Innehållsförteckning för March 2022 från Practical Motorhome

I’ve just had a look at what I wrote here this time last year – we’d come to the end of an unprecedented year, during which many weren’t able to get away in their ’van at all. But here at PM HQ we remained positive, as I said: “I type this as England is once again in lockdown, with campsites and dealerships firmly shut for another few weeks… however, news of a vaccine is currently a light at the end of the tunnel.” Back to the present and I’ve just had my third vaccine – we’re certainly in a much better place than we were 12 months ago. To celebrate, we’ve been busy producing a comprehensive guide to the best things to do and the best places to go for…

It’s crucial that drivers prepare before setting off on a journey in the snow. Here are 10 top tips for driving in icy conditions… 1 Leave 10 minutes earlier than usual. This should give you time to prepare your vehicle for the journey, including de-icing the windscreen. 2 Plan your route using major roads – these are more likely to have been gritted and cleared. 3 Stick to gentle manoeuvres and do your best to avoid locking the wheels. Remember when attempting to brake that stopping distances can be up to 10 times longer in snowy conditions. 4 Change into dry shoes for driving, so that your feet don’t slip. 5 Always clear snow from the roof of your vehicle – it’s a legal requirement. 6 Check that all bulbs…

BlendJet 2 portable blender Lightweight but durable, this smart portable blender lasts for 15 or more blends and recharges quickly via a water-resistant USB-C charging port. Price £38.95 Web blendjet.com Table for two A lightweight outdoor coffee table is handy on tour – we love this foldable version from adventure specialist retailer Decathlon. Price £11.99 Web www.decathlon.co.uk Joules Red Dog Raincoat Make sure your canine companion stays dry with this eye-catching raincoat. With Velcro fastening, it comes in a range of sizes. Price From £17.99 Web www.very.co.uk On the map The Great British Adventure Map celebrates eccentric events and wonderful locations, including wild places, waterways and more. Price £14.99 Web www.we-love-england.com W’air handheld cleaner This compact cleaning device, which uses steam, air and detergent to launder your clothing, is ecofriendly…

January Happy New Year! Why not… go skiing? Kickstart the season with some exciting adventures on the slopes The more adventurous among you might head for the Alps and beyond (travel rules allowing), but we’re focusing on UK ski destinations. Top of the bill is Scotland’s Cairngorms, where Aviemore is a famous and popular centre for winter sports. You’ll find a choice of three ski resorts in the National Park: Lecht, popular with beginners; Glenshee, suited to all abilities; and Cairngorm Mountain, suitable for all but offering more challenging runs for experienced skiers. In northern England, head for Yad Moss, in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Although the snow can be unpredictable, if there’s enough, you can enjoy 4km of intermediate skiing. There are artificial slopes right…

● Who are you? Nigel Hutson, regular contributor to Practical Motorhome. ● Why are you a local authority on this area? I was born in Chesterfield; my parents still live there. We’re only a few miles away, and for the past 43 years I have been in the choir at the famous Crooked Spire parish church. My wife, Kay, is from Hope Valley, but we both regard our nearest town as being Chesterfield. ● What do you love about it? Chesterfield is a lively, bustling market town, with regular outdoor markets. Of course, personally, I love the musical tradition of the Crooked Spire – choral and organ. There are also great industrial links, too. The Midland Mainline railway runs through the town, and steam locomotive hauled ‘specials’ are a common…

Reviews editor Well, Swift has taken the plunge and announced that it will not be going to the February show at the NEC (see right). I can’t help wondering whether other manufacturers might now start to follow suit. However, that news came at the same time as details of ticket sales to the show were released, and so far it’s looking as though the event is proving popular with showgoers. I have to say I am longing to get back to being able to step inside a whole load of new motorhomes, as you can at a show. But then again, that is my job. I would love to hear your thoughts on the question – do you long to see your desired vehicle in real life, or have you…

As the summer months appear to be getting hotter, and more of us are touring on the Continent (when pandemic regulations allow), life in a motorhome can sometimes feel a bit too warm for comfort. On the hottest days, opening your ’van door when you arrive at your campsite can be rather akin to opening the oven. Overheated motorhomes are not much fun to be inside, and sleeping comfortably in one is nigh-on impossible. You have to keep balancing the relative merits of opening the windows and rooflights (mozzie bites) or battening down the hatches (an unwelcome sauna). So this is a great time to think about your options for the year ahead, before the weather heats up. Selecting a suitable unit As well as cooling the interior, air-con is…

1 Walking on water Stay just north of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, at Alderstead Heath, for a wealth of good walking. There are plenty of walks from the site itself across the North Downs, or you can head further into the AONB. The National Trust walk around Box Hill, for example, presents stunning views of the surrounding Surrey Hills. Follow the River Mole and you’ll come across the Stepping Stones. This is a great photo opportunity and a convenient spot to stop and admire the calm flowing water framed by elegant trees. At the end of the trail, you’ll pass by Box Hill Fort, which dates back to 1892 and now houses a colony of bats. Stay at Alderstead Heath Caravan and Motorhome Club Site (caravanclub.co.uk)…

NOVEMBER 2010 Get away from the masses, promised this bright cover, with crowd-free tours of the Malvern Hills, Yorkshire and France. Plus, a special report on our VW California test as we hit 10,000 miles! Regular contributor Caroline Mills and her daughter enjoyed a relaxing getaway in the Malvern Hills, parking up in Tewkesbury for a gorgeous photo opportunity at the point where the Avon and Severn rivers meet Reader David Sergeant shared his ambitious project with us, converting a £250 minibus into the ’van of his dreams (right) Remember Bentley Motorhomes? We went behind the scenes at the new kid on the block (below) – it was to go into administration during 2012, before the name was acquired by Vanmaster MISSED AN ISSUE? Want to buy a past issue…

1 At Broadway CAMC Site, our ’van pitched next to the occasional and rather lovely steam train! Peter Hales 2 We have had our motorhome for about six months. We were away recently and it started snowing while we were out at a Christmas fair. We realised we didn’t know if we had front-or rear-wheel drive and we were at the top of a hill on country roads. About an inch of snow had fallen in half an hour. Thankfully the drive was without incident and the motorhome handled well. By the time we got to the site, the snow was better, and we had a cosy night. Mark Richardson 3 It seems a long time since those summer evenings, but looking forward to next year’s visit to Start Bay…

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…

Happy New Year! As always, the new year brings a spirit of rebirth, a chance to start afresh and put the old road behind us. And there’s a lot to look forward to – just check out our guide to 2022 (p25), in which we provide inspiration, ideas and tips for a whole year of successful adventures. You’ll read in the article that 2022 is the Chinese Year of the Tiger. Apparently, tigers are authoritative, brave and self-assured, which sounds like a good description of your average motorhome owner! I hope we are all able to live up to that spirit of adventure. Elsewhere in this issue we have trip reports on a cornucopia of destinations – Dumfries, Chesterfield, Cornwall, and Camargue in France – something for everyone. Remember to…

Duration Eight days (as part of a longer trip) When September 2019 Why? Imposing castles, gorgeous scenery, wonderful wildlife Once upon a time in the beautiful Loire Valley, in the heart of France, a powerful king built himself a hunting lodge. Not just any hunting lodge – this was to become the largest and grandest château in the valley, which would fascinate visitors for centuries to come. It is said that the king’s chum, an artist and engineer, helped to design the building and its fabled staircase. In future it would become the inspiration for an iconic Disney castle and be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lodge is at Chambord, two hours south of Paris, and the king was Francis I, for whom it was built in…

Duration Five nights When November 2021 Why? Fantastic cycling adventures! Heading to Cornwall for a cycling and walking holiday might not seem that unusual – after all, the county is blessed with some of the UK’s most picturesque coast, endless quiet country lanes and wonderful little villages where you can stop for coffee (and cake). What might, however, seem a bit more unusual is planning to go there in November. But when it comes to enjoying outdoor activities, I have always believed the old adage that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong kit. It was a saying we heard a lot as children, as we would always be off on various hikes or bike rides throughout the year, come rain or shine. And it’s not that…

Many of us choose to put our motorhome into storage over the winter, but even if you’ve decided to carry on with your travels during the colder months, the period before the main season is a great time to check that everything is in order. With a few simple items and some basic tools, you can make sure that your first trip out this season is memorable for all the right reasons. We are taking for granted that your motorhome has passed its MoT and the vehicle and habitation servicing is also up-to-date. These tips are specifically for those with a ’van that has been in hibernation, or those who just want to check everything is in tip-top condition before taking to the road on their spring tours. Essential tools…

There’s a whole host of motorhome accessories available out there, so it can be hard to know exactly what you should be looking for. But if you’re keen to upgrade or update your kit for the new season, we can help – here’s a selection of products that made it onto the shortlist for the Best Motorhome Gadget category in our recent Awards (practicalmotorhome.com/awards). Milenco BC lock There’s no question that motorhome security is increasingly important – they are expensive vehicles and vulnerable if not protected properly. Fortunately, there are companies like Milenco out there, building top-quality security products. All the judges were impressed by the robust build quality and design of the BC lock, which encases and locks the brake and clutch pedals, rendering them inoperative. This is the…

Keep it local Instead of beginning the new season with a big trip, I prefer to start small and local, with a weekend nearby. This gives you the chance to iron out any problems with your vehicle while you enjoy exploring closer to home. Sometimes we can miss what’s right on our doorstep. Deputy editor Paul Critcher Pack it in Forget suitcases and holdalls, those big blue bags from Ikea (1) are the best way to transport your clothes and accoutrements to the motorhome, and to store things in underbed and underseat lockers. We pack one each for our holidays, and we never run out of clothes. They’re huge, lightweight, durable, easy to get into, and cheap. They also squish down a bit, so are simple to store in tight…

