Table of contents for Februrary 2023 in Practical Caravan

We've been running our annual Owner Satisfaction Awards for a few years now, and each time the results come in, they make really fascinating reading. I think what's most compelling about them is that they represent the voice of you, the caravan owner: they reflect the true experience of buying and owning a caravan – both good and bad. For this year's awards – held once again in conjunction with The Camping and Caravanning Club – thousands of you had your say. We reckon that makes this year's awards the most comprehensive ever: you can trust our results to tell you what you need to know when it comes to buying your next van, whether that's what to look out for, which dealer to visit, or which brand to choose.…

You're touring in great places, captured by brilliant holiday snaps! TAG US #PRACTICAL CARAVAN OR EMAIL LETTERS@PRACTICALCARAVAN.COM…

Time to get active! I've never been that keen on resolutions, but I'm all for some New Year's ambitions. Number one of which will be getting active in 2023. Active, both in the sense of getting fitter, and in getting out and about and enjoying a packed year of touring. With that in mind, our Know-how guide this month (p67) is just the thing to inspire some movement after the more sluggish days of the holiday season. How about you – are you touring yet, or making plans? Send us your photos and stories (letters@practicalcaravan.com): we'd love to hear more. This month sees us on a whistlestop tour around the country, with trips to the spectacular Llŷn Peninsula in Wales (p18), the best of Nottingham (p22), Devonshire delights on the…

Is it time to switch to an electric tow car? It seems inevitable that comments about London Mayor Sadiq Khan's decision to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) would focus mostly on motorhome owners. But it could also affect caravanners living in London who drive large and relatively old tow cars (quite a few of you, I expect), or those who want to stay at one of the campsites within the affected area. So could it be time to switch to an electric car? Possibly. But when it comes to towing, EVs’ efficiency has been shown to be patchy. Keep reading PC to find out which tow cars our experts rate as worthwhile. peter.baber@futurenet.com Reviews editor PETER BABER is a hugely experienced caravanner who enjoys touring whenever he can…

Welcome to the Owner Satisfaction Awards 2023! If you're buying a new or pre-owned caravan over the next year or so, these pages make essential reading. Not only will you learn which vans are the most satisfying to own, you'll also discover the best dealers to buy from. Any survey benefits from a substantial sample size – the more responses, the more statistically robust the results. So we're delighted to have 4735 completed surveys this year, an increase from 3449 in 2022. With so many owners giving their views, warts and all, in so much detail, we're confident you can rely on our findings. Thanks go to every one of you who completed the survey. Whether you're a reader of Practical Caravan, a member of our Awards partners, The Camping…

PRE-OWNED CARAVANS Manufacturers Satisfaction scores awarded by respondents GOLD AWARD SILVER AWARD Mentioned in dispatches None 2022 RESULTS Gold Award Bailey, Coachman, Elddis/EHG, Lunar, Swift Group Silver Award None Supplying dealers Satisfaction scores awarded by respondents GOLD AWARD SILVER AWARD Mentioned in dispatches Blackmore Vale Leisure, Kimberley Caravans & Motorhomes, Ropers Caravan World, Spinney Motorhomes and Caravans, Stewart Longton Caravans, Sussex Caravan Centre, Webbs Motor Caravans Group, White Arches, West Midland Caravans & Motorhomes 2022 RESULTS Gold Award Blackmore Vale Leisure, Highbridge Caravans (Somerset), Lady Bailey Caravans, Peter Roberts Caravans, Salop Leisure Silver Award None LAST YEAR, ADRLA didn't reach the minimum sample size for inclusion in the Pre-owned Caravans results. This year it does, and with a superb score of 86.1%, to take the top spot and a Gold…

