Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2020 i Practical Motorhome

1 Our motorhome, Dougal, when we spent a couple of nights at Firemore Beach near Poolewe, Scotland. Firemore is a fantastic place with a great beach, views and loads of wildlife. It is also not far from Inverewe Gardens and fantastic walking. Dave & Ali Brown 2 Snap taken during our honeymoon in Scotland, where we explored, climbed and ate in some amazing places. We will be visiting again soon. Paul Leach 3 Taken during our stay at Trewethett Farm C&MC site in late September. Our pitch, like most on that site, overlooked the sea. We enjoyed watching the sun go down. Stuart Crump 4 This photo was taken at Lago d’Iseo in Italy. Christopher Macgowan 5 On a recent trip to Paris, our ’van at sunny Calais. Why Dover-Calais…

IS THE MOBILVETTA K-YACHT THE MOTORHOME FOR US? Q We are considering buying a Mobilvetta K-Yacht 80 and we would like your opinion as to its functionality and reliability, please. Ann F A Gentleman Jack answers… As it happens, I have experience of Mobilvetta motorhomes going back nearly 35 years. I conducted the very first test of a UK import in 1996. A couple of years ago, I undertook a live-in test of the K-Yacht 79. In summary, we enjoyed our test, which was carried out in winter, and feel that the K-Yacht range is a good all-seasons motorhome. The only thing that really concerned us (personally) was how dog-proof the no-option upholstery fabric might be. Points to ponder if you are looking at the K-Yacht 80 (1): Both beds…

November Nov - end of February Far from shutting up shop for winter, the Norfolk coast is definitely open for visitors, and we’re talking the winged variety, as swans, geese and ducks from the north head for the county’s milder climate. At WWT Welney Wetland Centre (www.wwt.org.uk/welney), you can watch floodlit swan feeds and spot hares, and if you visit on a Saturday, try your hand at willow weaving. At RSPB Snettisham (https://bit.ly/2l0cX1i), observe thousands of pink-footed geese as they fly to and from their overnight roosts. From now until January, it’s the turn of the locals, as grey seals give birth to pups at Blakeney Point and once the pups are born, the bulls’ minds return to procreation; witness the drama on the beach by booking a one-hour trip…

Touring is foodie heaven! One of its many joys is cooking delicious meals in the ’van or outdoors, and enjoying specialities from the region you’re visiting. Many campsites have shops selling local produce, and some also have full-on farm shops nearby. Here are some of our favourites. SOMERSET • Cheddar Mendip Heights C&CC Site and the Priddy Good Farm Shop This spacious C&CC site is in a fabulous location at the top of Cheddar Gorge, close to many Somerset attractions. Handily, if you turn left out of the gate, you’ll find the Priddy Good Farm Shop just up the road. (It’s near the village of Priddy – geddit?) This is a working farm, and in the shop, you’ll find a range of the best meats you’ll ever taste, the livestock…

Fruit crumbles are fantastic, but made with lots of butter, sugar and white flour, they can be a little unhealthy! This version is packed with superfoods and yet still satisfying and delicious. For the crumble, we’ve used a mixture of oats and wholemeal breadcrumbs instead of white flour, which adds more fibre, vitamins and minerals. Instead of butter, we’ve added ground almonds. And instead of using lots of sugar, we’ve drizzled honey over the top, to give a little sweetness and make the topping crunchy. Making this with Cox apples instead of cooking apples means there’s more natural sweetness, so no need for any sugar, and we’ve also added a little apple juice, which helps create a tasty sauce. SERVES 6 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 25 minutes Per…

Ah, the humble refrigerator. It’ll keep on quietly chilling away for years without a whimper. In fact, modern fridges are so good, we get complacent – until they go wrong, that is. Then it’s like being plunged back into the listeria-filled Dark Ages. Here’s some sound advice to help your motorhome fridge work at its best. General overview and maintenance • 230V mains electricity gives the best fridge performance. Gas is second best, while 12V is generally considered to be the least effective. • A well-maintained motorhome fridge will chill brilliantly, even in extreme temperatures. I toured in 42°C temperatures in France, a few years back. I was concerned about fridge cooling, but shouldn’t have been. On mains hook-up the (brand new) Thetford refrigerator performed perfectly, arguably better than our…

