Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Practical Motorhome

Editor-in-chief The past year will certainly go down in history as ‘unprecedented’ – that word we’ve heard so often during 2020. We’ve all had our own personal struggles to deal with over the past 12 months, of course, but as motorcaravanners, one thing that we do have in common is that all our travels have been curtailed. Nothing is guaranteed to make one’s wanderlust more painfully felt than not being allowed to tour. Thankfully, a vaccine is already being rolled out, but there’s no denying that the effects of our restricted travels will be felt well into 2021. That said – and I’ve hardly dared dream about it – I’m hoping to be able to travel across the Channel at least once before the year is out. We can only…

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 CAN WE SWITCH FROM FIXED TO A FOLDAWAY TABLE? Q We have a 2017 Pilote G740C which has a fixed table (1) and were wondering if you know of any companies that could change this sort of table to a removable one, to open up the front lounge. We are based near Stansted Airport. Ron Thorogood A Gentleman Jack says… A search through my database reveals that County Caravan Services, Dunmow (countycaravanservices.com, 01371 856 070) or SG Servicing, near Saffron Walden (sgservicing.co.uk, 01779 541 642/07875 260 862) should be able to remove the table plus leg,…

Exploring the islands away from mainland Britain may require a little effort in getting there, but it is so worth it, as our feature on Jersey shows (p30). Caroline Mills walks the footpaths of the largest – at five miles long and eight miles wide – of the Channel Islands and discovers a diverse landscape, rare birds and a multitude of orchids. Elsewhere, Andy Carter shares his love and in-depth knowledge of the wild and beautiful island of Shetland (p40). For many, the white cliffs of the Kent coast signify a return to our shores after tours of Europe, but those cliffs hold their own beauty and history, and are worthy of exploration – Susan Taylor came across Tudor castles and a Saxon coastal path on a weekend there (p26).…

Duration 4 days When June 2019 Why? Ideal location for exploring on foot and watching the wildlife As I stood clifftop-high on Jersey’s most south-western tip, it was a beacon of light that lured me seaward. The mottled rocks were rough, their jaggedness bewildering, but a smooth ribbon path extending into the Atlantic was enough to entice me towards the peak on which La Corbière Lighthouse stands. The sun shot a beam of light across the sea, as if to beckon me further. But I was as much mesmerised by the goldfinches darting around me, and the oystercatchers, whose long beaks appeared as needle-like as the rocks, as I was by the lighthouse and the sun. Minutes later, I turned seaward again, ready to begin my walk along the causeway…

1 The Blue Lagoon, Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire, in south-west Wales, has an almost indecent number of the most wonderful walks, and we particularly like the two-mile stretch from the fishing village of Porthgain, heading south to the Blue Lagoon and Abereiddy beach. Starting from Porthgain harbour, you can simply follow the coast path and you’ll soon be taking in staggering clifftop views. This dramatic, wild coastline is formed of high cliffs that overlook the rocks of Cerrig Gwylan, which lie out to sea at the northern extremity of Traeth Llyfn beach (be wary of high tides here). You can drop down to the beach itself, or continue towards the Blue Lagoon and the beach at Abereiddy. The Blue Lagoon is a former quarry, which has become a popular swimming and high-diving…

Watch out, there are still bargains about! But stock is pretty thin now – arguably thinner than you’d expect, even at a time of the year when dealers deliberately keep levels down to ease their way through the traditionally quieter winter months. Having said that, we don’t need reminding that 2020 has been a year like no other. The first lockdown merely kept the lid on what proved to be a demand that was truly pent-up. Sales of pre-owned motorhomes rocketed from June, and a huge proportion of those were to newcomers, which meant they weren’t offering any vehicles in part-exchange. Every dealer I’ve spoken to since July has been crying out for stock to sell on. That, in turn, suggests a hardening of prices, which is only good news…

Coordinates 49.1798° N, 2.2497° W Why tour here? La Corbière Lighthouse stands on the south-western tip of Jersey, sending out its warning of jagged rocks to passing shipping. It’s a little way off the 48.5-mile coastal path that gives access to the island’s wonderful flora and fauna, including orchids and lizards, and its diverse landscapes and microclimates. Find out more on p30 of this issue. Don’t miss… The 15-minute boat ride to Les Ecréhous, to watch the colony of grey seals.…

