Monthly Archives: September 2016

Wellhouse Leisure – big range for the NEC Show.

24 Saturday Sep 2016

Posted by in Exhibitions and Shows, Motorhomes, Uncategorized

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Wellhouse Leisure offers the widest choice of campervans and more new model launches at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2016

 

• Wellhouse Leisure will have its largest and most diverse range of new campervans ever, including the show debut of five new models, on its stand in Hall 12 at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2016, at the NEC from 11 to 16 October 2016. This includes:

• Ford Terrier – SE, M-Sport and the new long-wheelbase model with up to seven seats

• Ford Evie – compact camping-car based on the Ford Transit Connect Grand Tourneo

• Hyundai i800 Camper – facelifted version returns to the Wellhouse Leisure range

• Mercedes Moselle – based on the new Vito, with all-new interior furniture by Tecnoform

• Zooom Mobile NV200 – a two-berth, compact campervan based on the Nissan NV200

• new Toyota Proace – prototype model fitted with elevating roof and windows only

• new Ford Nu-Venture – first Nu-Venture coachbuilt on a Ford Transit Custom cab

• new SsangYong Turismo – an MPV-based, four-berth camper with a kitchen, elevating roof and 178PS, 2.2-litre Euro 6 diesel engine, plus value for money with prices expected to be from £29,995

 

The Wellhouse Leisure stand in Hall 12 at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2016 is particularly worth visiting this year as it will have its widest range of eight different campervan ranges to see, including the debut of five all-new models.

 

Its most successful campervan, the Ford Terrier 2, will be there with three variants to see: the best-selling SE, the eye-catching M-Sport, and the new long-wheelbase model launched this summer which can seat up to seven people. All Terriers feature the practical, sliding rear seat, stylish, high-quality Tecnoform furniture and the new 130PS, 2.0-litre, Ford Euro 6 engine, with improved fuel economy and torque compared to the previous 2.2-litre, 125 PS TDCi unit, plus the new option of automatic transmission.

For something more compact based on a Ford there’s the two-berth Wellhouse Ford Evie camping-car, winner of the Micro Motor Caravans class of The Caravan Club Motor Caravan Design Awards 2016, available from £28,500.

 

The popular, and award-winning, Hyundai i800 Camper will be at The Motorhome and Caravan show after making a welcome return to the Wellhouse range this summer, with prices starting from £42,000. It has a particularly high standard specification, including oven, heating and hot water system, plus an external shower, with standard or special edition trim levels available, plus the option of automatic transmission.

 

Another model returning to the Wellhouse stand is its redesigned Mercedes Vito-based Moselle, which now features an all-new kitchen and storage unit from the Italian furniture designer, Tecnoform. It still has an SCA elevating roof, seats five people and has Wellhouse’s trademark sliding rear seat system, with prices from £44,500. The luxury specification includes solar panel, heating, a choice of three Mercedes BlueTec Euro 6 engines, with rear-wheel drive, plus the option of automatic transmission.

 

The Zooom Mobile NV200, based on the compact Nissan NV200 van, is a new model that Wellhouse Leisure is considering introducing for the UK in partnership with the German manufacturer, Zooom. It is offered with two or five seat models plus an elevating roof, and can be fitted with storage units in the back, including a fold-away kitchen unit.

 

The first of Wellhouse’s all-new models is based on the stylish, new Toyota Proace. Wellhouse is one of the first in the UK to develop a campervan conversion of Toyota’s new van. In fact, this exciting new model is so new that Wellhouse is not able to show the finished interior conversion yet, with the example on show fitted with side windows and an elevating roof only so that people can see what size and look of it, and pre-order one. It will have four-seats, an economical 1.6-litre diesel engine and a body length of 4.9m. Prices are expected to start from around £38,000.

 

Wellhouse has co-operated with Nu Venture motorhomes to develop a coachbuilt-style model based on a Ford Transit Custom cab, which makes its debut at the show. The two-berth coachbuilt body is the same width as the base vehicle to make it easy to drive and compact enough to be used every day. This two-berth model is 5.5m long with an entry door at the rear, and a comfortable interior with all the features of a full-height motorhome. This includes a front lounge with side dinette that converts into two singles or a double bed, over cab storage area, kitchen and full washroom with shower. Prices are expected to start from £46,000.

 

The final all-new campervan being launched at the show is its first conversion of the SsangYong Turismo MPV. This car-sized campervan, powered by a 178PS, 2.2-litre, Euro 6 diesel engine, really is a multi-purpose vehicle with an elevating roof, kitchen unit, four seats and four-berths, with prices expected to be from £29,995.

 

David Elliott, Managing Director of Wellhouse Leisure commented: “Wellhouse Leisure is really pleased to be launching more new campervans, and to be able to offer such a wide choice in a mixture of sizes and brands. Wellhouse now offers something for everyone and every budget, from micro campers to our best-selling, award-winning models, all offering exceptional value for money.”

 

http://www.wellhouseleisure.com

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews
 

Volkswagen Passat is best for caravans.

24 Saturday Sep 2016

Posted by in General, This and That

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I love keeping an eye on what is going on in the caravan world and this week Volkswagen’s Passat Estate Alltrack lifted the overall trophy, as well as class and category wins, in The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year 2017 competition.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Sir Bradley Wiggins to open Motorhome & Caravan Show 2016

18 Sunday Sep 2016

Posted by in Exhibitions and Shows

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• Olympic champion to open the show

• New Swift product to be unveiled by cycling hero

• Team Wiggins supported by Swift Group

Five-time Olympic Champion, Sir Bradley Wiggins, will open this year’s Motorhome & Caravan Show and unveil the hotly anticipated new-for-2017 caravan from Team Wiggins sponsor and caravan and motorhome specialists, Swift Group.

‘Wiggo’, as he’s affectionately called by his legion of fans, will be appearing at the show’s LIVE Theatre on Tuesday 11 October to pull the covers off and proudly launch the latest addition to the Swift product line-up.

Since 1964 the Swift Group has been manufacturing quality caravans and today is one of the market leaders. For two seasons the Swift Group has proudly supported Team Wiggins cycling team.

While details of the exciting new Swift caravan remain under wraps, the British caravan and motorhome specialist is more than happy to shout about its support of Team Wiggins. James Turner, Managing Director, Swift Group said: “We’re delighted to be supporting Team Wiggins, and with the growing number of cyclists in the team we’re happy to now be providing them with two motorhomes.”

The team, founded by Sir Bradley in 2015, will continue to race under a UCI Continental licence and compete both at home and abroad.

Hot-on-the-wheels of his Olympic success at the Rio De’ Janeiro Games this month, Sir Bradley will no doubt be given a champion’s welcome at the Motorhome & Caravan Show in October at The Birmingham NEC. The eight-time medal winner will be sharing his passion for cycling as well as his passion for the great outdoors. He’ll be giving talks at the show about his love of the open road.

The Motorhome & Caravan Show is the only place where all the new 2017 caravan and motorhome models from leading UK and European manufacturers are revealed under one roof.

Over the six-date must-attend event, visitors to the show will have access to nearly 400 exhibitor stands over the space of 11 halls, offering exclusive ‘show-only’ deals on thousands of products and accessories. Major manufacturers and industry experts will be on hand to give advice and a number of well-known celebrities will also be in attendance, keen to share their love of the great outdoors.

The popularity of the leisure vehicle industry continues to grow, contributing over £6 billion per annum to the UK economy. According to a recent survey, 2015 saw motorhome registrations increase by 21.1% and growing popularity and preference for UK ‘staycations’.

Tickets are now on sale for the UK’s biggest ever leisure vehicle launch show, held at The Birmingham NEC, from as little as £7.50.  

To buy tickets for the show and for more information visit http://www.mcshow.co.uk or call 0844 873 7333.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Retro motorhome auctioned.

13 Tuesday Sep 2016

Posted by in History, Uncategorized

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Retro 1930s motor believed to be Britain’s first motorhome has been sold at auction for £34,500.

The 1936 Pontiac Six has been described as “outstandingly original” after still being fitted with all its original features, including the curtains, water softener and old tins of jam.

The time-warp motorhome went under the hammer as part of a Bonhams vintage car sale at Goodwood Revival this weekend.
The original owner, Captain Dunn of Bexhill, East Sussex, ordered the motorhome in 1935 through a local coachbuilders, Russell’s of Bexhill.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Last of the summer sun in Carlyon Bay, Cornwall?

07 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Places, Sites

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Enjoying a few days here in Cornwall.

It is a bit of a trip down memory lane for me in that light years ago when I was with the truck division of British Leyland I was here a lot as English China Clays (ECC Group) was one of our biggest customers and I was forever here demonstrating off-highway trucks for use in the china clay mines. 

The Carlyon Bay Hotel always seemed to feature in our discussions and I popped in for a meal last night to remind me of those days. It has of course extensively modernised over time but some traditions live on – a pianist still performs in the main dining room.

When I was here in the early seventies ECC was a huge employer and the county was littered with spoil heaps. Employment was vital but the side effects of the mining was not pretty. The world moved on and finally by 1999 the company had stopped trading – in its heyday it was a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index. We tend to think that disruption is a new phenonomen because we see new players moving in and doing things differently but sadly too many industries have failed to reinvent themselves. And now there is a China Clay Museum charting the rise and fall of the industry.

To a visitor like myself Cornwall clearly has a range of industries at work but I get the impression that now tourism is top dog. Indeed the County Council recently decided to keep its Brussels office in an attempt to continue to encourage inward investment despite the Brexit vote.

It’s been a lovely break.

http://www.carlyonbay.net

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Left the motorhome at home – OMG!!

05 Monday Sep 2016

Posted by in Places, Uncategorized

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Doesn’t happen very often but this weekend we have abandoned the motorhome and are staying with friends in Dorset. What you might call a classic country weekend. 

My personal view is that both Suffolk and Dorset are two of England’s best kept secrets and certainly our weekend near Sherborne is confirming that.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Run Cottage Touring Park – Suffolk.

03 Saturday Sep 2016

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Run Cottage Touring Park is an excellent site close to Suffolk’s heritage coast. It is on the edge of the village of Hollesley near Woodbridge. It is in the heart of Suffolk’s heathlands near Woodbridge MOD and Martlesham Heath itself.

Beautifully maintained and run by the owners – who live on the site – the fifty pitch site is a delight and has rightly won a number of awards over the years. It has a very friendly atmosphere and certainly has the personal touch which in this day and age is of course much appreciated. Needless to say its facilities are immaculate. Five hundred metres into the village is the Shepherd and Dog pub and the Suffolk coastline is a two kilometre stroll.

Readers of this blog will know I have a big list of favourite sites – Run Cottage is certainly now on it.

Full details at http://www.runcottage.co.uk

 

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews