[Closed] Campervan holiday in the UK?

avoid old vw. they look great but are thirsty, slow and small. I hate myself for saying it, but get a motorhome with toilet etc.

As a previous caravannner (campervan without the cab on the front) my priority would be a layout that lets you put the kids to bed but still sit inside with the light on and read a book without disturbing them.

I've not used a campervan but as long as you're organised re: shopping in advance etc so you don't have to pack everythign away at a moments notice so you can drive and get the tea from sainsburys then you should be ok.

A diesel van based camper will be fairly efficient if it isn't massive. You won't be driving mega miles if you actually want to spend time doing stuff. Some have terrible layouts while you are driving. With two young kids you want all 4 seats close together.

Thanks guys.

Unless you are planning on touring the country and clocking up big miles, you probably won't notice the extra fuel costs. A mid sized coachbuilt van will probably manage 20-25mpg if you are sensible.

Expensive 'deluxe' pitches would be my biggest worry, I usually look for sites that allow smaller campervans on the unserviced grass pitches. My van has fresh and waste tanks, batteries, bog, and gas cooking and heating...its meant to be self-sufficient, so I don't want to be coughing up £30 a night so I can bypass all that and take advantage of a personal water tap and drain, and save 50p of LPG by using a £3 a night electric hookup to heat the van!

Yes I have hired a few but not with kids. All are comprimised. Big ones with toilets and that allow the kids to be in bed while you still sit up are great for the camping but awful to drive on highland roads. Small ones where its hard to sit up while the kids are in bed are a pain when camped up but much better to drive.

I'd be tempted with a small one and a tent for the kids.

I would fly / train up to Scotland and drive from there ( depending how far south you are) save many hundreds of miles of driving

A friend of the family hires really nice smallish ones - they can sleep the four of you but would be cosy. Highly recommended - they really do provide a great service and the vans are lovely
http://www.bigtreecampervans.com/

I have also hired the bigger ones from these folk OK

http://www.lchire.com/

Ah TJ your are a wealth of information. I had been considering driving up through the night to spare the kids the journey, also I could pack my bike 😉 In reality i don't suppose I'd get that many cycle miles in with the family so... I hadn't considered the train / fly option and now you mention it it makes sense. I'll take a look at the links you provided when I get to the office. Thanks.

The Granvia's in that link might be a little cramped/stressful with two young-uns...I assume they are too young to camp outside without an adult?

A good compromised would be a hi-top panel 4 berth van conversion, a 6 metre long Fiat Ducato type camper is a good compromise and you can get away with squeezing into normal car spaces, although you may need to find a 'tandem space' at the supermarket. The coachbuilts are where you start to notice the bulk and width, and have to start worrying about knocking the topsides into signs/lamp posts when parallel parking, and have to straddle four spaces at Tesco to ensure you have turning space to get out again.

Ace fun! We hired one in the lakes. Modern ones drive so easily I wouldn’t worry about the Scottish lanes, just hold your breath in the tight bits.
The link below would be a good layout for your needs me thinks. Bunk beds at the back and the toilet/shower are really handy. As above the toilet is really useful and would be a must if we hire again.
http://www.northernleisure.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=44&Itemid=60

I think you'll do well to get much above 20/25 mpg, my transit which quite a lot of campers are based one is at a constant 30 whether on a run or just round the Derbyshire hills, you've then got to add in the extra weight and stealth like aerodynamics of a camper.
We've also looked at doing this but the only thing that puts us off is having to haul everything back in the camper if you do a day trip out from a campsite where you perhaps staying for a couple of nights.

I'm with spooky. Ducato size is a great compromise for the highlands. Wild camping (campervan style !) is much easier there than in England and is a lot more doable in something with a few more facilities and without the need for awnings or tents but is quiet drivable on west coast roads. I've heard it said that it can rain on occasion on the west coast and it's nice to have something solid to hide from it in. And the midge.

I have one booked for a week in April for me and the mrs, youngster packed off on school trip and being 40 recently thought I would have mini mid life crisis and book a campervan for a week.
A trip round the coast of Wales in an old (but new) VW.
google nick connah near chester for details.
Cant wait.