Scooting off Exploring off-site is easy with this Ninebot KickScooter E25E, which has a 25km range (45km with the optional added battery). Price £499.99 Web www.decathlon.co.uk Stepping out Your feet will stay warm and dry in these Salomon Men’s Quest 4D 3 GTX boots, weighing in at just 640g Price £180 Web www.cotswoldoutdoor.com Tracing your route The Garmin eTrex 22X is a handheld GPS unit with a clear 2.2-inch screen – take it on walks to help you navigate and stay safe Price £179.99 Web buy.garmin.com Carrying bikes Transport cycles on this Fiamma Carry-Bike Pro N Motorhome Bicycle Carrier, suitable for ’vans with preinstalled brackets Price £191.63 Web www.leisureoutlet.com Walking in style These stretchy Zulu women’s 3/4-length trousers offer wicking, a mosquito-repellent finish and UV40+ protection. Price £39.99 Web www.trespass.com…

From now ◼ Ongoing One of the joys of East Anglia’s flat landscape is the huge open horizon, making it perfect for birdwatching. The Welney Wetland Centre in Cambridgeshire is welcoming visitors to witness the winter bird migrations, although you’ll need to book online (www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/welney) before visiting. The hides and shop are closed, but the footpaths are open, and you might catch a glimpse of whooper and mute swans, greylag geese, shovelers, little egrets, kestrels and buzzards, plus several varieties of duck. Don’t forget your wellies: it’s very wet out there! ◼ Until 31 October 2021 A family of Indian elephants (1) has taken up residence in the gardens of Waddesdon Manor (waddesdon.org.uk) in Buckinghamshire. The five life-size sculptures can be seen on Half Moon Walk, in the estate’s Pleasure…

Duration Four days When Late November Why? Sweeping sands and wide open spaces, castles and caves As we stand on the long finger of sand extending out from the rocks, waves gently lapping at our feet and the early afternoon sun warming our faces, it’s hard to believe we are in Wales at the end of November. Then again, given the way of the world right now, it’s hard to believe that we are anywhere other than at home. At a time when travel is very much a luxury, we would have settled for simply being away – to be blessed with weather better suited to spring is a real bonus. We had always planned to make the most of our motorhome and travel throughout winter, a decision reinforced during…

The A470, linking the south and north coasts of Wales, was mainly created by renumbering existing trunk roads. It passes through two iconic national parks – Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia – and ends by the sea at Llandudno. The road starts on a large roundabout in Cardiff Bay. Its route through Cardiff takes in the National Museum and City Hall, Cardiff Castle and the University of Wales. It then passes under the M4 by the fairytale folly of Castell Coch. Moor and mountain Along the Taff Valley towards Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil, the road continues north towards Abercynon and Mountain Ash, taking in the Merthyr Bypass. High in the Brecon Beacons, it passes three reservoirs and some parking, if you want to stop at Storey Arms, the start of the…

Price £61,900 (£69,020 as tested) Sleeps 5 (7 optional) Belts 5 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato Engine 2.3 140bhp Euro 6d 35L (160bhp as tested) Length/width/height 7.43/2.35/2.94m (24’5”/7’9”/9’8”) MTPLM 3500kg (4500kg as tested, with chassis upgrade) Payload 450kg (1450kg as tested) Water (fresh/waste) 120/120 litres Leisure battery 100Ah Gas 2 x 13kg cylinders Contact Itineo Motorhomes Address 414 Rue des Perrouins, CS 20019, 53101 Mayenne Web www.itineo.co.uk Tel +33 (0)2 43 30 30 90 French brand Itineo first made a name for itself by offering wellbuilt, relatively cheap A-classes aimed at families. In recent years, it has moved into low-profiles, too. But this season, while sister brand Rapido was bringing out more compact models, Itineo spruced up two of its 7.43m-long A-classes, with some extras and special Spirit Edition branding.…

Water ingress. Two words that strike fear into the heart of all motorhome owners. One of the most common failure spots in this regard is rooflights, often but not always because of poor installation at the factory. I recently resealed three rooflights on a 2004 coachbuilt – on the kitchen and bedroom units, the sealing mastic had dried out and broken down, but the lounge one also had some faults in the installation. All aggravated by a previous owner’s well-meaning but misguided attempt to reseal them using bathroom silicone sealant. The large Dometic rooflight is clamped to the roof structure by blocks screwed into spigots in the main unit frame. The problem arises when the screws are driven in too fast by a machine driver – it snaps off the…

