Monthly Archives: June 2015

Don’t miss the BEN vintage and classic car rally and summer fete – July 4th.

27 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by in Exhibitions and Shows

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This is a GREAT day out – I shall be there as usual!

BEN, the automotive industry will hold its annual Vintage and Classic Car Rally and Summer Fete on Saturday 4th July. The day will start with a rally tour of classic cars and motor cycles though Windsor Great Park, which will then be available for the public to view from 12.30pm at Broomhall Recreation Ground, Sunningdale. All visitors are welcome to take a closer look at the magnificent vehicles which will include a display of one particular historic manufacturer’s range of vehicles – a new feature for this year!

Also there will be a number of fantastic stalls and entertainment for the family, including a birds of prey display; a bouncy castle; companion dog show; face painting; food and refreshments including cakes and vintage iced tea; and so much more…

Ticket prices are £2 for adults and free entry for children under 14 years. Free car parking will also be available on the day. The event will be held at Broomhall Recreational Ground, Broomhall Lane, Sunningdale SL5 0QS.

Commenting on the event, BEN’s Events Manager Kelly Neal said, “We are once again looking forward to our annual summer event and we have fingers crossed for glorious weather this year. This is a truly enjoyable family day out that we look forward to welcoming new and regular visitors to this ever popular event.”

For information on the Rally, please contact Eamonn Galligan, BEN, Lynwood Court, Lynwood Village, Ascot, Berks, SL5 0FG Tel 01344 298100. For further details on the Summer Fete please email warren.neal@ben.org.uk or call 01344 298137. Or visit http://www.ben.org.uk/fete15

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

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Black Knowl CC site – one of the best?

21 Sunday Jun 2015

Posted by in Sites

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This week I have been at Black Knowl Caravan Club site in Hampshire – and what an outstanding site it is.

It is set within the ancient royal hunting forest of William the Conqueror which is now a National Park and is within walking distance of Brockenhurst. This is very much a site for the walker and the cyclist with some 140 miles of track nearby. It has an open aspect and you really do feel you are in the middle of nowhere. Indeed, it is so isolated there is no WiFi as the copper wire from the exchange is of such a length that it cannot cope with broadband. 

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

The A82 in Scotland. One of Europe’s great drives I reckon.

13 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by in Places, Travel

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I have just completed – and not for the first time – the drive on the A82 alongside Loch Lomond and up to Fort William and beyond. I put it up there with the best drives in Europe. Huge, spectacular scenery and passes of extreme beauty such as Glencoe. Breathtaking stuff.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Celebrating 130 years of The Wanderer.

08 Monday Jun 2015

Posted by in History

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The Caravan Club Celebrates 130 years since the First Tour of The Wanderer Caravan

 This June marks 130 years since the world’s first purpose-built leisure touring caravan, The Wanderer, took to the road on its maiden voyage. Twitter followers of The Caravan Club Collection, based at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, will be able to retrace the steps of The Wanderer online over the Summer months.

 Owned by popular Victorian Author, Dr William Gordon Stables, The Wanderer caravan travelled 1,400 miles during the Summer of 1885. It was towed by two horses from Twyford in Berkshire to Inverness, from where the caravan returned to London by rail before continuing its journey along the South Coast, reaching as far as Lymington in the New Forest.

 Highlights of this pioneering journey will be shared via The Caravan Club Collection’s Twitter account along with accompanying blogs. Details of the tour will be taken from Dr Gordon Stables’ account of his travels in his book The Cruise of the Land Yacht Wanderer, along with photographs and illustrations of the caravan which are on public display for the first time.

 This incredible caravan was bequeathed to The Caravan Club by the daughter of Dr William Gordon Stables in the 1960s, and can now be viewed by members staying at the Club Site at Broadway, Worcestershire, where it is on permanent display.

 “William Gordon Stables was a true adventurer, with a pioneering spirit and a genuine appreciation of the great outdoors and the benefits the natural world brings to mind and body,” explained Nick Lomas, Director General of The Caravan Club. “For many Club members this is still the essence of touring caravanning and the freedom that goes with it, so we are delighted to mark this anniversary and inspire others with that same spirit of adventure.”

 To keep up to date with this celebration of The Wanderer’s first journey, follow The Caravan Club Collection on Twitter @TheCCCollection or through the hashtag #Wanderer130. Followers will also be invited to share their own pictures of the towns, villages and landmarks which Gordon Stables visited en route.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Kendal CC Site – get away from it all!

06 Saturday Jun 2015

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Recently I stayed at The Caravan Club’s Kendal site just off J36 of the M6 next to the tiny village of Sedgwick.

If you want a bit of peace and quiet but with all mod cons to hand this is the site to go for! The fast moving River Kent runs alongside the site, consequently there is stacks of wild life and it is clearly a botanist’s haven – pungent wild garlic at this time of year. For my part I walked to the nearby Strickland Arms – thirty minutes – and enjoyed a very nice evening there.

The site is National Trust woodland and is itself a former 19th century gunpowder mill. Basic data: 20 acres, 140 pitches, all hard standings, 9 serviced pitches.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews