Sommaire pour May 2019 de Practical Caravan

WRITE TO Letters, Practical Caravan, 1-10 Praed Mews, London W2 1QY EMAIL US AT letters@practicalcaravan.com JOIN OUR COMMUNITY AT practicalcaravan.com/forum The contributors of our Star letter and Star photo each win a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors, worth £50. They’re designed to fit all wing mirrors and offer an outstanding view. If you have a top tip, send it in for a chance to win four Milenco Stacka corner feet, worth £14. For further details and a list of retailers, visit www.milenco.com facebook.com/practicalcaravan twitter.com/pcaravan instagram.com/practicalcaravan…

IN MAY, THE Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby will be celebrating its maritime and fishing heritage with a new free festival. The Fish and Ships Festival (18-19 May) promises to be an entertaining spectacle for the whole family, featuring cookery demonstrations, street theatre, live music, a sculpture trail and a firework display. Heading up the festival kitchen, which will showcase the coast’s award-winning chefs, will be celebrity chefs Jean-Christophe Novelli and Brian Turner. Exhibitions, film screenings and talks will take place at various venues in the town. Take a walk, bring your dog Five-star Cornish holiday park Trevornick is celebrating National Walking Month with a half-term touring deal of £320 for a family of four, from 25-31 May. The campsite has put together instructions for five walks starting from Trevornick,…

Calzone vs Cornish pasties If calzone is Italy’s way of making pizza more portable, the Cornish got there first, with the original miner’s meal. A meaty marvel that’s perfect for lunch on the go. Where to eat www.philpspasties.co.uk Where to stay Tehidy Holiday Park Web www.tehidy.co.uk Edam vs Double Gloucester Everyone knows Edam for its red wax coating, but Double Gloucester is equally tasty – and it’s also possible to find it wrapped in a pliable waxy jacket. Where to eat www.cotswoldcheese.com Where to stay Moreton-in-Marsh C&MC Web www.caravanclub.co.uk Bratwurst vs Bangers Germany is rightly famed for its sausages, but you can find equally tasty bangers on our shores, from Gloucester, to Cumberland, to Lincolnshire, and everywhere in between. Where to eat www.heapssausages.com Where to…

Royal de Luxe Nantes vs Norwich Puppet Theatre The Nantes-based super-sized puppets could be a little scary for smaller tourers, but a more family-friendly option can be found in Norwich. Site Norwich C&CC Site Web campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk Miniatur Wunderland vs Bekonscot Model Village Hamburg’s Miniatur Wunderland might be the biggest model village in the world, but Bekonscot is the oldest, in a charming location in Buckinghamshire. Site Highclere Camping Web www.highclerefarmpark.co.uk Lego House Denmark vs Legoland Windsor The new Lego House in Denmark is a stunning piece of architecture and has some great displays, but it can’t beat Legoland for fun for all the family. Site Hurley Riverside Park Web https://hurleyriversidepark.co.uk…

WHEN TO GO We travelled end of December- start of January. We prepared for cold and wet weather so we could enjoy the country walks and beaches. FIND OUT MORE ■ Visit Norfolk www.visitnorfolk.co.uk ■ Sandringham Visitor Centre: www.sandringhamestate.co.uk ■ Visit West Norfolk www.visitwestnorfolk.com ■ Norfolk Coast Path: www.nationaltrail.co.uk/peddarsway-and-norfolk-coast-path OUR OUTFIT We tow our 2017 Eriba Troll 550 (Tintin) with our white 2015 Škoda Yeti (Snowy).…

EHG goes for €170m less Thor Industries has completed its purchase of Erwin Hymer Group, the German conglomeration that includes Elddis, Compass, Xplore and Buccaneer in the UK. The final price was 170m euros less, as the purchase excludes EHG’s North American operations. Highland spirit Mini-caravan firm Go-Pods has produced a Highland special edition model, with tartan decals, a motor mover, a solar panel and a front gas bottle locker. You also get a Khyam awning for longer stays and a Go-Tarp canopy for shorter stops. The company says the package represents a £424 saving on buying separately. Self-hitching trailer A Swedish firm is developing an automatic system that will hitch car to trailer once the two are less than 2m apart. Currently at concept stage, Semcon’s Automatic Trailer Connection…

