Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine – August 2020

AUGUST 2020

LOOKING AHEAD As our sites start to open, now is the time to plan your next adventure

SLICE OF HEAVEN Our North-West tour will live long in the memory

WALK THIS WAY A selection of kit for the dedicated rambler

WATER WORLD How to take great photos of lakes, rivers and the sea

COMMENT DIRECTOR GENERAL

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COMMENT EDITOR

WELCOME

camc.com/enquiries Editorial Editor Gary Martin Deputy Editor John Thynne Assistant Editors Stuart Egan, Stephen Hollis Design Michaela Millar

Postal address Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA Club contact details For comprehensive contact details, see camc.com/contact Membership services and magazine circulation 01342 318813 (calls may be recorded) Site booking (members only)/ UK Club sites advance booking 01342 327490 Cover Caravan 01342 336610 Insurance (Devitts) Car/motorhome 0345 504 0334 Home/contents 0345 504 0335 Travel Service 01342 316101

Gary Martin says: I sincerely hope you are currently sat outside your caravan or motorhome on a Club site, with glass in hand and the barbecue sizzling away.

As I write this months Editors Letter, we have opened the majority of our sites in England, with Scottish and Welsh venues set to follow suit.

Getting things ready for members has been a huge task – but I know site staff are raring to go and looking forward to welcoming you back.

Red Pennant (Overseas Holiday Insurance) 01342 336633

things ready “forGetting members has been

Brochures on Club services 01342 327410 Technical advice 01342 336611 Club Magazine editorial 01342 336640

a huge task

Legal helpline 01275 378728 Advertising enquiries General number 01342 336817 Commercial Manager Ian Lea 01342 336753 ian.lea@camc.com Business Development Manager Jason Clarke 01342 779368 jason.clarke@camc.com Commercial Executive Adam Johnson 01342 336742 adam.johnson@camc.com Production Controller Tara Erroll 01342 779371 tara.erroll@camc.com

AUGUST 2020

TESTED: KIA SPORTAGE/MCLOUIS FUSION 367

LOOKING AHEAD

COVER IMAGE:

As our sites start to open, now is the time to plan your next adventure

www.camc.com

SLICE OF HEAVEN Our North-West tour will live long in the memory PASS p1 Cover.indd 1

www.camc.com

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

TOURING: NORTH-WEST CLUB SITES AND CLS

Patron: HRH The Prince Philip President: Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester Chairman: Grenville Chamberlain OBE Director General: Nick Lomas

CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB MAGAZINE AUGUST 2020

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

”

For more information on our preparations please see Director General Nick Lomas opinion piece on page 9, our news section (which starts on page 14) and our special feature on pages 28-30.

I for one am hoping to head for one of my favourite sites – Southland on the Isle of Wight. I have so many happy, family memories associated

WALK THIS WAY A selection of kit for the dedicated rambler

with the island that Im positively itching to hitch up and board the ferry.

We have loads of inspirational content elsewhere in this issue. For touring ideas, check out Alison and Elizabeth Fowlers seven-site trek around North-West England (pages 32 to 41), which takes in no fewer than three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. If you plan to follow in their footsteps youre going to need your walking kit – so turn to our product showcase on pages 54 and 55. And if youre a photography fan, prepare to be dazzled by David Chapmans extraordinary pictures of oceans, rivers and rain droplets – and pick up some tips for yourself.

Enjoy the issue!

WATER WORLD How to take great photos of lakes, rivers and the sea

Mevagissey, Cornwall (David Chapman)

07/07/2020 16:08

August 2020 3

CONTENTS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE AUGUST 2020

PLEASE

RECYCLE RESPONSIBLY Your magazine is now delivered in a recyclable paper wrap

10 TOURING

32 UK SITES

Alison and Elizabeth Fowler embark on a seven-site tour that takes in three AONBs 43 DIRECTORY UPDATES

Updates to your Sites Directory & Handbook

TESTS

84 CAR

Kia Sportage 94 MOTORHOME

McLouis Fusion 367

XX

12 4 August 2020

NEWS 14

20

44

HEADLINES Club and industry updates SITES The latest from around the network OVERSEAS Worldwide tours in 2021

SPECIALS

12 CLUB MATTERS

Focus on the Club’s Insurance and Financial Service offerings 28 READY FOR LAUNCH

As we celebrate a return to touring, we look at how Club sites are adapting to keep you safe 62 SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Water-themed activities 66 WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

Sites near locations connected with the Second World War 72 PHOTO STREAM

David Chapman shows you how to take spectacular photos of lakes, rivers and oceans 76 PEDAL POWER

Jonathan Manning is your guide on a cycle ride from the Clubs Fields End Water site 78 BORN AGAIN – PART 2

Lee Davey and son get back to work on their vintage Bailey 90 ALL BASES COVERED

Experienced tourer John Rankin details his packing essentials 102 PUZZLE TIME

Brain-twisting challenges

REGULARS 9

10

27

46

51

54

57

81

98

100

106

107

122

DIRECTOR GENERAL’S VIEW Nick Lomas reflects as many of us return to what we love most YOUR PHOTOS The best photos from your touring adventures THE CAMPERVAN COOK Martin Dorey’s pan-fried hake COUNTRY MATTERS David Chapman turns his eye on the extraordinary hummingbird hawkmoth MEMBER OFFERS Special deals on a variety of products PRODUCT SHOWCASE Walking kit for all ages LETTERS Your comments and views PRACTICAL Expert advice on cleaning the outside of your vehicle ASK YOUR CLUB Theft protection advice CROSSWORD A chance to win Club gift tokens DEALER MARKETPLACE Start looking for your next home-from-home CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS To advertise, call 01342 336817 TAIL LIGHTS The weird, wacky and wonderful world of touring www.camc.com

March 2020

X

COMMENT DIRECTOR GENERAL

The Great British Holiday SWIFT MOTORHOME DEALS GLOSSOP SPECIAL MOTORHOMES CELEBRATION 412 CELEBRATION 464 CELEBRATION 476 CELEBRATION 486 CELEBRATION 494 CELEBRATION 494 6D 140bhp AUTO EDGE RANGE EDGE 476 6b 130bhp EDGE 486 6b 130bhp ESCAPE RANGE COMPACT C402 COMPACT C404 604 675 140bhp KON-TIKI SPORT RANGE 524 6d 150bhp 560 LOUNGE 6b 150bhp 562 6b 150bhp 574 6b 150bhp 574 LOUNGE 6d 140bhp AUTO 597 6b 150bhp 597 6D 160bhp AUTO 599 6b 130bhp SWIFT SHOW MOTORHOMES EDGE 412 6d 140bhp KON-TIKI SPORT 560 LOUNGE 6d 140bhp KON-TIKI SPORT 574 LOUNGE 6d 140bhp CELEBRATION 612 (2019 MODEL)

RRP £51,495 £53,290 £54,995 £54,995 £54,995 £58,490 RRP £48,800 £48,800 RRP £50,925 £52,375 £52,807 £56,145 RRP £63,700 £67,870 £64,435 £68,995 £69,145 £68,995 £71,040 £68,995 RRP £47,790 £65,525 £66,650 £55,111

GLOSSOP PRICE £44,650 £46,490 £47,950 £48,150 £47,950 £51,145 GLOSSOP PRICE £45,500 £45,500 GLOSSOP PRICE £45,360 £46,764 £47,088 £50,647 GLOSSOP PRICE £57,465 £59,000 £56,000 £60,250 £64,350 £60,250 £64,990 £60,250 GLOSSOP PRICE £41,500 £57,600 £58,800 £46,900

SAVING £6,845 £6,800 £7,045 £6,845 £7,045 £7,345 SAVING £3,300 £3,300 SAVING £5,565 £5,611 £5,719 £5,498 SAVING £6,235 £8,870 £8,435 £8,745 £4,795 £8,745 £6,050 £8,745 SAVING £6,290 £7,925 £7,850 £8,211

• Order New Vehicle Now, For September Collection • Part Exchange Price Guaranteed • Virtual Vehicle Tours Available • 57 Service Centres Nationwide – For Total Peace Of Mind

Super Deals ELDDIS MOTORHOME DEALS GLOSSOP SPECIAL MOTORHOMES

RRP

GLOSSOP PRICE

SAVING

CHATSWORTH 115

£47,999

£42,900

£5,099

CHATSWORTH 175

£52,249

£47,985

£4,264

CHATSWORTH 185

£54,249

£49,200

£5,049

CHATSWORTH 196

£55,049

£49,900

£5,149

ENCORE RANGE

RRP

GLOSSOP PRICE

SAVING

ENCORE 250 6d 140bhp

£55,784

£52,600

£3,184

ENCORE 275 6d 140bhp

£55,784

£52,600

£3,184

ACCORDO RANGE

RRP

GLOSSOP PRICE

SAVING

ACCORDO 105 6d 140bhp

£45,534

£42,600

£2,934

ACCORDO 120 6d 140bhp

£45,034

£42,200

£2,834

AUTO MOTORHOME DEALS AUTOMATIC MOTORHOMES

RRP

GLOSSOP PRICE

SAVING

CELEBRATION 494 6d 140bhp AUTO

£58,490

£51,145

£7,345

KON-TIKI 574 LOUNGE 6d 140bhp AUTO

£69,145

£64,350

£4,795

KON-TIKI 597 6d 160bhp AUTO

£71,040

£64,990

£6,050

Tel: 01457 868011 glossopcaravans.co.uk GARY IRVING

gi1@glossopcaravans.co.uk

07970 070 607

LAWRENCE LOWTHER

LL1@glossopcaravans.co.uk

07599 641 160

CALL US 24/7, WE’RE WAITING TO HELP YOU!

g n i c n a t s i d Social s ’ n o i t a n e h t with e t i r u favo

For countless years, caravanners and motorhomers have always enjoyed social distancing in peace and quiet without even thinking about it.

The “secret” is now being revealed to the rest of the Nation with staycations as the major holiday trend, not only in the UK but in the whole world. So wherever you want to go, go safely and...

Visit our Go Safely page for holiday inspiration and updates at baileyofbristol.co.uk/go-safely XX November 2019

www.camc.com

COMMENT DIRECTOR GENERAL

OPINION Nick Lomas says:

camc.com/enquiries This magazine is also available as a page turner on the Club website and an app free of charge for members.

For non-members who download the Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine app, each issue costs £2.29 (Google Play) or £2.99 (App Store).

Readers are asked to note that the Caravan and Motorhome Club cannot accept responsibility for the quality, safe delivery or operation of any products advertised or mentioned in this journal. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply any form of approval or recommendation. Advertisements or other inserted material are accepted subject to the approval of the publishers and their current terms and conditions.

The publishers will accept an advertisement or other inserted material only on the condition that the advertiser warrants that such advertisement does not in any way infringe copyright or contravene the provisions of the Trade Descriptions Act. All copy is subject to the approval of the publisher, who reserves the right to refuse, amend, withdraw or otherwise deal with advertisements submitted to it at its absolute discretion and without explanation.

All advertisements must comply with the British Code of Advertising Practice.

Mail order advertisers are required to state in advertisements addressed to the public, their true surname or full company name, together with the address from which the business is managed.

Calls to phone numbers starting 084 and 087 cost up to 7p per minute plus your service provider’s charge.

351,884

Circulation: Jan-Dec 2019

Printing by Walstead Bicester

www.camc.com

“He draws the curtain from his open window, and gazes out on nature at the brightest and freshest period of her daily life. If it has rained in the night, the racy homeliness of the scent of damp earth assails his senses and stirs his soul with an irrepressible feeling of how good life can be. The awakening of birds and their twitter around the van, combined with the strange signs of early morning, can never be realised by a dweller in a house.”

So wrote Club founder J Harris Stone about a century ago.

As our sites reopen, it seems like a new start, just like Harris Stone’s description of a new morning. While many things have changed, with social distancing, handwashing

“

So, breathe the fresh air, feel the grass between your toes and cook a family meal outdoors on a site or Certificated Location

”

and sanitising the new norm, and an even more rigorous cleaning regime introduced on site, it’s important to remember that the great outdoors, and its many benefits, remain the same. As does our friendly welcome to site and the smile of support from a fellow member. Thank you for all your understanding and patience these past few months.

As we start to use our leisure vehicles again, I wonder what recent events will mean for the future of our pastime?

‘Self-containment’ has been one of the buzzphrases we have used when talking to government and policymakers about caravans and motorhomes. The fact that you are outdoors and yet have all your personal cooking, sleeping and washing facilities on board means you are perfectly equipped for staying safe.

Interestingly, whereas historically about 20% of members said they exclusively used their on-board facilities (the rest using a mix of their own or on-site facilities), our recent

survey showed that over half intended to use their outfit’s amenities.

So, more popular in future among more members may be self-contained and lined shower cubicles and washrooms, which while almost universal in caravan and motorhomes are less common in campervans (though you’re welcome to use a toilet tent on Club sites). One thing I hope will happen, is that new people – some of the 11 million in the UK – who share a love of the great outdoors, visit leisure vehicle dealers or manufacturers’ websites and consider taking up the pastime.

Many of the recently launched camping trailers, lightweight caravans and campervan styles have been capturing imaginations and I hope that continues.

Staff across the Club tell me it’s great to be returning to doing what we enjoy most – helping people make the most of the great outdoors. So, breathe the fresh air, feel the grass between your toes and cook a family meal outdoors on a site or CL. Enjoy a break, your way – you deserve it. n May I take this opportunity to publicly thank industry colleagues at BH&HPA, C&CC, NCC and Members of Parliament across the land. By working together we have been able to work to successfully convince the government that sites and CLs can now safely reopen.

August 2020 9

SPECIAL MEMBER PICTURES

YOUR PHOTOS

Your most memorable touring moments caught on camera

RHUE VIEW

I took this photo when we stopped off at Rhue Lighthouse on our journey around some of the fabulous North Coast 500 route (not all of the route is suitable for motorhomes). The lighthouse guards the entrance to Loch Broom for ships bound for Ullapool.

Ken Wilkinson

FREE PRIZE DRAW

West Scotland

WHITE MAGIC

Send us a photo and you will automatically be entered into a free monthly draw, giving you the chance to win some fantastic prizes! See camc. com/competitions for full prize draw terms and conditions

On our Cornish tour last summer we stopped off at beautiful Sennen Cove, which overlooks the southern end of Whitesand Bay. This coastal village is situated very near Land’s End .

Margaret Nelson

East Lothian

RAINBOW REWARD

Cornwall

10 August 2020

Yellowcraig Club site at Dirleton is close to some of Scotland’s best sandy beaches. And if you walk along two or three of these beaches from the site to the town of North Berwick, you might be fortunate enough to be rewarded with a lovely rainbow – just as we were. Incredible.

Eric Ness www.camc.com

Lake District

CAN’T ASK FOR MOR These are the stunning scenes that greet you upon arrival at Morvich Club site near Inverinate. One of the most picturesque locations on the network – a must visit.

Andrew Smith

ULLS WELL!

This is the amazing countryside we encountered on a walk from The Estate Patterdale CL in Penrith, near Ullswater. We can’t wait to return.

Charles Holmstrom

DOGGY PADDLE While enjoying a stay at Exmoor House Club site last summer, our black labrador cooled off in the nearby stream – the temperature was so hot that she would just stand there and enjoy the cold water. We were tempted to join her.

Julie Worthington

Highlands

Want to see your photo in a future issue?

Send your images to camc.com/inspiring adventures or tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using #inspiringadventures

NO DOUBTING THOMAS

Anyone pitching up at the Club’s Hunter’s Moon site this summer would be foolish not to include a visit to author Thomas Hardy’s fabulous cob and thatch cottage at Higher Bockhampton during their stay.

Phillip Thomas

Somerset Dorset

www.camc.com

August 2020 11

ADVERTISING FEATURE CLUB MATTERS

We’re with you It’s important you have adequate protection in place for yourself and your vehicle.

Here we take a look at the Club’s Insurance and Financial Services products – all designed to give you peace of mind, at home or away Here for you

A

your Rest assured that w llo fe Club and your re for members are he llIn you – #WeAreA This Together

s members gradually get back out into the great outdoors and start to enjoy our countrywide network of sites once again, we thought now would be a good time to tell you about some of the other services we offer.

CARAVAN COVER

Our Caravan Cover is provided directly by the Club for caravans and trailer tents.

Cover is available on a market-value basis or a new-for-old basis (for up to 15 years with Super cover).

For other products, the Club has partner relationships that have been in place for many years – more than four decades in some instances!

Devitt Insurance Services provides our motorhome, campervan, car, home, motorbike and linked legal expenses policies.

For motorhome/campervan, car and home policies Devitt uses a panel of insurers with the objective of getting you a great deal. You can buy online or over the phone (where often the best prices are available because Devitt can tailor cover to your individual needs).

Where car insurance is concerned, we try to provide good rates on vehicles our members are more likely to have – Towcar of the Year award winners, for example.

In terms of home insurance, we know many of you go touring for long periods, so have negotiated cover for unoccupancy periods up to 180 days. And recognising that many of you have bikes/e-bikes, we’re delighted to now cover these for up to £6,000 on our home insurance. What’s more, your outfit is classed as an immovable

Grant Stone

DEPEND ON DEVITT

object, so bikes can be locked to it without invalidating your policy.

KEEPING YOU ON THE ROAD

We know how important peace of mind is while you’re out on tour – that’s where our breakdown cover comes in. For travel in the UK, we provide Mayday UK Breakdown Cover for your caravan, trailer, motorhome or campervan, with three levels to choose from. Mayday can even look after your car or motorbike, and with Personal Cover, you’ll be covered when travelling in any private vehicle – not just your own.

If you’re going to Europe, take a look at our Red Pennant service, which provides

breakdown assistance and cover for trip cancellations or medical emergency expenses while you’re away. Underwritten

by Alpha Underwriting Ltd as Underwriting Agents for Astrenska Insurance Ltd, we do the sales and servicing and most importantly are there for you in the event of an emergency.

HAPPY PLANNING

We hope you enjoy your next big adventure – just make sure you are adequately protected before you set out on the road.

For more information on any of the services mentioned please see camc.com.

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. A sample of the appropriate cover wording including the limitations and exclusions that apply is available upon request.

12 August 2020

www.camc.com

all the way “

I’m really pleased that we and our Partners have been able to continue to service and support our members over this difficult period.

My huge thanks go to all of you who have a financial services product – these contribute significantly in supporting your Club.

”

Brian Savage, the Club’s Director of Membership Services

Were all in this to gether

“

“

I’m proud that we’ve been providing Mayday to Club members for over 40 years. As a true partnership we work hard to support your Club, recently providing all-day on-site support at the Club’s largest storage sites to help members get their vehicles back on the road.

That’s our job and we’re proud to provide this service to you 24/7/365.

I’m delighted that we were able to stay open as usual throughout the lockdown. Working with the Club and insurers such as AXA, LV=/ Highway and Ageas, I look forward to developing our product offerings further in the future, to make them even more responsive to member needs.

”

Paul Dilley, Commercial Director, Devitt Insurance Services

”

Dean Keeling, Managing Director, Green Flag

18k 29% £73k We received 18,564 calls on our Caravan Cover lines from April to 19 June

www.camc.com

Thieves didn’t furlough themselves! More than 29% of caravan thefts occurring from 1 January to 25 June were during lockdown

Settling caravan damage claims was initially challenging with repairers closed, but we continued to pay out an average of £73,000 a week during lockdown August 2020 13

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

Headlines The latest stories from the touring world

WE DID IT! SITES ACROSS THE NETWORK REOPEN

There were cheers in the House of Commons on 23 June as Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that campsites in England could reopen in July (news followed that Scottish and Welsh venues could also open their doors in due course). This came after extensive lobbying by the Club, and we have been delighted to be able to welcome you back to sites as a result.

During lockdown, the Club contacted all MPs with Club sites in their constituencies, and liaised closely with senior figures across the leisure industry.

The day before the announcement in Parliament, Director General Nick Lomas wrote a joint letter to the Prime Minister with Ros Pritchard OBE and Sabina Voysey, Directors General of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) and The Camping and Caravanning Club (C&CC) respectively.

Grenville Chamberlain, Chairman of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, said: “I am absolutely convinced that Nick’s letter written to the Prime Minister, along with the Directors General of the BH&HPA and The C&CC, yesterday was the golden goal. Without such intervention I suspect that we could have faced another week or two without the benefit of the enjoyment of our wonderful way of life.”

Upon hearing the good news, Nick said: “We know our members have been missing coming to our campsites, and we’ve missed seeing them. We are introducing our own Seacroft

14 August 2020

Haycraft

CLUB SHOP LATEST

Covid Secure Commitment, in line with government guidelines, to help members, guests and staff keep safe and well on site. Club campsites are the ideal places for people to relax, take life at a slower pace, with lots of open space, and stay safe while on holiday.

“Our lifestyle lends itself well to social distancing. Being outside with wellspaced pitches and enhanced cleaning protocols and procedures mean that we will ensure visitors to our sites have a safe and enjoyable time.”

Following the government announcement, organisations and firms

across the tourism industry reported increases in website traffic and enquiries, indicating that holidays in the UK will be extremely popular this summer. Some caravan, motorhome and campervan manufacturers have also reported rises in sales. According to our own surveys, around 96% of Club members are planning a leisure vehicle holiday this year.

We hope you enjoy your stays at Club sites and at Certificated Locations, whenever and wherever they may be. To make main site bookings please visit camc. com/searchandbook or use the UK Sites Booking App, while if you would like to find out more about the reopening of sites and our Covid Secure Commitment please see the article on pages 29-30 of this issue.

Burford

We are pleased to advise members that the Club Shop – operated

by Prima Leisure Accessories – is now operating normally again with in-stock items. Members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club who use the Club Shop benefit from discounts on a wide range of products, from caravan and motorhome parts and fitting, clothes and touring essentials (eg sat-navs, TVs and cleaning products), to camping equipment such as awnings, tables and chairs.

To view the full range please visit shop.camc.com.

www.camc.com

As this magazine went to print, Europe is opening up for visitors and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has amended its advisory notice about overseas travel.

The Government has announced a number of countries that it believes are safe for British holidaymakers to visit, following a Covid-19 risk assessment, and arrivals to the UK from these countries are exempt from the self-isolation requirement. This is welcome news for those members who wish to get away this year and enjoy a stay with our European campsite partners.

As in the UK, European holiday experiences will be slightly different this year to help keep us all safe from Covid-19.

Face coverings will be mandatory on ferries and recommended in situations where social distancing is not possible.

Eurotunnel, ferry companies and campsites have all introduced enhanced cleaning programmes and social distancing measures. On campsites, the swimming pools are generally open but with restricted numbers of users in place, and some of the entertainment and kids clubs are not possible if social distancing cant be maintained. Were happy to advise that the Clubs Red Pennant holiday insurance product now includes cover for medical emergency and repatriation should you fall ill with Coronavirus while on your trip, provided the FCO has not advised against travel to your destination.

We’ve seen throughout the pandemic that information and government advice can change regularly, so we recommend checking the FCO website (gov.uk/ foreign-travel-advice) for the most up-to-date travel information.

Support for members at storage sites We were finally able to open our storage sites in England on 15 June, so our members could have access to check on their vehicles. We were aware that many motorhomes and campervans would have flat batteries, and that caravans might need new bulbs, so we were delighted when our partner, Green Flag, arranged for one of its network providers to be available on our biggest storage sites for up to two weeks to support members.

