Our festive episode on The Caravan Channel gets underway with our review of the Venus 570/4, which brings the popular, domestic-style transverse island bed layout to Lunar’s budget brand. Practical Caravan’s Group Editor Alastair Clements is on hand to guide you round this van which is clad in smart, new-for-2016 graphics. But, of course, the big news is inside with the new layout and the new colour scheme, which sees oatmeal seating matched with retro curtains featuring a dark lime and oatmeal design.

The kitchen is one of the few areas where the Venus 570/4 feels like an entry-level van, with a three-burner hob, a combined oven and grill, an optional microwave and very few sockets, but storage and worktop space are excellent and the chrome mixer tap is a thoughtful touch. And the bedroom certainly doesn’t make you feel like you’re in a budget caravan. Be sure to watch our show to see it for yourself, to appreciate how easy the island bed is to extend/retract and more.

Don’t miss it! Tune in between Monday 14 December and Sunday 27 December 2015 on The Caravan Channel, which is on Freeview 254, Freesat 402 or Sky 261. You can also watch live online on the Information TV website and find more tuning-in details here. Every episode is broadcast 10 times across its two-week run, on Mondays at 8pm, on Wednesdays at 5pm, and then at 7pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Watch and you can join us at Clover Fields Touring Park, which features in our Top 100 Sites Guide 2015. It’s a small, open all year, adult-only site in the Peak District with a relaxing atmosphere. And thanks to its great facilities and the warm welcome you’ll receive from the staff, it’s a lovely place to pitch your van. Tune in for full details.

After the break, we bring you some expert advice, courtesy of The Camping and Caravanning Club. Learn about caravan brakes, and all about what snaking is and how to avoid it. Be sure to catch this essential advice for all caravanners, whether experienced or new to the hobby, by watching our show on The Caravan Channel, on Sky 261, Freeview 254, Freesat 402 and live online.

Then, our Group Editor returns with his review of the 2016 Bailey Pegasus Ancona. This five-berth tourer uses the same floorplan as the Palermo, but in a smaller, single-axle body. A family-focused van, well-lit, fixed bunks located opposite a dinette lie just forward of the end washroom. Then there’s the well-specced kitchen where you’ll find a dual-fuel four-burner hob, a separate oven and grill, a microwave, a slimline tower fridge and a new-style pull-out cutlery drawer. There’s also a roomy and very comfy lounge at the front, which quickly and easily converts into a great double bed, thanks to a system new to the Pegasus range for 2016. Be sure to watch and see our Ancona review in full.

Finally, you won’t want to miss our expert David Motton’s Jeep Grand Cherokee review. If you’re wondering what tow car to buy next, could this be the car for you? With a 2328kg kerbweight, this is no lightweight, but it’s a world away from its less sophisticated predecessors. The three-litre V6 diesel is a powerful unit, mated to an eight-speed smooth-shifting automatic gearbox, but the Grand Cherokee can’t compete with rivals when it comes to fuel economy. However, stability at speed is good and if you like touring all year round, this could be a contender.

So, to get your latest dose of essential viewing for every caravanner, remember to tune in to The Caravan Channel either live online, or on Sky 261, Freesat 402 or Freeview 254 between Monday 14 and Sunday 27 December at the times given:

  • Monday at 8pm
  • Wednesday at 5pm
  • Friday at 7pm
  • Saturday at 7pm
  • Sunday at 7pm
       

We hope you’re able to watch and you enjoy our show.

Want more? Head to the Practical Caravan YouTube channel – and if you subscribe you’ll never miss a thing.