Category: Motorhome Advice

Britain offers a rich diversity of attractive destinations. As we hopscotch around the country, here is our selection of places to consider for a short break in your motorhome.

1. Dorset

Dorset is one of England’s lesser-known counties and many people simply travel through it on their way to Devon and Cornwall.

That’s a pity because it has some beautiful coastal stretches and some exceptionally pretty inland towns and villages – such as Cerne Abbas.

2. Isle of Wight

Just a little further along the coast is the Isle of Wight – across a narrow stretch of the Solent that nevertheless gives you the impression of having travelled overseas.

The island has an especially mild climate, is easily accessed by regular ferry services, and has a selection of well-equipped campsites for your motorhome.

3. Portsmouth

The historic Royal Naval Dockyards and many other nautical attractions make this a must area to visit for those interested in a combination of ships and the military.

There are plenty of famous ships to see. In the unlikely event that you grow bored with all that the City of Portsmouth has to offer, you’ll be right on the doorstep for that ferry ride to the Isle of Wight.

4. Canterbury

The cathedral city of Canterbury has a rich and important history that helped to shape England as we know it today – it is also one of the most beautiful cities in the country.

Located in Kent – in the south-eastern Garden of England – Canterbury’s historic status has been recognised since the 1^st of October 2020 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is also just a 20-30 drive to the coast.

5. Plymouth

In the opposite direction, on the coast of southwest England, you’ll find the City of Plymouth.

Plymouth Hoe on the waterfront seems little changed from that moment in history – the 20^th of July 1588 – when Francis Drake insisted on completing his game of bowls before setting sail to defeat the threat of the Spanish Armada.

6. Gower Peninsula

It’s almost an island – but not quite. The Gower Peninsula, near Swansea in South Wales, is a haven of peace and tranquility at any time of the year.

It offers stunning coastal paths while inland life continues at the serene pace of a traditional rural community – and many a campsite ready to welcome you and your motorhome.

7. St Albans

Historic St Albans once went by its ancient Roman name of Verulamium.

It is an attractive smaller city and one which is surrounded by stately homes and other places of interest. No pick of the best motorhome short breaks would be complete without mentioning London – and there are regular fast train services direct from St. Albans into the capital.

8. Warwickshire and the northern Cotswolds

One big attraction with destinations in Warwickshire and the northern Cotswolds is the simple geographical fact that they sit in the very centre of England. So, it’s easy to reach from just about anywhere – with the possible exception of Scotland!

The countryside is pleasant, with rolling green hills and there are some fantastic tourist centres such as Stratford upon Avon, Kenilworth, Warwick, Leamington Spa and Coventry.

9. Peak District

The rugged and wild Peak District of Derbyshire has some of the most impressive scenery in central England.

It also has some really interesting towns that are well worth exploring, such as Matlock Baths and Bakewell (home of the famous tart of the same name).

You can take in some of the industrial heritage exhibitions that are close by in southern Yorkshire.

10. Conway (Conwy) and North Wales

The Snowdonia National Park is right on the doorstep of the charming town of Conway (Conwy in its original Welsh).

There are so many sights in this area including places such as the Blaenau-Ffestiniog railway and Anglesey, that you’ll struggle to get them done in any short break.

11. Blackpool

It’s probably the most iconic of all the British seaside resorts – the (sometimes faded) glory of Blackpool continues to claim a soft spot in the hearts of its many visitors.

It’s a hive of activity and attractions at any time of the year, so stroll down to the Pleasure Beach and see what’s on.

12. Lake District

No tourist roadmap of the British Isles would be complete without mention of the Lake District.

The scenery around the lakes is rightly world-famous. Many of the small villages and towns are also well worth visiting, including places such as Kendal – home of the superb and much-loved mint cake.

13. Bamburgh castle – and surrounding area

A fantastic and often overlooked part of the northeast of England, the coastline around the magnificent Bamburgh Castle is stunning – and the surrounding countryside is mercifully free of crowds for much of the year.

Don’t forget to visit Lindisfarne and Newcastle upon Tyne too while you’re in this part of the world.

14. Scottish Borders

All too often bypassed by people coming up from the south in their rush to reach Edinburgh and on into the Highlands, the countryside throughout the Scottish Borders is stunningly beautiful and some of the towns such as Jedburgh and Kelso are quaint and unspoiled.

15. Scottish Highlands

Now it’s true that if you’re based anywhere in England, you might struggle to do a short break into the Scottish Highlands due to the distances involved. Even so, if you are in Scotland or have a few more days to spare when setting out from England, the Highlands are a must for a visit.

You can go right up the middle towards Loch Ness or for a slightly different view of the Western Highlands, try the area around Inveraray which is incredibly beautiful.

All good things come to an end – and then it’s time for fresh beginnings. Take your much-loved motorhome, for example. Sooner or later, its day will come, and it will be time to replace it with a newer, more suitable model in which to enjoy still further adventures.

If you’ve already considered selling your old one – whether privately or through a dealer – why not think about trading it in?

Why trade-in?

When you were thinking about selling your current motorhome you no doubt remembered all the hassles, the inconvenience, and the pitfalls of previous times when you had a vehicle for sale.

Those were times that almost certainly tested your patience – from the moment you sat down to draft what you thought was an appealing advert to the time you eventually waved goodbye to the vehicle.

Drafting any advert for sale is a challenge. You know that you need to be honest and accurate in your description, but you want to sell the vehicle, after all, and you want as good a price as it can command. Pitching it right is difficult.

If only it was then just a question of sitting back and waiting for the offers to come flooding in. Far from it. You’ll be fielding telephone enquiries for quite a while. Some will translate into expressions of interest – at least as far as a viewing is concerned.

You wait in. Some of those who expressed an interest in viewing may turn up; others won’t. Some will have been no more than time wasters. It can all become thoroughly trying.

If and when you do finally clinch a sale, of course, you’re like as not left wondering whether you really did get the best price possible for your beloved motorhome.

Getting prepared to trade in your motorhome

Rather than put yourself through all that grief and heartache, therefore, why not come to us here at Derby Motorhomes and we’ll arrange a trade-in deal where you can be assured of a fair, honest, and realistic price – with none of the hassle.

We have a wide range of new and pre-loved motorhomes for you to choose and because we are proud franchise holders for Auto-Sleepers, now might be the perfect time to part-exchange to one of these market-leading models.

To help us to help you secure the most attractive possible trade-in deal, there are just a few simple steps you might want to take in preparation:

• gather together all the relevant documentation – and that’s not just the V5 logbook but the original receipt when you bought the vehicle, the maintenance log and history of any major repairs;
• although we will also be giving the vehicle a thorough mechanical and habitation check, of course, you can get us all off to a good start if you first make sure that everything you’re aware of is working properly; and
• finally, give your motorhome a good clean inside and out – appearances count for us along with everyone else who’ll be looking over your former pride and joy.

Summary

When it’s time to replace the motorhome that has already given you many years of faithful service, of course, you’ll want to get the best possible price for it – and you can steel yourself for the business of arranging a private sale where you can ask whatever price you see fit.

It’s likely to prove a thoroughly tiresome and frustrating experience, however, and at the end of the day, you may still be left wondering whether you got the best possible price.

How much better, then, to let us arrange a trade-in where we can assure you of a fair and reasonable price – for a fraction of the time and effort it would otherwise take.

Take to the wheel of any motorhome and the freedom of the open road is all yours. Take to the wheel and drive your motorhome in Europe and that open road might seem to have no end in sight.

Whatever time of year you are proposing to go, a little advance planning and attention to what you need to take with you may save heartache – not to mention disaster – further down the road.

So that your adventures on the continent run smoothly and with as little unwelcome incident as possible, however, here are some of the factors to keep in mind – from the planning and paperwork to the preparation of your motorhome, to finally driving in Europe.

Planning

Whether you have a definite destination in mind or are planning for a magical mystery tour to wherever takes your fancy on the day, beware of overly long and tiring hours behind the wheel.

In other words, always plan plenty of pitstops along the way – and that means during the day as well as any overnight stops to sleep.

Your motorhome will be taking the strain, but also needs to be fully fit to do so. In that case, remember to plan an early visit to a servicing agent – ourselves here at Derby Motorhomes, perhaps, especially if yours is an Auto-Sleepers motorhome.

Paperwork

It’s important to have all the documents and paperwork you need to take with you.

Since some of these might take a while to arrange, it’s worth getting them together in good time. Include the following in your checklist of essential documents:

Driving licence

• since the end of the post-Brexit transition, your full UK driving licence remains valid throughout the European Union countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland;
• if you currently live in any of these countries and have been driving on your UK licence, however, you will need to exchange it for a locally issued licence in accordance with the rules of the country in which you are living;
• in any event, you will need to make sure that your driving licence – including the relevant categories that allow you to drive a motorhome – are up to date;

International Driving Permit (IDP)

• the official advice last updated on the 28^th of September 2021 is that you “might” need an IDP if you have a paper driving licence or one that was issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man;
• you can also use the government website to check whether you are likely to need an IDP (there are three different types in issue), depending on the countries you’ll be visiting and how long you will be staying in each of them;
• probably the easiest place to get an IDP is the Post Office, where you will need to show your driving licence (and a passport, if your licence is the older, paper type), a current passport-standard photograph, and pay the current £5.50 fee;

Motor insurance

• as the breakdown recovery service Green Flag explains, a minimum of third-party insurance is obligatory throughout Europe, so you need to keep your insurance certificate with you at all times – having checked with your insurer that your policy covers you while driving in Europe;
• you might also want to upgrade any minimum third-party cover provided by your motor insurer when driving in Europe to your normal, fully comprehensive cover;
• as the government-sponsored website Moneyhelper advises, also ask your insurer for a “green card” showing proof that you meet the insurance standards required in the countries through which you will be driving – bearing in mind that a green card typically expires after 90 days;

Passports

• even in the days when you enjoyed freedom of movement within Europe, the best means of identification for you and each of your passengers was your passport – post-Brexit, of course, passports are going to be essential, and you may even need a visa to visit countries within Europe;
• as the long delays at the Port of Dover in the summer of 2022 made clear, the post-Brexit need for European immigration authorities to ensure that visits do not exceed 90 days in any 100 days means that your UK passport now has to be checked and stamped on entry to the EU.

Finally, don’t forget to take proof of ownership of your vehicle – typically satisfied by your Vehicle Registration Certificate, the V5C, or logbook as it’s commonly called.

Preparation

Preparing for your trip to Europe means making sure that your motorhome is ready for the adventure – and that it carries the equipment and any accessories that will be needed by law as you drive through various European countries.

We have already mentioned the importance of a thorough service – inside and out – to ensure that your motorhome is roadworthy and capable of providing reliable and comfortable accommodation for several weeks at a time.

One of the first things you also need to ensure is that a “GB” nationality sticker is fixed to the outside rear of your motorhome – it is required throughout Europe.

Different European countries have different rules about the equipment that must be carried within your motorhome – so check carefully what is required in the countries through which you will be driving.

There is also considerable variation in the local requirements for equipment you need to keep on board – this may include:

Hazard warning triangles

• practically every country requires that you carry a warning triangle – but did you know that in Spain and Croatia you have to carry two;

Reflective jacket

• for use in similar circumstances, you must also have on board a reflective jacket while driving in Spain, Austria, France, Belgium, Portugal, and Croatia;

First aid kit

• in Greece, Germany, France, Croatia, and Austria, you must have a first aid kit on board – although it is a sensible precaution, of course, wherever you happen to be driving;

Fire extinguisher

• a similarly wise precaution is to carry a fire extinguisher within your motorhome – and it is specifically recommended (although not obligatory) in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, and the Netherlands;

Breathalyser

• in France, you must also carry a breathalyser kit – although it remains a moot point whether the law is rigorously applied, says the RAC.

These are by no means the only local differences you are likely to encounter in the traffic regulations of the countries you are going to be driving through. In guidance updated on the 12^th of July 2022, the Money Saving Expert also offers a comprehensive guide to what you will need, as does the AA.

Driving in Europe

The rules of the road in some parts of Europe may be different from those with which you are familiar at home. Despite everything you might have read about the standardisation of rules throughout the EU when it comes to local traffic regulations, there are still important differences in each member country.