Green Flag kindly provided this support to all our members – not just those with the Club’s Mayday UK Breakdown Cover.

It is also supporting the reopening of Strathclyde Country Park storage from 3 July. Feedback from members on the

Eagle-eyed viewers of ITV’s morning show, Lorraine, may well have spotted the celebrity chef and musician Levi Roots cooking up a storm at one of our London Club sites, Abbey Wood. Levi made three different barbecue dishes for the show while filming in front of an Airstream caravan, and the footage was subsequently broadcast on Lorraine at the end of June and beginning of July. If you would like to see his ‘Taste of the Caribbean’ videos and recipes – including those from Abbey Wood – please visit itv.com/lorraine/levi-rootstaste-of-the-caribbean. (Many thanks to site staff member and keen amateur photographer Mike Mills for the picture; be sure to look out for Mike’s photographs of the wildlife at Abbey Wood in a future issue.)

SHOWTIME AUGUST 31 July-2 August Peterborough: The National Motorhome and Campervan Show, East of England Showground, Peterborough (Warners Group, call 01778 391123 or see outandaboutlive.co.uk) 14-16 Worcestershire: The Western Motorhome and Campervan Show, Three Counties Showground, Malvern (Warners Group, details as above) 28-30 Berkshire: The Southern Motorhome and Campervan Show, Newbury Showground, Chieveley (Warners Group, details as above)

Ashridge Farm service has been amazing – thank you Green Flag!

To find out more about the Club’s storage facilities please visit camc.com/ storage, and for insurance and cover please see camc.com/insurance.

Stop press: NEC show

Unfortunately, following extensive consultation, NCC Events has decided to cancel this October’s Motorhome & Caravan Show at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC), citing ongoing uncertainty relating to the Coronavirus and, particularly, what that means for large gatherings. The Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show 2021 is scheduled to take place from 23-28 February at the NEC, while the Motorhome & Caravan Show 2021 will be held from 12-17 October.

www.camc.com

LEVI TUCKS IN

MikeMills

OVERSEAS TRAVEL

SEPTEMBER 4-6 Devon: The Motorhome and Campervan Show, Westpoint, Exeter (Apple Tree Exhibitions, call 01805 603943 or see appletree-exhibitions.co.uk) 11-13 Somerset: The Southwest Motorhome and Campervan Show, Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet (Warners Group, details as above) 18-20 Hampshire: The Caravan and Motorhome Show, New Forest Showground, Brockenhurst (Apple Tree Exhibitions, details as above) 25-27 Lincolnshire: The Motorhome and Campervan Show Season Finale, Lincolnshire Showground, Lincoln (Warners Group, details as above) Note: details subject to change – please check websites and telephone event organisers in advance for up-to-date info.

August 2020 15

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

GOING FOR GOULDS Club members have continued to raise money for charity during recent months – take Marilyn and Rob Gould, for example, who regularly go the extra mile for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Recently, the couple decided to put their time and energy into a fundraising walk, which saw them cover 260 miles in 26 days from their home in Worcestershire. They were inspired by the 2.6 challenge, an initiative that was set up to try and raise income for charities that have not been able to rely on their usual activities during 2020 (for example due to the cancellation of events such as the London Marathon).

At the time of going to press Marilyn and Rob have raised over £700 for the charity – if you would like to support the cause and add to their total please visit uk. virginmoneygiving.com/ MarilynGould.

VisitBlackpool

ON THE APP

Lights to stay on in Blackpool Blackpool’s annual Illuminations display is to be extended by two months to provide an invaluable boost to the resort’s tourism season.

A live ‘Switch-On’ concert in September – marking the start of the spectacular seafront light show – usually proves to be a big draw, but due to restrictions this year’s event will be a free-to-access streamed event in association with MTV. After the concert, the Illuminations will run from 4 September 2020 to 3 January 2021.

Cllr Gillian Campbell of Blackpool Council said: “We are planning for

a safe, socially-distanced Illuminations experience and will be keeping all government health guidance under review as we move towards the autumn season.”

If you would like to enjoy the Illuminations this year, Blackpool South Club site is open until 2 November 2020, and our 50% off midweek discount offer is available. Also, there are more than 20 Certificated Locations within easy reach of Blackpool.

For more information on Blackpool Illuminations and the ‘Switch-On’ concert please see visitblackpool.com.

If you would like to read each new issue of the Club magazine on your phone or tablet, you can download the Club magazine app from the App Store and Google Play for free. On the app you will find videos and extra articles, plus an archive of back issues. This month’s extras include a motorhome review, cycle ride from Bourton-on-theWater Club site and an additional page of Tail Lights.

YOU RECOMMEND…

The Club’s Experience Freedom glamping accommodation

“

My wife and I were pleasantly surprised and pleased with the glamping pod… it is well packed with everything you would need, excellent shower room, well supplied kitchenette, lovely comfortable bed, good TV and Wi-Fi .

Moreton-in-Marsh Club site

“

”

Our Airstream was super clean and spacious. The staff were outstanding in every way... Great access to town for some last minute shopping and long lunches. Lazy mornings chilling listening to the rain…

We loved every second of it.

Brighton Club site .

”

16 August 2020

“

Absolutely amazing. Two adults and two kids (7 & 4). More space than you anticipate. Excellent shower. Beds great. Lovely decking area looking out onto the play area and lots of grass for the kids to play.

Alderstead Heath . Club site

“

”

This was our third time staying in a glamping pod… this trip we were celebrating our first wedding anniversary. Upon arrival we found chocolates, flowers and a card wishing us a happy anniversary, this was such a lovely gesture.

Coniston Park Coppice .

Club site

”

Encourage friends and family to enjoy an Experience Freedom venue

“

Where else in the London area can accommodate four adults for three nights for £267? And encourage you to see the city from south of the Thames, ie boat trip to Westminster, the amazing cityscape from Greenwich, tours of the Cutty Sark, Observatory and Planetarium.

Abbey Wood Club site .

”

www.camc.com

NE W Simply enter the size and weight of your motorhome or towing outfit and the Avtex Tourer Two (Caravan and Motorhome Club Edition) with its new advanced Dual Core Processor will guide you to your destination avoiding height, width and weight restricted roads.

Providing you with route warnings such as sharp bends or steep hills, the Avtex Tourer Two will even advise you of traffic jams and offer alternate routes when available.

Satellite Navigation for Caravans & Motorhomes • 7” Frameless Display (pinch-to-zoom) • New Dual Core processor for complete enhanced performance • Enhanced Specific routing for Caravans & Motorhomes – Customised routes created for the size and weight of your caravan or motorhome.

– Camper specific speed limits tailored to your vehicle.

• Road Warnings – Caravan / Motorhomes specific road warnings for bridge heights, weight limits, sharp curves, steep grades, narrow roads and more.

– Elevation map tool – be prepared for upcoming steep gradiants.

Unlimited updates for Safety camera alerts.

• Find the right campgrounds and stopover places with Tourer Two EXCLUSIVE data bases – Exclusive pre-loaded Caravan and Motorhome Club Site rich data bases including Certified Locations and Overseas Sites with detailed information.

– Trailer’s Park’s database of 8,500 of cost-free motorhome parking places across Western Europe (NEW).

– 17,000 NKC customer rated campgrounds and stopover places in 38 countries.

– 9,000 European campsites inspected by ACSI every year and search results based on amenities.

– Get information about prices, facilities, terrain, maximum number of places and more and filter by amenities. Contains pictures of most of the sites.

– Easily pan the map to search for Campgrounds (NEW.) – Shows camp sites, rest areas, attractions or fuel stations up ahead and milestones along your route.

• Free European map updates via PC, Mac or WiFi • Free Digital Traffic • Hands-free features include Bluetooth® calling, smart notifications and voice-activated navigation • Navigate Complex Interchanges with “spoken turn-by-turn” directions and active lane guidance • TripAdvisor Travel POIs with ratings • BC™30 and BC™40 Wireless Backup Camera compatible

Available with exclusive member discount from: shop.camc.com www.camc.com

for further information call

02920 847670 avtex.co.uk

August 2020 15

NEWS CLUB AND INDUSTRY

TAKE FIVE!

GREAT SAVINGS GUIDE WOODLAND TRAILS AND WALKS Have you picked up your copy of the Great Savings Guide yet? As a member, you can use it to take advantage of offers at hundreds of attractions across the UK*. There are five examples below, but you can find more at camc.com/greatsavingsguide…

1 Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Warwickshire

See the 500-year-old cottage where Shakespeare courted his bride-to-be and explore nine acres of gardens, orchards, woodland and a sculpture trail (20% discount on the Full Story Ticket, which covers five Shakespearerelated attractions) Nearest site: Warwick Racecourse

2 Leighton Hall, Lancashire

The home of the furnituremaking Gillow family, with stunning grounds and gardens, woodland trail, maze, play area and more (two-for-the-price-of-one on adult admissions).

Nearest site: Kendal, Meathop Fell

3 High Beeches Woodland and Water Garden, West Sussex See rare trees and shrubs in 25 acres of beautiful woodland and water gardens; includes a picnic area and tea room (10% discount off admissions).

Nearest site: Gatwick

*Please check venues are open before your visit (Terms and conditions apply to all offers. See Club website for details.)

4 Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden, Norfolk See summer hydrangeas and fabulous autumn colours in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. Boat trips, plant sales and trails for children are available (two-for-the-price-of-one on admissions).

Nearest site: Norfolk Broads

5 Carnglaze Caverns, Cornwall

As well as a self-guided underground tour of the slate mine, you can walk through the Enchanted Dell and Quarry Wood, with fairy trails for children (two-forthe-price-of-one on admissions).

Nearest site: Looe

NOMINATE YOUR FAVOURITE CL! There’s still time to nominate your favourite Certificated Location (CL) in our annual CL of the Year

awards – we’d love to know all about the many gems across the network that you love to visit!

As most members are aware, CLs are small, five-outfit, privatelyowned sites in diverse

CL OF THE YEAR 2020 ENTRY FORM

Please complete this form and send it to: CL of the Year Awards 2020, Caravan and Motorhome Club, CL Department, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA. Closing date is 21 September 2020. One nomination per category per membership number. No photocopies will be accepted.

#

NOMINATION FOR CL OF THE YEAR Site name.............................................. County and postcode.........................................

NOMINATION FOR BEST CL NEWCOMER Site name.............................................. County and postcode.........................................

YOUR DETAILS

locations – such as working farms, pub grounds and fisheries. We want you to nominate your overall favourite, as well as the site that you think is the ‘best newcomer’. Brunette Cottage Caravan Park (pictured) in Wales was named CL of the Year in 2019... will owners Paul and Helen retain the title this year?

You can make your choices by visiting camc. com/clnominate or by filling in the form that appears on this page and posting it to the address detailed.

(Please note that as head

office staff are currently working from home our preference would be to receive nominations via the website, where possible.)

The closing date is 21 September 2020.

As a thank you for your nomination, you have the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw to win a five-night stay at your favourite CL and an invitation to the awards (subject to the ceremony going ahead as normal). For the prize draw, normal Club terms and conditions apply – see camc.com/ competitions.

Name.....................................................................................................................................

Address................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................

Postcode................................................ Membership number.........................................

Please indicate below whether you would like to enter the prize draw and which prizes you are interested in: IʼD LIKE TO ENTER THE PRIZE DRAW: I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN: q A five-night stay on my favourite CL q An invitation to the awards q Both 18 August 2020

Yes/No

Brunette Cottage CL www.camc.com

Driving down the cost of touring Guaranteed to SAVE on fuel across the country Visit us at camc.com/fuel-card and start saving today!

Offer only available to Caravan and Motorhome Club (CAMC) members. Membership number is required and address of CAMC member must match the address to where the fuel membership card will be sent. Members can apply for one card which can be used for ALL vehicles within the household. Mobile number is required to complete the sign up process.

Debit Card details are required to complete the sign up process. Savings only apply to fuel purchased from Esso stations in the UK. Other fuel stations and savings are available in Europe as declared on the Fuelpecker website. Saving only applies on fuel purchased with the Fuelpecker fuel discount card at the point of purchase. Saving cannot be supplied retrospectively.

If you sign up to Fuelpecker you will be entering into a legal agreement with Horizon Fuel Limited. Further T&Cs apply, visit website for details. www.camc.com May 2020 XX

NEWS UK SITES

THE CHOICE Are you looking forward to getting away this summer? Here are 20 fantastic sites to consider in the future…

Nattanan726/Getty

Where will you head this summer?

As you are probably aware, the Club has put in place a phased reopening of Club sites from 4 July, with the intention that the vast majority in England, Scotland and Wales will be open by 13 July.* Site staff across the network have been busy making sure that your favourite places to stay are ready to safely welcome you and your tourers.

As well as the usual day-to-day maintenance and cleanliness you would expect to see on a Club site, we have increased the rigour of cleaning, sanitising and disinfecting common areas as part of our Covid Secure Commitment. We have also taken other steps to ensure that members, guests and staff are safe, such as introducing phone check-ins (from your vehicle), floor markings in line with social distancing guidelines, and more.

You can read all about these measures on pages 28-30 of this issue, and online at camc.com/covidsecure.

Whether you’re booking your first trip away this year or thinking about a number of breaks, here are 20 great sites that we think you should consider. We’ve split them into four themes: sites near family attractions; sites near historic buildings; sites in great walking country; and sites with great views. But wherever you decide to go… it’s great to have you back!

Please check with individual attractions about opening times and availability prior to travel.

SITES NEAR FAMILY ATTRACTIONS Burford, Oxfordshire This popular, spacious Cotswolds site has a children’s play area and dog walk. Directly opposite the site entrance you’ll see the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens, where among the 260 different species you’ll find lions, camels, giraffes and meerkats (above). The park and gardens are open every day except Christmas Day Alderstead Heath, Surrey There’s a huge variety of places to visit near this site – but for an exciting family day out look no further than Chessington World of Adventures.

Members can get up to 45% off entry at this thrilling theme park and zoo – where roars can 20 August 2020

be heard coming from rollercoasters and animal enclosures in equal measure – via the Great Savings Guide (pre-booking required)**.

Tredegar House, Newport On the outskirts of Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History is an unmissable attraction that tells the history of Wales through the lives of everyday people. More than 40 buildings from different periods have been re-erected within the attractions 100 acres of parkland, including houses, a farm, a school, a chapel and a Workmens Institute. Entry is free.

Great Yarmouth Racecourse, Norfolk This site offers easy access to the Broads and East Anglia’s coast, but a little farther inland you’ll find BeWILDerwood, an award-winning forest of family fun where kids can enjoy a variety

of outdoor adventures.

Treehouses, slippery slopes, marsh walks, boat rides, mazes and den building… good luck getting them to leave!

Longleat, Wiltshire This attractive site sits within the Longleat Estate, where you’ll also find the famous safari park – the first of its kind to be opened outside Africa. Club members can save up to 20% on day tickets and take advantage of special offers on two- or five-day tickets. As well as the safari park you can visit Longleat House, the Hedge Maze, the Adventure Castle and more – see camc.com/specialoffers for more information and terms and conditions. www.camc.com

IS YOURS! SITES NEAR HISTORIC BUILDINGS Edinburgh You’ll be close to all of the Scottish capitals modern and historic attractions when you stay here (tent camping is also available), but don’t miss Edinburgh Castle, the fortress that dominates the skyline. Learn all about the fortress history – it’s the most besieged place in Britain – as well as the roles of famous figures such as Mary, Queen of Scots, James VI, Sir Walter Scott and Oliver Cromwell.

Bearsted, Kent Located near the north-western edge of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this site offers easy access to open countryside. A short drive away is stunning, moated Leeds Castle, which has been a Norman stronghold, a Tudor palace (built by Henry VIII for Catherine of Aragon), a Jacobean country house and a Georgian mansion. There’s also a maze, grounds and gardens to explore. Plus, if you’re a repeat visitor, you can benefit from a 20% discount on an annual ticket via the Club’s Great Savings Guide**.

Chapel Lane, Birmingham To the south-east of Birmingham lies Kenilworth Castle which has its origins in the 12th century. Expanded by John of Gaunt and Henry V, Queen Elizabeth I gave it to her favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester in 1563. As well as the spectacular ruins, attractions include a beautifully recreated Elizabethan garden and an interactive exhibition in the Tudor stables.

Abbey Wood, London With central London a short dstance away, you’ll have a wide range of historic buildings to choose from while staying at this leafy site, where you’ll also find Experience Freedom glamping and tent camping options.

Perhaps consider nearby Greenwich, with its connections to maritime history, and explore the Cutty Sark and Old Royal Naval College… perhaps adding a cruise of your own along the Thames afterwards?

Beautiful Bodiam Castle

South Coast Air/Alarmy

*For the latest information s, regarding site ur yo and to book se ea pl stays, / visit camc.com reopening

Fairlight Wood, East Sussex Close to Hastings on the south coast, this quiet, intimate site also gives you direct access to the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, within which lies the National Trust’s Bodiam Castle. This atmospheric ancient monument will fire the imagination – you can easily picture bustling medieval life taking place across the courtyard.

21

NEWS UK SITES

SITES IN GREAT WALKING COUNTRY Blackshaw Moor, Staffordshire With the entire Peak District National Park on your doorstep, a stay at this site is ideal for any lovers of the great outdoors.

Whether it’s the beautiful dales of the park’s southern ‘White Peak’ area, or the more dramatic, rugged landscape of the northern ‘Dark Peak’, there’s an abundance of trails to choose from. An amble around Tittesworth Reservoir is also well worth your time – see stwater.co.uk to find out which paths are currently open

Details of all listed the site offers n be ca in this article m/ co c. found at cam rs ukoffe

Scarborough West Ayton, North Yorkshire Our coverage of this popular pitching spot often references its proximity to the seaside town, but it’s worth remembering that it is situated just within the North York Moors National Park, where it’s easy to enjoy breathtaking clifftop walks, rambles surrounded by moorland heather and picnics in tranquil valleys. The Forge Valley Woods National Nature Reserve is next to the Club site, and here you’ll find an accessible, two-mile-long and fairly level wooden boardwalk. Dogs are welcome if kept under control at all times.

Black Knowl, Hampshire Close to the middle of the New Forest National Park, this open, peaceful site is within walking distance of Brockenhurst, a picturesque village with plenty of amenities. Also nearby, Whitefield Moor offers two walking trails that pass by the Ober Water stream, as well as calming heathland views. There’s a free car park here (with donations welcome).

Modbury, Devon Tucked snugly between the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Dartmoor National Park, this is a fantastic site to stay at if you enjoy a walk, and yet another that offers tent camping.

Stretches of the South West Coast Path can also be enjoyed – why not take a look at southwestcoastpath.org.uk, where an interactive map shows a number of day or half-day walks of varying length and difficulty.

22 August 2020

The magnificent Peak District

www.camc.com

Jon D/Alamy

Hunter’s Moon, Dorset There are several nature reserves close to this site in Thomas Hardy country, and miles of coastline if you like to take in the fresh sea air while walking. Perhaps consider Sandford Heath – the publicly accessible part of Holton Heath Nature Reserve – as it’s a wonderful spot for watching wildlife.

Tent camping is available at Hunters Moon.

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Naturediet are proud to partner with the Caravan and Motorhome Club to offer all members an introductory 15% off their full range of natural dog foods.

Members are also entitled to an ongoing 10% off all future orders**

www.naturediet.co.uk *Terms and Conditions: 1. Discount available on all wet food, treats and dry food products bought directly from naturediet.co.uk only. 2. Discount runs until 31st December 2020 inclusively. 3. Standard delivery costs apply. 4. Cannot be used in conjunction with other discount codes. 5. Please enter code CARAVANCLUB15 at checkout at www.naturediet.co.uk **Terms and Conditions apply. Visit www.naturediet.co.uk/caravan-club-discounts for further information.

NEWS UK SITES

SITES WITH GREAT VIEWS Bunree, Highlands Some members would argue that this site offers some of the best views on the network – and who could honestly disagree? Step out of your vehicle and you’ll be greeted by the waters of Loch Linnhe, a vast sea loch that attracts cormorants and sea otters, which you may be able to see from your pitch if you’re lucky.

With mountains lying just beyond the opposite shoreline, the first thing you’ll be reaching for after check-in is your camera…

Trewethett Farm, Cornwall Here’s another site that overlooks water – and another that makes first-time visitors (and plenty of returners) gasp upon arrival. Set on a clifftop above Bossiney Cove, Trewethett Farm is in a great spot if you’d like to discover the north coast of Cornwall, and tent camping is available. Footpaths take you to popular Tintagel and the picturesque harbour of Boscastle, so there’s lots to see!

Brecon Beacons, Powys Tantalising glimpses of peaks like Pen-y-Fan and Corn Du will have you reaching for the walking boots – and car parks for a variety of routes to the highest points of the Brecon Beacons can be reached in around 15 minutes from the Club site.

Stunning views await even if you don’t have a head for heights – there are lovely river walks to enjoy in the local area, too.

Exmoor House, Somerset Some lucky campers will secure the pitches that overlook the River Barle, but don’t worry if you miss out – everyone who stays here gets to take in attractive valley views. As the name suggests, Exmoor National Park is on your doorstep, so you don’t have to travel too far for even more pleasing sights. Head for Dunkery Beacon – the highest point in the National Park – on a clear day.

**Terms and y to conditions appl s all Great Saving e se Guide offers – r camc.com fo details

Lovely Loch Linnhe

24 August 2020

www.camc.com

John Davidson Photos/Alamy

Dockray Meadow, Cumbria There’s beautiful fell scenery close to this site on the western edge of the Lake District National Park, and you don’t need to drive too far to find some of the park’s lesser-known delights – see Elizabeth Fowler’s guide on pages 32-41 of this issue if you’re in need of inspiration and be sure to drop by Loweswater for magnificent reflections of green, rolling hills.

“

“

Looks & rides great!

- Kate, Raleigh customer

Caravan and Motorhome Club members save up to £280 on an electric bike and receive a free helmet with all bike purchases Terms and conditions apply visit camc.com/raleigh for details

raleigh.co.uk @RaleighBikes @RaleighBikesUK @RaleighBikes_UK

Member Offer

Cook

COLUMN MARTIN DOREY

The Campervan

Writer, cook and campervan owner Martin Dorey continues his gastronomic journeys around the UK. This month: a Cornish-inspired fish dish

H

ow’s your summer been so far? overlooking the beach (get there early to nab Have you managed to get your it) and is homely and welcoming. So it’s caravan or motorhome out onto perfect for cooling off after a day on the a Club site? I sincerely hope so. beach or a stomp along the coast path. There While it was fun for a while to have tea on are a few CLs in the area, as well as the the drive, there’s nothing like the peace and brilliantly located Trewethett Farm Club site. tranquillity of the countryside if you want to What did I eat last time I was there? Fish, relax properly. As I write this I am planning of course! It would be rude to dine on to pack up the van and head out for our first anything else when you’re so close to the sea, proper trip since a snowboarding holiday in especially when it’s local and sustainable the Alps in January. (and delicious, of course). I went for a While the Alps are incredible, it's hard to beautiful dish of hake, a fish that scores beat a Great British break - especially if it really highly on the Marine Conservation involves a fantastic pub. We missed eating out a lot during the lockdown and can’t wait to get back to our favourite pub, at RECIPE NO. 31 Crackington Haven in North Cornwall..

