Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2025 i Practical Motorhome

★ Star picture Email your pictures and their stories (40 words, plus name, address and contacts) to hotshots@practicalmotorhome.com. The best photo will win these guides: All the Aires France; Road Trip Europe – Best of Belgium; 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. Note, list of prize books may change depending on stock. All are from Vicarious Books, www.vicarious-shop.com, 0131 208 3333.…

SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. No single digit can appear twice in any one row, column or 3x3 box WORDWISE You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: Portent 15 = average More than 35 = well done HALF & HALF The game known as checkers in the USA and draughts in the UK is usually called what in Germany? Cross out a letter in each square to get a…

Scotland’s Inner Hebrides might not be promoted quite as keenly as their northerly cousins, yet their accessibility from the mainland makes them an excellent option for motorhome touring. After Skye, the Isle of Mull is the second largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago, and it lies a mere 50-minute ferry trip west of Oban. With a breathtaking landscape that has, over the centuries, inspired poets, musicians and explorers, Mull has a strong allure for motorhomers. And although the island may appear small, at just 30 miles long, mountainous Mull nevertheless has many reasons to entice you to visit. Small but perfectly formed As part of last summer’s Schengen Shuffle, the Inner Hebrides was our chosen destination, leaving the crowds of the mainland behind. The Isle of Mull was the…

Vibrant blue trumpet-flowered gentians stood out from the landscape, challenged by yellow rock roses that clung to the sides of the mountain footpath, each cluster requiring closer inspection upon passing. Black alpine choughs flitted from rock to rock. I was walking, but far more slowly than I had anticipated. Every few steps, I just had to stop to look at the rocks towering around, panda patches of snow cradled in the crevices of higher peaks. I was simply astonished by the massive landscape of the Picos de Europa. When I turned a corner, returning to the Fuente Dé gondola station, the mountainsides of the Camaleño Valley appeared like soft green suede. Green Spain, so called because of its verdant nature, refers to the autonomous regions of the Basque Country, Cantabria,…

One recurring theme of late in the leisure vehicle industry has been price creep, with many models now seeming to have very high prices. At the recent Motorhome & Caravan show at the NEC, some of the ’vans sported eye-watering price tags. For example, I spotted a VW Transporter model that was retailing for more than £100,000. Yes, it was beautifully built and well equipped. But you’d expect it to be at that price. For the same money, you could buy a brand-new campervan and still have change left for a decent Porsche 911… I know what I’d rather do! However, don’t be deterred, there are still bargains to be had and there are lots of great-value conversions out there – including brand-new models – offering incredible specification for the…

Peter Roberts gains second site Peter Roberts Caravans & Motorhomes has taken over the Richard Baldwin Motorhomes business – giving the company two retail outlets in West Yorkshire. Peter Roberts is based in Huddersfield and its new acquisition is in Copley, near Halifax. This means the former Richard Baldwin outlet is now also a retailer for new motorhomes from Adria and Roller Team, as well as the Auto-Trail, Bailey and Elddis brands it already held. Richard Baldwin Motorhomes was founded by Richard Baldwin in 1998, who then took on Gary Morgan as a business partner a decade later. In 2003, a showroom and workshop facilities were built on the premises on Wakefield Road, with the later addition of workshop facilities that can still be considered state-of-the-art. Peter Roberts says: “This…

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Many of us love a big campsite with extensive amenities and electric hook-up, but they rarely offer the truly mind-blowing vistas of the many smaller sites dotted around the UK’s amazing landscapes. In our country’s most beautiful spots, campsites can’t necessarily get planning permission to construct much in the way of facilities, so small sites with limited amenities are often to be found there. While these sites may be tiny, and force you to rely on your motorhome’s facilities, these very limitations make them charming and appealing. The benefits of off-gridding Going off-grid works out cheaper than using full-facility campsites, so you can stay longer for the same outlay. Peace and quiet is one of the many other benefits of off-gridding, not only because you may well be in the…

