Devon Holiday Inspiration

In recent years pollock has been touted by the Marine Conversation Society as a sustainable alternative to cod. Sainsbury’s tried a marketing ploy designed to give it some gallic flare through renaming it ‘colin’ – the French word for hake. At Ladram our anglers know it as pollock and they are often in ready supply off our pebbled beach. So, if you are fortunate enough to land a pollock and are thinking ‘what comes next?’ this tasty recipe should help you out. Lemon & Parsley Pollock Recipe BBQ or grill 15 mins cooking time Serves 4 people    Sustainable seafood Ingredients for the marinade 1 lemon Knob of butter Small handful of parsley 12 small vine tomatoes Ingredients 2 pollock / 4 pollock fillets (1 per person) Salad Boiled potatoes Preparation Instructions Place fillets in a bowl and add squeezed lemon and chop parsley  – leave to marinate for 20-30 minutes. Take 2 sheets of tin foil and turn up edges to avoid any juice spilling. Lay 2 fillets on each sheet, add the vine tomatoes and any left over juice and then place a small knob of butter on each fillet. Carefully wrap up tin foil to create a sealed parcel that can be placed onto the grill or barbecue. Place the 2 tin foil parcels onto a pre-heated grill or barbecue and leave to cook for 15 mins. Once cooked carefully remove parcels from grill and leave for several minutes to allow the foil to cool. Serve fish and vine tomatoes with boiled potatoes and green salad.    

Looking for all-weather family fun in Devon? Woodlands Family Theme Park is set in over 90 acres of Dartmoor countryside, with 16 rides and about 500 animals, including 50 birds of prey. Other interesting animals include eagle owls, swooping Falcons, cute rabbits and giant tortoises. Those seeking an outdoor adventure will not be disappointed by the Ninja Tower, Bumper Boats, Sea Dragon Swing (picture below) or the Commando Course. If the weather doesn’t not play ball then visitors can occupy themselves in one of the largest indoor play areas in the UK, which includes; slides, ball blasting, net climbs and a mirror maze. Planning a day trip from Ladram Bay? Use the interactive map below to find your way and minimise your journey time. Useful Information: Approximate journey time: 1 hour 5 mins Distance: 46 miles / 75 kilometres No dogs (with the exception of guide dogs)    

With 80 years experience in all things camping, caravanning and holiday home related, Ladram Bay know a thing or two about what makes our holiday park accommodation special. However, we thought we’d take a step back and ask a higher authority about what goes into making a holiday home and where better to start than the source – a holiday home manufacturer. We’ve found interviewing people at Ladram that over the years holiday lodges provide the backdrop to some of their most cherished memories. They become part of the family, a meeting point for families that are scattered around the county for much of the year. The folks over at Victory Leisure Homes put roofs over the heads of plenty of our loyal residents so we asked Victories managing director Peter Nevitt for some insights into the process of building holiday lodges. The floor plan drawing you sent us (above) looks great, is this a classic design that is tweaked each year or do you start with a blank canvas each time? When introducing a new model we start from a blank canvas but once a model has been successfully launched it will just receive a few model tweaks each season How long does a lodge take from design, manufacture & delivery? This varies from model to model but on average about 16 weeks for the development model, thereafter it takes about 4 weeks. How many people does this involve? Currently we employ just over 100 people across two production lines, one for lodges and one for static caravans. How many countries do you sell in? We currently deliver units to Spain, France, Belgium & Germany. Where’s the furthest afield you’ve sold to? The South of Spain If shipping abroad is done, are the homes delivered flat packed and constructed upon arrival? All lodges are delivered as completed units, lodges are delivered in two parts and then put together on the park Do people specify their own floor plans? (if yes) what is the wackiest idea that someone has requested from you or do they simply choose around a size & then the number of rooms? We produce standard models with set floor plans so changes are very limited and generally very expensive. What is the hardest part in the leisure home manufacture process? With well over 100 years production experience within the team we have removed the difficult production areas. Are any markets more demanding than others? Some countries have their own specification such as gas pipes and electrics but we take these changes in our stride. What is the most striking or unusual location a Victory leisure home as been placed in.  