>>CONTENTS

Cover story

Our Claudia Dowell explores the Kent coastline in this month’s Great Escape

Issue highlight

Great Escape Kent p40

News

Hymer returns p12

10 Noticeboard Including Hymer’s new UK dealer network, and reuniting one reader with a lost magazine after 30 years! 14 Letters Your chance to have your say 19 Caravan bore On-site pitch protocol 22 Getting started Your essential guide to taking up caravanning 28 Win a caravan Enter our draw! 30 Inspiration Great reasons to tour in 2012

Cover story

Cover story

6 | APRIL 2012 | www.practicalcaravan.com

Travel

Cover story

Cover story

34 Britain at its best Get inspired by our spring images 38 Owner Satisfaction Survey Tell us about your new or used caravan in our all-new survey 40 Great Escape Kent Our Claudia Dowell explores the Cinque Ports and the fabulous forts of Kent’s historic coastline 49 Mini-guide to Kent Claudia’s cut-out-and-keep guide to where to stay, where to go, where to eat, and more 52 Windermere Reader Gary Richardson reveals his secret CS bolt-hole for escapes to his beloved Lake District 56 Wirral Our Doug King sets off with his wife Brenda for an adventure in this unsung part of England’s north-west 62 Cambridge Claudia Dowell celebrates spring blossoms, punts and the best places to take tea in the university city 68 The Shetlands Our pick of eight essential attractions to visit in Scotland’s remote northern islands

Bi gg es t ca ra va n co mp et it io n

EV ER !

Enter our draw to win an Elddis Xplore p28

win an Elddis Xplore win an Elddis Xplore p28 p28

Take part in our owners survey p38 BREAKING NEWS… German manufacturer Hymer has named an agent to import its caravans, including the pop-up Eriba line-up, to the UK. For details, turn to page 12

Issue highlight

Exclusive preview Venus Caravans: an allnew lightweight brand p94

Caravan Genius 112 Genius ideas A new mobile phone stays charged for 15 years in case of emergency. We’ve got other tips, plus Talking Tourers 114 Doug’ll fix it Have caravan queries or quandaries? Ask Doug “Fix-it” King 119 Project van Doug King fits an extra light and does some finishing touches 121 Step by step Replace an old hitch head with an Al-Ko stabiliser. Here’s how to do it 122 Advice Unwrap your pride and joy and get it ready for the coming touring season 124 Advice Don’t settle for second best. Follow our guide to get the pitch you want 127 Caravan College Waste-water systems in the spotlight 138 Used caravan buyer The Swift Corniche makes a great used van for two

Cover story

Preston-based Lunar Caravans launches a new lightweight, entry-level range of tourers, and we’re the first to see them!

Showroom On test in this issue… 84 Live-in test Our testers Nigel and Kay Hutson stay a few nights in the two-berth Coachman Pastiche 460/2 90 First look We run the rule over Bailey’s

Cover story impressive Unicorn Cadiz 94 New launch Preston caravan manufacturer Lunar launches an exciting new lightweight brand: Venus Caravans

Cover story

97 First drives We drive a leaner Jeep Cherokee and a new 1.6-litre Ford Mondeo 99 Towcar twin test David Motton pits the Peugeot 207 SW against the latest Renault Clio Sport Tourer 105 Awning test We put an Isabella Commodore Concept awning to the test 107 Running reports Our vans, our cars, our month – find out how our fleet is faring

Cover story

This month, the Peugeot 207

goes head to head with the

Renault Clio Sport Tourer p99

140 Subscription offer Save 15% of the cover price and get a Muc-Off caravan cleaner kit worth £30, FREE 142 Second-hand shoot-out We compare fixed-bed tourers costing around £11,000 147 Talking towcars From matches to motors, send your tough tug questions to David Motton 149 Used towcar buyer Skoda’s aptly named Superb makes a great used buy 159 New kit We test innovative touring kit, including cut-and-fit blinds that keep the summer sun at bay when you want to sleep 167 Caravan basics Essential touring knowledge for beginners and experts alike 176 Caravan scrapbook More unusual and unlikely caravans from yesteryear, courtesy of Andrew Jenkinson. Plus, check out our dip into the magazine archive

Buyer’s guide 130 New caravans Updated and revamped with prices and data for all new UK tourers 151 Top 25 used towcars Here’s our choice of the 25 best used tugs on the market 153 Top caravanning accessories Have a look at our pick of what to take on tour www.practicalcaravan.com | APRIL 2012 | 7