Innehållsförteckning för October 2020 från Practical Motorhome

1 Wanting to escape from lockdown for a few days, we visited Garlieston C&MC site. It was busy, but peaceful. This is the view from the harbour; the site is in the foreground. Lovely coastal town in Dumfries and Galloway. Just the ticket! Kev Slaney ★ STAR PICTURE 2 Our first trip since lockdown, to Longleat C&MC Site. A hearty breakfast helped us to prepare for meeting the animals in the safari park. The site is an excellent base to see the park and wake up to the sound of sea lions! David Aldred 3 Blue skies and sunshine over Portland Bill’s lighthouse, when we visited during a recent tour to this lovely part of Dorset. We were really lucky with the weather during our stay. Mark Short 4 We…

WHY THE HURRY TO PURCHASE A PRE-OWNED MOTORHOME? Q I’m getting some pressure to buy a used ’van I’ve only viewed once at a specialist dealership. Why is that? Darren Coombes A Nick Harding replies… That’s trickier to answer than it sounds! Your dealer will have a weather eye on the future, when stocks of used ’vans are likely to drop significantly, so might well be doing you a favour in urging you to make a decision. Demand for used ’vans has been exceptionally high, post-lockdown. It’s more than likely other folk are looking at the same vehicle, too. Nevertheless, I think you’re being pushed too much here. Give yourself a breather. Step back. At least hold out for a second view – and a test drive. If, in the…

From now ■ You might just have time to book tickets for the pop-up festival at Gisburne Park, in Lancashire (1), which finishes on 30 August. Many events have been cancelled this year, but this beautiful venue has come up with a way of keeping everyone socially distanced while enjoying the music of DJs, live entertainment, open-air cinema, family fun and more. Up to 480 visitors can be hosted at each event and 24,000 attendees are expected during the festival. You can choose from four event concepts. Party in the Park, on Friday and Saturday evenings, sees some big names in dance music perform on the banks of the river. The Pictures in the Park open-air cinema takes place every Wednesday and Thursday evening – guests are encouraged to dress…

Kick back, open a bottle… Beer, wine or cocktails, you can’t beat a beverage by the barbecue You’ve been sightseeing or on the beach all day; now you’re back at the ’van. The evening is balmy and the barbecue is fired up, ready for kebabs, bangers, chicken, steak or fish. There’s time to relax and chat with family, friends, neighbours; things would be perfect with a cool drink. A cold lager would do it, perhaps a gin and tonic with a twist of lemon, or white wine or prosecco – but what about something that offers a little razzmatazz? A cocktail, perhaps, and it doesn’t have to be alcoholic or complicated, just a few simple ingredients that you might keep in the ’van. A final decorative touch – umbrellas, fruit,…

Before picking up the motorhome we had hired to explore New Zealand, we spent a pleasant day in Christchurch, a city on the South Island that is largely defined by its earthquake-ridden history. The aftermath of the latest two events (2010 and 2011) is clearly visible, the starkest reminder being the cathedral, still standing but with a gaping hole where the nave and spire should be. Quake City, an information centre dedicated to the story of the earthquakes, was a memorable experience, but there were other highlights, too: the Botanical Gardens, a trip on a 1930s tram, the futuristic Christchurch Art Gallery and The Cellar Door, where you can taste the local wines. The following day, we picked up the ’van and set off for Akaroa on the Banks Peninsula,…

■ Tell us about your current role – what do you do? I’m the UK agent for Pilote, and liaise between the factory and the dealerships. We have eight dealers for the Pilote brand, plus two for Le Voyageur and four for Avenir. I make proposals to the factory and the dealers about how things might run a bit more easily, and provide suggestions on what sort of products we should be providing for the UK market. ■ How long have you been with the company? I’ve been in this role for eight years, but I have been involved in the company for more than 25 years. When I was starting out in my career, I worked for a dealership that was the UK importer for Pilote motorhomes. My first…

Viewings up at Auto Trader website Auto Trader, the UK’s largest digital marketplace for new and used leisure vehicles, has reported rocketing interest from customers seeking to buy campervans and motorhomes. Online views of such vehicles were up by 17% year-on-year for the week commencing May 15. The company says staycationing – holidaying in the UK rather than going abroad – is a key theme. In a recent survey, it found some 18% of Brits who are planning a staycation are considering doing so in a motorhome. It reckons campervans are proving particularly popular for the 35-44 years age group, with 27.5% of this demographic thinking about a campervan staycation. Auto Trader surveyed 2000 adults earlier this year, with many citing factors such as greater freedom and personal safety –…

