Floriade in Holland, a flora extravaganza billed as the World Horticultural Expo.

There’s always a good time to plan ahead for your holidays, so why not now? Where are you off to this year? Time for a holiday abroad? Or visiting one of the UK’s many, often brilliant islands? Or staying firmly on British terra firma (and praying for some decent weather)?

I hope you don’t mind me sharing some of my touring plans for the season ahead – and, if it gives you any inspiration for travel, so much the better.

Whether you haven’t been abroad before or you’re s seasoned Europhile, it’s worth seeing what’s on offer. I’m always reassured, for example, by any news from the Alan Rogers Travel Service as well as any advice I can get from the foreign travel departments of both the Caravan Club and Camping and Caravanning Club.

Camping and Caravanning Club's site at Delamere Forest is well situated. We can't wait to get back.

Just before Christmas I had a rather busy schedule to get through, but one of my first jobs was to get a Sprite Musketeer EB and take it away for a weekend.

Skoda UK, as helpful as ever, loaned me a new Octavia SE-Plus petrol engine estate. It was going to have its work cut out as I used it to tow another five caravans!!

Anyhow, some months earlier I had driven past the Camping and Caravanning Club’s Delamere Forest site and was impressed by its surroundings.

Caravanning in winter can be a brilliant time to be out and about if you are suitably prepared.

I can’t believe the winter months and the shorter nights are upon us again!

While most put their touring caravan or motorhome away for the winter months, there are those who see this season as an opportunity to explore places when the tourists have all but gone.

Seeing a favourite holiday spot in winter can give you a whole new approach on that view, village or town.

You don't have to have 4x4 to tow. This mini and Sprite 400 caravan was deemed perfectly fine in 1960!

Going back over 40 years I remember my dad buying his first caravan, we were all excited at the prospect but one dark cloud hovered on the horizon. That was actually towing the thing! Not only the towing but attaching it to the car too – would it stay on?

Dad had always fancied caravanning back in the early 1960s when his parents offered him their then new 1963 Sprite Musketeer. However, dad who was a bit of a car fanatic, thought it a little un-cool and was basically frightened at the thought of attaching a caravan onto our family car.