Touring Magazine February – March 2021

touring FEBRUARY – MARCH 2021 www.touring.co.uk

FORWARD THINKING

INSPIRATION FOR TOURING FREEDOM MICRO TOURS / BUDGET TOURING / POP TOP CAMPERS / VAN REVIEWS

Micro Tours

Welcome

I touring Editor Caroline Mills Advertising Mark Galbraith Designer Barbara Prada Marketing Olivia Sewell Commercial Director Lwin Millar Editorial Director Felix Blakeston Touring Magazine is published by

Information carried in Touring Magazine is checked for accuracy but the views or opinions included herein do not necessarily represent those of Rosevine Media Ltd. Attractions and destinations mentioned herein should only be visited when it is safe to do so in accordance with government guidelines.

t shouldn’t be difficult for an editor to string a few words together. But, where to begin and what to write during the current climate of lockdown and travel restrictions, daily statistics and never quite knowing what’s around the corner makes the flow of sentences a little more challenging.

So we’re back to virtual and armchair travel again, a continuation of dreaming and planning future activities. It may be that you were one of the many that realised the appeal of camping and touring during 2020, bought yourself a tent, caravan, campervan or motorhome and ‘the dream’ has remained in storage or on your driveway ever since. Here at Touring Magazine, we really feel for you – please persevere, when you do finally get to use your new purchase, we’re sure that you will love the new freedom that, by its very nature, is a sociable friend to social distancing.

For now, we’ve plenty to inspire. Yorkshire, England’s largest county, is our focus with it’s new Walkshire campaign that will last all year, showcasing some of the county’s most beautiful places to go walking.

Enjoy the stunning images now and make your plans to see the locations later in the year. When you do get to head off on your travels, small-scale adventures may well be your preference initially, so we champion a series of wonderful micro tours, all between 3 and 90 miles-long, perfect for walking, cycling or touring.

The last couple of years has seen motorhome manufacturers launch a whole host of van conversions with rising/pop-up roofs. These are a great way to add extra beds without the need to purchase a longer vehicle.

If you’ve not yet bought your means to go camping, or you’re ready to trade-in your existing vehicle, have a look at these. If you’re looking for something a little ‘grander’, we also take a detailed look at a brand new A-Class, integrated, motorhome, introduced for 2021. Finally, there’s plenty of advice on ways to keep the cost of touring down.

Long-term readers and subscribers to Touring Magazine (formerly Discover Touring) could well have quite a collection of back issues on file. While any kind of celebration is somewhat muted at the moment, it’s with great pride that we can say that Touring Magazine celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. We look forward to keeping you inspired, whether sat on the sofa at home with a frothy coffee or enjoying a glass of wine watching the sun set at a favourite campsite – one day soon.

Meantime, keep safe and well,

www.touring.co.uk discovertouring@rosevinedigital.com Front cover image: © searchforsites.co.uk

Caroline Mills, Editor FEBRUARY – MARCH 2021

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For everyone who loves the great outdoors

SHOW

27- 28 February

202021 21 27 - 28 February Sponsored by

Browse and buy the latest models and accessories, and watch webinars from the experts – all from the comfort of your sofa.

VIRTUAL

In association with

Find out more and book your free ticket at:

www.caravanshowscotland.com/virtual

Inside

Contents

80

32

38 38

8 POP-TOP VANS 32 REVIEW: AUTO-TRAIL GRANDE FRONTIER 38 INTERVIEW: SEARCH FOR SITES 44 MICRO TOURS 70 A-Z OF BUDGET TOURING 80 WALKING IN YORKSHIRE 98 VANLIFE: WORK 104 HISTORY: OLIVER CROMWELL 106 FORAGING WILD MUSHROOMS 112 SHOPPING ESSENTIALS

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News

Taking the scenic route Touring Magazine editor and lifelong camper, caravanner and motorcaravanner, Caroline Mills has written the ultimate guide to road trips in France and Germany – for families, couples, and social bubbles.

Published by Bradt Guides, Camping Road Trips France & Germany: 30 Adventures with Your Campervan, Motorhome or Tent is a unique guide to lesser-known and off-the-beaten-track destinations Caroline says: “The purpose of this book is to encourage travellers of all ages that anything is possible, to get out and explore. It’s as much about slowing down, getting to know places and spending time on foot, by bike or boat as it is about spending time on the road. These are not journeys to be rushed.”

Congratulations Caroline, we can’t wait to grab a copy of our own! In the meantime the Touring team have been lucky enough to have a sneak preview of the contents:

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Includes a description of the Route Napoléon, France’s first ever signposted tourist route, created in 1932 and replicating Napoleon’s trek through the Alps and his return to France from exile.

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Explores the grand canyon of France, the Gorges du Verdon, regarded as one of the most beautiful and dramatic in Europe.

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Discovers Dordogne’s annual strawberry festival, where a strawberry tart 8-feet wide is devoured.

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At 508 metres long, the pier at Heringsdorf, a ritzy bathing resort on the German island of Usedom, is the longest in continental Europe.

You can also walk into Poland from Heringsdorf along an eight-mile-long seaside promenade. It’s one of many things to do on a road trip along Germany’s coastline.

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Camping Road Trips France & Germany: 30 Adventures with Your Campervan, Motorhome or Tent is out February 5 priced at £16.99 and is available to order now at www.bradtguides.com/product/ road-trip-france-germany/

News

The show must go on!

The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show is going virtual this year between February 27-28..

Touring Magazine is delighted to be a media partner to the online weekend show that will be packed full of all the latest vans, expert advice and everything you need for your next adventure.

As with the usual physical show, attendees will have the chance to meet with dealers and chat about their requirements on their online stands.

And please do come by Touring Magazine’s stand – we would love to chat to our readers and listen to any feedback or suggestions you may have for the magazine.

There will also be a host of speakers from the industry’s leading organisations including the Camping and Caravanning Club, and the Caravan and Motorhome

Club, who will take part in exclusive webinars to give technical advice, tips and tricks and destination inspiration.

Darren Brechin, Group Show Director of the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome & Holiday Home Show said: “Although 2020 was a challenging year for everyone, it encouraged us to appreciate more of what’s on our doorstep and that’s the whole ethos behind a caravan or motorhome vacation.

Unfortunately, due to ongoing restrictions we aren’t able to hold our usual event at the SEC but by going online we are able to offer new and previous visitors the chance to see the latest caravan and campervan models and help them plan their next trip.

“We hope to see all our usual friends visit us online and hopefully we’ll be able to welcome everyone

back to the SEC in 2022.”

Tickets for the show are free, but they are limited so book early to avoid disappointment and we look forward to meeting you there!

Find out more and reserve a ticket at: www.caravanshowscotland.com/virtual

FEBRUARY – MARCH 2021

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VOX

POP COMPACT LEISURE VEHICLES WITH POP-UP ROOFS ARE PROVING EVER-MORE POPULAR. TOURING MAGAZINE PICKS OUT SOME OF THE BEST ON THE UK MARKET

In Focus Focus

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he rising roof has been the domain of small campervans in recent years, whether front, back or side raising or, in the case of classic VDubs, an all-round ‘poptop’. Sometimes it’s to offer extra bed space, in other models to simply provide better standing room in a smaller van with a lower overall height. It’s not always been exclusive to smaller campervans, though; larger motorhomes of yesteryear have included raising roofs, such as Weinsberg’s conversion of the Fiat 238 fifty years ago.

But, over the past couple of years, there has been a steady increase in the number of larger van conversions – or compact leisure vehicles/compact utility vehicles (CUVs) – on long-wheel-based Fiat, Peugeot and Mercedes

that have added pop-up roofs. And, for the 2021 season, that steady increase has become an explosion of new models with almost every van conversion producer adding at least one pop-up roof option to its range.

Without the need to use a raising roof to gain height for standing room in these van conversions, all of these pop-up roofs allow extra sleeping berths.

They’re ideal for couples that might have the occasional use for extra berths, such as grandchildren visiting during a camping holiday, or for families that would prefer a compact vehicle for quick and easy weekend getaways rather than expanding to a larger-framed, longer coachbuilt motorhome.

Touring Magazine picks out some of the best on the market:

Pop-Top Vans

Adria Twin Sports EDITION

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ombining the best features of the award-winning Twin Supreme layout with a fully integrated pop-top roof, Adria has been able to introduce the Twin Sports 640 SGX, with accommodation for up to four people.

Adria’s exclusive designed SunRoof® includes a midi-Heki roof light in the rear, with the option for air-conditioning, and a roof-mounted awning while retaining Adria’s renowned panoramic front window for natural light. The roof construction is lightweight, by comparison to others on the market, yet sturdy enough to mount solar panels and also includes roof rack rails for extra luggage capacity.

The ‘cabin loft’ is made from an acrylic-based tent material that’s removable for cleaning and storing, and is breathable, water resistant and insulated. Side mosquito screens are fixed while a front screen can be opened independently of privacy windows for ventilation. The loft sleeping space includes storage, USB ports and reading lights.

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In Focus

AUTO-TRAIL ADVENTURE 55

Pop-Top Vans

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ased upon the ever-popular Fiat Ducato – the most utilised model for coachbuilt and van conversion motorhomes – you get the very latest, increasingly environmentally-conscious engine and, in the cab, touchscreen display with, among other gadgetry, Western European ‘motorhome specific’ satnav and a colour reversing camera. In fact, for 2021, there’s a choice of cab styles – Cab Plus, as standard, which increases the cab headroom through an integrated curved ceiling, or Panoview, a cost option that incorporates a large panoramic roof skylight. There’s more external colours available for 2021, too, with a choice of seven to select from, including the modish Expedition Grey and exclusive ‘Adventure’ exterior graphics.

