Practical Caravan April 2023

What’s been your favourite tour so far? I can think of a few that I’d nominate, but one that comes high on my list was a trip a few years ago to Normandy. We pitched the van at a campsite high above the cliffs at Omaha Beach; we had incredible and atmospheric views of the sands where so much history was decided. The beaches are certainly a tourist draw, but our Peter Baber recently took a slightly different trip to the area, enjoying the cultural delights of Mont St-Michel and more - you’ll find his article on p28. If you love UK touring - and who doesn’t? - don’t miss next month’s Practical Caravan, which comes with your Top 100 Sites Guide, featuring the best parks as voted for by you,…

What’s been your favourite tour so far? I can think of a few that I’d nominate, but one that comes high on my list was a trip a few years ago to Normandy. We pitched the van at a campsite high above the cliffs at Omaha Beach; we had incredible and atmospheric views of the sands where so much history was decided. The beaches are certainly a tourist draw, but our Peter Baber recently took a slightly different trip to the area, enjoying the cultural delights of Mont St-Michel and more - you’ll find his article on p28. If you love UK touring - and who doesn’t? - don’t miss next month’s Practical Caravan, which comes with your Top 100 Sites Guide, featuring the best parks as voted for by…

‘The morning mist will rise to reveal the abbey ahead of you, with the statue of St Michael glinting in the sunlight’ (p2g) Where are we? Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy Why tour here? Twinned with St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont Saint-Michel Bay is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Normandy. This tidal island has been an important stronghold throughout history, before becoming home to a beautiful Romanesque abbey in the 11th century and today, a magnet for tourists from near or far. Don’t miss… The tide! Nobody wants to be marooned on a beautiful island with its very own abbey, do they? On second thoughts… Photograph Atlantide Phototravel/ Getty Images…

Star letter My Al-Ko pad advice! It was interesting to read about changing and cleaning Al-Ko stabiliser pads in your recent Know-how guide (issue 460, P74). I would like to add a crucial piece of information that should help anyone changing these pads and alert readers to a vital part (an inner O-ring) that might fail if it’s not looked after. The inner O-ring sits inside the sleeve of the hitch that receives the stem of the stabiliser pad. If you find you need to tap out the stems of the pads (using a hammer), this is an indication the stems or O-rings are not lubricated. You can lubricate the stems (sparingly) and this is recommended by Al-Ko. When tapping out my pads, the inner O-ring (pictured) broke and fell out, and I…

THE BIG SHOT NORMANDY ‘The morning mist will rise to reveal the abbey ahead of you, with the statue of St Michael glinting in the sunlight’ (p2g) Where are we? Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy Why tour here? Twinned with St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mont Saint-Michel Bay is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Normandy. This tidal island has been an important stronghold throughout history, before becoming home to a beautiful Romanesque abbey in the 11th century and today, a magnet for tourists from near or far. Don’t miss… The tide! Nobody wants to be marooned on a beautiful island with its very own abbey, do they? On second thoughts… Photograph Atlantide Phototravel/ Getty Images…

Star letter My Al-Ko pad advice! It was interesting to read about changing and cleaning Al-Ko stabiliser pads in your recent Know-how guide (issue 460, P74). I would like to add a crucial piece of information that should help anyone changing these pads and alert readers to a vital part (an inner O-ring) that might fail if it’s not looked after. The inner O-ring sits inside the sleeve of the hitch that receives the stem of the stabiliser pad. If you find you need to tap out the stems of the pads (using a hammer), this is an indication the stems or O-rings are not lubricated. You can lubricate the stems (sparingly) and this is recommended by Al-Ko. When tapping out my pads, the inner O-ring (pictured) broke and fell…