tow Car Awards 2024 1,700kg-1,999kg Category, meaning it could be a great match for your touring adventures.

The combination of the X-Trail’s e-POWER hybrid powertrain and

e-4ORCE all-wheel drive is designed to provide excellent towing and off-road capabilities. With technologies like ProPilot Assist with NaviLink, 35in of internal displays and an Intelligent Around View Monitor with moving object detection, X-Trail is a capable, sophisticated vehicle which represents a great proposition to families and adventure seekers alike.

See camc.com/nissan to find out more.

IAM ROADSMART

10% Would you like to improve your driving or riding skills and feel more confident on the road? If so, IAM RoadSmart offers courses to help. Club members save 10% on the cost of ‘Advanced’ courses – all you need is a valid driving licence and your own car or motorbike.

Having purchased your course, you’ll receive a welcome pack and your nearest local IAM RoadSmart group will be in touch within 14 days to arrange a course start date. You’ll then develop your advanced skills during a series of drives or rides with an observer present, before eventually going for a test with a friendly examiner. For more information please visit camc.com/iamroadsmart.

BIKEREGISTER BikeRegister is the UK’s police-approved national cycle database and identification initiative. With over 1.4 million bikes already registered, BikeRegister helps to reduce cycle theft and identifies stolen bikes.

By registering and visibly marking a bike with BikeRegister, the chances of having it stolen are reduced.

Club members save 20% on the cost of a BikeRegister Membership Plus Kit (RRP £12.99), a BikeRegister Permanent Marking Kit (RRP £19.99) and BikeRegister UV Covert Kit (RRP £29.99).

All kits come with a BikeRegister membership card, containing your unique BikeRegister ID and a free upload for you to add a photo of your bike to your BikeRegister account. To see more please visit camc.com/bikeregister.

Scan this QR code with your phone or tablet to see all of our current Member Offers

TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY TO MEMBER OFFERS – SEE CAMC.COM/MEMBEROFFERS FOR MORE INFORMATION www.camc.com

May 2025 71

DAYS OUT FOR LESS MEMBER SAVINGS GREAT DAYS OUT

CHECK OUT THESE MEMBER DISCOUNTS IN SOUTH-WEST ENGLAND – AND TURN TO PAGE 12 TO FIND OUT ABOUT SITE SAVINGS IN THE REGION

THE MAYFLOWER MUSEUM, DEVON

SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY, DEVON

10%

Enjoy a nostalgic ride beside the River Dart aboard a classic steam train. At Buckfastleigh Station you can explore the gift and model shop, museum and award-winning gardens. Caravan and Motorhome Club members receive a 10% discount on standard adult, senior citizen

and child fares (only applicable for standard travel. Not valid on any event or promotional dates. Other terms and conditions apply.)

Info: southdevonrailway.co.uk Nearest Club campsites: Hillhead, Ramslade, Dornafield, Steamer Quay

10%

CRAG 2 MOUNTAIN, DEVON

SURFSIDE KAYAK HIRE & TOURS, DEVON

Enjoy a kayak tour while taking in spectacular views of the North Devon coastline. Led by an experienced guide, guests set off from Surfside’s base in Combe Martin – tours take in secluded beaches and secret inlets and give guests the chance to spot wildlife such as fulmars, oystercatchers, dolphins and seals. Pre-booking required. 10% discount per booking on kayak hire and kayak tours. Does not apply to gift vouchers or in store/retail purchases. Dogs are welcome on tours, please call 01271 883220 to arrange.

Info: surfsidekayakhire.co.uk Nearest Club campsites: Willingcott, Damage Barton 72 May 2025

UP TO

15%

Dartmoor-based Crag 2 Mountain specialises in rock climbing, mountaineering, navigation skills and caving across the UK, providing activities for all the family to enjoy!

Location varies depending on chosen activity. Club members get 15% off advertised public course/session dates on crag2mountain website or 10% off selected private bespoke bookings.

Pre-booking required. Motorhome parking available at some locations (please check when booking).

Info: crag2mountain.co.uk.

Nearest Club campsites: Plymouth Sound, Lydford AS, Modbury

This fascinating museum explores the story of Mayflower – the ship that transported English settlers to the New World in 1620 – in new ways. As well as examining the histories of the passengers, it looks at the political and historic context of the journey and explores Native American Wampanoag history and culture. Members receive 10% off standard admission prices. Not applicable with any other discounts or for the purchase of the Plymouth Heritage attraction pass.

Info: mayflowermuseum.co.uk Nearest Club campsite: Plymouth Sound

10%

SHALDON WILDLIFE TRUST, DEVON

20%

Set above the village of Shaldon, the Trust looks after and helps preserve some of the rarest animals in the world. You can see the likes of red titi monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs, slendertailed meerkats, southern three-banded armadillos and exotic birds, amphibians and reptiles. Club members receive 20% off any full priced Gift Aid visit tickets, excluding family savers. Cannot be used for experiences, memberships, adoptions, sponsorships, event tickets or in conjunction with any other offers.

Info: shaldonwildlifetrust.org.uk Nearest Club campsites: Dornafield, Stover

Please visit camc.com/ greatsavingsguide for vouchers, discount codes and pre-booking where relevant, as well as terms and conditions for all offers. Please check site and attraction opening dates and times before visiting/travelling. www.camc.com

Club Shop

ACTIVITY BREAKS NAVIGATION

A whole new

w rld

Jonathan Manning expands his walking horizons by enrolling on a beginner’s navigation course in the Peak District

T Top: Jonathan Manning Above: instructor Steve leads the way

76 May 2025

he highlights of every episode of the BBC’s Sherlock were the master detective’s rapid-fire deductions. Somehow he could examine a crime scene and spot clues that everyone else had overlooked. The side of a knife covered in butter revealed a suspect to be left-handed. Tanned hands but pale arms suggested someone who travelled abroad for work, rather than leisure. Even scuffs around the charging socket on a mobile phone exposed a character’s alcohol problems: “You never see those marks on a sober man’s phone,” noted the super-sleuth.

Now imagine being able to read a map in the same way that Sherlock Holmes investigates a crime.

The clues are all there on the paper; the

challenge lies in assembling them all in order to work out where you are and how to get where you want to go.

Years ago we seemed to learn this by osmosis. Thanks to the Scouts, the Guides and the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, the basics of map reading seeped into our subconscious, while car and van drivers became adept at navigating cities with their A−Z road atlases.

More recently, technology has offered not only an easier solution, but one that doesn’t tut or roll its eyes when we miss a turn.

Sat-navs transformed touring navigation, while mobile phones and handheld GPS devices offer similar guidance through the countryside.

Unfortunately for lovers of the outdoors, these gadgets have an Achilles’ heel. Or heels. Firstly, they rely on batteries; and secondly, they www.camc.com

The course covers the basics of map and compass work The Peak District had been transformed by a layer of snow

depend on a signal. A good old-fashioned paper map requires neither.

All of which brings me to Pure Outdoor in the Peak District, for a ‘Right Way in a Day’ navigation course. The company is based near Castleton Club Campsite in the Hope Valley, prompting my mind to offer thoughts such as ‘don’t lose Hope’ or ‘beyond all Hope’ as I aim to get to grips with a map and compass. Master the skills of navigation and you can access more remote countryside, beyond the security of basic trails marked with colour-coded waymarks. The moorland that broods outside the firm’s windows provides abundant incentive to pay attention. This skills course is designed for beginners, covering the basics of map and compass work and building confidence for hillwalking. The first building block, explains instructor Steve, is a deeper understanding of maps, as we cover scales then grid references. www.camc.com

I have two classmates – one is preparing for selection for the Royal Marines and the other is a fell runner eager to get off the beaten track. None of us is as familiar with Ordnance Survey map signs and symbols as we should be. The green dashes that represent footpaths and bridleways are fine, but it’s news to all of us that tiny black dots mark parish boundaries, while black dashes border parliamentary constituencies.

It’s not clear whether it’s our current level of understanding or simply standard protocol that leads Steve to discuss emergency procedures next, but it’s five minutes well spent. Six quick blasts of a whistle or six flashes of a torch (the process being repeated at minute-long intervals) summon help, while a ‘survival bag’ – in this case a vacuum-packed lightweight thermal sack from Blizzard – is a wise addition to any back-country rucksack. The number one reason for Mountain Rescue call-outs,

Above from top: “The map is always right,” says Steve; Jonathan puts his newly learned skills to the test; the essential tools of the navigator

INFORMATION

The ‘Right Way in a Day’ navigation course costs £95 and runs several times per month (more frequently in the summer).

Contact: pureoutdoor.co.uk for more details and booking Stay: Castleton Club Campsite May 2025 77

ACTIVITY BREAKS NAVIGATION Right: testing conditions – but a rewarding experience

GO YOUR OWN WAY

Three more map and compass courses near Club campsites...

PLAS Y BRENIN CONWY

A practical, two-day ʻIntroduction to Navigationʼ course (£258 non-residential) at the famous Welsh outdoor training centre will help prepare you for a lifetime of hillwalking.

Info: 01690 720214, pyb.co.uk Stay: Riverside Touring Park AS, Coed-Y-Llwyn Club Campsite (below)

GLENMORE LODGE, INVERNESS-SHIRE

Build your confidence for hillwalking with this oneday ‘Discover Navigation’ fundamentals course (£110) in the Cairngorms National Park.

Info: 01479 861256, glenmorelodge.org.uk Stay: Grantown-on-Spey AS, Culloden Moor Club Campsite (below)

Both pacing and timing are vital measures for micro-navigation Steve adds, is lower-limb injuries, so the three of us double-check our boots are properly tied before heading for the hills.

The difference between classroom and outdoor training is immediate as theory turns to practice. Within 100m we’re scouring our surroundings to find an ‘MS’ – another gap in our knowledge of map symbols. It turns out ‘MS’ marks a milestone, which we find buried in roadside vegetation.

Steve then asks us to count our double-steps over a distance he knows to be 100m, before timing us walking that distance. Both pacing and timing are vital measures for micronavigation, giving us extra information and valuable sense-checks of when we should expect to reach specific points.

ON THE WHITE TRACK

TEAM WALKING, YORKSHIRE DALES

Cover key aspects of navigation on the ‘Beginners Map Reading’ one-day course (£70), including essential kit and using a compass.

Info: 07711 264019, teamwalking.co.uk Stay: Wharfedale, Hawes (below), Lower Wensleydale Club campsites

78 May 2025

This may be a beginner’s class, but a heavy snowfall has transformed the Peak District into a landscape more fit for Sir Ranulph Fiennes. It feels thrillingly untouched, snow covering paths as if a giant Etch A Sketch has erased the man-made elements of countryside and returned the moors to their factory setting.

Using time and step counts, Steve challenges each of us in turn to lead the group to a feature marked on the map.

I never knew that a blue ‘W’ signals a well, and when I’m tasked with finding ‘BS’ my first thought is to look out for cattle, before I eventually spot a boundary stone in a corner of drystone walls.

“Remember, the map is always right, the compass is always right and the landscape is always right,” says Steve. The spanners in the works are our imaginations, which

are all too easily convinced that they know the way when all the evidence points in another direction. Sherlock would not be pleased. “If you’re not sure, STOP – Stop; Think; Observe and Plan,” advises Steve.

Leaving the reassuring guide rails of paths and walls behind, we have a quick lesson in bearings, lining up the edge of the compass from our current position to our intended destination, and then spinning its baseplate to align with the northerly grid lines on the map. Taking it in turns, we leapfrog each other in 100m sections, one walker stationary to monitor the direction of travel and steer his colleague back on track.

When we eventually find our target, a small standing stone concealed in deep heather, it feels as if we’ve discovered the Holy Grail.

