Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i Practical Motorhome

1 Our new ’van and our tiny old one - it had character and brought many a smile, but sadly, was too small for two people and a golden retriever! The new one is far more practical (although less so for parking). Nichol Kerr 2 We crossed the Arctic Circle at Jokkmokk in Northern Sweden as part of a fabulous two-week trip travelling the length of the country, which followed on from our journey through Finland. And here’s a photo of our spaniel, Monty, taken when we stopped at a stunning campsite at Manamansalo, a beautiful island in Northern Finland, during our two-week trip from Helsinki to the north of the country. David Dowling 3 Bainbridge Ings Country Park was the highlight of our summer tour across the Yorkshire Dales…

Focus on… Northern England If you tour in England’s north this autumn there’ll be plenty to see and do. Here are a few highlights! ⯀ Blackpool Illuminations To 2 January 2023 Time to pack your Kiss-Me-Quick hat and head for Blackpool, where the bright lights of the Illuminations (1) have been entertaining visitors to this most quintessentially British seaside town ever since they were introduced in 1879. Every year the entertainments simply get bigger and better – you can expect the largest 3D installation ever seen and, between 14 and 29 October, the Light Pool Festival will be providing a free programme of events, installations and art trails. W visitblackpool.com/things-to-do/blackpool-illuminations Stay at… Manor House Touring & Glamping Park W manorhousetouringpark.co.uk ⯀ Scarborough Jazz Festival 23-25 September 2022 With everything from…

OUR EUROPEAN ODYSSEY pt 7 When John Muir, the influential naturalist known as the Father of the US National Parks, penned the now famous words, ‘the mountains are calling and I must go’, I doubt for one moment he ever imagined a family sitting on the Adriatic coast inside a metaphorical oven, pondering ways to escape the sweltering heat. And yet there we were at 10pm, the mercury still pushing towards 30 degrees, admitting we could no longer hack it. The time had come to get out of the fire – and the frying pan – which meant answering the call of the mountains and heading for higher ground in the hopes of finding cooler climes. The tactic had already worked once on our trip, when we took refuge on…

The renowned, charmingly attractive market town of Stratford-upon-Avon is brimming with iconic history and heritage. Its most famous son is, of course, William Shakespeare, and as his birthplace, the medieval town is a magnet for fans of the Bard, who can immerse themselves in every aspect of his life. All of this great history is set against the lush backdrop of the River Avon, which meanders through the town, where the streets are lined with splendid Tudor architecture housing interesting shops and eclectic restaurants. DAY 1 10am Begin at the Bard’s birthplace Where better to start your visit than at Shakespeare’s Birthplace? Built in the 16th century, this fine house, located in the town centre, has been carefully restored. Today, it’s a truly fascinating shrine to the playwright, with wide-ranging…

New launches star in Düsseldorf Motorhomes for the 2023 season from Hymer, Hobby, Rapido and Pilote were the main attractions at the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, held in late August, which managed to draw more than 70,000 visitors on its first weekend. One of them, the Hymer Venture S, is the production model of a prototype Hymer launched in 2019. Based on a 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter, the two-berth has a pop-up roof housing a double bed, accessed via a staircase which also holds storage units. The rear door opens out to provide a sundeck with external ladder access. A desk for mobile workers pops out of the wall behind the passenger seat. Of course, such innovation does not come cheap: the Venture S starts at €225,000. There are plans to…

Bristol-based Bailey was started by former Bristol Aeroplane craftsman Martin Bailey in 1948 and subsequently became a hugely popular producer of touring caravans. In 2011 the firm decided to produce a range of coachbuilt motorhomes, monikered the Approach SE. This was changed to Approach Autograph as it moved from its only range to become the flagship line-up, with Advance and Alliance joining as value-for-money and mid-market offerings. Autographs are all wide-bodied (2.41m/7’ 11”) and built on the X290 incarnation of the SEVEL cab, in our case in Graphite Black and Peugeot Boxer guise. Al-Ko provides low-line fully galvanised chassis extensions and independent torsion rear suspension. Autograph kicked off with a choice of six layouts, all featuring Bailey’s famous Alu-Tech construction, which had the additional benefit of offering the original purchaser…

