Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine – March/April 2025

MARCH/APRIL 2025

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Editorial Editors Gary Martin, John Thynne

Deputy Editor Stuart Egan

Assistant Editors Clare Disano, Stephen Hollis

Design Michaela Millar

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WELCOME

John Thynne says:

If you’ve never been to one of the big shows at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre, I would urge you to pop along in the future. I’ve just returned from February’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show – and what a great experience it was.

As well as offering the opportunity to browse all the latest models from UK and European manufacturers – often presented at special show prices – it gave visitors the chance to listen to fascinating talks from celebrity outdoor enthusiasts. If you popped along to the Club stand,

“There was plenty to see in terms of awnings and other accessories ”

guests were kept amused by the likes of a watersports area and climbing wall. You can read more about the show on page 19.

Advertising enquiries advertising@camc.com

Commercial Manager

Ian Lea 07850 916434 ian.lea@camc.com

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Adam Johnson 07784 044103 adam.johnson@camc.com

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for example, you may have seen television presenters Matt Allwright and Annabel Croft or enjoyed a superb cooking demonstration by author and chef Kwoklyn Wan (all three are campervanners). Guests were also able to take advantage of free motorhome manoeuvring experiences courtesy of the Club.

Even if you weren’t looking for a new vehicle, there was plenty to see in terms of awnings, camping kit and other accessories, while younger

President: Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester

Chair: David Turner

Director General: Nick Lomas

The NEC also gave our expert judges the perfect chance to inspect entries in our prestigious Motorhome and Campervan Design Awards and Lightweight Leisure Awards (which included roof tents for the first time) –look out for a detailed round-up of both in the next magazine!

We also hosted our annual Caravan and Motorhome Club and Alan Rogers Campsite Partner Awards. Attended by representatives from European partner campsites, social media influencers and Club staff, it was a fantastic night – you can read all about it on page 56.

As I say, if you haven’t been before, why not pay the NEC a visit –it would be great to see you there! Enjoy the issue.

Editions of your Club magazine – with lots of extra content – are also available via an app on iPhone/ iPad and Android tablets and phones. COVER IMAGE: ClubFest 2024

We would like to thank image libraries Alamy, Getty Images/iStock, Dreamstime and Shutterstock for supplying a number of images used in this magazine.

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Named WhatCar? Tow Car Awards Winner: 1700-1999kg, the Nissan X-Trail is designed for effortless towing, available with up to 7 seats, and 85° rear door access. It’s your perfect partner for exploring.

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

TESTS

MEMBER BENEFITS

Sammy

Karen

What

We open the monthly mailbag 89 PRODUCT SHOWCASE

Spring walking kit 92 COUNTRY MATTERS

David Chapman looks and listens for signs of spring 99 PRACTICAL

A look at water systems 103 ASK YOUR CLUB

REGULARS

Technical questions answered

PUZZLES

Can you solve our brainteasers? 109 CROSSWORD

A chance to win Club vouchers 110 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

To advertise, call 07977 162066 122 TAIL LIGHTS

A light-hearted look at the world of touring

124 CYCLE ROUTE

Jonathan Manning rides from Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite 126 WALKING ROUTE

Mark Sutcliffe explores a quiet corner of the Lake District

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Readers are asked to note that the Caravan and Motorhome Club cannot accept responsibility for the quality, safe delivery or operation of any products advertised or mentioned in this journal. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply any form of approval or recommendation. Advertisements or other inserted material are accepted subject to the approval of the publishers and their current terms and conditions.

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367,726

Circulation: Jan-Dec 2024

OPINION

Nick Lomas says:

They say you learn something new every day. Recently, I was walking with an old friend in the Peak District. The warming sun shone on our faces as we passed through gorgeous woodland. We were following the course of an alternately thundering and babbling brook, and we descended through a bucolic valley before finally emerging into the open. He exclaimed, “Ah – that apricity”. A word I’d never heard before.

“ Get into the fresh air and hope for a little ‘apricity’ as winter fades

He went on to explain that apricity is the warming feeling of sunlight in the winter. The best kind of sunlight in many ways, as it reassures you of the power of the sun and that it will warm us more completely during the incoming spring and summer.

The Oxford English Dictionary has the word being used in 1623 and then becoming almost obsolete. But it’s such a wonderful concept – I’d love for apricity to become widely used again, so perhaps you can join me in using it and also telling others. Publishing the word in this magazine helps to keep it alive, and it is also apt as spring approaches.

Perhaps I’m not alone in this view. George Harrison captured the feeling in Here Comes The Sun, which is by far the most widely-streamed song by The Beatles on Spotify. George said, “Anyway, it seems as if winter in

England goes on forever, by the time spring comes you really deserve it. So one day… I went over to Eric Clapton’s house… and I walked around the garden with one of Eric’s acoustic guitars and wrote Here Comes the Sun”.

Let’s hope that spring and summer are good this year, after what has been a particularly wet and dull 18-month stretch of British weather. Apricity certainly seems more appealing than the recently reported ‘anticyclonic gloom’.

In the meantime, get out into the fresh air, take a walk, cycle, run or sit outside your van and relax – maybe while listening to The Beatles – and hope for a little apricity as winter fades. On a recent trip to visit Club campsites in the Lake District, the Club’s Director of Marketing and Membership Services, Harvey Alexander, and I were treated to some gorgeous and uplifting spells of sunshine. Let us know about your sunny places, and inspire fellow members by sharing your ‘apricity’ pictures online on the Club’s recently upgraded Club Together forum at camc. com/clubtogether.

YOUR PHOTOS

Your most memorable touring moments caught on camera

“Taken on a walk of the coastal path from the Freshwater East Caravan and Motorhome Club Site to Barafundle Bay.”

Richard Simcock

ULL’ S WELL

“Ullswater from Place Fell, Boxing Day 2024. The Lake District in all its glory.”

[Nearest Club campsite: Troutbeck Head.]

Gary Betts

HUMBLE BUMBLE

“Bee taken at East Bergholt, Colchester.”

[Nearest CLs: Court Farm; Cross Vale Farm; Garden House; Rookery Farm.]

WHAT A ROAD TRIP!

Arriving at the Arctic Circle; and a picture of the midnight sun.

Paul Hawkins

SWEET STAY

“We recently stayed at Sweethope Loughs in Northumberland and fell in love with the surrounding scenery and dramatic winter sunsets.” [The Lough House Sweethope CL offers direct access to the lakes.]

Stuart Graham

FEEDING TIME

“Good morning from us at Rock Point CL, and what a beautiful morning it is too !” Rock Point CL

Upload your images at camc.com/inspiringadventures or tag us on Facebook, Instagram or X (Twitter) using #inspiringadventures

IN THE PINK

“The stunning CL, Dallachulish Farm, Barcaldine near Oban.”

Stuart Wallace

SPRING IS HERE!

So why not take advantage of our special 10% off deal and book your early-season break today?

All this is included in your pitch price*

√ Under 5s stay FREE

√ Dogs stay for FREE

√ Awnings are FREE

√ FREE hot showers

√ FREE electric hook-up

√ FREE WI-FI

And remember, we have lowered our deposit to just £5 per night – see camc.com/5deposit.

*At all UK Club campsites: Under 5s and dogs stay FREE. Awnings are included at no extra cost when staying on an appropriate pitch type. FREE electric hook-up when staying on an appropriate pitch type (excludes Smart Metered campsites and Nonelectric Economy pitches). Hot showers are FREE on appropriate campsites with shower facilities. FREE Wi-Fi service available at 146 UK Club campsites.

Great news – the majority of our seasonal campsites are open once again following the winter lay-off. So now is the time to take advantage of our 10% Off Spring Getaways** offer! All you need to do is book a minimum of three or four nights (depending on the campsite) for stays between now and 20 June 2025. The reduction is available at 40 campsites across the country – from the Sussex seaside to the coast of Northumberland (see camc.com/spring for the full list). Need some inspiration for your spring escape? Here are just a few suggestions...

Exmoor House, Somerset Walkers will be in their element at Exmoor House Club Campsite, which is perfectly placed for jaunts into Exmoor National Park – maybe head for Wimbleball Lake (above) to enjoy the miles of picturesque footpaths. If you’d rather take in the scenery from the comfort of a rail carriage, what about a trip to Minehead, where you can pick up the West Somerset Railway. Don’t fancy cooking? The quaint town of Dulverton and its selection of pubs and restaurants is just a short stroll from the campsite gate.

Sample price**: £116.28 for a four-night stay for two adults (between 14 March and 3 April 2025), including 10% discount.

Battle Normanhurst Court, East Sussex

Set within the grounds of a former manor house, Battle Normanhurst Court is one of the most beautiful campsites on the network – especially when the rhododendrons are in bloom. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, it’s set within easy reach of the 1066 Country Walk – a 31-mile route that passes the likes of Pevensey Castle (left), Herstmonceux Castle and the famous Battle Abbey and Battlefield.

Sample price**: £106.20 for a four-night stay for two adults (between 14 March and 3 April 2025), including 10% discount.

Kendal, Cumbria

What better place to kick off your 2025 touring season than in the glorious Lake District? Set within lovely woodland, Kendal Club Campsite is less than half an hour’s drive from the southern tip of Lake Windermere, while, closer to home, the National Trust’s Sizergh House is ideal for a day trip. Boasting a great selection of pubs and restaurants, the market town of Kendal is just four miles away. Why not try a slice of the fabled Kendal Mint Cake?

Sample price**: £82.89 for a three-night stay for two adults and two children (between 14 March and 3 April 2025), including 10% discount.

Chester

This campsite is perfectly placed for visits to the ancient city of Chester. Take a stroll atop its famous walls, explore the Roman Amphitheatre and ancient cathedral or maybe indulge in a spot of shopping in the iconic half-timbered ‘Rows’. For the youngsters, Chester Zoo is just four miles

away, while, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, why not head to Seacombe and catch a ferry across the Mersey to Liverpool?

Sample price**: £99.36 for a three-night stay for two adults and two children (between 14 March and 3 April 2025), including 10% discount.

Poolsbrook Country Park, Derbyshire

Ferry Meadows, Cambridgeshire

Set within lovely Nene Park, there is a plethora of attractions on tap for visitors to Ferry Meadows Club Campsite. From walking and cycling trails to watersports, boat trips on Overton Lake, archery sessions and rides on the Nene Valley Heritage Railway, there’s fun to be had by visitors of all ages. If you can tear yourself away, the city centre of Peterborough is just three miles away. Sample price**: £90.45 for a three-night stay for two adults and two children (between 14 March and 3 April 2025), including 10% discount.

** To take advantage of the 10% Off Spring Getaways offer a minimum stay of three or four nights applies depending on the selected campsite. All you need to do is book by 27 May 2025 for stays between 14 March and 20 June 2025 (excludes 18-21 April 2025). Bookings must be made 21 days in advance of your stay. Visit camc.com/spring for full terms and conditions and to see the complete list of campsites included in this offer.

Nature spotters will love this excellent campsite, set within the 165-acre eponymous country park. Home to plants such as ragged robin, cowslip and red campion orchids, as well as creatures including water voles and red-legged partridges, the park is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. A children’s adventure play area, visitor centre and cafe add further to its appeal. If you want to

head farther afield, Poolsbrook is well located for excursions into the Peak District National Park.

Sample price**: £85.05 for a three-night stay for two adults (between 14 March and 3 April 2025), including 10% discount.

AND THAT’S NOT ALL…

Remember we have a whole host of amazing new offers…

For information, terms and conditions see pages 12-13 of the January 2025 issue or visit camc.com/ukoffers

The latest stories from the touring world

Fun for all at ClubFest

Taking place from 23-27 May 2025 in the magnificent estate of Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire, this year’s ClubFest promises to be a treat. Don’t worry if you haven’t secured your pitch for the Club’s all-inclusive, four-day festival yet –

the ‘Tickets’ panel on this page has more information about booking. ClubFest is a family- and dog-friendly event – and when we say ‘there’s something for everyone’, we really do mean it!

As well as the fantastic on-stage entertainment – the headliners are Lightning Seeds, Boyzlife, Whitney, Queen of the Night (a tribute to Whitney Houston) and Go Your Own Way (playing hits by Fleetwood Mac) – there will also be a huge range of competitions, activities and fun events to watch or take part in.

There will be trophies on offer for towing, petanque and photography competitions, while you can also put your baking and handicraft skills to the test (look out for the Teddy Bears’ Picnic!) and take part in our annual pub-style quiz. If you like sport, there will be darts, football, netball, volleyball, a fun run and more, and there’s even a chance for

your pet pooch to show how clever they are in our fun dog show.

As well as this, we will have a whole host of other activities for you to try in our Have A Go Club, Aqua Club, Wellness Club, Nature Club and Mayday Kid’s Club areas.

Examples include climbing, Tai Chi, painting workshops, table tennis, paddleboarding and foraging... but this really is just the tip of the iceberg. And remember – all of the activities are included in the booking! To see a full list please download the free guide at camc.com/clubfest

If you would like to hire an electric mobility scooter to use at ClubFest, they can now be booked for £35 per day (please note the user must be 16 or older). Manual wheelchairs are also available, priced £15 per day. Please see eventmobility.org.uk/ book-your-scooter/caravan_ motorhome_club_event.

TICKETS

All-inclusive ClubFest 2025 tickets are available now, with prices starting from £380* for the whole bank holiday weekend. Day tickets can also be purchased. The festival is free for children aged 17 and under. See camc.com/ clubfest to find out more and to book.

Please note that some pitch types were sold out or were close to selling out as this issue went to press.

*Price quoted is for an Eco Pitch for two adults for the whole weekend (including all entertainment). Other pitch types are available.

STAY AT OUR SANDRINGHAM

POP-UP

CAMPSITE

While our main Sandringham Club Campsite in Norfolk is undergoing refurbishment (due to reopen in July), the Club is running a pop-up campsite on the Sandringham Estate from 17 April to 13 May 2025. It’s the perfect base from which to explore the estate’s beautiful grounds, woodland walks and nearby attractions. The same experienced managers from our permanent Sandringham site will be helping to run the pop-up campsite,

ensuring a familiar, high-quality experience for all guests, as well as a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

Prices start from £45 per night for two people on a standard touring pitch with EHU; there will also be toilets and showers available, as well as fresh water and waste disposal. Kids under five go free.

To book your pitch or to read more please see camc.com/ sandringhampopup.

NEWS IN BRIEF

WINDSOR HORSE SHOW

Buckinghamshire Centre will be running a temporary site in Windsor from 14-18 May 2025, to coincide with the Royal Windsor Horse Show, which this year will be held from 15-18 May.

The show is held in the grounds of Windsor Castle, with horses and riders competing in carriage driving, showjumping, dressage, polo and more. The temporary site will be in a new location, adjacent to the show, and will feature EHU, fresh water and a chemical waste disposal point (please note you will need to use your on-board washroom and toilet facilities). You will also have the chance to purchase discounted advance tickets for the horse show. For more information and pitch bookings please see buckscaravan.club.

THREE WILD GUIDES

Wild Things Publishing has produced three new titles that will be available in April from wildthings publishing.com and other booksellers. Wild Swimming Walks: Yorkshire, Wild Swimming Walks: West Wales and Wild Swimming Walks: Bristol & Bath all feature route directions, maps and information on swim suitability and safety, as well as insights into each area’s history and natural beauty.

NORTH YORKS EASTER

The North Yorkshire Centre will be holding an Easter rally from 16-21 April 2025 at Fox Covert, Huby, nr York. There will be activities for all ages – for more information and to book please see northyorkshirecentre.co.uk.

Hooray for Haycraft

Great news – Haycraft Club Campsite near Swanage in Dorset is fully open again (at the time of going to press this was expected to be the case from 28 February 2025).

The site has been improved and benefits from a new facilities block, a fully accessible shower room and toilet, an inclusive bathroom/toilet and a new laundry room/dishwashing area. In addition, we have added a number of serviced pitches, carried out work to improve the service points, added a new bike/dog wash station and installed an electric vehicle charging point in the car park.

Haycraft Club Campsite sits on the Isle of Purbeck, a charming part of England’s south coast boasting spectacular scenery. To read more about the area, see the article on Haycraft’s near neighbour, Hunter’s Moon, on page 47 of this issue.

THE HOWARD, ROSEDALE ABBEY

Sadly, The Howard, Rosedale Abbey Club Campsite in North Yorkshire will not reopen for the 2025 season. Despite our best efforts, the site has seen a consistent decline in member visits, making it increasingly difficult to sustain operations at this location. Closing this site allows us to focus our resources on campsites that better reflect the preferences and interests of our membership.

We recently acquired Lickpenny Matlock Club Campsite in Derbyshire along with Sherwood Storage Site in Nottinghamshire. These additions, along with our previous acquisitions of fantastic new campsites for members including Dornafield in Devon, Carnon Downs in Cornwall, Bridport Bingham Grange in Dorset and Cayton Village in North Yorkshire, demonstrate our

IAN MACLEAN

It is with sadness that we report the passing of Ian Maclean on 21 December 2024, following a brief stay in hospital.

Ian joined the Club in 1984 and was a member of the Events Committee as well as a CL Advisor and Consultant. He played an instrumental part in the running and success of ClubFest, and served for many years on the Highland Centre and Scottish Division Committees, holding a number of key positions including Centre Chairman and President of the Division.

commitment to expanding the network in areas that offer the greatest appeal.

While we understand that the closure of The Howard, Rosedale Abbey may be disappointing for some, it’s important to note that our UK Club campsite network has grown substantially since 2018, with approximately 180,000 more pitch nights available this year.

Thank you to all the members who have supported The Howard, Rosedale Abbey over the years. The nearest alternative Club campsites are North Yorkshire Moors, Scarborough West Ayton, Thirsk Racecourse, Cayton Village and White Water Park, while there are also a number of Certificated Locations in the area.

Outside of the Club, Ian worked for British Telecom from the age of 17 until retirement in 2011, and he was also Chairman and President of the Post Office Union. As well as enjoying reading, cooking and DIY, Ian was a devoted supporter of Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and rarely missed a match.

A dedicated family man, Ian was a loving husband to Christine and father to Kevin, Lyn and Jill. He was also a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. His love of caravanning has been passed down to his children – daughter Jill and her husband, Stuart, are members of the Club and volunteers at ClubFest.

Our deepest condolences go to Ian’s family and friends.

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PLENTY TO SEE AT THE NEC!

Nearly 90,000 visitors took the opportunity to inspect a fantastic range of new vehicles and accessories during the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show at Birmingham’s NEC in February.

The show also gave the National Caravan Council (NCC) – which is the principal trade body for the caravan and motorhome industry – a great opportunity to celebrate its 85th anniversary. Prior to a special reception marking the occasion, Director General John Lally said, “Since our founding, the NCC has stood as a pillar of support for all sectors and businesses operating in the UK caravan industry – advocating best practice, fostering collaboration, and driving progress.”

As always, Tuesday at the show was Caravan and Motorhome Club Day, and the Club was delighted to welcome hundreds of members to its dedicated stand in Hall 2. Special

guests included author and chef Kwoklyn Wan, who inspired those watching with his campsite-friendly recipes, TV presenter and consumer champion Matt Allwright, and former British tennis number one, Strictly Come Dancing star and television commentator Annabel Croft (all of whom are campervanners).

Guests were able to roam six of the NEC’s halls and browse a multitude of products from British and overseas manufacturers. Of particular note were a number of campervans and coachbuilts that had never been exhibited at a UK show before. These included the striking CV X9 camper from Xplore (which features a double bed in the pop-top roof area as well as a rear raised double bed that can be stowed to reveal a spacious garage), and a tough-looking, Mercedesbased Adria Super Twin 4x4. Taking centre stage on Coachman’s stand was the all-new Avventura 545

Left: Kwoklyn Wan cooks up a treat

Below: Elddis Avalon 295 and Coachman Avventura 545

coachbuilt (a four-berth featuring a fixed rear double bed and electricallypowered multi-directional table), while Elddis proudly unveiled its four-strong Avalon line up (fourberths 250, 255 and 285 and two-berth 295) based on the Fiat Ducato. Meanwhile, Bailey presented the Adamo XL-DL coachbuilt – an 8m-long, Ford-based five-berth with double drop-down beds front and rear and sizeable rear garage.

Roof tents appear to be increasingly popular, with striking examples from the likes of Latitude drawing plenty of attention. Reflecting the rise in interest, the Club hosted a stand dedicated to the roof tenting lifestyle. Also on show were thousands of accessories covering every aspect of camping imaginable – from cooking and pet care products to outdoor adventure kit.

If you needed a break from all that shopping there were plenty of other attractions at hand. A packed Inspiration Theatre schedule included talks by the likes of travel expert and magazine contributor Marcus Leach, watersports enthusiasts could try paddleboarding and kayaking in the huge indoor pool, while youngsters could enjoy the helter-skelter and climbing wall.