The views from the new development at Ladram Bay have to be some of the best that I have seen during my travels around the country What is the biggest difference from designs that might have been around in the 80’s & 90’s? Over recent years units have increased in size which has enabled us to introduce utility rooms, separate shower rooms and bigger bedrooms offering more comfort. Are there any materials that have changed the way lodges are designed? The traditional static caravan is still made from aluminium but we are receiving more and more requests for soft vinyl or canexel Do you have any industry facts about UK leisure home ownership, numbers, facts or trivia? Some model trivia that will surprise is that in one lodge caravan we use about 480 metres of electrical cable, 8542 component parts, and 1500 metres of timber. Is technology changing the way you design and manufacture lodges?           No, by the very nature of the product it is for holidays and customers seem to like having comfort without the technology, such as USB ports or phone chargers. Are the Victory team big leisure home fans themselves outside of work? Quite a lot of our staff do book holidays with the family on parks around the country Where was your first leisure home holiday & when? My first leisure home holiday was in the South of France back in the late 70’s What is the nicest complement a Victory customer as ever told you about one of your homes? This purchase has given us so much family enjoyment and freedom.

For those wanting to take in a bit of local history, few places in Devon provide such an enduring legacy as Powderham Castle, one of England’s oldest family homes. Sir Philip Courtenay began building it in 1391 and it has remained in the same family to this day, currently home to the 18th Earl & Countess of Devon. Did you know: The seat of ‘Earl of Devonshire’ is actually based in Derbyshire and should not be confused with the Earl of Devon. Interesting facts: Their are 650 follow deer within Powderham’s grounds. Until 2004, Powderham was home to Britain’s oldest resident Timothy the Tortoise (1839-2004). She was actually female, but this was only discovered in 1926 when it was decided ‘he’ should mate. Located in beautiful surroundings just 40 minutes from Ladram Bay and beside the Exe estuary, Powderham Castle is truly a Devon must see and great family day out. Visit one of the regular family events that take place throughout the year, take a guided tour of the grounds that are steeped in 600 years of history, stroll through the Walled Garden Play Area & Pets Corner or take a safari in the Deer Park. There is certainly lots to do and see at Powderham Castle. Local knowledge: The Exe Estuary Cycle Route runs right past Powderham Castle, cyclists can travel from Exmouth > Topsham > Countess Wear > Powderham > Starcross (via ferry) > Exmouth. To plan this trip read Route A of Ladram’s ‘family cycle routes of Devon‘ blog post. Planning a day trip? Use the interactive map to find your way from Ladram Bay Holiday Park to Powderham Castle. Approximate journey time: 35 minutes Distance: 17 miles / 28 kilometres No dogs (with the exception of guide dogs)

When on holiday, creating a Bolognese early into your trip is a prudent move. This dish is filling, uses few utensils, is healthy, can be quickly reheated and portion sizes are easily scalable. Ladram have put together a super simple spaghetti Bolognese recipe to get you started. Simple Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe   1 hour cooking time  Serves 4  Vegetarian adaptable    Simple to make  Ingredients 400g minced beef (V. use Quorn) 1 onion (diced) 2 garlic cloves (chopped) 100g carrot (grated) 2 x tins chopped tomatoes (400g) 400ml stock (x1 stock cube) 400g dried spaghetti 2 tbsp olive oil Salt & pepper Parmesan (grated) Preparation Instructions Over a medium heat place a large saucepan. Add a tbsp of olive oil, (once hot) add beef, salt & pepper. Cook the mince until it browns before removing from heat and setting aside in a bowl. Add another tablespoon of oil to the same pan (medium heat), add onions, salt & pepper – fry for about 5 mins until soft. Add the garlic and cook for a further 2 mins before adding the grated carrot and mince into the pan. Add all the tomatoes (stir well), add stock and bring pan to a simmer before reducing the temperature. Simmer for 45 mins until the sauce has reduced. When ready to cook the spaghetti, bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook to the packet’s instructions. Once cooked, drain and add spaghetti to the pan with the Bolognese. Mix well before serving. Add grated Parmesan.  