As our confidence builds, the targets get smaller, testing our timing and judgement as well as map and compass skills. At the end of a hugely enjoyable and rewarding day, I may not have Sherlock’s speed in assessing a situation, but I do know where to look, what to look for, and how long it should take to get there. I’m well on my way to discovering a whole new world of adventure. n Note: walking in more remote locations or off established trails should never be undertaken without proper training and planning. You can find plenty of safety advice online, including on the Ramblers website at ramblers.org.uk/safety.

www.camc.com

COMBO

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Member Offer

SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS

DESIGN CLASSICS

Rob McCabe rounds up the results from the Club’s prestigious annual competition To say the 26th Caravan and Motorhome Club Motorhome & Campervan Design Awards benefitted from a bumper entry would be underplaying it somewhat – this year’s competition attracted no fewer than 93 models from 34 UK and overseas manufacturers and converters, spread across 15 categories.

With such a huge number of vehicles to consider, the judges set about their deliberations well in advance of the final reckoning at February’s big Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC. Here’s the lowdown on the star performers in each class – alongside online information on all the entries, we hope

CLASS ONE CAMPERVANS UNDER 5M

WINNER: KNIGHTS CUSTOM CONVERSIONS PRESTIGE TOURER PLUS

“Lots of clever, stylish touches on show,” noted one judge – which, in a nutshell, pretty much sums up the huge appeal of the winning Knights Custom Conversions Prestige Tourer Plus. The Volkswagen-based camper from the Lincolnshire specialist is flawlessly finished and proves just how much practicality and usability can be squeezed into such a compact offering: plenty of kitchen workspace (“Miles of it!” in the words of one judge), a hefty 330W of solar power, lots of storage options, a Thule pull-out canopy and a user-friendly top-loading fridge were among the many highlights.

Oh, and it’s a real head-turner too – inside and out.

Gas-free motorhomes and campervans are definitely in the ascendancy at the moment as more

it will help give you a steer if 2025 is going to be the year you decide to change your motorhome or campervan – or even buy your first. n For more information on all the vehicles entered, see camc.com/ motorhomedesign, where you can also search for dealerships for

each vehicle. Please make arrangements with the dealership prior to travelling for a viewing.

A ‘camera’ icon indicates an historic video test is available on the Digital Magazine app – search for ‘CAMC Magazine’ on the App Store or Google Play.

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Knights Custom Conversions Prestige Tourer Plus Runner-up: Sherwood Campers Ltd Loxley Edition Conversion Third place: Wildtracks Campervans Explorer buyers seek off-grid capability – and it’s a fine example of the breed that claimed second spot. The Sherwood Campers Ltd Loxley Edition Conversion, again based on a VW, scored highly on the eye-candy front thanks in part to

its lower-level exterior wrap.

“Beautiful and stylish,” was the shared opinion of two judges.

You can see what they mean.

Completing the podium (and a VW clean sweep, of sorts) is the Wildtracks Campervans

Explorer, another offering that impressed the judges with its fine presentation and specification, which included a colour-matched pop-top roof with a bi-fold bed.

“Nicely built; feels like someone really cares,” said one assessor.

THIRD PLACE: WILDTRACKS CAMPERVANS EXPLORER

RUNNER-UP: SHERWOOD CAMPERS LTD LOXLEY EDITION CONVERSION 80 May 2025

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Bespoke Campers Explore n Rolling Homes Camper Ltd Shackleton www.camc.com

CLASS TWO CAMPERVANS OVER 5M If the Swift Monza were a footballer, its ability to play in any position (probably even including goalkeeper) would definitely be its most prized attribute. It’s a handsome, cultured all-rounder that won high praise from the judges for its blend of build quality, style and level of equipment. Eberspächer diesel heating, a 200W solar panel, an external barbecue point and a portable toilet in a bespoke cabinet all come as part of the deal with the Ford-based four-berther – which, said one judge, is “classy-looking and generally very practical”.

The Rolling Homes Camper Ltd Stanley ran the Monza very close.

The VW-based runner-up impressed with its quality of finish: “Has the ambience of a posh yacht,” and “Definitely more premium quality here,” were just two of the comments singing its praises. There was an all-round thumbs-up for the fact that it includes a ‘proper’ toilet too – a portable loo is the norm in Classes One and Two.

WINNER: SWIFT MONZA Third place in one of the most closely contested categories of all went to the gas-free Landseer Artisan Red Ford Custom 2.0.

Although it had a high price tag, it was universally lauded for the quality

of its build and fittings, which included an SCA elevating roof and Schnierle sliding seat. One judge was sufficiently impressed to declare: “Lovely stuff! It’s been nicely made and thoughtfully curated.”

www.camc.com

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Panama P/12

THIRD PLACE: LANDSEER ARTISAN RED FORD CUSTOM 2.0

RUNNER-UP: ROLLING HOMES CAMPER LTD STANLEY

CLASS THREE VAN CONVERSIONS WITH A RISING OR POP-TOP ROOF UNDER 6M Just be aware – if you ever call into Knights HQ and ask for a guided tour of all the individual little touches that have been crammed into the class-winning Prestige XL, you’ll be there for quite some time.

The gas-free, MAN TGE-based XL is something of an off-grid powerhouse, with an epic 460Ah lithium battery and a flush-fitting 330W solar roof panel. Attention to detail borders on the obsessive, and the quality of the interior is such that one judge declared it “brilliantly versatile, beautifully laid out and very capable”. Very comfortable too, thanks to adjustable seats that also recline.

“I very much like this van; lots of reasons to be cheerful,” commented one judge of the Adria Twin Sports 600 SPB that took second place. It scored very highly on practicality, with its diesel heating system, generous

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Swift Monza Runner-up: Rolling Homes Camper Ltd Stanley Third place: Landseer Artisan Red Ford Custom 2.0

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Knights Custom Conversions Prestige XL Runner-up: Adria Twin Sports 600 SPB Third place: Bailey Endeavour B65 OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Trail Expedition 67 n Benimar Benivan 144 n Bespoke Campers Edition (Four Berth) n Elddis Autoquest CV80 60th Anniversary Edition n Scandivans Sprinter 907 MWB L2H2 n Swift Trekker X n Xplore CV X9

WINNER: KNIGHTS CUSTOM CONVERSIONS PRESTIGE XL storage provision and washroom layout all gaining it marks. A shortage of kitchen work surface was picked up on by a few judges.

Having won this class last year with its Endeavour B64, Bailey made the podium again with the Endeavour B65. Running the well-liked 165bhp Ford diesel (mated to an auto box here), the four-berth Bailey was praised for its level of practicality, with the diesel heating system, standard-fit awning, roof-mounted solar panel and generous under-bed garage all gaining mentions in dispatches.

RUNNER-UP: ADRIA TWIN SPORTS 600 SPB

THIRD PLACE: BAILEY ENDEAVOUR B65

May 2025 81

SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS WINNER: SWIFT CARRERA 244

CLASS FOUR VAN CONVERSIONS WITH A RISING OR POP-TOP ROOF 6M AND OVER “Finally! A four-berth with enough living accommodation for a family of four.” So sayeth one (maybe slightly exasperated…?) judge en route to scoring the Swift Carrera 244 highly for its double-seatingarea layout. Another added: “It’s a practical layout for a family – or for a couple who don’t want to make a bed.” The Fiat-based Carrera was also praised for the airy ambience and quality feel of the interior, together with a nicely presented and practical washroom.

Keen cyclists should take a closer look at the Auto-Trail Expedition 68, which caters superbly for those who need to accommodate the family’s bikes – floor-level trays that slide out from the rear offer a really neat bespoke set-up for transporting two-wheelers. Indeed, general storage provision throughout the Fiat-based four-berth is a strong point.“ Dedicating a van conversion to cyclists is a brave move but it's very likeable,” said one judge.

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Swift Carrera 244 Runner-up: Auto-Trail Expedition 68

RUNNER-UP: AUTO-TRAIL EXPEDITION 68

www.camc.com

The Fiat-based Carrera was also praised for the airy ambience and quality feel of the interior

May 2025 83

SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS WINNER: BAILEY ENDEAVOUR B63 CLASS RESULTS Winner: Bailey Endeavour B63 Runner-up: Vanlife Conversions Kunu Third place: Swift Trekker XL OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Sleeper Symbol n Auto-Trail V-Line 540 SE n Bespoke Campers Edition (Two Berth) n Elddis Autoquest CV20 60th Anniversary Edition n Knaus Boxlife 600 ME Platinum Selection n Rimor Horus 40 n Roller Team Livingstone 2 n Vantage ORA F-Line n Weinsberg CaraBus 600 MQ Edition FIRE n WildAx Motorhomes Meteor

CLASS FIVE VAN CONVERSIONS WITH A FIXED ROOF 6M AND UNDER In one of the most hotly contested classes in this year’s competition, with a total of 13 entrants, the Bailey Endeavour B63 came out on top due to its irresistible blend of comfort, practicality and value. “I love the layout and the interior décor,” said one judge, while others praised the generous amount of interior space – including that of the washroom – in a relatively compact conversion. The two-berth Endeavour has four travelling seats, adding further to its versatility.

The achingly gorgeous interior design of the all-electric Vanlife Conversions Kunu gained it plenty of

admirers among the judging panel.

The solid oak work surface (there’s a lot of it) adds to the overall aura of quality; likewise the impressive washroom, which offers glamour and practicality in equal measure – the upcycled-antique-style washroom door was described by one judge as “genius”. A tremendous proposition for off-grid campers: 640W of solar-panel power, anyone…?

A layout that squeezes every inch of usefulness out of such a modest square-footage helped to earn third place for the Swift Trekker XL. “A sleek and modern interior, with a lounge area you’d actually want to

RUNNER-UP: VANLIFE CONVERSIONS KUNU 84 May 2025

relax in,” was one judge’s verdict on the Ford-based camper, while another opined: “The washroom deserves a mention for managing to encompass a homely feel in a small space.”

THIRD PLACE: SWIFT TREKKER XL www.camc.com

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SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS

CLASS SIX VAN CONVERSIONS WITH A FIXED ROOF OVER 6M It was very much a bunch finish in this class, with very little daylight separating the top three. In the end, though, first place went to WildAx Motorhomes’ Solaris XL, which won plaudits all round for its fantastic sleeping accommodation for four.

Two wonderful fixed bunks in the rear (6ft 8in long – phew!) are joined by a quickly made-up big double bed at the front. Among the many positive judges’ comments was this: “Really nicely equipped, and a brilliantly planned layout. Love it!”

In second spot is the Volkswagen Crafter-based Rolling Homes Camper Ltd Darwin FL; a luxurious base for your travels, with a sumptuous front lounge and an outstanding rear washroom that’s also accessible from the back doors. The kitchen won many rave reviews too, including: “Wow – what a great design!”

And what a debut for the Aura Campervans 7 EL. The CitroënRelay-based two-berth from the fledgling Notts company finished third in this highly competitive class, impressing with its build quality, comfort and practicality. “It feels like it has been designed by somebody who actually uses motorhomes,” enthused one of the panel.

WINNER: WILDAX MOTORHOMES SOLARIS XL

THIRD PLACE: AURA CAMPERVANS 7 EL

RUNNER-UP: ROLLING HOMES CAMPER LTD DARWIN FL

CLASS SEVEN ANY ALL-WHEELDRIVE VAN CONVERSION UNDER 6.5M ‘Wow factor’ – it’s a phrase that’s become a little overused these days.

But in the case of the RP Overland Rebel Raid AWD, it’s almost impossible not to utter the W-word out loud as soon as you step over the threshold. And that translated into a hefty points total from the judges, one of whom effused: “You get luxury and practicality in bountiful equal measure.”

The attention to even the minutest detail borders on the RUNNER-UP: KAKTUS ADVENTURE VANS DUNE X4

86 May 2025

WINNER: RP OVERLAND REBEL RAID AWD

obsessive. “Here’s absolute commitment to building the most advanced campervan possible,” enthused one of the panel.