Discover the best of the UK

The Club’s UK escorted tours, which are exclusive to members, are a great way of exploring a city or region. The lengths of the tours range from three to 20 nights, with all the key arrangements made in advance – so you can enjoy a hassle-free holiday with your accommodation and excursions all sorted! You’ll also be in the company of fellow tourers as well

as friendly hosts, who will be on hand to help if needed. You can see our full selection of tours at camc.com/ uktours, but by way of example you might like to consider the Yorkshire Wonders & Kynren eight-night tour, which departs on 30 August 2025 and costs £1,499 for two people. With pre-booked pitches at York Beechwood Grange and Teesdale

Barnard Castle Club campsites, you’ll be able to visit historic Castle Howard and take a journey on the North York Moors Railway before enjoying a guided tour of York and a trip to the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes. The highlight for many, though, will be the Kynren history show – a pyrotechnicfuelled extravaganza depicting the story of Britain.

SHOW TIME

APRIL

25-27 Warwickshire Motorhome, Campervan & Caravan Show, Stratford Racecourse, Stratford-upon-Avon (Appletree Exhibitions, call 01805 462024 or see appletree-exhibitions.co.uk)

MAY

2-4 West Sussex

Campervan Campout, South Of England Showground, Ardingley (Warners Shows, call 01778 391123 or see outandaboutlive.co.uk)

16-18 Berkshire

The Southern Motorhome & Campervan Show, Newbury Showground, Newbury (Warners Shows, details as above) 23-27 Cheshire ClubFest 2025, Bolesworth Castle, near Tattenhall (Caravan and Motorhome Club, see camc.com/clubfest)

Note: details subject to change and pre-registration or tickets may be required – please check with organisers in advance.

Tailored Towing Protection

At Specialised Covers, we pride ourselves on being at the forefront of tailored towing protection. With over 40 years of experience and a commitment to excellence, we are your trusted partner in looking after your caravan wherever the road may take you.

Explore the full range of Tow Pro covers on our website to discover a world of innovative solutions for your towing needs. Whether you opt for the versatile Tow Pro Lite or indulge in the luxurious protection of the Tow Pro +, In�nity, or Elite models, you can rest assured that your caravan will be shielded with the utmost care and precision.

In addition to our towing protection range, we also o�er storage solutions for your caravan or motorhome. From full storage or roof only covers we have everything you need to keep your vehicle clean and protected when not in use.

Mrs M M M Fowler during a War Office inspection of her Red Cross caravan number two, built by Hutchings of Winchester, 1939

FROM THE ARCHIVES

News from the Club’s Collection

On 8 March it was International Women’s Day, so we have delved into the Caravan and Motorhome Club Collection at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, to share the remarkable story of Mrs M M M Fowler OBE of Leamington Spa, a former Vice-President of The Caravan Club.

Her journey began in the 1920s when, having recognised the limitations of traditional first aid tents, Mrs Fowler transformed her Eccles caravan into a mobile first aid station. This caravan was equipped with specialised storage cupboards and essential medical supplies. Within half an hour, it could be converted from a leisure vehicle to an emergency care outpost.

By 1937, Mrs Fowler had a fleet of distinctive blue caravans – two Eccles and one Winchester – which were fully dedicated to the Red Cross.

During the Second World War, her caravans provided vital support to communities in the Midlands that had been affected by bombing, offering comfort and aid to the homeless and injured. The vehicles were in operation throughout the Blitz, with one placed at the disposal of the War Emergency Committee for use as a mobile office in heavily damaged areas.

Mrs Fowler’s caravans continued to serve post-war, becoming a familiar sight at National rallies and community events. Her dedication to public service was recognised

outside of the caravanning world, and earned her an Honorary Life Membership of the Red Cross, as well as personal visits from members of the Royal Family and celebrities. Her vision, dedication and innovative approach to using caravans for humanitarian purposes has inspired future generations to explore the potential of touring outfits as a means of delivering health and first aid services.

To find out more about the collection visit nationalmotor museum.org.uk/collections or follow us on X (@camccollection), Instagram (@camcc_curator) and Facebook (facebook.com/ camcccurator).

Sara Riccabone

NORTH LANCS SUPERSTARS

In November 2022 the Committee of the North Lancashire Centre decided to lend its support to the MND Association, which helps people who are living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).

Members worked tirelessly during the next two years to raise funds, and were able to present a cheque for an incredible £2,663 to Jenny Leeson of the MND

Association, who is pictured with representatives of North Lancashire Centre.

Well done to all on raising this fantastic total for a worthy cause.

n North Lancashire Centre has recently merged with Cumbria Centre to form the new Cumbria and North Lancashire Centre – we wish them all the best for the future.

NEWS IN BRIEF

40TH ANNIVERSARY

Yorkshire Pennine Centre members will be holding a special 40th anniversary celebration in Bishopthorpe near York in April. The main event will feature an Easter party, activities and four nights of entertainment for an all-in fee of £80. Extra optional nights can be added at a price of £15 per night. To find out more or to book please see yorkshirepennine.co.uk.

CHESHIRE SHOW EVENT

The Cheshire Centre is organising an event to coincide with the Royal Cheshire County Show. The temporary site will be open from 15-20 June and will be opposite the show grounds, with fresh water and chemical waste disposal available. The Cheshire County Show takes place on 17-18 June and will feature animal displays, vintage machinery, artisanal produce and much more. Those staying at the site will be able to purchase advance show tickets at a discounted price which will give you admission for both days. Please contact Paul and Sandra Bowler on 07974 107078 or email bowler.rallies@btinternet.com for more details.

EASTER IN SOUTHPORT

The Northern Centres special Easter event will be held at Victoria Park in Southport from 17-22 April 2025. As well as a special performance by the Club Band, there will be two nights of live entertainment, an afternoon tea and dance, an Easter Sunday church service, an Easter egg hunt and bonnet parade for little ones, a dog show and more! For more information and to book please see northerndivisioncamc.co.uk.

Southport pier

The Club Magazine in the palm of your hand!

The Digital Magazine includes all of your favourites plus extra articles and features:

1. Walking and cycling routes direct from Club Campsites – including maps and directions

2. Easily access seven years of magazines with back issues from January 2017*

3. A choice of formats for easy reading

4. Videos of vehicle reviews – watch expert guidance

5. Search the archive for specific articles or subjects

6. Access articles direct from the contents list

7. An integrated screen reader for the visually impaired

8. Interactive puzzles, including codeword, wordsearch, jigsaw and sudoku

9. Updated every month and available to members free of charge

To download the Digital Magazine, simply search Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine in the App Store or Google Play, or scan a QR code below.

Every issue of the Digital Magazine contains fantastic extra content. You can download the Digital Magazine for free – visit the App Store or Google Play and search for ‘CAMC Magazine’.

The March/April digital issue includes videos of our Honda CR-V and Malibu Genius 641 LE tests, while Mark Sutcliffe presents a walking route from the Club’s Meathop Fell campsite in Cumbria.

Jonathan Manning takes us on a two-wheeled adventure from Winchester Morn Hill in Hampshire, and you’ll also find extra brainteasers

to ponder as well as the answer to the mystery wildlife photo question in our Country Matters article.

From January, digital magazine readers have been enjoying regular, exclusive articles each week. These have included a guide to the National Forest Walking Festival (including a suggestion of CLs to pitch up at), a look at spring courtship rituals in the natural world by our Country Matters expert David Chapman, and Rebecca Cole’s article on the iconic British hedgerow.

NEW MOTORHOME AND CAMPERVAN BOOKS

Members may be interested in two new books by author and caravan and motorhome expert Andrew Jenkinson. Across 112 pages, A Visual History of Motorhomes covers a century of motorhoming heritage and includes photographs and images of sales brochures from Andrew’s own archive. It is available for £25 (plus P&P) from pen-and-sword.co.uk.

Andrew’s other new book, The Story of The Campervan, explores the development of the camper from the 1950s to the present day across its 96 pages, again packed with photographs and historic advertising material. Priced £15.99 (plus P&P), it is available from amberley-books.com.

An exceptional commitment

Retiring Chairlady Sandra Wright was presented with the Northern Division’s George Clarke Award at the Division’s AGM towards the end of 2024. The award, which is named after a former member of the Club’s Executive Committee, is given each year in recognition of exceptional commitment to caravanning at local, regional and national levels. Sandra is pictured here accepting the award from Executive Committee member Edward Baxter.

Contact points

We talk to Natalie Owen about the workings of the Club’s Contact Centre, the development of our web-based help services, and what members can do to help things run smoothly

When did you start working for the Club and what is your role today?

When I first walked through the doors of the Club in 1994, I never imagined the long, fulfilling career that lay ahead. Starting as a member of the administration team, I was eager to learn in an environment that quickly became a second home to me. I have been lucky enough to gain experience in many different areas of the Contact Centre and became a Contact Centre Manager in 2008.

What are your responsibilities?

I am responsible for managing our Caravan Cover product, webchat/AI services, our technical team, and our apprenticeship scheme. Each of these areas plays a crucial part in delivering exceptional experiences to our members, and I am fortunate to have an incredible team alongside me, dedicated to providing the best service possible.

How many people work in the Contact Centre?

We have 140 members of staff in our department. This covers administration, agents, resources, trainers, team managers and Contact Centre managers. We manage more than 700,000 interactions each year. While we offer convenient online services for booking and amending UK touring nights, and encourage members to explore our comprehensive website first, we know that sometimes a friendly voice and expert guidance can make all the difference. Our members truly value the opportunity to connect with a knowledgeable agent who can walk them through their options, answer their questions, and help them make informed decisions.

Can you tell us a bit about the automated help services available on the website?

We introduced webchat around 10 years ago to assist our members in completing

their web journey, without the need to call us. Over the years, we’ve continuously enhanced this service, and now we also offer an advanced AI tool that answers both member and non-member queries online. This tool is always evolving. If it doesn’t have an answer, it alerts us, allowing us to provide an answer for future enquiries. In 2024, this functionality helped over 400,000 members and non-members, reflecting its growing value in improving our customer service experience.

What can members do to help?

Please take a moment to look at the website, where you can easily book your UK touring trips. Our members are normally great at having the right information to hand

when they contact us; this ensures we are able to deal with their request quickly and efficiently so they can get on with enjoying the great outdoors.

Are there times you should try to avoid calling the Contact Centre? Mondays are always busy in the Contact Centre, so if you can avoid calling on a Monday, you will get through much quicker.

What’s the best part of your job?

We receive a lot of wonderful feedback from our members, thanking our staff for their great service – it’s so lovely to hear how we have helped, often in difficult circumstances. I also work closely with many people around the Club, including product owners, marketing, finance, HR and IT – we all strive for the same goals which creates a great and supportive working environment.

What is your proudest achievement?

Apart from achieving my goal of becoming a Contact Centre Manager, I was incredibly proud to deliver a new webchat/AI platform in a very short timeframe. We had to design, test, train agents and deliver a brand new system in two months. Any project of this kind normally takes over a year, so this was a fantastic achievement and resulted in very little disruption for our members.

Canvassing opinion

Last year we asked roof tenters who had visited Club campsites for their top tips. Here are just a few of their answers...

UP ON THE ROOF

Roof tent camping is on the rise –here’s a brief guide

“Think about exactly how you plan to use it before you buy it and if you feel the cold, buy a thermal liner. If you are light sensitive, buy a dark one and make sure you secure it to your vehicle with security bolts.”

“Learn how to climb a ladder in the dark and go to the loo before you go to bed!”

“Check out other people’s set ups – you’ll soon see cool ideas and things that will come in handy when roof tenting.”

“It’s different to normal camping (much less hassle!) so don’t be put off if you don’t enjoy regular camping.”

“Join [an] online community and ask people for their experience and ideally try to test it first before buying.”

You may have read our recent special feature about roof tenting, in which case you’ll be aware that this versatile mode of camping is becoming increasingly popular, and also that we welcome roof tent campers on our UK Club campsites as well as tailgate and hitch tent campers. (In case you missed the article, please see p46 of the February 2025 issue.)

For many people, roof tent camping is an affordable way to enjoy the touring lifestyle and to explore the UK and Europe. There’s the obvious appeal of sleeping beneath the stars, but when you stay on a UK Club campsite in a roof tent you will be able to pitch alongside other like-minded tourers and leisure vehicles, rather than in a camping field, so you’ll have all the amenities you need close by.

While some people might just use a car plus a roof tent during their stays on our UK Club campsites, it’s worth bearing in mind that roof tents are also a fantastic additional

option for other, more conventional, touring set-ups. For example, you might be a caravanner who uses a roof tent on top of your towcar, or campervanner who wants to create extra room or additional beds so more friends and family can join you on your adventures!

Harvey Alexander, Director of Marketing and Membership Services at the Club, said: “Existing Club members can encourage their friends and family to join in and tour with them in a roof tent.

“Your cosy sleeping accommodation is fixed to your car’s roof rack and simply unfolded on site. Potential benefits over traditional camping include a quick set-up process, a flat floor and greater protection from the cold, mud and damp.”

BOOKING INFORMATION

Roof tent campers can stay on touring pitches at all UK Club campsites, which means that they can also take advantage of our

current line-up of fantastic offers (see pages 12-13 of this issue). To make a booking with a roof tent simply visit bookings.caravanclub. co.uk/sites and make sure you click the ‘Touring’ icon as this will ensure you will see availability for all of our campsites and be able to book the correct pitch for you, your vehicle and roof tent. Depending on the UK Club campsite, the standard pitch type is either a hardstanding and/or grass surface, with shared electric hook up, with or without an awning. You will be able to select between hardstanding and grass when you make a booking.

To read more about roof tent camping, and to book your stay, see camc.com/rooftents

Double the discount with Experience Freedom

We’re delighted to report that the exclusive member discount that can be applied to glamping bookings with Experience Freedom has doubled – it’s now 20% off for you and your guests! This discount can be used by all members of the Club along with any friends or family, all year round.

Many Club members and loved ones have already discovered the joy of an Experience Freedom glamping getaway. With locations in the Cotswolds, the Lake District and the south-east of England (including London and Brighton) as well as on the Yorkshire coast and the Isle of Wight, there are plenty of options available.

We have accommodation that can take up to six people, so we can even cater for family getaways or trips with friends. Choose from rustic canvas and wooden yurts, safari tents, modern glamping pods and spacious glamping cabins for your getaway. Here are some example prices for

spring with the 20% discount applied – for more information please see camc.com/experiencefreedom

■ £78.40 for two nights in a camping pod at Brighton Club Campsite (including a member discount of £19.60).

■ £94.40 for two nights in a classic yurt at Cayton Village Club Campsite (including a member discount of £23.60).

■ £110.40 for two nights in a safari tent at Southland Club Campsite (including a member discount of £27.60). We also have Sail & Stay combined deals which offer the best value fares on a return ferry crossing and a stay in an authentic safari tent at Southland for either four or seven nights and for up to five people – see the article below or experiencefreedom.co.uk/ deals/sail-and-stay.

■ £126.40 for two nights in a wooden yurt at Daleacres Club

Campsite (including a member discount of £31.60).

■ £142.40 for two nights in a glamping pod at Moretonin-Marsh Club Campsite or Coniston Park Coppice Club Campsite (including a member discount of £35.60).

■ £158.40 for two nights in a glamping cabin at Troutbeck Head Club Campsite or Cayton Village Club Campsite (including a member discount of £39.60)

These prices are valid for midweek (Mon-Thu) stays between 21 April and 1 May 2025.

Check out Sammy Faircloth’s article on pages 50-52 about a family break at Moreton-in-Marsh Club Campsite, using both a caravan and a glamping pod as accommodation.

ISLE OF WIGHT ‘SAIL & STAY’ FROM £193

Enjoy fantastic beaches and (inset) quaint villages 20%

With a coastline that includes pretty harbours, golden sand and arresting cliffs – not to mention the picturepostcard towns and villages and green, rolling hills that lie inland – it’s little wonder that the Isle of Wight retains a special place in the hearts of UK holidaymakers.

The island proves popular year after year with young and old drawn by the vast number of attractions, from amusements and theme parks to gardens and stately homes.

The Club operates special combined Sail & Stay combined deals on Isle of Wight breaks each year, which represent fantastic value for money, exclusive to members.

In 2025, you can take advantage of a combined Sail & Stay deal from £193. This price is for two adults staying for four nights on a grass pitch with awning at Southland Club Campsite and includes a return ferry crossing with Red Funnel between Southampton and East Cowes, departing between 3-20 October

2025, with a motorhome up to 7m long. Remember, under fives stay for free and children between the ages of 5 and 17 stay for £1 per night.

The Club site is situated on the outskirts of the small village of Newchurch in the beautiful Arreton Valley, and just a short distance from the popular Amazon World Zoo.

Facilities at the campsite include a playground for young ones, facilities/ washroom for people with disabilities and a dog walk.

The seaside resorts of Shanklin, Sandown and Ventnor are all just a few miles away, while the dramatic Needles – the island’s distinctive chalk stacks which stretch into the Channel – and towns of Newport and Cowes are all well within an hour’s drive.

If you would like to stay for longer or visit during another month, please see camc.com/iowoffer for more details and example prices. To discuss options or to book a Sail & Stay break please call our Contact Centre team on 01342 316101.

Here’s a selection of upcoming events* being held by the Club’s 10 Divisions. This month we focus on the Northern Division...

Northern Division

CENTRE EVENTS ARE OPEN TO ALL!

Cumbria and North Lancashire Centre

Info: cumbria-centre.co.uk

11-21 April: Grasmere Sports Field, Grasmere, Cumbria

South Yorkshire Centre

Info: southyorkshirecentre.co.uk

4-7 April: Esholt Caravan Park, Esholt, West Yorkshire

Durham Centre

Info: durhamcentre.co.uk

17-21 April: Unthank Park, Stanhope, County Durham

South Lancashire Centre

Info: southlancscentre.com

17-22 April: Northern Centres, Victoria Park, Southport, Merseyside

East Yorkshire Centre

Info: eastyorkshirecentre.co.uk

25-27 April: The Derwent Arms, Osbaldwick, North Yorkshire

Mid-West Yorkshire Centre

Info: midwestyorkshirecentre.co.uk

25-28 April: Egremont Pines Alpaca Farm, Wilberfoss, York, East Riding of Yorkshire

Yorkshire Pennine Centre

Info: yorkshirepennine.co.uk

16-24 April: Celebration Rally, Moor Farm, Bishopthorpe, North Yorkshire (rally full as we went to press but waiting list available)

North Yorkshire Centre

Info: northyorkshirecentre.co.uk

10-13 April: Ripon Racecourse, Ripon, North Yorkshire

Anglia Division

11-13 April: Pleshey Village Hall, Pleshey, Essex (secc-online.org.uk)

12-21 April: White House Beach Club Campsite, Kessingland, Suffolk (northessexcaravanand motorhomeclub.co.uk)

17-22 April: Uppertown Farm, Hognaston, Derbyshire (midanglia.org.uk)

25-27 April: Peewit Caravan Park, Felixstowe, Suffolk (suffolkcentre.org.uk)

West Central Division

13-17 April: Clonyard Hotel, Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway (cheshirecentre.co.uk)

25-27 April: Glendale Farm, Chatley, Worcestershire (worcestershirecentre.co.uk)

Central Division

4-6 April: Little Stoke Cricket Club, Stone, Staffordshire (southstaffscaravanclub.co.uk)

11-13 April: Lowdhams, Gunthorpe, Notts (derbyshirecentre.co.uk)

17-21 April: Lyndon Top, Oakham, Rutland (northantsrutlandcc.org)

17-21 April: Whitby School, Whitby, North Yorkshire (nottscentre.com)

18-21 April: Willows Farm, Tamworth, Staffordshire (westwarwickshirecentre.co.uk)

18-22 April: Swiss Farm, Henley-onThames, Oxfordshire (lccmc.org.uk)

24-27 April: The Hollies, Hatherton, Cheshire (northstaffscc.org.uk)

24 April-8 May: Porth Beach Holiday Park, Newquay, Cornwall (midlandcentre.co.uk)

South West Division

4-6 April: Watergate Bay Touring Park, Newquay, Cornwall (dandccc.co.uk)

11-13 April: Casino Rally, Redhill Village Hall, Redhill, Somerset (avoncentre.co.uk)

11-13 April: Croft Farm Water Park, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire (gloucestershirecamc.co.uk)

11-13 April: Old Barn Touring Park, Sandown, Isle of Wight (iowcentrecamc.co.uk)

14-27 April: Newnes Caravan Park, Ellesmere, Shropshire (somersetcentrecamc.org)

17-22 April: Mill Paddock, East Stoke, Dorset (eastdorset.org)

17-22 April: South Lytchett Manor, Lytchett Minster, Dorset (westdorsetcentre.com)

24-27 April: Observation and Photo Competition, Beehive Field, Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire (wiltshirecentre.co.uk)

25-27 April: Wilksworth Caravan Park, Wimborne, Dorset (whampshirecc.co.uk – rally full as we went to press but waiting list available)

Home Counties Division

4-6 April: The Birches, Wyboston, Bedfordshire (hertfordshirecentre. co.uk)

11-13 April: Barnstones, Great Bourton, Oxfordshire (upperthamescentre.co.uk)

17-21 April: Harry's Field, Frogham, Hampshire (berkshirecentrecaravan club.co.uk)

25-27 April: Highfield Farm Touring Park, Comberton, Cambridgeshire (bedscentrecc.com)

South East Division

17-21 April: Laughing Fish, Isfield, East Sussex (camcwest sussexcentre.co.uk)

17-21 April: Dunsfold, Surrey (eastsussexcc.org.uk)

17-22 April: Fir Tree Farm, Rhodes Minnis, Kent (eastkentcentre.co.uk)

17-22 April: West Parley, Hurn, Dorset (westsurreycentre.com)

Irish Division

4-6 April: Roscrea (Leinster Centre, camc.ie)

14-17 April: Irish Division PreNational Rally, Shepherd’s Rest Caravan Site, Draperstown, County Londonderry (Ulster Centre, camc.ie)

17-22 April: Irish Division National Rally, Necarne Castle, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh (Ulster Centre, camc.ie)

Scottish Division

4-7 April: Haughton Holiday Park, Alford, Aberdeenshire (Highland Centre, thescottishcaravan club.com)

10-14 April: Strathallan Games Park, Bridge of Allan, Stirling (Forth & Clyde Centre, thescottishcaravanclub.com)

Welsh Division

17-21 April: Avon Bank Meadow, Pershore, Worcestershire (gwentcentre.co.uk)

17-22 April: Margam Park, Margam, Neath Port Talbot (thedyfedcentre. co.uk)

17-27 April: Pembrey Country Park, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire (westwalescentre.co.uk)

18-27 April: Hereford Rowing Club, Hereford, Herefordshire (southwalescentre.co.uk)

*All events subject to availability

HOW TO JOIN A CENTRE

Centres are groups of members that arrange regular, cost-effective get-togethers across the country. You can attend specific centre events no matter where you live. For information on how to join your local centre, visit camc.com/centres.