When camping enthusiast John Taylor bought some land near Barnstaple, in North Devon, to enjoy with his family and friends, he was keen to make the best use of his new playground and made plans to visit there as often as possible. But he needed a base that was more permanent and comfortable than a tent. Enter the horsebox – a 1988 7.5-tonne Ford Cargo, bought two years ago with a motorhome conversion in mind. In fact, the Cargo had started life as a BT lorry before someone converted it into a horsebox. It was later changed again, the previous owner adding a bed on the top and a small kitchen. When John took the vehicle on, it was time for a complete refurb and upgrade. “I took everything out,”…

BAFFLING BATTERY Workshop life is settling down to the new normal, with the occasional challenge. This month, it was a 1992 Talbot Express-based camper with a strange problem. The owner had replaced the failed leisure battery, but was no longer getting power to the Zig unit in the rear, so nothing worked unless ‘engine battery’ was selected. First test was the battery itself, which was fine. Next, the fuse to the battery. Here I thought I’d struck gold – it was very dirty and corroded, and when tested, no volts were getting through. We cut it out and fitted a shiny new fuseholder and 20A fuse, but still nothing on the Zig. So I took my trusty power probe, connected to the starter battery and did some prodding and probing…

There are many excellent reasons to consider buying salvage parts for your motorhome if you find yourself in need of spares. You could save time, money – and the planet. Shipping in brand-new parts from abroad is likely to produce a significant carbon footprint, and can take weeks or months, so instead, why not think about purchasing an as-new part from a local spares company? These components will have been checked and cleaned, you might get them the very next day, and you’ll also be putting money back into the local economy (something that is all-important right now). The hunt for spares Whether a motorhome is new or old, it can sometimes be tricky and quite time-consuming to obtain certain spare parts for it. I’ve heard tales of owners losing…

Coordinates 53.34013 N, -1.79871 W Why tour here? Beneath the steep-sided limestone valley of Winnats Pass is a series of caves and mine shafts from the lead-mining industry that the area around Castleton was once famed for. Today, it’s a protected Site of Special Scientific Interest and wonderful for walks. Don’t miss… This is the only place in Britain where the semi-precious mineral Blue John is found. Visit the caves where small-scale mining of the blue and yellow stone continues. For more great summer destinations and activities, see p20.…

Weeygo retractable table tennis net Play ping pong on the go – this retractable table tennis net can easily be set up to fit most tables, so you can have fun on the fly! Price £8.99 Web www.amazon.co.uk Crotec Festival Trolley with sunshade Use at festivals, the beach or the park for tired kids, pets, picnic gear or shopping. Children can sleep in the shade while you enjoy the day. Price £149.99 Web kidscampingstore.com Hario V60 coffee-maker This easy-to-use single-cup coffee-maker in light plastic makes great coffee! Paper filters £5.50 per 100, reusables £12 for three. Price £8 Web www.hario.co.uk Quecha portable shelter Take this Quecha lightweight sun and wind shelter on walks and you’ll have plenty of cover when you stop for lunch. Price £12.99 Web www.decathlon.co.uk Garmin Fenix…

PLAN A QUICK GETAWAY So you can just pack up and leave It’s Friday. The weekend weather forecast is great. Time to hit the road! Here are our top tips for making a smooth and speedy departure: 1 MAKE A LIST One of the main challenges is getting your stuff together. If you haven’t been touring for long, and don’t have separate kit in your ’van, too often you’ll find some essential or other is in the loft or the shed and your cooking utensils have made their way back into the kitchen drawers. It goes without saying that if things are all over the house, you inevitably end up forgetting some critical item. So at the start of the season, it’s well worth putting together a list of all…

Buckets of fun We do like to be beside the seaside! Estimates of our glorious coastline vary, but map specialist Ordnance Survey puts that of Great Britain at 11,073 miles. That’s a lot to explore! The terrain across all of those miles varies from the cliffs of Scotland to the Jurassic Coast of southern England. But perhaps the most popular stretches are the miles of gorgeous sandy beaches. And while you’re at the seaside this summer, why not join a beach clean-up, to keep our shores looking their best? CLEAN BEACHES The non-profit #2minutebeachclean scheme originated in 2013/14, when winter storms washed vast quantities of plastic waste onto the shoreline. Martin Dorey – writer, surfer, beach lover and presenter of the BBC series One Man and His Campervan – began…

