Pennine's Artemis is the new kid on the folding caravan block.

Last week I was the first journalist to be given the opportunity to use Pennine’s all-new Artemis folding caravan.

The setting certainly helped – I stayed at the Caravan Club’s rather wonderful site at Burrs Country Park (open all year, contrary to what’s been printed elsewhere), on the outskirts of quintessential market town Bury. It was also rather fitting for my stay in what has become a uniquely British leisure vehicle.

First, let’s go back to 1970s and give credit to Gobur. Norfolk-based company that’s had the folding caravan market to itself since it unveiled its Govan (that’s “go-van”, rather than the Glasgow suburb, which incidentally gave its name to tents under the Vango name).

The multi-functional caravan from the USA.

OK, folks. You read it here first, but there are some interesting new caravan ideas coming to the UK at the start of next year. And there’s a clue in the current relative weakness of the US dollar versus the good old pound sterling.

First off, check out the name Eterniti, it’s on a range of all-new caravans with slide-out sections. They’re from America but built on chassis from BPW in Germany, using a GRP shell constructed in the US, and promising full UK specifications and reasonable weights. They’re expected to retail around the £20,000-£25,000 mark. Definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Next up is a concept so new it doesn’t actually have a brand name yet. It’s being made under the working title of the “multi-functional caravan”, using a special box-construction chassis and frame, again from the USA.

Broad Lane's 2012 Fairways caravans are based on Swift's Challenger Sports.

While I concentrated on “dealer specials” in the motorhome market in my last blog, this time around it’s caravans where individual dealerships’ limited edition runs of popular caravan model ranges are just as prevalent – and just as good value.

All around the country, you can expect to see more caravan retailers than ever offering their own “special edition” ‘vans

– which is nothing but great news if you’re in the market for a new caravan unit.

Treat no trick. Marquis has already scored sales success with its Majestic 165 special edition.

I’m writing this just before Halloween itself, but I’ve already had my fill of treats and tricks. The big treat was using a Marquis Majestic 165 motorhome for a cunningly conceived Halloween road trip of scary hotspots in the Bath area – staying at Newton Mill Caravan Park (two nights, and perfectly placed for exploring Bath itself) and Brokerswood (one, but a simply super forest-based site that children will adore). The itinerary for this was courtesy of the new Bristol-based dealership, Family Travel Centre, whose suggestions had included Lacock Abbey, Dyrham Park, Prior Park and Brokerswood itself for all kinds of Halloween goings-on. Plus they had plenty more spooky ideas under their wizards’ hats…