The Coombe Barton Inn* has a great menu, a table in the window directly

THE COOK RECOMMENDS...

The Coombe Barton Inn, Crackington Haven, Cornwall, a fantastic beachside pub that does lovely grub*.

AND AS A MAIN

If you can’t decide, go for fish and chips with mushy peas. It’s heavenly nosh, brought in by the Cornish fleet and cooked to perfection by happy Cornish chefs.

Campervanner Martin Dorey joined the Club in 2016

www.camc.com

*Please check with the Inn regarding current seating and eating arrangements.

ith Pan fried hake wtter lemon thyme bug and seasonal ve SERVES TWO

INGREDIENTS

ke 2 fillets of local ha der stem broccoli ten of s ce pie 0 8-1 tatoes po 10 -20 baby new r 50g of butte sh thyme, Small bunch of fre finely choped of 1 lemon The juice and zest

METHOD

MEMBER SINCE...

Society’s Good Fish Guide. Hake is tasty, juicy and really quick and easy to cook.

And when it’s combined with the heavenly flavours of lemon and thyme, along with fresh, seasonal veg, it’s wonderful – guess what I’m having for dinner again tonight?

tatoes In a pan, get the po are about y the en Wh g. ilin bo a heavy ing ready, heat up be m fro tes five minu d ad d an dium/hot heat frying pan on a me ce the Pla p). tbs 1 t ou (ab oil a generous dash of out ab m the ve wn and mo fillets skin-side do n with black aso Se . ing ck sti m a little to stop the about salt. Cook them for pepper and a little brown to rts sta until the skin 4 minutes or so, or spuds the e tim s thi By er. a little. Turn them ov li in with dy. Put the brocco should be almost rea . tes nu t couple of mi the spuds for the las

CUT OUT

AND KEEP

RECIPES m the pan oked, remove it fro When the fish is co lt the me d an at wer the he and set it aside. Lo o the pan, add int on lem the e ez butter in it. Sque d butter. it in with the melte the thyme and stir ce the fish Pla s. wl serve it in bo Drain the veg and tter. bu ur over the lemon fillets on top and po ! joy En st. on ze Sprinkle with the lem

August 2020 27

SPECIAL SITES REOPENING

Many happy After more than three months of lockdown, we were delighted to welcome you back to our UK sites in July. Here is how you can look forward to further touring adventures this year Charlie Davey enjoying the New Forest on site reopening day in England

Back on tour

m Send photos fro wn do ck your first post-lo / m trip to camc.co g us on photowall or ta ram or Facebook, Instag away et Twitter using #g yourway

I

n the words of American songstress Irene Cara in the title song of the 1983 hit film, Flashdance, what a feeling! It was just amazing to be able to welcome you back on site on Saturday 4 July after more than three months of lockdown. And it seems you shared in our excitement – not only did so many of you check in on the first day campsites in England were permitted to welcome visitors since mid-March, but you have been making forward bookings in your droves.

Here, we take a look at the role the Club played in the reopening of UK sites and how things will be different on site (for a while at least), and hear from one caravanning family who, like many, are thrilled to be back touring.

SITES REOPENING: THE CLUBS ROLE

On this month’s News pages you can read how extensive lobbying of MPs (with Club sites in their constituencies) and government by the Club was a major factor in Prime Minister

OUR COVID SECURE COMMITMENT While some new site processes and procedures may be unfamiliar and take slightly longer than usual due to Covid Secure protocols, our usual high standards of friendliness and cleanliness will ensure you continue to enjoy the great outdoors with us.

ARRIVING ON SITE

The next time you arrive on site you will notice a few changes, including: n A contactless arrival and departure process wherever possible – please do not pay by cash.

In addition to telephone credit card payments, we have developed a contactless process to deal with UK Club site vouchers, site night 28 August 2020

vouchers and gift vouchers. n Check-in will be by phone (from your car/motorhome).

The phone number will be clearly displayed by the entrance. A member of the site staff team will take payment (via the phone) and provide you with all the details you need. If you are unable to check in by phone, you will be advised of an alternative process on arrival. n Site maps will be outside reception so you know where to pitch.

PITCHING UP

n The vast majority of our pitches are at least 6m apart laterally from the centre, so we already have good social distancing in place. n Upon arrival, a member of the site staff will advise you of pitching options.

USING THE TOILET BLOCKS

n Weve increased the rigour and frequency of cleaning and sanitising products, and enhanced the regularity of disinfecting surfaces across all common areas.

returns The intriguing Nine Ladies Stone Circle, near Birchover in Derbyshire – nearest Club site Chatsworth Park (photo by member Katie Dudley)

FRIENDS REUNITED

Brecon Beacons Club site

Boris Johnson’s announcement on 23 June that campsites in England could reopen in July – news followed that Scottish and Welsh venues could also open their doors in due course.

Our site teams and staff at head office the put in a massive effort to ensure we would be ready to welcome you – at 114 sites in England, 16 in Scotland and 11 locations in Wales (as we went to press). Keep an eye out on the Club website for details of when sites in Northern Ireland will reopen.

We have adopted a phased reopening of our sites to ensure that they are adapted to the new social distancing and safety requirements set out by the UK government and administration.

Rest assured, we will constantly review whether we are able to open more campsites in the future. Our priority is first and foremost the health and safety of our members, guests, staff and the local communities.

Please note that waste water and toilet disposal points are open across the network.

Certificated Locations (CLs) and Affiliated Sites were able to open from dates specified by

n A process will be in place to control the number of people in the facility at any one time in line with current guidelines. n If the facility has reached its capacity level, there will be a need to queue externally. n Please observe the floor markings, which will indicate the appropriate social distancing requirements. Do not enter any narrow area unless it is clear you can pass to your destination.

USING OTHER COMMUNAL FACILITIES

n Our other common facilities such as service points, laundry rooms, information rooms and waste disposal areas will be limited to use by one www.camc.com

“

May I publicly thank industry colleagues at BH&HPA, C&CC, NCC and Members of Parliament across the land. By working together we have been able to work to successfully convince the Government that sites and CLs can now safely open.

Nick Lomas, Club Director General

”

Why not reunite with your friends and family at one of our fantastic UK Experience Freedom glamping sites? While you pitch up in your caravan or motorhome, your non-touring friends or family can enjoy the luxury offered by our glamping pods, yurts and Airstreams. From Brighton and Daleacres on the south coast to Coniston Park Coppice and Troutbeck Head in the north of England, we have some of the finest glamping locations in the UK – the perfect way to safely see your non-touring friends or family and make the most of the great outdoors. See experiencefreedom. co.uk for further information and to book.

government (please contact them directly for further information and to make bookings).

The vast majority of CL owners have told us they are very keen to reopen their sites; indeed, in a recent survey, over 80% of owners said they were looking forward to welcoming members back once restrictions were lifted in their area.

There’s interest in opening new CLs, too –

family group at any one time to meet social distancing requirements. n Should the facility be occupied or in use, there will be the need to queue externally. n Please observe the floor markings, which will indicate the appropriate social distancing requirements.

USING SOCIAL AREAS

n At this time all of our shops, restaurants, bars, swimming pools, playgrounds, games rooms and social areas will remain closed. Our shops, restaurants and bars will operate in line with government guidelines.

n A telephone ‘order and collect’ service for essential items such as LPG, toilet chemicals and awning pegs will be available from the site staff. n On-site restaurants will offer a takeaway service. n Mobile catering units will be available on some sites with a collection-only facility; observe social distancing rules while queueing. n Grocery shopping can be delivered to a designated area on site, following direction from the site staff.

August 2020 29

SPECIAL SITES REOPENING

“

Great to be out again and staying at Putts Corner. Made very welcome by the staff and the Covid safety measures are very reassuring.

Scott Russell, Club member

”

around 35 new sites will be joining our network over the next month or so, and during lockdown the Club received more than 70 applications from landowners interested in opening a CL. “We know our members have been missing coming to our campsites, and we’ve missed seeing them,” said Club Director Nick Lomas.

“We are introducing our own Covid Secure Commitment [see foot of pages for more], in line with government guidelines, to help

BACK ON SITE: A MEMBER’S VIEW

Information

st For the very late K Club information on U tes and sites, Affiliated Si com/ CLs, see camc. reopening

members, guests and staff keep safe and well on site. Club campsites offer plenty of space; they are the ideal places for people to relax and stay safe while on holiday. Indeed, our lifestyle lends itself well to social distancing.”

To ease pressure on our site staff and Contact Centre during what are sure to be busy times ahead, may we please ask you to always check camc.com/reopening before planning your adventures.

‘We’re Good To Go is the official UK mark to signal that a tourism and hospitality business has worked hard to follow government and industry Covid-19 guidelines and has a process in place to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing.

OUR COVID SECURE COMMITMENT WHAT IF I’M UNWELL ON SITE?

n Go to 111.nhs.uk (for people aged 5 and over only) or call 111. n Call the site phone number provided at check-in to let the site manager know.

CHECKING OUT

n Please leave any barrier or facilities keys at the exit in the box marked ‘Keys’. We will retrieve the keys and ensure they are cleaned and sanitised.

DOING YOUR BIT ON SITE

n Where possible, use your own onboard

30 August 2020

facilities to help manage demand levels for the toilet blocks. n Please be considerate of other members needs to access shared facilities by minimising your dwell time. n Keep to footpaths where possible and avoid shortcutting across pitches. n Always follow the current government guidance on site and in the local area. n Respect social distancing. n Limit social gatherings to a maximum of six people outside. n Regularly wash your hands for 20 seconds.

Regular magazine contributor Lee Davey and his caravanning family were excited about booking a pitch at our New Forest Centenary site for 4-5 July. How did Covid precautions change their holiday experience?

Lee takes up the story...

“Contactless check-in is the ‘new normal’ and, having booked a pitch online, we received a call from a member of site staff who took payment and allocated us an arrival window.

“With up to 240 outfits descending on the New Forest site in a single day, staggering arrival times was key.

Despite having 27 other members sharing the 12-1pm slot with us, pre-prepared arrival packs and pitch numbers meant just four units were in the queue when we arrived.

Considerable time had been spent preparing everything and, as we pulled forward, a PPE-equipped member of staff greeted us with an envelope bearing the registration number of our vehicle.

Understandably, contactless check-in will be with us for some time.

“During our second day, we saw members pulling into the new arrivals lane and calling the reception desk using phone numbers displayed on new Covid signage. Thanks to a sizeable – and now screened – reception area, the New Forest Centenary site staff team could conduct things in near normality during busier periods, although sites with smaller reception areas may have to conduct things differently.

“Unsurprisingly, washblock use is limited with a one-way system for peak-time queues. Wrist bands (in sterilising fluid) at the entrance grant access and, once inside, every other sink and cubicle is closed to ensure social distancing is maintained.

A welcome letter explained all the processes and removed any guesswork.

“A fellow member told me that, ‘It’s fantastic to get out again and it’s important to follow the instructions so we can keep enjoying our favourite sites.’ This sentiment was underlined by a member of staff who said that reopening would not have been possible without help and understanding from members, each of whom followed the guidance given and did so correctly and without question.

“Grinning like a Cheshire cat while welcoming the next person in the queue, I heard him say, ‘It’s great to have you all back. Having an empty site just didn’t feel right.’” www.camc.com

NE W DISCOVER THE NEW Pro Series

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The new Avtex DRS-PRO series sets a new standard in mobile portable entertainment.

• Watch one programme and record another on any platform Digital TV or Satellite TV at the same time • Watch a DVD and record a TV programme at the same time • Timer record from programme guide – Pause / Playback live TV • Instant record on Digital TV or Satellite TV to USB or HDD (not included) • DVB-T2 /S2 Tuners • AQT one button tuning system (Ideal for touring) • On screen battery meter • Mains/battery 240v AC/12v/24v DC

Available in 19.5” 21.5” 24” Full HD screen sizes

The new Avtex connected TV series with Freeview Play. Scroll forwards and backwards through the TV guide for 7-day catch up, plus loads more on demand with BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All4, My5 & UKTV Play. Watch channels only accessible with a connected TV. • • • • • • • •

Full HD connected TV with built-in satellite decoder Tuners DVB-T/ DVBT-2 / DVBS / DVBS2 Freeview HD Freeview Play 7 day forwards and 7 day backwards programme guide AQT one button tuning system (Ideal for touring) On screen battery meter Mains/battery 240v AC/12v/24v DC

Available in 19” 21” 24” 27” Full HD screen sizes

for further information call:

02920 847670 avtex.co.uk

Availability of channels subject to geographic location and coverage. Aerial upgrade may be required. Visit freeview.co.uk/availability. Minimum broadband speed of 2Mbps required for

www.camc.com November 2019 13 catch up and on demand services. Watching on demand and catch up programmes will count towards any monthly broadband data allowance. 7-day catch up for selected channels.

TOURING UK SITES

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please keep up to date with current travel guidelines on the Government website (gov.uk) and visit our website (camc.com) regarding Club site opening information. We also recommend that you check with businesses/attractions that are listed regarding opening dates/availability. We hope you enjoy the article and that it will give you some good ideas for your own future holidays.

Work 32 May 2020

www.camc.com

Art Alison and Elizabeth Fowler explore a region that inspired the likes of J M W Turner, discovering beautiful countryside and fascinating industrial heritage in equal measure The famous Char Hut on the shore of Buttermere

www.camc.com

James Whitesmith / Alamy

of

May 2020 33

TOURING UK SITES

“

The wild beauty has long attracted artists, writers and poets

1

Old Kiln Farm

Certificated Location Six miles north of Maryport, this quiet, coastal site on a working farm is close to a sandy beach and offers expansive views.

Contact: 01900 881229

”

Derwentwater and Keswick from Walla Crag

Culture Senhouse Roman Museum, The Battery, Sea Brows, Maryport CA15 6JD Contact: senhouse museum.co.uk, 01900 816168 Wordsworth House, Main Street, Cockermouth CA13 9RX Contact: nationaltrust.org.uk, 01900 824805

Outdoor fun Solway Cycle Hire, East Sea Bank, Allonby CA15 6PT Contact: solwaycyclehire.co.uk, 07551 750373

Tony Gage

Solway Wetlands Centre at RSPB Campfield Marsh, Wigton CA7 5AG (main entrance at North Plain Farm, 1.5 miles west of Bowness on Solway) Contact: solwaywetlands.org.uk, rspb.org.uk, 01697 351330

For the family Cave at the Wave (indoor caving centre) at the Wave Centre, Irish Street, Maryport CA15 8AD Contact: better.org.uk, 01900 811450 Lake District Coast Aquarium, South Quay, Maryport CA15 8AB Contact: coastaquarium.co.uk, 01900 814774

34 August 2020

T

he North-West of England is an area of immense diversity, offering an abundance of magical places to visit. It has breathtaking countryside, delightful coastline, exciting cities and picturesque villages, and contains a National Park (the Lake District) as well as no fewer than three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Arnside and Silverdale, the Solway Coast and the spectacular Forest of Bowland).

We began our trip in the Lakes, where the wild beauty has long attracted artists, writers and poets. Home to many of England’s largest

lakes and tarns, 10 of its highest mountains and four ancient forests, there are even sandy beaches, one of which was only 100 metres from our first stopping point – Old Kiln Farm, near the seaside village of Allonby. The views from this Certificated Location include not only the Irish Sea but Skiddaw mountain and the Scottish hills.

After breakfast we took the coast road to the Victorian seaside resort of Silloth (within the aforementioned Solway Coast AONB), known for its superb sunsets which were much admired by JMW Turner. We spent a lovely couple of hours wandering the elegant, tree-lined streets, seafront green and splendid www.camc.com

2

Dockray Meadow A lovely, scenic site on the edge of the Lake District National Park. There are plenty of walks from the site and it’s close to the ‘C2C’ coast-to-coast cycle route.

Pitches: 54

John Oakey / Alamy

Club site

Culture Hardknott Roman Fort, Hardknott Pass, Eskdale CA19 1TH (please note that Hardknott Pass is unsuitable for towing, or for larger vehicles) Contact: english-heritage.org.uk Ravenglass Roman Bath House, Ravenglass CA18 1SR Contact: english-heritage.org.uk

Outdoor fun RSPB St Bees Head, Beach Road, Saint Bees CA27 0EN Contact: rspb.org.uk, 016973 51330 Climb Scafell Pike, various options available but for most popular route use National Trust Lake Head car park in Wasdale Contact: nationaltrust.org.uk

three-mile promenade. A visit to the harbour was essential as its fishing fleet specialises in Solway Brown Shrimps, a big favourite of ours.

COMING INTO DOCK

Our next site was to the south, near Lamplugh, which meant driving through Maryport, so we stopped off at the town’s harbour-based Maritime Museum. Although small, it is packed full of fascinating exhibits charting the town’s proud seafaring heritage, and the staff there are exceedingly knowledgeable. Well worth a visit.

We arrived at Dockray Meadow later that afternoon to find a tranquil site, nestled www.camc.com

among hills and trees and only half a mile from the old reservoir at Cogra Moss, now popular with anglers. We walked to the waterside before supper to take in the views of the fells, which loom imposingly over the surface.

In the morning we made for the exceptionally beautiful Ennerdale Water; the most westerly of the lakes and the most remote. We allowed ourselves a few hours here to walk the seven-mile footpath that circumnavigates the lake – it is a fabulous route, but we were glad to have stout footwear as the going gets a little rocky in the area below Angler’s Crag.

For the family Egremont Castle, Egremont Contact: visitcumbria.com Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway, Ravenglass GREAT Station, Ravenglass SAVINGS CA18 1SW GUIDE Contact: ravenglassrailway.co.uk, 01229 717171 Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide

August 2020 35

3

Borrowdale Club site

A delightful woodland site close to the southern tip of Derwentwater and ideally situated for exploring the beautiful Northern Lakes area.

Pitches: 59

Izel Photography / Alam

TOURING UK SITES

At the summit of Glaramara

Culture Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick CA12 5DJ Contact: theatrebythelake.com, 01768 774411

Castlerigg Stone Circle, Castle Lane, Under Skiddaw, Keswick CA12 4RN Contact: english-heritage. org.uk

Outdoor fun Aira Force waterfall, near Watermillock, CA11 0JS Contact: nationaltrust.org.uk, 01768 482067 Ullswater ‘Steamers’, GREAT The Pier House, SAVINGS Glenridding CA11 0US GUIDE Contact: ullswatersteamers.co.uk, 017684 82229 Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide

For the family Honister Slate Mine, Honister Pass, Borrowdale CA12 5XN GREAT Contact: honister.com, SAVINGS G UIDE 017687 77230 Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide Whinlatter Forest Park (multiple activities), Whinlatter Pass, Keswick CA12 5TW Contact: forestryengland.uk, 017687 78469

36 August 2020

BOOKING INFO The majority of our UK sites have reopened – for latest details, please see camc.com/ adventure centre. With commanding views of the reopening

Continuing the water-based theme, we drove east to Buttermere so we could take in the impressive Scale Force falls. Tucked away in a deep, tree-lined gorge, Scale Force is the tallest waterfall in the Lake District, with three separate sections. It is a two-and-a-half-mile round trip from Buttermere on fairly easy paths, but it can be wet underfoot.

From there it was a relatively quick jaunt to the Borrowdale Club site, which is set in National Trust woodland, just a short walk from Derwentwater and only about five miles from the pretty market town of Keswick.

Fancying something a little different, we booked a course at the Glaramara outdoor

Borrowdale fells, Glaramara offers a huge range of options including abseiling, archery, caving, climbing, ghyll scrambling (gorge walking) and rafting – but we opted for coracle building. We had no idea what we were doing but the instructors were excellent and it was a lot of fun; at the end we even got to test our vessel in the River Derwent (and got a bit damp!).

BALANCING ACT

On our way back to the site we stopped to see the famous Bowder Stone – a colossal rock, seeming balanced on one edge and looking for www.camc.com

A typical English Lakeland pub close to Grasmere

4

Thursland Hill Fisheries Richard Allen / Alamy

Certificated Location A small, exceptionally peaceful location, based on a fishery and sited over two separate fields offering either lakeside or forest-facing pitches.

Contact: 01524 751076 Sites Directory & Handbook p381

Seaside donkey on Blackpool Beach

Culture Lancaster Castle, Castle Parade, Lancaster LA1 1YJ Contact: lancastercastle.com, 01524 237310 GB Antiques Centre, GREAT Lancaster Leisure Park, SAVINGS GUIDE Wyresdale Road, Lancaster LA1 3LA Contact: gbantiquescentre.com, 01524 844734 Member offer available: camc.com/greatsavingsguide

parkerphotography / Alamy

Outdoor fun

www.camc.com

Glasson Dock, Lancaster LA2 0BT Contact: visitlancashire.com

For the family

Scale Force waterfall

Tony Gage

Butterfly House, Williamson Park, Quernmore Road, Lancaster LA1 1UX Contact: lancaster.gov.uk, 01524 33318

Stewart Smith / Alamy

all the world as though it is about to topple (you can climb a ladder to the top). The Stone was established as a tourist attraction in 1798 by wealthy newcomer Joseph Pocklington. He built a cottage there and accommodated an old woman to give the place a “quaint atmosphere”.

She is sadly long gone but you may spot red squirrels in the surrounding woods.

Our afternoon destination was the 17th-century Mirehouse, close to the shores of Bassenthwaite Lake, where you can find numerous attractive paths through gardens and woodland. We walked to the enchanting little church of St Bega, then continued down to Bassenthwaite’s placid waters where the views were divine.

Bowland Wild Boar Park, Chipping, Preston, PR3 2QT Contact: wildboarpark.co.uk, 01995 61075

Maritime Museum, Custom House, St Georges Quay, Lancaster LA1 1RB Contact: lancaster.gov.uk, 01524 382264 August 2020 37

TOURING UK SITES

5

Greenacres

This adults-only site enjoys a rural location. There is a sandy beach within 1½ miles, a farm shop opposite and a bus route passes the main gate.

Contact: 01253 790851

Katharine Eastham / Alamy

Certificated Location

“

We followed a magical road featuring wild expanses of open moorland Forest of Bowland AONB

”

Culture

Outdoor fun Brock Bottom (walk), Brock Mill Lane, Claughton PR3 0PP Contact: wyre.gov.uk

Tony Gage

Bowland Visitor Centre, Beacon Fell Country Park, Goosnargh, Preston PR3 2NL Contact: forestofbowland.com

For the family Old Holly Farm, Cabus Nook Lane, Garstang PR3 1AA Contact: oldhollyfarm.com, 01524 791200 Fleetwood to Knott End foot passenger ferry, Fleetwood Ferry Terminal, The Slipway, The Esplanade, Fleetwood Contact: visitfleetwood.info

38 August 2020

Rebecca Cole / Alamy

Fleetwood Museum, 6-7 Queen’s Terrace, Fleetwood FY7 6BT Contact: fleetwood museum.co.uk, 01253 876621

Drew Buckley / Alamy

Marine Hall Theatre, The Esplanade, Fleetwood FY7 6HF Contact: wyretheatres.co.uk, 01253 887693

From Mirehouse it is a quick drive to Dodd Wood’s osprey viewpoints. High-powered telescopes and binoculars are provided and there were very helpful RSPB staff on hand when we visited. We stayed for quite a while and were lucky enough to see the magnificent birds soar above the lake and demonstrate their astonishing fishing prowess.

