Sommaire pour May 2016 de Practical Caravan

Practical Caravan’s James Dixon went to school in Hertfordshire and returns to visit family. From playing rugby to riding motorcycles, there’s not much of the county he hasn’t seen. 1 Stay here Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Hertford. This spacious yet quiet site on the outskirts of Hertford offers fantastic facilities and is ideally located for exploring beautiful Hertfordshire and attractions such as Archers Spring and Hertford Castle. 2 Eat here From full English breakfast to afternoon tea, a fine dining restaurant or a brasserie, Sopwell House has it all. This Georgian mansion is set in 12 acres of gardens, making it a lovely place to walk off the scones and clotted cream. 3 Walk here A large part of the Chiltern Hills were designated an Area of Outstanding…

Dealer discounts for C&CC members Members of the Camping & Caravanning Club are to benefit from discounts on accessories, servicing, tourers and more at 20 UK dealerships. Introductory offers include a free caravan cover and cream tea for two. Dealers signed up to the Club Preferred Dealers scheme include Blackdown Leisure, Broad Lane Leisure, Davan Caravans, Glossop Caravans, the LeisureWorld group, Lowdhams and Marquis. To find out more about the scheme, and view a list of all dealer offers, visit www.myccc.co.uk/preferreddealer. Magnum opus for Suffolk trailer-tents Suffolk trailer-tent brand Opus has secured valuable funding — and great publicity — on BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den. Opus directors offered 5% equity in the company in return for an £80,000 investment. The four Dragons (potential investors) were impressed; show stalwart Peter Jones tried…

First drive BMW X1 xDrive 25d xLine Price £36,210 Kerbweight 1650kg 85% match 1403kg Towing limit 2000kg Towball limit 80kg ANYONE LOOKING FOR a compact SUV has no shortage of choice at the moment. That includes BMW’s uprated X1. The old version was showing its age, but its new incarnation is altogether better. The awkward appearance has been replaced by a shape like that of a slightly shrunken X3. The latest X1’s interior is more upmarket than its predecessor’s, as well as spacious. It is noticeably roomier than its key rival, the Audi Q3. Those in the front have ample head and legroom, as will passengers of well over six-feet behind an equally long-limbed driver. Boot space is more generous, too. The 505 litres of load space is tall, wide…

How much? £2000-£12,500 Let’s start at the top price, which applies to only the very newest Exclusive models. For anything else you don’t really need to stray into five-figure territory and there are plenty of good, well-historied cars around four to six years old to be had in the £5000-£6000 range. You can pay a lot less, too, but we wouldn’t venture into bargain-basement territory because it seems to be full of problem cars, some with even quite low mileages. But something like the private sale 1.8i SX we saw with a manual ’box and 67,000 miles has to be a tempting cheapy. What will it tow? Kerbweight ..........................1560kg 85% match........................... 1326kg Towing limit.........................1500kg Towball limit............................70kg (Figures for 2009 Grand C4 Picasso 2.0 HDi auto) How much is a towball?…

WARNING This project involves gas and electricity. Before starting, ensure that all electrical and gas supplies are disconnected and all the switches are off. HOW THINGS HAVE progressed! My first caravan, which was of 1971 vintage, had a gas tap that protruded from the floor; you attached a bit of rubber hose to it, which in turn was attached to a small gas fire. That fire was open at the front, and you lit it by turning on the gas and offering a lit match to the burner. If you were lucky, you only singed the hairs on your fingers! These days, various heating systems are available, all of which have external flues for when they are operated using gas. They invariably offer the option of being run on electricity.…

Fixed twin beds towards the rear of the caravan are accompanied by a central kitchen and an end washroom, plus a lounge up front. This layout 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 the front double doesn’t always need to be made up. 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 C If there’s no wardrobe…

Accounting for around 10% of caravans supplied to the British volume tourer market, the parallel-lounge, end-washroom floorplan is popular with those who go to rallies. There’s room to socialise, and the end washroom will compensate for a lack of site facilities. This floorplan also appeals to those who are happy to make up the lounge bed. The seats are usually long enough to work as single beds, too. Pros Tidy layout within a small footprint. Spacious washroom with dressing area. Cons Making up the double bed, and breaking it down, can be a chore. The kitchen can be squeezed for space. A Choose a U-shaped lounge over a centre chest for more space B It should be possible to use the lounge sofas as single beds C The full-width washroom…