MOTORHOME HIRE • Clark Commercials An independent dealer in new and used ’vans, including Volkswagen vans for sale and rental (www.clarkcommercials.co.uk). Hire cost for Volkswagen California: £105 per night (high season); 10 percent deposit required at time of booking. WHERE WE STAYED • Sunart Camping Strontian Tel 01967 402 080 Web www.sunartcamping.co.uk Open March-November Charges Grass & electric pitches for a motorhome or caravan: £10, £3 per person, £3 hook up. Children under 15: free. Touring pitches N/A A quiet village site on the shores of Loch Sunart. Picnic areas, BBQ, outdoor pizza oven, hot showers, dog shower, free Wi-Fi, microwave, fridge/freezer, chemical toilet facility, motorhome service point, bike hire and fishing-tackle hire. • Ardnamurchan Campsite Kilchoan Tel 01972 510 766 Web www.ardnamurchancampsite.com Open Good Friday-end of October Charges Adults…

VW USA goes electric Engineers at VW’s Innovation and Engineering Center in California have built a concept van conversion based on a 1962 microbus with an electric engine, wheel hubs made with ‘generative design’ to save weight, and face recognition for access. AUS$2m RV thrills A company in Australia has built an AUS$2m (£1.64m) bespoke off-road motorhome for a customer, with a raising roof that creates a second storey. The 12m-long and 4.29m high SLRV Commander 8x8, with a MAN base vehicle, has four 32in TV screens inside it for entertainment, and a 1000-litre water tank.…

Alongside its Fiat-based ranges, Bürstner has always wanted to include an up-to-date range based on the Mercedes Sprinter. Many believe the Sprinter’s rear-wheel drive makes the vehicle sit better on the road and so is worth going for, even if that means extra weight. The two Mercedes-based Lyseo Harmony Line models the German company has introduced for 2020 both have an MTPLM of 3880kg, so are only available for people with a C1 licence. Although Bürstner has high hopes for the 660 model, which has a French bed in the rear and a corner bathroom, we have rested our eyes on the 690 G, which has a fixed-single-beds layout. The ‘G’ stands for garage and the one here has access doors either side and is a good 1.14m high, so…

2011 (11) ADRIA CORAL 680 ST > Price now £39,995 > Price new £49,798 > Base Fiat Ducato > Engine 2.3-litre, 130bhp > First registered March 2011 > Mileage 38,868 > Berths/belts 3/5 > L/W/H 7.36/2.29/2.65m > Extras Comfort Package, Coral SE Package, bike rack, door mirror guards, extra speakers to lounge, TV aerial, cruise control, cab air-con > MTPLM 3500kg > Payload 530kg + Plus points Spec upgrades, solid build all round - Minus points Cramped kitchen…

2011 (11) ADRIA CORAL 680 ST Whisper it, but Slovenia’s Adria has long matched the mainstream German brands for outright build quality. Even its Coral mid-range has a feel of toughness to it. This compares with the Bürstner this month at the same price, but it’s a very different interior treatment. Towards the back is where you see the biggest changes – there’s a French bed, and beyond that, an almost full-width washroom. In here, there’s the usual swivel-bowl toilet and fixed basin, plus separate shower cubicle. The rest of the space is taken up by an external-access only locker. It’s an otherwise very open-plan layout, with the French bed set low enough for easy access (there’s also lots of storage in the base). Two options packs take the spec…

Owning a motorhome means you are required to have not only an MOT and service on the base vehicle, but also a habitation service on the living areas of your ’van. This is similar to the service that is carried out on a caravan. It is not a legal requirement to have the habitation area of a motorhome serviced, but it is a legal requirement to ensure that the ’van is roadworthy. The service will look at the inside workings of your motorhome, and all of the externals, too. Identifying a reputable, efficient workshop or service engineer is the first hurdle, followed by understanding what should be done in the service. If you have bought a new motorhome from a dealership, the chances are, they will offer to service it…

Coordinates & postcode 57.387685, -3.751864. PH23 3NB Why tour here? What better place for an impromptu picnic than sitting in silence with the Highlands surrounding you and your motorhome? This area of Scotland is stunningly beautiful, and a brilliant place for a foodie tour. This month we celebrate the best of British food and drink; you’ll find our 18-page guide starting on p22. Nearest campsite Oakwood Caravan & Camping Park (https://oakwoodcampingpark.co.uk) Don’t miss… The old packhorse bridge in Carrbridge – it’s the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands. Photographer Andy McAndlish…

This is classic winter comfort food, but is very often made with lashings of cream, bacon and high-fat puff pastry. However, just making the following few tweaks will give you a delicious, simple, lower-fat meal. For a start, you can easily switch the puff to filo pastry, which contains far less fat. And rather than double cream as a base for the sauce, we’ve used stock, adding a little half-fat crème fraîche at the last minute for a creamy texture. This version of the pie also contains more leeks than traditional recipes and we’ve left out the bacon altogether – although you can, of course, add this back in if you prefer! SERVES 4 Preparation time 10 minutes Cooking time 15 minutes Per portion 319 calories, 9g fat (of which,…

GREAT FOR COUPLES Bodum Fyrkat Grill Price £58 Web bodum.com Bodum products have a slightly premium price, but you certainly get what you pay for. These well engineered, compact charcoal grills simply ooze quality and are lightweight, portable and easy to use and clean. There’s plenty of room to cook for two on the grill, more at a push, and you can do all the ‘hard work’ sitting down. The silicone handle stays cool, while silicone clips lock the lid in place for transportation. The leg design has been tweaked slightly for the newest models. IDEAL FOR THE BEACH Grill-2-Go Price £39.98 Web amazon.co.uk A clever idea from Calor – a single burner and hotplate, which clips onto a Calor 5kg Patio Gas bottle. It’s ideal for picnics and beach…

FRUIT Keep fruit in the low-humidity drawer. Fruit keeps best when not exposed to too much moisture and should not be stored in tight sealed bags. Most fridges have a low-humidity or crisper drawer, to store grapes and apples in. • Apples will stay crisper longer (for up to two weeks) if they are stored at 4°C. • Oranges should be kept in the fridge. A ripe orange loses its vitamin C more slowly if chilled. • Berries and melons should be kept out of the fridge until they are fully ripe. They can then be chilled for a short period, but will go mouldy quickly. • Ripen bananas outside the fridge, then maintain their freshness for up to two weeks by chilling them. • Ideally, tomatoes should not be…

● WHO ARE YOU? Simon Mortimer, Art Editor of Practical Motorhome. Equally at home designing pages or draining waste tanks! ● WHY ARE YOU A LOCAL AUTHORITY ON NORWICH? I’m Norfolk born and bred. Although I haven’t lived there for about 20 years, I make regular trips back to visit family and friends. ● WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT IT? Norwich has quite a unique position in the country. It’s a fairly large city of around 200,000 people, but remains largely unspoilt because of its location. It’s not really on the way to anywhere, other than the Norfolk coast. ● WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO VISIT IN THE AREA? In addition to the delights of the city, basing yourself in Norwich gives great access to the rest of Norfolk, too.…

Two years after making its debut as a concept ’van – known as the California XXL – at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, the new OEM vehicle from Volkswagen, based on the second-generation VW Crafter, is finally here in right-hand drive form. It is quite a change from the concept vehicle, which featured considerably more roof glass and one or two extra techie features that presumably didn’t make the final cut. The ’van is available in two versions: the 600, with a transverse bed and a bulbous, hard GRP roof housing an optional bed, and the longer 680, with fixed single beds in the rear. In the week that VW started taking orders for the new models, ready for delivery in spring – and before their appearance at the NEC…