Our itinerary then meant heading southwards once again, as we were booked into the quiet Thursland Hill Fisheries Certificated Location, south of Lancaster. We packed a picnic and journeyed right through the Lake District – past Helvellyn, through Grasmere, Rydal and Ambleside, skirting Windermere, and finally passing Sizergh Castle.

Our first break was at Crook O’ Lune, a picnic spot on the north-western tip of the

Bowland Fells, where the River Lune cuts an enormous arc through the landscape – it’s a view which Turner captured in 1816. Having relaxed awhile, it was off to Lancaster for a canal trip with Kingfisher Cruises aboard a traditional barge. We glided past refurbished mills and the very fine cathedral, then out into the North Lancashire countryside to the iconic, Grade I-listed Lune Aqueduct, which carries the waterway some 53ft above the river.

BOWLED OVER

The next day, from our Thursland Hill Fisheries base, we drove into the heart of the Forest of Bowland. We followed the Trough of Bowland – a magical road featuring wild expanses of open moorland, steep-sided cloughs and wooded valleys. At times it is www.camc.com

6

Burrs Country Park Club site

Based in a country park by the River Irwell, this site is great for countryside walks and is within easy reach of Bury town centre.

Pitches: 103

Culture

MediaWor

ldImages /

Alamy

y MediaWorldImages / Alam

Peel Tower and Holcombe Hill, Harcles Hill, Holcombe, Ramsbottom Contact: visitbury.com

dark and brooding and one can easily imagine how the poor innocents in the Pendle witch trials felt as they were taken along this route towards Lancaster Castle in 1612.

We were headed for Dunsop Bridge, a charming village that was long thought to be the geographical centre of Britain (before modern GPS systems revealed that the point actually lay in nearby Whitendale).

St Hubert’s, the small but magnificent church here, built to the design of Edward Pugin, and is definitely worth a visit.

Leaving Thursland Hill we travelled south-west to our fifth stop, on the outskirts of the village of Pilling. The Greenacres CL is a rural site surrounded by farmland and within easy reach of the coast. Blessed with another sunny day, we made straight for the www.camc.com

From far left: red squirrel, Dodd Wood, near Keswick; on Nethermost Pike, Lake District; Ramsbottom is home to a chocolate festival... and atmospheric station

Victorian seaside resort of Fleetwood, where we strolled along the marvellous promenade, lazed in the landscaped Marine Hall Gardens and explored the famous market.

Next it was off to the Fleetwood Ferry tram stop to take the traditional Blackpool Tramway nine miles down the Fylde coast to the eponymous Lancashire resort. The line was constructed in 1885, making it one of the oldest electric tramways in the world – fortunately the new coaches are rather more comfortable than the old bone-shakers!

We headed for the ‘Eye’ at the top of Blackpool Tower, from where the panoramic views over the town and out across the Irish Sea are spectacular. We braved the glass floor too, through which you can watch tiny people on the crowded streets below.

British In India Museum, Hendon Mill, Hallam Road, Nelson BB9 8AD Contact: visitpendle.com, 01282 613129 Member offer available: GREAT camc.com/ SAVINGS GUIDE greatsavingsguide

Outdoor fun Lowes Park Golf Club, Hilltop, Lowes Road, Bury BL9 6SU Contact: lowespark.golf, 0161 7641231 Bolton’s Industrial Heritage Walking Trail, Bolton Town Hall (starting point), Victoria Square, Bolton BL1 1SA Contact: gmwalking.co.uk

For the family Turton Tower, Chapeltown Road, Turton, Bolton BL7 0HG Contact: turtontower.co.uk, 01204 852203 East Lancashire Railway, Bolton Street Station, Bury BL9 0EY (or take the train from the station next to the Club site) Contact: eastlancsrailway. org.uk Member offer available: GREAT camc.com/ SAVINGS greatsavingsguide GUIDE

August 2020 39

TOURING UK SITES

Illustration: Louise Turpin

BURY TREASURE

tim gartside / Alamy

Salford Quays

40

In the morning we drove to Bury and the Burrs Country Park Club site, which nestles in a bend on the River Irwell and is just a few minutes’ stroll from East Lancashire Railway's newest station. From the latter you can enjoy trips aboard a classic steam train to the likes of Bury, Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall (see our Great Savings Guide for a discount).

The remarkable Irwell Sculpture Trail passes through the park, and some artworks can be seen just a short walk from the pitches.

The trail is 30 miles long in total, stretching from Salford Quays to the Irwell’s source on the Pennine Moors. We followed it into Bury to explore the famous market’s 370+ stalls.

The Fish and Meat Hall boasts an extensive selection of local produce, including the world famous Bury Black Pudding (a vegetarian version is also available).

After lunch we headed for Bolton, a town with a rich heritage due to its association with the textile industry. Much of the architecture resulted from wealth created during the industrial revolution, and you will find many listed buildings – 65 in the town centre alone!

It’s also home to the statue of legendary steeplejack Fred Dibnah (on Oxford Street).

The next morning we went south again to our final stopover at Royal Vale Affiliated Site near Allostock. This is a newly-developed site set in a landscaped park surrounded by verdant Cheshire countryside. It’s a mecca for lovers of historic houses and gardens (many of which are within easy reach of the site), but we were looking for something a little different, opting for a trip to the the Anderton Boat Lift. This ingenious piece of machinery was designed to raise boats and barges 50ft from the River Weaver onto the Trent and Mersey Canal. Built in 1875, it remained in use until 1983 and re-opened following restoration in 2002. We booked one of the ‘behind the scenes tours’ which takes you onto the aqueduct, into the control room, and finally out onto the top of the lift – it’s not for you if you are afraid of heights!

Just a 15-minute drive away is the Weaver Hall Museum in Northwich, where local stories are told through films, reconstructions and models. The Romans built a settlement at Northwich due to the presence of brine springs, and soldiers were paid partly in salt, a scarce and valuable commodity. Centuries later, in 1670, the old salt beds were accidently rediscovered by employees of a wealthy local family in the grounds of their house and salt extraction recommenced shortly afterwards.

After lunch we set off for Nether Alderley for a guided tour of the old corn mill, which was constructed in the 16th century. Now carefully restored, its historical flour-grinding service www.camc.com

7

Royal Vale Affiliated Site

UK City Images / Alamy

Eric Farrelly / Alamy

A new, beautifully-landscaped site in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, easily accessed from the M6 and close to the market town of Knutsford.

Pitches: 62

Above: Anderton Boat Lift Left: the water mill at Nether Alderley

continues anew, and visitors can purchase a bag of the mill’s own, stoneground wholemeal flour to take home.

Sadly, that was where we were headed next.

Our tour of North-West England had been a busy one. We saw beautiful lakes and lofty fells, bustling seaside towns and desolate moorland, fascinating museums, wonderful wildlife and incredible architecture. The Anderton Boat Lift

was a particular highlight as we are both canal aficionados. We felt as though we had only scratched the surface of all that this area has to offer and are eager to return.

Sandbach Crosses, Market Square, Sandbach CW11 1AT Contact: english-heritage.org.uk

Outdoor fun Arley Hall & Gardens, Northwich CW9 6NA Contact: arleyhallandgardens. com, 01565 777353 Clay Lane Farm Trout Fishery, Clay Lane, Mobberley WA16 7BH Contact: claylanetroutfishery. co.uk, 01565 873337

Cycling | Whitehaven to Rowrah

trans

second half, with astonishing Lake District views, before coming to the village of Rowrah. Route plan: https:// www.sustrans.org.uk/finda-route-on-the-nationalcycle-network/whitehaven-tosheriffs-gate-rowrah/

Tom Kay/Sus

From the Irish sea to the edge of the Lake District, this nine-mile, largely traffic-free route on the National Cycle Network forms the gentle, family-friendly beginning of the much longer and challenging C2C route. After Whitehaven harbour, you’ll join the wooded railway path, with views of verdant meadows and imposing fells through the trees. The scene opens out in the

Culture The Tabley House Collection, Tabley House, Tabley Lane, Knutsford WA16 0HB Contact: tableyhouse. co.uk, 01565 750151 Member offer GREAT available: camc.com/ SAVINGS G UIDE greatsavingsguide

For the family Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, Macclesfield SK11 9DL Contact: jodrellbank.net, 01477 571766

www.camc.com

Cheesden Valley Project

Use the ViewRanger walking app to enjoy a moderate, six-mile walk to the north-east of Bury that starts at St John’s Church in Birtle and takes in the Cheesden Brook, which has carved its path through the sandstone of the West Pennines. You will see the remains of some of the textile mills and works that once crowded this narrow valley. Following the seven-day free trial, Club members save 12% on a PREMIUM + Ordnance Survey Maps for Great Britain subscription with ViewRanger.

See camc.com/viewranger for details.

/ Alamy

Walking | Cheesden Valley, Lancashire

Segway and Bungee Experience, Tatton Park, Knutsford WA16 6SG (sat-nav) Contact: tattonpark.org.uk, 01625 374400 August 2020 41

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43 August 2020

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: : David Taylor Photography : : / Alamy

TOURING CERTIFICATED LOCATIONS

CL SITES UPDATES Alnwick Castle

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 – check with the CL owner before booking.

NOTE: CL entries are identified by a reference/map number in the 2019/20 Sites Directory & Handbook. They are listed here using thesame number, unless otherwise shown.

UPDATES

IMPORTANT: Nightly fees may differ from those published in the

www.camc.com

Directory due to a change of facilities or ownership. It is therefore essential to confirm current fees when enquiring or making a booking. Not all CLs accompanied by a pub symbol in the Directory are located on the site of a public house – some are near to a pub (up to three miles away), so please check with the owner before visiting.

1190 ALNWICK – Pippins Park.

Email: pippinspark@gmail.com 2061 ABERYSTWYTH – Aberffrwd Farm. Please call 07811 198716 for bookings.

CLOSURES The following five-pitch CLs are closed and no longer certified by the Club. This does not affect any other business that a landowner may be operating.

39 MILTON KEYNES – Frost and Lewis Partnership, Milford Leys Farm 912 LINCOLN – Mr and Mrs Dalton, Bridge Farm 1252 WITNEY – Mr C A Brown, Hill Grove Farm 1328 BURNHAM-ON-SEA – Mr and Mrs Gooding, wBecks Farm 2039 CAERPHILLY – Mrs M Beaton, Gellideg Uchaf Farm

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Please follow official Government guidelines on travel and social distancing at all times (gov.uk). Please check our website (camc.com/ reopening) for current Club site information and with individual CL owners with regarding their opening schedules.

August 2020 43

NEW Adventures TOURING OVERSEAS TRAVEL

Whether you choose an escorted or independent motorhome tour, a New Zealand break will live long in the memory

Bay of Islands and (inset) Mount Cook

NEW ZEALAND DISCOVERY This incredible 36-day tour takes in the most spectacular aspects of the land of the long white cloud. Experienced local tour leaders will guide you every step of the way as you traverse both the South and North islands on this trip of a lifetime.

Having explored the exhilarating city of Christchurch and picked up your comfortable Maui motorhome, you will head south-west across the Canterbury plains towards Lake Pukaki in Mount Cook National Park, a region of breathtaking mountain scenery and glacial lakes.

When you are back on the east coast, be sure to stop at Koekohe Beach to see the mysterious Moeraki Boulders . It’s then on to Dunedin – where you can embark on a cruise to the Otago Peninsula, home to penguins, sea lions and more.

Next on the itinerary is Te Anau, the gateway to the Fiordland National Park, where you might like to visit the famed

“

glow worm caves, illuminated by hundreds of tiny bioluminescent larvae. On the 10th day you will enjoy a full day’s excursion to Milford Sound, where you will embark on a cruise against a backdrop of mountains, waterfalls and forests.It’s then on to Queensland, a town boasting extraordinary views of Lake Wakatipu, before you head into Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

Here, a guided walk onto the Fox and Franz Josef glaciers is highly recommended.

WILLING AND ABEL

By day 17 you will have reached the Kaiteriteri region, where you can take part in a kayak excursion to Split Apple Rock – it is said that the giant globe-like rock was split in two by warring gods – or enjoy a dolphin-spotting cruise along the coast of Abel Tasman National Park.

However, it will soon be time to set sail across the Cook Strait to Wellington on

The most amazing holiday of our lives

”

Christine Keylock

New Zealand’s North Island. While in the capital be sure to visit the Te Papa museum to learn about the country’s history and Māori heritage.

Next up is Napier on the east coast, in the famous Hawke’s Bay wine region – take a trip to a vineyard or see the huge gannet colony at Cape Kidnappers.

Rotorua is your next destination – here you can visit the ‘Champagne Pool’ and Lady Knox Geyser at Wai-O-Tapu or view the boiling mud pools and silica terraces of the Te Puia Thermal Reserve.

As your magical trip nears its conclusion you journey on to the magnificent Coromandel Peninsula. Here you could dig your very own bath on the sands at Hot Water Beach or head for the huge stone arch of Cathedral Cove. Then, over on the Hibiscus Coast, you arrive at Orewa with its 3km beach, and then it’s on to Russell in the beautiful Bay of Islands – the perfect spot for three days of relaxation.

Finally, you have the opportunity to explore the city of Auckland, where a farewell dinner offers the perfect opportunity to reminisce with new friends.

Duration/type: 36 days/escorted motorhome tour Departures: 26 Jan 2021, 23 Feb 2021 Price: from £6,399 per person for 23 Feb 2021 departure, based on two sharing Price includes: outfit hire for 29 days, return flights, all transfers, hotel stays in Christchurch and Auckland including breakfast, 28 nights at pre-booked campsites, local tour leaders, Milford Sound cruise, dinner at the Skyline Restaurant in Queenstown, Hangi Feast in Rotorua, welcome and farewell dinners

For more information on this tour please visit camc.com/worldwide or call 01342 488059 44 August 2020

www.camc.com

“

A very good way to see New Zealand at a pace you can decide

”

Charles Kirk

A Maui motorhome and (inset) Lake Wanaka

WONDERS OF NEW ZEALAND Explore this extraordinary country at your own pace on a 22-day independent motorhome tour. All of your campsite bookings will be taken care of, and you’ll receive a suggested itinerary in your hired motorhome – so all you need to do is enjoy your adventure!

That route takes in many of the same attractions as the New Zealand Discovery’ tour on the opposite page, but this time your odyssey begins on the North Island in the magnificent harbourside city of Auckland – known as the City of Sails. You will have the opportunity to explore at your leisure, perhaps taking in views from the top of the Sky Tower.

Once you have picked up your motorhome, you will head southwards towards the famous geothermal region of Rotorua. Take the chance to learn more about Māori culture – evening trips can be arranged that involve storytelling, entertainment and traditional food.

As you head onwards to Lake Taupo, be sure to visit Huka Falls, where nearly a quarter of a million litres of water plunge through a narrow gorge every second.

Your final stop on the North Island is in the capital city of Wellington, where a climb to the Mount Victoria Lookout offers wonderful 360˚ views.

For many, the Interislander ferry trip across the Cook Strait to the South Island is one of the highlights of the entire tour – if you are lucky you might spot dolphins, whales or seabirds such as albatrosses with their three-metre wingspans.

After arriving in Picton you will traverse the top of the South Island for the coastal town of Nelson. Here you can explore the local beaches or head off into the beautiful Abel Tasman National Park.

Travelling south via the awe-inspiring Fox and Franz Josef glaciers and magical Lake Wanaka, you will eventually arrive in Queenstown – renowned as the adventure capital of New Zealand.

Options here include jet boat trips and

“

gondola rides, but we highly recommend you take a day trip to Milford Sound, an area of breathtaking beauty that will live long in the memory.

More jawdropping scenery awaits on the Otago Peninsula (where you might spot seals, sea lions and more) before you reach your final destination – Christchurch. Once you have returned your motorhome there will be time to explore this magnificent city before catching your flight back to the UK.

Duration/type: 22 days/ independent motorhome tour Departures: all year round Price: from £3,599 per person for Mar 2021 departure, based on two sharing Price includes: outfit hire for 16 days, return flights, all transfers, hotel stays in Auckland and Christchurch, 15 nights at prebooked campsites, ferry crossing across the Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton

We liked the fact that the Club took control of everything and it was all organised for us

”

Pauline Foskett

For more information on this tour please visit camc.com/worldwide or call 01342 488059 www.camc.com

August 2020 45

COUNTRY MATTERS HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH

“

Insect life is changing. There is an increase in the numbers of some species that might formerly have been considered as ‘Mediterranean’ In flight the hummingbird hawkmoth resembles a hummingbird, beating its wings 80 times per second!

46

”

Special guests David Chapman reports on how climate change is encouraging a diversity of species in the UK – including a particularly spectacular winged insect

47

COUNTRY MATTERS HUMMINGBIRD HAWKMOTH

“

It can be seen hovering at flowers, drinking nectar with its long proboscis

”

Thirsty work for the hawkmoth

HAWKMOTH WATCH

For the best chance of seeing these moths, head to the coast, particularly the south coast, and look in gardens. I saw mine while staying at Merrose Farm Club site on The Roseland in Cornwall; other good sites might include: Looe (Cornwall), Hillhead (Devon), Rowan Park (West Sussex).

48 August 2020

T

hanks to increasingly accurate recording methods, our scientific understanding and the prevalence of 24-hour news, the subject of the changing climate is never far from our minds. The experts tell us that we can expect a warming climate across the globe, rising sea levels and more frequent severe weather events. You may be interested to note that, since 2002, we have recorded nine of the 10 hottest years over the past century. We concentrate a lot on how climate change will affect us – but what about our flora and fauna?

In the bird world we see our only two resident species of warbler – Cetti’s and Dartford – expanding their ranges thanks to milder winters, and we see a greater number of warblers from the Continent (such as blackcap and chiffchaff) over-wintering in the UK.

Insect life is changing. There is an increase in the numbers of some species that might formerly have been considered as ‘Mediterranean’; these include wasp spider, ivy mining bee, long-winged and short-winged conehead and red-veined darter to name but a few.

We have also seen many more migrant species of insect over the past few years. In 2019 we had an influx of painted lady butterflies and a good number of clouded yellows; we even had a few reports of the very rarely recorded long-tailed blue butterfly. In 2016 we had lots of ‘silver Y’ moths (French football stadium in the Euro 2016 final was inundated with them); and over the last few summers we have had some very unusual records of migrant dragonflies including the lesser emperor and southern migrant hawker.

Last August I caught up with one very special and distinctive migrant insect while staying at the Merrose Farm Club site on The Roseland in Cornwall. From here there is a pleasant coastal

AUGUST

LOOK OUT FOR

walk into Portscatho, and it was there, on the red valerian plants, that I spotted several hummingbird hawkmoths. .

HOVER CRAFT

The hummingbird hawkmoth is a day-flying moth that can be seen hovering at flowers, drinking nectar with its long proboscis, just like a hummingbird. As moths go, it is fairly large with a wingspan of about two inches, and when it hovers it is quite noticeable At rest it is a fairly non-descript insect – brown and not particularly attractive – but in flight it shows off its orange-coloured hind wings which flash in the sunlight as it darts from one flower to the next in the blink of an eye.

To manoeuvre at such speed its wings beat at a staggering 80 times per second which uses a lot of energy, so it needs to drink a lot of nectar.

This moth migrates northwards each year from its stronghold in the Mediterranean, and, when

conditions allow, some of them make it to the UK. They are commonest in the south but they occur all across Britain, usually near to the coast – for example, I remember seeing one in Filey a couple of years ago.

The individuals that find their way here in early summer often breed, so it isn’t uncommon for their larvae to be found on the leaves of bedstraw and for fresh moths to hatch out later in the summer. It is thought that hummingbird hawkmoths have occasionally over-wintered in Britain, probably by hibernating in garden sheds.

Generally, though, our winters are too cold for them – but if milder temperatures continue, this is another species that could become resident.

Here are a few insects which are becoming more common in the UK: n Wasp spider (above) – look for this in the south of England in heathland and areas of rank grassland n Long-winged conehead (far left) – this species of cricket was first recorded in the 1940s and is now found across the southern half of the UK in rank grassy areas n Short-winged conehead (left) – this species has expanded its distribution significantly in the last decade and can now be found across England and Wales n Ivy mining bee (below) – first recorded in the UK in 2001, this species of bee is expanding its range rapidly; it likes feeding on ivy flowers and so is found on the wing in late summer

MEMBER SINCE...

Motorhomer David Chapman joined the Club in 2000

August 2020 49

MILENCO MEMBER OFFERS SPECIAL DEALS

Sold Secure is the toughest approval rating Wraith Wheel Lock

High Security Commercial Steering Wheel Lock Is a Gold Sold Secure powerful theft deterrent.

Designed to be compact in size (length 76cm), easy to fit yet extremely strong and resistant to all types of attack. Fits all vehicle Steering Wheels.

Exceeds Sold Secure Gold Standard Corrosion resistant plastic cover Fits all caravan steel and alloy wheels Constructed from the highest quality steel

MGI Double/Single Plastic Steps are made by Milenco Torque Wrench Safety Kit is an essential piece of both available in 2 sizes. The MGI Giant Double Step tread measures 45 x 27cm and the Regular Double Step measures 36 x 22cm. These steps conform to the Caravan Safety Standard EN1645. Non-tip durable design with non-skid treads.

12V

9.5L XX August 2020

NEW

safety equipment for anybody who tows a caravan. It enables the user to correctly torque the caravan wheels to the manufacturer's specification. Supplied with wheel nut indicators, when attached these give a visual indication if any wheel nuts have worked loose.

by Leisure-Tec Germany, the creator of the MyCoolman brand with over 30 years experience of innovating portable cooling, is now available in the UK. • 9.5L Capacity (12x 330ml cans) • Cools up to 18°C below ambient temperature • Warms up to 40°C above ambient temperature • Near silent operation • Built in cupholders • Super compact • USB charging socket • See www.milenco.com for full details

Products you can trust

www.milenco.com

www.camc.com

SAVE WITH THE CLUB

THIS SUMMER

Club members saved more than £3million in 2019 by taking advantage of dozens of special offers – here’s a sample of some currently available…

GREAT DEALS WITH VOLVO

We are delighted to be able to offer members fantastic deals on new Volvo vehicles, including the award-winning XC40 (Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2020), XC60 (Caravan and Motorhome Club Towcar of the Year 2019) and V60 (2020 Class Winner) models. In 2019 members using our offers saved an average of £5,653. Find out more at camc.com/volvo.

20% discount at Roadchef Motorway service area operator Roadchef is offering Club members a 20% discount when they visit Costa, Fresh Food Cafe or Restbite at any of its 21 locations across the country. Dedicated touring parking facilities are available free of charge for up to two hours at some sites, and there is the option to pay for overnight parking if required.

For terms and conditions and to download vouchers, see camc.com/roadchef.

SAVE €10

on Liber-t tag or VIA-T tag application Club members save one €10 application fee when applying for: a Liber-t tag for use on French motorways or a VIA-T tag for use on motorways in Spain and Portugal.

