Just when you thought it was all over, with summer long gone and the nights drawing in, a spell of fine weather tempts you behind the wheel of your motorhome again for a final outing or two before winter sets in.
Just where to go for one of those quick motorhome trips fairly close to home depends, of course, in which part of the country you live. But one of the great things about the diversity of Britain is that, wherever you live, there are certain to be spots worth visiting for a long weekend or so.
Let’s consider just a few of them.
The South of England
If you live in southern England, the New Forest National Park is a relatively short drive away from most places.
In all its autumn glory, the New Forest is awash with every hue of green, amber russet as the leaves begin to fall. An overnight stop at one of the many campsites within the National Park, lets you begin your walk at the best time of day – the early morning, as the mist begins to clear above wooded glades and open heathland. Kick softly through the fallen leaves lest you disturb a grazing deer.
From Longmeadow Campsite you may take a delightful 20-minute stroll through the forest to the village of Brockenhurst, which is at the very heart of the National Park.
The Midlands
Midlanders have one of the biggest publicly accessible forests on their very doorsteps at Sherwood Pines Forest Park – and the newly-opened Camping and Caravanning Club’s motorhome site of the same name within its boundaries.
It’s in the East Midlands part of Nottinghamshire, of course, near the village of Edwinstowe, between Ollerton and Clipstone.
This is the place where you might also want the kids to let off steam before the quieter days of winter by letting them take to the activity trails, hire a bike, swing through the play areas – or just run wild.
South Wales
The Gower Peninsula and the impressive sweep of Rhossili Bay are more than worth a visit at any time of the year. But autumn brings with it a certain sense of rugged urgency as the first of the winter’s squalls darken the endless skies and add a thrilling drama to the scene.
So, if you live within a day’s drive of the Gower, why not head your motorhome in the direction of Nicholaston Farm Campsite – a family-friendly working farm, with immediate access to the Gower’s marvellous coastline.
The North of England
If you live in the North of England, you are well and truly spoilt for choice when it comes to a quick motorhome trip to beat the oncoming winter.
What will it be? A drive into the rugged splendour of Snowdonia in North Wales? A weekend enjoying Wordsworth’s Lake District? Or bracing walks along the wide-open spaces of the beaches – generally deserted at this time of year – of the northeast coast?
If it’s Wales that won out, head off to Llyn Gwynant Campsite in the heart of Snowdonia – and take in a late autumn walk or hike.
Perhaps it was the Lake District? Lake Windermere may be bustling in the height of summer, but by autumn the crowds have thinned out appreciably and from Park Cliffe Motorhome & Touring Caravan Park, you can enjoy your own wide-open vistas of the Lake itself.
Springfield Farm offers one of the most scenic sites you might hope to find along the glorious coastline of Northumberland. Gaze out across open fields towards the North Sea’s Farne Islands, or drive the short distance north to Bamburgh Castle, or west into the Cheviot Hills to enjoy the best of a British autumn.
