Author: Kevin

Caravan & Motorhome 2018: January 18th-21st

Caravan & Motorhome 2018: January 18th-21st

Posted on by Kevin

If you want to find out what the very latest product releases in the UK motorhome equipment market are, then you absolutely must make sure you go to this year’s Caravan and Motorhome Show, taking place at EventCity in Manchester between January 18th and 21st.

More than 200 exhibitors will be on hand to answer any questions you might have and showcase their product offerings – so don’t forget your credit card… you’re sure to find all sorts of holiday-making treats to take home with you.

There will also be lots of show-only discounts to take advantage of, and you can even have a go at lots of fun and free outdoor features like hitching up your caravan to a tow car so you can go on a test drive. Expert advice and tuition will be available so don’t worry if you’ve never done this before.

And if you want to start your kids off on the right foot they too can enjoy the My First Towing Experience, where children aged three to ten can take a caravan out for a spin.

We’re also looking forward to checking out the Food & Travel Stage, where expert cooks and travel personalities from the TV will take centre stage to teach you how to prepare and cook their camp-side meals.

Visitors to the event will also receive free entry to Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show, which is just the inspiration you need to research and book your next trip away. Travel companies like Saga Holidays and Trailfinders will be available – so get ready to book your next fun camping holiday!

Watch The Skies From Your Campervan

Watch The Skies From Your Campervan

Posted on by Kevin

If you have got the best motorhome equipment Kent has to offer then you should make sure you get out this winter to see some of the best celestial events this year has to offer.

First there are the Super Moons. January has two full moons this month, the first at the beginning of the year on 2 January, also known as the Wolf Moon, and the second on the 31st, also known as the Blue Moon.

These are the last two Super Moons of 2018 and are due to the moon passing closer than usual to the Earth.

The final Full Moon of January will also be accompanied by a full lunar eclipse, though this will not be visible from the UK.

While the Super Moons taking place in January are definitely a sight worth getting out to, they will actually obscure one of the other celestial events taking place this month.

The Quadrantids meteor shower is taking place in the first and second week of January, peaking on the 3rd, though it is expected that the light from the full moon is likely to obscure the view of it.

If you are heading out to watch the stars this coming month then do be sure to wrap up warm.

The Met Office long range forecast shows that conditions are likely to be cold and wet. We have provided some tips on how to spend the cold weather in your campervan, so catch up with those before heading out.

3 Family Cycle Routes To Try Next Year

3 Family Cycle Routes To Try Next Year

Posted on by Kevin

There’s nothing like getting out and about on your bike on a camping trip – what’s better than the feeling of freedom you get as you pedal power your way around the beautiful British countryside? If this is something you want you and your family to do more of in the new year, here are just some of the cycle routes that might tickle your pickle.

The New Forest Ride

This route follows part of the railway line between Brockenhurst and Wimborne, starting in the village and ending at Thorney Hill, just north of Bransgore. Brockenhurst itself is lovely and well worth an explore and you can have a well-earned cup of tea and a cake at the tea room at Holmsley Railway Station.

Berwick to Lindisfarne

This is a 15-mile bike ride so perhaps not suitable for those with very young children, but if you’re all fit and able definitely put it at the top of your to-cycle list. The terrain is a mixture of on and off-road paths and there are no hills, but if the weather is rough take care at Spittal as it can be tough going.

The Strawberry Line

This ride takes you from Yatton to Axbridge and Cheddar, and is a relatively short nine miles so doable for families. It’s mainly free from traffic and there are no steep gradients, while the countryside is lovely – lots of flat marshes, wooded valleys, cider apple orchards and even a tunnel through the Mendips!

For UK bike carriers, check out our website today.

How To Choose A Campervan Sat Nav

How To Choose A Campervan Sat Nav

Posted on by Kevin

If you’re the proud owner of a campervan then no doubt one of the things you’ll love doing is hitting the open road and finding new places to park up and explore.

But navigating can be a challenge, which is why so many of us invest in sat navs to help us out and take the stress out of driving somewhere new. As motorhomes are larger than the average car, they can run into difficulties following directions that may lead them down narrow roads or under low bridges.

So Which? has reviewed the growing number of sat navs designed specifically for campervan and caravan owners.

Nine new models were put through their paces by the consumer rights organisation, from the most expensive options on the market to more budget products.

While the quality of the navigation is obviously the most important factor, many devices offer a host of additional features, from Bluetooth phone connectivity, to access to real-time traffic updates and speed camera databases.

The reviewer recommends thinking about what you need from your sat nav before investing, as well as reading its full reviews of all the models from well-known manufacturers such as TomTom, Garmin, Snooper and Mio to ensure you’re choosing the right sat nav for your needs that offers value for money.

However, while sat navs can be a great tool, it probably won’t hurt to have a physical map in your motorhome too. Earlier this year the Sun highlighted research showing that 85 per cent of those under 30 now use sat navs and would be lost without them.

What’s more, reliance on technology means that people are finding it more difficult to estimate journey times too.

Make sure you have all the motorhome and caravan equipment you need for UK driving by coming to us for your supplies.

Tips For Spending Christmas In Your Camper Van

Tips For Spending Christmas In Your Camper Van

Posted on by Kevin

If you’re hoping to escape from the usual rigmarole of a house full of people for Christmas dinner this year, your motorhome could be the perfect choice.

Heading off for a few days of peace and quiet later in December is a wonderful way to spend 25 December slightly differently. Flux Magazine recently shared some tips on how to prepare for a festive break, as well as offering some ideas of where to go.

Advice centred around driving – and being prepared for adverse conditions. Sticking to well-used roads, planning your route well in advance and keeping an eye on the weather once you’re on the road are all top tips.

