Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Practical Motorhome

I love this time of year, as the sun starts to set ever earlier in the day, and the cool mornings and evenings betray autumn’s imminent arrival. There’s something really wonderful about seeing the British countryside in all its orange, brown and gold glory, especially on a walk through crisp fallen leaves. If you’re stuck for inspiration on where to go, be sure to turn to p46 – there you’ll find 10 beautiful destinations to head for this season, allowing you to enjoy your own autumnal adventure. But we’re not just focusing on 2021 at the moment – behind the scenes we’re busy pulling together details of all the runners and riders for our upcoming Awards 2022, the winners of which will be announced online during a very special week,…

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 NICK HARDING Contributor practical.motorhome@futurenet.com DIAMOND DAVE Contributor practical.motorhome@futurenet.com HOW CAN I REMOVE A POLISH OVERSPILL FROM BLACK TRIM? Q Our new-to-us, 27-year-old Autohomes VW has suffered from clumsy application of polish, which has been left to dry, staining some black plastic trim on the cab doors and behind the rear wheel arches. I’ve tried several ‘universal’ cleaners, but they have made the stains more noticeable. Will I have to pay for the mouldings to be resprayed? I am hoping not, because money is tight! Jim Sanderson A Gentleman Jack replies… No, I don’t think so. First, though, a general point for everybody – unless you have specialist knowledge, don’t…

Duration Four days When July 2019 Why? Glorious scenery, excellent hiking ‘Bundoran’s seaweed is a very precious commodity, prized by locals and visitors alike’ Until we actually reached Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, on its captivating west coast, neither my husband nor I had ever given much thought to the health benefits of seaweed. But arriving in Bundoran, southern Donegal, on the second leg of a summer touring holiday across the Irish Sea before the pandemic struck, it quickly became clear this was a very precious commodity, prized by locals and visitors alike. Harvested from the Atlantic, bladderwrack is the main ingredient in the relaxing bath, steam and shower treatment at Bundoran Seaweed Baths, overlooking its handsome beach and spectacular headland. It’s said to relieve muscle pain, arthritis, fatigue, tension and…

Duration Three nights When Summer 2021 Why? Glorious scenery, and some hidden gems to explore Earlier in the year, when we were dreaming of the time when we could get out and about with the ’van again, friends of ours, Mike and Janet, got in touch and asked if we’d like to meet up for a few days. They have a caravan and suggested Beech Croft Farm Caravan Park & Campsite, near Buxton in the Peak District. Being local to the Peak District, we’re very familiar with the tourist hotspots (Chatsworth, Bakewell and Hope Valley, to name just a few) and try to avoid them at popular times – it can be a nightmare making the short journey to visit relatives in Hope Valley at weekends – so we felt…

HIGHS • Great to drive • Comfortable rear lounge • Bright and spacious washroom • Clever cab storage LOWS • Settee slats are not hinged • Half-partition between lounge and kitchen gets in the way • No microwave – even as an option BUY IF… You are on the lookout for a classic British motorhome for just the two of you, only with just a little bit more space to move about in and welcome people in for a meal or drinks when you are on tour. VERDICT Ideally, we’d like to have seen slats that hinge up, or at the very least internal access flaps to the underseat areas. An option of a microwave might be popular, too. But the F68 comes in at a great price, and its…

Lounge/dinette There are some important choices and checks to be made when you pick your next used motorhome. Take notes while you are assessing the ’van and use any repairs that are required to bargain the price down. Before viewing, and even if you’re not intending to, ask the vendor if you can have it checked by an AWSapproved technician (www.approvedworkshops.co.uk/preownedprepurchase). If they have anything to hide, they likely won’t get back to arrange your viewing. Trust your nose How does the motorhome smell when you first step inside? If it smells damp or fusty, walk away or take extra time with your damp checks. Be very wary of over-fragranced interiors, or ’vans with the door and windows all open when you arrive. If they’re baking bread, just run! Curtain…