FIND AN EVENT

For rally listings visit camc.com/clubevents. You can use the search tool at this web address to look for an event near you according to date and location.

All

FRANCE

4 June-2 July 2025

Location: Camping L’Océano d’Or, Vendée

Host: Dyfed Centre

Join the Dyfed centre on its rally to the popular resort of Jard-sur-Mer and spend a relaxing 28 nights at the friendly L’Océano d’Or campsite. The site is perfectly located close to the Vendée’s beautiful beaches, while the town is home to plenty of shops, restaurants and a weekly market.

5-19 July 2025

Location: Camping L’Océano d’Or, Vendée

Host: North Essex Centre

EVENTS LISTED MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE –PLEASE CHECK WITH ORGANISERS PRIOR TO TRAVEL. To find out more about the Club’s Divisions visit camc.com/divisions.

Join North Essex at the excellent Camping L'Océano d’Or, which boasts a heated pool, entertainment areas, sports courts and a restaurant and bar.

19 July-9 August 2025

Location: Camping Le Suroit, Île d’Oléron

Host: South Wales Centre

The South Wales Centre is visiting the beautiful island of Île d’Oléron

this summer. Spend either 14 or 21 nights on the second largest island in France and enjoy its lovely beaches. If you would rather stay on site, you can lounge by the heated pool and enjoy the aqua park.

GERMANY

23 June-5 July 2025

Location: Campingplatz Rüdesheim am Rhein, Rhine Valley Host: Suffolk Centre

Head for picturesque Rüdesheim am Rhein with the Suffolk Centre. The campsite is perfectly nestled alongside the river, and just a short walk from the pretty town known for its half-timbered houses. Why not enjoy a cruise or a ride above the vineyards in a cable car?

NETHERLANDS

30 August-10 September 2025

Location: Vakantiepark Delftse Houte, Delft

Host: Derbyshire Centre

The campsite is just a 10-minute walk from Delft, a town famous for its blue and white pottery, pretty canals and vibrant history. With plenty to see and explore in the area this is the perfect way to end the summer.

LevelM Pro

Available exclusively through our specialist dealer locations:

01302 215296 sales@sap-ltd.co.uk

01778 561836 oandacaravans@gmail.com

THE NEW HYDRAULIC SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR MOTORHOMES

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I LevelM Pro offers the ideal combination of lightweight and maximum stability

I This means more payload possible

PRECISE, SMOOTH & QUIET LEVELLING

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I Quality and reliability from the levelling expert

MAXIMUM COMFORT & FLEXIBILITY

In addition to the automatic levelling, two further positions, such as a tank-emptying position and a sleeping position, can be individually saved and automatically controlled.

For more information contact AL-KO UK: 01926 818500 ukaftermarket@alko-tech.co.uk

QUICK, SIMPLE AND EASY

With the E&P Hydraulics Level C system, you can have a stable, level and secure pitch in under two minutes.

 Effortlessly level at the press of a button

 Fully automatic hydraulic jacks and corner steadies, giving six support points

 Sturdy position for added comfort

 Improved function of fridges and shower trays

 Hydraulic retraction for boggy or frozen ground *Terms and conditions

SEARCHING FOR CLS Letters

Your chance to have your say. The writer

Could be Cadnam?

I knew that my grandfather-in-law, Charles Showell, was an early member of the Club. I have only just come across the attached photo. It looks like an early CL from about 1908 and we think it is near Cadnam, but it is definitely the New Forest as the photo is labelled. We have another card from friends

Towing

who stayed at Cadnam at that time. The van was used by three generations of the Showell family. Julian Carlick, via email

Editor’s note: What a fantastic photograph. Does anyone else know where it might have been taken?

with a van

Like many of us our subsequent caravans have grown over the years. At 70+ years I can’t lift cycles onto SUV roof racks any more. So we needed a vehicle with five seats and space for carrying bikes.

The answer a VW Transporter Kombi, or so I thought. Despite our Kombi being identical to a camper van except for one less side window, many sites say “No Commercials”; even if I offer to pitch the caravan and then move the VW to the visitors’ car park it’s a definite no. Of course our own sites do not differentiate but many commercial sites do including some Affiliated Sites.

I am not alone with this problem; I have spoken to others who use vans to tow, deciding like us to have a small hatchback for daily use at

home. In our many years caravanning I see many more vans used for towing on Club sites so we are not alone.

Laurence Bird, via email

Site Operations note: All directly managed Club campsites accept commercial vans as towing vehicles, provided any sign writing displayed is not of an offensive nature.

As long as both outfit and towing vehicle fit, they can park on a pitch provided they adhere to fire regulation spacings. However, if safety spacing is in breach, guests will be asked to park their towing vehicle in the visitors’ car park (where available).

In terms of Affiliated Sites, please check with the campsite prior to booking.

Send your letters to: magazine@camc.com Members can save 8% on National Trust Gift Cards, which can be redeemed in National Trust cafés and shops, in the Trust’s online shop and towards gift membership packs. See camc.com/nationaltrust for more information.

National treasure

I found this Caravan Club rally programme among my mother’s things. It was held at Warwick Castle Park June 3-7 1938. She would have attended aged 12 with her parents. They travelled from Prestwick in a Jubilee caravan. There were lots of competitions – eg the most ingenious built-in toilet, most practical water installation and best arrangement for drying and airing clothes to name but a few. There were children’s competitions too so fun was had by all. Those were the days just before the war 87 years ago!

Gillian Ellis, via email

Editor’s note: What a great piece of memorabilia Gillian – yes, and incredible to think that the Second World War was just on the horizon.

I read with interest the article on CLs [p49, January 2025 magazine], but one aspect not covered is the disappointingly low number of CLs that offer toilet facilities (about 5% by my reckoning). Not all of your members own fully equipped units. In our case a campervan means that, much as we would like to, visits to CLs are mostly impossible.

Chris Newton, via email

Knightingales Touring Site, Kent

CL Department’s note: Thanks very much for your email Chris. In fact, 39% of CLs on the network have toilets, while 26% offer shower facilities. If you visit camc.com/cls and click on ‘Search a CL’ you can use the ‘W/C’ and ‘Showers’ filters to find the ideal campsite for your needs.

Coach class

I recently noticed a member’s contribution regarding the removal of awning pegs [Letters, January 2025 issue].  We started caravanning back in 2007 as an upgrade from tenting. With our advancing years I soon realised that banging in awning pegs was something to avoid. There were screw pegs available but they seemed very flimsy. Being in construction my go to was ‘coach screws’. These, together with some rubber roofing washers, provided us with some sturdy pegs that never let us down. They were still going strong when we sold the caravan in 2022. A simple spanner attachment for an electric drill was all that was required. No more banging or tugging! It would appear even now that, for about £30, you can have 50 pegs. I hope this may be helpful. Robin Wilcox, via email

PEACEFUL TRIP TIPS?

We have been the owners of a campervan for quite a few years, but recent retirement has meant we have started to use it for more than the odd day trip. We have realised on longer journeys it is a rattle trap!

It would be great if the magazine could do an article on how to tackle the bumps, bangs and squeaks that go with driving a fully equipped campervan/motorhome. There

’ANDY

must be a million great ideas that members could share and a host of products that would silence the crashing and rattles.

Chris Blake, via email

Editor’s note: We have received plenty of tips about well-placed tea towels in the past – but would love to hear other ideas from members! Simply email us via magazine@camc.com.

PANDY

I have received my January edition and noticed you have a dog photo section [on the Letters pages]. Here is a pic of our two at your Pandy site last year. A lovely site with a lovely dog walking area next to the stream. Keep up the good work and Happy New Year.

Lee Smith, via email

Editor’s note: Great photo Lee! The column in Letters showed a selection of dog pictures taken by members of the Club Together community. To see more head to camc.com/clubtogether and search for ‘Let’s see your dogs’.

‘Mum’s the word’ part 2

We have a similar-aged family to [the one in] the ‘Mum’s the word’ article published in February [pages 58-60], and we also bought our first caravan in 2019. Unfortunately due to Covid we didn’t go abroad until 2021. We were also nervous but we have gone abroad every year since and have learnt more and more tips.

Emovis tag is fabulous... we easily go through the toll gates and monies are taken via Direct Debit.

Red Pennant (never had to use it) is a must and gives us confidence that we, car and caravan will get home.

Overnight ferries [are] more expensive but you start your holiday as soon as on board and

let the ferry take you further down to the south of France so less driving/toll roads/petrol. Louise Blake, via email

Editor’s note: Thanks for the feedback Louise. Members can save €10 on the application fee when applying for a Liber-t tag (for use on French motorways) or VIA-T tag (for use in Spain and Portugal) from Emovis tag. When you drive into an appropriate toll lane, a device reads your tag and opens the barrier; payments are then taken by direct debit. See camc.com/ emovis-tag for more information as well as terms and conditions.

Celebratory Garlands!

My mum and dad, Sally and Jimmy Garland, celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in April. They’ve been caravanning for over 40 years and travelled the length and breadth of the UK. I even remember a trip with the Club to Holland in the 1980s. They’ve made some great memories and continue to do so! Still heading out with their tourer in their 80s. I think it keeps them young. I know they read every issue of the magazine, so this will be

quite a surprise! Happy diamond wedding anniversary mum and dad. Rosemary Garland-Smith, via email

Editor’s note: Many congratulations Sally and Jimmy – why not drop us a line and tell us about your experiences?

With over 100 top live music acts this is a magical journey from the 1920s to the 1970s. Now in its 24th year, the festival is set on a superb heritage site with 15 beautifully themed indoor & outdoor venues in picturesque woodland, along with fascinating museums.

All caravanners & motorhomers get 5 nights stay in excellent campsites, adjacent to the festival, with 16 amp electric hook-up available.

Just

the TICKET!

Jonathan Manning marks the bicentenary of the modern railway on a themed tour of West and North Yorkshire

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the modern railway, a project pioneered in Britain that changed the world. Tracks and trains accelerated the Industrial Revolution, connecting cities and crossing continents, and paving the way for mass tourism. The railways provided transport for urban populations to escape to coastal towns, such as Brighton, Blackpool and Scarborough, swiftly transforming them into thriving seaside resorts that still host Club sites today. Railway history runs through this tour of Yorkshire in surprising ways Jane Eyre author Charlotte Brontë apparently lost a small fortune on investments in the York & North Midland Railway. The remote, heritage line station of Bolton Abbey once welcomed a procession of ruling monarchs. And, of course, York mushroomed from an ancient Roman city to a dynamic industrial

1

Hebden Bridge Club Campsite

This is a lovely peaceful site within easy reach of the charming town of the same name. Please note that there is no facilities block.

Touring pitches: 42 Max outfit length: 8.5m Bus stop adjacent

Member view

“Last night we caught the train to see Lindisfarne in concert at the Victoria Theatre in Halifax.”

Mark and Jo

Staff view

“We have lots of regulars who all love the peace and quiet.”

Helen and Neil

Food & drink

Robin Hood Inn, Cragg Road, Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge HX7 5SQ

Contact: 01422 885899

Culture

The Piece Hall, Blackledge, Halifax HX1 1RE

Contact: thepiecehall.co.uk, 01422 525200

Outdoor fun

Stoodley Pike walk, near Todmorden (below)

Contact: visitcalderdale.com, 01706 818181

For the family

Playtopia play centre, Mytholmroyd HX7 5QQ

Contact: playtopiauk.com, 01422 881717

Scan here to book a pitch at Hebden Bridge

powerhouse thanks to its significance as a railway hub.

BOOKING INFO

For the latest details and opening information for all our sites, please see camc.com

Steam and diesel may course through the arteries of this region, but rest assured that there is also an abundance of attractions to admire and enjoy without splashing out on a railway ticket.

BRIDGE BREAK

First stop is Hebden Bridge Club Campsite, nestled in a wooded valley in West Yorkshire. Manager Helen says regular visitors, of which there are many, describe the facilities-free site as having the feel of a Certificated Location (CL), and it’s easy to see why, with its peaceful location bordered by a stream. Outside the gates, the Oliver Collinge Climb through Cragg Vale offers cyclists the challenge of the longest continuous ascent in England, rising 970 feet (295m) over 5½ lung-

busting miles (9km). For those who prefer more leisurely transport, a bus service from the site entrance whisks visitors to nearby Burnley, Todmorden and Hebden Bridge itself – alternatively you could walk into town (about 3 miles) .

Both the River Calder and Rochdale Canal run through Hebden Bridge, and it’s tempting to wonder what the boatmen thought when the railway arrived in town. Similar thoughts, perhaps, to a print journalist mulling whether this internet malarkey will ever catch on.

Despite its rather austere stone buildings, Hebden Bridge has a progressive vibe reminiscent of a Brighton or Glastonbury – The Yorkshire Soap Company, The Afghan Rug Shop and Natural Crystal Company are just some of the independent boutiques dotted along the high street.

Helen highlights the Hebden Bridge Vintage Weekend (2-3 August in 2025) as one of the town’s major draws for visitors, when classic car owners match their dress to the era of their motors, while music and food are further attractions.

Music fans also use the Club site as a base for concerts at Halifax’s Piece Hall, which is only 10 minutes away by train (James, Gary Barlow and Simple Minds are among the acts playing this summer), and walkers have a seemingly endless choice of routes, from towpath bimbles to hilly hikes across the moors.

The walks at Hardcastle Crags catch my eye. The last days of autumn have painted the leaves in a kaleidoscope of ginger, copper and gold, creating a spectacular backdrop to the waymarked trails. About 15 miles of footpaths weave their way below the broadleaf canopy, including six

above Todmorden

waymarked trails of varying lengths, all conveniently passing Gibson Mill, where there’s a cosy café. The challenging Railway Trail follows the old line that was used to build reservoirs on the nearby hilltops, showcasing how the railways spread their tendril tracks into even the most isolated and inaccessible areas.

HEATHCLIFF, IT’S ME…

I’m meant to be heading for the next two sites on my tour, both of which are nestled in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. First, though, I get sidetracked to Haworth, a pretty village with a cobbled centre. It’s full of pilgrims headed for the Brontë Parsonage, former home of the famous writing sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, and now a museum. There’s original furniture, artefacts and, for true fanatics, the authors’ diaries and sketch books.

Outside, Japanese lettering on fingerpost signs for Top Withens, said to be an inspiration for the Earnshaw farmhouse in Emily’s Wuthering Heights, underlines the Brontës’ global appeal. The popular walk to the ruined farmhouse comes with a Kate Bush earworm and an unusual assembly of walkers; most are in full outdoor kit, but a handful of Heathcliffs wear long overcoats and intense expressions. As a walk, it feels wild and remote, despite the well-trodden gravel and flagstone path.

Meanwhile, steam enthusiasts will be drawn to Haworth’s characterful station –a stop on the five-mile Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

A few miles to the east is Saltaire, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Salts Mill at its heart. The mill is both

Bolton Abbey Estate Club Campsite

An attractive Dales site tucked away in woodland, with direct walking access to Bolton Abbey. Pitches: 55

Maximum outfit length: 8.5m Bus stop 300m

Yvonne Site view

“It’s a beautiful location, regardless of the time of year, and just a three-mile walk to the abbey.”

The Cavendish Arms, Skipton Road, Embsay, Skipton BD23 6QT Contact: 01756 793980

Food & drink Outdoor fun 2

Whittaker’s Distillery, Harewell House Farm, Dacre Banks, Harrogate HG3 4HQ Contact: whittakersgin. com, 01423 781842 Member offer available: see camc.com/greatsavingsguide for details, terms and conditions

Raven Tree Top Adventure, Aireville Park, Gargrave Road, Skipton Contact: ravenadventure.co.uk, 07729 572974

For the family Culture

Stockeld Park, Wetherby Road, Wetherby LS22 4AN Contact: stockeldpark.co.uk

3

Wharfedale Club Campsite

A scenic Dales site about two-and-a-half miles from Grassington of All Creatures

Great and Small fame.

Pitches: 114

Maximum outfit length: 8.5m

Bus stop 750m

Members view

“When you walk to Grassington make time to go to Linton Falls –they are absolutely lovely.”

Paul

Site view

“It’s a walkers’ paradise.”

Edward

Food & drink

The Fountaine Inn, Lauradale Lane, Linton In Craven BD23 5HJ

Contact: fountaineinnatlinton. co.uk, 01756 752210

Culture

Parcevall Hall Gardens, Skyreholme (sat-nav use BD23 6DE) (reopening 29 March 2025)

Contact: parcevallhallgardens. co.uk, 01756 720311

Outdoor fun

Linton Falls, a five-minute walk from Grassington car park

Contact: yorkshiredales.org.uk

For the family

Hesketh Farm Park, Bolton Abbey, Skipton BD23 6HA

Contact: heskethfarmpark. co.uk, 01756 710444

Scan here to book a pitch at Wharfedale

magnificent and vast, two of its floors dedicated to permanent art exhibitions by David Hockney. On the top floor is his extraordinary A Year in Normandie –a vibrantly coloured, 90m-long image of his French garden through the seasons. I walk the length of the computergenerated artwork several times, noticing something different on each lap.

With its galleries, shops, cafés and Peace Museum, it would be easy to spend a day in Salts Mill, and cyclists should allow extra time to pop into the excellent All Terrain Cycles at the front. Saltaire falls within the outer boundaries of Bradford (Hockney’s place of birth), which this year is UK City of Culture, so look out for more events and exhibitions throughout 2025.

RAILS IN THE DALES

After all this man-made culture, Bolton Abbey Estate Club Campsite, which sits on the southern border of the Yorkshire Dales, serves as a reminder of the beauty of the natural world. It’s wooded, rich in wildlife and offers easy access on foot to Bolton Abbey, where 62 social media-friendly stepping stones cross the River Wharfe. With the windowless silhouette of the Augustinian priory completing the picture, it’s a truly spectacular setting. Today’s water level deters me from attempting the steps, but a nearby bridge offers an alternative means of crossing the river.

Rail enthusiasts will be pleased to learn that the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway huffs and puffs on an hour-long out-and-back route – murder mysteries, afternoon teas and themed meal experiences (Curry Express, Fish & Chips Special) offer extra entertainment. While nowadays this is a heritage line, royal lovers will be interested to know that, in the not-too-distant past, both Edward VII

4

Mullingar Farm

Certificated Location

A large, flat, grassy paddock offering easy access to the attractions of York. No EHU. Sites Directory & Handbook p495

Food & drink

Curlew Fields Dairies, Curlew Fields Farm, New Road, Hessay, York YO26 8JS

Contact: curlewfields.co.uk, 07930 526091

Culture

York Cold War Bunker, Monument Close, York YO24

4HT (guided tours only, pre-booking online required)

Contact: english-heritage.org. uk, 01904 797935

Outdoor fun

Native Adrenaline (e-bike tour of York City), York

Contact: nativeadrenaline.com, 07842 287299

For the family

York’s Chocolate Story, King’s Square, York YO1 7LD

Contact: yorkschocolatestory. com, 01904 527765

and George V are known to have alighted at Bolton Abbey to hunt grouse or visit the Duke of Devonshire at Bolton Abbey. The station is about a 10-minute drive from the Club campsite.