When we think of traction, we naturally think of the grip that the tyre can glean from the surface it is travelling on. Dry Tarmac provides plenty, while it rapidly diminishes in the approximate order of wet road, grass, snow, mud and ice. Specialist tyres are available for all, but we have all experienced the situation where one wheel has perfect grip while the other spins uselessly. The action of the differential – essential for cornering – is traction’s Achilles heel. Mechanically locking across the differential is the oldest method, highly effective and still used in HGVs and some 4X4s, but adverse steering effects mean it’s limited to low speeds. Alternatively, friction plates within the differential provide limited-slip or later ‘active’ differential designs. However, the majority of traction control systems…

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Dolomites, Italy Coordinates 46.4102° N, 11.8440° E Why tour here? Increasingly popular as a destination for walkers, the Dolomites is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that covers an area of 142,000 hectares in the northern Italian Alps. It is renowned as a ski area and for its excellent hiking. The 18 peaks that rise to more than 3000 metres in the Dolomites are characterised by craggy peaks, sheer cliffs and deep valleys with limestone formations. Find out more about touring the Dolomites with Marcus Leach on p58. Don’t miss… For motorcaravanners in particular, the winding roads that lead up to mountains are both a challenge and a delight. And, of course, make for the perfect photo opportunity. Instagrammers, do your worst! practicalmotorhomeuk…

Weston Park in Shropshire was the venue for a lovely weekend at Camperjam, especially after last year’s postponement. We had been looking forward to attending this event for more than 18 months! Fabulous live music, a trade area to browse, plus – of course – all those Volkswagen campervans to admire. This pictorial tour aims to offer just a flavour of what it is all about. We’ll kick off with a T4 (1) perfect for someone who can’t decide which colour to have – a harbinger of what turned out to be a colourful show. Transporters and Crafters Not all VWs on show in the trade area were Transporters – VW brought along its Caddy camper conversion and a Grand California on high-top Crafter. Also based on the Crafter was…

I was chatting to a fellow camper, who said he always rushed up the eastern side of Scotland because there was nothing to see. Oh dear, I thought – our plan for this tour was to visit or stay mainly in the east on our trip! Our first stop was Strathclyde Caravan and Motorhome Club Site, situated between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and ideal for visiting The Falkirk Wheel, a short drive away. The Wheel is one of only two working boat lifts in the UK and the only rotating boat lift in the world. It replaces a long-gone series of locks, and connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. Next day, we caught the first trip on a canal boat, which the Wheel lifts to the Union…

Our twice-postponed cruise to Norway was finally cancelled, so we decided instead on another holiday-at-home year. We’d heard great reports about Swiss Farm Touring & Camping, within easy walking distance of Henley-on-Thames, and opted to make this a relaxing trip over a four-night stay. Henley has an excellent train link to the village of Taplow and there are bus stops at the entrance to the site, one service going towards Reading and the other in the opposite direction to Marlow, which fitted our travel requirements perfectly. Celebrities and regattas Following a restful first night at this peaceful site, we decided to explore the historic town of Henley-on-Thames, with its many independent shops and great choice of cafés and restaurants. After enjoying a little retail therapy, we took to the Thames…

⯀ Use prepaid travel cards …or at least be careful if you are using your regular debit or credit card. Depending on the provider, you might be charged an additional fee for making payments, which could add up to a lot of money even on a shorter tour, or for cash withdrawals. You might like to consider getting a prepayment card, which can be preloaded with funds then used in a regular way – some of these are free to use or have very cheap fees, even if the exchange rate that you’ll get isn’t hugely competitive. ⯀ Check your phone tariff Don’t be stung by phone costs – Brexit meant that phone companies have been free to reintroduce a charge on roaming in the EU, so you could quickly…

