WHERE IS BEST FOR A SHORT BREAK?
QWe’re new to caravanning this year, but have taken the plunge and bought a lovely secondhand van. Where would you recommend for our first weekend test trip?
Carol Davidson
Paul Critcher replies…
Based in the West Midlands, you have easy access to some truly fantastic beauty spots relatively nearby.
You probably don’t want to go too far on a test run, so I’d suggest a couple of destinations that are quite close – the Gower, in Wales, and North Devon.
The stunningly beautiful Gower Peninsula (www.visit swanseabay.com/destinations/ gower-peninsula) can easily be accessed from the M4 and is just a short hop from Swansea.
Perfect for beach-lovers, it’s also home to the UK’S first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), and if you like walking, there are some fabulous trails.
North Devon is another beautiful AONB (www.visit devon.co.uk/northdevon), and here watersports fans can enjoy a choice of adventure activities, such as surfing and coasteering, while walkers can explore the wonders of Exmoor.
Both destinations have some great campsites – check out our Top 100 Sites Guide (www. practicalcaravan.com/locations) for more information. Enjoy your first of many mini-breaks!
HOW CAN WE LOAD OUR VAN SAFELY?
QWe’ve just bought a used two-berth caravan to tow behind our Ford Focus.
My wife and I are struggling to fit everything that we need into the caravan – for example, we like to take our bicycles with us when we are on holiday and we certainly don’t travel light. What would you advise? Chris Bell
David Motton replies...
It’s important to keep within your caravan’s payload limit to stay legal and safe while towing. Take the caravan to a weighbridge, or invest in