Practical Motorhome June 2021

I always love putting together this issue each year – for me, our Top 100 Sites Guide heralds the start of the touring season proper. Longer, sunnier days; evenings spent outside the motorhome with a BBQ; visits to a lovely pub near the campsite… all promise a year of great touring in the best of the British (or further afield) countryside. This past year has been like no other, of course, and we’ve had to keep our ’vans off the road for longer than we would normally. With that in mind, on p98 you’ll find a brilliant guide to getting back on tour post-lockdown, written by former Practical Motorhome staffer (and VW T3 owner) Nigel Donnelly. With his advice, you can be sure your ’van is ready to hit the road once more,…

BUTTERMERE, CUMBRIA Coordinates 54.5313° N, 3.2646° W Why tour here? Offering one of the best lake walks in the Lake District, Buttermere measures some 2km long and is 23 metres deep. The path around the lake is 4.5 miles long, making it an achievable and popular walk. The National Trust suggests that if you take your time, the route should take around three hours. For more on the Lake District, see p42. Don’t miss… The view looking down the lake towards Fleetwith Pike, which descends in a near-vertical cliff from the fell summit. practicalmotorhomeuk…

letter of the month I was interested to read in a recent issue (243) your news story about the rising popularity of motorhomes as a base for working from home – the story felt very relevant to me, as that’s exactly what I have been doing during the second and third lockdowns. Our coachbuilt motorhome was originally kept in storage, but we decided to move it onto our drive during those lockdowns, so I could use it as an office while working from home, and my wife could use our spare bedroom for the same purpose. We are intending to move it back to storage as soon as the lockdowns are finally over (and let’s hope that’s very soon), but for now, it’s proving handy – it allows me to work in peace…

★ star picture 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.…

Kampa storage drainer This clever drainer helps to dry washing-up in a small space – it’s easy on the wallet, too. Price £6.50 Web www.campervanbits.com Personalised bus blind Immortalise the coordinates of your favourite touring destination in a unique way, with this impressive ‘bus blind’ print. Price £55 Web www.notonthehighstreet.com Sun protection Designed in Australia, this adjustable hat has a reversible double layer of cotton-linen blend fabric, with a drawcord to keep it secure. Price £40 Web www.solbari.co.uk Outwell Dreamboat self-inflating mattress A non-stretch inner and a soft stretchy outer fabric make this quicker to inflate and deflate. Price £164.99 (7cm), £199.99 (12cm), £224.99 (16cm) Web www.outwell.com Playmobil camper The young – and young at heart – will love this bright and breezy Family Camper from the popular Playmobil range of toys. Price £54.99 Web www.playmobil.co.uk Snuggle up and keep warm This oversized hoodie will appeal…

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. NOTE We strongly recommend double checking that Nightstops are open before travelling Stop of the month 17 The Hawthorne 365 Roundthorn Road, Oldham OL4 5LN This Nightstop in the grounds of the old Hawthorne pub offers showers, toilets, hardstanding, electric hook-up and water. FIND FULL DETAILS ONLINE www.practicalmotorhome.com/nightstops…