Nearside fixed-bed tourers with an end washroom are the choice of couples who only occasionally tour with children. They're glad to avoid making up a double bed each night and appreciate having a separate shower. Often, the kitchen and lounge are roomy, but single-axle models may reduce their size, or make washrooms narrow in order to accommodate a shorter bodyshell. Pros You'll sleep well on a proper mattress, while a full end washroom adds more luxury. Cons Space-hungry end washrooms and fixed beds will eat away at lounge lengths and kitchen worktops. A Lounge may be compact to fit in the bed and washroom B Storage space under the sofas should prove handy C If the kitchen worktop is small, use the dresser's surface D Tall people should be sure…

T@B Tabbert is probably best known for its enormous (and opulent) heavyweight caravans, which are much coveted by caravanners who prefer seasonal pitches to touring. It came as a bit of a shock, then, when the company suddenly whipped the covers off the T@B — possibly the funkiest caravan ever made. But perhaps we shouldn’t have been so surprised. Back in 1996, Tabbert and another well-known German caravan manufacturer entered into a sort of corporate gentleman’s agreement that proved so successful that it became a permanent union six years later. That other manufacturer was Knaus, and if its latest offerings are anything to go by, we can probably hazard a guess at where the T@B influence came from. Everyone thought that it would be nothing more than a short-lived flash…

I TOOK MY first caravan trip more years ago than I care to remember, touring with my family to a park within easy reach of our Dorset home, and staying in our beloved Sprite Alpine. Campsites were vastly different back then: Wi-Fi was still in the long-distance future, while facilities definitely tended towards the basic – on-site restaurants, shops and swimming pools were something of a rarity. Things have moved on, of course: we now expect much more from where we elect to pitch-up. Fortunately, the industry has responded: there are so many fantastic sites across the UK that it’s hard to know which to choose. That’s where this guide can help. Over the past year, thousands of you have cast your vote on the places that you believe deserve…

THIS REGION ENCOMPASSES so many attractions that it’s impossible to list them all in such a small space. For starters, there’s the rugged and wild Peak District, which is perfect for those who love getting out and about in the fresh air. The college city of Oxford is a perennial favourite, as are the rolling hills and picture-postcard villages of the Cotswolds. Birmingham is a thriving hub boasting some world-class restaurants, while Manchester is now a hugely popular tourist destination in its own right. As you’d expect for such a large and diverse area, there is a good number of fantastic sites here for you to choose from. In addition, more than half of our 13 finalists here are open all year, so you can easily tour this popular region…

FOR SUCH A relatively small county, Dorset offers an outstanding wealth of attractions. Perhaps most notable of these is its Jurassic Coastline, which extends right into Devon: it’s a World Heritage site and a stunning place to go for a wild, windy walk. While you’re driving through the county, keep an eye out for the thatched cottages that you’ll find in the numerous quaint villages. The towns are just as picturesque, though, and include pretty Swanage, bustling Bournemouth and historic Bridport. Weymouth, meanwhile, offers miles of safe shoreline where you can take a dip in the Channel. The majority of our six finalists here are situated to the east of the county: as such, they’re ideal for exploring the New Forest, Poole and Brownsea Island. The final two are right…

THERE’S A TREMENDOUS contrast between the scenery of north and south Devon; fortunately, our Top 100 finalists in this category for 2016 are nicely placed to allow you to explore either with ease! There are a whopping 17 parks that made it through this year, too, demonstrating the high standard of campsites in this popular county. North Devon is perfect for those who love walking: as well as the rolling hills of Exmoor, there’s a rugged coastline to ramble along. South Devon has its fair share of beautiful beaches, too, but the shores here are golden and the waves gentle! The handsome and bustling cities of Exeter and Plymouth are also located in this area. FInally, be sure to visit Dartmoor, where you’ll be able to see standing stones and…