One hundred years ago, Bill Riley senior and junior, an enterprising father-and-son team, bought into the Eccles Motor Transport Company, at Gosta Green, in Birmingham. The business wasn’t doing particularly well, so the two Bills looked into the idea of motorised caravans and trailers as a new way to holiday. Before WWI, horse-drawn caravans were rare, and only for the rich. But as cars had become more powerful and reliable, Bill junior opted for a car-pulled trailer-caravan, while Bill senior went back to another idea derailed by war – the motorhome. Designing and promoting these became a going concern in 1919, under the brand Eccles, after the name of the company. Motorcaravans rapidly put Eccles ahead of the game, although setting up the factory wasn’t easy and Bill junior travelled…

FEBRUARY SAW FIVE cavernous halls at the NEC filled with all manner of shiny new vans, glossy motorhomes, ingenious tents and clever accessories. There were also several exciting new launches, some of which we have highlighted here. Coinciding as it did with half-term, there was also plenty to amuse the little people, who went wall-climbing, skating and testing their survival skills with a Bear Grylls Adventure experience. But for those of you who were not among the 91,383 visitors to the show (where were you?), enjoy our pick from an action-packed week here. Lunar adds to 8ft Quasar options Lunar was one of the mainstream manufacturers displaying a new model at the NEC show. The 696 is the second 8ft-wide model the company has launched in its Quasar range, following…

Land Rover Discovery SD6 306PS Tested by Peter Baber Price £16,985 Berths 5 MiRO 1205kg Payload 165kg MTPLM 1370kg Awning 925cm IN A NUTSHELL Comfortable ride, easy to hitch up AT FIRST SIGHT this Discovery looks very similar to the Land Rover we took up to Speyside, in Scotland, 18 months ago. But there have in fact been major changes. In particular, the earlier car included a TD6 engine. Land Rover has now discontinued this in favour of the more efficient V6 SD6 engine, which this car sports. All engines with this badge will be fitted with particulate filters to reduce emissions. Other new features include ‘clear exit monitor’, which warns you if any cyclist is approaching as you are about to open the car door. There is also adaptive…

How much? £5000-£11,500 Expect to shell out more than £5200 for an early XC60 – this is still a reasonable sum, so the condition should be key, because most cars of this vintage will have a six-figure mileage. If you have more than £9500 to spend, you’ll get a model in good nick with a mileage of 75,000 to 100,000. At this age, condition, not mileage, is key. A budget of around £16,000 will net you a three-year-old car with less than 50,000 on the clock, and cars such as these tend to have been well looked after. Thereafter, the XC60 world is your oyster, with high-spec, low-mileage cars to be found in abundance on forecourts. What will it tow? Kerbweight........................... 1868kg 85% match ...........................1480kg Towing limit.........................1500kg Noseweight limit....................80kg How…

ALL TYPES OF braked trailer, including caravans, must have a breakaway cable. At the caravan end, the cable is fitted to the lower end of the brake lever, and at the car end, it is looped around the towball, or better still, clipped to a special eye on the towbar. ‘If the caravan detaches from the car while in motion, the cable helps to bring it to a rapid, safe halt’ If the caravan should detach itself from the car while in motion, the breakaway cable will pull on the caravan brake, then snap, allowing the caravan to come to a rapid and safe halt in a straight line, away from the towing vehicle. I suspect this scenario has not occurred on a sufficient number of occasions to confirm that…

Layout finder G In this layout, fixed twin beds towards the rear of the van are accompanied by a central kitchen and an end washroom, plus a lounge up front. This floorplan is great for couples who want to relax in the lounge without having to disassemble a bed every morning. You’ll usually find a curtain or screen separating the rear beds from the lounge. Pros The pair of single beds means that you both have access to the washroom at night. The washroom is often quite spacious Cons The side kitchen may not have much space for preparing meals. The fixed single beds cannot be made up into a double A Square showers are more roomy than circular versions B There’s often an external hatch to access under-bed storage…

Awnings Porch Godber Carousel 102T full-width awning, as new, £275, will also fit Trigano SIlver 310. Cash and pick up only. Mrs Robinson, Bedfordshire (07891 733190) 2015 porch awning, 350, Oxygen airframe, Compact Airlite with air annexe, excellent condition, comes with pump, £400 ono. Mrs Walton, Leicester (0116 2773016 or 07890 783153) Kampa Rally Pro, all-weather porch, 2m wide, bought seven months ago, used once, as new, buyer collects, £100. Mr Davis, South Devon (01803 292838) Kampa Air 390, rear poles, pump, skirt, buyer collects, £190. Mr O’Neil, Worcester (01905 421154) Dorema Safari porch awning, burgundy/grey, aluminium frame, 320 x 240, storm straps, excellent condition, very little used, £175. Mr Farnfield, Mere, Wiltshire (07889 743062) SunnCamp Swift 260 air awning with hand pump and carry bag, good condition, buyer collects,…

