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MOTORHOMENEWS

~ A personal take by Christopher Macgowan on tourism, travel and motorhomes.

MOTORHOMENEWS

Monthly Archives: May 2014

Dolgellau

29 Thursday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Places, Road Safety, Travel

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Christopher Macgowan, Dolgellau, IAM, motorhome, motorhomenews

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Passing through the southern end of Snowdonia National Park recently on the A470 near Dolgellau you see some wonderful valleys and have to scale some steep gradients. It is stunning countryside and I was impressed with this motorhome proudly displaying the driver’s membership of the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Hmm! Must be a weekend approaching.

29 Thursday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in General

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Christopher Macgowan, motorhome, motorhomenews, weather

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With weather like this, we must be approaching a weekend.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Lunar Landstar RL is Overall Winner of this year’s competition.

19 Monday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Motorhomes

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chamberlain, Lunar, macgowan, motorhome, The Caravan Club

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This year’s awards saw the Lunar Landstar RL scoop Overall Winner of this highly regarded Motor Caravan competition, winning the class for Van Conversions from £40,000 to £50,000 on the way. Not only did the manufacturer win this coveted prize, but also won its entry into a new class added for the first time this year – that of Micro Motor Caravans, with its Lunar Vacanza.

Once again, competition testing took place at Newark Showground at the end of April where a panel of four driving and six design judges put the vehicles through their paces, assessing and evaluating excellence in design, comfort, construction and handling, including reversing and manoeuvring.

The judges praised the Lunar Landstar RL for remarkable attention to detail and, even before the vehicles arrived at the test venue, points were being racked up for the quality of information on the company’s website and in its handbooks, with its warranty terms also scoring favourably.

Once under the scrutiny of the design judges the Landstar won the following praise, “Long, lean and classy – a great deal of Mercedes motorhome at a realistic price”, and “Over the moon with this one“.

The driving judges referred to it as “Nice to drive, quiet and good performance” while marking it highly in ride quality and stability at high speeds.

Thirty-two vehicles were entered into The Caravan Club Motor Caravan Design and Drive Competition this year and were split into eight classes, with the addition of Micro Motor Caravans competing for the very first time and all were thoroughly evaluated. Like last year, a brand new award was added … the Dougal Dog-Friendly Motor Caravan Award.

This award was granted to the Shire Conversion Phoenix 2XL Studio and was the vehicle that, in the judge’s opinion, demonstrated the most dog-friendly facility onboard, including showering facility, room for dog bed and feeding bowls, secure areas for travelling and easy-clean floor and upholstery.

Other class honours went to the: Lunar Vacanza (Micro Motor caravans); East Neuk Fifer Touring S (Van Conversions costing up to £40,000); Lunar Landstar RL (Van Conversions from £40,000 to £50,000 and Overall Winner); Auto-Sleeper Kingham (Van conversions over £50,000); Marquis Majestic 125 (Coachbuilts costing up to £45,000); the Bailey Approach Autograph 740 (Coachbuilts costing between £45,000 and £60,000); the Auto-Sleeper Burford (Coachbuilts costing over £60,000); the Frankia Exclusiv I640 SD (A Class vehicles).

Commenting on the Competition, Caravan Club Chairman Grenville Chamberlain said, “It is primarily for Club members that all of this work is undertaken, helping them with their buying decisions. Furthermore, The Club is also continually endeavouring to support the industry, and by making this information available it hopes to encourage members to make informed choices about today’s new motorhomes as well as tomorrow’s used vehicles. We are delighted The Caravan Club Motor Caravan Design and Drive Competition continues to receive such great support from the industry. Our congratulations go to all the winners in this Competition.”

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Gorgeous Welsh countryside.

17 Saturday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Places, Travel

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Blaenau Ffestiniog, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews, Snowdonia, Wales

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We all know the UK is rich in wonderful countryside and scenery and I experienced some of the best this week ambling through north and central Wales. This photo from a village just outside Blaenau Ffestiniog in Snowdonia looking down on the famous railway.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Moreton-in-Marsh CC site looking great and looking full tonight.

