Table of contents for September 2023 in Practical Caravan

A new 87-mile walking route funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and connecting the south and north coasts in the South—West is now open. The Tamara Coast to Coast Way is a seven-day walking route that follows the River Tamar, the historic boundary between Devon and Cornwall from sea to source, before continuing on to the North coast. It begins at Cremyll, overlooking Plymouth Sound and finishes at Marsland Mouth near Morwenstow. Linking the two coasts has also created a new 387-mile circular walking route around Cornwall: ‘Kylgh Kernow’ (Cornish for Circuit of Cornwall). Highlights of the Tamara Coast to Coast Way include unspoilt river-valley landscapes in the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site. Many short walks have…

Whether you're on tour or at home, relax with a cup of tea and some brain-teasers to ponder! SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. No single digit can appear twice in any one row, column or 3x3 box WORDWISE You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: endured. 10 = average More than 20 = well done HALF & HALF Kernmantle is a durable and flexible type of what material? Cross…

2-9 September 2023 Scottish Borders Walking Festival This week-long festival offers four walks a day in and around the Kelso area. Walks are of varying levels of difficulty and there's a good selection of social events, including Scottish dancing and wine tastings. borderswalkingfestival.com Stay at Kirkfield Caravan Park kirkfieldcaravanpark.co.uk 2-10 September 2023 Gower Walking Festival Celebrating 10 years of the Wales Coast Path, this event offers hikers the chance to walk the entire Gower section of the footpath, from Penclawdd to Mumbles, in two days. Expect wonderful views in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. gowerwalkingfestival.uk Stay at Three Cliffs Bay threecliffsbay.com 9-17 September 2023 High Weald Walking Festival Covering parts of Kent, Sussex and Surrey, this landscape has lots of easy walking on marked footpaths, bridleways and byways. The…

When to go We visited during August and booked all our pitches. Be prepared for all weathers and watch out for midges! Way to go We travelled via the A14, A1 and A66 to Penrith, stopping overnight, then the M74, A82 and A85 to Oban. We sailed on CalMac Ferries from Oban to Craignure, Isle of Mull (crossing takes 45 minutes) and Castlebay, Isle of Barra (four hours 45 minutes). calmac.co.uk Where we stayed Yanwath Woodhouse CL Address Eamont Bridge, Cumbria CA10 2JB caravanclub.co.uk Oban Holiday Park Address Gallanach Road, Oban PA34 4QH highlandholidays.com Salen Bay Campsite Address Ardmor Road, Aros PA72 6JL salenbaycampsite.co.uk Borve Camping and Caravan Site Address 104a Borve, Isle of Barra BS9 5XR barracamping.co.uk Highfield CL Address Lochmaben, Lockerbie, Dumfries & Galloway DG11 1RH 01387 810…

‘The town is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of south Shropshire and the Welsh Marches’ LUDLOW IS A thriving market town and an architectural gem, busy with events and festivals throughout the year. The town is surrounded by the beautiful countryside of south Shropshire and the Welsh Marches, making it an excellent base for walking, cycling and exploring. HOUR BY HOUR DAY 1 9am A hearty start Fuel up for the day at Aragon's, a charming café in the heart of Ludlow. From Full English to fluffy pancakes, their menu is brimming with options that are all locally sourced. Enjoy a bite in the sunny garden or at tables facing the town square. > instagram.com/aragonsludlow 10am Market stalls Ludlow's fine square has hosted markets since the 12th century. With up…

INDEPTH TEST SHOWROOM Price £45,795 Berths 4 MTPLM 2051kg Tested at Cote Ghyll Caravan Park (www.coteghyll.com) WHEN SOME IDEAS catch on, they are suddenly everywhere. It seems like only yesterday that 8ft-wide caravans were the new thing in the UK, having become fairly popular on the Continent already. Now they are so common that Swift no longer offers its most upmarket Elegance in what you might call a conventional width. For the 2023 season, they have all become Elegance Grandes – and all twin-axles. It's what you might expect from a range that, when introduced in 2014, considerably raised the bar in caravan design with its SMART construction. For a while, Swift was so confident in how this timberless system had evolved, it offered a lifetime water-ingress guarantee on new models.…

BUYING AVAN SHOWROOM BUYING TIPS BUYING A CARAVAN is likely to represent one of the largest investments that you'll ever make, so it's really important to get it right. But what exactly does that mean? And how do you go about tracking down your perfect caravan? If you've owned tourers before and have a little experience of them, you'll no doubt have refined your ideas by now, but if you have never owned one, where do you start? Magazines and online reviews Begin by immersing yourself in as much caravan content as possible – it might be baffling at first and you will be offered all sorts of random advice, but it will give you an overview of the things to look out for. Make sure you know the source of…

USED VANS SHOWROOM USED VAN BUYER SPRITE – A NAME known to non-caravanners as well as seasoned aficionados – is 75 years young in 2023! Under Swift since 1994/5, the brand has become a prominent name for the modern caravanner. The model names Alpine and Major have been used since the 1950s and are etched into many caravan owners' memories. The Sprite Alpine was the best-selling caravan in the UK in 1970-1971, and at the time, it seemed everybody had bought one at some point in their caravanning career. Used Sprites still sell well and many are made as dealer specials. Sprite's founder, Sam Alper OBE, had wanted to make affordable vans with quality build, and to this day, the Sprite name stands for value far beyond these shores (many were…

QUICK TEST What's new? The Škoda Kamiq is the Czech brand's smallest SUV, a rival for the likes of the Ford Puma and the Peugeot 2008. We're testing the top-spec Monte Carlo, which looks more sporty than the rest of the range inside and out. There's no diesel Kamiq, so we're testing the most powerful petrol. What are we looking for? Such a small and light car is only suitable for towing lightweight tourers. How well does the Škoda Kamiq cope with the Bailey Discovery that we have on long-term test? Towing ability This is indeed a light car, but not such a featherweight that it won't make a suitable match for a small caravan. For our tests, we matched it to our long-term Bailey Discovery D4-4 with a MiRO…

USED TOW CAR LOTS OF GOOD things come in sevens – sailing the seven seas, the seven wonders of the world, The Magnificent Seven. Back in 2012, Hyundai clearly thought so, too, when it built the third-generation Santa Fe SUV to carry seven people. This makes it a fine family car. But what about its prowess as a tow car? Let's find out. What's it like inside? There's loads of space for the two up front, and the three in the middle will be happy enough because leg- and headroom aren't bad. The rearmost seats are fine for kids, and adults can fit for short trips. The boot is predictably small when all seven seats are in use, but when they are folded into the floor, there's a large, flat…

THE BIG SHOT OUTER HEBRIDES Where are we? Vatersay, Outer Hebrides Why tour here? Vatersay and Barra —accessible by causeway – are renowned for their white sand beaches. Vatersay is also the start of the Hebridean Way walking and cycling route. It's a tombolo, separated in the middle by a narrow isthmus. Take your pick from the beaches at Bagh Bhatarsaigh on the east and Traigh Shiar to the west. Don't miss... The wildflowers of the machair, grassy plains particular to this region. Read more about touring on the Outer Hebrides on p22. Photograph Albert Hartmut/Getty ‘The gorgeous beaches backed by the grassy plains of the machair, the dunes of Vatersay and the fantastic local produce drew us back. It is quite simply a slice of remote paradise’ (p22)…

We asked, what's the most unusual pet you've seen on site? Here are just a few! Star photo Our winning entry receives one of these beautifully illustrated maps from Awesome Maps – check out the amazing range at www.awesome-maps.com WIN ME! STAR PHOTO TAG US #PRACTICAL CARAVAN OR EMAIL LETTERS@PRACTICALCARAVAN.COM NEXT MONTH'S THEME... SUMMER FUN! Send us your best touring shots for a chance to win an Awesome Map…

SUMMER IS THE ideal time to get out and about in your caravan and enjoy the sun. While you shouldn't let your smartphone get in the way of the glorious weather, a few judiciously chosen apps can help enhance your enjoyment during the warm days and nights. We've picked 12 of the best apps for this purpose, from travel planners and organisers to apps packed with ideas for brilliant outdoor activities. Some act as your guide every step of the way, while others provide simple snippets of help as and when needed. Whatever you want to do, though, there's likely to be an app for it! PACKR Price Free (features in-app purchases) From packr.app Available for iOS You don't want to turn up at your campsite only to realise you've…

FIRST LOOK SHOWROOM Price £41,365 Berths 4 MiRO TBC Payload TBC MTPLM TBC COACHMAN'S LASER 665 has changed its appearance. Last year, it was in the brand's line-up as a conventional-width model, with an extended central washroom. For 2024, the washroom has shrunk, but the caravan is now included as an ‘Xtra’ or 8ft-wide model. One thing has remained constant: the fixed single beds behind a washroom spread across the middle. Some feel this layout creates a narrow central area, but others like it, because in effect, it gives you separate ‘rooms’. Pitch and set-up The 665 is obviously a bigger twin-axle, but it comes with ATC and an AKS 3004 stabiliser. It is enhanced by silver-grey sidewalls and 10-spoke Falcon alloys. This season, Lasers also come with a 40-litre onboard…

PRODUCT REVIEW WITH OUR PENCHANT for ever more electrical devices (from laptops to TVs), power stations have become a popular part of caravan kit. Yes, leisure batteries might be increasingly effective (even when you're off-grid for a day or so), but the security of an independent power unit makes sense in this digital age. Inverters are one solution for those seeking more power, but the ease of use and design of a dedicated power station with an integrated inverter makes them an attractive proposition. Out of the box The first thing that is evident on unpacking the Bluetti EB3A is the compact size and smart finish. It looks and feels like a quality piece of kit. It comes with both an AC and a solar charging cable; other accessories, such…

TOW CAR ADVICE The term SUV covers a variety of cars, but not all sports utility vehicles are sporty, and some are lacking when it comes to utility. The finest SUVs make excellent tow cars, though. This month, we focus on mid-sized SUVs, well suited to families of four (or five at a pinch). These vehicles are bigger than small SUVs, such as the Suzuki S-Cross or the Škoda Kamiq, but much easier to manage around town than the two-tonne heavy-hitters, such as the SsangYong Rexton or the Toyota Highlander. Being such a popular style of car, there are plenty to choose from. Most big brands will have a family SUV in the range, and while diesel used to be the default choice, nowadays you're more likely to find petrols…

THE PENNY PROJECT SKILLS SCHOOL THE INITIAL EXCITEMENT of getting our new project – a 1998 Bailey Delamere – on the drive ebbed away after a while, replaced by the need to get things done for her maiden voyage – to a music festival. First up was a clear-up and clear-out. Second-hand 'vans come with ‘stuff’ squirrelled away by the previous owner. We found a TV/DVD player, some superhero DVDs, two toasters, a kettle, some cushions and all manner of other stuff which was sorted, binned or donated to the local charity shop depending on how useful it was. For our first outing, we were keeping things simple. We weren't going to use gas as we wouldn't have time to get it tested, and the standard threeway fridge has been replaced…

CARAVAN GENIUS WE ALL RELY on nuts, bolts and screws to hold our world together. Without them, our lives really would fall apart. But despite the fact that we encounter them in our everyday activities, too few of us have a clear understanding of their properties and complexities, and how to use them. All too often, when you need them for a caravanning task, the general approach seems to be just to dig around in the ‘odds and ends’ tin in your toolkit, until you find something that looks suitable. Then it's a case of ‘if it fits, use it’ – which can actually be quite dangerous. Potential hazards A prime example concerns your vehicle wheels, which are held in position with either studs (actually bolts) or wheel nuts. Both…

Dog Gate Keep your pooch safe on-site with this retractable dog gate, which comes with its own easy-to-fit brackets and is super-compact when not in use. Price £79.95 Web dog-g8.com Mini Projector Great for film nights, this mini projector has built-in speakers and a remote control, plus HDMI, USB and Bluetooth connectivity. It weighs just 1.2kg. Price £129.99 Web amazon.co.uk Voited Soul Slippers Perfect for pottering around the site or cosying up in your 'van, these lightweight slip-ons are made from recycled, water-repellent material. Price £49 Web voited.co.uk 2-in-1 Lantern This water-resistant, USB-rechargeable lantern offers 360-degree light and has two removable torches. It is also fitted with two strong handles for carrying or hanging the lantern from an awning. Price £25 Web amazon.co.uk PICK OF THE MONTH TOWER T17025 VORTX…

New lightweight line-up looks to the future KNAUS WILL BE unveiling a new range at the NEC this October, designed to save space and weight to make the caravans more suitable for electric vehicles. The Yaseo has a reduced frontal area and a relatively lightweight construction to lessen drag. But attention has also been paid to reducing the size of the van, so it can be towed by lighter vehicles. The Yaseo 500 DK, for example – one of two models in the range – has a rear lounge that includes a double wall bed. The front seats slide away here to create more storage space when you are on the move. A collapsible shower cubicle is made up by folding out the washroom and removing a seat box to…

FIRST LOOK SHOWROOM BAILEY OF BRISTOL is 75 years old this year, and to celebrate the occasion, it has revamped its best-selling Phoenix+ line-up to create a whole new offering. We paid a visit to Bailey's HQ for the launch, to see all of the new models in the metal. The big news is that a six-berth with an end washroom has been added to the new Phoenix GT75 range. The 762 model (see our review in issue 468), which is the only twin-axle in the range, in effect replaces the five-berth 650. As well as that end washroom, it features a pair of permanent bunks on the offside, next to a single dinette on the offside that includes a pop-up sixth bunk. Choice of floorplans The rest of the line-up…

SKILLS SCHOOL TOWING COURSES I REMEMBER MY first caravan-towing course very well – particularly the nerves. I'm pretty sure we were all thinking that we might make fools of ourselves in front of the other trainees. I needn't have worried, though, because that course is still one of the best things I've done, and since then, I've been on several refresher towing courses, and photographed quite a few more. So I've experienced first-hand how these courses are simply transformative. Nervous towing newbies rock up in the morning, terrified of embarrassing themselves, but by the time they leave, they've been armed with all the basic knowledge and techniques to tow their caravan confidently, and they've proved to themselves that they can do it. In total, I've seen about 50 candidates attending…

FOR THE 2023 season, vans fitted with Alde heating have had the new 3030 boiler and control panel installed. This now incorporates quite a few changes, so we thought it was worth a closer look. The first thing you'll notice about the control panel is the more up-to-date display, where the temperature adjustment settings are on the ‘Home’ screen. This is in response to customer requests, apparently. The main display screen (where you can see the status of various things) is now on the next screen displayed after pressing the ‘Menu’ button once. On the bright side As with the previous-generation 3020 system, there are various brightness settings which may be useful at night, as the ‘Home’ screen itself is very bright, even when the lowest brightness setting is selected.…

FOR SEVERAL YEARS I have used a Truma LevelControl gas monitoring unit. For those who haven't come across them, the LevelControl fits magnetically to the underside of the gas bottle, measures its contents and transmits the data to your phone via Bluetooth. The device fits in the bottom rim of the cylinder, making it suitable for all sizes of bottle. While the LevelControl has always worked perfectly, sadly, the same can't really be said for this particular operator! Truma also supplies a handy magnetic warning label, which attaches to the side of the gas bottle to remind you that the LevelControl is fitted. However, that reminder only works if you remember to fix it to the bottle. And guess who's changed cylinders a couple of times (swapping an empty for…

Featuring models on UK sale for 2023! FIND THE PERFECT FLOORPLAN FOR YOUR NEEDS Please check model details with the manufacturer or dealer before travelling to view or buy There are a wide range of caravan layouts to choose from (pictured below), all with their own pros and cons. When you're trying to settle on the arrangement that will suit you, there are some points to think about that can help you decide. Here, we take a look at a few of the most popular floorplans out there, and what they can offer you. B TRANSVERSE ISLAND BED, REAR WASHROOM Island beds are a surprisingly recent addition to caravans, and were really introduced from the world of motorhomes. Caravans are usually a bit wider than motorhomes, though, so it is…