Alpine And Other Motorhome Adventures

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Michael has been successfully selling his writings since the 1970s and specialises by writing about travel as it relates to Superyachts, Yachts, Campervans and Motorhomes. Photographs by Frances Howorth always accompanies his writing and frequently appears independently in other publications, calendars, postcards and posters. Runner up in this award was Andy Barnett of Motorhome Adventures Vlog. Together with his wife Michelle, Andy produced an excellent video which was praised for its ‘excellent camera work’. As the only finalist who was not a CWG member, the committee was delighted to offer Andy one year’s Associate Membership of the Guild. Both Michael & Frances are additionally members of the British Guild of Travel Writers, the Travel Writers Alliance, and the Yachting Journalists Association. Building on the hard work and success of the previous Awards Co-Ordinator Terry Owen, the Awards were updated this year to include new criteria for both the entry qualifications and the judging process.

Having successfully negotiated the roads around several of the spectacular reservoirs and dams we now sat staring at a hill ahead of us that was probably beyond the van’s capabilities. Karina is available for commissioned work, reviewing caravans, motorhomes, campers and any other presenting work. In 2017 Nigel took part in Bailey of Bristol’s “Arctic Adventure” which saw the team drive from Millbrook to Ivalo in Northern Finland and joined them again in 2023 on the “Sahara Adventure” which had been postponed from 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic (he was part of the 2020 team too).

Associate Members

Spending the night inside a caravan during Grade 3 insulation tests. Temperatures in the climate centre dropped as low as -30’C The Elan Valley had captured the heart of romantic poet, Percy Shelley, some 200 years ago (1). Now it was about to capture ours. We were down to second gear round the hairpin bends but overall our VW Cree managed it without an issue. The main distraction for the driver are the views. We simply had to pull over a few times and take it all in. We’d already found out during a road trip through the Peak District that our old motorhome wasn’t too keen on going up hills with anything more than a 20% incline. And now, in the Elan Valley, we were faced with the same dilemma. Home to the fastest zipline in the world and the longest in Europe, Penrhyn Quarry on the edge of Snowdonia National Park is unlike any other average zipline you’ve ever been on before. Named Velocity 2, Zipworld will have you soaring like a bird, as you zoom head first, for over a mile, 500 metres above the bright blue quarry. Afterwards you can learn all about the history of the quarry on the Penrhyn Quarry tour.

A grand total of 16 entries were received for the Douglas King Award for Journalism, encompassing both established magazine titles and personal blogs. It was delightful to see so many writers enter the Awards for the first time. All entries were judged by an independent panel who assessed many aspects including structure, presentation and accuracy of facts, grammar, and level of engagement and creativity. From Left to Right, Karla Baker, Chris Apperley (Guild Chairman), Nigel Coppen (Business Development Director of Vantage Insurance). Excerpt: ‘Not only has all this fresh air had a postive impact on our physical health, it’s been good for our mental health, too. It has given me a sense of adventure and freedom that I never imagined possible, and it goes to show that having a disability doesn’t have to be a barrier to getting out there and exploring new places. With determination, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.’ Nigel is a lifelong caravanner (and I mean life-long!), and together with his wife Kay, they have toured extensively in both the UK and on the Continent.It led to an interesting discussion about which is best for road trips: motorhomes or cars. Assessing the pros and cons of each, for us the motorhome wins every time – until you come to a hill! Every May the town hosts the ‘Hay Festival’, attracting thousands of book-lovers from all over the UK. Just off the A465 you’ll find the village of Ystradfellte and the magnificent Brecon Beacons 4 Waterfalls Walk. The Awards are aimed at recognising journalistic excellence within the leisure vehicle industry. The Guild organizes the awards, and Vantage Insurance Services Ltd kindly co-sponsor them.

On our first visit (in August 2020) we saw maybe only two or three other motorhomers who were brave (or stupid) enough to drive these roads.

The couple have written several travel orientated books and have two more in the pipeline. They have been travelling the world together for the last thirty years initially in their own sailboat and now in Voyager their 6.4 metre campervan conversion.

Crossing a 10km stretch of frozen Baltic Sea with a caravan, reaching an island that’s only accessible by ‘road’ for a few weeks each year. Coasteering is an incredibly fun and full-on way to explore the rugged stretch of coastline, through the combination of swimming, climbing, cliff jumping, clambering and possibly some belly-flopping! It gives you the opportunity to experience normally inaccessible hidden coves and secret coastal caves of the magical Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. Get in touch with Causeway Coasteering to find out more. From the Beacons you’ll reach Rhayader within 90 minutes in a motorhome. Then it’s a left turn onto the B4518 that will lead you right into the Elan Valley. After popping in to the Elan Valley Visitor Centre where we acquired a free map, we set off and spent a glorious autumnal day negotiating the tiny roads that led to the five dams: Claerwen, Craig-goch, Pen Y garreg, Garreg ddu, and Caban-coch. Hay-on-Wye: if you love books you’ll be in paradise. (And if you’re in a campervan or motorhome you can park for free overnight in the main car park)The little guidebook we’d found said nothing about narrow roads right on the edge of deep, dark-water reservoirs! You can see why Shelley loved this place so much. Though, of course, in his time before the dams were built the landscape would have looked very different. Nigel is Swedish company Alde's first Brand Ambassador, working closely with both Alde UK and Alde Sweden. He has also produced features for both the Caravan and Motorhome Club and the Camping & Caravanning Club. It was such a pleasurable 20 mile drive that we turned around and did it the other way. You’ll probably want to as well. This time, in the car, we’d chosen a great location for our stay, right in the heart of the valley at Penbont House.