Expensive, but wonderful.

To be honest, you could say much the same about the Kaktus Adventure Vans Dune x4, a four-berth, gasless pop-top conversion that showcases outstanding build quality everywhere you look; even the cutlery drawer is a thing of beauty. The soft-lit wooden floor is gorgeous, the washroom likewise, and the bank of Victron

electronic controls is something of a tourist attraction in its own right.

The understated yet purposeful looks of the brand-new, Mercedesbased Adria SuperTwin 600 SPB won praise from the judges, one of whom said: “It’s one of those vehicles you’d find yourself glancing admiringly back at as you walk away from it.”

If you walk towards it instead, you’ll be greeted by a bright, fresh interior with lots of practical storage provision – including a pair of branded travel bags secured to the insides of the rear doors.

CLASS RESULTS Winner: WildAx Motorhomes Solaris XL Runner-up: Rolling Homes Camper Ltd Darwin FL Third place: Aura Campervans 7 EL OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Adria Twin Supreme 640 SGX n Auto-Sleeper Kingham n Auto-Trail V-Line 635 Sport n Eura Mobil Van 635 HB n Malibu Genius 641 LE n Mobilvetta Admiral K6.3 n Sun Living V Series 65DL n Swift Carrera 184

CLASS RESULTS Winner: RP Overland Rebel Raid AWD Runner-up: Kaktus Adventure Vans Dune x4 Third place: Adria SuperTwin 600 SPB

THIRD PLACE: ADRIA SUPERTWIN 600 SPB

www.camc.com

SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS

CLASS EIGHT ANY ALL-WHEELDRIVE VAN CONVERSION OVER 6.5M Don’t let the word ‘Utility’ in its name fool you. The LWB Mercedes Sprinter-based Project Yonder Freedom 4X Utility has been designed from the ground up to give you luxurious, best-of-everything accommodation wherever in the world you take it. It’s brim-full of tech too – CCTV system, motorised awning, bespoke Garmin touchscreen control panel, sophisticated 48V electrical system, super-cool slide-out/all-electric outdoor kitchen… the list goes on.

The second-placed Kaktus Adventure Vans Oasis x4 is a beautiful campervan too, with lovely craftsmanship underpinning its well-equipped, nicely planned interior and rugged, go-anywhere exterior. One judge was sufficiently blown away to note: “Absolutely brilliant. Much praise to the converter.” The vehicle being judged had also been bespoke-modified on behalf of a customer whose son is a wheelchair user. A specially built crane eases the chair on board and floor-mounted lashings secure it for travel. Runners along the ceiling facilitate access to the elevated double bed at the back. Great work.

WINNER: PROJECT YONDER FREEDOM 4X UTILITY

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Project Yonder Freedom 4X Utility Runner-up: Kaktus Adventure Vans Oasis x4

Don’t let the word ‘Utility’ in its name fool you

RUNNER-UP: KAKTUS ADVENTURE VANS OASIS X4 88 May 2025

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SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS WINNER: AUTO-SLEEPER NUEVO EK

CLASS RESULTS Winner: AutoSleeper Nuevo EK Runner-up: Elddis Accordo 105 60th Anniversary Edition Third place: Roller Team Kronos Compact 590 OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Trail F-Line F62

CLASS NINE TWO-BERTH COACHBUILT MOTORHOMES 6M AND UNDER Yet again, the Fiat-based AutoSleeper Nuevo EK (“Fast approaching classic status, if not already there,” according to one judge) saw off all-comers to win this category for the third year in a row.

It’s a superbly welcoming, luxuriously appointed motorhome that really makes its occupants feel that they’re being spoiled (you don’t just get a cocktail cabinet, you get crystal wine glasses to put in it…).

The plush, parallel-sofa lounge makes up into a huge double bed, the end kitchen includes a dual-fuel hob and a fitted microwave, and

there’s even enough space for a brilliantly designed washroom with separate shower cubicle.

The handsome Elddis Accordo 105 60th Anniversary Edition claimed the runner-up prize, gaining lots of points for its bright, airy interior and, in common with the winning Nuevo, a most agreeable twin-sofa lounge. Each sofa is long enough to be used as a single bed if the thought of making up the double is just too much after a hard day’s holidaying.

No need to do any bedmaking at all in the Roller Team Kronos

Compact 590: just lower the drop-down that sits above the lounge. The Kronos also impressed the judges with its pleasing, modern design, and the fact that a quick bout of rearranging in the lounge results in two extra travel seats. “The snappily

styled interior shames more expensive rivals,” was one particularly complimentary observation. And it is indeed great value: even with the optional automatic gearbox mated to the Ford power unit, the vehicle as judged was a smidge over £63k.

THIRD PLACE: ROLLER TEAM KRONOS COMPACT 590

RUNNER-UP: ELDDIS ACCORDO 105 60TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 90 May 2025

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MEET THE JUDGES

WINNER: BAILEY ADAMO 60-2

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.

Dan founded CaravanTimes in 2010.

JUSTINE HIGGINS

After studying History and English Literature at University, followed by 20 years as an HR manager, Justine turned her passion for the outdoors, travel and campervans into a career as a freelance writer. She is a member of the Caravan Writers’ Guild.

MARTIN DOREY MBE

A writer, green activist and lifelong campervanner, Martin presented the BBC2 show One Man and his Campervan in 2011 and was guest judge on Caravanner of the Year in 2016. Martin writes books about camping, including the Take the Slow Road series.

CLASS TEN TWO-BERTH COACHBUILT MOTORHOMES OVER 6M The Bailey Adamo 60-2 came out on top in this class: the interior is an exercise in space efficiency, with user comfort and practicality high on the designers’ agenda. The lounge is welcoming and cosseting in day mode; when it’s time to turn in, your bed lowers electronically from above, all ready for you to fall into. At the rear is an attractive washroom whose impressive square-footage seems to defy logic. The 150-litre compressor fridge is a nice bit of kit, while there’s a beefy 200W of solar power for enhanced off-grid capability. Oh, and there’s the lovely 165bhp Ford motor with an eight-speed auto box. Quite the package.

It’s not just Bailey who’ve worked washroom magic. The Auto-Trail Excel 620S also contains an impressive facility that prompted one judge to comment: “Not just the ‘wow factor’, but the ‘how factor’ – as in, how did they manage to fit in such a spacious, attractive washroom?”

MARTIN SPENCER

A degree-qualified engineer, Martin has been Club Technical Manager for 25 years, providing practical advice for members while undertaking extensive industry engagement, government consultations and work on national/ international standards development.

MEL PHILPOTT The Excel also pulls a rabbit out of the hat when it comes to value. Even taking into account the bundle of options fitted to the vehicle being assessed – automatic transmission, cab aircon, heated windscreen, sat-nav, reversing camera, Omnivent fan, and more – it costs less than £70k.

Third spot for the all-new Elddis Avalon 295 60th Anniversary Edition is well-deserved recognition for a thoroughly well-sorted motorhome. The wraparound rear lounge is outstanding – it’s wallowingly comfortable and the plush sofas are long enough to be used as single beds. The entire interior has a light, airy ambience that makes it a great place to be in.

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Bailey Adamo 60-2 Runner-up: Auto-Trail Excel 620S Third place: Elddis Avalon 295 60th Anniversary Edition OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Adria Compact Supreme DL n Auto-Sleeper Bourton n Eura Mobil Xtura XT 686 EF n Rimor Kilig 67 Plus

RUNNER-UP: AUTO-TRAIL EXCEL 620S

Mel is a dedicated motorhomer and a previous judge for this competition. She and husband Ryan produce the YouTube vlog, OvernightersTV, in which they share their motorhoming adventures.

NICK HARDING

Nick has four decades’ journalistic experience of reviewing leisure vehicles.

You’ll see his motorhome write-ups in the Club magazine each issue. He’s also owned a variety of leisure vehicles and toured extensively throughout the UK, Europe and beyond.

ROB McCABE

Rob’s involvement in the caravan and motorhome world stretches back all of 30 years, during which time he has edited both Practical Caravan and Caravan magazines and been a dedicated contributor to the Club magazine. He recently retired from his position as Head of Production at Bauer Media’s motoring division.

SIOBHAN DANIELS

THIRD PLACE: ELDDIS AVALON 295 60TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION www.camc.com

A solo motorhomer, explorer, podcaster and author of Retirement Rebel, Siobhan had a 30-year career working as a reporter, presenter and producer in local news. In 2019, aged 60, she took early retirement, sold her belongings, bought a motorhome and embarked on her solo trip around Great Britain.

May 2025 91

MERCEDES COACHBUILTS Time To Explore

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SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS

CLASS ELEVEN THREE OR FOURBERTH COACHBUILT MOTORHOMES 7M AND UNDER When you look closely at the all-round package you get with the Bailey Adamo 69-4, you can see why it ultimately finished top of the pile in what turned out to be another devilishly contested class. Powered by the excellent 165bhp Ford diesel unit – mated to an eight-speed automatic – it features a welcoming seating area offering comfy lounging for four. This area transforms into a great bedroom for all four occupants, courtesy of an electrically operated overhead double that lowers to sit above the one that gets made up by rearranging the lounge furniture and telescopic table. The end washroom is a peach, there’s loads of storage, a 200W solar panel is standard and it’s nicely built. “You get a lot for your 80 grand,” said one judge, and it’s difficult to argue with that.

CLASS TWELVE THREE OR FOURBERTH COACHBUILT MOTORHOMES OVER 7M The judges were highly impressed by how well the Coachbuilt GB LIV Swift Escape 674 has been adapted for use by wheelchair users, who access the widened entrance door via an electrically operated lift. The wetroom (“perfectly adapted for purpose” was one comment) has been repositioned along the offside rear, directly opposite a single bed that can be pulled out into a double when the wetroom isn’t in use. With all the usual plush refinements of the Escape to enjoy, it’s an outstanding option for those in need of the additional accessibility modifications.

Second place was awarded to the Auto-Sleeper Burford. Although nominally a four-berth there are just two travel seats, so it’s more realistic to consider it as offering very well-appointed accommodation for two. Its comfortable front lounge, well-equipped kitchen, permanent French double bed and end washroom with separate shower cubicle combine to create a warm, welcoming ambience that led to high marks from the judges. www.camc.com

WINNER: BAILEY ADAMO 69-4

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Bailey Adamo 69-4 Runner-up: Roller Team T Line 700 Third place: Eura Mobil Activa One 650 HS OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Trail Excel 690T n Benimar Tessoro T861 n Elddis Accordo 135 60th Anniversary Edition n Rimor Kilig 77 Plus n Weinsberg CaraCompact Suite MB 640MEG Edition Pepper

RUNNER-UP: ROLLER TEAM T LINE 700

THIRD PLACE: EURA MOBIL ACTIVA ONE 650 HS

Hard on the Bailey’s heels was the twin-lounge Roller Team T Line 700, of which one judge noted: “This is a

very intelligently planned, versatile layout.” And so it is too, with two electric drop-down doubles

maximising daytime living space and providing luxury sleeping accommodation at lights-out.

Completing a podium of brilliantly conceived layouts is the German-built Eura Mobil Activa One 650 HS, a beautifully presented vehicle with a tremendous over-cab bedroom that features two super-long single beds. Oh, and a heated double floor too. Nice.

WINNER: COACHBUILT GB LIV SWIFT ESCAPE 674 CLASS RESULTS Winner: Coachbuilt GB LIV Swift Escape 674 Runner-up: Auto-Sleeper Burford Third place: Adria Matrix Supreme 670 SC

The toilet on board the vehicle being assessed was the optional Cinderella incinerator unit, which converts waste to ash: because no water or chemicals are used, it could appeal to those who like to travel off-grid.

