Practical Motorhome July 2021

As I type this, the weather is getting better, and I have some grand plans for the year ahead. My first tour – already booked – is due to be to Somerset, and I can’t wait – I long for the opportunity to get out into the fresh air, away from the four walls of home. We’ve some brilliant ideas on how to escape the crowds this issue, by making a beeline for a wonderful wildlife tour – from p45 you’ll be able to get hints and tips on where (and when) you can see some of the UK’s stunning fauna. And some big news to announce: next month we’re bringing you the first in the Practical Motorhome Knowhow series - a cut-out-and-keep section that you’ll find in your mag each month, covering…

Coordinates 50.8225° N, 0.1372° W Why tour here? With its busy seafront, quirky shops, funky music scene and countless restaurants and bars, there’s much to recommend Brighton and Hove – and we haven’t even mentioned the Royal Pavilion and the celebrated Palace Pier! Some people might find it a bit too ‘London-on-Sea’, but the nearby South Downs provide a rural retreat from the city. For more on the local wildlife, see p50. Don’t miss… The wonderful starling murmuration at dawn and dusk, swooping between the derelict West Pier and the bustling Palace Pier. practicalmotorhomeuk…

letter of the month I’ve recently bought my first dog, and it’s opened up a whole new set of issues for me in terms of going away in our campervan – whereas before my husband and I could more or less choose any site we wanted, we’ve now got to make sure that dogs are welcome and that there will be the facilities to help make her stay as comfortable as it can be. That said, I appreciate that not everyone wants to have a pitch next to a campervan (or caravan or tent) with a dog in, so does anyone know of any sites that allow you to book in a specific area with other dog owners? Perhaps a section of the site that is closer to a walking area for…

1, 2 Two of my favourite photos from trips we took a couple of years ago, when we were lucky enough to be on a long European tour. The first was taken at the amazing aire in the ‘eagle’s nest’ village of Monsaraz, Portugal. Breathtaking views stretch across the Alqueva Dam to Spain. Apparently, some 30,000 bottles of Ervideira wine are aged 30m below the surface of the lake! In the second photo, we were mesmerised by this landscape at El Torcal de Antequera in southern Spain. When the sun set, it looked like we were on the moon. The limestone formations are stunning. Marcella Bilsby 3 On a trip to Scotland in May 2019, a stop at the viewpoint showed this fantastic panorama over Gesto Bay and Loch Harport, on the Isle…

Zoflora disinfectant Stay safe on tour with a concentrated disinfectant that will keep your ’van sparkling. In a choice of fragrances, it tackles 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including Covid-19. Price £1.59-£5.99 Web www.zoflora.co.uk Lightweight trekking gear Ideal for summer hikes, Fjällräven’s new Abisko Lite Trekking jacket and trousers have hybrid layers for the unpredictable UK weather. Price £245 (jacket) Web www.fjallraven.com H is for Hawk This breathtaking, award-winning book charts how the author deals with bereavement by fulfilling a childhood wish to train a hawk. Price £6.99 Web amazon.co.uk Bamboo cutlery Try bamboo cutlery for your tours; it can be used many times and is biodegradable at the end of its lifespan. Not dishwasher safe. Price £1.39 per piece Web plasticphobia.com Children’s swim ponchos Get the kids ready for the summer of freedom we’re all hoping for! These great hooded poncho towels…

Campervan wall planter This ceramic planter will add funky flair to your home or motorhome décor and is also the perfect way to show off your greenery! Price £16 Web www.redcandy.co.uk XL Impact personal alarm torch Feel secure carrying this torch on night-time trips to the facilities block – it has a 150m beam, 130-decibel siren and 400-lumen 20Hz strobe light. It also comes with a USB charger. Price £24.95 Web amazon.co.uk Magazine rack Keep all your copies of Practical Motorhome conveniently close to hand with this stylish magazine rack in cheery canary yellow. Price £16 Web www.redcandy.co.uk Outwell Formby Beach Shelter Outwell’s Formby offers UPF +50 sun protection, an integrated groundsheet and bags that can be filled with sand and buried for anchorage if the wind gets up. Yet it weighs just 2.5kg. Price £89.99 Web www.outwell.com Travel backgammon This beautiful leather…