Guides
Know before you go
Practical guides for touring Britain with a van and a pair of boots. Every fact names its source and the date it was checked.
Colin's workshop
Colin's workshopDiesel heaters in campervans: what to knowHow a campervan diesel heater compares with gas and hook-up, what one uses in fuel and battery overnight (worked from Webasto's own figures), why the exhaust is the part that matters, and the carbon monoxide rules to live by.Colin's workshopPropane or butane? Which gas for a motorhome or caravanButane stops working at around freezing; propane keeps going down to minus 40C. When to switch, how to tell the cylinders apart, and what it means for heating, hook-up and the battery.Colin's workshopWinterising a motorhome or caravan: water, waste, warmth and the batteryHow to keep the water flowing, the waste from freezing and the van warm on a winter trip, and how to drain down before storage. What the two touring clubs advise, step by step.
Driving and the law
Driving and the lawMotorhome and caravan speed limits in the UKThe UK speed limits for motorhomes and for cars towing caravans, on every type of road, from GOV.UK. Why the 3.05 tonne unladen weight matters, Wales's 20 mph default, and the motorway lane rule.Driving and the lawThe C1 licence: can you drive a motorhome over 3,500 kg?A car licence covers motorhomes up to 3,500 kg; heavier ones up to 7,500 kg need category C1. Who already has C1 from an older licence, how to get it, the D4 medical, renewing at 70, and what you can tow.
Gifts and the books
Gifts and the booksChristmas gifts for walkers: useful presents for the short daysChristmas gift ideas for walkers that get used in the winter: a head torch, a map, warm socks and gloves, a flask, a whistle, a seal boat trip, a membership that pays for the parking, and things for the dog.Gifts and the booksGifts for campervan and motorhome owners who like a walkTwelve gift ideas for someone with a campervan, motorhome or caravan who likes to walk from the van: things that get used in the cold months, for the dog, and for planning the next trip.
Touring know-how
Walking know-how
Walking know-howBlisters on a walking holiday: prevent them, treat themHow to stop blisters before they start on a walking holiday, and what the NHS says to do when one appears: plasters, hydrocolloid dressings, why you shouldn't burst it, and the signs it needs a pharmacist or 111.Walking know-howDog-friendly pubs: how to find a good oneDogs in pubs are the landlord's choice, not the law's. How to read a pub's own page for the words that matter, what to ask when you ring, the house rules councils give dog owners, and the walk to the pub.Walking know-howWalking poles: do you need them, and how to use themWhat walking poles actually do (a study found 12% to 25% less load on the knee going downhill), when they help and when they get in the way, how to set the length, how to hold the strap, and Peak District walks where you'll be glad of them.Walking know-howWinter walking: safety and the short daysIn midwinter the sun sets before four in much of Britain. How to plan a walk around the light, what Mountain Rescue says to carry, how to spot hypothermia and frostbite, and how to call for help.
Where to walk
Where to walkBoxing Day walks with a pub at the endShort Boxing Day walks that finish at, or pass, a pub with a fire: Burnham Overy Staithe, Near Sawrey, Edale, Patterdale and more, with walk times, sunset times for 26 December and the dog rules.Where to walkPeak District walks you can start from the vanPeak District walks for a motorhome, campervan or caravan trip: Mam Tor, Padley Gorge, Dovedale, the Upper Derwent and Kinder, with where to park a van, the overnight rules, dogs and the pub at the end.
Wildlife and the seasons
Wildlife and the seasonsSeals at Horsey and Blakeney: when to go, and how to watch themGrey seal pups are born at Horsey and Blakeney Point from November to January. When to go, where to stand, the dog rules, parking for a van, and why you stay 100 metres back.Wildlife and the seasonsStarling murmurations: when and where to see themStarling murmurations run from November to February, just before dusk, over reedbeds, marshes and piers. When to arrive, where the known roosts are, how to check one is active, and what to bring.