Like the Burford, the Adria Matrix Supreme 670 SC is powered

by a Mercedes-Benz unit mated to an automatic transmission. That, and the opulent island double bed in the lovely end bedroom, will send a lot of folk into a box-ticking frenzy.

It’s arguably this category’s sharpest dresser, with one judge opining: “The contemporary interior design is so cool! It really won me over.”

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Auto-Trail F-Line F74 n Bailey Adamo XL T n Elddis Avalon 285 60th Anniversary Edition n Elnagh Baron 579 n Eura Mobil Contura CT 766 EB n Malibu Mercedes-Benz T 450 RB-LE lightweight 3.5t n Rimor Sarus 66 Plus n Roller Team Zefiro Sport n Sun Living S Series 75SL n Swift Voyager 540

RUNNER-UP: AUTO-SLEEPER BURFORD

THIRD PLACE: ADRIA MATRIX SUPREME 670 SC May 2025 93

SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS

CLASS THIRTEEN FIVE OR SIX-BERTH COACHBUILT MOTORHOMES It was the sheer versatility of Bailey’s five-berth Adamo XL DL that secured its top spot here, with drop-down double beds over both the front and rear lounges, and a formidable armoury of adaptable, readily accessible storage options – including a big garage at the back. Sleight of hand quickly results in five travel seats, two of which are Isofix-equipped. The kitchen has lots of work surface, the washroom is impressively spacious, and equipment is generously provided. A well-deserved win.

The runner-up A-Series 70DK from Sun Living – an Adria sibling

RUNNER-UP: SUN LIVING A SERIES 70DK

CLASS FOURTEEN A-CLASS UNDER 8M If its full model name – Carthago C2-tourer I 148 RB-QB L comfort – will take a bit of learning before you can recite it from memory, this German-built A-class’s wonderful, lavish accommodation will leave a lasting impression on you the very instant you first set eyes on it. The quality of build and materials is first-class, and the sumptuous four-berth layout is a pleasure to experience. The queen-size bed at the back (that’s the ‘QB’ bit in the name) is fronted by a washroom/ dressing room that, as one judge remarked, “will really make you feel that you’re being well looked after”.

It’s a blend of luxury and practicality that lifted the Eura Mobil Integra Line GT 726 EF into second place. It’s super-comfortable in either day or night mode, and its terrific storage capability is headlined by the vast garage at the back, accessible from either side.

And it wins the unofficial prize for ‘Neatest Little Idea of the Year’, courtesy of the wall mirror in the washroom that, when not needed, simply slides out of the way to reveal a window.

94 May 2025

WINNER: BAILEY ADAMO XL DL

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Bailey Adamo XL DL Runner-up: Sun Living A Series 70DK Third place: Roller Team Zefiro 675

– also won praise from the judges for its clever adaptability. With an over-cab double bed and two fixed bunks at the back, no bedmaking is required if you need to accommodate four – quickly rearranging the lounge seating area gives yet another double bed if needed. And there are six travel seats too. With Ford automatic motive power, solar panels and diesel/electric heating, it’s an appealing proposition if you’re holidaying mob-handed.

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Elddis Autoquest 196 60th Anniversary Edition n Rimor Super Brig 95 Plus

The third-placed Roller Team Zefiro 675 offers pretty much the same layout/engine/transmission as the Sun Living and comes with nicely designed storage. It’s maybe not the prettiest motorhome you’ll ever see but, at just over £69,500, it’s by far the lowest-cost entrant in this class.

THIRD PLACE: ROLLER TEAM ZEFIRO 675

WINNER: CARTHAGO C2-TOURER I 148 RB-QB L COMFORT

The third-placed Roller Team Pegaso 745 is more than 50 grand cheaper than either of the other two vehicles in this class, yet it still rewards you with a seamless, smartly

configured interior that includes a drop-down double bed over the cab, a spacious kitchen, an even more spacious washroom and an excellent wraparound lounge at the back.

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Carthago C2-tourer I 148 RB-QB L comfort Runner-up: Eura Mobil Integra Line GT 726 EF Third place: Roller Team Pegaso 745

THIRD PLACE: ROLLER TEAM PEGASO 745

RUNNER-UP: EURA MOBIL INTEGRA LINE GT 726 EF www.camc.com

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THE 2025 COLLECTION FUSION 330

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SPECIAL MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN DESIGN AWARDS WINNER: MORELO LOFT PREMIUM 86LB

CLASS FIFTEEN A-CLASS OVER 8M The winning Morelo Loft Premium 86LB’s standard equipment includes a fitted dishwasher and a posh coffee machine, but what really sets the Iveco-based A-Class apart is the sense of theatre it offers before you’ve even climbed up (and up…) into its interior. Once inside, from the sublime, leather-clad lounge backwards, the feeling of space is all-pervading, nowhere more so than in the glamorous washroom that could rival the en-suite facilities in a smart boutique hotel. An immense motorhome, in every sense.

To be fair, you could probably say the same about last year’s class champion, and this year’s runner-up, the Adria Supersonic 890 LC. Like its rival, the list of on-board goodies is a long one, including roofmounted air-con, solar panels, self-levelling system, rear-view camera and built-in awning. Interior design is a strong point – it looks sharp and contemporary, accentuated by the strategically sited ambient lighting that really shows it off at its best. It’s a beautiful place to be. Oh, and yes – it too has a coffee machine.

[The Morelo is] an immense motorhome, in every sense

RUNNER-UP: ADRIA SUPERSONIC 890 LC

96 May 2025

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Morelo Loft Premium 86LB Runner-up: Adria Supersonic 890 LC

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Get 5 Star Expert rated insurance visit camc.com/motorhomeinsurance or camc.com/campervaninsurance or call 01342 649 915 for a quote. † 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 and cover being arranged on a like-for-like basis. Terms and conditions and excesses may vary from your current insurer and optional extras (such as Breakdown and Legal Expenses cover) are excluded. Future renewal prices will always be less or the same as an equivalent new business price.

Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Motorhome/Campervan Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited, registered in England and Wales no. 00646027. Registered address: East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA. The Caravan Club Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (no. 311890) for general insurance and credit activities.

BUZZING ABOUT

TEST VOLKSWAGEN ID. BUZZ STYLE 7-SEAT LWB 86KWH PRO 286PS

James Batchelor gets behind the wheel of a new electric VW displaying a mix of modern and retro styling

V

olkswagen has form in looking to the past to produce modern designs. In 1997 the company drew heavy inspiration from the original Beetle when it unveiled its new front-engined modern version. A quarter of a century later VW introduced the all-electric ID. Buzz, which is so reminiscent of the classic 1960s split-screen Type 2 Bus. Here we test the new-for-2025 seven-seat LWB Buzz to see what it is like as a towing vehicle.

To see car video reviews, download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play.

You can also read vehicle tests at camc.com/blog.

98 May 2025

COMFORT

Retro is in fashion where electric cars are concerned, and with its tall body and optional two-tone paintwork, the Buzz is arguably the biggest and boldest of the lot. But while it has one eye on the past, the Buzz is a very modern vehicle.

It pinches the electric ‘MEB’ chassis from its car

siblings – the ID.3 hatchback, ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs, and ID.7 saloon. In common with many EVs, the Buzz can tow but has a low-rated capacity, which will be limiting to some – more on that later.

While the original Type 2 was available most famously as a campervan, the Buzz at present comes in standard (SWB) and long (LWB) wheelbase versions with five, six or seven seats, and as a commercial van – although a California-badged camper is due in thenear future.

The LWB is 250mm longer than the SWB version and, in our eyes, looks better for it.

Many will, no doubt, be tempted to splash out £2,750 on the two-tone paintwork to further enhance the Buzz’s retro look. But save the cash and go for one all-over colour and the Buzz has a slightly futuristic look about it, particularly with the stretched front lights and rear LED light bar (on top models). www.camc.com

Main image: the Buzz recalls the style of the classic Type 2 Bus Clockwise from left: comfortable cabin; versatile load space; power comes from the rear wheels; plenty of room for taller passengers

www.camc.com

Headroom is extremely generous while you can sit 6ft-tall adults in the back of the LWB. The sliding doors – electric on Style and GTX models – make loading a breeze, while boot space is excellent. If you’re the type who likes to remove all the seats to create a van, you’ll need to go for the six-seater.

DRIVING

There’s a choice of two battery packs in the Buzz, with all models bar the all-wheel-drive GTX powered through the rear wheels. The SWB gets a 79kWh pack that, depending on trim, can top 283 miles on a full charge. This rises to 291 miles in the LWB thanks to its larger 86kWh battery – both have a 282bhp electric motor. While the LWB has a slightly higher maximum charging rate compared to the SWB (200kW versus 185kW), both will manage a 10-80% top-up in around 30 minutes.

With thanks to

Chichester Caravans , Uckfield, for the loan of Towcar Test caravans.

See chichestercaravans.co.uk, call 01825 764151 or email uckfield@ chichestercaravans.co.uk.

Photography by Nathan Morgan

The classic-yet-contemporary feel continues inside, with a distinctive dashboard for which a trim can be chosen to match the body colour (the range-topping GTX has a more conventional and modern black and red interior).

An optional white steering wheel gives off true Type 2 vibes.

Sitting in the middle of the dashboard is a large 12.9in touchscreen. For 2025, the ‘sliders’ beneath the screen that control the volume and temperature are backlit and the infotainment centre’s software is easier and quicker to use than before.

But, sadly, the fiddly touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel remain. Although interior quality is fine, you might question the slightly plasticky feel on a vehicle costing more than £60,000. Storage space is great, though, particularly the removable ‘Buzz Box’ between the front seats.

May 2025 99

TEST VOLKSWAGEN ID. BUZZ STYLE 7-SEAT LWB 86KWH PRO 286PS Main image: hitched up and ready for the road Inset: retractable towbar

TECHNICAL

Price as tested:

£71,615 Insurance:

31-42 Engine:

Single electric motor Power:

“

282bhp (210kW) Torque:

With small caravan attached the Buzz feels very stable indeed

560Nm (413 Ib ft)) Transmission:

Direct drive, single speed Spare Wheel:

”

Tyre inflation kit Kerbweight:

2,795kg Gross Vehicle Weight:

3,340kg Gross Train Weight:

4,200-5,000kg Towing Limit:

1,000kg Noseweight Limit:

100kg Towing Equipment:

Retractable towbar with electric release (£980) Test Econ:

3.0 miles/kWh solo; 1.9 miles/kWh towing caravan MRO 980kg CO2 :

0g/km NCAP Rating:

5 stars Figures from manufacturer’s literature RATINGS

82% COMFORT 78% DRIVING 80% TOWING 80% OVERALL 100 May 2025

The sportier GTX could be more useful for towing because it gets twin motors for fourwheel traction, and a higher towing limit of 1,800kg – the cheaper Life and Style versions have a lesser limit of 1,000-1,200kg. However, the GTX’s output of 335bhp and four-wheel drive dents range – VW claims between 255 and 280 miles.

On the road our test model felt quick, demonstrating a lovely turn of speed. For such a large vehicle, the Buzz handles pretty well – it is reactive and comfortably negotiates twisty country roads. Visibility, thanks to loads of glass and a high seating position, is fantastic, while the ride, even on our car’s 21in wheels, was wafty.

in the Buzz’s cathedral-like dimensions, and electric SUVs are more efficient.

We did manage to eke out the Buzz’s efficiency to 3.0 miles per kWh on a long run with the air conditioning off, and that equates to a real-world range of 258 miles compared to VW’s figure of 286.

When towing, however, efficiency dropped to 1.9 miles per kWh, which means 163 miles.

That's a drop of 37% in terms of range, which is not too bad when towing a caravan – the relatively boxy shape of the Buzz may actually aid overall outfit aerodynamics.