Cycling, be it as a tourist or local, gives you a totally different way of interacting with your surroundings, getting fit and embracing the great outdoors. Over the past few years, extensive work to the National Cycle Network 2 (NCN 2) has created a network of cycle paths which, once finished, will stretch from Dover to St. Austell. All this means there has never been a better time to take up cycling. We’ve put together four local routes in an interactive map to suit all abilities, plus a few stop offs enroute to break up the journey and let you take in your surroundings – otherwise known as catching your breath. Short Ride:  Mid-Length Journey:  Tour de Devon:  A: Exe Estuary Cycle Route – NCN 2 This route along the Exe Estuary offers a 16 mile circular lap of designated cycle (and walking) routes. We’ve mapped out the loop starting by a public car park (next to the train station) on Royal Avenue in Exmouth. Bike hire is available at numerous points along the route, but for convenience sake, try Exmouth Cycle Hire. From Exmouth, cycle up to Countess Weir and down the Exeter Ship Canal tow path towards the Turf Hotel. The Turf Hotel is one of the few pubs in the UK that is only accessible by foot, bike or boat and it’s this lack of simple accessibility that makes it such a great stopping point for cyclists and watersports lovers alike. From Turf continue along the cycle path to Starcross and embark the ferry back to the finishing line in Exmouth, alternatively ferries do run between the Turf & Topsham. Ferry information: cost £4.50 adult / £3.50 child / £1 per bike / journey time 15 – 20 mins. Route Info – 16 miles / 1 hr 45 mins of cycling / flat / child friendly Mid-Length Journey:  B: Haldon Forest, Exeter The Haldon Forest offers 3,500 acres of woodland just 15 mins from Exeter and the perfect place for families to spend a day cycling in safety. We’ve picked the shortest and most friendly route known as the Discovery Trail, however there are five others to test all experience levels – click on this Haldon Cycle Trails map for a full breakdown. Route info (1 of 6) – 1.5 miles, 30 mins of cycling Short Ride:  C: Otterton to Exmouth – NCN 2 This route predominantly uses the National Cycle Network 2, with a very brief crossing of the  B3178 between Knowle and East Budleigh. You can find further details on Exmouth’s cycle route by clicking here (Exmouth). This route features a wider variety of gradients than the Exe Estuary Route, but suitable for cyclists of all abilities – just remember you share the path with pedestrians. Route info – 8 miles, 50 mins of cycling (one way) Route info – 16 miles, 1 hour 40 mins of cycling (return) Mid-Length Journey:  D: Ladram to Sidmouth This final route is an all road affair from Ladram to Sidmouth via the winding climbs and descents of Peak Hill. This route, while not especially long does contain some challenging sections, but freewheeling into Sidmouth and on return into Ladram will give your legs a much needed respite. Route info – 4.4 miles, 40 mins of cycling (one way) Route info – 8.8 miles, 1 hour 20 mins of cycling (return) Tour de Devon: 

Camping for the first time can seem like a daunting prospect but it needn’t be. All you need to do is be prepared! The following guide will help you get the best out of your trip. The Tent: If you’re new to camping you may be borrowing a tent, make sure you have all of the pieces if this is the case! Being short of pegs can be easily fixed, missing the inner lining not so much! Select your spot carefully, check for any large or awkward rocks in the ground that could be uncomfortable to sleep on before pitching. If you forget a mallet, to help with the pegs use the bottom of a tough shoe – such as a walking boot. If you’re limited for space, prioritise bedding. Nothing will make or break your trip like a good nights sleep or lack of. Roll mats are useful, but a double-sided blanket with waterproof material underneath can be reused for picnics, the beach or outside of the tent in the day. Easy to dust off, they make for a great extra layer to sleep on. Also bring extra blankets, at night it can get very cold and these will double up for warmth or extra layers underneath. If you prefer the idea of an air mattress, bring a puncture kit. Can’t find the hole? Place it in a bucket of water – where the air bubbles come out is where you’ll find your puncture. If you’re a beginner, you’re probably camping in summer so you won’t need an expensive sleeping bag. A lightweight rectangular sleeping bag will do just fine. But don’t forget pillows! Clothing: Bring comfortable clothes that can be layered. Extra