When buying a motorhome, it’s important to know your rights if something goes wrong. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 The Consumer Rights Act (CRA) is designed to make consumer law easier to understand, so customers can buy and businesses can sell in confidence, each knowing where they stand. Coming into force in 2015, the Act consolidated some 12 pieces of consumerrelated law (including the Sale of Goods Act and Supply of Goods and Services Act), aiming to reduce it to three – Consumer Protection Regulations, Consumer Contracts Regulations and the CRA. The latter covers supply of goods – including the sale of caravans, motorhomes, accessories and related services. It also follows processes for when goods fail to perform to the contract, including the following: ■ There is a short-term right…

Considered to be the most luxurious of motorhome types, A-class models offer a tremendous amount of space, facilities and storage – but they’re also fairly pricey. Read on to find all the data you need to know when considering one of these popular models of motorhome 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 the number of berths You may feel that this one is easy – you simply have to go for a motorhome that has the same number…

SEPTEMBER 2007 A photoshoot in the crisp air of the Alps was a suitable setting for our ‘green’ special, packed full of eco touring tips. We also selected some of the must-see models coming our way in 2008! ‘In the summertime when the weather is high, you can stretch right up and touch the sky!’ Or at least it felt that way in this wonderful tour of the Alps. Mark Bigault enjoyed exploring the popular winter playground in the summertime It’s a issue that’s becoming increasingly important – how can we keep our carbon footprint to a minimum? Here we looked at the data (right). Meanwhile, squaring up in the ‘battle of the ’vans’ to find the best twin-axle island bed layout were Auto-Trail’s Cheyenne 840 D SE and Swift’s…

6 October – 7 November Belfast International Arts Festival will have something for everyone, with theatre, dance, classical and roots music, visual, film and digital arts, and literature. Many of the events are free, but booking ahead is required. Just visit belfastinternationalartsfestival.com. 9-10 October Buxton’s Pavilion Gardens will be hosting the Great Peak District Fair and Buxton Beer Festival. On the promenade, you’ll find delicious foods from around the world and local handcrafted lager, cider and beer. Find out more at www.visitbuxton.co.uk/festivals/buxton-food-festivals. 18-21 November Kendal Mountain Festival returns for four days of film, literature, music, art and dance. Prices and line-up are to be announced, but there are plans for a new live stage. www.kendalmountainfestival.com.…

Duration Four nights When July 2021 Why? Great scenery and historic borderland market towns It was the usual time in the year for us to think about booking a trip out in our motorhome, Hilary. But, of course, most of 2020 had been anything but normal, so we kept looking out with frustration at our immobile motorhome sitting on the drive going nowhere. Living in Wales, we were treated more harshly than those living in England, with a five-mile travel limit imposed for months. But eventually we were released, as the travel limit was lifted and campsites were opened – albeit without facilities being available. Because we were self-sufficient this wasn’t a problem for us, so we booked a site near to Chepstow, loaded up and away we went. As…

New Forest With forest and heathland displaying beautiful shades in the autumn, the New Forest can’t be beaten for atmospheric walks. Don’t miss the Knightwood Oak Trail, which is less than 20 minutes away from Long Meadow Campsite. Web www.longmeadowcampsite.com Scottish Highlands Watch the moors and mountainsides turn every shade of russet and gold when you’re pitched at Kilvrecht Campsite, which is in the midst of the Highlands near Loch Rannoch. The site closes on 31 October, so get booking now! Web www.forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/forest-parks/tay-forest-park/kilvrecht-campsite Forest of Dean To enjoy the multifarious beauties of the Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley, both of which have fantastic autumn foliage, pitch up in the heart of the forest at Whitemead Forest Park. It makes the ideal base for exploring this gorgeous region. Web…

