Practical Caravan May 2022

Top sites, top touring I write this having not long returned from the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC and, while I always enjoy my visit, this one was particularly special. The first such event for two years, it was fantastic to see so many of you there, filling the halls (and the caravans) – after so much upheaval, things finally felt back to normal. And I’m sure that, like us, you’re looking forward to the season ahead. It’s with this in mind that we’re delighted to bring you your copy of our annual Top 100 Sites Guide, produced in association with Raleigh, with this issue. Our guide has become an essential for PC readers. That’s because it identifies brilliant UK campsites recommended by our team and (the…

Where are we? The Isle of Wight Why tour here? A 40-minute ferry journey from Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight is just a short trip across the Solent, a stretch of water famous for its sailing. Indeed, a whole week of events, known as Cowes Week, takes place every year. Yet it’s not just sailors who flock to the island – holidaymakers come in their thousands for the pretty beaches, welcoming campsites and impressive landmarks such as The Needles Rocks and Lighthouse. Read more about the island on p24. Don’t miss... Sunset at The Needles is always a stirring, atmospheric sight. ‘Holidaymakers flock to the Isle of Wight in their thousands for the pretty beaches and welcoming campsites’…

★ Star letter ★ We’re reaching a watershed moment, coinciding with a waters-break moment. To cut a long story short, we’ll be cutting an umbilical cord, following the (hopefully low-stress) delivery of our third baby. Enough pregnancy puns, although caravanning can be a labour of love (sorry, I’ll stop now), and on to my dilemma. I’m a bit concerned that an additional infant might be one little bundle of chaos too many for us to enjoy our holidays. We took baby number two away only once, just before the first lockdown, and it was pretty stressful. I’ll be honest, she’s still a bit of nuisance, having not followed in her older sister’s helpful footsteps. First up on the baby-problem-ometer is fitting a third child seat in the back of the…

Omnia trivet This stylish and practical bamboo trivet is designed specifically to fit the Omnia portable oven (although not the stainless-steel base) and accessories. Price £23 Web buyomniaeu.com ZeroWater filter jug If you’re not too keen on the taste of the water at your campsite, the ZeroWater jug should help improve it. Price From £24.99 Web zerowater.co.uk iBeani Quishion Adding some space-saving versatility to your touring experience, the Quishion can be used as a cushion, or unzipped for a quilt. Price £24.99 Web amazon.co.uk Quest 35690 compact kettle Operating at just 600W, this 0.5-litre travel kettle is light in weight and comes complete with a pair of smart black cups. Price £14.99 Web amazon.co.uk Shimo Tumbler 470 A portable and stackable vacuum insulated tumbler, the Shimo can be used for…

Sarah Wakely Editor sarah@practicalcaravan.com Paul Critcher Deputy editor paul.critcher@futurenet.com Peter Baber Reviews editor peter.baber@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 HOW DO WE TOW IN WINDY WEATHER? Q We took our caravan away to Cornwall and Devon during February for a couple of long weekends, but we had a few scary moments while towing due to the weather. What advice would you give for towing in windy weather, so we can be better prepared in the future? Jonathan Martin David Motton says... If you are planning to go away and a gale is forecast, I would recommend delaying your journey if possible. Even if that means your holiday is a day shorter, it’s the safest course of action. However, if…

WE ARE VETERAN music festival attendees, but appreciate even more those music festivals with added exhibits and other activities. After all, there is only so much phone-torch waving one can achieve before both battery and operator are exhausted! Last year’s Retrofestival at the Newark Showground was quite simply one of the best festivals we have attended in more than half a century. This year, we are giving the Newbury one a go and recommend that readers rock up at either or both venues to enjoy the very best sights and sounds from the 1940s right up to the present day. A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say, so here is our ‘19,000 word’ photo tour of the show for a flavour of a unique experience... 2022 dates…