Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Campervan

As you will have deduced from the front cover, we are celebrating great British campervan holidays in this issue of the magazine. From the north of Scotland to the southern tip of Cornwall, we've got travel articles that will hopefully inspire you to explore this great land of ours. Unfortunately, the UK domestic tourism sector is currently in crisis. Visitor numbers are dwindling, and that’s putting the livelihood of the people who provide our brilliant holidays at risk. With the launch of our Back British Holidays campaign, we are urging the Government to act now to support domestic tourism, boost visitor numbers and safeguard the future of the industry. You can lend your voice to the campaign by signing our petition and sharing your own memories of holidaying in the…

If you Google ‘Bellingham’ the chances are you will be served up a lot of information relating to an impressive young footballer who is (at the time of writing) a key player in the men’s England squad. While I’m sure his footballing skills and achievements are inspiring, I’m more interested in a different Bellingham – the pretty riverside village on the border of the Northumberland National Park. Bellingham – pronounced Bellinjum – is 16 miles north of the busy market town of Hexham. It’s easy to think of Northumberland as being somewhere between Newcastle and Scotland, but Bellingham is almost equidistant between Newcastle and Carlisle, making it accessible from east and west. The weather appears promising and, with a plan for some fresh air and little else, we pack up…

I’ve probably said this before but I’m going to say it once more – I don’t think I can ever own a ‘normal’ vehicle again! Living in a motorhome for six years and then having a small campervan as my everyday vehicle, I quickly realised how handy it is to have your own facilities with you wherever you go. It has become my norm to have a toilet, kitchen and changing room with me at all times, but recently, I was reminded just how handy it is. I haven’t been on too many solo adventures in recent times, but I have been driving the southern half of the UK a lot on various errands and work-related trips. Being able to stop and make myself a drink, go to the toilet…

“It was the one thing that was missing,” says Brian Cross, Auto-Sleepers Head of R&D, referring to the lack of continuous hot water in the company’s campervans. “Now you really have a home from home,” he adds, citing that some customers had complained about showers only lasting for a maximum of six minutes. The solution comes through the fitting of the new CombiNeo boiler and heating system, which will be fitted to all Fiat-based Auto-Sleepers (both campervans and coachbuilts) for the 2025 season, making these the first vehicles anywhere in Europe to have Truma’s brand-new unit. Truma, of course, is already the market leader in leisure vehicle heating, having developed both the first caravan/motorhome heater and the first combi unit. In its 75-year history it has supplied over six million…

Consort is a renowned specialist in two-berth panel van conversions, with an emphasis on practical design borne out of real campervanning experience. It offers models based on all three lengths of Fiat Ducato van – 5.41m, 5.99m and 6.36m. Its bread and butter is the enduring rear lounge layout but, for 2025, it has added fixed bed alternatives offering even more storage and the comfort of domestic-quality mattresses. This isn’t one of those (which we hope to feature soon) but the longest of its more traditional models. If funds are restricted, you can currently order your Oslo based on a new but pre-registered Peugeot Boxer (as shown), which keeps the price down to £74,950. Go for the latest Series 10 Fiat Ducato, which comes with extra spec (including a reversing…

Billing Aquadrome is a popular holiday park in Northamptonshire, offering a scenic and family-friendly environment for touring and glamping. Set along the River Nene, the park provides spacious touring pitches with electric hook-ups, modern amenities, and access to leisure facilities. Visitors can enjoy activities like fishing, boating, and swimming, or explore the on-site restaurants, entertainment, and play areas. With its proximity to Northampton and nearby attractions, Billing Aquadrome is an ideal destination for short breaks or extended stays. Whether you're looking to relax in nature or enjoy family fun, it’s a perfect spot for touring holidays. We spoke to Geoffery Smith, CEO of owner, Meadow Bay Villages, to find out more about this popular family site How long have you been running your campsite? Meadow Bay Villages purchased Billing Aquadrome…