This recipe, demonstrated by Karen at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show, is based on one that was sent in to the show website by David Webster, as a competition entry. Having sifted through all of the entries, Karen selected the recipe that she would most like to cook at the show. Ingredient quantities are not set in stone (“I don’t follow any rules – not even my own!”) and can be altered to suit individual preferences (“If you don’t like capers, just leave them out.”). Ingredients Coconut oil 1 red onion, chopped 1 white onion, chopped Smoked paprika (“My favourite spice of the year!”) Ground cinnamon Ground cloves Garlic…

Edinburgh has something to please everyone. Anywhere north of Fort William, for some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Whitby, everything a seaside resort should be. Snowdonia for outdoor activity. Cornwall or Pembrokeshire for beautiful beaches. London, for everything from 16th-century history to the 2012 Olympic Park, all to be seen from a boat ride on the Thames. Sam Johnson Fill your caravan window with Lakeland countryside! Gary Richardson York, for a good choice of sites, and the Lake District, because there’s so much to see and do. Amanda Leetham Scotland – my favourite place is Carnoustie. Karen Boyd Bargoed Farm Park in Wales. The views, the hot tub, the peace and quiet. Christian Evans Charmouth, Lyme Bay. Steven Smith The New Forest. Brian Smith Got some great…

The Dolomites vs Ben Nevis The Dolomites have a special beauty all their own, but if you really want to get away from it all, a hike up Ben Nevis can help you to escape the rat race and get your head straight. Site Glen Nevis Caravan and Camping Web www.glen-nevis.co.uk Norway’s fjords vs Scottish lochs Norway’s beautiful fjords are a sight to behold, but the country is tricky to reach from the UK with a caravan in tow – save time and money, and enjoy Scotland’s stunning lochs instead. Site Loch Lomond Holiday Park Web www.argyllholidays.com Netherlands vs Norfolk Broads Holland’s tulip fields and marshes are a network of canals and windmills in a flat landscape; just like the Norfolk Broads, where you’ll also find rivers, canals…

Oktoberfest vs Great British Beer Festival Munich’s annual Oktoberfest is a sight to behold, but if you want to sample a tremendous choice of tasty ales, without the huge crowds, try the Great British Beer Festival, held at Olympia, London, from 6-10 August 2019. Site Chertsey C&CC site Web www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk La Tomatina vs Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll and Wake, a centuries-old tradition of chasing cheese down a hill, takes place on 27 May. And unlike Spain’s La Tomatina, you can take part or watch without getting covered in flying tomatoes. Site Briarfields Hotel and Touring Caravan Park Web www.briarfields.net St Patrick’s Day Parade vs Notting Hill Carnival Summer says farewell in the capital with the Caribbean exuberance of the Notting Hill Carnival on 24-26 August. St…

1 Bodmin and more You really can’t get much closer to Bodmin Moor’s spectacular tors. Stay at Cheesewring Farm Holiday Cottages and Campsite, and whichever one of the five touring pitches you choose, you can be sure of enjoying the peaceful surroundings. Sharp Tor is just to the north and there are ruined mines and quarries nearby. The site has modern toilet and shower facilities, too. Web www.cheesewringfarm.co.uk 2 Fruity families This charming five-van CS nestles in a pick-your-own fruit farm in the heart of Essex, and comes with a whole set of benefits. Polytunnels full of fruit border the camping area and offer visitors enough temptation to prompt you to grab a punnet from the farm shop and start picking! There is a great coffee shop here,…

LUNAR IS BRINGING out a new model later this year to mark the company’s 50th anniversary. The caravan will be part of its 2020 season offering, but few other details are available as yet. The news follows the launch at the NEC show this February of the Quasar 696, the second 8ft-wide caravan in the line-up. The 696 has an L-shaped lounge at the front (with no nearside window, to allow enough space to house a TV inside) and a rear bedroom partitioned off behind the central washroom. This includes a pair of fixed bunks on the offside, with a dinette on the nearside that converts into two bunks. Lunar was one of only two mainstream manufacturers launching models at the show. The other was Bailey, which introduced the new…

