EPIC JOURNEYS

The Open Road

There is an element of freedom that comes with having a campervan that is specially designed to your requirements. You know you can do what you want and go where you want, with the added bonus of having all the essential home comforts on board. If you are new to the campervan lifestyle it may be worth considering joining The Caravan and Motorhome Club or the Camping and Caravanning Club. They offer you cost-effective access to hundreds of large and small campsites in beauty spots around the British Isles, advice on places to visit, discounts on fuel, activities, campervan insurance, and ferry crossings. The club campsites are well maintained, with excellent facilities, but can feel slightly regimented. Rules include reversing into your pitch and parking neatly quite close to the electric hook-up point. You’re certainly not allowed to hang any washing in the trees on your pitch, either. Consider visiting some club sites to see whether they might suit you before you join. You are permitted to stay on most club sites, without joining, but club members do get a discounted rate. Sussex Campervans keep in touch with people after they’ve bought their campervans and many owners report that every trip can become a minibreak, whether they are visiting friends, exploring local attractions or even going to summer festivals. Here are a few of the experiences from our owners.

EPIC JOURNEYS

Many of our owners mention that they’re planning to explore Scotland’s scenic NC500 (North Coast 500) route - and quite a few have already done so. Why is it so popular? Many Sussex Campervans have followed the route, which goes from Inverness west to Applecross, then up to Ullapool. It takes in Caithness and John o’Groats, then back to Inverness. Mandy and Steve live in Hampshire and have just spent three weeks exploring the NC500 in the campervan we built for them. The camper is based on the

Renault Trafic and Mandy says, "The van performed brilliantly, allowing us down some very minor roads, where no others dared to tread. We used campsites every night, because we needed the heater on. We saw stunning scenery, day after day. We are very lucky to have all this a drive away, albeit a long one."

Manhattan owners Geoff and Jane went in the autumn, so they also wrapped up warmly and were glad of their campervan heater.

EXPLORINGSCOTLAND’SNC500

Shrimp their whippet loved chasing rabbits in the dunes at Dunnet Bay, and they saw dolphins from their camper at Chanonry Point, near Rosemarkle C&C Club Site. At Applecross they were thrilled when stags joined them, laying down for the night between the camper and the shore. While they were in Scotland the weather ‘turned’ and they battened down the hatches for a huge storm one night at Applecross. Fortunately it all blew over and they carried on with their campervan holiday in Scotland. Jane and Geoff recommend the NC500 route - but there were a few chilly days when Shrimp hid under the duvet, hoping nobody would see her. 74