WILL YOU BACK BRITISH HOLIDAYS? Meandering along the seafront eating chips, dodging rain clouds on a family walk, or pitching up at your local campsite – British holidays can take many forms, but the character of these experiences remains the same. The iconic British holiday has a magical quality, which is why so many of us have nostalgic memories of these breaks from our childhood. However, the chances of sharing those experiences with our own children are becoming slimmer. Visitor numbers within the UK’s domestic tourism sector are falling rapidly, threatening the livelihood of the small businesses – and the people who run them – that enable our brilliant holidays. Without urgent support, those iconic holidays could become a thing of the past. That’s why we – the publishers of…

Historic St Austell is the perfect base to explore the stunning south coast of Cornwall. Culture and history abound around here – or you can just go somewhere pretty and enjoy the view. Either way you’re going to have a good time. Start your trip with a visit to the Charlestown Shipwreck Treasure Museum – as the name would suggest, this is a small museum with many artefacts collected from local shipwrecks. Nearby Wheal Martyn clay mining museum is also worth a visit, as is the highly acclaimed Lost Gardens of Heligan. Delightful Mevagissey (pictured) is a historic fishing village with a beautiful harbour tucked away behind pretty cottages and shops. VISIT EDEN PROJECT No visit to Cornwall is complete without a trip to the Eden Project, one of Britain’s…

We used to have a tandem fishing kayak, in which we had many adventures. It just fitted inside our Auto-Sleeper Duetto campervan. But things didn’t always go to plan. The first time we took it away with us, we put the paddles under the ’van and then drove over them, smashing them to smithereens. Another time, we reserved the perfect pitch next to a river, but forgot to take the paddles with us. In the sea off the coast of Wales, we got swamped by waves, and water found its way into the shell of the boat, causing it to nearly sink. Nevertheless, we had some happy Wind in the Willows moments paddling along quiet rivers, picnicking under weeping willows and even catching fish! Our final pre-dog trip in the…

Whether you’re a regular winter wanderer or like to hibernate your campervan over the colder months, it is well worth following a spring preparation routine. While some essential checks detailed here should be carried out regularly, some jobs only need to be on the list for the start of the new camping season. Not only will the following checks highlight any problems early, they will reduce the risk of problems cropping up while you’re enjoying your holidays. Get mechanical Lift the bonnet and give everything a check. Particularly if your campervan has not been used for a while. Check the engine oil level (the engine should be cold) and check the levels of coolants, brake fluid, etc. Ask a friend or family member to help check the lights – main…

The Yorkshire Motorhome & Campervan Show is returning to Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Events Centre from 14 – 16 March, 2025, packed with expert advice, hands-on experiences, and inspiration for every motorhome and campervan enthusiast. Whether you’re looking to buy your first motorhome, upgrade your current set-up, or get top touring tips, this show is not to be missed. Get expert advice The Advice Centre is your go-to place for practical, expert-led talks covering buying, accessories, travel, and vehicle electrics. These free sessions will help you make informed decisions and get the most out of your motorhome lifestyle. If you’re looking to boost your driving confidence, don’t miss the motorhome manoeuvring courses—an ideal way to practise handling a larger vehicle under expert guidance. The Advice Centre features leading industry experts, each bringing…

There are many reasons to buy your campervan conversion from a well-established company. Not least among them is the fact that they have an uncanny knack of seeming to know what you’re likely to want before you know yourself. Somerset-based Autohaus is a great example. It might sound German, but it’s as English as warm beer and cricket on the village green. For more than two decades, the company has been building high-quality campervans designed to meet – and exceed – the expectations of its customers. From humble beginnings, Autohaus currently produces almost 200 campers a year at its Minehead-based factory. Father and son team, Tony and Chris Payne, pride themselves on identifying the ever-changing needs of buyers and developing their ’vans accordingly. In this business it pays to be…

It might surprise you, but five years have now passed since the start of the Covid pandemic and the impact of the lockdowns and restrictions are still being felt today. One of the unexpected side effects was the huge boom in campervan sales and the large number of new converters seemingly appearing from nowhere to take advantage. Five years on, and there’s a definite sense that many of those bandwagon jumpers were only in it to make a quick buck and rapidly hit the skids. Only the cream of the crop has survived – and, in most cases, thrived. One such success story is Sussex-based Out And About Campers – no relation to our similarly named website, incidentally! Dan Douglass had started out building campervans for himself, but with the…