Downstairs, the living and sleeping areas are divided in two. At the rear are two parallel sofas – very comfortable for daytime lounging – or eating indoors should you erect the pedestal table between. These can be made into a 4’5”-wide double bed. Side windows plus the ability to open the rear barn doors (also with windows) means there’s plenty of natural light.

Taller folk might prefer the option of sleeping ‘upstairs’ in the rooftop bed as, though narrower, it’s longer at 6’7”. The mattress here is comfortable, laid on a platform of springy mesh ‘fingers’ for extra give. The canvas sides of the pop-up roof incorporate windows, including an opening mesh-gauze for ventilation. LED spotlights here allow reading in bed.

The rooftop bed is accessed via a ladder, stored during the day in an alcove above the cab, at the front of the van. Below, the swivelling cab seats turn to meet the two ergonomically-moulded front-facing passenger seats and a dinette table, useful for allowing kids to spread out their belongings on long journeys and a great area for adults to stay up and lounge if putting little ones to bed in the rear.

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Pop-Top Vans

Bürstner Eliseo W

hile the respective vans from Adria and AutoTrail mentioned above include a pop-up roof as standard, it’s an option for Bürstner’s brand new Eliseo. But, there are four layouts from which to select and add your pop-up roof to, from 5.41m to 6.36m long and with a choice of a transverse double bed or longitudinal twin single beds in addition to the doublesized loft bed. Plus, with a choice of four upholstery materials, including leather, and 11 external paint finishes, you’ll receive a very personalised van.

Three of the layouts – the C540, C600 and C641 – include a half-dinette at the front of the van, which, coupled with the rotating cab seats, provides room to make up an extra bed; allowing five sleeping berths in all.

That’s pretty good for a vehicle that could be less than 5.5m long.

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In Focus

DREAMER D43 UP ADDICT

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Pop-Top Vans

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ll of the compact leisure vehicles from French brand Dreamer, a part of the renowned Rapido Group, are insulated and designated for use all year round with the vehicles tested to below -15°C. That includes the new Dreamer Fun D43 UP, a vehicle that’s just 5.41m long yet is suitable for family getaways thanks to the pop-up roof. There’s also a panoramic Skyview roof window as standard.

Inside you’ll find a transverse double bed in the main living area along with a longitudinal double bed in the heated pop-up roof. There’s also a practical washroom with shower. and kitchen with hob.

White is the standard external colour but we love the exuberance of the Red Addict paintwork, for when you really want to stand out from the crowd.

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In Focus

Elddis Autoquest CV80 Compass Avantgarde CV80 E rwin Hymer Group UK introduced its new range of, now award-winning, ‘CV’ van conversions for the 2019 season. For 2021 the company has extended the range by adding a model with a popup roof, the CV80. It means that, what could only be 2- and 3-berth layouts, now increase to four sleeping berths.

Both the Elddis Autoquest and Compass Avantgarde, are almost identical in technical specifications (Fiat 250 Ducato Euro 6D engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 399kg payload, 5.99m long), layout and price, which, at £47,669 is very competitive, especially as an On-TheRoad price that includes first year road tax.

Where the two differ is the interior finish and upholstery design: opt for the Elddis Autoquest for the pale-coloured ‘Ashton’ cabinetry and beige ‘Sevilla’ upholstery, or the Compass Avantgarde for the slightly darker ‘Salinas Ash’ cabinetry and ‘Syracuse’ soft furnishings with trendy checked patterns.

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Either way, you’ll get Whale’s CompleteHeat underfloor heating and combined water system, an underslung LPG gas tank, fully functioning washroom with shower and cassette toilet, and kitchen with oven and grill.

These are budget-priced bargains, so choice is minimal (two external paint colours of white or metallic grey, for example, and no additional choice of furnishings), but there are plenty of extras to add, such as alloy wheels, solar panels and air-con if your budget affords.

Pop-Top Vans

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In Focus

HYMER FREE 540

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e’ve picked out two van conversions from German brand Hymer, synonymous with quality. The first – the Hymer Free – helps to keep costs down as it is based upon a Fiat Ducato; few would realise they can get a brand new Hymer motorhome for less than £45k on the road. At 5.41m long, it’s also a really compact vehicle, yet, thanks to the optional pop-up roof, can sleep up to five people.

That includes a rear transverse double bed and a half-dinette with two belted seats (therefore four passenger seats in all – your fifth-berth person will need to meet you at your destination) in addition to the pop-up loft space with double bed. There’s a compact shower/washroom cubicle and small galley kitchen, too.

For a little extra space, opt for the 600 or 602, both of which are 5.99m long.

As for the pop-up roof, it’s available in an external paint colour to match the colour of the van, or in white, to offer a rather cool two-tone effect (unless you choose to go for an all-white van, of course!)

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Pop-Top Vans

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In Focus

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Pop Top Pop-Top Campervans Vans

HYMER Grand Canyon S T his is Hymer’s premium camper, based on a front-wheel-drive Mercedes Sprinter. Aside from Mercedes’ reliability, you’ll also find premium furnishings inside the four-berth Grand Canyon S – a choice of leather upholstery on the cab and rear-passenger dinette seats, for example.

The pop-up roof with double bed is an optional extra – without, the Grand Canyon S is a two-berth that includes a transverse double bed at the rear. Storage is excellent, including beneath this rear bed, accessed from the rear barn doors. More so, if you’re the ultra-adventurous sort and planning a trip ‘off-piste’, the Grand Canyon S is available with optional four-wheel-drive.

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In Focus

Knaus Boxstar 600 Street

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Pop-Top Vans

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naus have really gone to town with its new pop-up roof, introducing options to include it in both the Boxstar and Boxlife variants. Whichever you select, the pop-up roof remains the same spec, that, once up, includes a cosy interior with ambient lighting, reading lights and heating vents. There are ventilation channels for the mattress to prevent moisture formation and there are integrated pockets in the roof sides for books and ‘phones.

Opening windows in the pop-up area include a mosquito net and a shade, so sleeping up here will really feel like tent camping with all the luxury of a heated motorhome. There’s even the option of an air-conditioning system for the roof area.

We’ve opted for the Boxstar 600 Street as our pick of the vans, with its fresh, contemporary design. It’s 5.99m long, includes a transverse rear double bed, small galley kitchen, shower/ washroom and half-dinette with passenger seatbelts for two.

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In Focus

MALIBU VAN FAMILY-FOR-4

Pop-Top Vans

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alibu, a brand of German manufacturer Carthago, has developed and manufactured its own pop-up roof in house, with a sandwich structure that includes a robust GRP roof lining (providing protection from hail), a breathable microfibre covering on the inside and an insulating core. It means that many of its popular tried-and tested two-berth models can now be used by families or groups of friends.

There’s plenty of choice with the new family-for-4 van conversions, with no less than 9 layouts, utilising 5.99 and 6.36m-long Fiat Ducato base vehicles.

These can include transverse rear double beds or longitudinal twin single beds and all feature a half-dinette with forward-facing belted passenger seats, kitchen and integrated shower/washroom with cassette toilet.

Opt for a ‘GT Skyview’ variant and you’ll have exactly that – panoramic views from a window above the cab.

In Focus

Pop-Top Vans

Pilote V600G/V600S

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op-up roofs are an optional extra with French manufacturer Pilote. What’s more, all but three models in its van conversion range are available with a pop-up roof, providing plenty of choice – four floorplans and 18 variations to be precise, with standard and premium external finishes. That allows you to have a 5.41m-long van with four berths if you wish, keeping things compact, or a 5.99m-long van when you’re looking for a little extra floor space.

We’ve picked out the V600G and V600S, both 5.99m-long motorhomes. The V600G offers, like many illustrated here, a rear

transverse double bed with a large storage space beneath for holding bulky items and a halfdinette area at the front.

A table here extends in order for diners in both rotating cab seats to also be able to reach it.

Pilote’s gem, though, is the V600S; with a pop-up roof it offers a whopping six sleeping berths, all in a van less than 6m-long.

You still get kitchen, washroom with shower and cassette toilet, and the half-dinette seating area (so four belted seats in all). But, at the rear are two double bunk beds in addition to the pop-up roof bed.

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In Focus

Westfalia James Cook AD

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estfalia, one of the oldest-established and renowned brands of compact leisure vehicles, also offer six-berth vehicles.

The company uses both smaller campervan-sized base vehicles for conversion, such as the Volkswagen T6 for the Kepler, and the larger Fiat Ducato and Mercedes Sprinter for motorhomes such as the Columbus and the iconic James Cook, which has been produced for more than 40 years.

We love the James Cook AD, perhaps the wish-list pinnacle of compact leisure vehicle van conversions with a pop-up roof. Based on a Mercedes, it’s just 5.93m-long, keeping things nicely compact for driving and ease of parking. But, in addition to the pop-up roof with double bed, the James Cook AD has a slide-out system whereby, in less than 40 seconds, a module moves outwards in the rear of the motorhome, creating a large, luxurious bedroom. Thereby, you don’t lose living space taken up during the day by a fixed bed.

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Pop-Top Vans

www.adria.co.uk www.auto-trail.co.uk www.buerstner.com/uk/ motorhomes/ www.dreamer-van.co.uk www.elddis.co.uk www.hymer.com/uk/en/ www.knaus.com/en-uk/ www.malibu-carthago.com/en/ www.pilote-motorhome.uk www.westfalia-mobil.com/en/

First Look

GRANDE MASTER

Auto-Trail Grande Frontier

Step inside the new Grande Frontier, the only A-Class motorhome to be manufactured in the UK →

Strap A

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uto-Trail know a thing or two about manufacturing motorhomes; they have been doing so for more than 38 years.

