At one time, the campervan was seen as a hippie thing, an old VW campervan travelling around the outdoor concerts and the occupants sleeping in fields. But today, the campervan comes in a range of different styles and features, though the VW campervan is still a good starting point!
Other big name manufacturers are now producing their own versions, with both the Sharan and the Harry being Peugeot’s offerings. Recently, a New Zealand company has begun to convert Toyota people carriers into campervans and these are now available in the UK. There are also specific motorhome companies that make spacious and luxurious mobile homes that you won’t want to leave behind at the end of the holiday.
Routes
The variation and type of route you can plan is only limited by how long you have. You can cover all the main sites within a single county over a few days or take a week or longer to cover a larger area and see the most important sites.
One example is the 7-day English Heritage route from Spaceship Rentals. Their route starts in London then heads south to Hastings to see the abbey and the battlefield then along to Dover Castle. On the 2nd day, travel to Portsmouth and hop on the ferry to the Isle of Wight or enjoy the sites around the city. The third day recommends visiting Osbourne House and Carisbrooke Castle while on the 4th, take in Salisbury and Stonehenge, adding in Woodhenge if you have the time. On day five, visit Oxford and the sights of the city then do the same the next day in the other big university city, Cambridge. Finally, on the 7th day, head back to London and visit sites such as Kenwood House and Parliament Hill. All of these come under a special pass from English Heritage.
Places to stay
There are plenty of caravan and camping sites around the country that will happily accommodate campervans. Some can be closed at certain times of the year so if you are planning to travel in autumn and winter, this may limit your options a little more. Sites can range in price from £15-20 a night for those with an electricity connection and organised sites will often offer features such as coin operated laundry and free showers as well.
In theory, you aren’t allowed to simply park in a layby or on public land to camp but many people do this and it is known as wild camping. Make sure if you consider this that you aren’t trespassing on anyone’s land, you aren’t disturbing anyone and there are no signs specifically prohibiting camping overnight on the spot.
Equipment needed
When going on holiday in a campervan, remember that you only have a limited space so prioritising what you need for the break is important. Take essentials in the way of food and drink with you but remember most of it can be bought while on the road, as there will only be a limited space to store stuff. If you are using a gas burner, don’t forget to have space fuel for it and the same if you are taking a barbeque. Dishes can be cleaned as used but don’t forget to take items such as cloths.
Tips
Most campervan holiday fans will advise you to plan ahead for your trip – being spontaneous can be fun but can also be disappointing if things don’t pan out as expected. Include things in your planning such as toll roads and ferries so you have change for them and watch out for closures on roads and in venues.
If you are travelling with young kids, don’t forget to take along the car seats they will need and plenty of children’s entertainment for the travelling part of the holiday – avoiding bored kids is every parent’s ultimate aim in life!
