Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Campervan

The England Coast Path book beckons me towards it in the shop window. Soon I’m engrossed in plans. “Cornwall?” I suggest. Reluctant rambler, Seán, needs better bait. “Poldark?” “Definitely not,” Seán says. “Marconi’s hut – the oldest communications site in the world?” I try. “Radio waves,” he answers. I play my final card: “Cornish ales?” Soon Seán’s wielding a spreadsheet of campsites and cosy inns. The deal is sealed. We’ll walk the longest coastal path in the world; but this is us, so it’ll be random and take some time! Our first stop-off is Moreton, Dorset, and nowhere near the sea; it’s the only place with weekend space. The CL’s one-legged pheasant greets us. The owner says to enjoy watching the sika deer and that her Alsatian is friends with…

Auchenlarie Holiday Park overlooks gorgeous Wigtown Bay with views across to the Isle of Man. There are pitches for motorhomes, m tents and tourers. Facilities include three bars, a restaurant and takeaway, and a function suite with daily entertainment. These are complimented by an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, solarium, gymnasium and amusement arcade with a soft play area. Adjacent to reception is a shop and 24-hour launderette. Auchenlarie also boasts several outside play areas and six courtyard cottages, with hot tubs, which were added in 2009. Owners, Marshall and Helen Swalwell, tell us more… How long have you been running your campsite? We purchased Auchenlarie in January 1986, followed by another site, Anwoth, in 1993. These were both combined with the courtyard cottages in 2009 to become part of…

HI You will have seen in my last column that I recently went to Morocco with Bailey of Bristol as part of its Sahara Challenge. It may have been a few weeks ago but the experience is still fresh in my mind! I’d never been to Morocco and, before I went, I was feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. While I wasn’t doing the trip itself solo, I was flying out on my own and sharing a motorhome with someone I had only met twice. I was really pushing myself out of my comfort zone, especially as I’d never driven abroad before! But I wanted to make the most of this opportunity and I knew I would feel incredible once I had conquered this. After all, it’s what I…

The unmistakable blue Campingaz canisters and cylinders – and the devices the liquid petroleum gas (LPG) inside them powers – have, more than likely, been a feature of all of our lives at some point when enjoying the great outdoors. After all, the company has been around for almost 75 years. In France in the late 1940s, three engineering friends, Gabriel Corlet, André Colomb and René Sillon, together with their families, enjoyed their first camping holiday together. The three engineers immediately saw a gap in the market for portable cooking equipment for caravanners, campers and, later, motorhome and campervan users. So, the trio created and then, soon after, launched the small blue portable and refillable gas cylinder, which they named the bidon bleu. With the launch of the bidon bleu,…

The street dance troupe, Diversity, was the winner of Britain’s Got Talent back in 2009, four years before Malibu Vans made their comeback (having first appeared in 1979). It’s also now the rather random title of this Carthago company’s latest campervan – in a range that doesn’t seem all that diverse, as all models are Fiat-based and have a fixed bed layout. Malibu describes the Diversity as the ‘all-rounder with XL kitchen comfort and a generous feeling of space.’ Tested here is the 600 DB K version (there’s also a longer 640 LE K with single beds), but it’s not the base spec. What you see on these pages is the Charming GT Skyview version, which the company calls its exclusive line. The key feature is, of course, the panoramic…

Nestled on the rugged coastline of Cornwall, St Ives beckons campers with its timeless charm and picturesque beauty. This idyllic fishing village has long captivated the hearts of artists and wanderers alike, drawing inspiration from its beaches and azure waters. Discover quaint art galleries and cosy cafés, while the scent of salty sea air lingers in the breeze. Its crown jewel is the Tate St Ives, showcasing exceptional contemporary art against a backdrop of breathtaking ocean views. Whether you seek tranquillity, artistic inspiration, or simply a delightful escape, St Ives is the place to go. St Ives Boats Take a short cruise aboard the good ship Dolly P to go seal spotting, or take a jaunt out to Godrevy Lighthouse, whose octagonal tower was made famous by Virginia Woolf in…