But even ‘old hands’ are always crossing boundaries and trying something new. For 2021, new means the introduction of Auto-Trail’s Grande Frontier, an A-Class motorhome, and the only one to be manufactured in the UK. For those new to motorhomes, A-Class might seem like more jargon to learn. Put very simply, rather than the body of a motorhome sitting on top of an existing chassis and cab – a coachbuilt – an A-Class motorhome appears to look as one, seamless and integrated with the cab so that you cannot tell the cab from the body of the van. They tend to represent luxury and are aimed, mostly, at couples. The Grande Frontier, while undoubtedly aimed at couples, actually sleeps four people, potentially opening up the world of A-Class living to families.

There are three layouts to the Grande Frontier, all of which are on an Al-Ko chassis (regarded as a premium chassis for motorhomes that, being lower, can allow extra storage) with the latest, ever-more environmentally-conscious Fiat Ducato engine. The GF70 is the smallest, at 6.96m long, while the GF88 is the longest at 8.8m. The GF80 sits in between, at 8.07m. Both the GF80 and GF88 have an MTPLM of more than 3500kg, placing them out of reach of

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drivers with a driving licence since 1 January 1997 without a C1 category. We focus here on the GF70; with an MTPLM of 3500kg it allows anyone with a driver’s licence to enjoy touring.

EXTERIOR Take a first glance at the Grande Frontier. It’s beautiful!

Well, we think so. The design team should be very proud of their achievement. On style alone, it’s a winner, with its large panoramic windscreen (a classic signature of an A-Class motorhome) that, owing to the graphics, has the appearance of wrapping seamlessly around the cab and along the sides of the van. The monotone black-and-white look is classy, with a hint of gold defining the van graphics.

On the cab roof is a large, tinted panoramic skylight, which aside from allowing natural light to flood into the interior of the van, helps to break up the large expanse of white cab roof that also tends to define an A-Class. High-level electric coach-style mirrors blend in to the design.

But slick style isn’t everything. There has to be substance to make this a functional van. So, you’ll find an external door on the nearside rear for easy access to a storage area that’s suitable for an al fresco folding table and chairs (also accessible internally, too) and access to the toilet cassette. There’s also a fully integrated awning, a gas BBQ point and an external cold shower unit, useful if you need to hose down a muddy dog or wellies after a saunter in the

Auto-Trail Grande Frontier

countryside, and a 100W solar panel for those that like to tour off-grid. On the rear panel is the discreetly housed, but easily accessible, spare wheel.

LIVING & SLEEPING Couples have plenty of space to sprawl on the two parallel sofas in the front of the van. And, if you’re entertaining guests, a cosy lounge can be created by rotating the two cab seats to face the interior. A wrap-around faux-leather skirt edges the tinted privacy windows while thermal pleated blinds, including an electrically-operated blind on the windscreen, and ambient low-energy LED lighting helps to create a toasty atmosphere on winter evenings. Reading lights are positioned accordingly. Attention to detail is evident in the stitching of the upholstery, with a choice of a smoky black faux leather or a white true leather. Armrests on the sofas are lacking, though, for those who like to kick off their shoes and stretch out lengthways.

At night, a pull-down double bed above the cab creates a nest-like cocoon that leaves the living area below clear for those that prefer to stay up longer, or get up earlier. →

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while an easy wipe-down splashback covers the wall area behind the kitchen unit. On the nearside, directly opposite the oven, is a tall, slimline 171-litre fridge with separate freezer compartment. Deep cupboards beneath the sink provide storage space for nonperishable foods.

WA S H R O O M

However, families of four can utilise these sofas to create an extra double bed, and slumbering folk over 6’ tall may also prefer this bed as it’s 6’8” long, while the pull-down bed is 6’1” long.

We particularly like the GF70 layout for its washroom, which, but for the storage compartment situated on the nearside (accessed externally or from the washroom) stretches across the rear of the van. This allows a good-sized dressing area, with a large shower cubicle, enclosed with bi-fold doors, to one side and an electric-flush toilet adjacent to a handbasin with chrome mixer tap. There’s plenty of shelving and storage space for potions, and two elegantly lit mirrors.

An opening roof light provides natural light and ventilation.

K I TC H E N

S TO R AG E

The L-shaped kitchen, in the middle offside of the van, is a really user-friendly workspace. There’s lots of room for food preparation between the sink, with elegant chrome swan-neck tap, and four-burner hob (3 gas rings and 1 electric). Beneath the hob is a full oven, separate grill and a pan store. An 800W microwave sits above. There’s a 3-pin socket for a kettle or coffee machine suitably positioned above the workspace,

Airline-style lockers run the full length of the living area above both sofas, with stylish two-tone doors, finished with a chrome strip. Storage of bulky items is also possible beneath the sofas, while there are useful cubby holes above the windows either side of the cab. A wardrobe stands next to the habitation door alongside a dedicated space for the freestanding dining table.

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Auto-Trail Grande Frontier Auto-Trail VR Ltd www.auto-trail.co.uk

F I N A L S AY… This is a stylish and elegant motorhome with a very practical internal layout. With Grade 3 insulation and a Combi gas/electric heating and hot water boiler (different to the GF80 and GF88, which both use Alde heating), it’s usable all-year-round. There are plenty of features fitted as standard that, on other motorhomes, would generally need to be purchased additionally, such as a Media Pack with Avtex television, colour reversing camera, motorhome WiFi and motorhomespecific Western Europe Sat-Nav, together with a 12V roof fan and cab air conditioning.

One concern is the payload – occupants will need to travel extremely lightly! With very limited payload and limited options for externally accessed storage, this is not a van for adventurers that require lots of kit.

It is better suited to couples that can limit the amount of materials required on tour, and those that like to stay long-term on campsites where facilities, including electric hook-up, are readily available to avoid the need to travel with water on-board or weighty gas bottles.

For drivers with a C1 category licence, it is possible to upgrade the Gross Vehicle Weight to 3650kg free of charge, providing an extra 150kg of payload. ●

T E C H N I C A L S P E C I F I C AT I O N S BASE VEHICLE CHASSIS: Fiat Ducato Multijet II Euro6D 140bhp (optional upgrade to 160 or 180bhp or Fiat fully-automatic 9-speed gearbox) MASS IN RUNNING ORDER (MIRO)............ 3250kg GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT.. ............................ 3500kg (with upgrade option to 3650kg) MAX PAYLOAD. . ................................................... 250kg EXTERIOR LENGTH............................................6.96m BODY WIDTH . . ....................................................... 3.10m HEIGHT...................................................................3.04m BERTHS........................................................................... 4 DESIGNATED TRAVEL SEATS.. ................................. 2 COST.. ............................................. from £76,345 (OTR)

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Area Belvedere at Castefondo, Trentino, Italy beautiful views and very quiet

La Si pritra dentiaestari til haciorbit. Onocchi, conventiam in se, se num que

SEEK AND YOU

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Campsites

Touring Magazine chats to Ian and Jill Curtis, keen motorcaravanners and founders of campsite web portal, searchforsites How did you get into motorcaravanning? What do you love about it?

The main reason we have a motorhome, and previously a caravan, was simply so that we could take our dogs to the continent with us.

We got our first motorhome over 10 years ago, after previously owning a caravan and tents before that, so we’re long time campers.

We first thought about a motorhome after arriving at a site in France with our caravan, struggling to reverse it onto a pitch, spending the next two hours unpacking everything, fighting with the awning etc. Then when we had finally finished, we sat exhausted and watched as a motorhome pulled up onto the pitch opposite; they simply turned off the engine and they were pitched and kettle on within five minutes.

So when we got home, we went to the next available motorhome show (at Shepton Mallet) with the intention of just looking, definitely not buying and definitely nothing new. We came away with a brand new AutoTrail motorhome and the adventures began!

We love the freedom a motorhome gives – the ability to travel around without having to pre-plan everything like a military operation. We now just get a ticket for the Eurotunnel and that’s it; nothing else planned.

How and why did you set up searchforsites?

The first time we travelled to France in our motorhome we had also joined the France Passion scheme, which promotes stopovers at private properties usually at vineyards, but we found the book difficult to use as, at the time, it didn’t include co-ordinates and only had basic notes for directions. This usually created a lot of ’tension’ between navigator and driver. So I decided to see if there was a better way of finding stopovers. searchforsites first started in 2013 as a hobby site. I was keen on learning how to build websites and thought this would be a great project to start. My wife Jill - and she will be the first to admit this - is useless at reading maps and we found it difficult to find the idyllic stopovers that we had seen in glossy magazines. So I decided to try and map the locations in an easy to use format. → IAN & JILL CURTIS

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Strap A

“We love the freedom a motorhome gives. We now just get a ticket for the Eurotunnel and that’s it – nothing else planned”

Strap B

Cimolais - also in the Dolomites, north of Venice in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, ItalyÂ

Reipoltskirchen - lovely quiet village stopover in the RhinelandPalatinate, Germany

How has the site grown over the years? searchforsites has grown from being just a simple website to a complete integrated solution with the offline app and downloads for satnav devices all synced to the same database. We currently have nearly 150,000 registered members and the website has been viewed over 16 million times. In June 2018 we launched the first version of the iOS and Android apps and these have been a great success with over 120,000 downloads.

It’s community-based – so how does it work?

When a user registers (which is free for the website) any user can either: 1. Add their review of a location 2. Add photos to a location 3. Submit a new location 4. Edit an existing location 5. Create lists of locations (ie favourites, places to stay, places they have stayed etc) We also encourage users to add extra value to their added content by completing their User Profile showing the type of campervan or motorhome they drive (a site that suits a campervan may not be suitable for large A-class

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In the Dolomites at Cinq Torre, Italy - highly recommended if you like mountains

Campsites

Stratton Arms popular pub stop in Turweston, Northamptonshire

motorhomes) and also complete a traveller profile (i.e. are they a young family with children or a senior couple). This detail can been viewed against each review they leave.

www.searchforsites.co.uk

What’s your favourite country to visit in a motorhome?