Where tested The Golden Lion Inn and Lakeside Restaurant, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 6NW Tel 01209 860 332 Web www.golden-lion-inn.co.uk This year marks the 100th birthday of the Eccles caravan, and to celebrate the centenary, Swift, the current owners of the brand, have expanded and redesigned the range for 2019. The result is probably a far cry from the caravan that served as the backdrop for thousands of family holidays through the 1950s and 1960s, a tourer that was endorsed by celebrities of the time (see p66). But in this issue, where we are also celebrating all things British, we thought it was only appropriate to look at how Eccles presents one of today’s most popular layouts – with a transverse island bed and end-washroom – in its 580 model.…

Tested by Peter Baber Price £16,985 Berths 5 MiRO 1205kg Payload 165kg MTPLM 1370kg Awning size 925cm With spring looking like it might just be on the way, we are busy preparing our long-term Adria for a major cover shoot we are planning for a future issue. Such photography sessions invariably involve a fair amount of moving around, often of more than one vehicle, so we certainly appreciated the Altea’s large front gas bottle locker, with its door that stays up and a holder for the corner-steady winder. We think you might, too, if you are the kind of caravanner who tends to tour in groups and always lends a hand. In such circumstances, steady winders can sometimes go walkabout, so it is good to have somewhere to put them,…

Price £26,750 What Car? Target Price £24,762 Retained value after three years 42% Kerbweight 1408kg 85% of kerbweight 1197kg Gross vehicle weight 1950kg Max towing limit 1700kg Gross train weight 3650kg Towball limit 90kg Price of towball and electrics £600 Boot size min/max 575/1653 litres Payload 542kg Test conditions Damp Engine size 1497cc Power (bhp/rpm) 180@6000rpm Torque (lb ft/rpm) 177@1600rpm Official combined economy 41.5-44.1mpg (WLTP) Towing economy 24.5mpg CO2 emissions 129g/km First year car tax £165 Second year car tax £140 Insurance group 17E Euro NCAP overall protection rating…

Model tested Si4 290PS HSE Dynamic Luxury Price £50,665 What Car? Target Price £47,579 Retained value after three years 53% Kerbweight 1955kg 85% of kerbweight 1662kg Gross vehicle weight 2710kg Max towing limit 2000kg Gross train weight 4710kg Towball limit 145kg Payload 755kg Boot min/max 194/1698 litres Test conditions Damp Engine size 1997cc Power (bhp/rpm) 286@5500rpm Torque (lb ft/rpm) 295@1550rpm Official combined economy 24.8-26.8mpg (WLTP) Towing economy 17.6mpg CO2 emissions 208g/km First year car tax £1240 Second year car tax £450 Insurance group 40E Euro NCAP overall protection rating…

WHEN I BOUGHT my Bailey Orion 460-5 in 2013, the first thing I said to my husband was, “Let’s go to Spain!” When I was growing up, my family spent long, hot summers on the beautiful Costa Brava, lapping up the warmth of the Spanish sun and swimming in the crystal-clear waters. For some, touring abroad might seem daunting - towing on the right-hand side, tolls, foreign languages, different road regulations and so forth. But don’t let this dampen your wanderlust. Here are some top tips to help you get ready for your big adventure. Prepare to travel The main gateways to Europe are via ferry ports, including Bilbao, Calais, Caen, St Malo and Santander, to name but a few. For those who dislike travelling by ferry, there is also…

A relative newcomer to the caravan market, Barnsdale Leisure was established about five years ago, specialising in Continental models as agents for new Adria, Knaus, T@B and Weinsberg caravans, and Opus folding camping trailers. As well as new vans, there’s a good selection of used models on display from UK and Continental brands. Barnsdale recently moved to new premises, and salesman Russell Newcombe says they are “doing well despite the current market uncertainty”. Address Doncaster Road, East Hardwick WF8 3EG Tel 01977 621 918 Web www.barnsdale-leisure.co.uk…