The A14 runs from Felixstowe, Suffolk, for 127 miles (204km), passing through Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire to the Catthorpe Interchange at the southern end of the M6 and junction 19 of the M1 in Leicestershire. From Felixstowe, it bypasses Ipswich, before heading on to Stowmarket, Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket, Cambridge, past St Ives, Huntingdon and Kettering, to end at junction 19 of the M1 and the start of the M6. This really is the road to everywhere for container lorries disembarking at Felixstowe, linking with the A1, M1 and M6. Historic market towns From the roundabout at Trimley, the A14 heads west, over the River Orwell, bypassing Ipswich and on to Stowmarket, home to the Museum of East Anglian Life. Woolpit, with its imposing timber-framed architecture, is well worth a visit…

Vintage ’vans up for auction Two vintage ’vans, including a 1967 model, were due for sale by auction in September. The two were among lots at the first auto auction by art and antiques house Ewbank’s. The 1967 model is a Roadranger Original Motorhome from Jennings Coachbuilders. With just three previous owners, it is expected to fetch £6000 to £10,000. The other ’van, a 1975 VW camper in orange and cream with only one past owner, is expected to fetch £24,000 to £26,000. Dealership’s season debuts On 2-17 October, dealer Erwin Hymer Travelworld will host a show to unveil new ’vans from Hymer, Carado, Dethleffs and Niesmann+Bischoff. MD Ross Edwards said: “Many were disappointed the Motorhome and Caravan Show was postponed, but we are confident our event is the next…

I’m hearing many stories of folk buying a van conversion camper, only to find it falls short. Yes, it will have the usual fittings, but these must meet regulations and be safe. The NCC is warning dealer members about the potential hazards of selling campers with no provenance. It’s worried about rear seats and seat belts, and gas and electrical work. For now, you can do four simple checks: 1 See if a manufacturer’s plate has been added – it will have the converter’s name. 2 Look for Whole Vehicle Type Approval, National Small Series Type Approval or Individual Vehicle Approval. 3 The V5C will confirm it is a ‘motor caravan’. 4 It should have valid electrical and gas installation certificates. And remember, buy from an official retailer and consumer…

Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/practicalmotorhome Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/pmotorhome for the latest news and events Email us your letters and photographs to talk@practicalmotorhome.com Write to us at 1-10 Praed Mews Paddington London W2 1QY letter of the month We’ve been reading through this month’s magazine and saw that you’re looking for photos of unusual motorhomes. My partner is a huge enthusiast and we’ve almost finished an ambulance conversion – what do you think? Catherine Gorman, Dublin Editor in chief Sarah Wakely replies: We think this is such a great project that we’ll be featuring the full story of Catherine’s conversion in a future issue! The writer of our Letter of the Month wins a pair of Milenco Quattro Levelling Ramps worth £40. They’re twice as high as…

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…

Anyone who has been out on the roads at popular tourist spots this summer won’t be surprised to hear that record numbers of motorhomes and campervans have been sold over the past year. Indeed, the National Caravan Council reports that a total of 16,608 new motorhomes were registered with the DVLA in the 12 months to the end of June 2021. It’s great to see such interest in our passion, but it does mean the supply of used vans is limited and that touring spots can get busy. The good news is that tourist boards are aware of this increased popularity and are reacting accordingly – take for example, the creation of the Cumbrian Coastal Route which will improve access for motorcaravanners to the area (see more on the next…

Duration Three nights When July 2019 Why? Excellent walking in an area offering plenty of history, scenery and good food and drink As the enticing envelope landed on the mat in our hall, I rapidly hatched a cunning plan to turn a day’s excursion into a trip in our ’van. We’d just received our tickets for the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, on the edge of the Cotswolds, and realising we had the whole weekend free, no further excuse was needed for us to decide on a few days away. A quick phone call secured a pitch at a site in lovely Bourton-on-the-Water, a 30-minute drive from the airfield and offering plenty to see and do in the local area, to keep us happily entertained over a summer…

Duration 12 nights When July 2021 Why? Great walking and cycling, stunning countryside and expansive shores Harrison’s excited cry: “Look Daddy, I can see a rainbow!” came as he peered out of a window covered in droplets of water from the latest sudden downpour. I can’t say I shared his excitement at that moment. After all, this was our summer holiday road trip and I had hoped, perhaps rather foolishly given the unreliability of British weather in July, for a few weeks without rain. As it was, we were doing the typically British thing – making the best of it, while cursing the weather gods and longing to be elsewhere. There was a period earlier this year when we had genuinely hoped to get across to the Continent, although that…