This changes regularly but our current favourite country is Germany for its diversity of landscape, friendliness of the people and the sheer amount of very affordable dedicated motorhome Stellplatz stopovers that are available, usually in great locations.

Steg, Liechtenstein

Do you have a favourite campsite or motorhome stopover you like to visit?

This is so hard to decide and we could list favourites for each country and type of site whether it’s a motorhome stopover or a campsite. But the one we both agree on is one of the few sites we have visited more than once and is in Liechtenstein, at a rural mountain village called Steg. It is a simple car park but in a beautiful location with a view across a crystal clear lake towards snowcapped mountains and fantastic walking right from the doorstep of your motorhome. If you are lucky, you will spot or hear a marmot or two as they bark their warning calls as you approach.

The stopover has no facilities but is ideal for a selfcontained motorhome. ●

PHOTO: CLEMENS V. VOGELSANG

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Keep things small and follow these short but extraordinary road trips. Caroline Mills explores

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ot every road trip has to be the ‘journey of a lifetime’. They don’t all have to cover hundreds or thousands of miles and take days, weeks or months. Across the UK and Ireland there are lots of road trips that are a mere handful of miles. They all have magnificent scenery, though, and, however short, should be savoured slowly.

Here, I pick out some of my favourites.

Between 1 and 90 miles long, it’s can even be worth ditching the van or car in favour of a bike!

UK Touring

ATLANTIC DRIVE County Mayo 11.8 MILES / € FREE

Micro Tours

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his incredible circular route affords some of the finest views of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s situated on Achill Island, off the west coast of Ireland, accessed by a short road bridge across Achill Sound. The route begins 500 yards west of Achill Sound village, where there’s a signpost for ‘The Atlantic Drive’. The initial miles are along the west bank of the sound, with views to the Currane Peninsula and passing by Kildavnet Tower, a 16th Century tower house that was once used by the infamous Grace O’Malley pirate queen and, inland, historic ‘lazybeds’ terraced ridges where potatoes once grew. Turning a corner alongside Achillbeg Island, the views of the Atlantic begin, including across to Clare Island, as the drive passes through wild and open bog. A gentle climb reaches a viewpoint with stunning views of Ashleam Bay and the rugged cliffs along the southwest side of Achill Island before turning inland to return to Achill Sound.

Stay: Keel Sandybanks Caravan & Camping Park, Keel, Achill Island

UK Touring

Micro Tours

BOX HILL Surrey

1.6 MILES / £ FREE

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eloved by cyclists (and used during the London 2012 Olympics as part of the road cycling course), the Zig-Zag Road climbs Box Hill with three hairpin bends en route to Box Hill Viewpoint. The route is accessed off the B2209, just north of Dorking; it’s possible to continue beyond the viewpoint, along Boxhill Road but, frankly, it’s better to park (including bike stands) in the National Trust car park at the top of the hill and go for a really good wander; there are signposted walking routes. A small NT café beside the car park serves snacks. The views over the Surrey Hills and the market town of Dorking are astounding.

This is the busiest of all these micro road-trips; it’s worth an early morning start as it’s a very popular beauty spot and, by 10am, the road gets extremely busy.

Stay: Etherley Farm, Leith Hill, Ockley

ETHERLEY FARM

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UK Touring

CWM CARN FOREST DRIVE Caerphilly 7 MILES / £ FREE

Micro Tours

Photo: Shutterstock

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nce a heavily industrialised mining area in the heart of the Welsh valleys, Cwm Carn Forest is now a tranquil park. It’s a popular place with multiple mountain bike and walking trails but there is also a Forest Drive.

The 7-mile route was closed in 2014 due to thousands of diseased larch trees that needed to be removed.

Redevelopment of the route has taken place ever since and, completely resurfaced and replanted, it is due to reopen this spring with impressive views. There will be eight new recreational areas along the route that include three play areas, a storytelling area, all-ability trails and several new seating and picnic spots. The Cwm Carn Forest Visitor Centre also offers information on visiting the area.

Stay: Cwm Carn Forest Drive Campsite, Newport

CWM CARN FOREST DRIVE CAMPSITE ©Cwm Carn Forest Drive

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UK Touring

FRYUP DALE North York Moors

6 MILES / £ FREE

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love this place for its name alone – it always makes me think of a cracking great Full English breakfast. This is actually two dales – Great Fryup Dale and Little Fryup Dale – that run roughly north to south off Eskdale. The two valleys, each with a diminutive stream, or beck as they’re called here, are split by a giant, long mound called Heads; it’s very distinctive. The land along the valley and up the hillsides are filled by tiny fields with pretty farms dotted along the way, it’s very scenic.

The route, from the village of Houlsyke, in Eskdale, crosses the river Esk and runs east to Wheat Bank Farm before turning south, along Great Fryup Dale. At Street, turn west, along Street Lane and Nuns Green Lane and past the south end of Heads, into Little Fryup Dale. At Slate Hill House, turn north again to run along Castle Lane and the ruins of Danby Castle. At the ancient Duck Bridge, a 14th-Century packhorse bridge, you can either turn right to return to Houlsyke or continue on to the National Park Centre at Danby. The route is relatively flat and perfect for a gentle cycle ride.

Stay: Wild Slack Farm, Leaholm

MicroStrap Tours B

WILD SLACK FARM

UK Touring

HUNDERTHWAITE Co Durham 12 MILES / £ FREE

Micro Tours

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ive reservoirs high in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Teesdale can be seen on this tour. The area is famous for its incredible assemblage of wildflowers and some of the last remaining upland hay meadows in Britain, hence the route is best seen in late May and early June, when the flowers are out but before the hay is cut.

Begin in the gorgeous stone village of Cotherstone and, heading toward Romaldkirk on the B6277, take the second left signposted for Hunderthwaite. Follow the road through the village, little more than a couple of farms, and continue all the way to the end, beside Balderhead Reservoir, where there’s a car park and you can step out into the Pennines.

On the way you’ll pass by Hury and Blackton reservoirs but do stop where the Pennine Way National Trail crosses the road and take a wander to Hannah’s Meadow Nature Reserve. The hay meadows are granted Coronation Meadow status for their importance to the landscape; the fields and farm of Low Birk Hatt (privately owned) were made famous in the 1980s and the TV programmes about Hannah Hauxwell.

Retrace your steps and take the first road on your left a couple of fields beyond the Pennine Way to Selset and Grassholme reservoirs. The route offers fine views over Mickleton Moor and Lunedale, where you’ll end just after the road crosses Grassholme Reservoir. This is also a birdspotter’s paradise, with black grouse, lapwings and curlews high on the list of likely sightings.

Stay: Highside Farm, Bowbank, Lunedale

HIGHSIDE FARM

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UK Touring

KIELDER FOREST DRIVE Northumberland 12 MILES / £ 3

KIELDER CAMPSITE

Micro Tours

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his gorgeously remote drive through Kielder Forest, the largest expanse of forest in England, is, at more than 1500ft, one of the highest roads in the country. The route, on an unsealed forest road, begins in Kielder Village where you should pay your fee at the toll machine by Kielder Castle. Drivers and cyclists travel east, through the forest to Blakehopeburnhaugh, ending at the A68.

You can really enjoy the sense of remoteness – there’s no mobile phone coverage – but note that the route is only open for certain months of the year, next reopening on 1st May. You can hire bikes from Kielder Cycle Centre, adjacent to Kielder Castle. And, if you want to extend your exploration, walk or cycle the 26-mile circular Lakeside Way, which circumnavigates Kielder Water. Kielder Water and Forest Park, within Northumberland National Park is a national dark sky reserve renowned as one of the best places to go stargazing so you should make a point of visiting Kielder Observatory while here.

Stay: Kielder Campsite, Kielder Village

UK Touring

LANGSTROTHDALE Yorkshire Dales 20 MILES / £ FREE

Micro Tours

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his is one of the lesser-known, peaceful dales, yet it joins two of the most popular and well-known – Wharfedale and Wensleydale.

It’s exceptionally beautiful as the road, from the village of Buckden, passes right alongside the River Wharfe when it’s barely more than a stream tumbling over slabs of limestone. Latterly the road climbs up, at Oughtershaw, for lovely views along Sleddale before descending to the very picturesque town of Hawes, the perfect place to stop for lunch or pick up cheese at the famous Wensleydale Creamery.

Pull up beside the river for a picnic or enjoy a drink at The George Inn, Hubberholme, a quirky (and tiny) pub that sits riverside along Langstrothdale.

Stay: Causeway Caravan Site, Kettlewell or Honeycott Caravan Park, Hawes

HONEYCOTT CARAVAN PARK

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UK Touring

LOUGH NAVAR FOREST SCENIC DRIVE County Fermanagh 7 MILES / £ FREE

Micro Tours

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f you enjoy trees, and views, this drive will suit you well, for there are 2,600 hectares of forest. The route begins by climbing through first deciduous woods of oak, birch and beech to the Aghameelan Viewpoint, with a ‘low-level’ view over County Fermanagh and Cavan.

The route continues to climb through pine forest, to the Magho Viewpoint, at the top of the Cliffs of Magho that are 735ft high. The views over Lower Lough Erne and its islands are outstanding and, on a clear day, you’ll also see the Sperrin Mountains, and, to the west, Donegal Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

The Magho Viewpoint is a popular picnic spot and the long distance Ulster Way footpath passes along the cliffs, so there are plenty of opportunities to go for a walk. The route then continues past the Old Man’s Head, an area of rocky outcrops and beautiful wildflowers before passing Lough Achork. The entrance to the forest drive is signposted off the B81 Derrygonnelly to Garrison road.

Stay: Blaney Caravan Park, Enniskillen

BLANEY CARAVAN PARK

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UK Touring

MARINE DRIVE Conwy 5 MILES / £ 3

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his is an excellent micro tour; one of the most scenic in Wales. Marine Drive is a toll road that circumnavigates Great Ormes Head northwest of Llandudno. The road follows the Great Orme Heritage Coast, hugging the cliffside with the bulk of the headland high above. It’s a one-way route that begins northeast of Llandudno, where you pay your fee at the toll-booth before taking a leisurely tour around the headland, arriving back in town. There are places to pull off the road but you can also take a spur road to the summit (with free parking) to enjoy the amazing views over the bay, showcasing Llandudno’s famous pier and Little Ormes Head, plus Anglesey and Snowdonia, too. Keep an eye out, also, for the wild Kashmiri goats that roam the headland.

Stay: Dinarth Hall Camping, Rhos-on-Sea

UK Touring

PORLOCK CARAVAN PARK

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PORLOCK BAY ©Deborah Stanyon

Micro Tours

PORLOCK SCENIC TOLL ROAD

Somerset 4.2 MILES / £ 2.50

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orlock Hill is infamous for being one of the steepest inclines in England, with a 1:4 gradient. To offer a more gentle alternative route for horses and carts, a secondary road was built in the 1840s through the Porlock Manor Estate. It was dug by hand to provide work for local people following the Napoleonic Wars.

Today, starting in Porlock, some two miles from Porlock Weir, the scenic route twists through idyllic woodland, offering glimpses through the trees to Porlock Bay. As the road climbs, with a considerably shallower gradient than Porlock Hill (never more than 1:14), it passes the toll house before, ultimately, a panorama of the Somerset coast opens up with views across the Bristol Channel. The road then clings to the hillside through open moorland, joining the A39 by the historic AA box at Pitt Combe Head. There are several stopping places and a picnic area along the way.

Stay: Sparkhayes or Porlock Caravan Park, Porlock

SPARKHAYES

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QUEEN’S DRIVE Edinburgh 4 MILES / £ FREE

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olyrood Park is Edinburgh’s royal park, attached to the Palace of Holyrood, where the royal family stay on official visits to Scotland’s capital. The scenery is sublime, rugged and beautiful despite its proximity to the historic heart of the city. Within the park is Salisbury Crags, a long line of rocky cliffs, and Arthur’s Seat, an ancient volcano that stands high above the city.

Queen’s Drive is a one-way, circular route that, from St Margaret’s Loch car park, passes around the ‘back’ of the Crags and Arthur’s Seat along the High Road, with wonderful views over Portobello and the Firth of Forth. There are plenty of places to park up and go for a walk or picnic. The road passes Dunsapie Loch then continues around the south side of Arthur’s Seat with exposed bluffs smothered in vibrant yellow broom. Latterly, as the road turns a corner, views of Edinburgh city centre with Edinburgh Castle standing prominent come into view. The remainder of Queen’s Drive continues along the north side of Holyrood Park to the Scottish Parliament building and Palace of Holyrood. All roads in the park are closed at weekends during the day.

Stay: Mortonhall Caravan & Camping Park, Edinburgh

MORTONHALL CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

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Micro Tours

UK Touring

SNOW ROAD SCENIC ROUTE Highlands 90 MILES / £ FREE

ALL IMAGES ©CAROLINE MILLS UNLESS MARKED

Micro Tours

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y far the longest of the road trips featured here, this could be regarded as far from micro either in length or the scale of the views. They’re vast! The Snow Road Scenic Route takes you up and over the Cairngorms, through the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, from the market town of Blairgowrie to Grantown-on-Spey, a gateway town to the mountains. And, while most of these micro road trips follow minor and privately-owned roads, this utilises main arteries, the A93 and A939; it’s also the highest public road in Britain.

The mountain scenery is outstanding and, on the way, you’ll pass through, though you really should stop to look at, the villages of Braemar, Ballater and Tomintoul, together with both the Glenshee and Lecht Ski areas. Not to mention passing right alongside the Balmoral Estate. Keep a look out for the three Scenic Route art installations, positioned carefully at viewpoints that are worth a photo; they even position a photo-post for you and a ‘look this way’ sign! Also keep your eyes peeled for herds of wild deer that roam free across the landscape.

Stay: Five Roads Caravan Park, Blairgowrie or Grantown-on-Spey Caravan Park.

Motorhomes and campervans can also stop overnight and hook-up at the Glenshee Ski Area.

GRANTOWN-ON-SPEY CARAVAN PARK

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💷💳💶❤ THE A-Z ☂ 🗺 🇬🇧 💷 OF BUDGET 🍴💶 👓 TOURING 💹📌🦉🚴

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Budget Touring

FOR MANY, BUDGETS FOR HOLIDAYS HAVE HAD TO BE TIGHTENED. PICK UP SOME TIPS FROM OUR A-Z OF WAYS TO TOUR FOR LESS, READY FOR WHEN YOU CAN GET OUT AND TRAVEL

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ires de Service in France, Area di Sosta in Italy (and Stellplatz in Germany and Eastern Europe); these overnight camper stops can make European travel for motorhomes and campervans economical, especially for longer adventures where the budget simply won’t stretch to a campsite every night.

Use the aires for service facilities, when you need good parking and accessibility in large towns or for some beautiful views in the countryside, and save staying on a campsite for when you need to do the washing.

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ooking ferries and campsites early in the season (or pre-season) tends to give greater discounts and many ferries have early-bird discounts for 2021 travel right now. The travel industry tends to work on the principal of getting the best deals the earlier in advance you book, with prices increasing the closer to departure and to match demand so the sooner you book, the greater the discount is most likely to be. If you’re a member of the Caravan & Motorhome Club or The Camping & Caravanning Club, booking a ferry through these organisations is usually cheaper than booking direct and offers extra perks such as free amendments.

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Planning

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redit cards: using the right credit card when travelling overseas can save you money (providing you pay off the full balance each month).

Check out www.moneysavingexpert.com/ credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/ to find the best credit cards for using abroad, those that are fee free and don’t load hidden charges onto your purchases meaning you get a better exchange rate with each purchase. Choose to pay in the local currency rather than pounds sterling if given the option at the till; you’ll receive a better exchange rate.

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iesel prices show no signs of abating for the foreseeable future so it pays to find the best price possible. Have a look at the Fuel Price Index on the Confused.com website (www. confused.com/on-the-road/petrol-prices/ fuel-price-index) to check the best prices in the UK, either in your local area or any other that you may be visiting. If you’re planning budget tours in Europe, the cheapest diesel is in Luxembourg, Austria and the Baltic States. Go to www.theaa.com/driving-advice/driving-costs/fuel-prices for monthly fuel price checks across Europe. The UK, incidentally, is one of the most expensive!

E

xchange rates of Pound Sterling against foreign currencies are far from the best they’ve ever been right now so finding the best rate can really make your pound go that little bit further. In theory the worst places to obtain your Euros is at the point of departure/on the ferry. The largest high-street banks rarely give the best exchange rate, either. Visit https://www. compareholidaymoney.com/exchangerate-history/british-pounds-to-euros.php to find the best rate on any given day.

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Budget Touring

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uel economy will save you filling the tank quite so often so ease off on the right pedal (every 5mph over 60mph can reduce your fuel economy by 10%), keep the air conditioning switched off and the windows up if possible, drive in higher gears whenever you can and keep the tyres pumped to the correct pressure; soft tyres consume more energy. When towing a caravan, check that the tow car and van are best matched, as this will help with fuel economy.

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as bottles can take up a considerable amount of weight using precious payload. Losing weight helps with fuel economy so load up with a Flogas Gaslight cylinder that weighs up to 50% less than traditional steel cylinders. Or think about purchasing refillable LPG cylinders such as Gaslow. There’s a considerable upfront cost initially but the difference in price between LPG on the forecourts and pre-bottled gas is huge so, long-term you’ll be quids in. They’re easier to manage, too, with gas level indicators. And don’t take a hefty full bottle just for the weekend save those near empty cylinders for days out. If you’re thinking or buying a motorhome, consider purchasing one with an underslung LPG gas tank for cheaper fill-ups.

H

ook-Ups can be expensive add-ons so avoid using them if you don’t need to. Recharge mobile phones, camera batteries and other techno devices on 12V while on the move; make sure your trickle-charge is working efficiently to boost the leisure battery when driving. If you are hooked-up on site, make use of it and save on gas instead!

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Planning

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nsulation doesn’t only help to keep you snugly warm on a winter campout, it helps to reduce your heating costs when staying in your van. Ensuring that your van is manufactured to Grade III specification for heating and insulation will mean that it is fully winterised and help keep your heating costs down.

Ensuring that thermal blinds are fitted at the windows will help here, too.

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oin a Club to save money on campsites, ferries, insurance and products, often recouping your membership fee within one trip. Being a member of a club gives you access to small Certificated Locations (CL) and Certificated Sites (CS) throughout the UK that are often cheaper than full-facility campsites. Ferry tickets are often reduced when booked through a club and many have negotiated rates with insurance and breakdown companies if they don’t supply their own. Both The Camping & Caravanning Club and The Caravan & Motorhome Club provide reduced rates to members on Club-owned or affiliated sites and have special offers such as 50% off mid-week pitches. Other clubs with great benefits include the Motor Caravanners’ Club (www. themotorcaravnnersclub.co.uk) and Freedom Camping Club (www.freedomcampingclub.org)

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nowledge of what’s under the bonnet of your motorhome, spending a little time getting to know the engine, could save pounds on garage servicing and breakdowns. Likewise, knowing how to repair your tent instead of throwing it away unnecessarily and starting again with a new one is good for you and better for the environment. If caravanning, knowing the best tow car match for your caravan will help reduce wear and tear plus fuel economy. If you lack confidence knowing your drive-belt from your alternator-belt, check out basic car maintenance courses often run at local colleges, not forgetting of course that a solid service history will add value to your van when it comes to parting with it. For matching suitable tow cars to caravans, you could use a service such as the National Caravan Council’s Towcheck. Visit www.towcheck.co.uk and simply key in the details of car or caravan for a match.