TOWING

Like many EVs, this particular model of the Buzz is a little hamstrung by its towing capacity (the GTX model is much better in this regard). But if you own a lightweight caravan or trailer tent, you will be getting a fantastic towcar, albeit one with limited range. It is, however, super cool and practical.

With a relatively low towing limit, hitching up to a small, lightweight caravan can look a little odd considering the Buzz’s large size.

But with caravan attached the Buzz feels very stable indeed – there’s no pull or shove, and you occasionally wonder whether you are actually towing anything at all. Even alongside high-sided vehicles on a dual carriageway revealed no wobble – it’s an outstandingly smooth drive.

In terms of efficiency, Volkswagen claims anything up to 3.2 miles per kWh, but, like with all cars, the range you get will depends hugely on driving style and ambient conditions. Factor

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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 1 Jan and 31 Dec 2024 (84.6% 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, is subject to insurers’ acceptance of the risk and cover being arranged on a like-for-like basis. Terms and conditions and excesses may vary from your current insurer and optional extras (such as Breakdown and Legal Expenses cover) are excluded.

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.

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12 months for the price of 11* Bikes in locked vehicles, caravans, to bike racks and locked to your caravan or trailer** Theft, accidental coverage options + much more 25% saving on e-bike policies*

TEST COACHMAN LASER 845 XTRA

Rob McCabe finds much to admire about an ‘Xtra’ four-berther from Coachman – here’s the news...

TECHNICAL

Price as tested £43,710 OTR Bed sizes

READ ALL ABOUT IT

T

he ‘Xtra’ suffix attached to models in Coachman’s six-strong 2025 Laser range is affirmation that you’re getting a few additional inches of width – these opulent tourers are all eight-footers. In the case of the four-berth 845 model, you get a sumptuous L-shape lounge and the sought-after island rear double bed. Interestingly, I’m told it’s a model that attracts couples who tend to use seasonal pitches.

Let’s find out why that might be.

BUILD QUALITY

The Coachman’s sidewalls are aluminium, and the Laser’s aura of muscularity extends to the interior, where you’ll encounter an array of thickly panelled lockers that are perfectly aligned.

Locker doors are secured by confidence-inspiring heavy-duty hinges, while drawers are dovetailjointed, and there’s an emphasis on soft-close mechanisms. Finish and presentation were immaculate on our test vehicle.

TOWING

With an MTPLM of 1,886kg, your towcar will have to be a big SUV or pick-up to do the honours here, That said, the caravan’s twin-axle footprint imparts a feeling of great solidity on the road, and reversing slowly on to a pitch or storage compound berth is a more predictable affair than with a single-axle caravan. The 8ft width needs to be borne in mind – but owners who’ll be siting their 845 on a seasonal pitch will obviously have fewer towing concerns than those using it as a tourer.

DAYTIME

For 2025 the nearside front window has made way for a media wall, which accommodates the www.camc.com

Front double: 6ft 6in x 4ft 6in Rear island double: 6ft 2in x 4ft 8in Heating Alde wet central heating, programmable Fridge Thetford 159l fridgefreezer Toilet Thetford MRO 1,726kg MTPLM 1,886kg User payload

permanently attached TV that’s included as part of the standard equipment roster. It’s the focal point of the very handsome L-shape lounge, which offers impressive comfort. There are three sumptuous corners to fall into, although four can sit here without too much compromise.

As you’d perhaps expect of a 21st century luxury caravan, tech is much in evidence.

There’s a wireless charging pad (compatible with most recent smartphones) and a very good DAB/Bluetooth stereo with four speakers.

There is one USB-C socket, but it’s the older-style USB-A sockets that are built into all of the reading lights.

Although this layout precludes any exterioraccess lockers, there’s no shortage of cargo capacity indoors. The space under the double bed is huge, of course, and there are more than enough deep lockers and cupboards to go around.

Living space is also in plentiful supply – you’re especially aware of it in the wide-open area as you enter and turn to the lounge. This would be a huge boon for two people potentially spending weeks at a time on their seasonal pitch.

There’s a lot of dark wood on display, which won’t be to everyone’s taste.

160kg Overall length

NIGHT-TIME

92% VERDICT

It’s a belter of an end bedroom, dominated by the supremely comfortable island double bed. It pushes back into ‘day’ mode to provide a bit more walk-around space – but even when extended to its full 6ft 2in length, there’s still plenty of navigation room.

Stereo speakers on the undersides of the overhead lockers mean you can listen to the radio or your own streamed music back here and, as you’d expect, there’s a wall bracket and sockets for a TV too. Each occupant has a

25ft 11in (7.9m) Overall width 8ft (2.44m) Overall height 8ft 10in (2.7m) Max headroom 6ft 5in (1.96m) Figures from manufacturer’s literature

RATINGS BUILD

90% QUALITY 88% TOWING 90% DAYTIME 95% NIGHT-TIME 94% KITCHEN 92% WASHROOM 96% LIGHTING

To read other recent caravan tests, download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play. Remember to search for CAMC Magazine’.

May 2025 103

TEST COACHMAN LASER 845 XTRA

Clockwise from above: L-shape kitchen... and lounge; supremely comfortable fixed double; lounge make-up at night; wellappointed washroom

bedside shelf and a wardrobe (illuminated upon opening the door), as well as a wall-mounted pouch (branded ‘Laser’).

Upfront, it takes just minutes to convert the L-shape seating into a generous double that’ll look after guests in fine style.

KITCHEN

The Laser’s width means there’s enough space to give the kitchen an L-shape flourish, which makes it feel self-contained. Not only does it look good, it lavishes you with the best of everything – a dual-fuel hob with a chunky, cast-iron pan support, a nicely fitted flatbed microwave, a domestic-style extractor fan and an enormous built-in fridge-freezer.

The new mixer tap is cool – its flexible neck can be moved around and aimed strategically. I didn’t know whether to run water from it or sing into it.

Even before you bring into play the flip-up extension, there’s a good amount of work surface and generous storage provision.

WASHROOM

With thanks to: Test caravan supplied by Coachman Caravan Company Ltd, Hull Contact: coachman.co.uk

You can cover this caravan with the Club for £861.68* per year. See camc.com/ caravancover or call 01342 336610 for further details.

104 May 2025

Its central location gives this facility almost as much flexibility as that kitchen tap. The door to the washroom can be used to close off the front of the caravan if you have overnighting guests – or if you want to use the whole area as a dressing room. A sliding door shuts off the bedroom from everything else.

It’s very smartly turned out, with good-quality fittings – and it’s refreshing to find not one but two mirrors. The shower cubicle’s floorspace is interrupted by the intrusion of the wheelarch, but it does make it easy to scrub your toes.

LIGHTING

I probably get more enthusiastic than is healthy about a good caravan lighting set-up, so I was almost beside myself after playing with all the many and varied illumination options on board this one. The washroom is a good place to start.

There are two ceiling-mounted lamps, while the main mirror itself is nicely backlit, and there’s even a bit of bling courtesy of a strip of ambient lighting that casts an attractive glow on to the splashback behind the basin. The corridor separating the washroom from the shower is lit, as indeed is the shower.

If anything, the kitchen goes one better. As well as an LED strip that runs the full width of the facility, there are three pin lights on the ceilinglevel binnacle and another useful one built-in to the extractor fan. Phew.

Moving up to the front lounge, there are two rows of ambient lighting, there’s underseat lighting, the media wall is backlit, there are four reading lights, there are ceiling lights… and there’s more of the same in the bedroom. The nicest touch back here is the low-level night light, switchable from either side of the bed.

VERDICT

You need a well-filled piggy bank to own one of these, but the Laser definitely has the aura of an upmarket apartment – it does a good job of making you feel special, and that’ll be enough to persuade many to start counting their pennies.

*Correct as of 1 April 2025. Based on Standard cover on a new-for-old cover basis, with a cover limit of £44,000 (caravan and equipment), £500 contents cover and £200 voluntary excess. Includes 4+ years no claims discount (not protected). Subject to underwriting – a copy of the cover wording is available on request. 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. www.camc.com

RATES FROZEN FOR

CARAVAN COVER

We’ve frozen our Caravan Cover rates You can currently buy our Caravan Cover at our 2023 rates*.

Get a quote and switch to us ** today for 5 Star Excellent rated Caravan Cover †.

Get a quote online at camc.com/caravancover or give our Caravan Cover experts a call on 01342 649 582 * No rate increase since March 2023. We reserve the right to change the rates at any time. ** Switch to us on renewal, and we’ll refund your cancellation fees up to a maximum of £50: The Club will refund any cancellation fee from your current caravan or trailer tent insurance policy if you purchase Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Caravan Cover before your existing policy has come to an end. Full terms and conditions are available on our website camc.com/switchterms. † Caravan Cover Trustpilot rating is correct as of 1 February 2025 but is subject to change.

Caravan Cover is provided by the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

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LIGHT FANTASTIC SPECIAL LIGHTWEIGHT LEISURE AWARDS

Cameron Burns reveals which lightweight leisure trailers and roof tents most impressed the judges at the NEC

This year saw a shake-up of the Club’s Lightweight Leisure Awards, judged during the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show. Not only were the categories redefined to reflect buyers’ budgets, but roof tents were entered into the competition for the first time. Here we reveal the top three in each of the five classes…

CLASS ONE TRAILER TENTS WITHOUT KITCHEN £7,000 AND UNDER Judges were wowed by the compact size and well-thought-out design of the class-winning Campmaster 1000LX, which takes a different approach to other products in this sector. Surprisingly spacious, its simple air-awning design allows for quick and easy set up once on site.

With a weight of just 206kg it can be towed by many small cars, while a payload of 194kg is impressive.

In second place, the Trigano Camplair S offers roomy accommodation for up to six. It is one of the least expensive trailer tents in the competition, although an extensive list of options allows buyers to tweak it to their desired specification.

Taking third spot, the Campmaster 600 Limited Edition is a more compact version of the class winner. It is fitted with rails so that it can be conveniently stored on its end in a garage, solving potential space issues when not in use.

MEET THE JUDGES

BARRIE LIVESEY Barrie has been a caravanner for more than 50 years and worked in the lightweight leisure industry for 20. He was instrumental in bringing the Lightweight Leisure Awards to fruition 21 years ago. Barrie and his wife enjoy touring and spending time in the great outdoors.

106 May 2025

WINNER: CAMPMASTER 1000LX CLASS RESULTS Winner: Campmaster 1000LX Runner-up: Trigano Camplair S Third place: Campmaster 600 Limited Edition

RUNNER-UP: TRIGANO CAMPLAIR S

CAMERON BURNS Cameron runs the social media account ‘NotAnotherWhiteBox’, celebrating all that’s cool, quirky and unusual in the caravanning world. He has a keen interest in caravan design, owning a small collection of vintage caravans from the 1960s-1980s, which he has restored himself. Cameron also tours with a roof tent and enjoys glamping breaks.

THIRD PLACE: CAMPMASTER 600 LIMITED EDITION

JAMES LEWIS Having grown up camping in traditional ground tents, James moved into the world of ‘overlanding’, developing his vehicle to help him travel, cook, camp and relax in comfort. Using different products and being willing to experiment with innovations in the market while travelling the length of the UK and across Europe has given James vast experience.

CHRIS BOWES Chris has a lifelong interest in exploring the great outdoors and has been camping and caravanning for more than 50 years.

Chris has a strong technical background, being a structural engineer who has specialised in dynamics, and is a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club Technical Committee. He is a great exponent of new technology. www.camc.com

CLASS TWO TRAILER TENTS WITHOUT KITCHEN OVER £7,000 It was a first competition win for the Raclet Solena 2.1, an up-and-over style trailer tent that judges noted “is a simple tried and tested design which aims to make trailer tenting as easy and convenient as possible”. The bed area sits on top of the main trailer, offering an impressive 66 litres of storage space which can be utilised both on site and when the trailer tent is folded away. Raclet even boasts that the design can be used without pegs, making pitching even easier.