Farther north up the river, Wharfedale Club Campsite looks even more like the Dales of All Creatures Great and Small , which is filmed nearby in Grassington. Buses head to Grassington and Hebden (not to be confused with Hebden Bridge). Many members use Wharfedale as a base for visiting Malham Cove (a stunning natural limestone amphitheatre), Gordale Scar (a gorge formed across successive Ice Ages) and Janet’s Foss (a small waterfall). Details of a moderately challenging walk which incorporates all three are available online.

It’s certainly a wrench to leave this site, but no railway-themed tour of the region would be complete without a visit to York. The historic city was one of a number of towns and cities, such as Swindon and Crewe, that grew rapidly thanks to their train connections, and it now hosts the National Railway Museum.

First, though, there’s a decision to be made about where to camp. Mullingar Farm CL is a peaceful spot about six miles from the city, where only birdsong and the lowing of cattle disturb the peace. As alternatives, York Beechwood

Grange Club Campsite offers easy access, while York Rowntree Park is right in the city centre.

END OF THE LINE

So many sites around the UK are associated with peaceful locations or fantastic country walks – which is no bad thing! But it feels like a real change to be based in the heart of a vibrant city. A 10-minute stroll from my chosen base, York Rowntree Park, takes you to York Castle Museum, from where there’s a pleasant riverside amble into the downtown area. The streets bustle with tourists, and there’s an intoxicating mix of shops, especially in the narrow lanes of The Shambles (The York Ghost Merchants, anyone?). Seeking a caffeine boost, I dive into Wheldrakes for an excellent coffee and almond croissant, before a slow queue for

5

York Rowntree Park

Club Campsite

A fantastically located site in the centre of York – ideal for visiting the city.

Pitches: 99

Maximum outfit length: 8.5m

Bus stop 1km

Member view

“It’s the best site ever, and the bars and cafés on the road nearby remind us of Notting Hill.”

Gary and Anne-Marie

Site view

“The Barbican, for bands and theatre, and York Racecourse are just around the corner.”

Gary and Joanne

Food & drink

Lal Quila, Bishopthorpe Road, York YO23 1NA

Contact: lalquilayork.co.uk, 01904 670684

Culture

Clifford’s Tower, Tower Street, York YO1 9SA

Contact: english-heritage.org.uk

York City Cruise on the River Ouse, King’s Staith Landing or Lendal Bridge Landing, York

Contact: cityexperiences.com, 020 77400 400 Outdoor fun

For the family

Jorvik Viking Centre, 19 Coppergate Walk, York YO1 9WT

Contact: jorvikviking centre.co.uk, 01904 615505

Member offer available: see camc.com/greatsavingsguide for details, terms and conditions

Scan here to book a pitch at York Rowntree Park

York Minster provides plenty of time to have second thoughts about the £18 entry fee. Doubts vanish the second I step through its vast wooden doors: the medieval cathedral is utterly unmissable, boasting magnificent stained-glass windows, a fascinating crypt that holds the tomb of St William, patron saint of York, and an awe-inspiring nave. And, following the recent news of Notre Dame reopening in Paris, it’s worth remembering that the Minster had its own fire and rescue story during the 1980s.

A road train from the Minster could take the strain to the National Railway Museum, but instead I follow the river, walking below ancient arches and past the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey before crossing the Ouse to reach this modern cathedral to steam and diesel. The museum is free to enter, staffed by friendly guides and celebrates the magnificent engineering of locomotives.

The sleek Mallard steals the show, a speed record-holder for a steam train since 1938 when it clocked 126mph, while the Japanese bullet train and the 208mph Eurostar showcase 21st-century rail.

In no particular rush, I decide to let off steam with a walk along the top of the city walls back to the Club site, enjoying a bird’s eye view over York and its landmarkdotted skyline. It’s a chance to reflect that the official railway anniversary mentioned earlier doesn’t take place until 27 September, when it will be exactly 200 years since excited passengers rode George Stephenson’s Locomotion No 1 through County Durham between Shildon,

Darlington and Stockton, only 50 miles from where I now stand.

The railways revolutionised Britain, and whether it’s courtesy of coastal resorts, heritage lines or even disused tracks repurposed as cycling and walking routes, they continue to provide the backbone of brilliant camping tours.

n For details of member discounts on heritage railways across the country visit camc.com/greatsavingsguide. Simply click on ‘Search by category’ and tick ‘Railways’. For example, members save 10% on the wonderful Kent & East Sussex Railway which runs from Tenterden to Bodiam Castle – find out more on page 68 of this issue.

Walking

You can use the Outdooractive app to enjoy a variety of walking routes in the region. The basic app is free to use, but Club members benefit from a €10 discount on Pro or Pro+ first-year subscriptions. With the Pro version you receive features such as access to topographical maps and special activity networks, while Pro+ gives you 3D maps and more. To find out more and to see a collection of routes near Club sites, see camc.com/outdooractive.

Have you been to...

Hunter’s Moon Club Campsite in Dorset?

Our new series showcases a special site in each issue...

Occupying a prime spot near Wareham on Dorset’s Isle of Purbeck, Hunter’s Moon Club Campsite is a ‘must visit’ if you want to combine days out at popular beaches and resorts with stunning countryside, coastal walks that take in awe-inspiring rock formations, watersports, historic attractions and more.

Site Managers Angie and Mick have worked at Hunter’s Moon for seven main touring seasons and three winters, having also racked up plenty of experience elsewhere across the UK sites network. With several years in Dorset under their belts, they can recommend places to visit in the local area.

“The site is surrounded by woodland and has a rear gate giving direct access to the Wareham Forest Way,” they say. “It is possible to walk all the way into Wareham, which is a lovely old-fashioned market town on the River Frome.

“Wareham has a multitude of places to eat and drink, from coffee shops and ice cream parlours to traditional pubs. Our personal favourite is The Quay Inn on the riverside in Wareham, or for places with a stunning view check out the Bankes Arms at Studland or the Scott Arms at Kingston. Or for people that prefer to barbecue or cook, Wareham also has an excellent traditional butchers – Curtis.”

GREAT DAYS OUT

The area is known for picturesque hotspots such as Durdle Door (a distinctive rock formation and beach) and Kimmeridge Bay (where rockpooling and snorkelling are popular), but, as Angie and Mick explain, there’s more than enough in the area to warrant a week or two of exploring.

“The RSPB nature reserve at Arne is definitely worth a visit,” they say, before mentioning Poole Harbour (where you can take a boat to Brownsea Island), the ruined Corfe Castle and the chalk stacks of Old Harry Rocks (you could see them during an organised cruise).

Then there are the seaside resorts. Bournemouth and Weymouth are both known for their beaches, but Angie and Mick point out that “Swanage is also well worth a visit, especially the pier... Poole, Weymouth and Swanage also have car parks with dedicated areas for parking motorhomes”.

So there you have it. Want a fantastic campsite as a base for some memorable days out? Look no further than Hunter’s Moon in Dorset!

Hunter’s Moon Club Campsite

Member view

“The site is nicely laid out with a huge dog exercise field, large children’s play area and excellent, well-maintained facilities.

Everything was spotlessly clean and there is even a lovely warm shower to wash the pups. Some very nice walks nearby and a great pub, The Silent Woman, within walking distance.”

(January 2025)

Outdoor fun

Enjoy a fresh perspective on the Dorset coastline while kayaking or paddleboarding – with Land and Wave. Club members get £30 off private experiences with the Great Savings Guide. Pre-booking required. Terms and conditions camc.com/ greatsavingsguide and landandwave.co.uk for more information.

CL SITES

Also see the CL section of the Club website (camc.com) for the most up-to-date details on all CLs. Pitch fees may be subject to variation –please check with the CL owner before booking. New CLs are also listed at camc.com/newcls.

NOTE: CL entries are identified by a reference/map number in the 2025/26 Sites Directory & Handbook. They are listed here using the same number, unless otherwise specified.

NEW CLS ENGLAND

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

CHATTERIS (7.7m N) – Big Skies, Mr Nigel and Mrs Nikki Davies, c/o March Airfield, Cross Road, Knights End PE15 0YS. 07917 827178; ukppg@outlook.com. 142:TL394955; 52.540371, 0.054691. Open 1 Feb-31 Dec; 1 acre; dogs; adv bkg req; grass; peaceful; price fr £17.50 (pitch + all occ).

DERBYSHIRE

ASHBOURNE (4.7m SW) – Roston Inn, Sarah Morrison, Roston, Ashbourne DE6 2EE. 01335 324410; 07917 584523; sarahknight151@ outlook.com. 128:SK128410; 52.9609909, -1.813313. OAY; 0.25 acre; dogs; hdstdng; grass; 13A; PH on site; wc (sh); shwr (sh); watersports in 5m; price fr £20 (pitch + all occ).

CL SITES UPDATES

ESSEX

COLCHESTER (3.8m N) – Blackbrook Stud Farm, Mr Andrew Hawe, Ivy Lodge Road, Great Horkesley, Colchester CO6 4EN. 07515 671256; andy.hawe@gmail.com. 168:TL983296; 51.930383, 0.883891. OAY; 0.5 acre; adults only; adv bkg req; unfenced water; hdstdng; 16A; peaceful; views; wkg fm CL; price fr £27.50 (pitch + all occ).

DENBIGHSHIRE

ST ASAPH (3.8m ESE) – Wern Ddu, Mrs Ffion Lloyd-Williams, Waen, St Asaph LL17 0DY. 07840 616550; 01745 585758; ffionmlw@outlook. com. 116:SJ061733; 53.2489, -3.4086. Open 1 Apr-31 Oct; 0.5 acre; dogs; sl pitches; levelling blocks req; grass; max o’fit length: 7.5mtrs; peaceful; ideal for families; views; lawned; wkg fm CL; price fr £12 (pitch + 2 ad).

UPDATES

IMPORTANT: Nightly fees may differ from those published in the Directory due to a change in ownership or business costs. It is therefore essential to confirm current fees when enquiring or making a booking. Not all CLs accompanied by a pub symbol in the Directory are located on the site of a public house – some are near to a pub (up to three miles away), so please check with the owner before visiting.

89 SANDBACH – Cameo Adult CL. Site does not offer secure pet exercise and agility area and does not accept dogs. No static caravan available. 688 HYTHE – The Spinney. Web address: thespinneycl.innstyle.co.uk. 727 CLITHEROE – Acre Hill. Tel nbr 01200 447126 no longer avail. 1014 NORWICH – Vine View. Levelling blocks not required.

1146 BRIDGNORTH

–

Severnside. New alternative tel nbr: 01746 862604.

1378 WOODBRIDGE – Seven Spar Farm. Site now open all year.

1542 WORCESTER – The Old Orchard. Listing town changed to Droitwich Spa.

2062 SAUNDERSFOOT –Woodstock. Open from 1 March to 31 December.

2023/2024 Directory 1101 STALHAM – Holly Farm (NR12 0AJ). This site has re-opened.

CLOSURES

The following five-pitch CLs are closed and no longer certificated by the Club. This does not affect any other business that a landowner may be operating.

37 HUNTINGDON – Fairy’s Lodge Farm.

1159 CRAVEN ARMS –Glenburrell Farm

1201 WEM – The Laurels. 1463 – STRATFORD-UPONAVON – Suakin.

IMPORTANT INFO

See camc.com for the latest site and CL information. Please note: routes provided by autoroutes or satellite navigation systems may include roads unsuitable for vehicles towing trailers or caravans. For caravan-friendly local routes to sites we advise using directions published in the Sites Directory & Handbook and on our website.

NEW Mobile Internet Solution Range

Specifically designed for Caravans and Motorhomes

Stream, Browse, Share with the brand new AMR104X 4G Category 6 package or the AMR105X 5G Wi-Fi 6 package. Designed specifically for the leisure market, the new AMR mobile internet solutions have a 2.8" colour screen that allows you to easily monitor your router's status, view information such as signal strength, service provider and monthly data usage. The Dual SIM routers are fully unlocked to any network and even allow the user to toggle between LTE and existing Wi-Fi networks when available to minimise roaming costs. The 4 element Mi-Mo antenna utilises the latest technology to fully support 3G, 4G and 5G and has a DC isolation switch to provide the option to power off the router when not in use, minimising battery consumption.

12/24 V DC

ON/OFF Switch

The ON/OFF switch isolates the router from the power source when switched off, preventing unexpected battery drain.

Unlocked Dual SIM

The two unlocked SIM cards offer maximum coverage while minimising roaming costs.

Antenna available in three colours

For more information visit www.avtex.co.uk Or call 029 2084 7670

2.8” LED Screen

The large LED Screen allows you to easily check your data usage, connected devices, signal strength and network status no matter where the unit is mounted.

QR Code / Easy Connect

E Mark and PSTI Compliant

4G & 5G options available

Available with exclusive member discount from: shop.camc.com

One for the ages

Touring has universal appeal – as Sammy Faircloth proves during a memorable, multi-generational weekend break on a Club campsite

Camping and caravanning have been a part of my life since childhood, and it’s great to see my own kids embracing this wonderful pastime. But while researching future holidays, I came up with the idea of a break involving three generations – it would be the perfect opportunity to strengthen family bonds and reconnect with nature.

There were some hurdles to clear first. My mother, now in her 80s, remains quite active, but a caravan can pose some challenges for her (it can often feel a bit cramped when we’re all together, too). Meanwhile, tearing my teenage son, Daniel, away from his computer games is a challenge – although I know he does enjoy getting away in the caravan, sometimes I feel the need to remind him there is life outside of his bedroom!

ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

In the end I booked a holiday for my husband, mother, son and myself at Moreton-in-Marsh

Club Campsite in the Cotswolds. Rather than everyone staying in the caravan, my mother enjoyed the comfort of a glamping pod booked via the Club’s Experience Freedom offering. Experience Freedom provides a range of accommodation options on selected Club campsites, including glamping pods, accessible pods, camping pods, safari tents, yurts and glamping cabins (safari tents and yurts are available during the warmer months). For more details, visit experiencefreedom.co.uk.

Once we had pitched up, we settled grandma into her luxurious accommodation. Glamping pods offer a modern and stylish way to enjoy a campsite holiday, providing all the creature comforts you need. Cleverly designed to maximise space, they comfortably accommodate two adults and two children. Featuring wide, doubleglazed doors, they stay cool and airy during the day and cosy and warm at night.

Facilities include an ensuite shower room, kitchenette with utensils, television with

incorporated DVD player, decked area with outdoor seating and barbecue station.

As a family, striking a balance between sharing quality time and respecting personal space is key. Mornings were spent enjoying breakfast together in our caravan, while the glamping pod offered grandma a cosy spot to retreat to when we had been out for most of the day. By night, the pods could offer a great opportunity for grandchildren to have sleepovers, complete with movies and board games. Caravanning is a fantastic way to connect all generations with the great outdoors, and one of my highlights was an evening spent at the on-site communal fire pit, for which logs, kindling and the all-important marshmallows were available from reception. On the chilly weekend of our visit, the fire pit was the perfect spot to keep warm while stargazing and sipping hot chocolate. A special moment for grandma was when Daniel entertained her on his guitar – it brought back fond memories of my father playing for me when I was a child.

Younger children will love the fantastic on-site playground, while the information room is packed with ideas for family-friendly activities in the area, and there is a Tourer Explorer Trail to enjoy during your stay.

GROUP EXCURSIONS

One of the joys of multi-generational touring is discovering activities that everyone can enjoy. Whether you're looking for an adventurous outing for a teenager, a cultural excursion for grandma, or a relaxing day in nature for the whole family, the area around Moreton-inMarsh has something for everyone.

My mother has a keen interest in gardens, so a visit to Batsford Arboretum and Garden Centre was the perfect choice for her. Conveniently located just under two miles from the Club site, it is open year-round and offers unique displays with every season. Despite visiting in the heart of winter, we were amazed by the vibrant bursts of colour that brightened the landscape.

Right next to Batsford is Cotswold Falconry Centre, which captured my son’s attention.

Clockwise from top left: Sammy and family stayed on a serviced pitch at Moreton-in-Marsh; Grandma loved family breakfasts planning the day’s adventures; the glamping pod was warm and cosy; Daniel provided the entertainment by the glow of a roaring fire pit

Striking a balance between sharing quality time and respecting personal space is key

Bourton-on-theWater is often called the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’

Inset: feeding time at Bibury Trout Farm

WHERE TO STAY

MORETON-IN-MARSH CLUB CAMPSITE

This attractive site is within walking distance of the market town of the same name. Nearby attractions include Batsford Arboretum, Bourton House Garden and Sezincote House and Gardens.

The Club offers glamping accommodation at eight sites in the UK, with more to follow this year. Moreton-in-Marsh, Brighton in Sussex and Abbey Wood in London are open all year. Coniston Park Coppice and Troutbeck Head in the Lake District, Cayton Village on the North Yorkshire Coast, Southland on the Isle of Wight and Daleacres in Kent are open from March. For more information see camc.com/ experiencefreedom.

The area around Moreton-in-Marsh offers something for everyone

Home to more than 50 different birds of prey, daily flying demonstrations are a real treat. (Club members receive a 10% discount on entry to Batsford Arboretum and two-for-one on entry to the Cotswold Falconry Centre via the Great Savings Guide – see camc.com/ greatsavingsguide for more details.)

The Cotswolds is renowned for its bucolic landscapes and charming, quintessentially English settlements. The iconic hills offer stunning walks, the villages are dotted with distinctive buildings made from honeycoloured stone and the historic market towns are full of cosy pubs, quirky antique shops and quaint tea rooms.

The

the

Visiting the village of Bibury on a misty day gave us a whole new perspective on the area’s charm. The younger generation (including myself!) thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Bibury Trout Farm. Grandma was a keen observer, and was delighted by the flurry of fish leaping out of the water to catch their feed.

Driving back to the site we stopped off at Bourton-on-the-Water for a late lunch in one of its many tea rooms. Bourton – aka the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ – is one of the most beautiful and popular villages in the region. Nestled beside the River Windrush, its charm lies in its low stone bridges that span the gently flowing water. Our journey brought us back to Moreton-in-Marsh, the popular market town which is within walking distance of the Club

campsite (remember to pack a torch if you’re out in the evening).

The town is renowned for its lovely 17th- and 18th-century buildings, including the iconic Curfew Tower and the spectacular Grade II-listed Redesdale Hall. It’s said that the town’s Bell Inn served as inspiration for The Prancing Pony in JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings We opted for a delicious family meal at The White Hart Royal – a fitting end to our multi-generational trip.

MEMORIES MADE

Touring with family offers the opportunity to reconnect, share stories and create memories. Things such as watching the kids laugh with their grandparents around a campfire or starting the day together over breakfast are truly special. Caravanning offers a rare chance to unplug from the hustle of everyday life and focus on what truly matters. And thanks to the many options offered by Experience Freedom, it is easy to plan a holiday that suits every member of the family.

A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the wonderful site staff at Moreton-in-Marsh for taking such great care of us in very cold conditions!

n New for this year: Club members can now save 20% on glamping breaks – to find out more and to book please see camc.com/experiencefreedom.

Save on UK Club campsite stays

We’ve launched a number of fantastic UK Club campsite special o ers for 2025 so you can save – whatever the season.

Enjoy 10% OFF Spring and Autumn Getaways and £25 OFF Summer Getaways. Save up to 10% on 100,000 pitches at one of our Price Drop campsites, or book a standard pitch with 2 adults from just £22 per night at one of our Tour For Less campsites.

Plus, kids between 5-17 stay for just £1 per night and under 5s and dogs stay for free at all Club campsites, all year round. And remember, deposits are just £5!

Book today, or find out more about all our offers at camc.com/specialoffers

Scan me

Visit camc.com/ brochures to order free copies of (or simply download) our European campsites and escorted tours brochures.

DONT FORGET

n Book a European site, LeShuttle or ferry crossing through the Club and you’ll get the lowest price –guaranteed! To find out more see camc.com/ lowestprice. If you combine a crossing with a campsite stay you also benefit from package travel protection – see camc.com/ overseaspackages

n Red Pennant European breakdown and travel insurance will give you peace of mind on your touring holiday. Please see camc.com/ redpennant.

Scan this QR code to book a European campsite or visit camc.com/overseas for more information.

Have you booked yet?

Summer will be with us sooner than you think – all the more reason to book your holiday now and secure a great deal!

