Practical Caravan January 2021

This has been the strangest and most frustrating year that we as caravanners are ever likely to experience. No sooner had the initial lockdown lifted, allowing us to visit campsites and dealerships (albeit with safety procedures in place), than restrictions were put in place again, shutting the gates of dealers and sites alike. This time around, though, things seem a bit more positive for the industry. Manufacturing has been allowed to continue, and Welsh restrictions had just been lifted as I typed this. What’s more, there’s positive talk of a vaccine, with some speculation that we could return to a (relative) normality as early as next spring. Obviously it’s still early days, but I for one am confident that next season will be wonderful – and I simply can’t wait…

This has been the strangest and most frustrating year that we as caravanners are ever likely to experience. No sooner had the initial lockdown lifted, allowing us to visit campsites and dealerships (albeit with safety procedures in place), than restrictions were put in place again, shutting the gates of dealers and sites alike. This time around, though, things seem a bit more positive for the industry. Manufacturing has been allowed to continue, and Welsh restrictions had just been lifted as I typed this. What’s more, there’s positive talk of a vaccine, with some speculation that we could return to a (relative) normality as early as next spring. Obviously it’s still early days, but I for one am confident that next season will be wonderful – and I simply can’t wait…

‘Loughrigg Tarn lies below Loughrigg Fell, an area popular with all walkers. The start and end point is just half a kilometre from the village of Skelwith Bridge’ (p22) Where are we? The Lake District, Cumbria Coordinates 54°27’0.00” N 03°06’0.00” W Why tour here? “It’s very difficult to feel anything but sheer joy at being surrounded by some of the best scenery the UK has to offer,” says Marcus Leach on p23. And millions would agree with him. This stunningly beautiful National Park welcomes walkers, cyclists, mountaineers, adventurers and caravanners who just love to be in breathtaking landscapes. Don’t miss… Walking or climbing one of the district’s peaks, for incomparable views across the lakes Photographer Getty Images…

‘Loughrigg Tarn lies below Loughrigg Fell, an area popular with all walkers. The start and end point is just half a kilometre from the village of Skelwith Bridge’ (p22) Where are we? The Lake District, Cumbria Coordinates 54°27’0.00” N 03°06’0.00” W Why tour here? “It’s very difficult to feel anything but sheer joy at being surrounded by some of the best scenery the UK has to offer,” says Marcus Leach on p23. And millions would agree with him. This stunningly beautiful National Park welcomes walkers, cyclists, mountaineers, adventurers and caravanners who just love to be in breathtaking landscapes. Don’t miss… Walking or climbing one of the district’s peaks, for incomparable views across the lakes Photographer Getty Images…

THIS MONTH WE CHAT… SUNNY SPAIN // SITE UPGRADES // WINTER TOURING Star letter It was July 2020 and we were going stir crazy over coronavirus - so we decided, with a combined age of 149, to buy a caravan! After much study, we bought a Swift Coastline 480 SE in immaculate condition (pictured below), and the adventures began. We are lucky to have a lovely small site near us - Moorhouse Campsite, in Somerset - so we could enjoy short breaks away while learning about all of the caravan’s systems. For our first major trip, we decided on four nights at Merrydown Camping, a C&CC CS outside Axminster. Annabelle, Steve, Jackie and Milo the dog made us welcome and answered all of our newcomers’ questions with patience and humour. The site…

THIS MONTH WE CHAT… SUNNY SPAIN // SITE UPGRADES // WINTER TOURING Star letter It was July 2020 and we were going stir crazy over coronavirus - so we decided, with a combined age of 149, to buy a caravan! After much study, we bought a Swift Coastline 480 SE in immaculate condition (pictured below), and the adventures began. We are lucky to have a lovely small site near us - Moorhouse Campsite, in Somerset - so we could enjoy short breaks away while learning about all of the caravan’s systems. For our first major trip, we decided on four nights at Merrydown Camping, a C&CC CS outside Axminster. Annabelle, Steve, Jackie and Milo the dog made us welcome and answered all of our newcomers’ questions with patience and humour.…