★ NUGGET NUZZLES IN One of the star attractions of this year’s show was the arrival, after a great deal of anticipation, of the Ford Nugget on UK shores. The raising-roof campervan includes a roof bed, an L-shaped kitchen, and a bed you make up downstairs from the rear travelling seats, which snuggles in partly under this kitchen. Ford says the Nugget Plus, based on the longer-wheelbase L2 Transit Custom model and with a small washroom at the back, should be arriving here in the spring. But, despite being made by Westfalia, neither model will be available through UK Westfalia dealers. You’ll have to go to your Ford dealer to check them out. Expect starting prices of between £56,000 and £58,000. ★ BRITISH BEDS IN BRITISH ’VANS As well as…

Chelston, founded in 1986, has operated from extensive premises near Wellington, just off the M5 motorway, since 1988, but it wasn’t long before it became involved in selling motorhomes imported from Europe’s mainland. It’s been a Bürstner agent for some three decades now, for instance. Managing director Wayne Kavanagh (right) speaks of “high quality and innovation employed by big Continental manufacturers, which is why our relationships with them have lasted decades”. He adds: “The Continental manufacturers are continuing to provide more UK-spec versions of their popular models and this shows an ability and willingness to evolve for the benefit of the UK market. Carthago and Carado have been the latest success stories here at Chelston.” The firm has kept a foot in the “UK sector”, too, bringing Swift back to…

2011 (61) BÜRSTNER IXEO TIME IT 720 > Price now £39,995 > Price new £48,000 (est) > Base Fiat Ducato > Engine 2.3-litre, 130bhp > First registered December 2011 > Mileage 23,032 > Berths/belts 4/4 > L/W/H 7.39/2.30/2.75m > Extras Bike rack, awning rail, hab door security handle, mirror guards, Kenwood stereo, TV aerial, security lock to garage door > MTPLM 3500kg > Payload From 465kg + Plus points Style, spec, drop-down double bed - Minus points Cramped kitchen…

2011 (61) BÜRSTNER IXEO TIME IT 720 Germany’s Bürstner has had an excellent run in the UK, firmly establishing itself as a premium marque. Bringing lots of innovation certainly helped its cause. A pioneer of drop-down beds, the manufacturer’s IT 720 also has an extendable island bed at the back, set low but providing exterior-access garage space. Other neat innovations range from the space-saving swing-out basin in the toilet room, to the plastic-lined shower cubicle, and the TV storage locker adjacent to the lounge’s inward-facing settee. Plus a rather natty line in upholstery… In a typically Continental lounge, the cab seats swivel to face the rear double travel seat (with adjustable head restraints), and the side-fixing table has an extension to reach the settee. Overhead is another feature we can…

About 20 years ago, I remember swapping out the sidelights in my Mk 1 Golf GTI for newfangled LEDs. They gave a feeble blue glow and rewarded my efforts with an MoT fail. But fast-forward 20 years and the situation is very different, with a variety of retrofit LEDs designed to replace filament bulbs. LEDs’ major advantage is their brighter, clearer light, a great improvement on halogen headlamps. The best ones give a crisp, dipped beam pattern that will not dazzle other motorists. They also last far longer than filament bulbs. Fitting a replacement LED bulb is a doddle, but before you rush out and buy them, there are a few legal aspects to be aware of. Part of the testing for legal conformity is to test the lamp holder…

People get attached to their motorhome; it can become almost part of the family. But the threat of theft is very real. “We have seen a rise in motorhome thefts in the past 12 months,” says Craig Thompson, marketing director of insurance specialist Caravan Guard (www.caravanguard.co.uk). Fortunately there are steps you can take to keep your home-from-home secure. Most touring units spend far more time in storage than on tour. So, when you’re choosing where to store your ’van, its security should be a priority. Start your search for secure storage at CaSSOA (the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association). All of the 400-plus sites listed on the CaSSOA website (www.cassoa.co.uk) must reach a minimum level of security, which is independently assessed every five years. Despite all that, don’t rule out…

letter of the month Upon taking our fairly new motorhome to fill up with LPG at our nearest supermarket, we were surprised that they refused to allow us to fill our tank, saying the LPG service point was to refill cars only. When we enquired why, the response was that they could not fill anything that had cooking equipment on board. Failing completely to see any logic in this, I went to the main store and asked to see the manager. He confirmed that their health and safety rules do not permit them to fill a motorhome’s LPG tank. I find this absolutely astonishing. Other garages in the UK, which have the facility, allow such filling as, of course, do garages abroad. I totally fail to see any logic here.…