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ighting is an all-important part of camping, especially if you choose to camp all-year-round. Keep your energy use (and hence budget) to a minimum by making sure that lights within your tourer or motorhome use the latest low-energy LED bulbs. The same can be said for torches and lanterns used in tents.

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Budget Touring

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eals prepared in the van or on your camping stove will save a fortune on dining out. Best of all, source some goodies from a local market or farm shop and keep the food miles down. Or for free food you could learn what food can be foraged! See our feature on page XX for some wild food gathering tips.

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ational parks might not be your immediate thought for a budget camping trip but, if you’re planning a trip to Scotland, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park operates camping management zones for motorhomes and tents.

These are to prevent people pitching up anywhere they feel like (and leaving their rubbish behind) but the zones are located in beautiful places and, pre-booked (which is essential), cheap as chips.

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ut of season offers are a regular lure to encourage use of campsites away from peak times. Take advantage of low season touring when you can for cheaper overnight stays, and cheaper ferry tickets. A worthwhile guide for this is the Camping Card ACSI scheme (www.campingcard. co.uk), which allows up to 60% savings and is accepted at more than 3000 campsites across Europe.

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Planning

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ower – free power that is, from the elements will keep batteries topped up while you’re on the move or sat relaxing in a campsite. If your van doesn’t include a fixed solar panel, or you’re tent camping, it’s worth investing in a portable solar panel kit, readily available from lots of companies now, including www.leisureshopdirect.com.

The company also sell a solar shower for little more than a fiver – ideal for cheap tent camping at sites without facilities.

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uotation searches for insurance to cover your motorhome or touring caravan can be a dull business but with so many specialist policies available, it really is worth shopping around to get the best deal.

Many (Safeguard, for example) include UK or full European breakdown cover at a better rate than purchasing separately.

It pays to shop around. The Camping & Caravanning Club offers specialist tent and trailer tent insurance.

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enting out your van when you’re not using it is a good way to fund your own travels, if you can bear to part with the beloved. There are companies who specialise in marketing and booking your van while taking care of administration issues like insurance and payment; you simply have your van ready for collection. Have a look at www.yescapa.co.uk or www.goboony.co.uk to rent out your van.

ubscribe to Touring Magazine to receive your free bi-monthly issue delivered direct to your inbox. The digital magazine is entirely free of charge and every issue has loads of great content on touring and camping related advice, van and tent reviews, together with inspirational travel tales and ideas.

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Budget Touring

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ime is an important part of enjoying your camping trips – time to sit and relax, time to explore and time to read up on places to visit. Allowing extra time when you’re heading from A to B will save you pounds on the fuel bill and if you don’t mind what time you travel on ferries – away from the most popular sailings - you’ll save yourself quite a few pounds too. On short crossings, travel at night for the cheapest fares. On longer crossings, travel during the day and you’ll avoid the obligatory cabin fares.

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K stopovers are slowly increasing in numbers, offering places to stay for free or at low cost. They may sometimes only be glorified car parks but they can be useful when you want to visit large towns and, in some instances, you can use aire-like facilities; on a budget they’ll do the trick.

Northern Ireland and Scotland has a good supply of stopovers with others to be found in Wales and a smattering of English counties. Visit www.searchforsites.co.uk for an easy way to find cheap stopovers.

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icarious Books (www.vicariousbooks.co.uk) publish and sell a great range of guidebooks that refer to aires, stopovers & cheaper places to stay across Europe such as the France Passion scheme.

Camperstop Europe covers a large selection of aires in many countries while the annual German Bord Atlas guide covers more than 3000 sites in Germany. Vicarious’ own publication All the Aires France, along with similar All the Aires guides to other countries, is a spectacular guide in English and covers exactly what it says: every aire has been inspected, and essential details are provided with accompanying photographs.

If you prefer, or are a caravanner/tent camper that can only use, campsites, Vicarious also sell the annual European-wide Camping Card ACSI off-season discount guide.

FEBRUARY – MARCH

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Planning

X W ater tanks full to the brim and fuel economy don’t mix so carry the least amount of water required for the day or until you know you can fill up again. Avoid wasting gas or electrics to heat hot water for showers and washing-up in the van when staying on a campsite; use the facilities instead – you’ve paid for it!

tra-ordinary deals are to be found with the competing ferry companies, especially with more holiday-makers planned to stay in the UK this year, there are spaces to fill. Deals can also be had for frequent travellers, short breaks, day trips if you happen to be living or touring close to ferry-ports and, in the case of Red Funnel Ferries (www.redfunnel.co.uk) complete campsite and ferry packages to the Isle of Wight for 3, 5 or 10 night stays.

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ear of Scotland’s Coast and Waters continues into 2021, due to the pandemic scuppering many travel plans in 2020. It’s the perfect excuse to visit Scotland’s magnificent coastline, or dip a toe into one of the country’s spectacular lochs.

Don’t forget that it’s possible to wild camp in Scotland for free, with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. To find out more about wild camping in the country, visit www.visitscotland. com/accommodation/caravan-camping/wild-camping/. In Wales 2021 is the Year of Outdoors, just in case you need to find a reason to visit.

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ero cost. Zilch. If you own a motorhome, stop overnight for free throughout the UK using Britstops, small, privately-owned locations that allow you to park up overnight. Member locations are listed in an annual guide, purchased from www.britstops. com, but the cost of the guide is negligible to the money you save stopping overnight for free. If you love tent camping and being outdoors, helping out on organic smallholdings, you might want to become a WWOOFER (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms), camping on private property in exchange for helping out with jobs around the farm.

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Step out to Strap A

#Walksh

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hire

Yorkshire

The beautiful county of Yorkshire becomes #Walkshire for 2021.

Get your walking boots on for these fabulous Yorkshire walks

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orkshire, the largest county in England has a wealth of wonderful walks, from short strolls to hilly hikes, some challenging, others accessible to all.

With three national parks, a breathtaking coastline, vibrant cities, stunning countryside, heritage, delicious dining, perfectly placed pubs and amazing arts, it’s a fabulous place to visit and step out for a stroll, a saunter, a wander, a hike or a hilltop trek. Discover vast, gorgeous green spaces and inspiring inner city strolls. Take your family, friends, your dog, or just yourself.

However you like to walk, Yorkshire will have it covered with #Walkshire. The exciting event will run throughout 2021 with a walk for every day of the year promised as one of the many highlights. #Walkshire, organised by the official tourist board Welcome to Yorkshire, will demonstrate the county’s rich diversity of place, landscapes, people, architecture, heritage, history, economies, attractions and of course food and drink all through the medium of walking, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and accessibility.

You’re invited to participate in Walkshire by sharing your own favourite Yorkshire walks and inspire others, using the hashtag #Walkshire. You’ll join a whole host of happy hikers and celebrated celebrity walkers who will also be sharing their favourite walks with daily details and GPX maps for all to see. To get one foot forward, here are some of Touring’s favourite Yorkshire walks, big and small. →

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UK Touring

WHITBY ABBEY © VisitBritain/English Heritage

Auto-Trail GrandeYorkshire Frontier

DISCOVER GHOSTS AT WHITBY ABBEY Perched on the cliff above the seaside town of Whitby, Whitby Abbey is atmospheric at the best of day times; at night it takes on another ambience. This is where Bram Stoker gained inspiration to write the Victorian novel, Dracula. If you don’t much fancy a night wander alone, you could join the Whitby Ghost and Dracula Walk, hosted by the Whitby Storyteller, Rose Rylands.

Stay: Lound House Farm, Whitby LOUND HOUSE FARM © Caroline Mills

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HUG A TREE IN STRID WOOD A part of the Bolton Abbey estate in Wharfedale, Strid Wood is designated as ancient woodland and is one of the largest areas of sessile oak woodland remaining in Yorkshire. It’s bursting with bluebells in spring and is also filled with glorious golden colour in autumn. There are many colour-coded nature trails through the woods to explore, some of which are suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Stay: Catgill Farm, Bolton Abbey

CATGILL FARM © Caroline Mills

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STRID WOOD © VisitBritain/Lee Beel

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FLAMBOROUGH LIGHTHOUSE © VisitBritain/Lee Beel

Yorkshire

THORNWICK BAY HOLIDAY PARK © Caroline Mills

SEE THE LIGHT AT FLAMBOROUGH LIGHTHOUSE There’s a spiral walk to be had at this working lighthouse sat at the end of Flamborough Head, on Yorkshire’s stunning coast. The lighthouse, which offers tours to visitors, was built in 1806 and marks the headland for vessels heading to the ports at Scarborough and Bridlington. If you can’t manage the spiral staircase, you can admire the lighthouse while on a coastal walk around the headland.

Stay: Thornwick Bay Holiday Park

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Strap UK Touring A RIVERSIDE CAMPSITE © Caroline Mills

LEARN YOUR CLINTS AND GRYKES AT MALHAM COVE No visit to Yorkshire is complete without a walk at Malham Cove, whether enjoying the impressive sight of the cove from ‘ground level’ or admiring the incredible views over Malhamdale from the limestone pavement above. Learn your clints from your grykes, discover the karst landscape flora and, quite frankly, be blown away by the natural beauty of the place. Malham village, with its many cafés and cosy pubs is a gem, too. The Pennine Way, England’s longest national trail passes through Malham.

Stay: Riverside Campsite, Malham

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DISCOVER A LESSER-KNOWN DALE AT LITTONDALE Wensleydale and Swaledale, Malhamdale and Wharfedale are Yorkshire’s most well-known valleys in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. But Littondale? It’s a tiny dale that runs northeast-southeast like a spur off Wharfedale – the River Skirlare is a tributary of the Wharfe. Near the head of the valley is the tiny village of Halton Gill, where you’ll find plenty of limestone pavement to wonder at. Worth a walk is to follow the bridleway up and over the Horse Head Pass to Yockenthwaite, in neighbouring Langstrothdale.