To me its very much a question of pick your compromises. Those Granivias I linked to do drive really nicely but would be cosy for four inside - at night the kids would both have to go up in the roof which then means in the main body you cannot stand up but still have access to your seats and all the facilities. ONly small water tanks as well and only cold water

I found driving a coachbuilt one in the highlands really frustrating no overtaking ability and wallowing on corners plus the extra size on the small roads - but great when parked up - on board khazi is really nice to have especially. Bigger fridge / stove / water tanks is nice as well.

The ones with the bunks at the back are great I would imagine with kids as the kids can be in the bunks and you still have the main body of the van for the adults that remains uncompromised

I have not seen any ones built into a standard body for hire anywhere - a friend owns one and it might well be a good compromise

With young kids, make sure you don't overdo the amount of driving - it won't feel like an "adventure" if they spend most of the time strapped into a seat travelling, and they'll have too much energy to sleep in strange beds at night.

I made this mistake when we first got a van (big distances most days) and subsequently dropped the distances leading to a happier time for all concerned.

I would look to hire a coachbuilt van. You may want to spend time sheltering from the Scottish summer...

Look for one with twin bunks across the rear. You do know the kids can't sleep in the bunks as you drive along, right?

Something like a Chausson Flash 03 or 53. I have seen them as hire vehicles, but never paid too much attention as we have our own - a smaller Flash 04.

We use it nearly every weekend all year round in Scotland. If you're subtle and careful you can pull up and overnight discretely in a few spots. Make sure you leave them as you found them though please.

EDIT: Echoing Edlong's comments above. We'd thought about heading to the North Cape of Norway this summer, but the distances would have meant an average of 171 miles a day. Not really fair on the nipper. We'll probably head out to the French/Italian Alps again.

Ali, just come take a look at mine.

i love vans.

if you have kids and plan on using a 'normal sized' camper (old or modern version) then make sure you hire one with an awning as it allows adults to chat and drink past bedtime and allows some protection from the elements on bad weather days. the drive away awnings allow you to put all the cooking stuff etc in the awning and use the van to go places without a thorough packing up job needed every morning.

its a pain if you are moving lots but with kids i`d avoid travelling too often as they will just get annoyed.

big vans and scottish highland roads would be fun/scary!

Is it really economical to hire a campervan,pay for the extra fuel,and then pay campsite fees on top.
Get a wet day on a campsite and the small space in a motorhome with kids is not the most appealing.At least with a car you have transport to seek out any attractions to keep the kids amused.

Im doing the same this year. Myself, wife and 3 year old 🙂

We are driving upto scotland, hiring a small van there and going upto Orkney via Torridon and Laggan 🙂 Obviously for the scenery and not for the great biking 🙂

The most economical camper I have hired was a VW california , it has a computer operated roof space which means theres less drag when you drive.very well designed van with built in awning , aluminium door linings which convert into a picnic table and chairs .I enjoyed to pembroke coast up to the Lin peninsula , lots of coves and surf beaches, nice pubs etc [ and a tidy bike rack ]

Bigtreecampervans were discounted through Groupon the other day, might be worth keeping an eye out to see if they crop up again.

Only problem with taking the train up to Scotland is that you've somehow got to also get all your luggage (and bikes) with you.

Better to hire locally, fill it at home and travel.

We (4 adults) looked at a 6-berth (with rear 'garage' for our bikes), worked out about £1k for the week - fuel tbh wasn't going to be much more than my car 😯

Always better to go bigger.

Did this last September, hired an original spec mid 70s VW Westfalia and did about 2000 miles over a fortnight from Newcastle-various Orkney Isles and back (via castles, the cairngorms, biking places, museums, whiskey distilleries, dolphin, porpoise and whale watching, beaches, archaeology and palaeontology sites, hill walking, great eating and drinking etc). Brilliant fun, we overpacked and the bike rack we got with it wasn't the type that lets you open the back with bikes in place, that would have made things easier but it was great anyway. "Wild" camped a bit less than I might have liked, due to midges, bad weather, and lack of toilets for my lass. Still stayed in some great places. Fuel consumption not great, if we had our own it would have to be a modern one or one with a new engine. It was a trip we'd wanted to do for years though, so not the worst of our worries. Nearly got blown over one night when those late Sept storms hit Scotland, that was a sleepless night! We both liked it so much we're now looking at getting one...