15 Thursday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Sites

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Christopher Macgowan, Moreton-in-Marsh, motorhomenews, The Caravan Club

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This is one of my favourite sites. Nice layout, excellent facilities and an easy walk into town where there is lots to see and do.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Riverside site at Betws-y-Coed

14 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Sites

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Betws-y-Coed, Christopher Macgowan, Morris Leisure, motorhomenews, Snowdonia, The Caravan Club, Wales

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Am spending time at the Riverside Caravan Club Affiliated Site in Betws-y-Coed. It is a wonderful location not least because it is in easy walking distance of the village which has loads of places to eat and drink. For my taste it is a bit over populated with shops selling stuff you wouldn’t let in your house under any circumstances but it is still an attractive location.

The site is run by Morris Leisure http://www.morris-leisure.co.uk to an exceptionally high standard and also on a very friendly and welcoming basis. Strict pitching standards are rightly enforced on all fifty nine hard standings and there are TV points at each pitch and WiFi is available at extra cost. Two night minimum stay. And you are in a most attractive part of Wales for good measure – it does not get much better than the Snowdonia National Park.

It is a good spot for motorhomers and an even better spot if trains feature in your life.

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Just so you know, there are privately owned limited tenancy statics at the entrance to the site – all of which look immaculate – and the touring part is further into the site.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

VW Camper will return.

13 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Marketing

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AutoExpress, camper, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews, VW

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Source: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk

Volkswagen will re-introduce its iconic Camper, as well as a sporty Beetle and an SUV

Volkswagen is working on an all-new Beetle, as well as new retro family of Beetle-based models that’s set to include a revival of the famous campervan, a stylish coupe and a crossover.

The Volkswagen Beetle is based on the MkVI Volkswagen Golf, but this new family of cars will be underpinned by the new MQB vehicle architecture found in the latest Golf.

It’s unclear whether each model will wear the Beetle nameplate, but the belief internally is that Volkswagen’s Beetle brand is strong enough to support a range of models all of its own, as Fiat is doing with the 500, 500X and 500L.

The most exciting model in the proposed future Beetle family is the revived Volkswagen Camper, which we’ve seen most recently as the Bulli concept at 2011’s Geneva Motor Show. That was related to the Volkswagen up! city car and had an all-electric powertrain – but now a larger, Beetle-based model is in favour.

The word from within Volkswagen is that the exterior design will be sixties-inspired, but the technology underneath will be fully up-to-date, including power from the new range of 1.0-litre three-cylinder engines and optional four-wheel drive.

The good news is that a new Volkswagen Camper is supposedly coming – but the bad news is it’s not expected to arrive until the all-new Beetle is released in 2019.

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/86946/volkswagen-camper-to-return-in-growing-beetle-range#ixzz31bKKS7eO

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Southport extension nearing completion – pitches now bookable.

09 Friday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Sites

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Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews, Southport, The Caravan Club

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Southport Caravan Club site is one of my favourites and phase 2 of 3 began in October last year to extend it.

Says The Caravan Club: “This already very popular site will benefit from an additional 79 hard standing pitches (some serviced), taking the total up to 174, offering even more members the opportunity to stay here. In addition to these pitches, a brand new central amenity block will be built, featuring the usual high Club standards and will be equipped with disabled facilities, laundry, dishwashing room and a baby/toddler bathroom.

Completion date: Phase 2, 30 May 2014

When Phase 3 begins at Southport in October 2014, the existing toilet block will be fully refurbished, and will be completed in time for Easter 2015. During that time the site will be working on reduced pitch numbers. We thank you for your patience during this time and hope you enjoy the new amenities and pitches that have been installed on site.”

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

SEARCH AND BOOK

The National Motor Museum is a world record holder!

06 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Exhibitions and Shows, General

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Christopher Macgowan, NMM

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The National Motor Museum yesterday set an (unofficial) World Record for the longest line of toy cars at: 24,189. The record will become official when confirmed by Guinness.

The museum collaborated with local companies and the car forum Piston Heads. The record was the culmination of much hard work by staff and volunteers, in advance and on the day. Just the count itself took 3 hours!

Over 10,000 of the toy cars ran though the Museum (in a long and very convoluted line) and the rest were outside.

The toy cars will be sold in aid of Naomi House and Jacksplace, local hospices for children and young adults.

The National Motor Museum has a special Caravan Club display open throughout the year and hosts the Club’s archives.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Off to France!

05 Monday May 2014

Posted by chrismacgowan in Travel

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Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews

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Off to France this weekend! Can’t beat it!

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

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