Second place went to the Trigano Galleon Standard, which offers an impressive 21m2 of living space when set up. Its clever curved-pole awning design makes the living quarters quick and easy to assemble on site, while judges commended the good-quality materials used and the thick bedroom inner tents that make it cosily dark at night.

A new model for 2025, the Jamet Compact Eco completed the podium in this class. This interesting model is entirely constructed from

CLASS THREE TRAILER TENTS WITH KITCHEN This class was dominated by Camp-Let, which has combined with awning manufacturer Isabella to produce fantastic-quality products. The top three share the same basic lightweight fibreglass trailer, which impressed judges with its ergonomic lines and robust design. But it was the kitchen that drew most praise from the judges: “Its simple swing-out design requires little setting up and it has a practical worktop height,” remarked one expert.

It was the Camp-Let Passion that emerged victorious. This design features curved poles that not only makes the living space area easy to set up, but also give the trailer tent a sense of style and flair.

Sat in the middle of the range, and class runner-up, the Camp-Let Earth might take a more traditional approach to its awning design but it still boasts great practical touches such as a split mattress on the www.camc.com

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Raclet Solena 2.1 Runner-up: Trigano Galleon Standard Third place: Jamet Compact Eco

WINNER: RACLET SOLENA 2.1 recycled or environmentally friendly materials, including a groundsheet made from recycled plastic bottles. However, the most impressive feature is possibly the

‘easy pack’ system – the whole structure sits on a frame that can be opened up to allow storage access without having to unpack the tent part of the trailer.

RUNNER-UP: TRIGANO GALLEON STANDARD

THIRD PLACE: JAMET COMPACT ECO

WINNER: CAMP-LET PASSION

CLASS RESULTS Winner: Camp-Let Passion Runner-up: Camp-Let Earth Third place: Camp-Let North OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n Jametic Outdoor AS n Raclet Safari GL n Raclet Sequoia GL (AIR)

left-hand bed, enabling it to be used as a sofa by day.

Completing the top three, the Camp-Let North is the entry-level model. It retains the clever design RUNNER-UP: CAMP-LET EARTH

features of the other products in Camp-Let’s range, but features a smaller kitchen and simplified awning. All models boast a useful 200+kg payload and come with an

entire catalogue of options, including bike racks and extra sleeping areas. All Isabella awning accessories are designed to work with these trailer tents, too.

THIRD PLACE: CAMP-LET NORTH

May 2025 107

SPECIAL LIGHTWEIGHT LEISURE AWARDS

CLASS FOUR ROOF TENTS £2,000 AND UNDER Roof tents offer an affordable alternative to traditional touring outfits. First and second place in this class went to the Latitude Tents Pioneer XL and Latitude Tents Pioneer, respectively. With lots of window/fly mesh panels, the XL has a light and airy interior feel while its generous height means it’s not just a bedroom – it can be comfortably used as a place for relaxing during the day/ evening too. The self-erecting, gas strut-assisted assembly process for both tents is effortless, while the fold-out design creates a canopy area underneath, for which an extra-cost awning can be specified.

Third place went to the TentBox Lite XL. Offering space for two adults, the TentBox comes with an extensive list of extra-cost options, including awning canopy, extra storage pockets, and even a compact outdoor kitchen unit. “It has sturdy build quality and it is great to see it available in various colours – slate, forest and sunset,” noted one judge.

WINNER: LATITUDE TENTS PIONEER XL CLASS RESULTS Winner: Latitude Tents Pioneer XL Runner-up: Latitude Tents Pioneer Third place: TentBox Lite XL OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n SkyPod Lite n SkyPod Rapide n TentBox Lite 2.0 n TentBox GO

WINNER: ARB 4X4 ACCESSORIES ALTITUDE

THIRD PLACE: TENTBOX LITE XL

RUNNER-UP: LATITUDE TENTS PIONEER

CLASS FIVE ROOF TENTS OVER £2,000 In the most hotly-contested category in this year’s competition, it was the ARB 4x4 Accessories Altitude that emerged victorious.

This hard-top model (featuring what is known as a ‘clamshell case’) is assembled electronically at the touch of a button.

Inside, you’ll find lighting, USB charging and even a Bluetooth speaker system. At £5,998, it was the most expensive roof tent in the competition, so the judges expected very high standards – and they weren’t disappointed.

CLASS RESULTS Winner: ARB 4X4 Accessories Altitude Runner-up: Tentbox Cargo 2.0 Joint third place: Roof Space 2 and Roof Space 4

RUNNER-UP: TENTBOX CARGO 2.0 108 May 2025

OTHER CLASS ENTRIES n ARB 4x4 Accessories Esperance n Dometic TRT 140 AIR n Latitude Tents Explorer n SkyPod Lair n TentBox Classic 2.0

A close second, the TentBox Cargo 2.0 impressed judges with its compact folded dimensions and the ability to add storage racking to the outside of the roof tent box. It was commended for its ease of set-up, quality of its mattress and the comprehensive list of optional extras.

Finally, joint third place was awarded to the Roof Space 2 and Roof Space 4 siblings from Germany. Well built, they offer a comfortable space in which to sit during the day, while the tent’s two lower sections zip to form a ‘sky deck’. The outer case is so strong that a member of the Roof Space team demonstrated its integrity by jumping on top of it!

THIRD PLACE: ROOF SPACE 2 www.camc.com

PRODUCT SHOWCASE AWNING KIT

Jane McGowan puts the spotlight on a range of awning-related accessories

Home from home Helinox Chair One High-Back (re) A ‘re-imagining’ of Helinox’s popular original Chair One launched back in 2012, both the Chair One (re) and Chair One High-Back (re) feature a second ‘tension line’ aimed at improving weight distribution and comfort. Ultra-lightweight, easily packed and available in a wide range of colours, this latter version should provide more upper back and shoulder support. Perfect for unwinding in the awning or for taking out on day trips.

RRP: £139.95 Weight: 1.28kg (packed) Size: 89cm x 57cm x 65.5cm (assembled) Contact: helinox.co.uk

VonHaus 2 in 1 Stick Vacuum 800W Keep your awning (and, indeed, your vehicle) looking spick and span with this lightweight, bagless vacuum from VonHaus. Ideal for a quick, daily clean-up, it weighs just 2kg and you can switch from stick to hand-held operation in seconds (handy for upholstery and tricky corners). Other features include a 6m quick-release power cord and a 1.3l dust container, which can be easily emptied and rinsed. The vacuum comes with crevice tools and a mini-brush.

RRP: £39.99 Weight: 2kg Contact: vonhaus.com

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Click Style Rectangular Indoor Outdoor Garden Rug Featuring a modern grey and white geometric pattern, this weatherresistant rug is made with recycled polypropylene and is great for outdoor use or “high-traffic indoor areas”, such as awnings. Nonabsorbent and mould-resistant, cleaning is straightforward: just brush off debris or rinse lightly – its quick-drying properties should see it back in use in no time.

RRP: £99.50 Colour: grey and white Size: 230cm x 160cm Contact: clickstyle.co.uk

www.camc.com

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CLUB SHOP Top picks Each month we pick a selection of items available at great prices from the Caravan and Motorhome Club Shop. For more information visit shop.camc.com.

Vango Balletto Chair and Footstool

EasyCamp Blur Light Chain No outdoor holiday is complete without some pretty evening lighting, and this chain of 15 bulb-shaped mini lamps from EasyCamp will help provide a cosy atmosphere in the awning. Measuring around 2m long, the string has a simple on/off switch and runs off a battery box containing three AA batteries (not included). Dust- and splash- proof, the light chain should provide a warm glow that will last for hours.

RRP: £11.99 Weight: 160g Contact: easycamp.com

Omada Pangea Glasses and Water Jug

Vango Folding Organiser No matter how careful you are with your packing, extra storage provision is always welcome – and the Vango Folding Organiser will help you keep your awning tidy and items accessible. Great for walking boots, pet kit and other camping essentials, the two carry handles are a useful extra feature.

RRP: £24 (available for £18 from Prima Leisure; members pay £16.20 via Club Shop; see shop.camc.com for details, terms and conditions) Weight: 0.88kg Dimensions: 58.5cm x 36cm x 31cm Contact: vango.co.uk

www.camc.com

Looking to get really comfy? Both the Balletto Chair and Footstool (both pictured but sold separately) can be folded flat and benefit from a lightweight aluminium frame for easy storage and transport. The chair, which features luxury padding, costs £76.50 (with member saving of 10% or £8.50 applied) while the footstool costs £36 (with member saving of 10% or £4 applied).

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Made from shatterproof ‘Tritan’, a stylish, durable and easy-to-clean set of four glasses is available in two size options (350ml or 500ml), while the 1.2l water pitcher (sold separately) would complete a great set. The glasses cost £12.15 or £13.95 depending on size (prices quoted include member saving of 10%), while the pitcher costs £10.80 (again with member saving of 10% applied).

Vango Tempest Rechargeable Awning Pump This rechargeable pump will help when setting up air awnings, inflatable tents or other inflatable gear on site, and also when the time comes to pack up. The pump can run for 30 minutes on one full charge and features an LED screen and USB port. Members pay £72 at Club Shop (member saving of 10% or £8 applied).

May 2025

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COUNTRY MATTERS FENLAND Windpump on the edge of Sedge Fen

Lying low

David Chapman explores the history and bustling ecosystems of ʻfenlandʼ

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Clockwise from left: Wicken Lode crosses Wicken Fen; water voles can be found in fenland; Chinese water deer at Strumpshaw Fen

Wildlife spotting in fenland

Wicken Fen became popular with Victorian naturalists

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ost of us probably associate the term ‘fen’ with a very particular flat, marshy area in eastern England referred to as Fenland, or The Fens. But you might, in fact, live closer to a fen than you think: technically, fens are found across Great Britain, from the Somerset Levels to the Norfolk Broads and from northern Scotland to Hampshire.

The term ‘fen’ is used to describe a particular type of wet ground. Like bogs, fens are based on peat, but because they are approximately at the level of the water table, fens are kept wet by groundwater rather than rain. This groundwater contains minerals from the surrounding rock and usually has lower acidity, so it can support a wide range of flora and fauna. Fens and bogs are often confused, www.camc.com

and there are plenty of places where the term ‘fen’ could be applied but isn’t!

Fens have been managed by humans for hundreds of years – historically land was drained by pumping water into ditches using windmills. Large-scale drainage began around the 17th century, but as the peat dried out it shrank and land levels dropped. As a result it became harder to pump water up into the ditches, but the industrious Victorians solved the problem with steam power.

Much original fen habitat was lost to agriculture and even those areas that remained natural were badly affected by drainage. Today, though, we are more inclined to value special habitats and we have a greater appreciation of the historical and cultural significance of fenland.

Habitat management often involves the removal of scrub and trees which might dry out ground, combined with the reflooding of

n Birds: a huge range of birds might be encountered in fenland in summer. Look out for hobbies, marsh harriers, cuckoos, barn owls, water rails, reed buntings, reed warblers, Cetti’s warblers, snipes and other wading birds including cranes. Visit at dusk to see roding (displaying) woodcock. n Mammals: look out for Chinese water deer, particularly at Strumpshaw Fen; you might also catch glimpses of water voles, water shrews and otters. n Insects: fens are great places for dragonflies such as scarce and four-spotted chasers. The Norfolk hawker (right) is found mainly in the region, willow emerald damselflies are increasing in number, and migrant hawkers can be seen in late summer.

Butterflies include the wonderful swallowtail. n Special flowers include the fen violet, fen orchid, greater bladderwort, marsh orchid, greater water parsnip, fen bedstraw, marsh cinquefoil, butterwort, purple loosestrife and yellow waterlily. n Reptiles and amphibians you might see include grass snakes, common frogs and common toads as well as non-native marsh frogs.