The tags, which are attached to the windscreen, automatically open the toll barrier as you drive into an appropriate lane. Payments are later collected automatically in Sterling from your UK bank account.

For more details and terms and conditions visit camc.com/emovis.

Terms and conditions apply to all member offers – see camc.com/memberoffers for details www.camc.com

August 2020

51

MEMBER OFFERS SPECIAL DEALS

MORE SAVINGS FOR MEMBERS Save on maps, travel guides and more

Leading online map superstore Dash4it is offering Club members discounts on maps, atlases, travel guides and outdoor accessories – simply apply a code when checking out for 10% off your order.

Top brands include Ordnance Survey, AA, Collins and more. For more details visit camc.com/dash4it.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION CLUB SHOP

The Club Shop is now open. Orders will be processed as quickly as possible but please be aware that there may be some delays.

The phone line remains closed – please email camc@ primaleisure.com with enquiries. For more information please see shop.camc.com.

Save up to 8p per litre on fuel across the country

SAVE 10% WITH ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR Enterprise has more than 420 car hire locations across the UK. Choose the vehicle to suit your needs – whether you need a compact three-door for a day trip or a van to help you move, Enterprise has you covered.

Enterprise can deliver to your home or Club site in the UK from select car rental locations. Please contact your rental branch for availability. Find out more at camc.com/carhireoffer

Fuelpecker offers guaranteed discounts on Synergy Unleaded, Synergy Diesel, Synergy Supreme Unleaded and Synergy Supreme Diesel at all Esso, Shell and Avia petrol stations in participating countries.

It is free to sign up for your card and there are no transaction or processing fees. Find out more camc.com/ fuel-card.

SAVE UP TO £18.50 ON AVTEX PRODUCTS Avtex, a market leader in visual and navigational technology for the touring industry, is offering members a 5% discount on its products, including sat-navs, soundbars, TVs and more. Visit shop.camc. com and use the discount code CS-0218-PRIMA.

Terms and conditions apply to all member offers and Club Shop products - see camc.com/memberoffers and shop.camc.com for details 52 August 2020

www.camc.com

FEATURE TITLE SUBTEXT

BOOK A PERSONAL APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR EXPERTS Our stores are now re-opening and we’re here to help you reconnect with the outdoors.

Book an in-store appointment at Cotswold Outdoor, Runners Need or Snow+Rock and enjoy personalised advice, kit recommendations and other in-store services.

. . . . .

Rucksack Fitting Outdoor Footwear Fitting Electronics Advice Adventure Kit List Camping Kit List

15% DISCOUNT FOR CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB MEMBERS

SEE ONLINE FOR MORE DETAILS COTSWOLDOUTDOOR.COM/BOOKING • SNOWANDROCK.COM/BOOKING • RUNNERSNEED.COM/BOOKING

Appointment types vary depending on the store

www.camc.com

May 2020 XX

Back track PRODUCT SHOWCASE WALKING GEAR

ON

Jane McGowan checks out a range of walking essentials

Hawke Nature Trek 8x25 Binocular Offering 8x magnification and a close-focus distance of 2m (enabling you to zoom in on subjects closer to you), these compact binoculars are ideal for anyone who wants to indulge in a spot of nature watching. Despite weighing just 295g, they are particularly hardwearing thanks to their waterproof, shock-resistant, polycarbonate casing, which is easy to grip whatever the conditions. Other features include: a rubberised focusing wheel, ‘high resolution BAK-4 roof prisms’ and ‘twist-up’ eye cups which are handy for wearers of glasses. And at just 10.6cm long, they can slip easily into a daypack or even a pocket.

Salomon Outward GTX W Walking Boot Two of the most important considerations when buying a summer hiking boot are lightness of weight and breathability – and the Outward GTX from Salomon ticks the boxes. Tipping the scales at just 390g and featuring a Gore-tex membrane designed to both ‘wick away’ moisture and keep the rain out, this women’s boot should be a comfortable option for those holiday rambles. A durable ‘Contagrip MD’ sole with lugs designed for hard or loose surfaces and a Nubuck leather upper complete the picture. Offered in full and half sizes, a men’s range is also available.

AT A GLANCE

RRP: £140 Size: 3.5-8.5 Colours: wine tasting, black, quail Contact: salomon.com, 020 3510 0639

54

AT A GLANCE

RRP: £87 Length: 10.6cm Weight: 295g Contact: uk.hawkeoptics.com

Leki XTG Sherpa Trekking Pole

Walking poles have a double function: not only do they help people get around more quickly, they can also reduce strain on joints – particularly the knees. The Sherpa is a sturdy product designed to cope with a range of terrains and is recommended for people weighing 75kg (11 stones) or more and over 180cm (5ft 9in) in height. Made from aluminium, the three-piece telescopic pole (which is available on its own or in pairs) is height adjustable from 110cm to 145cm and features a security strap and grip extension for versatilitY.

AT A GLANCE

RRP: £58 (single pole) Length: 110cm-145cm Weight: 263g Contact: leki.co.uk (available from cotswoldoutdoor.com)

Poppy and Sam’s Nature Spotting Book Whether you are home or away, Poppy and Sam’s Nature Spotting Book will provide hours of outdoor fun. Usborne’s Poppy and Sam characters have been popular with young readers for more than 15 years and feature in a range of fun, educational tales. This non-fiction book, written by Sam Taplin, helps children find out about a variety of creatures, including those that can be found in the garden, near a pond or in the air. As well as detailed illustrations and informative text, the book features a host of activities designed to keep kids busy while they’re out and about.

AT A GLANCE

RRP: £7.99 Contact: usborne.com

Reima Kids’ Spring HighTop Trainers Patter Wash

Offering more support than a traditional trainer, this lightweight, unisex children’s high-top shoe comes in a range of sizes from 4 (kids) to 3 (adult) and nine colour options. Featuring a rubber sole, upper made from synthetic material and textile, and a waterproof insert, the boot is easy to take on and off thanks to hook-and-loop fastenings. And the best news for parents – it is machine washable – so there’s no need to worry about muddy mishaps or the odd puddle plunge. Reima has great green credentials too, using environmentally friendly, sustainable materials in all of its products.

AT A GLANCE

RRP: £79.95 Size: 4 (kids) -3 (adult) Colours include: ochre yellow, cranberry pink and navy Contact: reima.com/int

Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Mountain Camo Print Crew socks

It’s all very well having the right boots for a hike, but it’s equally important to have a decent pair of socks. With that in mind consider investing in a pair of Smartwool socks. Featuring a ‘flex zone’ at the ankle joint, a cushioned sole and mesh venting, the PhD Outdoor Lights are made from 56% Merino wool - which as well as being super soft, is said to have moisture wicking and thermoregulating qualities. What’s more, they look pretty cool!

AT A GLANCE

RRP: £22.99 Colour: frosty green Size: M, L, XL Contact: smartwool.co.uk

www.camc.com

August 2020 55

xx July 2020

www.camc.com

Letters

Your chance to have your say. The writer of our star letter will receive copies of our three-edition overseas touring guides

CORRESPONDENCE YOUR VIEWS

Send your letters to: enquiries@camc.com or magazine@camc.com.

Please note: Star Letter prize will be posted as soon as possible.

HOW I MISS YOU

GREAT MINDS

I realise now how much I’ve taken you for granted.

Did I ever tell you how much I miss you?

It was lovely to receive May's magazine, especially Martin Dorey’s article on ‘Easy peasy lockdown burgers’.

Great minds think alike as, only a couple of weeks earlier, my daughter and I made almost the exact recipe (see photo), the slight change being we also made our own bread rolls!

Like everyone else, we are missing our trips away in our van, but as a treat we are now patiently awaiting delivery of a ‘lockdown chocolate hamper’.

Wouldn't it be lovely if Martin's next recipe involved chocolate?

The first time I saw you I was rather taken aback by your rules But now I’ve come to realise they’re there for a reason.

Did I ever tell you how much I miss you?

Those friendly faces on arrival The exchange of small pleasantries The handing over of keys and maps.

Did I ever tell you how much I miss you?

The pristine toilet facilities The help-yourself herb gardens The welcoming flower planters Did I ever tell you how much I miss you?

The immaculately mown pitches The dog wash and specially planned walking area Even the children’s playground Did I ever tell you how much I miss you?

My favourite bit of all The information cabin full of tempting places to dine out Leaflets on historic houses and pottery workshops Maps and bus timetables for the more adventurous Did I ever tell you how much I miss you?

And now I’ve been without you for many months Our van sits in solitary confinement on the drive Our dog twitches as she dreams of her last adventures with you.

And I? I just miss you my dear Caravan and Motorhome Club sites And look forward to the time when we can be together again!

Isobel Fearn, via email Editor’s note: We miss you too Isobel – hopefully we will see you on a Club site again soon!

Mrs Cunliffe, Lancashire

Your mag needs you!

Now that our UK sites and Certificated Locations are reopening, we would love to hear about your adventures! Please email us at magazine@camc.com with details about where you have gone and what you missed about the touring life.

www.camc.com

NigelHick /Getty

STAR LETTER

Exhilarating Exmouth We returned from a wonderful day trip out with our campervans yesterday in Exmouth with our friends Bob and Jayne.

As it was our first get-together since lockdown was eased, we had a wonderful time catching up.

We dreamed about the trips we would share together. We decided we would stay in county this year, which for us is Devon, and [talked about] the wonderful Club sites we would stay at and how camping made us feel exhilarated and at one with nature.

We had a wonderful time doing the Club quiz in the magazine (June issue) – we won’t tell you the score as it was embarrassing! All of us love your magazine and being part of the Club and agreed you had done a wonderful job of keeping us amused and in touch during the pandemic.

Jacqui Shaw, Devon

Abbey times Reading through your recent magazine, and thought we’d share a picture with you from when we took our dogs, Barnaby and Penelope, for the first time in February.

They were four months old here. Two of the pictures were taken at Fountains Abbey and one is of Penny admiring her view from the inside of the caravan.

My partner, Nathan Johnson, pays for the subscription. I just sent the emails and do the rest of the paperwork. He plans the adventures.

Can't wait to be back on the road and touring with the dogs and also the children this time!

Laura Jane Mason, via email August 2020 57

CORRESPONDENCE YOUR VIEWS

FAR FROM THE CROWDS If you are looking for a camping trip with some social distancing built in [when we are allowed], Scandinavia is the place. We have made three trips in our motorhome since 2013 and it has always given great memories and a desire to return.

The region is noted for high prices but we have never found this to be too bad, and in fact you can travel and camp for only a fraction more than in Britain. Fuel is slightly more expensive but the roads are so good and empty you can achieve excellent mpg.

In 2019 my wife and I took a 10-week tour through Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland which taught us how to enjoy the natural world more than ever. We have visited cities such as Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen, but you can really get away from the ‘madding crowds’ when you explore the wide open spaces of these fascinating countries.

From the Northern Lights at Tromso Camping to filming the Sami farmers herding their reindeer on the road to Tana Bru. From driving up (and down) Trollstigen (The Trolls’ Road), to visiting Geirangerfjord and driving through the summer snowfields of the mountains, these are the memories which keep flooding back.

David Abbott, via email

HOB SEEKER We were half way through the fitting of a new kitchen when the lockdown was announced and the fitters literally pulled the plug on us! We were left without a sink in the kitchen, no worktops and no hob. Fortunately they had left us with our fitted oven and microwave.

What could we do without a hob? How could we possibly manage? Thinks…ting! Let’s get the motorhome up the drive and use the hob in that. We could also eat our lunch in there as well.

Since lockdown we have spent our lunch hour (and more) in the 58 August 2020

van, pretending we are on holiday.

A blown-up photograph of Cayton Bay – taken when we were at the brilliant Cayton Village site last year - adorned the inside of the windscreen and we were on holiday again! We did think of asking our nextdoor neighbours (also Club members) to act as wardens, but we thought that that was taking things a bit far.

We have loved being in the van and look forward to visiting our favourite sites after the lockdown has been lifted.

Steve and Jackie Wilson, Yorkshire www.camc.com

Ansty agreement Some 20 years ago the friendly owner of a CL in the village of Ansty admitted us on the condition that we became members of the Caravan Club. So the next day we went to East Grinstead where we were inducted as members.

We visited the UK from Cornwall to the Orkneys, and used the Sites Directory & Handbook.

It took us to unexpected places like Kinlochbervie, Brora, where you had to cross a golf course to get to the beach, Campbeltown which we reached after our crossing from Lochranza, several sites in Wales and Ottery St Mary.

At Bolton Abbey Club site my wife suddenly had terrible pains (when we got back back home it turned out to be a floating gallstone) and the site staff, Judy and Colin, were a great help. Years later it was a pleasant surprise to meet them again at Garlieston.

In later years we found that it became necessary to book in advance, which spoiled a bit of the fun, but all in all I can say that we enjoyed our traveling through your beautiful island.

We look forward to the coming Corona-free years.

Jan Joosse, The Netherlands

Ellie addicts Ellie the Elddis has been our saving grace in lockdown. Purchased in January 2020 following a two-year period of no caravan, we were really looking forward to spending 2020 going on adventures. She is perfect for our family – fixed bunks with a centre table.

So, where have our adventures taken us? We have been lucky to enjoy two destinations – the drive and the vegetable patch. With the added bonus that no towing is required and motor mover is man enough to relocate the 30m between destinations, which has saved fuel and the constant, “Are we there yet?!".

She hasn't just been a holiday home – she has doubled as a restaurant, school room and cinema. When we look back in years to come at this strange period of time, it is with no doubt that Ellie will be at the forefront of those memories, as we really couldn't have done it without her.

The Dunn Family, via email www.camc.com

August 2020 59

CORRESPONDENCE YOUR VIEWS

CAT NAPPERS Dear Sniffer, we noticed your rather reluctant inclusion of cats in your ‘Canine Correspondence’ column in the May magazine (“OK,... even

Red squirrel at Cae Mawr Club site

All Angles covered On my campervan travels in 2019, a trip to Anglesey in April left me with absolutely wonderful memories of the wildlife.

There are two Club sites on the island – Penrhos, near Brynteg, and Cae Mawr, in the village of Marianglas. Cae Mawr is my preferred site as it is only one mile from the beach at Traeth Bychan and has access to buses both around the coast and inland.

The Anglesey Coast Path stretches for 125 miles all around the island, with the opportunity for both long and short walks.

During my week on Anglesey, I counted at least 62 different types of bird. Apart from species commonly found across the UK,

Clear water at Borth Wen Cove 60 August 2020

there were golden plovers, turnstones and mergansers at Cemlyn Bay, ravens, nuthatches and blackcaps in and around the Newborough Forest, and choughs near South Stack Lighthouse.

A boat trip from Beaumaris to view the wildlife of Puffin Island produced puffins, eider ducks, guillemots and razorbills as well as grey seals. I did fail to spot any black guillemots which I had been told can be found at Holyhead harbour in the spring and early summer, and I just missed seeing the bottle-nosed dolphins off the coast at Cemaes village.

The highlight of the holiday had to be the red squirrels. I was lucky enough to see them on the Cae Mawr campsite and take photographs. Probably the easiest place to watch the red squirrels is at Penrhos Coastal Park on the outskirts of Holyhead, where they are attracted to the special feeding stations.

In my view, there is nowhere to beat Anglesey for coastal walks, wildlife watching and exploring historic remains.

Nikki Bosworth, Pembrokeshire Editor’s note: Anglesey is indeed a wonderful place. Please keep an eye on our website regarding updates on travel to Wales

meows”) and would like to point out that cats do rather enjoy motorhome travel too.

This is us, having a nap in our Peugeot Mezan campervan (below).

We love travelling and will happily snooze the miles away whilst our chauffeur drives. We’re not great ones for going out and about when we arrive but we love people-watching through the window and seeing their surprised expressions when they notice us!

Anyway, thought we should point out that caravans and motorhomes can be enjoyed by all. Happy travels.

Jack and Harry, via email

LIFE IS A CAROUSEL

I was interested to see you mention the Gobur folding caravan in the article on buying second-hand (May issue).

My Gobur Carousel is parked up during the current crisis next to my home back door in Poole, Dorset. Makes an excellent garden room – I have a TV and my favourite boxed set on the go.

The caravan’s lengthy bed is excellent for a siesta during these warm, lockdown days.

With the door open onto the garden, I imagine the views seen through here over four-plus years’ ownership and some amazing lengthy tours taken in France, Switzerland and Scotland, and all other parts of Britain. The view of blue Lake Brienz is a particular memory.

The photo shows us parked up with the Brienzer Rothorn above Camping Aaregg.

Future plans for trips on hold for now, as when this crisis eases, lots of catch-up time with local, much-missed family and grandchildren. May need a larger awning in due course for extra berths and future trips with the little ones.

Keep up the good work CAMC – been a member for over 30 years and looking forward to many more.

Paul and Anna Barker, via email

www.camc.com

www.camc.com

November 2016 XX

SPECIAL KEEPING BUSY

Family focus As temperatures start to soar, Jane McGowan looks at a range of splashtastic pastimes for all ages

N

ow that we’re able to get out touring once again, we can start planning some exciting days out while we’re away. This month we take a look at water-themed activities – please make sure you follow official government distancing advice at all times and

62 August 2020

check with attractions about availability and opening restrictions before you go.

STAND-UP PADDLEBOARDING

During the past decade, ‘stand up paddleboarding’ – or SUP as it’s now often termed – has become increasingly popular in the UK. The sport began in Hawaii as an alternative to surfing but, unlike its ocean-

based counterpart, SUP can be enjoyed on lakes, rivers or canals. What’s more, it’s fairly easy to master the basics, making it an ideal holiday pursuit.

The hardest bit is, of course, standing up!

This is best achieved by getting on to your knees first and then, once you feel you have your balance, move to a standing position.

Don’t worry if you can’t do it first time – you can

Gary Yeowell/Getty

AS). The park, based in Kessel Quarry, offered an ideal introduction as the calm waters made the art of balancing and paddling relatively easy. One hour sessions are offered at £10 per person (over-8s only; under-16s must be accompanied by an adult) and include use of a wetsuit and buoyancy aid. Once you are kitted out, the team offers a few tips and some safety advice and then you are free to give it a go. As we went to press the park was planning to re-open on 4 July – please see kernow adventurepark.com for more information.

For anyone looking to make the most of the county’s stunning coastline, Cornwall boasts numerous venues where you can test out your newly acquired paddle skills on the open seas.

However, should you be heading inland for a break this summer, England has more than 3,000 miles of canals that are great for beginners or those with their own equipment.

Many local clubs offer taster sessions, but if you are going it alone be aware that you will need a licence to paddleboard on a canal. Find out more at canalrivertrust.org.uk.

Travel website Wanderlust's top three places to try SUP in England are Cumbria’s Wast Water (nearest Club site: Dockray Meadow), Kingston-upon-Thames (nearest Club site: Crystal Palace) and Penzance in Cornwall (nearest Club site: Marazion).

The majority of our Club sites have reopened across the UK – please see camc. com/reopening for the latest information

still have plenty of fun paddling around from a kneeling position. There are SUP venues all over the UK, many of which welcome visitors and offer basic instruction and safety advice at the point of hire.

For our first venture into the world of SUP, we visited Kernow Adventure Park in Penryn near Falmouth in Cornwall (nearest Club sites – Godrevy Park, Marazion and Carnon Downs www.camc.com

OUTDOOR SWIMMING

Another watery hobby that has found favour over the past few years is outdoor or ‘wild’ swimming. Championed by medical and fitness professionals alike, open water swimming is, according to swimming.org, said to aid better sleep, improve circulation, lift your mood, speed up your metabolism and boost your immune system.

Like SUP, outdoor swimming can be undertaken in the sea or in rivers and lakes but, if you fancy dipping your toe in the water, safety should be your number one priority. The element of risk involved obviously depends on the location – ‘wild’ swimming spots vary from shallow pools to areas with currents and tides.

In some locations you’ll need to be a strong swimmer and many indoor pools offer classes in outdoor swimming techniques if you need

more confidence. (Note: at the time of going to press indoor swimming pools were still closed.)

It’s also important to have the correct kit – a wetsuit is recommended whatever the weather.

Experts also advise that you don’t swim alone – no matter how good a swimmer you are, wild swimming has its challenges, from changes in depth and current to underwater obstacles.

And finally, pack a flask – there is nothing like a hot drink to warm you up after a bracing dip!

We’d like to point out that, at the time of writing, some outdoor swimming spots were being overwhelmed on hot days – so it might be better to plan your introduction to the hobby further in the future. You can find lots more information, as well as safety advice and an open water swimming lake directory at outdoorswimmingsociety.com.

CRABBING

If you fancy a sedate seaside pastime, nothing beats an hour or two spent shoreside ‘crabbing’.

This traditional holiday activity is a particular favourite with families aiming to keep children occupied – and it can still be enjoyed while social distancing.

All seaside towns stock the obligatory line, bucket and net sets, while bait shops offer herring and clams for the perfect catch. Some experts claim bacon works just as well – so make sure you save some of your breakfast!

While there are no rules as such when crabbing, there are guidelines to follow to ensure the crustaceans are kept as content as possible. It’s a good idea to fill your bucket with seawater and a little seaweed and keep numbers to a minimum (under 10). Take care when moving the crabs – they can give you nasty nip – and always release your catch back into the sea before you go.

Should you find crabbing is your forte, you can always head to Cromer in Norfolk next year and take part in the World Crabbing Competition (crabandlobsterfestival.co.uk).

Our Seacroft Club site is within easy reach!

July 2020 63

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SPECIAL UK BREAKS

Atime remember TO

Why not commemorate the sacrifices made by so many during the Second World War by paying a visit to one of these special locations? Jonathan Manning is your guide

IMPORTANT NOTE

The majority of UK Club sites have reopened – check our website (camc.com) for current information. Please follow Government travel and social distancing guidelines at all times (see gov.uk). We would advise you to check opening dates and times with all attractions prior to your visit.

66 August 2020

O

n 15 August 1945, Japan’s Emperor Hirohito accepted the Allied terms of surrender, effectively bringing an end to the Second World War. Fighting in Europe had ceased in May but the battle had continued to rage in the Far East until the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima on 6 August and Nagasaki three days later, forcing the Japanese to concede defeat.

The surrender (officially signed on 2 September aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay), marked the end of six years of struggle that had affected Great Britain like no other period in its history.

In addition to those fighting overseas a host of people at home had played their part. From a land

army feeding the nation to munitions workers supplying the armed forces; from code breakers cracking Enigma to those manning coastal defences – no corner of the country escaped the reach of the conflict.

Unfortunately, many of the proposed Victory in Europe (VE) Day celebrations were cancelled earlier in the year due to the coronavirus. But, as Britain emerges cautiously from hibernation, the 75th anniversary of VJ Day gives us another opportunity to remember the sacrifices made by so many.

Here we take a look at some of the key sites in this country associated with the Second World War and suggest Club sites you might like to stay at nearby. Why not consider a visit and take the time to reflect on the courage and ingenuity of civilians and soldiers in times gone by?

The chalk cliffs of the Dover coast took on major significance to servicemen and women returning home from or heading to the Continent.

