Practical Caravan4 min read
Elddis Avanté 550
Price £26,599 Berths 4 MiRO 1259kg MTPLM 1412kg THE ELDDIS Avanté has proved a popular choice for a large number of dealerships to use as the base for their special editions. But with Elddis caravans remaining largely unchanged this season, we though
Practical Caravan1 min read
The Big Shot France
Where are we? Ile de Ré, France Why tour here? Dramatically located at the tip of Ile de Ré's western point, the Phare des Baleines lighthouse makes a suitably picturesque spot from which to revel in a moody orange sunset. Towering 59m above the isla
Practical Caravan3 min read
Skills School
Spring is almost here – the snowdrops are in bloom and the days are getting noticeably longer. For many caravanners, this means it's time to retrieve your tourer from storage before getting back on the road for the first of many exciting tours. If th
Practical Caravan11 min read
Whatever The Weather!
WHEN WE COLLECTED our first tourer in June 2021, we had already decided that it would never stay in storage for long. We still love to read articles about how to prepare your caravan for the winter – cover or not, handbrake on or off, ditto wheels. H
Practical Caravan1 min read
Trip Planner
This whole region is especially beautiful in the summer months, although the very unpredictable weather means suitable clothing and footwear are essential. Summer is also the peak of the midge season, although thankfully, Loch Ness is pretty much mid
Practical Caravan1 min read
How To Buy New
People's needs differ, and your layout choice will depend on your companions and how you want to use your caravan. To understand which layouts are available, spend a day at one of the big shows in Birmingham or Glasgow, where dealers and manufacturer
Practical Caravan11 min read
How to beat The Black Streak!
MARVEL AND DC have dreamt up some deliciously despicable super-villains over the decades, but have any of them been quite as dastardly and defiant as The Black Streak? This stubbornly persistent baddie has the superpower of being omnipresent, blighti
Practical Caravan2 min read
Your Trip Planner Ile De Ré
We crossed by ferry from Dover to Calais, overnighting there so we could shop at the nearby supermarket. We drove to Camping Parc de Loisirs Le Val Fleuri, at Cloyes-sur-Le-Loir, via the A16 to Abbeville, then the A26 to J10, where we took the D915 t
Practical Caravan7 min read
Finding Nessie
CONDITIONS WERE, well, not exactly ideal for a pleasant waterside stroll, but perhaps just right for a spot of monster hunting. A mist hung over the loch, now and then obscuring the lone boat moored at the end of a jetty, as a persistent drizzle soak
Practical Caravan1 min read
Practical Caravan
Editorial Website www.practicalcaravan.com Editor-in-chief Sarah WakeIy sarah@practicalcaravan.com Deputy Editor Paul Critcher Alt Editors Jenny Owen, Simon Mortimer Production Editor Gillian Gould Reviews Editor Peter Baber Content Editor Peter Byrn
Practical Caravan4 min read
Tobermory
FOR A GENERATION of kids, Tobermory is the cheery setting of TV series Balamory, and it's easy to see why its producers chose this delightful fishing port as a location. But there's more to Mull's capital than just a collection of colourful buildings
Practical Caravan8 min read
Perking Up In PEMBROKESHIRE
LONGING TO GET away after what had seemed like a never-ending winter, we at last saw a forecast for a few bright, sunny days ahead. So having quickly loaded up the caravan, we set off for one of our favourite campsites in West Wales. After about an h
Practical Caravan2 min read
Tow Cars
Long ago, when I was new to towing, I took a wrong turn and missed a width restriction sign. The narrow single-track bridge a few hundred yards later would have neatly corrugated the sides of the caravan. Fortunately, with the help of a passing van d
Practical Caravan2 min read
Harrogate Show Returns
A CARAVAN SHOW that made its debut in Harrogate last September is returning to the North Yorkshire town this year – although with a slightly different name. The Great Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show will be open to the public at the Great Yo
Practical Caravan4 min read
Connect
Those two short weeks of summer holidays easily fill up with things to do and go ever so quickly when you're working, but when you're retired and can get away more often, there's plenty of time to try out new things. Last summer, while spending three
Practical Caravan1 min read
Tested
I am writing this before the Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Show at the NEC has opened, so I can't yet report on that event, although I am sure it will be successful. I'm glad to see a spread of shows appearing across the country – both in Scotland,
Practical Caravan1 min read
Trip Planner
Provided you pack suitable gear and travel prepared for unpredictable weather, there are plenty of campsites that make great winter destinations. RSPB Bempton Cliffs rspb.org.uk Flamborough Head Lighthouse trinityhouse.co.uk Sewerby Hall and Gardens
Practical Caravan1 min read
Where We Stayed
Flamborough Road, Sewerby, Bridlington Y015 1DU caravanclub.co.uk Milestone Caravan Park Great North Road, Cromwell, Newark NG23 6JE milestonepark.co.uk Clumber Park CAMC Site Limetree Avenue, Clumber Park, Worksop S80 3AE caravanclub.co.uk ■
Practical Caravan1 min read
Your Photos!