May 2025 113

COUNTRY MATTERS FENLAND

Main image: Wicken Lode Insets from top, then left to right: hobbies hunt for dragonflies over fenland; reed bunting; fen orchid; barn owl; swallowtail butterfly

MYSTERY PHOTO

Every issue I will show you a photo of something from the natural world. It might be a close-up, or a subject that is difficult to identify. All you have to do is figure out what it is! Here is the latest photo; no clues or prizes – it’s just for fun. I will give you the answer in the next issue, but if you can’t wait, see the digital magazine. The subject of March/April’s mystery photo was: broad-bodied chaser.

areas by blocking ditches. Grazing animals which are suited to this difficult terrain, such as the Konik ponies and Highland cattle at Wicken Fen, are sometimes introduced to increase the diversity of opportunity within the habitat.

Fens are amazing places for wildlife.

With a varied range of habitats and wide open skies they are great places to visit, especially in summer. And the good news is that the Club has several sites handily located for exploring fenland...

WICKEN FEN

Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire is a classic example of fenland and, unlike most of its counterparts, has never been drained. It became popular with Victorian naturalists (while there is no evidence that Charles Darwin actually visited, he is known to have collected beetles in the Fens in 1820) and in 1899 an area covering two acres became the National Trust’s first nature reserve. The Trust’s reserve now covers more than 2,000 acres and boasts an incredible diversity of wildlife.

Stay at: Ferry Meadows, Grafham Water and Cambridge Cherry Hinton Club Campsites

THE GREAT FEN

Situated between Peterborough and Huntingdon, this is an expanse of typical fen landscape containing two nature reserves (Woodwalton Fen and Holme Fen). The area 114 May 2025

is currently benefitting from a 50-year restoration project focusing on nature and the local fenland community.

Stay at: Ferry Meadows, Grafham Water and Cambridge Cherry Hinton Club Campsites

RESERVES

RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk is renowned for swallowtail butterflies as well as a good variety of birdlife. Other RSPB reserves you could consider include Lakenheath, a fenland habitat recently recreated by flooding previously drained farmland. The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust centre at Welney (renowned for wintering swans), the RSPB reserves at Ouse Washes near Ely and the Nene Washes near Peterborough are technically ‘washland’, but have much wildlife in common with fens, including breeding waders, summering hobbies and lots of dragonflies.

Stay at: Norfolk Broads Club Campsite for RSPB Strumpshaw Fen; Thetford Forest Club Campsite for RSPB Lakenheath Fen

MUSEUMS

If you are interested in the engineering aspect of draining the fens, try Prickwillow Museum near Ely; for more history visit the Wisbech & Fenland Museum.

Stay at: Cambridge Cherry Hinton Club Campsite for Prickwillow Museum; Ferry Meadows Club Campsite for Wisbech & Fenland Museum www.camc.com

Time for a new role?

Work and thrive with your Club Take on an exciting new role in the great outdoors when you become an Assistant Site Manager (ASM) or Network Support (NS) We are still recruiting for our remaining 2025 Summer vacancies as well as planning ahead for the 2026 Summer season, and welcome applications from couples who are ready to embark on a new career together and are seeking a healthier work-life balance.

The ideal candidates: • Have great interpersonal skills, thrive on delivering exceptional customer service and enjoy working as part of a team • Enjoy routine work, such as toilet block cleaning, but would also welcome the unexpected and sometimes challenging situations that may arise each day • Are members of the Club and familiar with a range of Club campsites so you really understand our ethos and how sites are run • Have a current driving licence If you want to be considered for one of our roles, please complete an application form at camc.com/about-us/work-for-us.

If you have any questions please email HRSites@camc.com.

Sam & Zoë In our 8 years with the Club we have enjoyed every single minute, every aspect is rewarding even down to cleaning the toilet blocks satisfaction is a job well done!

A thank you from lovely members proves we’re doing a fantastic job of looking after members and our site - it’s a great feeling.

Starting with the Club as Assistant Site Managers, and now Site Managers, at a beautiful site and amazing location means we can honestly say that if you step off that hamster wheel, you will never look back.

PRACTICAL SCREEN COVERS

HOME

SCREENS The right screen cover for your motorhome or campervan will help you to enjoy touring all year round , says Sammy Faircloth

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screen cover is a fantastic accessory for a motorhome or campervan, particularly if you travel in hot and/or cold climates. Easily fitted, it helps regulate temperature, reduce condensation and enhance privacy.

Many modern motorhomes feature built-in cab blinds, but these are primarily designed for privacy and to darken or ‘blackout’ the vehicle so you can get a decent night’s sleep. Windscreens and often many windows in a motorhome are single-glazed, so the addition of a proper cover will help you maintain a comfortable environment.

Most manufacturers hold a library of templates, so it’s worth checking whether they can cater to your specific model of motorhome or campervan; if not, many offer bespoke options. And the days of screens only being available in silver are long gone – today, companies such as Rainbow Screens and Custom Camping enable you to personalise your screen covers with custom designs, logos, names and a variety of colours to suit your style. Let’s explore the different choices on the market.

www.camc.com

EXTERNAL SCREEN COVERS

Mounted outside the van, external screen covers help to retain heat inside your vehicle during winter and can keep the interior cooler during summer. They also help reduce condensation by preventing warm interior air from meeting such a cold windscreen, and protect against frost and snow, ensuring quick and hassle-free morning departures.

Lastly, they enhance privacy by shielding the cab area.

The main drawbacks of external screen covers are their bulkiness, their potential for retaining moisture when packed away, and the risk they might be stolen if they’re not secured properly (this is especially the case with magnetic screens). There are several types of external covers available: n Windscreen thermal screens: The most popular option, these generally cover the windscreen and sometimes extend Internal blinds are mainly designed for privacy and ‘blackout’ purposes

around the sides to incorporate the side windows of the cab. Some even feature a foldable windscreen section that allows natural light to stream in during the day without the need to remove the cover. n Rear thermal screens: These are useful for van conversions and campervans, which frequently feature single-glazed rear/tailgate windows. If you prefer a custom design, you could choose a pattern that complements the front windscreen cover, creating a fun and cohesive look. n Pop-top roof screens: The fabric sides of a pop-top roof offer little in the way of protection, so a thermal screen that wraps around it can play a crucial role in maintaining optimum temperatures throughout the year. These are typically made from a waterproof, breathable fabric, and reinforced for durability and weather protection. n Custom-fit screen covers: A-Class motorhomes often feature an unusually large windscreen, which requires a cover made to fit specific dimensions. n Full cab covers: These typically extend over the entire cab area, including the windscreen, side windows and bonnet, providing superior thermal insulation.

May 2025

117

Rainbow Screens

PRACTICAL SCREEN COVERS

External screen covers preserve internal warmth and are especially effective during cold spells

Internal screens tend to be less effective at preventing condensation

Rainbow Screens can make a tailgate screen to complement your windscreen cover

Custom Camping offer an extensive selection of more than 60 pop-top cover designs

Fabrics in an array of colours and designs at the Rainbow Screens workshop

This full cab cover spotted in Spain provided effective protection against heat and dust

Note that not all screen covers are designed for insulation; non-thermal, single-layer covers are made from water-resistant, breathable fabric, similar to storage covers. They are ideal in hotter locations as they help block intense sunlight while also preventing dust from settling on the windscreen and paintwork.

Foldable windscreen covers allow natural light to enter when you want it

INTERNAL SCREEN COVERS

Usually made from reflective foil or fabric-backed insulation material, internal screens are typically secured to the inside of the windscreen or side windows using suction cups.

Compared to external covers, they are easier to fit and remove from within the vehicle, more compact for storage, and can be packed away dry. They are also generally more affordable than external screen covers.

However, they are less effective at reducing condensation, offer lower thermal effectiveness (particularly if they don’t completely cover the window), and may detach if the suction cups lose their grip.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Do your research before selecting a screen cover – high-quality insulated covers are usually made from multi-layered reflective foil or thermal fabric. It’s important to ensure a snug fit that covers the entire windscreen (and side windows) to prevent heat loss or unwanted heat build-up inside the vehicle.

118 May 2025

Check the size of the screen cover when it is packed away. Where are you going to store it while you are travelling? This is particularly relevant in smaller campervans, where space is at a premium.

How easy is it to fit and take down? If you are moving frequently, ease of installation is a must.

If you opt for an exterior cover, ask the manufacturer/retailer how weather-resistant the material is. Some covers feature a breathable yet water-resistant material that reduces moisture build-up. Waterproofing is essential for longevity, and a wellmaintained cover can serve you for many years. It is wise to reproof the

cover every year with a product from the likes of Fabsil, Fenwick’s or Nikwax.

FINAL THOUGHTS …

It’s fantastic to be able to enjoy both summer and winter touring – a good quality screen cover can help you make the most of both seasons. You can find a selection of screen covers at memberdiscounted prices at shop.camc.com.

We have lots more Practical articles on our blog. Simply visit camc.com/blog and scroll to ‘Tips and ideas’, or scan the QR code. www.camc.com

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CODE WORD PUZZLES BRAINTEASER

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HOW TO PLAY This puzzle has no clues in the conventional sense. Instead, every number printed in the main grid represents a different letter (with the same number always representing the same letter, of course). For example, if 8 turns out to be a V, you can write in V wherever a square contains 8.

Solution 120 May 2025

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WORD SEARCH Can you find the words below in this grid? The solution is at the foot of the page

To try more puzzles download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play.

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WORDS: BASEBALL

CRICKET

NETBALL

RUGBY

BILLIARDS

CROQUET

POLO

SNOOKER

BOWLING

FOOTBALL

POOL

SOFTBALL

BOWLS

GOLF

ROUNDERS

SQUASH

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May 2025 121

PUZZLES BRAINTEASERS

SUDOKU

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SUDOKU EASY All you have to do is place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell so that each row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers from 1-9.

Solution

SUDOKU HARD All you have to do is place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell so that each row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers from 1-9.

Solution 122 May 2025

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CROSSWORD £90 in Club gift vouchers to be won

PUZZLE CROSSWORD

£50 in Club gift vouchers will be won by the sender of the first correct solution selected on Friday 6 June 2025. Four runners-up will each receive £10 Club gift vouchers.

ACROSS 1 Disapprove of strongly (7) 5 Carpentry tool (6) 9 Only just okay (2- 2) 12 Goulash (4) 13 Instructor (7) 14 Hit ball before it bounces (6) 15 Ice crystal (9) 16 Anger (4) 17 Sworn vow (4) 19 Holdall for a brief trip (11) 21 Turn loose (3, 4) 24 Inferior (5) 25 Tobacco product (5) 26 Alter slightly (6) 29 Green semiprecious stone (4) 31 Size (4) 32 Ancient stringed instrument (4) 33 Child’s toy on a string (2-2) 36 Centre (6) 38 Practise for a feat of endurance (5) 39 Olympic award (5) 42 Disciple (7) 44 Hardly worth mentioning (11) 46 Barren, parched (4) 47 Meat from a pig (4) 48 Fierce attack (9) 51 Large billed bird (6) 52 Nail polish (7) 53 Money given to the poor (4) 54 High-level official (4) 55 Blood fluid (6) 56 Unfavourable (7)

NAME:

MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:

Please clearly photograph/scan your answer grid and email to crossword@ camc.com. Please use ’May Crossword’ as the subject heading and do not include any other correspondence with your entry.

Our Digital Magazine features a variety of interactive puzzles!

Download it from the App Store or Google Play. Remember to search for CAMC Magazine’.

124 May 2025

Alternatively, you can cut out your entry and send it to Crossword, Caravan and Motorhome Club magazine, Caravan and Motorhome Club, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA.

