The Benefits Of Winter Motorhome Holidays

Motorhome Destinations In The Winter

Winter touring holidays or breaks appeal to so many motorhome owners for a number of reasons.

• The roads are not so crowded, parking restrictions may not be so severe, wildcamping is tolerated more as many campsites are closed and crisp, winter mornings offer some of the best scenery in Scotland. 
• So long as your motorhome offers you the warmth and comfort that you desire then what have you got to lose! Most Hire / Rental Motorhomes are Insulated , If you want some inspiration of where to go over winter, then consider one – or all – of the following,

Scotland:

The Hebrides – or the Western Isles as they are also known of the west coast of Scotland – is a chain of beautifully unspoilt islands 30 miles off the North West coast of Scotland. They are a popular destination with serious motorhome owners and rental motorhomes over the winter months, partly because the weather is generally mild due to a year-round current that originates in the Caribbean and also because they are easily accessible from mainland Scotland by ferry. Although the winters are mild, visitors occasionally experience some of the wildest and stormiest gales around – so take your raincoat in preparation!

Stay at: Sites are few and far between and don’t expect many facilities on what sites there are. Try Cnip Village Grazing Trudst Campsite, Cnip, Uig, Isle of Lewis. Tel 01851 672265. Alternatively, wild camping opportunities abound. During the summer many of our hire rental motorhomes can be seen all over the Islands we have a variety of models to choose from - https://www.scottishtourer.co.uk/motorhome.  

England:

The Lake District provides the perfect backdrop for a winter motorhome trip. There are many walks you can enjoy whatever the length of your stay, but always ensure you’re well prepared and have the right equipment to hand. Research the walks beforehand and only tackle those you are confident of completing.

Some regular Lake land walkers will tell you that the National Park offers a much more handsome landscape in the winter months than it does in the summer. Why not find out for yourselves?

Stay at: Sykeside Camping Park, Brotherswater, Patterdale, Penrith, Cumbria. Tel: 01768 482239.
 

Wales:

Snowdonia, known in Welsh as Eryri, offers something for everyone wanting to breathe in some fresh mountain air including forest walks, birdwatching, castles, museums, …the list is endless. There’s also a steam railway so you can take a seat and admire the crisp winter scenes from the comfort of your carriage.

It can also be illegal, dangerous and anti-social – it all depends on whether you apply a bit of respect, courtesy and common sense to your parking decisions.
 

Scottish Tourers Motorhome  Top 10 Wild Camping Tips

• Don’t park your hire / rental motorhome if there is a sign prohibiting it, unless in Scotland and parking up late at night – breaking the rules just causes them to become more severely applied. Only park in places with no apparent restriction and if an overnight parking fee applies, then pay it.
• Leave no trace of your presence – consider even picking up some litter and binning it if there is a rubbish bin nearby. Don’t dump waste water unless there is a proper drain for it and never dump toilet waste. Don’t wild camp if you don’t have a toilet in your van. The only thing to leave is your footprints.
• Keep everything inside your vehicle – remember, you are parking, not camping. The same restrictions apply at many European motorhome parking aires – no awnings, picnic tables, chairs, etc.
• Park so that you can drive out easily in the dark if necessary. Try and avoid using levelling wedges if possible – if you do, make sure you can drive off them easily in an emergency and be prepared to leave them behind.
• Don’t stop anywhere that doesn’t feel right – most of the time, you will have no trouble, but we all know that there are places that are not safe overnight. Use your instinct and look for evidence of unsavoury night-time activities – broken glass, excessive litter, vandalism, fly tipping, etc…In Scotland particularly up the west coast you can park your hire / rental  motorhome in absolute safety.
• Make sure you are not in anyone’s way – that includes farm tracks, driveways and blocking lorries in lay-bys. Get well off the road and out of the way of passing traffic.
• Stay sober – at least one person should not drink and be able to drive at anytime, if necessary. This is a good idea for practical and legal reasons – assuming you are on public land. 
• Find your parking place in daylight – take it from me, finding a place in the dark and making sure it is suitable is not easy. Don’t be too stubborn – use a campsite if you cannot find anywhere sensible and legal. In Scotland there will be a campsite within 20 – 30 miles radius no matter where you are.
• Make sure you won’t get stuck if it rains overnight – check for firm ground.
• Don’t park up right by a campsite – they will see you as taking their business and may choose to complain about you. How would you feel if you ran a greengrocer’s shop and a van parked up outside your shop selling cut price fruit and veg?