AUGUST 2009 This aspirational cover saw us perched on the water’s edge as we went island-hopping in Arran and beyond. Other highlighted features included buying a family ’van Practical Motorhome’s current editor Sarah Wakely enjoyed a 10-day tour of Galloway and the Isle of Arran, taking in just some of the delights of south-west Scotland. Suffice to say, it was a trip packed full of amazing views. Scotland never disappoints! A high-top camper with facilities to rival those of larger coachbuilts was our at-a-glance description of the WildAx Aurora (right). With its simple but effective floorplan, we thought it was a real winner! Meanwhile, we took a look at a stylish Bristolian Overland Cruiser from 1974 (below). An absolute classic! MISSED AN ISSUE? Want to buy a past issue of…

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 Belmont Hall CW9 6JA 7 Mousehole Camping TR19 6XB 8 Blenkinsopp Castle Inn CA8 7JS 9 The Thelbridge Cross Inn EX17 4SQ 10 The Ship Inn YO15 1EW 11 The Crown Inn GL7 5QH 12 Elton Farm GL14…

Duration Three days When October 2020 Why? Walking through history on the iconic White Cliffs Motorhome 2003 Hymer Camp Storm Alex was on her way, and we were booked to stay at Kingsdown International Camping Centre, roughly halfway between Dover and Deal, on the Kent coast. After gazing back at those famous white cliffs from the deck during many a ferry crossing, I was looking forward to getting closer and walking on the clifftops, but the storm was threatening to put paid to my long-cherished plans. However, I have never been one to let a little storm get in the way! Armed with hot chocolate, cold beers, cards and board games, my husband and I arrived at the campsite on a grey Saturday. “Look at that amazing view!” I exclaimed.…

• Who are you? Andy and Christine Carter – we’re lifelong camping and campervan fans, and live on Shetland, 180 miles from Aberdeen. • WHY ARE YOU A LOCAL AUTHORITY ON SHETLAND? We live in Lerwick, the capital, and have spent most of our lives here. • WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT shetland? It’s an open, friendly community. You can get to a rural setting without the loss of amenities common to many remote places. We are used to seeing seals on the shore close to our house, gannets diving about in the bay, the occasional whale breaching, or otters on the rocks – all in walking distance of a leisure centre, cinema and shops! • WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE? Eshaness, 30 miles north of Lerwick, has fantastic sea cliffs…

Reviews editor It’s really great to see that the continuing impact of the pandemic has not dampened the spirit of enterprising manufacturers willing to launch new campervans. Heart of England’s new range, and models from new company Landseer Leisure, are two of the latest examples, but I am sure there will be plenty more. Due to the lockdowns and other restrictions, sadly there won’t be an opportunity to see a wide range of new models in the flesh for a while – although we’ll be bringing you more details of launches in the pages of this magazine, and at our Van Live! event (p64). In the meantime, don’t forget that you can still send in your thoughts for the next Owner Satisfaction Awards. See right or turn to p93 to…

Price From £56,270; as tested, £60,560 Sleeps 4 Belts 4 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato Engine 130bhp/optional 140bhp 2.3 diesel auto Length/width/height 7.41m/2.31m/2.88m (19’8”/6’9”/8’9”) MTPLM 3566kg Payload 578kg Water (fresh/waste) 100/68 litres Leisure battery 80Ah Gas 1 x 6kg, 1 x 13kg Contact Swift Group Address Dunswell Road, Cottingham, nr Hull HU16 4JX Web www.swiftgroup.co.uk Tel 01482 847 332 Swift’s Escape has always been a well-equipped, value-for-money offering. Add to this the fact that the pandemic has made it very difficult for any motorhome manufacturer to develop new models, and you can see the logic behind this 2021 revamp. Our test vehicle, viewed at Spinney Motorhomes, had the optional 140bhp engine and auto ’box fitted, adding to the spec – and, of course, the cost The 694 is the top of…

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 van conversions (aka campervans). HIGH TOP, FIXED ROOF 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…