These winter months are often the cruellest of times – a glimpse of the sun, you’re rearing to go, then the skies ominously cloud over again. Thank heavens for our regular review of the latest UK caravan news to lighten your day.
While winter’s been sleeping, therefore, let’s look at some of the news on the caravanning front and events you can look forward to in the season ahead.
The UK’s longest-running caravan festival to feature top music acts, kids’ clubs, and a dog show
Members of the caravanning fraternity tend to like nothing better than a good festival. One of the oldest and longest-running of these returns to Cheshire towards the end of May.
Now in its 90th year, the Caravan And Motorhome Club’s ClubFest will be held against the sumptuous backdrop of Bolesworth Castle from the 23rd to the 27th of that month.
Not only is ClubFest one of the best-loved events on the caravanner’s calendar, but this year there’s even more action planned – so there should be something for everyone whatever their age during the 5-day festival. These include show-stopping musical acts – the Lightning Seeds and Boyzlife, together with a roll-call of tribute acts such as Go Your Own Way and Oasish.
The Kids’ Club will tap into the boundless energy of children as they clamour for face painting and art sessions or try their hand at balloon modelling or science experiments.
For the grown-ups there is archery and axe-throwing. When you’re in need of some quiet relaxation, there will be yoga classes around the lake.
UK Government said to be planning electric car loan subsidies to push sales
Have you noticed that the initial enthusiasm for electric vehicles (EVs) seems to be on the wane somewhat?
In an attempt to revive consumer excitement and help to meet net-zero targets, the government is discussing ways in which it can subsidise the purchase of EVs by subsidising or guaranteeing loans, according to the Guardian newspaper recently.
The prospect of interest-free or low-interest loans would be welcomed by EV motor manufacturers – and, of course, the customers who are in the market for such cars.
National forest walking festival returns
Your caravan is your home in the great outdoors. What better way to enjoy that freedom than a walk through one of England’s great forests?
The popular National Forest walking festival celebrates its 16th year throughout the 10 days from the 16th to the 26th of May, Out and About Live has announced.
The National Forest covers 200 square miles across the Midland counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Staffordshire, linking the ancient woodlands of Needwood and Charnwood – restoring a living breathing green landscape to what was once heavily industrialised and scarred by coal mining.
The walks are by no means gruelling – more than 20 of them are less than 3 miles and perfectly suited even for those with limited mobility or families with young children.
Motorhomes and seatbelt laws
How well do you know what the law says about wearing seatbelts in your motorhome? For the safety of you and your passengers – not to mention the risk of prosecution or penalties – it’s as well to make sure you’re familiar with the rules, urged a story in the Caravan Times on the 23rd of January.
Any motorhome manufactured after 2006 – the majority, therefore – has the same seatbelt rules as your car. In other words, the driver and those in seats designated for passengers must always wear a 3-point seatbelt. Passengers in other seats in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt with at least 2 fixed points.
For motorhomes built after the 1st of October 1988 but before 2006, the 3-point seatbelt rules apply only to forward-facing passengers while others are advised to use at least a 2-point seatbelt.
It is only in older motorhomes that you’re likely to find side-facing seats and it is generally inadvisable to travel while seated in them.
Any child (below the age of 12 or less than 4ft 4in in height) must travel in a seat with a 3-point seatbelt.