The Gradual Return of Motorhome Travel Across Europe
Hi folks. I hope you’re well and are coping OK with whatever circumstances the world has thrown at you. Ju and I are still safely ensconced in the Cooler, shopping once a week, running and generally keeping out of the way of people for now. We’ve had our ups and downs, and are still living with a steady sense of anxiety, but we’re OK. We’re keeping an eye on what’s happening in the motorhome touring world (following on from our ‘when will motorhome travel restart‘ post), and have summed up what’s happening in the UK and Europe below.
Motorhome Travel in the UK
There are roughly 225,000 motorhomes and campervans in the UK, and the vast majority of them are stood still. As things stand, we can use our vehicles, but we can’t stay overnight in them. A tiny minority have opted to ignore this rule and some have found themselves being called out on the from page of the BBC news, alongside folks out in tents, giving the police an additional headache I suspect they really don’t need!
There is pressure for official sites to re-open though. The Caravan and Motorhome Club have written an open letter to the UK’s Chief Medical Officer trying to highlight the safety measures they feel can be put in place at their sites, and mentioning the fact over 170,000 full-time employees work on the UK’s campsites and holiday parks. Although there is no mention of campsites in the UK’s official plan, it seems some English might re-open as early as 4 July, depending on what happens with the numbers between now and then. Scotland, NI and Wales may follow suit later. This Guardian article has some info on the possible dates and safety measures being proposed.
Motorhome Travel Outside the UK
Many European countries are starting to relax restrictions on non-essential travel, although for the time being most internal and external Schengen Area borders are closed to tourists. For those of us currently in the UK we can’t travel outside the country for the foreseeable future, and the UK government advice against all international travel remains in place. The following info might give us some indication of what’s to come domestically and internationally in future though.
- In France the campsite network remains officially closed, but motorhomes can now travel up to 60 miles from home, overnight stays are legal and it seems some motorhome parking areas (aires) are open. Campsites might open from 1 June. Much of the France Passion scheme is working again. Tourist travel from the UK to France is still impossible, with their state of emergency currently extended for two months to 24 July.
- Italy has opted to allow tourists to enter and travel around the country from 3 June, and UK tourists can enter without quarantine. Campsites could potentially open on 3 June.
- It may be (legally) possible to take a motorhome to Belgium when it opens its international borders, possibly on 15 June. Campsites are closed until at least 8 June.
- Campsites are already able to open in the Netherlands, with closed shower blocks until 1 July. Non-essential travel into the country isn’t possible until at least 15 June.
- Germany has re-opened its border with Luxembourg, and it seems they want to re-open their other internal borders on 15 June, replacing restrictions with advice. Some campsites are already open to German tourists, and non-residents might have access to them from 1 June.
- Spain has announced non-essential tourist travel will be possible again ‘from July’. Campsites are allowed to open in some regions.
The Guardian is maintaining a page with a fuller roundup of travel restrictions, and the ACSI website has details of COVID-19 measures and campsite access across Europe. In summary though: the world of motorhome touring is starting to gradually ease open, two months after the pandemic lock-down kicked in. It’ll come down to personal choice when any of us choose to use our regained (limited) freedoms, but for me it’s more about hope that a level of normality is slowly coming back to the world I’m most familiar with. Our van remains SORNed and in storage for the time being.
How Do You Feel About a UK Motorhome Holiday?
We’ve created a Twitter poll asking how you feel about motorhome travel in the UK. It was open for 24 hours, and got 104 responses: see below for the results. [edit: a reader in Scotland has quite rightly pointed out that the 4 July date only applies to English sites, not those in Scotland, NI or Wales]
Cheers, Jay
Hi from NZ
M thanks for the update, we are full steam ahead for another European Moho tour in 2021. We have already booked a cooking class in Provence in August 2021
Motorhomes are now free to travel in NZ, so we are doing just that. Currently camped at Papamoa beach, (Google it), right on the beachfront. Will sleep tonight with the sound of waves breaking approx 30 metres from us. As our border is closed, there are just locals on the move so lots of room everywhere we go.
Hang in there, you’ll soon be back on the road.
Just googled it Frank, looks very beautiful, unspoiled and peaceful. Happy travels and enjoy your 2021 planning! Jay
I think that your survey is slightly misleading as the ‘opening’ of campsites will not be UK wide as Scotland has more strict lock-down measures that are independent of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Just before the lock-down began there was a influx of motorhomes from England into the Highlands which was most certainly not welcomed by local communities who did their best to prevent them ‘wild camping’. Of course when the general lock-down was announced they were all forced to return home.
There is a very real fear up here that we will experience another influx of ‘wild camping’ in motorhomes when restrictions are further relaxed in England.
Keith Hart
Fair points Keith. Take care, Jay
Interesting twitter poll. My local radio station was interviewing a motor home supplier who has said they have had huge interest from people searching and buying motor homes from their website. When questioned, their buyers were saying they are intending to holiday in the UK and think this is the best way to do it as people find remote places to go and avoid the crowds.
He expects a bumper sales season. He didn’t expect sales to be so good and is somewhat relieved.
Whether they will remain long term motorhome owners he wasn’t sure but for now, trade is very good and he expects UK campsites to be busy once the lockdown eases.
Scotland will be inundated with campers looking for the remoteness, to get away and retain some isolation.
Hello! It’ll be an interesting few months I think. The UK’s a fairly small country with relatively few wild/free camping places. Even where it’s more tolerated (Scotland) the available free spots fill up quickly, and some locals start to get annoyed/afraid. Campsites tend to be high quality and with service blocks closed it should be possible to keep our distance, but on a full site with kids playing and a few beers lowering inhibitions that might be a challenge too? We all need to let off steam though, and the UK might remain our only option for the foreseeable. Only one way to find out what happens next: live through it and report back afterwards… Good luck with the job hunting, hope you’re OK, Jay
Hi Jason, I’m fine thanks, I am actually enjoying the time off and in no hurry to rejoin the rat race.
In the ‘normal world’ I would have been on my way to Scotland on holiday now but that has obviously been canned, sadly.
Instead I am having to look for local options for cycling and walking as a substitute and all within a day’s travel as overnights are not permitted at the moment. The weather forecasts look so good too…
You’re right, we will have to just wait and see what happens.
Stay safe, enjoy the good weather.