Meet the dealers Greentrees Caravanstore Greentrees, based in Dereham, Norfolk, is part of a group founded in the 1970s by Keith Greentrees and now run by his son Neil, with day-to-day running of the caravan store by Marc Jordan. They stock new Swift, Elddis, Xplore and Buccaneer vans, and have a used sales area, hire fleet, accessory shop and approved workshops. A further workshop with 10 extra service bays is being built. But it’s the little extras the company offers that make the difference, Neil says, such as offering a courtesy caravan if customers’ holiday plans are disrupted by mechanical problems. They also offer free on-site mobile technical back-up, even on bank holidays, and a try-before-you-buy offer on hired vans. There’s also a 30-day exchange policy on used vehicles, subject…

OUR CARAVAN HOLIDAYS have always been slightly more involved than the average. By that, I mean it’s not just me, the wife and two kids who set off on our trundles – a variety of animals from the Roberts menagerie come along, too. At its peak, I think the head count ran to three dogs, four guinea pigs, two hamsters, eight stick insects and an indeterminate number of tropical fish. Well, stop the presses. It looks like we might now be going for the world record number of non-humans in a caravan. It all started when Wofful met Wizzy. Two months and much excitement later, her first batch of seven puppies arrived. Six of those pups quickly found appreciative homes (quite heartbreaking for us, but also one of the loveliest…

1 All together now Brighton and Hove host hundreds of events in a month of festival madness, with Brighton Festival, Brighton Fringe, The Great Escape and Artists Open Houses. Date 3 May - 2 June Web www.visitbrighton.com Stay at Brighton C&MC Site Web www.caravanclub.co.uk 2 Historic streets come alive Soak up the creativity on the streets during Salisbury International Arts Festival as Wiltshire Creative turns one year old. Date 24 May - 9 June Web www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk Stay at Salisbury Camping and Caravanning Club Site Web campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 3 Anything goes Prepare to be surprised at Bath Fringe, where artists and creatives join forces to celebrate the arts and think outside the box. Date 24 May - 9 June Web www.bathfringe.co.uk Stay at Bath Marina and Caravan Park Web www.bwml.co.uk 4 A retro weekend You…

Entertainment on tour Price £7.99 (Paperback) Web www.amazon.co.ukA trip away in your caravan is a great opportunity to catch up with some reading, and we’ve got a lighthearted suggestion for you. The second in the Adventure Caravanning with Dogs series, Dog on the Rhine, was published in March. The author and her husband took up full-time caravanning after being made redundant, and set off on the road trip of a lifetime with their four dogs. Read about Jackie and Mark Lambert’s second year of touring Europe in a caravan, along with dogs Kai, Rosie, Ruby and Lani. The book is available as an ebook (£1.99) or in paperback (£7.99) from Amazon. The next instalment, Dogs ’n’ Dracula – A Romance with Romania, will be out in June. BS Hot drinks…

Think you need to tour abroad to get the best experience? Think again! We show you how to find a British equivalent of the best European attractions – and you won’t even need a passport! Attractions & towns From cities with centuries of history to seaside resorts for all the family, the UK has something to offer every visitor Natural beauty You don’t have to travel to other countries to find spectacular landscapes and wonderful wildlife Events & activities This country really knows how to party, with family-friendly activities and festivals throughout the year and all over the UK Food & drink The Continent has some truly great cuisine, but for traditional food (and iconic drinks), you can’t beat Britain Kids (big & small) Wherever you tour in this country,…

Eiffel Tower vs Blackpool Tower Constructed in the late 19th century, the Eiffel Tower is an icon of France – but the Blackpool Tower offers the ‘Eye’ attraction at the top, where you can learn all about the history of the town and the surrounding area. Site Marton Mere Holiday Village Web www.haven.com Neuschwanstein Castle vs Castell Coch The fairytale towers of Neuschwanstein are a fine example of Germanic Romanesque Revival architecture, but for a taste of German-style castles in the UK, head to South Wales for the Gothic Revival Castell Coch. Site Cardiff Caravan & Camping Park Web www.cardiffcaravanpark.co.uk Mont St Michel vs St Michael’s Mount Why travel to Normandy when you can see Mont St Michel’s sibling – St Michael’s Mount – in Cornwall? Time your visit right…