In a parallel world, we are sitting down to a simple al fresco dinner under an endless summer night in Norway, the milky sky studded with stars and a crescent moon above. The soft ripple of water lapping on the banks of the fjord, granite cliffs glowing with ethereal light, we are filled with a feeling of contentment. The reality is altogether different. Instead, we find ourselves in a field in rural Monmouthshire – not even an actual campsite – any hope of evening sun extinguished by a slow gathering of cheerless clouds. Yet we couldn’t be happier. In that moment, all that mattered was the fact we were together as a family, free from the various worries of the world and with a sense of optimism for what lies…

Adria revamps Coral and Matrix Adria has upgraded its Matrix and Coral for 2021, with a more aerodynamic profile and a sunroof that is 15% larger than last season. Rear panels now look much sleeker, with a new air deflector. The whole ’van has been raised in height by 7cm, which means both now come with a double floor. Inside, the drop-down bed on all Matrix models is now based on steel cords with a mechanism that is entirely hidden. It rises closer to the ceiling, providing more headroom. Other additions include a service hatch outside near the habitation door on all Matrix models. The door itself now comes with a much sturdier bin The Adria van conversion line-up, meanwhile, will shortly be expanded with the addition of a model…

‘Some 80% of incidents will be fixed at the side of the road. Every patrol van comes equipped with 500 parts and tools on board’ Nick Isaac has worked in RAC patrol for three years now. He operates out of Exeter, which is, as he says, “the gateway to Devon and Cornwall”. The patch he covers on his day shift runs across most of Devon and beyond. “I stretch up to Lyme Regis, Okehampton, North Devon, Minehead and Bude, also to Yeovil,” he adds. That could be useful for motorcaravanners to know, because in a normal year, the patch Nick covers is a bit of a bottleneck. Particularly at this time of year, when people are on their way to or from the beautiful West Country beaches and seaside towns.…

Back in the day, this was a very aspirational purchase, and they still turn heads 30 years after they rolled off the production line. Nearly all Auto-Trail coachbuilts were named after native American Indian nations, or in recognition of important members of those nations, such as the Chieftain. Different lengths subdivide the models. The most common underpinnings were the short-wheelbase, single rear wheel chassis-cabs. The most innovative and popular short-wheelbase variant was the Cherokee, identified by their design signature of a sliding ‘drop’ window on either side of the door. Adjacent to each of the windows is a swivelling armchair, inspired by the tub chairs in American RVs. Opposite, the inward-facing settee pulled out to make a longitudinal double bed. An additional transverse double is ‘always available’ in the non-cutaway…

Purchasing your first motorhome might seem a little daunting. There are so many things to think about, many of them completely new to first-time buyers. This article aims to outline those essential points, allay any worries and help to make buying an easier, less stressful process. Licence restrictions First, and most important, does your licence allow you to drive a motorhome or campervan? This depends on your age and the vehicle’s maximum authorised mass (MAM). This is its weight plus the maximum load it can carry, sometimes referred to as the maximum technically permissible laden mass (MTPLM). The DVLA website explains the rules for licences as follows: ■ Licences issued before 1 January 1997 To drive a motorhome with a MAM of 3500kg to 7500kg, you’ll need a category C1…

Relaxing and reading You can’t beat the pleasure of a great book! Which activity improves wellbeing, boosts children’s school performance and leads to better sleeping patterns? Reading for pleasure, according to research carried out by The Reading Agency, a charity promoting the benefits of reading for everyone, whatever their age (www.readingagency.org.uk). It’s a very popular leisure activity, with enjoyment, relaxation and escapism often cited as the main reasons why so many people like opening a book. And for children, the benefits are especially strong: “Reading for pleasure has been shown to be more important for children’s cognitive development than their parents’ level of education or their socio-economic background,” explains the charity’s head of communications, Samantha Cox. More than any other time of year, summer is the season when many of…

1 STRANGFORD LOUGH Some 70,000 wildfowl visit each year. It’s also home to grey and common seals; take the Canoe Trail to spot them. Site Delamont Country Park Web www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 2 QUANTOCK HILLS AONB Red deer, Quantock ponies and Britain’s only venomous snake, the adder, are all found here. Lydeard Hill to Wills Neck is one of many scenic walks. Site Moorhouse Campsite Web www.moorhousecampsite.co.uk 3 PEAK DISTRICT Dale Farm only accepts motorhomes by prior agreement. As well as great views, there’s a farm shop, where you can buy meat, chutneys and cakes. Site Dale Farm Web www.dale.farm 4 SNOWDONIA From Graig Wen campsite, there is direct access to the Mawddach Trail, perfect for exploring on foot. The site sits in the heart of the National Park. Site Graig Wen…

