GREAT ESCAPES Inspired getaways with luxury motorhome hire – where will your staycation take you?

WHERE’S YOUR SPIRIT OF FREEDOM?

Words: Rob Davis.

Ever wish you could just... get away from it all? Of course you do, especially after the last couple of years. And if the spirit of adventure, freedom and fun is still alive and kicking within you, now’s the time to hire a luxury motorhome and hit the open road in leisurely luxury!

Adam Brookes makes his fleet of Volkswagen and coachbuilt Ducato-based luxury motorhomes available for hire from his business, Spirit of Freedom, located between Peterborough and Stamford.

THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM... that’s all you need to get away from it all in a luxury motorhome. Beware though, once you’ve enjoyed your first motorhome break, you’ll find it can be quite addictive... just ask Adam Brookes, who has fallen head over heels with life on the open road over the past couple of years and now hires out his five luxury motorhomes for others to enjoy. What’s the appeal of a motorhome holiday? It’s the perfect way to get away! You can drive for as long as you want, and pull over to enjoy a rest, a coffee or a comfort break whenever you choose. That makes long journeys easy and much more relaxing. You don’t have to unpack when you arrive at your destination and you can change your travel itinerary on a whim!

How did your motorhome adventures begin? My ‘day job’ is working in the hospitality industry supplying pubs and bars with gas to dispense their beer.

During Covid and amid furlough, I helped out a friend on livestock farm down in Wiltshire, I converted my own Mercedes van to create a bespoke motorhome to live in during the summer.

Every morning was awesome! I awoke to views of rolling fields, the sunrise and a whistling kettle for my first morning cuppa. It was heaven, really fantastic, and I thought ‘everyone should be able to enjoy this!’

I then had the idea of purchasing luxury motorhomes for people to hire so they could enjoy luxury on the road for themselves!

What vans do you have? I purchased my first van, Molly, back in November 2020 – annoyingly, just before lockdown. Her sister Meg followed and then we added two Volkswagen campers, to our fleet.

As you’re reading this article, we’ll take delivery of our latest motorhome Rosie which is another Fiat Ducato-based coachbuilt motorhome just like Molly and Meg. They sleep up to six people – four with a little more space to live – and they have everything you need on board to live well either on a campsite, or ‘off-grid.’

Aren’t they hard to drive? No! They all have automatic gearboxes, power steering, reverse cameras and air

conditioning. At around seven metres in length they’re taller but only marginally longer than a large 4x4, and no wider. Some feel a little nervous at first but all of our clients so far have reported that the vehicles ‘shrink around them’ within half an hour on the road and soon feel very car-like to drive and park, even in tight towns and cities. They manage about 46 miles to the gallon and happily cruise at motorway speeds on main roads. What facilities do they have? The rear banquettes of Molly, Meg and Rosie create a large double bed. There’s also an electrically deployable second bed for smaller adults or children and a bed near the cab area for children too. Each has a full bathroom with toilet and shower. The kitchen has a fridge, freezer, oven and sink, there’s plenty of storage. There’s hot water with good water pressure, heating and air con... there’s even a rack for your bikes! Some clients bring their own bedding and towels, but we can provide them too, and we always supply a ‘welcome pack’ with the essentials – tea, coffee, biscuits and the obligatory bottle of wine to toast your first night enjoying life on the open road. We ensure there’s a bottle of gas ready to go for heating and hot water, and fill up the 100 litre fresh water tank – it’s easy to top it up if necessary, using a hosepipe, just like filling up with petrol. Waste water can be disposed of easily and hygienically and because the motorhomes all have solar panels it’s easy to survive ‘off grid’ for a few days when you’re away from camping and caravan parks.

How long can you hire them for? Long weekend breaks are available, but three nights, one week or two week stays are most common as they allow you to go a bit further afield. Some customers have hired them for an entire month though!

Where can you go? Where do you fancy? The Yorkshire Dales, The Lake District, The Peak District, Cornwall, Devon, Scotland? You can travel any distance in comfort and pull over for a break from driving whenever you want!

Can the dog come too? Absolutely. We’re dog friendly and they love being included in the fun! >>

>> Are you Covid safe? Yes. Every van is thoroughly cleaned inside and out upon its return. Most customers are using their own linen at the moment but every touchpoint of the vehicle is sanitised thoroughly before its next outing. Where was your last adventure? Not too far away actually. We enjoyed a walking holiday in Brancaster’s Burnham Deepdale. We like being able to travel to different campsites and move on whenever we like. Unlike a conventional holiday, you’re not stuck in one place and you can add different destinations to your itinerary ad hoc. Where are you based? We’ve a good location on the A1 and A47 interchange which is convenient for a quick getaway, but actually many clients request that we deliver their motorhome the night before then collect it after their holiday. It means you’re able to get packed up the night before, ‘ready for the off,’ nice and early the following morning... quite useful if you’re venturing a bit further afield. How much does motorhome hire cost? Meg, Molly or Rosie can be hired for £120/night, regardless of how far you’re going. n Adam Brookes hires luxury motorhomes trading as Spirit of Freedom, based near Peterborough. Call 01780 769576 or see www.spiritoffreedom.co.uk.

SIX OF THE BEST PLACES TO TRAVEL...

If you’re planning a motorhome getaway, these are our suggestions for a great escape!

n New Forest: Hampshire’s New Forest is a haven for those seeking water activities, forests, and quaint villages. Recommendations for a pitch up include Red Shoot Camping Park (01425 473789) and Hollands Wood Campsite (01590 622967). n St Ives/Porthcurno: Pretty much anywhere in Cornwall will offer stunning scenery but St Ives provides beautiful beaches and the chance to visit Lands End or Porthcurno with St Michael’s Mount or the Minack open air theatre. Stay at Ayr Holiday Park (01736 795855) or Trevedra Farm (01736 871818). n Isle of Skye: For those seeking dramatic landscapes the Isle of Skye won’t disappoint, with its rugged mountains and cliffs, unspoilt nature and wild beauty. Enjoy its castles, museum and rural mythology from Dunvegan Castle’s Kinloch Campsite (01470 508009). n Sandringham: Norfolk is a little closer to home, ideal for your first motorhome sortie. Enjoy the unspoilt beaches, quaint towns, and the Sandringham estate, or Norfolk’s lavender fields into late August from the Sandringham Camping and Caravanning Club Site (01485 542555). n Pembrokeshire: Enjoy exploring the Brecon Beacons, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and beautiful beaches from Pencarnan Farm Camping and Caravanning Park (01437 720580). n Derwent: The Derwent region of the Lake District offers phenomenal scenery, plus the proximity of Keswick, Windermere – around half an hour away – plus the delights of attractions like the Cumberland Pencil Museum – which is much more entertaining than it sounds! Stay at Keswick Camping and Caravanning Club, 017687 72392.