WHEN TO GO The main tourist season in Wales is Easter to October. Many of the attractions close or have reduced opening hours during winter. WAY TO GO We used the A5 via Llangollen, then the A494 to Bala, A4210 to Trawsfynydd and A496 to Harlech. We returned via Caernarfon, Conwy and Chester using the A55 and M56. FIND OUT MORE ■ Portmeirion www.portmeirion.wales ■ Welsh Highland Railway www.festrail.co.uk ■ Caernarfon Castle www.caernarfon-castle.co.uk ■ Snowdon Mountain Railway www.snowdonrailway.co.uk ■ Llechwedd Slate Caverns www.slatemountain.co.uk ■ Great Orme Tramway www.greatormetramway.co.uk OUR OUTFIT We towed our 2002 Avondale Dart 515/4 with our 2015 VW Passat estate 2.0 TDI…

Aldi could be launching its own line of caravan accessories in the UK this year. The discount supermarket chain caused quite a stir when it started selling the accessories down under. The launch by its Australian offshoot of a caravan accessory range that included covers for as little as $99 (£53) gained national media interest. A spokesperson for Aldi said the caravanning range would be available in its UK supermarkets this April, although no further information, such as what would be included in the line, was available as we went to press.…

Construction Al-Ko galvanised chassis, SMART polyurethane timberless bodyshell, 44mm sandwich floor, GRP side walls, new front panel with LED marker lights, full-height GRP rear panel with LED lights, double-glazed windows. External equipment Chrome-effect grab handles, wide gas bottle locker door, impact-resistant skirting, awning rail on both sides, alloys, LED awning light, externally accessed battery box with mains hook-up and aerial, 80W solar panel. Heating Alde heating with LCD touchscreen and choice of 1, 2 or 3kW setting. Lounge/bedroom Saturn soft furnishings, hessian wallboard, Zebrano woodgrain locker doors with chrome-effect fittings, LED spots, speaker and lights in panoramic sunroof. Duvalay Duvalite Apollo Luxe mattress. Swift Command control system. DAB/FM radio. Four mains and two USB sockets. Kitchen Thetford K1520 oven with dual-fuel hob, safety cut-out, separate grill; microwave; 110-litre Dometic fridge.…

Price £1264.99 (size 11) to £1465.00 (size 18) Web www.sunncamp.com Weight 43kg (size 14) Dimensions 975-1000cm (size 14) Pack size 80cm x 50cm x 50cm Access Two side doors, two angled side doors, three front doors (size 14) Selling points Large front windows, 300D Pro-Tek fabric, vertical storm pole pockets, night-visibility guylines, storm buckles and straps, rear weather poles, draught skirt with ventilation Optional extras Shaped carpet (£170), 12V electric pump (£75), annexe (£290)…

First drive CitroënC5 Aircross BlueHDi 180 CITROËN MARKS ITS 100th birthday this year. The French brand is celebrating its centenary with strong sales and a new model, in the form of the C5 Aircross. It looks distinctive, doesn’t it? We’re pleased to see Citroën following its own design path – far too many SUVs and crossovers would be difficult to tell apart if you took away the badging. Citroën says that it has taken its own approach to the way its cars drive, too. Rather than promising the C5 Aircross is the sportiest or most agile in its class, Citroën has prioritised comfort above all. For a car likely to spend its days on school runs and commuting, that’s no bad thing. The most striking example of Citroën’s commitment to…

OPEN YOUR CARAVAN door when you arrive on site in the dark and it can look like a bit of a black hole in there. Even when you’re sited, there will be corners of the interior where very little light manages to find its way. This was certainly the case in our son’s end-washroom, two-berth Abbey GTS 215. At first, we considered fitting some kind of overhead light, but sometimes you get in the way of the light, so you’re no better off. Then I remembered seeing some late-model vans with low-level courtesy lights. Eureka! This type of lighting is useful for the caravan entrance, but also handy if one of you needs to get up during the night, because they provide enough light for you to find your way…

BUCCANEER AS A brand marks 50 years in 2019, being founded in early 1969, near York. By 1971, the Clipper model name was in use, and soon became popular among caravanners who prefer luxury tourers. Always a very well-equipped line-up, the Buccaneer range was developed further as a luxury brand, becoming particularly successful over the past few years. The 2013 range was produced using the Elddis Group’s SoLiD construction system, which cut down the use of screw fixings, replacing them with high-tech adhesives. High spec also meant heavier weight, so Buccaneer buyers know not to expect lightweight caravans. Five models were in the range for 2013, and although they were mainly bought by couples, they are all four-berths. With that high spec and the Buccaneer badge, pre-owned models won’t be…