Tag Archives: campervan

As seen on BBC2….8pm April 20th and 27th.

09 Saturday Apr 2016

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The Caravan Club’s Caravanner of the Year Competition. Soon to be shown on BBC2, two one-hour shows…

The Caravan Club is the largest touring organisation of its kind, representing over one million caravanners. As a champion of the great outdoors it is committed to raising the positive profile of caravanning for the benefit of members and the industry as a whole.

The Caravan Club allowed the BBC to film its ‘Caravanner of the Year’ competition that celebrates this Great British pastime which is held in high affection. Six top enthusiasts, (all Club members) battled it out across two highly charged weekends to win The Caravan Club’s inaugural competition and the coveted title of ‘Caravanner of the Year’. It’s the caravanning world’s “Great British Bake Off”.

The programmes – which will be aired on BBC2 at 8pm on 20 and 27 April – follow the fun, and drama, of how the motorhomers, caravanners and campervanners competed against each other.

The enthusiasts were faced with a variety of challenges covering activities such as manoeuvring, navigation, hospitality and caravanning knowledge. There was also the precision challenge of the Concours D’Elegance which demanded much polishing and primping of their vehicles!

Judges for the competition were Grenville Chamberlain, Chairman of The Caravan Club and motorhome maverick and journalist Andy Harris. Guest judges Lucy Jayne Grout, a specialist in vintage caravan restoration and Martin Dorey, the Camper Van Cook, both utilized their expertise to assess the competitors.

Scenic Ferry Meadows Caravan Club Site was the backdrop for the competition and on the Finals weekend all site visitors enjoyed an impromptu party with the finalists to celebrate the competition.

Grenville Chamberlain, Chairman of The Caravan Club, said, “It was a privilege to be involved with the competition and have the opportunity to meet such wonderful people who obviously greatly enjoy their caravanning and motorhoming. The programmes really highlight the camaraderie and sense of community that caravanners enjoy and we certainly had great fun during the competition. Tune in and watch the programmes and start planning your summer caravanning trips!”

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Colin the Campervan

24 Friday Apr 2015

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Illustrated children’s book tells the story of an abandoned campervan

Timothy Bentinck, the actor best known as the voice of David Archer of the Radio 4 serial, The Archers, has turned his hand to children’s fiction with the release of Colin the Campervan, published by Fabulous Books. The book tells the story of Colin, a star-turn campervan as he goes from hero to zero and wants nothing more than to be out on the road. If he can be reunited with his original owner, Andy, then all the better. The books is illustrated by Owen Claxton.

Tim described where the idea came from, “When my two boys, Will and Jasper, were small, we had an old campervan that was cold, rusty, slow and unreliable. I loved it, the boys loved it – my wife, Judy, didn’t. We used to dream of having enough money to turn it into a supercar. In Colin, that wish comes true.”
You can get signed copies directly from the Fabulous Books website and it costs just £5.99.
Less well known are the facts he was born in Tasmania and is 12th Earl of Portland and the 8th Count Bentinck. He is what you might call “multi-faceted” doing all sorts of things – and his wife Judith is a couture milliner based in London and,through marriage, holds the title The Right Hon. Countess of Portland. 

It is by following this blog you pick up on all sorts of entirely irrelevant rubbish that you’ve always wanted to know! For instance, when radio actors kiss, mostly they are kissing the back of their hands. Kind of spoils it?

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Ford Terrier to Turkey and back

22 Saturday Nov 2014

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Tomorrow, Sunday, 23 November, David Elliott and Layne Stuart from Wellhouse Leisure are setting off on a seven day, 5,000 mile return road trip to Turkey to take one of its award-winning Ford Terrier campervans back to the Ford factory where its Transit base vehicle was made.

To follow their journey, look out for regular Tweets from @wellhousecamper with the hashtag #TerrierRoadTrip

The road trip starts from Yorkshire in the early hours of Sunday morning, followed by an early morning Eurotunnel crossing to France, and then on to their first night stop, which is expected to be somewhere near the Austria/Slovenia border. On Monday they expect to reach Bulgaria, before arriving at the Ford Transit factory in Turkey on Tuesday.

After meetings with Ford on Wednesday morning, and grabbing a photo opportunity of the Wellhouse Terrier with some of the people who helped build its Transit base vehicle, the Wellhouse road trip will start its return leg to England, expecting to arrive home late Friday night.

And why? Because this is what a campervan like the Wellhouse Ford Terrier was built to do, and it seems a good idea at the time……

A full report and photos from the #TerrierRoadTrip will follow upon their return.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

The Caravan Club: new app to help surfers surf happy

08 Saturday Nov 2014

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TCCsitesurf will be an essential tool for surfers who are looking to make the most of the waves!

With UK weather being as changeable as it is, when conditions are right for surfing, staying close-by with great facilities enables pros, hobbyists and families, to make the most of the conditions while they can. To assist with this The Caravan Club has developed the TCCsitesurf app.

Last week The Caravan Club announced it is to support one of the UK’s highest profile national surfing events during the weekend 8 and 9 November at Fistral Beach, Cornwall and they have followed up this announcement with the launch of an app.