Seventy-five years later caravanners and motorhomers still look out for Vera Lynn’s ‘bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover’ as they cross the Channel. But for campers without sea legs, a walk along the coast to South Foreland Lighthouse from the National Trust’s visitor centre reveals one of the best views of the towering cliffs. (Please note the car park has limited space and that catering and other facilities may be limited – see nationaltrust.org.uk.)

Information: nationaltrust.org.uk Stay at: Black Horse Farm

Yola Watrucka/Alamy

WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER, KENT

BROADWAY TOWER, WORCESTERSHIRE

The perils of war at home are poignantly captured on a small memorial at Broadway Tower to five airmen who lost their lives here in a crash on 2 June 1943 while on operational training.

It’s a sobering thought at such an outstanding spot, where there are see-forever views across 16 counties. (Please check website below re status of toilet facilities.)

Information: broadwaytower.co.uk Stay at: Broadway

“

Five lost their lives on operational training

Art. IWM

WOMEN’S LAND ARMY MUSEUM, KENT

www.camc.com

This small, free-to-enter museum charts the experiences of ‘land girls’ who worked as farmhands in Kent during the war. The museum is located in a barn next to a farm shop, bakery, butchery and cider shop (with tasting), as well as a café, so you can make a good afternoon of your visit.

Information: littlefarthingloefarm.co.uk Stay at: Black Horse Farm

”

August 2020 67

SPECIAL UK BREAKS

COMMANDO MONUMENT, HIGHLANDS

Visit Scotland/Kenny Lamb

mauritius images GmbH / Alamy

For any camper who has ever cursed the Highlands weather, spare a thought for the soldiers who came here to train. Facing towards Ben Nevis, this towering bronze statue near Spean Bridge commemorates the service of the thousands of troops of the British Commando forces who trained for the Second World War in this wild and rugged area. A little over a mile away there is a walk alongside the towpath of the Caledonian Canal towards Fort William.

Information: visitfortwilliam.co.uk Stay at: Bunree

CHARTWELL, KENT

An Englishman’s home is his castle, whether it’s a caravan, motorhome or Sir Winston Churchill’s treasured family abode, Chartwell House. Britain’s wartime leader lived in this magnificent manor from 1922 until 1964. Its hillside garden, lakes and wildlife-rich woodland are open to visitors, as are some facilities –please check website for details. Entry must be booked in advance.

Information: nationaltrust.org.uk Stay at: Tanner Farm Park AS (check with site regarding opening information)

FELBRIGG HALL, NORFOLK

The former owner of Felbrigg Hall – the wonderfullynamed Robert Wyndham KettonCremer – planted two linked, 350-metre long avenues of beech trees here to commemorate VE Day. Seen from the air, the avenues form a ‘Victory V’. (The parkland and gardens at Felbrigg Hall were open as we went to press and visits needed to be booked in advance. Check website for updates.)

Information: nationaltrust.org.uk Stay at: Seacroft 68 August 2020

FAIRBOURNE BEACH, GWYNEDD

‘Dragon’s teeth’ tank traps and anti-tank cubes guard this beautiful stretch of sand in North Wales. They were installed to protect Britain from a German invasion from the west, although it’s hard to imagine warfare when faced by the spellbinding views of mountains and woodland, and the seascapes of Mawddach Estuary and Barmouth Bay. Information: visitsnowdonia.info Stay at: Coed-Y-Llwyn www.camc.com

Visit South Devon

SLAPTON SANDS, DEVON

Take a moment to reflect at this spectacular three-mile stretch of shingle beach, which sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

These days, Slapton Sands is a popular destination for walking, swimming and surfing but in 1944 it was the scene of a tragic disaster when eight tank landing ships, rehearsing for the D-Day landings, were ambushed by German E-boats.

A Sherman tank memorial commemorates the US servicemen who lost their lives in Exercise Tiger.

Information: visitsouthdevon.co.uk Stay at: Start Bay

NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM, STAFFORDSHIRE

The 150-acre arboretum offers a place of peace and calm to remember the dead and reflect on the horrors of war. The Armed Forces Memorial has a particularly eye-catching design and there are a further 350 memorials at the site, many connected with individual campaigns and regiments. Pre-booked tickets were required as we went to press.

Information: thenma.org.uk Stay at: Carsington Water

Derwent Dam, which stands at the foot of Derwent Reservoir in the Peak District, was the practice target for the Lancaster bomber pilots of 617 Squadron, better known as ‘the Dambusters’. So with the classic film theme tune looping in your head, lace up your boots and go for a walk around the reservoir, sparing a thought for the 53 aircrew who died in the daring ‘bouncing bomb’ raid in the Ruhr valley on 17 May 1943.

Information: peakdistrict.gov.uk Stay at: Castleton www.camc.com

K7 Photography/Alamy

DERWENT DAM, DERBYSHIRE

August 2020

69

COMMENT DIRECTOR GENERAL

SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHING WATER

Liquid David Chapman offers his expert advice on photographing everything from tiny water droplets to roaring rivers and expansive seascapes

W

ater is essential to our lives – without it we simply couldn’t exist – but our association with the wet stuff runs deeper than that (please excuse the pun); there is also an emotional connection. When we go out for a picnic or a walk we often head to the coast or sit beside a lake or wander along a river. Plenty of us enjoy boating, surfing or swimming and, throughout the ages, water has been the subject of countless paintings and photographs.

There is a whole host of ways in which we can develop our camera skills to enhance our images of water. Here are a few ideas to whet your appetite.

AN IDEA DAWNS

It seems logical to start my article at dawn. Yes, I know dawn means early in the day, and you would usually be tucked up in bed, but I beg you to get up and experience it properly – you might find you love it!

For starters, you will be surprised how calm it tends to be at dawn. You’ll find visiting a river or lake when there is no wind to cause a stir in the reflections far more stimulating than your first morning coffee.

Choose a day when there is high pressure and you should get perfect reflections; you might also be blessed with a mist settling above the cold water’s surface.

As the sun climbs above the horizon and casts its spell on the landscape, watch how the pastel shades of dawn are transformed by the striking, warm light of day. You will see your familiar surroundings transformed into a wonderland of atmospheric light, mist and sparkling dew drops. Now tell me it wasn’t worth it!

Talking of water droplets, you don’t need to go far to photograph water in one form or another. After a cold, calm 72 August 2020

Gold For this creative image of Godrevy I used a long exposure (8 seconds) to blur the water, giving a contrast of texture between the milky sea and the sharp rocks

www.camc.com

June 2020 73

SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHING WATER

At Mevagissey in Cornwall I got my camera down to the water’s surface to take this photo of the fishing boats; it gives the image more impact

night, get out early in your garden and look at the way dew drops rest on your plants. Some leaves are transformed with rows of droplets along their edges, but that’s not all – examine the beads of water closely and you will see the world beyond magically magnified and re-focussed, as though you are staring through tiny windows into Wonderland.

REFLECT AND COMPOSE Dew drops on the leaf of a lupin reveal the red campion beyond

Normally, when it comes to composing a photograph we tend to put points of interest off-centre and use the ‘thirds’ rule for the most

important focal points and for the horizon.

However, I almost always break the ‘rule’ when photographing reflections. Usually the best place for the line of reflection is across the middle of the image, helping to emphasise the symmetry of the picture (there is still scope to put focal points off-centre from left to right).

Rivers can lend themselves very well to composition, their winding shapes naturally leading the eye into the distance. Try placing the foreground part of the river in the bottom-left or right corner of the picture and then putting the disappearing point on the top-right or left third to create a strong diagonal. This diagonal has the effect of guiding the viewer into the picture, but be aware that our eyes are usually drawn to the lightest part of the scene – so try to avoid white patches of water at the edge of the frame. Better to have light patches near the centre or on the thirds so the viewer’s gaze will be drawn into, not out of, your photo.

TAKE YOUR TIME

Photography is an art form – so don’t just point and shoot; take your time to consider what impact you can have on the image by adjusting the settings in the camera. One aspect you should consider is shutter speed – that is the length of 74

www.camc.com

QUICK TIPS

It is possible to see through the water when a polariser filter is used and this brings out more colour saturation from any wet surface A great tit takes a refreshing bath

For this photo of East Gill Force near Keld I used a shutter speed of 6 seconds to give the water a silky quality

time that the shutter remains open while taking the photograph. With long exposure times you will see that moving subjects, such as water in a river, waterfall or sea, become blurred, creating a ‘milky’ effect.

I would love to tell you what the best shutter speed is but there is no such a thing – the optimum will vary with the subject. I like a shutter speed that reveals something about the way in which the water is moving, and provides some texture.

In order to achieve long exposure times, you should go out on dull days or at dusk when light levels are low. You’ll also need a tripod and a remote release. I set my camera in aperture priority mode with a low ISO, say 100. Then I choose a small aperture, something like f16 (remember the higher the f-number the smaller the aperture). On a dull day this will give me quite a long exposure time. If I want a faster shutter speed, I will start by widening the aperture and then might choose a higher ISO. You can do this with any camera, except the most basic compacts and phone cameras.

I also have a bag of tricks at my disposal. One particular aid I have in mind is called a neutral density filter. This is a dark piece of glass that fits on the end of the lens, and its effect is to reduce the amount of light coming into the www.camc.com

camera, thus increasing exposure time still further. With a couple of different neutral density filters, I have the flexibility to choose from a whole range of possible exposure times to suit the scene.

A WATER FILTER

I use one other filter for photographing water, and that’s called a circular polarising filter.

It reduces the overall amount of light coming into the camera, so it increases exposure time, but more importantly it takes away some of the reflections from wet surfaces, allowing us to see some detail through the water. For example, in a wooded valley, with a river crashing through, every surface will be damp.

The water coating all the leaves on the trees and the moss on the rocks will reflect light, reducing the amount of colour we can see.

Put a polarising filter on, rotate the filter to get the desired effect and the increase in colour saturation can be remarkable.

MEMBER SINCE...

Motorhomer David Chapman joined the Club in 2000

n Get down low when capturing reflections.

Hold your camera just above the water’s surface and use ‘live view’ to compose the photo; this often results in a much more engaging image. n If you are photographing a scene reflected in the water, but the water is slightly rippled, try a longer exposure time.

You will see that the ripples are smoothed out and reflection improved.

I use a neutral density filter for this purpose. n If you enjoy playing with long exposures, try making abstract images of leaves floating and swirling in a river current. n On a dull day, head to a river in a woodland; if it’s sunny, go somewhere more open such as the coast or a lake. n Small, shallow puddles can make great reflections – just get your camera as close as possible to the puddle.

I mean really close! Try it, you’ll be surprised. n Even on windy days, you can still get great reflections where flat, sandy beaches remain wet as the tide recedes.

I have my own favourite at Gwithian near Godrevy in Cornwall. n To capture great waves, use a fast shutter speed.

Try to visit the sea on a day with an offshore wind which will whip the spray off the top of the waves. n Harbours with colourful boats are great for abstract reflections.

Porthcurno in Cornwall with a fast shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second August 2020 75

SPECIAL CYCLING

Fentastic Jonathan Manning discovers an ideal route for hill-phobic riders on picturesque Cambridgeshire roads

F The Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine recommends the use of Ordnance Survey maps – your ideal passport to navigating Britain

© Crown copyright 2020 Ordnance Survey Media 051/18

76 August 2020

or those cyclists who dread the prospect of having to toil up hills, this ride will be an absolute tonic.

Heading through the contour-free Cambridgeshire Fens, the highest point of the route is just 11m above sea level. It doesn’t get flatter than that!

The far-reaching landscape is reclaimed from the sea with ditches, dykes and pumping stations continuing the drainage mission today, pushing water ‘uphill’ to local rivers and onwards to the coast.

At first glance it’s a vast, featureless panorama. There are few trees and no woodland or hedges; just fields that stretch like prairies towards the horizon. But it’s also a region of epic skies and amazing light, a hybrid waterscape-landscape that polarises at each end of the spectrum.

Sweeping, uninterrupted views give an exhilarating sense of space, brought to life by weather systems that march across the rich, black soil.

Spotlights of sunshine and curtains of rain glide over this arable world with nothing to impede them. Blades of a new army of wind turbines spin endlessly in the breeze.

At a micro level, roadside cow parsley, poppies and purple tufted vetch provide takeaway feasts for pollinators, while damselflies skitter across the lily pads on the dykes.

Cycle for too long with your mouth open and you’ll swallow an unwanted meal of invertebrate protein.

Some of these roads feature in the Tour of Cambridgeshire, a road race and time trial that act as qualifiers for the amateur world championships, as well as a sportive ride where recreational cyclists who form groups will be delighted at their average speeds.

For everyone else, this is a ride to save for a still, sunny day. Riding solo at the mercy of fenland wind is a gruelling challenge, and there’s no shelter along the arrow-straight roads.

What’s more, on a grim day there’s not much to cherish – flat land below flat grey skies with no relief between rider and horizon. But on a calm, bright morning this big sky country offers a unique experience, with vistas so wide you’d swear you can see the curvature of the earth. n You can find more Jonathan Manning cycle routes on our app www.camc.com

The River Nene

ABOUT THE ROUTE

Start/finish: Fields End Water Caravan Park, Benwick Road, Doddington, Cambridgeshire PE15 0TY Distance: 39.3km/24.6 miles Time: 2½ hours Level: Suitable for adult cyclists. There are no hills whatsoever but the route is exposed to strong winds and traffic can be very fast on the section alongside Forty Foot Drain.

Terrain: Asphalt all the way. A road bike, hybrid or e-bike is ideal.

Landscape: Flat, flat, flat! Arable fields, dykes, ditches and the River Nene.

IMPORTANT

Please check the Government’s official website (gov.uk) for the latest travel and social distancing guidelines. n For current information on UK sites bookings, please refer to our website, camc.com

DIRECTIONS

1

From the gates of Fields End Water Caravan Park turn left and continue into Doddington to a T-junction opposite The George pub.

2.2km – Turn right at the junction, signposted to Chatteris. Continue for 3.4km and look out for a turning on the right, just before a flat bridge over a wide dyke.

5.7km – Turn right immediately before the dyke, along Forty Foot Bank, signposted to Benwick and Ramsey, with the water on your left. Continue for 7.5km to reach Ramsey Forty Foot.

2

3 www.camc.com

4

13.23km – When the road bends sharply to the left, turn right just before the bridge, signposted to Ramsey Mereside and Pondersbridge, and continue with the dyke on the left.

Keep going for 1.4km to a T-junction.

14.6km – Turn right at the junction, signposted to Ramsey Mereside and Pondersbridge, and continue for 5km, eventually reaching Pondersbridge and passing a small church on the left, before a T-junction.

19.75km – Turn right at the junction, then right again in 150m

5 6

along Glassmoor Bank, with a dyke immediately on the left. Continue on this road, which eventually turns 90º left over Chapel Bridge, to a T-junction.

25.3km – Turn right at the junction, signposted to Benwick and Doddington. Stay on the road for 10km to reach Benwick and then a T-junction.

35.6km – Turn left, signposted to Doddington and March. In just under 4km, Fields End Water Caravan Park is on the left.

7 8

August 2020

77

SPECIAL CARAVAN RESTORATION Modern kit, 1960s styling

PART

2

Born again Following on from last month’s article, Lee Davey explains how he brought his 1967 Bailey Maestro – aka ‘Gladys’ – back to life

T Only vents and strengthening battens are visible inside

78 August 2020

hanks to ingenious heating systems and Grade 3 insulation, the modern caravan can shrug off winter conditions, allowing its occupants to enjoy year-round touring. A generous amount of water can also be heated, ensuring crockery – and the kids – remain squeaky clean at all times. However, if you own an older caravan, or one that would benefit from a heating and hot water upgrade, what options do you have? Our pre-renovation Bailey Maestro certainly needed warming up – here is how we managed to install some modern kit without detracting from its 1960s styling.

It’s estimated that during the Sixties one in seven Britons holidayed in a caravan, and I assume they were either a hardy bunch or chose to go away during the summer season. The factory-fitted heating equipment in our Maestro comprised a gas lamp at either end and

a two-burner hob, which would have warmed the ‘van while dinner was cooking; the humble kettle was tasked with all water-heating duties.

During the restoration process, my son Charlie and I began looking at modern ways to keep warm without sacrificing the period look that attracted us to ‘Gladys’ in the first place, so we researched slimline heating systems that are small enough to be hidden in bed boxes or mounted under the floor.

Size was obviously going to be an issue, as the Maestro bed boxes are significantly smaller than the ones we’re used to in modern touring caravans.

The seating/sleeping area is both low and narrow, further reducing the list of possible units, but we found a Whale underfloor heating system that fitted the bill. Sited between chassis rails, the only parts of the heating set-up you can see inside are blown-air outlets and the associated pipework that distributes heat around the caravan. www.camc.com

Gladys at the NEC

Other modern kit fitted to ‘Gladys’?

Compressor fridge is neat and space-saving

Having spent two decades in a hedge before Charlie and I rescued her, Gladys was in a bad way – a tree had fallen on the roof, stretching a small section of aluminium.

A flexible 100W solar panel covered this perfectly and allowed us to run an amazingly efficient Dometic compressor fridge/ freezer, which is hidden in the wardrobe. LED lighting lies behind George and Mildred-style lampshades, and various USB points are tucked away. We also have a complete 240V system distributed inside via C-Line sockets from Prima Leisure.

each unit, fixing brackets and cutting holes was a very straightforward process. Blown-air ducting simply snaked through a bed box and wardrobe, allowing us to heat either end of the caravan independently, even though overall body length is just 14ft. Control panels connect to the systems via multiplugs and are small enough to be hidden from view yet easily accessible.

Connecting gas and electricity isn’t a DIY process and should only be carried out by professionals – the repercussions of less than perfect connections do not bear thinking about. Thankfully, a couple of friends were able to pop by and help – one an electrician and the other a gas installer.

Charlie and I tackled the water system’s push-fit pipes and we decided to fit an external shower point while things were easily accessible. To date, it has only been used to wash the dog, but I have seen shower tents for sale, something which we may add in the future.

Upgrading your current system or adding heating and hot water to a tourer that wasn’t designed to house such equipment is surprisingly straightforward. Adequate heating gives you the freedom to explore year-round and the ability to operate on gas gives you the option to go off-grid and enjoy sites away from electric hook-up cables.

As a family, we can now be a bit more flexible in terms of when we go away, and where we stay.

Want to see more? Look for the Caravan Restoration playlist at youtube.com/tintent

Whale water heater hides away beneath the settee

Checking weights during the ʼdry fitʻ phase

The flue snakes discreetly to the side of the tourer (away from the windows), quietly venting the exhaust fumes when used on gas. Gladys is compact in all areas, and the Whale Expanse water heater was too deep to be housed under the floor, but it nestled perfectly inside the nearside bed box.

WEIGHT WATCHING

Once we’d chosen our systems, we conducted a ‘dry fit’ to check weight distribution. Each item was loosely set in place (along with the Dometic compressor coolbox) and the noseweight carefully checked, to make sure our outfit would be safe and enjoyable to tow. Different placement locations were tested (with additional luggage onboard or not) before we settled on positions that suited weight distribution as well as water, gas and flue routing.

The planning process was more time consuming than installation. After we had decided where to put www.camc.com

79

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PRACTICAL OUTFIT CARE

You can see more tips from the Club at camc.com/ advice

x

OUTSIDE BOX the

N

ot only will a good exterior clean make your leisure vehicle look great – but it will protect it too. A visit to cleaning specialist Autoglym’s Academy (autoglym.com) gave me an insight into the products and techniques that can help to make your outfit look as good as new.

PREPARATION

Before pulling out the garden hose, check that you have plenty of room to walk around your caravan/motorhome.

Once you are happy with its general position, pitch it at a slight angle so water can run off the roof. Now wind down the corner steadies. Ideally, it is best to start at the top and work down. www.camc.com

Sammy Faircloth shows you how a little attention to the exterior of your caravan or motorhome goes a long way washer (unless the pressure can be adjusted) – they can sometimes be powerful enough to damage window seals.

Using a specialist cleaner, gradually work your way around the caravan/ motorhome. As you complete each

Start on the roof (above) as this is where algae, moss and leaves gather; use a spray attachment for hard to reach places (below)

Pay particular attention to the roof, which collects the majority of your touring debris and where algae and mould tend to grow. Don’t be tempted to walk on the roof of your vehicle – use a stepladder and clean it in stages.

WASH, POLISH AND WAX

First, the outfit needs to be hosed down with water to shift loose dirt, leaves, grit and moss. Avoid using a pressure August 2020 81

PRACTICAL OUTFIT CARE

2

1

TOP TIPS

1. The first stage of cleaning is to wash your outfit down with water, removing any leaves, moss or grit 2. Use products whose chemical content has been specified to suit the materials used by caravan manufacturers 3. Open windows and skylights to get right into the grooves as a lot of dirt and grime can reside here 4 You only need a thin layer of polish to be applied to the paintwork in overlapping circles 5 Autoglym’s Fast Glass is great for cleaning windows and safe to use on acrylic plastic

4

3

n Avoid washing on sunny days as the sun will dry your vehicle too quickly, leaving watermarks. n Only use cleaning products specifically designed for caravans or motorhomes. Household cleaners could do more harm than good. n Clean regularly, but deep clean once a year. n Invest in a telescopic soft brush for cleaning and a blade for removing rinse water. n Use open-weave cotton cloths as the gaps in the mesh capture minute particles (lint in old T-shirt material can be abrasive). n Avoid washing over graphics that are peeling or bleeding. n Think about what clothing you wear while cleaning as zips and buttons can scratch paintwork. n Open all windows and skylights to get to those places the brush can’t reach.

Note: please can we ask you not to fully clean your outfit on site

S MEMBER SAVING

Take advantage of discounts on d selected cleaning an at cts du pro ce an en maint m/ .co mc ca – p club sho clubshop

section, rinse off with water and move on to the next (it’s important not to let the cleaner dry).

The sun’s rays and exposure to the elements can damage your paintwork, leaving it looking dull and unloved.

If this is the case, consider giving the exterior a good polish. Pour a small amount of specialist liquid polish onto an applicator and apply a thin layer to the paintwork in overlapping circles, trying to avoid rubber seals and textured plastics/trim. You can sometimes polish out marks or scratches by increasing the pressure.

Once applied, it needs to be left for 15-20 minutes, and then buffed with a finishing cloth.

The final stage is waxing – wax forms a protective barrier on your vehicle barrier that keeps the shine in and the dirt and water out. Follow 82 August 2020

a similar application procedure but it is recommended to leave the product for 30 minutes before buffing. A good way to see if an area has been waxed is to hose a small area - water will form ‘beads’ on a waxed surface.

5

WINDOWS AND SKYLIGHTS Caravan/motorhome windows can be very delicate and susceptible to scratching, so it is advisable to use a cleaner designed for use on plastic windows and apply it using a microfibre cloth. Autoglym has a product called ‘Fast Glass’ that can be used on the insides of windows as well. If you come across any scratches, I would highly recommend Fenwicks Windowize - it proves effective for removing scratches made by protruding hedges!

FINAL THOUGHTS If the weather continues to stay fine (it’s lovely outside at the time of writing), there really is no excuse to not get out the bucket and sponge. After a bit of hard work, your caravan or motorhome will not only look great, but will be protected in readiness for your next adventure. www.camc.com

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TEST KIA SPORTAGE ‘4’ 1.6 T-GDI

84 August 2020

www.camc.com

SPORT

STAR? Lesley Harris puts Kia’s fourth-generation family SUV under the microscope

T

he Sportage has consistently been one of Kia’s best-selling models since it launched back in 1993.