MARCH/APRIL SOLUTION:

Across: 1 Get rid of; 6 Dress; 9 Impress; 10 Tapioca; 11 Clan; 12 Apologist; 14 Nuisance; 15 Famine; 18 Preset; 19 Well to do; 21 Castanets; 23 Purr; 25 Oatmeal; 26 Narrate; 27 Sinus; 28 Talk over

For full terms and conditions of entry, please visit our website at camc.com/competitions. The Caravan and Motorhome Club is processing your personal data for the purpose of

Down: 2 Emphasis; 3 Reek; 4 Dispatch; 5 Fathom; 6 Deplorable; 7 Emoji; 8 Stay the course; 9 Inconspicuous; 13 Pacemakers; 16 Inoculate; 17 Personal; 20 Pellet; 22 Sit in; 24 Trio

DOWN 2 On many occasions (5) 3 Towards a lower place (9) 4 Metal-like (8) 6 Dull pain (4) 7 Magician in King Arthur’s court (6) 8 Show featuring a series of skits or songs (5) 9 Dispose of for money (4, 3) 10 ... and light (9) 11 Treat with high cocoa content (4, 9) 18 Block driven between objects (5) 20 Four-stringed instrument (5) 22 Tooth coating (6) 23 Insect with large folded forelegs (7, 6) 27 Extreme delight (3) 28 Descend by rope (6) 30 Last part (3) 34 Desire deeply (5) 35 Tease viciously (5) 37 Showing arrogant superiority (9) 40 Group of attendants (9) 41 Garden building (8) 43 Motorcycle extension (7) 45 Details of little value (6) 47 Celebrity wall poster (3-2) 49 Organic component of soil (5) 50 Stiffly formal (4)

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FEBRUARY WINNERS

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Your observations on the fun and unusual world of touring

Deer fellow

CABIN CLASS

This unusual conversion incorporating a striking wooden cabin – no longer mobile but still in occasional use, we understand – was spotted near a campsite at Lake Ferry on the south coast of New Zealand’s North Island. The truck has certainly seen some action in its day!

Thank you to Fiona Lee for the pictures.

If you see something fun or unusual on a Club campsite, CL or while you’re out and about, please send a picture to magazine@camc.com or tag @candmclub on Instagram and we’ll print the best.

138 May 2025

ICE PIC

After seeing the dragon sculpture on the Tail Lights page in the February issue of the Club magazine, Carol Hurley was reminded of ‘Horatio’, spotted not far from the Club’s Minehead campsite. What a fantastic piece of art!

PLANNING AHEAD

Helen Turner tells us that her youngest daughter, Anna, pictured here, is a third-generation caravanner “who is hitting the ground running and already checking out new sites for us to visit!”

Fantastic to see, Helen – hope you enjoy your trips away.

Paul Kennington recently stayed at a campsite near the beautiful Lake Iseo in Italy’s Lombardy region and discovered the effects of a cold morning and a dripping tap on the pitch – a fast-growing ice stalagmite. www.camc.com

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CYCLING GLOUCESTERSHIRE

CYCLING VIDEOS

See this route and more at youtube. com/Caravanand MotorhomeClub

A little slice of Severn Jonathan Manning cycles through the striking abbey town of Tewkesbury and its peaceful surrounding landscape

Club members save 50% on a Cycling UK 12-month membership which includes great benefits and discounts plus expert advice and information.

Find out more at camc.com/cyclinguk

May 2025

F

ans of Strictly Come Dancing’s former head judge, the late Len Goodman, will relish the chance to bellow “Severn!” along this ride that crosses the river a couple of times. Beyond the irresistible pun lies a quiet landscape punctuated by beautiful Cotswold-style villages, with ancient cottages, handsome farmhouses and historic churches. The town centre architecture of Tewkesbury itself is particularly striking, capped by the 12th-century abbey, which towers over the surrounding area.

The role of the Severn in commerce and trade is evident by the number of pubs on its banks, with short diversions leading to inns at Chaceley, Forthampton, Haw Bridge and Apperley. Given the area’s vulnerability to flooding, it’s worth checking the pubs are open if you are planning to stop. If you’re looking for somewhere dry to sit down for a

picnic, the village green in Apperley, complete with war memorial, pond and church is a pretty location for a stop.

With Tewkesbury Abbey Club Campsite being situated right in the heart of the town, there’s no avoiding spells on busier A and B roads, but the rest of the route is mostly peaceful country lanes and easy cycling.

DIRECTIONS

1

From the site gates, cycle along Gander Lane between Vineyards car park (on the right) and Tewkesbury Abbey (on the left) to reach a T-junction. Turn right at the junction along Church Street, then in 160m turn left at the roundabout, signposted to Worcester. Continue along High Street for about 500m to reach another roundabout.

1km – Turn left at the roundabout, signposted to Worcester and Ledbury, soon crossing the River Avon.

2

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The Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine recommends the use of Ordnance Survey maps – your ideal passport to navigating Britain

© Crown copyright 2025 Ordnance Survey Media 004/25

ABOUT THE ROUTE Start/finish: Tewkesbury Abbey Club Campsite, Gander Lane, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 5PG. Distance: 16.2m/26.2km.

Time: 2 hours.

Level: Suitable for all riders, although the A road sections should be restricted to adults.

Terrain: Asphalt all the way.

Landscape: Reasonably flat river plain, farmland and pretty villages.

Refreshments: Diversion to Lower Lode Inn near Forthampton; The Haw Bridge Inn (pictured); The Coalhouse Inn (diversion in Apperley).

DOWNLOAD THIS ROUTE AND OTHERS TO YOUR GPS DEVICE FROM: STRAVA.COM/ ATHLETES/ 27202656

In 650m turn left along the A438, crossing the River Severn. Continue for just over 1km to reach Tewkesbury Fields Care Home on the left.

2.78km – Turn right opposite the care home, signposted to Bushley.

Ride through Bushley and Bushley Green and continue to a T-junction with the A438.

7km – Turn left at the junction, signposted to Tewkesbury, and in 200m turn right to Forthampton.

Continue for 700m to a T-junction opposite a war memorial.

7.9km – Turn left at the junction, signposted to Lower Lode, Chaceley and Tirley. Stay on this road as it bends 90º to the right, signposted to Chacely. Continue to a T-junction by a church in Chacely.

3

4 5

6

11km – Turn left at the junction, signposted to Tirley, Ashleworth and Chaceley Stock, and follow the road as it bends sharply to the right. Continue to reach a crossroads.

14.2km – Turn left at the crossroads along the B4213, cross the Severn, then take the first left to Apperley. Stay on this road as it climbs through the village, and continue to a T-junction with the B4213.

20.8km – Turn left at the junction, signposted to Tewkesbury, and in 350m turn left at the T-junction along the A38 (there is a cycle lane on the left). Continue for just over 2km to a roundabout and take the first exit to Tewkesbury. Stay on this road as it heads into the middle of town, before taking a right turn to Tewkesbury Abbey and return to the Club campsite.

7

St Mary’s, Forthampton

8

River Avon

The Caravan and Motorhome Club make no warranties concerning the accuracy or completeness of the routes published, which to the best of our knowledge were correct at the time of publication. Your use of the routes is at your own risk and we accept no responsibility for the suitability or safety of any routes published. Routes may be out of date or affected by changes to the physical environment and, to the extent permitted by law, we accept no responsibility for personal injury or property damage caused by your use of the routes. www.camc.com

May 2025

WALKING WEST SUSSEX

Back in the ’fold Mark Sutcliffe follows an old railway line through pretty countryside on this gentle walk from Slinfold Club site

T Mark Sutcliffe is a former editor of Country Walking magazine and a regular contributor to the Club Magazine. Mark has walked thousands of miles across Britain and Europe and has recently published his second walking guidebook.

May 2025

he Club’s Slinfold site is built on the location of the former village station, right beside the trackbed of an old Sussex branch line which fell victim to Dr Beeching’s cuts in 1965.

Nearly 20 years later, the line was partially resurrected as the Downs Link – a 37-mile walking, cycling and riding trail following the route of the former Cranleigh and Steyning railway lines.

Our walk sets out along this wide and well-waymarked path, heading into the rolling downland of the Low Weald – a quintessentially English landscape characterised by ancient woodland and verdant pastures now dominated by commercial stables and grazing.

This area comes alive with wildflowers and birdsong in the spring, which – along with the autumn months – is the best time to visit.

After an easy amble through this pleasant countryside, a pause for refreshment at the friendly village pub in Slinfold is an option or, for a quick 45-minute stroll with

stop-off at The Red Lyon, simply follow the route descriptions at points 1, 8, 9 and 10.

DIRECTIONS From the Club site’s main gate, turn right then almost immediately right again on to the Downs Link. Follow the Downs Link for a mile, through a tunnel under the A29 into the rolling countryside of the Low Weald.

1.7km – As the countryside opens up either side of the path, turn left at the bench on to a bridleway known as Pensfold Lane. Follow the path along the edge of the woodland. Continue along a lane between the paddocks and copses passing a timberframed farmhouse.

2.8km – At Naldrett Farm, just past a house of the same name, turn left off the bridleway over a stile and into the paddocks.

1

2 3

www.camc.com

The Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine recommends the use of Ordnance Survey maps – your ideal passport to navigating Britain

© Crown copyright 2025 Ordnance Survey Media 004/25

DOWNLOAD THIS ROUTE AND OTHERS TO YOUR SMARTPHONE OR GPS DEVICE FROM THE CLUB’S OUTDOORACTIVE PAGE AT: out.ac/IPp3bt

St Peter’s Church

Continue through a series of kissing gates and over a stile then jink left, then right, to follow a path along the field boundary, veering half-left after 200m on a path between fields.

3.5km – After 400m jink right, then left, and continue on the field footpath.

At the edge of a plant nursery, turn left to cross over a footbridge, go through the nursery and then turn right to meet with a lane. Proceed with caution here due to traffic.

4.2km – Follow the lane left with care, taking the footpath on the left after 250m. Head over a stile, continue across a paddock and over the next stile.

4.4km – At the path junction, take the left-hand track along the edge of the woods. Continue over a stile and into the woods. Follow the woodland path for 500m down into a valley, over a footbridge and up the other side onto a golf course. Follow a footpath alongside

the fairway, then left through a gate and on to a lane.

5.3km – Continue along this lane for half a mile then head through some black, metal gates and cross over the Downs Link path via a bridge.

6.2km – Join the bridleway heading into the woodland and then, after 250m, follow the bridleway right to emerge near the A29. Use caution here due to traffic.

6.8km – Cross road with care and continue along Park Street into the village. Continue round to the left on Spring Lane, then follow the road round to the right to The Red Lyon. The 500-year-old inn is a pleasant spot for refreshments and has a large beer garden to the rear.

7.7km – Continue straight ahead along Hayes Lane. Pass through a leafy residential area for 500m then turn right along the Downs Link for 400m before heading right to reach the Club campsite.

7

4

8

5

9

6

10

ABOUT THE ROUTE Start/finish: Slinfold Club Campsite, Spring Lane, Slinfold, Horsham RH13 0RT. Distance: 5.4 miles/ 8.7km.

Time: 2hr 30min.

Level: Suitable for occasional walkers with a reasonable level of fitness.

Terrain: Quiet country lanes and woodland paths, which may be muddy in wet weather.

One busy road to cross with care. Broadly flat, well-waymarked paths with few stiles.

Landscape: Undulating farmland with deciduous woodland.

Refreshments: The Red Lyon (below), Slinfold.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club make no warranties concerning the accuracy or completeness of the routes published, which to the best of our knowledge were correct at the time of publication. Your use of the routes is at your own risk and we accept no responsibility for the suitability or safety of any routes published. Routes may be out of date or affected by changes to the physical environment and, to the extent permitted by law, we accept no responsibility for personal injury or property damage caused by your use of the routes.

www.camc.com

May 2025

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Member photo by Katie Dudley.

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