Practical Caravan December 2020

If you were able to join us for our Van Live! Caravan and Motorhome Virtual Show, which ran during October – and many thousands of you did – I hope you had as much fun visiting the event as we did putting it all together! But if you weren’t able to make it at the time, don’t worry – we’ve kept all of the great content online, so it’s not too late to visit. Simply go to www.practicalcaravan.com/ van-live, where you can read all of the latest news for 2021 about your favourite manufacturers, dealers and campsites, as well as browse accessories, read (and watch) celebrity interviews, enter our brilliant Vango competition and much more! If that’s not enough to tempt you, you’ll find a more comprehensive round-up of exactly…

Where are we? Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk Coordinates 52°57’27.3”N, 0°51’03.3”E Why tour here? Coastal Norfolk is a stunning place to tour, with small, friendly towns, fascinating wildlife and big blue skies. If you’re lucky, you might even see a double rainbow! Get the lowdown on coastal Norfolk on p42. Don’t miss… The seafood is about as fresh as it gets – there are some outstanding restaurants in this area where you can try local delicacies. One is the Wells Crab House, handily located on Freeman Street, which also offers a takeaway service. Photographer Paul Stewart, Getty Images…

★ Star letter ★ I have always had it in the back of my mind that one day, someone would clip the rear of our caravan and fail to notify us. I decided to fit a rear-facing dashcam that works off the van’s 12V supply. Lo and behold, arriving at a destination one day, there it was, considerable damage to the offside rear lower panel; luckily, the rear lights were intact. I did not feel anything of the impact. On uploading the footage, I found it to be a Mercedes, which had cut back in from an overtaking manoeuvre and clipped the back of the van. I copied the footage to my insurance company, which found the driver’s details through the clear image of the numberplate and successfully redeemed the…

Autumn is a wonderful time for touring, and you’ve been heading for the wide-open spaces to admire the scenery and take some fantastic pictures! TAG US #PRACTICAL CARAVAN OR EMAIL LETTERS@PRACTICALCARAVAN.COM…

Boot bananas Wet walking boots? Just slip these cheery yellow moisture absorbers inside them and they’ll dry out much more quickly. Price £22 Web www.amazon.co.uk Fineway 12V heated blanket Stay warmer in your motorhome this winter with the Fineway heated blanket – simply plug it into the nearest 12V socket. Price £17.99 Web www.amazon.co.uk Relax Vulcano Hammock Chair Find a tree and simply hang this bright and comfy chair. It holds up to 120kg, so you can chill out confidently and in style. Price £57.10 Web simplyhammocks.co.uk Hoover H-Handy 700 The cordless H-Handy 700 Express vacuum weighs just 660g and is only 42cm long, yet runs for up to 12 minutes before it needs to be recharged. Price £119.99 Web www.hoover.co.uk Pet Room Dog Walking bag Keep your dog’s treats…

Sarah Wakely Editor sarah@practicalcaravan.com Paul Critcher Deputy editor paul.critcher@futurenet.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 SHOULD WE PUT A COVER ON OUR VAN? Q What’s your opinion of caravan covers? Are they necessary for protection from the elements, or just a bit of a faff to put on the van and then take off again? Clive Johnson Peter Baber says… In our opinion, putting a cover on your caravan when you are not using it makes sense, even if you tour all year round. There will still be significant periods when your caravan will be left outside, and during the average British winter, that could lead to it having a…