Practical Motorhome December 2022

Motorhome lovers are a diverse bunch, but one thing most of us have in common is that we have bought or sold a ’van. Neither is necessarily easy, though, and they open up a world of questions – where should you buy from? How can you get the best price for your vehicle? And what can you do if something goes wrong? In this month’s Practical Motorhome we have all the answers and more, in our special Know-how Guide to Buying and Selling (p83). We asked our expert team to share all their hints and tips – don’t miss it! Whether or not you’re planning to wind down your touring over the next couple of months, this is a great time to have a go at some DIY projects, and with that…

Ilfracombe, North Devon Coordinates 51.2052° N, 4.1268° W Why tour here? A North Devon delight, Ilfracombe’s exquisite combination of beach, harbour and town makes for a superb seaside experience. Famed for its hand-carved Tunnels beaches, the town’s impressive topography is exemplified by the surrounding craggy cliffs, including the impressive Hillsborough Hill, a beautiful nature reserve that is also the site of an important Iron Age fort. Read our suggestions for how to spend a packed 48 hours in Ilfracombe on p50. Don’t miss… The four Tunnels beaches can be busy at times, but are undoubtedly the town’s USP. And for sunset views, head west of the harbour to Capstone Hill. practicalmotorhomeuk…

letter of the month I’ve been reading a lot about the use of motorhome trackers these days. After leaving the police force in North Wales, I set up my own security business and have done this for the past 35 years. I recently contacted a company that sells trackers about one of its products, only to discover that it cannot track a motorhome if it is inside a shipping container. As shipping containers are one of the most commonly used methods for transporting stolen vehicles, I would have thought that this really should be one of the prime means of detection for any tracking system. I could only find only one company (Tracker, www.tracker.co.uk) that can do this – it uses a device called Locate. To my mind, this sort of tracker is the…

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 Spain and Portugal; All the Aires France (North and South); All the Aires Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Go Motorhoming and Campervanning; Sea View Camping Wales; Road Trip Europe – The Great War and More; and Road Trip Europe – Go Dutch. All are from Vicarious Books, www.vicarious-shop.com, 0131 208 3333.…

Swiss Luxx low-wattage toaster Don’t have a grill in your motorhome? Never fear, this handy toaster uses just 750W of energy and is compact in size. Price £26.69 Web bigwhitebox.co.uk Fiamma Omni Stop Holder Simple but effective, this self-adhesive holder attaches to the inside of your kitchen locker, to stop your plates sliding around in transit. Price £9 Web primaleisure.com Sling storage net Bits and bobs ending up all over the place when you’re on tour? Hang this storage pouch in your awning or ’van and keep everything in its place! Price £11.99 Web decathlon.co.uk Bike storage tent Avoid a soggy seat with this nifty store for two bikes. The sturdy, waterproof tent features ventilation panels and a sewn-in groundsheet. Price £74.95 Web caveinnovations.com Aladdin Bistro Thermavac food flask Enjoy hot soup on a cold walk with this smart double-wall food flask from…

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 25 The Old Stables Main St, Beattock, Dumfries & Galloway DG10 9QX Free if using pub, or £10. Water taps, rubbish bins, hardstanding. Dogs allowed. Disabled facilties available during opening hours. FIND FULL DETAILS ONLINE www.practicalmotorhome.com/nightstops…