Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2021 i Practical Motorhome

If you’d told me a year ago that we’d still be in lockdown some 12 months later, I’m not sure that I’d have believed you - it’s certainly been an extraordinary year. Here at Practical Motorhome HQ, we’ve spent the past couple of months putting the finishing touches to our popular Top 100 Sites Guide, which you’ll receive with the next issue (number 245). When we can all hit the road again – and we’re really hoping that will be soon – we hope you will find it useful on your first tour out of lockdown! You can find out more about the guide on p56 of this issue. Also this month, we’ve a round-up of what you need to know about touring in Continental Europe post-Brexit. It’s certainly a…

Our expert panel SARAH WAKELY Editor-in-chief sarah@practicalmotorhome.com PAUL CRITCHER Deputy editor paul.critcher@futurenet.com PETER BABER Reviews editor peter.baber@futurenet.com GENTLEMAN JACK Contributor askjack@practicalmotorhome.com CLAUDIA DOWELL Features/travel editor claudia.dowell@futurenet.com NICK HARDING Contributor practical.motorhome@futurenet.com DIAMOND DAVE Contributor practical.motorhome@futurenet.com WHERE CAN WE FIND THE ’VAN THAT’S JUST RIGHT FOR US? Q We simply cannot find the right motorhome at the right price at the moment – our choice is so restricted. What are the alternatives? David Palmer A Nick Harding replies… Good for you for identifying the motorhome that best suits your specific needs. Normally at this point, I’d say the right vehicle is out there for you, somewhere. But I’m not surprised to hear that you can’t find what you’re looking for right now. In the current climate, things are very different for anyone…

Duration Four days When Autumn 2018 Why? Excellent walking, with fine coastal views and the opportunity to spot local wildlife We had been looking for a short break in Hilary, our Hymer C-Class motorhome, and considered returning to the Gower Peninsula, where housemate Pearl and I found an excellent site. However, we only had limited time available, so this time we plumped for a shorter journey, to Fishguard in North Pembrokeshire. Where possible, we prefer to park up at a site and then walk and use public transport to explore the area. Fishguard Bay Resort fulfilled this criterion, being two miles from town and just three-quarters of a mile from the bus stop for buses between Aberystwyth and Haverfordwest. The campsite owners were very friendly and helpful, the facilities were…

The A59 begins in the centre of Liverpool and heads north to the A59/M57/M58 interchange (known as Switch Island), passing the famous Aintree racecourse. It bypasses Ormskirk and continues north to Preston, near Rufford Old Hall (L40 1SG), a stunning Tudor property with Victorian and Edwardian gardens, which is owned by the National Trust. After Preston, the route passes Brockholes Wetland and Woodland Nature Reserve (PR5 0AG) and follows the beautiful Ribble Valley – where you have an excellent choice of campsites – past Whalley and its abbey, to Clitheroe, bypassing the attractive market town to the east. Pendle Hill, renowned for its association with witch trials in the 17th century, lies to the east of the road, which then heads north-east through Gisburn and on to Skipton and its…

www.practicalmotorhome.com/forsale On the look-out for a new motorhome? If so, we can help! Just like our inspiring travel stories, expert reviews and useful advice, we think that our online classifieds are the best in the business. You can read our review of your chosen ’van, watch the video then find it online, making www.practicalmotorhome.com the one-stop shop for all your touring needs. We already know that 50% of you access our website via mobile device, so our classifieds have been designed to be fully responsive – they should work just as well on your tablet or smartphone as they do on your home computer. We’ve worked hard to make these classifieds as easy to use as possible, with filters to help you narrow your search by location, price, brand, year,…

Barbour Classic Tartan dog travel harness For aspirational dogs Price £32.95 Web johnlewis.com Ruff and Tumble Drying Coat For dogs that like to play in water Price From £26 Web ruffandtumbledogcoats.com Ruff and Tumble sofa throw For dogs that are into interior (re)design Price From £74.95 Web ruffandtumbledogcoats.com Fiamma Carry Dog folding kennel For dogs that like their own space Price £57 Web everythingfiamma.co.uk Mountain Paws karabiner dog lead For outdoor dogs Price From £16.99 Web mountainpaws.com Lick mat for doggie treats For dogs that need entertaining Price £7.99 Web www.dogstrustgifts.com Animology Stink Bomb deodorising dog spray For ‘aromatic’ dogs Price £5.79 Web yourdogsclub.co.uk Stake and tie-out cable For dogs that might wander off Price Cable £6-£8, stake £6 Web www.petsathome.com Mountain Paws Dog First Aid Kit For adventurous pooches Price…

CHOOSE FROM OVER 60 RETAILERS INCLUDING TESCO, JOHN LEWIS, M&S AND AMAZON TWO EASY WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE Visit www.magazinesdirect.com/TREAT or phone 0330 333 1113 and quote code 88AA Terms & Conditions Offer closes 31st March 2021. Offer open to new subscribers only. Please allow up to six weeks for delivery of your first subscription issue. The full subscription rate is for 12 months and includes postage and packaging. If the magazine ordered changes frequency per annum, we will honour the number of issues paid for, not the term of the subscription. Payment is non-refundable after the 14 day cancellation period unless exceptional circumstances apply. † E-gifts must be chosen by 15.05.21. E-gifts will be valid for use for 12 months from date of claim. Qualifying customers will receive an email…

Duration Five nights When Autumn 2020 Why? Beautiful beaches, great landscapes and historic houses As I gazed down on Oddicombe Beach, Torquay, I was transported back to 1967, the famed ‘summer of love’ – more like the summer of A-levels for boyfriend Steve and me. Then, we had been snapped by a local beach photographer. We both had long hair, and I was wearing short shorts, a sleeveless top and a big, wide-brimmed straw hat with white daisies adorning it. Oh yes, we looked the part! Time for Torquay I’ve never been back to Torquay since then and my husband, Joe, hasn’t visited the area, so it was time to make amends. As we turned into Ramslade C&MC Site, the sun was shining in a clear sky – but we’d…

This year has been like no other, and all of us are no doubt itching to get back on the road. But a touring park can make or break a holiday – so it’s important to know what you want out of a campsite and that it can deliver. Of course, there are many styles of site. Some will have as many facilities and as much entertainment as a family might desire; important if you have children to keep happy. Others will be peaceful havens, where you can sit back, relax and perhaps potter down to the local inn for the evening. Whichever style suits you, certain elements are key to every great campsite – spotless facilities, helpful and friendly hosts, and a great location. Every touring park in our…

VAN LIVE! TEHE PRACTICAL CARAVAN & MOTORHOME VIRTUAL SHOW This is the second Van Live! event that Practical Motorhome, in conjunction with our sister title Practical Caravan magazine, has run – such has been the extraordinary nature of the past year, that we decided to get together all of your favourite show experiences and bring them to you online! Our first event ran in October 2020, with our second running online from 22-28 February 2021. Don’t worry if you missed the most recent event, though – we’ve kept everything up online, so you can pay a visit now and see all of our great show content in one easy-to-access place. Visit our virtual show At Van Live! February 2021 you can read the latest news from manufacturers, find links to…

nick harding We just can’t get enough – I’ve never known stock levels of secondhand motorhomes to be so low. There are still some out there (Marquis Leisure was listing 133 vehicles at the time of writing, for example, although that’s across its 13 branches), but buyers have been snapping up used bargains over the past year. These high levels of demand – especially from those making their first-ever motorhome purchase (so with no ’van to part-exchange) – mean that dealerships’ stocks are being whittled right down. I see this scenario continuing throughout summer, at least. There are two ways for you to proceed. If you see a motorhome that suits you perfectly, go for it. Alternatively, put off your purchase until you’re happy. Patience will pay. Currently, you can’t…

When we began motorhome touring back in 2017, we were happy to just jump in and go, without too much thought about what we would pack to take with us. Obviously we included the essentials, such as food, clothes and our then two-year-old son, but outside of that, we had an attitude of ‘what we don’t have, we can do without’. Fast forward almost four years, add our second child and the experience garnered from a multitude of trips, and we have an altogether different outlook. Now we are very much of the belief that our experiences on the road can be greatly enhanced by what we pack in our Bailey motorhome, not to mention our life being made a lot easier and more comfortable, thanks to certain additions to…

Pet-owning motorcaravanners would have guessed this already, but research reveals that more than 65% of people like to take their dogs on tour with them. It makes perfect sense… with a ’van, you have total freedom to head wherever you want, the space is your own, hundreds of sites welcome well-behaved dogs (and other creatures), you save a bundle on kennel fees and you get to share quality time with the whole family. Dogs are great ice-breakers, too – a brilliant way to initiate conversations. We’ve found these impromptu chats can often lead to acquiring very useful information from other dog-owners, particularly when we’re visiting somewhere new. They can enhance your sense of comfort and security, too, especially for solo travellers. Here’s how to make your tour enjoyable for all…

Now featuring 2021 models! How to use the guide We’ve organised our listings by layout, which is generally the most crucial aspect for buyers. Simply locate the floorplan you like in the guide; then, on the left of it, you’ll find details of every UK model with that layout. Simple! This month, we’re looking at low-profile motorhomes. how to buy… Setting a budget Begin by setting a realistic budget, not just the initial cost, but ongoing maintenance – both the base vehicle and the interior will need regular servicing – fuel consumption and insurance. The price of a new motorhome can look prohibitive, but offset this against what you would spend on a holiday, and how you would use your motorhome, how often, and the freedom it gives you to…

The Nightstop Scheme is run by us in conjunction with the Motor Caravanners’ Club (MCC), and the sites are certificated locations (CLs); you don’t have to join any club to use them. You’ll need to ring the relevant site to confirm whether there’s space for you before you visit: you’ll find information at www.practicalmotorhome.com/nightstops. For further information about the MCC, visit www.themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk. 1 Airman Hotel SG17 5JF 2 The Black Horse Pub HP16 9AX 3 The Seven Wives PE27 5RF 4 The Penrhiwgaled Arms SA44 6LN 5 Railway Hotel SA32 7LQ 6 Mousehole Camping TR19 6XB 7 Blenkinsopp Castle Inn CA8 7JS 8 The Thelbridge Cross Inn EX17 4SQ 9 The Ship Inn YO15 1EW 10 The Crown Inn GL7 5QH 11 Elton Farm GL14 1JU 12 The Gloucester Old…

