Let’s make the most of summer ‘17! And Practical Caravan’s Summer Special issue is here to help you do just that – and it’s on sale now.

You won’t want to miss our France touring special, packed with holiday ideas. Turn to page 26 and join Practical Caravan’s Claudia and Bryony in the Loire, as they get a taste for the local tipples, visit the area’s many châteaux and more.

And staying in the region, Elaine and Colin Burdett spill the beans on their experiences of Saumur. Head to page 36 to discover why this destination is so much more than ‘just’ a handy stopping point on the way to/from the ferry.

We also suggest 10 great sites that will provide interesting stopovers, taking you from the ports to your pitch in the Loire, and giving you an excuse to stop and linger longer.

Finally, join Caroline Mills as she explores one of France’s most famous regions: Champagne! Famous names including Moët and Chandon, Dom Pérignon and GH Mumm all get a look in, so don’t miss this most sparkling read from page 42.

Get the gear!

The Summer Special issue of Practical Caravan doesn’t stop there, though. On pages 14, 15 and 16 we run through some of the newest must-have touring accessories, just in time for your summer holidays.

From stylish drinks bottles, versatile backpacks and folding electric bikes to marshmallows, barbecues, canoes and more, we’ve plenty of neat ideas to enhance your hols, at a range of price points.

And we’re giving you a chance to win some of these goodies! Want to discover some of the UK’s most special sites? Click here and you could win one of three copies of Cool Caravanning by our very own contributor, the aforementioned Caroline Mills.

One lucky winner will also get his or her hands on the very clever Tegstove, an invention you might have seen on Dragons’ Den. Just step this way to find out what it is and to enter our competition.

A testing tour de force

But our Summer Special doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten our regular features.

We’ve five caravan reviews for you in our latest issue, including the Swift Elegance 650, the Alaria RI and the Adria Alpina Missouri.

Searching for your next tow car? We hitch up and put a Škoda Octavia Estate and Suzuki SX4 S-Cross through their paces.

Plus, we assess what tow car potential a used Porsche Cayenne offers and take the new Mazda CX-5 for a spin.

We also test 12 heavy-duty camping chairs to see which will go the distance on tour, get more expert advice from Nigel Hutson and Sammy Faircloth, and check out some cracking secondhand caravans for sale.

Get all this and much more in the Summer Special 2017 edition of Practical Caravanout now!