Freedom Folks, Motorhome Travel is Resuming!

It’s been over two months since we wrote a blog post asking When Will Motorhome Travel be Possible Again? And now we have the answers folks:

• England: 4 July 2020 (gov advice here)
• Scotland: 3 July 2020 (gov advice here)
• Northern Ireland: 26 June 2020 (gov advice here)
• Wales: 11 July 2020 (gov advice here)

We appreciate some of you will still be shielding and some won’t be comfortable or able to travel just yet (including us two, we’re holding fire at home for a little while). Technically though, overnight stays away from home, and tours across Europe, are becoming more and more feasible, at a much faster rate than I’d imagined a few weeks ago. There’s still the risk of ‘second waves’ and subsequent local lock-downs to consider, and the fact the virus hasn’t disappeared, but the question of whether to travel or not has now become a personal one, not one mandated by government.

We’ve been reading the updates from The Grey Gappers as they escaped Turkey and (via an excursion into Bulgaria and Serbia) are now in Greece, and The Chouters as they exited long-term isolation in France and are now travelling across Germany. For some of you, European motorhome touring has already begun!

What Will Camping Look Like in the UK?

Probably a lot like camping before the pandemic, but with a few differences:

• some sites will remain closed and some will quickly fill-up, so we’ll need to call ahead and book,
• some will have contactless check-ins, so there’ll be no need to go into reception,
• day visitors might not be allowed,
• you may not be able to buy gas on-site,
• you’ll need to maintain social distancing,
• shared cooking and play areas might remain closed,
• and of course maintain increased personal hygiene (you know the score by now: frequent hand washing, using sanitiser etc).

Some countries (and some campsites) are delaying when shared facilities like shower blocks can be opened, and initially only self-contained units like motorhomes are being allowed to stay. Both of the big UK clubs have issued useful updates explaining the latest situation: The Camping and Caravanning Club and The Caravan and Motorhome Club.

International Travel is Possible Too

This applies to a great degree to international travel too. The Foreign Office have now exempted much of Europe from their “advice against ‘all but essential’ international travel” edict, with Sweden and Portugal being notable exceptions. However, be aware that most travel insurance policies won’t cover you for any coronavirus-related claims (Which has an article with a couple of providers who offer some coronavirus cover).

Also, various restrictions are likely to remain in place for some time and they will vary from country to country. The EU has put together the map below which you can use to check if beaches are currently open, where you need to wear a mask and so on.

Onwards and Upwards!

OK, so that’s it, motorhome travel is (for many of us) rapidly becoming possible again. Our motorhome Zagan is still SORNed at the moment and sitting in storage a mile away. We’ve been up there from time to time to check the battery voltages, move him so his weight is on another part of the tyres and so on, getting the same sensation of increased relaxation when we step through the habitation door.

My parents are still shielding at the moment and Ju is shopping for them once a week, but online delivery slots seem to be opening up again, which would enable us to shop for them while away. For those of you out and about we hope you have a great time out there, that the sun shines and you enjoy your well-earned freedom.

Cheers, Jay