There’s a bit of a knowledge gap about solar panels. Just whacking a 150W panel on your ’van will not give limitless power. It’s not going to power a large inverter or run the toaster. They’re best viewed as a battery top-up that works at its peak in summer. In winter, they’re not that useful as they don’t output much power. So they’re not the answer to off-grid winter touring. Understanding their limitations and uses is the key to getting the most out of a solar panel. Despite those winter limitations, however, a solar panel is a great addition to your vehicle and every motorhome should have one – not least because once it is fitted, you don’t have to do anything, apart from clean it. Thanks to a market…

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 can we find a garage that will hold our two ebikes? Q My wife and I are buying a new ’van. We want a garage big enough for two ebikes, an island or twin beds, a washroom worthy of the name – with a shower that doesn’t take half an hour to put the doors together – and a kitchen with a microwave and a worktop that allows the making of a simple sandwich! Michael, Brighton Peter Baber replies… A You’ve set yourselves a challenge by wanting a garage to hold two electric bikes – that probably rules out most British-made…

Duration Seven nights When Autumn 2021 Why? Excellent walking in a historic and scenic region of Scotland The school holidays were over and it was time for us to think about another tour. We have attempted to visit Dumfries and Galloway, in Scotland, before, but without success, so we decided to try again. This also gave us an ideal chance to visit Pearl’s sister, who lives near Coldstream. We haven’t seen her for two years now, with several planned trips being cancelled by the pandemic. We stayed with her for three nights, giving us the opportunity to get out and about in the area. On the first morning, we decided to head towards Cocklawburn Beach. Before our stroll, we stopped for coffee at Pot-A-Doodle Do, Scremerston, just one mile from…

Clocking in at just over 70 miles in length, Northern Ireland’s A6 forms a connection between the two largest cities in the province, Belfast and Derry/Londonderry. Like its namesake in England, it has been partially superseded by motorways in recent years. But if you stick to it all the way, you are likely to find more places to pull over, because the route provides plenty of substantial laybys. There are also crawling lanes on most uphill stretches, so you won’t get hassled by impatient drivers, and most of the little towns you’ll find en route have bypasses, so you shouldn’t have to worry about those narrow city roads. North out of Belfast The A6 starts as the Crumlin Road in Belfast, and heads north out of the city past the…

Have you ever taken your motorhome out of storage and it is covered in green algae, black smears, bird deposits and leaves (1)? Maybe there is a dull tone to the paintwork. This is a good time to give your motorhome a good wash and polish, ready for the touring season. There are a number of products to choose from, Autoglym, Fenwick’s, Care-avan, Muc-Off to name but a few (2). They all vary in price and performance, so it comes down to personal preference when choosing which one to buy. If you are unsure, visit one of the many national shows to help you make an informed decision, and speak to the experts. Step-by-step cleaning For this article, a motorhome was brought in to Autoglym’s Training Academy purely to show…

If you’re planning to hit the road for a long drive in search of spectacular scenery, you could do worse than the UK. While we might not have the distances of the US, with its iconic Route 66, there’s plenty to enjoy – from Scotland’s North Coast 500 to England’s A272. Here are just a few classic routes to explore. North Coast 500, Scotland For many, this is the UK’s ultimate road trip. Following the north coast of Scotland, it begins and ends at Inverness Castle, and brings together just over 500 miles of stunning scenery. The NC500 follows main roads along the coastal edges of the North Highlands of Scotland, taking in the regions of Wester Ross, Sutherland, Caithness, Easter Ross, the Black Isle and Inverness-shire. Visit Dunnet Head,…

Congratulations to all of the high-scoring leisure vehicle dealerships rated Gold in our latest Owner Satisfaction Awards (issue 253)! Favoured brands for used ’vans were Hymer (90.1% approval), closely followed by Bailey (88%), Roller Team (87%), Auto-Sleepers (86.9%) and Auto-Trail (86.3%). Frankly, the Practical Motorhome’s Owner Satisfaction Awards (which we run in partnership with the C&CC) are the only such accolades that count, because they’re the only ones voted for by you, the paying customers. So big thanks to everyone who took the time to fill in our questionnaire. If you haven’t read the full results (which you’ll find at www.practicalmotorhome.com/news/owner-satisfaction-awards-2022-winners), you should do so: it’s the most important information for anyone thinking of buying a motorhome. Email Nick via practical.motorhome@futurenet.com PRE-OWNED KNOW-HOW A monthly round-up of shows, news and…

If there’s one thing that irritates me, it’scertain bits of motorhome design. Overthe years I’ve encountered various issues,and our KC is no exception. The biggest is the bike rack on the rear panel,which is mounted too high. I’m six foot and Ican only just lift a 20kg bike onto it – and Ineed a step to reach the top clamps. Apparently this is the designed mountingposition, and there is no reinforcing in the wallfor locating the rack lower down. Another irritation is the waste pipe layoutfrom the washroom across the rear of thevehicle. The waste tank is mounted amidships,close to the kitchen sink but 2.4m forward ofthe shower and handbasin outlets, which are then run as two separate 25mm pipes. To enable the pipes to enter the tank near thetop,…