Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2024 i Practical Motorhome

It was great to meet and chat to so many of you at the recent NEC show – all the halls were very busy on the days that I was there, with queues to step inside many of the brand-new-for-2024 models. It was fascinating to see the move towards all-electric vehicles, too, including the Bailey Endeavour EV Concept Vehicle, which the Bristol manufacturer has developed alongside Ford Pro. It’s not intended to go into production, but it represents a real look at how the EV and motorhome industries will need to work together going forward – and it was proving very popular with showgoers. If you missed the NEC show, you can catch up on all the news in our round-up on p72 of this issue. Also this month, don’t…

I read Nick Harding’s article about the Yorkshire coast (issue 274) with interest, as we visited Spurn Point in August. It was fortunate that we checked the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust website (www.ywt.org.uk) before visiting, because we learned that we could not take our dog onto Spurn Point itself. Another thing to note about the area is that the road was washed away in 2013. Although there is a 4x4 adapted ex-army lorry that can take people onto the Point, this was not in operation on the day we visited, and is expensive. You can walk, mainly on road, but about a mile across wet sand, if the tide has gone out a little. And the tide does need to be on the way out. That mile of sand is difficult…

Like me, I’m sure many of you will already be drawing up plans for motorhome holidays in the new year. Those of you who visited the recent NEC show will no doubt have had your appetites whetted by the brilliant destinations and motorhome trips being promoted. One thing that caught my eye was the choice of superb, and increasingly exotic, escorted tours that are now available. The Caravan and Motorhome Club has new European and worldwide tours covering everywhere from the Balkans to the Canadian Rockies, and there are special pet-friendly trips, too. Some of these are holidays of a lifetime, so they’re not cheap, but if you’re looking for something special, with the reassurance of expert guided assistance, they are well worth considering. Closer to home, we are spoiled…

Duration Four days When August 2023 Why? A holiday across the water… with our dog Was it really a decade ago that I visited Guernsey? Then, I pitched up at the charming Fauxquets Valley Campsite, a perfect mid-island base for exploring the likes of the Occupation Museum (and lots of other reminders of World War Two), Cobo Bay and its eponymous Tea Room, Port Soif, Fort Hommet, the beach at Bordeaux Harbour, the Guernsey Clockmakers, the Little Chapel, even the treat of a classy evening meal at Auberge restaurant. All of these remain highly recommended places to visit during any tour of this lovely island. Making a return visit This time around was going to be the opportunity to do a little bit more, although ironically, our first stop was…

WHEN TO GO We went in August, but the Lake District is beautiful all year round, so long as you are prepared for the unpredictable weather! Pack waterproofs and suitable footwear for a great tour. The same applies if you are visiting gorgeous Galloway. WHERE WE STAYED Hawkshead Hall Camping Address Hawkshead Hall Farm, Cumbria LA22 ONN W hawksheadhallcampsite.co.uk A friendly site on a working farm where you are free to choose your own pitch. There is a clean, modern toilet and shower block – and a TV room for rainy days! Anwoth Holiday Park Address Garden Street, Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas DG7 2JU W swalwellholidaygroup.co.uk All pitches have hook-up, TV aerial and water. Visitors are welcome to use the facilities and entertainment at its sister site, Auchenlarie Holiday…

WAY TO GO I travelled to Spain by Brittany Ferries (brittany-ferries.co.uk). Services sail from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander. From Portsmouth, you can board Santoña, the company’s newest ship, launched in March 2023, or Salamanca. These are, according to Brittany Ferries, two of the most environmentally friendly ships sailing from the UK. Both run on LNG, a cleaner-burning fuel with fewer emissions. This route takes 34 hours, with two nights spent on board. From Plymouth, you can sail overnight on Pont Aven, Brittany Ferries’ flagship vessel, where you can enjoy a pool, spa treatments, a cinema and live entertainment. This route take approximately 20 hours. Ribadeo, the starting point for the Lighthouse Way, is a 300km (186-mile) journey from Santander using the A8 motorway. There are no tolls on this…