Making sure your camper van is ready for the journey is important too, so top up things like screenwash and oil before you set off, as well as checking tyre pressures, heating and lighting.

Of course, these points apply at any time of the year, but it’s especially important if you’re going to be staying in your camper van in colder weather. Earlier this year we offered a number of safety tips for motorhomes, including regularly testing your smoke alarm and making sure you always turn your gas bottle off when you’re on the move.

If you’re planning a trip for a few days or even a week, you should also make sure you pick up plenty of motorhome supplies in Kent – maybe even grab a few extra bits just in case you do get stuck somewhere.

In terms of where to go, top spots for a festive camper van holiday include the Lake District, York and the Cotswolds.

New Sponsorship – Leisure Plus Direct Sponsors University of York Opera Society (UoYOS)

New Sponsorship – Leisure Plus Direct Sponsors University of York Opera Society (UoYOS)

Posted on by Kevin

As our website is starting to grow we have just assisted some students at York University.

The University of York opera Society produced an Opera, A Little Night Music. 

A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples, we all enjoyed this great musical.

When the option came along and we stepped up to the mark and assisted by sponsoring this group for 3 evenings.

A truly awesome group who performed extremely well.  Leisure Plus Direct were very proud to have sponsored you for your Christmas opera 

Exmouth Launching Campervan Parking Scheme

Exmouth Launching Campervan Parking Scheme

Posted on by Kevin

Exmouth has decided to trial a scheme allowing motorhomes to park overnight in specific car parks around the town.

The Exmouth Journal reported on the initiative, which will see dedicated pitches for campervans set up in three car parks around the town, welcoming motorhome owners for stays of up to three nights.

In total, up to 70 spaces could be allocated to these types of vehicles across the Queen’s Drive Echelon, Imperial Recreation Ground and Maer Road car parks. The aim of the scheme is to discourage campervan owners from parking in seafront spaces for days on end.

East Devon District Council’s (EDDC’s) service lead for environmental health and car parks Andrew Ennis told the newspaper that this isn’t about discouraging motorhome owners from visiting Exmouth, but about tackling a very specific parking problem.

He added that campervans will still be allowed to park along the seafront during the day, but that overnight stays will be prohibited and the rules more stringently enforced.

Councillor Bill Nash commented: “Residents of Exmouth welcome this pilot scheme. We’re not turning car parks into a campsite.”

The scheme is expected to be in place by Easter 2018, and could run for two summer seasons to assess the impact it has. Other towns in Devon, including Seaton and Budleigh, have said they are also interested in seeing how the pilot scheme works.

Earlier this year, a survey of visitors to Exmouth conducted by EDDC found that 75 per cent are repeat visitors to the town, and that those who come to Exmouth tend to be older, with 31 per cent of those surveyed aged 65 and over.

If you’re looking for motorhome equipment in the UK ahead of your next adventure, take a look at what we have to offer.

For A ‘Fabulously Interesting Staycation’, All Aboard The Motorhome

For A ‘Fabulously Interesting Staycation’, All Aboard The Motorhome

Posted on by Kevin

Staycationing has been fashionable for lots of reasons in recent years – squeezed finances have boosted the popularity of staying in the UK for a holiday, for example – but one enthusiast says that there is so much to do at home, the staycation shouldn’t be seen as second best.

So dust off your motorhome awnings for a UK-based break, because Simon Elson in the Huffington Post makes a convincing argument for the British countryside.

“I believe that the UK has plenty of amazing places to visit and the millions of overseas visitors back this up,” he said. “If this country was dull and uninteresting, they wouldn’t bother visiting it would they?”

Elson is a big fan of Orkney, where the dramatic landscape and the Neolithic Skara Brae village offer a fantastic opportunity to delve into ancient history without having to foot the bill for a flight to Athens.

He also believes the views of the Whinlatter Pass in Cumbria are as wild and alpine as a vista of the Canadian Rockies, while a day at Stone Henge is sure to delight holidaymakers of all ages – but children in particular.

“Please don’t dismiss my fabulously interesting UK holidays as boring because we don’t board an aeroplane,” he stated. “Our country is an amazing place if you stop and look around at what’s right under your nose.”

If you are planning an adventure to a British beauty spot in your motorhome then remember to follow our top safety tips. Always check your smoke alarms, tyre pressure, tread depth and gas appliances – and remember to turn off the gas bottle before you leave.

5 Top Safety Tips For Motorhome Holidays

5 Top Safety Tips For Motorhome Holidays

Posted on by Kevin

Is there anything more enjoyable than packing up all your motorhome equipment and heading off on your jollies on a staycation or somewhere further afield? The freedom of being out on the open road can’t be matched – but you do need to make sure you stay safe as you go. Here’s a checklist of some of the most important jobs you should do before travelling anywhere.

Check the smoke alarms

Modern motorhomes should come with a smoke alarm pre-fitted, but if yours doesn’t make sure you retrofit one yourself. Once it’s in, always check that it’s in good working order before going on holiday.

Check your tyre pressure

You should always ensure that tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure and check them on a regular basis so you know they’re safe to drive on. Tyron safety bands can also help in this regard, helping you to maintain steering, braking, cornering and traction control if your tyres deflate.

Turn your gas bottle off

When driving anywhere in your motorhome, make sure your gas bottle is turned off so you know it’s safe and can’t cause any problems.

Check your tread depth

Your motorhome tyres should be treated the same as the tyres on your car and have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm to stay on the right side of the law.

Check your gas appliances

See if there are any warning signs like soot on the appliance, or yellow and brown staining as this is a sign that it might be faulty. You should also ensure you have a good working carbon monoxide alarm in your motorhome.