Road Tripping the UK or Ireland by Campervan – A guide for your first motorhome holiday

Your own backyard – the UK and Ireland that is – is chock full of wonderful places to explore. With the current pandemic forcing us to stay closer to home, there’s never been a better time to plan a road trip with family or friends to discover you own country’s unique places and spectacular scenery.

Road tripping doesn’t come any better than in a motorhome or campervan – choose your own adventure. How about the rugged coast of Ireland? Perhaps the Cornwall Coast or the Scottish Highlands. How about heading to the Lake District or exploring Wales? When you hire a camper in the UK or Ireland, the possibilities are endless. Never been on a motorhome holiday before? No problem! We’ve got you covered with our helpful guide for first-time hirers.

While travelling in a camper or motorhome gives you the freedom to change your plans at the drop of a hat, we recommend that you research your route and destination when planning your first motorhome holiday. You may have lots of questions and we’re here to help!

Choose a reputable company for your motorhome hire and book the Camper that’s right for you.

Some of the questions you need to ask yourself are:

• Do I want to hire a compact campervan or a large motorhome? How many people are travelling? How much storage will I need? This will most likely determine the size of camper you hire
• Is the vehicle easy to drive? Motorhomes are much easier to drive than you think. Once you are used to the additional height and length, you’ll be completely comfortable in the driver’s seat
• Can I drive with my regular driving licence? Yes! See information on driver eligibility here.
• What’s included with the motorhome hire?
• What is the company’s cancellation policy during COVID?
• Can I take the motorhome on a ferry?
• Are you planning to pick up and return the motorhome at the same location? With campervan hire locations around the UK and Ireland, we can accommodate bookings for both one-way and return motorhome hires.
• Is insurance included in the motorhome hire?

Plan your route and overnight destinations

You want to enjoy the motorhome road trip experience and see as much as you can along the way. Don’t try to pack too much into each day, particularly if you are a first time motorhome road tripper. Plan to travel no more than 2-3 hours a day. This will allow you time each day to explore new places, enjoy the journey and reach your campsite before dark.

Choose and book your Campsites

The best campsites are booked well in advance. Once you’ve booked your motorhome hire and planned your itinerary, we recommend you book the campsites you plan to stay at along your route. Many campsites have incredible forest, lake or ocean views and it’s usually possible to choose your pitch when booking. The earlier you book, the better the chance of getting that amazing pitch! Our campsite guide has great information about booking campsites in the UK and Ireland.

Become familiar with your motorhome before you begin your holiday

Watch our demonstration videos and learn about how to operate your campervan or motorhome before you set out on your holiday. This will give you an overview of what to expect and allow you time to ask any questions you may have when you arrive to pick up your camper.

Decide what to pack for your motorhome holiday

Less is more! Think about how much storage you have in the motorhome and pack accordingly. Are you picking up and dropping off at the same location? If so, you might be tempted to bring more, especially if you have kids to entertain on the trip. Consider packing games and other fun activities, or download some movies onto your digital device to watch after dark.

If you’re stumped over what types of personal items you need to pack, it can help to think about the things you take with you every time you leave the house. Most importantly, this includes enough money to last you the entire trip. Clothing is probably one of the things you’ll think to pack first, but be careful about the type of clothing you’re packing. Wearing layers can help keep you prepared for any weather.

Even if you’re looking to spend time outdoors, you’ll still need to bring some electronics along with you. Make sure you have the right charger for every device you’re bringing so that you don’t find yourself in the middle of nowhere with no working phone. A great family friendly alternative to devices that really help you enjoy time together is card and board games. Uno and Monopoly Deal are great options as they don’t take up too much room in your luggage!

Arrive at your pick-up location with the right documents

You and any other drivers require a valid driver’s licence to drive a motorhome in the UK or Ireland. These must be presented at the pick-up location. For UK licence holders, we are required to check the counterpart of your driving licence which is stored on the DVLA website. See more information here. A second form of photo ID, and a valid credit card, owned by a person present at pick up, is also required.

A holiday in a motorhome gives you the freedom to Make Adventure Yours. There’s nothing more liberating than being able to move into your “home on wheels” on day one of your holiday and unpack, knowing you won’t have to repack until the last day of your holiday. You get to sleep in the same bed every night and make your own decisions as to whether to eat out or eat meals in your RV. You get to camp out surrounded by nature, enveloped by trees and a sky full of stars.

To book your adventure, use the quote and book button on our website, email [email protected] or call our team on +44 (0)800 0590 905.