You want to stay on the right side of the law, of course, so before you go it is important to research the rules of the road in every country you are going to be visiting (and those you might need to drive through as the result of diversions or other emergencies).

Some of the greatest variations you are likely to encounter are speed limits in different European countries – especially if yours is a larger motorhome. And don’t let variable speed limits catch you out.

In some countries, the rules may be especially quirky and convoluted. In Spain, for example, some one-way streets allow parking on the side of the street where houses have odd numbers on odd days of the month – and the side where house numbers are even, on even days of the month.

Driving your motorhome in Europe expands your horizons, of course, but make sure that you go thoroughly prepared. And, as a final reminder, before you set off on your adventures in a motorhome, just double-check you have all the right documentation.

Please note that the information contained within this blog is based on our current understanding of the law. As legislation can change, we recommend you always make your own checks on documentation and licence requirements etc. before you travel.

You want to enjoy your motorhome confident in the knowledge that it is safe to use and securely out of the hands of those up to no good. Let’s take a closer look at how you might do just that.

Fire

On occasion, your motorhome will be everything that your second home needs to be – and that means cooking, heating, and using a fridge. Each one of these appliances is likely to be powered by LPG gas. You are also likely to have lighting and other electrical devices connected to the onboard battery of your motorhome.

Both gas and electricity, of course, are potential sources of fire, so always ensure that supplies are disconnected when you leave your motorhome for any length of time and treat all appliances fuelled by them with care and caution.

As essential fire safety measures, smoke alarms, CO2 detectors, and fire extinguishers may also give you further peace of mind.

Although manufacturers are required to use fire-retardant materials in the construction of your motorhome, exercise care when parking up at your campsite and ensure you maintain a minimum of six metres between vehicles. That is the minimum separation recommended by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, which also suggests you keep at least three metres between your own and a neighbour’s car or awning.

Servicing

Regular servicing of any vehicle is important – to keep it working just as it should but also to help preserve its resale value. In the case of a motorhome, regular servicing is even more important – both from its mechanical and roadworthiness status and to all those interior aspects that make it a home from home.

The areas covered by those separate aspects of mechanical and habitation servicing are discussed in greater detail in an article by the Camping and Caravanning Club.

Here are Derby Motorhomes, we have expertise in both mechanical and habitation servicing – and as we have recommended in a separate blog, you might want the comfort and reassurance of knowing that servicing is done by a member of the Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS) set up by the National Caravan Council, the Camping and Caravanning Club, and the Caravan and Motorhome Club.

Security

Keeping your motorhome secure is principally a question of keeping two main threats at bay:

• someone stealing and making off with the vehicle; and
• the deterrence of intruders who are bent on causing damage or stealing any valuables you have inside.

The principal defence against the theft of the vehicle is an immobilisation device.

Practically every new motorhome manufactured these days comes already fitted with an immobilisation device that meets Thatcham Category 2 standards.

These devices work by cutting off the fuel system, starter motor, ignition, or a combination of all three when someone tries to start the engine without a specially coded key – the ignition key or fob (a touch key) for your particular motorhome. Without the unique code, the engine cannot be started, and a dual immobilisation circuit prevents the vehicle from being “hot-wired”.

Additional ways of immobilising your motorhome are described by the Camping and Caravanning Club. Some of these have the advantage of providing either a visual or audible deterrent – the sight of wheel clamps, for example, or the audible warning made when a lock between the gear shift and handbrake is disturbed.

To help trace your motorhome if it has been stolen, a tracking device may help by providing a 24/7 GPS locating signal. You might want to browse the latest wide range of devices supplied by one of the UK’s leading specialists, Tracker.

The simplest and most cost-effective way of keeping unwanted intruders out of your motorhome, of course, is to ensure that you lock all doors and windows whenever you leave the vehicle unattended. (Typically, of course, this is also going to be one of the fundamental conditions of your motorhome insurance policy).

Extra security might be provided by intruder alarms or motion detectors, which also warn you when someone may have broken into your motorhome.

Finally, it is worth remembering that the more secure you make your motorhome, the better your motor insurer is going to like it – and may even offer a discount on your insurance premiums as a result if you provide additional security.