Practical Motorhome May 2021

If you’d told me a year ago that we’d still be in lockdown some 12 months later, I’m not sure that I’d have believed you - it’s certainly been an extraordinary year. Here at Practical Motorhome HQ, we’ve spent the past couple of months putting the finishing touches to our popular Top 100 Sites Guide, which you’ll receive with the next issue (number 245). When we can all hit the road again – and we’re really hoping that will be soon – we hope you will find it useful on your first tour out of lockdown! You can find out more about the guide on p56 of this issue. Also this month, we’ve a round-up of what you need to know about touring in Continental Europe post-Brexit. It’s certainly a…

Coordinates 54°23’N 13°41.5’E Why tour here? Rügen, on the Baltic coast, is the largest of Germany’s islands and home to the Jasmund National Park, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The island’s many inlets give rise to a vast coastline, dotted with fishing villages to explore on foot or by bike. The area warrants several days’ exploration; for more, see p36. Don’t miss… The Colossus of Prora, a 4.25km concrete building erected by the Nazis as a supervised holiday camp for 20,000 citizens. practicalmotorhomeuk…

letter of the month On p14 of the March issue (242), editor Sarah wrote that everyone should always carry duct tape when on tour. I concur, but would add, and some Blu Tack (or similar)! Some years ago, I was on the M5 near Exeter heading back home, still about 80 miles away, when the motor went into limp mode. A quick glance at the dashboard showed the temperature warning light was on, and the gauge was off the scale. Having pulled onto the hard shoulder, the cause wasn’t too difficult to find. A radiator hose clip had broken and the hose had rubbed against the engine block. The rubbing eventually made a hole in the hose and the coolant had disappeared. So, a moment of head scratching and “What am I going to…

Email your pictures and their stories (40 words, plus name, address and contacts) to hotshots@practicalmotorhome.com. The best photo will win these guides: All the Aires Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Go Motorhoming and Campervanning; Seaview Camping Wales; Seaview Camping West Country; Road Trip Europe – The Great War and More; Road Trip Europe – Go Dutch. All are from Vicarious Books, www.vicarious-shop.co.uk, 0131 208 3333.…

Speevers juggling balls Impress fellow campers with your juggling skills - if you don’t learn now, then when? The three balls are washable and waterproof. Price £19.99 Web www.amazon.co.uk Carabarlife drinks stand Carabarlife’s drinks holders attach to the ’van wall (the sucker holds up to 85kg) or stand on your table. Extras include nibble dishes. Price From £30 Web www.carabarlife.com Viofo A139 dashcam The A139 is Viofo’s first dashcam with three cameras. Its optional parking mode can run for 24 hours without harming your battery. Price £219.68 Web www.viofo.com Flashlight gloves Two-fingered (index and thumb) gloves with lights on the fingers for working in the dark. Come with a screwdriver. Inspired! Price £7.99 Web www.amazon.co.uk NURVV Run Insoles & Coaching App These ultra-thin smart insoles have 32 precision sensors and link to an app that analyses your running technique and provides in-run workouts. Price…

The Nightstop Scheme is run by us in conjunction with the Motor Caravanners’ Club (MCC), and the sites are certificated locations (CLs); you don’t have to join any club to use them. You’ll need to ring the relevant site to confirm whether there’s space for you before you visit: you’ll find information at www.practicalmotorhome.com/nightstops. For further information about the MCC, visit www.themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk. 1 Airman Hotel SG17 5JF 2 The Black Horse Pub HP16 9AX 3 The Seven Wives PE27 5RF 4 The Penrhiwgaled Arms SA44 6LN 5 Railway Hotel SA32 7LQ 6 Mousehole Camping TR19 6XB 7 Blenkinsopp Castle Inn CA8 7JS 8 The Thelbridge Cross Inn EX17 4SQ 9 The Ship Inn YO15 1EW 10 The Crown Inn GL7 5QH 11 Elton Farm GL14 1JU 12 The Gloucester Old Spot GL51 9SY 13 Riverside Guest House LL36 9YR 14 The Flying Bull Inn GU33…