Train to Dumfries and get these guys to meet you there; http://www.solwaymotorhomes.co.uk/

Here's mine, nowt wrong with old V-dubs, this '92 2.4D gives around 30mpg every time. 8 trips to Cornwall last year, around 600-750miles each time. never let me down and its got 198,000 on the clock. If you try one, i;ll bet you'll love it! [IMG] [/IMG]

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I would love to travel Scotland in something like that above.
It would be a dream.
Can vehicles like that above be hired?

I have a T4 trophy autosleeper 2.5 petrol. The lads will all sat ooh mileage but i get 30 on the good roads, 22-25 on the shitey twisties.
Do not let engine, or imagined consumption put you off. go for it. Your kids will love it. .

Hmmmm.. Options as always. Without stirring up a storm in a tea cup, I have been warned that during summer the scots land suffers from small, flying, biting creatures on a fairly large scale. Are there areas one would be advised to avoid? Or better yet particular areas we should be looking at.

Go in June, less of a midge problem then.

robbieh - St Ives yes? Whereabouts are you parked up - I can't place it.

having looked into 'long Scotland trips' me and gf have switched back to a caravan as our future plan.

Anyway - have a think about an awning (poss even free standing frame tent as at least that can be left behind) - for extra living space in the wet, put the portaloo there etc, the small ones are SMALL (VW - mate has one, it's a move everything before bed/cooking/etc etc). If you want to do the 'tourist west coast tiny anywhere roads (And you DO, you really do - it's the most fantastic place in the world[*when sun etc out])' I'd suggest anything bigger than a transit size would be a liability. If the kids get bored you need to take down awning, pack and then drive off, and then the reverse on return...

As a complete alternative there are a few wigwam campsites in Scotland, http://www.wigwamholidays.com/Wigwam_Site_Locations, and this - http://www.ruareidh.co.uk/ etc etc so if you took the car and used these you could probably splash out on a hotel every so often and cover the boondocks.

hugor - Member

I would love to travel Scotland in something like that above.
It would be a dream.
Can vehicles like that above be hired?

similar - toyota granvias

[img] [/img]

http://www.bigtreecampervans.com/ <

ask1974 - Member

Hmmmm.. Options as always. Without stirring up a storm in a tea cup, I have been warned that during summer the scots land suffers from small, flying, biting creatures on a fairly large scale. Are there areas one would be advised to avoid? Or better yet particular areas we should be looking at.

http://2010.midgeforecast.co.uk/

Midge an issue in highlands,west coast on still days between easter & end sept..(in general).
T4 or similar medium size van great for highland roads, but without an awning youve got to pack everything away just to nip to shops.

youll need to travel light in a small van too.

although not cool, renting some static caravans and using a car maybe more practical with small kids.

Not sure where you are based, but a good mate of mine runs:

http://www.seekersmotorhomes.co.uk/

Based just off the A1 near Richmond/Scotch Corner. All the vans are in A1 nick and you will get great service off them...not to mention helping my daughters inheritance, as their son and her seem determined to marry, despite being 4 years old.

My folks rent out a classic VW T2 if you decide you fancy that - [url= http://www.thebohocamperco.com/index.htm ]clicky linky[/url]. Based in Yorkshire.

smogmonster - they look like nice vans at a good price

I did trips to Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Norway in a campervan with the kids when I was doing my single parent impersonation in the 1990s. It was a coachbuilt 4 birth and we did ok....thoroughly enjoyed it.

BUT with diesel the price it is...... and the van doing around 20mpg...I don't think I could afford to do it now. Hotels might be cheaper!

robbieh - St Ives yes? Whereabouts are you parked up - I can't place it.

Hey, yeah! in the big park at the top where you catch the bus down to the town. I go down to Cornwall alot to surf and this was a daytrip out to keep the mrs happy in the St Ives shops 😀 Van is up for sale now as i have bought a caravan which i keep on site near Redruth, its easier to get a dawn surf in without disturbing wifey and the dogs. Plus more room too. will miss my baby tho as i spent 7mths. solid converting her with a lot of TLC. and a few grand ....