The Club is well-placed to offer the UKs estimated 500,000 surfers access to its UK sites network of around 3000 locations, many within striking distance of some of the UKs most popular surfing beaches. Upon launch, to coincide with the 2014 POSCA British National Surf Championships, the TCCsitesurf app will enable surfers to quickly and easily locate Club sites near to their desired surfing location.

Caravans, motorhomes and trailer-tents are becoming increasingly popular and provide flexible and affordable home-away-from-homes, holidays and breaks for those who like to get out into the countryside, whether it’s cycling, trekking surfing or simply relaxing – The Club shares your passion for the great outdoors.

The Club’s main site network, many of which include dedicated camping areas and nearly all with electric hook-up and shower facilities are the perfect place to stay to make sure surfers are warm, fresh and ready for the next day’s action. They also offer a place for drying laundry, which means no more damp wet suits the day after!

Tony Hall, Marketing Director for The Caravan Club, says, “Whether you are a caravanner, VW campervanner or tent camper our sites provide safe, flexible and affordable accommodation so that you can stay up close to the action and surf happy. Many of our fantastic coastal sites are located near to some of the UK’s most popular surfing beaches. So, if you enjoy the outdoors or enjoy an outdoors interest then caravanning or camping makes sense.”

Hall continues, “This app is the perfect tool for surfers, allowing them to match up their favourite beaches to great Caravan Club sites that can offer them a wonderful place to stay.”

NOTE FROM CM: I popped into the Google Play Store and found TCCsitesurf immediately, downloaded it and it works fine. Whilst its fundamental role is to link surfing locations to Caravan Club sites – which it does very well – it does much more than that and as it gets populated over time with even more information I can see it being essential visiting by the surfing community. (Google equals Android but in due course it will be available in the Apple App store for IOS devices such as iPads and iPhones.)

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Volkswagen California calls in Frank PR

01 Monday Sep 2014

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Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has called in Frank PR to handle its consumer PR projects, including the California camper van.

The new brief tasks the agency with consumer comms around the Volkswagen California and with highlighting the brand’s heritage in camper vans.

In the first of a series of rolling projects for VW’s commercial vehicles division, Frank will look to promote the California as the ultimate ‘getaway’ transport.

Pietro Panarisi, head of press and PR, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK, said: “Over the past 60 years we have built up an envious motoring heritage, which includes some of the most famous and best-loved vehicles of all time.

“We were looking for a partner that could help us spearhead the brand’s media relations activities as we build on our sales success and expand our awareness across non-automotive media. We have been really impressed with Frank’s passion and creative approach to our business.”

Other models in the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles range include the Caddy, the Transporter and Amarok.

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

Jacobite Steam Railway.

13 Sunday Apr 2014

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West Coast Railways is the UK’s leading special trains operator and The Jacobite will take you on what is regarded as one of the greatest railway journeys of the world. Starting near Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, it visits the country’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig, and passes its deepest freshwater loch. It’s the route of Hogwart’s Express and you’ll enjoy views of the silvery beaches used in the films Local Hero and Highlander. Trips start in mid May.

Info: Cost for an adult return ticket £34, children £19.
T: 08448 504 685 http://www.westcoastrailways.co.uk

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

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

New campervan magazine launched.

22 Saturday Mar 2014

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Warners Group Publications plc, publishers of the market-leading motorhome magazine, Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly (MMM) and many other outdoor leisure publications are proud to announce the arrival of new magazine Campervan.

Campervan is an aspirational title that aims to highlight the lifestyle benefits of a campervan and how it can enhance your leisure time. It covers all brands of campervans from Fiat to Volkswagen and all types of build – from professional conversions to self-builds. Everything from a Mazda Bongo to a £80K Ducato will be included.

Rather than just being a magazine about buying campervans, it takes the next step and shows people how to best enjoy their campervans and the lifestyle benefits.

Key ingredients to the title are reader-owned campervans – who better to share their camping experiences than fellow readers who have spent their own money on a vehicle to enhance their outdoor leisure time? Reader’s vehicles include everything from a kite surfer’s Toyota Granvia conversion to a keen cyclist’s £71,000 VW T5.

Written by passionate campervan-owning journalists, this title aims to highlight the advantages of downsizing to a campervan.

The magazine has features on touring Cornwall by campervan, 15 great activities to enjoy around the UK (and where to stay nearby) and campervan hire.

New models tested include Westfalia Amunsden, Globecar Globescout, Wild Ax Cutie, Kingston Snowdonia Curve, Romahome R30, Lunar Vacanza and many more.

For those looking to buy their first campervan, the magazine also includes essential buying advice and tips, together with features highlighting the type of conversions available – from basic kitchen pods to campervan conversions purpose-designed for a specific hobby.

The first issue of Campervan is on sale on 17 April and is priced at £3.75. It is available from WHSmith’s, or it can be ordered directly HERE

Editor – and campervan owner – Peter Rosenthal commented: “It’s really exciting to be able to produce a magazine dedicated to the freedom and fun of campervans. No matter what your interests or hobbies, a go-anywhere campervan will enhance your leisure time. You can’t beat waking up in an amazing part of the countryside in your own home-on-wheels and then sticking the kettle on!”

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews