Campervan

I ’ve just got back from a busy few days at the NEC show, where there was loads of new stuff to see. If you didn’t manage to get along yourself, or you just fancy another look, watch the highlights on our YouTube channel, MotorhomeCampervan. We’ve also created a brand-new campervan section on our website outandaboutlive.co.uk It’s been created to help you choose your next ’van – with buyers’ guides, reviews and for sale listings. We’ll be adding even more content in the coming weeks, so keep checking in. To help you on your campervan buying journey, we’ve produced Buying Your Perfect Motorhome 2023, which features everything you’ll need to know. You can download a digital copy or buy a printed version, if you prefer. All the details are on…

The tourist hotspots of Cornwall’s north coast can be unbearably busy in summer. But venture a little further west and you’ll find similar coastal scenery without the overwhelming crowds. That’s not to say west Cornwall isn’t popular, but it’s noticeably quieter, particularly in the central area between St Ives and St Agnes. Backed by grassy dunes, Gwithian Towans Beach is a favourite destination for surfers. Then there’s Chapel Porth Beach and Porthtowan, both with access to the South West Coast Path. Wheal Coates, the former tin mine, sits on the clifftop between Porthtowan and St Agnes. Further along the coast is Godrevy Lighthouse, a 26-metre-high beacon located on an island three miles out to sea. Tehidy Country Park has more than 250 acres of woodland and lakes to explore. Great…

With its quirky independent shops, pubs and restaurants, Brighton offers a cool alternative to the traditional British seaside resort. It’s a heady mix of modern, inclusive culture and historic architecture, where colourful street art and murals sit alongside exotic landmarks. A fun, party town where you can spend your days enjoying the great outdoors before taking in the vibrant nightlife after dark. My niece recently moved to Brighton. What better excuse for a weekend away exploring this lively seaside town? In fact, my husband, Paul, and I both spent time in Brighton in our teens, long before we first met. But we suspected our interests might be a little different now from our younger years. We also wondered how much the town itself might have changed in the intervening decades.…

I still don’t feel like I’m on holiday,’ said Chris, as he supped his beer at the Cock O'Budworth in Cheshire. It was Friday evening and I had picked him up from work to drive to Belmont Hall, on the first leg of our trip to Wales. The sun was shining and we had set up our campervan in the perfect place: a huge pitch with open views and plenty of room for us and our dog, Tommy. Even the walk to this lovely pub had been delightful, the path passing through fields where Tommy could stretch his legs after the drive from Yorkshire. Back at the ’van, I suggested a barbecue, even though it was getting late. As we watched the sun set over the fields and Chris began…

Our trip along the Norfolk coast gets off to a bad start when, early on a Saturday evening in Wisbech, we discover that my bike has been pinched off the back of the ’van. Thanks to Jen’s expert Googling, an hour later we are standing in a chap’s garden in King’s Lynn and weighing up a pink mountain bike with white pedals and handlebars, one careful lady owner (his mother-in-law), £40. I hand over the money, strap the bike on the ’van and off we go, problem solved. It helps that I am a man who is not easily embarrassed. We explore King’s Lynn the following day in the rain. It is one of those places, like Boston in Lincolnshire, which has a fascinating history but has rather gone to…

QUEX HOLIDAY PARK Park Road, Birchington, Kent CT7 0BLT 01843 841273 W keatfarm.co.uk OPEN 8 February – 31 October This countryside site is less than three miles from the beach at Minnis Bay and a mile from the shops and services of the village of Birchington. The touring area has parts that are under a canopy of trees, with hardstandings and electric hook-up available, and there are toilets, showers, a washing-up area and laundry facilities. The campsite also has a small shop, café and takeaway. Buses and trains are available from Birchington, making it easy to access places like Broadstairs and Margate. Right on the doorstep of the campsite is the Powell-Cotton Museum and Quex House and Gardens. HAWTHORN FARM Station Road, Martin Mill, Dover, Kent CT15 5LAT 01304 852658 W…