Stay: Causeway Caravan Site, Kettlewell

CAUSEWAY CARAVAN SITE © Caroline Mills

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LITTONDALE © VisitBritain/Matt Cant

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WHITE SCAR CAVES © Welcome To Yorkshire

Yorkshire

WALK UNDERGROUND IN WHITE SCAR CAVES The area of Yorkshire around Ingleton, close to the border with Lancashire, is known for its underground caverns.

Ingleborough Cave, near Clapham, is one of them and can only be approached on foot – it’s a notable walk just to reach the cave entrance. The other, northwest of Ingleborough, is White Scar Caves. It’s the longest show cave open to the public in England and on your walk you’ll witness plenty of weird and wonderful geological creations. You’ll have walked about a mile underground by the end of the tour.

Stay: Stackstead Farm Certificated Location, Ingleton

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STACKSTEAD FARM © Caroline Mills

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ROWNTREE PARK CARAVAN & MOTORHOME CLUB SITE © Caroline Mills

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Yorkshire

GO MEDIEVAL ALONG YORK’S CITY WALLS One of the best ways to view the beautiful city of York is by walking along the 13th Century town walls that surround the historic centre. You can do so free of charge, and pick up an online guide of the York City Walls Trail from the Friends of York Trails. At present, you can walk the walls in a clockwise direction only. Spring is a great time to visit, when the ancient banks on which the walls sit are blooming with daffodils.

Stay: Rowntree Park Caravan & Motorhome Club Site, York FEBRUARY – MARCH 2021

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UK Touring

WOLDS WAY CARAVAN & CAMPING © Caroline Mills

SEE OUTDOOR ART IN THE YORKSHIRE WOLDS It’s the landscape of David Hockney. His giant canvases have seen many a Wolds landscape become famous. The 79-mile Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail takes in these landscapes between Filey (where the trail links up with the Cleveland Way) and Hessle, just west of Hull. You’ll see spectacular dry valleys carved out of the chalk rock, gentle rolling countryside that’s notably different to the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales, and pass through extremely picturesque villages like Thixendale and the deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy.

Stay: Wolds Way Caravan & Camping, Malton

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Yorkshire

WOLDS WAY NATIONAL TRAIL © Caroline Mills

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Vanlife

HEART &

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anlife is a universal symbol of I never thought this lifestyle would apply to me in freedom. Adventure, escapism the slightest way. or getting your kicks on the I came into this world in early May 2020, after two famed Route 66 is in every and a half months of stasis and confinement, with roadtripper’s mind with the my wife, in my flat in the hills in Mombaroccio in Italy.

Eagles song, Hotel California, or, I was feeling low from the seemingly never-ending Born to be Wild, by Steppenwolf repetition of confinement and worried about how we in everybody’s mental soundtrack, as they get ready were going to pay the bills, as we didn’t have much to hit the road. The romance of money coming in from anywhere. travel, new meetings, new sights...

My wife teaches English, but What other experience offers these lockdown meant she had lost possibilities and more? some pupils in the move to Travelling by motorhome or online lessons, so our income was caravan also allows people to see limited to a few online students many beautiful places at very low and our savings. cost. Affordability, self-sufficiency B R I G H T I D EA and the ability to camp anywhere, are the oxygen and adrenalin that Finally the stagnation ended, powers vanlifers. when my brother-in-law I was fortunate to see such beauty Domenico, suggested that we did while motorcaravanning myself, and caravanning and agricultural work working with vanlifers in France this in France. He had done it in 2018, summer of 2020. and he had enjoyed it immensely.

DICKON PLAYFAIR I worked in the vineyards and In addition, he stated that living vegetable fields, in the Dordogne in tents and campervans allowed region, in Corbara, Guienne, Leognan, all to the south, one to save lots of money, which is what we both and east of Bordeaux, France. Later, I worked in the needed. Domenico, in order to earn money to buy corn fields in the region of Landes, and in vineyards in a motorhome himself, which he was able to do Eastern France, near Montrachet/Puligny, Burgundy. halfway through the season, and me to help pay my Previous to this summer of 2020, I had never done mortgage and my debts. any caravanning. If I had ever remotely thought of Thus, we both feverishly scanned the Internet. The caravanning at all, it was based on past conversations search initially seemed elusive, but finally Domenico with friends, and with friends who had camped out. and I received an offer to work in a vineyard in the It also came from viewing silly road films like We’re Guienne region of Aquitaine, not far from Langon, the Millers with Jennifer Aniston, or Paul starring Nick France. The adventure was about to begin! Little did I Frost and Simon Pegg. suspect what I was letting myself in for… →

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Work

GRAFT DICKON PLAYFAIR ON HIS WHIRLWIND INTRODUCTION TO A HIDDEN WORLD WHERE THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM MEETS TOUGH LABOUR

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(TOP) DOMENICO’S MOTORHOME AND (BOTTOM) DICKON’S NO-FRILLS “ROULOTTE” ACCOMMODATION

DICKON (RIGHT), WITH HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW DOMENICO

We departed Mombaroccio and Pesaro, Italy, by train on the 31st of May 2020, all tense and frightened. The Italian and world media had led us to understand that if we didn’t have the correct travel documents and a work contract, we would be refused entry to foreign countries, even countries in the European Union. From Pesaro, we went to Turin, Italy, and then onwards to Bordeaux via Paris. At the Italo-French border our fears were dispelled by the cursory glance of our papers by the border gendarme. The check was finished in 30 seconds. Phew… we got through!

G E T T I N G D OW N TO WO R K Finally, at Bordeaux train station we got picked up at midnight on the 1st of June, by the very friendly farmer’s wife. She took us to her farmhouse in Corbara, Gironde, Aquitaine where we pitched a tent in her family’s garden, and started work the next day.

After three days of sleeping in tents there, my brother in law and I were moved a few kilometres away, to an open sided metal roofed barn structure. This L-shaped open barn faced onto a dirt courtyard, and a field of vines, with a road with many campervans and motorhomes parked up. We were to camp here with our fellow workmates, all motorcaravanners. We all received electricity, cold water for showers, barn lodgings and wages from the farmer, in exchange for our agricultural labour. The cold water shower – a basic

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“JUST AN INCH OFF THE TOP” – DICKON GETS A TRIM FROM ONE OF HIS COLLEAGUES

garden hose, hooked to an outside tap – was much needed, and very refreshing after the many hot, sweaty, summer days clearing up rows of vines.

A N E W WO R L D There, while staying in the barn, for the first time in my life, I saw my other workmates’ caravans and specially adapted cars, and I marvelled at their compact organisation. I asked each of them, whether they lived full-time in their vans/cars, and ‘yes’ was the universal response. Inside the vans, I saw compact beds, tiled or wooden floors, a cooker with a gas tank and a fridge.

All perfect for a life on the move. I could see why my brother in law was attracted by vanlife.

Another man, an Argentinean, whom I met later on in the summer, showed me his car-cum-campervan.

He had a bed installed in his back car seat, and a cooker installed in the boot of his car. He would happily boil up coffee, in his Italian coffee pot, and tell me stories of life as a sound engineer in Spain and Argentina. Indeed, I met many sound engineers.

The lack of concerts and gigs had spurred them on to become seasonal agricultural workers.

I spoke my thoughts aloud to him over our shared coffee and asked whether he was truly comfortable with his small space, and if he had a dining area too.

With a conspiratorial smile, he showed me a folding table attached to his car door, and that with his boot cooker, he could cook, plate and then eat his meals on it.

Other vanlifers had converted/small transport cube vans or lorries. One such chap, had two bunk beds, a sofa, a fridge, a portable cooker with a butane tank, and a fold up dining table. He also had a metal awning attached to his cube van, which allowed him to enjoy the shade while dining, drinking or smoking in the evenings. All this in an ex-freezer type of lorry.

Yet another group of men, two Italian twentysomethings from the Puglia region of Italy, had a camper exquisitely designed with an upper level bed above the front driving cab, and a lower level fold-up/ fold-down bed that could be converted into a dining →

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Vanlife

DOMENICO’S 1989 FIAT DUCATO MOTORHOME

table. An interior cooker, fridge and an inside toilet at the back, added to the magic. This motorcaravan also had a large tank that could hold a substantial volume of water for showers, provided that it was kept regularly filled with water.

These twenty-something guys shared something in common with many young people today. They loved techno and to dance, get stoned and then sleep off the party fatigue the next day, all before getting back to work on Monday.

THE BIGGER PICTURE Many motorcaravanners eagerly craved fun in any form they could get it! A heady brew of liberty, equality, and fraternity, being offered to and for all people who could live and let live, roughly served up, no-holds-barred.

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In short, many people in reaction to increasing mortgages, increased living costs, and a need for minimalism and freedom, seek new ways of living and new frontiers.

One thing is certain, new worries about our viability on this planet, will lead many people to rethink much of their lifestyle, jettison excess, and choose the camper or caravan as their new dwelling.

If it was said previously, that an Englishman’s home was his or her castle, then nowadays, the new castle of many Brits, and indeed, Europeans is their campervan or caravan. Long may this spirit of freedom exist!