Couples, families, large wallets, tight budgets – all are catered for by the modern tourer market. So why aren’t caravans designed for dogs? Go to any pet-friendly site and you’ll see dozens of our four-legged friends, but where does a wet dog go when it returns to the van? If you’ve no awning, it’s hard to find somewhere to dry them, for them to sleep – it can even be tough for a larger dog to turn around in a standard-width tourer. Isn’t it time for built-in dog beds, a lead-hook, plumbed-in dog showers... maybe even a porch or ‘dog hatch’ to provide somewhere for a wet pooch inside the van? In most, the best you can hope for is an external locker with a liner for those wet and…

STACIE PARDOE enjoys touring with her young family and loves to put all of the latest gadgets to the test Fody Tempus Pro Plan for a day at the beach or wet-weather activities with this smart weather station. It transmits real-time data on temperature (indoors and out), humidity and wind to multiple smartphones via Bluetooth. The outdoor sensor is built to withstand severe conditions and clamps securely to the supplied pole. You can set up the multiple weather sensors up to 150m from the main console. It weighs 673g and runs on three AA batteries. Price £116 Web www.nevadaradio.co.uk Gaslight locker light Changing over your gas cylinder at night is no fun, but the Gaslight from TankGas-Level spares you the trouble of fumbling around in the dark or juggling a…

Something new in the air Vango has recently introduced the new Kalari 520 to its air awning range, and to celebrate it has kindly offered us one to give away to a lucky reader! The awning is made from Vango’s new Sentinel Luxe 600 fabric – a super-strong 600 denier, which is combined with a texturised 300 denier base material to make a fabric that is both strong and durable. The Kalari features Vango’s new pre-bent SuperBeams, which have a large diameter, creating plenty of living space and good headroom. These are easy to inflate thanks to a new AirSpeed valve system. The large flexi doors can be opened at varying levels. Other features include draught-excluder strips, wheelarch covers, zipped curtains, lantern-hanging points and mesh side windows with PVC covers.…

Never miss important post again BEING ABLE TO go away in your caravan for a couple of weeks or longer is one of the many joys of our pastime, but it can be difficult to know what to do with your mail. It’s not always possible to provide a convenient address where important pieces of post can be forwarded. That’s where a new initiative called Caravanmail.co.uk comes in. The company has provided boat owners with a handy postal-forwarding service for years, and has recently entered the caravanning market. The premise is simple: your mail is received by the Caravanmail and is forwarded to an address of your choice (or to a local post office in the UK) at intervals of your choice. If you’d prefer, your post can be scanned…

Way to go We had an overnight cabin on P&O Ferries’ Hull-to-Rotterdam service (www.poferries.com). From Europort we took the A15 towards Rotterdam and then the A13/E19 towards Amsterdam, exiting at Junction 7, and then took the N206 and A44 towards Leiden, leaving the A44 at Junction 7 for Rijnsburg. All motorways in The Netherlands are toll-free. Food and drink Restaurant De Taveerne Tel 00 31 71 402 6051 Web www.koningshofholland. nl/en/facilities/ restauranttaveerne/ Vibrasserie de Poort Tel 00 31 71 524 0933 Web www.poort.nl V&D Leiden Web www.vd.nl/ vestiging/leiden Skylounge Amsterdam (left) Tel 00 31 20 530 0800 Web www.skyloungeamsterdam.nl/en/ Find out more Museum De Cruquius Tel 00 31 23 528 5704 Web www.museumde cruquius.nl Clara Maria Cheese and Clogs (left) Tel 00 31 29 758 2279…

1 Cirencester Cirencester is a big town but that means that entertainment is easy to find. The Corinium Museum, with its wealth of Roman artefacts, is a good place to hide from the rain. Stay at Mayfield Park Web mayfieldpark.co.uk 2 Chipping Norton In Cotswold terms, Chipping Norton is a metropolis. Advocates of antiques are well catered for, and photographers should see the ancient Rollright Stones. Stay at Chipping Norton C&CC Site Web www.the friendlyclub.co.uk 3 Bourtonon-the-Water Perhaps the quintessential Cotswold postcard destination. Be sure to visit the car museum. Stay at Folly Farm Cotswold Camping Web www.cotswold camping.net 4 Lechlade This pretty town is the start of the navigable parts of the River Thames and has plenty of attractions themed around this, including a visitor centre…