What3words ///starlet.promotion.cheering Why tour here? Northern Spain is known for its ‘green’ countryside and impressive mountains, particularly in the regions of Asturias and Cantabria. Asturias, of course, is famed for the magnificent range of peaks known as the Picos de Europa, an area increasingly popular with international hiking tourists. Fortunately, there are plenty of peaks to go round, and Cantabria has more than enough of its own. This photograph was taken at the high mountain pass of Portillo de Lunada, on the boundary of Cantabria and Castile and León. The road has views of dramatic scenery and dangerous cliff edges – definitely a challenging drive if, as seen here, you’re in an A-class motorhome. Don’t miss… You’re possibly more likely to ascend the pass in search of skiing or cycling,…

The weather had turned slightly warmer, with the promise of summer on the way, so we decided on a long weekend break to explore a small area of North Wales. We booked a pitch at Bron-y-Wendon Holiday Park in Llanddulas, near Abergele, for four nights. It is a four-hour drive for us from the Yorkshire coast, but it was well worth the effort. Abergele, the nearest town to the campsite, has a supermarket and several small shops. Stocked up on groceries and essentials, we drove the couple of miles to the caravan park at Llanddulas. We were soon settled in and set up, and the following morning, we decided to spend our first day having a look around the local area before venturing further afield. Coastal Llanddulas The pretty village…

In the 12th century, the Pope decreed that two trips to St Davids were equal to one visit to Rome, cementing the city’s status as a pilgrimage centre for the western world. Today, the UK’s smallest city, imbued with this historic spirituality, is renowned for its stunning coast and fascinating past. Nestled between rolling hills and rugged cliffs, it is home to the iconic St Davids Cathedral and bordered in all directions by the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast Path. The city offers a peaceful atmosphere for a coastal and countryside getaway, with charming streets, independent shops and beautiful beaches. Surrounded by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, it’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering endless walking, hiking and wildlife watching opportunities. DAY 1 9am Begin with breakfast The small but charming town…

Back for the fourth year in their current form, our annual Practical Motorhome Awards feature the best motorhomes, campervans, gadgets and accessories on the market. With 23 awards up for grabs, we’ve included 20 motorhome and campervan categories, covering a range of budgets, sizes and types. To be eligible, motorhomes and campervans must have been new or revised since our previous awards, and available for the 2025 season. We know how much motorhomers love their gadgets and accessories, too, so this year we have two awards dedicated to all the great kit that you can buy to improve your touring. This year, we’ve also introduced a very special Green award, recognising the product, person or brand we think is leading the way in terms of environmental innovation. So, simply turn…

Whether you like crumpets for breakfast or a piece of toast with your soup, having a good toaster can make your motorhome feel more like home. Ideally, you’ll be looking for a model that uses 850W or less, to make sure it’s suitable for use in a leisure vehicle. There isn’t a wealth of options in that bracket, but here we’ve picked some of the best ones available, featuring models from big brands such as Russell Hobbs, Aigostar and Morphy Richards. Aigostar 2-Slice Toaster Price £17.99 (amazon.co.uk) Wattage 750W Weight 1.22kg Size 16 x 26 x 18cm Pro Compact design Con Looks like a budget model Offering two wide slots built into a sleekly designed body, this toaster makes a compact addition to your motorhome kitchen. It has seven adjustable…

Deutschland’s Dethleffs deservedly enjoys an enthusiastic following in the UK. ‘Here’ they are best known for their overcab and A-class motorhomes, although they began by making trailer caravans… 93 years ago! Arist Dethleffs built his first caravan to enable his family to accompany him on business trips and satisfy his life philosophy of ‘Not without my family’. That guiding principle still applies today; it was followed by the designers of the six-berth Globetrotter XXL. Equally important were that the overcab leviathan should have not only a large garage, but one with serious load-lugging capability, plus the ability to tow heavy trailers. The Iveco Daily, with its well-engineered six-ton ladder-rack chassis, twin rear-wheel drive and bomb-proof engines, was a natural choice for the underpinnings. The Daily has been in production for…