There are some great ‘package’ offers available with the Club when you book a ferry crossing and a campsite during the same transaction (more information on the opposite page). What’s more, when you book at least four nights on a campsite at the same time as a ferry you could benefit from a special ‘Combined Deal’. There is limited availability on these offers – look out for the ‘i’ icon and ‘Combined Deal’ when searching our website for crossings. And if you want to take your dog with you on holiday, be aware that pet-friendly ferry cabins can sell out quickly – so don’t delay. Need some inspiration for your big break? Then check out our holiday ideas at camc.com/summerholiday. It’s packed with information on top campsites for beach lovers, culture devotees, wine enthusiasts and more. In the meantime, check out the selection of family-friendly locations below...

FRANCE

Huttopia Douarnenez, Brittany (Club ref: B37)

Perfect for families, this site lies just 400m from a white-sand beach (note that the approach to the beach is fairly

steep). On-site facilities include a pool boasting views over the bay, a cafe, playground and games room. Set within attractive woodland, this is a great base for exploring western Brittany and its pretty coastal villages.

Price (high season)*: from £25.98 per night (based on 23-30 August 2025)

Penboch, Brittany (Club ref: B33)

Set on the edge of the spectacular Gulf of Morbihan – a huge natural, island-dotted harbour – Penboch is a well maintained site offering a choice of wooded and more open pitches. Enjoy the indoor and outdoor pools, maybe hire a canoe, or perhaps hop aboard a boat to the picturesque Île-aux-Moines. Price (high season)*: from £32.82 per night (based on 23-27 August 2025)

Esterel Caravaning, ProvenceAlpes-Côte dAzur (Club ref: C21)

Great onsite water slides and pools will certainly appeal to younger visitors to Esterel Caravaning. This high-quality site also offers the likes of organised entertainment, pony rides and (in July and August) a shuttle bus to the beach at Agay.

Price (high season)**: from £59.83 per night (based on 24-30 August 2025)

ITALY

Ca’ Savio, Venice (Club ref: Y02) Families are spoiled for choice when visiting this excellent beach-side site. Two swimming pool complexes will keep the youngsters entertained – one even boasts its own pirate ship! Add an ice cream bar, games room and

playground and you have the recipe for a fun-packed break. The ancient city of Venice is situated just across the lagoon! Price (high season)*: from £38.46 per night (based on 23-29 August 2025)

CROATIA

Zaton Holiday Resort, Zadar County (Club ref: X14)

Offering a private beach in a bay bordered by pine forests, Zaton Holiday Resort enjoys a spectacular location. Attractions on site include a swimming pool complex and sports facilities such as tennis courts, mini-golf courses and beach volleyball courts.

Price (high season)**: from £74.62 per night (based on 23-29 August 2025)

*Prices based on an outfit and two people on an electric pitch

**Prices based on an outfit and two people on a serviced pitch

FANCY A EUROPEAN TOUR?

Why not let the Club take the strain and join us on a European tour? With your campsite stays booked in advance and the reassurance of experienced tour hosts, all you need to do is enjoy the experience. Here are two French tours to consider...

WINES OF ALSACE

Duration: 14 nights

Departs: 12 June 2025

Price*: £2,999pp (based on an outfit and two people travelling together)

The peaceful Pierre de Coubertin campsite in Ribeauvillé is your base for this wine-themed adventure. The tour gives guests a fascinating insight into wine making – you’ll find out about soil types, grape varieties and the growing process, and, of course have a chance to taste the finished product! You’ll also enjoy stunning Alsatian architecture during a guided walk of picturesque Colmar, a château visit, a steam train ride and a boat trip along the Rhine. The Club also organises a Wines of Beaujolais tour – for more information on both please see camc.com/european-tours.

SOLO CYCLING IN THE LOIRE

Duration: 10 nights

Departs: 7 June 2025

Price*: £899 (based on an outfit and one person)

Enjoy the sites and chateaux of the Loire by bicycle in the company of likeminded adventurers on this 10-night tour. Your base is the tranquil Camping Huttopia Les Châteaux (Club ref: L26) close to the stunning Château de Cheverny. Highlights include rides to the Château de Villesavin and the Max Vaucher Chocolaterie, a two-wheeled excursion to beautiful Blois, a wine tasting, a coach trip to Amboise and a boat trip on the Loire from Chaumont. Interspersed with rest days to explore at your leisure this tour offers the perfect way to unwind and meet new friends.

*Ferry travel and holiday insurance not included in the tour price

PACKAGE HOLIDAYS

When you use the Club to book your ferry crossing at the same time as a campsite stay you benefit from ABTA-bonded package holiday protection – see camc.com/ overseaspackages to find out more. What’s more, the Club has access to special tour operator rates when you book a crossing and minimum of four nights on a campsite in one transaction –look out for special ‘Combined Deal’ icons when you search our website. Here are just a couple of examples of the fantastic package holidays available to you...

7 nights including return ferry crossings: £488

FRANCE

Le Parc du Val de Loire, Centre-Val-De-Loire (Club ref: L02)

Set within wooded parkland, this lovely campsite is just six hours’ drive from Calais. Facilities include a pool, paddling pool, mini-golf, a games room and playground, while it’s also a great base for exploring the chateaux of Amboise and Chambord. Price based on two adults and two children (aged six and 10) in a 7m long motorhome on an electric pitch, travelling 22-29 August 2025, Dover-Calais with P&O.

GERMANY

DoktorSee, Lower Saxony (Club ref: G29)

Enjoy an eight-night adventure taking in the Netherlands and Germany for just £663! Sail from Harwich to Hook of Holland and stop overnight at the popular Delftse Hout (Club ref: H06) campsite close to the port. Then travel on to DoktorSee, a new campsite in our programme for 2025. Stay six nights, taking advantage of the sandy beach, children’s playgrounds, trio of restaurants and more. Spend a further night at Delftse Hout on your return journey before catching the ferry back to Harwich.

Price based on two adults and two children (aged six and 10) in a 7m long motorhome on an electric pitch, travelling 20-28 August 2025, Harwich to Hook of Holland with Stena.

8 nights including return ferry crossings: £663

Prices correct as of 17 February 2025 – please check camc.com for latest prices and further information.

PERFECT PARTNERS

Announcing the winners from our annual overseas campsites awards

Representatives from hundreds of European campsites, Club staff and social media influencers enjoyed the 2024 Caravan and Motorhome Club and Alan Rogers Campsite Partners Awards at Birmingham’s NEC in February. The awards, which have been running for more than 20 years, are designed to

recognise the diverse range of quality campsites on the overseas network, and their commitment to providing great service to our members. You’ll find a run-down of the winners and runners-up below – for further information please visit our page at camc.com/overseascampsiteawards

OVERALL WINNERS

Based on feedback regarding consistently high quality, facilities and service

PROGRESS & INNOVATION AWARD

Sites that have invested in improvements

WINNER: River Valley Caravan Park, Co Wicklow, Republic of Ireland (Club ref: Z01)

RUNNER-UP: Huttopia Group

WELCOME AWARD

For sites offering a particularly friendly welcome all season

WINNER: Le Moulin de Bel Air, Occitanie, France (Club ref: C37)

RUNNER-UP: Cabopino, Andalucía, Spain (Club ref: E21)

DOG FRIENDLY AWARD

Sites with added special facilities for dogs

WINNER: La Garangeoire, Pays de la Loire, France (Club ref: A42)

RUNNER-UP: Haliotis, Normandy, France (Club ref: N17)

FAMILY AWARD

Sites with excellent facilities for children

WINNER: Camping Koningshof, Katwijk, The Netherlands (Club ref: H03)

RUNNER-UP: Le Domaine de la Catinière, Normandy, France (Club ref: N16)

SMALL/CHARMING CAMPSITE AWARD

Sites with fewer than 150 pitches

WINNER: La Grappe Fleurie, AuvergneRhône-Alpes, France (Club ref: M26)

RUNNER-UP: Ribamar, Valencia, Spain (Club ref: W04)

SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS AWARD

WINNER: La Yole St Jean de Monts, Pays de la Loire, France (Club ref: A23)

RUNNER-UP: Kikopark, Valencia, Spain (Club ref: E20)

MOST ACCESSIBLE AWARD

Sites offering a more inclusive holiday environment for everyone, regardless of their physical needs

WINNER: Le Château de l’Epervière, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France (Club ref: L12)

RUNNER-UP : A la Rencontre du Soleil, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France (Club ref: M19)

EXCEPTIONAL SERVICES & FACILITIES AWARD

Recognising special or unusual events, activities, entertainment or facilities

WINNER: Caravaning Oyambre, Cantabria, Spain (Club ref: E27)

RUNNER-UP: Costa do Vizir, Sines, Portugal (Club ref: W28)

MOST ATTRACTIVE CAMPSITE AWARD

Sites offering a well-tended environment or in exceptional locations

WINNER: Le Capeyrou, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France (Club ref: D36)

RUNNER-UP: Le Château de Lez-Eaux, Normandy, France (Club ref: N02)

Thirst for

Adventure

We

catch up with a couple who enjoyed a bespoke tour of New Zealand thanks to the Caravan and Motorhome Club

Wherever you want to visit we’ll support you every mile of the way. We offer free cancellationsˆ if the FCDO advises against travel to your destination and have ABTA and ATOL bonded financial protection. Find out more at camc.com/ wwconfidence

ˆCovers holiday cancellations in line with FCDO advice. T&Cs apply.

“We had been before but we had a thirst to go back,” says Jan Hill, who, along with husband Dave, enjoyed a three-week adventure in New Zealand at the end of 2023. “It was all arranged by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, including the stop-overs [Fiji on the way out and Hong Kong on the return journey]. They were absolutely wonderful – there was not a blip during the whole thing.”

Although they were aware that the Club arranged escorted tours of the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’, Jan and Dave, who hail from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, opted for a tailor-made experience as they “like to do our own thing”. That said, they were comforted by the idea that all their overnight stops and transfers were arranged well in advance.

“We do like to know where we are going well ahead of time. We had done our research and were happy with all the sites that the Club arranged – it gave us peace of

NEW ZEALAND TOURS

Holidays to New Zealand start from £1,999pp (based on return economy flights from London to New Zealand, including one night in a Christchurch hotel on arrival and 12 days’ motorhome hire; includes £100 member discount – see camc.com/wwoffers.) For more details on our New Zealand escorted and independent tours or for details on bespoke experiences see camc.com/ newzealand or call 01342 488059.

mind,” says Jan. Peace of mind to really enjoy the experience, which started with a lovely surprise. Having arrived on the South Island, “we rocked up to the motorhome depot only to find that our vehicle was brand new – nobody had used it at all!”

Driving it turned out to be a breeze, too. “Dave had done nine weeks of driving in New Zealand the first time in a big-ish car and had loved it,” says Jan. “You can park easily and it’s not like this country – it’s so much easier.”

The Hills’ New Zealand odyssey proper began with a drive from Christchurch via Arthur’s Pass National Park – a spectacular region of snow-covered peaks and glaciers straddling the Southern Alps. They then travelled up the west coast from Greymouth to Abel Tasman National Park, taking in Pancake Rocks – spectacular stacked limestone formations punctuated by blowholes – along the way. “We loved that stretch of coastline,” says Jan, who was also struck by the steep road to Golden Bay (“A truly beautiful place”).

After crossing the Cook Strait to the North Island on the iconic Interislander Ferry, Jan and Dave explored the country’s capital. “We loved Wellington – the Te Papa Tongarewa museum is an absolute joy,” says Jan. But there was no time to lose – places with enchanting names such as Himatangi Beach, Tongariro National Park (“we found some brilliant trails”), Taupo (“magical waterfalls”) and Kuirau Park (“with its bubbling pools”) were beckoning. But perhaps the overall highlight of the North Island was Ōhope Beach. “We stayed five nights there and that was fantastic – you couldn’t have had a better pitch,“ says Jan. “It directly faced the White Island volcano. We actually took a trip to the volcano aboard a tiny plane!”

The adventure eventually came to a close in the harbour city of Auckland –where even returning the motorhome was straightforward. “We handed it back on the outskirts of town – and then we had transfers to the hotel. It all worked superbly.” We’re glad to hear it, Jan!

In good

company

Karen Wright signs up for her first escorted tour and enjoys a 17-night holiday in southern France with new friends

When I visited the Club stand at the NEC show last year, I fell into conversation with one of the team about his experiences leading some of the Club’s escorted tours. Although I was aware of these tours, I had never looked into them in any detail. After reading the literature he gave me, the appeal of these breaks became clear: who wouldn’t want to spend a holiday in their motorhome or caravan, staying at carefully selected, well-located campsites, enjoying excursions by luxury coach to key spots in the area, with guided tours, entrance fees and some meals included in the cost of the holiday? There was one other major attraction for me – the opportunity to enjoy the company of fellow Club members.

It took me no time at all to decide to book an escorted tour, the only dilemma being which one – they cover everything from short breaks in the UK to extended itineraries around Canada and New Zealand.

We chose the 17-night Aveyron Discovery tour, based at Les Genêts in southern France. We had briefly visited the area before – driving over the Viaduc de Millau on our way back from the Mediterranean coast, and another time

spending a couple of nights in the Gorges Du Tarn – but there was still much of this beautiful region to be seen.

The tour programme featured excursions every other day – this was perfect as it allowed for independent exploration or relaxation around the site on our ‘leisure days’. We had a relaxed journey to base camp, spending the best part of a week travelling from Calais into the Loire and then on to the Dordogne .

THE PERFECT START

When we arrived at Les Genêts we were blessed with warm sun and a clear blue sky. We were quickly introduced to our tour hosts, Club members and seasoned travellers Terence and Marilyn, who showed us to our premium pitch on the shore of Lac de Pareloup. After settling ourselves in we went off to explore the site and I went for a dip in the pool, which was, happily for me, right next to the bar! Our tour group comprised around 14 caravans and motorhomes, and it wasn’t very long before we started to bump into our fellow travellers –mainly couples, plus a solo adventurer.

The first evening we were treated to a welcome drink of Kir royale and a delicious meal at the campsite restaurant. We were joined by the site owners and staff, who had liaised with the Club to organise our itinerary. It is

amazing how quickly friendships can form in these sorts of situations – a group of people with similar interests and lifestyles can become best buddies in no time at all!

The next day we boarded the coach to the medieval city of Albi, enjoying a guided tour of the cathedral in the morning before hopping aboard the tourist train in the afternoon. With plenty of free time to take in the sights and find refreshments, it was a wonderful introduction to the area.

Once back at the campsite everyone retired to their own units to relax. Our neighbours, Val and Keith, invited us around for a drink along with Sian and Paul from the adjacent pitch, and we spent a lovely hour chatting and enjoying the view of the lake.

My first free day was spent largely by the pool, but others went off site, either by bicycle or car, to get the lay of the land and figure out where the local shops and facilities were. We were already in a phone chat group, which meant we could share our discoveries, and the caravan owners kindly offered the motorhomers lifts to the supermarket. We are still in touch all these months later.

The Viaduc de Millau is a must-see attraction in the region and was next on our itinerary. At 343 metres, the viaduct is the tallest bridge in the world, and we enjoyed an interesting presentation about its construction, courtesy of a civil engineer. After taking plenty of photographs we tucked in to a slap-up lunch in a nearby village. That afternoon saw us ‘vélo-railing’ through the stunning countryside! It is a most unusual activity involving pedalling specially designed four-seater bikes along a railway track − and it was a thrilling way to enjoy the vistas.

Travelling by coach made sightseeing very relaxing

MORE ESCORTED TOURS

The Club offers a range of escorted tours across Europe. Here’s just a taster –to find out more visit camc.com/european-tours

AVEYRON DISCOVERY

Duration: 17 nights

Departs: 12 June 2025

Price: £2,099 (based on an outfit and two people travelling together; does not include ferry crossings)

This tour offers a perfect blend of culture, cuisine, history and gorgeous scenery. Discover the fortified town of La Couvertoirade, enjoy a river cruise on the Tarn, visit an artisan glassblower in the Olt Valley, marvel at the art glass windows of Conques Abbey, savour gastronomic delights in Albi Market, and visit the Roquefort cheese caves. Note: spaces are running out fast for this year’s tour but for more information and to register your future interest call 01342 488711.

FIRST TIME NORMANDY

Duration: 11 nights

Departs: 24 June 2025

Price: £2,699 (based on an outfit and two people travelling together; includes ferry crossings)

Before crossing the Channel, guests spend two nights at Rookesbury Park Club Campsite, meet their fellow travellers and enjoy a ‘continental’ driving course. In France you will stay at Camping Port’land, the perfect base for excursions to iconic Mont-Saint-Michel and the D-Day Landing beaches.

ALPINE AUSTRIA

Duration: 13 nights

Departs: 22 June 2025

Price: £1,699 (based on an outfit and two people travelling together; does not include ferry crossings)

From pristine mountains and alpine meadows to the bustling heart of Salzburg city, savour everything this stunning country has to offer. Highlights include a hike up the tiered Krimml Waterfalls, guided walks of Innsbruck and Salzburg and a trip to Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens.

The next trip out was perhaps my favourites – we visited Yann, an artisan glassblower. Following a thrilling demonstration, we bought a few pieces of glass as souvenirs, and were then whisked away to enjoy yet another lunch. Later, a visit to a local craft brewery was just the ticket, and we thoroughly enjoyed tasting the various beers.

BEES AND CHEESE

Our trips on subsequent days took in an array of wonderful sights, sounds and tastes. We went to a market one morning and enjoyed a guided visit to the Baroque chapel of the Pénitents Noirs in Villefranche-de-Rouergue in the afternoon, which was fascinating.

Another treat for me was a trip to Roquefortsur-Soulzon, home of the famous blue cheese. We had a guided tour of a cheese cave and then a very delicious and cheesy lunch before heading off to a look around a bee farm in the afternoon.

Other highlights included a boat trip down the Tarn and a trip to beautiful Brousse-leChâteau. I also really enjoyed a visit to a Renaissance-era château in Bournazel, where we were provided with a picnic lunch to enjoy in the courtyard before heading off to Conques Abbey, home to the contemporary art glass windows by renowned artist Pierre Soulages. I loved the escorted tour for a host of reasons. We visited so many interesting and surprising places, and these were enhanced by the quality of the tours. Travelling by coach made sightseeing very relaxing as there was no navigating, no parking and no coppering up for entrance fees! It was also really helpful to have a

member of campsite staff on board every day to help with the language (our hosts, Marilyn and Terence, were fluent French speakers too).

I enjoyed it so much I have already booked the next one!

We made some great friends on this holiday and spent our leisure time playing boules or cards, sitting by the lakeside or enjoying a couple of drinks at the bar together. On our final night, we shared a lovely farewell meal and watched a folk dancing display. Some of us – including me − joined in!

I enjoyed the tour so much that I have already booked the next one: the Romantic Road in Bavaria, Germany. Some of our Aveyron group have also signed up, so it will be fantastic to meet up once again!

n You can read more about Karen’s French adventures on pages 60-62 of the September 2024 magazine.

YEAR*

WATER INGRESS WARRANTY FULLY TRANSFERABLE

SAVE WITH YOUR CLUB

Collectively, members saved in excess of £13.5m* over the past five years via Caravan and Motorhome Club Member Offers. Here is a small selection of the fantastic offers currently available...

*Based on Jan 2019 to Dec 2024

RALEIGH

If you’re a keen cyclist, you’ll be delighted to know that Raleigh is offering Club members 10% off selected electric bikes and pedal bikes.

WITTER TOWBARS

Witter Towbars and Westfalia Automotive are delighted to offer members an exclusive 10% discount on their full range of towbars (including electrics and fitting), electrical kits, cycle carriers and other towing-related accessories.

Witter and Westfalia’s range of towing products features everything from bespoke towbars to award-winning cycle carriers and commercial vehicle systems. Find out more at camc.com/ wittertowbars

20% 10% 10%

Scan this QR code with your phone or tablet to see all of our current Member Offers

Raleigh’s extensive range includes Bosch-powered electric

bikes, traditional pedal bikes and kids’ bikes. Why not take a look at camc.com/raleigh to find out more about the selection the offer can be applied to – and get ready for adventures on two wheels at home and on tour!

Club members receive a 20% discount at Roadchef motorway services food and drink outlets – including Costa Coffee, Leon, Fresh Food Cafe and Chozen Noodle. With a range of facilities and services, including free parking for two hours and dog

walking areas, Roadchef is a great place to relax and refresh before you continue with your onward journey.

The offer is available at all of Roadchef’s 31 sites across the country. Find out more by visiting camc.com/roadchef

AL-KO

As a member of the Club, you can save £600 when buying and fitting Al-Ko’s HY4 Hydraulic Levelling Support System. This support system levels your motorhome quickly and easily at the push of a button, and can be used when you are parked on soft ground, gravel, uneven ground and inclines.

The weighing function for the Al-Ko HY4 helps the user avoid incorrect loading and dangerous overloading of motorhomes and vans. The system measures the gross weight and the respective axle load. This makes complying with weight limits easy and ensures payloads in the vehicle are optimally stowed.