Star appeal from Knaus Arguably the biggest news at the show was the launch of the new StarClass range of caravans by Knaus, designed for the British market. At present, this comprises the 560 with a fixed double bed (from £25,695) and the 565, which has fixed twin single beds (from £24,995). Both are four-berth vans with their doors on the UK nearside, parallel front lounges, offside kitchens and full-width end washrooms. To read more about the new German arrivals, visit http://po.st/CCieqM. These two tourers will eventually be part of a six-model range that will launch at the October NEC show, where a range of Weinsberg caravans, also with their doors on the UK nearside, will be revealed, too. Is this a shoe-in? One tourer drawing the crowds was the…

LIKE ANY OTHER camping table, an awning table should fold down as compactly as possible for easy storage – and, as with any large caravan accessory, weight is always an issue. But because this is the centrepiece of the your touring living room, a suitable table must also be a decent size, should look smart, and it should rival your table back home in terms of stability and being at a comfortable height. In short, where most leisure tables are designed almost purely around weight and pack-size constraints, here we’re looking at models that blend practicalities with aesthetics and comfort. Weight and pack-down size are the practical points that we start our tests with, but we also factor both against the table’s top surface size – after all, large tables…

Grand C4 Picasso 2.0 HDi EGS I’ve had mine for four years and it tows very well. I keep it in sixth gear most of the time on motorways and it returns about 28mpg towing at the legal speed. No real issues, but the gearbox can be a little slurry so I use it in ‘manual’ mode. Martin Wayte Grand C4 Picasso 2.0 HDi EGS My Grand is very comfortable and easy to drive, and takes the strain out of towing over long distances. I have seen larger tow cars with similar-sized vans struggle to keep up on acceleration. The only problem I have encountered is when reversing; if you’ve been on a long drive the car is very jerky, and this can cause problems. John Condor Grand C4 Picasso…

With a parallel lounge, dinette and end washroom, this is usually a family-friendly four-berth layout. The dinette normally converts into two bunks and there is a privacy curtain to separate the areas at night. The dinette can be used in a few ways: as extra space for preparing meals, for kids' quiet play or by couples who use it for dining, so they do not have to pack away the double bed. Pros The side dinette is a handy eating and break-out area and the end washroom offers comfort and privacy. Cons The layout works best with 5.5m bodyshells or longer. Older children may find the bunks uncomfortable. A The lounge should allow room for four to eat in comfort B You'll usually find plenty of workspace in the nearside…

With a nearside-rear dinette as well as rear corner bunks, this layout has lots of space for the kids, while mum and dad relax in the lounge. The amidships kitchen is often short on work surface, but the side dinette provides extra space. The washroom, opposite the kitchen, is useful for nighttime visits, but there is not as much elbow room in the shower. Pros Children can take over the rear while their parents relax up front. The rear dinette offers a separate play space, and can usually be shut off from the rest of the van. Cons The washroom has limited space, and the kitchen is squeezed between the lounge and the main door. A This area may house a wardrobe or dresser unit B Fixed bunks are a…

Airstream This iconic brand of American tourers can trace its lineage back to 1931, when Wally Byam began building high-quality, aerodynamic trailers for adventurers striking out to see more of their nation. The first of these distinctive caravans to reach Europe arrived for a tour in 1956. After that they came in dribs and drabs as private imports, until Airstream Europe was founded in 2004 by a group of ambitious Brits keen to bring a slice of Stateside style to UK roads. Two years later it launched its Euro-friendly vans and today it boasts a four-model range, with sites in Cumbria and Gloucestershire. With prices starting at a shade under £55k you could never accuse an Airstream of being cheap, but they hold their value and, amazingly, more than 60%…

NORTHERN IRELAND IS a dream to visit: the ferries across from the mainland are numerous and well-priced, the people are welcoming and the scenery is stunning. It’s a good job that the two parks that have made it into our Top 100 Sites Guide this year are at opposite ends of the province: it gives you a great excuse to take in both, and all the wonderful attractions that you’ll find in between! Giant’s Causeway is a must-see here, of course, and the north Antrim coast is also home to the famous Bushmills Distillery and the Carrick-a-Rede bridge. Walkers are sure to love the brooding mountains that you’ll find in Northern Ireland, too. Finally, don’t miss a visit to the wonderful cities: they include picturesque Derry, and the buzzing capital…

WALES IS A glorious holiday destination, and it’s proved highly popular with those who have voted in our Top 100 over the years. For 2016, most of our finalists are located in the north of the country: visitors to these sites will easily be able to visit the stunning coastline here, including the beautiful island of Anglesey and the traditional towns of Llandudno, Rhyl and Bangor. Further inland the stunning Snowdonia National Park is waiting to be explored; you can climb the 3560ft Mount Snowdon on foot, or take the easier option of the Mountain Railway! There’s so much to see in the south of the country, too, including the wonderful Brecon Beacons National Park. The capital city of Cardiff shouldn’t be missed; Wales’s second city – Swansea – also…

IT’S THE BEAUTIFUL Lake District that attracts most visitors to this region, and fortunately it’s brilliantly geared up for tourism. It’s not surprising, then, that so many of our site finalists in this year’s North-West England category are in or near the glorious National Park, with its deep waters and soaring peaks. The towns and villages here are picturesque, too, and you’ll be able to enjoy a host of outdoor activities, including cycling and walking. If you fancy a change, there’s still plenty going on further south. The sands and illuminations of Blackpool are a perennial family favourite, while the bright lights and bustle of Liverpool will appeal to those who are looking for an urban break to remember. Touring units are also welcome on the Isle of Man (restrictions…

30 April Welcome back, cuckoo! Join in traditional celebrations at the Downton Cuckoo Fair near Salisbury to welcome spring with Morris dancing, a maypole, crafts and Punch ’n’ Judy shows. Stay at Summerlands Caravan Park Web www.summerlands caravanpark.co.uk 6-12 May Hike the hills Don your hiking boots and join the Newton Stewart Walking Festival to discover the ups and downs of the Galloway Hills. You can pick your route by grade. Stay at Creebridge Caravan Park Web www.creebridge caravanpark.com 30 May A sackful of fun Watch the hard slog of Tetbury’s woolsack races from the comfort of the sidelines. The running starts at 10am. Meanwhile, spectators can explore the stalls and enjoy various activities. Stay at Whychurch Farm Web www.whychurch farmbandb.co.uk 19-22 May Adventurers wanted Head to Keswick Mountain Festival…

WITH THE MAIN caravanning season [not to mention 1 April… Ed] almost upon us, I thought it might be time for me to suggest my Top 10 ‘must have’ caravan accessories and campsite enhancements for 2016. 1 Auto Docking With this innovative system, you simply pull up at the check-in and attach your van to a motorised robot that perfectly guides it to, and positions it on, your allocated pitch. 2 Inflatable Bubble Anti-Bug Envelope Simply pull a cord, and a dome of bug-proof micro-material completely engulfs your tourer. No more pesky buzzy things on a warm summer’s evening for you! 3 Memory-Foam Flooring Instead of shallow-pile carpet, this system cushions your every footstep in cradling comfort. An optional massaging version is also available. 4 Sound-Deadening Roof Sponge This clever…

There is too much to see and do in the UK before we start to look over the Channel. We are hoping to do an expedition to Scotland, but our favourite is the other end of the country, Cornwall. Kevin Thomas Next month we’ll be in the UK, in south Wales, Shropshire, Gloucestershire and the Wiltshire area. Then, in June, we’ll possibly be going to Holland, Belgium, Germany or France again! Eileen Usher Ferries are getting far too expensive! We wanted to go to Ireland and got a quote of more than £500 for our car and caravan. Caravanning is meant to be a cheap holiday! Robert Gray We really love York and the surrounding area, and our summer holidays will be spent in the lovely Norfolk region. Why would…

Beyond Birmingham THE RECENT CARAVAN, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC drew a record 87,589 visitors over six days, but it wasn’t the only caravan event in a major city in February. Hot on the heels of Liverpool’s Camperex and Manchester’s Caravan and Motorhome Show (April, page 79), Glasgow’s Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show offered buyers in Scotland and the north of England an opportunity to see the latest tourers. The dinky Go-Pod – a pop-top micro-caravan that can be towed by the likes of a Fiat 500 – made its debut north of the border. Pleasing to the eye inside and out, the Go-Pod has an all-up weight of 750kg, includes a full-size double bed and is well equipped for its £8495 price. A rear entrance door…

Kia Sorento 2.2 CRDi KX-2 auto Tested by Alastair Clements Price £33,750 Kerbweight 1953kg Towing limit 2000kg Towball limit 100kg IN A NUTSHELL Flexible, powerful, comfortable – and proving invaluable! IF YOU HAVEN’T read this month’s 'Quick test' (page 96), beware because there’s a spoiler coming! In KX-2 spec, which offers a decent level of kit for a relatively affordable price and, in particular when it’s fitted with the automatic gearbox, the Sorento is a very good tow car indeed. In fact, the Kia is turning me into a very lazy tower. After all, it’s just so... effortless, that it’s hard to resist grabbing the keys whenever there’s a caravan that needs collecting or shifting. In fact, it gets pressed into service whatever needs moving: when my good pal Nick…

THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT… AND THAT! AT THE OCTOBER NEC show, Swift launched a handy control-panel system that feels like a huge leap forward in technology. The product, the Command system, is being rolled out on the Swift Conqueror and Sterling Elite caravan ranges, as well as the flagship Swift Elegance and Sterling Continental. How it works At the heart of a caravan’s electrical system is a big box in a locker; a data link then connects this to a control panel, often over or alongside the entrance door. In Swift Group vans, the main box is the Sargent EC 600 series (1), and it links to the new Command control panel using a CAN two-wire data bus. An addition to this system is the EC640 communications module; it…

The place there's most competition, which means more choice for buyers…

These tourers make few compromises to provide the ultimate in caravan comfort…

Knaus Perhaps better known here in the UK for its modern and trendy motorhomes, German manufacturer Knaus has recently returned to this country with one of its strongest line-ups yet. Better still, the UK concessionaire is also bringing in a selection of caravans from Knaus’s sibling company, Weinsberg. You might have seen the new UK-specific StarClass range at this year's February show, where it was launched; if so, you’ll know that the layouts on offer really cater for British tastes. The StarClass 560 and 565 models both have a parallel front lounge, off-side kitchen and a rear washroom. The entrance doors are on the UK nearside, too. Elsewhere in the Knaus line-up, the Lifestyle 550 LK is another star: it offers an interior quite unlike anything else you’ll have seen.…

A TRIO OF impressive Scottish campsites have made it into our Top 100 Sites Guide for 2016: one is open all year, one is particularly family-friendly and the third is for adults only – so there really is something for everyone here. One of the best things about visiting Scotland is that there’s a real variety of scenery and attractions to explore: from the Highlands to the Borders, via the beautiful islands, you’ll encounter wonderful vistas at each and every turn. And that’s not forgetting the brooding lochs, of course: they’re perfect for getting out and about on the water. The cultural highlights of Glasgow and Edinburgh are hugely popular with visitors, and lovers of spirits should be sure to add a trip along one of the numerous whisky trails…

THE GRAND CITIES of Newcastle, Leeds and York are certainly among the biggest attractions in this area, but there’s so much more to it than urban architecture. Take, for example, the rolling and vast Northumberland National Park, which encompasses Hadrian’s Wall, and the brooding North York Moors — both are just perfect for those who love to walk or cycle when they’re on holiday. But it’s the area’s coast that seems to be really popular: the majority of the sites that made it through as regional finalists this year are situated close to the stunning shoreline. And when you take a look at the wonderful towns that are located along here — including Whitby, Scarborough, Filey and Bridlington — you’ll see that there’s plenty here to keep the whole family…