Used van market is a mixed bag As the cold weather comes in and the nights get longer, you might expect activity on the forecourts to be slowing down, and in some cases, it is. But this is the first time for a few years that I have seen vans being discounted to make way for new (2023) stock. At one dealership recently, I noted that their pre-owned stock was looking quite healthy. They had a good selection of used models and the choice was looking better than it had for two years now. It seems that sales generally have slowed, partly owing to the time of year, but some dealerships are still offering good discounts if you look around. That said, others remain understocked, especially for family-sized models, so…

CUT OUT AND KEEP GUIDE! Book ahead Pre-book your activities online to make the most of potential discounts – many locations will offer visitors a few pounds off if you book your tickets in advance. Buy a CampingCard The ACSI card – which offers savings on low-season stays at campsites during the quieter months – doesn't just give you discounts in Continental Europe, it can also be used at some sites in the UK. Find out more at www.campingcard.co.uk/united-kingdom. Check your phone tariff Don't be stung by mobile costs if you're touring abroad – Brexit means phone companies have been free to reintroduce a charge on roaming in the EU, so you could quickly rack up a substantial bill, particularly if you're streaming video or sending photos. Check with your…

1 SILVERDALE HOLIDAY PARK, CUMBRIA Holgates’ flagship site is a superb park in the heart of Arnside & Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It's only two miles from the coast and an hour's drive from the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Forest of Bowland. On site, there's a huge pool complex, sauna and steam room, gym, bar, café and restaurant, a bowling alley and a soft play area. There are also a number of dog-walks in and around the park. Address Middlebarrow Plain, Cove Road, Silverdale LA5 OSH holgates.co.uk/silverdale 01524 701 508 2 RIVERSIDE CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK, DEVON A short walk from South Molton, this spacious site has 10 acres of woodland trails. The River Mole runs through the park and it's in a great spot for exploring Exmoor…

Chair Buddies Say goodbye to sinking chair legs and slanted seating with the handy Chair Buddies. They stabilise your chair by adding surface area to the feet – just attach and relax! Price £22 Web chairbuddies.com The Great British Bucket List Feeling uninspired? From fossil hunting to wild swimming, this book is brimming with adventures that you can find right on your doorstep, and tick off your bucket list. Price £12.99 Web waterstones.com PICK OF THE MONTH MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT SUPERFLUX HUT SLIPPERS There are few things worse in winter than getting chilly feet – once your extremities become cold, it's much harder to warm up again. But you should stay toasty and snug with these Mountain Equipment Superflux Hut Slippers, which are perfect for wearing in the caravan when you're…

Who are you? Sonia Wignall; I started caravanning with my husband, Nigel, in 1989, aged just 18, before adding motorhome travel in 2002, for incredible adventures in the UK, Europe and Australasia. Where are you a local authority? Coastal Conwy, in North-West Wales. Why are you a local authority here? We've always lived in Conwy, it's been our childhood playground, place of teenage haunts and grown-up piece of paradise, where we raised our own family. What do you love about it? The magical mix of intoxicating scenery. This is where the mountains meet the sea, overlooked by the superb 12th-century castle. The Town Walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protect the intricate interior of Conwy, and the atmospheric shops and eateries at its heart. Facing south-west, you can see incredible…

Q Why did you start this awards scheme? We wanted to provide help to potential caravan purchasers by giving them the benefit of the experiences of current owners. This is achieved by highlighting and rewarding manufacturers and dealers who consistently deliver high levels of customer satisfaction. This also hopefully raises standards and makes buying a van less of a lottery. Q Why did you decide to feature pre-owned caravans in the survey? The pre-owned caravan market is large, and many readers and C&CC members purchase them – pre-owned models accounted for almost half of your survey responses this year. We know many caravanners will not buy new, preferring to wait for the first owner to iron out any problems. For some, committing £2500 to a caravan purchase is a bigger…

(UK Volume Sales: New and Pre-Owned) Coachman It's not easy to win any Owner Satisfaction Survey award, but Best Caravan Manufacturer is the toughest of the lot. This award combines new and pre-owned scores, and sets a very high bar in terms of the minimum sample size. To feature at the sharp end of the results means building satisfying, well-made caravans, year in and year out. Congratulations to Coachman on taking the top spot, just as the company did last year. The score of 83.1% earns another Gold Award, and puts Coachman well clear of the other volume manufacturers. The Swift versus Bailey grudge match goes down to the wire, as it does in the New and Pre-owned categories. Swift just shades it by 0.1%, with a score of 78.2%.…

Ford Focus Estate If you enjoy driving, the Focus Estate handles neatly, steers accurately and is perfectly happy on motorways. The controls are light enough to make town trips comparatively effortless, too. The 123bhp 0.9-litre EcoBoost engine is strong. The Ford's isn't the biggest boot, but it has a wide, rectangular load bay with a low lip. Škoda Octavia Estate The term ‘all-rounder’ can signify ‘mediocre’, but not here. The Škoda is good at pretty much everything. It's big enough for five to feel comfortable, and they'll be able to bring along all their luggage. There's a vast range of engines, but the 2.0-litre diesel is the best option; it's strong, smooth and has a pretty light thirst. Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer The Vauxhall may not live up to the…

CUT OUT AND KEEP GUIDE! Secure your gear If you're planning to take sports or other activity equipment with you while you're on tour, make sure you have somewhere safe to store it when you're pitched up onsite. An awning is ideal during rainy weather, and means you won't need to stash muddy kit in your caravan lockers, but do make sure you lock any valuable items in your tow car before leaving for the day, or during the night. Sarah Wakely Keep track Smart watches have come down a lot in price and can help you keep track of your activity when you're out and about. It's amazing how quickly the steps mount up when you are wandering to and from the campsite washrooms, too! Peter Byrne On the…

Q SHOULD WE GET AN END WASHROOM? We are planning to sell our end-kitchen caravan this year and are thinking of buying an end-washroom van with a fixed bed, which is a layout that I've always liked. Could you please give me details of anything that I need to look out for? Suggestions on models would be much appreciated, too – our budget will be around £15,000. George King Sarah Wakely replies… This is a great choice of layout, and popular with couples, too, because there's no need to make up a fixed bed. Within this layout you'll usually find an end washroom with its own shower cubicle, a workable kitchen and a comfortable lounge, so there's an awful lot to like. As with all floorplans there are a few…

21 January 2023 For an alternative to Chinese New Year, head to the National Maritime Museum in London for the Lunar New Year, which celebrates traditions from a number of different East and Southeast Asian countries, not just China. The whole family can enjoy a day of performances and activities. rmg.co.uk Stay at Abbey Wood CAMC Site caravanclub.co.uk Wildlife photos 22 January 2023 If you're looking to brush up your camera skills and banish the winter blues, this wildlife photography workshop at WWT Martin Mere, Lancashire, can teach you how to capture great images of birds. Suitable for beginners. Tickets cost £75. wwt.org.uk Stay at Laithes Lodge laitheslodge.co.uk Practical Caravan The next issue goes on sale on 26 January – have your copy delivered direct! See p94 for details.…

GETAWAY TRAVEL BIRTHDAYS ARE BETTER with surprises! Usually involving close family and friends of the birthday boy or girl. Maybe a cake or a special meal. And presents, definitely presents. Again, from family and friends to the lucky celebrant. But when my husband, Ro, marked his birthday in June this year, he turned the tables. It was me who got the surprise, as he turned up at home one lunchtime waving a printout of an email – he was supposed to be working away for the week. “I finished early,” he announced, before adding, “so I've booked us a few days away in the oldest place I could find.” Now it's normally me who does all of the touring research and the booking, so this was a surprise indeed. Birthday dinner…

US teardrop designed for electric tow cars A teardrop caravan that can theoretically be towed by an electric car without losing any of its range has been launched by Californian company Polydrops. The 4.14m-long P17A1 was towed by a Hyundai loniq 5 for 215 miles at 65mph, losing lust 15% of the oar's range. Polydropg estimates that if the car had been travelling at 55mph, its range would not have been affected. The firm attributes this to the trailer's aerodynamic shape, with a flat underbelly and a rear spoiler to redilee drag. It is also designed to be used off-grid, with a 4.8kWh battery pack, a 260W solar panel and an inverter/charger as standard. The all-electric kitchen includes an induction hob and a 43-litre fridge. The trailer has gone on…

NEW CARAVANS Manufacturers Satisfaction scores awarded by respondents GOLD AWARD SILVER AWARD Mentioned in dispatches None 2022 RESULTS Gold Award Adria, Coachman Silver Award Bailey, Elddis/EHG, Swift Group Supplying dealers Satisfaction scores awarded by respondents GOLD AWARD SILVER AWARD Mentioned in dispatches Adventure Leisure, Davan Caravans, Duncan Caravans, Lee Davey, Leisure Sales 2022 RESULTS Gold Award Lady Bailey Caravans, Ropers Leisure, Salop Leisure, Winchester Caravans Silver Award Broad Lane Leisure, Chipping Sodbury Caravans, Newport Caravans, Raymond James, Swindon Caravans THERE ARE CHANGES at the top in the New Caravans category. This year's winner is Knaus, with an outstanding score of 89.6%, putting clear daylight between the German brand and the best of the rest. Second spot goes to Eriba, with a score of 85.3%. Eriba pushes Adria (winner of the…

Cars and caravans, the perfect match I've just been reading that the retired F1 driver Nigel Mansell has holidayed at the same caravan park for 58 years! The online story is a few years old, so if the 1992 World Champion still visits, he's now been doing so for more than six decades. Mansell is not alone in disproving the common misconception that caravanners and car fans don't mix. Swift's chairman, Peter Smith, is car mad. Our contributor Nigel Hutson loves his cars. And judging by your emails, so do lots of you. But there's still a lingering dislike of caravans among some drivers. If they tried towing and caravanning for themselves, I'm sure many would change their minds. motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a former PC editor,…

SARN HELEN, WALES 229.9 miles (in total) Wales has such a rich seam of fascinating history, it seems rather a shame to single out just one area to explore. So a ride that encompasses both tales of yore and recent events seems only fitting – you can take in short parts of this trail for an excellent cycle. Based on an old Roman route, Sarn Helen crosses Wales from north to south and traverses some of the country's most beautiful natural areas. Along the way, it covers everything from ancient stone circles and castles, to slate mines and steel mills. GPS download bit.ly/SarnHelenRide Stay at Elan Oaks > www.elanoaks.co.uk South Wales Touring Park (adults only) > southwalescaravansite.co.uk Tan-Y-Bryn Glamping and Touring Park > tanybrynglamping.co.uk BANNOCKBURN, SCOTLAND 9.1 miles North Third…

Minimise the impact of a breakdown It's something we all dread – towing our caravan to the next campsite, a long way from home, only to have the car break down halfway. That's why it's important to think about breakdown cover, which can help save you time and money. We look at your options on p84. Also this issue: when was the last time you inspected your jockey wheel? It's a bit of kit that many of us take for granted, so make time this winter to give yours a bit of attention, and you're less likely to encounter problems in future. To get started, see our article on p92! practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy Faircloth and Nigel Hutson PCS TOP TIPS HOW TO…

RED PENNANT “A friend's car broke down while he was in France – an old Galaxy, with an axle problem. The car was deemed not worth bringing home, so the Club hired him a vehicle to tow back with, via Red Pennant.” ARRIVAL “When I had the need for Arrival recovery, they towed my caravan 20 miles to the campsite, then took my car 50 miles to Fréjus, to the Kia dealer. They collected me from the campsite by taxi, took me to a car rental firm and hired a car for me for 10 days. Then they reversed the procedure when my car was repaired.” MAYDAY “My long-distance recovery was handled really well by the network of local garages, recovery agents and car hire company. “Very knowledgeable, helpful and…