Claudia dowell As I write this, ministers are debating whether it is too early to book a summer holiday. The vaccine programme appears to be going well, but the three-month delay between jabs makes it look like staying put is still the only way to stop the virus sneaking up on us. It does seem to have made us reassess what we want from our spare time, with wellness, mindfulness and nature much more to the fore. We want to spend our days out watching birds and wildlife, usually while walking or cycling our coastline and countryside. Cycling is growing in popularity, mainly because of ebikes. It’s an activity businesses can support to make it even more enjoyable, and achieving that is being explored in a new project from Cycle…

■ Who are you? Anne and David Dean, motorhome owners for more than 20 years. We have travelled extensively in the UK and Europe. ■ Why are you a local authority on Stratford-upon-Avon? We currently live 25 miles from Stratford and visit frequently, and we have taken our grandsons there on camping holidays, exploring many of the local attractions. ■ WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT it? Its riverside location, plus the fact it has retained a lot of the character from its roots as a medieval market town and the birthplace of Shakespeare. ■ WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE to visit in the area? As well as exploring all Stratford has to offer, it also works as a base for visiting the surrounding area – including the beautiful Cotswold village of…

Peter Baber Reviews editor I remember a garage down the road from a house I once owned that had the words ‘VW Camper Conversions’ on a sign outside the front. In the years that I lived in the house, driving past that garage frequently, I don’t think I ever saw a single Volkswagen go in or out. That’s why I welcome VW’s decision to introduce a motorhome qualification scheme (see p62), which should help ensure consistency and good service for those interested in buying a Volkswagen conversion. When the VW name is so tied up with campers, and stands to lose so much if the van conversion market gets a bad reputation, you can hardly blame the owners of the famous badge for wanting to maintain standards. It’s a good…

•Price £55,995 •Sleeps 4 •Belts 4 •Base vehicle Fiat Ducato •Engine 140bhp Euro 6D •Length/width/height 6.49/2.33/2.96m (21’3”/7’8”/9’7”) •MTPLM 3500kg •Payload 442kg •Water (fresh/waste) 115/100 litres •Leisure battery 90Ah •Gas 2 x 6kg cylinders Contact Auto-Sleepers Address Orchard Works, Willersey, Nr Broadway WR12 7QF Web www.mclouisfusion.co.uk Tel 01386 853 338 n Italy, McLouis is a well-known motorhome brand for the family market – everything from A-classes and low-profiles to van conversions. When fellow Trigano Group subsidiary Auto-Sleepers reintroduced the brand into the UK two seasons ago, however, it had an additional function. Auto-Sleepers has a loyal following, but its customer base is traditionally slightly older motorcaravanners who have owned many vehicles before. Trying to expand production to appeal to first-time buyers could be tricky, as the firm is based in the Cotswolds,…

Top dealers give sound advice about buying a secondhand motorhome Bearing in mind my comments about the current market, I thought that you might like to hear a few insider views. I’ve been in touch with some of the UK’s leading motorhome dealers to get the latest news. Here’s what they said: ? At the moment, any private buyer should be careful of purchasing a secondhand vehicle at the top of the market. When things settle down again, in a couple of seasons, and the market stabilises, they might realise that they actually paid too much for that five-year-old motorhome. It is not unusual to find some people asking more for a secondhand vehicle than when they bought it new. Gary Rowlands Heart of England Motorhomes heartofenglandmotorhomes.co.uk ? The choices…

diamond dave Solar power generation has become very popular in recent years, especially in the world of motorhomes and off-grid camping, but what can we really expect from a solar-powered charging system? Well, that depends on a few factors, the first being what size panel(s) you have and how old they are. Modern panels are more efficient at turning sunlight into electricity, but they still don’t produce massive amounts of power and their output is greatly affected by weather conditions, the time of year and your location. The panel’s output is related to how bright the light is and the angle of the sun’s rays. A typical motorhome with two people on board, using a three-way fridge on gas, watching four hours of TV a day and making moderate use…

SEPTEMBER 2018 We took to the hills of the Peak District for this autumnal issue – other highlights included the chance to win a camera tripod, and a first drive for the new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Ever fancied a tour to Asia? Marcus Leach did just that with motorhome manufacturer Bailey, and documented his extraordinary trip in the colourful feature in this issue “In a word, superb,” said Nick Harding of the HymerCar Sydney GT60 Limited Fiat Ducato-based pop-top campervan. Elsewhere, water pumps were the focus of our technical pages, as Techno Tom Bedworth visited Whale in Northern Ireland MISSED AN ISSUE? Want to buy a past issue of Practical Motorhome magazine? Simply call 0330 333 1113, visit www.magazinesdirect.com/single-issue/, or email help@magazinesdirect.com…