socks and jumpers are small things that will make a big difference if it gets cooler in the evening. Jeans are fine but can take a long time to dry if they get wet and aren’t the warmest material. Having a spare pair of leggings, tracksuit bottoms or shorts for when you get back to the tent will keep you comfortable even if there is a surprise downpour. Cooking: Check out what facilities are available at your campsite. Some will have BBQ areas or restaurants onsite. If you’re planning to use a camp stove for the majority of your trip, check out our top recipes. Bring the basics like salt, pepper, butter/oil, teabags and UHT milk with you or pick up at a store nearby or onsite. A lemon is a great extra, the juice can be used to season food and keep salad from going limp! Camping cutlery and crockery can be metal or plastic, leave any china at home as it can be easily broken. Bowls are best as they catch any mess if you’re eating off knees, be it burgers or pasta! A set of mugs are also essential for cups of tea, soups or any drinks.  To save packing too much, bring saucepans with a pouring lip as this will make for easy pouring and double up as a kettle for boiling water. Tupperware is also useful to keep food fresh or for saving any left overs for the next day. Extra bits: A torch will be very useful once things get a bit dark in the evening. A gas lighter is also good for any fires or BBQ’s without the risk of matches or short lighters. If you’re short of space, microfibre towels are a great investment as they dry super quick and can be rolled up very small. Ziplock bags: http://www.polybags.co.uk/shop/slidergrip-ziplock-bags_c105.htm And there you have it, some basic tips to make sure your first camping trip goes as smoothly as possible! Image via Pat David

Devon has natural beauty and coastlines in abundance, the biggest dilemma when walking is choosing which route to embark upon. The majority of coastal walks in the southwest centres around the South West Coastal Path that stretches 1,013 km from Minehead to Poole. To help you along the way we have pulled together several of our favourite East Devon coastal routes, each with a refuelling point enroute. Difficulty Rating: Short Stroll:   Mid-Length Jaunt: Steeper Climbs:  A: Harbour View Cafe, Exmouth Seafront Walk along a short section of the South West Coastal Path of Exmouth Seafront to Orcombe Point, the latter of which marks the beginning of the Jurassic Coast. The route gives you the option of a footpath or walking along the sand, both of which are flat and family friendly. At the halfway point (Orcombe Point) enjoy an ice cream before heading back towards the Harbour View Cafe. Short Stroll:  Harbour View Cafe > South West Coastal Path > End of Exmouth seafront (return) Route Info – 4 km, 40 mins of walking. B: The Globe Inn, Lympstone Finished in late 2013, the Exe Estuary Trail offers a shore hugging 26 miles of traffic free paths along the Exe Estuary. While the whole route is very flat, safe and thus family friendly, we’ve picked a relatively short route that takes you to the picturesque estuary village of Lympstone. Try stopping off at the Globe Inn to break up the journey before strolling back to Exmouth. Mid-Length Jaunt:  Exmouth Train Station > Exe Estuary Trail > Lympstone (return) Route Info – 6 km, 1 hr 20 mins of walking. C: The River Otter From the picturesque Otterton bridge, walk along the river bank 4 km to Budleigh beach. The path is flat and a popular spot for walkers and anglers alike, offering fantastic river and sea views. Budleigh offers you 2 miles of pebbled beach to enjoy and safe clean water for swimming in. When you arrive back at Otterton bridge pop into the Otterton Mill and see the traditional flour mill, bakery and most importantly restaurant to refuel. Mid-Length Jaunt:  Otter Mill Bakery > The River Otter > Budleigh Salterton (return) Route Info – 8 km, 1 hr 20 mins of walking. D: The Jurassic Coastal Path From Ladram Bay, join the South West Coast Path and head east towards Sidmouth –  you’ll get the legs burning soon enough as you climb High Peak Hill. At points the path is narrow and has a diverse range of gradients, so be sure to leave the flip flops at home. At the summit of High Peak Hill be sure to stop at the look off point for stunning views (east & west) along the Jurassic Coast. Head down the hill into the town of Sidmouth and its beautiful Connaught Gardens, before heading back to Ladram. On return to Ladram Bay drop into the Pebbles Restaurant to rehydrate. Steeper Climbs:  Ladram Bay > South West Coast Path > Sidmouth (return) Route Info – 6 km, 1 hr 30 mins of walking.

