The nights are drawing in, you may have put away your touring caravan until the new season next Spring, and now is the time to while away a relaxing hour or two catching up on any caravanning news you might have missed.
To help get you in the mood for doing just that, here are a few of our starters.
A reminder of European caravan laws
If you’re planning a trip to Europe any time soon, now is probably a good time to refresh your knowledge about the different laws you’re likely to encounter in different member states – you’ll not want to be caught out:
France
- ferry company DFDS reminds us that the earliest age at which you can drive in France is 18 (unlike the UK’s 17 years);
- both the car and the caravan you are towing must have UK stickers (no longer GB stickers) attached on the lefthand side of the registration plate;
- you’ll face a stiff fine (up to €1,500 or about £1,344) if your satnav alerts you to camera speed traps – make sure it doesn’t;
Germany
- the Caravan Times mentions the probably little-known requirement by the German authorities for you to have an inventory of any exceptional or valuable contents in your caravan;
- you must also carry all the usual documents, of course – passport, driving licence, insurance, and V5 logbook;
Italy
- there’s a minimum age of 18 for driving a car on a full licence – but mopeds can be ridden by those as young as 14;
- you’ll need to keep with you all the usual ID documents, logbook, and insurance certificate – though a “green card” has not been required since August 2021;
Spain
- Spain has also lifted the need for any green card – but you’ll still need to carry original insurance documents, of course;
- you can import and drive your vehicle in Spain for up to 6 months in any 12; and
- if your caravan or motorhome is longer than 12m, two short reflectors and one long one must be stuck to the rear.
Hymer launches exclusive off-road camper
If you want to own a motorhome, the shape of the future is Hymer – that’s the message from the launch at the end of August of the Hymer Venture S.
The vision that was first revealed at 2019’s Caravan Salon has now become reality, boasts the German manufacturer.
Plans for changes at popular Ingoldmells caravan park
Facilities at a popular caravan park on the Lincolnshire coast will benefit from a makeover and facelift during the coming winter months, according to a story by Lincolnshire Live on the 7th of October.
The main reception centre at Sealands Caravan Park has seen better days and – following the necessary planning approval – will be redeveloped into a single-storey, building, decorated in the company colours of green and light blue with white trim, incorporating an open-plan café and shop.
Resident fined for abandoning rubbish-filled caravan in street
East Suffolk Council has taken firm and punitive action against a Felixstowe resident who abandoned a touring caravan filled with rubbish and surrounded by other detritus on a local street. The owners had failed to remove it despite several formal requests.
A posting on the Council’s website on the 5th of October revealed that the errant resident was fined £2,000 for the offence.