The Al-Ko HY4 Hydraulic Levelling System usually costs £7,000, but Club members benefit from the special price of £6,899 and also receive the weighing function (worth £500) when purchasing it (including fitting). See camc.com/alko for more information.

ENGLISH HERITAGE

Enjoy a 25% discount on Individual, Joint or Family English Heritage membership and explore England’s history. You’ll feel inspired as you meet the Romans, traverse ancient ruins, learn about medieval knights and explore lots more at over 400 historic places. As well as unlimited access to English Heritage sites, members benefit from free entry for up to six children*; a free handbook (worth £10.95); free parking at

MY BESPOKE MATTRESS

My Bespoke Mattress specialises in crafting custom mattresses that promise comfort and support in your caravan, motorhome, campervan – or even your home. Whether you opt for memory foam, the adaptive support provided by pocket springs, or the cooling technology of CoolSense mattresses, each product is

made-to-measure to your specific needs.

Club members save 10% on purchases, which can be applied to a made-to-measure mattress or a mattress topper. The discount is available on top of any existing promotions highlighted on the company’s website. To find out more visit camc.com/ mybespokemattress

sites managed by English Heritage**; free or reduced-price entry to exciting events; an exclusive members’ magazine three times a year; and Members’ Rewards –special offers on great brands. Find out more at camc.com/eh.

25%

*Membership includes six accompanying children per adult member, under 18 and within the family group.

**Free parking for members only.

Club Shop

DAYS OUT FOR LESS

MEMBERS RECEIVE DISCOUNTS FROM HUNDREDS OF ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITY PROVIDERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. HERE’S A SMALL SELECTION...

2-FOR-1

HELMINGHAM HALL GARDENS, SUFFOLK

Members can take advantage of a two-for-the-price-of-one offer at these Grade 1 Listed gardens, which are set within a 400-acre deer park surrounding a moated Tudor Hall. (Pre-booking is required.) Don’t forget to spend time in the tearooms and shops before you leave!

Dogs on leads are welcome and motorhome parking is available – please contact the venue for details and check website for opening dates and times.

Info: helmingham.com

Nearest Club campsite: White House Beach

CANONTEIGN FALLS, DEVON

Discover ancient woodland, spectacular waterfalls, rock formations, wetlands and lakes – there’s even an assault course and adventure playground for children. Save time for the café, courtyards and gift shop, too. Club members receive a 15% discount on the price of entry (pre-booking required). Motorhome parking is available (please contact the venue directly for more details) and dogs on leads are welcome. The attraction reopens for the season on 24 March 2025.

Info: canonteignfalls.co.uk

KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY, KENT

Enjoy views of beautiful Wealden countryside from the comfort of a heritage steam or diesel train as you travel from historic Tenterden to majestic Bodiam Castle. Club members receive a 10% discount on adult, senior and child fares (pre-booking is required, and the offer is not available on special events). Please see website for departure dates and times as well as options for food and drink. The attraction is dog-friendly and motorhome parking is available – please contact venue for details.

Info: kesr.org.uk

Nearest Club campsites: Daleacres, Fairlight Wood, Battle Normanhurst Court, Tanner Farm AS

Natureland rescues and rehabilitates orphaned and injured seal pups from local beaches, and you can see them as well as their resident adult seals, who love to show off during feeding times! Look out too for the likes of penguins, meerkats, tropical butterflies (MarchOctober), reptiles, sheep, goats, alpacas and tropical fish. Members get 10% off full-price admission (pre-booking is required – please check website for opening dates and times).

Info: skegnessnatureland.co.uk

Nearest Club campsites: Skegness Sands AS, Sutton-on-Sea

Nearest Club campsites: Stover, Exeter Racecourse, Dornafield

THOUSANDS ISLANDS EXPEDITIONS, PEMBROKESHIRE

Take a wildlife boat trip along the Pembrokeshire coast and you might see seals, whales, dolphins, gannets and puffins – great for keen photographers and wildlife lovers, or if you simply want to experience being at sea with your family. Club members receive 10% off the following trips: Ramsey Island Adventure (1.5hr), Evening Cruise & Shearwater (1.5hr), Mackerel Fishing (1.5hr) – check website for dates.

Info: thousandislands.co.uk

Nearest Club campsites: St David’s Lleithyr Meadow, Freshwater East

Please visit camc.com/ greatsavingsguide for vouchers, discount codes and pre-booking where relevant, as well as terms and conditions for all offers. Please check site and attraction opening dates and times before visiting/travelling.

Stitching the collar in a saddler’s clamp

Awl for

Expert saddler Cazzy was Jonathan’s guide

INFORMATION

A dog collar-making course (including materials) costs £50 at the Strapped Leather workshop in Brockenhurst. Contact: strapped leather.co.uk Stay: Black Knowl or New Forest Centenary Club campsites

one...

Jonathan Manning joins a leatherworking course in the New Forest, and creates a handsome, hand-stitched dog collar

If you popped into a pet shop prior to Christmas you’ll already be aware that the canine and feline products and accessories market is big business. Treats, toys, jackets and jumpers line the shelves. There are hats for dogs, advent calendars and festive stockings for cats. All of which prompts the question – what do you buy the pet that has everything?

Truth be told, we bought none of the above for our dog, a Labrador-spaniel cross. We don’t show or work her, and the only pampering she gets is a warm bath when she’s rolled in her favourite eau de fox poo perfume. She’s simply a much-loved family pet, occupying a place in our hearts far bigger

than we will ever acknowledge until the kennel in the sky blows its whistle.

With two good walks a day, two tasty meals (she’s never complained) and a reserved spot by the fire, it’s hard to imagine what she might write in a letter to Santa. So, it’s more honest to think of this month’s activity as her gift to me.

Leatherworking has always looked fascinating – from saddlers making riding equipment to cobblers stitching a sturdy pair of brogues. Not wishing to aim too high, I’ve signed up to make a dog collar (of the canine, not ecclesiastical, variety) on a leatherworking course in the New Forest.

The cosy workshop is within easy reach of two Club sites, and is imbued with the luxurious scent of leather. Traditional-looking

Clockwise from top left: punching holes; cutting the strip; tools of the trade; modelling the finished product; taking extra care with the sharp head knife

The first task is to cut a strip of leather from the hide with a plough gauge

tools lie neatly on the workbenches, bobbins of different coloured waxed threads line the walls, and a pair of certificates testify to the skills of their owner. One is from the Worshipful Company of Saddlers, which can trace its roots back to London’s Guild of Saddlers that formed around 1160, and the other is from the relative newcomer, the Worshipful Company of Loriners, whose history starts in 1261 (a loriner makes the smaller metal elements of a horse’s harness, such as bits, bridles, spurs, and stirrups).

The holder of both certificates is Cazzy, a saddler who has developed a popular leatherworking course to help people make belts and dog collars. Wearing a smart leather apron and a big smile, she cheerily guides me through the afternoon.

As with the poshest of car seats, there’s the chance to select both the colour of the cowhide, and the stitching. Choices range from red to London tan, Australian nut and British racing green.

“This is oak bark tanned English bridle leather,” explains Cazzy. “It comes from a tannery in Cheshire and it’s the absolute Rolls-Royce of leathers.” Beautifully textured, it feels supple yet strong and substantial.

PRECISION TOOLS

The first task is to cut a strip of leather from the hide with a plough gauge, before chopping it to length with an ultra-sharp head knife. Then, using a pair of callipers, I gently scratch an arch at one end of a strip, practising again and again

a tram line with a creasing wheel

STITCHES IN TIME

Three more leather workshops near Club campsites around the country

CATHERINE EDWARDS, WEST YORKSHIRE

Make your own dog collar and lead, hip flask, luggage label, belt or purse on an introduction to leatherwork course (£90).

Info: ce-leathergoods.com, 07720 715418

Stay: Hebden Bridge Club Campsite

WILLIAMS HANDMADE, HEREFORDSHIRE

Choose from a selection of leathers and buckles, then make a smart leather belt on this half-day course (£75).

Info: williamshandmade.com, 07792 419454

Stay: Moorhampton Club Campsite

EVANCLIFFE LEATHERCRAFT, CO DURHAM

Learn how to mark out, cut and dye veg tan leather to make your own belt on this one-day course (£85).

Info: evancliffeleather.co.uk, 01388 526641

Stay: Teesdale Barnard Castle Club Campsite

The cosy workshop is within easy reach of two Club sites

before pulling the leather through the knife to create the rounded end of the collar.

If the cutting feels like precision work, punching the holes requires more brawn than brain, albeit while running the twin risks of making a hole in the wrong place and swinging a mallet towards your fingers. Cazzy’s punch was made in 1915, giving pause for thought that it may once have been used in the production of First World War cavalry equipment. Good quality saddlery equipment lasts for aeons.

SPOT OF BOTHER

Leather may be super tough, but it’s also sensitive – scuffs can’t be polished or sanded out, and become diary entries of clumsiness. Despite practising, I manage to leave a small scorch mark by dawdling for an instant too long as I draw a pre-heated creasing wheel along the edge of the collar. The pleasing tramlines now have a black spot that would condemn a designer handbag to the scrap heap, but it’s reassuring to know that my dog will be none the wiser.

With the strap cut and punched, what feels like the true art of leatherwork begins, as I fold one end of the strip back over the buckle (available in different shapes and a choice of silver or bronze) and grip it in a saddler’s clam. I’ve selected a rose-pink thread for the

stitching because, well, because I can, and because it’s a colour combination unlikely ever to be seen in a pet shop.

Stitching, it turns out, is utterly engrossing. As with so many crafts, it demands total concentration, creating perfect mindfulness. I use a syringe-sharp awl to pierce a tiny hole through which two needles pass in either direction, forming a tiny knot on one side of the leather. This is a saddle stitch, so although I don’t cut the thread, each knot is independent of the next, which means the stitching won’t unravel like a cartoon jumper if a dog catches it on a bramble. The art comes in tracing a straight, neat line, as if a skilled surgeon had operated on the leather.

I’m sure I’m painfully slow, but Cazzy is endlessly patient, keeping an eye on my stitches and helping me out when one turns into a bird’s nest of thread. And it’s with a combination of regret and pride that I pull tight the final stitch – sorry that the afternoon is over, but proud at the end result. A unique, handmade collar with the priceless added ingredient of love, for a much-loved dog.

Life on the road with Green Flag Patrol

Earlier this year, MAYDAY UK Breakdown Cover hit the road with Noel from Green Flag Patrol. Noel is both a Patrol technician and a caravan and campervan enthusiast who uses MAYDAY for his own outfit.

How long have you worked for Green Flag?

I’ve been a breakdown technician for over 20 years, but I joined Green Flag Patrol in February 2024.

What’s your favourite thing about working for Green Flag? Working for a customer-focused business like Green Flag is great. It means I can spend more time with the people I’m helping, explaining what’s happened, fixing the problem and reassuring them. It’s nice to be able to provide that extra level of customer service.

Describe a typical day on patrol?

There’s no such thing as a typical day. It depends on the time of year and the weather. In spring and summer, when people start to go away, it gets much busier. Or in the winter, if we have snow or ice, that can make things interesting!

What’s the most common reason that you’re called to a breakdown? From my experience, it’s wheel changes and battery faults, they tend to keep me pretty busy!

Tell us about your experience of MAYDAY UK Breakdown Cover

For me as a customer, the stand -out benefit was not having any size restrictions on the cover I needed for my caravan, that was really important to me. When I’m not working, I enjoy being an active member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club. I love to get out and about, visiting their campsites across the country. By having MAYDAY, I have the peace of mind that comes from knowing I’m covered wherever I’m travelling in the UK.

What’s the next trip you have planned in your caravan?

The next stop for me is Cornwall where I’ll be staying at Carnon Downs Club Site, with a pit stop at Tewkesbury Abbey Club Campsite.

I’m an avid kayaker, so I can’t wait to hit the waves this summer! Scan me

SOFT SELL

James Batchelor puts the latest incarnation of one of the original ‘soft-roaders’ through its paces

Think of a typical towcar and the Honda CR-V readily comes to mind on account of its mature image, solid engineering and all-round practicality. The Japanese carmaker returned to the Caravan and Motorhome Club ’s Towcar of the Year awards last August, where this, the latest generation of its CR-V, performed pretty well. Here we take a closer look…

To see car video reviews, download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play. You can also read vehicle tests at camc.com/blog.

COMFORT

The Honda CR-V was a 1990s trendsetter that, along with the Toyota RAV4 and Land Rover Freelander, popularised the idea of the ‘soft-roader’ – a more road-biased SUV that retained some of the looks of a tough off-roader (indeed, CR-V stands for ‘Compact Recreational Vehicle’).

This new sixth-generation car comes exclusively with hybrid power, and rivals everything from a Kia Sportage and seven-seat offerings such as the Mazda CX-80 to our current Towcar of the Year – Volvo’s XC60. That’s some tough competition, and as we shall

see the CR-V scores well in some areas but struggles in others.

The new model looks very different from the car it replaces. The CR-V has long stood out from others, with distinctive – even quirky –styling, however this one is quietly good looking, if a little conventional.

In terms of the interior, if you’ve been behind the wheel of the current Civic then the CR-V will feel instantly familiar – it has a near identical dashboard design. It’s smart and there’s some nice detailing – we love the knobs and buttons for the air conditioning controls (too many rivals have relegated this important feature to the touchscreen), and how the ambient lighting is tasteful rather than garish. However, the cabin is let down a little by cheap-feeling plastics in places, and the infotainment system is on the basic side with dated graphics – but it’s easy to use.

You sit high up in the CR-V, which isn’t always a given in an SUV these days, and this really helps with visibility and manoeuvring; back seat passengers sit even higher and have a great view. The floor is practically flat, meaning three can squeeze in if need be, and kneeroom is excellent.

Every CR-V gets a panoramic glass roof, adding a touch of luxury, but this eats into headroom and consequently results in a slightly claustrophobic feel. Happily, the seat backs can be reclined in eight positions, helping to alleviate this sensation, while all of the seats can slide forwards and backwards to maximise leg or boot room. Speaking of which, space in the boot is good – unusually, the plug-in hybrid has more room than the full-hybrid at 635 litres versus 596. It’s worth noting that, unlike older versions of the CR-V, this generation is just a five-seater – there is no seven-seat option.

Clockwise from left: nice detailing; e-CVT automatic gearbox; infotainment system; towing performance was unflustered; ample boot space

Prices start at just under £46,000 for the e:HEV hybrid and around £50,000 for this e:PHEV plug-in hybrid. There is plenty of standard equipment – leather upholstery, that aforementioned glass roof, a powered tailgate, electric driver’s seat and wireless phone charger are thrown in – but the CR-V can’t help but look a little pricey compared with some rivals.

DRIVING

While many carmakers at this price point offer a myriad of different engine and powertrain options, Honda keeps things simple. If you need four-wheel drive for touring then you’ll have to go for the e:HEV full hybrid – but this has a maximum towing capacity of 750kg. So, if you have a larger caravan (and you most likely will) you can only go for this more expensive e:PHEV, and you’ll have to make do with two-wheel drive.

Still, the plug-in hybrid gets adaptive suspension as standard, which does an excellent job at smoothing out lumps and bumps in the road. It all adds up to a very grown-up driving experience but, on the other hand, it’s one that

by

With thanks to Chichester Caravans , Uckfield, for the loan of Towcar Test caravans. See chichestercaravans.co.uk, call 01825 764151 or email uckfield@ chichestercaravans.co.uk.

Inset: physical controls for air-con are a plus

Price as tested:

£50,950

Insurance:

37E

Engine:

2.0-litre, 4cyl petrol with electric motor

Power:

181bhp (135kW)

Torque:

339Nm (250 Ib ft))

Transmission: e-CVT

Spare Wheel:

Tyre inflation kit

Kerbweight:

1,923kg

Gross Vehicle Weight:

2,430kg

Gross Train Weight: 3,930kg

Noseweight Limit: 100kg

Towing Equipment:

Fixed towball and electrics (£925)

Fuel/Tank/Test Econ:

Petrol/46.5 litres (10.2 gals)/71mpg solo, 23mph towing caravan

MRO 1,236kg

CO2 : 18g/km

NCAP Rating: 5 stars

Figures from manufacturer’s literature

isn’t remotely sporty. It’s a comfortable car, though, with great brake pedal feel (for a hybrid) and good visibility.

The 2.0-litre petrol engine is a smooth unit, and naturally prioritises electric power. Honda claims 50 miles of EV range, and I managed in the region of 41 miles. Of course, to get the most out of a plug-in hybrid, you need to be charging it regularly, so consider investing in a home charging point. Driving with a full battery, I was averaging 71mpg; drive with the battery empty and you can expect 35mpg – that’s why it’s crucial to charge as often as possible (it takes 2.5 hours to charge the 17.7kWh battery pack).

TOWING

Curiously, the CR-V has an e-CVT automatic gearbox with two forward gears. Honda has opted for this to allow the CR-V to better cope with both low-speed and high-speed driving, and when driving solo it has pulled it off.

In normal driving it’s not intrusive, but once hooked up to a caravan the gearbox starts to behave more like a traditional CVT. There’s a dedicated ‘towing’ mode which prioritises petrol over electric power, and consequently there’s a constant blare of revs. It’s better to keep the car in ‘normal’ mode – here it’s more refined, but still on the coarse side.

The CR-V tows in a very smooth and unflustered way and, coupled with that pillowy ride, it’s a comfortable experience. Driving alongside high-sided lorries did reveal a little rear pull, but nothing too severe. One thing that is worth noting is that during the Towcar 2025 competition, the CR-V was slow to pull away on a steep hill start.

VERDICT

The Honda CR-V offers a very grown-up, sophisticated driving experience, and feels properly plush on the road. High prices, and limited engine and powertrain options for those who tow does dent its appeal, though.

Send us proof of a current renewal invitation from your existing car insurer and we’ll beat it by at least £25*. Visit camc.com/insurance for more information and full terms and conditions.

Rob McCabe tests a diminutive two-berth caravan from the Trigano stable

BIJOU BEAUTY

Want your next caravan to be a 1.7-tonne, eight-foot-wide, £40k beast? Then look away now – the three Mini Freestyle pop-top models made in France by Trigano are as far removed from that as you can imagine. Here, we home in on the 270 which, as we’ll see, has a few tricks up its diminutive sleeve.

BUILD QUALITY

The exterior makes a solid first impression –the 270 looks great in its silver-finished sidewalls, and its glossy polyester panels feel reassuringly beefy. Indoors, all the materials used are of a good standard, and the workmanship is neat and precise. Raising or lowering the pop-top roof is an altogether simple affair that takes half a minute and, again, the system is robustly engineered. The two-year factory guarantee is complemented by a five-year body guarantee.

TOWING

The relevant vital stats are remarkable. Even if you take up all of the 150kg payload (generous for two people), you’ll still have a caravan that weighs a mere 750kg. That makes it a comfortable match for plenty of vehicles that you wouldn’t normally bring to mind when thinking of towcars. And the real USP of a pop-top is the lack of height on the road: hunkered down this thing extends just six and a half feet off the ground, so there’s a noticeable lack of wind resistance when cruising along. It’s narrow, too. An Al-Ko hitch stabiliser is standard, as are shock absorbers.

DAYTIME

The extra-wide rear door opens to reveal parallel sofas at the front, with a strikingly glossy white clip-on table between them. On the left as you face forward is the kitchen; on the right the wardrobe, alongside the store for the portable toilet, a generous locker and another glossy white surface area above it. With the roof pushed up into place, the interior feels light and airy, especially if you unzip the flaps that cover the mesh ventilation sections on either side of the heavy-duty canvas.

The seating is impressively supportive. Although you could seat four, whoever’s sitting at the front would have to slide slightly forwards on the seat to avoid banging their heads on the window shelf that protrudes noticeably. If you’ve got the sofa to yourself you can semi-recline into the front corner, but you’ll have that shelf right above you. Better to lounge the other way.

Three Shires – which provided this test model – cleverly modify the table before putting their Freestyles on the forecourt. They trim its length slightly, improving access to the seating; better still, it also means the table will fit securely and unobtrusively on the entrance door if you don’t want it in place. You can also clip the table on to the inside of the open door and use it outside.

Having that door secured in its open position really welcomes the great outdoors into the caravan – a highly appealing proposition on a nice day. An awning rail on the back accommodates an optional, campervan-style drive-away awning that provides a bit more living space.

Our test model came with the Off-grid pack, flush-fitting solar panel (the controller for which

Price as tested

£15,779 OTR

Bed size

Front double: 6ft 3in x 4ft 7in

Heating

Propex blown-air gas heating

Fridge

Trigano 85-litre fridge-freezer

Toilet

Thetford Porta

Potti 165 MRO

750kg

User payload

150kg

Overall length

13ft (3.95m)

Overall width

6ft 8in (2.03m)

Overall height

6ft 6in (1.98m) with roof lowered; 7ft 8in (2.33m) with roof raised

Max headroom

6ft 2in (1.87m)

Figures from manufacturer’s literature

has built-in Bluetooth), a Propex blown-air gas heating system and a hefty 100Ah leisure battery. Otherwise, heating is provided by a simple 240V/1,000W plug-in ceramic fitment. Three mains sockets and three USB slots are standard, and pre-installation for a TV aerial is in place – for £450, the dealer can supply and fit a 19in TV on a bracket, plus aerial and booster.