ROUTE OF THE MONTH Kendal - Grange-over-Sands Distance: 16.3 miles You begin this trail in the fine town of Kendal, which is well worth exploring. Start by taking the cycle path below Kendal Castle, before joining Natland Road, then taking National Route 6. Take National Route 70, where you’ll pass the National Trust’s Sizergh Castle. Then meander through Witherslack and on to Grange-over-Sands. Details sustrans.org.uk/find-a-routeon-the-national-cycle-network/kendal-to-grange-over-sands STAY HERE Park Cliffe, Birks Road, Windermere LA23 3PG Web www.parkcliffe.co.uk This green, pleasant park near the banks of Lake Windermere provides a choice of touring pitches, camping pods, statics, a shepherd hut and a holiday cottage. It’s the perfect spot for fans of outdoor activities, with the Lakes offering everything from climbing and cycling to hiking and watersports. The excellent on-site amenities include a…

If you think this vehicle, with its innovative ‘butterfly’ transverse bed that folds in half vertically for more storage, looks familiar, you would be right. We reviewed it, and generally liked it, 10 issues ago. But for 2023, even this relatively recent addition to Chausson’s line-up has been given a revamp, with the most obvious change on the outside. Both the S514 and its sibling the S697GA, with a more conventional single-beds layout at the rear, are now part of Chausson’s new Sport Line. To live up to the name, the vehicle comes decked out in an all-over grey. It’s a very special grey, too: known as Grey Matter, it was developed by Ford for the Puma and is not currently available on any other motorhome. Together with the black…

AUTO-SLEEPER PREQUEL ON MORRIS J2 1961 Auto-Sleepers is our longest-established volume converter of motorcaravans. As with many marques, it started off as a DIY exercise. Former steel company director Calverley Trevelyan converted a Morris J2 to take his family on a touring holiday in France. The conversion featured a canvas rear annexe tent that folded upright for travel. Included in that family foray to foreign fields were his sons – Anthony and Charles - who between them have had a major influence on the esteem in which the marque has been held over the years. On returning home, Calverley decided to sell the converted Morris J2 to Henlys of Bristol. They were so impressed, they ordered five more, this time on the Austin version. As soon as the five had…

Sparking a conversation Fire has to be every motorcaravanner’s greatest fear. The materials that a motorhome and its furnishings are made of burn very readily and there are multiple possible causes of ignition. The danger is that once a fire starts, it escalates very, very rapidly. Add to the mix the gas that almost all motorhomes carry and the potential for disaster is clear. The first line of defence has to be prevention and this can be straightforward – don’t have flammable items near the cooker. Tea towels, kitchen rolls, plastic wrapping from foodstuffs; all catch fire really quickly. Don’t put stuff in lockers that house electrical items, such as 12V distribution units or chargers. If you do have to use those lockers for storage, make sure that everything is…

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.…

letter of the month In May we were returning from a holiday in Switzerland in our two-year-old ’van. Friends had recommended the aire at Urvillers on the A26 autoroute in France, where they’d stayed overnight. It has a fuel station, restaurant and well-lit parking, so we decided to stay there. In the early hours, we woke up and found that a camera, our TV and my handbag were missing. My handbag contained our passports, cash, cards and spare keys. I phoned the bank to report the stolen cards. Apparently there is a big problem in France with lorries and ‘camping cars’ being broken into by thieves using some sort of device that allows them to open doors without keys – they even remove complete rear doors from lorries. After going…

Snow at Easter, downpours in midsummer, brilliant sunshine in the depths of winter. No wonder we have a reputation for being obsessed with the weather – especially those of us who love to spend as much time as possible touring and adventuring outside. I regularly find myself peering out of the ’van windows and wondering if I need an umbrella, or another jumper. Such was my dilemma in Cambridgeshire as January turned into February. Searching for a midwinter weekend destination, I came across The Willows campsite in Brampton, perfectly located on the River Great Ouse and within easy walking distance of local towns (not to mention having a gastropub next door). At this time of year they were, very sensibly, accommodating motorhome guests on the gravel roads rather than grass…

