HOLIDAY HOME HAVEN
THE weaker pound is making foreign trips more expensive and less appealing. And now there’s the threat of Eurostar strikes by militant rail union staff, while staying put in Britain, you still have hotel costs to consider.
Unless that is, you decide to take a home with you, as I did while road-testing a compact two-berth Bailey Approach Compact motorhome — recently superseded by the Approach Advance range.
Built by Bayley of Bristol (baileyofbristol.co.uk), the living space is based around the popular Peugeot Boxer van cab, engine and low-slung chassis.
At £38,000, it’s a fraction of the cost of a mortgage, and you can rent one short-term for holidays.
Mine had almost everything — including kitchen sink, cooker, compact bathroom with loo, washbasin and refreshing shower.
The raised-up bed at the back was comfortable and cosy, though perhaps not for the claustrophobic, and allows you to look through the roof light at the stars. There’s vast storage at the rear accessible from exterior doors.
Though initially daunting to drive, these vehicles really shift when you get up a head of speed from the commanding driver’s seat. Huge side mirrors help with reversing.
Then when you need to overnight, simply pull into a campsite or a friendly famer’s field, and you’re wholly self-sufficient. There are boring chores, however, such as filling the water tank, so you have a supply, and plugging in the cable for lighting.
And latrine duty might not be for the squeamish, but it is vital. At least the clever Thetford cassette system —a portable plastic tank — makes it as civilised as possible.
The turbocharged 2.2-litre 130 bhp diesel in the vehicle I drove is being replaced by a greener, more frugal 2-litre Euro 6-compliant diesel providing greater pulling power, improved fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions.
But there are motorhomes of all sizes, prices and sophistication to suit every family and taste. Go and investigate — it could open up some new horizons.