Big tests These are our most detailed tests – we spend at least one full day (usually more) inside each motorhome, to bring you our comprehensive verdict. The overall score is based on the opinion of multiple members of the team. ’Van reviews Each issue we test new models of all sizes – we then report back to you in our regular ’van reviews pages. This is the place to look for the quick low-down on a model! Our ’vans, Our month Practical Motorhome has numerous long-term-test vehicles – we’re loaned these by manufacturers. We treat these as if they’re our own, allowing us to give you a full, warts-and-all report over the months.…

→ Price From £62,795 (£77,320 as tested) → Sleeps 4 → Belts 4 → Base vehicle Renault Trafic → Engine (as tested) 2.0-litre, 150bhp with optional automatic gearbox → Length/width/height 4.99/1.96/1.99m (16’4”/6’4”/6’5”) → MTPLM 3010kg (est) → Payload 623kg → Water (fresh/waste) 14/14 litres → Leisure battery 100Ah → Gas 1 x 2.7kg Campingaz Contact Adria UK Address Unit 2, Drury Drive, Woodhall Business Park, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 1WH Tel 01787 888 980 Web www.adria.co.uk Adria’s Renault-based camper has been available on the Continent for a couple of years now, but as is often the way, its transfer over to the right-hand drive environment of the UK has taken a little more time. This is partly due to the base vehicle: Renault wanted the version of the Trafic with two…

Is it worth buying a pre-owned motorhome now? It’s worth a pause for thought here, because if the first thing you’re going to do is put your new-found pride and joy into storage over the winter months and not use it properly until the milder weather returns next year, you might be wasting money. On storage and/or having an asset just sitting there on your driveway. There is another side to this coin, however. If you’ve long had a specific make and model – or indeed layout – that you just know is perfect for you, and the opportunity arises to buy at the right price, it might be too much of a temptation. If that’s the case, my advice is to get out there and use your new purchase…

I usually keep our motorhome ‘ready to go’ – taxed, insured, MOTd and with a few basic items on board, such as non-perishable foodstuffs and a few clothes. That way, we are never more than an hour or so away from getting out on the road. This month, though, I’ve put KC on SORN, for the simple reason that we are not going to be able to travel for a couple of months, owing to my wife having a major operation. So we’ve emptied out the ’van, drained the water system, flushed the waste tank and vacuum-bagged the bedding. Cupboard doors are open to allow fresh air flow and minimise condensation. KC lives at my workshop, so she is moved in and out on an almost daily basis, to run…

OCTOBER 2009 Late summer escapes and budget travel getaways were the order of the month for our new-look magazine, which had just undergone a snazzy redesign MISSED AN ISSUE? Want to purchase a past issue of Practical Motorhome magazine? Simply call 0330 333 1113, visit www.magazinesdirect.com/single-issue or email help@magazinesdirect.com…

The latest extension to the King Charles III England Coast Path has been opened in Northumberland, adding 38 miles to the route of the National Trail. Running between Bamburgh and the Scottish border, it completes a 245-mile continuous path from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, to the border, the longest stretch currently open to the public. Northumberland’s coast is well known for its picturesque beaches, as well as its geological diversity and tidal mudflats. The route connects with the open trail at Bamburgh already in existence, with improved signage and better access to the area’s nature and heritage. When the Coast Path is completed, it will cover 2700 miles of countryside, and the plan is for it to be fully walkable by the end of 2024. Marking the occasion, Councillor Jeff Watson,…

■ The Small Kitchen Cook Ashleigh Butler, £26.95 Perfect for touring cooks, this new book by Australian author Ashleigh Butler offers a splendid collection of over 65 recipes suitable for preparing in motorhomes. Ashleigh has spent 15 years living in campers, and her experience helps show how easy it is to cook delicious food when all you have is a two-burner stove, a small fridge – and a view. Recipes include such delights as one-pot mushroom pasta, along with plenty of tips on stocking and equipping your camper kitchen. W exploringedenbooks.co…

