January issue: East Anglia, York & Xmas gift ideas

[Kate Taylor]

The new January 2016 issue of Practical Caravan is in the shops from today!

We're touring Britain's Eastern Eden: some of the prettiest villages in Norfolk and Suffolk and beauty spots along the the Heritage Coast. We meet royalty at Sandringham and select 10 top sites and tourist destinations that you must not miss.

The Christmas market lures Nigel Hutson and his family to York, where after a while he manages to escape to see a vintage train come steaming in!

If you're wondering what to buy the caravanner in your life, take a look at our Christmas gift guide in this issue.

For more about the new caravan reviews, tow car reviews, advice topics and more, please click here to read all about our January issue.

 

[PaulT]

Just been reading the January issue (it takes a while to get to me here, in rural France).

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read Martin Roberts' column. I quote " So, as part of my ongoing campaign to improve the image of caravanning among the wider public, could I politely suggest that your New Years resolution is to spend a moment or so - in fact , about as long as your New Year's resolutions normally last - pulling over when there is just one car behind you"

Is he serious? I've nothing against pulling over when appropriate but one car! What about the slow driver who is in front of me holding me up - is he going to pull over? Of course not. It's ridiculous for a writer in the magazine to suggest this. Is this the sort of comment that PC should be encouraging? it just provides fuel to the anti's.

 

[Raywood]

I have pulled over if I have a long queue behind me but one car would mean I never got anywhere. I will slow down on stretches where they can overtake though to help them get past.

 

[Craigyoung]

I must say I agree with the answers of the last 2 replies .I wouldnt pull over for just one car to go past, we'd be forever travelling ! I remember when we were going to Berwick on the single carrage way A1 ! I was sick because it all I could see in my rearview was a line of traffic but in front off me was a tractor unit ! The only time I pull over for just a few cars is on a country lane where it was safe to do so. He might as well say we have no right being on the road. . . :huh:

 

[Dustydog]

And how many times have you been overtaken and the idiot pulls sharply in front of you and drops back down to 55 mph on the motorway or dual carriageway

 

[Craigyoung]

Dusty, you are quite correct . Whilst on that trip going up the A1 the looks they were giving me over taking me then realising it was because we he had a massive tractor unit and in front was comical to watch, as they had to drop back a few places back into a safe space - still behind me !

 

[Martin24]

And how many times have you been overtaken and the idiot pulls sharply in front of you and drops back down to 55 mph on the motorway or dual carriageway

Or from a junction at the bottom of a hill and are half way up it before they get going.

 

[Sproket]

Found this:
The Highway Code asks slow moving vehicles to pull in when safe to allow traffic to pass.

Rule 169: “Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle.“ Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.”

However .
"The point to note is to pull in when it is safe. There could well be circumstances when it is not safe to use a lay-by, for example, if it is too small for the vehicle concerned.The presence of a lay-by does not automatically mean it has to be used."

But seeing that a modern Tractor only has a top speed of 40kph ( 24.8mph) up from 32kph ( 20mph ) on the older one's, this is what it is really designed for it doesn't say car towing big white box.

I mean are you really going to pull into a lay-by on a normal road with a national speed limit on it to let Richard Cranium pass :silly: and then have to try and pull out from a standing start onto a fast moving road. Well I for one ain't playing those type of games and having the possibility of being rear ended by another Richard Cranium.

 

[PaulT]

Good replies all - but why was the comment made in the first place in a caravan magazine - whose side is he on?

 

[Hutch]

I have never noticed, mini buses, coaches or good vechiles, pulling over and they are restricted to 50 mph on single lane carriageways.
Hutch.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

In Scotland goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are still limited to 40 mph on single carriageway roads, as they were in England and Wales until recently. see here

You never saw a lorry that was travelling at 40mph pull over to let the long lines of traffic go by. You could be stuck behind it for 10 miles or more.

 

[Gabsgrandad]

It is amazing how the 'solo' drivers were/are prepared to follow a lorry at 40, but not a caravan at 50! - The times I/we have been stuck behind a lorry at a safe distance @ 40, when "Richard Cranium" (Sprokets description) has to be past you and fill 'your' gap, only for it to follow that lorry for miles.
I suspect it's not about speed and progress, but that 'being behind a caravan phobia!'