EASTERN ENGLAND IS perhaps best known for its flat terrain, but it also offers some tremendous and lively towns and cities. There’s Colchester, for example, which claims to be the oldest town in Britain, and which offers a fascinating Roman heritage. Norwich is also of huge historic significance, while King’s Lynn has some great shops and restaurants. Skegness, meanwhile, is one the UK’s top beach resorts; the first Butlin’s was opened there in the 1930s. The Lincolnshire Wolds and the Norfolk Broads are wildlife havens, and there’s also a fascinating history of aviation in the area – don’t miss one of the numerous aviation museums here. The eight sites that have made it as regional finalists this year are nicely distributed, so there’s no excuse not to choose one, no…

MANY PEOPLE TOUR to the ‘corners’ of this region – be it to the hustle and bustle of London, the ferry port of Dover or the beauty of the Isle of Wight – but they’re missing out: there’s so much more to see here. For example, why not combine a tour to one of our fabulous Top 100 finalists with a visit to the lively cities of Southampton and Portsmouth? Alternatively, don’t miss a trip to Brighton: its winding streets and fantastic pubs are sure to give you a tour to remember. If you prefer to get out in the fresh air, don’t forget to pack your walking boots or bike before visiting the region. The Surrey Hills offer some tremendous cycling opportunities, and there’s mile upon mile of footpaths…

THE CITY OF Bath is just one of the many places that you’re sure to want to visit on a tour of this beautiful region: as well as world-class museums and handsome architecture, it offers tremendous shopping and great restaurants. The same goes for Bristol, which has been transformed in recent years to become a smart, upmarket destination. Historic Salisbury, meanwhile, also makes for a brilliant day out. If you’d prefer to visit the seaside, Weston-super-Mare should definitely be on your list of resorts: it really has something for everyone! Lovers of the great outdoors should explore Exmoor, while fans of all things historic will be in their element, thanks to the monuments of Wiltshire. All this and more is available to you on your stay at one of our…

CORNWALL HAS AN astonishingly lengthy coast – it stretches to 295 miles in total – and along the way you’ll discover some stunning beaches with golden sands, rocky coves and soaring cliffs. The vast majority of our 13 Cornish finalists for 2016 are located near the coast; as such, they offer amazing views and the chance to explore the shoreline with ease. But there’s so much more to Cornwall, and there’s no denying that it’s one of the most family-friendly regions in the UK. Within its boundaries are countless attractions for all ages, from fun theme parks to animal sanctuaries, museums and exquisite gardens. Add to that the natural beauty of Bodmin Moor, and the historic monuments of Tintagel and the Minack Theatre, and it’s easy to understand why Cornwall…

“Brilliant… The Orchards is the best campsite that we have ever stayed at” WHAT DOES IT take to become the overall winner of our Top 100 Sites Guide? For the answer, just ask The Orchards Holiday Park. Whether it’s because of the site’s wonderful views across beautiful Isle of Wight countryside, the Wi-Fi that’s available throughout the park, the indoor heated pool, the takeaway-food bar or the warm welcome that you received upon your arrival, hundreds of you once again told us that this was your favourite site in the UK. The Newbridge-based park is a worthy recipient of our Overall Winner award, the second year in a row that it’s taken the prestigious accolade. One of the best things about The Orchards is surely the site’s layout: all of…

Northern Ireland Scotland Wales North-East North-West Eastern England South-East Heart of England Dorset Somerset, Avon, Wilts Devon Cornwall Caravans 1 Ballyness Caravan Park (p8) 2 Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park (p14) 3 Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park (p78) 4 South Lytchett Manor (p72) 5 The Orchards Holiday Park (p66) 6 Run Cottage Touring Park (p50) 7 Ross Park Caravan Park (p89) 8 Dornafield (p83) 9 Ord House Country Park (p34) 10 Plough Lane Caravan Site (p76) Motorhomes 1 South Lytchett Manor (p72) 2 Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park (p78) 3 The Orchards Holiday Park (p66) 4 Stonehenge Campsite (p77) 5 Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park (p14) 6 Ballyness Caravan Park (p8) 7 Run Cottage Touring Park (p50) 8 Tehidy Holiday Park (p108) 9 Newberry Valley Park (p87) 10 Swiss Farm Touring and Camping (p59)…