CAMPERVAN TOP TIPS

PLAN your route. Book a berth at a camping site or, better, consult local knowledge for free parking spots.

BRING deckchairs. Settled into some leafy glade, you will want to escape the confines of your vehicle.

USE public facilities. Our Thetford lavatory, with manual hand pump, was functional, but it was a relief to escape to the public facilities at Climping beach.

TAKE care reversing. Ask your co-pilot to jump out and signal directions.

SECRET luxury. The key is to feel that you’re roughing it while sneaking in some luxuries. Produce an expensive bottle of wine on the first night.

SPOTIFY playlist. Make a special themed playlist for your trip. Ours included Don Henley’s The Boys Of Summer and, naturally, Caravan Of Love by the Housemartins.

DISPOSABLE barbecue.

These can be bought for a few quid at most supermarkets. They are simple to use and give you that authentic smoky taste. A GOOD book. Leave your laptop at home and rediscover the joys of a rewarding read. Try Jerome K. Jerome’s Three Men In A Boat.

PACK key supplies. Whether it’s mustard, a pot of Marmite or a bottle of Metaxa, make sure your personal peccadillos are catered for. SLING up a hammock. If you fancy a night out under the stars, you will want an air mattress and sleeping bag, or a hammock to sling between trees.