Nothing makes a holiday like great food, but when cooking in a caravan or static lodge you won’t have all of the appliances or space that you have at home. One-pot meals are a great way of creating something filling and delicious but with minimal washing up! One-pot tagine recipe You don’t need a clay pot to whip up a tasty dish like this. Simply add all of your chosen ingredients & spices into a casserole dish or large saucepan and top with feta, mint and lemon for a truly authentic taste. Our favourite version of this North African dish is Moroccan Chicken. To make this one-pot meal even easier, you can prepare all of the spices and veg before you go away, meaning that all you need to bring is a small tupperware or sandwich bag. You can also add the meat to this as it will marinade nicely before cooking! Simply add couscous for a hearty meal. This dish is easy to freeze and reheat. 50 mins cooking time  Serves 4  Simple to make   x1 Pan Ingredients 3 tbsp olive oil 3 garlic cloves 1 tsp turmeric 1 tbsp each ground cumin, coriander and cinnamon 100g/good sized chunk of ginger, roughly chopped 2 red onions, roughly chopped 1 tin of chopped tomatoes 100g raisins/cherries 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs 1 large butternut squash, deseeded and cut into big chunks 600ml chicken stock 2 tbsp brown sugar 2 tbsp red wine vinegar Preparation Instructions Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a deep pan or casserole dish, add the chicken and brown on all sides; either with or without the seasoning depending on how you have packed for your trip. Then remove the chicken to a plate. Gently fry the onions in the remaining oil until softened (leave a little onion to the side for garnish at the end). Add all or the remaining spices, fry for one minute more until fragrant. Add the tomatoes and fry for another few mins to soften. Return the chicken to the dish with the squash, stock, sugar and vinegar. Bring to a simmer and cook for 30 mins until the chicken is cooked through. Lift the chicken out and stir in the raisins or cherries, then continue simmering the sauce to thicken while you shred the chicken into bite-sized chunks. Stir the chicken back into the sauce and season. Mix the remaining red onion, lemon zest, mint and feta. Scatter over the dish, then serve with some couscous and yoghurt if you like.

  20 mins cooking time Serves 4  Ingredients 400g – 500g chicken thighs, boneless 400g frozen vegetables 300g basmati rice A handful of raisins A handful of cashew nuts 1 vegetable stock cube 2 tbsp of korma paste Preparation Instructions Add 2 tspn of oil to a hot pan. Add a pinch of salt to the chicken thighs and add to the pan – cook on high heat for 5 mins or until golden on both sides. Turn down the heat and add a tbsp of korma paste and cook for a further 10 minutes. Boil 600ml of water in a kettle. Place the rice, veg and raisins into a microwavable bowl. Pour 600ml of water over rice mixture before adding the stock cube and stirring in the remaining tbsp of korma paste. Cover bowl, leaving a gap to let it steam for a few minutes, before microwaving the rice for 12 minutes on 850 watts. Add the rice to the pan containing the now cooked chicken and leave to stand for 5 mins (covered). Scatter with cashew nuts and serve. Image via Divya Kuda on Flickr

At Ladram we’re big fans of mackerel. It’s sustainable, easily caught, high in omega-3’s, simple to cook and most importantly extremely tasty. For the anglers staying at Ladram who get lucky, this recipe is for you. BBQ or grill 10 mins cooking time Simple to make   40 mins prep time Ingredients for the marinade 1 lime (juice of) Ginger, 1 cm cube (grated) 1 tbsp soy sauce 1 garlic (crushed) 2 tbsp honey Ingredients 2-3 mackerel (120g – 140g each) Salad Bread Preparation Instructions Mix up marinade ingredients and pour over your mackerel, leave for 30 mins in refrigerator. Pre-heat grill / BBQ. Cook mackerel on each side for 5 minutes or until the skin begins to crisp. Serve straight to the plates, accompanied with salad and bread. Image via Sarah Joy via Flickr