NIGHT-TIME

To read other recent caravan tests, download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play. Remember to search for CAMC Magazine’.

With thanks to:

Test caravan supplied by Three Shires Leisure, Crumlin Farm, Flaunden Lane, Bovingdon, Hertfordshire HP3 0PF

Contact: threeshires leisure.co.uk, 01442 834667

You can cover this caravan with the Club for £321.19* per year. See camc.com/ caravancover or call 01342 336610 for further details.

You need the table to form the bed, together with another supporting section that lives under the seat base. The usual jiggery-pokery with the upholstery then gives you a nice-sized double that feels impressively supportive. There’s plenty of space in the unobstructed offside seatbox for all your bedding. If you’re a light sleeper, you can do what many pop-top owners do and just lower the roof overnight to drown out the dawn chorus. At the risk of sounding obvious, don’t forget you’ve done so if you get up in the night: if the sound of you biffing your head on the roof doesn’t wake your other half, the fruity language that comes after it most certainly will.

KITCHEN

Your cooking options are restricted to two gas rings, although our example came with the cabinet-fitted microwave that costs £185, which includes a dedicated mains socket – a tempting proposition. The amount of work surface puts a lot of bigger caravans to shame, and you can also utilise the shelf on the offside wall if you need more. Storage isn’t a problem either, thanks to the big cupboard under the sink (and the locker opposite, if there’s no microwave in there). The fridge is a beauty – it’s a three-way fitment with a generous 85-litre capacity

that includes a decent freezer. There’s no water heater for washing-up, but you could compensate with a kettle.

WASHROOM

That extra-wide rear door means there’s no space in such a tiny caravan for even a minuscule washroom, but a Porta Potti is included as standard. This caravan’s 290 stablemate has a small washroom tucked away in the rear corner.

LIGHTING

The main focus of the lighting falls on the three flexible swan-neck lamps, the quality of which is a cut above. They look upmarket and elegant, they feel wonderfully tactile – and they do their job excellently. The long necks allow precise direction, they offer strong illumination, and they all include a USB slot. There’s one in the kitchen, one above the offside shelf near the back door, and one in the lounge – another one up here would have been useful so that both occupants of the double bed could have a reading light.

There are also two flush-fitting, ceilingmounted lamps in the lounge, so – that reading light issue aside – you’re very well looked-after.

VERDICT

Tow it with your small hatchback and park it in the garage – that scenario will win the Mini Freestyle a lot of friends. It’s wellbuilt, handsome and comfortably under £16k, even with all the desirable add-ons mentioned above.

*Correct as of 27 January 2025. Based on Standard cover on a new-for-old cover basis, with a cover limit of £16,000 (caravan and equipment), £500 contents cover and £200 voluntary excess. Includes 4+ years no claims discount (not protected). Subject to underwriting – a copy of the cover wording is available on request. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for general insurance and credit activities.

• Askham Bryan College, Askham Bryan, York

• Boston LGV Training, Boston

• C&M Training Ltd, Edgmond, Shropshire

• Go!Driving, York

• GPD Driver Training, Nottinghamshire

• Hills Driver Training, Plumpton, East Sussex

• JW Driver Training, Newport

• Keep Legal Ltd, South Ockendon, Essex

• Ken Irwin Class One Driver Training, Northern Ireland

• Lancaster Driver Training, Lancaster

• P Vowles Training, Figheldean, Wiltshire

• Road Safe Wales, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire

• Sparsholt College, Winchester, Hampshire

• Tilston Training, Llay, Wrexham

• Trans Plant Mastertrain, Devon

• Towing Solutions Maccelesfield, Cheshire

TOUCHES OF GENIUS

Nick

Harding gets to grips with an impressive van conversion

It may have a hefty price tag but this Mercedes Sprinter-based Malibu van conversion is something special. Prices for the Genius 641 LE start at just under £90,000 OTR in the UK – but that’s before you dip into a comprehensive list of factory-fitted options. We have something of a typical example here, sporting enough extra spec to bring it to over £124,000.

Our test vehicle features all manner of extra packs – Chassis (£9,990), Chassis Plus Mercedes (£6,420), Style (£870) and Driver’s Assistance (£1,220) – and those are just additions to the base vehicle.

Next up are Malibu’s own Main Cabin Pack (£2,010) and Socket Package (£430). Also here are: upgrade to 4,100kg chassis (£1,485), full towbar (£1,185 + £195), fog lights with cornering facility (£355), LED headlights (£2,240), heated cab seats (£695), black metallic paint (£2,625), 3.25m awning (£1,170), LED exterior strip light (£265), Truma Combi 6E upgrade (£785), 24in flatscreen TV with holder (£1,285), 93-litre fuel tank (£405), electric sliding door (£430), rear side window to bed (390), slide-out rails (£345) and a bedding set (£360).

BUILD QUALITY

Malibu (part of the Carthago Group) has extended the overall body length from Mercedes’ standard 5.93m to some 6.4m courtesy of a rear extension and some chassis work from Al-Ko. The extension is in GRP and includes a top-hinged, full width hatch with three locking points, opening up to reveal a large boot area. Boot options include

internal folding bike storage and slide-out racking containing crates – the area is also accessible from inside the vehicle. You get flush-fitting windows and top quality insulation throughout.

DRIVING

Mercedes’ Sprinter 315 CDI is a good starting point. The appropriate options packs account for engine and transmission upgrades – to 168bhp and nine-speed automatic respectively, the latter being super-smooth. It makes for a potent mix of power and refinement. And it’s much quieter overall than many van conversions (I do wonder whether the rear pod, rather than tall doors, has a positive effect here).

In the cab, there’s Mercedes’ sophisticated MBUX infotainment system with 10in touchscreen, which includes satellite navigation system and reversing camera. It accompanies a steering wheel chock-full of controls, and all manner of seat adjustment (including heating).

Be aware that you will need C1 status on your licence to drive this motorhome if it has the chassis upgrade as featured here.

DAYTIME

The on-site seating area is modest, the lounge comprising the cab seats swivelled and a rear bench seat. The table is sidefixing and has a swing-out extension so four can sit around it. Do note that the travel seat isn’t the widest (Isofix is an option, but you can only have it on one side). There’s no opening sunroof in the cab, but there is a Midi Heki directly over the lounge.

TECHNICAL

Price (as tested)

£124,495 OTR

Engine

2.0-litre, Euro 6 Power

168bhp (125kW) @ 3,800rpm

Torque

295lb ft (400Nm) @ 1,700-2,400rpm

Transmission

Nine-speed automatic, RWD MRO

3,186kg MTPLM

4,100kg

User payload 914kg

Overall length

21ft (6.4m)

Overall width

6ft 8in (2.02m)

Overall height

8ft 10in (2.69m)

Max internal height

6ft 3in (1.90m)

Fuel/tank/econ

Diesel/20.5gals (93 litres)/26-30mpg

Figures from manufacturer’s literature

To see a video review download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play.

Left to right: single beds set high at the back; limited kitchen facilities but lots of storage; Mercedes cab features MBUX infotainment system

NIGHT-TIME

The Genius sleeps two as standard, with side-by-side single beds set high at the back; an infill section to make a full double is on that extras list. There’s a fixed step for access, which also doubles as a storage box. In fact, storage is rather impressive here in this area – including overhead lockers and open shelving along both sides, a trio of drawers at the foot of the offside bed and a wardrobe in the nearside base.

The beds themselves are some 1.95m (6ft 5in) long. The widths are 84cm (2ft 9in)/63cm (2ft 1in) wide (offside) and 95cm (3ft 1in)/69cm (2ft 3in) nearside (my measurements, and they do differ from Malibu’s). Take it from me that they are supremely comfortable.

KITCHEN

Cooking options are limited – there’s just a two-ring hob, and no options for grills or ovens, or indeed any space for such items.

The Thetford compressor fridge has a 78-litre capacity, however, plus six litres of freezer compartment. The sink to the left of the hob is inset and has two loose covers, the larger of which can be flipped and used as a chopping board. The flip-up worktop extension may be small but it has the easiest of single-handed actions.

One side effect of the minimalist cooking kit is plenty of extra storage: three large drawers, a shelved double-doored locker over the fridge and a single overhead locker.

WASHROOM

Vehicle supplied for testing by:

South West Motorhomes, Unit 1, Southfields Enterprise Park, Jordans Road, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 9FF Contact: southwestmotorhomes. co.uk, 01460 57524

Cleverly, the swivel-bowl toilet slides out when needed. There’s a tiny basin, or rather a folddown tray, for handwashing, but this allows a relatively large space in which to manoeuvre when showering. When the washroom door is open across the central corridor, an additional hinged section can be used to create a complete

privacy screen from the kitchen and lounge. Meanwhile, a complex set-up of multi-folding panels, using magnets and straps, creates a fully waterproof area at shower time. The shower tray is very shallow but there’s a second plughole in the toilet recess. Ventilation includes a rooflight and small opening window, while storage includes three lockers that take into account the curved sides of the base vehicle.

DETAILS

Everywhere you look there’s something clever about the Genius, the small storage locker at floor level just inside the sliding door being an example. Other storage includes two lockers in the raised floor of the lounge. Also worthy of note are the mouldings around the windows and central locking that extends to the boot hatch. The fresh (100 litres) and waste (90 litres) water tanks are underslung and protected from all extremes. Truma’s Combi 6E, with CP Plus remote operation, is an upgrade on this example, with plenty of warm air outlets and pipework around the whole vehicle.

There’s more than sufficient direct and ambient lighting, and plenty of power sockets.

VERDICT

This is a clever van conversion with premium credentials. Build quality is exceptional but it all comes at a price, especially when you start adding to the basic spec.

You can insure this motorhome with the Club for £1,962.49 per year*. Please see camc.com/ insurance or call 0345 504 0334 for further details.

*Quote (correct as of 20 January 2025) is for the model tested worth £124,495 OTR with a Thatcham approved tracker fitted. Based on a 58-year-old male living in Kent, with a maximum no claims bonus (unprotected) coming from a vehicle of similar value/experience, who has no accidents, claims or convictions and keeps the vehicle on a drive, driving 3,000 miles a year, with a £900 damage, fire and theft excess. Subject to underwriting. The Club’s Motorhome Insurance is arranged for the Club by Devitt Insurance Services Limited, Insurance Brokers. Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited. The Caravan Club Limited and Devitt Insurance Services Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

STEPPING OUT

Jane McGowan checks out a range of spring walking essentials

Salomon Bonatti Cross Wind

If you are looking for an extra layer for your outdoor pursuits – particularly if you are into running – the Bonatti is an impressive bit of kit. Offering both water and wind-proof properties, it features a fixed hood, elasticated cuffs, reflective detailing, a zipped chest pocket and a smaller, discreet stow pocket. Weighing just 134g, the Bonatti can be easily stowed in a daypack.

£90

XS-2XL

Colours (women): cosmic sky (lilac); deep black; etherea (tan); misty blue

Colours (men): parakeet (green); deep black; etherea (tan)

Contact: salomon.com

Keen Hightrail Mid

Part of a newly-designed ‘Hightrail’ family of footwear options, the men’s Mid is designed to cater for those “seeking comfort and convenience” while exploring towns or trails. Available in a choice of colour schemes it boasts a robust foam insole, while the outer features a waterproof, breathable membrane and is protected by leather mud shields.

RRP: £135

Sizes: men 6-14

Contact: keenfootwear.co.uk

Mountain Warehouse Lleyn Melange II

Women’s Fleece Hoodie

Available in four colours and a wide range of sizes, the Lleyn Melange II is a great choice for spring activities. Made from a lightweight polyester material, it has ‘anti-pill’ qualities designed to minimise ‘bobbling’. The hooded top features two front pockets and a full zip that stretches to the chin. What’s more, it comes complete with a two-year warranty.

Club members save 15% with Mountain Warehouse – the discount can also be applied to sale items.

Size: 6-20

Colours: teal; light grey; berry; dark blue

RRP: £44.99

(members save 10%; see camc.com/mountainwarehouse for details, terms and conditions)

Contact: mountain

Berghaus Remote Hike 23L

The Remote Hike 23L is new from Berghaus for spring 2025. Constructed using the outdoor brand’s ‘Freeflow’ technology, which allows air to flow between your back and the pack, it is lighter than some other daypack options. It is available in both men’s and women’s versions and includes useful features such as a zipped access pocket; three expandable pockets; dual walking pole holder; and adjustable chest and waist straps. Great for those planning a full day outdoors!

RRP: £110

Weight: 900g

Contact: berghaus.com

Leki Trail Poles

CLUB SHOP:

Top picks

Each month we pick a selection of items available at great prices from the Caravan and Motorhome Club Shop. For more information visit shop.camc.com.

Brunner Dinemic 4 Folding Table

Designed for trekking and hiking, these Leki poles will help take the strain on longer rambles. A ‘Super Lock System’ enables users to adjust their length between 110cm and 145 cm. The pole body is made from aluminium, while the ‘Evocon’ trekking handle has a rounded support surface for comfort. The poles, which feature adjustable wrist straps pack down to 65cm.

RRP: £65

Contact: leki.co.uk

Featuring a sturdy metal frame and weatherproof top, this great table folds in half for easy storage. Weighing just 7.1kg, it features height-adjustable legs and comes complete with a protective cover. Unfolded dimensions: 126cm (length) x 70cm (width) x 56/85cm (height).

Vango Hexaway Pro Driveaway Air Awning

Available in three sizes and featuring a single inflation and multiple deflation points, the makers say this awning can be pitched in just 10 minutes. Strong and durable yet light and airy, its ‘Sentinel’ fabric is made using 373 recycled plastic bottles.

Vango Balletto Air Awning Elements Shield

Offering great all-round views, this awning is constructed using Vango’s Elements Shield fabric – lightweight and robust it is designed to fold down to a compact size for easy transportation. Whether you want to use it as a handy storage area, a space for family meals or an extra bedroom, this is a highly versatile touring product. Available in three sizes.

n Remember that a variety of fantastic walks near Club campsites, accompanied by maps and detailed directions, is available on the Digital Magazine – available via Google Play or the App Store. Simply search for ‘Caravan and Motorhome Club Magazine’.

Fresh

As we wave off the darkness of winter, David Chapman highlights signs of life to look out for in our woodlands and beyond

There is an old saying that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. While it is true that the early days of the month can be extremely cold, by the end of March the spring equinox will have ushered in more than 12 hours of daylight every day, so even if we don’t immediately feel the full warmth of spring we can be sure that the seasons have changed and that nature will respond quickly and spectacularly.

During the first Covid lockdown in spring 2020, the natural world provided moments of hope. I remember the silence; without any traffic on the roads we could listen to the sounds of nature unimpeded by the constant hum of modern-day life. Some of my hour-long daily exercise was spent with my phone in hand, not scrolling through social media or listening to music, but recording the songs of birds.

Spring is the best time of year for birdsong as individuals establish their territories for the breeding season.

“ The bluebell is the most iconic of woodland flowers ”

start

They sing to attract a mate and tell others to clear off and find their own patch! The most prolific song is heard at dawn because this is the least productive time for feeding and it’s usually when sound carries best.

From far left: sedge warblers can be heard singing from late April; listen out for robins in early spring; garlic mustard attracts orange-tip butterflies

The dawn chorus is a spring-time phenomenon but it isn’t constant: the participants vary with the months. In March the chorus is dominated by early-breeding resident species such as blackbirds, song thrushes, mistle thrushes, robins, wrens and dunnocks. As we enter April a few migrant birds join in, most notably chiffchaffs and blackcaps, and by the time we get into May there is a whole new chorus line as the residents drop out and other migrants arrive. We might have willow warblers,

MYSTERY PHOTO

Every issue I will show you a photo of something from the natural world. It might be a close-up, or a subject that is difficult to identify. All you have to do is figure out what it is! Here is this issue’s photo; no clues or prizes – it’s just for fun. I will give you the answer next issue, but if you can’t wait, log in to the digital magazine. The subject of February’s mystery photo was: fox.

whitethroats, cuckoos, sedge warblers, redstarts, grasshopper warblers and many more, depending on habitat and location.

If you are planning on rising early for the dawn chorus it is important to choose a calm, dry day. The action usually kicks off before sunrise and will gradually diminish as the birds’ priorities change from establishing territory to finding food.

Any habitat can be good for birdsong: gardens, nature reserves, parks, heathland and scrub all have potential. Top of my list is woodland, partly because we can also witness that other seasonal spectacle – spring flowers.

SPRING SPECTACLE

Woodland flowers develop early because they need to grow, bloom and be pollinated before trees develop their leaves and cast shade on the ground beneath. The most iconic of woodland flowers is the bluebell. A carpet of bluebells beneath a canopy of beech trees is a hard sight to beat, and we should be proud to have about half of the world’s bluebells in the UK.

The exact timing of this spring spectacle varies according to weather and location. Sometimes, in the south-west of England, bluebells will peak at the end of April, but more typically it is the first week of May; farther north, they flower later, with plenty of bluebells still to be enjoyed in Scotland in June.

Our woodlands are hosts to a steady progression of other flowering plants during spring. Many are bright yellow – lesser celandine flowers from February and

primroses peak in May. Some, though, are quite understated, with alternate-leaved and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage flowering in damp spots from February, and dog’s mercury – which, like the bluebell, is an indicator of ancient woodland – producing small green flowers in April.

Other indicator species of ancient woodland include lily of the valley, wood anemone and another carpet-forming plant, wild garlic. This broad-leaved, white-flowered onion has a pungent, garlicky scent. Its hemispherical head of white flowers helps distinguish it from the three-cornered leek, which has a similarly strong smell but narrow leaves and a hanging head of white flowers. Another woodland flower with a garlic scent, albeit less pungent, is garlic mustard. Also known as hedge garlic and poor man’s mustard, this is a flower of woodland clearings and hedgerows, and is an important food source for the caterpillars of one of our spring butterflies, the orange-tip. Only the male butterfly has the orange-tips on its wings and to see him flying through a woodland glade is one of the most uplifting sights of spring.

As the temperature increases we can expect to observe a plethora of other butterflies emerging, starting with the holly blue, speckled wood, green-veined white and brimstone joining the small tortoiseshell, red admiral and peacock, which might all have over-wintered in adult form. It’s worth making a note of the first date you spot each of these species to make comparisons over the coming years.

Troutbeck Head Club campsite, Lake District

We’re thrilled to announce your member’s exclusive glamping discount just doubled to 20% o for you and your guests! So, why not invite your friends and family to join you on-site for a glamping break? With a choice of accommodation from heated wooden yurts to contemporary en-suite glamping cabins, there is something for everyone. Enter your membership number at checkout to save.

Glamp at these Club campsites: Cayton Village • Abbey Wood • Brighton • Coniston Park Coppice Moreton-in-Marsh• Daleacres • Southland • Troutbeck Head

or call us on 01342 488 718

LIQUID ASSETS

Sammy Faircloth examines the different water systems available in leisure vehicles

Wherever we decide to camp, access to fresh water is obviously a necessity. But there are a number of different ways that it can be piped to and from your touring vehicle, and this article is designed to provide a brief introduction to the topic. Additionally, you’re going to need a way to dispose of waste or ‘grey’ water after washing up or showering –we’ll take a look at this subject too.

ON-PITCH OPTIONS

Most caravan owners rely on portable containers for their fresh water, while some caravans and the majority of motorhomes come equipped with onboard tanks (more on this later). Additionally, certain campsites equip pitches with private taps – these enable the use of products such as Whale’s Watermaster Mains Water kit, so you can create a fully ‘plumbed-in’ set-up during your stay. An alternative is a Universal Mains Water Adaptor Kit –a hose connects to the mains water supply while a float mechanism inside your water container maintains water levels (much like the float system in a household toilet cistern ).

CONTAINERS

If you don’t have an onboard tank, a container is needed for your fresh water. There are numerous products on the market for this purpose, from plastic jerrycans to rolling water barrels like the well-known Aquaroll, and trolley-style containers. You need a separate container to manage your waste water from washing up and showering, etc – this is known as ‘grey water’. (I’ll deal with toilet systems and waste in a separate article later in the year). Some may resort to using a simple bucket for waste water, but this is far from ideal as it will fail to contain unpleasant odours effectively.

The Universal Mains Water Adaptor Kit ensures your portable water container remains consistently filled

Plastic jerrycans are cost-effective but can be cumbersome to carry

TANKS

Onboard fresh-water and waste-water tanks are often located under the floor and can be accessed through an internal service hatch. It is not recommended to travel with a full tank in a caravan or motorhome. A full tank creates a severe challenge to payload capacity and can (depending on location) adversely influence stability. The ideal is an empty tank with a separate small container of water for in-journey use. Partially-full tanks can be worse from a stability point of view than full ones, as the water can slosh around.

