Recent content by Paul_5074021

Hi I can recommend New House Farm CL at Swinscoe, which is about 4 miles outside Ashbourne towards Leek. The site is tucked into an open hollow below the farm with outstanding views southwards across the Trent valley and beyond. Altho' less than 1/2 mile from the A52, we did not experience any...

Hi I would recommend the CL at Goldcombe Farm, Blagdon Hill, Winterbourne St Martin. It is entered under Weymouth in the 2009/10 CC sites directory, but is now entered under Dorchester on the CC website. It is SW of Dorchester, off the road leading up to the Hardy Monument on top of the downs...

Hi Terry You do not indicate what sort of site you are looking for, but if you are after a CL/CS site, then there is an excellent CS just outside Newquay - Tyr Ros Farm, run by Helen and Andy Evans. It is very well laid out and maintained and has a shower and loo. It is entry 145 105 in the...

Hi J&P I have only just seen this string - as we have been away for the past 10 days - with our Swift Challenger 480 (MTPLM 1407kg) pulled by an 05 plate 2.2 TDCI Mondeo estate. We have had this combination for 4 years now and have found it quite excellent. The Mondeo has plenty of torque and...

Hi Brian While a 4x4 like a Freelander may be able to always get you on and off muddy pitches, I have found the diesel Mondeo to be an excellent towcar for a van of similar mass as yours. It is very stable at motorway speeds. It has also also always got me out of 'sticky' pitches without...

Hi Wanderer We have stayed on this site on several occasions over a number of years. I would recommend it highly. It is a good quality 'camping municipal', very conveniently close to the A26 (but far enough away to be quiet). If you wish to eat out, there is an excellent restaurant in the...

Hi Scotch Lad, I think the stretch of the N154 from Dreux to Chartres is now dualled. The 21km south from Chartres to Junction 12 of the A10 remains single carriageway. Cheers Paul

Hi Eileen The simplest route keeping west of Paris is the A16 via Calais to Abbeville (toll free to Boulogne), then A28 to Rouen (toll free). Then A13 to the N154 via Evreux, Dreux and Chartres, picking up the A10 south of Chartres. This leads to the A71 south of Orleans, which becomes the A75...

Hi Lorraine, You can check whether it is an electrical problem, or whether power is getting to the pump, but the pump is seized/ broken. Switch off the caravan charger (if you are connected to the mains or an EHU) so that the 12 volt systems are run entirely from the battery. Switch on one of...

Hi Eddie I have towed my Swift Challenger 480 (1400kg MPTLM) with a Mondeo 2.2 (155bhp) Diesel for the past 4 years. It has plenty of power and torque and is a very stable towcar. It is also a delight to drive solo. Cheers Paul

Hi My Witter detachable towbar has an attachment point at the lower end of the housing which is too small for the breakaway cable hook to be looped through. I have fitted a shackle through the hole(s), which is left there permanently. The breakaway cable can then be looped back on itself...

Hi I have recently replaced all the halogen bulbs on my Swift Challenger 480 with LEDs from Leisurepower (www.leisurepower.co.uk) and we tried them out under active service on a trip to Wales this last week. Their 'warm' LEDs do give a really warm light. The LED 10 with side fitting for G4...

Hi James Having toured in France for many years, I agree entirely with Val. Unless you are in a 'tourist' destination, there is no problem in finding an overnight pitch in France, even in August. I suggest you use either or both of the Caravan Club Europe 1 Guide and the Michelin Camping guide...

Hi Stephen, I had an Ego fitted to my Swift Challenger 480 in the Autumn and I have been pleased with it. I wanted a mover where you can tighten the rollers further onto the tyres in wet and slippery conditions and this can be done with the Ego. It fitted infront of the axle with no problems (I...

Hi We have caravannned fairly regularly in cold weather, including the first week of January this year in the Peak District - 15cm of snow and down to -8C overnight. We have found the insulated Aquaroll cover supplied by Bags2cover (www.bags2cover.co.uk -