UNDER £10 Anti-slip mats Protect your pots and pans with this attractive set of six anti-slip mats. They also make great coasters! Price £8.99 Web thecampercoshop.com Dog-drying towel If your pooch loves a swim, you’ll need to keep a good towel to hand! This one features a clever mitten design. Price £8.99 Web lordsandlabradors.com Picnic blanket Useful everywhere from pitch to park to beach, this practical 135 x 105cm blanket has a fleece upper and a waterproof backing. Price £9.99 Web therange.co.uk Hiking socks On a cold winter walk, warm socks are essential. These are in a cosy wool and terry blend, reinforced with polyamide. Price £8.99 Web decathlon.co.uk Battery LED lights This 10m string of battery-powered LED fairy lights is perfect for brightening up an awning or adding a…

BUTTERMERE, LAKE DISTRICT With the fells emerging from the mist, dusted with snow, this dramatic scenery is at its finest. While more seasoned walkers might wish to scale the heights of the hills, the Lakes also offer a range of lower-level walks, which are less challenging but still offer stunning views. Flanked by the summits of Grasmoor and High Stile, Buttermere has a clearly defined path, making it a must for winter walkers. W visitcumbria.com Stay at… Braithwaite Village C&CC Site W campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk WICKEN FEN, CAMBRIDGESHIRE One of the oldest nature reserves in the country, Wicken Fen’s marshes lie on the Cambridgeshire border and are home to a host of wildlife, including wild Konik ponies and Highland cattle, which graze the fields. The Adventurers’ trail is muddy in winter, so…

Check for canine occupants Yes, many of us really love touring with our pets, but there are few things worse than the strong smell of dog in an otherwise well-maintained motorhome. If you’re buying privately, don’t shy away from asking the sellers if they are pet-owners. Getting rid of dog odours isn’t always easy, and some otherwise good motorhomes have been severely disadvantaged by this problem. While you’re at it, check for any chewed carpet or furniture edging, too – you sometimes see this when a dog (most likely a pup!) has gone through that pesky ‘chewing everything’ phase. This could be costly - or even impossible – to replace.…

Don’t you just hate it when a job goes wrong? I had one recently that caused me some real stress. It involved the cambelt and the coolant pump on a 2012 Ducato. Nothing difficult in that, thought I, but when I opened the Fiat-supplied kit, the coolant pump impeller was cracked and looked as though it had been dropped. Sourcing a replacement I called our local Fiat agent, and unfortunately, they hadn’t got one in stock – they could get one for later that afternoon, they said. This was not really what I wanted to hear on a Friday morning, but such is life. So I phoned the customer to let him know there would be a delay, and luckily, there was no problem there. Mid-afternoon came and went, with…

We are fairly new to motorhoming, having bought our Bailey Autograph in September 2021. My husband and I are enjoying the sense of adventure in exploring new places both locally in Northern Ireland and further afield on the island of Ireland. We have made a number of trips down through Ireland and have used the toll motorways; payment on these roads can be made either at a tollbooth or via an eFlow automated system on the M50 around Dublin. During these journeys, we noticed that our vehicle was being classified differently, resulting in wide variations in the tolls being charged. On the M50 we were charged as a Class 3 Goods Vehicle going in one direction, a Class 4 vehicle on another journey and a Class 1 Motorcar on our…

Email your pictures and their stories (40 words, plus name, address and contacts) to hotshots@practicalmotorhome.com. The best photo will win these guides: Road Trip Europe – Best of Belgium; All the Aires Spain and Portugal; All the Aires Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Go Motorhoming and Campervanning; Sea View Camping Scotland; Sea View Camping West Country; Road Trip Europe – The Great War and More; and Road Trip Europe – Go Dutch. All are from Vicarious Books, www.vicarious-shop.com, 0131 208 3333.…

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…

■ York Christmas Market 16 November to 22 December 2023 York’s cobbled streets and tempting restaurants lend themselves to the festive spirit, so it’s no surprise the Market, packed with food, drink, gifts and crafts, is so popular. W visityork.org/christmas Stay at… York Rowntree Park CAMC Site (open all year) W caravanclub.com ■ Cardiff Christmas Market 9 November to 23 December 2023 Focusing on small businesses, Cardiff’s Christmas Market is a mix of handmade goods and locally sourced food and drink. W cardiffchristmasmarket.com Stay at… Cardiff Caravan and Camping Park (open all year) W cardiffcaravanpark.co.uk ■ Stratford-upon-Avon Victorian Christmas Market 7-10 December 2023 Immerse yourself in the past as the town is transformed into Victorian England, with 300 stalls offering traditional treats and gifts, and traders dressed in period costume.…