Beyond this wish, may this freedom also carry us to a new awareness, a new tolerance, a new appreciation, and a new love and respect for all of the people, the animals, and the environment on our planet. ●

touring.co.uk M O T O R H O M E , C A R A V A N A N D C A M P I N G I N S P I R AT I O N

History

THE STRANGE TALE OF CROMWELL’S HEAD

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orace Ricardo Wilkinson (HR) was born in Seal Chart, near Sevenoaks, Kent in 1871 into a welloff family; his father, also called Horace, was a stock broker. The young Horace got his middle name from his great grandfather Dr Josiah Henry Wilkinson, a physician, who was a friend of David Ricardo (1772 to 1823), an influential political economist credited with systemising economics. The young Horace went to Trinity College, Cambridge and took a BA before entering the Church. He married Edith Bosanquet in 1896 and the following year assumed the living of Stoke by Nayland in Suffolk. The couple had three children – Kathleen Courthope, Naomi and Horace Norman Stanley but sadly their mother died in 1908 and the vicar had to bring them up alone. But not without help… in the census of 1911, the Reverend Wilkinson had five live-in servants viz. a cook, a parlour maid, a governess, a lady’s maid and a housemaid. In the house with him during his 17 years living in Suffolk was an oak box containing the head of… Oliver Cromwell.

The Lord Protector had died in September 1658 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. He was succeeded by his son Richard, who was deposed by the Army the following year which led to the Restoration and Charles II becoming king in 1660. Charles’ Parliament ordered the disinterment of Oliver’s body together with those of two other regicides, and the grisly trio

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were then hung at Tyburn. After that bizarre ritual, their heads were cut off and skewered with 20-feet long spikes and displayed above Westminster Hall.

They remained there until 1685, when Cromwell’s head was blown down in a gale. It was retrieved and passed through a number of hands until HR’s great grandfather took possession of it in the same year as the Battle of Waterloo, 1815.

From then on the gruesome object was considered a Wilkinson heirloom and was passed down the male line until HR’s son Horace acquired it in 1957. Horace had no children to pass it on to so he arranged in March 1960 for it to be buried in some secrecy still in its oak box in the ante-chapel of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, Cromwell’s alma mater.

There is a photograph of the head along with his death mask. The latter shows clearly his facial wart which was the origin of the Protector’s instruction to the painter Peter Lely (later the court painter to Charles II who knighted him): “Paint me warts and all”. ● Chris McCooey owned a motorhome for a number of years and his Swift 600 was a great way for him to explore Kent and Sussex and research his books. This extract is from Tales, Titbits and Trivia of Kent and Sussex. Details of all of his books and talks can be found on his website www.chrismccooey.co.uk or contact him at chris.mccooey49@gmail.com.

Oliver Cromwell

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Scarlet A study in

SCARLET ELF CUP MUSHROOMS NOT ONLY LOOK FABULOUS, BUT THEY'RE ALSO DELICIOUS. TOTALLY WILD TAKES US FOR A CLOSER LOOK

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inter is a time when people think there’s nothing to forage and especially not a time to go looking for mushrooms. But, there’s a lot more to forage than you’d expect. You can find microgreens, a few lingering seeds and yes you can find mushrooms in winter!!!

There are 3 types of edible mushroom to look for in the depths of winter and I’m going to tell you about my favourite one– The Scarlet Elf Cup. Picture yourself walking along a canal or river path where there’s lots of willow specifically willow branches that have fallen to the ground and covered with moss, you spot a bright red thing in the distance on one of those logs. Now you’ll be

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forgiven if you walk by thinking it’s a bottle cap as that’s the only look alike you’re going to find for this edible mushroom. But if you investigate further you will likely spot hundreds of small red mushrooms as scarlet elf cup usually grow in large numbers.

To recognise a scarlet elf cup you’re looking for a round concave bowl shaped mushroom, that has a short (less than 1cm) stem that attaches itself to the wood of rotting willow. The outer flesh is a pinkish brown and leathery smooth. There’s no gills or pores to this mushroom, the spores are released from the scarlet red surface in the bowl of the mushroom. If you gently blow across the top of the bowl you can sometimes see the white spores blowing away. →

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Wild Mushrooms

“Scarlet elf cups are a great beginner mushroom to forage because they’re super easy to spot being bright red and there’s nothing that you can mistake this mushroom for that is toxic”

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Foraging

Vietnamese Mushroom Pho Ingredients

SOUP ▶ 1½ ounces dried mushrooms, such as shiitake, porcini, and/or chanterelle, rinsed and drained ▶ 1 cup chopped white onion ▶ 1 cup chopped celery ▶ 3-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced or a handful of fresh magnolia flowers ▶ 6 cloves garlic, sliced or a handful of chopped wild garlic ▶ 4 teaspoons tamari or soy sauce ▶ 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder ▶ 4 ounces dried brown rice noodles ▶ ½ cup frozen shelled edamame ▶ 2 heads baby bok choy,halved lengthwise or wild greens of your choice ▶ 1 cup scarlet elf cup mushrooms TOPPINGS Fresh coriander or basil leaves Sliced spring onions Bean sprouts Method

Scarlet elf cups are a great beginner mushroom to forage because they’re super easy to spot being bright red and there’s nothing that you can mistake this mushroom for that is toxic! The only catch with these mushroom is they get quite muddy growing close to the ground on buried logs etc so the need a good scrub, I tend not to tell people to wash mushrooms with water as they absorb the water and become mushy but in the case of these they can cope with a rinse and I use a small tooth’s brush to clean them.

Scarlet elf cups are a fabulous edible. They have a great firm texture and they keep their red colour when cooked adding a great visual to your dish and work in most dishes, everything from pizza to pasta to stir fries. ●

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▶ Combine the dried mushrooms, onion, celery, ginger, garlic, 6 cups water, soy sauce, and five-spice powder in a large pan. ▶ Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-low. ▶ Cover and simmer for 1 hour. ▶ Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with a cheese cloth, discard solids. ▶ Return the liquid to the pan and return to a boil. ▶ Stir in the noodles and edamame; simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes. Add the bok choy, fresh mushrooms, and cook for 3 minutes more or until noodles are pliable. ▶ Divide soup into bowls, and serve with toppings and lime wedges for squeezing

Wild Mushrooms

Scarlet Elf Cup Pizza Ingredients

▶ 1 pizza base ▶ Handful of spinach or wild greens such as dandelion leaves ▶ 4 leaves of wild garlic ▶ Cheese of your choice(I use grated mozzarella for the base a lumps of riccota on the top) ▶ Handful of cleaned Scarlet Elf Cup mushrooms ▶ Tomato pizza base sauce

Please note: Picking and eating wild fungi can be dangerous and there is a risk of poisoning. If in any doubt you should consult an expert to correctly identify any fungi before consuming, and discard any fungus that cannot be positively identified.

Method ▶ Cover the base of the pizza with a thin layer of tomato sauce ▶ Sprinkle a thin layer of grated cheese on the base and then scatter your greens and wild garlic and either whole or sliced mushrooms on the top. ▶ Add any extra cheese ▶ Cook for 10 mins on 220 degrees C or until the cheese is golden brown.

Totally Wild Totally Wild is a foraging company offering courses with expert foragers thoughout the UK and sustainably harvested high quality ingredients. The Foragers' Cookbook by James Wood is priced at £14.99 and available at www.totallywilduk.co.uk

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Shopping

The list...

Essentials from www.leisureplusdirect.co.uk

MILENCO CARPETINA

THULE WANDERWAY T6 BIKE RACK £430 RRP: £450

Thule Wanderway T6 bike rack is available for standard Volkswagen T6 vans. It carries two bikes and it is possible to increase the load capacity to carry up to 4 bikes by adding a third and fourth bike extension kit. Alternatively, the robust construction lets you carry two e-bikes with a combined weight of up to 60 kg.

£29.50 (3m) This is a user-friendly ground cover from Milenco. This is the original woven carpet style.

Comes in the following sizes All are 2.5m deep, lengths are: 2m, 2.75m, 3.00m, 4.00m, 5.00m, 6.00m.

Product Spotlight

MILENCO AERO MIRROR 3 £49.00 Twin Pack

Designed in 2007 the Aero 3 mirror has had some minor changes over the years. Changes to ensure that Milenco and the Aero 3 stay clearly ahead of any contenders in the market. This is why the Aero 3 is the best selling towing mirror in the world. It is able to fit all cars, including the very latest.

THULE OMNISTOR 1200 AWNING from £281

Available in 11 different lengths from 2.30m - 5.50m with a projection on the larger awnings of 2.5m depth.

The Thule Omnistor 1200 awning is stored in a PVC zip-up sleeved case hung from a cadre rope style that slides into the caravan awning to hold the awning in place. Open the zip and manually unroll the awning once fully rolled out.

Pull out the support legs and then the tension arms to enable a simple and fast set up. This awning has a pump buckle technology. When this pump buckle is clicked back and forth this ensures perfect tension across the awning.

This awning once erected has the ability to add extras such as the Thule 1200 Rain Blocker sides or even the Thule QuickFit tent as an optional extra

THETFORD PORTA POTTI 345 £89.95 RRP: £117

If you are looking for a comfortable, practical and durable portable toilet that doesn’t require a connection to a drainage or water system, Thetford has the perfect solution for you: the Porta Potti.

The Qube 345 is a medium sized portable model with easy and convenient emptying

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Shopping THULE LEVELLERS £27 Twin Pack

The stable way to level your motorhome, with three heights for you to get to the required level. Thule levels offer a large surface area for your motorhome tyre and is ideal for the wider tyres in todays motorhomes.

Maximum load of 5 ton per set.

AQUA KEM BLUE SACHETS £14.50

These are a simple and convenient waste holding tank additive for portable toilets. For either your caravan or motorhome. You do not have to worry about measuring the correct amount, simply drop the sachet into the waste holding tank of the toilet. One sachet treats 20 litres of waste holding capacity. 15 sachets per tub.

THULE FABRIC CLAMP £28 Twin Pack

The latest Thule Fabric clamps provide a strong and secure fastening between the awning fabric and the awning Tension Rafter or the Thule Blocker Rafter. Certainly stops a lot of the unpleasant awning “flapping” when under strong winds.

The lamps have a Universal Fitting and will fix onto most rafter profiles – just click the clamp onto the rafter and then tighten down with the handle.

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