CORNWALL POLDARK W nationaltrust.org.uk/botallack In 2015, brooding Ross Poldark rode along the Cornish coast and onto our screens. Historical drama series Poldark follows a host of characters living through love, loss and war in 1783, all unfolding in captivating Cornish scenery. Penwith Heritage Coast and the surrounding areas are to thank for the stirring settings. Although Poldark’s Nampara is fictional, you can head to Botallack Mine to see ‘Wheal Leisure’, the Poldark family business and the famous Crowns engine houses perched on the cliffs. Nearby is Porthgwarra Beach, the backdrop for many memorable scenes, including a fan-favourite in which Demelza watches from the cliffs as Ross takes a swim. Stay at Tower Park Caravans and Camping W towerparkcamping.co.uk BATH BRIDGERTON W www.visitbath.co.uk Transport yourself to the era of Regency elegance…

Rapido is one of several brands to bring out a compact range of low-profiles in recent years. Until now they were based on a Fiat Ducato, but supply issues mean that this year, the range has been redeployed to the Peugeot Boxer. That might disappoint those wanting to match the convenience of a narrower motorhome with the ease of an automatic gearbox: Peugeot doesn’t produce such a thing. But otherwise, the cab you step into here should look familiar, with central drinks holders. Our test model came in the Luceo furniture finish that is an option for this year, in an interior with pale wood locker doors, a white, woven finish on walls, pale upholstery and matt black spotlights with USB ports. Extra touches in the lounge make it more…

Wellhouse expands on Japanese imports Wellhouse Leisure, so long a pioneer of importing pre-owned Japanese vehicles and adding new campervan conversions at bargain prices, says that it still has a good supply available. The company has also added a basic conversion for the Nissan Serena (pictured) to its latest offerings, with all-in prices starting from as little as £18,000. Wellhouse boss David Elliott tells me: “We’re getting supplies of base vehicles through because we ordered them about a year ago. We’ve been keeping a close eye on the market and notice a huge increase in interest in used, petrol vehicles from Japan. It’s threefold – the cost of living, people are looking at prices, and clean air zones.” Find out more at www.wellhouseleisure.com. Webbs cuts campervan prices Webbs Motor Caravans…

There’s no denying that awnings are pricey, so you might think you could easily save money by buying a used one, whether online or via a private sale. You certainly can, but you will also need to take a few precautions before deciding to shell out your hard-earned cash – here are our tips on finding the right pre-owned awning for you. 1 Style matters Motorhome awnings are available in a range of styles. First, there’s the canopy – this is the wind-out unit that is permanently attached to the side of your ’van at roof level. You might already have one of these fitted. Then there’s a drive-away – these are tent-like units that can be attached to the side of your vehicle, but can also be left freestanding.…

Although the UK looks set for a future of electric and hydrogen vehicles, the reality is that most motorhomes run on fossil fuel and are likely to continue to do so for years. It typically takes about 20 years for the UK’s car fleet to renew and given the long life of most motorhomes, the leisure vehicle transition is sure to take longer. So diesel and petrol will be with us until well into the 2030s. With wars, Brexit, chip shortages and pandemics impacting on energy costs, and fuel prices recently hitting record highs, we’re in uncharted territory. Given that diesel is not much less than £2 a litre (more than £9 a gallon), with unleaded close behind, it makes sense to ensure that your vehicle is as fuel efficient…

These days, we all own multiple devices and gadgets, such as mobile phones, tablets and the like – most of which are pretty power hungry and require regular charging to keep us connected. When this is carried out at home, it is usually achieved via a charger plugged into a mains socket on the wall. However, when you are in your motorhome (especially if it is an older model), the periodic charging of these devices is often not nearly so convenient. If you are not on a hook-up, for example, there is the lack of mains power supply to be considered. In addition, when USB charging points are supplied, they are most probably of the standard fixed 5V 2A variety, which although adequate, will not provide optimum charging. Rapid charging…