Onboard tanks can be filled and emptied at motorhome service points, which are found at many campsites. Refilling a fresh-water tank is straightforward — either by inserting a food-grade hose into the fresh-water inlet or by using a jug to fill through the internal hatch.

Some motorhomes, like the Bailey Adamo, are equipped with a Whale water filler inlet, similar to those found on caravans, which requires a submersible pump to draw water. If it’s not convenient to take the vehicle to a fresh-water tap when you need to refill the

Some use a bucket to collect ‘grey’ waste, but this can result in unpleasant odours

Motorhomes typically feature an internal hatch for accessing and servicing onboard water tanks

onboard tank, it’s often possible to use the built-in pump or a separate external one to draw water into the tank from an external water container. Check your vehicle handbook to see if the built-in pump can do this just using a length of hose pipe. If not, a separate submersible pump can be used. During a festival, where we couldn’t park next to a tap, we used the Whale Portable Pump Kit to fill our onboard tank. Powered by a 12V supply, the pump efficiently transfers water from a container to the tank

PUMP SYSTEMS

Water pumps generally fall into two categories: submersible pumps and diaphragm pumps. Submersible pumps, frequently used in caravans, are designed

TOP TIPS

Whether you have a water container or a tank you must ensure all taps, including the shower tap, are in the closed position when refilling. Also, check that the water heater drain-down lever (pictured) is in the closed position – see the manufacturer’s handbook to locate position and colour of the lever. Once the tank is filled to the desired level or the water container has been filled, switch on the pump and open the hot tap first, followed by the cold, allowing water to flow freely. Repeat this process with all taps. If the water sputters, it’s likely due to an airlock; simply let the water run until the flow becomes steady.

Trolley-style water containers for caravans are designed for convenience and ease of transport

This black, trolley-style waste-water container is clearly distinguishable from the fresh-water container

to be immersed in the fresh-water container and connected to the water inlet on the side of the vehicle. To ensure optimal performance, gently swirling the pump in the water container can help release any trapped air bubbles that might disrupt its operation.

Submersible pumps are cost-effective and straightforward to use, as they activate automatically when submerged. They are fairly robust, even tolerating grit or debris without significant issues. However, they can be problematic if the casing becomes damaged and water seeps into the motor, as repairs are not feasible. Additionally, they require a 12V power supply to function. Some owners carry a spare unit, especially if travelling on longer trips abroad, as they’re not that expensive and are straightforward to swap out if problems do occur.

By comparison, higher-end caravans and motorhomes often come equipped with diaphragm pumps, which are usually installed within the living area. These pumps are connected to the water container via a short hose attached to the external water inlet. Known for their durability and high flow rates, diaphragm pumps are a premium option. They tend to be more expensive than submersible pumps and can generate significant noise. Their internal pistons are sensitive to grit, and regular maintenance of the built-in filter is needed to ensure proper functionality. Like submersible pumps, diaphragm pumps also operate using a 12V power supply.

Whale Watermaster

kit provides a steady and uninterrupted water supply

Diaphragm pumps in caravans are robust and designed to provide consistent water flow

CLEANING

No matter which type of water system you have, it is essential to sterilise the pipes and water container or tank at the start of each season and numerous cleansing products are available. Always review the product label to ensure it is compatible and safe for use with your specific container or tank. Waste-water systems also need to be cleaned regularly, especially at the end of the season. Again, there are many products available that can help to eliminate germs and remove odours.

FINAL THOUGHTS …

We haven’t had room to deal with the likes of water filters, winterising strategies or toilet set-ups here – but hopefully this article acts as a basic guide to the workings of water systems. You’ll find lots more helpful information in the ‘Advice for Beginners’ section at camc.com/advice.

SAVE WITH CLUB SHOP

You can find a wide selection of discounted water-related products at Club Shop. See shop.camc.com for more details.

We have lots more Practical articles on our blog. Simply visit camc.com/blog and scroll to ‘Tips and ideas’, or scan the QR code.

DIMENSIONS:

x 21.5 x 22.5cm

ROLLER DIAMETER: 55mm

SAFE WORKING LOAD

LEVEL: 1800kg 18% GRADIENT: 1500kg

DIMENSIONS: 37.5 x 21 x 21.5cm

SAFE WORKING LOAD

LEVEL: 1900kg 18% GRADIENT: 1900kg

ROLLER DIAMETER: 70mm (21% Increase)

DIMENSIONS: 37.5 x 21.5 x 22.5cm

ROLLER DIAMETER: 55mm

SAFE WORKING LOAD

LEVEL: 1800kg 18% GRADIENT: 1500kg

DIMENSIONS: 37.5 x 21 x 21.5cm

ROLLER DIAMETER: 70mm (21% Increase)

SAFE WORKING LOAD

LEVEL: 1900kg 18% GRADIENT: 1900kg

DIMENSIONS: 34.5 x 23 x 21cm

ROLLER DIAMETER: 55mm

SAFE WORKING LOAD

LEVEL: 2000kg 18% GRADIENT: 1750kg

DIMENSIONS: 35.3 x 22.2 x 19.2cm

ROLLER DIAMETER: 70mm (21% Increase)

SAFE WORKING LOAD

LEVEL: 2500kg 18% GRADIENT: 2100kg

ASK YOUR CLUB

The Club’s technical team answers your pressing questions

Sight at night

QI find driving in the dark is getting increasingly difficult due to glare. Is it me, or is it modern headlights?

AThis has been a common topic in the media recently. The short answer is that it might be your eyesight, or modern technology, or just simple bad headlight alignment... or any combination of these.

If you use your leisure vehicle outside of the summer months, there’s a good chance you’ll be driving at night on occasion. Even in the summer, you might well choose to travel outside of daylight hours to avoid heavier traffic or perhaps to catch an overnight ferry. Problems with glare are undoubtedly common – a recent RAC survey suggested that almost all drivers experience some issues. The severity of experiences varies greatly, though, from being somewhat annoyed to feeling unsafe and reluctant to drive at night.

Is this you? It’s a harsh fact that many people experience deterioration of their eyesight with age, especially after 40.

While you might think the most basic eyesight assessment for driving (reading a standard car number plate at 20m) is hard to fail, when the police in England and Wales checked over 3,000 drivers last autumn, one in 60 of those tested did exactly that. A worrying 40% of drivers who were stopped hadn’t had an optician/ optometrist eyesight test during the past two years and a third of those stopped (and half of those who failed) were not wearing the glasses they had been prescribed.

REGULAR EYE TESTS

For safe driving and also for your general health, it really is advisable to have regular eyesight tests – tell your optician if you have problems driving at night and they can check for relevant conditions and/or recommend anti-glare lenses, which may help.

Is it the technology? Headlight tech has undoubtedly changed and advanced in recent years, but newer designs

based on LEDs and such like can be whiter, brighter and more focused. The steady preference for ‘taller’ cars (SUVs, 4x4s) may also be an issue. The Department for Transport has commissioned research looking into this and we look forward to seeing the results in due course.

Is it just set-up? Headlight alignment is checked at MOT, but of course the latest cars won’t be checked until they’re three years old. As well as the fundamental alignment (set by manufacturer or garage), depending on age and model, vehicles may be fitted with anything from manual adjustment to compensate for heavy loading through to automatic dynamic control that reacts to acceleration and braking too. Also, some headlights are ‘adaptive’, adjusting for speed, degree of steering or other factors.

You may well need to refer to your vehicle handbook to see how sophisticated your system is and (if necessary) how

to set it appropriately for conditions like heavy load. Make sure you’re not part of the problem, especially while towing or driving a heavilyladen motorhome.

Keeping your windscreen clean – and glasses, if you wear them – is another thing that can help reduce glare. If you still experience issues, however, train yourself not to look straight into oncoming lights (it sounds obvious, but people do it) and instead look at the kerb or the white line at the edge of most roads until the approaching vehicle has passed.

Please address your questions to:

Technical Information, Email: technical@camc.com Tel: 01342 336611

...and quote your membership number camc.com/advice

NEED A LADDER?

Available in heights 5ft – 12ft Prices start from just £299

Designed to keep you safe on uneven ground, the Fully Adjustable includes even more features than our original models:

• Secured with new pins for fast and ergonomic adjustment.

• Increased guardrail height allowing you to tuck in to work hands free.

• Extra strength due to the reengineered legs which are 15% stronger.

• Now up to 80% more adjustable.

CODE WORD

Can you complete this grid? The solution is at the foot of the page

S E A

To try more puzzles download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play. Remember to search for ‘CAMC Magazine’.

HOW TO PLAY

This puzzle has no clues in the conventional sense. Instead, every number printed in the main grid represents a different letter (with the same number always representing the same letter, of course). For example, if 8 turns out to be a V, you can write in V wherever a square contains 8.

2ND - 4TH

SUDOKU

Can you complete these grids? The answers are on the side of the page

SUDOKU EASY

All you have to do is place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell so that each row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers from 1-9.

To try more puzzles download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play. Remember to search for ‘CAMC Magazine’.

SUDOKU HARD

All you have to do is place a number from 1-9 in each empty cell so that each row, each column and each 3x3 block contains all the numbers from 1-9.

YOUR NEXT Adventure STARTS HERE

Auto-Sleepers, a renowned British company, has been crafting high-quality luxurious touring motorhomes for over 60 years. Our motorhomes are perfect for those seeking the ultimate, first-class camping experience.

At Auto-Sleepers, we understand that everyone has a unique vision of the perfect motorhome. That’s why we offer a range of options to help you find your ideal vehicle for your touring holiday. From versatile campervans to spacious coachbuilt leisure vehicles, each featuring top-tier specifications for the new season, there’s never been a better time to invest in an Auto-Sleeper motorhome. Explore our premium flagship ranges today.

COACHBUILTS & CAMPERVANS

£90 in Club gift vouchers to be won CROSSWORD

£50 in Club gift vouchers will be won by the sender of the first correct solution selected on Friday 2 May 2025. Four runners-up will each receive £10 Club gift vouchers

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is processing your personal data for the purpose of administering your competition entry. If you would like to know more about how we process personal data, please visit our Privacy Policy at camc.com/privacy-policy. NAME:

MEMBERSHIP NUMBER:

Attire (5)

Make someone feel admiration or respect (7)

Starch from cassava used in pudding (7)

Highland group (4)

Supporter of a controversial idea (9)

Something annoying (8)

Severe shortage of food (6) 18 To set in advance (6) 19 Affluent (4-2-2) 21 Spanish percussion instruments (9) 23 Contented sound of a cat (4)

DOWN

2 Stress a point (9)

3 Give off a foul smell (4)

5 Comprehend (6)

6 Shockingly bad (10)

24 Three-piece band (4) ACROSS 1 Abolish or throw away (3,3,2)

Porridge (7)

Tell (the story) (7)

Cavity, usually associated with the nose (5)

Review or consider (4,4)

4 Send off for a purpose (8)

7 Expressive icon used in text messages (5)

8 Keep going (4,3,6)

9 Not attracting attention (13)

13 Electronic heart regulators (10)

16 A way to prevent disease (9)

17 Private, or individual (8)

20 Piece of small shot (6)

22 Demo where protesters refuse to move (3-2)

Please clearly photograph/scan your answer grid and email to crossword@camc.com. Please use ’March/April Crossword’ as the subject heading and do not include any other correspondence with your entry. Alternatively, you can cut out your entry and send it to Crossword, Caravan and Motorhome Club magazine, Caravan and Motorhome Club, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19 1UA

Your observations on the fun and unusual world of touring

Pooch plans

Helen Allington’s pet dog was keen to study the new Sites Location Map for 2025 after travelling in Europe last year. Looks like they are very keen to play fetch on the Llyn Peninsula, Helen...

FLOWER POWER

“This little camper made many of us smile at the Freshwater East Club Campsite in June,” says Paul Sanderson, who also reports that it went up the steep hill just outside the site with no trouble at all.

If you see something fun or unusual on a Club campsite, CL or while you’re out and about, please send a picture to magazine@camc.com or tag @candmclub on Instagram and we’ll print the best.

Red hot

To see more Tail Lights download the Digital Magazine from the App Store or Google Play. Remember to search for ‘CAMC Magazine’.

“Here is a fantastic refurb of a 55-year-old German fire engine we spotted on our visit to Chester Fairoaks,” says Julie Ibbotson. Apparently the owner – who is from The Netherlands – purchased it 13 years ago. What a whopper!

Eric Ness was enjoying a rest at the top of Silver How in the Lake District when he found this local Herdwick sheep playing hide-andseek. Looks like a very cosy spot.

SWEET REWARD

Thanks to Kerry Ansell for sharing this picture of her special retirement cake, which was made by a very talented friend. Wishing you all the best for your retirement, Kerry, and hope you saved a slice or two to enjoy on your next trip!

Itchen for

a ride

Explore the River Itchen valley and an ancient cattle droving route on this on- and off-road ride from Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite.

There are pretty views and ancient villages in this rolling downland of farms and woods. Itchen Wood will be particularly beautiful in late spring when carpets of bluebells bloom below the beech trees.

The off-road sections, which follow the historic Ox Drove Way, are very well drained for the most part, so even in the aftermath of a named storm the track was easily passable and not too muddy.

The mill stream and river at Itchen Abbas offer attractive photo stops, as do the panoramas across the landscaped Avington estate.

In terms of off-road trail grades – which increase in difficulty from green to blue, red and black – this is no more than a blue at its most challenging and closer to green. So it’s a great way for mountain bikers of varying abilities to explore the Hampshire countryside.

CYCLING

VIDEOS

See this route and more at youtube. com/Caravanand MotorhomeClub

Jonathan Manning revels in rolling downland on this pretty route

DIRECTIONS

1

From the Club site turn right, pass Neptune Home, and at the T-junction turn right downhill along Chapel Lane. Continue for 3km to Easton and a T-junction opposite the Cricketers Inn.

2

3.1km – Turn right at the T-junction and continue for about 1km to reach a T-junction with the B3047.

3

4km – Turn right at the T-junction, signposted to Alresford and Itchen Abbas, and continue for 1.4km into Martyr Worthy, taking the third left, Chillandham Lane. Continue for 200m along the lane, passing under a bridge, to reach a drive on the right.

4 5.6km – Turn right up the drive, which soon becomes a mud/grass bridleway to the right of a barn. Follow this to reach a junction of roads.

5

6.8km – Turn left at the junction along an asphalt road and continue to reach a house. Leave the road and take the bridleway to the left of Oxdrove Farm.

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Continue for about 1.5km to reach a pair of gates (one ahead, one to the right) in a wood. Turn left and follow the trail to reach a vehicle track. Turn right on the muddy track, which soon becomes asphalt (with M3 immediately to the left). Continue to a T-junction.

6 10km – Turn right at the T-junction and continue for about 650m to the end of the woods, then turn into a small car park on the right, where a waymark post indicates the Oxdrove Way and Watercress Trail. Follow the singletrack, which becomes a farm road. When the road starts to head downhill, take the waymarked track on the left, just before an open metal farm gate. Continue to a road.

7 13.1km – Turn right along the road, and continue for 1.4km, taking the first road

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ABOUT THE ROUTE

Start/finish: Winchester

Morn Hill Club Campsite, Alresford Road, Winchester SO21 1HL. Distance: 14.3miles / 22.8km.

Time: 2 hours.

Level: Some off-road experience advisable.

Terrain: Quiet roads, field track and forest trails. Mountain or gravel bike required.

Landscape: Rolling hills, farmland and woods.

Refreshments:

Cricketers Inn, Easton; The Plough, Itchen Abbas.

on the left (Rectory Lane) opposite a sign to Northington and East Stratton. Continue to reach a T-junction with the B3047.

8 15.4km – Turn right at the junction, into Itchen Abbas, pass The Plough on the right, then take the first left, soon crossing a mill stream and river. Follow this road as it bends right through Avington to the end of the village.

9 17.5km – Take the right turn to Easton and Winchester, passing through Avington Park. Stay on this road all the way into Easton, reaching a junction with the Cricketers Inn on the right.

10 19.7km – Turn left opposite the Cricketers Inn, retracing the first section of the ride back to Winchester Morn Hill Club Campsite.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club make no warranties concerning the accuracy or completeness of the routes published, which to the best of our knowledge were correct at the time of publication. Your use of the routes is at your own risk and we accept no responsibility for the suitability or safety of any routes published. Routes may be out of date or affected by changes to the physical environment and, to the extent permitted by law, we accept no responsibility for personal injury or property damage caused by your use of the routes.

Club members save 50% on a Cycling UK 12-month membership which includes great benefits and discounts plus expert advice and information. Find out more at camc. com/cyclinguk

Wet wild

andMark Sutcliffe explores a fascinating landscape where the foothills of the Lakeland fells meet the vast skyscapes of Morecambe Bay

Mark Sutcliffe is a former editor of Country Walking magazine and a regular contributor to the Club Magazine. Mark has walked thousands of miles across Britain and Europe and is currently working on his second walking guidebook.

This quiet corner of the Lake District, where the foothills of the high fells meet the coastline of Morecambe Bay is an often-overlooked landscape where nature is making a real comeback

Thanks to sympathetic management by Cumbria Wildlife Trust, which is carefully restoring the wetlands along this coastal strip, rare species such as the osprey, green hairstreak butterfly and a host of dragonflies are returning to this expanse of raised peatbog – one of England’s scarcest habitats.

This walk from Meathop Fell Club Campsite follows the River Winster into the woodlands flanking the prominent limestone cliffs of Whitbarrow Scar, passing the elegant Halecat House, with its beautiful gardens and Grade II-listed gazebo, before returning to Meathop Fell Club Campsite across Meathop Moss.

I followed this route on a gloriously crisp winter’s morning, flushing snipe and woodcock from the mossland and watching stonechats feeding among the seedheads of the reeds. But the mosses really come alive in late spring and

summer, when the ospreys return to neighbouring Foulshaw Moss to nest and the reserves hum with the sound of insects making the most of the summer warmth.

DIRECTIONS

1

From the site’s main gate, turn right along the access road and continue past some houses, turning left at a postbox onto a lane. Continue along the lane for half a mile to the junction. Follow the road left across the bridge then take the bridleway through a gate on the right, across a field then through another gate to the main road.

2

1.6km – Cross the dual carriageway with care, then continue along a bridleway, heading right over a footbridge, then slightly left through a gate to skirt left of the rocky outcrops and through a gate into the woodlands of Nichols Moss.

3

2.3km – Follow the bridleway through the stands of holly, birch and Scots pine to reach another bridleway joining from the left. Continue slightly right on a gravel track, past farmhouses, following the track as it arcs around to the right and becomes a lane.

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4

4.2km – Where the lane swings left, continue straight ahead towards the woods. Follow the track round to the right, then veer almost immediately left on a narrow footpath into the woods. Climb steeply through the woods and where the gradient levels out, continue straight ahead over a junction of paths and descend on a gravel track to the nursery at Halecat House.

5 5km – At a junction, head left then immediately right through a kissing gate and continue past a gazebo and through a gate, passing Halecat House. At the next footpath junction, head left, climbing steadily, then right, past some stables and climb through the woods to a lane. Continue on the lane then turn sharp right onto a rocky track.

6 5.2km – Descend gently past some cottages and continue through a gate and straight on across a field to another gate in the bottom left-hand corner of the field. Go through the gate, continue to the second path junction

and fork left, climbing briefly to cross a stone stile at the edge of the woods.

7 5.8km – Continue along the left-hand wall then left through a gate and past some cottages, following the track to a footpath on the right leading into a village. Go over the stone stile, turn right and continue down a lane to the Derby Arms. Continue straight over the crossroads, signposted Grange and Ulpha.

8 6.3km – Before reaching the main road, veer right to head under the carriageway using the cyclist and pedestrian tunnel. Beyond the tunnel, follow the path right to join a lane and continue along the lane, following the route of National Cycleway 70 as it arcs back across the moss to join the Cumbria Coastal Way towards Meathop

9 9.7km – At a junction at the edge of the moss, turn right then take a footpath on the left after 150 yards and follow it as it curves left and over a stile then right to join a lane. Turn left to return to the site gate.

by your use of the routes.

ABOUT THE ROUTE

Start/finish: Meathop Fell Club Campsite, Meathop Road, Meathop, Grangeover-Sands LA11 6RB.

Distance: 6.5 miles/ 10.4km.

Time: 2hr 45min.

Level: Suitable for regular walkers with a reasonable level of fitness.

Terrain: Quiet country lanes and woodland paths, which may be muddy in wet weather. One busy road to cross with care. Two short, steep climbs, but otherwise broadly flat.

Landscape: Low-lying nature-rich mossland and mixed deciduous woodland. Two nature reserves.

Refreshments: The Derby Arms, Witherslack.