Duration Three nights When May 2023 Why? Leisurely walking in gorgeous scenery Is it possible to combine a relaxing coastal break with the bustle of slot machines and funfairs, and throw in some pleasant English countryside? The answer, of course, is yes – and I found the perfect combination of all three at Brightlingsea, on the Essex Sunshine Coast. This is an area of family-orientated, sandy beaches – many holding awards for cleanliness – as well as being the name of a branch of the Eastern Mainline railway connecting Colchester with Clacton and beyond. We were spending a few days at Lakeside Caravan Park, a fairly small site with shower and washing-up blocks but no shop, bar or children’s play area. This means the site is a little cheaper than…

Duration Five nights When August 2023 Why? Revisiting the Lakes and discovering the lochs in Galloway We were sitting in the Tower Bank Arms at Near Sawrey, creating puddles around us as we dripped. “Well, if it didn’t rain, there wouldn’t be lakes, would there?” I mused. “It’s just a good job these pubs are walker friendly and used to muddy boots and paws,” said Ro. Halfway through a rather rainy walk from our base in Hawkshead to Near Sawrey and back, we had decided to stop for lunch. The pub is what I would call a traditional Lake District inn, with stone floors and thankfully, a log fire. Sitting behind Hill Top, Beatrix Potter’s charming country retreat, it featured in The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck. I have always found…

Duration Five days When May 2023 Why? Following the Camiño dos Faros is a superb way to explore Galicia It’s enormous!” I muttered as I tiptoed over the smooth boulders by the sea. I was on the Camiño dos Faros, the Lighthouse Way, a route stringing together a festoon of lighthouses in Galicia, Spain’s north-westernmost province. While, indeed, many of the lighthouses are colossal coastal gems, I was actually referring to an Iberian emerald lizard, gleaming in the sunshine as it warmed itself on beachside rocks at Baroña. It was one of many encounters with the natural world on my journey that showcased just some of Galicia’s beautiful scenery. Coastal beacons The Lighthouse Way extends for more than 730 miles (1175km), from Galicia’s boundary with the region of Asturias in…

I belong to a handful of motorhome and camper-related Facebook groups, and around the time of the Motorhome and Caravan Show in October, there was a spike in the number of people grumbling on them about how expensive motorhomes are, presumably based on what they had seen at the NEC. Not surprising, perhaps, in these days of rising prices. But what did surprise me was how many of these people went on to talk about what a bad investment a motorhome is. This seems to be missing the point. Yes, if you add up the figures on a purely monetary basis, buying a motorhome might not seem the most impressive investment you could make. But that would be to ignore the wonderful experiences you have when you tour, which you…

Motorhome thefts on the rise again Motorhome thefts are back on the rise after experiencing a dip during the Covid-19 lockdown, research suggests. Using data that was supplied by 30 of Britain’s 45 police forces under a Freedom of Information request, vehicle recovery specialist AX Track claims that thefts rose by 38% in 2022. Thefts actually fell by 32.8% during Covid-hit 2020, and by a further 1.7% in 2021, but the company says the latest rise shows criminals are seeing ’vans as lucrative targets once more. Areas that were worst affected were Dorset, Suffolk and Gloucestershire. The company also warns that, while data is more patchy, recovery rates do not appear to be high. West Yorkshire Police, for example, recovered 51 (23%) of the 225 vehicles stolen in its area…

Although motorhome levelling systems are not new – they’ve been around for several years now – when I heard about a device being made in Britain, it caught my attention. A few weeks later, I met up with M-level Sales Director Phil Newbury at the premises of Camper UK in Lincoln, for a tour and demonstration of M-level’s new levelling system, fitted to a Laika Kreos L 5009 by Camper UK. System development Phil has worked in the motorhome industry for over 30 years, and about eight years ago, formed the company Aphiam with a business partner, to sell top accessories such as satellite TV systems, semi-air suspension, tow bars and so on. They also became agents for an Italian company that manufactures levelling systems, but issues deriving from Brexit,…