Practical Caravan December 2021

News that an industry show would be returning to the NEC (p47) was met with a resounding cheer here at PC HQ – it really feels as though things have been on pause since the previous event two years ago. It’s great news for the industry, and for us caravanners – giving us the opportunity to see a raft of new products under one roof. But if you’ve missed your fix of all things show-related, you’ll be pleased to hear it’s not too late to pay a visit to our virtual show, Van Live! (p54). It ran for a week during October, but we’ve kept everything on our website for you to view whenever you like – what’s there is as relevant now as the day we uploaded it. Whether you’re…

Where are we? Port Righ, Kintyre, looking across to Arran Why tour here? No matter where you tour on the Scottish coast, you’ll find a breathtaking view around every corner; and particularly on the glorious Kintyre peninsula. This is a stunning destination for walkers and cyclists, with miles of gorgeous countryside to enjoy along quiet pathways. Find out more about Kintyre, Arran and the many other Scottish islands on p18. Don’t miss… There are numerous historic sites on the peninsula, including the megaliths of Ballochroy, and the burial cairns at Blasthill. There’s also an imposing Iron Age hillfort at Dun Skeig. ‘The journey around Kintyre did not disappoint, with beguiling landscape, deserted roads high above sea level and fine views (p18)’…

Star letter I am a professional LGV/HGV driver and proud owner of a 2018 Sprite Quattro EW twin-axle. I remember years ago when I passed my LGV test, how anxious I felt when reversing. Years later, I was asked for tips on how to reverse when towing. My advice? First, practise and invest in some proper training. Second, make sure you can see all around – I bought Repusel mirrors. There is no shame in having a power mover, either: there are many sites where, in the height of the summer, it is physically impossible to reverse onto a pitch with a car. Next, keep it simple. As a rookie lorry driver, I learned you don’t reverse 90 degrees on to a loading bay starting from straight. It’s the same with a…

A multicolour puzzle Here’s how to while away a wet afternoon with the kids – in this 500-piece jigsaw, the picture changes depending on which colour-coded glasses you wear. Price £15 Web www.amazon.co.uk Knit cuffed beanie Cold ears can be one of the worst things to experience when you are taking a winter walk, but they will become a thing of the past with this stylish beanie from Carhartt. Price £15.95 Web www.carhartt.com/gb/en-gb Time to cover up Planning on a little maintenance work or a spot of caravan cleaning? Make sure you dress the part with these denim overalls. Price £99 Web shop.goodwood.com Men’s SH100 Ultra-warm boots Keep your feet cosy and dry during winter tours with these well-priced walking boots from outdoor specialist Decathlon. Price £29.99 Web decathlon.co.uk In the balance If your small child is desperate to try out cycling on-site,…

SarahWakely Editorsarah@practicalcaravan.com Paul CritcherDeputy editorpaul.critcher@futurenet.com Peter BaberReviews editorpeter.baber@futurenet.com David MottonTow car editormotty@practicalcaravan.com John SootheranConsulting editorpractical.caravan@futurenet.com Andy JenkinsonUsed-van contributorpractical.caravan@futurenet.com DID WE PARK OUR VAN INCORRECTLY? Q On a recent tour with our caravan, we pulled into a motorway service station, and ended up having to park our van among the lorries. When we came back from visiting the restaurant inside the main building, the driver of the lorry parked next to us seemed to have a problem with what we’d done. We couldn’t work out why – he didn’t speak much English. It appeared to be something about how close to the front of the space we had parked, but it wasn’t clear. Do you have any suggestions as to what we might have done wrong? David Bramley Peter Baber replies... It’s difficult to say without a diagram, but the lorry driver may…

The Way back... There’s definitely a feeling that touring in Europe might return for many of us in 2022. The break from overseas travel has certainly given us all a chance to think about where we’d like to visit in future. For example, a website detailing routes for the Camino de Santiago (see right) got me thinking about taking on at least part of this ancient journey. We’d love to hear where you hope to tour (and why) when the world fully reopens – email us at letters@practicalcaravan.com. Back in the UK, there’s still plenty to discover – why not visit a county you’ve not toured before? This month, we focus on Essex (opposite page), which has many of its own wonderful walks. In the meantime, best foot forward and happy touring! paul.critcher@futurenet.com Deputy editor…