At Ladram we see all abilities of caravan tower; from the tentative amateur to the seasoned pro who backs his portable home up like a Devonshire farmer in the back lanes. The truth is, most sit somewhere in the middle of the two of the spectrums. As the old saying goes ‘practice makes perfect’, so let’s get things started with our A-Z guide for towing a caravan. Is my vehicle up to the task? If you’re towing with a new vehicle or caravan be sure to check the suitability for the task in hand. TowCar offers a great free vehicle/caravan matching tool which assesses the potential proficiency (stability rating, weight ratio, speed throughout gear changes, acceleration vs. gradients & maximum gradient advice) of your vehicle vs. your caravan. Do I have the correct licence? This is largely down to when you passed your driving test and it is YOUR responsibility to ensure you’re towing within the law. Those who passed their driving test before Jan 1st 1997 are permitted to tow up to 8.25 tonnes (MAM – maximum authorised mass) until the expiry date stipulated on your licence. The waters get muddier for drivers who passed the test after Jan 1st 1997, so lets start with the 3.5 tonne rule – this is an outline for the weight ration limit of caravans and other towing devices. Category B vehicles can carry up to 8 passengers with a MAM of up to 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg). Such vehicles can tow a trailer over 0.75 tonnes (750kg), providing the MAM of the trailer doesn’t exceed the unladen weight of the vehicle and combined they do not exceed 3.5 tonnes. The trailer’s weight cannot exceed the unladen weight of the car towing it, to put this into perspective a typically trailer tent (unbraked) weighs around 500 kg, while very small caravans weigh in from about 650 kg – but I mean small. These CAN therefore be towed by the average family car such as a Ford Focus 1.6 (1,340kg) – as it’s designed to tow up to 670 kg (unbraked) & 1000 kg (braked). Always bare in mind the MAM of the trailer is key and not its unladen weight. The B+E Licence Typically a medium sized caravan will weigh in around the 1300 kg mark and yet again if you passed your test after 1st Jan 1997 you will need an additional test (practical only) to be fully tow legal, this is known as a B+E licence. This will enable you to tow weights over 750 kg & operate of vehicle up to 3.5 tons (3,500 kg) Under the B+E license there is no limit on the weight ratio of your vehicle & caravan combination, however you should not tow something that exceeds the stipulated weight limit of your vehicle. To find your vehicle’s tow limit click here. How to weigh your Caravan? Using one of the UK’s many public weighbridges, many are free but some do charge up to £15 depending on location. Click here to see a list of weighbridges operating in the UK. – Weigh your vehicle and caravan at its legal minimal weight (ie no luggage). – Petrol in your car’s tank can weigh anything up to 60 kg, weighing with a full tank is advised. Step 1: Drive onto the weighbridge with all wheels (including caravan) on the scales, then apply the car/ caravan handbrake before lowering the jockey wheel so that it makes contact with the weighbridge platform. Take measurement. Step 2: Drive onto the platform with just the caravan wheels remaining on the platform, apply the handbrake and lower the jockey wheel so that it makes contact with the platform, then uncouple the caravan from the vehicle. Take second measurement. Step 3: Go and collect your printed certificate from the weighbridges office. Planning your Route We know the East Devon back lanes like the back of our hand – and their potential pitfalls. Be sure to plan your departing and returning journeys, ensuring you only stick to roads that you (a) feel comfortable driving on & (b) are safe to do so. The guys a Michelin, know a thing or two about getting from A – B and have put together this great route planner that is caravan considerate, with alerts for steep hills and tight bends. Just remember to allow plenty of time to reach your destination, especially if you want to avoid reversing to your pitch in darkness. The Caravan Reversing Guide: Even the most diligently route planned won’t have a ‘reverse avoidance’ option, you’ll need to learn the basic manoeuvres. When you reverse your caravan it will feel like it’s initially resisting, before making that familiar clunking sound, this is simply the caravan’s auto-reverse feature – it’s way of telling you whether its going to follow your lead. Single Axle vs. Twin Axle Whether your caravan is large or small, the principles are the same, however size does affect the way a caravan reacts. Single axle caravans have the ability to pivot on the wheel enabling them to turn sharply, but also jackknife more easily. The lesser the distance between the caravans axle and your vehicles towball, the quicker the response to changes made on the steering wheel. Twin axle vans might be visually more intimidating, however they do not pivot on the wheels and respond more slowly when reversed, subsequently making them easier to control. Reverse Straight Before popping your vehicle into reverse ensure your caravan and vehicle are straight, including the steering wheel. As you begin to move back keep a close eye on the caravan in your mirrors, if the caravan is getting bigger in one mirror move the steering wheel down towards that mirror – a ¼ turn MAX! Once the van returns to its original position (equal in both mirrors) simply return the steering wheel back to its straight positioning. Reversing Around Corners In camping terms this mean reversing onto your pitch and it will require you to be correctly positioned from the start in order to completed successfully. Step 1: Drive past your pitch with your caravan’s rear wheels setting at perpendicular (90º) to the edge of your pitch. Step 2: Now turn your steering wheel 1 full rotation in the opposite direction from you wish to turn. Step 3: Start reversing slowly and your caravan will begin to pivot pretty quickly, but keep an eye on it as if you reverse too far (in the procedure laid out in step 2) you will jack-knife. Before the caravan is aligned straight against the pitch (45º), turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction so that your vehicle would be in the same position as the caravan were you reversing solo. If the caravan moves too far (or not enough) during this process simply straighten up and start again. Bare in mind you can push your caravan to straighten it up once unhitched, so you don’t need to be inch perfect. Towing on the Roads Treat towing a caravan like you would driving a car in the wet, give yourself more time! You’ll need to brake earlier and accelerate more sympathetically. By law, towing vehicles cannot exceed 50 mph on single carriageways and 60 mph on dual carriageways. On motorways, towing vehicles are not permitted to use the outer land unless instructed to do so, such as a traffic jam or accident. Mirrors Ensure that you have view visibility of your caravan, this likely means fitting extension mirrors to your vehicle. Once on holiday don’t forget to remove them when not hitched up, it’s actually illegal to use them when not required as they are potentially dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists. Miscellaneous Checklist: Dos & Don’ts Do make a checklist of all required essentials before going on your next caravan holiday. Do let traffic pass you if you are causing a traffic jam, it will cost you 30 seconds and save others a lot more than that. Do take extra care when overtaking lorries or coaches as air turbulences can cause snakking – even with electronic and friction stabilisers fitted to your caravan. Do check that all lights on your caravans rear panel are working. Do disconnect your 12v system if you are not unhitching your caravan (think 1 night stays), this removes any chance of you draining your car battery. Do clean your caravan after your holiday, clean out your fridge with an Anti-Bac spray and keep the fridge door open until next year. Do check your caravan’s roof hatch is property closed during journeys. Don’t carry passengers in a caravan while towing, it’s illegal in the UK. Technically pets can be transported in a moving caravan, however it is not recommended and may cause unnecessary stress on your beloved pet. Don’t use a homemade cardboard number plates, any number plate on your caravan must conform to an approved British Standard Don’t forget 4 wooden blocks to stabilize your caravan with. Don’t park your caravan in parking bays with meters. Don’t instinctively brake if your caravan begins to sway, instead use engine braking to reduce speed gradually. Image via the Highways Agency on Flickr