This facelifted fourth generation of the SUV boasts a range of enhancements as the firm looks to continue that trend. But with so many rivals out there, how does the Sportage fare as a family towcar?

COMFORT

“

The Sportage has had a few exterior tweaks that give the car a more rugged look

It is important to note that since I tested this ‘4’ version of the Sportage, Kia has revised the model range. So the ‘4’ is no longer available to order but it is available through the dealer network while stocks last. Simplifying the line-up, Kia has introduced a new ‘3’ grade which joins the existing ‘2’, GT-Line and GT-Line S. The 1.6-litre, T-GDi 174bhp engine tested here is still available on two- and four-wheel drive vehicles, depending on trim.

The Sportage has had a few exterior www.camc.com

tweaks. There’s a redesigned front bumper and new fog light housing, while full LED headlamps and daylight running lights coupled with silver front and rear skid plates give the car a more rugged look.

At the back there is a new C-shaped LED lamp combination and, with the reversing lights integrated into the new rear bumper, it all looks very smart.

Inside you’ll find a well laid-out cabin, with chrome effect around the air vents and gear shift jazzing things up a little. The upper dash and door tops are clad in a reasonably soft-touch material, but you don’t have to look far to find much harder, scratchier plastic.

It does feel solidly built and durable, though, while well-positioned, clear, chunky buttons and dials adorn the dash.

All Sportage models feature a ‘frameless’ 8in touchscreen, incorporating the likes of DAB radio and smartphone connectivity. It also displays the views from the rear and 360° cameras (if fitted) – a great asset, although the resolution is pretty grainy compared with rivals. The

”

August 2020 85

TEST KIA SPORTAGE ‘4’ 1.6 T-GDI

Good lines and a crisp design to the rear (above); interior is clean with plenty of stowage space (right)

touchscreen also sits just slightly out of eye-line, taking your eyes away from the road.

There’s plenty of stowage space up front, along with two 12V sockets and a USB port. Heated seats and steering wheel are an added bonus.

Head and legroom at the back is more than adequate for two, and space can be further increased by reclining the seat. Three adults sitting abreast would feel a bit squashed though, and although there is plenty of foot room (thanks to a low transmission tunnel), the middle seatbelt isn’t great: roof-mounted, not only will it impinge on the outer passenger, it’s also annoyingly difficult to use.

The two outer seats are heated and equipped with Isofix fittings, while wide-opening doors allow easy access, especially when fitting a child seat.

DRIVING

Once behind the wheel, the leather seats are easily adjusted to an optimal driving position, however, I found them a tad too firm. I also thought the electric power steering felt vague and unengaging, compounded further by the overly firm ride (not helped by the 19in wheels). The gearshift was clunky and awkward and the accelerator over-zealous – trying to balance over-revving against the risk of stalling every time I pulled out of a junction or roundabout was a little stressful.

That said, the Sportage was surprisingly agile and controlled when cornering, with good levels of grip.

86 August 2020

TOWING

Driving solo hadn’t been the most rewarding, so it was with trepidation that I hitched up to a Bailey Pegasus Genoa – but I needn’t have worried. The extra weight planted the Sportage, making it behave much better on the road. There was a little tugging when travelling through towns and at lower speeds, but nothing to upset me, and on the faster roads it behaved perfectly – passing traffic didn’t upset the combination and the caravan stayed perfectly www.camc.com

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www.camc.com

November 2016 XX

TEST KIA SPORTAGE ‘4’ 1.6 T-GDI

Clockwise from left: plenty of room for two in the back; 8in touchscreen; chunky buttons adorn the dashboard in a clear, well laid-out cabin

TECHNICAL

Price as tested

£27,735 Insurance

Group 18 Club insurance

The Club’s Car Insurance is guaranteed to beat your renewal premium by at least £25*.

Engine

1,591cc, 4cyl, turbo petrol, in line Power

174bhp (130kW) @5,500rpm Torque

265Nm (195lb ft) @1,500rpm Transmission

6-speed manual Spare wheel

Tyre sealant Kerbweight

1,545kg Gross vehicle weight

2,110kg Gross train weight

4,010kg Noseweight limit

100kg Towing equipment

composed. There was still, however, an element of apprehension when pulling into traffic.

The turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine did a good job of hauling the van and only on the steepest inclines did it get a bit wheezy.

The boot is a decent square shape with 491 litres of room, rising to 1,480 litres with seats folded. Unfortunately, there’s no way of lowering the seats from within the boot; there is, however, a neat stowage area for the tonneau cover under the flooring.

With thanks to

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

VERDICT

I struggled with the Sportage when driving solo, but it improved when towing. Test fuel figures of just 28.8mpg solo and 21.2mpg towing were a little disappointing, but Kia’s industry-leading seven-year warranty could be enough to sway some buyers.

We guarantee to beat your insurance renewal premium by £25*.

See camc.com/insurance or call 0345 504 0334 to get your quote

*Premium Saving Guarantee. Subject to proof of existing renewal, including cover and price (eg a copy of your renewal notice), when cover is on a like-for-like basis. Please note, terms and conditions, eg excess(es), may vary from your current insurer. Courtesy car is subject to availability. Subject to terms and conditions and the Insurer’s acceptance of the Risk. The Club’s Car Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services Limited, Insurance Brokers. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited. The Caravan Club Limited and Devitt Insurance Services Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

88 August 2020

Fixed tow bar £347 Tank/econ

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DRIVING

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TOWING

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OVERALL

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November 2016 XX

SPECIAL CARAVAN INVENTORY

INSIDE information Our regular contributor, John Rankin reveals the essential kit he keeps inside his own tourer

I

magine a get-together for, say, 50 2018-modelyear Coachman Pastiche 545s, just like ours.

From the outside they would all look identical – but nose around inside and each one would be different, because it’s what we all pack into our respective caravans that makes them exactly that – our caravans.

So, here’s your opportunity to have a good old nose around and discover at least some of the paraphernalia (and more heavyweight equipment) that Clare and I deem essential for a successful trip away. It almost goes without saying that not all of it has been used…

KITCHEN KIT

Pride of place in the kitchen goes to a pair of Kitchen Devil serrated knives. They’ll go anywhere and do anything you ask of them (we’ve got a set at home, too). Soft tomatoes and firm onions are sliced and chopped with surgical

Kitchen Devil knife – essential for the Rankins 90 August 2020

Genius! The avocado tool precision, while garlic cloves are turned into slivers so fine, they’re transparent. Essential.

Almost as important is our avocado tool. This time last year I didn’t even know there was such a thing. Now, house and caravan have one each, and it will always be that way. There are two types of avocado eaters: those who cry at the protracted, sometimes messy and potentially lethal process of removing the stone… and those who own an avocado tool. Or two.

We have the Pastiche permanently equipped so we can be as self-sufficient as possible. So, when we pack to go away, it’s basically just clothes and some food and drink – everything else should already be waiting for us.

The caravan pantry always contains the following: salt and pepper, olive oil spray, dried herbs and spices, Marmite, peanut butter, stock cubes, baked beans and cereal. And, just in case we get caught short, a couple of bottles of wine and beer.

We bought an extra rack for the oven, which annoyingly had only one supplied. The utensils cupboard and drawer www.camc.com

Left: Johns Brompton bike – perfect for a quick trip to the site shop Above: all stowed away

“

The single, most expensive item on the inventory is a design icon

”

are stocked with duplicates of everything we use regularly at home, from two chopping boards (one for meat only) to a colander, a large measuring jug that doubles as a mixing bowl, a salad bowl etc. There’s always a ready supply of what must surely rank as the best invention ever: kitchen roll.

WELCOME TO THE FOLD

The single, most expensive item on the inventory is regarded as something of a design icon. The really clever thing about the London-made Brompton folding cycle is that it folds not once, but twice – ending up so compact that you can just carry it onto a bus or train or into a café like you would any other item of luggage.

After a day out from the site you can just fold it up (it takes 20 seconds) and lock it in the car overnight.

Ingeniously, when folded, the chain and gear mechanisms are all tucked away on the inside, so there’s no risk of oily smears on trouser legs or upholstery.

It’s a lovely bicycle to ride, too. Mine has six gears to tackle hills and longer rides, but you can choose one, two or three gears (not to mention your own colour scheme). Bespoke luggage attaches to the block on the front – great for popping down to the site shop to get the rolls and milk in the morning. www.camc.com

NOW, LISTEN HERE

The Coachman has a posh Pioneer stereo fitted, but it doesn’t extend to the bedroom. That’s where the diminutive Pure Move T4 comes in. It’s a portable DAB/FM radio with its own, built-in battery (that lasts for ages between charges, or you can just run it off the mains).. The sound is surprisingly rich from its single speaker, and utterly sumptuous with a good pair of headphones connected. It even doubles as a Bluetooth speaker. So much talent from such a small item!

Talking of headphones, I went away without mine once, so bought a decent pair to live in the caravan. A couple of

Sounds good: portable DAB radio August 2020 91

SPECIAL CARAVAN INVENTORY

Rechargeable batteries and a basic tool kit

ON THE OUTSIDE

USB mains chargers, a battery charger (and stock of rechargeable AA/AAA batteries ) and an Aux lead for connecting to the stereo are also in the audio/visual drawer.

So too are the remote controls for the two televisions and the Blu-ray player.

Two TVs? I know, I know. The Pastiche is equipped with two viewing stations, one of which is a wall bracket in the bedroom. They even supplied the mount for the TV itself, so Clare thought it was a shame not to put it to use... It certainly looks better with a sleek screen on the wall than a lump of bracketry - and it does feel a bit indulgent to retire to bed with a glass of wine to watch the late film.

The Blu-ray player was a £55 bargain. It plays DVDs as well as Blu-rays – handy for the small (but growing) collection of charity shop-bought DVDs that live in the cupboard, awaiting their rainyafternoon moment in the sun.

THE ‘GO-TO’ PRODUCTS More than a bathroom cleaner...

92 August 2020

When the weather’s nice, you’ll find us sitting outside the caravan. We’ve had our Outwell bamboo seats and matching table (below) a while now, and they still look great. The table is especially brilliant: it folds away flat into its bespoke carry bag and opens out into a thing of sturdy attractiveness.

It often attracts admiring comments, and quite right, too.

We’ve had a lot of use from our Cadac Safari Chef 2 (below right), which can either be connected to its own gas canister or to the barbecue point on the caravan.

It’s not just a barbecue either – the griddle pan certainly makes light work of breakfast eggs, and I’ve made some nice paellas in the upturned lid that doubles as a deep pan.

We’ve managed to bend some pegs when securing our Isabella Shadow canopy on harder ground and I keep losing tent-peg removal tools. Both issues were solved with the acquisition of a box of Blue Diamond Hard Ground Pro tent and awning pegs, and a frankly scary-looking hammer (above) with a mighty removal lug cast into the back. If I manage to lose that, there’s something badly wrong.

Finally, let’s go out on a high. Replenishing the cassette loo flush tank has been transformed into a spill-free surgical operation thanks to a cheap plastic watering can (left) from a discount shop!

There’s a clear winner in this department. It’s modestly called Thetford Bathroom Cleaner, but it should be renamed ‘Virtually Everything Cleaner’. It does a stellar job of making plastics gleam (its raison d’être), but it works its magic on glass, too, and it makes light work of removing bird poo from caravan or car bodywork. There’s always a bottle of this in the utility cupboard, alongside the tin foil, clingfilm, dustpan and brush, carpet/upholstery cleaner, cleaning cloths and spare toilet fluids.

A wise caravanner once said to me, “There’s nothing you can’t fix with gaffer tape and cable ties.” So I made sure that the Coachman’s in-house toolbox had both. They’re both still in their original wrapping. I’m not complaining, mind. I think the only thing I’ve used from this stash is one of the screwdrivers for a bit of routine tightening; the spanners, pliers, roll of elastic, big scissors and Swiss Army knife have all remained idle. www.camc.com

THE VALUE OF TOGETHERNESS YOUR VOLVO XC40 “TOWCAR OF THE YEAR”, WITH EXCLUSIVE MEMBER BENEFITS

On the outside to be a panel We believe in the power of working together. As a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club, you have access to savings please - thank you G on our recent winner of Towcar of the Year 2020 – the Volvo XC40 D4 AWD R-Design Pro.

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Fuel consumption and CO2* figures for the Volvo XC40 range, in MPG (l/100km): WLTP Combined 31.0 – 141.1 (9.1 – 2.0)**.

NEDC CO2 emissions 168 – 38**g/km. Twin Engine WLTP electric energy consumption TBC miles/kWh. Twin Engine WLTP all electric range 26.1 – 28.6** miles. Figures shown are for comparability purposes; only compare fuel consumption and CO2 figures with other

cars tested to the same technical procedures. These figures may not reflect real life driving results, which will depend upon a number of factors including the accessories fitted (post-registration), variations in weather, driving styles and vehicle load. *There is a new test used for fuel consumption and CO 2 figures.

The CO2 figures shown, however, are based on the outgoing test cycle and will be used to calculate vehicle tax on first registration. **Preliminary data. Please MEMBER SINCE... contact your retailer for latest information.

Motorhomer David Chapman

Car shown with premium Metallic Paint. Premium Metallic Paint will receive the equivalent joined the Club in support 2000 to standard Metallic; the customer will be charged for any difference in price.

www.camc.com

June 2020 75

TEST MCLOUIS FUSION 367

SHORT and

SWEET

Nick Harding checks out a diminutive four-berth Italian model that manages to squeeze in a fixed island bed – but does it tickle his taste buds?

N

ot actually a new name on these shores, Italian marque McLouis was re-introduced by the Auto-Sleepers Group (itself part of the huge Trigano stable) in time for the 2019 season, From an initial five-model line-up, there’s the promise of more to come.

Here we take a look at perhaps the most interesting of the current crop – the 367, which squeezes a rear bedroom with island double into an overall body length that's a shade under 7m. You’d normally expect such a floorplan to be some 50cm longer.

94 August 2020

Most motorhomes these days seem to start at what looks like an attractive price, before you are bombarded with wallet-punishing packs of options. Here, the Lux Pack comes as standard, including stereo system with DAB radio and reversing camera, 120W solar panel, cab blinds, leisure battery and removable floor carpets, as well as a Winter Pack of insulated waste water tank and frost-resistant outlet. That means what you see is very much what you get..

BUILD QUALITY

If you were to characterise any Italian-built motorhome, key themes would be state-of-the-art build, keen www.camc.com

A neat lounge (left) and a comfortable rear double bed (below left)

A little surprisingly, McLouis is rather light on its warranties – five years for water ingress, two for habitation and three for the base vehicle .

DRIVING

Fiat’s latest 140bhp engine as standard is a welcome offering and I’d suggest most drivers will find it has sufficient oomph. There are no optional power upgrades but nine-speed automatic transmission is an extra £2,000.

Handling and road holding are as surefooted and reassuring as you’d expect from the venerable Ducato, which has long been the go-to base vehicle for coachbuilt motorhomes.

The cab is well equipped – the usual, expected goodies are all here along with the aforementioned, excellent DAB radio/stereo system with reversing camera, steering wheel controls and air conditioning.

DAYTIME

Faux leather is the standard and, surprisingly, only upholstery option. The cab seat covers are removable, though, should you wish to revert to the standard Fiat fabrics. What I do like is the larger-than-average, opening over-cab sunroof, with proper lockers either side and open shelving across the front.

The floorplan is typical, with all the seating up front.

There is an L-shaped rear settee that can be adapted to create a travel seat for two (note: the headrests lack adjustment) plus there is a fifth, rear-facing travel seat adjacent to the habitation door.

The table is a bit of a bugbear as it sits a little tall on its fixed pedestal leg, although it’s otherwise easily adjustable fore and aft.

Truma’s Combi 6, housed in its own locker accessed via the garage, provides the heating and hot water.

TECHNICAL

Price as tested

£55,095 OTR Engine

2.3-litre Euro 6d Power

140bhp (104kW) @ 3,500rpm Torque

258lb ft (350Nm) @ 1,400rpm Transmission

6-speed manual, FWD MRO

3,077kg (60.57cwt) MTPLM

3,500kg (68.89cwt) (upgradable to 3,650kg/71.85cwt or 4,400kg/ 86.61cwt) User payload

423kg (8.33cwt) Overall length

22ft 11in (6.99m) Overall width

7ft 8in (2.33m) Overall height

9ft 8in (2.95m) Max internal height

6ft 3in (1.90m) Fuel/tank/econ

Diesel/19.8gals (90 litres)/28-34mpg

NIGHT-TIME

pricing and a touch of flair. McLouis doesn’t stray from this formula.

Alloy wheels are standard, as are flush-fitting windows and fixings for a bike rack – unusual, considering a big selling point is surely the huge garage storage area with commendably generous doors each side.

It’s all configured for use on roads and campsites in the United Kingdom, with the habitation door on our nearside. The bodywork is timber-free and GRP-clad, while the roof and underbody are also GRP. Payload isn’t particularly generous, but there are options to upgrade. www.camc.com

Fitting in two double beds is quite an achievement in any motorhome. At the back, the island bed is raised (for optimal garage space below) which means you’ll struggle to sit upright, despite a mattress section that can be angled.

There are two rather deep lockers across the back of the motorhome, with his and hers wardrobes (the offside one is slightly larger than the nearside), plus always-useful bedside ledges.

The comfortable one-piece mattress sits on a metal frame with sprung slats, and a hinged section gives access to storage at the end of the bed.

Overhead is a mini Heki rooflight, while a sliding door provides privacy.

Then there’s the double bed over the lounge that simply glides down electrically and has a ladder for access. It’s shaped but it does still cut across the main door when lowered.

Vehicle supplied for testing by Nick Whale Motorhomes, Unit 8, Lauriston Park, Pitchill Cottages, Evesham WR11 8SN. Contact: nickwhale motorhomes.co.uk, 01386 870852 August 2020 95

TEST MCLOUIS FUSION 367

Clockwise from left: Fiat Ducato cabin; kitchen has a circular sink and triangular hob; toilet room with tambour door (en-suite shower is opposite)

under the sink is where you’ll also find a toilet roll holder and there’s a second cupboard overhead.

A mirror adds to the feeling of space while a translucent window provides ventilation.

Toothbrush mug and soap holders are handy.

Across the corridor, there are folding doors for the shower, which has a riser bar. The cubicle is set over the wheel arch, so there’s a small step. The loose, wooden duckboard should prove useful post-shower, but there’s just the one, small-diameter plughole.

KITCHEN

RATINGS

82%

BUILD QUALITY

81%

DRIVING

78%

DAYTIME

85%

NIGHT-TIME

66%

KITCHEN

76%

WASHROOM

79%

DETAILS

78%

OVERALL

The circular stainless steel sink and triangular, three-ring gas hob combination isn’t the most efficient in optimising worktop space and there isn’t an extension. There’s no spark ignition for the hob either, but an extractor unit is a welcome addition.

Storage includes a single locker overhead, two drawers and a floor-level locker (where you’ll find the gas isolation taps), plus a slim locker under the sink – shelving goes all the way back to the wall and there’s a handy, slide-out chrome-sided tray.

A 150-litre Thetford fridge/freezer is across the corridor below a Dometic grill/mini oven which is at a height most folk will find convenient. A slide-out bracket for a flatscreen television over this allows – in theory, at least – for watching TV from the lounge or bedroom.

DETAILS

There’s a good roll-call of LED lighting (direct and ambient), sockets (including USBs) and overhead lockers with particularly light-to-use catches.

Other points of note range from memory foam seating and bedding to acrylic panelling around the kitchen window to the waste bin in the habitation door, which in turn has double locking points and a double inset step.

VERDICT

Competition in the motorhome market is fierce with so many different makes and models from which to choose. Credit to McLouis, then, for pulling out something slightly different with the 367. Including the Lux Pack as standard is a massive plus.

WASHROOM

En-suite to the bedroom, bathroom facilities are split between a tambour-doored toilet room on the nearside and shower cubicle opposite. The swivelbowl toilet is set at a good height but you’ll want to check legroom for yourselves. There’s a fixed, oval basin, plus decent storage – a good-sized locker

You can insure this motorhome with the Club for £506.16* per year. Please see camc.com/insurance or call 0345 504 0334 for further details

* Quote (correct as of 22 June 2020) is for the model tested worth £55,095. Based on 55-year-old male living in Sheffield, with a maximum no claims bonus (unprotected) coming from a vehicle of similar value/experience, who has no accidents, claims or convictions and keeps the vehicle on a drive. Quote is based on 3,000 miles per year, with £150 damage, fire and theft excess. Vehicle must have a factory-fitted alarm and immobiliser and, due to the value, the vehicle must also be fitted with a tracker. Subject to underwriting. The Club’s Motorhome Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services Limited, Insurance Brokers. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited. The Caravan Club Limited and Devitt Insurance Services Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

96 August 2020

www.camc.com

Motorhome and Campervan Insurance when you need it

We’ll beat your renewal by

£25*

With our award winning cover it’s no wonder our members come back to us year after year. Switch to us and we’ll beat your current renewal premium by at least £25.*

BEST MOTORHOME INSURANCE PROVIDER

WINNER 2019

Get yourself award winning cover visit camc.com/insurance or call 0345 504 0334 for a quote today.

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 This is promotional information only and a sample policy wording including the limitations and exclusions that apply is available upon request. *Premium Saving Guarantee. Subject to proof of an existing renewal quote from your current insurer, including cover and price (e.g. a copy of your renewal notice) and when cover is on a like-for-like basis. Offer applies to new customers only.

Subject to terms and conditions and the underwriter’s acceptance of the risk. Please note, terms, conditions and excess(es) may vary from your current insurer and excludes Breakdown and Legal cover, which needs to be purchased separately.

PRACTICAL Q&A

ASK YOUR CLUB Security advice

The Club’s technical team answers your pressing questions

Q

Is the Club aware of any trends in criminal activity during lockdown? What can be done to reduce the risk of caravan and motorhome theft as things return to normal?

A

It’s a sad fact of life that if something’s desirable, there will be those who will try to acquire it by illegal means. That’s as true for caravans and motorhomes as it is for anything else.

As more and more people seek ways of having a socially-distanced break, we’ve seen a remarkable upturn in interest in leisure vehicle holidays. That’s great news for our sector and for the industry as a whole. Every silver lining has its cloud, though, and in this case it’s a likely upswing in the number of thefts of outfits.

During the ‘stay at home’ period of lockdown, vehicle movements were clearly much reduced, and with campsites and dealerships closed, the number of outfits on the road was minimal – largely just campervans that were being used as principle vehicles. That allowed police to target any suspicious movements very effectively: we saw a number of recoveries of stolen outfits, as well as a number of thieves caught in the act of moving them. While thefts didn’t stop entirely, figures for the first half of 2020 were relatively low – around half of what we normally see.

With sites mostly reopened at the time of going to press, and a huge pent up desire to get back on the road, the number of outfit movements will now be very much greater. What can be done to minimise the risk of theft? Here are some suggestions…

REDUCE ATTRACTIVENESS n Store your outfit somewhere secure. Outfits are most vulnerable when not in use, and more vulnerable still if their storage location isn’t secure.

This can be easier said than done – finding a good-quality, secure storage facility and affordable prices is not always easy. n If storing at home, keep it out of sight if it is feasible to do so. Think about how thieves operate – they cruise streets looking for desirable outfits that are readily accessible (ie mainly on driveways or in front gardens). If they can’t see your vehicle, they’ll move on, so back gardens are better than front. Even a cover may help a little, if it makes it harder to tell that there’s a desirable, newer-model underneath. n Use good-quality mechanical security devices which are tested under credible approval schemes (eg Sold Secure Gold – or the even higher Diamond 98 August 2020

– standard for wheel locks, or the Dutch SCM standard). These slow thieves down, and perhaps force them to bring and use more sophisticated tools.

MAINTAIN VIGILANCE n Always fit security devices when outfits are most vulnerable, particularly in storage but also in places like motorway service areas. Make sure they’re fitted properly. n Ensure a caravan’s CRiS registration is kept up-to-date on change of owner (see cris.co.uk for information). n Keep insurance cover updated and subscriptions for monitored alarms and trackers active. Diarise reminders for renewal dates. n Watch out for suspicious behaviour, especially at storage sites (eg individuals showing undue interest in outfits that are not theirs, or anyone trying to ‘tailgate’ through access controls). Report concerns to the site operator or, if necessary, to the police HELP RECOVERY n Keep registration details separate to the outfit, and keep any insurance/cover details (cover reference number, claims reporting contact details) separately too. n Report any loss to the police, your insurer, CRiS (for caravans) and the Club’s TheftCheck service (01342 318813 to register, 01342 336885 to report a stolen outfit) as quickly as possible. A remote alerting alarm or tracker can help get rapid action, even if the thieves subsequently manage to disable it. A well-hidden tracker can be highly effective. n Keep photos of the exterior and any distinguishing features available to aid identification. n Mark the VIN or CRiS number indelibly on hidden areas (eg on the undersides of drawers).

The Club operates a number of storage sites, including this CaSSOA gold-rated facility at Cadeside.

See camc.com/storage for more information

Please address your questions to:

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

camc.com/advice www.camc.com

If I pass away

Canine Cared For

If I move toinaecCaarree dhoFmore Can is s o n g ia d g in g n a h c e if l a If I receive Canine Cared For Make sure your dog is cared for with a Canine Care Card from Dogs Trust You’ve always done what you can to protect your fourlegged friend, and that shouldn’t change when life does. With a Canine Care Card, you won’t have to worry about what’s next for them, because Dogs Trust will look after and rehome them at one of our 20 rehoming centres across the UK.

Apply online now to get your FREE Canine Care Card at:

www.dogstrust.org.uk/ccc Email: ccc@dogstrust.org.uk Call us directly: 020 7837 0006 Please quote “334516”

www.dogstrust.org.uk Service only available for residents of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands & Isle of Man. www.camc.com

Reg. Charity Nos: 227523 & SC037843 November 2016 21

PUZZLE CROSSWORD

CROSSWORD £90 in Club gift tokens to be won

£50 in Club gift tokens will be won by the sender of the first correct solution opened on Friday 21 August 2020. Four runners-up will each receive £10 Club gift tokens.

Due to the current situation, please clearly photograph and email your answer grid to crossword@camc.com. Please do not include any other correspondence with your entry.

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NAME: ADDRESS:

POSTCODE:

ACROSS 1 Elephant (5) 4 Wood particles (7) 9 An outlook or scene (4) 10 Customary (5) 11 Marine reptile with flippers (6) 12 Milky gemstones (5) 14 Close to home (5) 15 Horse-breeding establishment (4) 16 Knitted snug jacket (8) 17 Roman or British? (6) 19 Scorch (4) 22 Kitchen implement (7) 24 Silent (3) 26 Fragrant evergreen (5) 27 To dye with pigment (5) 29 Persistent, unceasing (9) 32 Outburst of temper (7) 35 Rat poison (7) 37 An exciting quest (9) 39 Very deep chasm (5) 41 Pleased with life (5) 43 Cushioned underside of a cat’s toe (3) 44 Droopy-eared dog (7) 47 Elevated (4) 48 Gambling monies (6) 51 Cause to begin (8) 52 Snack-bar (4) 54 Decimal dot (5) 55 Giver of blood (5) 56 The interior (6) 57 Sky blue (5) 58 Set of three (4) 59 To exhibit (7) 60 Oared a boat (5)

For full terms and conditions of entry, please visit our website at camc.com/competitions

MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:

July solution: Across: 1 Rheumatism 6 Regret 11 Rhino 12 Conflict 13 Sheepish 16 Rapport 18 Stifle 19 Prod 20 Sweat 22 Stage 24 Cot 25 Vie 26 Pooh-pooh 28 Angle 29 Mall 30 Trove 31 Needlework 35 Serpentine 39 Pushy 40 Cock 41 Extra 42 Antelope 43 Lie

100 August 2020

DOWN 1 Journey for pleasure (5) 2 Bullfighter (7) 3 Dull and cloudy (8) 4 Defrauds (8) 5 Unjust or unlawful (8) 6 A scuffle (6) 7 Bring to a halt (4,2) 8 Give up occupancy (6) 13 Extremely unusual (8) 18 Scarlet (3) 20 Very warm (3) 21 Fragment of bread (5) 22 Weirdly spooky (7) 23 It screws onto a bolt (3) 25 Doorway carpet (3) 26 Keep hidden (7) 28 Sadly! (4) 30 Move the head in agreement (3) 31 High or low playing-card (3) 33 Red stone (4) 34 Light sailing vessel (5) 36 Cricketer’s headgear (3) 37 Acting trial (8) 38 Metal (3) 40 Droop (3) 42 Plant container (3) 44 Bushy-tailed rodent (8) 45 Lively pursuit or just doing things (8) 46 The outside (8) 47 Metal-cutting tool (7) 48 A comfy nap (6) 49 Young cat (6) 50 Squalid and debased (6) 53 Gradually lost tone (5)

44 Sad 45 Haste 47 Poppy 49 Knit 50 Avenue 51 Octagon 54 Sergeant 57 Comatose 58 Grain 59 Tiddly 60 Song thrush Down: 1 Rips 2 Underdevelop 3 Anti 4 Itch 5 Minestrone 6 Rolling pin 7 Retrench 8 Trip 9 Biro 10 Bottleneck 14 Hurricane

grid C

15 Sow 17 Pet 20 Sweeten 21 Explosion 22 Stale 23 Aggro 27 Oversleep 32 Loyalty 33 Wicket keeper 34 Reception 35 See-through 36 Rates 37 Erase 38 Elementary 39 Prosperous 42 Advanced 46 Tea 48 Pie 52 Trap 53 Gent 54 Seen 55 Rust 56 Tash

JUNE WINNERS £50 first prize: Steve Sowerby, Wiltshire £10 runners-up: Lorna Ewen, Aberdeenshire; M Higgins, Warks; Mrs Hall, Newport; Thomas Rae, Tyne and Wear Please note: prizes will be posted as soon as possible.

Take a photo of your answers and send to crossword@ camc.com with the subject heading August Crossword.

Please do not include any other correspondence with your entry

www.camc.com

Advertisement feature

Club Shop

EXCLUSIVE MEMBER OFFER FOR A UNIQUE CARAVAN JOCKEY WHEEL

So many features in a ‘simple’ jockey wheel Kartt is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of quality jockey wheels.

In collaboration with the Caravan & Motorhome Club, we designed a jockey wheel to overcome many of the problems experienced by the caravan user.

We created a jockey wheel tough enough to withstand impacts of cobbles, curbs and ruts and to cope with high sideways forces.

Our wide wheel stows inside the A frame with good ground clearance.

Puncture-proof, it is ideal for most surfaces including grass and sand. It is solid but forgiving with the same footprint as a pneumatic tyre but without the drawbacks.

Kartt’s design is “ideal for use with motor movers” and easy to “steer”. See the great reviews from consumer tests.

Strong outer and inner tubes along with heavy duty wheel hangers giving

greater strength when manoeuvring.

A high visibility, orange powder coated, steel rim is more easily seen if the wheel is not raised after hitching up and gives additional protection from road and sea salt.

The 20mm steel axle tube and maintenance free nylon bearing allows free running without metal to metal wear and will not break down under load.

Kartt’s ‘Turn-Lok’ device stops the handle from winding under road vibrations, preventing the wheel assembly from dropping out whilst travelling.

Finally, an easy grip ergonomic jockey knob, along with a superior thrust bearing allows the smoothest action when using the jockey wheel.

The unique jockey wheel comes with simple fitting instructions.

Customer Reviews “I had high expectations regarding the Kartt Ultimate Jockey Wheel for my caravan. High expectations often lead to some disappointment on receipt and in use. Well, on this occasion the hype was justified. In terms of construction and function this jockey wheel is excellent. I was not prepared for the ease of motion over all kinds of surfaces. Deep gravel and a motor mover used to mean digging in and strain on motors, not any more. The humble jockey wheel has come of age. Nice one Kartt.”

Brendan CAMC member “The Kartt Jockey wheel is a wonderful piece of engineering. We liked the smooth action of the height adjusting handle, the overall quality of the jockey wheel and the smart appearance. The stability of the unit running over roughish terrain was far superior to my original one, which tended to be too flexible which then loosened the clamping bracket which needed constant tightening up. At home I have to put the caravan in a tight space over a 20m gravel drive. Your unit worked superbly and ran smoothly over the drive without burying itself in the gravel. It was also easier to drive over a raised paving slab.”

Cheryl & Mike CAMC members

For some of the heaviest larger caravans, we have introduced a ribbed anti slip jockey wheel.

More information on recommended use can be found on www.caravanjockeywheel.co.uk.

www.camc.com

Spare parts are now available for the Kartt jockey wheel.

Please see our web site www.caravanjockeywheel.co.uk that contains a link to the CAMC web site where all the items can be purchased.

Available from shop.camc.com

November 2016 21

LOVE SUDOKU

PUZZLES BRAINTEASERS

Can you solve this selection of teasers? The answers are on the side of each page

KILLER SUDOKU

The normal rules of Sudoku apply. Place a digit from 1-9 in each empty square so that each row, column and 3x3 block contains all the digits from 1-9. In addition, the digits in each inner shape (marked by dots) must add up to the number in the top corner of that box. No digit can be repeated within an inner shape.

Solution

SUDOKU MEDIUM 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 102 August 2020

www.camc.com

MISSING LINKS HOW TO PLAY The answer to each clue is a word which has a link with each of the three words listed. This word may come at the end (eg HEAD linked with BEACH, BIG and HAMMER), at the beginning (eg BLACK linked with BEAUTY, BOARD and JACK) or a mixture of the two (eg STONE linked with HAIL, LIME and WALL).

ACROSS 8 Girls • Read • Think (5) 9 Cramp • Ghost • Under (7) 10 Last • Popular • Stop (7) 11 Net • Pants • Ship (5) 12 Arch • Entry • March (9) 14 Blanket • Soaking • Through (3) 15 Bad • Me • Much (3) 16 Button • Garlic • Magic (9) 19 Bill • Safety • Sharp (5) 21 Angel • Shepherd's • Turkish (7) 23 Delivery • Letter • Service (7) 24 Cap • Human • Numb (5) DOWN 1 Fashion • Fish • Grey (6) 2 Coast • Net • Repellent (8) 3 Bone • Rich • Threat (4) 4 Blade • Board • Off (6) 5 Court • Motion • Saw (8) 6 Over • Say • Tell (4) 7 Duty • Ford • Police (6) 13 Lecture • Service • War (8) 14 Arrest • Detention • Dismissal (8) 15 Cut • Pastille • Sore (6) 17 Cloth • Side • Soap (6) 18 Amicably • Down • In (6) 20 Gravity • Hour • Rated (4) 22 Guest • Hit • Wish (4)

Solution www.camc.com

August 2020 103

PUZZLES BRAINTEASERS

CODE WORD HOW TO PLAY This puzzle has no clues in the conventional sense. Instead, every different 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 104 August 2020

www.camc.com

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Each player receives a Genius Square grid (two are included) and a set of the nine coloured shapes, plus seven ‘blocker’ pieces. Roll all seven of the dice together and place a ‘blocker’ piece into the squares matching the seven co-ordinates that appear on the dice. Now race your opponent to fill every other space on the grid using the nine shapes.

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Offer ends 11.59pm 31st March 2021!

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Dealer Marketplace Welcome to our new advertising section dedicated to caravan, motorhome and campervan dealerships across the country. Here, we chat to Jo Goulden of Yorkshire Caravans about servicing and warranties in the current climate

Q A

Can you tell us a little about the history of Yorkshire Caravans?

Yorkshire Caravans of Bawtry is the oldest and largest independent retailer of caravans, awnings and leisure accessories in the UK. In 1931, Percy Smith, the owner of a petrol filling station, started to sell caravans after noticing how much attention the one parked in his station was attracting. Our reputation has been built over 89 years and is based on quality, choice and personal service.

Q A

Is demand for caravan servicing high at the moment?

The demand is extremely high and we have restructured our aftercare department to offer more slots to customers. The workshop is now open from 7.30am to accommodate existing customers and also new customers eager to get out in their leisure vehicles now restrictions are beginning to ease.

Q A

What are the usual problems your service engineers encounter?

Gas systems need to be used on a regular basis to be reliable, even if it’s just flicked on for 30 minutes. Due to lockdown, a lot of people have not had access to their leisure vehicles and therefore have not been able to do this.

Q

In your experience have manufacturers extended the length of required service intervals in order to maintain warranties?

A

We have been very impressed by the response from manufacturers.

All the main UK manufactures have been very proactive in offering extensions.

106 August 2020

Q

What sort of cover/back-up do customers receive if they buy a new or second-hand outfit from Yorkshire Caravans?

A

Our pre-owned warranty is in-house and gives more protection than warranty companies.

All new caravans come with a comprehensive manufacturer’s warranty, which means damp and de-lamination, upholstery and appliances are all protected. It’s key that customers maintain the service to keep the warranty valid.

developing our site to offer the highest possible standards to customers while maintaining their safety and that of our team. Our storage facility caters for 1,200 caravans and motorhomes and we are looking to expand so we can offer the same service for all types of leisure vehicles, while we are also hoping to build a wash-bay, tyre air check station and children’s play area.

Q A

What are Yorkshire Caravans’ plans for the future?

Health and safety has always been a top priority but due to the pandemic we are focusing on further

www.camc.com

Dealer Marketplace ADVERTISING FEATURE

brought to you by the Caravan and Motorhome Club

www.camc.com

March 2020 101

Dealer Marketplace FEATURE TITLE SUBTEXT

brought to you by the Caravan and Motorhome Club

OWNERS The leading pre-owned motorhome SURVEY and VW campervan specialist SATISFACTION

Motorhome Dealer Group are a multi-award winning family owned business with outlets in Hampshire and Dorset.

We have over 80 price checked motorhomes and campervans always in stock. Countrywide Motorhomes and the VW Kamper Centre are both located in St. Leonards near Ringwood, Hampshire While Three Counties Motorhomes is based in Poole, Dorset.

Three Counties Motorhomes, 46 Hatch Pond Road, Nuffield Industrial Est, Poole, Dorset, BH17 0JZ Tel: 01202 673735

VW Kamper Centre, 215 Ringwood Road, St. Leonards, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2QB Tel: 01202 855531

Countrywide Motorhomes, Main A31, 215 Ringwood Rd, St. Leonards, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 2QB Tel: 01202 881089

Prices from £20,000 to over £60,000.

All vehicles supplied with a National Warranty. A Family owned business, run by motohome enthusiasts. From two berth compacts to six berth family models.

Browse & Buy Safely Policy in Practice.

The biggest and best selection of VW campers in the country.

Pre-owned and brand new conversions.

Actual vehicles on-site ready to buy.

No waiting for a build slot. All price ranges, specifications, colours, berths & layouts.

Coachbuilt, Low Profile and A-Class motorhomes. Campervans and Conversions, all types and sizes. Part Ex’s always welcome, best prices paid. We follow all the latest government guidelines to ensure you can Browse and Buy Safely.

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View interior and exterior images of all our stock online at...

www.m-d-g.co.uk

Search Motorhome Dealer Group on YouTube for our latest videos.

Customer Hand Over Suite

Sell us your motorhome or campervan!

We’d love to talk about buying your motorhome We sell so many motorhomes from our sites in Hampshire and Dorset, we’re always looking to buy fresh stock.

ALL MAKES AND MODELS CONSIDERED • UK’s Best Buyer • Immediate Valuation • Instant No Risk Bank Transfer Prior To Collection • Courteous Efficient Service • Free Nationwide Collection • Outstanding Finance Settled • Open 7 Days A Week • Recognition For Extras Fitted And Careful Ownership

Call Rob Kirk, Andy Spencer or Gavin Bartlett NOW!

FREEPHONE 0800 652 4026 XX November 2016

www.m-d-g.co.uk

Please Quote C-and-M Club when contacting us

Open Weekdays: 9am-5.30pm, Poole branch appointments only at weekends Hampshire branch Sat: 9am-5pm,Sun: 10am-4pm

www.camc.com

Dealer Marketplace

brought to you by the Caravan and Motorhome Club

THE UK’S

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20% OFF IN-STORE SALE ENDS 16th AUGUST

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TAIL LIGHTS

Your observations on the unusual world of touring

MOVING IN

ROLL ON

“I hope you enjoy the picture of our notice, which was placed in the window of our motorhome while it is on an enforced stay on our drive,” say Joy and Bryan Tilley. “As you can guess, it refers to the recent ‘toilet roll panic’!”

Something the cat towed in

We were quite taken with Danny Abbott’s wooden caravan bird house, which has attracted at least one visitor during spring… and perhaps many more. Well known for being keen on the touring lifestyle, tits travel regularly in order to set up new territories, and it looks like this one has found a new temporary home!

(If you’d like a bird box like this, take a look at ebay.co.uk, etsy.com and plenty of other online stores.)

Ray Rogers couldn’t go anywhere during lockdown in his motorhome, but at least his cat, Snowy, could still use her caravan! “It was just a cat box but I turned it into a gypsy-style one so she did not feel left out,” says Ray. Thanks for sharing your handiwork with us – it looks great!

If you see something unusual on a Club site, CL or while you’re out and about in the future, please send a picture to magazine@camc.com or tag @candmclub on Instagram and we’ll print the best.

WOODEN WANDERER

Pete Hutton saw the Wanderer – the world’s first purpose-built leisure caravan – on his last visit to Broadway Club site, and decided to create his own during lockdown using an old wooden blind and some castor wheels he had in his shed. “I hope you like the outcome,” says Pete, to which the answer is: very much!

SUPER SPECTRUM Here’s William Ellson (aged five), who was apparently missing his caravan trips so much he decided to brighten up the lockdown period by drawing a rainbow…

122 August 2020

with his caravan underneath, of course.

“He would love to see his picture in your magazine,” says dad Winstan. The pleasure is all ours!

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Revitive is being shown to help with symptoms such as the feeling of tired legs and puffy ankles - as well as improving our feeling of health generally. The circular footrest is a dynamic hub for electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) technology, sending electrical pulses gently up through the feet and into the body. ew people realise it but the calves act as our ‘second heart’,

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pumping blood up from the body’s farthest reaches back to the heart. It’s no secret that things tend to slow through ageing or being less active. After we’ve been on our feet for a while, at best many of us suffer from symptoms where we find our legs feeling tired and ankles puffy.

Yet sufferers are discovering that is a thing of the past thanks to the Revitive Circulation Booster®, a drug-free, therapy device which actively increases circulation. It should be used from just 30 minutes daily and it won’t interfere with any existing medication.

“Get your leg muscles pumping to help put a ‘Spring’ in your step”

Revitive can weave its magic while you sit back in your armchair and watch TV thanks to its easy operation, and is the culmination of a century of research.

EASY TO USE – hydrate yourself & apply FREE moisturiser to feet, increase intensity until your calf muscles contract, sit back, relax & let Revitive do the rest.

EFFECTIVE – Revitive creates Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) which sends gentle electrical pulses up through the feet which contracts the calf muscles to get your leg muscles pumping & may help provide relief from the feeling of tired legs and puffy feet and ankles, while you relax.

CLINICAL TRIALS – Imperial College London’s vascular surgery department at Charing Cross Hospital London has conducted extensive clinical studies and advocate its use.

DRUG-FREE – Revitive is a class IIa medical device offering a drug-free solution, plus entitling you to claim back the VAT†† if you suffer from a long-term illness - call for further details. by the England Cricket Legend and Charity Walker:

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I would recommend anyone with lower leg problems like I have, due to type 2 Diabetes, to give it a try.”

Philip, Blackpool. 10/10

HEAVY LEGS & PUFFINESS

My feet and legs feel less puffy and some days I feel symptom free.”

Babette, Hook, Hants. 10/10

NEUROPATHIC PAIN

It’s made a big difference. I feel I can stay on my feet much longer, and my legs don’t hurt as much. I still do a bit of netball umpiring, and even play a match now and then...my legs and feet don’t feel anywhere near as bad as before Revitive.”

Sheree, Telford. 10/10

UNSUITABLE IF YOU ARE: Fitted with a heart pacemaker or AICD; being treated for, or have the symptoms of, an Existing Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT); pregnant.

Always read the label. Use only as directed. If you are uncertain about the cause of your symptoms or your symptoms persist, please consult your Doctor. †TRIAL: With Revitive, calculations showed blood volume 4 times higher than baseline / at rest in healthy people (Varatharajan et al, 2014, The effect of footplate neuromuscular electrical stimulation on venous and arterial hemodynamics, Phlebology, July 4 20 participants.) *Free standard P&P worth £7.99 in England and Wales. Some areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and other remote postcodes will incur a surcharge cost of £19.99. Next day or express deliveries will cost more, please ask our customer service team for a quote **If returned within 90 days, full refund of purchase price, minus collection fee of £7.99 (some areas of Scotland, Northern Ireland and other remote postcodes will incur a surcharge cost of £19.99). Must be returned in original UNDAMAGED packaging otherwise further charges may apply. 1 trial per customer only & trial starts from dispatch date. ††If you suffer a long term illness or disability, you may be able to claim back the VAT. All quotes used are real however, to protect the identity of our customers, models have been used for the pictures.

Copyright © 2020 Actegy Ltd. All rights reserved. Revitive and Circulation Booster are trademarks or registered trademarks of Actegy Ltd. Registered in England no. 4819502. Registered office Actegy Ltd, Reflex, Cain Road, Bracknell, RG12 1HL, UK. AW: 17315004 03.20

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Here for you, whenever you need us.

Lockdown special!

MAYDAY UK Breakdown Cover With sites starting to reopen, prepare for life after lockdown and make sure you’re covered before your first trip.

With our Premium UK and Premium UK Plus levels, you’ll be covered at home and on the road from just £105 a year.

Call 0345 366 6579 or visit camc.com/mayday

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Specialist recovery

Nationwide recovery

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A sample MAYDAY UK Breakdown Cover policy booklet including the limitations and exclusions that apply is available upon 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. Mayday UK Breakdown Cover is provided by Green Flag and underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, both part of the same group. Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No.1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority www.camc.com November 2019 114