As this issue of Practical Motorhome proves, touring and tasty treats go together like Yorkshire pudding and gravy (and of course, there are great festivals to celebrate both of these fine culinary traditions!). This enthusiasm for honouring the best in British cuisine can be enjoyed all over the country. So here, we’ve selected some of Britain’s finest food fests for you to experience. 1 SMOKE & FIRE FESTIVAL If you enjoy the idea of seeing grown men cry, head to Maldon, Essex, each August, for the Smoke & Fire Festival. On the banks of the River Blackwater in Promenade Park, usually intelligent men will show flagrant disregard for their tastebuds by consuming a series of increasingly hot chilli peppers. Tongues will melt and tears will flow, but he (only men…

Shepherd’s pie is always a fantastically soothing and satisfying meal, but it’s usually high in saturated fat, because of the minced meat and the butter used in the potato topping. Instead of meat, we’ve made this version with canned lentils – although you could, of course, use lamb mince for a traditional shepherd’s pie. We haven’t used any butter in the mash. Instead, we’ve added extra milk to give a little creaminess, plus Dijon mustard for flavour. SERVES 4 Preparation time 15 minutes Cooking time 30–40 minutes Per portion 336 calories, 4.5g fat (of which, 0.8g saturated fat), 61g carbohydrate (of which, 7g sugar), 16g protein, 8g fibre, 1g salt INGREDIENTS • 800g potatoes • 100ml milk • 1 heaped tsp Dijon mustard • Good pinch salt and white pepper…

Motorhome VW California Ocean Duration 5 days When Autumn Why? Relax on pristine beaches, admire the plentiful wildlife, then enjoy the gorgeous scenery – and the whisky Work deadlines, school runs, after-school activities and children’s parties… each year our busy family life seems to get more hectic. For us, the antidote is to throw some sleeping bags in a campervan and head to the Scottish wilderness for a slower pace, fresh, clean air and empty expanses of land packed with wildlife and few people. This time, for the October school holidays, we were heading to the most westerly point on the UK mainland – the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Accessed only by a windy single-track road, the area came to fame recently when TV series Eden (a modern take on television’s first…

SERVICES BOTHWELL • Where M74 southbound between J4 and J5 (G71 8BG). Single site • Operated by Roadchef • Parking Large lorry park area. First two hours free for all vehicles, after which ’vans pay £25 per 24 hours • Catering Costa, Restbite, Costa Express • Shops and amenities WH Smith, Game On, showers, cash machines • Fuel forecourt Shell, Spar, Starbucks On the Go, AdBlue SERVICES CAIRN LODGE • Where M74 at J11 and J12 (ML11 0RJ), accessed from both sides (also accessible to traffic on A70 and B7078). Single site • Operated by Westmorland • Parking Separate coach and lorry parking. First two hours free for all vehicles, after which ’vans pay £10 per 24 hours • Catering Café, Quick Kitchen • Shops and amenities Farm Shop, Changing…