When I was a child in the 1970s, I was given as a present a little book called The Observer’s Book of Ancient & Roman Britain. It was one of a series of books designed to stimulate children’s interest in more than 800 subjects – I had another one all about flags. Both books have long since disappeared, but I well remember the Ancient Britain book because it drew my childhood attention to an otherwise unremarkable county: Wiltshire. Except for a couple of places out in the wilds, such as the Orkneys, the book seemed to focus on Wiltshire more than anywhere else, and even then, really only the north of the county. If you wanted to make it in Ancient Britain, it seemed, you had to have lived or…

Few places in the world combine medieval and modern history quite so seamlessly as Normandy, in northern France. Here, World War II cemeteries and memorials rest serenely, harmonious in the shadow of the magnificent Norman cathedrals, all but a stone’s throw away from the lush, green countryside for which the region is so famous. The birthplace of William the Conqueror, this area is immortalised in modern-day memory as the site of the D-Day landings. If you’re heading from Paris, your first stop on this journey should almost certainly be the town of Giverny, on the border of Normandy. This picturesque place was home to Claude Monet, one of France’s greatest artists, and his legacy lives on. Be sure to spend time exploring the gorgeous gardens, which served as inspiration for…

VW’s glimpse of new Caddy VW Commercial Vehicles has released initial images of the firm’s planned successor to the Caddy Beach. This is the little sister to the VW California, which it has been selling since 2005 for those who want to head off on a ‘micro adventure’. The new vehicle will have a fully panoramic roof, which you can darken, a sprung bed that is almost 2m long, and the same folding seats that you get in the California, which can be stowed in the rear doors. Scheduled for manufacture in Poland, in a factory the company has almost completed, this will also be the first commercial vehicle produced by VW to offer assisted driving at all speeds.…

Touring Austria in our A-class, we caught a glimpse of two unfamiliar 4x4 motorhome-type vehicles. Both had set up camp on the shores of a lake and were fully equipped with the most adventurous-looking kit that you could possibly imagine. These two 4x4 campers were from what we now know to be Azalaï, the French overland adventure motorhome firm. This chance glimpse on a summer trip not only changed our perception of what we wanted from a ’van, but led us on a two-year search for a 4x4, after years of owning conventional ’vans. For us, this was a new area. Although we knew just about everything there was to know about motorhomes, we knew nothing about what was available in the 4x4 adventure market. What we did know was…

As a means of maximising the space available in your motorhome, there’s a great deal to be said for drop-down beds. With this clever layout, during the daytime, you can use what would have been bedroom space, and then, when required, at the touch of a button (on electric beds, anyway), simply transform the area into a bedroom. The ultimate space-saving device! We recommend calling the dealer before travelling to view highlighted stock Adria Matrix Axess 520 ST (2020) ■ LAYOUT Drop-down double ■ BERTHS/TRAVEL SEATS 4/4 ■ L/W 5.97m/2.30m ■ MTPLM 3500kg ■ PAYLOAD 716kg ■ PLUS POINTS Spacious for a compact motorhome ■ MINUS POINTS Could do with more kit in the kitchen OUR REVIEW SAID… This Adria has a very generous lounge, with the cab seats swivelled,…

ongoing maintenance Check all of your dashboard lights Tyre pressures, tread depth and general condition are items that are very easy to check on a regular basis, and so vital to the safe operation of your vehicle, that my mind boggles at some of the things I see in the workshop. Sometimes this is simply down to modern technology making life supposedly simpler. For example, many of the latest vehicles have a system for electronic oil-level monitoring, which will be displayed on the dashboard when you start the engine. Tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) have become quite common, too. These provide the driver with a continuous readout for each tyre’s pressure (some will also monitor the temperature), on a dashboard display. Manual checks are important This is all well and…

BUNK BEDS FULL LOUNGE ISLAND BEDS SINGLE BEDS TRANSVERSE BEDS 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 of sleeping berths as occupants, right? That’s one way of doing it – but taking a look at the bigger picture is a better method, and likely to cause you less frustration in future. If you’re travelling as a couple, opting for a four-berth can be a great way of getting a motorhome that offers just that bit more space, meaning that you’re less likely to get in each other’s way when moving about. Conversely, if you’ve older children, you could consider going for a smaller motorhome and letting them…