So here we are again – another year, another Caravan Salon, but sadly, still no NEC show. Here at Practical Motorhome HQ, we are all hoping to see its return in February next year, although with the winter months approaching, it’s hard to know what Covid-19 will still have in store for us. Anything seems possible at the moment. Still, the lack of a major show doesn’t seem to have dampened the great spirit of innovation that has always marked out the industry, as the news in this issue shows. Turn the page to read more about clever new designs for campervan beds and motorhome heating systems that are heading our way. Innovation is just one thing we will celebrate when we reveal the winners of our PM awards online,…

➔ Price £50,729 (£57,647 as tested) ➔ Sleeps 2 ➔ Belts 2 ➔ Base vehicle Ford Transit ➔ Engine 2.3-litre 170bhp (130bhp as standard) ➔ Length/width/height 6.80/2.35/2.88m (22’3”/7’7”/9’4”) ➔ MTPLM 3500kg ➔ Payload 550kg ➔ Water (fresh/waste) 100/80 litres ➔ Leisure battery 100Ah ➔ Gas 1 x 12kg Contact Auto-Trail Address Trigano House, Genesis Way, Healing, Grimsby DN37 9TU Tel 01472 571 000 Web www.auto-trail.co.uk Auto-Trail’s full line up for the 2022 season was yet to be revealed as this magazine was going to press, but the Grimsby manufacturer and Trigano subsidiary did allow us a preview of one new model. The F68 follows on from the new-look range from the 2020 season - the first to ditch the ‘Tribute’ name. The coachbuilt range is built on a Ford Transit…

A motorhome is a substantial purchase – shopping for a used model can save a lot of money, or make your budget go further, so you can buy a bigger or better model. But even a secondhand ’van can cost tens of thousands of pounds – hardly small change – so it’s well worth taking your time, researching your purchase carefully, and only handing over your hard-earned cash when you are sure you have found the right one for you. 1 Why buy used? There are many excellent reasons for buying a pre-owned leisure vehicle, rather than a new one. The most obvious is price. As soon as a motorhome hits the road for the first time, it starts to lose value. The same is true when a caravan is…

We’ve had a bit of trouble with a 2000-plate Ducato-based model recently. It came in for a service and to have the alternator charging system looked at, because the battery light was staying on. Another garage had replaced the alternator but it still wasn’t charging. I found the problem quite quickly – the D signal wire from the alternator had been chewed through by rodents. It was a fairly simple fix, apart from having to remove the starter battery and support to access the wire. However, it then wouldn’t start because the battery was flat, so I charged it for a couple of hours. No good. The battery was past it, so a new one was fitted. Still it wouldn’t start, because the immobiliser had thrown a wobbly. Inquiries with…

■ Ashleigh Lakes 45 Broadgate, Whaplode Drove, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 0TN Tel 01406 330 666 Web ashleighlakes.co.uk Prices From £15 per night ■ Balloch O’ Dee Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart DG8 0ET Tel 01671 830 708 Web ballochodee.com Prices £20 per night ■ Bladon Chains C&MC Site Bladon Road, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1PT Tel 01993 812 390 Web camc.com Prices From £12.30 per night ■ Brora C&MC Site Dalchalm, Brora, Highlands KW9 6LP Tel 01408 621 479 Web camc.com Prices From £11.20 per night ■ Bush Farm Wild Camping Hatt, Saltash, Cornwall PL12 6QY Tel 07875 557 160 Web bushfarmcampsite.co.uk Prices (two adults) £20 per night ■ Cannamore Camping Cannamore, Avonwick, South Brent, Devon TQ10 9HA Tel 07814 540 308 Web cannamore-camping.business.site Prices £20 per night ■ Gill Head Farm Troutbeck,…