Two different but connected visions of how motorhomes might develop in the future have been offered by the Erwin Hymer Group. A presentation about travel in 2030 on the company’s stand at this year’s Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf included Galileo, an autonomous motorhome that can drive its passengers from their home straight to their preferred pitch on a chosen campsite, even as they sleep in the vehicle. Galileo’s modular construction means that it can be personalised to suit the exact needs of its customers more easily. Meanwhile, VisionVenture, which Hymer has built with chemicals firm BASF, is an actual solid concept campervan. Based on a Mercedes Sprinter, it includes a raising roof with 7cm wide inflatable honeycomb walls for insulation, a tailgate that can form a patio, and steps up…

a simple but practical idea, and an ingenious use of space. Of course, that’s not all: across the corridor is another section of washroom featuring the toilet and handbasin - there’s plenty of room here for your morning ablutions. The Dreamer Living Van is a four-berth - there’s a good-sized double bed (1.86 x 1.65m) that can be made up using the cushions of the rear lounge. But we reckon that most buyers will use this as a luxurious two-berth: and that’s where this camper’s strongest hand lies. Above the front dinette sits a double bed (1.9 x 1.3m) that can be dropped down easily; it’s a comfortable place to sleep, and the inclusion of USB sockets means that you can keep your phone to hand overnight, too. Elsewhere, the…

Regular readers of Practical Motorhome may well recall my report in the previous issue on this same ’van: in it I recounted how husband Matt and I took our long-term-test Carthago Liner-for-Two to the west coast of France for a week earlier in the summer. There’s simply so much in the Carthago to write about that I ran out of space; so in this issue I’ll continue with my report of this well-facilitated A-class. Our trip took us via Portsmouth - where we collected the Carthago from the friendly and helpful team at Southdowns Motorhome Centre (www.southdownsmotorcaravans.co.uk) – to the ferry terminal a short drive away, and across the Channel with Brittany Ferries to Caen. From there we took a couple of days to reach the west coast of France,…

2016 (16) CARTHAGO CHIC C-LINE I 5.0 > Price now £74,995 > Price new £90,000 (est) > Base Fiat Ducato/Al-Ko > Engine 2.3-litre, 150bhp > First registered March 2016 > Mileage 10,678 > Berths/belts 4/5 > L/W/H 7.47/2.27/2.89m > Extras Media Pack, Super Package, 5m awning, multimedia system upgrade, ‘Quick up’ TV package, leather seats, reversing camera > MTPLM 4250kg > Payload 1085kg + Plus points Superior A-class, superior quality, superior spec - Minus points Check your licence…

2016 (16) CARTHAGO CHIC C-LINE I 5.0 Carthago is a powerful name, especially in A-classes, and a close competitor to Hymer in their native Germany. It hasn’t had the same sales success as its rival here in the UK, but it’s a formidable opponent, offering a vast portfolio of products. We’re talking premium quality, as you’d expect at these price bands. Price today for something similar would be beyond £110,000. From its double-floor construction up, this Carthago is equipped to the gunwales and even if you’re not in the market for such a vehicle, it’s worth a view to see the qualities it espouses. Not just a style statement, this is the type of ’van for folk considering serious touring across all seasons, who want to take all of their…

Murvi is a serial award-winner in the Practical Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards, as well as various design competitions, including those run by the Caravan and Motorhome Club. The company builds a variety of models, although the Morello is the most highly decorated – a podium finisher since its inception in 1996. Murvi used to be MURVI, an acronym for ‘Multi Use Recreational Vehicles’ – itself a model name used in the 1970s by Totnes-based Nomadic Wheels. Nomadic became Murvi, and they have been building superb panel van conversions for more than 35 years. Model longevity isn’t in itself particularly rare, although most long-running models now bear little similarity to early ones with the same name. Morello is the exception, however, in that it features absolutely the same layout today as…

REPLACING THE WHEEL BEARINGS We’ve dealt with some very interesting and challenging jobs in the workshop recently, in particular, a couple of more mature motorhomes requiring new wheel bearings. The first was a 1999 Ducato-based coachbuilt that had been acquired by the new owners not long ago. Checking the vehicle’s MoT history revealed that it had a recurring advisory for play in all four wheel bearings, so the new owners decided to have them replaced. They’re a pretty straightforward job on Ducatos of this vintage, with the front wheel bearings being two-piece items with a preloading spacer, so they can be knocked out in the traditional manner with a hammer and drift. Surprise discoveries I was a bit surprised when I removed the front wheels to find new calipers, pads…