“I can’t read in this light,” my wife said. Our Tardis has the very latest in LED technology, but she suffers macular issues. Hence this project for a closer, brighter LED light just above the table where she sits to read. Initially, we tried a magnifying hand lens with a ring of small LEDs around its periphery, but this was only good for a quick glance at a map. The project moved on to a bespoke table lamp with the brightest LED that I could find, to allow her to leave her hands free. The prototype was crafted mostly from items that I had kicking around at home, with minimum expenditure, and it plugged into a conveniently placed cigarette lighter/12V socket adjacent to the centre table. The essence of this…

Letter of the month My husband and I are new to owning a motorhome and would like some advice about using it in the winter. At what sort of temperatures do people stop using the water tank? Jackie (surname withheld) Peter Baber replies… A very timely question, Jackie! You’ll need to check if the water tanks in your motorhome are fully insulated – they might even be heated. If they are, you should be able to use the tanks in all weathers. If the water tanks are not protected, the Truma anti-frost device should discharge all water in temperatures below 3°C. However, because this device is often located in a dark corner, it might come on when you think the temperature is higher than that. Alde heaters should be able to…

Shake off winter blues on days out at living museums ■ Black Country Living Museum Ongoing Located in 29 acres of beautifully reconstructed shops, houses and industrial areas, this open-air museum in Dudley recounts the fascinating story of one of Britain’s first industrialised landscapes. Costumed characters bring the past to life as you make your way underground to experience the work of an 1850s miner, or take part in a 1912-era school lesson. Adult tickets £25.95. W bclm.com/visit Stay at Stanmore Hall Touring Park W morris-leisure.co.uk ■ Wassailing Day 19 January 2025 Visit the Weald & Downland Museum in Chichester, West Sussex, to bless the museum’s fine orchard at the winter Wassailing Day (1). Join the procession, which leads to the orchard where an apple tree will be decorated. At…

HILLSIDE LEISURE DALBURY E 2014 - 2018 This month’s candidate for elevation into our Hall of Fame was chosen because it will be remembered as the portent of a seismic shift in motorcaravan drivetrains. Brothers Adrian and David Cross set up Derby-based Hillside Leisure over 20 years ago and they are still very much at the company helm today. Launched in 2013, Dalbury was the (then) latest in a long line of campervan conversions of compact base vehicles featuring a rear hinged elevating-roof. This time based on the Nissan NV200. Access to the ‘accommodation’ is via a nearside sliding door. A pair of asymmetrically split rear doors opens onto the storage area behind the rear seat. The latter is a fully crash-tested RIB rock-n-roll settee/bed featuring two dedicated travel seats.…

Do you level up your motorhome when you are on site? Not everyone does, apparently, but I do, within sensible limits. The reason is simple – at home, I don’t walk uphill to a different room, so why should I in my motorhome? Added to that, if the vehicle isn’t level, it could affect the fridge performance, and the shower tray might not drain properly. From my observations at campsites, I think most people do level their ’van, and there are different methods available to do this. Options for level pitching First of all, you need to assess the pitch – if it isn’t level front to back, you might be able to put the front of the motorhome to the high end and get somewhere close to level, because…

How to use the guide We’ve organised our listings by layout, 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! Note that TA in a model name denotes a twin-axle. great for… Buying British SWIFT VOYAGER 475 Price £71,995 Sleeps 5 Belts 5 Base vehicle Ford Transit Engine 2.0-litre, 130bhp Length 7.54m MTPLM 3500kg Payload 430kg Water (fresh/waste) 110/85 litres Leisure battery 80Ah Gas 2 x 6kg The number of different overcabs produced each season has steadily declined. So full credit to Swift for its new Ford Transit-based range. The Voyager includes four overcabs, of which this is the smallest. They all have an MTPLM under 3500kg,…

How to use the guide We’ve organised our listings by layout, 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! Note that TA in a model name denotes a twin-axle. how to buy… Choosing a layout Before you get close to buying your dreamed for van, you need to have a good think about what you are likely to use the vehicle for: is it just for touring, or for day-to-day use as well? If the latter, you may need a shorter vehicle with more travel seats in the back. And you need to think about who is likely to use it. If children are coming…