We asked you to share your favourite places to pitch up… Star photo Our winning entry receives one of these beautifully illustrated maps from Awesome Maps – check out the amazing range at www.awesome-maps.com WIN ME! STAR PHOTO TAG US #PRACTICAL CARA
Practical Caravan1 min read
To The Rescue!
A North-East glamping and touring site has marked its long-standing support for a local mountain rescue team by hosting a special event for its members. Herding Hill Farm, near Haltwhistle, Northumberland, welcomed some 20 team members to its site fo
Practical Caravan1 min read
Puzzle Time
Whether you're on tour or at home, relax with a cup of tea and some brain-teasers to ponder! To solve the puzzle, each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. No single digit can appear twice in any one row, column or 3x3 box You hav
Practical Caravan5 min read
Buy Smarter Personal Shopper
Choosing the caravan that's just right for you is never easy. It's not just a question of selecting a suitable layout, it's making sure that the weight of your chosen model is ideally no more than 85% of the kerbweight of your car. And of course, the
Practical Caravan2 min read
Technical Terms Explained
As defined by EU Directive 95/48/EC (which still applies), the car or other vehicle's weight with a 90% full fuel tank, all necessary fluids, 68kg for the driver and 7kg of luggage. This is the figure that is used to calculate a tow car match (Gross
Practical Caravan1 min read
Trip Planner
From the east, the easiest way is along the M4 until it ends at Pont Abraham Services. The good-quality road continues as the A48, and the route is dual-carriageway all the way to Carmarthen. From there, we took the dual-carriageway A40 to the St Cle
Practical Caravan1 min read
In Brief
Freedom Caravans is holding a special open weekend to celebrate its 40th anniversary in March this year. The firm, whose lightweight tourers are manufactured in Poland and Spain, will not be exhibiting at the Caravan, Motorhome and Camping Show at th
Practical Caravan1 min read
Top Tips, Top Sites
Whether you've been caravanning for years, or are a relative newbie to our pastime, there's always something new to learn! That's the thinking behind our special guide this issue on how to be a better caravanner. From reversing to fitting towing mirr
Practical Caravan4 min read
Bailey Pegasus Grande Gt75 Amalfi
Price £31,499 Berths 6 MiRO 1570kg MTPLM 1750kg LIKE THE ANCONA reviewed in issue 475, the Amalfi is one of two new models added to Bailey's 75th birthday celebration range. The Amalfi has a layout that hasn't featured in the Bailey line-up for years
Practical Caravan5 min read
Spotlight On… Fridges
YOUR REFRIGERATOR, like any other gas appliance in your caravan, must be serviced at regular intervals. Major manufacturers, such as Thetford and Dometic, recommend an annual service. However, this only applies to absorption or three-way fridges. Fir
Practical Caravan2 min read
Easter Days Out
29 March to 1 April 2024 With everything from a truly head-spinning maze to stunning formal gardens and magnificent state rooms, there is much to enjoy at Winston Churchill's famous ancestral home in glorious Oxfordshire. It's also the setting for an
Practical Caravan3 min read
Mitsubishi L200 Double Cab (2015-2019)
USED TOW CAR WORK HARD, play hard. That has become the mantra of pick-up truck manufacturers over the past decade or so, as their vehicles have become associated not only with the manual labour market, but also with the burgeoning leisure arena. The
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