Practical Caravan June 2020

As I type this, the UK is a couple of weeks into a lockdown due to coronavirus. It does mean that us caravanners can’t get out on the road for the time being, of course: at the moment, staying home (and staying safe) is absolutely crucial. But that’s not to say we can’t use the time in a positive way. If your caravan is parked on your drive, it’s the perfect chance to get those niggly DIY tasks completed – this issue we’ve brought you some ideas of what you can tackle now (p83), and there are loads more to look forward to next month. Finally, don’t miss our fantastic subscription offer – you can get five issues of Practical Caravan for just £5, delivered direct to your door (p82).…

Where are we? Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, Bristol Coordinates 51°46’97.2”N 2°65’97.2”W Why tour here? Built in 1814 for Bristol’s first recorded millionaire, Philip John Miles, Leigh Court is a beautiful Palladian-style house with colonnades on two of its sides. Although it is now largely a business venue, it does include a fabulous park with great views. Our tow car We towed a Bailey Unicorn Black Vigo with a Porsche Cayenne Turbo – you can read our report on the tow car on p56 of this issue. Photographer Phil Russell…

Star letter I was interested to read the recent letter querying the popularity (or otherwise) of L-shaped lounges (Expert Q&A, issue 425) – I love L-shaped lounges! All of our caravans have had this layout: Bailey Moselle, Lunar Clubman 530L, Swift Conquerer 580 SAL, and our current model, the Compass 650. A friend of ours has recently downsized to a Coachman Pastiche 470, which also has an L-shaped lounge – he has always had twin-axles with fixed beds, but he loves the space and I must say it is very roomy. He has no problems making up the bed. We have had no difficulties with this, either. I think that they are the most sociable lounges available, so nobody should be put off by them! Derek Govey MILENCO The contributor…

TOP PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS Hold the camera securely And not just because you don’t want to drop it! Holding your phone using both hands, elbows tucked in against your body, helps reduce camera shake. Alternatively, use a tripod. Avoid the flash Despite advances, the flash built into phones often produces unflattering results. More often, a ‘noisy’ picture is preferable in low light. Tap the lightning bolt symbol and set the flash to Off. Zoom with your feet You can zoom with an ‘unpinch’ gesture, but all that does is crop the photo that’s taken – which you can control better later, using the Photos app’s Crop tool. Instead, simply try to get closer if possible.…

Biodegradable lunchbox & coffee mug Keep packed lunches fresh in this zero-waste biodegradable box, complete with matching coffee mug – perfect for a day of exploring. Price £25 Web www.wearthlondon.com Colour & Carry tote Keep children entertained with these clever Colour & Carry tote bags. There are three different designs to spark imaginations. Price £12.95 Web www.eatsleepdoodle.com Ohelo tumbler Avoid non-recyclable drinks containers by keeping this stylish Ohelo tumbler in your backpack, ready for your coffee on the go. Price £29-£30 Web www.ohelobottle.com Front Range Harness Keep your furry friends safe with the Front Range Harness from Ruffwear, with a new design and colours, and improved materials. Price £44.95 Web www.ruffwear.com Outwell Dawlish High Seat This clever seat from Outwell folds out from flat to also provide a rigid storage…

Sarah Wakely Editor sarah@practicalcaravan.com Peter Baber Reviews editor peter.baber@futurenet.com Claudia Dowell Features/Travel editor claudia.dowell@futurenet.com David Motton Tow car editor motty@practicalcaravan.com John Sootheran Consulting editor practical.caravan@futurenet.com Andy Jenkinson Used-van contributor practical.caravan@futurenet.com WHICH FESTIVALS OFFER HOOK-UP? Q I have always wanted to go to the Glastonbury Festival, but didn’t fancy the camping. We bought a used 1999 Swift and a few years ago, were lucky enough to get tickets to Glasto. Although we didn’t have electric hook-up, we had our own facilities, and had a fantastic time. We haven’t used the caravan that much since then, but we are hoping to go to another festival to celebrate my birthday and this time, I’d really like the convenience of electricity. Do you know of any festivals that arrange hook-up? Rita Cooper Claudia Dowell…