The light was so wonderfully clear and bright as I drove along the A95 towards Grantown-on-Spey that I couldn’t resist stopping for a closer look at the picturesque old Bridge of Avon. Its setting was gorgeous, enclosed by the River Avon’s steep banks, where beeches reached up to a deep blue sky. With an entrance arch to Ballindalloch Castle and a Gothic-style gate lodge attached to the far end of the bridge, the scene had an entrancing atmosphere. Like all the stone bridges to be seen today around Strathspey, the Bridge of Avon is a survivor of repeated floods. Opened in 1800, a plaque records that the river rose 7m during the Muckle Spate (big flood) of 1829, which destroyed numerous other bridges over the River Spey and its tributaries.…

A festival wouldn’t be a festival without top tunes, fab food and delicious drinks. And, at our first ever Campervan Campout event, we had our fair share of all of them. It didn’t stop there. Axethrowing, archery and yoga; a shopping village, gin festival and a silent disco…. there was so much for the whole family to enjoy. Throw in lots of sparkling new campervans to feast your eyes on, some essential vanlife advice and a little bit of Sunday sunshine, and you had all the ingredients for a fantastic weekend. Of course, no festival would be complete without a smattering of rain and mud, too. But did we let that spoil the party? No way… By the time DJ, Craig Charles, opened up his trunk of funk on Saturday evening,…

You don’t have to spend a lot of time looking at different campervans to realise that many of them have a very similar layout. The standard conversion features a side kitchen, with a rock ’n’ roll bed that forms the dining area and lounge during the day and folds flat to create a sleeping area at night. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s a tried and tested layout that works for most people, so there’s a strong case to say ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t make a welcome change to see something a bit different. The two-berth Crafter II from West Sussex-based JMS is a more unusual concept in a van conversion. You’ll not be surprised to learn it is…

With the increasing level of electronic sophistication adopted by criminals, it’s recommended that you also use physical devices to protect your ’van– they won’t stop a professional, but they will slow thieves down and will deter opportunists. Steering wheel locks are a common device to use, but, unless they cover the whole steering wheel, they’re of limited use – the bar type can actually help thieves if they need to break the steering lock as they give extra leverage! As the steering wheel is made of mild steel, thieves will often just cut the rim to remove the lock – so fit a complete steering wheel cover. Some people chain the cab door handles together, but as most door handles are plastic and easily chopped off, this takes seconds to…

BAILEY TO LAUNCH FIRST EVER CAMPERVAN Bailey of Bristol is teaming up with Ford Pro to manufacture its first campervan later this year. The collaboration will result in the creation of the Endeavour van conversion range, which will be publicly unveiled at the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC in October. Bailey’s successful partnership with Ford began in 2020 with the popular Adamo coachbuilt motorhome. Ford has since become the primary provider of base vehicles for Bailey, making it the natural choice for the Endeavour campervan. The two companies have a strong working relationship, and Bailey is now an official Ford Pro Convertor for coachbuilt motorhomes. The Bailey Product Development Team recently presented a preproduction Endeavour to the Ford Pro Special Vehicle Team for evaluation at its UK headquarters…

Rapido has reduced its Van range to just two models this year, the six-metre V55 with a transverse double bed and the longer V68 with lengthways singles. Both models have detail changes for the new season, with the most noticeable one being a switch to Peugeot’s Boxer from the Fiat Ducato. The French lion comes with 140bhp as standard or 165bhp as an upgrade (with Heavy chassis), while the Fiat cab remains an option for those seeking automatic transmission. Of course, the change makes minimal difference to the V68’s external appearance, although the graphics have also been updated. Framed habitation windows are a plus but the lack of glazing in the back doors leaves the rear looking rather utilitarian. The biggest news is inside, where you can now order Luceo…